#gray sheep translation

[arrow-translates]

Greatest homie TRANSLATION [GOAT]

【SNOW】 【COLOR】 【NURSE】

(See end for translation notes.)

Don’t miss your chance, find the real

Our hands are aiming for the greatest heights

Beyond the limits, brightest night

We’re always by your side

We’ll never surrender

They’ll never break our stride

Our ideals never waver

Your hope is in our hands

Show you, right?

Let’s get the tempo up

Stand in the wind as it blows

We order, we order

Reflection

We order, we order,

need to get hard

Finally I know my mission

Save your world, world, world, world

I wanna be great!

We say yeah!

I won’t stop, won’t stop

Endlessly I’ll hurry

Yeah yeah, never, yeah

I won’t stop won’t stop

Proudly show our spirit

Play the music, get fired up, set yourself free, allright!

We could rise above our values, our views too, just maybe

Yeah yeah, all together, yeah!

The future you choose,

run toward it Greatest homie!

With this world I want to protect,

I feel an unbreakable bond

We can hear your voices

Impossible, you say? For us that’s unthinkable

We won’t go out of style

or surrender our glory

Don’t want to go back now,

to that helpless version of me

There’s nothing left

We won’t be broken

We’ll surely clear a new path

We order, we order

Reflection

We order, we order,

need to get hard

Finally I know my mission

Save your world, world, world, world

I wanna be great!

We say yeah!

I won’t stop, won’t stop

A comeback story

Yeah yeah, never, yeah

I won’t stop, won’t stop

Without a second thought we’ll do it

Play the music, get fired up, set yourself free, allright!

We could rise above our values, our views too, just maybe

Yeah yeah, all together, yeah!

To the future we choose

Let’s go, Greatest homie!

–

♡ TRANSLATION NOTES ♡

[1] We could rise above our values, our views too, just maybe

The wording is changed a bit here to be easier to colour-code and follow with the music. More literally it'd be:

Maybe things like values and views (etc.) can be transcended too

[2] Impossible, you say? For us that’s unthinkable

Same reasoning as above, practically. Literal translation would be:

Things like impossibility are unthinkable/impossible for us

And if I had more space to be wordy with it:

The word 'impossible' isn't in our dictionary

Because GOAT are self-righteous like that...

[peachylynnie]

wolf in sheep's clothing

word count: 2k

synopsis: in which xavier acts innocent despite his not-so-innocent touches.

contains: xavier x mc!reader (early established relationship), he kinda gaslights you (but with no bad intentions really), freaky xavier (not smut tho), suggestive themes, mentions of violence and death, and cussing.

a/n: i had to write for my second favorite lads man at some point. i read somewhere that the official chinese description for xavier is "wolf in sheep's clothing," (don't quote me on that; i could be wrong) and i wholeheartedly believe he is. do NOT copy or translate my work. xavier does NOT endorse plagiarism.

you're convinced your boyfriend is a wolf in sheep's clothing. sure, his pure cerulean eyes and tender voice might convince you otherwise (they did at first). but, with the way xavier's been touching you, you're sure of it. your boyfriend is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and you have the evidence to prove it. countless pieces of evidence, actually. but let's look at the most memorable ones, shall we?

evidence #1

"welcome home, starlight," xavier greets you with open arms and crinkled eyes. your heart can't help but swell at the sight. nothing compares to seeing your boyfriend in a cozy white sweater after opening the door following an exhaustive day of battling wanderers. you swear you were this close to losing it after dealing with lemonette's stupid limes for what seemed like hours. yet, xavier, in all his ash-gray-haired, blue-eyed, soft-spoken glory, takes your pains away with just one simple gesture of welcoming you home.

"hi, xavier." you fall into him, basking in the warmth of his tight embrace. you could honestly die a happy hunter from this. "i missed you."

xavier chuckles, pulling away so he can look at you properly. "i missed you too," he caresses your face. "i missed you so much." he crashes his lips into yours, ardently seeking your taste, your scent, your everything.

you're taken aback by xavier's sudden fervor. but, you return the favor by opening your mouth, eagerly granting his tongue entrance. it's not the first time your beloved boyfriend has initiated such a passionate kiss. after all, you two love each other very much, to the point you're willing to die for each other. a kiss like this is natural to come by; you're blissfully used to it. what you're not used to is what xavier does next.

he weaves his fingers into your hair and tugs.

"ah!" you pull away, panting with wide eyes. what the heck was that? he's never done that before. why did he do that? it felt so good.

xavier blinks at you innocently before asking, "you okay?"

"uh yeah," you stutter, trying to process what just happened. "i'm okay. are you okay?" seriously, is xavier, your puppy-like boyfriend, okay? why did he pull your hair? by no means did it hurt. it was a single, firm tug, yet it did so much, as evidenced by your shortage of breaths and clenching of thighs.

xavier smiles brightly and nods. you close your eyes, expecting him to resume the kiss, totally not hoping to feel his slender fingers pull on your hair. instead, this motherfucker he pecks your cheek and walks away, yawning. "i'm sleepy," he has the audacity to rub his eyes. "let's go to sleep, yeah?"

your jaw drops. did he seriously just suggest you go to sleep?! staring at your boyfriend, you expect an answer for his confusing behavior. xavier blinks innocently, again. "you sure you're okay, starlight?"

you frown, growing even more confused. he's not dumb. you know he's not dumb. heck, he's the association's best hunter. there's no way he doesn't know what he's doing to you. you sigh and shake your head, concluding that perhaps xavier was just caught up in the heat of the moment and was genuinely tired. after all, he battles wanderers too, even more than you. "yeah, i'm okay, xavier." you walk past him and towards your shared bedroom, trying to relieve your mind of certain thoughts. "let's sleep."

unfortunately, you don't catch the amusement in xavier's eyes when you bid him goodnight and turn off the lights.

evidence #2

"how's the food?" xavier asks, whispering into your ear.

beaming at him, you nod excitedly. "it's great. nothing like hotpot with friends on a cold night, right?"

indeed, little to nothing compared to spending time with xavier and your fellow hunters at your comfort restaurant. you and xavier were shoulder to shoulder, sitting across from tara and nero. everything was perfect. the food tasted amazing, your friends were enjoying themselves, and most importantly, xavier was right next to you, with a hand on your thigh, of course.

you don't mind in the slightest. it's assuring, actually. the warmth his touch provides adds more to this delightful atmosphere. content from both the food and the mood, you can't help but rest your head on your boyfriend's shoulder. "thanks for being here, xavier." you murmur.

xavier smiles softly, resting his cheek on your crown. "of course, starlight."

you giggle, nuzzling into him. you love it when he calls you that. "starlight." though, you can't help but feel it should be you calling him that instead. like an actual starlight, xavier shines brightly wherever he goes. from hunting hundreds of wanderers to protecting hundreds of civilians, xavier illuminates the world and you can't help but be blinded at times. not that you mind. you would gladly be blinded by him a million times over if it meant being in his presence.

"okay, that's enough, you lovebirds," tara teases.

you roll your eyes playfully, lifting your head from xavier's shoulder. as much as you would like to stay there forever, you understand the occasional nagging that comes with public displays of affection. hoping to sit up properly, you go to cross your legs. with a click of his tongue, xavier grips your thigh, hard.

yelping, you jolt in your seat. immediately, you cover your mouth, embarrassed over the borderline wanton noise you just made. you stare at xavier, mortified. what the fuck was that?

"are you okay?" tara says your name in concern. she tries to reach over the table, but xavier stops her by handing you some napkins with his free hand and adding another squeeze to your thigh. it's taking everything in you not to squeal.

"she's okay," xavier answers, smiling innocently. "she just spilled some broth, right?" he turns to you, expecting you to follow along.

