#japanese skeleton shrimp

[little-creature-of-the-day]

little creature of the day: japanese skeleton shrimp

he looks evil

image source

[ordinarily-unordinary]

Behold. Butterfly ray!

Bee Pros _ •Looks like a tortilla •Flappy •Silly lil dude • Either looks like an adorable little cutie pie or looks like it knows all of your secrets and will blackmail you if you don't give it $50 • They have the coolest fucking skeletons

Bee cons - • Will blackmail you if you don't give it $50 • Literally nothing else this lil guy is so silly and I love it Actually Serious Bee talking abt an animal time - Butterfly Ray! Pretty sure they're Japanese, correct me if I'm wrong in the replies or repost. They don't sting, and they get big as fuck I'm I'm not mistaken (googled it, yea they're like 13 feet wide (3.9624 metres), and they're just chill dudes. they also bury themselves in the sand which I think is cool. like a little tortilla burying itself in the sand is just unnecessarily cute to me and I love it sm. they eat fish, crabs, squid, shrimp. all good shit that i'd eat too tbh, so diet gets Rory approval (everything about this lil guy gets Rory approval what am I on abt). they're critically endangered tho (at least in the southwest Atlantic) because humans suck and fish for them. hopefully they won't go extinct :( Anyways that's the butterfly ray, hope you enjoyed me talking about random silly animals that I found on the interwebs. good day my fellow earth citizens, good day.

[dogcunt]

WARNING : I'm just an addict ... addicted to music. There are people who are born to make music, o8 thers are born to hearing. Whenever was part of this second group. Maybe it's. a habit, I gotta use, even if it 's rock, jazz or the quiet storm. Great pictures of the things I love - music, painting, books, photography, architecture, design, women, and more. I love music more than lasagna. Better to burn out than fade away. The older you get, the better life gets. But time also seems to be accelerating, the clock running too fast. So, looking at those early days, everything is very slow, stretched, and great significance. The most recent time, I spent busy with simple things.People think rock and roll is only about teenage rebellion, but why can not exist old rebel too? THE RESIDENTS is my Biggest Addiction, and,THE RED KRAYOLA, FRANK ZAPPA, CAPTAIN BEEFHEART, THE VELVET UNDERGROUND, KING CRINSOM, OLD TIME RELIJUN - ARRINGTON DIONYSO, R. STEVIE MOORE, SHRIMP BOAT, MINIMAL COMPACT, THIS HEAT, COIL, SKELETON CREW, HARRY PARTCH, HOME and GARDEN, SMEGMA,THE SUN CITY GIRLS, TRAGIC MULATTO, WEEN, THE EX, LONG FIN KILLIE, VIRGIN PRUNES, AND ALSO THE TREES, MOONDOG,THE WORK, THE FIBONACCIS, LEGENDARY PINK DOTS, THE NECKS, CLINTON HENSLEY, CLOUD CULT, SACCHARINE TRUST, MODEST MOUSE, SCOTT WALKER, PROTOMARTYR, BONGWATER - (MARK KRAMER), SHOCKABILLY, RENALDO & LOAF, BUTHOLE SURFERS, MISSION OF BURMA, DAVID THOMAS,THE GO-BETWEENS, WALL OF VOODO, THROBBING GRISTLE, LONG FIN KILLIE,THE DARKSIDE,THE MUSIC TAPES,THE BETTER BEATLES, FIFTY FOOT HOSE, OLIVIA TREMOR CONTROL,THE LOS ANGELES FREE MUSIC SOCIETY ( Rick Potts, Joe Potts, Chip Chapman, Tom Recchion, who worked at the store, had formed Two Who Do Duets with Harold Schroeder in March of 1975, Ace Farren Ford and the Professor (who performed as the duo Ace & Duce), Dennis Duck, and Richard Snyder), Doo-Doettes, Tom Recchion, John Wiese, CHEER-ACCIDENT, OXBOW, Fredrik Nilsen, Godley & Creme, The Bill Jones Show, Blah Blah Blah, Blitzoids, Bomis Prendin, Cardiacs, TONE DOGS( Amy Denio, Fred Chalenor),The Cheepskates, Confusional Quartet, Jim Copp & Ed Brown, German Shepherds, Freshly Wrapped Candies, Gerry & The Holograms, Ostrich Von Nipple - Nolan Cook, "Blue" Gene Tyranny, Ptôse, Steaming Coils, HENRY FLINT, Robert Ashley, THINKING FELLERS UNION LOCAL 282, SWANS, CAN, FAUST, CASSIBER,TOM CORA, TELEVISION,THE MODERN LOVERS, SNAKEFINGER, TREES SPEAK, MILES DAVIS, SUN RA, KRAFTWERK, ANAL MAGIC & REV. DWIGHT FRIZZELL, MICHAEL YONKERS, RAYMOND SCOTT, SLAPPY HAPPY, ART BEARS, NAKED CITY, HENRY COW, JOHN ZORN, JOHN CAGE, THE DELTA NUDES, MARVIN PONTIAC, JOE BYRD and The Field Hippies,The Scene Is Now, FRED FRITH, Philip Perkins, JANDEK, HYBRID KIDS,THIS KIND of PUNISHMENT, FRED LANE, DEEP FREEZE MICE,THE DEVIANTS, MONKS,THE SHAGS, THE SLITS,THEE Oh SEES, WOMEN, BLURT, PRAM, BAND OF SUSANS, THE MARS VOLTA, THE BARK PSYCHOSIS, HUGO LARGO,THE PAINTEENS, STUMP, CERTAIN GENERAL, PINBACK, THE CHURCH,THE THREE JOHNS, CHROME, PRIMUS-LES CLAYPOOL, EUGENE CHADBOURNE, ESKIMO, HALF JAPANESE, MINUTEMEN, ARAB STRAP,FUGAZI, GLAXO BABIES, THE SEA AND CAKE, SAVAGE REPUBLIC, TUXEDOMOON, XTC, U.S,MAPLE, THE PAPER CHASE, MASS, PERFORMING FERRET BAND, LAUGHING CLOWS, ... AN THE HIPSTERS, The Grinning Plowman, Crawling Chaos, Suburban Lawns, SULFUR, ARAB ON RADAR, THE CHINESE STARS, RUN ON, DON CABALLERO, SLEEP, OM, EARTH, EX MODELS, TORTOISE, NEW WET KOJAK, TOBY DAMMIT, NOLAN COOK, ERIC DREW FELDMAN, CHARLES BOBUCK, CINDY LEE, DRY CLEANING, BEATRICE DILLON, WOMEN, Fontaines D.C,Porridge Radio, Scissor Girls, TV On The Radio, Motherhead Bug, COP SHOOT COP, VAMPIRE RODENTS, JUNE OF 44,THE BOOKS, UI, HIM, JOAN OF ARC, CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN, FIREWATER, BLIND IDIOT GOD, CUL DE SAC, DANIEL SMITH - DANIELSON FAMILE ....... Other musical priorities are: THE FEELIES, PERE UBU, THE CLASH, JOY DIVISION, MEDIUM MEDIUM, TIN KINSELLA - JOAN OF ARC, CAP N ´JAZZ, OWLS, GHOSTS OF VODKA, MAKE BELIEVE, OWEN, THE CORAL, DANNY COHEN, CAR SEAT HEADREST, IDDLES, THE BETTER-BEATLES, DARKSIDE,THE MEMBRANES, THEATRE OF HATE, NOCTURNAL P

[yellowcanna]

Stray Dogs

Summary:

When Nakahara Chuuya opened his eyes, he had expected everything to be the same as it did for the past five years. The jingling sound of chains rang through the air as he slowly pushes himself from the cold ground. He brushed off some dirt from his cheeks—not that it will make him any cleaner. When he sat up and took a proper look at his surroundings, he realized it was not the same... 

“Great, of all things it’s a fucking leech.” He groaned. 

“As if I want to be roomed with an animal that looked like it hadn’t bathed for a decade,” said leech fired back. 

This was the beginning of their long journey. 

The story of how two stray dogs met.

Pairings: Soukoku (Dazai x Chuuya), Shin Soukoku (Akutagawa x Atsushi)

Rating: T

Author: Canna / Yellow Canna

Series: Part 2 of Those with Claws and Those with Fangs

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◅ PART 1                               Main Page                               PART 3 ▻

•• ━━━━━ ••●•• ━━━━━ ••

The same pitiful cries.

The same foul stench.

The same depressing atmosphere.

When Nakahara Chuuya opened his eyes, he had expected everything to be the same as it did for the past five years.

The jingling sound of chains rang through the air as he slowly pushes himself from the cold ground. He brushed off some dirt from his cheeks—not that it will make him any cleaner. When he sat up and took a proper look at his surroundings, he realized it was not the same.

Ocean blue eyes stared flatly at the other existence sharing his room.

“And here I was wondering when the kitty would wake,” said the raven-haired boy seemingly his age.

The boy had a metal collar on his neck and hands as well. Thick iron chains stretched from the cuffs with the other end nailed deeply into the stone wall. He was covered in grimy bandages with ragged clothes like everyone else in this cursed place.

