#garden multi tool

[snappotstore]

Best Garden Multi Tools for Easy Mailbox Planter Care

Having a mailbox post with planter in your yard is a great way to add some charm and beauty to your home. It combines a functional mailbox with a space for plants, which can brighten up your outdoor space. But just like any garden, it needs care and attention to keep the plants looking healthy and vibrant. That's where a garden multi-tool comes in handy! These tools make garden tasks, like planting and maintenance, much easier and quicker. If you’re looking for ways to care for your mailbox planter, here’s a guide to the best garden multi tools that will help you do just that!

Why Use a Garden Multi Tool?

A garden multi tool is designed to do many tasks, all with one tool. Instead of having to buy several separate tools like shovels, pruners, or weeders, a garden multi tool combines everything you need into one handy device. This makes it easier to maintain your mailbox post with planter without cluttering up your shed with too many tools. Whether you’re digging, weeding, or pruning, a garden multi tool can make your work faster and more efficient.

1. Garden Trowel

One of the most essential tools when it comes to planting in your mailbox post with planter is a garden trowel. This small, scoop-shaped tool is perfect for digging holes for new plants, moving soil around, or transplanting small plants into the planter.

A garden trowel usually has a sturdy handle and a metal blade, making it strong enough to work in both soft and hard soil. It’s easy to use and perfect for small planters, like the one attached to your mailbox. You can dig up to plant flowers, herbs, or small shrubs, and it’s great for mixing soil with compost to improve plant health.

2. Hand Weeder

Weeds can be a problem in any garden, even in the mailbox post with planter. Weeds compete with your plants for water, nutrients, and space. That's why it’s important to remove them regularly. A hand weeder is a small tool that helps you get rid of pesky weeds with ease.

A hand weeder has a sharp, fork-like blade that allows you to dig into the soil and pull out weeds, roots and all. This is especially useful for small spaces like a planter, where you want to avoid disturbing your plants. With a hand weeder, you can keep your mailbox planter neat and free from unwanted weeds.

3. Pruning Shears

If you have plants that need to be trimmed or deadheaded (removing spent flowers to encourage new growth), pruning shears are a must-have. These small scissors are specially designed for cutting plants without damaging them. Pruning shears can help you keep your mailbox planter looking fresh by trimming overgrown branches or cutting back dead flowers.

Pruning shears come in different sizes, so you can find a pair that works best for your plants. For example, smaller shears are perfect for cutting soft stems or small flowers, while larger shears can handle thicker branches. With pruning shears, you can keep your plants in shape, improving the look of your mailbox planter.

4. Garden Rake

A garden rake is another useful tool for keeping your mailbox post with planter neat and tidy. It’s perfect for spreading out mulch, smoothing out soil, or leveling out the dirt around your plants. If you’ve just replanted or added new soil, a rake can help you create an even surface, giving your plants the best chance to grow.

Garden rakes come in different sizes, but for a mailbox planter, a smaller, handheld rake will work best. It’s easy to use and can help you maintain the soil in your planter without making a mess.

5. Watering Can

While not technically a garden multi tool, a watering can is essential for keeping your plants healthy, especially in a small planter like one attached to your mailbox. A watering can allows you to water your plants evenly and gently. Look for one with a long spout to help you reach plants in your planter without spilling water everywhere.

You can choose from different sizes of watering cans, but a smaller one is perfect for a mailbox planter since it doesn’t hold too much water. Just make sure to water your plants regularly, especially during dry spells, to keep them thriving.

6. Soil Scoop and Soil Knife

When planting or moving soil around in your mailbox post with planter, a soil scoop and a soil knife can make your job easier. The soil scoop is great for scooping up soil, compost, or other materials and transferring them into your planter. The soil knife is a sharp tool that can help you cut through tough roots, divide plants, or dig into hard soil.

These tools are part of the garden multi-tool family and are perfect for small gardening projects like the care of a mailbox planter. Using them together can save you time and effort.

7. Gloves

Although gloves aren’t technically a multi tool, they’re an important part of keeping your hands safe and clean while working in your mailbox post with planter. Gardening gloves protect your hands from dirt, thorns, and sharp tools. They also provide a better grip, making it easier to hold onto tools like a trowel or pruning shears.

Look for gloves that are breathable and comfortable to wear, especially if you plan to do a lot of gardening. There are many types of gardening gloves available, from lightweight cotton to thicker, more durable options. Choose the pair that works best for your needs.

8. Garden Kneeler

If bending over to work on your mailbox planter hurts your knees or back, a garden kneeler can help. It’s a padded bench that allows you to kneel comfortably while working in your garden. Many garden kneelers also double as a seat, which means you can use them for resting between gardening tasks.

This is especially helpful if you have a mailbox post with planter that’s placed at a height that’s hard to reach. A garden kneeler makes gardening more comfortable, allowing you to work for longer periods without discomfort.

Final Thoughts

Caring for your mailbox post with planter doesn’t have to be hard work. With the right garden multi tool, you can make the process easier and more enjoyable. Tools like a trowel, hand weeder, pruning shears, and soil scoop will help you maintain your planter and keep your plants looking their best. Whether you’re planting new flowers, removing weeds, or trimming overgrown plants, these tools will make your job much easier.

So, the next time you’re caring for your mailbox planter, make sure you have the right tools on hand. With the right tools and a little effort, your mailbox planter will add beauty to your yard all year round!

[calebwittebane]

idk theres just something uniquely demoralizing about being in the gardening equipment business WHILE working from a small apartment in an urban area far away from Nature and not having done any gardening in years 😭 "touch grass" i cant.

[toolzee]

Multi-Purpose Garden Tools: Gear Up for Versatility!

Gardening is a symphony of tasks, from the delicate touch of seed sowing to the earthy grunt of digging. But who really wants a messy shed packed with different tools for every little task? You can have a trusty companion that tackles many tasks, from weeding stubborn dandelions to aerating thirsty soil to snipping errant branches. But wait, multi-purpose garden tools are available in diverse styles and designs.

Telescopic handles offer extended reach, while ergonomic grips ensure comfortable use. Some even boast clever features like interchangeable heads or built-in storage compartments. This isn’t a fantasy; it’s the reality of a well-chosen multi-tool. Ready to find your perfect match? Stay with our next part which will provide detailed reviews of the best multi-purpose garden tools.

For more details visit: Multi-purpose garden tools

[gardeningever013]

Best Multi Tool for Gardening: Versatility and Convenience at Your Fingertips

Introduction

Maintaining a beautiful and properly-stored garden requires the right set of tools. However, carrying a toolbox filled with personal gardening implements can be cumbersome and impractical. This is where multi gears for gardening come to the rescue. A multifunctional device combines more than one functionality into a single, compact tool, allowing gardeners to address diverse duties comfortably. In this newsletter, we can discover the high-quality multi tools for gardening, highlighting their features, blessings, and why they may be vital for each gardening fanatic.

1. Benefits of Using a Multi Tool

A multi tool offers several benefits for gardeners, making it a quintessential device in their arsenal. Some of the key benefits consist of:

Convenience: With a multitool, you do not need to carry more than one person's tools around the lawn. It consolidates various functionalities into a single, easy-to-use device, saving you effort and time.

Versatility: Multitools are designed to carry out various responsibilities, consisting of pruning, reducing, digging, weeding, and more. They are versatile enough to address one-of-a-kind gardening activities without the need for switching between tools.

Space-saving: By combining more than one piece of equipment into one, you can save storage space in your gardening shed or storage. This is particularly useful for those with confined storage spaces.

Cost-powerful: Investing in a remarkable multi system may be more cost-effective than shopping for individual pieces of equipment one at a time. You get multiple functionalities in a single purchase, ensuring you've got everything you need at hand.

2. Key Features to Consider

When choosing a quality multi device for gardening, it is crucial to keep in mind the following key features:

Quality and Durability: Look for a multi device made from awesome substances that could withstand the pains of gardening responsibilities. Stainless steel blades and robust production are important for long-lasting performance.

Ergonomics: A snug grip and ergonomic design are crucial for reducing hand fatigue for the duration of extended use. Opt for a multi device that feels snug in your hand and gives a steady grip.

Functionality: Assess the variety of capabilities the multi device offers. Ideally, it ought to cover the important obligations you commonly perform for your garden.

Portability: Consider the dimensions, weight, and simplicity of carrying the multitool. A compact and lightweight alternative may be more handy, especially if you often paint in unique areas of your garden.

3. Best Multi Tools for Gardening

The Ultimate Gardener's Companion

Description: Product A is a versatile multi tool mainly designed for gardening fans. It functions as an aggregate of pruning shears, a trowel, a weeder, and a notice, making it best for an extensive range of gardening obligations. 

Benefits: This multi tool's ergonomic handle guarantees a comfortable grip, while its sharp and sturdy blades allow for specific slicing and pruning. The protected trowel and weeder make it best for planting and weeding, ensuring your lawn remains in pinnacle form.

All-in-One Garden Wonder

Description: Product B is a complete multi device that covers numerous gardening desires. It consists of a bypass pruner, a folding saw,, a cultivator, and a root lifter, presenting a whole solution for retaining your garden.

Benefits: The pass pruner allows for convenient trimming of branches, and the wheeling notice allows you to address thicker branches. The cultivator and root lifter assist in making the soil ready for planting and casting off stubborn weeds.

The Versatile Green Thumb Hero

Description: Product C is a flexible multi device designed to cater to all of your gardening necessities. It carries a hedge shear, a knife, a rake, and a soil scoop, making sure you have the vital equipment for a properly-manicured garden. 

Benefits: The hedge shear permits you to shape hedges with precision, while the knife is reachable for numerous reducing responsibilities. The rake helps in clearing debris, and the soil scoop aids in shifting soil efficiently.

The Master Gardener's Swiss Army Knife

Description: Product D is a multi tool that combines a number of functions appropriate for both gardening and well known outdoor activities. It includes a pruner, a serrated knife, a wood saw, and a twine cutter, making it a flexible partner. 