"yeah," you answer shakily. "sorry, just got a little clumsy, i guess." after pretending to wipe yourself with the napkins xavier gave you, you down a glass of water, hoping to relieve the heat in your face and also in between your legs. you're not sure what is happening anymore. he's never gripped your leg before, let alone touched you so roughly. it felt so fucking good.

for the rest of the night, xavier continued to squeeze your thigh, leaving you a flustered mess. it was torture having to sit through the gathering without making any noise. every so often, when tara or nero wasn't looking, you looked at your boyfriend desperately, begging him to stop (not really) or at least provide an answer for why he was doing this. instead, he would just inch his hand higher and flash that damned innocent smile. by the time the waiter came back with the paid tab, xavier's hand was threatening access to your hip joint. you're not sure how he made his arm look like it wasn't doing anything.

after bidding tara and nero goodbye, you immediately drag xavier outside. "what was that?" you ask impatiently. the freezing air was doing absolutely nothing to cool your heated face, and you're not sure if that pissed you off more or xavier's calm expression.

xavier tilts his head to the right, feigning confusion. "what was what?"

you're want to scream so badly right now. "that!" you snap as you motion to your leg.

xavier tilts his head to the left, gathering his lips into a pout. "i just wanted to massage your leg since it seemed sore from training."

what the fuck? dumbfoundedly, you stare at xavier. there's no way those squeezes could be called a massage. but looking at his pouty face, you can't bring yourself to argue. well shit, now you just feel like a pervert.

you sigh, taking xavier's hand and heading towards the car. "thanks for the massage, xavier."

you miss the smirk growing on his face. "anything for you, starlight."

evidence #3 (happening right now, send help)

"whatcha making?" xavier cutely asks as he wraps his arms around your waist.

you were at the kitchen counter of your shared apartment, rolling some dough with your flour-covered palms. "i wanted to try making some pizza," you answer, entirely focused on the task in front of you. "i saw a tutorial on tiktok. seemed simple enough."

xavier hums, burying his face in the crook of your neck. you giggle, feeling him inhale deeply. it's the quiet and domestic moments like these that make you imagine another life where you and xavier aren't hunters. just people free from the constant dangers of hunting wanderers and protecting civilians. you sigh, reaching across the counter for the tomato sauce. at the end of the day, you and xavier are evolvers. having an innate ability means protecting those who can't protect themselves, even if it means risking your lives. but, both you and xavier can agree the look of relief on people's faces when reuniting with their loved ones is worth the risk.

the tomato sauce is within reach until you jump back into place. why? oh, because xavier's right hand is inching towards the waistband of your panties. "xavier!" you turn around immediately, facing him with widened eyes and flushed cheeks. "what are you doing?!"

you've had enough. the last couple of weeks have been a literal hell with how much your boyfriend's been teasing you, filling your head with dirty thoughts, and acting as if he doesn't know what he's doing. it's as if he's purposely avoiding following through with his actions, not giving you what you fucking want even though he's the one that's been initiating things. not to mention, his hand is still in your pants.

xavier rests his left hand on the counter, pinning you in place. your breath hitches, feeling him rest his forehead on yours. "i'm sorry," he sulks. "i just wanted to touch your belly button."

"stop lying," you say immediately. "last time i checked, my belly button is NOT at my fucking panties." you don't care if you sound harsh. you want xavier to answer for his crimes—crimes being leaving you hanging and making you question your sanity.

xavier chuckles. this motherfucker he dares to chuckle while you look at him with furrowed brows and twisted lips. "it's not funny," you scold. "you've been weird the last few weeks-"

your breath hitches as xavier dips the tips of his fingers past your waistband. holy fucking shit. what is this man doing?! "x-xavier?!"

he doesn't answer. instead, he presses short yet sensual kisses all over your face, slowly trailing down to your neck. you try to stop yourself from whimpering.

"you know," xavier mumbles. "i've been waiting for you to say something." he continues to mouth at your neck, causing you to squirm.

"s-say what?" you ask trembling. fuck, you think you just felt his tongue peak out.

"oh, i don't know," he switches to the other side of your neck. "something like 'xavier please' or 'xavier more'" and with that, he returns both of his hands to your waist, lifts you up effortlessly onto the kitchen counter, and dives straight into your lips.

"xavier! mmph!" there was flour on the counter, meaning there was flour on your pants now. "you're making mmph! a mess!"

"that's not what i want to hear, starlight," xavier shakes his head as he pulls away from you. "it's like you want me to stop."

his fingers rub slow circles into your thighs, causing you to writhe uncontrollably. so this is why he's been acting so fucking teasing the last few weeks. he wanted to do things with you—take your relationship to the next level. but you had to be the one to say it. why? you're not sure. maybe it stroked his ego or something. you don't care anymore. you're pent up from xavier's antics, and all you want right now is for him to follow through. if saying "please" and "more" is what it takes, so be it.

you grab xavier's shirt collar, legs wrapping around his waist and pulling him to you. his eyes widen at your sudden rough actions. but there's a hint of amusement in his eyes, teetering on the edge between curiosity and arousal. though nothing could prepare xavier for what you do next.

"xavier," you whisper into his ear, stroking his nape with your index finger. "can you please give me more?"

xavier inhales sharply, his grip tightening around your thighs.

"i thought you'd never ask, starlight."

[sadly-never-after]

Music in the EAH Universe and who listens to them Part 2.

This is just an excuse to try to make music puns and share music I think the characters would listen to. (Some of these are even canon by the books!) I don't even like a majority of these musicians but I am fully convinced of my choices here. I marked in colours the one that are canonically part of the EAH Universe.

Since Tumblr only allows 100 inline links for a post I have to make different parts.

Part 1 (Alistair, Apple, Ashlynn, Blondie, Briar, Bunny)

Part 2 (Cupid, Cedar, Cerise, Chase, Courtly, Daring)

Part 3 (Darling, Dexter, Duchess, Farrah, Faybelle, Ginger)

Part 4 (Holly, Hopper, Humphrey, Hunter, Jillian, Justine)

Part 5 (Kitty, Lizzie, Maddie, Meeshell, Melody, Nina)

Part 6 (Poppy, Ramona, Raven, Rosabella, Sparrow, Tucker)

ᡣ𐭩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁જ⁀➴᭡ꨄ︎ C.A. Cupid ᡣ𐭩. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁જ⁀➴᭡ꨄ︎

Magic Mirror Girl (Not Allowed, Hate Yourself, Lovers Rock)

Beach Beast (Cloud 9, Sports, Love Sick)

Taylor Quick (Mine, You Belong With Me, Blank Space)

Lana d'Aulnoy (Love, Lust For Life, Video Games)

Florence & the Mill (Cosmic Love, Addicted to Love, You've got the Love)

𓋏☾⋆｡ 𖦹 °✩𓍯𓂃︶꒷꒦︶ ๋࣭ ⭑ Cedar Wood 𓋏☾⋆｡ 𖦹 °✩𓍯𓂃︶꒷꒦︶ ๋࣭ ⭑

Basia Beauty (Heart of my own, I Was A Daughter, No Control)

Fable Foxes (I'm not my season, Can I believe you, I Shall Be Released)

First Nursery Kit (My Silver Lining, Angel, Stay Gold)

Fish in Mirror Prison (Rule #4 - Fish in a Birdcage, Rule #8 - Otherside, Rule #10 - Roots)

The Crane Brides (Curses, Queen of Nothing, Never Love An Anchor)

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 🧺 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ Cerise Hood ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 🧺 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖

April Vineyard (Complicated, Bite Me, I‘m A Mess)

Mayhem! in the Ballroom (I write sins not tragedies, New Perspective, LA Devotee)

Incandescence (Bring me to life, Everybody's Fool, My Immortal)

I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY CURSED ME (Modern Day Cain, Leave Me Alone, Simple)

My Storybook Romance (Teenagers, Kill All Your Friends, House of Wolves)

🗡⛨♝⟡⚔🛡✦ Chase Redford 🗡⛨♝⟡⚔🛡✦

Little Boye Cian (Easy, Talk me down, Too Good)

Royale (Everybody wants to rule the world, Tennis Court, Biting Down)

Trollan Gray (Maniac, Greek God, Heather)

The Brotherhood (Cry Baby, Lost in Translation, Lurk)

Five Pages of Summer (She's Kinda Hot, Youngblood, Amnesia)

𐬺𖦹꧁🃏꧂𖦹𐬺 Courtly Jester 𐬺𖦹꧁🃏꧂𖦹𐬺

Blue Fairy (The Dismemberment Song, Have To, Black Sheep)

The Spooky Jesters (Starstruck, Icicles, the daughter of the fish and the ram)

Tailor Hall (Ruler of Everything, &, Taken For A Ride)

Godmother, Godmother (Problems, Hayloft, Ghosting)

I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY CURSED ME (Nobody likes the opening band, Bleed Magic, New Invention)

―✧˖° 👑���⚔️ °˖✧― Daring Charming ―✧˖° 👑🪞⚔️ °˖✧―

One Reflection (Drag Me Down, Perfect, Love You Goodbye)

Trollplay (Something Just Like This, In My Place, Viva la Vida)

OneKingdom (Everybody Loves Me, Counting Stars, Stop and Stare)

Twenty one kings men (Level of Concern, Stressed Out, House of Gold)

The Brotherhood (Sweater Weather, Afraid, Scary Love)

You are trapped on an eight-hour long road trip with these guys and you have to give one of them the aux chord.