Chuuya furrowed his brows as he tried to process what his new roommate had said. It's been like this ever since he was shipped to this foreign land. The lack of having someone to converse with also didn't help his language improvement. After all, humans didn't need him to speak their language to become their source of entertainment.

“Great, it’s a fucking leech.” Chuuya groaned. Why of all things did he get locked up with a vampire? Was this some sort of new torture method?

“As if I want to be roomed with an animal that looked like it hadn’t bathed for a decade.”

“What was that?! I’ll beat the shit out of you, brat!” Chuuya shouted out of reflex, only to freeze when he realized that he understood the other just now. The vampire was speaking Japanese.

Chuuya really looked at this vampire for this time. His eyes scanned over the vampire's delicate Asian features that he hadn’t bother noticing before.

“You’re a brat as well!” The vampire countered. Burnt umber eyes looking over Chuuya in a way that made the redhead wanted to slam his fist into that smug face. “Not to mention you’re just a shrimp! Should have drank more milk when you had the chance!”

“Mind your own business!”

The two glared at one another. They could already tell that they were not going to enjoy rooming together.

Their glaring contest was interrupted when the metallic door to their confinement slammed open. An old, shaggy gruff man stomped in. He was someone Chuuya seen regularly during mealtime. As usual, the man threw a chunk of raw meat at the redhead's feet before he turned to leave.

The heavy door slammed shut, leaving the two in silence.

"Is there discrimination against vampires here?" The vampire asked in a bored tone. "Why wasn't I given a meal?"

Chuuya ignored the vampire and grabbed the piece of meat that barely got any blood left despite being raw. The meat was covered in dirt and the flesh was an unhealthy dark brown hue. A sour stench was practically emitting from the thing. The meat was spoiled, that much was obvious even to the vampire who was scrunching his nose in disgust.

Chuuya didn’t even bat an eye as he bit into the old meat and tore it apart with his teeth.

“I’m amazed you can eat that.” The vampire commented after Chuuya had already devoured half of it. “No wonder you’re short.”

The sound of knuckles cracking echoed through the tiny room.

“Do you even know the situation you’re in?!”

“Isn’t it obvious?” The vampire responded blankly. “I got captured while testing out a new suicide method in a well. Now I’m stuck here with a werebeast.”

Said werebeast’s brows twitched. This was just perfect. Not only was he locked up with his race's sworn enemy, the said enemy was suicidal. Just great!

“Go hang yourself and die.” The redhead went back to eating what little food he had left. After that, he began to lick the sour blood off his dirt-covered hand. 

The vampire appeared thoroughly grossed out by his action, but Chuuya couldn't care less of what his roommate felt. He had long thrown away the pride he once had. To survive in this hellhole, he had to lower his head to these humans that captured him. His body has been worn down over the years. Now, he was practically just a skeleton wrapped within a thin layer of skin. 

That was what this place does to them. They were beaten and starved until submission, then used for those veil creatures’ entertainment.

Chuuya could still remember that night eight years ago when his village was raided by humans. Older werebeasts were killed off and the young ones were all captured. Chuuya didn’t know where the other kids got sent off to, but he was the only one they bothered shipping across the ocean due to his unique bloodline.

Apparently, humans found it entertaining to watch monsters like him kill one another.

“So? How did you get captured?” The vampire suddenly asked.

Chuuya glanced at the vampire from the corner of his eyes before turning away to ignore him. Sadly the raven didn’t get the message, or perhaps he chose to ignore the fact that the werebeast did not want to talk to him. “Did they wave some catnip at you and let you jump into a cage?”

“I ain’t a house cat!” Chuuya barked before being hit by a wave of dizziness. He collapsed against the cold floor as his ears started to ring and his vision spinning.

“Hey,” the vampire called, but Chuuya ignored him. He closed his eyes to fight off the wave of nausea. After lying still for a bit and having some blood flowed back into his head, Chuuya felt mildly better.

“You dead?”

“Are you an idiot?” Chuuya grumbled before sluggishly pushing himself up. The vampire frowned as he examined the werebeast’s movement.

“You’re starving.”

“No shit.”

Chuuya leaned back against the wall. He didn't have the energy to argue with the vampire. 

“Do they only give you that much to eat every day?”

“Every day?” Chuuya huffed. “That was my meal per week. Now shut up unless you want a rotting corpse next to you. I heard you leeches hate the smell of dead things despite sleeping in coffins.”

“We sleep in actual beds. Those are just human superstitions.” The vampire deadpanned.

Chuuya didn’t bother with him as he closed his eyes. He needed to store up energy if he wants to survive to get next week’s proportion. It didn’t take long for him to submerge into the familiar, welcoming darkness.

Chuuya didn’t know how long he has slept for. Being low on energy like this, it wasn’t unusual if he slept for days or even a whole week. Time was something impossible to tell when trapped in a small room with no window. The only thing he could tell was the number of years he has been trapped here for from the passing seasons every time he was let out.

When Chuuya woke up, it was from a harsh kick to his side, knocking him into the cold stone ground.

An angry voice shouted something, but Chuuya couldn’t understand the language.

The werebeast slowly opened his eyes. He stared up at two men standing over him, clad in heavy-looking armours. A black cat was perched on one of the men's shoulders. Its tiny head tilted up haughtily as golden eyes looked down upon him as if looking at a piece of filth.

As usual, Chuuya wanted to know how that cat would react if he were to gouge out those disgusting eyes. His raven-haired roommate just sat there, watching silently as Chuuya was dragged out the door by the chains on his neck.

The humans sitting around the large stadium cheered when Chuuya was thrown up onto the stage. Torches were burning brightly, illuminating the field and the hideous faces of the humans. A barrier was soon cast over the stage, preventing both creatures from escaping.

Chuuya’s eyes were dilated as he tried to make out his opponent this time. He was starving and his head still hurts. He flipped around and got onto all four. He couldn't see his opponent properly due to the hunger that's making his vision blurry, but that didn't matter. It was pointless to see who or what he's going to kill off anyways.

With a roar, Chuuya began to transform.

The crowd went wild as crimson glow shrouded the werebeast’s body. In a burst of blinding light, the petite boy was gone. In his place was a tiger that was all skins and bones, yet the ferociousness it was displaying made anyone that saw at a close distance cowered.

The cheering from the crowds went up by ten notches at the sight.

“…So noisy,” A certain vampire mumbled as he sat in the small, confined space. The entire room was pretty much shaking from the intense cheers coming from above.

He continued to count the seconds in his head. Picking up a pebble next to him, he slowly drew another line to the tally chart next to him.

As of this moment, this marks the seventh day since he got been thrown in here.

The noise eventually died down after half an hour. Soon, he heard footsteps and the jingling sound of chain approaching the room. When the door was kicked open, a familiar redhead drenched in blood was thrown ruthlessly onto the ground like a ragdoll.

The human secured the werebeast’s chain to the wall and left without giving the broken youth another look.

Chuuya curled into a ball, shivering and panting as he cradled his right leg that has been ripped off at the knee. The redhead tore what little piece of clothing he had and tied it around the wound to slow the bleeding. 

The vampire’s eyes gleamed the moment he sniffed the werebeast’s blood.

He reached out, pale hands extended towards the other boy only to be stopped by a sharp tug with metallic rattling sound resonating throughout the room. The raven looked down at the chains preventing him from going any further. His eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t even realized he had reached out like that.

Chestnut brown eyes observed the alluring blood pooling over the ground. Unable to resist, he stretched his hand out as far as he could. He was able to reach out just enough to brush the tip of his middle over the edge of the crimson puddle. He immediately withdrew his hand and licked the small red stain off his fingertip.

The blood was so rich and filled with vitality that just a small taste filled him with strength. Just a tiny morsel and it left the vampire desiring more. It was a feeling he had never felt in his entire life.

This was the feeling of being alive.

Unable to contain the thirst for blood, the brown in the vampire’s eyes were completely gone. His pupils were dilated and gleaming in the purest, uncontaminated red.

Chuuya sluggishly opened his eyes when his instincts flared up, warning him of danger. He squinted his eyes at the other occupant in the room and was met by a pair of predatory gaze.

For the very first time since their meeting, ocean blue eyes softened.

The werebeast slowly uncurled his body. He stretched the stump of his leg towards the vampire. A pool of blood began to form as it expanded towards the vampire. 

The raven looked at the werebeast with a flicker of surprise in his glowing eyes before he hid it. Pale hand reached out once more. He was nowhere near touching the werebeast, but a good half of his hand was able to touch the blood. Hot red fluid bathed his hand as he ran his tongue over his palm, savoring the sweetness of the divine blood.

Chuuya observed the vampire for a while before finally closing his eyes. Completely worn out from the battle and injuries, he fell into a deep slumber…

When Chuuya woke up, it was to the smell of food.

Without even thinking, he reached for the source of the smell and grabbed onto a piece of old meat. He practically gulped it down without chewing. The fight and losing a leg took a huge toll on his body. If he doesn’t eat, he won’t be able to last much longer. Thankfully his captors knew that as well, so the meat he was given this time was a tad bit bigger than what he usually gets.

