#common swift moth

[onenicebugperday]

Any idea what this nice moth friend is that I found in germany?

Yeah! Looks like a common swift moth :)

[hellsitegenetics]

String identified: a gg a g 't ta t g t ag Ta A t a a ct c t c c(T) . ta g t acta . Gaga a a a a a a gt t. a aaaa a a a cca ac a a a cta ét a a c ' g t gt gt t . a a t a ta g g. at a g . ' t ag ca't Ta t ag a tt ga . ’t a Gaga a? tat ' t t a a t gg t t -a " acta t t a a" cg ttt a t g. at t. ' gg t .

a a t t t t t c t a.

t c ca t t : a a g t a t ct t ag c t t t ca a t g t t aca ag tg ag t "a ta t t . 'a' gt+ c t a a t t gt+ t c???" gt a t a t gt t a t ac cta t cg a Ta t ag tat g Ta g gta+ t a a tg, t t a t t . t ca a t ga t a a. ca t a t cg t t' a

ga a t a a ga

t: : cat a t t. a a a a a a a g a t. ’ t ag ca’t cat t ag a taa t t : a’t a ? : tat t’ t t t : a t gg t t “ acta t t a ”. cg ttt a t’ t. ’ gg t t : t t t ca ag “a cat a a t t t a t t t” : t t a t ct a tat cat a t t : ag tat g cat g t ’t a a tg, t t a t a t t t :

Closest match: Pyrausta purpuralis genome assembly, chromosome: 22 Common name: Common Purple & Gold

(image source)

all goofing aside I genuinely don't understand the urge to reimagine Taylor Allison Swift as a secretly queer icon when the pop music scene(TM) is like. literally overflowing with women who actually like women. Gaga and Kesha and Miley and Halsey are right there. Rina Sawayama and Hayley Kiyoko and Rebecca Black and Kehlani and Victoria Monét and Miya Folick if you're willing to get slightly less top 100. Janelle and Demi for them nonbinary takes on liking girls. like what are we doing here. like I'm not even saying you can't enjoy Taylor but why would you hang all your little gay hopes on her.

[shyfoxsky]

Theriotype List

So, to start out, for context, I think we've all seen a skeptic comment about how all therians are only "cool" animals. I personally have always enjoyed keeping up with those with "rarer" theriotypes and even using them as examples when these kinds of arguments are brought up, so I've decided to do a little bit of a personal project, that being creating a huge list of the wide variety within the therian community. Below is the list I've created so far, sorted by general species, then adding in subspecies/breeds, all in alphabetical order.

Please keep in mind and understand that for now, I am only putting Earthen animals on this list, mainly so I and the post can keep up, because there's a LOT here already and I know there are hundreds more out there. Maybe in the future I'll make another list with mythical/fictional/etc. kintypes, or someone else can do that for me, you have my full permission, just let me know, but for now, just Earthen animals.

This list does, of course, need more entries though. If you have a theriotype that you don't see on this list, please comment or reblog and let me know so I can add it! You can follow and find it with the tag "foxskys theriotype list".

Adder - European Agouti Alpaca Ankylosaurus Anteater Argentavis Armadillo - Three-banded Arthropleura Axolotl Badger - American - European - Honey - Japanese - Sunda Stink Bat - Evening - Flying Fox - Vampire Bear - Black - Brown - Polar Bee - Bumble - Honey Beetle - Dor - Stag Binturong Bison - American Bonobo Butterfly - Buckeye Caracal Cat, Domestic - Bombay - Himalayan - Japanese Bobtail - Lykoi - Maine Coon - Norwegian Forest - Oriental - Ragdoll - Shorthair - Turkish Van Centipede - Amazonian Giant - Japanese Giant - Red-headed Cheetah Chickadee Chimpanzee Chipmunk - Eastern Cicada - White Ghost Coatimundi - White-nosed Cockroach Coot - European Cow - Holstein Friesian Coyote Coywolf Crocodile - Nile - Saltwater - Siamese Crow - American - Hooded Damselfly - Blue-tailed Deer - Axis - Caribou - Hog - Marsh - Red - White-tailed Dingo Dog, Domestic - Alaskan Malamute - Australian Shepherd - Beagle - Belgian Malinois - Bernese Mountain - Blue Bay Shepherd - Border Collie - Borzoi - Carpathian Shepherd - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Dalmatian - Doberman - German Shepherd - Golden Retriever - Husky - Irish Wolfhound - Karst Shepherd - Nova Scotia Duck-tolling Retriever - Saluki - Sighthound - Silken Windhound - Wolfdog - Yorkie Dolphin - Amazon River - Common Donkey Dove Duck - Mallard Eagle - Bald - Golden Elk - American - Irish Eusmlius Fish - Arowana - Barbel - Betta - Bristlenose Pleco - Carp - Hag - Koi - Pike - Salmon - Zander Fly - Blue Bottle Fossa Fox - Arctic - Bat-eared - Blanford's - Corsac - Crab-eating - Gray - Red, American - Red, European - Swift Goat Golden Cat - Asiatic Gorilla Grackle Grebe - Pied-billed Guinea Pig Hamster Hare - Brown - European Hawk - Red-tailed Hawk-Eagle - Changeable - Wallace's Hedgehog Homotherium Hornbill Hornet - Bald-faced - European Horse - Akhal-Teke - Clydesdale - Drum - Mustang Hyena - Aardwolf - Brown - Spotted - Striped Ichthyovenator Iguana Isopod Jackal - Black-Backed Jaguar Jay - Blue - Florida Scrub Jellyfish - Moon - White Spotted Jerboa Kangaroo Katydid Kestrel - Eurasian Ladybug Lemur - Black-and-white Ruffed - Red-bellied - Red-ruffed Leopard - African - Clouded - Snow Lion - African - American - Mountain Lynx - Bobcat - Canadian - European - Iberian Macaw - Blue-and-Yellow - Hyacinth - Scarlet - Spix’s Magpie - American - Eurasian Margay Marten - American Pine - European Pine - Japanese - Yellow-throated Microraptor Millipede - Crested Mink - American - Sea Monkey - Capuchin Moth - Cecropia - Cinnabar - Common Domestic Silk - Gold - Luna - Rosy Maple - Satin Mouse - Harvest - Hazel Dormouse Muskrat Newt - Marbled Octopus - Mimic Opossum Orangutan Osprey Otter - Giant - River - Sea Owl - Barn - Burrowing - Snowy - Tawny Panda - Giant - Red Pangolin - Black-bellied Parpsauropholus Parrot - Kea Peacock/fowl Pigeon Pitohiu - Hooded Plateosaurus Possum Pterosaur Pufferfish Rabbit - Lionhead - Lop-Eared Raccoon Raven - Common Ray - Sting Sable Scorpion Sea Lion Sea Slug Seagull - Greater Black-backed Seal - Harbor - Weddell Serval Shark - Chain Catshark - Nurse - Oceanic Blacktip - Sicklefern Lemon Sheep - Bighorn - Domestic - Hebridean - Herdwick - Mouflon Sinosauripteryx Skink - Blue-tailed Snake - Banded Sea Sparrow - Common House Spider - Black Widow - Orb Weaver Spinosaurus Squid Squirrel - Eastern Fox - Finlayson's - Gray - Red Stoat Stork - Shoebill Tamarin - Golden Lion Terrorbird Tiger - Bengal - Siberian - Sumatran Toucan Vulture - Bearded - Black - Turkey Wasp Whale - Killer - Minke - Pilot - Right Wolf - Alaskan - Arctic - Coastal - Eastern - European - Gray - Himalayan - Labrador - Mackenzie River - Maned - Mexican - Northern Rocky Mountain - Northwestern - Red - Tundra Wolfdog Wolverine Zebra - Grevey's - Mountain - Plains

[misaerabl]

In Between The Lines ; p1

“Sometimes, love doesn’t heal everything, but it might be enough to make you want to stay.”

part one of "In Between The Lines" - m.list

CONTENT: wc... 7.1k✦ majority set in a mental health facility, mentions of SH, mental illnesses, mentally ill characters, mentions of drugs/drug use, mentions of suicide/suicidal thoughts (SFW) SUMMARY: In a facility meant to fix broken minds, you’re just another new arrival, desperate to escape the weight of your own thoughts. Then you meet Ellie—a sharp-tongued artist with a sketchbook full of secrets and a past she guards as fiercely as her freedom. Drawn to her defiant spirit, you find yourself unraveling the walls you both hide behind, one guarded conversation at a time. But in a place where everyone has scars and nothing is as simple as it seems, your growing connection becomes more than just a lifeline

The air smelled faintly of disinfectant, sharp and sterile. You’d been here for three days—long enough to get used to the white walls and the nurses’ clipped tones, but not long enough to shake the ache in your chest. Three days since your parents had dropped you off with the kind of hesitant optimism that stung worse than anger. Three days since the truth—that you weren’t okay—settled like lead in your stomach.

“Time for group recreation,” a staff member said, her voice neutral. You followed the others into a common room where sunlight filtered through barred windows, pooling on faded couches and scratched coffee tables. The room buzzed faintly with murmured conversations, but it felt distant, like you were underwater.

Your hands twisted nervously as you scanned the room. Most of the faces around you were older—kids who looked like they’d been here forever, their expressions blank, their energy dulled. It was isolating, a reminder that you didn’t quite belong here either. Then your gaze caught on her.

She was sitting by the window, knees pulled up on a chair, head bent over a notebook. Her auburn hair, half-up and half-down, caught the sunlight, casting a fiery halo around her. She looked about your age, a rarity in this place, and that alone felt like a tether—a small, fragile connection. Her features were striking: dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks , and emerald eyes that flicked between her page and the world outside the window. She seemed effortlessly put together, even here.

And then there was her arm. The sleeve of her sweater had slipped up, revealing a tattoo curling around her forearm—a delicate design of leaves and a moth that seemed to move with the flex of her wrist as she sketched. The ink felt out of place here, like a rebellion against the sterile conformity of the walls.

Curiosity tugged at you, and before you fully thought it through, you found yourself walking toward her. Up close, you could hear the soft scratch of her pen. You leaned in just enough to catch a glimpse of her notebook.

She snapped it shut and clutched it to her chest, her movements swift and protective.

“Can I help you?” she asked. Her voice was sharper than you’d expected, but not unkind. Her eyes locked onto yours, sharp and assessing, and you froze.

“Oh, uh—no,” you stammered, heat crawling up your neck. You stepped back, ready to retreat, but her voice stopped you.