[sweatytimetravelearthquake]

Your bully has a soft spot for you

The relationship between you and Haitani has always been a bit complicated. On the one hand, he's a bully, always teasing and making fun of you in front of friends. On the other hand, he seems to have a slight weakness for you and always secretly helps when you're in trouble. And you tried to ignore his behavior, but part of you can't help but wonder, "is there more to this?" But you didn't have much time for such questions. You were sitting in class not thinking about the guy, but thinking about not getting a grade below four, because your family was very strict about grades. Okay, physical violence, you get used to it, but it's not possible to get used to moral pressure, it will become a lifelong trauma.

"What are you thinking about, nerd? Me, perhaps?" — He teased you by taking your glasses, which made it difficult for you to see. Your thoughts weren't the brightest. I was just afraid to go home, knowing what I could get for today's top three. And at first you were a little scared when the glasses were taken away and moved forward to pick them up, frowning your gray eyes.

"Ran, please give it back..." — He grinned, handing back your glasses. Then he came up to your ear and whispered something.

"What are you worried about? I'm sure you passed the test well. You never cease to amaze. You don't have to be so hard on yourself," — he ruffled your hair and smiled.

"I only got C... my mother and father will be unhappy."

"Are your parents strict about grades?" — Haitani's expression was surprised and worried for you. He looked around to see if anyone was watching and pulled you towards him. — "Don't worry about it. I think your parents will understand that you just didn't quite understand the topic, and it's not your fault," — he patted you on the back to calm you down and smiled warmly. You looked down, flinching a little.

Ran noticed that your body was shaking and your eyes were filled with sadness when you turned away. You knew that nothing good would come of it, your parents were going to scold you for getting a grade below four. You knew that as soon as you got the results sheet. My throat was dry from stress at that moment, my hands gave up the paper and I had to put a lot of effort into not crying right in class. He put both hands on your shoulder and stared into your gray eyes.

"Hey, listen to me, okay? Don't worry about it too much," — Ran looked at you with a serious smile, showing his true feelings for you, protecting you.

"They'll hit me again..." — Ran took you by both hands, looking into your eyes.

"I promise you, I won't let that happen. I always protect the people I care about," — he ran his fingers through your coffee hair and soothed you in a gentle tone. — "I don't understand why they have to be so strict with you, I think they really overreact to the test... it's not the end of the world if you get a grade below three," — he tried to laugh off his worries, trying to comfort you.

"Do you care about me?.." — I got caught up in his words alone. Haitani was surprised by your sudden question, he felt his heart pounding in his chest. Even if you couldn't see his face, you could feel his smirk.

"Maybe I have some feelings for you," — Ran looked at you with a sly smile, then hugged you tightly to his chest. He hugged you even tighter, his strong arms wrapped around your waist. He held you close and whispered in your ear, his voice sounding hoarse as he spoke. — "I love you.." — He couldn't hold back his true feelings any longer and decided to confess his love to you. — "Will you let me see that test? Maybe I can help with the mistakes?" — He picked up your work and began to look through it carefully, and then his eyes lit up with rage. — "This sheep forgot to count your points for the second part. Don't worry, we'll figure it out now, and you'll have a beautiful D."

______________________________________

A must-read!!!

hey, guys! I know that sometimes various translation jobs can be taken from Tumblr. My native language is not English, I forbid you to take your work for translation, as I already post sketches in my native language.

[lifenconcepts]

MY UTTERLY BELOVED TF2 OC!

I’m very proud of this, I’m not one to use digits art and so think this is actually applause worthy.

IVAN “VOLK” KATERZHNIK

LORE, DESCRIPTION, HISTORY, AND OTHER BELOW \/

A soviet pilot which crashed after flying through a storm and somehow ended up here rather that anywhere near Europe.

Pretty much godly when it comes to communications as he was the one to come to if you had technical problems or needed a message sent off through morse or radio. 

HISTORY / HIS STORY: I’ve done some good research on USSR in 1960s/1970s (about where the tf2 thing is set) to be able to comply somewhat with what tech and knowledge existed then. He flew a Tupolev Tu-95 plane (a fascinating beast, truly) which bares bombs and missiles and yet after a mistakenly taken dosage of amphetamine( after taking inspiration from British/American soldiers using it to boost moral and altertness), caused a buffer between logic/reality and delusional thinking of following orders, which allowed him to blindly fly from a runway in Khabarovski krai (beside the sea of Okhotsk), before being forced to crash land by a storm in New Mexico, where after taking a good 17 hour Power Nap, ventured the land with aloofness and nonchalantness and finding the RED base (TF2 ofcourse). There, he managed to recognise Ludwig as a medical personal and insisted he get treated for injuries, all the while speaking in the common broken English/Russian that many Eastern Europeans bare with phrases like “Amerika, da! Kennedy, Elvis Presley!” and has limited yet basic conversational knowledge on Czech, German, and polish. Greatly fluent in Russian.

His character in short:

Unattached, very limited family connections before he even flew, and laughs at the concept of a relationship that isn’t strictly professional. Aroace before the term even was coined. Very docile when it comes to being questioned and happily complied with initial allegations and requests despite a language barrier. Is surprisingly hyper aware of his surroundings and has a good grasp on the moral dilemma of war but also an insatiable appetite for confrontation and blood, and despite not liking violence, can handle a gun, blade, or explosives with a steady hand. Speaks a lot with hand gestures and isn’t afraid to be a bit strange, and most notable of a hobby is going out early dawn and late dusk to enjoy the rays of sun, take some fresh air, and at times go for a walk in the wilderness. Has disappeared without a trace multiple times before venturing his way back. Good relationship with most the REDs, albeit doesn’t take them seriously apart from Engineer and Medic - who he also sometimes helps with work. Doesn’t like to be limited with rules but respects the set basis of don’t be an asshole even if he makes harsh remarks at times without really noticing it. Can uphold a certain level of banter in English, but it is very bare bone and his knowledge of words is primarily based around technical terms so he could translate “Вам ни холодно?» (are you not cold?) into “Your system froze?” while gesturing to their body.

Physical appearance & taste:

Wears an aviator’s jacket with sheep wool lining, a watch by the brand “Kosmos”, has a busted up metal flask which he usually had a bit of whiskey in - in a (handmade by a long gone friend) leather casing with an intricate soviet symbol and pattern on it, some basic military brown/gray trousers, a dusty pecan coloured messenger bag, a muskrat ushanka (it fits his head properly I just like to draw it in a stylised manner), and some basic black soviet combat boots. He doesn’t really care for branding but knows random American things through cultural osmosis and exposure via his friend back in fatherland who is obsessed with ‘western’ media and food. Has seen a few American movies (don’t ask how his friend obtained it.. it wasn’t legal) and his favourite one is “North to Alaska”! He has zero interest in politics and a lack of understanding in certain aspects of life that may be important (for example battle tactics) but is ready to follow orders and make his own decisions based on prior experiences should he have to. Considers himself a patriot although knows very little about his own country, mainly the goings on in his hometown that shall stay unnamed. Loved the radio station Mayak and the song “Moscow Nights” practically runs through his veins.

Fascinated with snow, roads, and the sun like some eternally high schizoid (edit that out in tumblr entry). Likely has some underlying condition in his mind that hasn’t gotten traction in mass understanding yet so he just is overall chill, acts more or so like a child, yet understands and does things with the precision of a marksman.

Silly story & his plans for now: Has managed to tame a lynx cub once, well.. prior to it then mauling him. But his arm had a cool scar on it because of that! Within the lore though is more or less a helping hand towards the respawn machine and keeps the others company, as despite technically being able to return home, his superior ordered that he’d send out a message should he return from missions - and although this would be an emergency not a mission, he doesn’t want to risk being lost in Siberian wilderness should he go unguided or disrespect his fellow companion. Is trying to find his plane that he’d abandoned in some forest and scowered the place by foot for nearly a week, and once he managed to eventually find it, a good refuel and he’ll be sent off. That is.. if they manage to find it at all. And he is concrete and set about doing so and not just finding some other way about this because of a deep love and connection to the plane he so dearly piloted for nearly a decade.

Overall is a very laidback individual, physically and emotionally strong ‘n capable, loves music and often spends his free time listening to whatever the radio has to offer - and although he missed his usual Muslim Magomaev, Эдита Пьеха, or Я хожу по Москве, he still managed to enjoy the American tunes and sometimes hums Elvis Presley’s “it’s now or never”. Also adored all the various marches and anthems popular at the time. Favourite Russian song is Old maple/Старый Клён from the film Девчата (Girls).

