#do not ingest bees

[shaleclaw]

Some wonderful art by @cosmalumi of my little horse Clover Patch in the midst of... A clover patch! She was meant to look like her namesake, and this really illustrates it!

Thank you so much, my friend! ^^

[bunnis-monsters]

How would we "give birth" to bee hybrids?

Bc obviously theres egg, but do we lay them like bees do in the honeycomb?

Or do we give birth like a person would?

This is actually highly debated amongst different hives.

Some believe laying eggs in a honeycomb is both the most natural and best way to go about birthing. It’s what bees did and their ancestors did, so that’s what they should do!

There are others that say incubating them in your womb and giving birth to them live creates more loyal subjects that will stick to their queen through anything!

The truth? Either way is fine and gets the job done. There’s very little information to back up which way is better for the baby bees, as giving birth to live babies is new and hasn’t had a higher mortality rate than laying eggs into a comb.

Scientist bees are still collecting data from different hives to see which way is truly the best method… but I’d say it depends on the mother and what she thinks is best for her own body.

Just like some mothers think ingesting honey straight from the father’s own collection will help build their immunity, others think introducing the little ones to a wide array of honeys at an early age can make sure they’re healthy and will make better honey later in life. It’s a simple difference of opinion that makes no real difference either way.

A baby that survives incubation is a good baby, whether it’s from birthing or being laid by their mother.

Good job mamas, you’re doing your best!

a/n: tried to make this read like an article from a mommy blog that tries to stay neutral on topics lol

[edenesth]

Until Death Claims Us

Pairing: vampire!Hongjoong x human!reader (+ a bit of boyfriend!Seonghwa x girlfriend!reader)

AU: vampire au

Word Count: 5.3k

Summary: You were a fool to believe you could save him. You should have heeded everyone's warnings to run, but now you found yourself in need of saving—from him, the very embodiment of the devil.

Genre: angst, horror

Rating: Mature (M)

Trigger Warnings: violence, implied sexual assault, emotional abuse, kidnapping, gore and blood, coercion, isolation (being trapped/cut off from loved ones), substance use, death, self-harm, suicidal thoughts

A/N: Happy Halloween, folks! This contains dark themes and is not my typical cutesy little romance fic (been feeling violent lately), you've been warned.

ATEEZ MASTERLIST

"You're being such a good girl today," he taunted, pulling back slightly from your neck. The skin was bruised and ruptured from his relentless biting, a trail of blood staining the silk of your robes. "I wasn't expecting this—especially after the little show we put on for your poor loverboy yesterday. What was his name again? Park Seonghwa, wasn't it?"

You lay still beneath him, your gaze fixed on the familiar ceiling you'd come to know all too well during each struggle, each time he took you against your will.

"It's over, Hongjoong," you murmured, and his grin only widened as he licked his bloody fangs, mocking. "Over? For whom? You know you're mine, don't you? I'm not letting you go. Not now, not ever, my pet."

A small smile crossed your lips. "Exactly. I'm counting on that. I don't plan on leaving without you either. I won't let you hurt or threaten the people I love again—my boyfriend, my brother, my best friend..."

His eyes narrowed at your words. "What are you—" But before he could finish, the poison you'd ingested began to take hold, creeping through him bit by bit. He gasped, his hand clutching his heart. "Wh-what have you done?"

You chuckled bitterly, a trickle of blood trailing from your nose. "Wolfsbane and monkshood, enough to kill us both within the hour."

He gasped at your words. Vampires were immune to many things, but the herbs you'd named were among the deadliest known to any living thing—even to his kind. His claws flew to your neck, tightening as he growled, "Are you out of your goddamned mind, woman?!"

You smirked humourlessly. "Go ahead. End me now. It'd be a mercy."

Realising the force of his grip on your throat, he released you quickly, a shaky hand brushing your face as he noticed the blood trickling from your nose. If the poison was already taking a toll on him, your mortal body must be suffering a thousand times worse. "Do you really hate me this much?"

You shook your head, pulling your face away from his touch, but he only grasped you again, forcing you to meet his gaze—just as forceful as ever. That was the Kim Hongjoong you knew. "You're joking, right? You took me from my family, my friends, my… my lover, and forced me to stay by your side, to be fed on and used as you pleased. What else could I feel for you?"

He furrowed his brows, the pain in his chest intensifying as he struggled to keep his focus. "But, darling, I did it because I love you. I've told you over and over. If you weren't so stubborn, you could've been my queen. I was going to turn you—"

Tears of disgust welled up in your eyes as memories of this endless nightmare resurfaced. Weeks, months… you'd lost track. Maybe your family would know how long you'd been gone. "Love? You call this love? You don't torture someone you claim to love. You don't even know what that word means, you monster!"

Regret.

Immense, suffocating regret was all you felt. It had consumed you from the moment you'd fallen into Hongjoong's trap, ensnared by his cunning words and dark allure.

It hadn't always been this way.

⸸

"Ow!" you yelped, clutching your scraped knee as you eased yourself into a sitting position, recovering from the clumsy fall. You should have watched where you were going, but your mind had been lost in thought, still sulking over your cancelled plans. Your boyfriend had last-minute work obligations, leaving you disappointed after you'd looked forward to your date all day. Worse still, both your brother and best friend had their own commitments, so you were left to walk home alone, wishing Seonghwa were there to pick you up.

"Hey there, you alright?" a warm voice interrupted, and you looked up to see a stranger standing beside you, his hand extended politely, yet without touching.

And that was how you met him, on a chilly autumn evening. Kim Hongjoong had been so kind, so gentle, as you spilt your frustrations to him. He listened with a soft smile, guiding you to a nearby bus stop, supporting you with a careful hold, and tending to your wound with a small bandage. Before leaving, he draped his coat around your shoulders, leaving you with a comforting warmth.

How sweet of him.

What you didn't know was that as he walked away from you that night, his soft smile faded, replaced by a dark scowl. His fists clenched at his sides, and he cursed himself under his breath. He had planned to drain you right there on that empty street; it was the sweet scent of your blood that had drawn him to you in the first place. But the moment he saw you—eyes wide, vulnerable, and tangled in frustration—something inside him shifted, and he had done something he'd never done before: he spared his prey.

Had it been any other woman, she would have lost her life in an instant. It went against his nature to let a meal walk away unharmed. But you had been different somehow, your innocence tugging at some long-buried part of him he'd rather keep forgotten. "Pathetic," he muttered, disgusted with himself, before casting a glance over his shoulder, watching you as you disappeared from sight, his coat still wrapped around you.

"Another time," he murmured to himself, eyes narrowing with resolve. If he saw you again, he wouldn't hesitate.

Another time, human.

"Babe? What's this?" your beloved's voice called out, and an instant smile lit up your face as you turned to greet him that evening. "Hwa, you're home!" But as you tried to rush to him, a sharp pang in your knee held you back, and his eyes quickly caught the slight wince. In an instant, he was at your side, Hongjoong's coat discarded on the chair beside you.

"What happened? Are you okay?" he asked, worry furrowing his brow as he knelt beside you, inspecting the bandage.

You laughed sheepishly. "I may or may not have tripped over my own foot. But a kind stranger helped me out—he's the one who gave me his coat." You nodded toward the garment that Seonghwa had been eyeing earlier. "He found me by the side of the road, got me to a bus stop, and made sure I was alright before he left."

Guilt flashed across your boyfriend's face as he cupped your cheek, his thumb gently stroking your skin. "I'm so sorry I had to cancel, baby. It's my fault you were out there alone. Does it still hurt?"

You shook your head, leaning into his touch. "Not anymore. You're here now, and that's all that matters."

His expression softened as he pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead. "Well, I'm just relieved someone was there to help. Good thing that man found you."

At the time, you nodded in agreement, warmth spreading through you at the thought. But if you had known then what you knew now, you would have wept, realising that this was only the beginning of a nightmare you could never have anticipated.

⸸

Falling into his orbit had been so easy.

"It's you!" you beamed as you stepped out of your workplace, your face lighting up at the sight of the kind stranger who had offered his coat and helped you just days before. The man smiled, his expression warm and charming as he nodded.

"It is me. I was just passing by and noticed you finishing up your shift," he said. "Heading home now?"

You nodded, stepping closer. "I am! And I actually have your coat all cleaned and ready, but I didn't bring it with me today. I can return it to you next time you pass by."

He chuckled, his gaze unwavering. "Why wait? I'll walk you home now, and you can give it to me there."

