#false paradise

[opal-owl-flight]

Strength to Awaken.

Youre free to walk out, but will you?

[cauliarty]

@opal-owl-flight

I had this in my head for a while but finally got around to doing it! You're a huge inspiration for me and how I write my characters. You're among my favorite artists in the fandom.

Your artwork and writing always blows me away.

[maquina-semiotica]

“ K.T.K.”, False Paradise

[rabbit-flaying]

A Taste of Paradise chapter two

Content Warnings: captivity, kidnapping, bugs, religion, false paradise, pet whump, the beginnings of stockholm syndrome

"I was going to pick tomatoes in my garden before it gets dark," Christopher said. "Would you like to join me?"

He had just finished washing the dishes, and hung his rubber gloves on a bar beside his sink. Unlike Ezra, who tended to leave his sink filthy, Christopher was dutiful about tossing any food scraps in the garbage.

"That sounds lovely."

Ezra was surprised that Christopher would allow him to go outside, but supposed there wasn't any risk in it. Not if he was going to be under supervision. And, in any case, getting some sunshine would do him good. He couldn't remember the last time he had taken a walk that wasn't just to and from his car.

He followed Christopher out the back door in the kitchen and into the mud room, a gateway between the outside world and Ezra's captivity.

It seemed to be the only place in his home where dirt was tolerated. A rack of drying herbs took up much of one wall, hanging basil, sage, chamomile, mint, and lavender. Withered petals and leaves were scattered on the tile floor beneath it.

A painting of Maryum- or Mother Mary, Ezra supposed- hung over the door frame. She watched over the entrance to Christopher's home with a serene smile.

A shoe rack sat next to the door, and Ezra spotted his cheap polyester boots next to Christopher's church shoes and hiking boots. Neither of them bothered to put their shoes on, however. The weather was too good for such things.

Christopher opened the door, and Ezra felt the sunshine on his skin. He couldn't not help but smile. It warmed him down to his bones, and he understood truly well how plants must feel when drawing energy through photosynthesis.

He was no longer in the city, of course. A small field surrounded by towering pine trees laid before him, undisturbed by the sound of cars or the obnoxious buzz of electric wires.

This was the place he dreamt of, when he got a chance to close his eyes during long shifts and imagine a better life.

If only he had chosen it.

Christopher's garden was to the right of his house, surrounded by a tall fence to keep the deer from eating or trampling his plants. Christopher unlatched the gate, and put it back in its place when he and Ezra were through.

Functionally, a wire fence was no different from a cage. But Ezra had a hard time remembering that, distracted as he was by the smell of tomato plants and the sun warmed stepping stones beneath his bare feet.

He would almost prefer being tied up in a warehouse somewhere.

Ezra caught the thought, and immediately and sharply reminded himself of how stupid of a thought that was. His current situation may have been deeply uncomfortable, but it was also much easier to deal with than actual torture.

He would return to his life well rested and relatively trauma free. Hopefully his debts wouldn't spiral too badly before that.

"Nature is so beautiful. I love cultivating plants," Christopher said, as he picked a ripe red tomato. He twisted the stem close to the fruit to break it free without damaging the vine.

Ezra picked a strawberry, not quite sure how to respond. It tasted infinitely sweeter on his tongue than those bought from a store. All his self control went into practice to keep him from stripping the vines of their fruit in a gluttonous fashion.

A butterfly landed on Ezra's sweater. Its massive wings beat gently for a moment, then were still. It was covered in black and white stripes, but with bizarre orange tips, as though it had an accident trying to land in paint.

"How beautiful," Christopher said.

He had filled half a bowl with tomatoes now, some large and red and others miniscule and yellow, more than enough for dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow.

Ezra held still until the butterfly took to flight once more. Being its resting spot felt so special. He missed it at once.

"I love butterflies," Ezra said. "All bugs, really. And animals. Anything but dogs."

"I agree totally. There is nothing more charming than seeing a ladybug crawling on tomato vine."

Christopher knelt down and put his hand in the path of a harvestman spider, letting it crawl onto his palm. He was so gentle with the delicate thing. Every movement was slow and deliberate so that he would not crush it or pinch its legs.

Then he stood again, and offered it to Ezra. As far as Ezra was concerned, this was the truest show of friendship anyone could give him.

He smiled at the strange, harmless creature with its absurdly long legs as it crawled onto his hand. He turned his hand over so it would not fall as it made its way around and around his hand.