Benefits: This multi tool's pruner guarantees easy and particular cuts, while the serrated knife and wood handle permit you to handle various substances. The wire cutter is beneficial for fixing fences or managing wire-associated duties on the lawn.

The Garden Gurus Multitasking Marvel

Description: Product E is a multitasking wonder that integrates multiple gardening tools right into an unmarried device. It features a leaf rake, a spade, a garden fork, and a weed puller, supplying versatility and performance. 

Benefits: The leaf rake is right for amassing leaves and debris, while the spade and lawn fork assist in digging and turning soil. The weed puller guarantees the convenient elimination of weeds, supporting you in maintaining a weed-free lawn. 

4. How to Choose the Right Multi Tool for Your Gardening Needs

When choosing a multi tool for gardening, do not forget the following elements:

Identify your particular gardening requirements and choose a multi device that gives you the vital functionalities.

Read customer evaluations and scores to gauge the overall performance and sturdiness of the multi device.

Visit a local gardening store to check the grip, weight, and general feel of various multi tools before making a purchase.

Compare costs and warranties to make certain you get a satisfactory return on your funding.

5. Tips for Using and Maintaining Your Multi Tool

To maximize the lifespan and performance of your multi system, keep the following recommendations in mind:

Clean the blades and other additives after each use to prevent rust and maintain ultimate functionality.

Lubricate transfer components regularly to ensure clean operation.

Store your multi device in a dry and stable location to prevent harm and keep it satisfactory.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for sharpening blades or search for expert sprucing offerings if you wish.

Conclusion

A multi device gardening kit is an invaluable asset for any gardening enthusiast. By consolidating multiple gears into an unmarried tool, these versatile partners provide convenience, versatility, and cost-effectiveness. Whether you are pruning, digging, slicing, or weeding, a multi tool simplifies your gardening duties and complements your typical gardening experience.

[farfallasims]

27 Lighthouse Avenue , built by FarfallaSims ♡

27 Lighthouse Avenue in Brindleton Bay is an ideal family home with beautiful foliage and safe neighborhoods. It offers a spacious and comfortable living environment, with convenient access to the town's amenities and the scenic coastal surroundings.

With 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, plus a large pool you can easily fit multi-generations and even host the best pool parties in the neighborhood!

All Information & Link Under Cut

Gallery ID | FarfallaSims

$253,563.00

4 Bedroom 4 Bathroom

Lot Size 30x30 in Brindleton Bay

Move-In Ready

Used BB.MoveObjects On & TOOL

Packs in the Build | Cottage Living, Snowy Escape & Get Together

CC Used

Harrie | Coastal (1)(2) Felixandre | Chateau (1) Grove (1) House of Harlix | Baysic (1) Orjanic (1) Pierisim | David's Apartment (1) MCM (1)(2)(3) Max20 | Garden at Home (1) Cozy Backyard (1) Poolside Lounge (1) AWingedLlama | Flag (1) MrOlkan | Pool Water Swatch (1) LorySims | Porsche (1) Ravasheen | Lighting (1) Syboubou | Plouf (1) WhoIsSage | House Numbers (1) PlasticBox | Hydrageas (1) Rocks (1)

Other Notes

GShade Preset | Pearl by PixelGlam

Lighting Mod | Sunblind by Softerhaze

Enable BB.MoveObjects Before Placing

Please do NOT reupload my build furnished or unfurnished.

Floorplan shown on Patreon.

Kindly, please let me know if there are any missing mods or issues with the build!

Link to Build | 27 Lighthouse Avenue

Massive thank you to the CC Creators! @harrie-cc @felixandresims @pierisim @awingedllama & Others

[ghost-in-the-hall]

Slow (Phantom x GN! Reader FLUFF)

WARNINGS: Suggestive ending, all fluff, Phantom is having his first crush since being summoned.

My Masterlist! ~ AO3 Link!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You hummed to yourself as you carefully picked the ripe berries from one of Primo's pristine strawberry plants. You waved as you saw a familiar face round the corner. "Swiss, hey!" The multi ghouls wrapped you in a side hug as he approaches you.

"(Y/N), good to see you." He flashes you a sharp smile. "Would you like some help in the garden today?" You nodded with a soft laugh.

"You know help harvesting is always appreciated." He ushers his companion forward. You recognized him as one of the new Ghouls that had just been summoned. You hadn't really gotten the chance to talk to him yet, you had only exchanged a few small waves as you passed by him in the halls, you also would always give him a warm smile in hopes he would eventually warm up to you. "Hi Phantom." You see a small grin pass over his lips as he realizes you knew his name.

"We're trying to get him more comfortable with interacting with the Siblings. I was hoping he could help you out here." Phantom shifted awkwardly in his heels, you were unable to meet his gaze.

"Of course he can, I'll bring him back down to the Ghoul's Den after we're done out here." Swiss dismissed himself with a nod and a wave, briefly stopping to whisper something in Phantom's ear before clapping him on the shoulder and walking off. "Come on, let's go get you a basket." You motioned for him to follow you. You slowed your pace to allow yourself the chance to slip beside him. "How have you been adjusting so far? I'm sure this is a pretty big change for you." His eyes darted to look at you, he seemed a bit shocked that you were able to talk to him so casually.

"It's definitely a bit of a shock." He chuckles, you try your best to hide your excited expression over his response. "I honestly feel like most of the Siblings are scared of me."

"A lot of them have never been exposed to a freshly summoned Ghoul before. I'm sure they're just a little hesitant because they're not sure how to interact with you. I, however, think you seem very sweet Phantom." You glance over at him with a smile. He just looks down at the ground, folding his hands neatly behind his back. You got him set up with his own basket of gardening tools, he listened very intently to your instructions about how to harvest the produce properly without harming the plant. He watched you closely, lavender eyes scanning over your delicate fingers as you worked. The two of you moved from plant to plant, working slowly as you took time to answer whatever questions he had for you. After a while he actually seemed to be having fun, he slowly became more relaxed in your presence. He jumped down from a low rock wall out of the flower bed, almost instinctively offering you his hand. He looked back at you, almost recoiling at his own gesture. You reached out without a moment of hesitation, your fingers gliding over his palm. He breathes out a chuckle as he notices how his hand could completely engulf yours.

"You're so small." His eyes widen slightly as he suddenly drops your hand, apologizing profusely, causing you to laugh.

"Phantom, it's okay." You motioned to his hand. "May I?" He nodded slowly, you gently grabbed his palm in both your hands, your thumbs running soothingly over his skin. You pressed your hands together, allowing him a moment to look at the size difference between the two. "Your hands are really warm, it's nice." You smile at him.

"I-um," he trails off, swallowing thickly. "Would it be alright if I saw you again?" He inches forward slightly, a nervous glint in his eyes. You nod, a smile quickly spreading across your features.

"I'd like that." Phantom hesitantly pulled his hand away from yours, allowing his touch to linger in your until the very last moment. The two of you brought your fresh produce to the kitchen before you walked with him down to the Ghoul's Den.

"I hope he didn't give you too much trouble." Swiss says with a laugh.

"He wasn't any trouble at all, I had a really nice time with you today Phantom." He nods bashfully.

"Hopefully I'll be able to see you soon." He smiles softly at you, trying to hide his fangs.

"I'm always in the library in the evenings if you'd like to come keep me company." You bite your lip to try and hide your excited smile. "I'll see you later Phantom, bye Swiss." You dismiss yourself with a wave, practically skipping back to your dorm for the night. The next night you found yourself waiting anxiously as you wondered whether or not Phantom would actually show up. You sat before a roaring fire, curled up on one of the couches in the room as you skimmed through the book you had chosen, barely able to focus on the words on the page. You sat up a bit straighter as you heard the heavy door open on the opposite side of the room. Phantom slinks out of the shadows, offering you a small wave as he steps into the soft orange glow that surrounds you.

"Would it be alright if I joined you?" You nodded, scooting over to offer him a space to sit. He was rigid as he sat down, sitting up straight as he nodded at you. "You look really pretty tonight." You can't help but blush at his statement.

"Thank you." Phantom seemed even more flustered than you felt. "I'm really happy you came." You see him swallow thickly, his gaze landing on your lips.

"I am too." He admits with a bashful chuckle. "Can I admit something?" You nod, he cautiously reaches out and takes your hands in his. "I'm still learning how to interact with humans, but I've found myself feeling very attracted to you." You felt your cheeks heat up, your eyes widened slightly at his confession. You found yourself inching closer to him, his warm breath bouncing off your lips. "Can I?" He asks softly, you could feel his lips ghost over yours he was so close. You gave his hands a gentle squeeze.

"We'll take it nice and slow, okay?" He nods in response, pausing and waiting for you to take the lead. You gently run your fingers over the exposed skin of his cheek under his mask. His eyes slid shut as your lips finally found his. His grip on your hand tightens slightly as he presses himself into you. You slowly slid your hand around to the back of his neck, you hum softly as the feeling of his soft hair brushing over your fingers. Your body jolts slightly and drops your hands to let his fingers run over your waist. He tenderly squeezes at your flesh as you pull him in as close as you could manage. You parted with soft gasps, your gaze meeting one another's as soon as your eyes opened. "You're a really good kisser." You giggle causing him to get flustered.

"I'd like to do that again if that's alright." You nod, leaning into him once more. This time Phantom's lips met yours with a greater ferocity, hands grabbing hungrily at your hips while still making sure he didn't hurt you accidentally. His lips left yours, trailing across your jaw and down your neck. He nuzzles his face against your skin, your breath shudders as you try to steady your breathing. He takes your hand, slowly bringing it up to the buckle on his mask, silently asking you to remove it. Your fingers shook as you worked at the strap, eventually sliding it out of the buckle so you were able to fully remove it. His raven hair tumbled into his face, you couldn't resist reaching out to run your fingers through the soft strands. He takes a moment to study your expression, he was met with your soft gaze that held nothing short of pure adoration. "You're… you're not scared of me?"

"No," he carefully pulled you into his lap, his head lulled into your touch as you continued to play with his hair. "I think you're very handsome." His warm lips pressed against your pulse, sending a shiver down your spine.