Maybe you should have been more cautious about leading a stranger to your doorstep. But he was your saviour, after all—surely you could trust him… right? If only you had thought twice back then, if only.

"Would you like to come in for a bit? It's a little chilly outside; let me just grab your coat real quick," you said, hurrying inside, leaving the door open behind you as you went to find it. Unhurried, the vampire stepped in, his eyes alight with satisfaction. Your scent filled the space, sweet and intoxicating. He took a slow breath, biting back the urge to sink his teeth into you right then. How awfully trusting you were—it made him want to draw this out, savouring the game.

He wandered into your living room, pausing at the wall lined with photos. His gaze darkened slightly as he took in the images of you with another man, holding you close, kissing you in some. Ah, yes, the lover. His lips twisted in a faint sneer, though when you returned with his coat folded neatly in your arms, he met you with a polite smile.

"Let me guess," he said smoothly, pointing to a photo, "this must be the lucky guy who had to cancel on you that night?"

You glanced at the picture and nodded, smiling. "That's him—my boyfriend. He was really grateful you were there to help me out."

Hongjoong's grin widened ever so slightly, amusement flashing in his eyes. "Grateful, is he?" he murmured, his voice silky, almost too smooth.

But you missed the glint of slyness in his tone, sending him off with a wave and a warm smile. Later that night, the vampire clutched the coat to his face, breathing in your scent with a low growl, his grip tightening. He hadn't realised until now how intoxicating the pull was, but he knew one thing for sure: this coat would never leave his grasp again—not until he had you for himself.

Once again, he had spared you.

But this time, it wasn't mercy—it was control. He'd see just how long you would continue to trust him, let him in. And then, he thought with a twisted smirk, he would show you exactly who he was as he drained every drop from you.

If you thought that would be the last time you'd see him, you were sorely mistaken. Almost every evening after that, he would appear outside the cafe just as your shift ended, leaning against the lamppost as though he'd been waiting.

"Want some company on the way home?" he'd ask, his voice always gentle, words wrapped in warmth as he mentioned it was on his way anyway.

And so, you'd let him walk beside you, night after night. He always seemed to know just what to say, as though he could read your mind. Every word was perfectly timed, his soft laughter like music that drew you in before you even realised it. He began to open up about his life, weaving tales of heartbreak and loneliness that tugged at your heart, his voice so sincere that it was easy to believe him.

"They say life is easier with someone who truly understands you," he'd murmur, eyes dark and searching as he glanced your way. He'd mention how it felt to be isolated, misunderstood—and somehow, it felt like he was talking to you, like he was a lost soul just waiting for the right person to come along.

And he'd pause, his gaze softening. "It's rare to find someone who… just gets it, you know?"

You'd nod, heart aching, wanting so badly to be that someone, to fill that void you thought you saw in him.

You had no idea then that he was slowly slipping under your skin, blurring the lines of trust and intuition until you found yourself more invested in him than you ever thought possible. That he wasn't seeking connection or friendship—he was weaving a web, each thread perfectly placed. And all along, his hunger lay just beneath the surface, patiently waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.

If only you had known what it meant to be the "friend" of a vampire.

⸸

Then there was that night in the park.

You'd found him sitting alone on a bench, his figure slouched, his head bowed as though the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. His expression was distant, empty, as he stared down at his hands—hands that seemed unblemished but, if only you'd known, had just left a trail of lives snuffed out too soon. No human could have sensed it, but his hunger for you was unmatched, something primal that no other blood could satisfy, not even the hapless souls he'd claimed just hours before.

But you, blissfully unaware of the darkness around him, only saw someone you thought of as a friend. Someone you might save, if you showed him kindness. Your heart ached at the sight, and you quietly sat beside him, reaching out to take his hand. His fingers were cool against yours, a chill that settled into your skin, but you brushed it off as a sign of the evening's autumn air.

"Everything alright, my friend?" you asked, your voice soft, filled with worry you didn't understand.

He didn't even glance up, yet he squeezed your hand lightly, as though your presence had grounded him. "I… I think I might've done something I'm not exactly proud of," he murmured, his voice trembling just enough to pull at your heart.

You sighed, your thumb tracing small circles on his hand, offering him a gentle squeeze without pressing him to share. "It's okay, Joong. I… I know your life hasn't been easy. Whatever it was, you probably had no choice." You gave him a small, reassuring smile. "Nobody's perfect. I just want you to know you'll always have a friend in me."

As you spoke, he finally looked at you, but there was a sharp glint in his eye, a brief, almost predatory gleam that flickered just for a moment. And though you noticed the faint trace of crimson near his collar, you dismissed it as a trick of the streetlight or perhaps a stain from a spill. Why would you have thought any differently?

What you didn't know was that every word, every gesture, was like fuel to his fire. He'd lured you in, time and again, feeding off your kindness, growing closer with each moment, all the while concealing what lay beneath that soft, gentle exterior. And you, too blinded by trust, saw only the broken soul he wanted you to see, never realising just how deeply you'd fallen into his hands.

If you'd known what he was hiding, you'd have run. But then, if he had his way, running wouldn't have saved you.

⸸

Regret. Deep, suffocating regret washed over you as you recalled how blindly you'd trusted a stranger you barely knew, dismissing every warning from those who loved you.

"Babe, I really don't have a good feeling about this guy you've been talking to," Seonghwa murmured one evening, wrapping his arms around you from behind as you washed the dishes. "I know he helped you that night, but his actions lately…"

You'd bitten your lip, drying your hands before turning to embrace him, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. "I know it seems strange, Hwa, but he honestly just feels like someone who needs a friend. Maybe I'll introduce you two someday."

You had brushed off his concerns, convincing yourself you were just being overly cautious. How could you have known then what lurked beneath Hongjoong's warm smile and attentive gaze? The way he listened, the kindness in his eyes—it all felt genuine. But now, those memories were shadowed by the haze of your own naivety.

Thinking back to Seonghwa's concerned eyes and protective arms, the ache in your chest deepened. He had only wanted to shield you, to keep you safe, but you'd shrugged off his worries like scattered autumn leaves that night in the park. How could you have ignored the instincts of those who loved you?

You remembered your brother's warning too. "He knows you have a boyfriend, right? Then why is he still so…" he sighed, catching the frown on your face. "Just be careful around him, noona." His brow had been furrowed, his voice tinged with the protectiveness you'd come to expect from him.

Even your best friend had weighed in. "Gurl, he's hot, single, and lonely? Maybe he could use someone like me as a distraction!" she teased, laughing before her face turned serious. "But honestly, your brother and Hwa are right. You don't know him that well. Stranger danger, babe. You shouldn't be so trusting."

At the time, you'd laughed it all off, buoyed by a sense of invincibility in your own trust and optimism. But now, standing face-to-face with the darkness beneath Hongjoong's charm, the weight of every ignored warning settled heavily on your conscience. He'd played you, twisted your kindness into his own weapon, feeding on your good intentions to serve his own dark needs. If only you had listened.

⸸

"I find myself in a dire situation and in need of your help. If your words are sincere and your care for me as genuine as you've claimed, then please, come to me at once."

You should have heeded their warnings on that fateful day. As you picked up the note outside the cafe, your name scrawled across it, you noticed the handwriting—almost ancient, as if penned with a quill. It was signed by Hongjoong and carried an urgent request for you to come to his residence immediately.

As you read, questions flooded your mind.

First, why had he never exchanged numbers with you? Did he even own a phone? You realise now you've never seen him with one. His communication felt so… archaic. Perhaps he was simply a fan of old-fashioned ways, though the thought brought little comfort.

Then there was the urgency—what could he need you for so desperately? If he'd come all the way to leave the note, why not just speak to you? It struck you then that he'd never entered the cafe, never bought a drink, or even lingered to chat.

And the address… secluded in the middle of nowhere. Why would he live so far from everyone? A shadow of doubt tugged at you, urging you to reach out for advice from those who cared about you. But against your better judgement, you let the image of his pleading, dark eyes linger in your mind. Before you knew it, you were on your way, heart racing with anticipation and dread.

Each step felt heavier than the last, the echoes of your loved ones' warnings circling through your mind. Yet you pushed them aside, drawn by an inexplicable pull to see him again. It was as if you were stepping toward a dark abyss, its presence invisible yet pressing close. The setting sun cast long shadows, stretching as if to hold you back. But the illusion of connection, once so warm and real, propelled you forward.