After the food rested in his stomach, Chuuya laid there with his eyes closed. He wasn't going to drift back to sleep, but the less movement he makes, the easier it'll be for his body to store up lost energy. He wiggled his toe a little, just to confirm that his leg has completely regenerated. He wondered how long he had passed out for this time…

“Why did you do that?”

Chuuya reluctantly looked to his roommate who just can’t seem to get the concept of leaving someone alone.

The vampire was still sitting against the wall like before. He didn’t even look like he had shifted from that spot at all. The easy-going look he wore on his face was gone. He stared at the redhead with those dark eyes that didn’t reflect a spark of the dim like hanging over their heads. His face was expressionless and impossible to read.

Chuuya wondered if this was what the vampire’s really like under all that façade.

“Did what?” Chuuya shut his eyes again and rolled into a more comfortable position with his back to the vampire.

“Your blood.” The vampire pointed out with a deep frown on his face—not that Chuuya could see. “You could just let me starve. It’s not like I can do anything to you.” To emphasize his word, the vampire held up his hands and shook them, causing the chains dangling off the metallic handcuffs to jingle.  

"You were hungry," Chuuya muttered, more like telling that to himself than to the vampire. "Do I need more reasons than that?”

His response seemed to have caught the vampire off guard.

The silence dragged on as Chuuya waited for a response, but it didn't come. Just when he was pondering of going back to sleep, the vampire finally spoke. 

“…You don’t make any sense. We’re technically enemies.”

“Hah?” Chuuya impatiently snapped open his eyes and glared at the vampire from over his shoulder. “I don’t care about whatever stupid grudge is between werebeast and vampires. It got nothing to do with me. Don’t group me with the rest of those idiots.”

That seemed to spark the vampire’s interest as he looked over the redhead.

“You’re an outcast of your clan.” The vampire said certainly as his sharp eyes relaxed by the slightest bit. “Werebeast has intense training right at birth to drill the hatred of vampires into the younglings. For a werebeast to say something like that means you've never gone through those training."

“For a leech, you sure like to blabber to your enemy," Chuuya said dryly. “I’ve never heard of a vampire drink a werebeast’s blood. You didn’t even hesitate. I thought leeches rather die than drink from animals.”

“Oh? Were you testing me?” The vampire’s eyes twinkled in amusement.

Chuuya clicked his tongue and looked away, refusing to answer to that. Truthfully, he had forgotten about that until the vampire started giving him a lecture about his own culture. All he saw was that the vampire was hungry and needed blood, so he gave it to him.

It was just as simple as that.

Unknown to Chuuya, the vampire was grinning as he looked over the werebeast.

“I’m an outcast as well.” He suddenly said.

Chuuya looked back in surprise.

He hadn’t expected to hear that. Then again, perhaps he should have expected it. Chuuya met a vampire once. It was right here on this very stage humans set for them. When the vampire laid eyes on him, the look of disgust and excitement to kill was something Chuuya was all too familiar with. It was the same look on the villagers’ faces back home whenever vampires were mentioned.

Chuuya never understood why.

Just like the raven-haired vampire had said, werebeasts educate their young ones the moment they’re born to hate vampires. Vampires do the same. When asked why, nobody can give out a proper, non-racist answer. All they knew was to hate one another. No one remembers the reason that started it all, nor do they care.

It had become a part of who they are to hate each other. It was stupid.

“The whole werebeast and vampire fuel got nothing to do with me. I just wanted to find a quiet place where I can painlessly die." The vampire sighed. "Of all places I ended here, where I'll be tortured for the rest of my life."

"After they starve you enough for about a month, you'll get your first match," Chuuya informed him curtly. “Just let your opponent tear you into shred and die.”

“No way.” The vampire chided as if Chuuya had suggested something outrageous—which he probably did, but the moron’s suicidal. “I hate pain! Why else would I say painless?”

“…I’m starting to see why you were kicked out of your coven.”

"Well, you're wrong about that!" The vampire announced proudly. “I wasn’t kicked out. I left on my own.”

“Yeah right.” Chuuya wasn’t buying it.

"So what did you do to get toss out?" The vampire seemed pretty interested in the werebeast’s backstory.

Chuuya leveled the vampire a look. He remained silent for a while before finally speaking.

“Ever heard of Arahabaki?”

“The God of Calamity.” The vampire’s expression turned serious as he looked over Chuuya. “You’re from the royal bloodline?”

“Yeah.” Chuuya snorted, his tone filled with sarcasm and mockery. “Only one out of a thousand to possess it. I drew that lucky card.”

Arahabaki was this ancient bloodline that brought immense power and fame to the werebeast.

It was said that Arahabaki was once the god of werebeasts. Only those with royal bloodline—the ones that made contracts with Arahabaki—can use its power of destruction. It was this power that allowed the werebeasts to climb up the food chain and stand next to the vampires at the top of the pyramid as equals. In the past, werebeast with the royal bloodline were worshipped because in a sense they are god’s vessel.

Nowadays, everyone just viewed this bloodline—viewed him—as a curse.

Throughout the long history of werebeasts, the method to control Arahabaki had been lost. Any werebeasts that uses its power would just go on a rampage. Their powers will increase immensely and they will go on a rampage until the user dies. They will destroy everything in sight, regardless of allies or enemies. Nowadays, Arahabaki is simply known as Corruption.

Ever since the villagers discovered he got the cursed bloodline, they treated him like the plague. The only fortunate part was that although Corruption brought him scorn, it also brought him protection. As much as his entire village wanted to kill him, they feared that it may unleash Corruption. They fear him more than their hatred for him. Every day when Chuuya went outside, he was faced with loathing and frightful looks from everyone around him. When the adults weren't looking, he would even get rocks thrown at him by kids his age.

That was why when the village was raided by the humans, Chuuya didn’t particularly felt anything. He didn’t care about the villagers that were killed, nor did he care about the fate of other kids his age.

That was how detached he was from his race.

“That’s why I was sent here. Werebeasts with royal bloodlines are more durable and won’t die too easily.” Chuuya’s tone was filled with mockery as he said that. "There were witches among the humans that attacked my village. They were able to detect my bloodline with some sort of device. Put some sort of spell on the collar to seal away my ability and Arahabaki.”

Chuuya wondered why he was telling the vampire all these things. Perhaps it has been too long since he had a decent conversation, or perhaps he was lonelier than he thought…

“You saw that black cat, didn’t you?” Chuuya continued. "That's the witch responsible for keeping us under control here."

“Witch huh…” The vampire hummed before a smirk graced his lips. “I’ve heard some interesting things during my travels. Would you like to hear, chibi?”

“Who’re you calling chibi?!”

“The humans are plotting to start a Witch hunt.”

“…What!?” Chuuya blinked, unable to believe what he just heard. “That’s ridiculous! Witches are the only humans that can combat the other species!”

“Exactly.” The vampire nodded. “Once the human conquer all the other species, they will exterminate the witches.”

"You sound like the humans will win." Chuuya frowned.

"They will." The vampire nodded certainly. "They may lack power, but their numbers greatly surpass all other races. Of course, if all species unite, the annihilation of humans would be a breeze, but each species are too invested in their priorities and got too much pride to set aside old grudges. Even with humans raiding and capturing us, we're still fighting one another rather than ganging up against a common enemy. The human knows that, which is why they will win this war. Once they do, we'll all be under their control."

Chuuya wanted to argue. He wanted to say that’s impossible. After all, of all species on this planet, humans are the weakest. Sure they have witches, but every species got veteran fighters that know exactly how to deal with them.

However, he couldn’t deny what the vampire said was true. After all, his village was the perfect example. Had their village’s warriors not set off to the border war against the vampires, the humans wouldn’t be able to invade his village and massacred them. Even with the humans attacking them, they’re still fighting vampires at every chance they get.

Wait a minute…

Chuuya inhaled a sharp breath when he registered something Dazai said—specifically that last part.

Now that he thought about it…why did those humans choose night time to attack them? Werebeasts may come in many kinds, but they’re all nocturnal creatures. That was because they have higher advantages during the night with their superior senses, but most importantly, it was to defend against the vampires that are only active during nighttime.

Why attack them during the night when it's at their disadvantage? Chuuya could only come up with one answer. The humans masked their attack as an attack from vampires. They are using both species' hate for one another to their advantage.

Chuuya laughed.

He couldn’t believe how it took him this long to realize the truth.

Perhaps it wasn’t just the werebeasts. Perhaps the vampires will go home to find their coven slaughtered with evidence of werebeasts littered all over the place. The two idiotic races will continue to bite at each other’s throat while the real culprit walks free with a bunch of new slaves.

“What about the witches?” Chuuya asked curiously. “Why get rid of the only protection they have?”

“Once human wins this war, witches will be hailed as their specie's saviors." The vampire replied. "Despite being so weak, human are proud creatures—especially males. In their culture, males are the dominant creature. They will never accept or allow females to have more power than them."

“Just for that?” Chuuya gapped in disbelieve. Now that he thought about it, aside from the witch, all the humans he saw in this place are males. Even in the audience seats, there weren't any females around. 

“Just for that.” The vampire smirked. “To oblivious citizens, they’ll just say that witches are no different from us, and the mass will agree that they should be eliminated.”