PLEASE DO NOT use this a for your own ocs! I worked very hard :( you can take vague inspo but I’ll be heartbroken if you make harsh copies.

[peregrination-studies]

24 books in 2024

It is 2024, and I am here yet again with my bookish hopes and dreams!

I did this challenge last year (available here), and in 2022 (available here), and I'm STOKED to do it again this year! As is my way, I have been planning and revising this list for some time. My Goodreads overfloweth with ideas.

As always, if you have book recs, please send them my way! And, if you're participating in the challenge this year, I'd love to see your lists!

Without further ado, I gladly present to you my 24 in '24 book list:

Sci-Fi and Just for Fun :)

1) Randomize by Andy Weir (read April 2024)

2) Next by Michael Crichton (read May 2024)

3) Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick (read April 2024)

4) With a Little Luck by Marissa Meyer (read February 2024)

Environmental Science/Ecology/Books Relevant to my Studies

5) Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth by Buckminster Fuller (read April 2024)

6) Must Love Trees: An Unconventional Guide by Tobin Mitnick (read April-November 2024)

7) Scientifically Historica: How the World’s Great Science Books Chart the History of Knowledge by Brian Clegg (read November 2024)

8) Letters to a Young Scientist by Edward O. Wilson (read November 2024)

Reading Around the World

9) The Eighth Continent: Life, Death and Discovery in the Lost World of Madagascar by Peter Tyson (Madagascar)

10) Everything is Wonderful: Memories of a Collective Farm in Estonia by Sigrid Rausing (Estonia) (read April-November 2024)

11) Willoughbyland: England’s Lost Colony by Matthew Parker (Suriname)

12) A General Theory of Oblivion by José Eduardo Agualusa and Daniel Hahn (Translator) (Angola) (read November 2024)

Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge/Classics

13) The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (read April 2024)

14) The Second Sex by Simone De Beauvoir, H.M. Parables (Translator and Editor), and Deirdre Bair (Introduction) (read December 2024)

15) Gidget by Frederick Kohner (read November 2024)

16) Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (read December 2024)

Recommended by Friends

17) Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (recommended by @hedonism-tattoo and many, many others) (read December 2024)

18) Howl’s Moving Castle by Diane Wynne Jones (also recommended by many people now. @permanentreverie posted about it recently tho, and that was what really made me decide to include it on this list!) (read April 2024)

19) Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson (recommended by @daydreaming-optimist ) (read April 2024)

20) The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (recommended by @kaillakit) (read May 2024)

Eco-Psychology

21) Ecopsychology by Lester R. Brown (read December 2024)

22) Against Purity: Living Ethically in Compromised Times by Alexis Shotwell (read April 2024)

23) Radical Ecopsychology: Psychology in the Service of Life by Andy Fisher and David Abram (foreword) (read December 2024)

24) Sight and Sensibility: the Ecopsychology of Perception by Laura Sewall

Bonus

25) Bride by Ali Hazelwood (read February 2024)

26) Open Heart Surgery by Johanna Leo (read March 2024)

27) A Short History of the World in 50 Books by Daniel Smith

28) Candy Hearts by Tommy Siegel (read February 2024)

No pressure tagging: @daydreaming-optimist @kaillakit @permanentreverie @noa-the-physicist @silhouette-of-sarah @captaindelilahbard @senatorhotcheeto @the-bibliophiles-bookshelf @skyekg @of-the-elves @obesecamels @courageisneverforgotten @willowstea @its-me-satine @deirdrerose @notetaeker @theskittlemuffin and anyone else who wants to do this!

[itsdappleagain]

tagged by @emily-prentits THANK YOUU THIS LOOKS SO FUN

1. how many works do you have on ao3?

18!

2. what's your total ao3 word count?

141,974 words...which is a little embarassing considering jo, who tagged me, has 59 works and only about 30,000 more words. evidently i like my longfics.

3. what fandoms do you write for?

carmen sandiego 2019! 17 of those and one (1) original work that i dont mention in this post at all

4. what are your top 5 fics by kudos?

the cardinal and the kitten - 325 kudos

say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime (let me lead you from your solitude) - 164 kudos (we call her the phantom au for short)

simple are the ways of love (simple as the touch of another's hands) - 156 kudos

Upon the Sword - 154 kudos

Everything is a Lie - 127 kudos

5. do you respond to comments?

Most of them yes!! I LOVE getting comments I screenshot and save every one I get.

6. what is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Hm- I guess it depends. Hellscape ends with Carmen's internal monologue just before she gets mind-wiped by VILE, but its technically no angstier than canon. they gave you life (and in return you gave them hell) is pretty angsty the whole way through and examines Carmen's trauma.

Those are both little one-shots, though- I usually end my reigns of terror within chapter fics pretty happily if I can manage it. The Phantom AU (linked above) ends in a dark place but leagues brighter than it seemed to be heading towards. It isn't a terribly neat and happy ending, and it tells a story of trauma and attempted suicide and the road to recovery from these. Let's go with that one.

7. what's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

In Love Is A Locked Cell Door Chase Devineaux and Crackle happily start making out in a jail cell and live happily ever after!

Ok, being serious-

For a one-shot, simple (linked above) starts happy and ends happier.

For a chapter fic, Choice ends with Carmen, Julia, and Gray all living in a very happy polycule pardoned from the law with full emotional control of their lives which is fun :]

8. do you get hate on fics?

@emily-prentits used to leave passive aggressive comments on my wattpad and we would fight in the comments sections 💀now we're partners so make of that what you will. but anyway, no serious ones, no!

9. do you write smut? if so, what kind?

No, not really! I have a few "fade-to-blacks" or skip-overs without any detail. The one time I tried writing smut it was really forced and hard for me to write...doesn't help that I've never felt sexual attraction in my life so I don't know about that. Curse you asexuality for taking papertiger handcuff sex away from the world.

10. do you write crossovers? what's the craziest one you've written?

No, I'm not a fan of crossovers

11. have you ever had a fic stolen?

I've had one or two...heavily referenced. Not in bad faith, but it was funny to see a lot of my plot and prose mannerisms reworded in a younger author's fic. I think they credited me as inspiration or gifted it to me both times so its not a big deal.

12. have you ever had a fic translated?

I have not!

13. have you ever co-written a fic before?

If FRANTIC FANFIC! counts, which it shouldn't lol. Also the polycule is working on something :3

14. what's your all time favourite ship?

15. what's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I have an au where paper star and black sheep escape VILE together and go through a sort of friends to lovers to enemies deal as carmen (renamed cardinal here due to never escaping in the boat the way she does in canon), though influenced by paper star at the start, eventually finds her inevitable path of good while paper star slips into a chaos that cardinal just can't stomach

ill paste a snippet here that i wrote but its a little bit long and complex and i dont have a ton of motivation for it

16. what are your writing strengths?

ABILITY TO MAKE READERS SUFFER

17. what are your writing weaknesses?

cohesive plot...lord help me i cannot plan a fic to the end before i post chapter 1 and it bites me in the ass all the time

18. thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

if there's a small amount of it, i usually write it as-is in the other language and use external sources or context clues to explain it. if a lot of dialogue is in another language, I'll put it in brackets and write it in english!

19. first fandom you wrote for?

carmen sandiego. still going lmfao

20. favorite fic you've written?

that's really hard- i'm going to do top three in no particular order SORRY

Love, Carmen - this was the first or one of the first fics I ever wrote. it put me on the map a little bit (wattpad..) in terms of writing and boosted upon the sword and choice when they came along. it was really fun to just be young and writing after finishing all two released seasons of the show. i still like it a lot. its just cute and simple.

the phantom au - what a labor of love. i've had other fics (evil carlotta series, cough cough) that have been long and complex but those strayed into meandering and pointless and i lost a lot of motivation. phantom combined my love of theater with my favorite show and my hunger for angst angst angst. it was super fun to write and, at the risk of sounding vain, i pulled off a very hard to pull off trope at the end and i think i did it well. i think if you read any one of mine, this highlights a lot of my strengths.

the cardinal and the kitten - this is a popular one of mine that kind of serves as an updated love, carmen. i really enjoy how i wrote carmen and julia playing off of each other and my dialogue is very strong in this one.

okay, sorry about how long that was i treated it like a professional interview. i had a lot of fun writing this instead of working on a very important school project

[bonefall]

Getting my ask in for Clanmew day! I translated some of my OCs from a personal project - they might not be fully accurate, but I tried my best.

Hindstar - Nisushai

For this one, I did a contraction of Niaa and usihu - I chose 'hind' instead of just 'doe' or 'deer' for her name to sound old and grand, which she definitely... tries to be. Her name is specifically meant to be archaic, evoking an old glory.