As you reached his residence—a grand, ancient mansion, the air turned colder, a chill that crept down your spine. You paused at the door, dread settling in your stomach as if the very walls whispered the warnings you'd ignored. Was this a terrible mistake? You took a deep breath, pushed aside your hesitation, and knocked, the sound seeming to dissolve into the gathering twilight.

"You're here, at last, my dear," he murmured, voice dripping with sarcastic satisfaction. He turned, and in an instant, the false warmth vanished, twisting into a grin that revealed razor-sharp fangs.

"I've been waiting. And I'm starving."

⸸

Has it been days... or weeks?

"Wh-what the hell are you doing...?" you choked out, pressing a trembling hand to your neck to staunch the blood trickling from the bite he'd left. You were sprawled across his bed, barely able to move, every ounce of strength drained from you. Above, he stood with your phone in hand, snapping photos of you with a twisted, relished focus—capturing every vulnerable angle as if he were savouring an art piece on display.

"Making a collection to send to your little boyfriend, of course," he said, tone laced with mockery.

Your heart plummeted at the mention of Seonghwa. "N-no..."

Hongjoong smirked, his eyes dark and cold. "Oh, don't worry, darling. He wouldn't dare interfere if he knew what was good for you. And you'll behave yourself too, won't you? Wouldn't want anything happening to your precious family and friends, after all."

It hit you then—the grim reality. Your life as you knew it was over. He was a centuries-old monster, a bloodthirsty fiend who had you completely at his mercy. You were a mortal trapped in his web, no longer a person but a mere vessel to sate his hunger and whims.

Escape was a fleeting dream; you were too weak, too vulnerable. But in the dark corners of your mind, one thought persisted—an escape of a different kind. If you could somehow slip from this existence, you might at least put an end to this misery. Yet a lingering fear held you back: Seonghwa, your family, your friends. Were they still out there, searching for you, hearts heavy with worry? The thought of them stepping into this nightmare in a desperate attempt to find you gnawed at your soul.

You could take any fate for yourself, but the idea of your loved ones in harm's way was a weight you couldn't bear. So you swallowed back the dread, praying that they would find peace, that they would move on, even if you couldn't.

⸸

"Smile, darling. Loverboy has come to see you."

You gasped, a weak cry escaping your lips as his weight pressed you deeper into the mattress. You could barely push back against him, every ounce of strength drained, yet you clung to the disbelief—he couldn't have brought Seonghwa here. Not to witness this, not to see you in this state, drugged and used as Hongjoong's plaything. It had to be another one of his twisted games.

But as you turned your head to the window, horror struck you. There, just outside, stood your boyfriend. His eyes were wide, a mix of shock and agony contorting his face as he registered the scene before him: his first love, his entire world, bare and broken beneath another's hands.

A strangled sob left you as you watched him stumble back, his gaze a shattered mess of disbelief and betrayal. And then, without another glance, he turned and fled. The monster above you let out a dark chuckle, pressing a bruising kiss to your lips before pulling back with a smug, twisted satisfaction.

"And there he goes," he murmured, the words dripping with poison. "That should do it—no more foolish rescue attempts, no more endless searching. Just you and me, my dear. Don't worry; I'll take care of you from now on."

You lay there, his words echoing in your mind, the last remnants of your heart breaking into pieces. Your tears spilt freely, soaking the pillow beneath you as the reality sank in. With your boyfriend now gone, the final shred of hope and sanity within you slipped away. Yet, beneath the ache, something sharper flickered to life—a resolve you hadn't known you could possess.

The emptiness left you with nothing to lose. Hongjoong thought he'd finally won, thought he had you in his grasp forever. But he didn't know the lengths you'd go to escape him, the price you were willing to pay.

As your tears dried, you knew—if this was to be your end, he was going down with you.

⸸

Staring down at the wolfsbane and monkshood you'd collected, carefully wrapped in a small piece of parchment, your hands trembled. This was it. Once you took them, there would be no going back—the amount you'd prepared was enough to kill a bloodsucker within an hour, let alone you, a mere mortal. You took a shaky breath, steeling yourself to swallow the bitter herbs.

But just as you brought the packet closer, footsteps echoed down the hall, deliberate and unhurried. Heart racing, you hurriedly tucked the packet beneath the bed, barely managing to slide it out of sight as Hongjoong sauntered into the room, his gaze settling on you with that ever-present glint of sadistic amusement.

"Aww, look at you," he purred, eyes narrowing with mock sympathy. "Missing loverboy already, hm?" He let the words linger, watching the tension twist in your expression. "I am sorry he might not return the sentiment. Not anymore. Maybe you should just focus on me, darling." He crawled onto the bed, his movements slow and taunting, each slithering inch bringing him closer until his familiar, bone-chilling embrace enveloped you once more. The kind of hold that wrapped around your very spirit, pulling you down like an anchor.

The image of Seonghwa's face, etched with horror, surfaced in your mind, and you bit your lip to keep from crying out. How could he have been forced to see you like this? Swallowing hard, you clenched your fists, determined not to give this monster the satisfaction of seeing your tears.

But his lips grazed your neck, chilling as they pressed over the bruised, unhealed bite marks that would likely never get the chance to heal. A shiver raced down your spine. The coldness of him… It was like every hope of escape was slipping further away.

"Joong…" you whispered, voice barely audible. You felt him freeze for a moment at the sound of his name, the way you'd once used it back when you'd believed his act. Back when you'd truly cared for him. The silence stretched, the flicker of tension you'd caught in him melting back into amusement.

"Before I came here... before all of this…" your voice cracked, but you forced yourself to continue, needing to see if there was even a fraction of humanity left in him. "Was there ever one moment where the side you showed me was sincere?"

His eyes darkened, amusement shifting into something almost unreadable. His expression stayed carefully composed, but his grip tightened, as though he sensed the question held more weight than he was prepared to deal with. For a moment, you thought you saw something there—guilt, maybe, or regret? But it was gone in an instant, replaced by that cold, detached gaze.

"Oh, my poor, naive love," he murmured, voice soft but devoid of empathy. "Sincere? That side of me was whatever you wanted it to be. And it did its job beautifully, wouldn't you agree?" His lips curled into a smirk, as though he savoured the pain reflected in your eyes.

With that answer, a profound calm settled over you, solidifying the choice you'd been struggling with. He had no redemption. No humanity. And soon enough, he'd feel what it was like to be powerless, too. The herbs were just beneath the bed, waiting to release you both from this wretched game.

And it would be soon.

⸸

Your own recklessness had led you here; there was no one else to blame. And yet, the thought of Seonghwa tightened painfully around your heart. He had been everything—the one you imagined beside you in every future, the light in all your darkest moments. Now, he was left only with the haunting image of you powerless, taken by the monster who loomed over you.

The vampire had turned your suffering into a twisted show, a grotesque performance designed to break every last bit of faith Seonghwa held for you. How could he possibly still love you after witnessing this? How could anyone?

But perhaps that was for the best. If it meant he'd let go of the desperate need to search for you, you could leave this world knowing no one would mourn your tainted existence. And with that bleak acceptance, your resolve crystallised. Hongjoong had unknowingly given you all the tools you needed, and you were finally ready to use them. The knowledge from his library, the herbs in his greenhouse—all his arrogance had left him exposed.

You'd consumed more than enough of the poison just before his feeding time, driven by a singular determination to end this—no more hesitation.

The venom surged through your veins, dizzying yet invigorating, each heartbeat counting down to your final moments—and his. You focused on that thought as his grip on you began to waver, his dominant presence starting to crumble as the poison took effect.

As your vision began to blur, clarity sharpened in your mind. This wasn't just an escape; it was vengeance. The thought fueled the last remnants of strength in your body.

"Do you feel that, Kim Hongjoong?" you whispered, forcing your voice to hold steady despite nausea clawing at you. "This is the end for you, and I'll die knowing you'll never hurt anyone else again."

He looked down at you, disbelief flickering into grim acceptance, and then, to your surprise, a small grin crept across his lips. He lay down beside you, fingers reaching out to entwine with yours. "You sly little fox… this is why I love you so much. No one else could have done this to me, no matter how they tried. At least we'll be together in the afterlife. I may be dying, but I'll die happy knowing I've won over Park Seonghwa."

The poison surged stronger with every heartbeat, each pulse dragging you deeper into the icy grip of darkness as the final remnants of your strength began to fade. "You're delusional, Kim. You'll have me... only until death claims us."

