#it's called Raven Domestication Guide

[jeeb-is-okay]

tag by @alt234mega

armored core for answer's earth would be the funniest world for aliens to invade. they show up and, in order, go

why does this non-space faring civilization have a super advanced orbital defense satellite network?

why is it pointing inwards?

why are there giant flying carriers with millions of people in each of them?

oh, it's because the planet is irradiated to hell and back. why is the planet irradiated to hell and back?

oh, it's because of those giant robots giving off super radiation. why are there giant robots giving off super radiation?

WHY ARE THEY DASH DANCING AT MACH 3?

WHY ARE THERE PEOPLE INSIDE OF THE GIANT ROBOTS GIVING OFF SUPER RADIATION DASH DANCING AT MACH 3!?

THEY'RE CONTROLLING THEM!?

[just-some-user-hunny]

ohhhhh my god regular Nikto is already so soft and possessive and hold-on-cannot-let-go-of-the-one-good-soft-thing-we-have but yandere Nikto? oh man oh man oh man, so much desperation, so much smugness when his little one stays, it's overwhelming. so much love, devotion, adoration, I can just imagine him carrying his llubov around like a toddler carries a cat

You are so right dear anon, yandere nikto is just regular nikto but the crazy is dialed up like a good 10. You're the one good thing that's ended up wandering into his life- a flicker of sunlight peeking through the dark clouds that's kept him cold and dreary. He can't let you go. They can't let you go.

He needs you to need him, and maybe a part of him knows you need him. That smug part of him that shivers and keens in delight whenever you hesitantly call for him for help, or even just catching you in positions or scenarios where he can swoop in and do all the work for you like a good husband.

You've cut your finger whilst cutting carrots for dinner? Don't worry, he's trained in first aid, although you're quite sure him suckling the blood off your wound isn't necessary.

Hes like an offputting wild animal trapped in a human body. Teeth too sharp and hunger too ravenous for a man, but his touch is too restrained and practiced for an animal. He looks like he wants to devour you with his blown out irises and his hot tongue suckling your little finger between his torn scarred lips, before he ushers you to cling to him from the back. Guiding your hands with his to grasp the loops of his belt, your chest pressing to the curve of his strong back, and your cheek nestled between his shoulder blades as he contently cuts the rest of the carrots.

Or maybe you've knicked your ankle with the blade whilst shaving in the tub. You'll be swaddled in a fluffy warm towel on the bed, placed on your back as he's dragged your foot up to rest on his shoulder as he fiddles with a bandaid between thick calloused fingers. Gathering the drop of blood running down your ankle with his tongue before kissing the wound. There. Better now llubov. Maybe next time he should help you if you insist on shaving, he doesn't like seeing his dearest one bleed.

(and he will. Sitting himself on the edge of the tub, your soapy wet leg propped up on his thigh as he delicately drags the razorblade across your silken skin. Patient and caring with his featherlight touches).

And yes absolutely, he loves carrying his dear around. Your arms around his neck and his arms around your waist, carrying you around whilst doing domestic chores. Loves how you snuggle into his neck, boosting his already swelling ego and delusion. You do need him, don't you llubov? Who'd keep your feet from ever touching the ground? Who'd keep the house warm and maintained? Who'd keep you satiated and happy? None other than your very devoted husband of course.

[letaot-ze-magniv]

Infodump on birds in Israel? 👁️👁️ Pls go on

General guide to birds in Israel

This post is going to be very long

Level 1- really common ones

Hooded crow/o-rev a-for (gray crow)

These big boys are the most common birds in Israel. You can find them everywhere, especially in urban areas. They’re quite big, the average crow is 40-50 cm long with a wingspan of 1m. (That’s bigger then a pigeon).

Like all corvids, they are incredibly intelligent. They have an excellent memory, can recognise specific humans and pass on information through generations. They are fond of shiny things, have funerals, an understanding of games and a justice system. They can use tools and have a taste for peanuts and grapes.

Laughing dove/tzo-tze-let/yo-na

These are the second most common birds in Israel, and they’re also an invasive species. The vast majority of people call them “yona�� and if you say “tzotzelet wont know what you mean. You can find them everywhere, especially in cities.

This is an invasive species, and is commonly thought of as the first invasive species in Israel. It was brought over by Muslims during the Ottoman occupation and has lived here since.

Domestic pigeon/yo-nat ha-Ba-it (house dove)/yo-na

Like the tzotzelet, most people call this bird “yona” too. That leads to the misconception that they’re the same species and confusion between the two. This pigeon is also extremely common, and you can find it in all urban spaces in Israel.

Feathering mutations are widespread among domestic pigeons, and they can also look like this:

House Sparrows/ dror ha-ba-it/dror

On the left, a female, on the right is a male. This birds are tiny and common and very cute. Can be found in all areas of Israel. They like eating small seeds and bugs, and you can feed them bread.

Monk parakeet/ tu-ki ne-zi-ri (commonly known as tu-ki)

They’re green, adorable, can speak, and you guessed it, are invasive! Like the maynas, monk parakeets were introduced to Israel in the 90s after they escaped the Tzafari. You can find them in all parts of Israel except the Negev, and they’re especially common in Tel aviv and it’s neighbouring cities. Monk parakeets are often confused with rose-ringed parakeets as they’re the only green birds in Israel.

Rose ringed parakeets/da-ra-ra

Above is the male, below is the female. Like monk parakeets, dararas are also an invasive species. I thought they were introduced in the 90s, but apparently they were introduced in the 1860s because they were kept as pets. Like monk parakeets, they can be found in all areas of Israel that aren’t deserts. It’s hard to tell them apart from monk parakeets if you can’t see their chests.

Eurasian Jackdaw/kak

Yet another corvid! Like all other corvids, jackdaws are extremely intelligent, have an understanding of death, can use tools, and so on. Jackdaws are unique in that they also have an understanding of monogamy and privacy around mating! They prefer to mate away from their murder (is murder what you call a flock of any corvid or is that exclusive to ravens?) and they also kill their ill. They can be found in all areas hooded crows are, but aren’t as common. Its possible to confuse them for a hooded crow, but they’re smaller and darker.

Hopoe/du-khi-fat

This lil girl isn’t extremely common, but it’s the national bird and is adorable so I HAD to include it. Hopoes tend to live near sources of water, and you can find them in coastal areas. There used to be more of them but sadly deforestation and invasive species hurt the population. They have a floofy feather thingy on their head that they can open and close and that’s adorable!

I’ll make a part 2 now about somewhat uncommon birds

If anyone is interested in learning more about the birds of Israel, I highly recommend אתר הצפרות הישראלי. They have detailed descriptions of the birds, they include scientific Hebrew and Arabic names, they have a map that shows you how common each bird is in what part of Israel, AND THEY HAVE RECORDINGS OF THE BIRD CALLS

They also have a page for every bird that was ever spotted in Israel, even if it was only once. Don’t ask me what they define as Israel, because I’ve wondered about it too and I don’t know

[littlebleubirb]

o birb, o birb, you reblog quite a lot of birds! so, i must ask, do you have any birds you associate with the beloved heros guide cast?

or, just what their birdsona would be /j

Oh my god oh my god, I absolutely love this idea. No I've never thought about what birds would represent the princes, But I Have To Now!!!

Okay, after mulling over this ask for a few days (apologizes for the delay,) here are my answers! (And just so you know, most are based on North American birds cause that's where I live.)

Here we go!

Liam -> Blue Jay

I immediately thought someone in the corvidae family would fit Liam best. Ravens are famous for their puzzle solving skills, and many heroic deeds require that level of deep thinking. But at the same time he needs a bird that's got the same taste of style as Liam, though unfortunately I don't know of any birds with capes, so instead we'll have to settle on a corvid with beautiful, distinct coloring.

Duncan -> Pigeon/ Rock Dove

I thought Duncan should be a bird often overlooked by most people. Despite these pigeons ancestors being domesticated by humans centuries ago, they've now gone feral and are called pests, or Rats with Wings. Both Duncan and the Rock Dove would be lovely companions but are instead overlooked, unloved, and scorned... except by a few people.

(... oh I think a domesticated duck or chicken would work for Duncan. But I've got a soft spot for Pigeons ☺️)

Gustav -> Canadian Goose

You don't want to mess with either Gustav or a Canadian Goose. These geese are loud, loyal, and aggressive (when their boundaries are pushed). I'd say Gustav is slightly more gun-ho for a fight than the geese, but that's a pretty impressive feat within itself.

And last but not least, the blorbo himself!

Frederic -> Fancy Pigeon (breed; Old German Owl Pigeon)

So keeping pigeons isn't as common as it used to be, but by golly do people still do it! There are so many fancy breeds out there, some who have no chance surviving out in the wild. The only way these birds could exist is in captivity. Of course, some pigeons get loose every now and then, and join a wild flock of pigeons. This all made me think of Frederic; the fancy looks, the dependency, and running off on a new adventure!

(Plus this breed has the little neck ruffles that mimic Frederics collar. Tho I wonder if there's a bird that mimics the look of tassels... hmmm)

And I know you just asked about the princes, BUT.... I did the princesses too! Hehehe

Ella -> Peregrine Falcon

Ella's number one goal in life is to see and experience the world. While individual Peregrine won't see the whole world in their life time, the species is found all over the world; in every continent besides Antartica. Plus, Ella tends to act first, think later. She wont let anyone stop her. That could be translated to the Peregrine falcons need for speed. (A little bit of a stretch, I know, but I think Ella would enjoy being the fastest flying animal in the world, and who am I to deprive her of that?)

Rapunzel -> Mourning Dove

Have you heard these birds call? They have the sweetest, softest sound, it's my absolute favorite. Top tier. The Best. Hoo hoo ho, hoo hoo ho.... I gotta make my blorbo a mourning dove because they both share a similar vibe and I would die for both of them.

Snow -> Kea

Snow is silly but creative, smart but goofy, and that immediately made me think of the Kea. I think Snow would enjoy the kind of shenanigans the Kea gets up to, and even though Kea aren't known for it, I can see a Snow Kea using branches and twigs to make a masterpiece.

(Kea are more known for their destructive nature..... I guess Snow would just be a Kea channeling that energy into crafting instead akdkfgsakskkg)

(....honestly she could be a domestic duck too. Hmm. Now I'm not sure which I like more!)

Briar -> Major Mitchell's Cockatoo

If I know anything about parrots in captivity, it's that they are loud, demanding, destructive toddlers. No, Briar is nothing like a toddler, but just like tamed parrots, she's demanding, loud, and tactful. This Cockatoo has all of these traits, plus a beautiful rosey plumage and a crest that resembles Briars stack of hair. (If you squint!)

Aaaaaand that's it! That's all the princes and princesses done, there's no one left to turn into a bird :)

....

ExceptMaybeLilaAndRuffianBecauseWhyNot

Ruffian -> Turkey Vulture

So I dont have a compelling reason for this one, other than I imagined a sad Turkey Vulture with a blue cloak and couldn't get it out of my head. Ruffian is a turkey vulture because my brain told me so.

Lila - Chickadee

Ya know who's often underestimated despite how valued they are by the people around them? Lila and Chickadees! Think about it, Lila is valued by her mother and father only as an additional heir, not always taken seriously by Liam because she's his younger sister, but is capable of accomplishing lots and lots of things. Chickadees are often valued at birdfeeders for their plumage and iconic Chick-a-dee-dee-dee call, but by golly these birds have an impressive way of surviving the winter! They actually don't eat the seeds they collect, at least not yet. They hunt for insects during the spring and summer, and store the seeds in trees crevices and branches for the winter! And it takes a lot of brain power to memorize where all those seeds are located.

Cute, but underestimated. Lila and the Chickadee!