“Not gonna introduce yourself?”

You turned back, caught off guard by her smirk. It wasn’t mocking, just... curious. Like she’d been expecting you to do something exactly like this.

“I’m—” Your voice faltered for a second. “I’m new. Just got here.” You gave her your name, feeling awkward and exposed under her gaze.

“I figured,” she said, leaning back in her chair. She loosened her grip on the notebook but didn’t open it. “You’ve got that ‘why am I here’ look. What’d they bring you in for?”

The words hung in the air, heavier than you wanted them to be. You glanced down at your sneakers, scuffed and dirty. “I... It’s complicated,” you said finally. “Panic attacks. Depression. They said it’s something I need help with.”

She nodded, like she understood. “They all say that. What else?”

You blinked. “What do you mean?”

She tilted her head. “What’s the real reason? You don’t end up here for just being sad.”

You hesitated, then sighed. “I stopped going to school. Started skipping meals. Fainted in the kitchen one day, and my mom freaked out. That’s when they decided...” You gestured vaguely to the room around you.

She studied you for a moment, her expression unreadable, then offered a small, almost imperceptible nod. “Fair enough.”

“What about you?” you asked, eager to shift the focus.

Her lips quirked into a faint smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “You’re nosy, huh?”

“Sorry—”

“No, it’s fine.” She glanced at her notebook, her fingers drumming against the cover. “Anger issues, they say. Trouble with authority. Stuff like that.”

“Is it true?”

She shrugged. “Sometimes.”

For a moment, neither of you spoke. Then, she gestured to the empty chair beside her. “You can sit, you know. If you’re not gonna stare awkwardly all day.”

You hesitated, then took the seat. Up close, you noticed the faint freckles across her nose, the way her tattoo seemed to weave stories across her skin, and the way her hair caught the sunlight.

“I didn’t catch your name,” you said.

She smirked again. “That’s because I didn’t give it. But since you’re asking so nicely...” She tilted her head, her voice softening as she finally said, “It’s Ellie.”

The name settled in your mind like the opening line of a story you hadn’t realized you were writing.

You watched as she reopened her notebook, her pen poised over the page. “What are you working on?” you asked.

She glanced at you from the corner of her eye. “You’re full of questions, aren’t you?”

“Curious by nature,” you said, trying to sound confident.

She laughed softly, the sound warm despite the sharp edges she tried to carry. “I’m drawing,” she said finally, tilting the notebook just enough for you to see. A sketch of a bird in flight, its wings spread wide, was etched across the page.

“It’s beautiful,” you said, and for the first time since you arrived, you felt the weight in your chest lighten just a little.

“Thanks,” she said, her voice softer now. She looked at you again, really looked, and for a moment, it felt like the world outside the walls of this place didn’t exist.

“Welcome to the madhouse,” she said, her smirk returning. “Stick around. It might surprise you.”

The next day, you found yourself scanning the room before you even realized it, searching for her. For Ellie. She was back in her usual spot by the window, notebook open and pen moving lazily across the page.

You hesitated at the edge of the common room. There were other places to sit—less complicated places—but something about her pulled at you, like a thread you couldn’t help but tug on.

So, you walked over, hoping you didn’t look as awkward as you felt.

“Back for more?” she asked without looking up.

“More what?” you countered, trying to sound nonchalant.

She shrugged, a small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “Questions. Staring. General weirdness.”

You blinked, unsure how to respond. “Uh, I don’t... stare.”

Her gaze flicked up to meet yours, her smirk widening. “You literally stared at me yesterday.”

Caught red-handed, you rubbed the back of your neck, feeling the heat rise to your face. “Okay, maybe a little.”

Ellie laughed, the sound soft but genuine, and gestured to the chair across from her. “Sit, before you combust.”

You sank into the chair, feeling both exposed and oddly at ease under her scrutiny. Her pen hovered over the page, but she didn’t write anything. Instead, she studied you, head tilted like she was trying to figure you out.

“What?” you asked, shifting in your seat.

“Nothing,” she said, but her tone suggested otherwise. “You’re just... different from most people here.”

“Different how?”

“I don’t know.” She leaned back, tapping her pen against the notebook. “You don’t seem like you’re here because you’re broken. More like you just... got lost.”

The words hit you harder than you expected. You looked down at your hands, turning them over like the answers might be written on your palms. “Maybe I am,” you said quietly.

Ellie didn’t say anything for a moment. Then, she slid her notebook across the table toward you. “Want to see?”

You hesitated, glancing up at her. Yesterday, she’d been so protective of it. Now, she was offering it to you like some kind of truce.

“Are you sure?”

“Don’t make me change my mind,” she said, but there was a softness in her voice.

You picked up the notebook carefully, like it was something fragile. The pages were filled with sketches, mostly birds. Some in flight, others perched on branches. They were detailed, almost alive, like you could feel the wind beneath their wings.

“These are... incredible,” you said, glancing up at her.

Ellie shrugged, but you could tell she was pleased. “It’s just something I do.”

“Why birds?”

She looked out the window, her expression unreadable. “Because they’re free,” she said finally. “And no one ever tells them where they can or can’t go.”

Her words hung between you, heavy with meaning. You wanted to say something, but no words felt right. Instead, you handed the notebook back to her.

“Thanks,” you said.

Ellie tucked the notebook under her arm and stood. “Don’t mention it.” She turned to leave but paused, looking back at you. “Hey.”

“Yeah?”

She smirked, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “If you’re gonna hang around me, you better keep up.”

With that, she walked off, leaving you staring after her, unsure if you’d just been invited into something or warned to stay away. Either way, you knew one thing for sure: Ellie was going to be trouble. The kind you didn’t want to avoid.

The days blurred together in the way they always did in places like this, but Ellie made everything sharper, more alive. Every day, you’d find her by the window or in some corner of the common room, her notebook balanced on her knees. And every day, you’d sit with her, your conversations weaving a thread between you.

Today seemed no different—or at least, that’s what you thought when you walked in. But Ellie wasn’t at her usual spot. Instead, she stood by the window, arms crossed as she gazed outside. The sunlight caught in her auburn hair, making her seem out of place, like she belonged to a world so much brighter than this one.

“Hey,” you said, stepping closer.

She glanced back at you, her smirk faint but unmistakable. “Hey, lost girl.”

You frowned. “Lost?”

Ellie turned fully to face you, leaning against the window frame. “Yeah. You always look like you’re trying to figure out where you are.”

“I could say the same about you,” you countered, surprising yourself.

Her eyebrow lifted in amusement before she laughed softly, the sound warm and low. “Touché.”

For a moment, silence stretched between you. You followed her gaze out the window, where the trees swayed gently in the breeze. It was one of those rare moments of stillness, the kind that made you forget the heavy walls around you.

“Do you even remember what it’s like to be out there?” Ellie’s voice broke the quiet, softer now. “To feel... normal?”

You blinked at her, caught off guard by the question. She wasn’t looking at you, her gaze fixed on the world beyond the glass.

“I don’t know,” you admitted after a beat. “I think I do, but... it feels so far away, like it happened to someone else.”

Ellie nodded, her lips pressing into a line. “Yeah. Me too. Sometimes I think about it—what it was like before. Before I ended up here. And then I wonder if maybe that wasn’t real. Like... maybe I’ve always been this.”

Her words settled in your chest, heavier than you expected.

“You’re not just this,” you said quietly.

Ellie’s eyes flicked to you, searching your face for something you couldn’t name. “Neither are you,” she said finally, and the way she said it felt like more than just an observation.

The air between you shifted, fragile and charged. You wanted to say something, to bridge the distance her words had opened, but a nurse called from across the room, reminding everyone that it was almost time for lunch.

Ellie sighed, pushing off the window frame. “Guess that’s our cue.”

You followed her to the dining hall, the noise swelling around you as people shuffled to their seats. Ellie grabbed a tray and made her way to a table near the back. You slid into the seat across from her, your tray untouched.

“You don’t talk much about yourself,” Ellie said suddenly, stabbing at her food with her fork.

“I talk,” you protested.

“Not about the important stuff,” she shot back, fixing you with a look that seemed to strip away every layer you’d carefully built. “Why are you really here?”

You froze, the question curling around your throat. “I told you. Depression. Anxiety. The usual.”

Ellie tilted her head, unconvinced. “And?”

Your gaze dropped to the table. “And... I didn’t want to be here anymore. Not just this place. Anywhere.”

The words hung in the air, heavier than you’d intended. You braced yourself for judgment, for pity—but Ellie’s face stayed calm, her expression unreadable.

“I get it,” she said simply.

“You do?”

Ellie leaned back in her chair, her fork clinking against her plate. “Yeah. I didn’t think I’d still be here either. But I am.”

Her honesty knocked the air from your lungs. You opened your mouth to respond, but Ellie raised a hand, cutting you off.

“You don’t have to say anything,” she said. “I just... wanted you to know you’re not the only one.”

Something shifted between you in that moment, unspoken but undeniable. Ellie wasn’t just the troublemaker everyone whispered about. She was raw, complicated, and real in a way that made you want to keep peeling back the layers.

For the first time since you’d arrived, the walls around you felt a little less suffocating. Maybe it was Ellie, or maybe it was the way she looked at you—like she saw you. Not just another case file or diagnosis, but you.

Whatever it was, you knew you weren’t ready to let it go.

The night had fallen, but the walls of the facility still felt suffocating. It was quiet, too quiet—except for the soft hum of the air conditioning and the occasional creak of the building settling. You didn’t belong here, but neither did Ellie, and for once, it didn’t seem so bad to sneak out in the middle of the night.

You looked at her, trying not to sound as hesitant as you felt. “Are you sure we’re not going to get caught?”

Ellie flashed you that mischievous grin, the kind that made her look like trouble with a side of charm. “What’s the point of doing this if we’re not living on the edge a little?”

You had no idea what possessed you to follow her, but something about the reckless freedom in her eyes made you want to go along for the ride. You quietly slipped out of your room, careful not to make a sound as you moved through the hallways. The faint glow of the moonlight filtering through the windows only made everything feel even more forbidden.

It didn’t take long for you to realize just how far you’d gone—past the usual hangouts, past the places you knew. You found yourself in a part of the building you’d never noticed before: a quiet back room, tucked away from prying eyes.

Ellie pushed open the door and stepped inside, looking around. “Not bad, huh?” she said, gesturing at the old couch in the corner.

