#if any of you folks want to stick around for when i open commissions soon thatd be great. just saying.

[fobnsfwdoodlesbackup]

Hi y'all, I just wanted to talk a little about the behind the scenes of what I've been up to, to give y'all a little transparency and to open myself up for any tips or input! 🙏 Thank you for your continued support and for taking the time to look at my art 🫶

First and foremost I wanted to give some transparency about my art capacity.

As og followers may remember, I started this blog when I was doing art full time. Eventually my living expenses grew and I had to go back to work. I find myself in a cycle of "I'll make more art soon, once I get a job!" And "I'll make more art soon, once I am done with this job!" I lost my most recent job suddenly, having had an extension waved over my head until the last day(October 7th). Now I'm excited to have more time for art, but I am also feeling a rush to get a new job ASAP as I've been living paycheck to paycheck. I dream of doing this work full time, I'm just scared it's not quite there yet and I worry that I come off as scammy or dishonest when I anticipate more stability around the corner.

Second, I've been struggling with the Patreon. It's taken me a while to come to terms with this, but from what I've seen Patreon is not intuitive at all from the creator end. It doesn't do a good job of organizing addresses, emails, showing who or who isn't subscribed to me, or organizing and displaying the work I put on there. I've been really shocked by this experience, since lots of big names use Patreon. It's been a great way to streamline support, but it's been unhelpful in every other regard. I would like to continue using it, but I will most likely post more wips or process videos there in the future.

Which brings me to my third point, zines. I love making zines so much, it feels personal and fulfilling and fun! However the Patreon issues make it harder to keep information in order about where to send zines, or even where to message folks about them. In addition to this, the post office has been a big barrier to me, oftentimes only being open at the same time as my dayjob. Making zines can take days, then sending them out is a whole other monster.

This work is so important to me. Drawing peoples fantasies, representing body types, creating work around sexuality and the human experience feels like what I'm meant to do. I've made comics since I was a kid. This is the dream to me. The friends I've been able to make through this work are so important to me, and the conversations have been invaluable. Not to mention fun! I wanna doodle, I wanna draw hot stuff, I wanna thirst over these dudes! I want to play!

But I also just want to be transparent about the barriers I'm working around to share that experience. I'm completely self taught, both in art AND in running shops, building websites, running 8 accounts, etc. I take a lot of time to learn the logistics of these things, and try to make them make sense for my relationship with y'all (I do not want to paywall my art!! I don't want to!!!). This year my desktop broke down (the main one I use for all paintings and digital art). I've paused my Etsy shops and my Patreon to try to catch up with things. Trying to learn to paint in a completely different program. Then lost my job with no savings.

At the end of the day I don't want anything to come between me sharing my art with you. I wish I could doodle a thing, take a picture, and post it here. No third party site, no shop, no subscription. Just sharing my art with you. I promise I'm trying to figure out how to stay as close to that as possible, and I want to thank y'all for sticking with me as I untangle all of that.

So, what can you expect in the near future?

I'm working on a couple of painting commissions right now, which you should be able to see in the next couple of days! I want to catch up on kinktober and get those posted as well. There's a comic commission in progress which I'm very eager to work on, and which I think y'all will be excited for! To ease the weight of the Patreon I think I may do less zines/polls there and more wips and process videos! If possible, I want to do more full colored work too.

Thank you again for enjoying my work, and if you have any input or tips my inbox is always open 🙏🫶💕

[cfrog]

Big AF attack post!! This is everything I got done this year, not including my friendly-fire and my final attack (because tumblr has a 10 image limit)

Character credits and tags and links below the cut!

Columbia- Drigglesnork on Artfight

Tali- The0Wah0Man on Artfight

Prayers- @monoah-lly

Tear- lycheeve on Instagram

Frankie- @actualtoad

Clara- @kix

Agatha- @honeybeesinspace (my guy Pat is there too)

Kleinbot- innergreedart on Twitter

Flint- spiderfrog15 on Twitter

Lia and Dia- @morninggl0rys

and that is everybody! I had a super great time this year, can’t wait to see who won cause I was not paying attention! See y’all next year ^^

[rainbowsans]

why aren’t you making ut content daily? you’re more active in fnaf than ut recently?

that’s a bit rude to ask anon;

to put it simply I haven’t had the motivation right now, I’m more hyperfocused on fnaf with the release of its new game on December. that doesn’t necessarily mean I am quitting, leaving or dropping on making ut stuff completely! No way, I’m just a tad bit more inspired and happy making fnaf stuff at this moment.

when I’m hyperfixated on something I go focus on that one thing before moving on to whatever I wanna do, it’s just how my ADHD Brian works, I can’t focus in more than 2 interests at the same time. otherwise I’d be stressing myself out. it’s pathetic I know, but it’s how my brain works.

and to also put it simply, I’ve been only drawing paid ut work (aka: comms) for the past few months now and having no time to do stuff I actually wanna do more like the past. of course that’s my own fault with trying to balance my life, health and work, I heavily relied on commissions to pay my bills and have income in my pocket due to me being a freelance artist. but to keep doing paid stuff all the time wears me out of doing what I wanna do and burns me out. It’s no one’s fault! I love doing commissions! and I’m happy with the people commissioning me! but due to my stupid self I’ve completely worn out and left unmotivated to do any ut stuff that ISNT a commission.

which is why I haven’t said anything about opening up comms again as febuary comes to an end, the plush sales helped me greatly! and it makes me happy that folks loved them so much! which is why I’m going to be closing comms for a couple of months or so until I get every single comm/Disney comm done. that way I don’t have waiting work hovering my head and I have everyone’s stuff done!

To all my current and past commissioners; thank you for supporting me and for being patient;;; you guys are the best and having you choosing me to draw stuff for you Is an honor; I loved working and drawing stuff with you; thank you;;

So yeah! My plush sales are gonna be the main thing that’s gonna help me financially until I have comms back up! it’ll give me lots of time to get myself back up and hopefully make UT stuff like I used to before! I don’t wanna force myself to draw something I don’t have the motivation for;

otherwise I’d be miserable

i don’t think anyone wants that;;; I hope so;;; I’m only human and I have other stuff I wanna do and I hope you fellas stick around for that and respect me as a person for it.

Papri and Blueberry will launch soon! and if you’re a fan of fnaf then I have stuff I’m gonna sell as-well! So be sure to follow my main @frechiiie and my other socials!

Again I’m so sorry for not posting much;; I’m still here- im just focusing on other things at the moment;; I still love the game and the ut fandom! I’ll just need a break until the motivation to make UT stuff comes back but I’ll still be active! <3 I hope you all understand!

And for a future protip; don’t ask content creators these types of questions and begging and whining me to make more content for you; it took me a while to come to terms that I don’t have to do stuff for other people by demand and worry about what they think of me if I don’t meet their demands and standards.

make content that makes you happy! because true followers and fans will love anything you do!

[eclecticmiasma]

Ebb and Flow (Josuke x Reader)

🌠Commissioned fic!🌠

NSFW

After many stressful months on patrol, Josuke finds that lazy days spent in your embrace are more precious than diamonds. 

[Warnings: consensual somnophilia]

Art Credit: Starヨル on Pixiv

A provincial sea-side town. Not exactly a hotspot of activity, nor a likely source of stress. A town full of simple folk living out their simple lives. Quaint, charming- and requiring a surprising amount of police work.

The events of 1999 took their toll on little Morioh. People lost trust in the safety of their surroundings, and countless other stand users still reside in the area. Crime skyrocketed, and while that might seem beneficial for a rookie cop fresh out of the academy, Josuke takes no joy in just how busy his job keeps him. He often wonders what his grandfather would think of Morioh in its current state. Part of him is glad he isn’t alive to see it.

You’re more than proud of Josuke. The rowdy teen you once knew went out and achieved what many felt was the impossible. Though he still faces hardship, and continues to be quite rowdy, you don’t carry any of the doubt that fills his thoughts. Josuke saved Morioh once, he’s more than capable of doing it again.

Due to his duties, spending nights alone has become so commonplace that you’re shocked when his muscular arms snake around your waist while you’re trying to get ready for bed. You notice he’s only wearing tight, gray sweatpants, and his hair looks a little unkempt. When you question this, wondering if he’s going to be late for his shift, he responds only by pressing a firm kiss to your neck and slightly grinding himself against you.

“I finally got the night off,” He says, the excitement in his voice barely hidden. You grip the counter as he kisses your neck again, this time tugging at the waistband of your pajama bottoms. The sweatpants he’s wearing leave nothing to the imagination, as his hard length juts right against the cleft of your bottom.

It’s been so long since the two of you were able to be together that even the smallest touches have you coming undone. A stroke of the front of your panties, a grasp of your thick behind, the way his breath floats across your skin as he chuckles at your reaction, “Needy, aren’t we?”

He tugs your bottoms down with your underwear and ruts himself against your bare backside. Your hand flies to his and you whine at how eager he is to take you right here and now.

“W-wait, don’t you want to…enjoy it?” You ask sheepishly, biting your lip and trying not to grind your hips in response to his own, “I don’t want to finish so soon…” Josuke lets out another laugh and slides a large hand down to toy with your clit.

“Who says we’re finished after this?”

The rest of the night is a blur. All the months of unspoken longing and sexual tension culminate in hours of exploring each other’s bodies. Not a single surface of the apartment is left unsullied. It’s only when you can barely keep yourself standing that the two of you finally roll into bed, exhausted and thoroughly sated. You hardly have time to say goodnight before Josuke is passed out, snoring like a freight train, arms wound tightly around you in a grasping embrace.  

It’s no surprise that Josuke wakes up before you, as he’s hard-wired to be alert first thing in the morning. When he sees how early it is, he debates rolling over and going back to bed. After all, he finally has the day off, and your soft, warm figure feels so good against his own. He could stay like this for the rest of his life, bodies intertwined in plush sheets. Visions of the previous night’s lovemaking hover in his mind. He closes his eyes, hoping to dream about your body writhing below his own, but his cock has a different idea.

Sighing, Josuke pulls your sticky bodies apart and gazes down at his throbbing member. After the marathon session you had, he’s glad to see that the thing still works. He looks over at your sleeping form, pondering rousing you from your slumber to go for round…seven? Eight? As his hand touches your shoulder you roll onto your back and take a deep breath in. He watches your plump breasts heave up and down. His eyes flick from your sore nipples to your swollen, parted lips. A devilish idea forms. It would be cruel to just wake you up, wouldn’t it?

Josuke carefully moves down the bed and slowly slides your legs apart. He leans over and places a hesitant kiss to your left nipple. Nothing. Smirking, he sticks out his warm, wet tongue and slides it around your areola. You emit the smallest whimper. He rewards you by lapping properly at your nipple, rolling the bud around the tip of his tongue. A heavenly sigh escapes you, sending blood straight to his length.

He mirrors his ministrations on your other breast, mindful not to wake you. His hand moves to your entrance and he swipes your slit with his fingertip. You’re incredibly wet. Some of it’s from the night before, he knows, but the idea that you want him so badly you could even become soaking in your sleep turns him on more than you’ll ever know.

He decides you’ve had enough teasing and lowers himself to the edge of the bed. Normally, you’re such a light sleeper that he’d never be able to do this in his wildest dreams. Now that he has the chance, he plans to take full advantage.

With the first swipe of his tongue across your clit, you inhale sharply. Josuke hesitates, fearing that he’s already woken you. He waits for your breathing to return to normal before licking you again, massaging your swollen mound slowly and deliberately. This time you moan in earnest, a soft and needy answer to his actions. Josuke can’t help but groan against your pussy, daring to push your legs slightly farther apart so that he can eat you out more fervently.

When Josuke tastes your soaking wet folds he closes his eyes. He presses his hard cock against the side of the mattress and ruts shamelessly against it. Your juices on his tongue, memories of thrusting into your body the night before, knowing he’s the cause of your arousal- all of it makes him dizzy with lust.

As his tongue glides up and around your sensitive hole, stopping every once in a while to tease your clit, Josuke notices your breathing is increasingly erratic. Part of him wonders if you’re only pretending to be asleep, but part of him doesn’t care. Just the idea of you cumming in your sleep drives him wild.

“Yeah? You like when I lick your pretty little pussy?” He whispers against you, hoping in some subconscious universe you’ll hear him coaxing you on, “Gonna cum just from my tongue?” Your fingers twitch response, gripping the sheets beneath you. You moan more ardently as Josuke tongues your hole. Even in the dream world it feels incredible.

Suddenly, you’re crying out, gushing on Josuke’s face and tongue as your orgasm tears you out of sleep. You whine his name as your body trembles, the reality of your surroundings and current situation settling in. Josuke grins triumphantly as he laps up your juices, milking every last drop from your clenching pussy.

He stops humping the side of the bed and gets back on it, wasting no time connecting your lips with his own. You moan into the kiss, brain feverishly trying to make sense of the sensations bombarding you. Josuke hooks an arm underneath your right leg as his tongue massages your own, delving deep into your mouth in a haze of arousal.

“Fuck, that was so hot,” He grunts, rubbing the leaking head of his cock against your sopping wet entrance. His body is heavy against your own. It presses you firmly into the mattress, leaving you no choice but to writhe in pleasure with over-stimulation.

“Please,” You gasp, wrapping your arms around Josuke’s neck and threading your fingers through his disheveled hair. You don’t have to ask him twice, his member is already trying to slide into you. After a few unsuccessful attempts to penetrate you due to slipping in your slick, his length finally breaches your hole and both of you groan in response.

Josuke wastes no time seating himself fully inside of you. He takes the briefest of pauses to plant a wet kiss on your lips, then his hips are snapping against your own. After everything you’re incredibly sensitive, hovering on the edge of another orgasm as he roughly takes you.

“Next time you…want me to f-fuck you while you’re asleep?” Feral Josuke is a hard one to come by, but by no means unwelcome. He grunts and groans as he cants into you, thick cock stretching your walls at a bruising pace. Being as strong as he is, he’s usually too concerned about hurting you to truly let himself go, no matter how often you tell him you’re not going to break. This time, it’s like he’s lost himself in your body, “You want that, baby?”

You squeal as he rams you over and over, “Y-yes…Josuke!” Just the thought of him prying you open with his dick while you lay unaware and defenseless makes you throb with delight. It’s enough to send you spiraling into another orgasm. Josuke moans and grips your hips tight as your walls spasm along his shaft.

“I’ll make you cum on my cock again and again, just like that,” His own breathing is growing ragged even as he teases you, not once stopping to let you come down from your high. The over-stimulation of it all sends tears to your eyes, but you wouldn’t ask him to stop for anything. Having Josuke near you, around you, inside of you, inhaling his scent, hearing him as he releases control of himself just for you- it’s an intoxicating ride you never want to get off of.

Without warning, Josuke shifts your body and bends your other knee so that he’s deeper inside of you with every thrust. His heavy balls slap your ass in rhythm with his movements, and your nails dig into the back of his neck and shoulder blade. He loves it when you kiss the dark purple star of his birthmark, and he loves it more when the indent of your nails cut right across it.

“So good, your pussy feels s-so good,” He murmurs, relishing in your squeaks and moans and the squelching sound your bodies make as they separate. Sweat drips off of his forehead and onto your face and neck. You’re the one person allowed to see Josuke like this- filthy, unhinged, tousled. The way others can only dream of seeing him.

You feel him getting close. His breath grows ragged, groans higher in pitch, thrusts inconsistent. Josuke presses you flat against the mattress as he finally cums, spurting thick, white ropes of semen straight into your core. You mewl as his warmth fills you. No matter how many times you take his seed, it always feels electrifying. It’s a pain in the ass to clean, but something about it leaves you both breathless.

It takes a long while before you finally have the energy to ask Josuke to roll over. He does, sliding out of you with a slick squelching sound, his cum dripping down your thighs. Your whole body aches all over, memories of the previous night combined with your morning debauchery. Even so, Josuke’s cheeky grin as he stares up at your stretching form fills you with affection.

“You’re beautiful,” He croons in that greasy way of his. As long as you’ve been together, his sincerity still feels like he’s just buttering you up. It’s awfully endearing.

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” You tease, slapping him on the shoulder and willing yourself to go wash up. If Josuke’s to be off all day, a nice, hot bath should get you ready for anything else he has in store for you. His pretend pout turns into a mischievous grin as you grab a towel from the dresser drawer. As soon as you see his expression, you violently shake your head, “No. Absolutely not.”

“Come on!” Josuke calls after you as you quickly exit the room. You wish you had some sort of spray bottle you could shoo him away with. He trails behind you, giving you a sharp slap to the ass just before you slip into the bathroom.

“How long has it been since we did it in the shower?” He asks, disheartened. As you lean against the bathroom door, you think back. How long had it been? A mere moment later, you roll your eyes and toss the towel you held to the side. Josuke’s shit-eating grin greets you the moment you open the door.

Maybe one more round won’t hurt.

*all original work is my intellectual property. do not edit or re-upload.

[thermie]

h h hewwo owoo 22 / 23 / 29 / 31 / 34 / 50 / 58 / 61 / 88 in any order, and u can also just. pick only those that u want :3

hhhh-ewwwo? I did say I wanted to chat and I desperately do not want to do work or studies so buckle in for a long post (derogatory). 22. role model? Oh man, I don’t think I have any, like, specific ones for entire things, though I do fall in my hero-worship phaes and then fall out of them like everyone else. I think that taking an entire person and being like I wanna be like them is... not for me though. But I do look up to some people for specific things - I look up to, weirdly enough, Abigail Phylosohpytube who I didn’t watch before her coming out for her graceful coming out video though she admits that the experience wasn’t obviously as smooth. I look up to lots and lots of people for their ability to create and their art (not gonna tag my fav artists bc am tiny and do not want people to look at me, but i do be reblogging). I look up to people like ConcernedApe Stardewvalley and Supergiantgames Hades for their ability to put so much soul in their work, smth I aspire to do. I look up to @not-poignant for, among other things, their idk how to say it best, wisdom in understanding and communicating with others and with myself? I’ve learned a lot by just sort of being in their periphery and seeing how they articulate their thoughts and choose to be kind and witness other’s pain. Hell, I look up to twitch streamers and youtubers sometimes (the recent nice trait I’d like to have if I ever went into bigger content production is how ibxtoycat deals with parasocial relationship realities). 23. strange habits? Hm. I don’t think drinking tea whenever I need a pick-me-up is strange, that’s just probably forcefully assigning a British nationality to me. I think my insistence on misspelling words in a way I think is lowkey funny might be one, I say thamks bc it feels softer, or thank bc it’s funny, I say sleeb, I say finkers or tryink or otherwise replace g with k for lulz. I also don’t know if it counts as a habit but I have a small leather band around my wrist that’s been there for a year soon. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm I probs have like, stranger habits but I can’t recall rn. 29. best way to bond with you? Hmm. Well, if you show initiative and are explicit about wanting to spend time with me, that’s already a big chance of me spending time with you. And then if our interests match and I don’t think that you’re like, young in a way that automatically puts me in a position where I don’t feel comfortable really being myself around you bc in my head I have to look out for you (it has happened with two of my friends, sigh), and we regularly spend time together, voila, friend acquired. It simultaneously doesn’t take much and takes a bit to be my friend and bond with me - it’s easy af to become a casual friend cuz I’m always open to new people, but there has to be a level of trust to become like, a close friend. Respecting my boundaries, talking shit with me, being explicitly committal about wanting to bond with me are big steps that way. 31. what outfit do you wear to kick ass and take names? Uh, I don’t do neither, but a current fave that is reasonably badass is my black tshirt with like, a ritual circle and a deer skull. V edgy, 10/10. I also used to have like a real edgy tshirt with a jester and some dice that said the game of life, but I threw it out bc dysphoria. or maybe I put it at the back of my closet along with one other shirt In Case I Get Top Surgery so I can wear them then. 34. advertisements you have stuck in your head? Many, such is the nature of advertising, alas. I have managed to avoid most of it tbh though, so the only place I am forced to sit through ads so they stick is my scrabble capitalist nightmare app where I play and always beat haha my coursemate. And they have adds for those shitty apps where you have to solve a puzzle that ends up failing in the add and like, drenching a man in green goo. I find those kinda fascinating tbh. Who plays these games? Who plays these shitty shitty games whose ad has to be “prove your IQ“ to make you want to prove yourself to play them? Oh and also, the insidious nature of ads in media I consume - the mcelroys have gotten me informed about many many things bc they do it in a funny way. Have you heard about squarespace? What about meundies? I also literally installed honey yesterday that I knew abt bc of the relentless adds and I wanted to save, uh, 2.50 from my minecraft server purchase (and then spent some time googling how they make money before giving up. just say u sell my data, that’s easier than not knowing what part of this makes you money). I was tired and in a weird mood, ok. 50. what made you laugh the hardest you ever have? It’s always the stupidest jokes, what matters more is laughing together with someone and getting caught in a laughing loop. I still remember laughing with my siblings until our stomachs really really hurt bc I think one of us said a rug was vomit-colored and it was funny in the moment. How many times have I laughed like that with you too, vit. I know that Laura’s one is nostrilatu, right? :D :D It’s just something that catches you off guard, I think.