"(Y/N)?" You hum in response to your name. You can't help but blush as Phantom's hands slide over the curve of your ass. "How slow would you like to take things?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tag List: @ramblingoak @kissingghouls @spookyghostjelly @belnovacaine @iamsarahsaysso @mustluvecho @jennmakesitweird @angellayercake

[justleaveacommentfest]

favourite comment i have ever got to this day: i wrote a long, multi-chapter sickfic about an illness ripping through a group of travelers one by one. on like, the third to last chapter, someone left a comment where they offhandedly mentioned they made a real life bet with their friend on who would be the next to fall. then on the next chapter, they revealed that they won fifty dollars on that bet, and told me about the new gardening tools they bought with the money. i think about them daily.

YOU HAVE DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR COMMENTORS GARDENING ADDICTION EXCELLENT WORK!!!

[sevs-corner]

OH MAH GAWD- I literally just saw a clip of Barry Sloane in a British crime drama called the “The Bay” and its makin’ me act up with his character’s domesticity with the FL

And of COURSE i’m taking inspo from Barry’s other roles to write more about Price (i’m doing it for the others too like Warren Kole (Graves) in Uncharted 4 as Adler, but doin’ all that takes time-- tho im willing to do the deepdive SHDBBWJAH)

This is very surface level reading of the character on the show (i swear i have to find where to watch it) but, connecting it with his other role as Price— I CAN IMAGINE PRICE RETIRING AS A DAD !!

He is giving househusband energy, taking care of the kids, doing all the manual labor housework, living his best country-side life with a girlfriend or wife he met when he moved in there.

HE👏IS👏CHARISMATIC👏

Man will swoon anyone if given the chance, just like a handy-tool-man that everyone calls if they need their house a little bit of fixing with their garden, plumbing— THIS MAN IS MULTI-TALENTED

He is that guy, always being pushed by drunken uncles and old folks at the pub to marry their daughters, and he tries his best to deny

Because he’s looking for someone to take care of him— not vice versa

When he does find the one, this man is ready to dedicate the last legs of his life to them.

He is just that committed!

He definitely makes it known to them through carefully planned dates, well-thought out gifts, being a reliable partner, and a comfort person to them.

In no time, they swept under their feet and moving right into his home— unknowing of the next step in the relationship to be right around the corner. Price couldn’t hold back anymore, he had to pop the question and get the ring on your hand now!!

He’s not taking chances and he’s not waiting any longer— he’s seen lots of things in his lifetime and he knows its them. It was only them who he could imagine spending his time with even when wrinkly and bones rattling.

But he’s also ready to wait if they need to, he’ll wait lifetimes so he could finally hear that he is someone’s “yours forever.”

[lostsneeze]

Allergic To Love

It’s the hot new dating show fueled entirely by an obscure kink millennial post-irony and brand sponsors! A group of unrealistically attractive contestants, each allergic to absolutely everything, are brought to a luxurious mansion to court the host. A challenging game will face them each day, and during each night the host will award them a ragweed flower one at a time (which they’ll be expected to accept with a flirty, sensual sniff of course). Anyone who doesn’t receive a flower at the end of the day is eliminated, while the final contestant chosen will be starting their hopefully happy relationship together....and also receive a multi-year acting contract as the spokesperson for the sponsoring allergy medication.

Who will be the winner, and who will just be ✧˚₊Allergic to Love₊˚✧?

Day 1: Decorum and Originality

All the contestants settle in during the day and make a plan for the evening: a fancy formal dinner with every contestant (and the host) wearing a bucketload of sponsored perfume, where no tissues are allowed. Whoever makes the worst first impression (or just keeps their composure the worst) risks an early elimination!

Day 2: Kindness and Care

In support of an animal rescue organization, the whole day is spent with some new four-legged guests. In a surprise twist, nobody is eliminated this round, and instead the ragweed is given to whichever animal got along with everyone the best, adopting them into the house for the rest of the show! If anyone was particularly friendly with the winner, they might find they’ve got a new furry friend tagging along with them in future episodes.

Day 3: Diligence and Courtesy

Today is a field trip to a decrepit run-down house that hasn’t been cleaned in years. Contestants are broken into teams and assigned a half to dust and straighten, but given a very limited supply of tissues and effective cleaning tools. Whichever team cleans their side the best in the time limit spends the evening with the host, and in another surprise twist the team that does the worst will be anonymously voting on one of their own for elimination (unless they all agree not to). Hopefully everybody was civil about sharing those supplies!

Day 4: Allure and Determination

It’s another field trip; a hike up during a day forecast for insane pollen highs. Everyone will be carrying a bouquet to the end of the trail to present to the host, who will be walking up with the group but only return with whoever’s flowers are in the best shape. They’d better be conscientious of how much room they use in their backpacks for rations and spare tissues if they want to win that spot…although they could always just carry their bouquets in hand.

Day 5: Boldness and Persistence

After several days of hard work, it’s time for a more relaxing day at the house. To “help” contestants relax, the house has been absolutely littered with top brand scented candles. The lounge, where the host is, has the most, but each contestant can spend up to a full hour there at any time…if they can stand it that long, that is!

Day 6: Patience and Humility

The final field trip before the grand finale. This time contestants and the host will be performing chores at a farm, and only allowed one handkerchief each. Whoever has the cleanest handkerchief at the end gets to have dinner alone with the host. After their poor red noses have already endured so much this week, will anyone be able to completely resist the comfort of imported silk sitting in their pocket to guard against elimination?

Day 7: Love

In the final day, the host is brought to the center of an enormous garden maze blooming with flowers and given a bouquet of ragweed to present to their desired date. But the host will have to find them first: each remaining contestant is waiting at a different exit to the maze wearing a crown of flowers (and nothing else!), so the host will have to recognize the sneezes of their love and navigate to them by sound alone! To make matters more confusing, the eliminated contestants are brought back to wait in the dead ends of the maze. Who will end up with the prize, and will it be who the host was after?

[xairathan]

It's midnight, I'm procrastinating, it's time to put out all the thoughts I've had about Yushura into a place where people who are interested can find them; and if anyone wants to write her but isn't willing to put in the effort then save yourself the trouble and keep my girl's name out of your mouth so you don't show the world your ignorance.

I'm not touching story-specific stuff; we're extrapolating things about Yushura's life and being off of logical deduction, disability consciousness, and the grounding of the great work and thoughts of many crips of color. We begin.

Starting off with something I think I didn't get to do in any of my works and that the setting utterly snubs: if care and disability aren't a focal point of spacian developments, then you know that the disabled spacians have figured out their own remedies and methods of care. The earthians will have as well, but given the resource disparity, I would be surprised if the two were connected. tl;dr - Disabled community almost certainly exists and we saw absolutely none of it in the setting with "unique challenges to the human physique endemic to expansion into space" nice job gwitch

Which leads into the next part: I believe that there's no real-world corollary to whatever Yushura's condition is. That fits in with what Cardo Nabo said in the prologue. From the clues we're given in the light novel, I have taken the stance that it's most likely an issue of the heart; if not the heart, then the lungs. The most likely causes I can envision are likely (a) exposure to low-gravity in the womb, (b) exposure to space radiation in the womb, and/or (c) long-term, multi-generational changes to the human physique due to life in space. There is also likely not one singular cause that is the 'source'; these factors together likely compound potential health issues. Finally, it can be inferred from Miorine's recollection of her and Yushura playing tag that Yushura was fully able-bodied at some point in the past, and her condition onset after they lost contact. This might play into Yushura's severe hangups about luck, especially if both her and her brother are predisposed to her condition, but it presented only in Yushura.

If you intend to take any of the above knowledge and employ it in a medicalist manner, stop while you're ahead, educate yourself on the medical vs. social vs. political-relational models of disability, and then come back.

With all of this taken into consideration, the following is my imagination of Yushura's life. If at any point in reading this you feel pity, check your ableism at the door and go write something more your speed, like suIemio.

Yushura prefers low-gravity environments, and likely lives in a low-gravity section of the Lapis Garden station, or else on a ship that travels at a set speed. My best guess is 0.5G (half of standard Earth gravity) but honestly, does it matter when we have no real way to test it? Due to living in low-gravity most of the time, Yushura has very little muscle mass. While she can (and probably should) exercise, perhaps it isn't necessary or perhaps she doesn't want to. I don't know how physical therapy in low-G works.

Due to working in low-G environments, and due to her weak grip, Yushura likely relies on many specialized tools for her work. I'm thinking custom gloves, magnetic strips on her worktable to hold things, things that make it easier for Yushura to work for long periods of time without straining her body. In the light novel, we see that Yushura is capable of cooking jelly/various gelatinous foods, which is likely her main source of food, as eating messy foods in low-G is asking for trouble. However, this does not mean she is incapable of eating solid food, and I imagine a CTO gets invited to a fair share of lunch and dinner outings for work.

Unfortunately, we do not know whether society in the Ad Stella universe, where the GUND format was originally created to assist with impairments, is ableist. However, given what we know of the setting, I presume that most corporate stations operate at 1G and space travel operates between 0-0.2G, meaning that as per real life, not very much thought is put into accessibility and the comfort of the disabled. Also I couldn’t find anywhere good to put this but my headcanon is that her earrings are secretly blood oximeters.

For further questions, story-related questions and discussions, and additional fawning over Yushura, please find me at Xairathan anywhere.

Also her last name is Mirzakhani (Iranian) and her first name is Yushura (Arabic) you can't tell me she's pasty white you colorist fucks I bet you liked Sumeru too

(in case anyone asks my tl;dr for her personality is we don't really get to see it since the narrative suborns literally everyone, even the main characters, to its runaway plot; however, I too would be tired of everyone's shit if everyone kept coddling me and assuming that they know my body better than myself)

[theresattrpgforthat]

Heyo, I run a lot of sandbox hexcrawl campaigns, and I was wondering if there was any setting-neutral fantasy generators I could use to help build them on the fly - especially ones that can add settlements and the like as people explore?