“Heh!” Chuuya cracked out a smile as he flipped onto his back to stare up at the ceiling. “If that’s the case, then I’m starting to feel sorry for that witch.”

He snickered for a while before sitting up.

“I take that back. Witches can all burn in hell for all I care.”

“Chibi—”

“Don’t call me that!”

“You never gave me your name, what did you expect me to call you?”

Chuuya paused a bit, remembering that they never did exchange names.

“…Nakahara Chuuya.”

“Dazai Osamu,” the vampire—Dazai responded, “So, Chuuya—”

“Who said you can call me by my given name?!”

“—what plans do you have after leaving this place?”

“Who knows?” Chuuya leaned back against the cold wall. “Well…for the time being, it’s to eat my fill. I’ll think after that.”

“How like an animal.” The vampire commented with a smirk. “You don’t seem weird out by my question.”

“Like hell I’ll stay here forever and play games with those humans.” Chuuya spat as he glared down at the chains around his wrists. “I’ll leave this damn place. And when I do I’ll rip them into shreds—exactly the way they wanted me to on that stage of theirs.”

“What a brat.”

“Hah?!”

“But that’s not a bad idea~”

The vampire held up his hands with one hand readied in a snapping motion.

The werebeast looked at him weirdly.

With a snap of his finger, the metal cuff around the vampire’s wrists and neck suddenly opened up and clattered onto the floor.

Chuuya’s jaw almost hit the ground as he stared at the vampire who was up on his feet, rolling his shoulders around with his joints making satisfying pop.

“It’s only been twelve days and I’m already getting sore muscle~”

“H-how did you—?!” Chuuya stammered as he looked at the open cuffs lying on the ground. From here, he could see the written incantation on the inside of the vampire’s metal collar. Chuuya is certain that's the spell used to suppress their abilities. He had even tried to pick the lock in the past only to find that there's some sort of protection spell preventing him from sticking anything into the keyhole. So how did this vampire get out?

“I’ll give you two options.” The vampire said as he stood over the chained werebeast. “One, you will come with me. Two, you stay here and wait for who knows how long until your next chance to escape.”

Chuuya frowned as he glared up at the vampire. “What are you plotting?”

"Whatever do you mean?" The vampire's tone was so sweet and innocent that it was just reeking with ulterior motives.

"You could leave any time you wanted," Chuuya pointed out. “What are you playing here?”

“You make me sound like the bad guy here.” The vampire heaved out a heavy breathe as if the redhead was some unreasonable kid. “I simply want a collaboration.”

Chuuya narrowed his eyes, not believing a single word the vampire is saying.

"There's a huge barrier cast over this place. To nullify the barrier, I need to find the witch. But as you can see, I don't have that kind of fighting power to survive until I can find her in this place."

“What do you mean nullify?” Chuuya demanded, sharply catching that keyword.

"My ability allows me to cancel other abilities with a touch." The vampire explained. “Abilities and spells are useless against me. You should know what that means don’t you, Arahabaki?”

Blue eyes dilated as the werebeast stared at the vampire. Chuuya didn’t speak for a long time. He just stared at the vampire and the vampire stared back, waiting for his response.

"...How can I trust you to stop me?"

“You don’t.” The vampire replied tersely.

“Tch.” Chuuya clicked his teeth. He didn’t like not being in control, but this was the first chance he had gotten in years. Who knows when his next chance will be?

“I’ll kill you if you’re late. Even if I die I will drag you down.”

“I much rather want to die with a lovely maiden.” The vampire gagged as if the very thought of dying with the werebeast disgusted him.

“Take this off.” Chuuya tilted his head back, giving the vampire access to the collar around his neck.

Dazai’s hand reached down. When the tip of his fingers brushed by the collar, Chuuya felt whatever magic binding him disappeared, leaving just the cold body of the metal tightly gripping his neck. His keen ears picked up the sound of a lock being picked. Then, the weight around his neck vanished as the heavy collar fell off, hitting the stone ground and creating a rather impressive dent in the shattered rock.

The vampire whistled. He wasn’t showing the slightest bit surprised that the werebeast has been moving with such tremendous weight on him. It was as if he somehow already knew.

The redhead cranked his head, testing his new range of movement before looking up at a small pin the vampire was holding between his fingers.

“Need help?” Dazai drawled as he waved around his lock picking tool.

With a huff, crimson light outlined the metal cuffs on the werebeast’s hands. The thick metal began to deform, wrenching off the werebeast’s slender wrists and crashing into the stone ground with such force that a huge crater with a size that nearly took up the entire room was formed.

Chuuya sucked in a shuddering breath. A droplet of sweat rolled down his forehead. Using just this tiny bit of power was already taking a toll on his body. It was utterly pathetic.

“I won’t last very long.” He warned the vampire as he got onto his feet.

“Yeah, I know," Dazai responded with a smirk before he stepped back against the wall and melted into his own shadow.

Chuuya stared at the place where the vampire disappeared into. He could still feel the vampire's presence within the room. The other was hiding quietly in the shadows like those humans in the audience seats, watching the entertainment that's going to play out.

Crafty bastard.

The werebeast looked down at his wrists. The skins underneath the metal cuffs were red and wrinkled from years and years of abuse. Hearing the sound of roaring cheers coming from above, Chuuya looked up to the ceiling. A wide smile spread over his lips as he gazed at the ceiling.

He crouched down as crimson light outlined his silhouette. The werebeast crouched down as the ground under his feet was ripped out and suspended in midair—supporting the red-head.

“Better keep up, shitty Dazai.” The werebeast scoffed before he shot towards the ceiling. With a kick, he smashed a hole right through the ceiling.

The loud cheering was immediately stopped when a hole suddenly appeared at the edge of the stage. A boy with reddish hair flew out from the hole and into the sky, stopping just inches from the giant barrier covering the entire stadium.

Chuuya took a deep breath to calm his speeding heart as he stared at the full moon before his eyes. It was weird. He has always seen the sky whenever he was thrown up here on this stage, but for some reason, it felt like this was the first time in years that he was finally able to see the sky.

“Freedom, huh?” Chuuya mumbled as his eyes focused on the wall in front of him.

The barrier was made out of a layer of transparent membrane that is barely visible unless looked closer. It looked very thin and fragile, but a foul aura was practically radiating off the thing. There was even a weird attraction coming from this barrier as if it was alive and tempting him to touch it.

Chuuya felt his hair stood up as he realized what it was. He had seen it once, and it was when those humans invaded their village. A barrier like this was cast over the village to prevent anyone from escaping. 

Just a simple touch and this barrier will suck out the souls of any creatures that aren't human. The barrier itself was made purely of these unfortunate souls. The moment it sucked out a soul, the soul will be merged with the barrier, becoming one with it and enforcing its power. 

The one Chuuya has seen before was much weaker compared to this one. This barrier must have killed off a lot of creatures. Perhaps they were even fed to it for that sole purpose.

“Damn witches.” Chuuya cursed before another thought came to him.

If this is a barrier that sucks out souls of its victims, then what Dazai said about being unable to leave was a bunch of bullshits! Vampires were the only creatures that don’t have souls. They are creatures that dwell on the life force of other life forms to stay alive. Since they got no soul of their own, this blasted barrier wouldn’t have worked on that guy! The most it’ll do was probably make him feel even hungrier after walking through it!

“DAMN IT!” Chuuya snarled as he realized he’s been played.

That lying, scheming, son of a scoundrel!

If this barrier was an obstacle for the vampire, then they can call it even after he gets rid of it. However, if the barrier was never a problem to the vampire, then it won’t be a collaboration, but just the vampire one-sidedly helping him!

The first was freeing him; the second will be saving his life from Arahabaki.

These aren’t debts that he can easily brush off. The vampire must have done this knowing that he won’t be able to just walk away without returning some kind of favour to call it even. In other words, the vampire wanted something from him, but it wasn’t breaking out of this place.

With a frustrated scream, Chuuya shot down like a meteor and crashed into the stage, completely obliterating it. 

The two creatures fighting on the stage and blown off by the force.

Chuuya reached out, easily grabbing onto the tail of a giant lizard thrice his size and held it over his head like it weighed nothing. 

"This is perfect." Chuuya glowered at the hissing Basilisk desperately trying to break free. “I was just feeling hungry.”

In a blink of an eye, Chuuya transformed into a tiger. He slammed the Basilisk into the ground, breaking its neck before he used his sharp fangs and tore off its flesh.

The audiences cheered, believing this was part of their nightly show. The guards on the sideline were in a mixture of confusion and panic, not certain if this was a special event the higher-ups decided to host or not.

Chuuya knew he couldn’t stall. He swallowed the flesh of the Basilisk and drank its blood. Once he had enough, he transformed back into his human form. He wiped the blood staining his mouth with the back of his hand and laughed at the oblivious humans in the audience seats.

When his keen ears caught a string of gibberish, Chuuya used the power of gravity and leaped into the sky just as a yellow beam of light shot by where he stood, denigrating ground and the half-eaten Basilisk in a blink of an eye.