⸸

"No! No, it can't be!" Seonghwa's voice tore through the night, raw and desperate as he tried to break free from the arms restraining him. His screams cut the air, his cries echoing in the vast, empty silence that had settled around the mansion. But the police officers, your brother, your best friend—everyone held him back from reaching you… or what was left of you.

If only you could have held on just a moment longer. The sirens had drawn near, filling the air with the promise of help, of escape, but they'd come too late. Your boyfriend had done the only thing he could, knowing that a rash attempt to rescue you would have meant his death too. He'd left after seeing you one last time, shattering as he took in the horror of your suffering, knowing you'd endured all this while he searched tirelessly for you.

Now, at last, he was here, hands still reaching out for you, ready to bring you back into his arms—but all that was left was an empty, still form entwined in the lifeless arms of the very monster who'd stolen you from him. His sobs were relentless, tearing from his chest as he stumbled forward, pleading, his body wracked with the pain of a thousand what-ifs.

If only he had fought harder to keep you by his side. If only he hadn't cancelled that night. If only he'd never let you cross paths with Hongjoong. The blame—merciless, relentless—wrapped around him like a noose, each regret tightening its hold.

This ache would follow him, a cycle of blame and guilt that would haunt him for the rest of his life. He would never be the same.

I'll join you soon, my love.

This has got to be one of my personal favourites, I do love me some sadistic shit from time to time. Hope y'all enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it!

As always, thank you for reading and let me know your thoughts! <3

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[rottenpumpkin13]

If you asked AGSZC and Kunsel, What do Hojo and Sephiroth have in common?

Sephiroth: "We both exist, which is already one too many."

Zack: That specific laugh that makes everyone in a five-mile radius deeply uncomfortable. Sephiroth's laugh when he finds something amusing is the same one Hojo makes while watching a failed experiment. Zack didn't sleep for three days when he realized it. Both also have this way of making perfectly normal sentences sound like death threats. Sephiroth once thanked Zack for holding an elevator and Zack cried himself to sleep that night.

Genesis: He realized that they both have an extraordinary talent for turning innocent situations into psychological torture. One time, Genesis offered Sephiroth some warm milk and received a 20-minute dissertation on the precise temperature at which dairy becomes lethal. With citations. This happens frequently.

Genesis: Would you like some honey? Sephiroth: Did you know honey is essentially bee vomit? They ingest nectar, partially digest it, then regurgitate it into the hive. Genesis: That's vile. Go complete a coloring book.

Angeal: He thinks they're both monumentally stubborn, though in different ways. Hojo refuses to acknowledge basic human rights, while Sephiroth refuses to acknowledge basic human needs like sleep and food that isn't coffee and convenience meals. At least Sephiroth is adorable and Angeal can feed him.

Post-Nibelheim Cloud: "They're both bastards."

Kunsel: He has a whole email list that shows why he thinks Hojo and Sephiroth have nothing in common.

URGENT EMAIL SUBJECT: The Truth About Sephiroth's Parentage Fellow truth-seekers, I have it on good authority (a mysterious source who only communicates through cryptic messages from the village of Nibelheim) that Hojo isn't Sephiroth's real father. I mean, have you seen Sephiroth? He's so nice! There's no way he's Hojo's kid. P.S.: Genesis would like everyone to know that he's still accepting members for his "Survivors of Concerning Sephiroth Conversations" support group. They meet every Wednesday and yes, there is complimentary dumbapple juice.

[1313ablackcat1313]

Herbs and Their Purposes

Going through some of my witchy journals and sharing things that I have collected over the years.

Amaranth: reduces swelling, helps stomach flu symptoms, repairs broken hearts Angelica: aids colic, helps hepatitis symptoms, protects your home and garden Basil: eases stomach cramps, eases insect bites and stings, helps reduce fevers, banishes negativities, aids in keeping love Bee Balm: makes a sedative tea, attracts fairies Calendula: helps gum disease, encourages psychic development Chamomile: helps insomnia, eases sores, attracts money, protects home, aids meditation Comfrey: heals wounds, bruises, and broken bones, provides travel protection Daisy: helps headaches, brings good luck Dandelion: detoxifies liver, promotes circulation, aids clairvoyance Eucalyptus: works as insect repellent, aids health, provides purification Garlic: works as a natural anti-biotic, dispels negativity, protects the house Heather: suppresses coughs, aids sleep, guard against violent crime Hyssop: aids lung ailments, used in purification baths Lavender: eases nervous tension and stress, used in healing incenses and sachets Lemon Balm: eases bee stings, headaches and colds, used in healing and friendship spells Marjoram: helps asthma symptoms, cough, strengthens intestines, eases grief, protects home Myrrh: works as a powerful antiseptic, used to consecrate and purify ritual tools Patchouli: eases dysentery, diarrhea, and nausea, wards off evil Rose: nourishes skin, purifies blood, aids in love spells Sage: eases laryngitis symptoms and stomach troubles, aids in spiritual purification, banishes evil Soloman's Seal: helps tuberculosis symptoms, helps diabetes symptoms, used in cleansing Spearmint: makes a facial astringent, used in spells for courage Star Anise: eases stomach disorders, wards off evil eye St. John's Wort: helps depression symptoms, heals wounds, banishes negativity Thyme: used as an antiseptic, if used in a pillow it wards of nightmares Witch Hazel: eases insect bites and burns, twigs used for diving, mends broken hearts Wormwood: helps ease liver and bladder symptoms, aids clairvoyance Yarrow: stimulates the liver, eases toothache, wards off negativity, repels fear Yellow Dock: purifies blood, aids in spells for happy homes

****DISCLAIMER**** Do NOT take internally with out a doctor's supervision. Misuse can be FATAL. Do not ingest if allergic. Please see a doctor for all ailments described above.

[greenwitchcrafts]

Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis

Known as: compass weed, dew of the sea, elf leaf, guardrobe, incsensier, labonotis, Mary's cloak, polar plant, sea dew, stella maria & star of the sea.

Related plants: A member of the mint family Lamiaceae that includea basil, mint, sage, savory, marjoram, oregano, hyssop, thyme, lavender & perilla. As well as other herbs such as catnip, salvia, bee balm, wild dagga, and oriental motherwort. 

Parts used: Leaves, roots, sprigs & essential oils from the flowers.

Habitat and cultivation: This evergreen  shrub is native to the Mediterranean Portugal, and northwestern Spain.

Plant type: Perennial

Region: Zone 6 with occasional winter protection & zones 7-10

Harvest: Anytime but avoid taking more than 1/3 of the plant when you do.

Planting tips: Rosemary has a low germination rate and slow to sprout, try using cuttings or buy from a nursery if you have problems. Keep in full sun with a well drainer container & let the soil dry out completely before watering again.

Medicinal information: Over the years rosemary was used to relieve muscle pain, repelling insects, improve memory, boost the immune system & promote hair growth.

Cautions: While safe, ingesting excessive amounts of rosemary can be dangerous and lead to vomiting, coma & pulmonary edema.

ROSEMARY IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR EVERY HERB

Magickal properties

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Sun

Element: Fire

Deities: Faeries, Elves, sea spirits & Virgin Mary

Magickal uses:

•Place in dream pillows to prevent nightmares

• Burn as an incense to purify & remove negativity

• Hang above your doorways to drive away unwanted visitors

• Add to a ritual bath for cleansing & removing hexes

• Use as a substitute for frankincense

• Plant in your garden to attract fae

• Carry a sprig to protect against the evil eye

• Keep under your bed to ensure fidelity & a happy relationship

• Wash your hands with a rosmary infusion before healing magick to increase potency

• Wear in a satchet or amulet to improve memory recall & improved health

• In Italian folk magic, it is cooked with to alleviate sadness  grief

• Rosemary may be used as incense at rituals of death and dying. It may be cast upon the coffin when it is slowly lowered into the burial place. With this we will all remember with love and fondness the one who is passing into another life, and thus we will also remember that we inhabit mortal bodies as we walk through the earth

[fandom-lover2]

My Sword Is My Shield, And I Shall Never Bend

Chapter Two - A Gift and A Curse

Word Count - 1537

-image not mine-

Chapter One - Wild Ones

Chapter Three - Too Young For This

"You must excuse my daughter, please. You see, she was allowed to experience some of her mother's influence while growing up and it's made her rather-"

"Devilish." The Lady of the house spat out.