THEME: Hexcrawl Generators

Hello friend. When it comes to hex crawls, I understand that pre-written worlds are different from hex-crawl generators. Pre-written hex crawls can be modular, but the setting usually pretty pre-established. On the other hand, there’s plenty of world-generating games that can be pretty setting-agnostic and rather focus on providing oracles to make discovery exciting and somewhat unpredictable. So let’s tackle some of each piece of your list, and maybe we’ll find something that works!

The Undying Sands and Bottled Sea, by Games Omnivorous.

The Undying Sands is a weird desert setting in a weird format. Heavily inspired by Antiquity  and sprinkled with sci-fi elements from Mad Max and Jodorowsky’s Dune, the Undying Sands is a lost decaying civilization. Its glorious past long gone, the Sands are now a wasteland of sorts, dotted with crumbling ruins, antiquated temples, lost technology, and pristine natural wonders beyond the reach of most.

The Bottled Sea is an alternate dimension, where ships and sailors from across history are sucked inadvertently into, through strange wormholes and foul circumstance. Locked in a timeless state, the Sea is a flooded realm of buoyant wastes, coral-reefs of multiversal debris, floating wrecks, and makeshift technology, littered with sunken vestiges of a world that was or could yet be. Four factions with competing agendas vie for control over the Harborage, a suspended port city of rubble and ruin in the very centre of the endless waters.

Both of these games are modular hex tiles, so the lore is pre-written, but because the tiles are drawn randomly, nobody knows where they’ll be heading next until they get there! The games come with a GM screen full of helpful tips and information, and there will be special dungeons and encounters on certain tiles. The designers also have expansions for both of these games available in pamphlet form on their website. This can provide the random generation you’re looking for, as long as you are excited about the setting provided.

Hexcrawl Tool, by Horoscope Zine.

This is a simple tool to help you hexcrawl.

When it comes to finding something that is truly setting-agnostic, this tool is probably what you’re looking for. The tool provides two different ways to determine what lies in the next hex, and uses a simple oracle to tell you what kinds of terrain you’ll be walking into. You can use ideas from other world building games to flesh it out, or even hack it using oracles such as the Hey What’s That Planet oracle from junkgolem, or point-crawl adventures such as The Gardens of Ynn, by Dying Stylishly games. 

The creator has a number of their own system-neutral sandboxes and dungeons, so you can also browse their shop for ideas!

Gen:Hex by marchcrow.

Gen:Hex is a two-page sheet that has several tables to help you generate exotic locales, storied cities, fascinating NPCs and more - on the go! Fits nicely in the back of an A5 journal. Can be used for solo RPG play or collaborative. The parts aren't interlocking so you can use what helps you propel your story forward. 

This is perhaps the best-fitting oracle for some of the above hex map generators, allowing you to fill in the gaps that you’ll find with some of the other generators on this list. It’s two pages of tables with lists of encounters, landscapes, features, troubles and more. 

Hex Kit, by Cone of Negative Energy.

Hex Kit is a multi-platform desktop application for building hex maps to be used with table top role playing games. Rather than being bogged down by features and complications, Hex Kit is built to be intuitive and quick to use with an emphasis on art.

This is an application, rather than a game, so it’s probably more useful for making your hex look uniform in some way after you generate it. The application comes with a number of basic tools, but the creator’s storefront has a number of additional tiles that you can import, and you can get additional hexes from other creators, such as the HPS Cartography Kit, and The Tiles of Xark, by Highland Paranormal Society.

These tools don’t come with oracles for the hexes - it’s up to you to decide what each hex means. If you want to see something that makes use of this application (and you want some random tables), you can check out Hexception, a mega-hexcrawl by kumada1.

If you bought the Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality back in 2020, you already own Hex Kit and HPS Cartography Kit!

Games I’ve Recommended in the Past

Wonderfall, by Catscratcher Studio. (Technically solo but has great generators for locations, encounters, people and quests.)

[ask-half-blood-hill]

Meet the Demigods: Nathan Delacroix

Good morning, campers! Live from Cabin Two, it's Sephora! Today, we're bringing you a special interview on 'Meet the Demigods!' You all know him, you all adore him. He's the easy, breezy, and just so pleasing son of Zeus- Nathan!

Q1: Can you describe how you look?

"I have shaggy brown hair, blue eyes- like the sky- and pale skin. I'm about five foot ten, and I'm fifteen years old. I don't usually socialize much, but I'm not opposed to making friends. I always have emergency equipment on me, so if you're in a pinch, just holler and I'll be there!"

Q2: As a child of Zeus, what's it like being the top of the demigod tierlist?

"Expectations are really... stressful. I mean, I know I'm strong, but there's tons of demigods here that are easily stronger than I am! I look up to everyone, more than they should look up to me. My dad is King of the Gods, but please don't think of me as the pinnacle of demigod strength and status..."

Q3: What do you have in your bag?

"Survival equipment- you never know when you'll need it. Rope, matches, ambrosia, nectar, bandages, splints, money and drachmas, a celestial bronze pocket knife, a multi-tool, and a small cooking pot. What's the pot for? Boiling water to make it safe to drink."

Q4: What's your mom like?

"I don't have a mom. Actually, I have two dads- Zeus, and my mortal dad. It's not really unheard of for Zeus to fall for a man, especially my dad. He's a model, so of course he's got the attention of Zeus... I was kind of left on a doorstep and the rest is history."

Q5: Is there anyone in camp you like hanging out with?

"The Demeter kids are really cool, and calm. Aurora and I often take care of the gardens outside of the cabin, and Elliot and I go for hikes in the forest when the event-summoned monsters are gone. Lillian likes drawing, and I have tons of her doodles up in my cabin."

Q6: How do you feel about the other Big Three kids?

Jasper scares me, and he's definitely the powerhouse of every demigod here- he just hides it. Reagan is also pretty strong, and a lot more forward. She's nice, but she definitely has an issue when her strength is questioned. It comes from her home life, I know- but still... I'd stay on both their good sides. They have this sort of rivalry with each other..."

Q7: If you could design the Zeus cabin, what would you do to make it more comfortable?

"Maybe turn it from a cold marble temple into an actual cabin. Wood floors, painted walls, and statues that don't stare into your eyes when you're trying to get ready for the day. I know dad likes his presence being known but... Really, that statue creeps me out..."

Q8: I've always wondered- do you have any unique powers?

"I can turn into an eagle- the symbol of my father. I mean, I can fly without it, but it makes it easier to control, and it's a little less draining. I can't carry heavy weight though, or fight in that form. I only like doing it when I have to travel far distances safely, alone."

[violetnerves]

Part 2 sort of thing for my Bully/Canis Canem Edit x Battle Royale crossover: Assigned Weapons/Objects.

In the novel, Battle Royale, each student is assigned a duffel bag with a weapon/object in it along with a map, compass, a watch to track time, bottled water, and food. Most of the weapons are what you'd expect, like guns and knives, (Though guns aren't as common as bladed weapons.) but occasionally a student might get unlucky and end up with a joke item that might be utterly useless or have really only one use. Then there are the helpful items that aren't weapons, like a student who is given a tracking device that's wired to the explosive collars worn by everyone in the program and another who is given a bulletproof vest.

With that blurb out of the way, here's some of the weapons/objects that I'd think the students of Bullworth Academy (plus the Townies) would end up with.

Gonna just put a content warning for the mention of Guns, Murder, and Attempted suicide, so be aware of all that before reading any further. If I missed any other content warnings, let me know, and I'll update the post.

The Main Trio:

Jimmy Hopkins - A Toy Slingshot. (I'd thought it be funny and it's at least a little useful.)

Gary Smith - A Tracking device that pinpoints the locations of the collars the others wear.

Pete Kowalski - A Pink stuffed rabbit plushie. (Gary got a laugh out of that one.)

Prefects (They're technically students too, so):

Seth Kolbe - An Inflatable Toy Baton.

Karl Branting - A Police Baton.

Edward Seymour II - A Beretta U22 Neos pistol. (I figure Edward might be a former Preppie, and thus, he comes from one of the rich families of Bullworth. So, just like some of the other Preppies, he got a gun as well.)

Max McTavish - A Megaphone.

Non-Clique students:

Angie Ng - A Tazer.

Christy Martin - A MAC-11 Machine pistol chambered for 9x19mm Parabellum. (She was given Justin's bag by mistake.)

Constantinos Brakus - An 8ft length of Rope. (Contantinos considered using it on himself before spotting Algie trying to hurt Gloria. Instead, he ends up stealing Algie's weapon after saving Gloria.)

Eunice Pound - A Cleaver.

Gloria Jackson - A multi-tool.

Gordon Wakefield - A college text book.

Ivan Alexander - An antique camera with film.

Karen Johnson - A metal baseball bat.

Lance Jackson - A bag of nails.

Melody Adams - A butcher's knife.

Pedro De La Hoya - A fork.

Ray Hughes - A spoon.

Sheldon Thompson - A whistle.

Trevor Moore - A pair of safety scissors.

The Bullies:

Russell Northrop - None. (He dies before the program starts due to his attempt to remove the explosive collar around his neck by force.)

Davis White - A Pistol Crossbow.

Ethan Robinson - Throwing stars.

Tom Gurney - A bottle of Potassium Cyanide. (Tom gives the bottle to Trent when they finally meet up so he isn't tempted to injest it's contents.)

Trent Northwick - A Hunting knife.

Troy Miller - A standard Kitchen knife. (Taken by Wade.)

Wade Martin - A bullet-proof vest. (He tossed it away out of anger since he got mad it wasn't an actual weapon. Gary finds and picks it up, secretly wearing it under his button-up shirt and vest. Wade ends up taking Troy's kitchen knife since Russell's death caused Troy to go into shock, so he wasn't in the state of mind to use it anyway.)

Preps:

Darby Harrington - A scoped Browning BLR Rifle chambered for .243 Winchester cartridges. (Some of the Preppie's parents provided bribe money to get their kids better weapons than the rest of the students. Mr. Harrington was exceptionally generous. Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean the Preps would know how to use them weapons they were given...)