58. four talents you’re proud of having? Oh shid. Hm. 1) My ability to analyze data and understand the basic building blocks of something. Makes me cool at studying and sexy at explaining things to my course-mates. 2) Not a talent more like a skill that I’ve worked hard on through therapy - but my inner positive voice/healthy parent is very strong and automatic (something I was sure would never happen). A good example is me going out for a walk, my phone dying so I can’t listen to music, when I went in my head “well I can always make music in my head. do-do-do *drum sound*“ and I could feel the wave of self-reprimand cresting but before I could actually hear any negative comments the positive voice said with a light of a thousand suns NO THAT IS ACTUALLY CUTE AND SEXY and just haaaaaaah. 3) I sing good. Need to sing more. 4) I think I’m good at making conversation. Even with people I don’t necessarily like or want to talk to. More of a skill again but whatever. 61. favorite line you heard from a book/movie/tv show/etc.? Do not come to me and ask for favorites, witch. Uh, I have some quotes in my notes app, like 7 from Pia’s writing :D. But imma go with “It’s a serious thing just to be alive on this fresh morning in the broken world“ by Mary Oliver. It counts, ok. Or, wait, something I will for real one day either crosstitch of commission shitpostcalligrapher: “t’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something. “What are we holding onto Sam?” “There’s good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.“” 88. your greatest wish? Hrm. Right now? To have like a couple days with no responsibilities and without the outside world bearing on me as heavily, to be tiny tiny tiny so I’m invisible and can drink tiny tea on a tiny leaf. Uh, in general? My recently formulated wish or a goal is stability/peace. Then everything else becomes ok because you can bounce back to stable ground between feeling shit or everything happening so much. And I’ve sort of reached that. Also like, half a million euros would be nice too so I can get a house and a car and go on a few trips abroad. :D // there’s two ask memes in my blog recently, go wild

[litrojia]

Personal Update

I think I ought to provide a personal update to all of you, just to vent all my thoughts somewhere and to explain my recent activity.

Personal Life

Like many of you, 2020 was not kind to me. While I fortunately haven't been directly impacted by COVID yet, the pandemic amplified some minor personal missteps to the point where I'm extremely anxious about my future.

I'm a college student, and I'll have a bachelor's in engineering in May. My GPA is phenomenal, but I fear that's all I have going for me. The thing that really matters are connections, as well as the early experiences that connections help with. I don't have that. I'm quite shy and never put myself out there to anybody in the industry or professors, nor do I come from a family of engineers who can get me a job through nepotism. Either it was too late when I realized that connections were at least as important as grades, or I willingly buried my head in the sand. By the time I was planning to sort myself out and put myself out there, COVID hit, putting an end to physical interaction and any shot at an internship last summer, which I was really counting on. More recently, I've all but canned some plans that I had for grad school. I don't feel like it's worth it in the position I'm in. Thus, I've jumped right into finding jobs, and it's tough. I imagine it's a mix of a bad economy and just not knowing how to do it since I've never been hired for a competitive position. I'm gonna need a lot of luck.

I know I'm not alone, but it weighs heavily on me. Sometimes it overwhelms me. When I think about it, I feel bad to do anything else to enjoy myself (especially art), but at the same time I feel defeated and discouraged from trying, so it becomes a vicious cycle.

Art

I fell off hard in the second half of last year. ATG last June burned me out. By the time I recovered from it, my computer broke. And by the time my computer was fixed and I was getting back into art again, the semester started. It wasn't even a particularly hard semester, but I just struggled with time management. This break between semesters (started a month ago, ending very soon) hasn't been too productive either. There's still lots that I want to do (OC development, learning to draw backgrounds once and for all, collabs, anthro, non-pony, just some good ol' canon ponies more than once every few months, reviving that kinky alt of mine I've mentioned here once, and probably more), but I just struggle to focus on it with the world weighing on my mind.

A few months ago, I opened commissions. If any of my commissioners are reading this, thank you again for buying one. I was a little disappointed with the demand I got for them, but I figure it was mostly because when I opened them and ever since, I've barely ever been drawing. I might not have been able to handle a lot of commissions anyways. For now though, commissions are closed, and I'm not sure when they'll open back up.

Online Relationships

I've been becoming more closed off online (and offline probably) over the past few months. Again, it has to do mostly with poor time management and stress. I treasure many of my past interactions, and I'd love to talk to more people online, but I just struggle to balance it all. If I've drifted away from you lately, it's not anything to do with you. Maybe I'll be able to get back out of my shell soon.

Twitter etc.

Twitter bothers me a lot. Actually, nearly all of the art sites bother me, but Twitter bothers me most. First of all, it's one of the greatest hotbeds of toxicity ever. Even outside of a strictly political sense (which needs no elaboration, but I must say makes me fear for the world's future), it still leads to all sorts of unwarranted harassment that isn't good for society. I'm looking at you, "Trixie is trans" folks. That drama, along with the Capitol stuff, is the straw that broke the camel's back for me. Secondly, it just isn't an art site. People use it because others use it and because it has porn. That's all. There's no organization on Twitter, and stuff just gets easily lost to time. And yet, some artists not only put up with Twitter, but can't get enough of it. They get caught up in trends that spam my feed. They get caught up by numbers. They use fleets, which is just the dumb corporate "stories" fad imported to Twitter, and doesn't even appear on desktop (which is both a blessing and a curse). Some call themselves "Twitter artists", letting it form their identity. But really, I can't blame these people, and if I described you, I don't mean to cause offense. The toxic hellhole of Twitter just shows no mercy in corrupting reasonable people. And the people who run Twitter love every single bit of it. Fuck Twitter.

I don't want to support Twitter, and I've been considering abandoning it, even if it means losing most of my following. I have a few artist friends who don't actively use Twitter and they live, though frankly they have less of a following, so there's less pressure there. However, the main reason I stick around is because so many artists only use Twitter, so that's where I can see their art. If I do leave it, an idea I've been considering is doing a raffle on all of my other sites. Not only would it encourage a few people to follow me on new sites, but maybe, just maybe it would encourage people to use sites other than Twitter. Still, I would need to either say goodbye to a lot of art or browse Twitter without actually using it (RSS? Keep the account to browse but not interact?).

It sucks though, because besides Twitter, where else is there? I've been getting more and more fed up with DeviantArt, my second most popular page, seemingly purposely killing their website. Tumblr is already dead, and if Pillowfort is supposed to be mimicking Tumblr, then it mimics Tumblr's inactivity best. I created a Newgrounds account recently and it actually seems pretty decent for art, but it too is dead. I've always been heavily active on Derpibooru, but that lacks the features of a full-fledged art site and has its own drama. As an aside, I actually joined staff there pretty recently. I understand that some people may not be happy with that site or its staff, and sometimes I'd agree with you, but it's been so incredibly valuable to me in exploring the pony fandom that I felt obligated to help it out, and I hope you can accept that. Anyways, Inkbunny looks like it'd be great if it weren't for all the... y'know. FurAffinity exists I guess. And Instagram is just Twitter but worse. I'll never touch it.

If you read everything up to here, or at least skimmed it thoroughly enough to understand, thank you.

[chrysalispen]

xix. all white with wreath and spray

AO3 Link here

splitting into two parts for length, the next part will be up in a day or two

===

 Aurelia’s booted feet crunched through the thin layer of powder snow as she adjusted the bundle of fallen wood on her back. Given the conjurers’ tenuous peace brokered with the elementals, the city’s inhabitants were rationing: they were to collect only those things which nature had already shed, and that bounty in itself was limited. Despite the fact it was mid-morning, the Shroud was as still and quiet as an open grave. 

Winter had come to the wood, and with it, the hardships borne of poor harvests across all of Eorzea. 

The forest’s predators, deprived of their seasonal food sources, soon became a common danger on the roads, and with the Greenwrath so newly quelled the forest was still volatile and hazardous. The city council had done as much to prepare the townspeople and the land itself for the cold months as they were able in the time they had, but their efforts had still fallen short and the outbreak of flux among incoming refugees had strained Gridania’s supplies further. Many people had been forced to winter in unfinished houses or had taken up with friends and neighbors in what space was available.

J’nehda’s ‘storms’ had more trouble yet to presage, so it seemed. 

“Are you not cold, Miss Conjurer?” 

She glanced over her shoulder. Keveh’to was shivering visibly, his tail wrapped close about one leg when he wasn’t moving, looking quite put out indeed. He had also drawn his shortbow, though either of them had yet to see any game worth the marking. 

“Hm? No, I’m well, thank you.” She wore a fleece-lined doublet, leather breeches, a pair of old cotton gloves, and knee-high doeskin boots beneath one of Miounne’s traveling cloaks - along with, of course, the ubiquitous oversized head covering intended to conceal her third eye. Overall, it was far lighter attire than the heavy parkas and thick boots most Gridanians had donned. “Do you want to borrow my cloak?”

He squinted at her as though she’d asked him to wear one of her dresses. “I’m fine too,” he said, somewhat defiantly. “Just…  not used to the snow, is all. We rarely get it this far south.”

“I suppose that makes sense.”

“Garlemald is very cold, I hear.”

“Yes, it is.” She bent forward with a soft grunt and dropped her bundle to the ground in favor of the medium-sized branch she’d sighted half-buried under snowfall and dead leaves. “We measure snowfall in fulms, rather than ilms. And it stays on the ground a good long while.”

“How long is ‘a good long while’?”

“Mmm... I should say usually around six, mayhap seven months- er, moons out of the year? ‘Tis longer on occasion, should the season prove particularly brutal.”

“Seven moons of winter?” Keveh’to echoed, horrified. “Seven moons of snow and ice--”

“Aye. And barely any light. And gales that could tear the skin off a gigas.”

“How do you survive it up there?”

“We almost didn’t.”

“By the gods, no wonder you lot want to spread out over the whole bloody star. I’d be keen on beachfront property myself if I lived in the depths of the fourth hell.” 

Aurelia began to laugh. “You’re not wrong.”

The Miqo’te’s consternation gave way to widened eyes and an embarrassed flush when he realized what he’d said. 

“Er. I- that... wasn’t the most, er... tactful... way I could have phrased that, I suppose. Sorry.”

She raised one booted foot and kicked the side of the branch. The blow dislodged a wet clump of white powder, shaking it onto the leaves below like confectioners’ sugar onto toast. 

“You’ve no need to apologize. The capitol is bloody awful. If I had my say I would much prefer Ala Mhigo. It’s hot as blazes in the summer, but at least you don’t run the risk of instant frostbite.”

“What is Ala Mhigo like? I hear the refugees talk about it sometimes when they think other folk aren’t in earshot. Curious. Like they don’t want none of us overhearing.” He fidgeted, hopping from one foot to the other, and she couldn’t tell if he was uncomfortable or simply trying to ward off the chill. “...You don’t have to talk about it either, you know, if you’d rather not.”

“In truth, I’ve naught of interest to share.” Aurelia shrugged. “There is precious little I could tell that you wouldn’t hear from the refugees and you’d learn more of their native land from them than you would from someone like me. Ala Mhigo was my childhood home but I’m the first to admit I saw very little outside my father’s villa, and that was by design, I'm certain.” 

“Mm,” Keveh’to said, absently. “Mayhap you’re right.”

A not-insignificant part of her hoped he was simply attempting to make conversation. She was reluctant to face the censure she was sure she would see in his eyes did he chance to speak to the refugees as she had suggested, but what else was there to say? Most of her memories of Gyr Abania were very personal and very limited. 

“...We should be getting back.”

“Do you need me to carry that?” he asked.

“I can do it.”

“But-”

She cast him a brittle smile before lifting the branch and tossing it in the bundle with the others, then rearranged the hempen wrap so that the weight was equally distributed and none of the larger pieces would fall before folding the corners, grasping the fabric, and hoisting her burden back over one shoulder. 

They trudged back towards the city, the only sound to be heard the crunch of dead leaves and powder beneath their feet, before Keveh’to finally said, ���Forgive me, Aurelia. I didn’t mean to pry.”

“I know you didn’t,” she said. “I am sorry. Perhaps I do feel a bit nostalgic.”

“For this?”

“Of course not, but... “ She adjusted the weight she carried on her back and paused. “...there are things I miss. Small things, you know. Luxuries that one takes for granted.”

“Such as?”

“My garden, for one.”

“Your... “ He trailed off, but she saw the light go on behind his eyes when she glanced back in his direction. 

The laugh she granted him was a light and silvery thing, spilling across the snow like a sunbeam. “You heard correctly. I had a garden back in Garlemald."

Aurelia would have said 'home,' did the utterance of that word not stick so securely in her craw. Garlemald was many things, but a home had never been one of them.

"A proper garden, then? Like with roses and such?"

"Yes. It belonged to my aunt, really. But she would much rather look at the flowers than grow them herself. I feel a similar sort of… I don’t know. Peace? Serenity? As close as one can get to those things when I’m about the woods gathering.”

“...all right, now I get it. I thought it was passing strange you would be as interested in botany as you are."

"Mhm."

"But if you had a- ...but wait, how’d you have a bleeding garden ‘n all, if the weather’s like this all the blasted time?”

Aurelia shrugged as if the answer was obvious. “Magitek.”

“I don’t follow.” 

“There was a greenhouse on my uncle’s grounds. It had heat lamps set to cycle every eight bells, and an environmental control system that- …ah,” she stammered, seeing his blank and uncomprehending stare, “never mind.”

Keveh’to did not respond. Aurelia could feel his confused gaze still boring into her back as they continued up the hill onto the path. 

She flushed, thinking that of course her attempt at explanation would have made little sense to him. Most parts of the star had no access to magitek so it was still a rare and fantastic novelty without the Empire’s borders, and Eorzea’s smallfolk most certainly would not have access to such wonders. 

Even in Garlemald a self-sustaining greenhouse to preserve perennials was very much a luxury, one afforded only to the wealthy: usually, albeit not always, peers of the imperial aristocracy. But she had loved her aunt Marcella’s greenhouse. Its unique heating system had originated as a student project, one of many annual exhibition entries at the Magitek Academy. Quite often, winning projects were put to practical use whether by the government or by the creators themselves, and in this instance the student's work had been noticed by her uncle. He had gladly improved upon his prototype for the commission. 

Her uncle Janus had bragged that the unit was one of a kind because the young man had elected to join the imperial army upon completing his studies, no doubt to build weapons for the legions afield. ‘Twas hardly an uncommon story, he had said with a shrug. There was more profit - and personal glory - in innovating warmachina for imperial conquest than in customizing heating systems for a rich man’s rose gardens.

Aurelia could not take comfort in his explanation, saddened as she was. That a man capable of creating daily wonders for the purpose of preserving living things would be able to turn his obviously brilliant mind towards such callous and violent ends - it defied her understanding. 

As was the case with most of her recollections of her years spent in the capitol, even the relatively pleasant memory of her aunt's flowers was bittersweet.

“I… I think I’m a bit chilled after all,” Aurelia lied. She plucked the hood of the cloak from her back and draped it over her head until the top half of her face was all but concealed from view. Frost spilled forth from her lips in a white cloud. “Let’s hurry along. I’ve a mind for some tea.”

She swallowed back the harsh lump she could feel forming in her throat, unwilling to grant it any further leave for expression.

~*~

Miounne was waiting at the staff entrance upon their arrival: wiping her hands in the fabric of her apron, eyes fixed upon the pair. Aurelia shrugged the heavy bundle from her shoulders as if it were feather-light and raised a gloved hand in greeting. 

“Welcome back, you two. A decent haul this morning?”

“Decent enough.” She lifted the first branch from the top of the pile and dragged it to the stump they had been using to roughly cut the scavenged tree falls for firewood. “I know we’re a bit late returning, but the Sergeant thought he saw something fit for the stewpot. We’ll have this set up for you in just a-”

“Ah… one moment, if you please,” Miounne said, and Aurelia’s outstretched hand froze in the act of reaching for the wood-axe. “I’ll get one of the lads inside to cut the wood.”

“Not that I’m complaining,” Keveh’to frowned, dusting a thin layer of snow from his lapels, “but is there some reason why we can’t just go on and do it ourselves?”

“Your presence has been requested. Or rather, Aurelia’s presence has been requested. E-Sumi-Yan asked that I send you along to the Fane as soon as I could.”

...The guildmaster? 

Cautiously she studied the woman’s face. She didn’t trust unexpected summons of any sort, never had- but, she realized, Miounne was smiling. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be that unpleasant. “Did he happen to elaborate?”

“No, but I don’t doubt he will explain himself in full when you arrive.”

All… right then. She glanced at Keveh’to. 

“I assume he’s allowed to come along.”

“Of course.”

Few souls had braved the outdoors this morning- owing largely, Aurelia suspected, to the snow. This part of Eorzea was quite temperate, more so even than Mor Dhona, and snow was a rare enough occurrence that people tended to take to their hearths upon the slightest dusting of white upon the stones. 

In truth ‘twas less the weather she found refreshing than the empty streets. In the wake of the increasing food shortage the people of Gridania - already rather inclined towards isolationist behavior - spared few quests and even less coin for Miounne’s adventurers while treating refugees and prisoners of war with barely concealed contempt.

But tension aside, the city was as quiet as the forest. No one accosted or addressed them as they made their way down the snow-lined paths. The only sounds were birds and the soft rhythm of their breathing, and the quiet crunch of their footsteps upon ice and loose gravel. 

Even the Fane seemed all but deserted. The sight of the tree filled her with the same dread it always did - but there was a measure of relief as well, for Brother E-Sumi-Yan stood before the entrance holding a neatly wrapped paper parcel in his youthful hands.

“Good morning, Aurelia. Mother Miounne told me she had sent the two of you on your way,” he said, beaming at her. “Come, let’s sit and take tea here by the brazier. ‘Tis a most bracing morning, is it not? I'm afraid all I have in my larder at the moment is chamomile tea, but I was preparing to break my fast. Both of you are welcome to join me if you haven’t already partaken.”

There was chamomile tea with mint, and spiced frumenty, and even- to Keveh’to’s undisguised delight- venison sausages. E-Sumi-Yan speared three onto each plate alongside a small slice of tomato and three coarse-cut pieces of wheaten apiece. 

“Twelve,” the Miqo’te said, his voice trembling, “that’s real bleedin’ honey, too.”

She felt her mouth water as she stared at the plating. It was as much food in one sitting as either of them had had all week, and she suspected the guildmaster had been well aware of it.

“Where did you...” Aurelia began. 

“From my own cold pantry, never fear. I rarely have guests and eat very little on my own, but seeing as this is a special occasion I can hardly be stingy.” He gestured to the unadorned smooth stones about the brazier. “Please. Sit. Eat. I have a matter I must needs discuss, and by its nature, it concerns you both.”

Gratefully she began to dig into the meal, with Keveh’to doing the same at her side. She ate neatly and carefully, trying to make it last. After so long with only a small cupful of oats a day, the Guildmaster’s spread was like unto the feasts at her aunt’s dinner parties.

Her minder - possessed of no such sensibilities - wolfed down the sausages practically whole, his tail slapping cheerfully against the ground.

“What did you wish to discuss, E-Sumi-Yan?” she asked, curling her fingers around the warm teacup after a long and contented sip. 

The fresh-faced Padjal - who ate as carefully as she did, his attention to social etiquette equally conscientious - likewise balanced his cup upon his knee. “Your basic lessons have progressed with remarkable speed,” he began. “In truth, you have taken more quickly to mastery of your own aether than many who have spent the entirety of their lives beneath the Twelveswood’s boughs.”

Aurelia flushed despite herself. How long had it been since she’d heard genuine praise from anyone that hadn’t seemed perfunctory, or given under duress?

“I... thank you,” she said, unable to meet his calm grey eyes, and hastily took another sip of her tea. “It has been no simple task, as you know. I am sure I have much still and more to learn.”