So that was where the distaste came from. Not a legitimate child and not raised entirely a noble. The girl was not welcomed in the house. But it was more than obvious she had made herself a place, and not by conforming to her father's wishes.

"It is alright." The General reassured the Lord. "We were all youthful once."

The Lady scoffed. "She is unmanageable."

But the General felt as though there was more. More to the story and more to the girl.

The tour continued without further events. Once the men were shown their quarters, the Lord and Lady left the men in the capable hands of some servants.

The men immediately unfastened their armour and threw it in all a pile to be cleaned at a later time. Then, they were ushered to the dining hall for a hearty breakfast.

Eating was done without much care for the taste or what was being ingested.

Ratchet joined them halfway through the meal. He had barely had time to dismount with Bumblebee before the house physician and his nurse had rushed forward and ushered him and Bee off to the medical room.

Ratchet sat heavily beside Optimus, sighing deeply as he roughly ran his hand down his face.

“Not good news Doc?” Sideswipe asked around a mouthful of eggs.

“We reached the same diagnosis.”

Every soldier stopped eating. That was not the news they were hoping for. They all sat in silence for a while.

Bumblebee was the youngest of them all. They were supposed to protect him. He wasn’t even supposed to be on the war front.

What a fool Optimus had been, believing he could keep the boy safe. Bee had become so attached to Optimus, desperate for a father figure and as unwilling as Optimus was, he somehow ended up providing him with one. How could he ever look Bumblebee in the eye again? How could any of them?

The soldiers were suddenly shocked out of their despair when the doors to the dining room where slammed open, or rather were attempted to be slammed open.

Many men jumped up, chairs falling to the ground as they grabbed whatever they could as a weapon. When they managed to take in the invader, they relaxed.

It was a child, a boy. He had unruly brown hair and glasses, a yellow shirt hanging a few sizes too big on his small frame.

“Where’s Bumblebee?” the child demanded, tears falling down his cheeks.

Was he the child Bumblebee spoke often of, Raf? The way Bee spoke of him, it was obvious to everyone this boy was his little brother. Now seeing this boy’s distress, the General understood how close Raf and Bumblebee were.

“He is in the physician’s room.” Ratchet replied, sitting down and dropping his previously brandished spoon.

The boy did not wait a second more before turning around and running out of the room.

The men re-seated themselves and continued with the meal. When they were finished, the servants led them to the bathing rooms, and then back to their quarters. Many of the men didn’t even manage to get properly comfortable on the beds before sleep overtook them.

This was going to be the first proper sleep they had gotten in almost a week. But deep down they all knew they would not sleep long. After years of only a few hours drilled into them they knew they would be awake again in time for lunch. That knowledge didn’t do well for morale. A chance to sleep soundly and none of them would be able to take it. But they would take what they could.

It was past lunch when Optimus awoke, taking a moment to enjoy the quiet of nature for a few seconds before getting up and putting on his cloak and boots and securing his sword around him.

Once presentable, he left as silently as possible, allowing his men a few more hours of rest. He decided it would be best if he did a tour of the town, find vantage points and easy escape routes should they be found by the enemy.

He walked down a corridor and passed a large window taking a moment to gaze out it.

His quick glance turned into a long pause when he recognized the two figures practicing on the training field. It was the daughter of the Lord and the boy from before, Jack.

They danced effortlessly around one another, swords clashing at amazing speed. She was so focused, every strike thought through and each block precise. A man stood to the side of the two, watching them carefully. He was their trainer it seemed.

Optimus’ theory was confirmed when he barked out something and they both stopped, taking a step back and watching him approach.

Optimus turned and continued on his mission. Once out the mansion, he began his walk around the town. There was only one road in to the town, the road they had taken through thick forest that lasted hours on horseback.

The town itself was surround by flat fields, the forest just visible in the distance. That limited the chance of ambush from all sides but also meant that the only real road was perfect for hiding attackers. The rest of the town seemed secure though. Guards patrolling every few minutes, posted guards at the four corners.

The town itself was bustling with life, the market open and merchants selling their goods. The people didn’t look too starved or sickly, but not what they should of.

It was nearing sunset by the time Optimus started heading back towards the mansion. He stopped halfway towards the castle of the main road when he heard the similar ting of hammer against steel. A blacksmiths.

The rebellion had lost their blacksmith months ago and had since been trying to make do with what limited knowledge they had on sword care. A good look at their blunt weapons could definitely help their cause.

Readjusting his cloak, Optimus went into the shop.

A man stood hunched over a work station, hammer being raised and dropped again over and over onto the piece of metal. It took a moment more of hammering for him to be satisfied before he plunged the sword into a bucket of water. The sizzling hiss as the heat of the metal met the cold water made the man laugh.

Then, before Optimus could blink, the man had spun and the sword was inches from the General’s throat.

“Here to steal my stuff?” he asked.

Optimus swallowed, taking a step back. “No.”

The man stared blankly at the General a moment more before dropping his hand, the sword’s point resting millimetres from the ground. It was a beautiful piece of craftmanship, sharp and perfectly edged.

It looked to be made for someone smaller, a child perhaps. The grip was made of genuine leather, wrapped around a sturdy hilt. Engraved on the metal of the sword just below the hilt was a wolf’s head.

“It’s beautiful.” Optimus commented, forcing himself to look away.

“It’s for someone else.” The man answered monotonously, moving to place the sword in a plain box lined with cloth.

Optimus let his gaze wonder around the shop. Same as any normal blacksmith, except to the right side. Rows and rows of swords sat mounted on the wall or laying on the ground in scabbards.

“Who are you?” the man asked, now taking Optimus in.

“My name is Optimus Prime.”

The man’s face instantly fell from guarded to horror.

“General Prime, I am so sorry. I was not aware you were here. I-”

Optimus could see the man floundering and raised his hand. “Please, just Optimus. And you are not at fault or behaved unaccordingly.”

The man sighed in relief. “My name is Bulkhead, sir.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you Bulkhead.” Optimus took his hand, giving it a firm shake.

“I see a lot of weapons.” Optimus started, turning back to the wall.

“And no one to use them. I cannot keep my hands still, so I forge.”

His eyes then widened as he turned to Optimus. “You may take them, if you wish. If they are up to your standard of course.”

Optimus did not bother masking his surprise. “I could not possibly just take such fine crafts work.”

Bulkhead wiped his hands on his apron. “Please. Anything to help the cause.”

Optimus stared dumbfounded at the man.

He knew he should take the offer, grab it with both hands and run, but he couldn’t find the words. “Thank you.” was all he managed to say.

Then Optimus heard running. Single person, fast on their feet.

He spun just in time for a boy to appear at the entrance of the shop.

“General Prime,” he addressed, slightly out of breath. “Your presence is requested at the main house.”

“Why?” the General felt dread creep into his being.

The boy smiled apologetically. “The Lord has arranged a feast in your honor.”

[unnamedcrane]

What little fun facts do you have about the fairy au? What kind of info do you have on it? Romantic? Magic? Social?

I won't lie, half the time my focus is on skeletons Anna is romancing and not... much else, besides of course random funny shenanigans with 5am

buuuut I think I can say a couple of more general things:

fairies lightly glow (like idk imagine joy from inside out movies) cause they're made of magic... and because of that when they feel strong emotions their faint glow can brighten for a couple of seconds

alongside that thought, when a fairy just has a big burst of emotions they can literally burst with fairy dust

fairy dust itself is very integral to fairies magic, and fairies themselves can produce it like i dunno bee can produce pollen I guess, I think

fairy dust has calming and soothing effects and overall can make a person/creature/whoever a bit more happier when ingested or being surrounded by a lot of it

big amounts of ingested fairy dust can have similar effects of healing magic specifically for monsters

on kinda related thought fairy wings can also flutter a lot when feeling strong emotions, and if they are really strong they can both flutter and scatter fairy dust

wings are an extremely sensitive thing for a fairy both physically and emotionally, since it is a culmination of their magic (kinda like a monster soul)

touching fairy's wings is very intimate for a fairy and isn't done unless they're injured or the fairy trust the other person a lot

with that said even when injured it's probably last resort to let another person touch their wings

i thought out wings more than i initially remembered i did huh

Hope you like these funfact-thingies-whatever! I remember when originally coming up with them, it was very fun to think of all the possible scenarios these things could be incorporated into (which I might or might not have came up with already)

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from the Nation of Change:

The sight and sound of a bumblebee or a honey bee buzzing from flower to flower in an alpine meadow or a roadside planting is calming to many, yet it invokes outright panic in others. This happens frequently in Western cultures, where we usually reach for a spray can of insecticide or swat at any flying insect rather than pause to admire its beauty or reflect upon its captivating and intelligent behaviors. We delight in the viscous sweetness of honey on the palate, direct from the jar or slathered across a piece of toast. We savor the distinctive and flavorful honey ripened from floral nectars, but don’t care for confronting the winged honey makers.