You nodded, though you weren’t sure why. There was something a little comforting about this hidden space. It felt like it was just for the two of you, like no one else would ever find it.

You walked inside, your footsteps quiet on the wooden floor. There was a blanket tossed across the couch, along with a couple of pillows, and a few random knickknacks scattered around the room.

And then, as you looked up, your eyes widened.

Glow-in-the-dark stars covered the ceiling, scattered across the dark sky above. They were old, faded, but still managing to cast a soft, warm glow in the dark room.

“Wow,” you breathed, your voice barely above a whisper.

Ellie walked over and flipped the light switch, plunging the room into complete darkness. You stood still for a moment, then watched as the stars began to glow, their soft, scattered light painting the ceiling in a quiet pattern.

"See? Told you it would work," Ellie said, her voice filled with something almost like pride.

You looked at her, meeting her gaze for the first time since entering the room. For a moment, you both just stood there, taking in the view. The stars seemed to fill the space between you, their soft glow making everything feel just a little more surreal.

Ellie walked over to the couch, tossing herself down with a soft sigh. She reached for the blanket, pulling it over her legs as she stretched out. "Come on," she said, patting the spot beside her. "You’re not gonna stand there all night, are you?"

You hesitated for a moment, unsure of what you were doing, but then you sat down beside her. The blanket was warm, and the proximity between you both was sudden, unexpected.

For a few moments, the only sound was the gentle hum of the building and the soft glow of the stars above. You both stared up at them, unsure of what to say, but there was something in the air—something unspoken, like the distance between you was shrinking with every passing second.

"You know," Ellie said after a while, breaking the silence, "I think I’ve always felt out of place... like I’m not supposed to be anywhere, you know?"

You turned to face her, surprised by the sudden honesty in her voice. "I get that," you said quietly. "I feel like I’m just drifting through all of this. I don’t really know what I’m supposed to be doing."

Ellie smiled faintly, turning her head to meet your eyes. "Yeah. But... maybe that’s the point. Maybe we’re not supposed to have it figured out. Maybe we’re just supposed to... live."

You swallowed, the weight of her words sinking in. There was something comforting about them, like maybe you weren’t as lost as you felt. But then, before you could process it fully, Ellie shifted, leaning closer, her breath warm against your skin.

You froze, heart hammering in your chest. There was no mistaking what was happening—she was right there, so close, you could feel the pull between you, the undeniable tension hanging in the air.

You looked into her eyes, searching for something—an answer, a sign, maybe even permission.

And then, just like that, her lips were on yours. Soft, tentative at first, like a question being asked. You didn’t have to think about it. You kissed her back, the world outside fading into nothing but the quiet space you two shared, the stars above your heads, and the warmth between you.

For a moment, you forgot everything—the tension, the fear, the hesitation. All that was left was the quiet rhythm of the kiss, the way it felt like it was the only thing that mattered in that moment.

And when you pulled away, breathless, you didn’t need words. The tension had been broken. The night was yours, and Ellie? She wasn’t as unreachable as you once thought.

The night had slipped away quietly, the kind of stillness that made time seem irrelevant. The only sounds were the soft rustling of sheets and the occasional exhale between you and Ellie, as you lay on the couch, her arm comfortably around you. The glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling shimmered faintly, casting a peaceful light over the room.

Ellie had turned the light off just to see them better, and there you were, in the dark, your voices low as you shared small stories. The kind that made you feel lighter, like you were both just two people who happened to find each other in a place where nobody really knew how to get out. Your hand brushed hers once, and the shift in the air was immediate—tension, subtle yet undeniable. You looked at her, and before you could think, she was leaning in, her lips brushing yours with the kind of urgency that comes when you’ve spent too long in a space between what you want and what you’re afraid of.

And before either of you knew it, sleep had settled in. Ellie’s arms were wrapped around you, pulling you close as you rested against her. Your heart had stopped racing, finally at ease, and sleep took over.

But that peace didn't last long. The sound of footsteps in the hallway jolted you awake. Your eyes fluttered open to see Ellie, still asleep, her hand loosely resting on your side. Your body stiffened, panic flooding through you. You slowly pulled yourself off the couch, your heart pounding in your chest as you tried to adjust, make sense of the strange dream-like comfort you’d shared. But then it happened.

The door swung open, and the nurse on duty caught sight of the two of you. There was a brief, stunned silence, followed by a hurried exchange of words that didn’t quite register. Everything unraveled too quickly—misunderstandings and accusations of pills in the corner, though neither of you had done anything. The reality of what had happened hit hard, and suddenly, things that had felt so simple—sneaking away to share a moment—were twisted into something unrecognizable.

In the aftermath, you didn’t face any harsh punishment, but the separation between you and Ellie was unmistakable. You hadn’t seen her since that night. There had been no explanation from her, no chance to clear things up. You were left with an unsettling silence, caught in the tension of being apart, unsure if she was even okay. There were rumors, whispers among the staff, but you didn’t know the truth. You didn’t know what was really going on with Ellie, only that she wasn’t in the same wing anymore, and you felt the absence like a weight on your chest.

Days passed, and it felt like time was moving slower than it ever had. You’d hear things about her sometimes—nothing too specific, just mentions of her name—but you never got the chance to speak to her, not once. You kept replaying that moment in your head—the look on her face when you noticed her arm, the way she’d tried to hide it.

Visitation day came, and you were sitting with your parents, trying to hold it together, though everything felt wrong. They were talking about school, asking about your friends, but your mind couldn’t focus. You kept looking around the room, trying to catch a glimpse of her. It had been too long. You hadn't seen her, hadn't spoken to her, and you didn’t know if she even wanted to talk to you after what had happened. The thought of her made your stomach twist in knots.

It was when you glanced across the room that you saw her. Ellie stood there, talking to someone you didn’t recognize—a man who had his arm around her. They were close, and the way he was holding her made it seem like they were family. Maybe he was her dad. You didn’t know. You heard her call him Joel, but your mind raced, unsure of what that meant. "His dad, maybe?" you wondered, but then again, she didn’t call him that. "She called him Joel, so maybe not her dad?"

Your parents noticed you had gotten distracted, their voices pulling you back to the moment. But you couldn’t stop staring, watching Ellie from across the room, the familiar face that seemed so far away now.

Ellie caught your gaze, and for a moment, her eyes met yours. It was a brief moment, but it felt like everything had stopped. She didn’t smile or wave. She just looked at you, her expression unreadable, and then turned away. The pain in your chest grew heavier.

"Sweetie, are you okay?" your mom asked, her voice gentle but concerned. You snapped back to the present, realizing you’d been standing there staring, lost in your thoughts. Your parents’ eyes followed your gaze, noticing how distracted you were.

You quickly looked away, trying to brush it off, but the weight of the situation was still there, lingering in the air.

You couldn’t explain it. It was like the distance between you had only grown in those few short days, even though she wasn’t physically far from you. It was as if everything that had happened between you was suddenly out of your control, slipping away just as quickly as it had come.

You watched Ellie stand up and walk across the room to get some water. Seizing the opportunity, you excused yourself from your parents and followed her, hoping to finally talk to her. As she filled her cup, you approached, your heart racing.

"Hey," you said softly, trying to sound casual but finding it hard.

She turned to you, a small, guarded smile on her lips. "Hey," she replied, her voice warm but her eyes distant.

You hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say, before deciding to ask something that had been on your mind ever since you saw Joel earlier.

"Is that... your dad?" you asked, gesturing toward the man across the room, the one you’d seen hugging Ellie earlier.

Ellie’s gaze flickered to Joel, then back to you, her expression unreadable. "No," she replied, her voice quieter now. "He adopted me when I was 14, after..." She paused, her voice faltering for just a second. "After my parents died."

You blinked, surprised by how much she’d shared. You’d had no idea about her past, and it hit you harder than expected. Before you could respond, Ellie quickly changed the subject, her tone almost defensive.

"Anyway, I’m fine. Really," she added, a forced smile curling on her lips.

You nodded, but the weight of her words lingered in the air. You wanted to ask more, but you didn’t want to push her too hard.

Then, as your gaze drifted, you noticed something—her arm. The sleeve of her shirt had rolled up just enough to expose her skin, and you could see faint cuts scattered over her tattooed arm. The marks were fresh, obvious against the dark ink of her tattoos.

Your heart sank. It was a jarring realization, one you weren’t prepared for. You stared, unable to look away, as the truth began to piece itself together in your mind.

Ellie seemed to sense your eyes on her and quickly pulled her sleeve down, trying to hide the marks. But it was too late. You had seen.

You felt a lump form in your throat, and your mind raced. Could this be why she’d been gone? You thought about the past few days, how you hadn’t seen her at all. The rumors, the whispers. It all started to make sense now, a chilling clarity settling over you.

"Ellie..." you started, your voice soft but uncertain.

She noticed your gaze and immediately snapped back into her defensive posture. "I’m fine," she muttered again, though this time there was a sharper edge to her tone. "Really."

The words hung in the air between you, but they felt empty. Her forced smile didn’t reach her eyes, and you could see the tension in her jaw.

You wanted to speak, to ask her what had happened, but the words were trapped in your throat. She wasn’t ready to talk about it, and you weren’t sure if she ever would be.

Ellie gave you a final, unreadable glance before turning back toward her table, leaving you standing there, the weight of everything you’d seen and heard pressing heavily on your chest. You couldn’t shake the feeling that the Ellie you knew was carrying far more than she let on, and now, you weren’t sure how to help her carry it.

The next day, you made your way to the spot where Ellie usually sat, the one place in this building that felt like it was hers. You’d been hoping to see her there, maybe talk to her properly this time without the weight of too many eyes or ears around. But when you got there, the spot was empty.

The absence hit harder than you expected. You stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do, before your gaze drifted to the window. That’s when you saw her.

Down in the garden, Ellie stood with one of the nurses. They seemed to be in conversation, the nurse speaking calmly while Ellie had her hands stuffed into her pockets. From this angle, you couldn’t hear what they were saying, but something about their interaction made you pause.

Then, you saw it. The nurse slipped something small into her hand. You couldn’t make out what it was from where you stood—maybe a piece of candy, or a pill, or something else entirely—but the act was subtle, almost secretive.

Your stomach twisted. What was that?

Ellie’s fingers closed around whatever it was, and she gave the nurse a curt nod before walking away. The exchange left you with more questions than answers, the uneasy feeling in your chest growing heavier.