Aaaaaand that's it, I've reached the image limit. No more birds.

And I promise I didn't mean to make this response so long! It was just so fun to come up with what birds would describe who. Combing birds and heros guide... my new weakness

OH I DIDNT DO VAL AND I LOVE VAL. Okay, umm.... she also reminds me of a Canadian Goose tbh! But like a regular Canadian Goose, unlike Gustav, who is just a more aggressive Canadian Goose. Tho maybe she could be a domesticated goose??

(Okay I'm done for real!)

[splishsplashyouropinionistrash]

hello hello my loves, it's been a while since I've done a fic rec list and I'm feeling *inspired*

my qualifications are that i'm a loser and have read over a thousand fics so far in 2023

Was Sorta Hopin' That You'd Stay by jaydreamz (8/8)

Minyard Josten rivalry but they actually hate each other. They have a prank war. It's beautiful.

Eighteen Wheels And Three Beating Hearts by Autumnalpalmetto, IKnowWhoYouAre_Damianos (21/21)

Small town AU, Neil is a trucker with a son and Andrew runs a diner. So many found family feels, was giggling like a child the whole time. Connor owns my heart.

Die Free Or Die A Failure by Mickey_99 (54/54)

This one. This one!!! It's so good. Like, so good. It's a Raven!Neil fic, where Neil escapes the Nest and joins Kevin at PSU. It's super dark at times, but so lovely? The found family in this one is just *chefs kiss*

I Guess This Is Where I Say Goodbye by Artificiosus (2/2)

Listen y'all. I bawled like a baby reading this one. Full on ugly sobbing. It was amazing. It's MCD, so be careful. Neil gets in a car crash and calls Andrew, but Andrew doesn't pick up. The whole fic is Neil's voicemail and Andrew's reaction. It's so beautiful and so so sad.

Here And Where You Are by pentagrammed (1/1)

This one!!! It's almost sort-of MCD? But not actually. Read it, I'm begging. There's not much I can say about it without spoilers, so just... read it.

Dating & Other Disasters by lolainslackss, moonix (12/12)

Okok but this one. It's fake dating, the Foxes all go to a fine arts school. Neil is an actor and Andrew is a writer. It's so good !!! Andrew's poem lives rent-free in my head.

Murder Boyfriends by justadreamfox (3/3)

Heathers AU!!! It's beautiful, I'm in love with it. Go forth and read.

Better Than A Night Light by Ominous (1/1)

Literally 7k of fluff. Neil watches one of those alien horror movies and gets scared by it (but Drew is there to help, ofc)

Small Angry Gardeners by SensationalSunburst (8 part series)

Neil and Andrew's adventures in homeowning, gardening, meeting neighbors, owning animals, and other domestic bullshit. So fluffy, so sweet, so fun. Simply adore.

Heimkehr Means Homecoming by This_Witch_Writes (2 part series)

Cass is good! Andrew gets a mom! Family !!!! Literally so good, I cried a lot.

What Does 'Viral' Mean? by darkbluebox (1/1)

Kevin is a sports commentator after retirement, and Neil joins him for a game. So much bickering. Fucking hilarious

In Reel And Rout by maydaykevin (10/10)

Fantasy pirates AU. Vaguely Pirates of the Caribbean? So good though, oh my god. Andrew has water powers and shit. Neil is a pirate captain. I'm in love.

The Exy Team Is Nuts: A Survival Guide For The Uninitiated by Cute Negativity Cloud (Ofelia) (1/1)

The Foxes from the perspective of the other sports team. They have a whiteboard with rules for how to deal with them without being murdered/beaten up/insulted to death. It's fucking hilarious

Kill My Mind (Raise My Body Back To Life) by r3mus (1/1)

Ghostface!Andriel. They're murder boyfriends who kill bad people. It was such a fun read tbh

Queer Eye For The Demi Guy by neilwrites (13/13)

Neil goes on Queer Eye. The Monsters + Allison are the fab 5. it's wonderful, I love it.

Baby I'll Bleed You Dry by priorwalter (2 part series)

The Twilight AU this fandom desperately needed. In which Andrew is Edward, Neil is Bella, and many jokes are made. I spend a solid half an hour cackling

The Gaslights Burn Brightly by This_Witch_Writes (8/8)

Okok so Andrew and Neil were childhood friends, but Neil disappears one day and everyone convinces Andrew that he never existed at all. Eight years later, they meet again at PSU. It was so. Amazing. I love this author sm

A Dad By Any Other Name by SensationalSunburst (2/2)

Coach Wymack being a dad for 5k. That's it. That's the fic. (5+1 Wymack being a dad)

Called It Home by jingerhead (1/1)

Neil is spiderman. Spoilers for No Way Home. Guys it's so good !!

What We Ask by constellationqueen (40/40)

Neil gets hurt. Andrew helps him. SUUUUPER dark guys, like. Super dark. MCD too, so watch out. Really sad but so so beautiful, I sobbed so violently my sibling thought someone had died

The Suit Universe by marie_pothos (17 part series)

Ohhhhhh my god THIS ONE!!! My all time fave series. It's a popstar AU, but Neil is basically Taylor Swift. It's all based off of Taylor Swift songs. Absolute must read, even if you don't like TS that much. It's so beautiful, and funny, and so so sweet, and just- I could go on forever about this one.

Shake My Tomb by exactly13percent_OLD (hymbeaux) (10/10)

Butcher!Neil (sorta). kevin goes to Neil for protection from Riko, so neil goes to PSU. So beautifully written, I just re-read it today. It's so good guys.

Take To The Wing by iceEckos12 (20/20)

Neil signs the contract during his Christmas at Evermore. Surprisingly fluffy for a Nest fic, and there are some absolutely wonderful OCs. I would die for Joshua.

Something In Return by reaching_my_summit (10/10)

Neil and Andrew go to Disney World. That's the whole fic. Tooth-rotting fluff, it's amazing

Funky Happenings With The Fox Family by dobbypussypopper (27/27)

THE Fox group chat fic. It's fucking hilarious, I laughed so hard I started crying.

The Marks We Make by Fortheloveofexy (11/11)

Soulmate AU. Guys, this fic. It's one of my favorites. I reread it all the time. It's so good, and so sweet, and just UGH. I adore it so much.

Falling. by Idnis (16/16)

Art School AU where Andrew is a photographer and Neil is a painter. It's so poetic and beautiful, I'm begging you to read it.

Too Gay To Function by gluupor (1/1)

Mean Girls fusion. Andrew is Regina George. Enough said.

And there you go! This is a very very small fraction of the fics I've read this year, so obviously I have more if anyone's interested.

Go forth and read !

[strixcattus]

Miscellaneous Other Birds

...I'm counting sixteen. No, that one doesn't count, there's still only sixteen.

Following Silverhart's lead, I've left off the names on the initial image so you can guess which is which—some I feel are rather obvious and others rather not. Under the cut I'll put the version with every bird labelled.

Some birds have inspiration from existing birds. A few have very direct inspiration, in that I had a bird field guide with me while drawing and, in the case the bestiary entry didn't spark anything solid, would open it to a random page and use whatever it was as inspiration or reference. I don't remember most of these.

Now, let's buckle in for:

Rapid-Fire Birdbuilding

The Tluftasong

The Tluftasong is a nocturnal bird native to Eastern Europe. It bears strong resemblance to an owl, though it is unrelated. It is roughly seven inches from bill to tailtip, and has sooty grey feathers.

A Tluftasong eats insects and nests in hollows and in the eaves of abandoned buildings. Its pupils are extremely dilated, and are unable to significantly change size. Because of this, Tluftasongs cannot safely open their eyes during daylight and are severely impacted by light pollution.

The Lokfotreag

The Lokfotreag is a bird found only in Scotland. Its body is covered in shaggy brown feathers, save for its head, which is bald, save for a bright red crest of feathers. It is incapable of long-distance flight, and primarily eats corpses.

(My intention with this one was to take "turkey vulture" a bit too literally, but it doesn't look very much like an actual turkey.)

The Hurrashbeg

The Hurrashbeg is a kind of corvid native to Ireland. Its feathers are mainly black, though the tips of its wings and tail and the top of its head are white. It is capable of mimicking sounds, though not as well as a parrot or raven, and is noted for doing so incredibly often.

The Konchilkuk

The Konchilkuk is a kind of woodpecker found in Southeast Asia. It is very easily identified as its body is covered in black-and-orange stripes.

The Wobrahfmet

The Wobrahfmet is a black bird found in all of Europe except for southern Europe. Its head is a slightly lighter shade than the rest of its body. It is not picky in its choice of food, and will dine on plants, insects, and corpses alike, and it makes a loud croaking call that can be heard from an impressive distance.

The Hrongnewit

The Hrongnewit is a small bird of prey—a foot in length at most—found throughout all of Europe except for northern Europe. Its feathers are a sandy brown, with a darker body than head and paler feathers on the undersides of its wings and the tip of its tail. It likes to prey on the chicks of domestic birds, if they are left unattended.

The Klomurgrae

The Klomurgrae is a shorebird native to the Midwestern and Northeastern United States. Its feathers are black with white stripes, and its head is bald. Much of its diet consists of washed-up corpses, though it will also dig in the sand for living invertebrates.

The Zagsmenrok

The Zagsmenrok is a tiny bird, four inches in length. It eats mainly seeds. There are two species of Zagsmenrok—one is found throughout almost all of Europe, and is black with a white beak, and the other is found only in Greece, and is white with a black beak.

(This one was based on a chimney swift! Got lucky with the bird book there—not sure what I'd have done if I'd landed on a duck or something.)

The Hreakgleav

The Hreakgleav is a bird native to Russia. It is covered in shaggy grey feathers, and makes a low croaking call. They are frequently seen nesting in manmade structures. They are omnivorous and will eat anything they can find, from seeds to corpses to small living animals to human garbage.

The Wahrembeag

The Wahrembeag is a songbird found throughout the United States and Canada. It is blue-grey in color, with white feathers along its wings, and it eats mainly insects. It is known for singing particularly loudly just before dawn year-round, and remaining silent the rest of the day when not in its spring mating season.

The Sarbrufeat

The Sarbrufeat is a bird of prey found mainly in Canada and the northern United States. Males of the species have white feathers with grey bands on their legs, while females have mottled grey feathers with white stripes on their chest and legs.

The Keltrumram

The Keltrumram is a waterbird found in the southern United States. It is known locally as the "fool's eagle" because the white plumage on its head causes some to mistake it for a bald eagle. It eats fish.

(I think I remember what this bird is, from the "eagle" week... so I designed something that might plausibly be mistaken for either bird. Assuming I remember right.)

The Grozfarwat

The Grozfarwat is a bird with blue-grey feathers and a broad wingspan. Its head is a brighter shade of blue, and it eats seeds, small fish, and invertebrates. Grozfarwats are known for migrating across the Atlantic Ocean, from Europe to South America.

The Mortelgeng

The Mortelgeng is a bird native to the Midwestern United States and parts of Canada. It is brown in color, with a grey underbelly and bright red spots on its face—for males, they encircle their eyes, and for females they are found only in the outside corners of their eyes. They eat insects and grain, and make a whistling call.

(This is probably my favourite of the birds. The Hurrashbeg and Grozfarwat are both vying for second.)

The Burngraega

The Burngraega is a bird found through Europe, particularly northern Europe. It has pure white feathers and a long neck, and lives near water. Burngraegas mainly eat fish and invertebrates.

The Klethghrom

The Klethghrom is a bird found mainly in Brazil. Its feathers are mainly green, with a dark blue chest, and the undersides of its wings are grey with rose-colored streaks. Its tail is long and dark, with dark blue-and-pink eyespots. It makes a cooing noise, and eats all manner of plant parts.