Do you remember the last time you took a break and watched the passing escapades of a brightly colored bee, wasp, or butterfly? In the West, entomophobia—trepidation and anxiety around insects—is well developed, perhaps as strong as our apparently inborn dread of venomous snakes. We’re convinced that every bee is hell-bent on stinging us and that a single sting will be lethal. Not surprisingly, these largely unwarranted fears and irrational phobias support a thriving global pest control industry based upon deadly yet nonspecific chemicals.

In the United States, at least 28,000 mostly sole-proprietorship pest control businesses employ more than 137,000 people, a rapidly growing industry valued at $17 billion annually.

Over 1 billion pounds of insecticides are used annually in the United States. This is almost three times the amount of neuroactive chemicals (350 million pounds, including 63 million pounds of DDT) applied in 1962 when Rachel Carson published Silent Spring, her revolutionary environmental science book. However, since Carson’s prescient warning, we haven’t changed our actions or our ever-increasing chemical assaults against pollinating insects and indirectly against ourselves.

Some 21,000 distinctly different species of bees live worldwide. Some are solitary females who dig their nest tunnels in the ground or dead wood without help. Others are social, living among tens of thousands of their sisters, hive mates, and queen mother. Whether social or solitary, bees are individuals. They have distinct personalities. They learn and memorize essential details of their world.

Bees also have a sense of time and return to the same flowers at just the right time when the flowers are actively producing nectar. Most bees find their flowers or other bee larvae as prey by individual initiative. Others use chemical signposts or an elaborate “waggle dance” to recruit nestmates, informing them about the direction and distance to rewarding patches of flowers.

Most bees are gentle vegans, subsisting upon the pollen and nectar made by flowering plants. Certain “cuckoo bees” sneak their eggs into the open brood cells of unrelated bees. Upon hatching, their larvae stab and kill the host bees’ eggs or young larvae with their ice-tong-like jaws. A few kinds, the “vulture bees” from Panama and Brazil, make their living by locating vertebrate carrion, ingesting it, and turning those carcasses into a substance similar to royal jelly to feed their young.

[floralfumofridays]

Floral Fumo Flutters of the Week: White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)

I am a bit late for Friday so this one will not be a friday one.😭 It will be more informative on the plant itself than have a story.

Yuuka Kazami once more took very long to do tasks, and she was tired of it. Although youkai like her don't have a sleep schedule like humans do, Yuuka would sleep for many hours and even weeks. Even when she slept for a very long time, she still felt very exhausted. It takes her many hours on average to prepare food for herself, and many hours to even do any other chore. She was fed up and irritated with the way things were, and feels like the Youkai Sage investigating Gensokyo wasn't doing her job properly. She set off on her own journey to go and pester the Hakurei shrine maiden to solve the incident.

On her journey, she stumbled across tiny white flowers. She sensed a strange energy within them and thought of them to be youkai. Before she could examine them more closely, the flowers fired danmaku right in her face! Yuuka backtracked a little, but felt that she did not want to destroy these youkai flowers. While the flowers continuously and aimlessly fired danmaku, Yuuka plotted very evil thoughts into what she could do next. She thought that she could create (or well, grow) another army of youkai in her new settlement in the Garden of the Sun, and cause another incident. It was very risky as Reimu could very easily exterminate her for causing another incident, but Yuuka was on the verge of disappearing regardless. She thought of a huge reason for taking on this risk: If she could tame these flowers, she could show the humans of Gensokyo that flowers and plants are beautiful, but dangerous and something to be feared. She would finally be able to change her nature much more easily. In her eyes, this idea was perfect.

This is white snakeroot, it is a plant that is native to a wide range in North America, but invasive in other continents. It is another Asteraceae family flower, just like many plants shown previously and has many of the same characteristics. Like the name of the family, the flowers look like a cluster of stars, and these pictures I've taken don't do the flower any justice. It is used by many as a decorative plant and if there are lots that are spread then they can bloom an entire bed of flowers that look like stars in a forest. It can grow and bloom in shaded areas and sunny areas, and tolerates a wide range of soils including grounds in urban areas, drought weathers, and swampy wetlands. Because it is also one of the very last flowers to bloom like other flowers previously shown, bees rely on these flowers that are very rich in nectar to store and use to survive for winter months.

As a bit of a disclaimer: While it is safe for bees/other pollinators and is a beautifully decorative starry plant, all parts of the plant contains an alcoholic toxin (trematol) that is toxic only when ingested to humans and pets and is extremely fatal if not treated in time. Mammals and birds normally avoid consuming white snakeroot because of its aroma, but you should always be cautious when it comes to pets. You should only use this plant for decorative purposes and for decorative purposes only.

In the early 19th century, the name "snakeroot" came from a dangerous misconception that it was a medicine for curing and/or preventing snake bites , so it was given to humans and farm animals to consume. This is not the case, as it lead to a fatal epidemic called "milk sickness" in humans and "the trembles" in animals. Milk sickness was named after the way it was spread from cattle or goats consuming these flowers then spreading the toxin to humans through the afflicted animal's milk.

It has some lookalikes like Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum, not shown), which not only shares the shape of the flower but also its native range, flower family (Asteraceae), and blooming window. The difference between them is not the shape of the flower pattern but the shape of the leaves and stem of the plant.

Outside of North America where it is native, it has become an invasive species in a few countries such as Japan and Korea. It has an aggressive nature over land and ability to grow in both shaded and sunny areas and in wild and urban areas even in its native continent. It tends to dominate land coverage and could hinder the photosythesis of competing native plants.

The genus name Ageratina of its name is inspired of another genus Ageratum, another Aster family flower that the White snakeroot also used to be placed in. The -ina suffix means smaller version or -like, so Ageratinas are a tinier version of Ageratum or Ageratum-like. The name Ageratum is very old but it and Ageratina derives from ageratos which means non-aging/everlasting, a general word referring to plants that had a vibrant and long lasting bloom and color. The species name altissima is latin for "highest/tallest," as it is the tallest of its genus. This species has gone under many names and one of its first is Ageratum altissimum then later on it was regrouped with the genus of its lookalike (boneset) as Eupatorium rugosum or Eupatorium urticifolium among many other names. These earlier names appear in many early sources but all refer to the same exact white snakeroot plant. Nowadays, the accepted name is Ageratina altissima, very similar to its original name.

[just-a-girl-who-wrytes]

hi, idk if requests are open but if so..

can you please write deacon x reader when during a case his wife saves a man’s life. the next day, the guy goes to the station with flowers to thank her and asks her out and deacon gets jealous!

Yes! I love getting them!

Enjoy! ❤️

Deacon’s station had been temporarily relocated next to yours while their headquarters were being remodeled. A firehouse, EMS station, and police headquarters all on the same block? It kept the banter between your first responder branches alive. You all spent your free time hanging out, training together, and cooking good meals to be eaten in between calls. You and your partner had just sat down with 20-David and the fire crew on for the shift when you were dispatched to a difficulty breathing call.

“Love you, Babe.” Deacon said as he chewed his mouth full of food.

“Love you too.” You responded. You had to be mindful not to kiss him or have any public displays of affection while you were on shift together. That was a BIG no no and would undoubtedly result in one of you two being moved stations. Despite being restricted on affection for 24 hours, you enjoyed sharing a station with your husband.

The rest of the house told you and your partner to be safe as you left to run the call.

You arrived on scene to find a 40 year old male having an anaphylactic reaction to some peanuts he unknowingly ingested while having a severe peanut allergy. He had given himself his epi per a friend on scene, but with no relief.

You immediately administered a second dose of epi, followed by 25 mg of benadryl, as well as a nebulizer breathing treatment. You and your partner were able to get him onto the stretcher and loaded into your ambulance where you got an IV and continued treating him on your way to the hospital. You had to admit, he was a stubborn one - as you would say. You threw the entire anaphylactic protocol at him down to intravenous epi and there still wasn’t a ton of improvement. Regardless, he wasn’t any worse by the time you dropped him off at the hospital.