You stayed by the window for a while, watching the garden even though Ellie had already gone. The scene replayed in your head, over and over, each loop making you feel more unsettled.

Deciding to clear your head, you turned to head back down the hallway. That’s when you bumped into her.

"Sorry," Ellie mumbled, stepping back quickly. She hadn’t even looked up at first, but when she realized it was you, her expression changed. There was a flicker of something—guilt, maybe?—before she forced a casual smile.

"Hey," she said, like nothing was out of the ordinary.

"Hey," you replied, but the questions in your mind made it hard to keep your tone light. "You okay?"

Ellie shrugged, brushing past you as if trying to avoid any further conversation. "Yeah. Same old."

You turned to watch her walk away, but something kept you rooted in place. You wanted to call out to her, to ask about what you’d seen in the garden, but the words stuck in your throat.

Whatever was going on with Ellie, it felt like she was keeping you at arm’s length. And as much as you wanted to close the distance, you weren’t sure if she’d let you.

The following day, you were relieved to see Ellie again, but when you found her, she wasn’t in her usual spot. Instead, she was leaning against the wall near the edge of the room, arms crossed and a scowl etched on her face.

You followed her line of sight and saw the reason for her mood—some girl was sitting in her spot. She was chatting animatedly with someone, completely oblivious to the fact that her presence was clearly unwelcome.

Ellie let out an exaggerated sigh and muttered under her breath, "Unbelievable."

You couldn’t help but smile a little as you approached her. "Trouble in paradise?" you teased gently.

Her head whipped toward you, the annoyance softening just a fraction when she realized it was you. "Not funny," she grumbled, but the corner of her mouth twitched like she was holding back a smirk.

"Looks like she’s made herself comfortable," you said, nodding toward the girl in Ellie’s spot.

"Too comfortable," Ellie muttered. She pushed off the wall and shrugged. "Whatever. Not like I can do anything about it."

You tilted your head, studying her. "You sure you’re okay? You seemed... off yesterday."

Ellie gave you a quick glance, her expression guarded. "I’m fine," she said, but her tone didn’t carry much conviction. Before you could press further, she added, "Anyway, I’m not sticking around to watch her take over my territory. Wanna walk with me?"

The suggestion caught you off guard, but you nodded. "Sure," you said, falling into step beside her.

As the two of you walked, the tension in Ellie’s shoulders slowly began to ease. She glanced over at you and smirked. "She won’t last there," she said, her tone lightening. "That spot’s cursed."

You laughed. "Cursed, huh?"

"Yep. Everyone who sits there ends up spilling their coffee or losing something important. It’s only a matter of time."

You couldn’t tell if she was joking, but the way her smirk widened made you suspect she wasn’t entirely serious. Still, it was nice to see her a little more like herself, even if only for a moment.

As you walked together, you noticed Ellie had a notebook tucked under her arm, secured snugly under her armpit. It looked familiar—her sketchbook, the one she was usually so protective of.

You nudged her lightly. "Got any new bird sketches?" you asked with a teasing lilt, trying to coax her into sharing.

Ellie shot you a wary glance, her grip on the notebook tightening slightly. "Maybe," she said, her voice guarded. "But I’m not showing them to you."

That piqued your curiosity. "Why not? Are they bad?" you pressed, leaning closer to get a better look at the edges of the paper peeking out.

"Shut up," she muttered, clearly flustered, her pace quickening slightly.

You couldn’t resist. With a sudden, playful move, you reached out and snatched the notebook from under her arm. "Gotcha!"

"Hey!" Ellie exclaimed, spinning to grab it back, but you held it out of her reach, laughing as she glared at you. "Give it back!"

"Not until I see these ‘top-secret’ bird drawings," you said with a grin, flipping it open. But the moment you glanced down at the sketches, the grin froze on your face.

They weren’t birds.

Page after page, you saw detailed sketches—not of feathers or wings, but of... you.

There were quick, candid outlines, like the curve of your profile or the way your hair fell over your face when you were reading. Some were more detailed—your hands, your smile, the way you’d tilt your head when you were deep in thought. Each drawing carried a certain softness, like she’d captured you in a way only someone who had spent countless hours looking could.

"Ellie..." you started, your voice quieter now, unsure of what to say.

She looked mortified, her cheeks turning a deep shade of pink as she lunged forward to snatch the notebook back. "Okay, you’ve seen enough," she said quickly, stuffing it back under her arm.

You stared at her, still processing what you’d just seen. "Those... weren’t birds."

Ellie groaned, clearly wishing the ground would swallow her whole. "Yeah, thanks for pointing that out, Captain Obvious."

There was a long pause as you watched her squirm, her usual confidence nowhere to be found. Then, in a voice so quiet you almost missed it, she muttered, "I just... like drawing things that matter."

Your heart stuttered in your chest. You didn’t know what to say to that, so you simply walked beside her in silence, the air between you heavier, but warmer somehow.

You finally snapped out of your daze, the weight of what you’d just seen settling in. But instead of addressing it directly—because, honestly, where would you even start?—you decided to do what felt natural: tease her.

"So..." you began, glancing at her with a sly grin, "you’re grouping me with birds now?"

Ellie stopped mid-step, her eyes narrowing as she glared at you. "Oh, shut up," she groaned, though her face was still tinged with that telltale blush.

"No, really," you pressed, unable to keep the grin off your face. "Do I get to be like a majestic eagle? Or am I more of a cute little sparrow? I’m dying to know."

"You’re more like a pigeon," she shot back, her tone sharp but her lips twitching as if fighting a smile. "Annoying and everywhere."

You gasped dramatically, clutching your chest as though wounded. "A pigeon? Really? That’s harsh, Ellie. I thought I’d at least rate higher than that."

She rolled her eyes, but there was no real heat behind it. "You’re lucky I don’t draw rats."

"Ouch," you said, laughing. But then your tone softened as you looked at her. "Seriously, though... they’re good. You’re good."

Ellie glanced away, scratching the back of her neck, clearly uncomfortable with the compliment. "They’re just doodles," she mumbled.

"Yeah, sure," you replied, not letting her downplay it. "Just doodles of me, apparently."

Her blush deepened, and she shoved your shoulder lightly, muttering, "I’m never letting you see my sketchbook again."

You chuckled, the warmth between you undeniable now. "Fine, fine," you said, holding up your hands in surrender. "But for the record, I think I’d make a pretty cool eagle."

Ellie shook her head, finally cracking a real smile. "Yeah, sure. Keep dreaming, pigeon."

Things were starting to feel normal with Ellie again. For the first time in what felt like weeks, the tension between you had eased. The teasing, the shared glances, even the rare moments of unguarded laughter—they were back, and it felt good. Almost like before.

Almost.

But it wasn’t long before everything came crashing down again.

One particularly rainy day, the storm outside was relentless, its howling winds rattling the windows as the sky darkened to an unnatural gray. The power had gone out, plunging the place into eerie silence except for the distant rumble of thunder.

The nurse on duty was scrambling to figure out the issue, muttering something about checking the basement fuse box. You’d volunteered to go with her, partly out of boredom, partly out of curiosity.

As you descended the creaky steps into the dimly lit basement, the faint flicker of a flashlight barely illuminated the space. The smell of damp concrete and rust filled the air. You were scanning the rows of tangled wires and dusty equipment when your flashlight beam landed on something—or someone.

Your breath caught in your throat.

Ellie.

She was sprawled on the cold floor, her face pale, her lips parted as if caught mid-breath. Her hand loosely clutched a small pack of pills, some scattered beside her.

“Ellie!” you gasped, dropping everything and rushing to her side.

The nurse was right behind you, her voice sharp with urgency as she called for help over the radio. But you couldn’t focus on that. Your hands trembled as you knelt beside Ellie, shaking her gently.

“Ellie, wake up,” you whispered, panic tightening your chest. “Please, wake up.”

For a moment, she didn’t respond, her stillness almost unbearable. But then her eyelids fluttered weakly, and a soft, barely audible groan escaped her lips. Relief washed over you like a wave, but it was short-lived.

The nurse pulled you back gently but firmly, taking over as she checked Ellie’s pulse and began asking you questions you could barely process. You were too focused on Ellie—on her pale face, her fragile form, the undeniable truth of how far things had spiraled without you even realizing it.

Normal. You’d thought things were getting back to normal. But now, as you watched the nurse work and the distant sound of more staff hurrying down the stairs reached your ears, you realized how wrong you’d been.

Nothing about this had ever been normal.

You stood frozen, drenched as the rain poured down, soaking

through your clothes and chilling you to the bone. The chaos around you felt distant—voices shouting, doors slamming, the blaring siren of the ambulance as it idled nearby. All you could focus on was Ellie, being carefully loaded onto the gurney, her limp form barely moving under the harsh fluorescent lights.

"Ellie!" you called, your voice breaking as you tried to push past the nurses.

They held you back, their hands firm but not unkind, their words blurring together in your ears.

"You need to stay here."

"It’s under control."

"Let us do our job."

But none of it mattered. Nothing mattered except the sight of her being taken away. You struggled against their grip, desperation clawing at your chest like an open wound.

"Let me go! I need to—she needs me!" you shouted, your voice hoarse with panic.

The rain came down harder, soaking you to the skin, but you didn’t care. All you could see was Ellie disappearing behind the ambulance doors, the metallic clang as they shut echoing in your head.

A nurse tried to console you, their voice calm yet firm. "She’ll be okay. She’s in good hands now."

But you didn’t feel reassured. You didn’t feel anything except the hollow ache in your chest as the ambulance pulled away, its lights cutting through the stormy night.

The nurses led you back inside, their attempts to comfort you feeling like static noise. Your clothes dripped water onto the floor, but you didn’t care. All you could think about was Ellie—her pale face, the pack of pills, the terrifying moment in the basement.

The storm outside mirrored the one raging inside you, and as you sat down, staring blankly at the ground, one thought repeated itself over and over.

Why hadn’t you noticed sooner?

This place had always been a mosaic of broken pieces, a sanctuary for the lost, the frayed, the fragile. People drifted through like shadows, carrying burdens too heavy to name. You’d seen it all—shaking hands clutching coffee mugs, muffled sobs in empty hallways, eyes that stared but didn’t see. The air here was dense with the weight of unspoken struggles, lives unraveling thread by thread.

And in the middle of it all, there was Ellie.

She was never a part of the chaos, or so it seemed. Her laughter came quick and sharp, her presence grounded in a way that made you feel like you could breathe, even when the rest of the world pressed too hard. She didn’t belong here, not in the way the others did. She was too steady, too alive.

