#but what kind?

[wendievergreen]

Gerzlaem

Three beasts for the price of one! The first thing I noticed is the entry says there's three types of gerzlaem but only describes two. What is the third kind? The Goldilocks gerzlaem, with wavy fur, medium height, and moderate danger? I have to know.

Next step was thinking of some real animals to pull from. While some of the description feels clearly feline (long tail, paws, carnivore) it also gave me goat vibes (roams mountains, nimble (these are also cat traits, I don't know why I kept thinking of goats)). I settled on two local animals, the mountain goat and the mountain lion (aka cougar, puma, etc).

I'm really charmed by mountain goats in summer with their fleece half peeled of. I decided that the three kinds of gerzlaem are the same animal in different seasons.

The text is lyrics from "We Do It Different on the West Coast" by The Mountain Goats. I could explain my reasoning, but I don't think it'll help.

[carpeossa]

I just realized that if it wasn’t for my parents, I would be spending new years alone.

I just tried to see if there were any family get together plans for New Year’s Day and just about every one in my extended family will be spending it with their immediate families.

Which caused me to question what would I do if I didn’t have anyone tospend the evening with.

I have made the grand decision that if I have no one to spend the Eve with then I’ll just be a cryptid and lurk at the local cemetery.

[dawn-arts]

[quietplace26]

(still no title. suggestions?)

? au (3)

Akito stares at the new clam shell in shock, feeling a sense of growing horror build up inside him as it finally hits him that someone, or something, had gotten into his room!

And judging by the still soaking wet spot on the floor by his bed, it stood there and watched him while he slept!

But how?! He-He booby traped all his doors and windows! Nothing should've been able to get in without setting them off!

Akito quickly learns why none of his 'alarms' went off the moment he exited his bedroom, carefully making sure not to step on any of the water puddles scattered across his floor.

He follows the wet marks all the way to his kitchen, and then to his open back door, leading out onto the back porch.

His little homemade alarm system was no where to be seen, but all Akito could focus on his was his back door, swinging back and forth listlessly.

He walks up to the door and and walks outside, looking around tensely. He didn't see anyone...

Akito suddenly stiffens when he feels the familar feeling of being watched. Slowly, Akito turns toward the sea and scans the waters.

The sea look beautiful that morning. The early morning sun made the water glitter like sparkling gems, but Akito knew something was there, hiding under the waves...

Gritting his teeth in frustration, Akito stomps down his porch steps and up to the sea. He stops a few feet from it, letting water brush at his feet at every wave.

"HEY!" Akito yells out. "I know you're there, so listen up! I'm done with your creepy bullshit! If you want me to leave, fine! I'll leave and you can have your stupid beach back!"

The air suddenly shifts. The water stills. Everything becomes unnerveingly quiet.

And the stare Akito keeps feeling. It now feels... different.

Akito shudders as he backs away from the sea, never once taking his eyes off it till he was back on his porch and ducks back inside.

After getting changed, he grabs his things, tosses them into his car, and speeds off to town.

On the way there, he calls Miss Asako, telling her everything that just happened. Needless to say, she was horrified by his story.

She goes on to tell him he made the right choice by leaving, that there was no telling by what that 'spirit' could've done to him if he stayed.

Akito ends up crashing at Miss Asako's home for a few days, the older woman refusing to let Akito waste any money at staying at a motel.

It was during this time Akito was trying to figure out what to do next. He literally spent all his money buying that house! Was it even possible for him to buy another new house in such short notice?!

Akito sighs tiredly as he walked through the small seaside town. Miss Asako was at work, and since he restless, Akito decided to explore the town a bit more, hoping it would help him get his mind off what happened...

It didn't. In fact, the more Akito walked around, the more stresed out he became. He just couldn't stop thinking about what happened back on the beach. In his house.

He was just walking by some piers when he feels it. The familar, burning stare of something watching him from the sea.

Akito felt his heart drop. It followed him all the way to town?!

And then he hears it. Something was splashing in the water, and it sounded big.

Akito didn't even bother to look to see what it was, he just ran all the way back to Miss Asako's home and started packing his things.

If it followed him all the way here, what's to say it wouldn't try to break into Miss Asako's home like it did his?! He just couldn't risk it! Miss Asako could get hurt!

So despite feeling scared out his mind, Akito decides his best, and probably only opinion, was to go back to his house.

He didn't have enough money to buy a new place, staying at a motel would be too expensive, and he just didn't want to bother Miss Asako anymore.

Of course Miss Asako tries to change his mind, but Akito just gives her a small, nervous smile, saying he'd be find. She gives him a look that clearly said she didn't believe him, but doesn't try to stop him from leaving.

She did however give him a hug, saying he'd always be welcome in her home. This makes Akito smiles for real. Miss Asako... She kinda reminds him of his late mother.

...Akito makes it back home just as the sun was setting.

It was race to lock everything up, and eventhough it failed before, he re-booby trapped the doors again.