“I quite agree. But I think it is time you continued your studies- in the field. I’ve a mind to send you to the Arbor. There are outlying settlements there in need of our aid.”

“Truly? I had not thought that any of the current Hearers would be willing to, er...”

His answering smile was serene. “Take you on as an apprentice conjurer?” 

“....Well, now you mention it, yes, precisely so. I realize the rank and file would have no idea, but the Hearers must surely know the truth. I can't imagine any of them would take kindly to a Garlean woman as an apprentice.”

“You are, unfortunately, correct in assuming that few would be willing. However, the individual overseeing the region where I would send you has little choice but to accept you.” 

Keveh’to scoffed. “That bad?”

“Bad?” E-Sumi-Yan laughed. “You misunderstand, Sergeant. No, this is simply a matter of life events necessitating a change. His apprentice is due to be wed in the next two moons and he is aging out of the field himself, and at present I have no other novitiates better suited for the position. I would have you assist him with the villagers’ needs as well as those of the forest. He will require aid whether he is desirous of your help or not.”

Aurelia grimaced. 

“I need hardly say this does little to inspire one’s confidence.”

“I do not doubt you will face difficulties initially. That said, I think you will ingratiate yourself to them in due time. Our people are insular and often slow to trust outsiders to the Twelveswood, that much I will allow. But they are not so foolish as to ignore a helping hand indefinitely. No matter the form it takes.”

With a sigh she set the cup back in its saucer and placed it in the empty place sitting on her left. It made a soft, chiming rattle against the stone.

“You are asking me,” she said, “to subject myself to their likely censure.” 

“Yes,” E-Sumi-Yan replied. He didn’t bat an eye, nor appear the least bit sorry for it. “I think it will not be as dire as you fear. Truly, this might even be a valuable lesson for all concerned. Yourself included. And you will have Sergeant Epocan there if-”

This time it was Keveh’to’s turn to flinch.

“No offense, Guildmaster,” he said. “Due respect and all that, but... you know full well how most of your folk feel about Keepers.”

“It will be made clear to the Hearer that you are there on an official assignment,” he said, in a tone that brooked no argument. The Miqo’te’s shoulders hunched defensively, but he didn’t retort. “At any rate, preparations are being made. The Elder Seedseer has given her authorization and asks that you accompany Aurelia to her new position. If the powers that be feel she is not a flight risk, I see no reason to delay the process.”

The woman in question had turned her gaze to the snow-covered clearing, watching two small sparrows clean themselves in the powder with a flurry of their little brown feathers.

“Well,” the Garlean said at length, once she realized all eyes were upon her. “Suffice to say: I have precious little if any say in this affair, being a captive audience in every meaningful sense. So, I will keep any further observations to myself. Should you believe my current skillsets might be put to better use elsewhere, then that is sufficient and I will abide by your judgment -- and that of the Elder Seedseer’s as well, I suppose.”

His small brow wrinkled at her reply, noncommittal as she knew it was. 

“Aurelia, this isn’t the army. You do have some say in whence you go.”

“Again, whether or not I might mislike the assignment does not factor into such matters. You have my compliance regardless.”

“Be that as it may-”

“Guildmaster, your thoughtfulness in asking for my input is appreciated, but you and I both know it is unnecessary.” Her slim shoulders lifted and dropped, as if the outcome made no difference to her either way. “I shall await orders.”

“I will send word along when all is made ready,” E-Sumi-Yan said at length. 

He did not speak his reservations aloud. That he sounded none too pleased warranted no comment.

[bbq-hawks-wings]

Chapter 263 Discussion

Hello, it is I back from my cave to finally get back into fandom discussion.

Sadly, I don't have too much to offer this time around except speculation, and most of it is dependent on assumptions and observations of the Heroes Rising movie, so if you haven't seen it this is unfortunately your stop, but when you do eventually see it go on ahead and send me an ask geeking out about it because almost everyone I've heard agrees if nothing else that it was hype and worth the price of admission!

All right, warning and disclaimer out of the way, let me lay the groundwork for how this post will go.

1. If you didn't know, the plot for Heroes Rising is a scrapped concept for the end of the series. Because it was scrapped it can't really be used to accurately predict how Horikoshi actually intends to end the story, but finding common plot lines and elements from what we're seeing now in the manga to the events in the movie might give us a clue to which lines he dropped and which he decided to keep. In the end it's a hunch, but it's a more informed guess than not having the clues.

2. I believe we're in the end stages of the story - or at least what is the beginning of the story in the same way Naruto was a precursor to Naruto Shippuden. Because of that, I don't feel like trying to predict things very far ahead and prefer to try to stick to interpretations of what's immediately going on since I feel we’ll get our answers fairly quickly anyway. I've made some lofty ideas of where the series is going before, but those are really better as overarching themes and end points for certain characters than necessarily an accurate prediction of events.

With that, let's jump into it.

The MLA/PLF is a front for the LOV

So to start, something I really wanted to address in the last chapter was the last page:

A lot of people are amazed Hawks seemed to go so deep into their ranks without ever raising suspicion, but I think this clarified, if not confirmed, a couple of points I've been hanging onto for a while.

The LOV never cared about these folks - that much has kind of been obvious from the get-go. They just threw themselves at Shiguraki as the second coming of Christ and offered him a free army. "...I mean, twist my arm, why don'tcha?" There were enough commonalities between the groups to seem like an obvious fit, but the League has always had different plans. Now, not only do they have a disposable army to fight the heroes and die for them but were a perfect opportunity to throw off the heroes to their main objective and draw out all the heroes at once in a fight to the death - all without practically lifting a finger. Shiguraki is a strategist, and a resource not utilized to the best of its potential is wasted even if using it well uses it up completely. These aren't their people, and they signed up for this fight to begin with. It would have made less sense to not effectively double-cross them like this.

I haven't been looking much for discussion regarding the movie, but a notable thing that immediately stood out to me when I saw it was the fact that Shiguraki was individually watching Hawks, and Hawks specifically - all alone and seemingly completely unprompted. A particularly overpowered aspect of Twice's quirk is the fact his doubles are SO close to the same thing they're in every way, down to the way they think and their core motivations, that they’re indistinguishable from the real thing, even to the original and doubles themselves. They really are perfect stand-ins for the actual people they copy. It's 100% possible that real Shiguraki could be powering up under the doctor's care, and - because he's not an idiot to leave himself completely vulnerable and out of control when he doesn't need to be - literally be running the show through a double, behind the scenes, in secret the entire time without the Heroes' or the MLA/PLF's knowledge. This also means that him personally spying on Hawks while he thinks Shiguraki has been out of commission is completely plausible as well.

These two frames have been circulating for good reason. While the army and organization honest-to-god have no idea what's going on, the OG League members seem to be taking it more like a stage cue - particularly with Dabi's obvious movement against the flow of the crowd rushing to battle. This very much feels like something they've planned for; but only them and their squad. They’re known to hold grudges against those that use them and abuse/hurt their core members, but none of that protective attitude has been directed towards this larger organization/movement.

"So what's got you so convinced about parallels to the movie? That's the only one you've brought up."

This was the first thing that stood out to me this chapter as I was reading through it fresh. In the climax of the movie each member of class 1-A had to strategically use their abilities to survive against Nine and his band. One of the abilities they had to counter was calling lightning down from the sky to which they used Kaminari as a lightning rod. Though it was played up for laughs a bit in the movie, it was still very much a life-saving tactic in the moment, and the concept clearly carried over into the final product.

A point of speculation we’ll be able to verify soon is a hunch I have that Tokoyami and Toga will clash one-on-one seeing as he’s also in the front-runner group. Slice very much felt like an easy stand-in for Toga, given the knowledge that those events are modified from the original ending concept, and it was thanks to Tokoyami losing control of Dark Shadow that he was able to beat her in the end. We’ll find out in a couple of weeks, and if it proves right I’ll be pulling more common threads to see if we can’t anticipate what’s going to happen next.

So, yup!

That's it!

Nothing left to see or talk about until next week!

*sigh........*

Ok.

Let's go over what we know for sure:

That’s clearly intent to kill in Hawks’ eyes: a lot of fans are aware of the practice of falconry, which is basically the same thing as a hunting dog but with a trained bird of prey instead; and it’s the image hammered into our heads about the way the Commission has treated Hawks and the way he personally deals with threats. Hawks considers Twice the single, greatest tool the League has in their belt - able to exponentially create duplicates and reinforcements which would turn a strategy-based battle into one of attrition, and the heroes would lose the latter easily. He clearly hasn’t killed Twice yet, and we don’t know why, but if he has to he’s prepared to do so without hesitation or remorse. This is a fight the Heroes CANNOT lose.

Hawks is done: This is more inference, but bear in mind he’s been on this case long before the Commission told him to infiltrate the League. He’s been at this in some capacity for almost a year and neck deep in recon as an undercover agent for months. He’s been walking on eggshells, keeping his eyes and ears open, relaying information, keeping up appearances on both sides, and watching the threat grow from a surprisingly capable group of guerrilla terrorists into an army capable of bringing all of Japan to its knees in a matter of days, tops. The stakes are too high, personally and otherwise, to not take this threat seriously.

This is Twice’s POV: Literally everything he thought he knew about this guy he considered his friend has been turned upside down. That whiteboard that was a catalyst for their friendship is thrown aside (symbolically along with all the memories and time they spent together), and here Jin is: knocked on his back, no longer looking into the friendly gaze of a great guy out to help a friend, but the murderous glare of a wild animal - a monster, even - having no idea how he got to this point and how fast it’s unraveling before his eyes. What we’re watching now could have happened in literally under two seconds. Hawks is that fast, and he’s been waiting for this to happen.

Considering the sudden tonal whiplash their relationship has just gone through - and the fact that it’s framed through Twice’s perspective, not Hawks’ - I don’t think we can make too many solid predictions about what’s going to happen right now. Hawks has been shown to be unpredictable to anyone but himself. When we’re not hearing his own internal monologue or seeing things directly from his point of view, everything we “learn” about him from a scene has to be taken with a grain of salt. He’s guarded, private, and keeps others at arms length so he can anticipate and respond to get the results he wants. It’s not just his fighting style, it’s his survival mechanism.

Twice himself is a grab bag of surprises, and being the heart of the League may yet find a way to appeal to his humanity, question his motives/actions, or any number of ways to bring him down to earth again; but there’s an equal opportunity that Hawks is beyond that at this point. His mission is almost done, and if he wavers now he could literally end up dead in a heartbeat. There are a lot of feathers trained on Twice, but not enough to bring his wings all the way down to stubs like we saw with High End. He’s set to fight not just Twice, but everyone in that compound.

In other words, this might be the point we finally see Hawks truly go apeshit, and I don’t think it’ll be a pretty sight to see. We’ll just have to wait and see where this leads from here.

[sunflowerspectre]

The Backwaters | Commission Piece

This is a commission piece for an anon. Also available on A03 Title: The Backwaters Summary: As an agent of SHIELD, Shuri’s assignment is to find and rescue Wanda Maximoff who disappeared in the backwaters of West Virginia. But her training is put to the test when the town’s mechanic Bucky takes a liking to her. Aged up! Shuri Warnings: Omega!Verse, Beta/Omega/Alpha Dynamics, OOC

< Previous Chapter | Next Chapter >

The Backwaters | Chapter Two | Word Count: 2797

Apparently, staged car breakdowns isn't something new to SHIELD; she supposes it makes sense given their career, but it’s not something she particularly thought about until Fury gave her a specialized car. One press of a button and it kills the engine  give it a good second press, it’s back up and running.  Or something along those lines,  she just knew what button to press and when. He refused to just send her out there with a real broken down car with no emergency back-up plan to high tail the fuck out of there should it get ugly. 

Coulson is already stationed just outside of town, he gave her a somber good luck before they parted ways and she had told him the same, along with a side note to not get eaten by bears. The face he made told her that he didn’t quite think the idea of camping all the way through. She didn’t even bother to give him a little bit of comfort, just laughed before she hopped in the car.

Making her way through town, she wonders if they’re in the right spot. Hardly a soul in sight, it seems more like a ghost town than an active community. She spots a few cars, parked in otherwise empty lots and missing their drivers. It has the makings of a town, she supposes, small shops and all, but the closed doors and signs aren’t particularly welcoming. If there are people here, they’re definitely doing a great job of discouraging tourists.

There are only two places that have any sort of activity. She spots some movement in what seems to be an unmarked police department; she remembers that the town is unofficial, likely unlicensed, and unmarked on maps. She wonders if anyone in the department is the notorious sheriff from the next town over that was mentioned in the files, the famous Rodgers. It would make sense, becoming a sheriff in the place with the resources for the training before bringing it home. Especially if he’s stolen all the omegas he needs and doesn’t have room for any more.  Don’t get too ahead of yourself, Shuri.

The other activity, to her good fortune, is the small gas station that has an auto shop attached it and a bright, lit up open sign. 

Bingo. With a tight lipped grin, Shuri reaches into her pocket and feels the small discrete device that she needs. A press of a button later, the car sputters and begins to die off just as she pulls up to the service shop.  She’s not oblivious to the fact that she's the only car in the lot and despite the lit up open sign, she doesn’t immediately spot anyone inside the storefront. She can, however, hear the buzz and hammer of working tools which means she’s not completely alone.

She presses the pearls on her bracelet together and raises her hands into her hair, as if she’s just fixing her appearance in the rear view mirror. 

“I’m heading in Coulson. Sounds like there’s at least one person here in this ghost town working in the auto shop, but I’m not for certain. Could be a gang of them.”

There’s a brief moment of silence before a faint voice whispers from the bracelet, she raises it closer to her ear to hear Coulson’s voice more clearly.

“Just take it slow and easy, they have a lot of weapons close at hand in a shop.”

Shuri laughs, “Have some faith in me, Coulson. Update you when I can.”

Long legs swing out of the car as she walks into the open garage of the auto shop. She doesn’t spot anyone immediately and watches where she steps, the residue of who knows what splattered particularly everywhere. She peeks around the corner to see a man’s legs sticking out from under a raised car.

“Hello,” Shuri’s smile is bright and friendly, “Sorry to bother you, but do you think you can give me a hand? My car’s just outside in the lot, it’s completely useless, but at least it lasted long enough for me to find some help.” 

She gives a joyful laugh, eyes twinkling as the tools suddenly stop. The man drags himself out from the car in battered jeans and covered in so much grime that he’s just shy of looking like a bad fake tan. Long dark hair is pushed behind both ears, a bit greasy, but full and curling ends brush against his shoulders. The stubble on his face says he hasn’t shaved in a few days. He’s kind enough to grab a rag and wipe down his hands and his thick muscled arms that flex with each movement. 

His eyes are full of curiosity, looking her up and down as if he hasn’t heard a word she said and is instead only focused on the way her jean shorts hug her hips. Tense, she holds her head high and presses a firm hand against a swung out hip as she jabs a thumb to point outside.

“My car. Think you can fit it in anytime soon?”

His eyes snap to hers and it takes a moment before he speaks, matching her smile.

“Sorry, your accent is very… different.” His voice comes out in a unique smooth drawl, country, but not hick. “We don’t get a lot of Brits this way.” 

Shuri has been used to that reaction since she’s joined SHIELD; never from the agents, who come from everywhere and all walks of life, but always at least once on a mission from a passerby. 

“It’s nice,” he continues, “I like it.”

The statement, while not anything negative, gives her an unsettling crawl on her skin. He keeps smiling and staring just a bit too long for comfort. He doesn’t make any other movements or comments, an unnerving silence fell between them. Shuri’s smile doesn’t quite meet her eyes as she nods toward the lot.

“My car.” 

Her voice is a gentle reminder, causing his eyes to snap away from her, looking past her and into the lot.

“Right, right. Let’s take a look.”

He doesn’t bother asking which car in the lot is hers, she supposes he doesn’t really have to, but it still would’ve been nice customer service. She shouldn’t expect even that much in this town. At least the car is unlocked as he climbs into the driver’s seat to pop the hood, eyes darting all over the car, as if he’s trying to take in as much as he can. Aside from some luggage that doesn’t contain anything but casual clothes and a purse with a false ID, the car sits rather empty. He seems to pay a bit too much attention to the clean leather and dustless dash. She watches him carefully when he takes a few minutes too long to get out of the car and into the hood.  He doesn’t spend long digging into the hood before he pulls back, wiping his hands on the rag that’s now shoved into the pocket of his jeans.

“Your oil is pretty empty and the alternator’s shot. Engine looks like it needs a new battery.”

The battery part sounds more honest, she imagines it must look like something like that with the sudden stop of the engine. But the oil and alternator, she’s not sure just how much he’s bullshitting her and why. She could maybe believe the alternator, unsure with exactly how the car works to stop so suddenly, but if SHIELD really doesn’t have any oil in their car, she would personally pay for Fury’s next vacation.

But if this is what he’s giving her, it’s what she will work with. She knows how to play her part. She bats her eyes at him, akin to a damsel seeking a hero, and sits on the now closed hood, crossing her long bare legs over each other. She playfully swings a foot in the air, almost impatiently as if she’s unsure of what to do.

“I just bought the car, I didn’t know I needed to change the oil.” She pouts for good measure, hoping that it would take his mind off the rather empty and clean car.

It works like a charm, with him chuckling before speaking in a well honey tone as if he knows more than she does and is taking pity on her by explaining every detail. 

“Anytime you buy a car, new or not, you’re gonna want to change the oil, sweetheart. The engine may be out, considering the whole thing seems pretty dead. You’re lucky it didn’t go out on you before you got to town.”

A finger brushes against the device in her pocket, her tongue darting out to lick her bottom lip. Luck of course. She supposes she looks rather lost, with him looking at her with that intense glare, briefly looking over her clean shaven, long bare legs. She hoped that the tiny shorts would help pass her off as a younger girl who doesn’t know much about the world, keep suspicion off, but she uncrosses her legs and stands up, almost feeling protective against his gaze. 

“I suppose it’s going to take you awhile to get it running again,” Shuri muses, “Is there any motel nearby?”

She didn’t see any motel when she was driving through town, which hurts her idea of staying in town as much as she can while the car is getting fixed and the idea of staying a few towns over doesn’t settle well with her. She wants to stay as close and personal to the town as she can.

He shakes his head. “The next motel is over fifty miles out and too long of a drive for someone without a car. You got someone you can call to get you?”

Yes. She thinks of Coulson, worst case scenario, she will have to either sleep in the car or stay out in the tent with him. But staying with him could cause future problems if someone spotted them out there together. Staying in the car wouldn’t be awful. She has yet to see a single security camera, she could always turn the engine back on at night while she’s sleeping; but that would have a higher risk of someone seeing her supposedly dead car running. 

“No,” Shuri speaks evenly, “I don’t have a phone to call even if I had anyone. I suppose I can crash in my car on your lot until morning, if it’s not too much trouble.” 

“Can’t let you do that, sweetheart. Most folks around here are friendly enough, but it still isn’t safe for a young thing like yourself to be sleeping out here at night alone.” 

He looks her over, as if he’s weighing some other option that he hasn’t voiced yet, his brows drawn. She doesn’t trust that look, but is interested to see where it’s going to lead.

“My folks have a spare room, I’m sure they’d be happy to set you up for a night or two.”

Ah yes, that wouldn’t be compromising at all, Shuri debates for a moment, but the idea of at the very least meeting other people in this town sounds inviting, “I wouldn’t want to impose….”

He whispers her words over, as if he’s memorized by them, with a twisted grin and a sparkle in his eyes. 

“I like the way you think, doll, but my folks would love to have you. They don’t get a lot of visitors anymore, especially now that I’ve moved out. My cousin stayed with them for a while until he became sheriff in the next town over. He’s back home now, decided being a sheriff here where he’s needed is better. Newly wed too, so I’m not sure if he’s been up to visit the folks too much.”

Everything about what he seems turns her stomach sideways as she realizes that the Rodgers family is definitely bigger than they thought it was, making him one of the top contenders for being a kidnapper, or worse. If there was any doubt that this Steve Rodgers hadn’t been the reason for that disappearance in the same town he happened to be sheriff in, it’s definitely gone now. It’s too suspicious that he would return home so soon after becoming a sheriff, with a wife to boot. 

She’s not sure just how ‘friendly’ his folks really are either, but if it’s the same Rodgers family, then she can’t be for certain that his mom is actually here of her own will. 