Chuuya landed next to the newly formed hole and glared at a woman dressed in all black with a pointed hat. Like all witches tend to be, she was a plain-looking woman—though probably beautiful by human standard—wearing a black dress that looked like a cheap rip-off from fairy creatures.

In Chuuya’s eyes, the woman was no less hideous than a blobfish.

Her lips that were painted in the colour of fresh blood were rapidly moving to cast her next spell. She twirled her twig and Chuuya took off into the sky as chains shot out from the ground in an attempt to capture him. Even now, she wore an arrogant look on her face, like she was dealing with a pest and not a werebeast that could potentially kill her and everyone else in the vicinity.

The witch was strong, but just from two attacks, Chuuya could tell she’s an amateur in battle. Perhaps this was the first time she even engaged in a fight. She was most likely put in charge of this place due to her high magic affinity. The witch was too full of her power and after years and years of governing these chained up creatures that lost their ability to fight back, she has forgotten just how strong they were. Even veteran witches don’t engage in combat without proper preparations and a bunch of human meat shields she could hide behind.

This dumb woman just charged in to show off how strong she is.

Chuuya had always thought that when this day came, he would tear the woman apart with his claws the second he gets the chance. Maybe he’ll also go up to those humans cheering from the audience seats and snap off their heads and rip out their hearts.

He expected a lot of anger and rage…but never did he expected calmness.

As he jumped around to dodge the chains, he felt nothing inside him. He looked at the faces of the humans, then to the guards that regularly abused them, and finally at the haughty witch.

He felt absolutely nothing when looking at them.

In his eyes at this very moment eyes, they were all just dead objects.

That was all there is to it.

“Grantors of dark disgrace,” Chuuya chanted as crimson markings appeared over his sickly pale skin, “you need not to wake me again.”

━━━━━━━━ ✠ ━━━━━━━━

"Do you have four stomachs or something?" Dazai wondered as he watched the weretiger shoved food into his mouth. Well, he supposed he couldn't say shove, as the other was quite elegant in how he ate…astonishingly.

Still, the speed he was displaying was not normal.

Chuuya ignored the vampire as he cleaned every single plate without leaving a morsel of food behind. At first, the humans around them would stare at the redhead with their jaws slack, wondering just how much the petite boy could eat. Eventually, they got bored and went back to minding their own business.

The waitress ran back and forth, taking away the empty plates and bringing up new ones.

"Bring another basket of baguette—actually make that two basket, five shepherd's pie, some more roast lambs, chicken, pork, beef, whatever you got," Dazai told the waitress as his eyes roamed over the menu. "You know what, just bring everything that is filing, no need to bother with the taste. If you can stuff him to death, I'll pay triple the amount."

The waitress screamed when a knife flew right past her and towards the raven's head. The vampire didn't even look up as his hand shot up, grabbing the knife by the handle before hurling it back. The woman's knees were shaking as she watched the red-head catching the knife with ease and stabbing it into the chicken.

"You got that?" The vampire asked disinterestedly, eyes never once lifted from the menu.

Nodding hastily, the waitress scurried away to have the cook prepare the next round of feast.

The vampire let out a long sigh. "I'm helping you order food and you tried to skewer me."

"Don't think that just because I don't understand that you can talk shit about me," Chuuya growled with a vein throbbing in his forehead. There was just something he didn't like about the vampire's attitude just then, so he acted.

"Animal instincts huh?" Dazai mumbled as he looked at the way the werebeast was glowering at him. He could almost imagine a small orange cat, hissing and puffing itself up to look big and threatening. The vampire suddenly felt a strange urge to tease his companion more.

Unfortunately, a hushed whisper soon brought his attention elsewhere.

Chuuya took a bite of his chicken while Dazai ran his finger over the rim of a wine cup. While neither of them acted out of ordinary, both of them focused their attention to the back of the restaurant where a group of soldiers sat. Usually, these human soldiers were loud and noisy, but this group here was unusually quiet.

They chatted quietly among themselves, all of their faces serious and some even started to get anger the more they conversed. After listening to them for a while, Chuuya turned to Dazai who had picked up a cup and was playing with the dark fluid inside.

"They're talking about your masterpiece from three days ago," Dazai informed him with a sly grin. "Since the witch is missing, they're convinced that the destruction of the fighting ring was her doing."

Chuuya lightly bit on the tip of his fork as he looked over those soldiers. "This is why you got rid of that witch's body?"

"I told you, humans don't trust witches. All you need is to give them a reason and they'll push all the blames onto the witches."

"How stupid."

Dazai set the cup he was playing around with in front of Chuuya. Chuuya looked at the weird liquid inside for a moment before picking it up and taking a sip.

He quickly spat it back out.

"What the fuck is this?!" He coughed, feeling the sour and bitter aftertaste sensation in his throat.

"It's call wine," Dazai sniggered, "Human makes it with fermented grape juice."

"Fermented? It's rotten?!" Chuuya choked in disbelieve. After eating rotten food for so long, he wouldn't even care if it's crawling with bugs. But why would human willingly eat rotten food?

"That's why you're a kid." Dazai deadpanned.

"Who are you calling a kid?!"

A man came by just then, dropping a large barrel right next to their table, saying something to Dazai before leaving. Confused, Chuuya looked down to the barrel. He could hear water sound coming from inside it. When he smelled the familiar scent coming from it and that iconic cow mark drawn on the wooden surface, it didn't take a genius to find out what it was.

The damn leech had ordered an entire barrel of milk for him!

People screamed as a table flew across the restaurant—along with the body of a raven-haired man—right into the group of soldiers at the very back…

Half an hour later, Chuuya and Dazai walked out into the busy street.

The restaurant workers and the owner lined up at the doorway, wide smiles on every one of their faces as they waved goodbye to the two youngsters walking away from the restaurant.

"How much did you pay them?" Chuuya questioned skeptically. He didn't understand human currency, but he could tell it's not a small amount. After all, he did nearly take apart the restaurant. The bodies of those idiot soldiers that tried to hack him with their swords were still piled up in the middle of the dirt road with white foams gushing from their mouths.

Dazai was humming as he twirled a brown leather pouch around his index finger. It was the same pouch he had swiped off those human soldiers when the werebeast threw him (and the table) into them.

Chuuya's blood boiled at the thought of being used by this bastard…again.

"Enough to let them buy a new restaurant," Dazai replied. "For mere foot soldiers to have so much money, it seems the higher-ups of this town are quite corrupted."

Chuuya couldn't understand the concept of money. Werebeasts never needed those kinds of things. They live pretty much like wild animals. They hunt for their food and make their own home. Whenever anyone needed something, they just share what they have.

Well, at least that's what it seemed to him anyways.

"Now what?"

"What do you mean?" Dazai was feigning innocence.

"You tell me, you're the one that made me come with you!"

"I never said you had to." Dazai countered, causing the vein on Chuuya's head to throb.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm just repaying the favour. The sooner we call it even, the sooner I can leave!" The werebeast grumbled. "You got something you want me to do, don't you?"

Dazai looked up to the starry sky, exposing his delicate pale neck wrapped up in bandages. His face was serious, lips slightly parted as he let out a long, thoughtful sound.

"Aaaaah…nope."

"What?" Chuuya blinked, wondering if he heard wrong.

"I don't have anything I want you to do."

"Then why the hell have me come along with you?!"

"Now, now, you're making a scene!" Dazai chortled, gesturing to the humans gawking at the odd Asian pair. "There's an inn just down the street! We should hurry before they run out of room!"

"Hey, bastard! Hold it!" Chuuya swore as he chased after the vampire.

In the end, there was only one room left—or that's what Dazai claimed anyways. That was fine with Chuuya since they still have unfinished business.

Once they've settled in their room, Chuuya was instantly on the lanky vampire.

"Explain yourself." He threatened dangerously.

Dazai sat on the soft bed, looking up at the werebeast standing over him with arms crossed over his chest. Sad that it's only at times like this that the werebeast would be taller.

Chuuya didn't know why, but the way the vampire's looking at him made his blood boil, so he slammed a foot into the side of the bed and loomed over the vampire.

"What games are you playing here? You can't expect me to believe you want me to follow you around without any reason."

"Of course not!" Dazai said in an offended tone. "You're going to be my dog after all!"

"…Hah?"

"If I tell you my leg is itchy, you scratch it! If I want to drink blood, you go kidnap a beautiful blond woman in her early twenties and bring her to me!"

CRASH

The entire bed was crushed into pieces as Dazai fell into the pieces of broken wooden frames and fiber fillings of the mattress. When he looked up, Chuuya has his foot hovering over the vampire's face.

"They say that vampires can live as long as their hearts are intact." The werebeast muttered, tilting his head to the side as murderous glint flickered within his eyes. "Want to test that out?"

"I hate pain, so I'll pass." Dazai sighed, putting both hands up in surrender. "You can't take a joke, can you? If you want a reason, you can say that it's to survive the war."

"What do you mean?"

"Since you were locked up pretty much all your life, you wouldn't know, but we're close to the final war."

"What final war?"

"The world war."

"World war?!" Chuuya gapped, unable to believe what he was hearing.