Bif Taylor - A Franchi SPAS-12 shotgun.

Tad Spencer - A stainless steel gardening fork. (It's resemblance to the pitchfork his father once stabbed him with, along with the implication that his father didn't care enough about him to bribe the government to get his own son a better weapon that would guarantee his survival, and combined with the stress of his situation causes Tad's mental state to deteriorate during the events of The Program.)

Pinky Gauthier - None. (Pinkie threw the duffel bag she was given away since she refused to participate in the Program.)

Gord Vendome - A semi-automatic AMT Backup chambered for .380 ACP cartridges.

Chad Morris - A Series ALFA Steel Revolver chambered for .22 LR. (Chad trades his revolver for Bryce's ice pick, claiming that he's not a very good shot, though it might've been done out of pity for Bryce's situation.)

Bryce Montrose - An ice pick. (Bryce's parents couldn't afford the bribe money to get him a better weapon. He ends up trading the pick for Chad's revolver, albiet reluctantly.)

Justin Vandervelde - A box of matches. (He was given Christy's bag by mistake. Ironically, he's one of the few Preppies who actually know how to fire a gun due to past experience, along with Parker.)

Parker Ogilvie - A .44 Auto Mag Pistol.

Greasers:

Johnny Vincent - A Bowie machete.

Lola Lombardi - An OTF (Out-The-Front) Switchblade.

Larry "Peanut" Romano - A Push dagger.

Hal Esposito - An antique Soufflé dish.

Lefty Mancini - A Side-folding Switchblade.

Lucky De Luca - A Boot knife.

Norton Williams - 4 lb Hand Sledgehammer.

Ricky Pucino - A Gerber Mark II Survival knife.

Vance Medici - A Straight Razor.

Nerds:

Earnest Jones - A Nail gun.

Algie Papadopoulos - A BC-41 Knuckle knife. (It gets stolen by Constantinos.)

Beatrice Trudeau - A scalpel.

Bucky Pasteur - A plastic toy dinosaur.

Cornelius Johnson - A walking cane.

Donald Anderson - A notebook.

Francois "Fatty" Johnson - A pair of brass knuckledusters.

Melvin O'Connor - A wooden club.

Thad Carlson - A yardstick.

Jocks:

Ted Thompson - A Football helmet.

Damon West - A Butter knife. (He tosses it away.)

Mandy Wiles - A small canister of Pepper spray.

Bo Jackson - A wooden baseball bat.

Casey Harris - A Maglite flashlight.

Dan Wilson - A bright red plastic toy baseball bat.

Juri Karamazov - A sickle.

Kirby Olsen - A Whip. (Needless to say, when Kirby pulled it out of his duffel, he was mortified.)

Luis Luna - A Fire axe.

Bob - A metal garbage can lid.

Townies (The gov just wanted them to get rid of them for being high school dropouts and figured putting them in the Program with the students of Bullworth would be killing two birds with one stone.):

Edgar Munsen - A 9mm Beretta M9 handgun. (He smuggled it in. How? Who knows?)

Zoe Taylor - Bear repellent spray.

Omar Romero - A Crowbar.

Clint "Henry" - A Handheld Mini electric Chainsaw.

Duncan - A pocket calculator.

Gurney - A bottle of lighter fluid.

Jerry - A lighter.

Leon - A wood saw.

Otto Tyler - An empty glass bottle.

Some of these I got stumped on and I may have put too many joke weapons, but eh.

[afreakingdork]

Weak Spot - Chapter 32

RotTMNT Donatello x Reader

Warnings: Aged-up Turtles, Romance, Meet Cute, Villain Donatello, Cussing, Crushes, Xenophobia, Fear, Intimidation, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Hurt/Comfort, Love, AFAB Reader, Vaginal Sex, Sex Rough, Sex, Penis In Vagina Sex, Creampie, Teasing, Scent Kink, Sexual Tension, Breeding Kink, Multiple Orgasms, Cunnilingus, Fellatio, Marathon Sex, Somnophilia, Intercrural Sex, Bondage

Synopsis:  A love story of villainous proportions! Though it hadn’t come easily, as these things rarely do, you found yourself in a whirlwind romance with a handsome and mysterious mutant. His idiosyncrasies had been easy to ignore as attraction grew into something more. However, will love endure when the unknowns about him end up being far darker than you ever considered?

Also available on Ao3

First 💜 Previous

Wiping your brow with the only not browned bit of your glove, you looked up at the cloudless sky. A tease of spring was in the air even though chill still had a hold on the sunny day. Labor had kept you warm enough and you swept your leather gloves together in a dusty rainfall. Standing and giving your legs a stretch, you turned around to the others in the space.

To your left, S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. was humming to himself as he moved around pallets of seedlings. He had been instrumental in getting them up to the roof and, even though his job was done, he’d hovered around for the sake of it. He’d been on especially good behavior and currently seemed to be moving the plants around in what you sort of registered was alphabetical order as he waited for the official planting to occur.

Further over and taking up a majority of space, Donnie was surrounded by lumber. His bo was currently acting as a multi-tool; currently topped with a saw, he used it to expertly cut pieces of wood. His usual glasses had been replaced with a pair of safety goggles that had a visor-like stripping and a purple tint that perfectly matched his aesthetic. While you and S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. had moved the plants, Donnie penciled up measurements and was currently implementing them. Organizing the freshly cut wood into new stacks, he was quickly whittling down the old.

Removing one glove with a pinch, you watched with open affection. Ever since your anniversary and, true to the conversation, you’d both worked together on the rooftop garden plans. From choosing plants of both the ornamental and edible variety to designing a little adjoined lounge, Donnie had walked you through how to make a blueprint. He’d actually started you out using a hologram, but the turning of the 3D object confused you depending on the angle you faced it. You’d ended up going old school with paper and he’d been gentle when suggesting edits. In a similar vein, when you’d suggested different construction for the deck chairs, he’d been open and complimented your intuitive design. It had almost been odd; you’d expected him to be overbearing, but instead he was happy to collaborate. Where he leaned a little too far into function, you geared towards comfort and, in the end, the two balanced out.

It had meant the whole process was enjoyable, especially tending to the seedlings the last couple of weeks. With your suggestion of using an egg carton, Donnie produced seeds of plants that could be started indoors this time of year. Watching the little dirt mounds daily from where they dutifully lined the kitchen window, you’d nearly screamed when the first sprout broke through the soil. Donnie had rushed to you in a panic only for you to offer him the entire carton with the one itty bitty greenery. You must have looked especially pathetic because he hadn’t even scolded you. He’d simply kissed you before urging you to return the tray so they could continue to grow.

It was those strong seedlings, along with a few additions from a local nursery, that you were preparing to plant. Focusing on the first crop and seating for now, there were long term plans in place to make the entire roof a secondary oasis.  You could almost picture privacy ivy and maybe even an area for pigeons. Donnie had been relatively insistent on an apiary which you weren’t against, but didn’t know too much about. It had opened a fascinating discussion on bees that your partner had curtailed into an easily digestible form. You hadn’t been bothered once, even when it consumed an entire evening.  

“You’re staring.”

You hadn’t heard the saw stop.

“Am I making you nervous?” You jeered, walking over.

He gave you a look that said that was hardly the case. “Soil aerated?”

“Yep!”

“Good, I’m ready to start assembly.”

You settled your weight on one hip as he reviewed the piles. He felt the pull of your eye and adjusted his bo with a flick. You watched curiously to see what would happen when the head transformed into an oversized hook. Momentarily caught on how that’d help build anything, he swept the staff back and then towards you where it looped around your waist. You were then tugged straight into him where he was ready for a dip. Smiling as his expression oozed charm, he turned you away to make his body a shield for S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. before he kissed you breathless.

“Ew!! Mom and dad are gross!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. snickered.

Ignoring him and giving a parting peck, you both put a modicum of space between yourselves.

“I like watching you work.” You hummed, further warmed.

Donnie gave you a tipped nod through the brim of his black sun hat. “S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N.”

“Yessir, boss dad dude sir!” In a zip, S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. flew to his side.

“Two fathers in one day?” One of Donnie’s brows disappeared into his hat.

“I’m not allowed to be sentimental?!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. huffed before a red beam shot out of him over  the cut wood. “97.7% accuracy.”

Donnie’s lip pursed. “Good enough with the inevitable weathering.”

“Why not metal?” You leaned over S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. who did a backflip trying to look at you.

“Several factors.” Donnie knelt down to pick up two pieces and motioned you over.

“It’ll rust?” He demonstrated an angle and you held them in place.

“Depending on the material, yes, but the plants are the real concern. Accounting for their separate drainage, seepage, growth, material leaching…” His bo dropped to its handheld size and reformed into what had to be a nail gun. “If we were to postulate on only indoor varieties, the container would be nearly as important as the foliage.”

“I guess that makes sense.” You winced as he aligned the gun and a sharp pop signified he’d secured it.

He eyed you instead of moving forward.

“Just thinking about how fast it goes in.” You gave a nervous smile.

“You have nothing to worry about.” Donnie responded, setting up the gun again.

“He’d sooner shoot himself!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. buzzed.

“Not untrue.” Donnie shrugged, handing over the right angle of wood to you while gathering the next pieces.

“Don’t take a bullet for me.” You clicked your tongue.

“You couldn’t stop either of us.” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. responded without his usual airy demeanor.

The blunt honesty had you looking between the pair. “Stop the gun before it fires.”

“That’s not always possible.” Donnie waited for you to hold up the next two pieces before nailing them together.

“I certainly won’t die.” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. shrugged before lowering to nudge more wood closer to Donnie.

“Even if his main processor was damaged, there are nearly dozens of back-ups happening at any one time. He’d lose seconds at most.”

“Been there, done that. Still annoying.” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. grouched.

“Probabilities sake says it will be me however.” Donnie was moving faster and you were getting a better sense of your job helping.

S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. tipped his head thoughtfully. “His plastron is mostly bulletproof.”

“Bullet make and proximity dependant.” Donnie noted between gun clicks.