It’s risky - very risky - and she’s not sure where this man, who has yet to even tell her his name, is going with all of this or what he’s planning. She has some ideas, though, which means she’s going to have to tread carefully. But the chance to meet other people in the town, see the Rodgers family herself, and have the admittedly small chance of even catching Steve Rodgers himself, it’s too good to pass up.

“Well if you’re certain,” Shuri’s smile has a dangerous edge to it that he doesn’t catch, “I would love to.”

_________________________________

He doesn’t drive her through the town, making her tense as she watches each tree pass by them the further they go into the mountains. He doesn’t even drive her off to a farm, just a dirt road that turns more into a beaten path as they dodge the overgrowth.

He tells her his name is James on their drive, but he insists on her calling him Bucky. Apparently nicknames are the norm in the area, with everyone treating each other like family. Bucky talks as if there’s a lot of people around, and she wonders just how many. But as long as Bucky is willing to talk, she’ll milk it for all its worth. The more information she can get, the better.

“Your parents live this far from town,” she asks tentatively and curiously, not quite glancing at him as she watches out the window. 

“My entire family has lived on the mountain for two hundred years, give or take. Houses are scattered about all over the mountain, we’ve always liked our privacy. My folks don’t really leave the mountain anymore, but a lot of the family still ventures to town when needed and for special occasions. Every so often, people like my cousin may venture out of town to find themselves a good wife to bring back home.”

“Sounds a bit claustrophobic,” Shuri ventures, testing the waters of the conversation, “You make it seem like no one’s allowed to leave.”

His knuckles are tight on the steering wheel and he glances at her through the corners of his eyes, his friendly demeanor is darkening rapidly and she sees it - that look in his eyes that tell her she’s walking on thin ice. Good. 

“Nonsense, living on the mountain is about as free as you can get.” 

The rest of the drive is silent and Shuri isn’t about to risk setting him off, not when she can be so close. Besides, he’s already told her quite a bit, enough for her to start to get a good idea of what’s really going on here. It does, however, make her skin crawl as she focuses more on what his motives could be for bringing her here.

His parents, thankfully, don’t live in some backward rut like she almost expected. The house is modern, larger than she thought would be needed, with big windows. Meeting his father, she can tell where Bucky got his structure from, but he definitely has his mother’s eyes.

The night goes better than she thought it would, with it being filled with friendly smiles and polite conversations. His mother was tickled when she offered to help cook, but it was more for Shuri to at least know what she was eating and to avoid any possible chance of getting poisoned. When they sit to eat, she watches every drink poured from a fresh spout closely and is tight lipped and vague about the way they fawn over her pearl bracelet, with his father saying that ‘it’s a beautiful piece of jewelry for a good southern woman.’ 

They fuss over her all night, careful to let her win any of their card games, and complement her often. She accepts every complement with a shy smile and a carefully worded compliment in return. 

But when the night comes, after she’s lead to a spare bedroom, Shuri waits until she is sure that every living being in the house is asleep and every light is off before she looks out the window and presses the pearls of her bracelet together.

“Coulson,” her voice is soft and tense, “There’s been a little bit of an unexpected development.”

Commission Information | A03

[raendown]

Here we have it folks, the very last chapter of what began as a simple Secret Santa gift for @sealkay. Thanks to everyone who left such wonderful comments all the way through!

Pairing: MadaraTobirama Chapter: 18/18 Word count: 2844 Summary: When Tobirama is exiled from the Senju clan without warning, without even the chance to plead his case, it feels like his life is over. What does he have to live for now without his older brother to believe in him? Captured by the Uchiha in his moment of weakness, Tobirama slowly learns to live again with the last people on earth he would have ever expected to care for - or to fall in love with.

Follow the link or read it under the cut!

KO-FI and commission info in the blog header!

Chapter 18

“Wakey, wakey, sleepy head. You look stupid with your hair sticking up like that.”

Tobirama frowned through the lingering haze of sleep. He knew that voice. That was the beloved voice of an annoying asshole. Cracking one eye open, he tilted his head down to glare at the face grinning up at him from below. Madara snickered and Tobirama noted that he looked much too awake for – well, for whatever time of the morning it was. Odd for a man who usually stayed in bed until he was physically dragged out of it.

“How do you always have worse bedhead than me?” Madara asked. “You hardly have any hair to mess up.” He lay his head down to muffle a few quiet chuckles against the chest he’d been using as a pillow and the sound was so joyful that Tobirama found he just couldn’t stay mad when he got to wake up to such sweet things as a happy Madara. Not that he would ever say so while the man was still laughing in his face.

“Rude,” he grumbled with a pout. “At least I don’t have an entire rat’s nest on top of my head twenty-four-seven. Get off me so I can get up, you octopus.” Instead of contrition, Madara’s face took on a suggestive look.

“Why get up? I’m sure I can think of something that might entice you to stay in bed a little longer.” With a raunchy leer he shifted until he had one leg thrown over Tobirama’s hips to perch above his lap, eyebrows waggling in way that was probably meant to be sexy but really only made Tobirama bite his lip to hide a rush of amusement at such a ridiculous expression.

He did find himself interested in what the man was offering, though.

Running his hands up the outside of the thighs straddling his own, he hummed with rising interest and tilted his head like he was giving the matter deep thought. “You know what? Keep talking. You’ve caught my attention.”

Madara gave a low, dark chuckle and bent down to kiss him. Their lips had only just touched and Tobirama’s fingers ventured further inward to cup two handfuls of firm buttocks when the bedroom door slammed open without warning, Izuna strolling in unannounced.

“The hanky-panky can stop!” he cried. “I made breakfast so now you have to eat it!”

“Get out!” Madara snarled. The pillow he snatched up and threw was easily blocked and thrown back at him without mercy.

“Nope! Breakfast! No sexy times while I’m still home; that’s just gross to think about.” Izuna grinned, not even having the decency to wither under the combined weight of their annoyed glares. Tobirama cleared his throat to catch the other’s attention. After a year of living together he would be supremely unimpressed with himself if he didn’t have a perfect comeback for that.

“What makes you assume we haven’t already done those things while you were still home?” he asked innocently.

Izuna’s disgusted screeching was almost worth the interruption. Madara, at least, was laughing so hard he almost couldn’t stand to make it back to his own room so he could grab some clean clothes for the day. After Tobirama had wrestled Izuna out in to the hall as well and slammed the door shut for a bit of privacy, he started getting changed himself. It was little surprise to be interrupted yet again before he’d done more than pull on a clean pair of pants but at least this time it was only Madara letting himself back in to the room.

His partner was wearing a sheepish look that quickly turned to hunger at the sight of so much exposed skin. Tobirama smirked and simply let him look. Regular exercise had replaced all the muscle he’d once let melt away in his hour of weakness and it was always nice to have such accomplishments admired. He was still preening when Madara cleared his throat and came forward to tug the shirt he was holding out of his hands and set it aside, his ears pink and his expression oddly nervous.

“I have something for you,” he said. “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to. I wanted to get them all done at the same time but I didn’t want to presume…”

“What is it?” Tobirama blinked in surprise when Madara revealed something from behind his back. It just looked like a lump of material until it was unfolded to become a short tunic in his favorite shade of blue. Then Madara turned it around to reveal the Uchiha crest carefully stitched on the back just like every piece of clothing a proper member of the clan wore every day. Tobirama’s fingers trembled as he reached out to accept the shirt being handed to him. Once his hands were free Madara rubbed his palms together awkwardly, not looking away from his unexpected offering.

“Don’t just wear it because you think you have to, okay? You know you can stay here even if you never decide to officially adopt in to the clan. O-or marry in or whatever. I just wanted you to know that the offer is there and I already have the approval of the rest of them – we had a clan meeting while you were away on a mission–”

“Madara,” Tobirama cut him off shakily. “I don’t want to misunderstand what you’re saying. Are you asking me to wear your colors or…?”

Shaking his head, Madara straightened his back and visibly braced himself to speak. “Whether you choose to take the Senju name again or not, there will always be a place for you here. As of this moment you bear no clan name and, maybe it’s selfish of me, maybe a little territorial, but I would like to gift you mine to carry. Whatever your answer, as clan Head I hereby grant you the right to wear our crest to show the world that we consider you one of our own – uh, if you want, that is.”

Finding it suddenly very difficult to breathe, Tobirama clenched his fingers tightly in the material of the shirt and blinked his eyes rapidly to clear away the strange mist in his vision. What Madara was offering him was more than just a home. He didn’t have the words to describe just what he was being offered but what touched him the most was being given the choice and being assured that Madara would not resent him for whatever path he decided to take.

It took a few tries to clear his throat before he realized it wouldn’t work, he was simply too overwhelmed at the moment. Shyly, embarrassed to show such blatant emotions even if this was by its very nature an emotional moment, Tobirama shifted closer and drew Madara in to his arms. The two of them stood in a silent embrace for a long time while they both waited for themselves to calm down. Tobirama clung to his partner with one hand and let the other rub the material of this most precious gift between his fingers, feeling the soft cotton like a gentle kiss against his sensitive skin. He wondered how long Madara had been planning this for.

“Are you two coming to eat this damn food or not!?” Izuna hollered from the kitchen. The indignation in his voice had Tobirama pulling away with a snort, smiling when he noticed Madara trying to wipe his eyes discreetly.

“We’re coming, don’t get your panties in a bunch,” he called back. Then he ignored Izuna’s retort in favor of dipping his head to press a messy kiss against Madara’s lips. “Hold this for me, will you?”

He handed the shirt back to Madara to hold so he could slip his arms in to it, humming pleasantly over how nicely it fit. It was obvious that this had been tailored specifically for him; if the cut of it and the lack of traditional high collar wasn’t enough of a clue, he didn’t know any Uchiha who wore such bright colors. Most of them preferred their clothing in black or deep shades of purple.

“Does that mean…?” Madara eyed him as he tied the shirt in place and Tobirama flushed, standing still so that could be admired in his new clothing.

“You mentioned you wanted to have my entire wardrobe updated. I would honored.”

“But are you just carrying the crest or…”

“Uchiha Tobirama does have a certain amount of appeal,” he murmured. “If you think it would suit me then I will do my best to uphold the honor of the Uchiha name.”

Madara pressed his lips together, nodded, and lunged forward to drag Tobirama in to him again.

From the kitchen they could hear Izuna yelling, “Fine! Watch me eat all these damn eggs myself! You guys don’t get any now! I slave and slave over a hot stove and what do I get? Ignored!”

“Should we go tell him the news?” Tobirama murmured, glad for something to focus on other than his thundering heart.

“Maybe he’ll change his mind about the eggs,” Madara said, holding in a hysterical giggle.

Tobirama bit his lip and distracted himself with making sure his shirt was settled perfectly, smoothing out a few imaginary wrinkles. He knew that as soon as he had an entire closet full of things with his new clan symbol on them he would feel comfortable being less careful with them but for now this shirt was his most prized possession.

As it turned out, Izuna did indeed lift his ban on eggs in celebration of a new member joining the Uchiha clan. The three of them ate their breakfast with smiles on their faces and then afterwards they headed out together towards the village center where the polls were to be held to vote for the very first Hokage of Konohagakure. Whoever led their village needed to be strong, intelligent, and a good leader, caring for his people yet willing to make the tough decisions. There were only two names on the ballots though and from what Tobirama heard from others the race was pretty much over before it had even begun. Most people seemed to be under the misguided impression that the village existed thanks to Hashirama alone. Considering that, it was no wonder most favored him and his big dreams to lead them all towards a new future.

That didn’t stop Madara from coming out and enjoying the excitement of the day anyway. He didn’t particularly want the job, although he did think he would have been good at it. If popular vote went to Hashirama as seemed likely then he would still have everything he had ever dreamed of having in his life. Tobirama was sort of proud of him for being so self-assured.

Walking through the village in daylight was interesting and more than just because it finally gave Tobirama a chance to properly see all the places outside their compound he hadn’t yet seen in daylight. Someone with an active gossip chain must have spotted him the night before because none of the people stopping to gape at him as he walked by looked truly surprised. All of them had the same look of someone confirming a rumor they hadn’t fully believed until the proof dared to stroll by with his head held proudly and a carefree lightness in his every step. By the time they reached the village square the crowds were all but parting before them as people stepped aside for Tobirama and broke out in to whispers in his wake.

Hashirama met them with a brilliant smile and dozens of curious Senju at his back. An uproar nearly broke out when the first of them spotted the Uchiha fan so prominently displayed between Tobirama’s shoulder blades but Hashirama only gave the crest a long, sober look, closing his eyes and nodding once.

“I understand,” he murmured.

“The decision was not made to reject what I once had,” Tobirama leaned in to assure him quietly, “but to celebrate and honor all that I have been freely given since.”

“No, I mean it. I understand. What I said last night, I meant that with all my heart. I’m just happy that you’re happy now.” Hashirama reached out to take hold of his hand for a brief squeeze and they shared a smile knowing that every eye in the village was watching them. Then they let go and Tobirama stepped back in to the circle of Madara’s arms. Just this once he would allow such an ostentatious display of public affection as cuddling, marking his territory without having to say a word.

He took note of Touka’s expression as she slipped up beside them, lips pinched tightly and dark eyes unhappy as she took in the way they were wrapped around each other, but Tobirama was pleased when she did little more than settle herself close enough to his side that their arms brushed together and caught his eye for a long wordless stare. In a clan of people who had very little problems expressing themselves, he and Touka had always been outliers. She was probably worse than him when it came emotions but they had always understood each other even when no one else did. By the time she took a deep breath and struck up a deliberately casual conversation about something random they had already held an entire silent conversation and Tobirama knew the two of them were going to fall back in to old habits just fine.

As soon as the crowds around them settled down in to gossiping amongst themselves Hashirama and the other clan heads announced the official opening of the polls. Several booths had been set up for each villager to go in and fill out their ballot anonymously without fear of being judged for their decision, Madara and Hashirama standing together to one side in abstention.

Tobirama waited in line with Izuna and Touka, occasionally wrangling an enthusiastic Kagami when his protégé-slash-neighbor got a bit too enthusiastic for his mother to handle. It felt odd being allowed to cast a vote when he hadn’t even been an official member of the Konoha until this morning and it felt even stranger, when it was his turn in the booth, realizing he had to choose between his no-longer-estranged brother and his captor-turned-boyfriend. Knowing who was inside, he could hear several members of his new clan shooing people away outside when they murmured about him taking too long. In the end he slid his ballot in to the box without checking a name. Just the idea of making an impartial decision had always been difficult; in his current circumstances it seemed impossible.

When he told Hashirama what he had done he was surprised to receive a beaming smile in return.

“Excellent! Then you’re completely neutral and you can be the one that counts the ballots! It’s kind of poetic in a way, don’t you think?” His smile softened and Tobirama rolled his eyes but he could see where the man was coming from.

He wasn’t the only one counting ballots, of course. The polls were opened in the early morning but it took well in to evening for all the votes to be cast and tallied by a group of volunteers who had also abstained from voting. Each of them brought their numbers to Tobirama who added them all together and then stepped up on to the raised wooden dais where Hashirama and Madara were waiting, idly passing the time with friendly chatter.

Unsurprisingly, the crowds fell silent at seeing him step up between the two men with a small card folded between his hands and no discernable expression on his face. He felt as if the world was watching him as he looked from Madara to Hashirama and back again and then down at the card in his hands to allow himself the tiniest of smiles.

Then he lifted the red and white hat that had been prepared as a badge of office and laid it gently atop Madara’s head.

“Congratulations, Hokage-sama,” he announced in a clear voice.

As the village erupted and even Hashirama broke out in to wild cheering, Tobirama held his stunned partner’s eyes just long enough to appreciate how ridiculous he looked with such a shocked expression. Then he tossed his head back and laughed long and hard and joyful, free and happy.

When he had been asked to leave the Senju clan it had felt like his life was over, a dark emptiness that could never be filled. He had thought it was the end of his journey. Now he stood between his two most precious people with the future stretching out before them filled with so many possibilities for everyone, for the village, for everything he held dear. This wasn’t at all where he had thought his life would take him – but he was happy that he stuck around to enjoy the ride.

[afteriwake]

The Enemy Of My Enemy Is...Something (5/?)

@strangelock221b has had a rough day and had a request that I update this. I obliged.

The Enemy Of My Enemy Is...Something - One minute she's at Barts, going about her day, and then Sebastian Moran, Jim's "best mate" as far as she knew, comes barging into her morgue, telling her she's in danger. Now she's in a hotel room in Ireland with a man she's not entirely sure she can trust...but as time goes on, she desperately wants to.

READ CHAPTER 1 | READ CHAPTER 5 | HELP ME SURVIVE? | COMMISSION ME? | BUY ME A KOFI?

She woke up again when she felt Seb settle onto the other side of the bed. She was still sleepy, but she wanted to acknowledge his presence. “Was the shower nice?” she asked.

He turned to face her in the near dark of the room; he seemed to have left the loo light on so he could see in the room even though it was mostly dark. The rain was still thundering down outside but the wind didn’t seem to be so bad. “Yeah. The water pressure is good for an old place, at least.”

“Where were we headed?” she asked.

“My childhood home, or at least the place I spent most of my childhood. My seanmháthair raised me more than my mother did. I know she was my grandmother by birth but she was more like my mam than anyone else.”

She hadn’t meant to pry, but she was curious. “What did the word you said earlier mean?”

“It’s just a term of endearment,” he said with a slight shrug. “It’s nothing special. I just...lapsed.”

“Oh?” she asked.

“Jim was always worried Mycroft had ears around us, so everyone had code names. You were mavourneen because it sounded closest to Molly.” The way he hesitated made her wonder if the endearment came from Jim or maybe from Seb. But Seb had never met her, and aside from living across the road from her, she doubted he really knew all that much about her. But it was a lovely word and she’d pretend the sentiment was just there and not really from either man.

“Well, I like it,” she said, giving him a warm smile.

“Good. I may just stick with that for you,” he said. “I was going to get something to eat since the innkeeper said we could have free run of the kitchen tonight before they go out and figure out the damage the storm caused, but you were asleep so I decided that was best too.”

The very mention of food made her stomach grumble. “Maybe we should get food,” she said.

He gave a soft chuckle. “We’ll go together so you can decide what that stomach of yours feels up to. I don’t think you’ve eaten since we were on the train.”

“You know, I think you’re right,” she said, and then she threw off the covers. Her shoes were sopping wet but she didn’t feel cold in her room so she doubted the inn itself would be much colder. Seb was going barefoot as well so that helped the decision. He opened the door and looked around, then motioned for her to join him. He led the way down the halls to where the kitchen was like he really had spent more time here than he let on, and she found it was chilly with her bare feet on the cold tile but not too bad.

“In the mood for eggs?” he asked, rummaging around. “There’s veg to add and I bet they’ve got white cheddar so we could have an omelet and toast or something.”

“I think that would work,” she said. “If you want to hand me some of the vegs I’ll chop while you grate the cheese.”

“You really do hate that part of cooking, don’t you?” he asked with a grin.

“I’m going to make a mental note to close my curtains more often,” she said, though her tone was teasing. She couldn’t really explain it, but she felt comfortable with him. “Have you spent a lot of time here?”

“Helped build the inside before I went into the army,” he said. “That’s why I know my way around as though I lived here. It was originally going to have a foreigner running the place, but when construction was almost done and we’d had our first major storm that year plus a few incidents he backed out. The village gathered together, did the last of the construction and repair from the storm with our own materials, and then let a pair of newlyweds who had business sense take over. It’s the most profitable place in the village, and they hire a lot of the young lads and lasses in the village to help during busy times. The rustic value of the place is a large draw since it's settled in these parts.”

She nodded as he handed her some peppers to cut up. She was learning so much about him with very little prompting, and that made this easier to deal with. “How long does the rain usually last?”

“Can be hours, can be a day or two. It will take a bit for the flooding to recede, normally, so that means waiting here anyway, but the bridge was old and needed repair for too long. It must have been put off too long.”

“So we’re going to stay here for a bit?”

He nodded. “The owners are like kin to me, so we’ll be fine. Most of the village knows I made my money doing the wrong types of things, but to most of them, I’m still Sebby. I think I could murder the Pope and they’d probably be fine with it.”

“Aren’t you…?”

“Catholic? Yeah, but that bit of blasphemy will stay between us, I hope,” he said with more of a grin. “I’ve gotten indulgences for things I’ve done, said my Hail Mary’s and I’m as at peace with God as I’ll ever be, I suppose. My faith is only troubling when I’m around anti-Catholic folks.” His smile faded more at the last bit, and she realized she couldn’t imagine what it had been like to live in Northern Ireland during the Troubles while being Catholic. It had to have been a hard life.