"A worldwide war involving every single species. The entire planet will become a warzone" Dazai spoke in such light-hearted tone it sounded like he was discussing the weather rather than an incoming apocalypse. "This is what will happen when you keep slaughtering and enslaving other species. Once they finally realize the peril they're in, every single species will see everyone and everything else as enemies that need to be eliminated, then a full out war will emerge."

"And human will come out victorious." Chuuya narrowed his eyes, still remembering what Dazai had told him. He slowly pulled back his foot, allowing the vampire to sit up. "You're saying this war will come soon?"

"In two years, to be precise." Dazai hummed. "When the war comes, nowhere will be safe. Money will mean nothing and survival will only be for the fittest. If you want to live, then we need to collaborate."

"I thought you wanted to die." Chuuya kindly reminded him.

"I rather die at the hands of a beautiful lady than some barbaric, racist animals."

"You want me to kill you off right now?" Chuuya gritted his teeth before pushing his anger back down. If what this vampire said is true, then he'll need this bastard alive. Being the only one that speaks his native language and the ability to keep Corruption under control, he needed Dazai.

And with only the ability to nullify other powers, the vampire needed protection.

It was a fair deal…given that everything he said was the truth that is.

"So, what will it be, Chuuya?" Dazai wore that knowing smirk on his face as he held out his hand.

The bastard was so certain the werebeast will take his deal. As much as Chuuya wanted to prove him wrong, he can't. He got no other choice but to accept this deal. He slapped his hand against the vampire's and held it in a brutal grip.

"If I catch you doing anything funny behind my back, I will put a stake through your stomach and roast you in the sunlight."

"Such a brat." The vampire grunted, causing a huge vein to throb as Chuuya applied all his strength into the handshake. The cracking sounds of breaking bones resonated throughout the room.

"GAAAH! You're such a brat!"

"You're a brat too!"

"Tell me that when you grow taller!"

"I'm only fifteen, I'm still growing! You're like what, fifty?!"

"I'm fifteen as well!"

(ﾉꐦ ⊙曲ఠ)ﾉ︵ ┻━┻

"Wow…so that's how you and Dazai-san met?" Atsushi said in fascination after listening to his mentor's story.

Chuuya sat on the barstool, sipping on a glass of wine as he regarded the young tiger's excitement. "You're more invested in this plain old story than I am."

"I just think it's amazing." Atsushi smiled sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head. "I know what happened during the Dark Age, but hearing Chuuya-san's story made it feel more real."

"Well, it was hundreds of years ago." Blue eyes drifted down to the wine in his hand. "To you brats, it might as well be a fairy tale."

"But Chuuya-san and Dazai-san lived through it, right? In that case, it's not a fairy tale."

Chuuya looked at his disciple with a small hint of surprise before a smile lifted his lips.

"But why was Dazai-san in Switzerland?"

"To escape from his coven," Chuuya answered. "That shitty mackerel came from a strong coven of pureblood vampires. At the time, they ruled over Yokohama and got connections all over Japan. After deserting his coven, he had to leave the country."

"Yokohama?" Atsushi's eyes widened. "You don't mean…?!"

"Yes. The same place where Akutagawa came from. That coven has merged with other species over time and turned into one big organization. That is the Port Mafia."

"Then is it safe for us to be here?" Atsushi asked with worries lacing his voice. "What if the Port Mafia—"

"Calm down, kid." Chuuya chuckled at the frantic look on his face. "We struck a peace treaty long ago. They won't bother us as long as we don't bother them."

Atsushi let out a sigh of relieve, glad to hear everything was alright. "So then…was Dazai-san captured by the humans the moment he left Japan?"

"Capture?" Chuuya snorted as he remembered the ridiculous reason that landed the vampire in the cell as him. "That moron didn't get captured. He let those humans take him."

"Eh?!" Atsushi was dumbfounded. That was certainly not what he had expected, but then again this was Dazai they're talking about...

"He heard rumours about a werebeast with royal bloodline in the dueling ring, so he came to find me." Chuuya rested his chin against his palm. "The bastard planned everything out from the beginning, just so I would team up with him for the Dark Age."

There was more to that though.

What Dazai had planned wasn't only for the survival during the Dark Age. Even back then, the vampire was looking even further to the future. Dazai had sought Chuuya out for the creation of Double Black. With their combined powers, they were quickly made known to the world. It didn't matter what species they were. Whenever people caught wind that Double Black might be nearby, they will flee the vicinity, fearing to get caught up in their battle.

It was due to this that they were able to live peacefully right now.

After human came out victorious during the Dark Age, life became harsher for all other species. It was only in recent years that they were getting fairer treatment, but many were still slaves made to serve the humans. A good example would be that creep Tatsuhiko Shibusawa. How many different species suffered at his hands? How many were tortured, wishing for death that just wouldn't come?

These kinds of humans exist all around the world.

Dazai being Dazai, had another reason to form Double Black. Perhaps that’s his ultimate goal from the beginning. Everything he did was simply to pull free from his old coven—the current Port Mafia. With Chuuya by his side, Dazai has a chip to bargain for his freedom. It was thanked to this that they were able to form a contract

Everything went exactly as that arrogant vampire had planned.

The only thing Dazai hadn't accounted for was the change in their relationship…as well as raising two kids. These two things were probably the greatest surprises that scheming mind wasn't able to predict.

"Honey~ we're back!" An irritating voice sang as the front door flung open, revealing the tall and lanky vampire carrying multiple bags of groceries with his disciple in toll.

"Oh, you're back," Chuuya said disinterestedly as he continued to swirl the wine around his glass.

"Welcome back, Dazai-san, Ryuu!" Atsushi greeted as he hurried over to take the load off the vagabond vampire.

"Did you miss me, darling?" Dazai pounced towards Chuuya, only for the redhead to shove a palm into his face to stop his advance.

"Don't touch me!" Chuuya snarled with veins popping up from beneath his forehead. "I told you not to come near me for a month!"

"Chuuya! Don't be so cruel!" Dazai whined. "If I keep sleeping on the couch like this my back won't be able to take it!"

"And my back can?!" Chuuya snapped, now using both hands in an attempt to push the vampire away. "You kept going even when I told you to stop!"

"That was Chuuya's fault!" Dazai held his hands to his cheeks and swooned at the beautiful memories of last night. "What kind of man would stop when their mate is looking at them with those teary sapphire blue eyes, cheeks blushing in cherry blossom pink and hiccupping when—"

BAM

With a simple push of his hand (and the power of gravity), Chuuya slammed the vampire face-first into the floor. Thankfully, he still remembered that they're at home, so he held back on his strength. Otherwise, they'll need to replace the finely polished floor. This was one good thing about moving to a new home. If this was back in their dusty old manor, Chuuya wouldn't have cared.

When Chuuya's sharp eyes snapped up, he saw Atsushi and Akutagawa sorting out the groceries bags and putting the food into the fridge. Akutagawa looked like he couldn't care less (or rather, too used to the scene), while Atsushi was desperately pretending not to have heard anything and failing miserably. The kid's entire face was burning up and his movements were very robotic.

"So Atushi-kun, what did you two do while we're gone?" Dazai appeared right beside the younger weretiger, surprising the poor boy and causing him to drop the carton of milk he was putting away.

Dazai stood there with his hands in his pockets, smiling brightly as if he hadn't kissed the floor just seconds ago.

"O-oh, Chuuya-san was just telling me how you guys met!" Atsushi spluttered, eyes darting every now and then at Akutagawa, signaling for help. The young vampire spared Atsushi half a second of his precious time before he returned to whatever he was doing, completely brushing him aside.

This caused a vein to pop over the white weretiger. He'll remember this.

"Ah, brings back memories." Dazai sighed blissfully. "Chuuya was so adorable back then~"

"AH?" Chuuya glared daggers at his mate.

"I don't mean anything bad!" Dazai hurriedly explained. With his mate mad at him like this, anything he says would be equivalent to stepping on a landmine.

He only wanted to tease his mate a bit last night, but he went overboard and pissed him off instead. This was all Chuuya's fault for being so cute though. Not his.

"Atsushi-kun!" Dazai spun around dramatically to white-haired boy cradling the milk. "Next year will be your eighteenth birthday! You'll finally be legal to bond with Ryuunosuke!"

The carton of milk fell back onto the ground. Atsushi's face was burning up to the point where steams could be seen rolling off his skin. Behind him, Akutagawa had frozen up. In fact, it wasn't just him. Rashoumon seemed to have frozen as well with how stiff the fabric became.

This spiked Chuuya's interest as he set down the wine glass he had been playing around with.

"That's right!" The redhead agreed as he leaned over the table. "Have you two talked over yet? Vampire's thirst for blood will increase during sex so you should—"

"CHUUYA-SAN!" Atsushi screamed, mortified that the older weretiger was going to give him the talk.

"What, don't tell me you're getting shy over something like this?" Chuuya teased.

"W-we um…" Atsushi fidgeted, embarrass and uncertain of how to tell their mentors.

"We decided to take more time," Akutagawa said as he came to stand beside his lover. Atsushi looked up at Akutagawa. There was a small look of surprise on his face before that surprise melted into warmth. With his lover beside him, he regained his confidence and nodded firmly to Chuuya.