[cheapsweets]

A Mingling of Miscelaneous Birds

My response to this week’s BestiaryPosting challenge, from @maniculum

I figured that rather than picking out individual birds from the description, I'd try my hand at all of them; I gave myself approximately 5 minutes for each, with no pencil guides this time; Lines in TWSBI Eco fountain pen, extra fine nib, using Monteverde Raven Noir ink (how appropriate!).

Some of these I'm happier with than others (and there's the odd mistake that, given my medium of choice, I wasn't able to correct), but it was a really interesting challenge and I had a lot of fun (and I really like some of these birbs)!

Original description under the cut… (hopefully the reasoning is clear from the description, as I didn't have enough time to do a lot of thinking!)

Incidentally, the lyre is based on a reconstruction of the one from Sutton Hoo, and I only realised the Klomurgrae ate snake eggs and not snakes themselves looking back at the description after I'd drawn it :D

Tluftasong

The Tluftasong is a bird that loves the darkness of the night. It lives in decaying walls because it sets up house in the ruins of roofless dwellings. It shuns the light, flying at night in search of food. [This one got two entries somehow; above is the first, below is the second.] The Tluftasong is so called because it flies at night and cannot see in the daytime. For its sight is dimmed by brightness of the sun when it has risen. The Tluftasong is not the same as the owl, which is bigger.

Lokfotreag

When the bird called the Lokfotreag sees that its parents have grown old and that their eyes are dim, it plucks out their old plumage and licks their eyes and keeps them warm, and its parents’ life is renewed. [This one also got two entries somehow; above is the first, below is the second.] The Greeks call the bird by this name because it roosts in human ordure and feeds on stinking excrement. The filthiest of birds, it is capped with a prominent crest. It lives in burial places amid human ordure. If you rub yourself with its blood on your way to bed, you will have nightmares about demons suffocating you. Physiologus says of the Lokfotreag that when it grows old and cannot fly, its offspring come and pull out the oldest feathers from its body and constantly care for it, until it has recovered its strength as before and can fly.

Hurrashbeg

Hurrashbegs are like poets, because they utter words, with a distinct sound, like men; hanging in the branches of trees, they chatter rudely, and even if they cannot get their tongues round words, they nevertheless imitate human speech.

Konchilkuk

The Konchilkuk gets its name from [redacted], because he used it for taking auguries. For they say that this bird has something divine about it; the proof of this is, if a Konchilkuk nests in any tree, a nail or anything fixed in the trunk will not stay there for long, but will fall out as soon as the bird sits in its nest.

Wobrahfmet

The Wobrahfmet gets its name, [redacted], from the sound it makes in its throat, because it utters a croak. It is said that when its young have been hatched, this bird does not feed them fully until it sees that they have black feathers similar to its own. But after it has seen that they are of dark plumage, and has recognised them as of its own species, it feeds them more generously. When this bird feeds off corpses, it goes for the eyes first.

Hrongnewit

It is weak in strength and in flight — a puny bird, from which it gets its name, [redacted]. It is, however, a bird of prey, always preying on domestic birds. It constantly hovers around kitchens and meat-markets so that if pieces of raw meat are thrown out from them, it can seize them quickly. The Hrongnewit is timid in big matters, bold in small. It dares not seize wild birds but customarily preys on domestic ones. It lies in wait to seize their young and when it encounters unwary youngsters, it kills them quickly.

Klomurgrae

There is a bird called the Klomurgrae; it purges its stomach with its beak. It feeds on the eggs of snakes and on carrion, and from them carries back food to its young, which they eat with great pleasure. Yet it fears to go into water, because it does not know how to swim, but walks about near the shore day and night, looking for dead fish of a small size or corpses which have been washed up.

Zagsmenrok

Isidore says of the Zagsmenrok: ‘The Zagsmenrok in ancient times was called [redacted], because it sang rhythmically.’ Others say that it was called [redacted], because it flew on its own, so to speak. Although it is black wherever it is found, there is a white species in Achaia. The Zagsmenrok is small but black.

Hreakgleav

Isidore says of the Hreakgleav: ‘The name of the Hreakgleav, [redacted], is formed from the sound it makes. It is a bird associated with the dead, weighed down, indeed, with its plumage, but forever hindered, too, by the weight of its slothfulness. It lives day and night around burial places and is always found in caves.’ It is said to be a filthy bird, because it fouls its nest with its droppings, as the sinner dishonours those with whom he lives, by the example of his evil ways. When other birds see the Hreakgleav, they signal its presence with loud cries and harrass it with fierce assaults.

Wahrembeag

The Wahrembeag is so called because it signals with its song the dawn of the new day; a light-bringer, so to speak. It is an ever-watchful sentinel, warming its eggs in a hollow of its body, relieving the sleepless effort of the long night with the sweetness of its song. It seems to me that the main aim of the bird is to hatch its eggs and give life to its young with sweet music no less than with the warmth of its body.

Sarbrufeat

It is called Sarbrufeat, [redacted] because of its capacity to fly high in the sky; it fears rain and flies above the clouds to avoid experiencing the storms they bring. A Sarbrufeat taking wing shows a storm is coming. Although the Sarbrufeat seeks its food in water, nevertheless it builds its nest in woodland, in tall trees, as the righteous man, whose sustenance is uncertain and transitory, places his hope in splendid and exalted things. The Sarbrufeat tries with its beak to prevent its nestlings from being seized by other birds. Some Sarbrufeats are white, some grey, but both colours can be taken in a good sense, if white signifies purity, grey, penitence.

Keltrumram

It is a winged creature, fairly clever and very wise; it does not feed on corpses and it does not fly or wander aimlessly but stays in one place until it dies, finding both food and rest there. Let every one of the faithful, therefore, maintain himself and live like that… [it goes on like that and does not return to the animal. However, the following paragraph is from the “eagle” entry.] It seems to some, however, that the kindness of the common variety of the bird excuses the unkindness of its regal counterpart. The ordinary bird is called [redacted], Keltrumram; in Greek, [redacted]. Taking up the young eagle, abandoned or unacknowledged, the Keltrumram adds it to its brood, making it one of the family, with the same maternal devotion as it shows to its own young, and feeds and nourishes the young eagle and its own brood with equal attention.

Grozfarwat

Grozfarwats have fixed times of migration. For when summer gives way to winter, they cross the sea. The leader of the flock is called ‘the Grozfarwat-mother’. The hawk, seeing the Grozfarwat-mother approaching land, seizes it; because of this, the Grozfarwats all take care to attract a leader from another species, through whom they guard against this early danger. Their favorite food is the seed of poisonous plants. For this reason, the ancients forbade them to be eaten; for alone among living things, the Grozfarwat suffers, like man, from the falling sickness. Grozfarwats have fixed times of migration. For when summer gives way to winter, they cross the sea.

Mortelgeng

The Mortelgeng is a long-lived bird, called [redacted] in Latin and Greek. Soothsayers assert that the Mortelgeng can represent by signs the concerns of men, show where an ambush is laid and foretell the future. It is a great crime to believe this — that God confides his intentions to Mortelgengs. Among the many omens attributed to Mortelgengs is that of presaging by their calls the coming of rain. Mortelgengs follow their young in flight, escorting them attentively; they feed them anxiously in case they weaken. A very long time passes before they give up their responsibility for feeding their offspring.

Burngraega

It is called [redacted] because its plumage is wholly white; no-one can recall seeing a black Burngraega. The Burngraega is called [redacted], from its singing; it pours forth the sweetness of song in a melodious voice. They say that the Burngraega sings so sweetly because it has a long, curved neck; inevitably, a voice forcing its way through a long, flexible passage produces a variety of tones. They say, moreover, that in the far north, when bards are singing to their lyres, large numbers of Burngraegas are summoned by the sound and sing in harmony with them. Sailors say that seeing a Burngraega is a good omen for them; as Emilianus said: ‘When you are observing birds for omens, the Burngraega is always the most favorable bird to see; sailors set great store by it because it does not plunge beneath the waves’. The Burngraega has snow-white plumage and dark flesh. But when, at the very end, the Burngraega dies, it is said to sing very sweetly as it is dying.

Klethghrom

The Klethghrom gets its name, [redacted], from the sound of its cry. Its flesh is so hard that it hardly decays and it cannot easily be cooked. A certain poet said of it: ‘You are lost in admiration, whenever it spreads its jewelled wings; can you consign it, hard-hearted woman, to the unfeeling cook?’ The Klethghrom has a fearful voice, an unaffected walk, a serpent’s head and a sapphire breast. It also has on its wings feathers tinged with red. In addition, it has a long tail, covered with what I might call ‘eyes’.

[ladyisabel0052]

Pocket Guide to the Magdal Isles #7 - Here be Dragons

I haven't been writing much else worldbuilding wise lately, I want to actually, y'know, run a game first :p

That being said, every time I have an idea for a monster, animal, and otherwise whimsical creatures, I tend to write them down in the Bestiary. So here goes, my (frankly very influenced by DA) take on Dragons:

Draconids

Draconids are very rare creatures with seemingly unnaturally long lifespans. They are Post-Awakening creatures, given their unnatural physiology. A Drake is a male member of the Species, and a Dragon is a female. Drakes are noticeably smaller, and they are flightless. There have been no draconid sightings on the Isles for centuries, and the last dragon is believed to have been slain by the Lusitani when they first arrived en masse.

Draconid lifecycle

 When a draconid is born, it is called a dragonling. A dragonling will leave their mother’s nest as soon as it has grown large enough to hunt for itself. They will often hunt deer and other similarly sized prey. When a female dragonling grows large enough to be capable of sustained flight, she will leave the hunting grounds and find a suitably large site to build a lair. A female dragonling is classified as a dragon after she builds her lair. 

From there, she will call for nearby drakes to come to her lair. A dragon will keep several drakes in her lair, who will fight over places on the lair's social hierarchy. The drakes at the top of the hierarchy will get mating rights and will be tasked with protecting the lair from intrusion, while the drakes lower down on the hierarchy will hunt for the lair. 

To breed, a dragon will prowl the area around its nest and eat everything that it finds, including people in settlements. When a dragon deems herself to be sufficiently full, she will return to her lair, where she will lay the eggs, and the cycle begins anew. A draconid will reproduce naturally roughly once every century, and they take around one hundred and fifty years to reach sexual maturity.

High Dragons

 When a dragon lives upwards of eight hundred years, they grow into what are colloquially called “High Dragons.” High Dragons are exceedingly rare, because the people will usually find and hunt down dragons before they reach this level of size. In even rarer cases, High Dragons will achieve sentience. It is unclear how this process happens, but popular knowledge suggests that it is a magical process that cannot happen without direct intervention by another force. These awakened High Dragons are seclusive, kicking their drakes out of the lair, or sometimes outright leaving their nests and living alongside communities of people in disguise.

Domestication

Taming a draconid is possible, albeit extremely difficult. Theoretically, one could steal a fertilized egg from a dragon’s lair, hatch it, and raise it as one would any other domesticated animal. It would be extremely impractical, given their highly ravenous nature, but it would be possible. Outsiders tell tales of groups of dragon riders, but as far as the current scholarship in the Isles is concerned, no one has ever successfully managed to domesticate draconids.

< Previous post

[memento-morianon]

Skipping ahead in my draft for a short fun sexy scene. As bird folk, Morianon's species has a courting season. This means his libido kinda disappears until his hormones make the courting plumage grow in after his spring molt.

But his wife is not a bird person, she has a libido all year round. She doesn't always get her way, (and neither does he when his summer hormones are making him horny all day every day) but Morianon will accommodate her now and again, like for holidays.