“When you say you were in the Army…?” she asked.

“American,” he said as he began to grate the cheese he had found. “My seanmháthair wanted me as far away from any of the trouble here so when I was eight she demanded my mother take me to the States with her. I came back to visit every year but because my father was an American citizen I had the status to stay in the US. When my seanmháthair died, I stayed in New York and eventually left home at sixteen. Made my way for a bit until I was old enough to enlist, and ran the ranks all the way up to Lieutenant Colonel before I got my less than honorable.”

“Why?" she asked, and then ducked her head. “I mean, you don’t have to tell me, but--”

“A member of my platoon raped a woman and bragged. Beat him to the point of paralyzation,” he said quietly. “The woman was a friend and the fact she told me who had done it but not reported it...I was lucky not to be in the brig, but she stuck by me, said if I was imprisoned she knew a lot of things that would harm the unit. I got the less than honorable, and she turned around and introduced me to Jim. The rest is history, I suppose.”

“You had friends in dodgy places.”

Jim had his fingers in all sorts of pies,” Seb pointed out. “All over the world. Why do you think Holmes was gone so long taking care of the mess?”

She nodded, staying quiet. She hadn’t really thought about the absence and exactly what Sherlock had done and where he had gone when he’d come back or honestly, that much after. Life had just rolled on and she’d been caught up in it. It was only now she was really taking time to think about things when it looked like everything she knew wasn’t the whole truth.

But soon Seb changed the subject and the dour mood was forgotten and the kitchen filled with laughter. It was like she’d gotten a glimpse at the dark side of his life but that was all he wanted her to have….just a glimpse. And for now, that was enough, but instead of scaring her away, it just made her more curious and wonder why, exactly, he had made it a point to keep her safe. What did she mean to him, in the end?

[yukiwrites]

Diving into Their Feelings

Thank you so much for commissioning me again, @breeachuu! Thank you for your patience, as always!

Summary: Two years after Nidra acknowledged own her loneliness, Henry joins the Shepherds. His upbeat attitude despite being from Plegia clashing with everything Nidra’s ever believed in... How will they get along, grimleal and manakete?

Commission info HERE and HERE!

Carrion Isle. A 'poor venue should things go sour', as Sir Frederick the Wary commented a week before they arrived.

So much happened in so little time, it left Nidra dizzy: at the Plegian Castle, they found out that not only someone with the same face as Robin was a hierophant for the GRIMLEAL of all people, Nidra had to breathe same air as people who worshipped the Fell Dragon.

Stressed and conflicted with the whole situation, Nidra was the one patrolling the camp they've made near a bridge when a Risen ambush attacked.

"One thing after the other!" The manakete transformed, her dragon form towering over the marauding Risen. "Sir Frederick! We are under attack!"

From afar, the knight acknowledged Nidra's call and soon after she could hear Chrom barking orders left and right.

"Equip anyone who can bear arms, and tell them we fight for our lives!" The prince yelled, unsheathing his sword, protectively pulling Robin behind him.

From above the hill she had located the first Risen archers, Nidra looked back to the center, as people flocked all around their leaders, their weapons ready.

Honestly, Nidra wasn't worried -- although the Risen seemed much stronger than usual, so were her friends and comrades. Still, the sheer number of undead swarming the camp could be a problem if they weren't dealt with quickly.

She had to hold her position by the eastern cliff, but she could see how many more enemies were spawning southward, and felt a pang of worry and pain in her heart.

It was then that a deformed, purple blast dismembered two Risen about to attack the weaker side of the Shepherds formation, its sender someone cloaked behind a storm of crows.

For a quick moment, Nidra's heart skipped a beat, thinking of how cool that mysterious savior had been just then.

But it soon faded moments after Chrom scattered away the birds. "You know, I thought you were all right... Turns out you're all FRIGHT! Nyahaha!" A young dark mage wearing grimleal garbs let out a carefree laugh, as though the dead weren't walking all around him.

Nidra's dragon shoulders sagged, her unamused gaze turning back to squashing a Risen who grazed an arrow over her scales.

The young man seemed to understand what the birds were saying -- something regarding being trapped and watching out for the magic circles on the ground, where new Risen would spawn from -- and that piqued Nidra's interest in him once more. Though now she knew what to expect out of him: morbid jokes and no sense of self-awareness.

He had introduced himself as Henry and, surprisingly, asked to join the Shepherds after the battle was over. Something about being very good at killing and telling jokes.

However, him joining wasn't the most surprising thing that happened that night, no, far from it.

After saving Chrom from a lethal blow, Marth, the woman who had been popping up every now and then to help their campaign, revealed herself to be no one other than Lucina, Chrom and Robin's child. She had come from a doomed future, lost to the Fell Dragon, Grima.

Immediately did Nidra feel like walking up and hugging the young girl; her small shoulders already so tired of fighting against an enemy stronger than darkness itself. Nevertheless, the manakete simply watched from afar, letting Robin be the one to hug her little girl instead.

Cold.

Nidra felt her entire body freezing, her mind blaring every alarm it could find. She felt her fangs grow and her eyes spin.

Grima!! Finally he had made his appearance!

Trembling, the manakete held both of her own arms, trying to calm herself down; the memories of a distant past plagued by that very same Dragon haunting her every thought.

Lucina had had no chance against Grima -- so much was his destruction that she chose to rewind time itself so he wouldn't be awakened again.

Nidra wouldn't allow that to happen, not in this present, nor in any future! Grima would be stopped, no matter the cost.

"Hey, you alright there, buddy? You're trembling like you've gotten cursed or something!" The young man called Henry wandered around, already making himself comfortable despite the serious air revolving the camp. "Ohh, you're a dragon, arentcha?! Cool! What's your name? I'm Henry!"

Breathing with difficulty, Nidra lifted her gaze to the apparently friendly mage extending his hand to her. A glance to his cloaks made her stiffen her jaw. "Did you know about this?" She hissed.

"Huh?" He tilted his head to the side, never losing his smile, "oh, we're not shaking hands, then? Okay." He lowered his hand, his thin eyes looking from the manakete to the family reunion happening across the stream. "Time travel, huh? I KNEW it was possible! Maybe I can try to replicate it..."

Nidra stomped her foot on the ground, which shook with the sheer intensity of her feelings. "Answer me, grimleal!" She growled, the shadow of her dragon self looming over her humanoid form. "Did you know about Grima's revival?!"

"Oh, wow! Dragon! Dragon!" Henry widened his eyes, smiling cheerfully as he took a step back to place his hand over his tome. Nidra's heavy breathing and growling made his own heart boil; he loved fighting! He was ready to have a go at it, but then, he blinked. "Oh, you asked me a question! I thought you were raring to fight, nyaha!" He scratched the back of his head, putting away his tome. "Well, reviving Grima is pretty much all the rage between the grimleals, right? We never know when it's gonna happen, but it's something they want to happen!"

Seeing the mage ready himself for battle and immediately switch back to being friendly took the winds out of Nidra's rage, making her shoulders sag and her dragon shadow placate inside her dragonstone. "Hah..."

Henry scratched his chin in thought. "No good, huh? Hmm... Lemme put it this way," he raised his index, "The hierophants are always preaching that they'll bring Grima to life, but it never happens, see? Most of the common folk who kinda worship Grima just assume it's wishful thinking from the priests and stuff just so they can gobble up their tax money, nyaha!"

Blinking in confusion, Nidra's breathing returned to normal. "The common people 'kind of' worship Grima?"

"Oh, that's the part that caught your eye, huh?" He nodded. "Well, yeah, you don't go seeing around the streets of Plegia the random person just going 'wooo, I want the Fell Dragon to come back and destroy everything, mwhahaha!' you know?" He gestured and changed his voice and everything. "But since Plegia's Church has more power than the King -- actually, only people who are part of the Grimleal church can become Kings after being selected by their council and stuff --, they dictate everything back home. Being grimleal is just, you know, consequence of being born Plegian and stuff! Interesting, right?"

It took a few moments for Nidra to absorb everything Henry had said. "So you are telling me that a person isn't a grimleal by choice and that... not all grimleals want the end of the world?"

"Yep! I guess being an immortal dragon made you very smart, huh?"

The manakete sighed. "Back to horsing around, I see."

"More like DRAGON-ing around, nyahaha! Oh, slay me!" He laughed. "I still don't know your name, though! Kinda rude, now that I think about it, huh?"

Nidra's brow flickered. "... I am called Nidra, Henry. Next time, when asking for someone's name, try being more polite about it."

"Ohh, is it NiDRA because you're a DRAgon? That's neat! But hey, I gave my name first and everything! You're the one who almost ate my limbs or something!"

"Ahem," Nidra uncomfortably cleared her throat. "I suppose I did let my emotions get the best of me, so I apologize. And I thank you for the valuable insight regarding the... inner workings of the grimleal."

"Hey, no biggie! I'm glad to be of service!" He said, staring at her with his never-fading smile.

"Is there something on me?"

"You! Your ears! Your hair! You even have this otherworldly glow in you and everything! Hey, can I touch-"

"Keep your hands to yourself."

"Alright, no touching! Noo prob." He circled Nidra, wanting to get a good look at her. "So this is a manakete, huh? Mind if I stick around you for a while? I wanna learn more about you!"

Nidra clutched both hands over her chest, feeling somewhat embarrassed with all the staring. "I-I do not mind answering your questions, but do stop ogling me; it's making me uncomfortable."

Henry covered his mouth in surprise, though the movement was so extravagant it seemed fake. "Really? And people usually tell me to OPEN my eyes, but see? They're ALREADY OPEN! They're just thin, that's all, nyaha! I guess I won't have this problem with you, though, Nidra!"

Oh? She thought, no honorifics from the start? I suppose it's easier than to tell him to call me by my name after being called 'lady' this or 'lady' that. "Indeed. I would also like to ask you more about the... good... grimleal you spoke of." She felt a lingering bitter taste in her mouth.

"Wooow, you don't even hide your distaste for us, huh?" He joked, turning around so as not to stare much. "Sure, I'll answer everything you ask me!"

Not understanding the reason why he started talking with his back turned to her, Nidra simply tilted her head to the side and concurred. "I shall do my best to answer your questions, as well."

Despite the dizzying pace their army was moving, at least one thing remained certain: Henry was a man of his word. He DID stuck around, more than Nidra was used to around humans.

One time, she fell asleep in the middle of marching, falling straight on her face. Since he was walking beside her, he watched in amusement as the march went on without them and stayed by her side until she woke up, three hours later.

"Ouch, my neck-- ouch, my nose." Nidra complained, drowsy. "How long was I out this ti- WAH! Henry?! What're you doing with your face so close to me?!"

The dark mage simply stared in amusement. "Hoh... So that’s what they meant by 'narcolepsy' when I heard people talk about you. I thought you just got tired and decided to take a nap."

"By falling on my face? I think not." She sighed. "Rather, why did you not wake me up? Manakete or no, I'm still part of the army, and should not be sleeping around the clock." She got up and patted the dirt away from her clothes and face.

"But you looked so peaceful! With your face in the dirt and all that." He snorted, still crouching and simply observing what she was going to do next.

Nidra blushed, turning her face away from him. "I assure you: I was not peaceful. Now my neck hurts from sleeping in this awkward position."

"Pain?" He placed his index under his chin in thought. "Pesckla-pesckla, kablammo!" He got up with a jump, pointing to Nidra's neck. "How is it now?"

"Wha- the pain is gone! What manner of sorcery- You don't even have a staff!" She turned to him, touching the area that hurt previously.

"It's easy-peasy! I just directed a deadly curse to your pain instead than to you! The pain literally 'died', nyaha!"

Conflicted about being helped by a curse rather than by a healing staff -- and by someone with such uncomfortable smile to boot -- Nidra pursed her lips to the darkening sky. "Hah... Thank you for your assistance, Henry. But next time, please wake me up. And don't curse me, either."

"Alllright!" He saluted. "But I can't cast anything at all? Not even if I find a cure to your narcolep-thing?"

The manakete's shoulders sagged as she sighed. "I've learned to live with this condition my whole life, and for over two thousand years, no one has been able to rid me of it. You need not concern yourself over it."

"Weeelll, I wasn't there two thousand something years ago, was I?" He opened one eye, a mischievous smile making way from his usual cheerful one.

Nidra felt her heart skipping a beat. Partly because of his ridiculous confidence, partly because she felt that that had been the first true smile he'd flashed her.

Not realizing how much time it took her to process what he said, she simply saw his smile grow through his cheeks. "Now who’s the one staring at me, huhh?"

"Wh- I-" She cleared her throat, quickly turning her head away lest he saw her blushing cheeks. "I, er, thank you for your assistance, Henry, but I do not think you should trouble yourself over this."

"'s okay! I like trouble and learning new things!" He rested one hand over his hip, pointing his index at her. "And this is a very new thing and trouble I'm willing to study!"

Nidra fought a smile, biting her lower lip so as not to be influenced by Henry's easygoing laugh. "Alright, do as you wish. For now, we must catch up with the march."

"Ohh, right! I guess we'll be running all night, then? They're probably in feroxi lands by now."

"Silly," she took her dragonstone out of her pouch. "I can fly, remember? It's not always that I offer a human a ride, but I suppose this a needed course of action, hm?"

Henry's smile froze on his lips, his eyes slowly widening (even at the widest they could, they were still very thin, how adorable). "Ride? On a dragon? IN THE SKY?!" He trembled with excitement. "HELL YES, LET'S GO!" He jumped on her, eager to be one with the clouds, not realizing she hadn't transformed yet.

"Haha, clumsy human!" She laughed as they rolled around the grass, his funny, nasal laugh setting her off. "Give me some space so I can transform and climb on my shoulders when I do, alright?"

"Whatever you say!" He huffed in anticipation, sitting on the grass as Nidra once again got up after they disentangled themselves from each other.

"And hold on tight, we are in for a short, but fast trip!" She said as a smokescreen of petals covered her body, revealing her dragon form right after.

"This is gonna be AWESOME!" Henry did as Nidra said and held onto the larger scales of her long neck while she took flight. "WOOOOHOOOO!!!" He yelled atop of his lungs once she was in the air, his entire body shaking.

"Haha!" Not minding his excited shouts, Nidra made sure to fly carefully, despite his eagerness to 'dive and do a barrel roll'. "Some other time, perhaps!"

"REALLY?! We can fly again?! I'll hold you to it, you hear?!" He kicked his legs, his laughter oh so very pleasant to listen to Nidra almost passed the Shepherd camp just so she could hear it for a bit longer.

After that day, Henry stuck to Nidra almost like a glue. He helped her with her chores (she was especially bad whenever it was her turn to cook, so he always brought exquisite cooking books so they could learn together) and made sure to wake her up if she fell asleep during the day.

The first time he did, though, he shouted very loudly on her ear, making her almost breathe fire on him due to the shock. "A slight tap will do, Henry! I almost roasted you to death!" She placed one hand over her thumping heart.

"Oh, really? I thought it was a deep sleep, sorry! Okay, no more shouting." He nodded.

For someone with such an... inclination for a bloodbath, he was a rather obedient young man. He did whatever he was told and always behaved whenever people were scolding him for this or that.

For example, on the fateful day Robin had that blasted idea of using half of their fleet as catapults to set the Valmese fleet on fire, Henry tore the arms off of an enemy soldier. Him and Nidra were part of the group selected to disrupt the chain of command by boarding the Commander's ship, but it seemed that he had no qualms or whatsoever regarding another human being's life.

"Henry! What're you doing with that poor man?" Nidra quickly finished off the soldier who wailed in pain.

"Huh? I was just taking my time in killing him! We're gonna burn everyone alive anyway, so why not?"

Nidra's heart hurt. He was completely disregarding himself from other people -- as though he was simply tearing wings from flies. That, coupled with how unnatural his cheerfulness looked, made Nidra wonder if he had trouble connecting himself with his feelings.

She opened and closed her giant jaw, looking down at the mage whose garments were covered in blood. "We are not here to have fun by other people's expenses. We are fighting so we can live, not to make other people suffer needlessly in death."

That put him to think as his gaze fell downwards to the charred corpse of the man he disarmed previously. He looked up again. "Not even one finge-"

"No!"

He pouted, turning back. "Alllright. I'll play nice and kill cleanly."

The manakete watched him go with sadness in her eyes, her heart washed over by worry. She, too, had had trouble with dealing and understanding her own feelings in the past -- it was thanks to her human friends and companions that she was able to scold Henry like that in first place.

Perhaps now it was her time to be the teacher instead of the student.

"Though I thought that, I still don't know how to proceed... And it's been two months already." Nidra grumbled by the edge of camp one evening, patrolling beside Robin.

The tactician let out a wolfish grin, looking at her friend from below. "Hoooh? Could Henry be The One? The guy I couldn't find for you no matter how hard I tried?"

"Wh- Robin!" Nidra blushed, pushing her laughing friend away. "I simply... enjoy to spend time in his presence, that's all."

Snorting, the Queen managed to stop laughing. "I know Henry was the last one to join us, not five months ago, but I also know that you're the one closest to him, aren't you? Haven't you noticed anything different in his behavior? Does he act in a different way with you than with other people?"

"We DO spend much time together... He is so easy to talk to, Robin. Whatever topic I ask him about, he'll lunge headfirst and research it so we can talk about it more later. He's dedicated, eager to learn and not in the least shy to call someone out if they did or said something wrong."

"Go on..." Robin teased, making Nidra narrow her eyes.

"We are at a very busy time during this war -- Walhart breathes down our necks at every turn we take and poor Say'ri... Her brother..."

Robin looked down, but then shot her head up. "You know, you're acting like I did before I married Chrom."

Crossing her arms, Nidra stopped walking. "How so?"

"We were in the middle of the war with Plegia too, weren't we? And there I was, wanting to hold him so much my heart ached. I wanted to be there for him, to console him and to tell him to rely on me, even after Lady Emmeryn sacrificed herself. I felt terrible. How could I wish for anything more than he's already given me? I should concentrate on the war instead of on my own feelings." She smiled bitterly, raising her hand up to the starry sky. Her golden ring shone with the moonlight. "I made any excuse I could to avoid seeing the truth of my heart. Did you know that I had all my luggage packed and ready to go the moment the war was over?"

"What-?!"

"Yep... I felt that my role was going to end with the war, and I didn't want to be around Chrom lest I acted on impulse and ruined the friendship we had. Our bond was so beautiful! We were open with each other about everything... I didn't want to tarnish it with my, er, 'earthly desires'." She scratched her cheek in embarrassment.

"Robin..."

The Queen laughed awkwardly. "I'm mostly rambling now, but do you see where I'm trying to go here? You're treasuring the time you two spend together and might want to keep this on instead of evolving it to something more out of fear. Of course, that's just me saying what happened to me, but-"

"It's okay, Robin. Thank you for your insight." She raised one hand to stop her friend from apologizing. "It IS true that I am comfortable with how things are now. Comfortable enough that I would not mind this routine we both have even if it lasted one thousand years."

Robin coughed. "And I know you actually mean one thousand years when you say that."

"I do." She slowly breathed in. "I do not know how to differentiate these feelings from simple friendship, at least not yet, but I have time."

"... You may have time, but Henry doesn't."

"..." That felt like a bucket of cold water on Nidra's face. She even looked the part when her eyes met Robin's next.

"I can't begin to understand how manaketes deal with feelings within their almost immortal lifespan." Robin went on, unapologetic, remembering the entire week it took Nidra to figure out that she was lonely in the past. "And I'm also not here to tell you how to live your life, but maybe... jumping head-on for once might help?" She scratched the back of her neck, giggling. "Look at me, I'm sounding like Chrom, heehee."

Nidra smiled as well, bobbin her head to the side. "It would be a very... human-like thing to do. To act before thinking it through."

"Hah, yeah, tell me about it! Chrom's entire proposal was something he thought up on the spot, despite having drafted a lot of different ways to tell me." Robin giggled, then blushed furiously, realizing how nonchalantly she spoke of such an intimate moment. "Or- so he told me, a-anyway."

"Oh, how you glow, Robin!" Nidra laughed, opening her arms and flopping down on the grass. "Do you truly think I glow as you do? Though I claim to be a very attentive person, I cannot see myself the way other people do. I cannot see if I am in love."

Smiling, Robin placed a few strands of hair behind her ear as a draft ran through them, sitting beside Nidra. "I can tell that you're much happier and cheerful than before, but only you can take a look inside yourself to understand what's in your heart. Why not think more of this the next time you meet Henry?"