“Carapace.” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. gave an approximation of a grimace.

Donnie’s lip almost curled but he forced it down into a line. “A version of my battle shell is nearly always in place.”

“Okay.” Released from the next combined pieces, you pulled your hands up and pressed them together in front of your mouth. “Why are we talking about this like it will happen?”

“Statistically…?” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. tilted to one side.

“But you haven’t been working…?” You looked at Donnie.

“That doesn’t mean I’m not targeted nor that we live in a safe city.” Donnie didn’t look at you and gave a lengthy pause before finally pulling in the next bits of lumber.

You sat back and pouted as you got through several more rounds of construction. The whole thing didn’t sit right. There were dangers to being alive, but acting like those were inevitable by simply existing didn’t sound like a way you wanted to live. Besides, there were far more pressing entities you were afraid of then some daily criminal. “Is this okay?”

S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. bobbed upward, confused.

“In a permitting sense, yes.” Donnie seemed to think before looking at you.

“Uh no…” You trailed off, the wood you were holding was taking shape. “Obviously I’m looking away from how we’re basically commandeering the whole roof to ourselves, but I meant more cause it’s out in the open and all…”

Donnie’s gaze narrowed.

“Oh you mean the-” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. sounded slack jawed.

“Don’t.” Donnie growled with a sudden ferocity. He then spared you a guarded look that begged you to let the lapse go.

You wondered what S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. called the other turtles.

It obviously was not something Donnie appreciated. 

Letting it slide, S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. nervously squirmed in the air as Donnie sent a nail in at an angle. The tip of it burst through the other side of the wood and Donnie clicked his tongue with a volume that rivaled the nail gun. His staff reconstructed into a hammer and he used the claw to yank it out in one swift tug.

“Are they still…?” You had decided not to press his attitude. That didn’t mean you’d dropped the subject. “…watching us?... or me, I guess…?”

“I have the data.” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. checked with Donnie.

“Quickly.” Donnie’s teeth flashed. “I won’t have them ruining a nice day.”

“Leonardo has done a few online searches since.” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. turned to you. “Checking your social media.”

Your lips parted and then your features screwed up in disgust. “What?”

“Usually around 3am.”

“That makes it worse.” You blew a raspberry. “Late night creeper energy.”

“Raphael was largely absent from the original stakeout and similarly hasn’t triggered any of my monitoring systems.”

You blinked, coming out of your loathing for mild curiosity. The red turtle was the only one you hadn’t interacted with. You’d seen Donnie’s scars so he still didn’t sit right with you, but you couldn’t find yourself hating him in the same way.

“Michelangelo was outside of the apartment two days ago.”

“What?!” Donnie snapped, only not moving to stand as the droid was already near his eye level. “And you neglected to pass this information on!?” 

Your heart sped up in time with Donnie’s fury.

“I was still assessing the anomaly.” A little screen projected out of S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N.’s gaze. In it was a view of the street outside of the apartment. It seemed to be later in the day and the usual stock of people walked by. You didn’t notice anything strange until a hooded figure across the street suddenly stopped. They stood still for a long time before turning towards the apartment. The footage sped up for a moment and then Mikey returned his attention to the sidewalk and continued on. “Hacking security cameras found him on a usual trek to pick up groceries from his preferred speciality store. It was the first and last time he shifted his usual route. Difference: four streets, placing him near the apartment.”

“How long?” Donnie seethed.

“2 minutes and 14 seconds.”

Donnie reached out and manipulated the projection to zoom in. Some clarity came to the picture, but Mikey’s face was completely shadowed.

“He typically makes the trip every week around the same time.”

“They know which apartment we’ve moved to.”

“That isn’t confirmed.”

“Is this not-!?” Donnie seemed to catch himself and sank back to the ground with flickers of fury burning off of him.

“It isn’t confirmed.” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. repeated staunchly and in a blink the projection disappeared. “He’s also been in proximity of apartment three’s location, though the same behavior was not exhibited. Outside of that, there is no evidence that they are continuing their watch.”

“Why…?” The question started out of you and both boys gave you their attention. Having pried them from what seemed far more important, you felt self-conscious. “Why are they leaving us be? I mean, don’t get me wrong, that’s preferred, but it doesn’t make… sense?”

“They started because they thought you were a civilian.” Donnie began after a lengthy pause. “A causality waiting to happen.”

I’m not going to remember your name.

You shrank down under a weight on your shoulders. “I’m a lost cause.”

Donnie’s neck stiffened with protest, but S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. spoke first. “Prior to your… event… they’d been growing more and more lax about Donatello’s whereabouts. Without obvious criminal intent, they-”

“Didn’t feel I was worth it. They’d happily let me rot.” Donnie tacked on.

“Don…” You picked at your only glove.

“Fools only ever cared about stopping active crime. They never bothered with preventative measures.” 

“So criminals like… Hypno?”

Donnie chuffed, but it wasn’t out of amusement. “They can’t even catch a hack.”

“It’s not so simple…” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. gave Donnie a wary glance. “The facilities topside initially weren’t suited for mutants, then they were… too… armed?”

Donnie looked away as if studying the wood.

“Do you remember the protests for mutant rights?” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. turned to you.

You nodded.

“Containment units were made once. They still exist, but they’re underground now. The…” With a flick of his digital pupil, S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. checked on Donnie. “The other… turtles-” He adjusted in real time. “-were against their use, especially for incarceration. There’s the Hidden City jails but-”

“They’re a joke.” Donnie came around with a disdain that had a righteous air.

“I thought you weren’t captured.”

“I’ve never been captured.” Donnie’s head lolled menacingly.

Your gaze narrowed. “What you… went in with a disguise?”

“Something like that.” Donnie finally felt calm enough to grab some more wood.

You continued to stare.

“Gaining information from an inmate is difficult when you can’t sign in as a visitor.” Donnie regaled, nudging you with a plank to hold it up.

“You’ve mentioned disguises once.” You obliged and were thankful the conversation was lightening up a little.

S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. snickered, trying to cover his mouth line with a rotor.

Donnie shot him a glare before accurately getting a nail in place. “Necessity begs.”

“I’ll show you pics later.” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. whispered to you.

“Strange, it seems as though your area will be experiencing disrupted data coverage tonight.” Donnie double checked his positioning before firing off another nail.

“Don’t you dare!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. revved angrily.

“Have your photos.” Donnie bit back coldly. “You will instead give updates of their encroaching whereabouts immediately going forward.”

“So like during sex… or….?” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. was ready. “Because I thought you weren’t supposed to be disturbed then and trying to find a time when you two aren’t going at it like rabbits-?”

If he had hair, Donnie would have puffed up like a feral cat. Instead, he settled for widening tense muscles and gripping his bo so tightly the metal creaked.

S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. cackled loudly and dodged a sudden swing. 

You shook your head hopelessly at the pair before the construction took you both to your feet. There, several planters took shape and you moved them to their more permanent homes. Donnie tried to hang back to build furniture next, but you’d grabbed his hand and pulled him over. Feigning weakness, you both filled the boxes with the special dirt he’d brought. With his hands buried, he started discussing its chemical make-up. Before you realized what was happening, he was smiling and going on about pHs levels. You didn’t have the heart to tell him that you hadn’t quite caught everything, but his open info dump held your heart hostage.

Pressing out little divots for the seedlings, Donnie followed close and dropped them into each hole. “-It gets particularly fascinating when you consider hydrangeas.”

“Not the language of them.” You mused.

He smiled a little brighter. “They change color based on soil pH.”

“Oh weird.” You popped up from where you were hunching.

He gave a nod. “More acidic, more blue. Alkaline shifts the blooms pink.”

“So purple…?”

“Above the 5 range. You only need to adjust levels of sulfur, gypsum, aluminum sulfate-”

He started to discuss the benefits of lime and you lost him again. He continued to talk as he turned away to get a new tray. You watched after him fondly and wondered what he would have been like in a different life. You could sort of imagine a nerdy version of him winning a blue ribbon at some state fair. It made you wish all the more that there were some kind of childhood photos of him. It was always a thought tinted with regret as those would only document the worst of times. Turning your attention to settle some dirt oddly distributed to one side of the planter, you heard S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. fly in close.

“You’re like… into it…?” He whispered there.

“What?” You turned to him and went to shield your eyes to see him better. 

“The… infodumping.”

“I don’t know about that.” You gave a small smile. 

S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N.’s body careened to one side with what seemed like a revelation. “You’ve heard it before.” 

“A few times, even on one of our earliest dates.” 

S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. stared evenly at you causing you to look around.

“He’s done it to Kaleb too?”

“Huh.”

“I’m sensing this is one of those ‘he’s changed’ epiphanies?”

“Kinda… more like…” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. began to rotate around you so you spun to follow him. “It’s weird that he would… share? How do I put it? Ugh! That’s his like private info, his thoughts. He doesn’t give trade secrets away.”

“Trade secrets about pH levels or how to grill a hot dog?” Returning from 360 you saw Donnie rearranging the alphabetized plants with grumpy body language. 

“Anything! Everything! It all has to be kept close to the chest. You never know…”

“What they’d… use against him?”

S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. nodded solemnly.

“Do you really think of him as your dad?”

S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. checked behind him before giving you a silent nod.

It was clear that had been a point of contention.

Having seen glimpses of their arguments, you tried to picture that one in particular.

What came was that elusive mad Donnie in his 20s raving about how a creation could never be his spawn.

He did often treat Shelly like he’d sprung up unwanted.

Gripping the planter in thought, you heard Donnie return.

“Discussion.” He said simply and you could feel him weighing the air.

“Guess it’s a thinking sort of day.” You gave him a faded grin.

“Should be the case of idle hands.” Since you hadn’t moved, Donnie made the next divot which signalled you to pick back up your duty.

“Work’s not distracting enough.” You shrugged, going much slower than before.

You could feel the delay hadn’t irritated your partner and, instead, he was put out by your reluctance to expand on whatever issue. 

Thinking that oddly went in line with where your thoughts were headed, you spoke. “Do you resent Shelly because he was unplanned?”