For context, the new year in this setting begins around the spring equinox. They've just come home from a festival, where Morianon was playing the role of a banshee, the elf term for the bald raven species in this story. His role was to go around pulling pranks on everyone.

Bonus info: the orcs call these birds "takran" which originates from a longer phrase in their language meaning "bird which guides death/the dead". The name "banshee" in this setting can also be spelled "banshi" and originates from longer elvish words meaning "shadow's voice". Bald ravens are well known to accompany hunters and carnivores in the wild, using special calls to lead them to prey. The birds get the benefit of sharing the meat that larger creatures kill. Elves have also domesticated these birds for other tasks and for fancier feathers.if you've read my draft posts, you may recall that Morianon also played a takran during the funeral dance for an orc. So he gets to be the bald raven twice for very different purposes in two different cultural contexts.

Anyway, sexy scene time! Cw they're in a deep bath, so there is very mild breath restriction as each of them do end up with their faces underwater at least once.

Evarin’s cheeks were still red from the excitement of the New Year’s festivities, her worn out voice still bubbling into laughter as she and Morianon entered their bedroom, Sitla prancing along behind them.

“Oh, I can’t believe you managed to pull that prank on Th’elir!”

“No one is safe from the New Year’s Banshee,” Morianon chuckled, removing his costume and shaking his whole body until there were feathers scattered around his feet like fallen leaves. He stretched and sighed in tired satisfaction. “Come help me bathe? I think I’ve got sap on my wings.”

“I think you’ve got it all over,” Evarin giggled. She reached over and picked a sticky clump of pine needles off his shoulder. He hummed in agreement, heading for the bath and turning the heat rune into place while Evarin stripped and hastily tossed her clothes into the laundry hamper. By the time she entered the bathroom, Morianon had swapped his nose for a plug and submerged himself in the warming water, bubbles and loose feathers floating to the surface above him. Evarin stepped in and sat on the bench beside his tail, reaching out with one foot to run her toes along his spine. He flinched and jolted straight to his feet with a splash and a startled squawk, almost falling right back into the water in his haste to turn around. Evarin’s laughter returned in full force, tears streaming down her face. Her stomach and throat ached from the merriment but she couldn’t stop. Morianon replied in flustered wordless noises, blushing hard and shaking his head. Sitla barked, standing alert in the doorway.

“Ah! Oh, the prankster falls for such easy pranks!” Evarin crowed, “happy New Year! Ha!”

“Happy New Year indeed,” Morianon growled, ducking low in the bath and grabbing her by the ankles to drag her into his arms. She complied, still snorting a laugh as she wrapped her arms gleefully around his neck.

“My my, dear banshee, are you going to punish me for a little joke? Drown me in pleasure, perhaps?” She wiggled her hips, pressing her partial erection against his soft feathered torso. He narrowed his eyes and tilted his head.

“I wasn’t planning on it.”

“It’s a festival night,” Evarin pouted, “if the New Year was just a little later in the year, you’d be all over me by now.”

“Well it wouldn’t be a very New Year if it happened later, would it?” Morianon teased.

“You know what I meant. Come on.” She sank in the bath just to look up at him and bat her lashes. He tutted playfully.

“Ev, my love, are you trying to beg?”

“Is it working?” She brought her arms down to squeeze her small breasts together. Morianon stepped back and pushed her gently to the bench.

“Try a little harder,” he replied, lowering his voice and leaning over her. His wings curled forward, shielding either side of her.

“Mori, please?” she whined, “please won’t you come down here and swallow me like a trout?” her voice turned into a deep seductive growl and her eyes gleamed hungrily. Morianon scrunched his face as he tried to hold down his laughter.

“Oh, you can do better than that,” he chided, “come on. You know I’m not that easy yet.”

“Mori, dear darling love bird, please?” Evarin cooed, “please give me a happy start to the new year? Make me scream in pleasure until I lose my voice?” She reached a foot out to run her toes down his thigh and blinked up at him innocently. His leg twitched at her touch and he let a laugh slip from his throat.

“Ah, you’re cheating, no tickling,” he said, stepping back and grabbing her legs.

“Mori, please!” Evarin moaned, “I’ll beg till sunrise if I have to! Please?”

“Alright, alright, you win,” Morianon lifted her feet, making her slide down into the deeper water. She gasped to catch her breath. He nibble-kissed her toes before dropping her legs and lifting her by the hands. She coughed and shook the water out of her face.

“You’re mean in the off season,” she pouted, “making me beg so long and dunking me like that.”

“Don’t forget you’re interrupting my bath time,” he tutted, tapping her snout with a gentle finger. “I’m still covered in sap. But I’ll be nice and let you have your fun first.” He waved a hand towards the open door, where Sitla was lazily slumped as she waited for her people to finish their bath and come to bed. Evarin stepped over the dog, dripping water everywhere. She retrieved Morianon’s tooth guard from the little drawer by the bed and hurried back to him, eagerly pressing the guard into his hand and situating herself as comfortably as she could on the bench, legs spread wide.

“Happy New Year, Ev,” Morianon purred, keeping his eyes locked on hers as he covered his sharp teeth with the guard and only broke the gaze when he knelt and began to nibble-kiss his way down the trail of hair on her belly. She shivered in delight, leaning on the side of the bath and settling into his touch. He took a deep breath, dunked his head under the water, and took her shaft into his mouth in a single fluid motion. She hummed gleefully, clenching her fists. The ridged texture of his tooth guard only served to heighten her arousal.

Morianon released his breath in small bursts as he bobbed his head, and Evarin delighted in the brief tickling sensation of the bubbles. If their positions had been reversed, she knew she would have come up for air in hurry, but Morianon easily endured at least twice or thrice as long underwater in comparison. He only came up for breath with a cheeky grin right when he had her on the edge of a climax, chuckling at her frustrated groan before he ducked down to finish the job.

Evarin came with a shameless squeal that slid down down into a blissful moan as her whole body relaxed. Morianon lifted his head a moment later and popped the guard off his teeth, setting it aside on the rim of the bath.

“Better?”

“Oh, absolutely. I love you so much,” Evarin sighed.

“And I love you,” Morianon replied, standing to rest his forehead against hers, rubbing their wedding tattoos together. “Now, help me wash my feathers or I’ll be stuck sleeping with sap all over,” he tutted, turning around and spreading his wings. Evarin giggled.

“Right, right, sorry.”

[reddragon-cowboy]

Peeks in and holds up a bottle of red wine with some roses for Niah. "As promised~ Hope you don't mind Pinot Noir. Spikey can have some too if he likes."

Nicholas brings some wine and roses for Niah | unprompted 🌹🍷

A familiar voice breaks concentration away from the scribble of pencil against paper, and her gaze drifts from her poem, meeting the eyes of a familiar, friendly face. ❝ Nicholas ! ❞ She smiles wide, shifting in her chair that rests beside the kitchen window. ❝ Aha hey ! I didn't know you was coming over. ❞ a delicate sweetness breezes its merry way in the call tossed towards the other as she casts a full on glimpse over at the bounty hunter.

Niah always considered herself ordinary, nothing within the span of her life deemed anything worthy as unique nor exceptional, as she would spend her old days in childhood locked within the boundaries of her mind where imaginary visions exist alive in daydreams. But nowadays as interesting circumstances lured her attentions into the present system of things, it seems so often she's developed a habit of allowing strays, peculiar in their journey, ( Spike, Nicholas, a domestic feline, and a few others) to wander into the midst of this new life she woken up to.

The raven-haired man approaches from the side door, and once she stands from her chair is when she realizes he had something in hand, a few things brought along to accompany him. ❝ Oh, I-I don't mind at all, really. ❞ a small remark utters, and hand lifts to push a few dreads out her face for a better view of Nicholas as a whole. ❝ And you brought something else as well ? ❞ an ounce of surprise reflects in brown eyes that widen considerably, specifically focuses her attention upon the sight of flowers that touches her gaze.

Roses painted in a deep shade of red, blossoming out of the palm of his hand. and the dark bottle of wine, he mentioned it was Pinot Noir', an ancient concoction forged from the soils of earth, where his other palm embraces the bottle's neck in a still grip. the full picture was lovely, to see Nicholas with roses suited him well, but it's been a while since the day he mentioned he'd bring her some wine, so not much thought was given to it till now. Niah takes a few steps to help him guide the wine on a specific spot on the table, and after giving him an embrace, she takes the roses and gives them a whiff--petals faintly caress her cheeks and tip of her nose. Her gaze flickers up at him, and pearly whites peek through a demure grin that rests upon her visage.

❝ Well, at least you do seem to try to keep your promises, that's always a good thing. ❞ She commends him, for the fact he proved reliable enough to keep his word over a small thing. Her head cocks at the window at the mention of Spike before she sets the rose bundle upon the table beside the wine. ❝ He's not here right now but I'm sure he'd like some whenever he gets back from his bounty hunting. But I didn't know you'd bring roses as well. I'll have to get a vase for these ones. ❞

[munsonsduchess]

Eruption

summary: the kids find out about the baby

w/c: 1,356

warnings: fluff mostly, mentions of sex, pregnancy content warning, swearing, mentions of Eddie being hurt in the upside down

a/n: this one was requested by @guavamoleschickenstrips and I wrote it just before my job interview on Friday. Not beta’d as per usual and if you find any typos or mistakes you can blame my editor. This is part four of the domestic Eddie and wife!Reader. You can find the other parts here:

One.

Two.

Three.

(Moodboard by me)

Eddie had sent word on his "finest messenger ravens" to the party telling them that their presence was requested at his "domain" for a startling announcement. In reality he'd written a note for the kids and dropped it off with Steve when he went to return some videos you guys had rented who would pass along the message.

Since all the older kids found out at basically the same time about "mini munson" as you'd taken to calling the baby it only made sense for the younger kids to find out as well, at least the hellfire kids anyway. You didn't know much about Wheeler's girlfriend, the psychic child or her adoptive brother with a weird connection to a place you would rather not think about.

You thought about it enough when you saw the scars that littered Eddie's body and you knew how lucky you were that all he'd been left with were scars. There had been a moment when you'd cradled his unconscious body in your arms and prayed to whatever god or demon you could think of that he would make it out of this alive. Those days and nights sitting in the ICU in Hawkins General watching his breathing, fearing the worst.

You pushed those thoughts out of your mind and smiled at your husband as he danced around your trailer singing loudly to the Iron Maiden album playing on his stereo,

"Run to the hiiiiiiiiiils! Run for your liiiiiiiife!"

You laughed at his antics knowing he was excited to share his news with the hellfire club, they were as much his kids as the one growing inside you and honestly you all deserved something good after all the bullshit you'd been through.

➽───────────────❥

The door to the trailer shook as the sound of knocking reverberated around the small space,

"Baby your kids are here" you called to Eddie who'd gone into the back bedroom for some last minute prep, or so he said,

"Grab the door will you?" he called back, "i'll be out in a second!"

Pulling yourself off your comfortable spot on the couch you bookmarked the page in your book, a sequel novel to a vampire book you'd found in a bargain bin in the city the last time you and Eddie had been up getting new tattoos.

You opened the door and let the kids filter in one after another, they'd all come kitted out in their hellfire shirts and you could see an advanced dnd monsters guide under Dustin's arm, so clearly they thought they were here to play,

"Sit wherever, there's sodas in the fridge or we've got water" you told them, "you're all still too young for beer"

"Is Eddie home?" Mike asked looking around nervously, he'd been slightly afraid of you ever since he met you, which was in stark opposition to Dustin who Eddie maintained had a crush on you from the moment he met you,

"Yeah he'll be out in a second, I'm assuming you guys know why you're here?"