Deerspring - Augyiao

Pretty direct translation. If -spring wasn't a loanword, I would have it specified as the future tense, "deer about to spring." My cats are in North America, so her name would refer to a whitetail rather than a red deer, but I'm not sure how to translate whitetail calls.

Fawnspots - Mweenwoowoo

Again, pretty direct. She and Deerspring are sisters, and I wanted to give her a relatively plain name for contrast. It makes for a good nickname - I cannot imagine a better one than Weewoo.

Dapplepaw - Paplapwyr

Direct translation. I toyed around with the idea of contracting dapple with fawn to make Mylapwyr, both to tie her more directly into the deer theme of her family and to reference her mother.

Velvetpaw - Gawrekpwyr

Direct translation, don't have much to say on them - although, iirc, I sent an ask forever ago about antler velvet for their name and I think it ended up turning into the guide on deer.

Littlebird - Eebwipwik

"Small quail" - he's the father of Dapple and Velvet, and doesn't have the deer theming. His family has game-bird theming, but 'Littlequail' didn't sound quite right to me so I went with Littlebird instead. I like saying his Clanmew name though.

You're probably correct! Occasionally a Clanmew ask ends up becoming a full fauna guide. Yours probably became the one on deer broadly, the category of "Kleka" including sheep and horses.

So with all the deer totally covered, and your OCs all having great names, here's some fun words for Littlebird and his side of the family.

Wattle = Shubpi

The fleshy facial parts of a male pheasant or the head feather on a male quail.

Interesting etymological origin; the word "Shub" had a use in Old Tribemew AND Parkmew. In Tribemew, it meant Gray as in the normal color of the sky in England; inconspicuous; humble. In Parkmew, it meant uncooked chicken, especially guts and edible bones, rare treats that were not particularly common in the Park and had to be acquired from the wider city.

The siblings Gray Wing and Clear Sky were referring to a wing that blends in with cloud cover, and a blue sky that would put such a bird on full display. Since Gray Wing the Wise was killed before ever meeting a Tribe Cat, xey were associated more strongly with xeir role in death as a great, holy sage of wisdom, conveniently tied to their concept of delicious chicken.

And what's closer to a chicken than a pheasant?

As the two cultures mixed to create what we now know as Clan Culture, the many uses of Shub mingled. Gray Wing the Wise became associated with pheasants, the mid-gray color of thinner clouds with the sun behind them, and revelations of hidden or ancient knowledge. Xeir appearance as a patron reflects that, with prominent wattles over both eyes.

So "wattle" is a contraction of Gray + Perceive. It's also used to quickly describe just about any fancy bit of adornment on the head of a bird.

A fantastical bird = Eer-roo

Before the meeting with the Tribe after the destruction of the White Hart, Clan cats no longer saw eagles, and slowly forgot the truth of chickens as they were confined to farms.

The two things merged into one fantastical animal. A massive predator bearing the most delicious meat you've ever tasted, bearing a huge wattle and thick skin as if its hide was already tanned, big enough to carry off hogs and so heavy that it could only fly by jumping off the highstones.

Could be described as a feathered dragon. Its wisdom is stressed in the tales, unlike many other mythological beasts, even able to trick careless TigerClan warriors.

[tf2occontest]

Ivan “Volk” Katerzhnik VS Addison Pavone, Scout

(Full matchup list here)

Alright team, here's a recap: This is a contest to determine who amongst you will take the top of the leaderboards and be hired at TFI! Simply put, whoever gets the most votes gets to move on, and whoever doesn't... Well. They'll be put down swiftly and cleanly. :}

So, mann your stations, because here are your next contestants! Vote for your favorite mercenary who you want to win the TF2 OC Contest! - P

OC INFO UNDER THE CUT!

We highly encourage you to take a peek to make your decision!

Ivan “Volk” Katerzhnik

@lifeconcepts

Image credit: @/lifeconcepts

A peaceful soviet pilot who crashed after flying through a storm and somehow ended up in New Mexico rather that anywhere near Europe. Pretty much godly when it comes to communications as he is the one to come to if you had technical problems or needed a message sent off through morse or radio. I’ve done some good research on USSR in 1960s/1970s to be able to comply somewhat with what tech and knowledge existed then.

Here goes; He flew a Tupolev Tu-95 plane (a fascinating beast, truly) which bares bombs and missiles and yet after a mistakenly taken dosage of amphetamine, after taking inspiration from British/American soldiers using it to boost moral and altertness, caused a buffer between logic/reality and delusional thinking of following orders, which allowed him to blindly fly from a runway in Khabarovski krai (beside the sea of Okhotsk), before being forced to crash land by a storm in New Mexico, where after taking a good 17 hour Power Nap, ventured the land with aloofness and nonchalantness and finding the RED base. There, he managed to recognise Ludwig as a medical personal and insisted he get treated for injuries, all the while speaking in the common broken English/Russian that many Eastern Europeans bare with phrases like “Amerika, da! Kennedy, Elvis Presley!” and has limited yet basic conversational knowledge on Czech, German, and polish. Greatly fluent in Russian.

Ludwig had taken him in and for the price of just occasionally being helpful let him stay until he figures out how to return to his own base. Unattached, very limited family connections before he even flew, and laughs at the concept of a relationship that isn’t strictly professional. Aroace before the term even was coined. Very docile when it comes to being questioned and happily complied with initial allegations and requests despite a language barrier. Is surprisingly hyper aware of his surroundings and has a good grasp on the moral dilemma of war but also an insatiable appetite for confrontation and blood, and despite not liking violence, can handle a gun, blade, or explosives with a steady hand. Speaks a lot with hand gestures and isn’t afraid to be a bit strange, and most notable of a hobby is going out early dawn and late dusk to enjoy the rays of sun, take some fresh air, and at times go for a walk in the wilderness. Has disappeared without a trace multiple times before venturing his way back.

Good relationship with most the REDs, albeit doesn’t take them seriously apart from Engineer and Medic - who he also sometimes helps with work. Doesn’t like to be limited with rules but respects the set basis of don’t be an asshole even if he makes harsh remarks at times without really noticing it. Can uphold a certain level of banter in English, but it is very bare bone and his knowledge of words is primarily based around technical terms so he could translate “Вам ни холодно?» (are you not cold?) into “Your system froze?” while gesturing to their body.

Wears an aviator’s jacket with sheep wool lining, a watch by the brand “Kosmos”, has a busted up metal flask which he usually had a bit of whiskey in - in a (handmade by a long gone friend) leather casing with an intricate soviet symbol and pattern on it, some basic military brown/gray trousers, a dusty pecan coloured messenger bag, a muskrat ushanka (it fits his head properly I just like to draw it in a stylised manner), and some basic black soviet combat boots.

He doesn’t really care for branding but knows random American things through cultural osmosis and exposure via his friend back in fatherland who is obsessed with ‘western’ media and food. Has seen a few American movies (don’t ask how his friend obtained it.. it wasn’t legal) and his favourite one is “North to Alaska”! He has zero interest in politics and a lack of understanding in certain aspects of life that may be important (for example battle tactics) but is ready to follow orders and make his own decisions based on prior experiences should he have to. Considers himself a patriot although knows very little about his own country, mainly the goings on in his hometown that shall stay unnamed. Loved the radio station Mayak and the song “Moscow Nights” practically runs through his veins.

He just is overall chill, acts more or so like a child, yet understands and does things with the precision of a marksman. Has managed to tame a lynx cub once, well.. prior to it then mauling him. But his arm had a cool scar on it because of that! Within the lore though is more or less a helping hand towards the respawn machine and keeps the others company, as despite technically being able to return home, his superior ordered that he’d send out a message should he return from missions - and although this would be an emergency not a mission, he doesn’t want to risk being lost in Siberian wilderness should he go unguided or disrespect his fellow companion.

Is trying to find his plane that he’d abandoned in some forest and scowered the place by foot for nearly a week, and once he managed to eventually find it, a good refuel and he’ll be sent off. That is.. if they manage to find it at all. And he is concrete and set about doing so and not just finding some other way about this because of a deep love and connection to the plane he so dearly piloted for nearly a decade.