You returned to service once you made it back to the station to restock. You told Deacon and Luca about the call. You were always excited to get to run good calls where you were able to use your full skill set as a paramedic. Deacon adored listening to you talk about good calls. He loved watching the spark in your eye when you talked about getting to help people and use the skills you trained hard to develop.

Deacon stood at the back doors of your ambulance while you put your supplies away.

“You are so beautiful, you know that, right?”

You looked up from your medication bag and smiled at him.

“You’re not half bad yourself, Kay.”

Your husband chuckled.

“I love getting to see you work and I love hearing you talk about getting to do your job.”

“Well, baby, you know I love what I do.”

A week later, you both were on shift together again. You were checking off your ambulance that morning while the firemen checked off their trucks and SWAT checked their gear.

You and your partner were lost in conversation together about a recent call you ran when you overheard someone asking a fireman for Paramedic Kay - you. The engineer walked the man over to you and you immediately recognized him as the anaphylactic patient you had cared for earlier in the week.

A man walking into the bays carrying an impressive bouquet of flowers caught Deacon’s eye - even more so when he heard the man ask for his wife.

“Who the hell is that?” Luca asked his teammate.

“We’re about to find out.” Deacon said, making a bee-line for your ambulance.

“These are beautiful. Thank you.” You thanked the man, taking the flowers from him as you smiled.

Your husband caught your eye as he approached the side door of your ambulance and stepped inside.

“As a thank you for saving my life, I would love to take you out to dinner one night, that is, if you would please go out with me?” The man asked.

Deacon was standing next to you as you sat in the captain’s seat in the back of the truck. You heard a low growl escape his throat.

“I thank you for your kindness and consideration, but I was simply doing my job. I love what I do, so I’m pretty good at it. However, I am married to a wonderful man.”

Deacon smirked to himself, “And even if I wasn’t married, there is a strict no-no on dating patients.”

Deacon looked at the man and noted he was visibly disappointed.

“There’s nothing I can say to change your mind?” The man asked.

As professional as you were trying to remain, your kindness was quickly wearing thin when the man asked you again after you had revealed to him you were married, but Deacon didn’t leave you time to respond.

“Brother, I believe she told you that she was married.”

Your patient became obviously disgruntled.

“Marriages don’t mean much now-a-days.”

You could tell that struck a nerve with your husband. His posture became more upright and he held his hand out towards the man, expecting a handshake. You kept silent to watch the scene unfold. You noticed Luca had approached the back doors of the ambulance as well.

“My apologies, I forgot to introduce myself to you,” Deacon began, “I’m SWAT Sergeant David Kay. Paramedic Kay is my wife.”

The man stuttered and turned around to leave without responding or shaking your husband’s hand.

“Don’t forget. Keep your epi pen somewhere that’s room temperature and replace them when they expire!” Your partner reminded the man as he walked off.

Once the man was out of earshot, you could no longer contain your laugher.

“Really?” You said, laughing at your partner.

Your partner shrugged.

“Fucker.” You heard Deacon mumble.

When you arrived home the next morning with your husband, you were undressing from your uniforms.

“David Kay,” you said sternly with a slight sensual tone in your voice.

“Yes ma’am?” He turned around after taking his shirt off.

You felt butterflies in your stomach. You always secretly loved when Deacon said ma’am to you, or called you mama, or his ole lady.

“Was that jealousy that I saw in you yesterday?”

You smirked and made your way over to your husband. You wrapped your arms around his neck.

“And if it was?” His voice was low and sensual.

“I’ve never seen that side of you like that before.” You rubbed the back of his neck with your finger tips.

“That’s because no man has openly disrespected you like that in front of me before. You are my wife. That should be respected.”

“You know I have eyes for you…” you traced his pecs and abs down to his belt with your fingers, “and only you.”

You stood up on your tip toes to kiss your husband.

He wrapped his arms around you, groping your ass with his hands, and moaned into the kiss.

You spent the day showing your husband that he was the only one you would ever want.

[spicylove4ever]

The 7 sins characterization on Helluva Boss on the social aspect.

So far, on Helluva Boss we have only meet these:

Mammon, the Greed. Asmodeous, the Lust. Beelzebub, the Glutony.

Surely everyone has noticed how when it comes to socialize, Queen Bee and Ozzie are very different from Mammon.

On the first place, both Ozzie and Bee have loved ones, and are quite nice to be around with, which opposes Mammon greatly. And this is quite baffling because "they are the embodiment of Deadly Sins, they are supposed to be the bad guys, every single one of them".

Well, it appears Vizzie and her team simply designed them to be those sins. The embodiment of each of those things, so it's not implied they have to be bad guys, but on the other hand... they kind of are.

I mean, Beelzebub casually talked about stealing drugs with no shame at all and even called the one who she was doing to a lame person for being upset for it. Not to mention how she encourages drinking to the point of almost get completely wasted.

And Asmodeus acts sexually intimidating and we saw how he acted with Moxxie's romantic song that had no dirty remarks. He was imposing with his view and acted sexually intimidating.

But it's a little of a surprise they don't look bad since they also can be nice and mostly... next to Mammon they REALLY ARE.

..In comparision, yes. But also we really thought they surely we're supposed to be freaking monsters, so what we got instead doesn't seem like the big deal we had in mind.

But their behaviour and how their social approach is different than the Sin of Greed can be, in fact, explained in how they are the embodiment of each Sin.

Let's start with Ozzie.

Lust is about sexual desire, but sex related demons are pretty much designed to be charming and seductive as well, which means they have excelent social skills. Verosika, for example, is a pop star, with many fans.

Ozzie, on the other hand, he thrives from any lust that is felt anywhere. So he exposes a sex-positive way of life, in which each individual doesn't have to sleep with him, but can be in each way, even in loving relationships. In fact, he mostly seems to focus on people feeling any type of lust and get to enjoy it, since sexual pleasure has the word pleasure on it.

Ozzie's relationship with Fizz is very active on the sexual aspect as well, and affection and love are very present on this relation as well. After all, the physical intimacy and affection do compliment sex, even if they are not a must.

So, lust is something that implies positive social interactions (at least if one intends all participants to enjoy, which is what Asmodeus wants) and coexists with love and affection just fine to the point it can mix with ease.

As for Beelzebub.

As a sin that implies indulgement and obtain satisfaction through food or ingested stuff, Bee aims to please and allures people into her style of life. Key word on allure.

I already analysed how she is and directs her realm:

So as someone who thrives on people being glutonous, she has found that the party queen thing fits her just fine and she seeks that everyone finds that satisfaction on indulgement. This means she uses positive ways to interact with people.

Also, feasts and parties are extremely social events in any culture. This means she has to be someone who is nice to be with.

Then why is Mammon the only one who is entirely a monster, you may ask?

The answer would be: greed is something completely anti-social.

Greed is competitive, and the people allowed around those who are greedy are either people you can get stuff from or straight up leech from.

For example, the twins Glitz and Glam were only a team because they exploit what they are as a team, but they were observed as kind of competitive between them as well, when the only moments when they talk to each other they are salty.

Mammon is the same, he is mostly open about how he only cares about Fizz as a money-maker and puts extreme preassure on him, and gives only encouragement for what he wants Fizz to be and do.

The conclusion we can get for this is: these Sins express social interaction in a way that fits what they are. Glutony is completely fine with social stuff and for Lust has social interaction as a must, so they have to be not complete assholes. Meanwhile Greed is definitely one.

So, we can expect whoever Envy is to be horrible as well, and Pride might have their moments, but most likely is pretty awful too.

Wrath can be a kind of a good person, since one can feel wrath from rightful anger from a offense concerning a loved one. And we have seen people from Wrath being nice and even loving with each other. The social aspect of wrath can be mostly partnership.

As for Sloth, I feel this being is pretty neutral with people. XD

[dorminchu]

Zelda asks 7, 15 36 & 49!