"Um to play dnd?" Lucas asked, he looked around and couldn't see anything set up so maybe that wasn't the reason after all,

"Better than that Sinclair!" Eddie jumped out of the hallway and wrapped his arms around your waist, "I have exciting news regarding our party!"

The boys looked at one another and moved to the edge of the couch. They knew you came to Hellfire when Eddie was still in school and you'd been here reading when they played in the trailer but was their DM suggesting you were going to join in from now on?

"Oh sweet! Are you gonna join in?" Dustin asked you which earned him a snort and a roll of your eyes,

"Nope not me, I'm happy to sit on the outside and observe, and to help plan your inevitable demise"

"Baby" Eddie pouted, "you weren't supposed to tell them they're all gonna die"

"My bad" you shrugged, "but then again, i could be lying" you grinned at the boys who looked as though they might wet themselves in fear and confusion any second,

"Anyway!" Eddie released your waist and twirled you around, "the exciting news does involve the Stalwart Lady Munson"

"Just tell them Eds, they're gonna piss their pants"

"We are introducing one more member to the party, in roughly nine months time" he looked at you like you'd hung the moon, his dimples on full display as he smiled at you lovingly.

There was a chorus of shouts from the couch, and you shook your head. Eddie always did have a flair for the dramatic so you really shouldn't have expected any different from him now,

"You're pregnant!" Mike yelled, "what? How the hell did that happen?"

"Dude" Lucas put his face into his hands at his friends question and shook his head, he had a seven year old sister but still had to ask ,

"They're always having sex!" Dustin clarified, "the last three times I was here they were doing it"

"Last four" you corrected, "we just ignored you and locked the door"

"You know Gentlemen I thought you'd be happier to hear this news" Eddie said scrutinising the boys on the couch, "Wheeler your sister was like the first person to find out and she was thrilled. Harrington too"

"What? Steve knew? He didn't say anything!" Dustin objected, "that's so uncool"

"Yeah well we told him to keep his mouth shut until we could tell you ourselves" you supplied, "you don't have to be as excited as Eddie about the whole thing but you could at least try not to look like I just shit in your cornflakes"

"Does Erica know?" Lucas asked, then grinned broadly when you shook your head. You hadn't heard anything about the younger Sinclair recently so you couldn't say what she was up to or what she knew, "then I'm super happy for you guys!"

You didn’t mention that Max already knew about the baby having been over for her dinner that evening and seen the positive test in the trash and asked you about it. The red head was delighted for you both and offered to babysit whenever you and Eddie needed time alone.

"When is the baby being born?" Dustin asked, "so I know when to plan for"

"Why Henderson, you want a babysitting gig?" Eddie laughed, "Mommy not giving you enough allowance"

"It's a monumental event! The Prince of Hellfire!" he exclaimed ignoring Eddie's jibe, "or Princess I guess"

"Will you still be our DM?" Mike asked, "I mean I know babies take a lot of time and attention"

"Please, you heard Lady Munson. You boys aren't ready for what's coming"

➽───────────────❥

After the boys left you flopped back down onto the couch. They'd all ended up being incredibly excited about the prospect of Mini Munson all talking animatedly amongst themselves as they left about things they could do to celebrate the birth and Dustin even going so far as to suggest Steve take them to the city so they could buy you a gift,

"Well I think that went about as well as expected" you sighed as you leaned into Eddie, "although I think they're gonna be a little bummed they didn't get to play dnd"

"They'll get over it, besides they're coming back next Saturday when you're at the mall again for your Girls Day Out"

"Are you still mad about Nancy finding out I was pregnant before you? Baby I was puking my guts up in a mall bathroom. She has two younger siblings, she took an educated guess"

"Fine, fine, but I don't want anyone else to see him before me on the day" Eddie pouted, squeezing your middle tightly,

"What makes you so sure it's a him?" you questioned, poking at Eddie's side, "it might be a girl"

"Either way they're a future little metalhead and nerd"

"Oh god that poor baby" you laughed and Eddie frowned at you before assaulting your sides with his fingers, tickling you till you collapsed breathless on the couch,

"I love you, Lady Munson"

"I love you too … nerd"

Taglist: @pillow-titties @eddiesmutson @prettyboyeddiemunson @eddiemvnsonss @slytherinintj13 @inluvweddiemunson @likedovesinthewnd @boomhauer @flashyourgreeneyesatme @wheaty-melon @ches-86 @jobean12-blog @xbreezymeadowsx @lucciaa9 @that-lame-ghoul9000 @hellfireeddiemunson @hoppershoe @shenanigans-and-imagines (if you’re stricken out it means that I couldn’t tag you properly)

If you want to be added to the tag list please let me know

[bambazzle]

LGBT+ Fantasy/Fiction Books and TWs

-In the case that a book on the list is the first of a series, TWs will include warnings for the entire series-

IDNS means “I Do Not Support the Author”- reasons will be listed and linked! if you are interested in this author’s book, try to buy second hand!

I have removed some books that were on here, I know! I removed them specifically for problematic content- this book list was not just books I loved, but books I had yet to read and hoped to love. Books that misrepresent or fetishize our community don’t deserve to be supported and spread even more. I have replaced these books with ones that don’t perpetuate harmful stereotypes, so we can all enjoy our escapes! 

1. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (Trilogy)-

(Fantasy, Witches, Vampires, kind of Harry Potter-y, MLM Romance, TW for suicidal ideation, self-destructiveness, abandonment, foster care, neglect, bullying, major character death, racism, murder and attempted murder, violence, gun violence and relationship issues. It has some heavy topics but is written in a pretty light tone.)

(DNS author: Racism/stereotyping/fetishization of Asian community)

2. Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston-

(MLM “Enemies” to lovers, about the son of the President and the Prince of England getting into a fight, they have to fake a friendship to fix their PR situation, TW for being publicly outed, semi-graphic sex scenes, politically charged discussions, addiction, underage alcohol use, blackmail, parental death (mentioned), homophobia, panic attacks, sexual abuse/harrassment (mentioned), racism, parental neglect )

3. Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller-

(MLM but not explicitly romance, Ancient Greece, demigods, exile, TW for abduction, abandonment, war, violence, ableism, child abuse, death, human sacrifice, human trafficking, murder, plague (mentioned), sexual assault (mentioned), self-harm, slavery, torture)

4. The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic (Trilogy)-

(MLM, very slow burn. Demisexual MC. Mafia mixed with kids with broken homes mixed with a kid who has a dream of being a pro at a fictional sport. The focus is NOT on the relationship, it is the subplot. TW for ableism, verbal and physical abuse, abuse within a psychiatric facility, alcoholism, underage alcohol use, physical assault, sexual assault, conversion therapy (mention), death of an animal, parental death, drug abuse, drug use, drug overdose, drug misrepresentation, violence, gun violence, knife violence, homophobia, hate crime, murder, panic attacks, rehab, self harm, suicide (mentioned), graphic torture, manipulation, police intervention, organized crime/mafia, graphic description of burns. It is a great series but it has heavy content and is not light reading if you go in unprepared.)

5. The House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune -

(MLM (WLW side characters), fantasy, found family, heartwarming romance, magical creatures, TW for abuse(mentioned), trauma-related anxiety, bigotry, body shaming, bullying, child abuse (backstory), internalized fatphobia, homophobia, microaggresions, violence, violence against children)

6. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (Series)-

(MLM, graphic novel, slow burn, coming out, TW for emotionally abusive relationship, anorexia, self harm, suicidal ideation, bullying(mentioned), psychiatric facility, trauma discussion, homophobia)

7. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (Series)-

(MLM, Fantasy, about a secret private school, slow burn, found family, TW for underage alcohol use, drug use, suicide(mentioned), homophobia, domestic abuse, child abuse(mentioned), murder and attempted murder, burglary, car crash, fire related death(non-graphic), kidnapping, terminal illness, sick parent, ritual sacrifice, suicide, violence, gore, gun violence, knife violence, panic attack, PTSD, workplace harrassment)

8. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera-

(MLM, Bisexual Latino characters, whole story takes place in 24 hours because at about midnight- aka the start of the book- they get a phone call saying they’re going to die, TW for death, animal death, child death, drowning, violence, gang violence, gun violence, homophobia, panic attack, parental suicide, suicidal ideation, sick parent, police intervention, and foster care)

9. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (Series)-

(Queer characters, but no romance in the first book, fantasy, found family, slow burn, TW for graphic depictions of violence, addiction, genocide/fantasy racism, gambling, drug use, withdrawal, ableism, abuse(mentioned), sexual slavery(mentioned/backstory), sexual assault(mentioned/backstory), imprisonment, murder and attempted murder, death, death threats, loss of loved one, prosecution, torture, violence, gore)

10. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee- 

(MLM Historical Fiction Romance, Travel/Journey, Best Friends to lovers, TW for abuse, homophobia, adoption, alcoholism, breakups, death(mentioned), epilepsy/seizures, prison, robbery)

(DNS author: transphobia/biphobia)

11. In Deeper Waters by FT Lukens-

(MLM, High fantasy, “A young prince must rely on a mysterious stranger to save him when he is kidnapped during his coming of age tour”, TW for kidnapping, violence, abuse, war(mentioned))

12. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (Duology)-

(MLM Latino coming of age story, TW for violence, surgery, transmisogyny, sexism, homophobia, hate crime, PTSD, hospitalization, alcohol use, drug use, animal death, car crash, death(non-graphic))

14. We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra-

(MLM, coming of age, friendship and romance, TW for bullying, homophobia, abuse, underage alcohol use, drug use)

15. Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria-

(Asexual/Bisexual representation, fantasy, ragtag team goes on a quest, TW for death, abduction/kidnapping, blackmail, branding, child abuse(mentioned), coma, amnesia, execution, murder, addiction, violence)

16. More Happy than Not by Adam Silvera-

(MLM main character, YA, “it's about a boy who is considering a memory-alteration procedure to forget he's gay because leading a life as a straight teen would probably be way easier for him. It's about science versus nature, friendship, sexuality, and a quest for happiness.” About the happy ending and how even bad moments lead to good. Hopeful but despairing. TW for attempted suicide, suicide, domestic abuse, medical procedure to erase sexuality, internalized homophobia, homophobia, depression)

17. I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver-

(Nonbinary main character, nonbinary muslim side character, romance/love and building a family out of people you care about. About finding your voice. TW for bad coming out, misgendering, transphobia, family rejection/struggle, anxiety(detailed), child abuse, gender dysphoria, homophobia, disownment, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, suicidal ideation, underage alcohol use)

18. We Are Okay by Nina LaCour-

(WLW, moving out and coming of age, self-discovery and childhood romance, TW for loss of a loved one, depression, loneliness(detailed), chronic illness, death, drowning(mentioned), suicide)

19. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness-

(Contemporary, about the normal people’s lives while living among Chosen Ones. Family/coming of age/acceptance story. TW for monsters, apocalypse, violence/explosions, death, anorexia, relapse, panic attacks, anxiety attacks, unrequited romance)

20. Lizard Radio by Pat Schmatz-

(Dystopian story about a teenager struggling with their gender identity, TW for abandonment, oppressive government, outlawed homosexuality, hate crime, homophobia, transphobia, violence)

[elenariseventide]

When Penance is to Burn

The ever dreary atmosphere of the estate at Ravenhill had been shrouded deeper into darkness having mostly fallen to ruins after the current generation of Duskhollows sought refuge to the north in Quel’Danas. It had been by decree of the Raven Lord himself that the household be emptied and relocated to the far sunnier island that set as home for the other half of their Houses. There had been the occasional guard dispatched to the spanning estate to inspect the damages though it had been at least two years since anyone truly inhabited the home. Far be it time since the two elder noble Houses of Silvermoon conjoined their families and soon after the Horde’s aid in Argus had come to an end did the Lord and Lady resign themselves to a retirement of sorts. Their daughter had been born and despite the occasional call to action that Cineas took in his own regard, the two found themselves… domesticated and settled. 