Overall is a very laidback individual, physically and emotionally strong ‘n capable, loves music and often spends his free time listening to whatever the radio has to offer - and although he missed his usual Muslim Magomaev, Эдита Пьеха, or Я хожу по Москве, he still managed to enjoy the American tunes and sometimes hums Elvis Presley’s “it’s now or never”. Really love him and I hope you do too.. :,)

Addison Pavone, Scout

@theshelledonespods

Image credit: @/theshelledonespods

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Adds is as… well, decent a mercenary as you could ever ask for. Fast-moving, fast-talking, and relentlessly annoying, she's run jobs for TF Industries as Team Bunker's Scout for years now. Yes, that's right! Bunker! My fanteam! She’s not some no-name Fortress punk scraped from the bottom of the barrel, no, she's a no-name punk from the upper dregs of the barrel! Just as disposable as Fortress’ no-name punks, though, which is made abundantly clear when Bunker is contracted out to both Redmond and Blutarch Mann in order to finally take care of their blasted brother's mercenaries. Fortunately(?), Addison and her petty rivalry against Scout is one of several spanners in the works that sends this whole scheme flying off the rails and directly into Hell. I love her. I hope you love (or at least tolerate) her as well.

[whump-tr0pes]

Another Way to Be

Many thanks to @newbornwhumperfly for being so generous in letting me put their boy Morja in Situations, and many apologies to them as well for holding onto this story for so many months while waiting for me to finish it.

My masterlist

Morja is a diathésimos, one of a class of indentured servants owned by society’s elite - though some would call them slaves. He has been tasked with a mission of critical importance by his anóteros: to infiltrate a dangerous family that has taken refuge in the north, and kill the criminal that they are harboring: Gavin Stormbeck.

“It is your part to kill me, mine to die without flinching.”

— Epictetus, from Discourses (Translated by Robert Dobbin)

Your Part to Kill | My Part to Die | To Die Quietly | Despair | Dawn | Breakfast Part 1 | Breakfast Part 2 | To Die Without Flinching | Relief

Contents: conditioned whumpee, implied past murder, false execution, misunderstanding whump, flashbacks, PTSD, guilt, past offscreen murder of children, forgiveness, recovery, collared whumpee, collar removal

Note: in @newbornwhumperfly's story, it is not canon that Morja has killed children.

~

Isaac separated Morja from the rest of the family again, a few days later, like a wolf cleaving a single sheep from the herd. Morja watched it happen - watched as Isaac suggested Gray, Vera, and Tori leave in their car to go into town. Then he watched as Finn and Ellis slipped out, encouraged by Isaac again. Sam and Gavin were harder to convince. Still, as Morja washed the dishes from the morning breakfast, scrubbed the counters that were already clean, wiped every surface in the kitchen and then wiped them all again - he could feel Isaac’s eyes on his back. He could feel the presence of Gavin Uriah on the couch next to him in the living room, too, and Sam’s in their room. 

Morja’s hands shook as he worked. He wanted to ask for something else to do, but the thought of breaking the heavy silence made his stomach clench. He reached for the broom and began to sweep the already spotless kitchen floor. 

“How about you go take a walk around the lake?” Isaac said gently to Gavin. “Get some fresh air. You’ve been inside all day.”

Morja froze, straining his ears for Gavin’s response. He didn’t hear one. 

Not only a useless diathésimos, but an eavesdropper, too. He set the broom aside and turned toward the back door.

“Where are you going?” Isaac called after him.

Morja froze. His heart pounded. His hands balled into fists. His spine was a rod inside his body, perfectly straight, as he turned and looked at the two of them. “I’m sorry,” he croaked, throat dry. “I didn’t mean… I was just going to–”

“I’ll come with you, if you want to go outside,” Isaac said, and he got to his feet.

“No,” Gavin breathed. His hand locked on Isaac’s wrist, pulling him back. 

Isaac stared down at Gavin for a long moment. Finally, he murmured, “I just want to talk to him. Alone.”

Gavin shook his head. “No.” The word was barely louder than a breath. 

Isaac turned, showing Gavin his back. Morja blinked, confused, before he realized - there was no gun tucked into Isaac’s waistband. That didn’t matter, Morja knew, Isaac could have a knife concealed on him and end Morja’s life that way. Or just use his hands. Diathésimos could be deadly with anything they were given. Morja had ended enough lives with his bare hands to know that.

Isaac turned back to Gavin and knelt, holding Gavin’s face in his hands. “I swear,” he whispered, and the gesture was so intimate that Morja turned away, face flushing. “I’m not going out there to kill him. I swear, I swear, I just want to talk.” He sucked in a breath. “D-diathésimos to diathésimos.”

Gavin took in a breath, too. Morja stared at the floor. 

Tactically, it was a good strategy to get Morja alone. He wondered what Isaac would say to Gavin once Morja was dead - what he would have to say to repair the trust Isaac was breaking right now.

Finally, Gavin nodded in Isaac’s hands. Isaac pressed a kiss to Gavin’s forehead and rose to his feet once again. 

“Let’s go,” Isaac said flatly. He brushed past Morja and slid the back door open. Morja followed behind, silent and still. 

He had already had Isaac’s gun pressed to his head once. He knew Isaac Moore would not hesitate this time. 

He trailed behind Isaac as Isaac walked out over the grass behind the house, then onto the pebbly beach of the lake. Isaac walked in silence. Morja’s legs moved mechanically, bearing him along, his hands and head numb. He wondered where and when Isaac would tell him to get on his knees and execute him with quick, clean efficiency. 

Isaac had hesitated before. And diathésimos never hesitate. 

Diathésimos never show the enemy their back, either. But Isaac was walking only a few steps ahead of Morja, and Morja was staring at his empty waistband. 

Once they were about a quarter way around the lake, Isaac stopped walking. Morja knew without looking back that they must be out of sight of the house now, or at least the rear windows. 

He wanted to say goodbye to Sam.

He dropped to his knees. 

Isaac wanted something else from him, last time–

Shaking, shaking, he crossed his wrists behind him. 

“Get up, Morja, I’m not killing you today,” Isaac said without turning around. 

Morja choked on a sob. He stared up at Isaac’s back, the pebbles digging into his knees through the soft sweatpants they had given him. 

He was tired of the tricks, of the games - ah, diathésimos, I never told you to scream, I only told you to beg, now contain yourself or I’ll bring in another friend to enjoy you tonight - he was tired of the nightmares. 

He was tired of never knowing when a correction was coming. Let one come now.

He held his tongue and bowed his head. His shoulder ached from holding his arms in the position they were in, but he would hold them there as long as it took. 

Isaac whirled on Morja. “I said get up,” he snarled. Morja flinched minutely. The motion was hardly noticeable at all. 

He flinched hard when Isaac held out a hand in front of his face. He steeled himself and braced for the correction. Heat spread through his face in anticipation of the blow. This, he knew. He closed his eyes.

The wind made a soft sound through the bushes and trees around them as Isaac stood motionless in front of Morja. The pebbles ground into his knees, but he hardly noticed it. 

Other than the barn, he had not been made to kneel in so, so long. 

“Please,” Isaac whispered. His voice sounded so broken that Morja’s eyes opened in shock. The hand in front of his face was still there, motionless–

Not motionless. Shaking. 

“Please,” Isaac said again. “Please get up.” He opened his hand further and reached for Morja’s bicep. Morja let himself be pulled to his feet. Helped to his feet.

As he staggered upright, his hand landed on Isaac’s wrist. Isaac allowed the touch, allowed the weight. Once Morja had righted himself, he pulled away, staring at his feet. They stood together in silence, closer than they had ever been. Isaac made no move away from Morja. Morja stood stock still - gunpowder near a flame. A wrong move, and the explosion might destroy them both. 

Still, Isaac didn’t seem uncomfortable with Morja so close. He tucked his hands in his pockets and looked out over the lake. The sun shimmered on its surface in the late afternoon. It looked more like a pane of glass than water. 

“I’ve been thinking about what I– what happened.” Isaac said. He swallowed thickly. “About what I did. What I…” He wet his lips and stared at the ground. “What I almost did.”

“I understand it,” Morja said. “I am… I was…”

“It’s not about that,” Isaac said. “I know it. And I think you do, too.” He bent to pick a particularly smooth and flat stone from the beach. He straightened and flicked it over the surface of the lake. It skipped along the top several times before it slipped beneath the surface, sending ripples in every direction. 

“But I…” Morja blinked, staring at Isaac. “I did. Try. I mean… I apologize. I did try to kill your…” He lapsed into silence. 

“You’ve been… forced,” Isaac said. “And I… I know what that… means. What that’s like.” 

If you return without proof of death, diathésimos, it’ll be you on the rack next. 

Morja shivered and looked out over the lake with Isaac. Large white birds twisted and soared in the air currents above it. His eyes followed them for a while. 