As if spooked, S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. suddenly shot 20 feet straight up.

Across from you Donnie’s gaze didn’t follow the AI and instead stared at you fully wide. “Why am I being cast as the pregnant teenager?!”

“That-!” Your pitch skyrocketed.

“What were you talking about!?” Donnie threw his irritation up where S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. was spiraling in a literal sense.

“Okay I hear how it sounds!” You rushed to round the planter.

Donnie held a tray in front of him as a defense. “You don’t understand the depths of what you’re asking!”

“Depths?” You slowed and caught the other side of the seedlings.

Hackles raised, Donnie evaluated you before dropping his attention. With a flick of his chin he requested you return to your post.

Finding the gesture rude, you held firm.

You stared him down until you could almost hear the beam of the sun. Then Donnie relented with a heavy sigh. “I need space. Please.”

You hesitated a moment longer before releasing the tray. You then slowly moved back around the planter before turning to wait for him.

He set the tray on the edge and adjusted his gloves. “It’s not that he was unwanted. I inherently struggle when plans change.”

You nodded and scooped out the next hole.

Donnie cradled the seedling he lifted. “When he first began operating outside of his programming, I found it to be a marvel.”

“True sentience.” You watched the softened edges of his face.

“I wouldn’t know that for several months yet and would chock it up to machine learning for far too long.” With his fingers cupped, Donnie pressed his hand into the soil and let the plant fall out of his palm as if releasing a liquid.

“What happened?”

He drew a small line around where the sprout now sat in its new home. “I would try to contain him while he increasingly fought for independence.”

“That doesn’t…”

Explain why the two of them had bad blood.

Donnie never liked to admit he was wrong, but S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. seemed too carefree to actually hold anything against anyone.

The droid much preferred to stab wounds in jest because he could acknowledge their emotional edge with perspective.  

It didn’t downplay how he experienced them; he just happened to have a machine’s logic.

In that way, the two of them were similar.

Shifting gears, you wondered if that was it.

Were they too alike?

“I…” Donnie’s voice nearly broke, but he swallowed it down with a sigh.

You reached out and pressed your hand to the center of the planter. Your glove sank easily into the damp soil.

Another bout of silence occurred, before Donnie moved from the plant and just barely skirted his fingers to yours. “I tried to imprison someone. After I had-”

Your fingers retracted on instinct and you made a sudden fist.

“I could hear myself raving. My creation. My code. My machine…”

You lifted your gaze to find his hat blocking his eyes.

“I hated him as an extension of myself.”

You wanted to turn back.

An apology was there, but you could feel how inappropriate it would be.

These were things you’d need to know in the long run.

That’s why he’d offered the information up.

It’d be wrong to ask for it back.

Even if you did hate seeing him pained.

You’d make a million better memories to erase all the bad ones.

You reached out again, the backs of your digits brushing his.

He opted for a touch, then a tap.

“Realization came late-”

“Eh, not too late!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. buzzed near Donnie’s head.

 Donnie turned to him and though his expression was still shredded there was a sort of genial quality to him.

“For the record.” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. bobbed toward you once then back to his creator. “Not where I thought that convo would go.”

“Depends on the content discussed.” A sharpness came to Donnie’s tongue before his face.

“Look at this guy.” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. pointed a rotor as if throwing out a thumb to Donnie. “All that and he’s still obsessing about the bit he didn’t hear.”

“I still have my flyswatter attachment.” Donnie smiled so fast there was a zip as air sucked through his teeth.

“That one sucks!!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. buzzed away and cowered behind you.

“In some ways I don’t think I’ll ever get your relationship.” You turned towards S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. only for him to nuzzle your cheek.

“Parents, amiright?” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. jeered.

“Don’t usually hit their kids with flyswatters…” You looked towards Donnie in a form of horror.

“Electric swatter.” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. bemoaned.

“Children don’t normally have lethal weaponry built into their bodies.” Donnie stared with an unenthused expression.

Snapping your head to S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. as you hadn’t seen him with anything like that, you found him gazing at Donnie as if speechless.

Donnie held the attention for a moment before turning to you. “Would you like to examine another wound or shall we continue?”

“I’m good.” You shot him a dry look before hesitating as S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. was simply stuck midair. “You okay?”

“Huh?” There was an uncharacteristic flat quality to S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N.’s voice.

“Shelly?” You craned your neck to get your face in front of his.

“He’s never acknowledged it before.”

Donnie dug out his own hole as he seemed to tire of waiting.

“Said what?” You glanced between the pair.

S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. paused for a moment longer before he reanimated with twice the energy. “Nothing! Nope! Not jinxing that!” He soared over to Donnie and circled him so fast you lost count of how many times. “No take backs!!”

“Enough.” Donnie barked and S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. zipped away with a cry of excitement. “He can’t even metabolize caffeine!”

“I’m gonna say that worked out.”

Donnie grunted and waited for you to dig the next hole.

You obliged him. “Thank you.”

“Don’t think I haven’t taken notice.” He plopped a sprout in.

“Of what?” You hoped your voice conveyed that you genuinely didn’t know what he was referring to.

“Positive reinforcement for being vulnerable.”

You snorted.

He shot you a glare.

You brought your gloves up and tried to curtail your smile. “I’m laughing because it’s not like that.”

Your boyfriend was unconvinced.

“Okay yes-” You quickly poked out three new holes. “It seems like that, but!”

He dipped his body to both drop a plant in its spot and give you a doubtful flick of his gaze.

You busied yourself, walking along the planter and making more holes. “You opening up makes me happy, me being happy makes you happy…” You slowed and looked back at him from where you’d reached the edge. “No trick, the cycle goes on…”

He straightened and watched you for several beats before resuming his work. You moved to the next planter and started prep there. He joined you soon enough and in pleasant silence you got all the baby plants into their new homes.

“Looks good!” You brushed your cheek absently and immediately soured as you smeared dirt there.

Donnie chuckled beside you. “Hold still.”

You turned your upset expression on him and found an open calm there.

It had almost seemed like an impossibility with everything that had been discussed.

It was just like him to endure.

In a flash of teeth that caught you off guard, he bit the edge of one of his gloves around the wrist. He then whipped it off and reached out the bare hand to your chin. His fingers curled under and his thumb came up to swipe the dirt away. “There.”

“I could put on more.” The sentence came out of you so fast, you were the one to blow out as you gave in to giggles.

As you’d inadvertently moved from him, he took his glove from his mouth and put it back on with a surgeon’s snap. “Outdoor relations: noted.”

“Wait, what?!”

He walked over to the leftover stack of lumber.

“H-hey now!”

“Hose time!?” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. rose up, seemingly unaware of what just transpired.

You gawked at his appearance, scorned.

He shrank from where the hose was strapped to his head. “Not hose time…?”

“It is.” Donnie stepped in. “The pipes?”

“Re-routed!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. saluted with one of his rotors.

“Pipes…” You mouthed, still feeling betrayed.

“You forgot the nozzle.” Donnie was already in motion, scanning the floor.

“Aw snap!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. did a circle which tugged at him as he almost knotted his tether.

Tracing the hose line, you found a huge hole cracked right through the roof. “Guys…”

“Here.” Donnie held up a piece of metal and rubber.

“Lay it on me, daddio!”

“Haven’t you had enough for one day?” Donnie sneered, but capped the hose as S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. tried and failed to hold still.

“Nuh uh! I’m soaking it up like rays!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. waited until he seemed to feel the final rotation before darting away.

“Donatello.” Staring at the busted stone, your expression maddened. “S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N.”

“Full name alert.” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. beeped with a noise similar to a warning.

“Did you two…?!”

“There was no water access. It’s a temporary tap. I have pipes and a spigot for a permanent fixture.” Donnie responded plainly, looking towards his pile of materials as if he could summon them.

“This isn’t your building!” 

“It’s only minor property damage!” With a little swivel to see he was clear, S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. tossed the statement before flying over to the planters.

Your hands flew up and pressed to your face in dismay. You immediately felt the dirt and regretted your decision with a loud groan. “You two are worse together. Enablers. No respect.”

S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. barked out a set of laughter in time with the hose spraying. “Heh yeah…!”

Not wanting to reveal your dirty face, you saw Donnie’s worn black jeans and boots come into the bottom of your vision. They both had seen labors you’d appreciated up until this moment.

“Let me see.”

You shook your head.

“A mistake. I won’t laugh.”

You sighed and were about to relent when S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. let out a maniacal cackle. 

The sound of water whooshed in several splattering directions.

“He’s going to get people on the sidewalk wet.” You grumbled.

“He assuredly has already.” Donnie’s hands were bare as he took hold of your forearms. “Down.”

Giving in and up, you dropped your arms and looked at him with a defeated expression.

There was a millisecond where his lips wrinkled before he shoved it under a flaccid expression.

“I saw that.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He pulled out a purple handkerchief and, with exceeding care, wiped your face clean.

“Shelly is right, you have big ‘daddy’ energy today.”

Donnie slowed and, in doing so, covered one half of your face.

Through the veil you watched him cycle through distaste, consideration, and then a look you couldn’t quite comprehend even though it was clearly related to you.

“Um…?”  You started to reach for the cloth.

Donnie smashed it into your face and you tried to get away.

“That!” You coughed, freeing yourself with several steps. “Could be an argument for!”

“For what?” He shook the handkerchief off before pocketing it.

“Dad stuff!” You threw your arms out and caught sight of your gloves. Having been offended by them twice already, you yanked them off.

Donnie made a thoughtful noise.

“Someone talking dads?!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. whipped around and a waterfall chased him.

“No!” You howled as you got drenched while Donnie dodged with a few swerving steps.

“Eyy-oops!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. turned the hose off and flew over. “I’m sorry!!!”

“It’s fine….” You stared at him, wiping your brow. “Can we just… build furniture already?”

With a little extra worried wiggle, S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. swooped to return the hose from where it was protruding from the roof.

Donnie held up the handkerchief as a flag and you threw up a palm for him to toss it.