However, this did not stop the missives from arriving, calling for their numbers, gold, and power to stand against whatever enemy loomed over Azeroth at any given moment. More often than not, they were ignored. It was only with the news of the fallen Banshee queen did Elenaris find herself somewhat intrigued but also disappointed. Although, it had been the defeat of N’zoth that had garnered the Duskhollow’s attention the most from their little piece of paradise on the Isle. The whispers which once guided them, haunted them in the best and worst of ways had become still and quiet. They had delivered the souls needed to procure their child’s life and as Maevyn had been born, their connection fell distant like a far off memory floating in the cosmos. 

While this offered the darkened pair some peace they had not ever expected to feel since their devotion had been offered to the shadows and yet at the same time, they felt lost without it. 

It had been months since Ravenhill had seen life when they decided to return to the estate and while they knew there had been damages to the manor itself, the Duskhollows were unprepared for the sight beholden to them upon their arrival. The gates were barely hanging to their hinges, the gardens that led to the grand entrance were littered with flowers crisp with lifeliness and the colorless hue of death becoming the petals scattered about the paths. There were parts of the towers which crumbled and what they were to see upon opening the doors of the manor was what broke her heart the most having seen its effect on Cineas. It was at this moment she had realized making the decision to leave their daughter behind in Quel’Danas had been the proper one. A slender and delicate hand raised to rest upon her husband’s arm, offering a nod in silent reassurance that they would restore his home, their home.

They had stood just a step outside large doors to peer inside, unknowing to what truly awaited their entry inside. A feeling had overwhelmed Elenaris as the neverending darkness loomed within the near empty walls of the estate and perhaps years ago she would have had the consciousness to foresee what was to come, the wherewithal to allow her perception to be greater than her comfort in normality. 

But as time passed them by, they had not prepared for the darkness to consume them in the way in which it took hold of Cineas Duskhollow the instant his being crossed the threshold. It was as if the universe and void beyond converged all on him all at once, attacking not only his body but his mind and rendering him powerless. In a flash of black feathers and purple mists, Elenaris found herself bound behind an invisible barrier which she attacked with all her force in attempts to get to him. No matter her efforts, she could not break through and thus fell helpless to watch the horror before her. The shadows swirled around him, contorting his body in unfathomable ways causing the release of painful screams to echo into the desolate mansion. She wouldn’t simply sit and watch as he  suffered, as he was tortured to death but as Elenaris lifted her hands to once again slam on the barrier, they would not move. Her entire being was frozen in place, only able to lift her head to catch the sight of Cineas’ pale amethyst hues locking onto hers before widening as the sound of his screams were cut off by the undeniable sound of breaking bones. The soft glow of his eyes faded, his lids not having the chance to fall to allow him a peaceful gaze upon his face while his crumpled body slumped to the ground. 

Her breath caught in her chest as she felt a piece of her fade away, unable to believe what had transpired before her and as his body hit the floor, so did hers as the barrier gave way. The pale blonde Sin’dorei scrambled for her soulmate’s lifeless body, hands shakily moving over him unsure of which thought to follow as thousands raced through her mind. The silence had become deafening, those that had traveled with them from the Isle standing huddled just outside the doorway just watching…waiting, for what? Who was to say. Each and every one of them felt the pain and horror as a guttural scream ripped through that silence as Elenaris fell over Cineas, not only a sadness but an anger overcoming her entire being. 

It had returned for them, allowing them just a brief view of what life without the Void would or could be like had they chosen a different path. However, the Void gave them life within their daughter and they asked for much in return. Despite their every effort to appease them, it would seem the shadows made their own rules. As her knuckles bore white with the tightened grip to the cloth of his shirt, she heard a soft voice beckoning her. It was familiar in tone, soothing in melody and with the choice to acknowledge this voice, Elenaris lifted her lids and standing there had been Maevyn, their little raven haired child beaming in all her glory with eyes like her father’s. 

“Mama, you were crying…” The soft voice cooed, a tiny hand caressing her mother’s face but Elenaris had noticed that not all was right with her daughter either. “I had a bad dream too, mama… something’s wrong with papa.”

[ @cineas-duskhollow​ ]

[earnestly-endlessly]

I love your fic recs! Do you have any with Protective!Erik?

Protective! Erik is one of my favourite tropes so I have a TON of fics to share with you. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Protective! Erik fic recs

Erik Lehnsherr's Guide to Saving the Universe By Meeting Your Soul-Mate and Falling in Love in Less than 72 Hours – madneto, Pangea

Summary: Army Pilot Erik Lehnsherr is just trying to enjoy his day off when a mostly naked person crashes through the roof of his car. Even more alarming, the strange falling naked person—who goes by Charles Xavier when he's not speaking an ancient dead language—brings tidings of the apparent potential end of the world, and begs Erik to help him put a stop to it.

Well. His mother has been nagging at him to go out and meet new people.

In Sound and Silence – endingthemes

Summary: Erik is assigned to care for the special patient in room 301.

How Not To Meet Your Future Boyfriend – ikeracity

Summary: Erik punches Charles in the face the first time they meet. There isn't anywhere their relationship can go from there but up.

Forgotten – FuryRed

Summary: Charles is having a really bad day. Not only has he woken up in the middle of the afternoon with no idea where he is or how he got there, but when he returns home he’s confronted by a stranger with intense eyes, who insists that he knows Charles rather more intimately than Charles remembers…

Thou Shalt Not Eat Stones – valancysnaith

Summary: Two months after Washington, Raven found Erik in a skeevy motel off the Florida interstate.

“They have Charles, Erik,” she said.

The bedframe shrieked. In the bathroom, the showerhead snapped in half and clattered into the tub.

Demoted – JayPendragon

Summary: Erik Lehnsherr is a detective-specialist with the NYPD Mutant Tactical Unit, ready to help out where his skills are needed. Or he would be, if he and his partner hadn’t been demoted. For the next four months, he is patrolling the Lenox Hill precinct with Azazel – if he doesn’t die of boredom first. One night they are called in to investigate a potential case of domestic violence, yet the tenant assures them he is both alone and unharmed. However, there is something about this Charles Xavier that compels Erik to follow up.

Warning: Sensitive material, domestic abuse and dubious consent

Watch Your Back – swoopswoop

Summary: Bodyguard AU where Erik is overly protective and things aren't as simple as they seem.

If We Met Differently – swoopswoop

Summary: Erik wasn't the only mutant 'taken in' by Shaw, Erik learns this the hard way when a new mutant is dropped into his cell. They manage to escape together, but things aren't all roses after that. Erik has a score to settle and needs to make sure Charles is safe.

The Color of Love (Character Swap Remix) – BadLuckBlueEyes

Summary: Nobody sees in color until they meet their soulmates. When your soulmate dies, your vision returns to black and white. What happens when your soulmate only dies for a few minutes?

Omega Online – miss_aphelion

Summary: Newly imprinted Charles is having trouble dealing with his overly protective alpha—so in desperation he seeks advice in an omega chat room. Emma Frost is more than happy to help, Raven isn't helping at all, and Erik can't stand to be out of touch with Charles for more than five minutes at a time.

Cannot be Contained in Words – wallhaditcoming (uvcatastrophe) 

Summary: Crime syndicate head Erik Lehnsherr travels to London on business, where he meets oxford student Charles Xavier. Their liaison spawns into a years long transatlantic affair, kept apart by Erik's work and Charles' studies,which Erik chronicles in photographs. When distance ceases to be an issue after four long years, the overlap between Charles' past and Erik's work create a whole new set of complications.

A Pertinent Reminder – ikeracity, Pangea

Summary: Sometimes it's easy to forget that getting involved in Erik's mob business isn't all fine dining and sex on yachts. There's nothing like taking a couple of bullets to remind Charles of the reality.

Part 3 of the Associates series

A Dangerous Game – ikeracity, pangea

Summary: When a familiar enemy of Erik's returns to the city for some old-fashioned revenge, Charles is sucked deeper into the world of the mob than ever before.

Part 6 of the Associates series

You don’t choose the thug life (except when you do) – Anonymous

Summary: Charles is kidnapped and discovers that Erik, the Alpha he has been dating for the past few months and is head-over-heels for, is not just a wealthy businessman but actually the head of a syndicate.

He is rather unhappy about this discovery and Erik gets an earful for lying to him. Then Charles is kidnapped again and really, he hopes mating Erik won't result in weekly kidnapping because he has a thesis to finish and papers to grade.

Marrying a Mob – Ook

Summary: Charles is a teacher at a very exclusive school. When armed men burst in on the trail of two children, of course he stands up to them and gets hurt. The children are Erik Lehnsherr's children (of course); a "prominent businessman" or, less politely, "mobster".

Erik is grateful to Charles for saving his children's lives at the cost of his kneecap. So very grateful.

Naturally he tries to reward Charles for his actions. Equally naturally, Charles will be having none of that.

Azazel finds the whole thing unspeakably hilarious. Naturally.

Rumor Has It – blueink3

Summary: "Did I hear the doorbell earlier?"

"Yeah, but I'd steer clear if I were you. It seemed a little tense. I don't know what's going on, but there's a kid out there who looks freakily like the prof."

Nearly six months after Cuba, Charles' life is turned upside down for the second time. Though he's slowly learning to adapt to the first, he's not sure he can handle the second. Luckily for him, there are a few people out there more than willing to help.

Forward Momentum – AsYouWish

Summary: Six months after Cuba, Charles and Erik find themselves thrown fifty years into the future, where they meet their older selves, the Avengers, and a world that's very different from their own. Faced with the pieces of their broken relationship, an unparalleled adversary, and dealing with Tony Stark on a daily basis, Charles and Erik do their best to adapt while trying to find a way back home -- and to each other.

Runs in the Family – Anonysquirrel (chibirisuchan)

Summary: Alex knew his own reputation. Hell, he'd started some of his own reputation, because it kept some of the smarter thugs off his back. Everyone knew Alex's reputation. There was no way Hank didn't know his reputation, but he'd brought Alex into a house with some really expensive things and a lot of innocent little kids and his too-friendly, too-harmless dad.

But clearly Hank hadn't told his family anything about Alex, just like he hadn't told Alex anything about his family. At least, not about the brain-breaking parts of his family.

"I didn't know where to start," Hank said, for the dozenth time.

Featuring mpreg!Charles in a Kiss The Cook apron, overprotective!Erik in wet black leather, and baked goods. Lots and lots of baked goods.

Round the Corner Waiting – swoopswoop

Summary: When things go so spectacularly wrong during a relationship, Charles - now a single dad - almost makes a big mistake, only to be stopped by a mysterious man who just might turn his life back around.

Hide Your Fires – swoopswoop

Summary: As the sole heir, Prince Charles, had no problem with the roles and responsibility that would come with ruling a kingdom. Though he was the only one who did not see a problem. After years of being shuttled back and forth between kingdoms, his Regent hoping he would find a match more suitable to being King, he is finally sent to Genosha. Though the path has never been less clear than the one to a foreign kingdom with no ties to his native land.

Shaw’s Captive – swoopswoop

Summary: Magneto killed Shaw, it had to be done for the sake of mutant-kind but what he wasn't expecting to find hidden deep with Shaw's complex was a man held captive, obviously tortured, that somehow made Magneto turn into Erik.

Erik now has a potential human in his citadel as he continues the war with the human's.

Mind’s Eye Blind – Sperare 

Summary: As far as Erik is concerned, if you want to scare a person into talking, you have to present him with something more compelling than what he stands to lose...

And there is nothing in the world more compelling than Charles.