Isaac broke the silence. “It’s not just that,” he whispered, pained. “I mean, I…” He glanced back at the house. It was a brilliant white smear on the edge of the lake. “Even after Gray… found… me… I didn’t stop killing. Even when I… even when…” He drew a hand over his face. The pale scars at his wrist peeked out from his long sleeve. “Even after I knew there was… a different way. I… I killed someone on… on our side.”

Morja’s throat tightened. He said nothing, just looked at Isaac. 

Isaac chewed his lip and kept going. “It was an argument that got out of hand. They were… going after Gray about a difference of opinion on how to handle a syndicate target. Gray was calm, and the other person… wasn’t. And they… they raised their hand to Gray, and I–” He let out a choked sound and sank into a squat beside Morja. 

The birds whirled above them, indifferent to the tears that glittered on Isaac’s cheeks. 

Isaac shot to his feet again, swiping the tears away. “Fuck,” he breathed. He glanced at Morja. Morja looked at the ground, bowing his head again. Isaac huffed out a bitter laugh. “You ever kill any kids?”

Shame clutched Morja’s heart. He swallowed, swallowed again. His hands squeezed into fists again.

They were enemies, diathésimos. An enemy is an enemy, no matter their age. Be careful, or I may suspect that you are beginning to sympathize with our enemy.

“Yes,” Morja said, more a breath than a word.

“Yeah,” Isaac responded, nodding. “Me, too.” 

More tears shone on Isaac’s cheeks, now. Gooseflesh rippled on Morja’s arms. His throat tightened. His eyes prickled, and he squeezed them shut. 

Sam’s body, juddering under his knife, flashed across his vision. He opened his eyes with a soft gasp. 

Isaac was looking at him with curiosity. Morja’s lips trembled as he returned the look.

“Is there a way to be something other than this?” Morja said with a numb mouth. 

Isaac was silent for so long that Morja thought he wasn’t going to answer. The lake made little ripples on the gravel. One bird landed on the lake and floated. It was joined by another, then a third. The wind moved through Morja’s hair. 

“I don’t know,” Isaac finally said. “I’m… trying to figure that out. With Gavin. With Sam. With my family.”

“And… could I…?” Morja’s knees shook. He was ready to let them fold, if it was the wrong question.

He was always ready to kneel.

“Could I… try… as well?” he whispered.

Isaac looked at him, then out across the lake. He nodded. “Yeah,” he said. He rubbed his fingertips along the scars along his throat, the ones that marked him for what he was - or used to be. “Yeah. I think you could.” He turned to keep walking along the edge of the lake. “Want to keep moving?” he said softly.

Morja paused. “Will you…?” His hand drifted up and trailed along the edge of his own collar, still buckled tightly around his throat. “Will you help me?”

Isaac’s gaze softened as he stepped forward. Gently, slowly - so slowly - he raised his hands and loosened the buckle of the collar. Just as gently, he drew the collar through the buckle until it was just a strip of leather hanging on Morja’s shoulders. Morja held one end of the collar in a shaking hand. As he did, Isaac covered his hand with his own. 

Slowly, Morja pulled the collar away until it slithered off his shoulders and hung from his fingers. He turned, resolutely, and faced the lake. Then, with perfect precision, he wound up and hurled the collar into the center of the lake, startling the birds who had decided to take their rest there. 

@womping-grounds , @free-2bmee , @quirkykayleetam , @walkingchemicalfire , @inpainandsuffering , @redwingedwhump , @burtlederp , @castielamigos-whump-side-blog , @whatwhumpcomments , @whumpywhumper , @stxck-fxck , @whumps-the-word , @justplainwhump ,  @finder-of-rings , @inky-whump , @thatsthewhump , @orchidscript , @this-mightaswell-happen , @newandfiguringitout , @whumpkitty , @pretty-face-breaker , @cinnamonflavoredhugs , @pebbledriscoll , @im-just-here-for-the-whump , @endless-whump , @grizzlie70 , @oops-its-whump , @kixngiggles, @1phoenixfeather , @butwhatifyouwrite , @carnagecardinal ​, @annablogsposts , @suspicious-whumping-egg , @starfields08000 , @morning-star-whump , @theelvishcowgirl , @i-eat-worlds

[arrow-translates]

No night, No life TRANSLATION [BAD SKUNK]

【JUNKY】 【CHERRY】 【SPRING】 【YP】

(See end for translation notes.)

“I want to dream with my eyes open”

That hungry flush looks great on you in this Nighter Game 

“Could I have a sip from your glass?”

Tonight’s the only night you can enjoy it so, ah, get drunk

A devilish smile? A gentleman’s invitation?

Either way, does it matter? Dance is language

The door to paradise, covered in graffiti 

Come on, kick it open, Go Mad!

Not even god can stop us! Until the end, 

the world will keep on spinning, this Midnight Planet

We’re bound so tightly, 

even the lights that can’t join the constellations are So High!

(No night, No life) We’ll lick the sweetness from our wounds

(Those lies in your mind) Just savour it, it’s Heavenly Hell

(No night, No life) Sink even deeper into this One Night

(Non-stop dancing tonight, be all right)

Dive into this dream!

“I want to be loved so hard I can't sleep”

If you show your true self the night awakes

“I’ve seen you here before” It must be fate then!

Such things seem common in these overflowing City Lights

You hold me so close, but I think you might hate me

Uniting our hearts should be our Only Language

When all I have are wicked thoughts, reason disappears

I’m just a wolf in sheep’s clothing!

Throw it all into disarray! Feel alive again

and feel it all deep in your soul, just for a moment

When it all piles up,

this fragile artificial love starts to seem So Cool!

(No night, No life) To the sweet taste of dripping honey,

(The lies in your mind) Let’s all get wild, it's Heavenly Hell

(No night, No life) Only One Road to the darkest depths

(Suddenly Falling tonight, be all right)

I just wanna lose it!

The neon lights in this city keep melting away

These softhearted morals, who do you help by holding us back?

Aren't we only getting started?!

Nobody can take us on! (Until the end!) Until the end,

The world will keep on spinning, this Midnight Planet

When it all falls apart,

This heart of mine only beats faster, so Get High!

(No night, No life) We’ll lick the fervor from our wounds

(Those lies in your mind) It’s so addictive, this Heavenly Hell

(No night, No life) Sink even deeper into this One Night

(Non-stop dancing tonight, be all right)

Dive into the bliss!

–

♡ TRANSLATION NOTES ♡

[1] General

To start these TNs off, I should say this was one of the harder songs I've translated in my time because as there are no official GS lyric books yet, I was just relying on what I could find online and very quickly realised the lyrics I could find are incorrect in some places. On top of that, this whole song's pretty vague and while I've done my best to make sense of it, it's probably not my best work. I welcome any criticism or corrections from other translators should you think of anything!

[2] I’m just a wolf in sheep’s clothing!

There's nothing wrong about this translation since it's literally in my dictionary but also I feel like I only chose it for the sheep mention. It could have just been 'hypocrite' but I couldn't resist.

[3] who do you help by holding us back? Aren't we only getting started?!

This was a struggle... This is a bit of a stretch of the original meaning but it's the only way I could get it to sound natural in English. Suggestion are welcome, so if you'd like to reccomend a better translation, the original line is this:

誰が為の箍を？ここからだろ？

[evilrat-sabre]

You walk in Hermitcraft

Imagine you are walking through Keralis’ city. You live there in an apartment close to where some superheroes with hermit heads are fighting. If you look in the distance, you may be able to see the Toon Towers or even Xisuma’s bee towers. 

You walk a little more; there is a ravager head in the ground where you know, if you enter through the mouth, you can play decked out. You ignore it for now. 

You walk a little more; there is an Odea shop where you are the only customer to have ever brought something. The owner has a cool mustache and his Swedish is very Google Translator-ish, but you find him a delight. 

You walk, passing through the middle of a mansion cut in two; it smells of gunpowder and bedsheets.

You walk a little more; you fall in a sewer. There are some cats playing poker surrounded by stolen builds and radioactive waste. 

You walk a little farther into the sewer and there is a hole. You don’t fall through the hole, but it goes to the void and for some reason it smells like candy bars and crippling purposeful dead. 

You keep walking; there is a door labeled among us and you find it very sus. 

You walk some more and a bearded stranger covered in blood offers you cards; you accept it. You got a Wels, oh the joy. 

You keep walking; you find a chest full of light gray stained glass. It makes your blood boil for some reason; at least it's free!

You walk a little more; you find another bearded guy accompanied by a guy with a bandana. They want a paper with your name on it; you give it to them so they let you go.

You feel like you have been walking forever. Is that sheep looking at you? You enter a cave; it is full of machinery and, for some reason, golf equipment. 

You go outside; there is a lady giggling maniacally flipping cows upside down. You ignore her.