"Alright, back down you go," he said, after he had watched it to his content.

He lowered his hand to the ground so the harvestman could return to its burrow. Christopher smiled, his brown eyes fixed on the spider for a moment, then returning to Ezra.

"They're not really spiders," he said. "Harvestman, they call them. Or daddy long-legs."

"I know," Ezra said. "Spiders have a distinct head and abdomen. Harvestmen only have one continuous segment."

He realized too late the way he was smiling at Christopher. Sharing his happiness with the man who had kidnapped him. And over what? A moment under the sun? A good meal? A not-spider?

He didn't want any of this. He wouldn't have been happy in his regular life, of course. But there were bearable moments, spent listening to music and drawing animals in his sketchbook. He wasn't sure if he would get any of that back.

Christopher's voice cut through Ezra's thoughts. "Are you alright? Oh, it's a hot day, isn't it? Perhaps we should go back indoors."

Ezra nodded. He was disappointed to leave the garden, and more still when he stepped into the shade of Christopher's mudroom.

He usually spent all his time hiding indoors. But now he felt trapped, and hoped to God that he would be allowed to stay outside again. Today, tomorrow, and every day until he was rescued.

Taglist: @inbloodandtears @kira-the-whump-enthusiast @i-eat-worlds @whatwasmyprevioususername @boonasaurusrex @suspicious-whumping-egg @parasitebunny @watermelons-dont-grow-on-trees

[mugzymiik]

Treeo forgive me for i have sinned

[falseparadiseau]

Ask JSaB: False Paradise AU!

AVAILABLE CHARACTERS *All characters use they/them pronouns unless stated otherwise

One

Two

Three

Four

Friend (she/they/any)

The Boss (any)

+ more to come!

RULES

NO NSFW ASKS! The owner (me lol) of the AU is a minor!

Please keep in mind that responses will be drawn in Whiteboard Fox!

Uhh, more might be added :[ Womp womp

CHARACTER DETAILS

One

The Blue Player of Paradise

Usually considered "the leader" of The Four Players, however Two often challenges them and whatever they may happen to say

The shortest of The Players

Makes most of the plans for the group, and makes many of the more-important decisions

Two

The Yellow Player of Paradise

Often rebels against anything and everything One decides

The second-tallest of The Players

Has an attitude almost 90% of the time

Three

The Green Player of Paradise

Seen as "the smart one" of the group; but, in reality, they're just the most logical

The second-shortest of The Players

Confused by, like, everything

Four

The Orange Player of Paradise

Very silly; likes to make jokes and goof off

The tallest of The Players

Extremely loud and excitable

Friend

She/they/any pronouns

Protector of The Pieces

Very quiet and soft-spoken; doesn't talk much either

Dedicated to her duty, often watches The Tree in silence to monitor its state

The Boss

Any pronouns

???

???

???

???

?-

[bistaxx]

did 2021 you think c!q was offing himself?

WELL........ a few times yeah-

[cherrycola27]

Me to Me: "Don't write that you're going to scar your readers."

Also Me to Me: "Don't be a fucking coward. Write it you sadistic bitch."

[fogggirl]

Well...I'm wasn't posting arts a long time so...

Here's my boy:3

[sangre]

shedding my bashfulness on this monday morning to post my ocxcanon because i'm crazy but i'm free. anyway if mlguel's spouse from the world he inadvertently destroyed came back [wrong] as a dimensional anomaIy capable of creating matter by stealing it from other worlds would that be fucked up or what

[opal-owl-flight]

Asleep by the Reservoir.

The water's nice,

Why not come in for a swim?

[jemichiart]

Saimiris, also known as Squirrel Monkeys, are really small monkeys that live in the rainforest canopy of South America. Here, I drew one accompanied by a White-necked Jacobin, checking a Heliconia plant for a sip of water or a tasty treat. This artwork is dedicated to a teacher that I encountered in a train by chance. She was very enthusiastic about monkeys, so that inspired me to paint this little guy. If you see this, this is for you! I should draw more monkeys, they are a lot of fun. ^^ This is also available as a print on: https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/jemichi/saimiri-and-jacobin/

[fazeruined]

@curseofbreadbear @animatronicabundance @faztastiic @fazerrific @glamurso @staystillgregory @cultbunny

[pebblezone]

Wait omg Apple changed the essential albums for The Beach Boys this is so fucking based

[mugzymiik]

shenanigans <3

and also gay people