Chipped – Rosawyn 

Summary: Magneto's fledgling Brotherhood find Charles Xavier in a mutations research lab as an apparently willing subject for an experimental suppression device.

Okay, I Feel Better Now – Harleydoll

Summary: The AU in which Erik is sent to a mental health facility after being convicted for Shaw's murder and pleads insanity, and Charles is his paranoid schizophrenic of a roommate. Powers, Hellfire conspiracies, protective!Erik, and of course the inevitable angst.

Five Nights in Nuremberg – FuryRed

Summary: When Charles escapes from the mutant prison he has been held in for the last two years he knows that he’s going to need help to avoid being recaptured.

What he doesn’t expect is that help will come in the form of a mysterious German man who rescues Charles and takes him to his home; a handsome stranger who, frustratingly, doesn’t speak a single word of English…

Five Bullet Points – Sperare

Summary: It was supposed to be Erik locked away in a prison one hundred stories below the ground.

Charles was never supposed to be there with him.

Notes: Unfinished but an excellent read. Highly recommend it.

Stolen – ishipitsobad

Summary: Erik is a miserable, grumpy, cantankerous bastard, and he has every fucking right to be. He drew the short end of the stick when he got the Underworld as his domain, and there isn't very much fun to be had in judging and governing dead souls who would rather be anywhere else but with Erik in the depths of Hell.

So when he meets Charles, brilliant and lovely Charles who is more popularly known amongst the mortals as Persephone, and feels the promise of something wonderful that could make his eternally doomed existence infinitely more bearable... you can bet all your drachmas Erik's not going to let Charles go any fucking time soon.

My Barbaric Darling – baehj2915

Summary: Erik is revivified caveman. Charles is the anthropologist(?) taking care of him. This is as ridiculous as it sounds. Romcom misunderstandings and prehistoric wooing ensues.

Swimming with Sharks – Not_You

Summary: Erik used to be a shark. Now he's not, and has to figure out how to be a good human father to his twins. Charles is willing to help.

Eucalyptus leaf of my soul - kageillusionz, ourgirlfriday

Summary: Zookeeper Raven at Taronga Zoo keeps having ideas on how to capitalize on interest in the zoo mascots, Koala Charles and Drop Bear Erik (the only drop bear in captivity!), who have captured the hearts and minds of the public. First it was to introduce prospective mates (It’ll generate attention, Hank. People are perverts. They’d love to see koala porn.). This idea was not effective the first through fifth attempts, as Erik and Charles seemed to show at best polite interest in the newcomer before resuming whatever marsupial debate they had going. However, the resulting lesbian koala orgies did indeed generate interest. Then Raven unveiled the Hug-A-Koala program, which was successful, as the public showed great interest in hugging Charles, and Charles seemed to enjoy being hugged.

Then Raven unveiled the Hug-A-Drop Bear program, and Hank, not for the first time, wished he had a flask handy.

Notes: Yes, they’re Koalas, yes they’re adorable, and yes, Erik is super protective even as a Drop Bear.

[liron-ao3]

Eyes as green as paradise

Castiel knows this part of the woods like the back of his hand. There's no tree he didn't meet as a sapling, his magic whispering ancient words when they grew into young trees, strengthening and guiding them until they touched the sky. They would have grown without him, of course, but this is Castiel's witchdom, and he likes that the trees speak to him as only domesticated ones do.

It often comes in handy. They whisper to him when a fire breaks out in the hot summers, or when hunters pass the invisible boundaries, chasing deer. His deflection spells keep his animal friends safe, and his forest is known as a shelter for every creature, as long as their hearts and intentions are pure.

Castiel collects sorrel for his dinner and Valerian root for a sleeping potion. He's been haunted by weird dreams as of late, a vision of the future to come or a déjàvu from his past? He isn't quite sure. He has lived a long time, and at some point, certain things repeat themself. But these dreams? They are vivid.

Green eyes look at him, and he sees his own callused hand stroking over beautiful light brown fur. A wolf. The most beautiful wolf he has ever seen. Strong and bold. Sometimes, he looks as if he were grinning.

Castiel has studied the books of oneiromancy, tried to trace the fresh dream with rituals. To no avail.

Who could this wolf be? A familiar, maybe? Castiel has never had one. His brothers used to make fun of him because of it. Gabriel had a snow owl, Balthazar a raven, and Anna a cat. He has seen none of them in decades. Maybe he should send a fire message to them, invite them to celebrate Midsummer Night.

Castiel sits down and leans against one of his oldest tree friends. He always tries to eat his lunch out here. In his little cot, he sometimes feels lonely. Not the dark, drowning kind, but still. He has always felt more one with himself between the miracles of the world, the magic that is life itself.

This mid-morning, a rabbit comes to sniff at his clothes, and a bumblebee tells him about the early summer flowers he visited so far. A timid fawn asks him for help to find her mother, and Castiel sends out his magic to call for the doe.

All in all, it's a lazy morning, the sun shining warm, the moss still damp from last night's rain. Castiel takes a deep breath and lets the scent of wood and soil wash over him. He needs this like water and bread.

His sister had warned him that solitude could turn into forlornness. She meant well all those centuries ago. But she didn't understand. He wasn't alone. And he wasn't expecting anyone to join him, either. He knows that he's a hermit at heart. Who would want to share the quiet rain falling on the slades of his roof or the strenuous work of kneading bread?

Speaking of bread. He's gotta go. The dough should be risen soon, and even though he could push it in the oven with his magic, Castiel prefers the traditional way better.

He's just turned out the dough on a baker's peel when a humming of the trees alerts him to someone passing the borders of his realm. He freezes his kitchen with a snap of his fingers. He's not willing to let good bread dough go to waste, or the fire to extinguish.

He storms out of his cot and tries to sense the stranger. But the humming is too loud, the trees too agitated. "Silence!" Castiel booms and all creatures, flora and fauna alike, follow his command. It's not often that the witch raises his voice, his power quiet and sensed by the simplest of life forms. Only the wind doesn't falter in rustling the leaves, but it is white noise to Castiel's ears.

He can feel a rapidly beating heart, can hear panting and whines of pain. He grabs the length of his garment and starts running, his magic already reaching to where his feet still have to carry him.

Someone is wounded. He can smell the blood, can feel the earth soaking it up like a sacrifice. No! No living being will die in his forest. He won't allow it.

The sounds and smell grow stronger, and Castiel's magic has long painted a picture in his mind when he finally reaches the wounded animal.

A wolf.

Castiel stops still in his tracks when impossibly intense eyes pierce him and a sharp, threatening growl is sent his way.

It's a big wolf, but Castiel isn't afraid of him. He still has to meet a creature who could hurt him severely. Still, he takes a step back and scans the wolf's body.

"Damn hunters!" he curses when he sees the penetrating gunshot wound. The wolf's demeanour changes in a split second, as if he understood the words.

He leans his head to the side and considers the witch. Not letting Castiel out of his sight, he laps over the still gushing wound.

"I can help you with that," Castiel says and curls a ball of magic in his hand. He knows that it can communicate with the frightened animal from outside his woods.

The wolf howls in pain. "I know you don't trust me. But ask the trees. I want to take care of you."

Green eyes, slowly growing dim, look at him, and with a start, Castiel recognises them. He swallows hard, his heart clenching in unfamiliar ways.

"Who are you?" he whispers before the eyes close and the wolf's head slumps to the ground.

***

"It needs to work," Castiel mutters as he walks up and down his cot, stopping now and then to look at the wolf lying in his bed.

It's not the first time that Castiel took care of a bullet wound, and it's not even the worst he's ever tended to. There is a puncture wound on the wolf's stomach as well. It looks nasty. But none of it explains the state of unconsciousness the wolf slips in and out of. These are resilient creatures, and Castiel put all his tinctures and balms to good use, changed the dressing, cleaned the wounds.

Three days, and only the bullet wound is closing slowly. Other than that, nothing has changed, only the wolf's heartbeat seems to have settled down.

Castiel goes to his kiln and pulls a fresh badge of earthen healing amulets out of it. He spells them in long-forgotten tongues and puts the strongest over the stab wound that simply doesn't want to heal. He's at his wits' end. Healing magic was never his forte, but patching someone up has never been a problem for him—a herbal witch from a strong lineage of witches, a seer, a guardian of the forest.

He hears the trees whispering and sees the bees checking on him in obvious intervals. They must sense his desperation, must see his inner turmoil. This isn't just anyone to him. He can feel it. He wouldn't have dreamt of him if he were just a nonentity, a stranger stumbling into his woods by mistake or accident. There is a bond brimming between them. A weak one, but still.

Is he his familiar, chose him in thanks for his fight? Or is he something else to him?

Castiel has sent his magic into him, again and again. There is a barrier, something hindering him from entering the wolf's core. It's unsettling. Nature of all kind always welcomed his magic, called it warm and strong, gentle, kind. He healed so many animals, reunited children and their parents, spread kindness and love. But now that it counts, his powers fail, and his wolf rejects his tender probing.

His wolf.

He doesn't even have a name, and still, Castiel knows that they belong together. He can feel it in his bones.

He uncorks another bottle of tonic and cradles the wolf's head to feed him the strengthener. It's his last batch, but a new one is already boiling over the hearth.

For a short moment, the wolf's unusual eyes open and look at him. The wolf swallows the potion as best as he can. Then, the head sinks heavily into Castiel's hand.

"You need to make it. I wanna know who you are," he pleads.

***

"He's awake," a robin chirps as Castiel collects medicinal herbs on the fringes of the forest.

"He's awake," murmurs the wind in the trees.

"He's awake," calls the forest in one harmonious choir.

"I heard you," Castiel grumbles and runs back to his cot as fast as his feet can carry him. He storms into the room and stops dead in his tracks. His mouth falls open at the sight in front of him.

"Who are you?" he whispers like a hundred times before over the past week, but never had he been worried to hear the answer before.

Green eyes behold him, keep him trapped on his doorstep. Freckles dust the stranger's face and a full beard frames his soft features.

"Dean," the stranger in his bed says. The naked stranger under the quilt that his mother sewed for him before he left home.

"What have you done with my wolf?" Castiel demands to know.

"Your…?" Dean looks at him for a long moment before he starts laughing. Despite a lot of grim willpower, Castiel's lips curl up into a small smile.

"It's me," Dean explains and pushes the quilt down. Castiel averts his eyes, cheeks dusted in pink. He has never seen a naked human before.

"I won't show you my crown jewels. Don't fret," Dean guffaws.

Castiel looks back at him. The amulet falls off the slowly closing puncture wound and, on his exposed hip, the closed bullet wounds are visible.

"Are you a shapeshifter?"

Dean shakes his head. "A werewolf."

Castiel's eyes grow wide. No, that can't be! He should have seen that. Werewolves can't hide their double form from witches' eyes. Besides, Dean should have healed in record time if he were a were.

The witch crosses his arms over his chest. "I don't believe a single word you say."

Dean gathers the blanket and sits up. "You're a witch," he states, eyes shining in excitement.

"Wanna burn me? You're a little late to the party," Castiel scoffs.

Dean laughs out loud. "I know a thing or two about witch hunts. I've been ditching humans all my life."

Castiel narrows his eyes. "Then why are you here? No one without intent can enter my realm."

Dean furrows his brow and looks down at his hands. "I had dreams, visions, of a secret forest and blue eyes." He raises his gaze and it lands tenderly on Castiel's face.

The witch grabs the doorframe to keep his balance. He doesn't know much about his looks, but he was told that his eyes were a striking blue.

"I felt a pull towards this place, so strong that I didn't even see the hunter before it was too late," Dean continues.