It wasn’t until you noticed the lines etched into her skin—the ones she never showed but couldn’t quite hide—that you began to understand. The steady force you’d leaned on wasn’t as unshakable as you’d thought. She wasn’t above this place; she was drowning in it.

You’d wanted to help her then. You’d told yourself you could fix it, if only you could stay close enough, watch her carefully enough. But there were cracks in her you couldn’t see, fractures that ran deeper than you’d ever imagined.

And now, as you replayed the sight of her sprawled on the basement floor, her pale hand clutching the edge of oblivion, it hit you like a jagged edge to the ribs.

She had been your anchor in this sea of instability, the one constant that reminded you of something beyond the walls of this place. But all this time, her stability had been a careful illusion, held together by threads that were unraveling faster than you’d ever noticed.

The storm outside roared like a living thing, tearing at the trees, rattling the windows. It mirrored the storm within you—the guilt, the helplessness, the bitter understanding that you hadn’t seen her, not really.

Ellie was supposed to be the strong one. The grounded one. And now you realized how much weight you had placed on her without even knowing it. You had been so busy leaning on her that you’d never noticed how deeply she was sinking.

The thought made your breath catch, sharp and painful. You’d failed her. You’d let her carry the unbearable alone.

Now, with her gone—hauled off to some cold, sterile room where strangers would decide her fate—you were left with the crushing realization of how little you’d done. How much you’d taken her presence for granted.

This place was full of people searching for something to hold onto, and you had found it in Ellie. You just never thought to ask if she had found something too.

A small, naive part of you had allowed yourself to hope. After that shared kiss, that fleeting moment of connection, it had felt like everything was falling into place. You had imagined that, once you both got out of here—once the chaos, the weight of this place, and the endless struggle had ended—you two could finally be free. You could walk away from all the dark corners, from the whispered fears and quiet sobs, and simply be happy together.

You pictured a future that was simple, one where Ellie and you could exist without the crushing pressure of it all. Maybe in some far-off place, somewhere that wasn’t defined by brokenness and labels, you’d both find something resembling peace.

You imagined late nights spent talking, laughing, maybe even dreaming of a future that wasn’t ruled by the shadows of your pasts. You pictured the two of you, not here, not in this place where the weight of the world pressed so heavily on every breath, but somewhere else. Somewhere where Ellie wasn’t just surviving, but thriving. Where she could let down her guard and be the person she had always hidden beneath her armor.

But that was the naive dream, wasn’t it? The one you couldn’t see crumbling while you were caught in the glow of her eyes and the warmth of that kiss.

Now, all of that seemed like an impossible fantasy. The reality of it felt as distant as the storm clouds above. All you had now was this void, the echo of what might have been.

! in between the lines masterlist

[teaboot]

Community-building Tag Game

Tagged by: @anchored-trident

Name: Internet safety 101, kids. Keep 'em guessing. ('Tea' is fine.)

Pronouns: he/him

Where do you call home? Northwest Canada! Nice and grey.

Favorite animal: Honestly I love pretty much all of them but if I had to, like. Cohabitate with one? Cats. God's favourite bastards. Also partial to polyphemus moths, the common brown bat, june beetles, golden moles, the silky tree anteater, poison dart frogs, hawks, chimney swifts, and nautuluses, too.

Cereal of choice: I am. Not a cereal person. Fruit loops?

Are you a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner? Visual. 100%. Everything I do and use is organized by color. I will remember your birthmarks and tattoos and piercings and scars long before I remember your name or anything else about you. I forgot my own name once. It's bad

First pet: A big black cat.

Favorite scent: Oh, this is hard. I have a coconut shampoo that reminds me of my mom, and a white musk and oud perfume that makes me think of Cairo, and a plum/vanilla/white musk lotion that smells like the last week of school before summer vacation. A bottle of my dad's cologne he let me keep for my 16th birthday. Frankincense. Lilacs. Sunscreen. Cedarwood. Pine chips. Pumpkin. Clean laundry. I dont think I can pick just one.

Do you believe in astrology?  Not even a little bit. Sure is fun, tho!

How many playlists do you have on Spotify/Apple Music? Playlists in general? Too many. Couple dozen, probably. One for every occasion.

Sharpies or highlighters? Sharpies. Though I use highlighters more.

A song that makes you cry: Right now? "Dear Fellow Traveller" by Sea Wolf. Also "Cain" by Cousin Marnie.

A song that makes you happy: "Art Hoe" by Call Me Karizma, "Cannibal" by Naethan Apollo, "Wanted To" by Infected Mushroom, and "Daywalker!" By Machine Gun Kelly X CORPSE.

And finally, do you write/draw/create? if so, use this as an opportunity to shamelessly (😉) promote yourself!

I love to draw and oaint and sculpt and sew, but spend a lot of time at work and have some issues with hypersomnia so it doesn't happen as much as I'd like. Wish I could promote myself better because I miss creating but... I don't know. Maybe I'll make something in the morning.

@anchored-trident thanks for the nom'! ♡ This one was fun :)

Nominations (either because we're mutuals or I find you interesting): @melancholysage @naamahdarling @sternenhimmel-mondnhimmel-mond @mist-the-wannabe-linguist @smlmsworld @mangotarot @genderfuckedpigeon @twofaced-gemini-withnobrush

[littleglowingwolf]

a taste of the sun - Chapter 2: Guardian, 9:31 Dragon

Hawke blazes like a sun: blinding and warm. Fenris, all scars and silence, is a moth.

She is his light, he her steady shadow.

Canon-based FenHawke || Read on AO3 || Read from the beginning

Excerpt:

The most wonderful thing about teaching him was the confidence with which he tackled every word. He would plow through the sounds like by the end of the word, surely it would come together. Common was not so simple a tongue, but he learned like a fighter - swift, decisive, and instinctively.  Her corrections, though fewer and farther between as they progressed, gave him renewed energy rather than any amount of shame. She never saw him make the same mistake twice. He was torn between chasing her praise and slowing their lessons. The more successful he was, the less she said to correct him, but he had become an expert at catching her pleased smile out of his periphery when he read aloud. She brought him a leather bound book one day, and pressed it into his hands. When he inquired what they were reading next, she opened it to a middle page where he saw it was blank. Cautiously and encouragingly, she encouraged him to start his own journal, the spectre of his past haunting the conversation. He would never have dared put his private thoughts to paper - the risk was too great. 

[dansnaturepictures]

Eight of my favourite photos I took in August 2024 and month summary: Baby steps into the shift of the seasons

The photos are of; view with a moody sky at Lakeside Country Park, young Mute Swans at Keyhaven, Jersey Tiger moth at Lakeside, Chalkhill Blue at Stockbridge Down, Common Darter at Lakeside, Roe Deer at Acres Down, harebells at Shipton Bellinger and King Alfred's cake at Fishlake Meadows.

August is a time to enjoy high summer sights including butterfly filled meadows and darting dragonflies but also a time to prepare for change into an equally exciting wild season, as subtle signs like the drawing in of the nights and emergence of berries hint at the imminent baton exchange of summer and autumn. I have really enjoyed this August to the full for wildlife, walking and photos.

In the early days as the Big Butterfly Count drew to a close I ended triumphantly observing a big increase in species such as Meadow Brown, Common Blue and Speckled Wood being around. There were some stellar additions to my butterfly year this month with Essex Skipper, Silver-spotted Skipper, Chalkhill Blue and Brown Hairstreak seen. Other standout species of a fantastic butterfly month included Brown Argus, Wall Brown, Small Heath, Small White, Brimstone, Comma, Peacock and Red Admiral. I had a marvellous month of moths centring on a phenomenon over a week or so seeing a fair few Jersey Tiger moths at different locations a species I’d only ever seen three times prior to that, a really exciting influx of this resplendent moth. I was captivated by a splendid Swallow-tailed moth at home at the month’s start, with Double-striped Pug, Wavy-barred Sable, my first ever Purple Bar, Grass-veneer, Silver Y, Small Dusty Waves and Six-spot Burnet also enjoyed. As the month went on butterflies rather made way for dragonflies to take centre stage a little, with mesmerising times watching Migrant Hawker, Southern Hawker, evocative of late summer for me Common Darter and Black-tailed Skimmer, with Beautiful Demoiselle and Blue-tailed Damselfly good to see too.

Shift in the year was evident in my birdwatching month too which was another brilliant one with some migration movement. I loved seeing Whinchats at Hook-with-Warsash, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper at Pennington and Osprey at Fishlake Meadows. I got some splendid views of the Peregrines at Winchester Cathedral this month, very much enjoyed the new Great Crested Grebe chicks and young Moorhens on regular walks at Lakeside Country Park and was thrilled to see adorable Mute Swan cygnets well a few times at Winnall Moors and Keyhaven in a strong year I’ve had for seeing young birds. Other highlights this month included Ravens, Jay, Red Kite, Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, the last Swifts, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Stock Doves, Stonechat, Bullfinches, Great Spotted Woodpecker at Lakeside and Green Woodpecker there and heard elsewhere, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit and Goldfinches including young at home, a few Kingfishers, Cormorants including notably at Lakeside and Winnall Moors, Grey Heron including notably at Lakeside and in Winchester, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Spoonbills, Knot, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Avocet, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Snipe, Whimbrel, Curlew, Eiders and some Tufted Ducks including ducklings.

Other nice sightings this month included of Roe and Fallow Deers on wonderful afternoon of deers at Acres Down in the New Forest, Grey Squirrel, Common Red Soldier beetle, my first ever Tawny Longhorn beetle at Shipton Bellinger, ladybirds, pondskater with especially lots at one point at Lakeside sticking in my mind, sawflies, charming Hornet mimic hoverfly at Stockbridge Down, Yellow-haired Sunfly, other hoverflies and bees, Ichneumon wasps, Fox and Cinnabar moth caterpillars, crickets/grasshoppers including Roesel’s bush cricket, Long-winged Conehead and Common Field Grasshopper, snails at home on wet nights and gorgeous Ambersnail at Winnall Moors, Common Lizards at Magdalen Hill and Grey Silverfish and spiders at home.