Feeling somewhat free, as though she was flying in a cloudless sky, Nidra closed her eyes, her heart beating comfortably. "Food for thought. Thank you again for listening, Robin."

"No problem, Nidra. I'll be here for you." She held her friend's hand. "And be sure to tell me first if anything happens-"

"Robin!"

"Haha, I'm only half joking!"

In the next few weeks, Nidra took it upon herself to observe Henry more attentively. How did he act around other people? And around herself?

She didn't really need to look hard, honestly. He played around in the slopes with Nowi, making Nidra wonder just how MUCH stamina did he have to be able to be on par with a young manakete as herself.

He trained hard under Frederick's command, and sometimes would go to Nidra straight after morning practice, his entire body aching.

On those days, he would lie his head on her lap without asking, as though it was the most natural thing for him to do. Equally naturally, she would caress his silky, silver hair to enjoy the breeze.

It was as though the battles never occurred whenever they were by themselves. The time they spent together was so pleasant, nothing else seemed to faze Nidra.

Henry would pick up books under Miriel's indication and read beside Nidra as she slept under the shade and sometimes drift off himself. He would ask to touch her scales and translusent skin from time to time and Nidra... wouldn't tell no as she did the first time they met.

For someone who previously didn't have any consideration for another human being, his hands could be so soft and careful whenever he ran his fingers through her hair.

For someone who was so obedient, he could be very obstinate in saying that he would rather do whatever she wanted instead of mingling with other people.

For someone whose smile was so fake before... his endearing flushed cheeks more often than not made Nidra want to caress them and bring them close to her body.

She could hear how altered his heartbeat became whenever they met, and how his breathing seemed more relaxed only by being by her side. Even his studies were focused all on her -- he dived right into finding a cure for Nidra's narcolepsy, and would spend hours at a time discussing methods with her, Miriel or Tharja.

Nidra couldn't say how much time passed -- they were marching back to Ylisse after defeating Walhart -- but she couldn't hold the words back anymore.

"Henry, you love me, don't you?" She blurted out one evening as they got ready to head back to camp after spending the day under a pleasant shade.

The dark mage blinked, looking at Nidra's dragon form for a whole minute before touching his chest with one hand. "Oh, wow. I guess I do! Woow! How did you know that, Nidra? I really, really love you! Ouch ouch, my heart's hurting now..." He got up, clutching his chest. "Is this how love feels like? But it's hurting..."

"Silly," she nuzzled his face with her snout, shifting back to her humanoid form right after. "It's because I feel the same towards you." She nuzzled his warm cheek, finally having it to herself.

Astonished by this new discovery, it took Henry a moment to wrap his arms around Nidra's waist, then another one to dig his face into her shoulder. "Be prepared, okay? My feelings are really heavy." He said in a joking tone, but Nidra could feel the truth beneath them.

She hugged him back, breathing into his smell. "I'll be here for you. From now on and always."

He tightened the hug. "Don't ever leave, okay? I don't wanna be abandoned again."

She caressed his hair, humming in response. She would wait for his own time to tell her everything.

It didn't take long, however. "When I was a kid, you see, I was abandoned by my parents. They never really cared much about me, so I was basically raised in the woods by a really caring wolf. She was everything to me, but the village hunters..."

"Henry-"

"They shot her with so many arrows. So, so many arrows." His voice was heavy, as was his touch. He squeezed Nidra with everything he had. "They paid back in blood, oh, they did. I wiped the village out of the map, but that never brought my wolf back. Nothing I ever did, did. Don't be like my wolf, please? I can't bring back the dead yet..."

"What are you crying for, silly human? You'll be the one to leave me first..." She sniffled, lifting her shoulder so they could look each other in the eyes.

He wasn't crying. Rather, his body wasn't; but she could hear the pain in his voice, in his soul. He had been hurting for a long, long time. But it was over now. Nidra would be with him and never leave him.

"Well, I don't know how to bring back the dead, but I may discover the secret of immortality! Can I use a bit of your blood for tests?"

"Silly!" She laughed, bonking her forehead on his. "Let's enjoy our time together instead of focusing so much on what's to happen! To... dive in headfirst, like you humans do." She smiled softly, brushing her nose on his.

"Ooh, I know a thing or two about humans..." He chuckled before the impending kiss, Nidra's soft lips melting into his.

Henry couldn't yet grasp the depth of his love for Nidra, but oh well! He had his entire life by her side to figure it out, after all.

[cosmic-llin]

So my friend purplefringe and I got kind of obsessed with THIS POST about folks on DS9 complaining, and spent some time (that we should have been working) imagining it in a bit more detail:

@staff anti-gravity malfunctioning on the promenade again. Request immediate assistance! @jumalsjumja Hello Jumal this is Intern T'Pok. I have logged your case in our system. You are number #103 in the queue. Your request will be dealt with shortly. Thank you for your patience. @staff thanks!! any idea how long it will be out this time? @staff only last time all my jumja sticks got stuck everywhere @staff NEW REPORT help a nest of voles has just floated out past my stall. This definitely violates health and safety! @jumalsjumja Hello Jumal this is Intern T'Pok. I have logged your case in our system. You are number #104 in the queue. Your request will be dealt with shortly. Thank you for your patience. *** @chiefofops Chief the anti-grav seems to be on the blink again. Infirmary is in lockdown @CMO on my way Julian @chiefofops thanks! (see you at dinner, unless I end up in quarantine) @CMO quarantine? @chiefofops just got a faceful from an unsecured petri dish I'd been cultivating. @CMO You ok?? @chiefofops should be in a few hours. Currently experiencing slight loss of motor-control, dizziness, enhanced aural sensitivity, tingling in my extremities, and everything seems to have gone quite a nice shade of pink. Not really the symptoms I was expecting at this stage but it's a positive sign and all very interesting. Should be able to get at least one paper out of th(CHARACTER LIMIT REACHED) @chiefofops...please could you tell Garak I won't be able to meet him for lunch. @chiefofops Chief? @CMO stay where you are Julian I've got a situation on the promenade. Hang tight *** @chiefofops Chief could you send another team to the Promenade? @majorkira what is it Major? @chiefofops some idiot in security left the doors to the office open. Odo and his bucket have floated out. Separately. Odo's all over the Promenade @majorkira uh oh @chiefofopshe is NOT going to be happ [@majorkira went offline] @majorkira everything ok? @majorkira Kira please respond [@majorkira came online] @chiefofops sorry Chief, just had to rescue a couple of vedeks from an unintentional anti -grav orb experience. Could have been messy. Jadzia's here helping me now. All under control. We've got Odo back in his bucket @chiefofops oh and chief Dax says to tell you not to worry about the voles @majorkira voles??? I wasn't worried but I am now. What's she done? ***@WORF hey Worf you're not answering your comm. Are you listening to opera? I know you're off duty but we have an anti-grav situation over here, and could really use your help. @dax I am on my way. @WORF great! You can help me round up these floating voles/ @dax On second thoughts, I am very busy at present. I am needed on the Defiant. My apologies. @WORF Worf you get over here right now and help me round up these voles or I guarantee I will throw you a surprise party for your next birthday @dax I am on my way. *** @dax Commander what's happened with the voles? @dax never mind, the nest just floated past. see you're on the case. good work @chiefofops thanks chief! I'd stay away from the infirmary if I were you, Julian's got some sort of airborne plague in there. @dax don't I know it. Last thing we need is transmission by vole *** @chiefofops URGENT URGENT GRAVITY MALFUNCTION IN THE BAR @cometoquarks Quark please don't use this channel, this is for senior staff only. Use @staff like everyone else. @chiefofops did I mention this was URGENT @cometoquarks A repair crew is currently assessing the situation on the Promenade. @chiefofops the promenade?? You need to PRIORITIZE here. I have LATINUM on the CEILING @cometoquarks Quark we're working as fast as we can here. Your bar is NOT top priority. @chiefofops not top priority??? Chief you don't seem to understand, I have to look after my customers! Bad business is bad for everyone. They have a bad experience here, they report it back home, that could cause a diplomatic INCIDENT. You want that on your conscience?? @chiefofops also did I mention the LATINUM on the CEILING @cometoquarks you're not even our second priority @chiefofops where's my idiot brother?? why isn't he fixing this?? @cometoquarks he's helping to secure Odo @chiefofops ...Odo's regenerating? Say no more. I completely understand. I have everything under control here, you just take your own sweet time @cometoquarks Quark Odo is definitely going to review all the security footage after this. Whatever you're thinking of doing, don't. @chiefofops you wound me, Chief. I thought we were friends. Your DARTS are floating around my bar. If they take someone's eye out, YOU'RE paying for it. *** @staff hi there, is there any reason why gravity seems to be functioning in the tailor's shop, but not here? Only I can see his shop from my stall and it all looks fine in there. It's chaos out here. @jumalsjumja Hello Jumal this is Intern T'Pok. I have logged your case in our system. You are number #116 in the queue. Your request will be dealt with shortly. Thank you for your patience.

And then we got carried away and did some more:

@chiefofops have you seen the Captain's baseball? It floated off his desk and must have left his office when we went in there to pick up those padds earlier. I really want to find it before he gets back from his conference. @majorkira oh no. haven't seen it. I'll keep an eye out. @majorkira if it doesn't turn up, perhaps dax could send out one of her station-wide communications? @chiefofops good idea @chiefofops I just hope the voles haven't taken it. you know how they like to hoard things. @majorkira you know, now you mention it, I bet that's what happened to all of Molly's hairclips. We can't replicate them fast enough. I bet the bloody voles have them @chiefofops ha! probably @majorkira by the way, you free for dinner tonight? Keiko and I were going to have Julian over but he's only gone and poisoned himself with some fungus he's cultivating. Got a faceful of spores when the gravity went off and is stuck in quarantine @chiefofops is he ok?! @majorkira as far as I can tell, he's mostly very giggly. And possibly hallucinating. But they say he'll be fine by tomorrow. @chiefofops oh Julian. I shouldn't laugh, but that is pretty funny @majorkira it's hilarious! Funniest thing that's happened all week @majorkira don't tell him I said that *** @staff hi there, just wanted to check in on my maintenance query from earlier? I was #97 in the queue. Gravity's all fine now, but there seems to be something wrong with my jumja mixer since it came back on, and I'm worried it might have been damaged? Not a priority, but thought I'd check in. @jumalsjumja Hello Jumal this is Intern T'Pok. I have logged your case in our system. You are number #96 in the queue. Your request will be dealt with shortly. Thank you for your patience. @staff UPDATE: there seems to be some sort of blockage? something small & round & white in the input pipe. Could someone take a look? @jumalsjumja Hello Jumal this is Intern T'Pok. I have logged your case in our system. You are number #96 in the queue. Your request will be dealt with shortly. Thank you for your patience.

~~~

@staff are you aware that all of the latrines on the lower pylons are... how can I put this delicately... out of commission?

@shrinevedeks Hello Vedek this is Intern T'Pok. I have logged your case in our system. You are number #87 in the queue. Your request will be dealt with shortly. Thank you for your patience. @staff Bless you child. * * *

@staff guys? All the latrines on all levels of the Promenade are down. Is anyone around to come take a look? Someone's saying it's affecting the habitat ring too.

@leeta Hello Leeta this is Intern T'Pok. I have logged your case in our system. You are number #88 in the queue. Your request will be dealt with shortly. Thank you for your patience. * * *

@chiefofops Chief @chiefofops Do I want to know why there is a line of people out my office door cursing your department @thesisko No sir @chiefofops In that case forget I asked

* * *

@security is anyone around? people are fighting for the one remaining functioning latrine @leeta This is an automated reply. Constable Odo will look at your query as soon as possible. If your query is urgent, please use the comm system or visit the security office. * * * @chiefofops as requested am replicating buckets. can you reroute additional power to the replicators? @majorkira done, ta * * * @[all users] ANNOUNCEMENT. 90% of latrines on the station are malfunctioning. Stay calm. If you cannot find a functioning latrine, please report to Major Kira and her team to receive a bucket. * * * @[all users] AS THIS APPARENTLY NEEDS SAYING @[all users] ONE BUCKET PER CUSTOMER @]all users] THIS MEANS YOU * * * @jakey_s WHY IS MORN SITTING OUTSIDE MY SHIP CHARGING 10 SLIPS A GO TO USE MY TOILET UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE NOH-JAY CONSORTIUM @kasidyfreight because we were following rule of acquisition number 9? @jakey_s JACOB ISAAC SISKO @kasidyfreight ;DDDDDD

~~~

@majorkira hey what's up

@dax you mean aside from a stationwide operations emergency? @majorkira yeah aside from that @dax .......? @majorkira I'm waiting in line to pee @majorkira entertain me [@majorkira went offline]

~~~

@security I wish to report a crime. @security Someone has stolen my special biscuits. @security My mother sent them all the way from Minsk. I cannot simply replicate more. @security This would never have happened on the Enterprise. @WORF [file attached: Enterprise Security Logs / searchterm = 'theft' + 'biscuits' / 307 results