"But your wounds…"

"He knew that I'm a werewolf. He cut me with a silver knife. I was lucky that he couldn't enter your forest. I stumbled over the line, right where you found me."

Castiel falls a step forward. His poor wolf. No wonder that he stayed in his animal form and healed so slowly. Just good that Castiel's tinctures must have rinsed out the last silver molecules.

"You need clothes and food," Castiel decides.

Dean chuckles. "If it's not too much of a bother."

Castiel waves him off. Dean may not be his familiar, but he's happy that he could and can be of help. When he hands Dean his clothes, the other man grabs his hand and pulls him down to sit on the side of the bed.

"I told you who I am. Care to return the favour?" he smirks.

Castiel is startled into speechlessness. How many times did he brush a hand through his fur, caressed his muzzle? And now, Dean's so close, his eyes so soft, and his lips curled into a tender smile.

Dean sniffs, not even trying to pass it off as something else. His eyes grow wide and his mouth falls open. "No," he breathes.

A broad hand cards through Castiel's hair and holds him still, but the witch doesn't feel fear. Not because of his powers or the forest animals surrounding the cot, ready to defend him if need be. No. His magic is singing with joy, his blood flows a little faster. The beams of the setting sun light up Dean's face, and the crescent moon seems to smile down at them.

"My mate," Dean all but whispers. "You're my mate." His other hand cups Castiel's cheek. "I searched for you for so long, centuries."

Castiel blinks at him. His mother used to tell him fairy tales about soulmates. He stopped believing them a very long time ago.

"You're a werewolf. You don't live for centuries," Castiel deflects. This is all too much. This can't be true.

"The turned ones for sure do," Dean chuckles.

"You're a born were?" Castiel grabs Dean's arm. He's an ancient being, just like him. "But of course. That's why my magic couldn't reach your core."

"Try again," Dean whispers. Hesitantly, Castiel puts his hand on Dean's bare chest and sends tendrils of his magic under his skin. Visions of battlefields and rivers flood his mind, a tall groom with a brown-haired bride dancing, a blond woman smiling at them in the background. There are fireworks and a black stallion. Dean leans their heads together, both dripping with sweat. Dean throwing his head back as he dances around the fire.

"Dean," Castiel breathes.

"You can see it, don't you?"

Castiel nods. "How are you real?"

"I wanted to ask the same." Dean chuckles. "Will you kiss me now?"

Castiel pulls back. "Not without britches."

Dean laughs out loud and falls back into the pillows. "Old-fashioned. I like that."

Castiel flicks his fingers, and Dean is dressed underneath the covers. He startles, then relaxes in laughter.

"I think I heard about werewolves' mating rituals," Castiel says, watching with joy how Dean's eyes light up and narrow. Castiel is on his feet within a split second and the trees cheer him on as he runs out of his cot, along his favourite paths down to the creek that separates his realm from the outside world. He laughs as he reaches his favourite place in the whole wide world without his mate having caught up on him.

He stops at the stream and slumps against a tree. He smiles through his ragged breathing when Dean steps out of the woods into the moonlight. "I haven't waited for you," he confesses.

And Dean understands what these words truly mean. "I searched for the both of us." He cups Castiel's face with both hands, so tenderly it makes Castiel's heart ache in unfamiliar ways.

The moon shines softly on them as their lips meet for the first time, and the creek sings songs of union. Flowers bloom around them where Castiel's magic drops to the forest floor, and Dean laughs as they tickle his bare feet.

Castiel wasn't lost, and yet, he was found. And the whole forest, every tree, every animal, every blade of grass, and every flower is witness as two souls become one.

~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for reading. 💙💚 Check out my stuff on ao3.

[the-witches-you-couldnt-burn]

It's final

Dedicated to my best friend K, who exclusively reads angst (yes I know she is crazy).

Warnings: domestic disputes, panic attacks & mental breakdowns.

Ao3

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“Why are you such a fucking bitch?”

She froze, her anger steeled within her. Their argument was abruptly silenced, both tempers flaring high enough to threaten the heavens. Heaving breaths from their vocal exertions became louder than their previous yelling. A pang of fear struck her heart as she wonders whether the neighbours had heard them and called the police for a domestic dispute.

Marinette was furious. She wasn’t a saint during this war of words, and had said somethings she shouldn’t have. She had started this argument with the intentions of lessening his reckless behaviour, but ended up stating in anger that his mother would be stopping his behaviour too. That line lead to his outburst and the state they were in now.

Cheeks flushed red, particles of perspiration dotted their skin, bodies wound with tension. She swiftly motioned towards the door, hand reaching to the knob. Jason grabbed her other wrist, deep seated sadness displayed over his features, immediately regretting his words spoken by ire. Her head tilted downwards, stubbornly refusing to meet his eyes.

“I didn’t mean it,” his voice cracked, any traces of rage had melted into sorrow.

“You never do, but it hurts the same.” She shook her arm, detaching his hand from her wrist. His grip was firm but unwilling to deny her, her free will. She picked up her purse, slinging the strap over her shoulder. The door opened, she could feel his stare on the back of his head. Her sigh filled the empty space, without turning she said, “I think it’s better that we seperate, we aren’t good for each other. I’m willing to keep up appearances with your family at the gala but then I’ll move my belongings to another apartment.”

She turned around, rushing into his embrace, tears shed from her eyes. A final hug goodbye. His stray tears raced down his cheeks to reach their raven hair finish line. He made no move to respond to her hug. Usually he’d have wrapped her in his arms, especially after an argument like this. But this one was different. This would be their last.

“Au revior, Jason.” She removed her body from his. It left him wanting to pull her back but it was as if his muscles had necrotic back to a corpse. His eyes flicked down to his invisible chains, begging his arms to move, to capture his lightning bug and never let her go. He looked back at her, she stood there, seemingly wanting him to say something, anything.

“I’m sorry.” His hoarse voice whispered, he desperately wanted to pepper her face with kisses and beg her to forgive a cretin like him. His voice broke as he uttered, “Please.”

Blue eyes met blue eyes. Marinette’s head shook slightly, non-verbally denying him. A bitter laugh escaped her mouth, she brought up her hand cover her crazed smile. “I’m sorry too.” She sobbed.

She rushed out the door, practically sprinting to the elevator. As the strong metal door closed, her sobbed echoed around the empty box. She broke down, months of fights and building tensions had weighed her down, her creativity had been primarily funnelled into ways she could improve her relationship. Il vaut mieux prévenir que guérir (It is better to prevent than to heal).

When the door closed Jason’s knees collapsed, a hollow echo resounded through the hallway. Their shared apartment would be no longer. No more hello, good bye kisses; no more delicious meals shared between the two; no more sleepy morning kisses. He looked down at his hands, clenched fists. A primal cry left his throat, he felt it to his core. He would have rather had his heart ripped out, he would have rather have died again, than to feel this pain.

——

It was the night of the gala, only four days after their fight. Marinette had only come back to their condo once to collect some clothes and her sewing machine. Only the essentials were taken, the rest could be gathered by movers.

Jason was a wreck. He had worked multiple overtime shifts to avoid the festering wound that was his bleeding heart. Preparing for his family’s ball was tough, this would be the first time they would see each other since the argument. He sported a fresh haircut which was left messy, his white button down top hugged his muscles perfectly, was paired with a slate grey blazer and matching dress pants (both gifts from Marinette).

He was fiddling with his tie, the gala’s atmosphere was already suffocating due to insufferable and rich hotshots, and his tie decided that he didn’t need to breathe. Marinette didn’t care for appearances but knew his family lived under the watchful eye of the media, so she always made sure they were matching. But tonight, tonight he had no clue what she was wearing and had received no colour matching instructions, so he went with trusty rusty red. It was the first thing the fashionista made for him and he will always cherish it.

His eyes widened as he saw her enter. She wore a midnight silk black mermaid gown that had a chiffon overskirt that was black fading to blood red. Her hair was down and curled, a silver feather hair clip pinned back the left side of her hair, exposing her magnificent facial features. Cerulean eyes framed by dark painted lashes, scanned the room.

Her heart caught in her throat, she had entered the doors to the banquet hall. She came with the intention of saying her silent goodbyes to the family who had taken her in when she had no one else. She had been suffering in silence for the past few days, her only support system being the Wayne Clan, but couldn’t bring herself to tell them what had happened. She couldn’t do that to Jason, she wouldn’t make them choose between him and her, she dreaded to hear their answers. Resigning herself to reside in silence, she came here to keep up appearances then fade into obscurity, but she saw him and her breath died in her throat. He looked as handsome as the day she left him. She wiped her sweaty palms on her dress. She walked towards him; he spotted her and did the same. They met in the middle, on the dance floor.

“You look amazing Marinette.” He swallowed the urge to call her pixie, it hung heavy in his throat. He needed to create distance between them, that was the first advice in ‘How to be civil after a breakup’. During the silent nights, he delved into any written text that would give him refuge and advice.

“You too Jason.” The pit in his stomach grew, he should have known she would take the same path. Never would he hear ‘Jay’ or ‘Jayjay’ from her plump red lips again. His shoulders slumped a fraction before he shooed away his depressing thoughts.

Their conversing was viewed by many around the room. They were the odd couple of the family. Jason, despite his rich adoptive home worked in security and charity whilst Marinette was a hardworking fashionista who had built her own fashion empire. They were from two different worlds and only fate knew that they’d meet.

He bowed and held out a hand to her, a lopsided smiled danced across his face. She smiled sadly, she would miss her dork, she would miss his smile. Her hand brushed against his calloused palm, their fingers locked together. She hesitated before placing a hand on his shoulder, ‘just one dance’, she could do this.

His hand found her waist, warmth bloomed upon his cold skin. He was always cold since he died, only his temper had warmed him. But then he met her. Marinette was his warmth, she made him feel like he was a child again, bathing in Gotham’s rare sunlight. His lightning bug brought him warmth and he had lost it.

They swayed to the classic instrumental melody. Neither looked at each other as their bodies flowed, ‘it was just an act’, they chanted as a mantra within their minds. ‘It means nothing, soon this will be over’. It struck her, this would be the final time they would see each other. A quiet sob escaped her, she was unable to do anything to stop it.

Jason’s head snapped towards her, sweeping her away into a private garden. Between her weeping she apologised for the state she was in, hyperventilating soon after. Jason guided her to a bench and clasped her hands in his.

“Hey, hey! Mari look at me. Deep breaths in and out, ok?.” Screw creating distance, this was his girl, he will fight anyone who says otherwise. Marinette slowly began to wind down from her panic attack, eyes misty and her water-proof mascara blotchy but still intact. The temperamental man wiped her cheeks free from trails of liquid fright.

“I’m so sorry for everything Jason. I never should have said that thing about your mother, that was cruel. I can’t keep hurting the people I care about. I can’t keep you happy. I’m just not enough.”

Her cries broke down his own walls, exposing his vulnerability to the Gotham night. “Fuck the word enough. It’s synonyms: sufficient, ample and adequate, could never describe what you mean to me.” He pressed his forehead on her, blue eyes fluttering shut. “I’m not sure if any of us will ever be enough for anything. There’s no point in begging for it.”

“I hate goodbyes.” She whispered, lips inches from his. Their breaths mingled, cheeks flushing. The icy Gotham air whipped at their skin causing them to move closer to the other for sanctuary.

“Then let’s not make this one.” Fireworks. That’s what they felt when their lips connected. All of the week’s tension unraveled within this lip lock. Their teeth clashed and hands tugged at hair in desperation to close the distance between them. When she entered the gala tonight, she had been so ready to say, ‘adieu pour toujours,’ but was glad she didn’t need to.

C’est cela l’amour, tout donner, tout sacrifier sans es poir de retour. (This is love, giving it ones all, sacrificing everything without hope of it being returned.)