Onto plants and I saw some more thrilling wildflowers this month including fairy flax, water speedwell and another speedwell, St. John’s-worts, fleabane, ragwort, bird’s-foot trefoil, forget-me-not, scarlet pimpernel, water mint, sundew, bog asphodel, hemp agrimony, purple loosestrife, great willowherb, rosebay willowherb, small-flower hairy willowherb, marjoram, wild basil, tufted vetch, vetch, viper’s-bugloss, scabiouses including fine devil’s-bit scabious, wild carrot, upright hedge-parsley, sea aster, scentless mayweed, pineappleweed, dock, self-heal, sainfoin, creeping thistle, spear thistle, woolly thistle, horseweed, common mallow, musk mallow, marsh mallow, golden samphire, nightshade, broad-leaved enchanter’s nightshade and some of my favourites centaury, restharrow, common toadflax, eyebright and endearing nodding harebells. It was amazing to see sunflowers at home in the garden a stalwart of August with the fuchsias and black-eyed Susans coming on nicely too. The aforementioned berries I really enjoyed seeing this month included loads of blackberries and hawthorn, blackthorn sloes, rowan, guelder rose berries, nightshade berries, cuckoo-pint berries, elderberries, wild service tree berries and wayfaring tree berries with apple, acorn and chestnut seen too. There were some nice mushrooms seen this month as well including King Alfred’s cake and panthercap and I took in some stunning views at various locations and habitats with epic sky scenes including moody scenes, the moon and sunsets observed. Have a great September all.

[juleteon]

What types of bugs are used for what purposes? Are some ridden like horses (so transportation) while others are used for resources and some for pets? How is that determined?

Absolutely adore the idea of having a giant flightless beetle friend (specifically my fav, the japanese beetle), such amazing ideas and art!!

Oh, you have No idea what a question you have just asked... (cracks knuckles) Here we go...

Insects are incredibly wide-spread, but not often the domestication process is as successful. The domestication is often only possible with non-predator species, and to have enough generations to alter and selectively breed preferable traits.

But, the process of domestication of various species for different purposes has been implemented in many places across Terra Sonalis, the most common ones are described here:

Thanks to some cities being entirely constructed on trees or tree-tops, having familiars that help to transport both the rider and carry 'luggage' up and down safely has been a very important development. But, they do indeed have their limits, mostly when it comes to distance that isn't as vertical. Don't get me wrong, they will definitely save time travelling on land, but due to the high metabolism which requires frequent nectar breaks, it's more efficient to travel up or down a familiar, safe, blooming tree than across a forest with unexpected surprises and/or predators. For security measures, the people have chosen to prioritize moths with more bright and vivid colors, to mimic more unpleasant species to interact with for increased safety.

A relatively small critter, resembling a bee fly - Do I really need to explain why they made such good pets and companions? They've been bred to be fluffier and reduce in their wing span, they're bad at flights nowadays, but still use those for communication via friction. And, as omnivores, they're great at cleaning up leftovers.

Communities of river-valleys and wetlands have cultivated breeds of water-bugs to aid them with transportation across the in-land waters.

---

What all do have in common, is their limitations, and expenses for food and care. Which is why, with the progression and development of Alchemistry, instead of caring for the insects as companions - city folk have begun to turn to machines, inspired by the arthropod anatomies, to replace them. Powered by various complex engineering using fuels for heat or magnetic ores for electrical currents, these machines, while at first requiring an intensive planning and work to create and upkeep - gradually became more popular and efficient than farming lands. Travel by machines was not limited to certain climates, seasons, or environments. Their design did not discriminate against herbivore or carnivore. Structures inspired by swift predators that were untouchable to explore before - have now been studied and replicated. They could be adaptable and easy to upgrade if you had the means, and as the technological advancements became more contagious, the interest in generational breeding and farm-keeping had began to fall out of favor.

Yet, many still depended on their livestock for a living, and continue to upkeep the traditions and celebrate the animals that have aided them for centuries.

[chaoskirin]

Symbols of the Gods

Each god on Erit has two animal associations, which are used interchangeably. The first listed is the most common.

Drowlian: Lioness or leopard. Aurapax: Lion or butterfly. Petalvine: Doe or snail. Wheriae: Octopus or anglerfish Aeoniri: Dragon or nightingale Nebula: Moth or kitsune. Xax: Rat or cobra. Faoliia: Rainbow serpent or unicorn. Ziro: Burying beetle or meerkat. Ghiscaer: swift or bat. Antirrhopus: Velociraptor or goanna. Qit: Goat or turtle. Ivriarck: Firefly or electric eel. Kaneer & Shastaa: Phoenix or salamander.

I'll do some art of these eventually.

[rotten-pest]

2-5 things your muse can be easily identified by

Colors Light pink, more vivid than it has right to be. Deep dark red, like dried blood. Bone white, imperfect decay. The end that should not be.

Scents

Rotting wood, earthy, fresh. Where a corpse should be.

Sickly sweet illness, last breaths.

Soap.

Stench of decaying flesh, with acidic undertones.

Fashion -Commoner’s clothes, a disguise. A simple traveler, devout. -Red robes of the astrologer, unconcerned with stars when earth-bound gods have much more to do with fate. Another disguise. -Torn white linens. The first clothing she ever wore—stained, stolen. -Metal and richly colored fabrics, intermixed for a flashy but practical display—perfect for a mercenary. She didn’t know what attracted her to that man’s armor exactly, but she peeled it off his corpse nonetheless.

Objects

Two gently curved blades, made from dark metal, and tarnished by the influence of the Rot but yet to dull their edge.

Cleanrot knight’s gauntlets, refined and elegant. The traces of its former owner cling to it yet still.

A backpack, waterproofed and well worn—not hers originally.

Bone knife, more like a needle. Meant for one person.

Body language -A vacant, ever present smile, with nothing behind the eyes. -Curiosity, tilting her head back and forth. -The clicking of teeth together, a nervous tick carried over. -Standing very, very still, yet with all the intent and energy in her muscles as if she were about to spring.

Aesthetics

A zealot who seeks to kill her own god. A crisis of faith for one whose does not waiver. A heretic who disdains the faith of the flock. For one who portents the cycle of abundance and decay, she still fears death.

A praying mantis – beautiful, deadly, patient. Yet for all this, temporary.

Bogs, marshes, and swamps – often thought of negatively, their ecological diversity and greater services are greatly at odds with their inconvenience to people where their soft soils create unstable foundations and shallow, still and warm water transmits disease. What is taken must be given back; disruptions to their form and function results in tragedies, both swift and slow.

Butterflies and moths, fungi – tied to the wings of the Rot Goddess. Their larvae feed on the very plants they pollinate, tying them together intimately. Fungi serve many roles—disease causing and parasitic fungi take out the old trees that’d otherwise choke out any newer saplings from growing, shading out the understory. Decay fungi return nutrients to the soil. Mycorrhizae facilitate plants growth and communication.

Songs Ladies of the Woods – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt OST The Wrath - A Plague Tale OST Mystery Man - The Witcher 3: Hearts of Stone OST An Offering of Grief - Pallbearer If I Had a Heart - Fever Ray

Tagged by @hexenjagd

Tagging: pretty sure everyone I follow already got tagged ha so I'll just leave this as a do-as-you-will

[ailurocide]

:D OK OK I HAVE A LOT (and i’ll mark my asks w/ -🪷 just so inremember which asks i sent lol)

is there a in-universe reason as to why the fealty has a prefix-suffix naming system?

HECK YEAH TY LOTUS ANON!!

Prefix-Suffix Naming and it’s Origins

While the Fealty’s religion claims otherwise, historically, the Vale was initially settled by a few primarily felfolk families that all hailed from different sources. Some of these families that hailed from the distant mountains held distinctive two-part names: a given name and a family name.

[Ex: Gray Sky and Clear Sky, sons of Raining Sky. Tall Shadow and Slight Shadow, children of Moss Shadow. Etc.]

This was to prevent inbreeding as much as possible, and separate the bloodlines into families that could be awarded accomplishments onto the whole of their kin. They had no other purpose than to identify a felfolk by their family and to address them by.

These families were not alone, though, and were quickly joined by others who held varying names of their own, though most commonly, sounds or sights, plants or creatures of the Aerth.

[Ex: Birch and Alder, siblings. Bumble. Crackle. Etc.]

Over time, however, this became an inefficient way to identify folk, as with a sudden slew of plagues, temperature fluctuations, and territorial disputes that often ended in death, “honor” names began to crop up more and more, resulting in the exact same names for different folk, which was clunky and confusing rather than honorable, as intended. These names were then morphed into being either shortened or elongated, but the most popular means of this new sort of naming was to add a word that made them very pretty or aesthetic.

[Ex: Dying Ember, Dust of Chalk, Fluttering of a Moth. Etc.]

With more time, the stretching of these names morphed into a coming-of-age ceremony, in which a felfolk would receive one small part of their name, and then go on to gain the rest of it upon reaching adulthood. This eventually morphed into the longer, aesthetic names being shortened into just two words - a prefix and a suffix -, which would later become the modern Fealty’s way of naming.

These two-term names changed a lot over the ages.

The prefixes had come into existence, and were typically that of a folk’s appearance, usually color or pattern, or of an object that resembled their appearance. [Ex: A black cat being named “Shadow”. A golden cat being named “Honey”, after the golden substance. A gray cat being named “Clay” for the riverbank’s clay. Etc.] The suffixes came later on, and were a rite of passage for those born into the society that were slowly perfecting these names. The leaders of these groups as well as the individual’s dame would gather to discuss these suffixes, and certain words began meaning certain things: “Shadow is very aggressive and good at fighting, so they’ll be known as Shadowclaw. Honey is very sweet and small, so they’ll be Honeyberry. Clay is very sturdy, and they’ve got a distinctive stripe down their back, so they’ll be Clayback.” It soon became common practice that the suffix was to be symbolic of an individual’s skill, personality, or general competence, to display not only what they could best serve their faction with, but to silently boast with. There was still a lot of leeway and unspoken symbolism at this time with suffixes, however, and over time, their meanings became lost to time.

What did “storm” truly mean when in regards to a folk? What did “breeze”? “Shine”? It meant so many things. But when looking upon folk with suffixes evoking a body part, things became much clearer. It’s far easier to see that a folk named “-leg” is swift and sure-footed, rather than a folk named “-bright”, who is… What. Bright-eyed? Bright-furred? Mentally bright? Body part suffixes were adopted due to their simplicity, and their ability to convey a skill much more clearly.

Finally, folk sat down and etched out the meanings of each body part to bestow upon those earning their names. Gone now were the “-storm”, “-bounce”, etc that could be embodied into something far simpler to understand, something that could be far easier to remember and felt more solid rather than flowy and aesthetic. These names, the prefix and suffixes, finally came together smoothly, in a way that could prove to be recognizable and impressive in of themselves, as well as the figure that they represented.