You walk some more. Everything was fine, but for some reason you are in Star Wars now. Better ignore it.

You walk past a sign. “Gem is great!” it says, and you can’t help but agree.

A newspaper flies and hits you in the face. “Who is the Jangler? Is the Jingler rebranding?” 

You think that as every year passes these names get stupider.

You look up; a giant eagle is flying through the sky.

You keep walking before it thinks you are food.

You walk by a man that is haggling for leaves. You walk faster before he notices you.

A man is reading nonsensical haikus while a slime and a zombie fight for their lives. You stopped questioning this a long time ago.

You keep walking; you find a giant set of tea cups and a nice lady offers you a drink.

You hear someone singing “Never Gonna Give You Up” and you feel yourself glitching through the floor. You fall into a highly decorated room; you feel the urge to call it a monstrosity even if it is beautiful. You walk through it and find a door. 

You enter the door and a very nice drowned called Amelia offers you an elytra and an aviator helmet. You accept it. You put on the aviator helmet and you look stupid. 

You walk through the open wide door; you find yourself in a zoo. There is a crooked glass rainbow and the streets are full of cod headed children. 

You sigh tiredly; time to go home. 

You grab your elytra and try to fly back to your apartment. You bonk your head on a base that yesterday was one block smaller, you swear to god. 

You glitch through the ground again, falling into TFC’s strip mine.

You wish you had a drink. Bdubs offers you milksog.

[shizukahaiji]

Hi! I was tagged by @mihai-florescu (thank you so much!!!) for this, it took me a little to think up and remember answers for these but here they are!

Last song: Nuts Addiction from Gray Sheep… I’ve had to tell so many people this isn’t actually the horny Gray Sheep song despite the title it has more drug analogies. Violet Love is the horny song. Gray Sheep is genuinely a really good music project you guys should check it out

Favorite color: Green! All sorts of shades but I like lime/bright green the most

Last book: My issue is I don’t actually sit down and read often enough at all… I think Blue Lock Volume 12 reread but it’s been awhile. I do the majority of my reading online (I am not a fanfic consumer I mostly read joseimuke translations or manga scanlations) and I do very much enjoy books I just can’t remember the last physical book I read and when I read manga online the volumes all blur together in my mind

Last movie: I don’t watch enough movies either oh god… My preferred method of media consumption is either reading or video games and oftentimes I have to prepare to invest time in a movie (autism) but I think it was one of the UtaPri concert movies with my brother

Last TV show: I have been watching my Roku TV’s free included Price is Right channel too much with breakfast before work it’s actually kind of shameful. Last actual TV show with a plot and characters though was Mahoyaku’s anime adaptation and it’s fun! Very average joseimuke 12 episode main story adaptation but god I love Mahoyaku

Sweet/savory/spicy: I love all three in their own way… I think it depends on my mood but I like sweet more often. I love spice so much my tolerance has built up a pretty significant amount since moving out and eating so much of it and I love savory too so I’ll gladly take all three

Last thing I searched online: I’ve been looking up a lot of medical questions (don’t do this. Don’t do this) because my body sucks but besides that I was looking up Junky Gray Sheep for photos

Current obsessions: Playing Dandy’s World on Roblox with my girlfriend… Fragaria Memories (I’m still not over Blue Bouquet’s latest drama track)… 18trip… To a lesser extent Gray Sheep and Idolish7 but my interests are everlasting I can infodump about stuff I haven’t thought much about in a decade

I’m notoriously bad at tagging people so anybody who sees this is free to do it and use me as a means to jump in but I had a lot of fun!

[kookythekatkueen]

This is a goth chicks blog

A little bit about me

First: I'm a bit shy and don't talk much, but I will build up the courage and reply to your direct messages or comments (maybe no promises, so don't get mad or sad; socializing is not my strong suit)

Name: Malak (The English translation is Angel🪽)

Age: 22, 4-July-2002 ♋️

Sexuality, Gender & Pronouns: Pansexual, Female, she/her/they/them 🏳️‍🌈♀️

Height: 161cm / 5.28ft

Languages I speak: English & Arabic عربي

Relationship Status: Lonely, just me and my thoughts

Religion: Muslim ☪️

Pet: A rescue African Gray Parrot named Shady. She is 13 y/o, had her for 8y. 🦜

Favorite Color: Blue, but sometimes Purple or Emerald Green. Although I am mainly in black because it is cute.

3 Favorite Foods: 2 of them are Lebanese cuisine 🇱🇧

Lebanese Raw Meat Slab; usually comes with a variety of types of prepared raw meat. Ps it's all sheep meat "I know raw meat is crazy to eat in most countries, but please be respectful this is my culture." 🥩

Warak Enab (Dolma) is grape leaves stuffed with rice, tomatoes, onions, mint leaves, and parsley leaves🥬

Spaghetti with cut-up hotdogs in it (Comfort food) 🍝

Favorite Artist & what song is my favorite from them:

Adele, Chasing Pavements 🎤

Owl City, The Tornado 🎼

Ghost, Square Hammer 🎸

Things I like to do: Art (digital, traditional, crafts), Sewing Clothes, Cooking 👩🏻‍🎨🎨🖌️🖼️ 🧝🏻‍♀️🧵🪡 👩🏻‍🍳🍳🥘

Best way to spend a night: Cook some food and dessert. Then enjoy a movie or TV show while eating. After that spend the rest of the time make legos or puzzles, maybe some art or reading a book. 🍔🍟🍩 🧩 📺

Favorite Movie & TV Show: The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings trilogy & The Big Bang Theory

Dream Job: Applied physicist at CERN ⚛️

Dream Trip: Going to Antarctica, I love traveling to the point where I've been to +30 countries. 🇦🇶

The last thing I Googled: The Standard Model | CERN (home.cern) I'm doing some pre-studying before I get into college; my major is Physics ⚛️👩🏻‍🔬

Anything I really want right now: Greek salad 🥗

Pictures of Me:

♥️🖤♥️🖤♥️🖤♥️🖤♥️🖤♥️🖤♥️🖤♥️🖤

🕷🕸🥀⛓🩸🕷🕸🥀⛓🩸 🕷🕸🥀⛓🩸

♥️🖤♥️🖤♥️🖤♥️🖤♥️🖤♥️🖤♥️🖤♥️🖤

[poems-from-around-the-world]

Ireland, Summer 1994 - Batsheva Dori-Carlier - Israel

Translator: Lisa Katz (Hebrew)

Through the window of the Aer Lingus plane, a green fan of fields embroidered with brown furrows. “The weather is fine in Dublin, no sign of clouds”. (Did the pilot sound surprised.) In the arrivals hall of Shannon airport you wrapped me in your gray raincoat: “How was the flight?”

You opened the door to the apartment on Drumcondra Street with a royal sweep of your arm. We shared yellow butter and whole grain bread, Leonard Cohen songs and insights we’d gathered (sanctimonious, unquestioning). I looked through the kitchen window, charmed by the red brick wall in the back yard, half-covered by greenery, an unkempt beard.

In the evening in the pub on Grafton Street, joy flowed thickly, simply, like foam. Our coats clung to each other on the polished wooden hanger, soaking up poetry, pipe smoke and melting steam. We drank from mugs of thin glass decorated with golden harps: a pint of black Guinness poured into the evening’s talk. Your bachelor bed gazed in envy as we slept entwined.

“There are some dead certainties and some lively doubts” claimed the sign on the church wall. I copied snide quotes on a postcard to my sister. In the afternoon we rested on the banks of the Liffey, fumes from the brewery wafted through the air like drunken sheep. Tomorrow we’ll set out for our trip to the Dingle Peninsula, three days at an inn.

We stood at the edge of an overhang: clear salt water swirled over purple sea weed and foamed, rough as a fist, on Ireland’s coarse skin. We were silent, careful not to be swept away into the constant quarrel between land and water.

Your old car led us faithfully, navigating roads covered with the leaves of trees and shrubs. I was twenty-four and complicated, Yeats and Maud Gonne on the horizon through the windshield.

[hexjulia]

i love the imagery here so much...the old god bobbing above the water (made me think of a portuguese man o' war), then sleeping among the seals whose breath "smells sour from gray seawater, pungent salty dephts" and the god counting the seals like sheep...it's just very vivid dreamlike imagery. Also the wrestling the god part!!

this is so much like Tam Lin-- i don't think i've ever seen someone mention this passage influencing Tam Lin but then i haven't really read any scholarship on that ballad. Probably someone has noted the similarities in the transformation. Anyway yeah i enjoy this translation i'm glad i finally bought a physical copy. ❤️