Chuuya looked back and forth between the two. He smiled at how uptight they were being.

"Take all the time you need." He waved at the pair. "Once you perform the bond, it'll be for life. It's normal to need time to think about it. Took me fifty years to finally decide to bond with this mackerel." He said, jabbing a thumb at his lanky companion.

"Chuuya, you wound me!" Dazai cried with a hand over his heart, yet his expression didn't have a hint of sadness for someone being hurt. If anything, his burnt umber eyes were twinkling in amusement.

"You two are worried whether or not you can stay together for the rest of your life, correct?" Dazai walked over to join own mate's side. He gently placed a hand onto Chuuya's shoulder. To his delight, the weretiger didn't throw him over his shoulder and allowed the contact. "The fact that you're worried about this means you won't have any problems. After all, werebeasts and vampires are destined to become mates."

"What do you mean?" Atushi exchanged looks with Akutagawa. This was the first time they were ever told of this. Since when did the two sworn enemies become destined mate materials?

"Oh, that's easy to figure out if you think about it," Dazai told them. "The difference in our body temperature is one. Vampires are creatures born in coldness. Unable to come into contact with sunlight or fire, it’s impossible for us to feel physical heat. Werebeasts, on the other hand, have unusually high body temperature due to their regenerative cells constantly being produced in their body.”

Dazai didn’t need to say the rest as the two already knew this. The huge difference in their body temperature was what made them want to be near each other in the beginning. It was this difference that made it so comfortable when they hold one another because it’s only with each other that they can feel the warmth of another living being.

"Werebeast's blood cells carry high regenerative properties. A single cell holds twenty times more nutrient than a normal blood cell. That's why their blood will taste sweeter and richer than other species. When we drink from them, werebeast's blood will help heal our body. And due to the werebeast's regeneration power, their body will instantly restore any blood that was lost."

"Meaning as long as we have food, we're an all you can eat buffet for them." Chuuya chipped in from the sideline. "There are many more examples…"

"But werebeasts and vampires can't see that." Atsushi finished for Chuuya.

"When you're trained to hate and kill from a young age, you will lose the ability to think rationally. When Ryuunosuke first met Chuuya, the first thing he did was to attack him~" Dazai chuckled, causing Akutagawa to flinch as if something invisible had slapped him across the face.

"Really?!" Atsushi gawked at his lover. He then turned to Chuuya who seemed so fond of the memory that he started cackling.

"I beat him up pretty bad." Chuuya snickered. "I even offered some blood to let him recover, but he said he rather die than to drink from me. So, I broke all four of his limbs, dislocated his jaw and just poured my blood down his throat.

"E-eeeeh…?" Atsushi looked back to Akutagawa whose face was scrunched up in what looked like shame. He suddenly felt very sorry for his lover…

"That is the hate drilled into young werebeasts and vampires." Dazai explained. "Chuuya and I were stray dogs in our clan. No one bothered to educate us. Ironically it's thanks to this that we're able to find out the truth."

At the mention of stray dogs, Atsushi looked over to Dazai. He knew why his mentor was an outcast, but he knew nothing about Dazai.

"But why?" Atsushi asked, unable to understand how these two strongest species fell so easily. "How did werebeast and vampires ended up like this?"

"…It's not hard to guess." Dazai shrugged. "If werebeast and vampires are allies, then this world will long be under their rule. Someone decided to break them up and turn them against one another, and they did for centuries to come. That's all there is to it."

"But—"

"While we're on this topic, allow me to tell you something more interesting!" Dazai cut off the young weretiger. "Atsushi-kun, what do you think is the most important quality between mates?"

"Uh…love?"

"Atsushi-kun sure has a pure teenage girl's heart."

"No! That's not—"

"The most important quality is rivalry!"

"…Rivalry?" Atsushi was dumbfounded. He did not expect that kind of answer.

"Your answer may be true for human, but for us it's different. Love alone won't maintain a relationship past a century. Humans wouldn’t know that, as their lives are too short. Atsushi-kun, has any of the other species you've encountered performed a mating bond?"

"No…" Atsushi replied after some thought.

During his travels with Chuuya and Dazai, he has met quite a bit of other species. He met agents working for the government, and then those that hid within the underground world. When he thought over all of them he had met, none of those species had bonded with anyone else. His and his lover's mentors were the only one he knew that bonded.

"For now you may love someone, but that love will eventually turn into boredom with time. Because of this, there are rarely any species that perform mating bond. After all, once you've mated, it'll be for life. Depending on how long they live, it could be for centuries or millennia. Even back when vampires and werebeasts were still thriving, they only mate to reproduce. Pure, sappy love doesn't exist in a fantasy world like ours. Those only exist within human's imagination. For us, a hundred years could pass in a blink of an eye and before you know it, the love you once felt got reduced to nothing.

That's another reason why werebeasts and vampires are suitable to become mates. Because not only are they lovers, they are also rivals. No matter how compatible their bodies may be, their personalities will never match. There's always one thing or another that will make them butt head, but that's what helps them understand each other beyond what pure lovers are capable of. That's the important quality you'll need if you want to be together."

"That's what you meant by destined?" Atsushi sweatdropped.

While his and Akutagawa's relationships were way better than when they first met, they still argue over a lot of things. Sometimes over small things, sometimes over bigger things…oftentimes their arguments ended up with them going at each other's throat.

There were many times where Atsushi couldn't put up with Akutagawa, and he's certain the vampire felt the same way. Yet strangely, never once did Atsushi ever stop loving Akutagawa despite all the issues going between them.

He supposed it's the arguments and fight that made them closer and able to understand one another so well.

Without it…

Atsushi's face turned green as he shuddered at the thought of a kind, patient and cheerful Akutagawa.

"What is it?" Akutagawa asked when he noticed his lover bending over the sink.

"I think I threw up a little…Ouch!" Atsushi cried when Akutagawa kicked him in the back of his knees, causing him to knock his chin against the hard counter. "What was that for?!"

"I just felt irritated." The vampire replied as if the answer is obvious.

"You!" Atsushi pounced towards his mate in an attempt to get him back, but the vampire easily side-stepped him. Atsushi already knew that's what the vampire would do. He knew him too well after all. He kicked his leg out, to trip the vampire, but Akutagawa had predicted his moment and already summoned Rashoumon.

"You two! Take this outside!" Chuuya bellowed when Atsushi bumped into the cupboard, causing the glass and ceramic tablewares inside to rattle.

"With this, life won't ever get boring, don't you agree?" Dazai said softly as he watched the two youngsters going at one another. Atsushi's arms have transformed into his tiger parts now.

"Not ready huh?" Akutagawa's word flowed back into Chuuya's head as he looked at the two's interactions. Chuuya wanted to laugh. He knew exactly what these brats were thinking.

Bonding was a sacred mating ritual that binds two people's lives together.

With the bond in place, the mated couples can feel one another at a higher level of intimacy.

The feeling of bond isn't easy to explain. If Chuuya had to describe it, it's like seeing a spark of light for the first time within a world of darkness.

The light wasn't blindingly bright or overly hot. It was a soft mellow light that carried only a tiny bit of warmth. Despite how tiny it is, its presence was impossible to ignore. That speck of light was so fragile and precious that it just makes him want to carefully cradle it within his hands and protect it.

Once a bond was formed, there was no way to undo it.

A bond was a blessing for two people in love. However, if that couple had fallen out of love, then the bond will become a curse. Despite no longer loving each other, they were forced to always be aware of the other's presence. No matter where they go, they won't be able to shake off the yearning in their heart to be reunited with the ones they never wanted to see.

Loving someone else will become impossible, as no matter how hard they try, they won't be able to shake off the longing to seek out their bonded mate.

The only way to break the bonding was through death. However, if one was to die, then the other will always follow shortly after. After all, to suddenly lose that speck of light and return to the world of darkness is a frightening process. It was enough to drive the one left behind insane.

Chuuya has seen failed examples of bond couples before. All those examples led to only one result.

Death.

When Chuuya looked at Atsushi and Akutagawa, all he saw was two dumb brats desperately trying to protect one another.

They love each other, so they were afraid of tying each other down. They were afraid that somewhere in the future, their partner would get tired of their relationship and wanted to leave, but can't because of the bond.

They were afraid that one day the other will hate them for it.

Hell knew how many times Chuuya wondered over that question. Even someone as smart as Dazai dragged it on for years.

In the end, the answer was always simple.

Neither of them was able to imagine a life without one another. Until they decide to bond, they will always yearn for something more, something that will connect them closer. It was just a matter of who will take that first step.

These two brats were more than ready, but that was something for them to figure out.

Chuuya grinned as he thought back to that night when Dazai extended his hand to him. It was the moment he decided to take that hand that both of their fate intertwined.

"…I suppose you can sleep in the bedroom again. I'm feeling quite generous right now, you better be grateful."

Dazai looked down at Chuuya in surprise before stars shone within in his eyes.

"CHUUYA!"

"Just this once!" Chuuya warned as Dazai nodded frantically with the face of a puppy that finally got the treat he deserved.