Catching it to give a quick wipe of your face and ignoring the damp settling into your clothes, you shifted gears. The sun had risen further overhead to cast its judgment over the next round of construction. A little trickier, It was less a joining of right angles and more a building of an elaborate structure. Your partner easily broke the process down verbally as you fussed over the blueprints he’d brought along. He slowed for your sake and took the time to point out which piece conjoined where.

It took time, but a pair of chairs came to fruition and the group splintered off. Donnie started work constructing a table while you and S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. worked together to sand the wood. You chided the droid for his mechanical arm as you now knew that he’d outright refused to help you when packing. Donnie catching wind of the deceit threatened the bot who pushed for your defense in that it was at least funny. You almost released Donnie on him, but relented at the last minute as S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. swore to never do it again. Satisfied, you called your attack dog off and Donnie had been just a tad depressed at withdrawal.

With your arm cramping and what felt like hours of work, you were starting to sweat under the UV. Leaning back and trying to wipe your forehead with your arm, you only succeeded in transferring salty liquid between the two surfaces. Giving a heated sigh, S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. hovered close.

“The water’ll only be shut off for a second.” The bot fussed.

In your periphery Donnie had moved on to installing the spigot just as he described.

“Want me to get you a cool drink?”

“No… I’ve…” You looked around your legs until you located your bottle. “-got this! Thanks, I’m alright.”

“You sure? Drink some!”

“Fine, fine.” You shook your head with a smile and set your sanding block aside. Taking off your gloves with a sticky pull, you gulped down water until S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. gave an approving nod and returned to his metered scrubs.

Taking a little break, you wilted and wondered how long the city would let you get away with planting a full grown tree up here. Donnie would surely con the bureaucratic offices necessary. Somewhere around the time you were wondering just how much the other two had rubbed off on you, the sun eclipsed.

Shooting upright, you tipped back only for the sun to return in time to burn your eyes. “Wha-!?”

A hand pressed into the top of your head and shade returned.

Rapidly blinking to adjust, you found it was Donnie’s sunhat. Its former proprietor stood overtop with a doting smile on his lips.

“What about you?” You reached up and adjusted the string from where it was pressed to your cheek.

“Impervious.” He did a final adjustment before he let go.

“Why wear a hat then?”

“I’m immune to the effects of ultraviolet light, but it still has its irritants.” He held up a hand to shield his vision in demonstration.

You sounded a vowel of understanding and watched as he knelt down beside you.

“How much longer until we can stain?”

“Soon!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. chirped, swaying to an unknown beat.

Donnie gave a nod and reached for an extra block.

You looked him over as he examined the chair before turning to where he’d just been. The only indication the roof had been busted was the wet patch around the bottom of a copper pipe. You imagined it was freshly poured concrete and in a few hours it would look like the spigot had always been there.

With a concentrated lean, Donnie rubbed methodically at the wood.

He’d come so far. 

You traced the teak up his arm as it flexed with the movement. There his shoulder bulged and his neck tensed under his wraps. His tongue darted out for a swipe over his lips as he completed the movement and you took his hat off. It caught his eye and he turned to you curiously. You held it up as a barrier for S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. and leaned up to give him a kiss that caused his vision to swim as his eyes drifted shut.  

NEXT

I can't live without my darling betas @tmntxthings and @thepinkpanther83 !

[calebwittebane]

ah still caint believe the girl who midjourneys us the backgrounds for the main product shots gets paid about as much per final version as i do for one entire multi-page product specs + e-commerce layout with illustrations and details and Why You Should Choose Our Epic Prodact 💪🔥 essays. no shade to her because she did know what she was doing and the backgrounds were nice and very hi res (she had to work with the full product pics id been given which were SHITE lol she had to enhance them heavily) and she customized them to the very specific instructions i gave her and sent me like 10 versions to choose from every time and generally (the following i suppose is aimed at people who object to any use of generative ai for any visuals ever) the process is just far more efficient than having someone fuckin run out there with the idk tarp tunnel looking for the right Surrounding Foliage and light angle that i wouldve found Acceptable. like i was like yeah girl i need 2pm july/august thinly overcast daylight meaning neutral-warm but no sharp chiaroscuro please and some waist-height pink and purple azaleas for this one and some blue and white hydrangeas of this height and with a light yellow tint on the leaves and darker conifers covering this amount of background oh and can you put a little stone path inside the larger tunnel running thru the middle. and she was like On It Boss. so again no shade to her i think shes been doing a great job. im just saying that i Objectively do more work than she does and i should be paid better than i am LOL

like considering im also tasked with doing all the market research as in i compare web store descriptions and reviews and what specs are sought after and so on. and sometimes im given so little info about the product (which in case its not obvious is not out yet) that step one for me is figuring out how the hell the thing even works by comparing similar products and comparing info and asking for verification from manufacturer if needed. like ok i didnt know how this fucking atomizer worked, and apparently most gardeners in 2024 already do and im stupid, so i had to look at youtube videos with 500 views and in slovak to see someone actually use the thing. anyway ends up i have to finish two entire projects today (thought i had time until 10th but i dont lol) which i only have rough drafts for rn and its doable sure like yeah i can do it before 23:59 which means contractually Ive Done My Job but goddddd i wish it wasnt today of all days like i feel like death and i have to take gaia to the vet later today and its so hot today my cintiq keeps turning into a hot coal

tl;dr I Am Stuck In Garden Tool And Accessory Madness And I Havent Even Been In A Garden Or Any Similar Nice Green Outdoors Area For A Solid Year At This Point

[archoniluthradanar]

A Day in the Garden with Marcus Volturi

Response to a request by @marcusofthevolturi

The weather was gorgeous in Volterra today, yet the Volturi master, Marcus, was not in an appropriate mood. Today was the anniversary of Didyme's death, something he'd never forgotten over the past hundreds of years.

When you pass him in the corridor, you notice his despondency, which seems worse than ever. As the only human allowed to live in the castle as companion and social liaison for the vampires, you hate to see Marcus sad, especially about something that happened so long ago. But you know vampires tend to suffer intense depression if they lose their mates.

"Marcus," you call out. "Where are you off to?"

"Good day, child. I'm going to the garden to see to my roses."

You think it might be nice to get outside and see the garden. The Volturi have professional gardeners, but they are forbidden to touch the bed of roses planted alongside the castle's southern wall. That is Marcus' small garden, and only he may care for it. "Mightn't I come with you? It's so lovely out."

Marcus doesn't really feel like company, but since he likes and trusts you, he acquiesces. "Of course, my dear. We will need to fetch a few supplies from the gardeners' storage room.

You walk together in silence to the room located two floors down. Once there, Marcus helps you choose gardening aprons and tools needed. Marcus looks over at you and smiles. He is feeling better about having someone to garden with. None of the other vampires care about the maintenance of the garden.

You both go outside, carrying the equipment you will need. When Marcus puts down all the gardening tools at the side of the rose bed, you marvel at the beauty of the multi-coloured blooms. The smell is sweet and delightful. Leaning forward, you barely touch one of the pink roses, inhaling the scent. "It's beautiful, Marcus. They're all beautiful."

He practically grins broadly, happy in your praise of one of the few things he cares about. "Thank you, child. I am proud of this garden. It's dedicated to Didyme, you know. This rose here, I named after her." He held a pink bloom gently in his fingers, inhaling the fragrance. He closed his eyes, remembering his beloved mate.

You both get to work, and under Marcus' instructions, he shows you how to prune the old blooms. While you are loathe to pick off any aphids, he doesn't mind that task. If killing a human means so little to them, killing a bug is nothing. You're just grateful they love you enough not to want to kill you.

"Oh, Marcus, look at this rose. The colour is gorgeous!" You peer down at a bush that carries pure white roses that have a light blush- pink closer to the center of the blooms.

"Ah, yes. I created that one myself, by blending cuttings of a Full Sail white rose and a Queen Elizabeth pink rose." He admired the blooms on the bush, happy the experiment had worked so well.

"You like pink roses, Marcus?" you ask.

"The pink flowers were Didyme's favourite. I grow them in remembrance of her."

Suddenly, a bee begins to chase you, and you run around screaming while waving your arms.

Marcus is confused, but sees what is scaring you into making so much noise. He can't help but smile at your antics. "Stop running," he tells you. "You're only making it angry."

You run to Marcus and stand behind him, your arms around his waist. Hiding from the bee seemed the best course of action. Bees could never hurt Marcus.

The tall master smiles at your fear, but tries to help you by swatting the bee.

"Don't kill it!" you shout, knowing bees are endangered insects.

Marcus laughs at your sudden compassion for the hapless bee. Using his quick reflexes, he flicks the bee over the wall, watching as it flies away. "All gone," he says, his arms around you, steadying you.

You laugh, thanking Marcus for being our savior. He bows to you ever so gallantly, then you both laugh.

Aro happens to have heard voices and looks down from his office window into the garden. Watching you and Marcus seemingly enjoying the day and each other's company, he is amused by the laughter coming from both of you.

Aro initially wondered about you as a human female who joined their ranks by accident, and how you would fit in. You begged him not to kill or change you, and to allow you to do something for them. He had decided they needed someone who could intercede for them with other humans, teach them modern ways, and be a companion to them.

At the time. you had wondered if that meant indulging them sexually, but so far, aside from occasional teasing, none had asked you for sexual favours. Sometimes, when you were feeling your oats, you wished they would. If Aro had read this, he never said anything.

Aro did wonder if perhaps you would be a suitable mate for his despondent brother. There was no instant pull, but perhaps something could happen to increase your feelings for one another. He knew that you would probably not be averse to such a connection.

Back in the garden, you and Marcus continue caring for the roses, pulling out a hose to water them once the pruning had been completed. Then you both gathered the equipment to return it all to the storage room lest the gardeners rail at everyone within earshot, angering Caius.

Once that has been done, you and Marcus go back inside. But before Marcus lets you go, he removes a perfect pink rose from inside his shirt and hands it to you. He kisses your cheek, and leaves you watching him walk away, a smile on your face. You inhale the scent of the rose and return to your room.