Names carry great significance within the Fealty. In short, they’re meant to be used as a quick identifier, and to act as a representation of one’s identity, to help guide them to a path that would be best for themselves and for their faction as a whole.

The flower names came with the Evergreens.

[gyubby99]

@disneyanddisneyships ok so-

MALAPONI = REPUTATION AND LOVER

Okay let's discuss this.

Aponi = Lover

It might be a shock considering her edits, her songs, her fics of revenge, but she IS lover. She EMBODIES lover. Here's why I think Aponi is Lover.

First of all, she is the overlord of WHAT?? Love. Ofcourse Lover is a happy song! Lover is so happy, right?

No. If you look at the songs on the album, it is considered one of the saddest albums by swifties. We have songs like the archer, death by a thousand cuts, afterglow, SOON YOU'LL GET BETTER!!

I think the emotions each song represents, can all be found in Aponi. The anxiety of afterglow, wanting your lover to love you even if you lose your mind, even if you make mistakes, even if you sometimes cause them pain. The scathingly beautiful pain of death by a thousand cuts, the calm golden love of daylight, the sassyness of I Forgot That You Existed, the frustration of The Man, the beauty of Lover, and many many more songs. They all scream one name and that is Aponi Wings.

First off, Lover is more of a sunlit album. An album of love.

"But why are there songs about anxiety and breakups and cancer? If it's all about love?"

Well, it's to show that love isn't always all pink and happy and rainbows and sunshine, which most overlords and demons think about Aponi. That she is HARMLESS. Would never hurt a fly because she is the overlord of Love. Love comes with different things, different emotions. With love, there can be pain, frustration, anger, anxiety, agony even. We should not underestimate what love can do, and we should definitely not think of aponi as weaker than mal just because I in my very own opinion think that Aponi is Lover. A common misconception is that love is weakness, when in reality, it is one of the most powerful forces in the world. Without love, what would happen to the world?

The album Lover expresses the things that come with love aside from being happy. It also expresses something like self-hatred, abandonment issues, and overthinking which Aponi seems to have. Aponi, while being the overlord of love, can also go for blood. Aponi is flawed as well as love can sometimes be, and that is okay!

(Side note that she would fr marry alastor with paper rings)

Aponi to me is a woman that loves, but also knows better. She can love, but she also knows when to stop loving, and when to stand up for yourself. That makes her one of a kind in hell. She is what hell needs. Sure, it doesn't have songs like "dear john" or anything about sa but it has the gut-wrenching feeling like in the lyric "my heart, my hips, my body, my love. Tryna find a part of me that you didn't touch." From death by a thousand cuts. It's not the exact story but the spite, the hurt, the pain is similar.

Let's not forget that Aponi is popular in all the right ways! She is so nice and believes anyone can change for the good and that those who can does not deserve hell and deserves a second chance! She doesn't care what you did in the past, except if they're unforgivable.

And the fact that she takes care of her dancers at a club, her performers comfyness is her first priority, their equal pay, like she takes good care of them. Like, she is radiating this kinda glow that if you're a moth next to it you wouldn't be burned. Like she has a flame that wouldn't kill you but warm you. Like a safe place.. the feeling of a fireplace after walking through a snowstorm for hours.

Aponi as Lover makes total sense and I absolutely stand by my opinion.

Now let's move on to my daughter being REPUTATION.

MAL.

Reputation.. what comes in your mind first when you hear me say "Reputation album by Taylor Swift"?

Hm..

Could it possibly be.. a revenge album full of snakes? A clapback from the hate? A totally badass and fierce album?

Well, from the aesthetic, I can see why you thought of that. All black and white, snakes everywhere, angry songs..

But Mal.. what makes Mal reputation-coded?

Look, on the outside, it's a revenge album. Hell- even the cover is like some dark, badass, angry, out-to-kill vibe. (Who has those same vibes? Right.)

Look at the songs, though!

..Ready for it? End Game Delicate Don't blame me Gorgeous King of my heart Dancing with our hands tied Dress Call it what you want New year's day

Half the album = love songs

Okay maybe rep isn't that scary at all if you really listen and know the album. You know those swiftie videos of "what reputation actually looks like" and it's all photos of Taylor smiling widely on her tour, interacting with fans, looking into the crowd with that glint in her eyes.. just her being happy.

I think that this resonates with Mal, because I think she was fairly well-feared in hell, (especially venice) and while she likes it, she revels in other demons' misery, there's more to it than that.

I'd like to think she was meant to be a lover, but HAD to be a fighter. She was a really nice person who would never wish upon anyone what current Mal wishes on other demons and mortal humans themselves. Ofcourse she was a little mischevious and a troublemaker in her own way, and still is! She now realized she can be both, though.

Most people either hates mal or fears her. All they know about her is that she is two sides of the same coin when it comes to her promises and deal making. She's a trickster, an overlord out for blood in her hands taking on more than she can chew. She lives for the thrill of hell and how one big of a circus it is, and how much fun it is compared to the tight rules of heaven. It feels like she truly belonged here and the gods have decided that fate on her. She feels like this was meant for her. To bring bad luck was something she detested but at the same time was something she half-fully owned.

But I did say the same coin has two sides.

If you're someone like aponi, vox, anyone close to her, you'd know there's WAY more to it than a woman who likes being a literal gremlin who causes chaos and loves lying. Look at how she treats them! People who are important to her and makes her feel special. Mal is very putty and almost melts in vox's arms which is least expected from someone like her, she's helped aponi get throigh shit because she's as stubborn but like 5x more. Aponi says "No." She says "N O !" Velvette is her other soul sister that supports her a lot, Al is like a brother to her now, and they like talking about murder and witchcraft. Emma has the best mom she could ever ask for, Emilia (her bb cousin) had her soft spot, the hotel crew being treated like the found family you'd have a booze with snd laugh at their jokes. Her "lover" side shows ONLY with those people. Only with the people that can be trusted with it and SHE KNOWS they can be trusted with it.

She's caring, kind, honest.. in her own way. In a way that people consider a luxury. Once she lets you in that circle, you'll be treated so right. Kinda like how these love songs show a sense of loyalty, devotion, and just.. pure love and adoration for those people. Although she's not perfect and can anger you, irritate those nerves of yours on the brink of snapping, makes yiu cry sometimes, if she says she loves and cares about you, she's not going anywhere. That's the good luck you get.

So why I think all of this correlates with what swifties say about reputation is that we are the ones that Taylor loves and prioritizes, she's very protective of us, she looks at us like we're the ones who got her to where she is, she always says that swifties changed her life, and that there's nothing we cannot do for her. The revenge songs arent for us obviously. Those are for the rest of the world who watched and laughed as she mourned her reputation, but she slowly rose again, and better than ever.

So I do think that reputation is more of a love album than lover.. which is ironic because of what people think these two albums are based on ONLY aesthetic and name. There's more to her albums than their titles and themes. Hell, speak now is like a princess-like album and then you get songs like dear john and better than revenge. She threw a damn CHAIR during sparks fly!

So uh I guess my little brainrot rant ends here?

[thethingything]

still thinking about the seasons and wow I can't wait to see my dear friends marmalade hoverfly, elephant hawkmoth, vapourer, ribwort plantain, fox-and-cubs, rosebay willowherb, european garden spider, bittersweet, wood avens, shepherd's purse, wall rue, cabbage moth, ramsons, orange swift, common candy striped spider, light brown apple moth, herb robert, coltsfoot, common mallow, foxgloves, black medick, various unidentified craneflies, every local species of ladybird, and all the other 300+ species I've seen nearby

[foolsdiamond]

The Hunter and the Hunted

Chapter 4: A Fair Fight

This is an alternate universe multi-chapter story with alternating POVs between Dirk Strider and Jake English. In a world only vaguely inspired by the concept of Castlevania, vampire Hunter Jake is infiltrating vampire Dirk Strider's castle. Enemies to lovers, with frequent on-screen non-lethal character death, depictions of violence, homoeroticism, and chapter 6 contains explicit smut.

Beginning | Previous | Next

Dirk lays back on his bed, running his tongue over his lips at the taste of Jake’s blood in his mouth.  He relishes the lack of transference between splinters, and his swift death.  He's eaten a fair number of vampire hunters in his time, and certainly had a crush once or twice, but this sensation was different, he was sure.

If Dirk wanted to win, he would send another splinter into the room Jake has secured and take him out now, while he tends to his wounds.  If Dirk wanted to win, he would find a way to disable Jake’s guns, since even if he can put up a fight without them, it would significantly neuter his lethality.  If Dirk wanted to win, he would stop throwing his good splinters away for one-on-one combat that lasts a minute before being shot.

Dirk wonders if he can lure Jake in with the promise of a fair challenge.  He seems like the stupid muscle type, who might actually take to an offer like that.  Strider sits up, but collapses immediately from the intense dizziness.  That's right, he's still physically recovering from being domed repeatedly.  He'll rest, and let Jake have his, too, before leading him into his trap.

When Dirk awakens, he immediately feels between his splinters to glean a hint of Jake’s presence.  He finds him already long past the hallway, digging around in more dusty storage crates, stealing Strider’s hoarded medical supplies and a few stale scraps of food–bread far too stale to be called bread anymore.  Actually, that could be the perfect lure to use.

Dirk digs into the servant kitchen, and manages to scrounge up some dry cured sausage and some exceptionally aged cheese (dubious edibility); he lays them out with a wine that he hopes isn't vinegar yet.  Dirk then makes a sharp sound to draw Jake's attention this way.  Like a moth to the flame, Jake’s bloodlust leads him directly into the trap.  Dirk remains in the shadows, relying on the lack of light in these deep rooms of his castle to keep him concealed.  English rips through the kitchen until he's certain there's no dark presence.  Only then does he redirect his attention to the first meal he's eaten since arriving in Lotak.  

Dirk holds his breath as Jake digs in, constantly scanning his eyes around the room in anticipation of an attack.  He saves a small portion of the food, dropping it into his bag for later.  He then gives the wine a firm sniff before guzzling it–for a moment, it seems like he doesn't realize this is bad wine.  Maybe he's never had good wine before?  Or maybe he prefers it bad…?  No, those thoughts are too disappointing , Dirk decides.