~~~

@staff Has anyone noticed that the promenade seems a little chilly? Maybe needs investigating? @leeta Hello Leeta this is Intern T'Pok. I have logged your case in our system. You are number #66 in the queue. Your request will be dealt with shortly. Thank you for your patience. * * * @staff It's freezing down here, when are you going to pull your fingers out and do something? @cometoquarks Hello Quark this is Intern T'Pok. I have logged your case in our system. You are number #67 in the queue. Your request will be dealt with shortly. Thank you for your patience. * * * @chiefofops O'Brien... @thesisko Yes sir, there's a team already investigating. * * * @[all users] Please be aware that there is a minor malfunction in the station's environmental systems. You are advised to wear warm clothing. * * * @WORF wanna work up a sweat in the holosuite? @dax I assume you are referring to our usual bat'leth practice and not anything indiscreet. @WORF Worf, I'm hurt, I'm ALWAYS discreet. I can be discreet any way you like... ;D @dax @WORF if you were the souls of discretion you imagine yourselves to be, this would be happening on a private channel. @CMO who asked you, Julian. @CMO :P * * * @[all users] We have been asked to clarify that there is no such thing as Denobulan superthermal snuggle-wool, and as such no outlets on the Promenade could possibly be selling the genuine article. * * * @[all users] Please do not light braziers on the Promenade. * * * @CMO My dear doctor... as you can imagine, I'm finding the drop in temperature quite tiresome. If it's convenient, perhaps you could join me and we could discover some way to make the most of what body heat we have available between us. @simpletailor I'LL BE RIGHT THERE * * * @CMO *clears throat meaningfully* @dax who asked you, Jadzia?

~~~

[tempocannon]

The Underdogs: St. Louis’s Record Labels

[A feature I wrote in spring 2014 about St. Louis record labels. Amazingly dated already, but such is the lot of articles about DIY scenes.]

[Eads bridge, STL.]

So, here’s the situation: in the last 20 years, digital production and the Internet have demolished the traditional record industry. There are all kinds of statistics to show the dire state of the giant record companies of old, but the fundamental fact is that record sales go down every year. According to a January 8th Rolling Stone recap of the music industry’s performance, even digital downloads sank 6% from 2012 to 2013. Major labels are mummies, the big indie labels—Merge, Drag City, Jagjaguwar, and all the others—have staked out some space on a sinking ship, and Record Store Day itself is a tourniquet, an annual reminder that physical products are alright. Of course, all that is totally fine, because musicians are still out there making music. The same technologies that annihilated the record industry blew open the doors of music production, so now you can now record, distribute, and promote music for a fraction the former price. In the age of Bandcamp, it’s totally feasible musicians to do it all.

Who, then, are the intrepid souls who start small labels, who throw their time and money down what Robert Severson, Pancake Master of Pancake Productions, calls “one big money pit?” Why do they stick out their necks for the creative projects of others?

We asked the daredevils who run St. Louis’ labels, and they say a top reason is the joy inherent in working hard on something good. Running a record label is an artistic process of its own, with all the highs and low that come with the territory. For Joe Schwab of Euclid Records, it’s about the work itself. As he puts it, “my favorite thing about doing a label is simple: dealing with creative people. Not just the musicians, but the cover artists and graphic designers as well.” Pat Grosch of Mounds Music echoes the sentiment. He got into the game because being “around extremely creative individuals as they let you into their projects, and thus their hearts, is reward enough.”

People start running labels for pragmatic reasons, too. Local scenes are generally composed of loosely organized groups of friends with various degrees of interest in promoting themselves. Forming a label can coordinate the knowledge and energy of young and veteran members of a city’s scene, as well as provide an infrastructure for artistic cross-pollination. Damon Davis of the FarFetched Collective sees his label as an artists’ union. He started the organization, he says, to interact “with artists and [foster] connections between us in the music community.” Robert Severson of Pancake Productions was frustrated with the here-today-gone-tomorrow nature of a lot of St. Louis music, so he started his label, Pancake Productions, partly just “to be an entity that never died.” And a coordinated scene is easier to explain to outsiders, so a label can be a doorway to out-of-state promotion. As Extension Chord’s Tim Rakel puts it, “an umbrella label seemed a good strategy for promoting music from Saint Louis.”

And then there’s the most fundamental concern of all: getting the music out! Major labels and even the big independent labels have simply never had an interest in putting out a lot of adventurous and underground music. Gabe Karabell of Don’t Touch My Records says it best: “Small labels have been killing it since the '50s and '60s, so I'm not surprised that the real jams remain underground to this day.”

Small labels work hard for the bands on the ground, and we owe so much excellent music to lonely owners. To get a sense of what’s really going on in the vinyl mines, we conducted a census of a dozen local labels in honor of this year’s Record Store Day. See a label you’re interested in? Check it out! Don’t think any of these labels look cool? Go forth! Start your own!

Twelve Saint Louis Labels

Big Muddy Records 

In a business where many labels close up shop soon after they open, Big Muddy Records is a crusty old uncle on the scene. Chris Baricevic lost a bet and started up the operation in 2005 with the self-titled Vultures EP, and gradually began putting out records by some of the city’s best-known Americana acts, including Bob Reuter’s Alley Ghost, The Hooten Hallers, Rum Drum Ramblers, and Pokey LaFarge. According to Baricevic, big things are in the works for Big Muddy: “a constant cycle of life and death, ulcers and dishwashing jobs, and we might have a hot dog party for our brother Brice.” He’d also like to say that Record Store Day should be about giving record store employees gifts.

Extension Chord Records 

Tim Rakel and Melinda Cooper of The Union Electric started Extension Chord Records last year as a way of releasing work by their side projects Town Cars and The Chainsaw Gentlemen. The label racked up five releases in its first year, and it’s moving fast: Town Cars’ debut CD is coming out this year, and the honchos are considering expanding the label’s roster. According to Rakel, the organizational headaches and sometimes glacial movement of the production process can be demoralizing, but ultimately, “it makes most sense to go ahead and do everything on your our terms.’”

Euclid Records 

Euclid Records (the store) has been around for thirty years, but the label has only been putting music out since 2009. The label got started pressing in-store sessions onto vinyl singles and selling them for the benefit of The New Orleans Musicians’ Relief Fund, but Euclid has quickly expanded the roster, issuing full-lengths by Troubadour Dali and Sleepy Kitty. Joe Schwab, the owner of both the label and the shop, sees underground labels and independent stores as closely entwined. “The only game in town these days are independent record stores,” he said, “and we're the ones that have been pushing indie bands and indie labels.”

Tower Groove Records 

Tower Groove Records is less a label than a loose collective of South City bands. Tower Groove’s been silent for a few months, but in the last several years Adam Hesed, Jason Hutto, and the rest of the collective have made some very unique releases happen. They got things rolling with a double LP compilation of 22 bands, and last year Tower Groove released a mail-order singles series. Each month of 2013, subscribers received a brand-new single that paired two local bands.

Mounds Music 

Mounds Music is the brand-new project of a few of the Bug Chaser dudes, an effort to put high-quality analog recording into the hands of local acts. Pat, Jake, and Zeng secured a start-up grant from the Regional Arts Commission, and they’ll be producing between 6 and 10 cassette releases in the next year. According to Pat Grosch, Mounds will be a creative platform, “an attempt to provide some new opportunities to musicians, and help let them focus on their craft—music—as we manage the production side.” The list of future collaborators is long, but Mounds is currently cooking up cassettes by Maximum Effort, The Bad Dates, Kisser, and Zak M. Details will be revealed soon.

Eat Tapes 

Eat Tapes is Matt Stuttler’s cottage industry, an all-cassette label that started when Stuttler moved from putting out tapes for his own projects to putting out tapes for his friends’ projects. The label has released material for Burrowss, Bruiser Queen, and others, but Stuttler has made a specialty out of sticking two bands together on one split tape. Split tapes are definitely in line with the label’s mission. As he puts it, “labels like Eat Tapes operate on a local/regional level that concentrates on supporting bands/artists that aren't going to necessarily have mass appeal. But who cares about that?”

Don’t Touch My Records 

The mission of D.T.M.R. is simple. Gabe Karabell, founder and tapemaker, says, “I just want to document some of the bands that I like before they break up.” Karabell is casual about the whole thing, but since 2012, the label has been in the right place at the right time to release music by The Brainstems, Rat Heart, Wild Hex, and Shaved Women. The only downside, Karabell says, is waiting in line at the Post Office to mail tapes when I'm late for work.” What’s up next? The debut of Self Help, “a new band with folks from Doom Town, Los Contras, The Vultures, Jack Grelle's band and the Bill McClellan Motherfuckers.”

Spotted Race 

For the last year and a half, Spotted Race has been churning out tapes from the city’s punk and hardcore underbelly. As operator Martin Meyer puts it, Spotted Race exists to release “bands that deserve to be put out but probably wouldn't be otherwise.” Meyer has assembled around 25 releases, by hand, for free, all to get the word out about bands that would normally never be heard outside the city. His work is paying off, though: Spotted Race has sold enough tapes, at home and around the world, to afford to release a Ruz flexi disc, a Black Panties flexi, a Trauma Harness LP, a Nos Bos flexi, a Dem Scientist 7-inch, and a Lumpy and the Dumpers 7-inch.

FarFetched Collective 

The goals of FarFetched go beyond simply distributing music. According to founder Damon Davis (LooseScrewz), the hip-hop centered collective aims to “create and nurture all forms of progressive music everywhere,” and even more fundamentally, to “create art that is genuine and thoughtful and make a living from that for my artists and myself.” FarFetched is home to artists including Scripts ‘n Screwz, 18andCounting, CaveofswordS, and Black James. Davis calls the label fundamentally focused on community and collaboration, an “artists’ union” rather than a hierarchical business. Look out for releases this summer, including a vinyl release of label comp Prologue III.

BDR/Rerun Records 

The BDR/Rerun collaboration is all about issuing lost gems of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Jason Ross, of Rerun, and Matt Harnish, of BDR, have done much to dig up, dust off, and reissue St. Louis punk, post-punk, and rock ‘n’ roll gems from The Welders, Max Load, and The Retros. After a period of silence, the label is returning April 1st with a bunch of releases from vintage Milwaukee bands.

Encapsulated Records 

 Encapsulated is the new, improved incarnation of I Hate Punk Rock Records. In 2012, owner Mike Jones opened Encapsulated Studios, a punk rock fortress in Maplewood where bands can practice and record, and where the operations of the label are centered. The label is still home to punk and hardcore acts from St. Louis and around the country, including Bent Left, Black for a Second, Fister, The Haddonfields, and Jetty Boys.

Pancake Productions 

Robert Severson, Pancake Master, created Pancake Productions as a production company for his student films. Sometime in the early 2000s, though, he started a one-man band, Googolplexia, and got caught up in music as well. Severson began by issuing albums by broken-up bands, a move that was not financially lucrative but certainly reflects the label’s ethos. Severson says, “Pancake Productions has never been about turning a profit. In some ways it's not even about breaking even. Really it's just about using every last dime (of both real money and credit extended to me) that I have to get good music out and available.” There’s a lot ahead for Pancake Productions, including a Vanilla Beans EP, a potential Stonechat CD, and “some top-secret things in the works for summertime.”

[michellelewis7162]

Generate Income Online

Generate Income Online

 Where ever you are and also whatever you perform, money is constantly needed to buy clothes, sanctuary as well as food items as well as other significant factors that our company need to have. For our team to possess loan, our experts strive to provide for ourselves as well as for our family members. A few of our company could interact into service to possess additional income to assist our day-to-day requirements. www.topmakemoneyblog.com

  However when it relates to company, there are actually manies kinds of business that our experts can engage to and also some of this is actually the on the internet business. This is among the best effective together quite competitive technique of working.

 Big providers and also small businesses are currently engaging into this service given that they have learnt that it is just one of the absolute most practical all at once less price than the typical companies. All you require to have is actually the product; personal computer and also internet hookup and also your business can manage 24/7.

 Seo or even SEO participates in a major component in on the internet organisation. It will be actually big jump in your service career if you may drive traffic to your web sites and also change prospect costumers to purchase your items. Yes, everyone may begin their very own business just as long as they possess the cash, however it is not everyone who shows up a winner in this organisation.

 Developing this style of organisation may be actually simple and basic but without the basics as well as adequate know-how in this company, it is quite complicated. Why? On the internet company involves a considerable amount of methods together program to assist you as well as your web site obtain discovered. With a competitors of up to a thousand, you will definitely possess a ton of trouble obtaining discovered.

 Along with the right tools and methods utilized, you will survive the initial obstacle of getting seen. Fast Lane Cash is just one of the SEO resources that is made use of through thousands of online marketers who have been actually making an effort to receive pass other internet sites as well as with any luck acquire discovered best generate income blog.

 So prior to you start making your sites as well as purchase all the software program you may receive on the internet, you first require to have the fundamental history in online company. This is actually certainly not to intimidate you from having your very own company, but this is to help you recognize what actually an on the internet organisation is actually as well as succeed in generating cash online

 Just How to Make Money Online Quickly

 It is actually not uncommon to find people generating income online nowadays. You can essentially discover various kinds of individuals working online to make a sizable quantity of money. While few of them manage to make a handsome 6 amount income from it, others stop working to also open an account in it. Then there are actually beginners, that desire to receive wealthy promptly by working online. They think that through working on the internet for few hours a time, they may make money online and also extremely promptly. The fact is far from it. No doubt, you can make good quantity of cash online. For that to occur you need to have to devote sizable volume of time on the web and likewise get sufficient quantity of expertise in the field you have ventured right into.

 All mentioned as well as carried out, there are actually handful of quick and easy techniques you can easily check out to start in online service. If you comply with these ways in a step-by-step means as well as if you are actually a little bit privileged, there's no quiting you earn money online and also very rapidly at that. You may also expect juicy salaries at the begin of every month if every thing goes effectively. If you are brand-new to on-line world, the most significant oversight you could probably create is actually to introduce your own product as well as attempt to market it in your very own method. It is quite important for you to understand that any sort of brand new item is actually bound to take its own time to create its own visibility thought in the online industry. Rather, you will be far better of advertising an item that is not your personal yet relates to your market. Hereof, you might consider getting in touch with the item maker and also talk to if there is actually a probability of getting percentages on offering their products leading make money blog post.

 You may think of marketing electronic books to make funds online. If you style the search phrase "electronic books" on internet search engine like Google, you will certainly reach observe many business offering all of them a lot more well than you. Possibilities of you generating income online would certainly therefore decrease quickly. Why would certainly you assume of selling an item that actually exists online, somewhat than marketing someone else's item? By doing this, you stand to generate income online and also quite rapidly. You are actually likewise most likely to discover numerous new tricks of the profession from your manager, that would certainly possess presently resided in this company for sometime currently.

 Besides marketing items, you may consider actively taking part in affiliate programs to give on your own an opportunity to generate income online and incredibly promptly. These courses could consist of anything like purchases duplicate, items, companies, internet site as well as others. All you have actually got to carry out is to industry them online. What's more, you may start generating income just about instantly. There are handful of partner programs that agree to spend its affiliates a quite high commission in the stable of 70% of sales value. When there is such a huge possibility to get additional money, why do not you begin exploring for real affiliate systems?

 Making Money Online: The Truth About Making Money Online

 Generating income online, is it true or is it a number of bologna? Relying on what you are looking for, it could be both! Earning money online is something lots of people try to do day-to-day however only a few actually be successful and also even fewer see true earnings scopes! A lot of internet business people have the ability to create a little bit of funds on the edge, yet the fact is actually that many rarely create anything. I'm visiting be giving a handful of techniques you could earn money online as well as a brief customer review leading generate cash blog site.

 1. Sell an e-book and create - If you possess a huge volume of expertise over a particular subject you could possibly compose and also market an e-book, I intended I should state compose, report and then offer a book. This can be an amazing technique to create recurring revenue online as well as when it relates to making money, recurring is words you're mosting likely to would like to be actually seeking! Having said that, if you don't have a lot expertise over one details topic perhaps difficult to create a top quality digital book as well as your consumers are heading to really want high quality! Also, this flow of income will take time! You are going to have to create your target market to begin with and that can weeks or months or maybe years depending on just how you market yourself.

 2. Market Photos - If you take advantage of digital photography you could be offering your images online That picture you took of the sundown recently may be $10 in your wallet too. As soon as you receive your image submitted on the web you may set it to offer and also people will definitely be getting your extravagant picture while you rest. You might possibly wake up the next morning to an additional $50 or $100 in your savings account simply from one picture! Nevertheless, this is actually definitely not one thing I will want, individually. I am a dreadful photographer as well as carry out certainly not delight in taking pictures, so I can simply picture this company framework will be a downright failing for me best make money blog post.

 3. Create Video Tutorials - As technology advances, people are actually desiring tutorials on basically every little thing. You can carry out a tutorial on fundamental math, nourishing your family pet, even creating a PB&J sandwich! After posting these video clips you'll intend to monetize all of them in this way you can easily produce profit from sights. Nevertheless, same as writing a book, this earnings generation might require time. You will need to develop an audience with this option also. However, you could possibly observe a quite decent size of residual income after developing an adhering to.

 Listed here are 2 incredibly essential suggestions to make money online.

 Concentrate on 1 Proven System And Stick To It

 You are setting on your own up for failure if you dive around coming from one established device to one more. If you really desire to succeed and bring in money online, then you need concentrate on one effective device and offer it the time it needs to generate outcomes. The majority of upcoming world wide web marketers will definitely browse the web delighted to start creating millions online, yet never ever truly put in the job required to create it a reality. Doing some study, locating a tested approach are actually all really good actions to follow, but if you are actually shifting to and fro in between strategies then you will never ever make considerable earnings online.

 You have to discover that you are actually certainly not mosting likely to bring in millions on the internet overnight. Even the absolute most aggressive marketing experts online really did not create their initial purchase online for a number of weeks prior to they started seeing results.

 Be actually Consistent and threatening

 I may inform you the number of folks inform me that they have actually made an effort to generate cash online for a long times. The truth of the matter is actually frankly, if you have gone to it for years and also not created a decent quantity of loan online at that point you have been actually differing the upside-down. You are actually setting yourself up to neglect if you place in 10 hrs one time and don't placed in anymore time for a full week or even two. If you desire to succeed as an on the web marketers, you will definitely need to be vigorous and steady on a daily basis up until you receive where you desire to be actually. You can easily delegate some of your time taking in obligations and focus on taking your upcoming steps as soon as you get to that degree.

 If you comply with these two basic steps, you will definitely remain in a position to bring in a lot of cash online and also perform whatever you regularly wished you could possibly carry out, yet certainly never can due to loan. So start today through taking a consistent and aggressive technique. Observing these two steps is the only technique to create a considerable amount of funds online and also participate in the majors of internet marketing.

 Absolute Best Ideas in Making Money Online

 I encourage you to review this short article as it possesses wonderful truths concerning various techniques of creating money with the Internet if you really want to earn amount of money on-line really quick.

 Digging in to the past, you will certainly find that in existing all type of projects are actually paid out much better, but you must not neglect that costs for lifestyle and current demands also increased. This can be a severe problem in the event that of urgent, considering that some individuals could certainly not save money anymore. So, a fantastic way to avoid such conditions is to ready yourself for getting online. This information of earning is actually the end result of the development use the Internet throughout the globe. Listed below you can easily discover some great concepts concerning making money online without any investment.

 Blogging

 Recently, blogging advanced into the greatest and brightest monetary increase service. Your earning relies on the qualities of the information. If the others like what you create or not, blog writing additionally indicates to compose concerning what you yearn for even. If you are actually expert in blog writing, you can generate income creating pleasing blog articles concerning your own adventure and also feelings, as individuals will certainly always browse appealing and also new material.

 Online Stock Trading

 At today, broking firms supply on the internet exchanging to their customers. Just before you opt for to make money using this approach, you have to know and also know the details about investing and you ought to perform a securities market research study. You can purchase or sell assets with simply a click on as well as you may accept or debit your shares when you look at. You need to register with an individual name and also a security password and you may begin generating cash online.

 Creating Online Reviews

 Writing evaluations regarding products for sure companies is additionally an on the web earning money type without investment. For this form of project, you must compose your opinion regarding products, to offer some particulars concerning a details product, why would you use that product and certainly not yet another, produced by a provider of very same standing. The outcome is a much better remuneration and also other perks if the company is actually pleased with your project.

 Other effortless options to possess some profits online are specialized creating as well as tutoring projects online. There are actually many offers for on the internet income from home, that you must take note of these deals. Try to find authorized as well as bank that can promise that the work are actually lawful and you will certainly be actually paid. I wish this information is useful as well as I prefer you all the greatest in locating the proper way in making money online.

 Many on the internet entrepreneurs are able to bring in a little bit of funds on the edge, however the fact is actually that most barely bring in just about anything. I'm going to be actually providing a few means you might make money online as effectively as a short customer review leading create cash weblog.

 Many forthcoming net online marketers will certainly go internet excited to begin bring in millions online, yet never ever really place in the work demanded to create it a truth. If you follow these pair of easy steps, you will be in a posture to create a lot of amount of money online and carry out whatever you consistently wished you can carry out, but certainly never can due to the fact that of amount of money. Other quick and easy options to have some profits online are actually technical creating as well as tutoring jobs online.

[mysteryshelf]

BLOG TOUR - Bones to Pick

  Welcome to

THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF!

DISCLAIMER: This content has been provided to THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF by Partners in Crime Book Tours. No compensation was received. This information required by the Federal Trade Commission.

Bones To Pick

by Linda Lovely

on Tour October 16 – December 16, 2017

Synopsis:

Living on a farm with four hundred goats and a cantankerous carnivore isn’t among vegan chef Brie Hooker’s list of lifetime ambitions. But she can’t walk away from her Aunt Eva, who needs help operating her dairy.

Once she calls her aunt’s goat farm home, grisly discoveries offer ample inducements for Brie to employ her entire vocabulary of cheese-and-meat curses. The troubles begin when the farm’s pot-bellied pig unearths the skull of Eva’s husband, who disappeared years back. The sheriff, kin to the deceased, sets out to pin the murder on Eva. He doesn’t reckon on Brie’s resolve to prove her aunt’s innocence. Death threats, ruinous pedicures, psychic shenanigans, and biker bar fisticuffs won’t stop Brie from unmasking the killer, even when romantic befuddlement throws her a curve.

Book Details:

Genre: Humorous Cozy Mystery Published by: Henery Press Publication Date: Oct. 24, 2017 Number of Pages: 266 ISBN: 9781635112597 Series: Brie Hooker Mystery, #1 Get Your Copy of Bones To Pick by Linda Lovely at: Amazon Barnes & Noble Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

ONE

Hello, I’m Brie, and I’m a vegan.

It sounds like I’m introducing myself at a Vegetarians Anonymous meeting. But, trust me, there aren’t enough vegetarians in Ardon County, South Carolina, to make a circle much less hold a meeting.

Give yourself ten points if you already know vegans are even pickier than vegetarians. We forgo meat, fish, eggs, and dairy. But we’re big on cashews, walnuts, and almonds. All nuts are good nuts. Appropriate with my family.

Family. That’s why I put my career as a vegan chef on hold to live and work in Ardon, a strong contender for the South’s carnivore-and- grease capital. My current job? I help tend four hundred goats, make verboten cheese, and gather eggs I’ll never poach. Most mornings when Aunt Eva rousts me before the roosters, I roll my eyes and mutter.

Still, I can’t complain. I had a choice. Sort of. Blame it on the pig—Tammy the Pig—for sticking her snout in our family business.

  I’d consorted with vegans and vegetarians for too long. I seriously underestimated how much cholesterol meat eaters could snarf down at a good old-fashioned wake. Actually, I wasn’t sure this wake was “old fashioned,” but it was exactly how Aunt Lilly would have planned her own send-off—if she’d had the chance. Ten days ago, the feisty sixty- two-year-old had a toddler’s curiosity and a twenty-year-old’s appetite for adventure. Her death was a total shock.

I glanced at Aunt Lilly’s epitaph hanging behind the picnic buffet. She’d penned it years back. Her twin, Aunt Eva, found it in Lilly’s desk and reprinted it in eighty-point type.

  “There once was a farmer named Lilly

Who never liked anything frilly,

She tended her goats,

Sowed a few wild oats,

And said grieving her death would be silly.”

  In a nod to Lilly’s spirit, Aunt Eva planned today’s wake complete with fiddling, hooch, goo-gogs of goat cheese, and the whole panoply of Southern fixins—mounds of country ham, fried chicken, barbecue, and mac-and-cheese awash in butter. Every veggie dish came dressed with bacon crumbles, drippings, or cream of mushroom soup.

Not a morsel fit for a vegan. Eva’s revenge. I’d made the mistake of saying I didn’t want to lose her, too, and hinted she’d live longer if she cut back on cholesterol. Not my smartest move. The name of her farm? Udderly Kidding Dairy. Cheese and eggs had been Eva’s meal ticket for decades.

My innocent observation launched a war. Whenever I opened the refrigerator, I’d find a new message. This morning a Post-it on my dish of blueberries advised: The choline in eggs may enhance brain development and memory—as a vegan you probably forgot.

Smoke from the barbeque pit permeated the air as I replenished another platter of shredded pork on the buffet. My mouth watered and I teetered on the verge of drooling. While I was a dedicated vegan, my olfactory senses were still programmed “Genus Carnivorous.” My stomach growled—loudly. Time to thwart its betrayal with the veggies and hummus dip I’d stashed in self-defense.

I’d just stuck a juicy carrot in my mouth when a large hand squeezed my shoulder.

“Brie, honey, you’ve been working nonstop,” Dad said. “Take a break. Mom’s on her way. We can play caterers. The food’s prepared. No risks associated with our cooking.”

I choked on my carrot and sputtered. “Good thing. Do you even remember the last time Mom turned on an oven?”

Dad smiled. “Can’t recall. Maybe when you were a baby? But, hey, we’re wizards at takeout and microwaves.”

His smile faltered. I caught him staring at Aunt Lilly’s epitaph. “Still can’t believe Lilly’s gone.” He attempted a smile. “Knowing her sense of humor, we’re lucky she didn’t open that epitaph with ‘There once was a lass from Nantucket.’”

I’d never seen Dad so sad. Lilly’s unexpected death stunned him to his core. He adored his older sisters.

Mom appeared at his side and wrapped an arm around his waist. She loved her sisters-in-law, too, though she complained my childless aunts spoiled me beyond repair.

Of course, Lilly’s passing hit Eva the hardest. A fresh boatload of tears threatened as I thought about the aunt left behind. I figured my tear reservoir had dried up after days of crying. Wrong. The tragedy—a texting teenager smashing head-on into Lilly’s car—provoked a week- long family weep-a-thon. It ended when Eva ordered us to cease and desist.

“This isn’t what Lilly would want,” she declared. “We’re gonna throw a wake. One big, honking party.”

Which explained the fifty-plus crowd of friends and neighbors milling about the farm, tapping their feet to fiddlin’, and consuming enough calories to sustain the populace of a small principality for a week.

I hugged Dad. “Thanks. I could use a break. I’ll find Eva. See how she’s doing.”

I spotted her near a flower garden filled with cheery jonquils. It looked like a spring painting. Unfortunately, the cold March wind that billowed Eva’s scarlet poncho argued the blooms were false advertising. The weatherman predicted the thermometer would struggle to reach the mid-forties today.

My aunt’s build was what I’d call sturdy, yet Eva seemed to sway in the gusty breeze as she chatted with Billy Jackson, the good ol’ boy farrier who shod her mule. Though my parents pretended otherwise, we all knew Billy slept under Eva’s crazy quilt at least two nights a week.

I nodded at the couple. Well, actually, the foursome. Brenda, the farm’s spoiled pet goat, and Kai, Udderly’s lead Border collie, were competing with Billy for my aunt’s attention.

“Mom and Dad are watching the buffet,” I said. “Thought I’d see if you need me to do anything. Are you expecting more folks?”

“No.” Eva reached down and tickled the tiny black goat’s shaggy head. “Imagine everyone who’s coming is here by now. They’ll start clearing out soon. Chow down and run. Can’t blame ’em. Especially the idiot women who thought they ought to wear dresses. That biting wind’s gotta be whistling up their drawers.”

Billy grinned as he looked Eva up and down. Her choice of wake attire—poncho, black pants, and work boots—surprised no one, and would have delighted Lilly.

“Do you even own a dress?” Billy laughed. “You’re one to talk.” Eva gave his baggy plaid suit and clip-on bowtie the stink eye. “I suppose you claim that gristle on your chin is needed to steady your fiddle.”

He kissed Eva’s cheek. “Yep, that’s it. Time to rejoin my fellow fiddlers, but first I have a hankering to take a turn at the Magic Moonshine tent.”

“You do that. Maybe the ’shine will improve your playing. It’ll definitely make you sound better to your listening audience. After enough of that corn liquor even my singing could win applause.”

A dark-haired stranger usurped Billy’s place, bending low to plant a kiss on the white curls that sprang from my aunt’s head like wood shavings. Wow.

They stacked handsome tall when they built him. Had to be at least six-four.

Even minus an introduction, I figured this tall glass of sweet tea had to be Paint, the legendary owner of Magic Moonshine. Sunlight glinted off hair the blue-black of expensive velvet. Deep dimples. Rakish smile.

I’d spent days sobbing, and my libido apparently was saying “enough”—time to rejoin the living. If this bad boy were any more alive, he’d be required to wear a “Danger High Voltage” sign. Of course, Aunt Lilly wouldn’t mind. She’d probably rent us a room.

I ventured a glance and found him smiling at me. My boots were suddenly fascinating. Never stare at shiny objects with the potential to hypnotize. I refused to fall under another playboy’s spell.

“How’s my best gal?” he asked, hugging Eva. “Best for this minute, right?” my aunt challenged. “I bet my niece will be your best gal before I finish the introductions.” Eva put a hand on my shoulder. “Paint, this young whippersnapper is Brie Hooker, my favorite niece. ’Course, she’s my only niece. Brie, it’s with great trepidation that I introduce you to David Paynter, better known as Paint, unrepentant moonshiner and heartbreaker.”

Eva subjected Paint to her pretend badass stare, a sure sign he was one of her favorite sparring partners. “Don’t you go messing with Brie, or I’ll bury you down yonder with Mark, once I nail his hide.”

Paint laughed, a deep, rumbling chuckle. He turned toward me and bowed like Rhett Butler reincarnated.

“Pleased to meet you, Brie. That puzzled look tells me you haven’t met Mark, the wily coyote that harasses Eva’s goats. She’s wasted at least six boxes of buckshot trying to scare him off. Me? I’ll gladly risk her shotgun to make your acquaintance. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Eva gave Paint a shove. “Well, if that’s the case, go on. Give Brie a shot of your peach moonshine. It’s pretty good.”

“Peach moonshine it is,” he said and took my arm. A second later, he tightened his grip and pulled me to the right. “Better watch your step. You almost messed up those pretty boots.”

He pointed at a fresh pile of fragrant poop, steaming in the brisk air inches from my suede boots. “Thanks,” I mumbled. Still holding my arm, he steered me over uneven ground to a clear path. “Eva says you’re staying with her. Hope you don’t have to leave for a while. Your aunt’s a fine lady, and it’s going to be mighty hard on her once this flock of well-wishers flies off.”

His baritone sent vibrations rippling through my body. My brain ordered me to ignore the tingling that remained in places it didn’t belong.

He smiled. “Eva and Lilly spoke about you so often I feel like we’re already friends. ’Course head-shaking accompanied some of their comments. They said you’d need to serve plenty of my moonshine if you ever opened a vegan B&B in Ardon County. Here abouts it’s considered unpatriotic to serve eats that haven’t been baptized in a vat of lard. Vegetables are optional; meat, mandatory.”

Uh, oh. I always gave relatives and friends a free pass on good- natured kidding. But a stranger? This man was poking fun at my profession, yet my hackles—smoothed by the hunk’s lopsided grin— managed only a faint bristle.

Back away. Pronto.

Discovering my ex-fiancé, Jack, was boffing not one, but two co-workers the entire two years we were engaged made me highly allergic to lady-killers. Paint was most definitely a member of that tribe.

“What can I say? I’m a rebel,” I replied. “It’s my life’s ambition to convince finger-lickin’, fried-chicken lovers that life without meat, butter, eggs, and cheese does not involve a descent into the nine circles of hell.”

Paint released me, then raised his hand to brush a wayward curl from my forehead. His flirting seemed to be congenital.

“If you’re as feisty as your aunt claims, why don’t you take me on as a challenge? I do eat tomatoes—fried green ones, anyway—and I’m open to sampling other members of the vegetable kingdom. So long as they don’t get between me and my meat. Anyway, welcome to the Carolina foothills. Time to pour some white lightning. It’s smoother than you might expect.”

And so are you. Too smooth for me.

That’s when we heard the screams.

TWO

Paint zoomed off like a Clemson running back, hurtling toward the screams—human, not goat. I managed to stay within a few yards of him, slipping and sliding as my suede boots unwittingly smooshed a doggie deposit. Udderly’s guardian dogs, five Great Pyrenees, were large enough to saddle, and their poop piles rivaled cow paddies.

I reached the barn, panting, with a stitch in my right side. I stopped to catch my breath. Hallelujah. I braced my palm against the weathered barn siding.

Ouch. Harpooned by a jagged splinter. Blood oozed from the sensitive pad below my right thumb. I stared at the inch-plus spear. Paint had kept running. He was no longer in sight.

The screams stopped. An accident? A heart attack? I hustled around the corner of the barn. A little girl sobbed in the cleared area behind Udderly’s retail sales cabin. I recognized Jenny, a rambunctious five-year-old from a nearby farm. Her mother knelt beside her, stroking her hair.

No child had produced the operatic screams we’d heard. Maybe Jenny’s mother was the screamer. But the farm wife didn’t seem the hysterical type. On prior visits to Udderly, I’d stopped at the roadside stand where she sold her family’s produce. Right now the woman’s face looked redder than one of her Early Girl tomatoes. Was the flush brought on by some danger—a goat butting her daughter, a snake slithering near the little girl?

I walked closer. Then I saw it. A skull poked through the red clay. Soil had tinted the bone an absurd pink.

I gasped. The sizeable cranium looked human. I spotted the grave digger, or should I say re-digger. Udderly’s newest addition, a Vietnamese potbellied pig named Tammy, hunkered in a nearby puddle. Tiny cloven hoof marks led to and from the excavation. Tell-tale red mud dappled her dainty twitching snout. The pig’s hundred-pound body quivered as her porcine gaze roved the audience she’d attracted.

A man squatted beside Tammy, speaking to the swine in soothing, almost musical tones. Pigs were dang smart and sensitive. Aunt Eva told me it was easy to hurt their feelings. The fellow stroking Tammy’s grimy head must’ve been convinced she was one sensitive swine.

“It’s okay,” he repeated. “The lady wasn’t screaming at you, Tammy.”

Tammy snorted, lowered her head, and squeezed her eyes shut. The pig-whisperer gave the swine a final scratch and stood, freeing gangly limbs from his pretzel-like crouch. Mud caked the cuffs and knees of his khaki pants. Didn’t seem to bother him one iota.

The mother shepherded her little girl away from the disturbing scene, and Paint knelt to examine the skeletal remains. “Looks like piggy uncovered more than she bargained for.” He glanced at Muddy Cuffs. “Andy, you’re a vet. Animal or human?”

“Human.” Andy didn’t hesitate. “But all that’s left is bone. Had to have been buried a good while. Yet Tammy’s rooting scratched only inches below the surface. If a settler dug this grave, it was mighty shallow.”

“Probably didn’t start that way.” I pointed to a depression that began uphill near the retail cabin. “This wash has deepened a lot since my aunts built their store and the excavation diverted water away from the cabin. The runoff’s been nibbling away at the ground.”

Mom, Dad, and Aunt Eva joined the group eyeballing the skull. Eva looked peaked, almost ill. I felt a slight panic at the shift in her normally jolly appearance. I thought of my aunts as forces of nature. Unflappable. Indestructible. I’d lost one, and the other suddenly looked fragile. Finding a corpse on her property the same day she bid her twin goodbye had hit her hard.

Dad cocked his head. “Could be a Cherokee burial site. Or maybe a previous farmer buried a loved one and the grave marker got lost. Homestead burials have always been legal in South Carolina. Still are.”

For once, the idea of finding a corpse in an unexpected location didn’t prompt a gleeful chuckle from my dad, Dr. Howard Hooker. Though he was a professor of horticulture at Clemson University by day, he was an aspiring murder mystery author by night. Every time we went for a car ride, Dad made a game of searching the landscape for spots “just perfect” for disposing of bodies. So far, a dense patch of kudzu in a deep ravine topped his picks. “Kudzu grows so fast any flesh peeking through would disappear in a day.”

Good thing Dad confined his commentary to family outings. We knew the corpses in question weren’t real.

Mom whipped out her smartphone. “I’ll call Judge Glenn. It’s Sunday, but he always answers his cell. He’ll know who to call. I’m assuming the Ardon County Sheriff’s Department.”

Dad nodded. “Probably, but I bet SLED—the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division—will take over. The locals don’t have forensic specialists.”

Mom rolled her eyes. “You spend way too much time with your Sisters in Crime.”

It amused Mom that Dad’s enthusiasm for his literary genre earned him the presidency of the Upstate South Carolina Chapter of Sisters in Crime.

Mom didn’t fool with fictional crime. Too busy with the real thing. As the City of Clemson’s attorney, she kept a bevy of lawyers, judges, and city and university cops on speed dial. However, Udderly Kidding wasn’t in the same county as Clemson so it sat outside her domain.

“Judge Glenn, this is Iris Hooker. I’m at the Udderly Kidding Dairy in Ardon. An animal here unearthed a skull. We think it’s human, but not recent. Should we call the sheriff?”

Mom nodded and made occasional I-get-it noises while she clamped the cell to her ear.

“Could you ask them to keep their arrival quiet? Better yet, could they wait until after four? About fifty folks are here for my sister-in- law’s wake. I don’t want to turn her farewell into a circus.”

A minute later, Mom murmured her thanks and pocketed her cell. “The judge agrees an old skull doesn’t warrant sirens or flashing lights. He’ll ask the Ardon County Sheriff, Robbie Jones, to come by after four. Since I’m an officer of the court, his honor just requested that I keep people and animals clear of the area until the sheriff arrives.”

Andy stood. “Paint, help me bring some hay bales from the barn. We can stack them to cordon off the area.”

“Good idea.” Paint stood, and the two men strode off. No needless chitchat. They appeared to be best buds.

I tugged Dad’s sleeve, nodded toward his sister, and whispered, “I think Aunt Eva should sit down. Let’s get her to one of the front porch rockers.”

Dad walked over and draped an arm around his sister’s shoulders. “Eva, let’s sit a while so folks can find you to pay their respects. This skeleton is old news. Not our worry.”

Eva’s lips trembled. “No, Brother. I feel it in my own bones. It’s that son-of-a-bitch Jed Watson come back to haunt me.”

THREE

Jed Watson? The man Eva married in college? The man who vanished a few years later?

Dad’s eyebrows shot up. “Eva, that’s nonsense. That dirtbag ran off forty years back. You’re letting your imagination run wild.”

Eva straightened. “Some crime novelist you are. You know darn well any skeleton unearthed on my property would have something to do with that nasty worm. Nobody wished that sorry excuse for a man dead more than me.”

“Calm down. Don’t spout off and give the sheriff some harebrained notion that pile of bones is Jed,” Dad said. “No profit in fueling gossip or dredging up ancient history. Authorities may have ruled Jed dead, but I always figured that no-good varmint was still alive five states over, most likely beating the stuffing out of some other poor woman.”

Wow. I knew Eva took her maiden name back after they declared her husband dead, but I’d never heard a speck of the unsavory backstory. Dad liked to tell family tales, including ones about long- dead scoundrels. Guess this history wasn’t ancient enough.

Curiosity made me eager to ask a whole passel of none-of-my- business questions, though I felt some justification about poking my nose here. I’d known Eva my entire life. So how come this was the first I’d heard of a mystery surrounding Jed’s disappearance? Was Dad truly worried the sheriff might suspect Eva?

I was dying to play twenty questions. Too bad it wasn’t the time or place.

I smiled at my aunt. “Why don’t I get some of Paint’s brew to settle our nerves? Eva, you like that apple pie flavor, right?”

“Yes, thanks, dear.”

“Good idea, Brie,” Dad added. “I’ll take a toot of Paint’s blackberry hooch. Eva’s not the only one who could use a belt. We’ll greet folks from those rockers. Better than standing like mannequins in a receiving line. And there’s a lot less risk of falling down if we get a little tipsy.”

Aunt Eva ignored Dad’s jest. She looked haunted, lost in memory. A very bad memory.

I hurried to the small tent where Magic Moonshine dispensed free libations. A buxom young lass smiled as she poured shine into miniature Mason jars lined up behind four flavor signs: Apple Pie, Blackberry, Peach, and White Lightnin’.

“What can I do you for, honey?” the busty server purred. I’m still an Iowa girl at heart, but, like my transplanted aunts and parents, I’ve learned not to take offense when strangers of both sexes and all ages call me honey, darlin’, and sweetie. My high school social studies teacher urged us to appreciate foreign customs and cultures. I may not be in Rome, but I’m definitely in Ardon County.

I smiled at Miss Sugarmouth. The top four buttons of her blouse were undone. The way her bosoms oozed over the top, I seriously doubted those buttons had ever met their respective buttonholes. No mystery why Paint hired her. Couldn’t blame him or her. Today’s male mourners would enjoy a dash of cleavage with their shine, and she’d rake in lots more tips.

“Sweetie, do you have a tray I can use to take drinks to the folks on the porch?”

The devil still made me add the “sweetie” when I addressed Miss Sugarmouth. She didn’t bat an eyelash. Probably too weighed down with mascara.

“Sure thing, honey.” I winced when the tray slid over the wood sliver firmly embedded in my palm. Suck it up. No time for minor surgery.

As I walked toward Eva’s cabin, crunching noises advertised some late arrivals ambling down the gravel road. On the porch, Dad and Eva had settled into a rhythm, shaking hands with friends and neighbors and accepting sympathy pats. Hard to hug someone in a rocker.

I handed miniature glass jars to Eva and Dad before offering drinks to the folks who’d already run the gauntlet of the sit-down receiving line. Then I tiptoed behind Dad’s rocker.

“I’ll see if Mom wants anything and check back later to see how you and Eva are doing.”

“Thanks, honey.” He kissed my cheek. I returned to Paint’s moonshine stand and picked up a second drink tray, gingerly hoisting it to avoid bumping my skewered palm. Balancing the drinks, I picked my way across the rutted ground to what I worried might be a crime scene.

Mom perched between Paint and Andy atop the double row of hay bales stacked to keep the grisly discovery out of sight. The five-foot-two height on Mom’s driver’s license was a stretch. At five-four, I had her by at least three, maybe four, inches. My mother’s build was tiny as well as short—a flat-chested size two. I couldn’t recall ever being able to squeeze into her doll-size clothes. My build came courtesy of the females on Dad’s side of the family. Compact but curvy. No possibility of going braless in polite society.

Mom’s delicate appearance often confounded the troublemakers she prosecuted for the city. Too often the accused took one look at Iris Hooker and figured they’d hire some hulking male lawyer to walk all over the little lady in court.

Big mistake. The bullies often reaped unexpected rewards—a costly mélange of jail time, fines, and community service.

Mom spotted my tray-wobbling approach. “Are these Paint’s concoctions?”

I nodded. “Well, Daughter, sip nice and slow. Someday I may file charges against Magic Moonshine. Paint’s shine is often an accomplice when Clemson tailgaters pull stunts that land them in front of a judge.”

Paint lifted his glass in a salute. “Can I help it if all our flavors go down easy?”

Mom turned back to me. “Have you met these, ahem, gentlemen?”

I suddenly felt shy as my gaze flicked between the two males. “I met Paint earlier. This is my first chance to say hi to Andy. I’m Brie Hooker. You must be the veterinarian Aunt Eva’s always talking about.”

Andy rose to his feet. “Andy Green. Pleased to meet you, ma’am. Your aunts were my very first customers when I opened my practice.”

He waved a hand at Tammy, the now demure pig, wallowing a goodly distance away. “I’m really sorry Tammy picked today to root up these bones. I feel partly to blame. Talked your aunts into adopting Miss Piggy. It aggravates me how folks can’t resist buying potbellied pigs as pets when they’re adorable babies, but have no qualms about abandoning them once they start to grow.”

Andy’s outstretched hand awaited my handshake. I held up my palm to display my injury. “Gotta take a rain check on a handshake. Unfortunately, I already shook hands with the barn.”

Andy gently turned up my palm. “I’ll fix you right up, if you don’t mind a vet doing surgery. Give me a minute to wash up and meet me at my truck. Can’t miss it. A double-cab GMC that kinda looks like aliens crash landed an aluminum spaceship in the truck bed. I’m parked by the milking barn.”

As Andy loped off toward the retail shop’s comfort station, Paint called after him. “Sneaky way to hold hands with a pretty lady.”

Andy glanced over his shoulder and grinned. “You’re just mad you didn’t think of it first.”

Paint chuckled and focused his hundred-watt grin on me. “Bet my white lightning could disinfect that sliver. Sure you don’t want me to do the honors?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Somehow I doubt honor has anything to do with it.”

The moonshiner faked an injured look. Mom rolled her eyes. “Heaven help me—and you, Brie. Not sure you’re safe with the wildlife that frequents this farm. Forget those coyotes that worry Eva, I’m talking wolves.” She looked toward the porch. “How’s Eva holding up?”

“Better.” I wanted to grill Mom about Jed Watson, but I needed to do so in private. “Guess I should steel myself for surgery.” I took a Mason jar from the tray I’d set on a hay bale. “Down the hatch.” My healthy swallow blazed a burning trail from throat to belly. Before I could stop myself, I sputtered.

“Shut your mouth,” Paint said. Yowzer. My eyes watered, and my throat spasmed. I coughed. “What?”

“Shut your mouth. Oxygen fuels the burn. You need to take a swallow then close your mouth. None of this sipping stuff.”

“Now you tell me.” I choked. Mom laughed. “That’s the best strategy I’ve heard yet to shut Brie up.”

I wiped at the tears running down my cheeks. “Your moonshine packs more punch than my five-alarm Thai stir fry.”

Paint’s eyebrows rose. “My shine is smooth, once you get used to it. You want a little fire in your gut. Keeps life interesting.”

A little too interesting. I’d been at Udderly Kidding Dairy just over a week, and I already felt like a spinning top with a dangerous wobble.

***

Excerpt from Bones To Pick by Linda Lovely. Copyright © 2017 by Linda Lovely. Reproduced with permission from Linda Lovely. All rights reserved.

Author Bio:

Over the past five years, hundreds of mystery/thriller writers have met Linda Lovely at check-in for the annual Writers’ Police Academy, which she helps organize. Lovely finds writing pure fiction isn’t a huge stretch given the years she’s spent penning PR and ad copy. She writes a blend of mystery and humor, chuckling as she plots to “disappear” the types of characters who most annoy her. Quite satisfying plus there’s no need to pester relatives for bail. Her newest series offers good-natured salutes to both her vegan family doctor and her cheese-addicted kin. She served as president of her local Sisters in Crime chapter for five years and belongs to International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America.

Catch Up With Linda Lovely On: Website 🔗, Goodreads 🔗, Twitter 🔗, & Facebook 🔗!

  Tour Participants:

Stop by these awesome hosts to learn more about Linda Lovely & her amazing book, Bones To Pick. Plus, there are some great reviews, interviews, and giveaways!!

  Giveaway:

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Linda Lovely. There will be 1 winner of one (1) Amazon.com Gift Card. The giveaway begins on October 14 and runs through December 17, 2017.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours

BLOG TOUR – Bones to Pick was originally published on the Wordpress version of The Pulp and Mystery Shelf with Shannon Muir