And as he was checking all the door and windows one last time befor eheading to bed, he notices something on his kitchen table.

Sitting in the center of the table was a couple of baskets?

With confustion brewing within him, Akito walks over to the baskets. He didn't even own baskets like these ones so where did they come from?!

Could it possible that thing got back into his house while he was away and left them?!

Akito stares at the baskets warily. Should he open them? Or should he toss them out? The biggest basket had a fishy odor emulating from it, but the two smaller baskests seemed innocent enough.

Bitting his lip nervously, Akito decides to take a chance and opens the smallest one first. The smallest basket was full of little pearls.

The other slightly bigger basket on the other hand was full of sea shells. The likes of which being conch shells, scallops, sand dollars, and there was even what appears to be shark teeth as well!

Now for the final basket. It smelled heavily of dead fish, and the smell only grew worse when Akito opened the basket. It was filled to the brim with all sorts of dead fish! And they weren't rotten! In fact it looks like the fish were killed not that long ago!

Looking from one basket to the next, Akito felt unsure as what this could all mean. Did that thing really leave all this stuff here? All this stuff... it felt like gifts.

But that couldn't be right! Akito thought that thing was trying to scare him away!

And yet when he glances at the basket full of pearls, Akito thinks back to the two pearls he got before. Could it possible he was just misunderstanding everything?

That maybe the thi- the spirit of the beach was just trying to be friendly with Akito by giving him gifts?

Okay. That's nice. But that still didn't wash away the fact it broke into his home and watched him sleep!

Feeling tired, Akito decides he would deal with his gifts in the morning.

He did however put the fish into his freezer, making a mental note of checking to see if the fish were contaminated with anything.

And if they weren't? Uh... Maybe he'll cook them for dinner tomorrow? Or maybe he'll just throw them all away. Yeah, that might be the better idea...

With one last look around his house, Akito heads to bed, silently praying that the hopefully 'friendly' spirit wouldn't break into house again...

But going by the fact he swore he saw glowing eyes peeking in through his kitchen window for a split second, he knew his prayers weren't going to be answered that night...

[unpeeled-human]

special defense

does this count as anything ???is this art

[beardedmrbean]

Eight-year-old Max Alexander holds the world record as the youngest runway fashion designer. He began designing at the age of four.

[visenyaism]

“girl dinner” “girl math” “i’m just a girl” okay but I am an adult I am six feet tall I am loud as fuck I take up space I am smart and capable. So are you. Why would we want to laugh at jokes where the punchline is that women aren’t? Why would we want to make jokes about being small and childish and incapable? Who do you think laughs at those jokes the loudest?

[vulpinesaint]

quiz enjoyers! i am now inviting you to come create something in my workshop❕

[sniperct]

[maidenvault]

Not “Only my reading of canon is correct” or “Interpretations are subjective and all valid” but a secret third thing, “More than one interpretation can be valid but there’s a reason your English teacher had you cite quotes and examples in your papers, you have to have a strong argument that your interpretation is actually supported by the text or it is just wrong and I’m fine with telling you it’s wrong, actually.”

[inkskinned]

you said you were stuck in a time loop, which was fine. i feel like late-stage capitalism has us all in a time loop, ammiright? you came barging in at 5:33. in the morning. i hadn't even processed the idea of coffee.

but you had this look of utter panic in your eyes. terror like the ocean. you grabbed my cheeks. im in a time loop.

i don't know why in movies the first reaction is to deny it. when someone is panicking like that, it's not appropriate to ask them to calm down. it didn't matter if i believed it, what mattered was that you believed it so much that it was consuming you.

so here we are. i pour you some of the dark roast. "you look like utter and entire hell," i say.

you push your fingers into your eyes. "you always say that."

i try to think of something funny to say that i wouldn't have said on previous time loops, but jokes don't land without the proper timing (lol). "remind me to think -"

"-yeah, of a joke that only works in the future. and before you say anything, i know you're pissed i just stole your punchline." you bolt the coffee, which is wild. it's very hot. you don't seem to notice.

i blow on mine to cool it down. i both am very pissed at you and also i can't see you in this amount of panic without wanting to help. but i'm also not really sure what we are, not since i saw you kiss her like that, no offense. it just was like, kind of rude when you knew i liked you.

and besides. i'm just like, barely a person. i write omegaverse fanfiction. i love the concept of a time loop, but what the fuck am i gonna do? send an alpha in there? i open my mouth.

you point at me. "you're about to ask why me. and then say some disparaging shit about yourself. i'm just a nerd who plays dnd or something. that self-own is slightly different each time." you sigh. "i know you think you can't really help me. i don't know who can help me. i only came to you because you fucking believe me." you check your watch, sigh, and throw your head back. you cover your eyes with one hand. "i've come here on 26 separate revolutions," you say. "you have believed me every time. and yeah, i have no idea how you fit into this but i just -" you sigh again. "i just like fucking talking to someone about it."