Jake English wipes his mouth off with his sleeve, then wipes it a second time with the inside of his shirt. Now, he takes one final sweep of the room before moving on.  This is when Dirk decides to emerge, darting through the open doorway into the next room.

He's removed all the furniture from this small dining room, and made sure all of the candles along the walls were lit, just for this moment.  Dirk stands in the center of the room, both hands raised peacefully, when Jake enters with both guns drawn.  

“Let's have a fair match," Dirk says when Jake’s eyes land on him.

“Oh ho, you want me to drop my weapons and be defenseless.  Common vampire tactic!" Jake retorts.

“And I could just glamor you into submission.  I want a fair fight.”

Jake mulls it over before reluctantly opening his mouth.  "Your proposal?”

"We'll drop our weapons.  I already trimmed my claws,” he says, rotating one of his hands to show off his sloppy manicure to Jake.

"Did you do that with your fucking sword?” Jake says instantly.

Dirk doesn't respond.  He lets English enjoy the silence, then continues.  "Just a bare hand brawl.”

Pouting, Jake emulates the rhythm of Dirk’s pause before speaking himself.  “So the dangerous, deadly Vampire Lord, Prince of Lotak, puppeteer of a village of zombies, cloning mastermind!!!  Wants to engage in simple fisticuffs with this chap?" 

“Yup." 

“Because you have no hope against me if I'm armed," Jake grins, throwing both of his guns down.

“Oh no, you got me, exposed like a…poorly referenced metaphor.” Dirk monotones, dropping his sword onto the ground.  He cracks his knuckles, and Jake cracks his neck.

“And the rules?” English asks.

“I mean, we’re beating each other to death, right?  Do there need to be rules involved?”

“Absolutely!  If it’s going to be a fair fight, then we need to establish boundaries.  Like, no kissing this time,” Jake says.  He’s lowered himself a bit, feet spread, and is starting to bounce with anticipation.

“Why, scared you might like it?” Dirk responds immediately.  He instantly curses himself; he could have given a much better retort, or teased Jake differently.  Instead, he embarrassed himself by sounding like a child.

“Fuck no,” Jake snaps.  “In fact, I definitely do not like it.  Hence me wanting to make it a hard boundary.”

“Hard boundary, no kissing.  Got it.  Anything else you want to provide?”

Jake squints… thoughtfully?  He doesn’t seem to have many of those going on in his head in the first place.  “No grabbing below the belt, either,” he adds.

“No making out and no jerking each other off,” Dirk says.  “Sounds like you want a boring, vanilla fisticuff experience.”

Jake’s face fumes at that–Dirk can’t quite tell if it’s standard Catholic embarrassment from the mention of sex or offense from Dirk insulting the brawl Jake worked himself into the mood for.  

“We good?”  Dirk says, spreading his feet and mirroring Jake’s stance.

“Yeah, yeah.  …  And it’s to the death?”

“Yeah.  To the death.”

Jake slips off his coat and tosses it to the side along with his guns.  He has two daggers strapped to his thick thighs.  Dirk takes his cape off in response, but doesn’t call out the weapons his opponent revealed.  The implication is clear: Dirk can kill Jake with his bare hands; Jake can only hope to incapacitate this body, then he’ll need to stab his heart with silver.

Dirk makes the first move; Jake already had his defensive stance ready in anticipation.  Strider lands the first blow, too, aiming for his abdomen, slightly to the left.  Jake’s densely muscled core blocks most of the force, and he immediately wraps both of his hands around Dirk’s forearm, squeezing tight.  He launches the vampire upward, and Strider’s lighter body is flipped over Jake’s head and slammed onto the hardwood floor below.  Jake is on top of him in an instant, pinning his body to the ground to start wailing wildly across Dirk’s face and shoulders; none so much to damage anything specific, as to weaken him in general.

Dirk raises his hand and catches Jake’s fist before it snaps his glasses, knuckles white and forearm quivering from the strain.  Strider grabs his other wrist too, and throws English off of him before quickly jumping back up to his feet.  Dirk pounces before Jake can recover, sitting on his waist to keep him pinned down.  The hunter hollers, putting his arms over his face to bear the brunt of his opponent’s onslaught.

Dirk is calculated, mixing faints with heavy hits to try to land a blow between Jake’s defenses.  His knuckles break Jake’s nose, instantly releasing a flow of fragrant, hot blood.  English takes advantage of the pause in Strider’s pacing, grabs his wrist, and snaps it.  Despite Dirk’s natural resilience and accelerated healing, he recoils from the pain, and gets thrown off of Jake as a result.

Both men rise to their feet, shaking their limbs out.  Dirk grabs his broken wrist and resets it with a crack .  Jake cocks his head to the side, popping– exposing –his neck once more, and flinging sanguine drops of red across the dusty floor.  Strider grins, rolls his shoulders, and lunges forward.  Jake is ready, fist clenched, and shifts to the side so he not only dodges Dirk’s blow, but lands one dizzying punch onto the vampire’s jaw.  Strider spins, and a second punch to his spine knocks him back to the ground, face-down.  This time, immediately followed by Jake’s knee in the small of his back, and the sting of silver plunged through his shoulder blade and into his heart.

Dirk shoots awake abruptly, head pounding, chest aching.  His wrist, jaw, and back are all sore.  He can’t tell how long he’s been asleep, but he can only assume it’s been quite a while.  After having so many splinters cracked in such a short time, he is finding it difficult to regain himself as quickly after each death.  For now, he elects to lay there in the darkness of his room, clenching and relaxing his fists, stretching his body out slowly.

Dirk’s splinter sits on a stool at his vanity, staring at the blank wall through the shards of glass still clinging to the frame.  He, too, is experiencing the same pain as his main body, though less intensely.

“Bro,” he says, lowering his sunglasses down to look at himself on the bed.

“I know, I know.”

“ Bro. ”

“Anything constructive for me?” the Prince asks.

“You don’t even care that you’re running out of battle-ready doubles, do you?” the copy counters.

“I mean, I definitely do care.  This is an issue for sure.  But not exactly my top concern right now.”

“Your top concern is dangerously homosexual .  Did you even get good data from that battle?” the splinter asks.

“Are you talking about battle data, or bachelor data?” Dirk sighs.

“Bachelor is a funny term.  It assumes Jake English is both single and interested.  Given the general disposition of vampire hunters as puritanical, prudish, and Protestant, he’s doubly not in your league.  You should stop exchanging broken bones and spilled blood for sniffs of his sweat and feels of his butt.”

“Loving the implication I’ve felt his butt,” the main says, staring off into the distance thoughtfully.  “Although, I do have a pretty nice idea of how his body feels.  Beneath my knuckles, at least, but I can imagine those pecs under my fingertips.”

“This is surprisingly vulgar of you.  Particularly considering you spent most of the fight getting the shit kicked out of you.  Like, you absolutely ate unnecessary shit back there.  I’d just like to bring that up,” Dirk’s splinter points out.  He leans his elbow onto the vanity.

“Who can I be lewd to, if not myself?  You experience all of the same thoughts I do, so you’re also thinking about whether you felt a definite chub when he was sitting on your chest pummeling you.”

“To be clear, the answer is: I doubt it.  But I bet he felt your embarrassment pressing on him.”

Dirk frowns, and starts massaging his wrist.  “I can’t afford to give him time to heal,” he says plainly.

“I’m not going out there,” his splinter responds, tensing up.  “Who’s closest?  Actually, where the fuck even is he?”

Dirk stops for a minute, and closes his eyes.  All splinters floating through the castle in turn close theirs, until only one vision fills his mind completely.  Through this lens, he’s able to spy throughout the building and locate the damaged hunter.

[aduelbetweenkingdomsafreshstart]

ADBK: Killer Needle

Epithet: The Swift Stinger

Voice Actor: Charlie Adler

Tribe: The Arthropod Empire

Biography: The armies of the Arthropod Empire are vast, and many of Insect Queen's generals command up to a thousand bugs at a time, many of them clones of several commanders. This is one of the most common along with Basic and Big Insects. Killer Needles have a similar mentality to hornets, slicing and dicing as much as using their stingers to inject poison into their enemies!

The main commander of these buzzing bombers is nicknamed Vesper, and she commands these sisters of the skies with all the grace of a swarm of locusts!

She's often paired with the Moth Twins, and is very devout in her worship of them and Insect Queen. Vesper will protect them with her life, and has died for them on multiple occasions.

However, much like Machines from the Machinations, Insect Queen can respawn commanders and their minions as easy as any factory. As such, she's gained many enemies and fought many battles over her campaigns. So the next time you hear a great cacophony of buzzing, run in the opposite direction!

[metro--station]

so this is an intro post

hi loves <3

i am a teenage girl. if you want pronouns, it's she/her. i won't be posting my pics or sum like that but i will tell you that i have dark brown hair and very dark brown eyes, i'm kinda short and very pale

i won't say my name, at least not yet, but it starts with J and it isn't very common and i do like it

i love cats with my whole heart. black ones are the best but i love them all. ravens are so underrated like huh? they're smart and look great and i'm going to stop myself here before it'll get too far. i also like moths, idk, there's something about them.

i love little nightmares and hunger games. my fav characters are Six and Johanna. i also love reading and all kinds of art, but music has a special place in my heart, i am listening to music 24/7, i listen to all kinds of music, but i really like phonk. God's revenge by Feerix is my favourite. i'll link it down here ↓

guys give it a try i love it

my other fav artists are Isabel LaRosa (my love), Crystal Castles (but I fully support Alice), Ellise, Billie Eilish and many others. to give this a bit of contrast, i also listen to Taylor Swift and ABBA and these people and i love romcoms. no one is plain.

i am also crazy about psychology and i really want to study it. i am interested in personality disorders (especially bpd) - that means i love to research them, find new stuff about them, you know

i'll be posting here some stuff i like and think it's fitting here. i also want this to be a safe space for mentally ill people since i might not be mentally healthy, but even if i was, i know it's hard, and i hope you'll feel safe somewhere. it doesn't have to be there, but somewhere. this doesn't add only to mentally ill people, but to anyone. that means that if i'd add anything harmful, which i'll do my best to avoid, but something can be triggering for someone, i'll delete it and apologize if needed.

i don't know how i came up with the name métro station. i'm not french btw, i am Slavic, from Eastern Europe, and maybe it's because it sounds similar to how you say subway station in my native language, and métro station kind of describes the way my style looks. i really don't know, don't ask about the thought process, it just happened one night

okay i think that's all, you'll found out the rest if you'll keep an eye on this blog