7. Favorite dungeons?

Arbiter's Grounds (my №1 favorite), Lakebed Temple, Temple of Time (TP)

Divine Beasts for Zora's Domain and Gerudo Desert

Hyrule Castle (BotW)

Temple of the Ocean King & Mutoh's Temple

Forest Temple (OoT)

15. Favorite location(s) within Hyrule?

The Triforce-shaped secret island wherre you power up faries in Phantom Hourglass

Hyrule Field, Zora's Domain, Snowpeak Mountain, Fishing Hole in Twilight Princess

The island with the private villa from Wind Waker

The inside of the moon from Majora's Mask

Gerudo Desert in BotW

Anything to do with Beedle and his store

36. Which game had the most engaging story, in your opinion?

I liked BotW's prologue and memory quest in concept more than the execution and resolution. But initially the mystery around who Link is/was to the people of Hyrule intrigued me a lot. As did Zelda and her difficulty connecting to the Goddesses. Originally I thought BotW was going to be a deconstruction of sorts where all three Triforce bearers "broke" the cycle of reincarnation starting with Ganon relasping, Link's hibernation and Zelda's inability to reach the Goddesses, and whether or not they succeeded and the consequences of completing/failing the Cycle.

Wind Waker & Twilight Princess are, imo, pretty comperable in terms of stakes and tone once you divorce the plot from their respective art styles, but they do take their sweet time despite having some of my favorite story beats in the series.

TP was the first one I ever played and it's stuck. The plot just works for me, even with bug hunting and Wolf Link, in a way fishing for Triforce Pieces did not with WW.

Conversely WW had a better secondary, personal antagonist with the Helmaroc King. Zant was such an enigma and a bigger letdown. Yeah I guess you could argue that's the point but it annoyed me as a kid that this loser just lucked(?) his way into that badass outfit and powers. I figured he was going to be more of a cultish fanatic, comperable in power to Midna, akin to the "interlopers" that were banished from the Sacred Realm and still salty at the Goddesses for the perceived slight. Wheras Midna feels remorse/resents the stigma she's inherited through no direct fault of her own. Maybe I should write a fic? 🤔

In either case, all Ganondorf has to do is show up and immediately the stakes are 200%. In WW he's a much more philosophical guy (I love the implicit inclusion of OoT and its consequences on the narrative even if it's basically all subtext) and in TP he fights with the sword that was used to execute him. Man, he's so cool! :D

49. Favorite item(s) to keep in a bottle?

The multiple varities of Chu Jelly, worms, bee larvae (not only to make Link ingest them but also to fish), aaand water.

If you put water in your bottle in this one flooded tunnel of the Forest Temple (within the same room you get the boss key, there's this alcove at the water level with a rupee in a chest) the camera gets stuck on the tunnel's geometry and you can see Link hold up the bottle from unintended angles. I find it as funny now as I did when I was a kid.

For context, this is what the shot is supposed to look like in game:

And this is how it happens:

[moonlight-tmd]

Shockbee

Shockwave disguised as Longarm during a conversation is asked what he sees in Bee.

Got the idea from this.

The alarm rang in the military complex.

The signal was more that known to the bots stationed in the giant building: Lunchbreak.

Both cadets and officers headed to the cafeteria, all lined up in maybe a little less than a line and waited their turn to get fuel.

Longarm, who's been one of the first to receive his food, sat alone at the table and waited for his 2 companions to join- Bulkhead and the little more important one, Bumblebee.

Said scout was currently trying not to get trampled by other big bots while they pushed in front of them with their trays to refuel faster. To his rescue came Bulkhead who was standing a little behind Bee and picked him up and sat him on his shoulder so he wouldn't get hurt on accident.

The whole situation made Longarm chuckle, Bee was so adorable when he puffed up his cheeks in annoyance. He couldn't help but continue watching the little bot. He didn't even notice when Ironhide approached him. He looked at the expression Longarm had before following his gaze.

"Seriously Longarm? Him?" The gruff voice snapped said bot out of his thoughts, he looked at the orange mech holding his own tray- ever since Wasp disappeared, Ironhide has been nicer in general. He still was somewhat of a jerk but it was clear he was kind of glad Wasp was gone and he didn't have to do what he said anymore.

"What?" Longarm hasn't really heard what he said the first time. Ironhide only looked back at where Longarm was looking earlier. "Really, what do you see in him?"

Longarm followed- Bee was hovering over the fuel deposits trying to get the best of eveything while Bulkhead held him midair. It looked rather comical from the side, especially with the way Bee's faceplace scrunched up in focus and tip of his glossa poked out as he tried to grab a rustbun on the far end of the deposit.

Longarm thought about it for a while, an uncertain fluttery feeling swelling up in his Spark before replying. "He makes me feel good."

A little smile appearing as he continued watching Bee pick up the rustbun and place if on his tray- only for it to roll down and make some other things on his tray fall off too.

Ironhide stayed only for a moment before huffing and going away. Longarm watched him sit down at some other table before his attention snapped back to the giant/inchman duo that approached their shared table. It seemed like Bee gotten something else to eat instead of the rustbun.

All 3 sat together and chatted while ingesting their meals, Bulkhead was explaining some other project for his engineering class while Bee cracked jokes as usual. Longarm just listened to him talk, smile growing bigger with every moment he spend near Bee.

I didn't know what to write so i just wrote down this litte story! Hope you enjoyed!

Also she looks bald on one side. You're welcome. X3

[suguwu]

Hi Bee, do you perhaps have any thoughts on mermaid Getou 💕

suguru knows the old ways.

he knows that there is a plant hidden in the depths of the ocean, where the waters are the blue-black of an incoming storm. it's a weed that studs the edges of the deep chasms in the ocean floor. he's found it before. knows the shape of its fronds and the slight opalescent gleam of it. there's some tucked away in the corner of his rooms, hidden amid other jars.

if ingested, it would allow you to breathe underwater permanently.

next to him, you shift. he closes the gap you create without thinking, his tail winding around your legs. underwater, it looks like an oil slick, cuts through the clear water like the night sky swallows down the sun.

you squirm.

he lets you. he likes it, the way you move, how your muscles dance beneath the thin layer of your skin. he sees the shift of it so clearly, even under the layers of pearls he's draped you with.

you squirm more. he watches the furrow of your brow, the way the air slowly bubbles from your lips.

he waits until you reach for him.

then he leans in and kisses you, soft and sure and solid. he breathes for you. you press further into the kiss, hungry against him, desperate for air, swallowing down what he gives.

he pulls away when you have enough for several hours. your eyes flutter open.

there's a softness to you now, a haze like summer heat flickering over your face. it comes with the magic; your body isn't fully equipped for it. you settle down next to him, pressed close against him. he can feel the heat of you against the coolness of his scales.

maybe one day, he thinks, eyeing the jar.

for now, though, he likes you like this.

reliant on him.

[blimbo-buddy]

a serious idea building off the more humorous "do bugs have weed" i wonder if they could use certain mildly poisonous plants or mushrooms to recreationally get high....some bug cultures would prob be super open and encouraging of this while others would hate it and see it as distasteful, theres also the possibility of bug substances not having the same or as strong of an effect on one species as they do others. im overthinking this anyways! food for thought

You know I might actually consider that. I thought about it for a minute and worried about realism but then I remembered this is a story where the bugs can talk, have societies, form religions, forge weapons, etc. The realism was lost from the moment of the story's conception

Some bugs, due to their small size/mass, can either only ingest recreational mushrooms with a strict limit or straight up not eat it at all due to it being extremely dangerous to them. Bigger bugs can easily ingest a larger amount of it through most forms, although it's typically through eating it

Mosquitoes, Flies, Fireflies, Worker Ants, Workers Bees: Can't ingest psychedelics without risk of extreme health issues, going comatose or in some severe cases, death

Worker Wasps, Earthworm, Ant Queens, Moths, Butterflies, Bee Queens, Pillbugs, Slugs, Wasp Queens, Hammerhead Worms, Smaller beetle/spider species: Can ingest psychedelics decently enough but only up to a certain point if they go past their limit, they're likely to become incredibly sick

Cockroaches, Dragonflies, Spiders, Cicadas, Beetles: Can handle psychedelics incredibly well compared to the other bugs. It rarely poses a threat to them

You are right though in that some bug kingdoms don't view these psychedelics very well (Usually more common in bugs that cannot ingest psychedelics), a great example of this is the Ant Colonies

Both from a safety standpoint and also cultural/societal standpoint

Ant culture puts a great amount of pride and effort into their work, what they can do for their colony and more importantly, for their Queen

An ant who is both sick and high from consuming psychedelics is seen in a bad light, in some extreme cases, the ant will be killed off

I'd have to look in a bit more with different kinds of fungus in california that are psychedelics. I should note that everything I just said, also applies to bugs and the effects that cannabis has on them, not just psychedelics