"do you need more cof-" i start, but you're already holding the empty cup out. i frown at it. "you're not getting any more until you promise not to bolt this one like an animal."

you laugh a little and sit up, pushing your hair out of your face. "okay, that's new dialogue. but to be fair to you, i'm not usually this rude. i'm still pretty new at all of this." you check your watch again. another sigh. i guess you're cruising for a personal best in the Sigh Olympics.

i almost tell you im not an NPC but i've played enough video games to know i'm very much an NPC. i pour you another cup. "so what happens in the loop?"

"really bad explosion." you mutter into the mug. you put your elbows on the table (rude) and bury your face in your arms like an angsty teenager. one hand floats up while you talk, because evidently you literally can't talk without your hands. "i have to save the day and there's this bomb and i have no bomb training and it keeps moving, you know."

"do i die?"

you peek up from your arms. "yeah. bigtime. you keep trying to run or stay or do anything and you always super die."

"oh."

"to be fair, like, everyone dies in it though.... so you're in good company."

i hate that you make me laugh. i hate that being around you always feels tingly and strange, this electric tension between us. something that is evidently (given how you stuck your tongue down a stranger's throat literally 3 days ago) (well. 3 for me) super one-sided. i take a sip of my coffee and close my eyes.

i die today, i guess. a little spark of panic starts at the top of my hands and starts whipping up my wrists.

"shit," you say. you look at your watch and jump to your feet. "i have to go. if i can come back, i will. i am still trying to figure out when is best to do everything, you know? the order of stuff. maybe morning isn't good for us."

i look up at you and think about how you keep kissing me in the back of my car and in alleyways and in the dark. and i can never fucking get a read on you. and i also think about how incredibly panicked you look. how broken. how long have you been doing this? "i don't want to die," i say.

you glance downwards. "well, you're not really dead, you'll come back in the loop."

"but i will have died." my hands are shaking. i am trying really hard to stay calm.

you push your hands through your hair again. "i really have to go. i will have this discussion with the next version of you, though. it is like, something i am thinking about."

"but i don't get a next version," i say. i don't really have the language for this, because i haven't had 26 tries with you. i only have my memories: you, a week ago. drunk and telling me you loved me in my ear. you, kissing her anyway. you, months ago, throwing up on my birthday, whispering to me i ruin everything i touch, always, over and over. please don't ask. i can't ever fucking have that be you.

i run my finger along the rim of the mug. "i don't want to die in this one."

you seem baffled by this. "i get that but - time will reset, you'll be fine, you won't even remember we talked about this."

"but i know now." i stand up too. "i have to live the rest of this day knowing i could die. knowing i probably am going to."

"you could always die, to be fair."

i feel my hands get out of control. "earlier, you said i always say a different insult about myself. what if you're just going through different parallel universes and those are all just different - but real - versions of myself? what if you're not in a time loop, you're in a fucking universe loop?"

"if it helps, i've wondered this too. also, you're hot in all of them. if that helps."

i point at you. "no flirting. i'm trying to figure out if i die today."

"who's flirting?" you catch my wild hands and give me that long, perfect smile. like we're in this together. "i won't let ya die." you check your watch and sigh again. "well. maybe not this time."

i grit my teeth. you are so not making quips at me while i try to explain the existential dread i'm having. "does the time loop reset if i fucking kill you?"

"honestly i don't know how long it continues after i die, because i just wake up. it could be that the loop goes until the explosion for everyone, and we're all in the loop, or it could be that when i die, the loop restarts. when i die i wake up, is all."

i pull away from you and stalk into the kitchen and start doing all 3 of my dishes. "okay, first, you know i was joking. and secondly, this is exactly my point. you don't know if this is just a parallel universe. maybe in the ones where you died, the explosion happened and nobody reset and it's just you travelling." i have to stop and push the heel of my palm into my eyeball. "... how often have you died?"

i look at you. you look at me. you give me this very sad, halfway smile and a little what can ya do shrug. something in that action seems so old and weary that i want to burst into tears.

"i have to go," you say. "really. for real. there's this family of five i save from getting into a car crash. and i know it's like oh but we're all gonna die in the explosion anyway, what's the point. and..." you shrug again. "it matters to me, is all. at least i saved them for now. at least i saved anything."

you pad over to me and wrap me in a tight hug. you always seem so tall against me. i feel your cheek rest against the top of my head for a moment. for a second, it's just us, and the space is warm, and my heart is a little broken hare.

you leave me there, and i stand in my stupid badly lit kitchen with my stupid mugs. i think about you. i start texting my mom that she needs to get out of the city, but it feels pointless.

i don't know what to do. tomorrow is the same day for you. but i have to prepare to die in my today.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

License to Kitty.

[zytes]

this manatee looks like it’s in a skyrim loading screen

[as-i-watch]

Chilchuck is definitely the kind of dad that scared his kids with the boogie man, he has that kind of humor

and probably ended up having them sleep on his bed bc he scared them too much too