Chuuya couldn't stop the smile blossoming on his face despite knowing that this may very well be a part of his manipulative mate's plan. No, Chuuya is certain this is part of Dazai's plan to climb back into his bed. Why else would he be talking these bullshit lover qualities for no reason?

He wasn't going to believe his mate was genuinely doing it to educate their students. If anything, watching the two fretted over a problem that was never a problem had always been an enjoyment to this bandage wasting mackerel.

The worst part was, Dazai must have expected that he would figure it out. If Dazai wanted to keep something a secret, it stays a secret. No matter how long Chuuya had known him for, he would never be able to figure it out. The bastard didn't bother hiding his intention because he knew, either way, Chuuya would give in.

Sometimes, Chuuya hated how he could understand his mate so well. Many times he wondered just how he got bonded to such a bastard, yet he couldn't find himself to regret this decision. If anything, it was the best decision he had ever made—setting aside how he wanted to strangle the leech three times a month.

Well…he supposed he can follow through with his manipulation once in a while. He'll just have to properly beat up the damn mackerel the next time he tries pulling something like this.

"What did you guys get?" Chuuya asked as he crossed the kitchen to open the fridge. He let out a small, delighted hum when he saw how it was stacked full of food.

"It's been a while since we had some traditional food," Dazai said as he leaned over the weretiger and started picking out some ingredients out of the fridge. Chuuya's mouth watered when he saw three large packs of sashimi.

"Chuuya."

"Wha—hmph?!" The last half of the redhead's words became muffled when a Dorayaki was shoved into his open mouth.

"Eat that for now. I'll have food ready soon." Dazai purred into the redhead's ear, causing colours to crawl up the weretiger's neck as he nibbled on the overly sweet treat.

In that distant, he heard the sound of crashing coming from upstairs, but Chuuya couldn't bother to care. He sat back down on the barstool, slowly nibbling on his treat as he watched his mate grabbed a knife. Dazai was in an extremely good mood as he flipped the dangerous weapon around his fingers before getting to work…all while singing that dumb suicide song he came up with decades ago.

"Hey, shitty Dazai."

Dazai turned to see a Cabernet Sauvignon glass flying towards him. The vampire caught the glass by the stem, elegantly twirling it around the air to prevent the beautiful crimson fluid inside from spilling out.

"Drink that for now." Chuuya threw the vampire's word back as he took another bite into the Dorayaki.

Dazai swirled the thick blood around in the glass before bringing it up to inhale the sweet aroma of his mate.

Smiling, Dazai set down the knife and walked over to the weretiger.

"Chuuya." He called the name of his mate tenderly.

Chuuya looked up, meeting the vampire's soft brown eyes before he picked up his glass of wine. Smiles graced both of their lips as they tapped the rim of their glass against the other, creating a crisp ringing sound.

"To stray dogs."

♥　♡　♥　♡　♥　♡　♥　♡　♥　♡　♥　♡　♥

Extra – "Osamu"

♥　♡　♥　♡　♥　♡　♥　♡　♥　♡　♥　♡　♥

"Chuuya-san."

"Hm?"

"I've been wondering for a while now…why don't you call Dazai-san by his given name?"

"Pfft!" Chuuya spat out the wine he was in the middle of swallowing. He coughed heavily, trying to get rid of the fluid that entered his lungs before looking over to his disciple.

"W-what's with that all the sudden?!" He spluttered.

Atsushi thought his mentor's face looked oddly red, but it was probably from the choking. He swiftly handed over some napkins which the older weretiger took.

"I was just curious…you and Dazai-san are together for so long but I've never heard you call Dazai-san by his given name."

"Who the hell would call that bastard's name?!" Chuuya snapped, bringing the wine glass back to his lips. Instead of slowly savoring the taste of the wine which was what he had been doing, he was gulping it down like water. "His name is Osamu! It's just lame! I'm surprised he even kept such a plain name for three hundred years!"

"Oh? I had no idea you felt that way, love." A dark voice suddenly whispered right next to his ear, breathing icy breath down the soft curve of his neck.

"PFFFFT!"

"Dazai-san!" Atsushi shouted in surprise at the appearance of the vampire standing behind the choking redhead. "Y-you were here?!"

"Yo, Atsushi-kun~" The vampire greeted merrily, but for some reason that smiling face brought chills down the young weretiger's spine. "If you’ll excuse us, Chuuya and I will have some adult talk.”

“Hey! Put me down, shitty Dazai!” Chuuya shouted as he was thrown over his mate’s shoulder. He trashed around, but the vampire didn’t loosen his hold as he went up the stairs and disappeared into their shared bedroom.

A long silence followed.

Atsushi stared at that closed door for a long, long time before only one thought came across his mind.

Tomorrow’s training with Chuuya will be hell.

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◅ PART 1                               Main Page                              PART 3 ▻

•• ━━━━━ ••●•• ━━━━━ ••

[ewilford]

Organisms with Monstrous Names #24: Japanese Skeleton Shrimp

Scientific Name: Caprella Mutica

Common Name: Japanese Skeleton Shrimp

Taxonomic Classification: Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Anthropoda, Class: Malacostraca, Family: Caprellidae

Description: The Japanese skeleton shrimp is typically 49 millimeters in length, males being larger than females. Both sexes have fine hairs on their first two body segments. Males are covered in long spines, while females have small orange spots.

http://www.nonnativespecies.org/factsheet/factsheet.cfm?speciesId=647

Environment: The Japanese skeleton shrimp is native to the Northwest Pacific, and is often found clinging onto vegetation or man-made structures. When introduced to a region, the species can concentrate in very high densities, and the shrimp can disperse by travelling long distances on floating seaweed.

http://invasions.si.edu/nemesis/calnemo/SpeciesSummary.jsp?TSN=-77

Reproduction: The Japanese skeleton shrimp reproduces sexually, and the female has a transparent egg pouch on her abdomen. While mating, the male attaches to the female and transfers his sperm directly into her reproductive organs. The female occasionally kills the male by injecting him with venom from a poison claw directly after mating.

http://www.chesapeakebay.net/fieldguide/critter/skeleton_shrimp

Development: The Japanese skeleton shrimp emerges in the late fall as a miniature adult, and attaches to rocks and vegetation directly after birth for relocation.

http://depts.washington.edu/oldenlab/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Caprella-Mutica_Pinney.pdf

Nutritional Requirements: The Japanese skeleton shrimp feeds on small debris and smaller crustaceans, trapping particles of food on its antennae and appendages and cleaning the food off by curling the antennae down next to its mouth.

http://depts.washington.edu/oldenlab/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Caprella-Mutica_Pinney.pdf

Fun Fact: The shrimp’s name, “skeleton shrimp” comes from the shrimp’s skeletal appearance, with a long, stick-like body and reduced abdominal appendages.

https://web.archive.org/web/20130504035738/http://caprellids.lifedesks.org:80/pages/42

http://www.aphotomarine.com/amphipod_caprella_mutica.html

http://theconversation.com/there-are-no-barriers-to-prevent-marine-invasive-species-20875

[count-demonlord-of-decadence]

Impromptu: Introduction of Power

We’ve officially moved from The Nameless Theater to a operational dance club called P.H.; which secretly stands for Pheasant Humiliation. The move reduces our cleaning and maintenance cost by 47.3% and features a fully functioning kitchen. The clubs owner is my friend and fellow libertine Risa Kawajiri, though running the club will keep her from attending ‘Impromptu’. But before we reveal the minutes of this event, let us first describe the locale as there won’t be time to describe them later; but by no means shall it distract from our tale.

The exterior of P.H. is in no way unique or distinguished from the other buildings in the area. The interior of the first floor is just as interesting as the exterior, save for the excessive use of valour. Upstairs is the VIP room with more valour and six televisions for viewing various sporting events. It is only through an electronically locked door on the ground floor labeled ‘Staff Only’ (as opposed to employees only) one can access to our setting. Follow me as I have an electronic key card that allows access. Follow me into a dimly lit corridor with a thrice turning, ADA certified ramp to another door also electronically locked which the key card opens. On the other side is another door much like one finds in a modern bank allowing passage to one person at a time. This third door requires a five digit PIN unique to each guest; thus preventing undesirables from entering. I have provided one for you (85491), so come along as we enter…

...A brightly lit club with gold plating, mirrors and reclaimed wood wherever possible, bringing the word gaudy to the mind of most who see it. Assuming we entered through the Southwest door, I shall describe the layout desoil from the aforementioned starting point. Immediately to the right is the men’s lavatory, along the West wall is the bar, followed by the buffet. The kitchen is behind the bar. The Northwest corner is the supply room servicing both the kitchen and the stage. The stage is along the North wall with a DJ booth in the Northeast corner. The East wall is a lounge area with couches and tables with a variety of pipes, bongs and hookahs ready for use. In the southeast corner is the women’s restroom, followed by the other entrance with a unisex lavatory in between the two entrances. Their architecture and style differ in no way from the rest of the club. The dance floor was in the middle.

Now let us turn to the night in question. Ah but gentle reader, I must first take a moment to beg of you to prepare your heart and mind for a telling of an adventure most impure. Many of the actions we shall depict will, undoubtedly, displease you. This we know. But there amongst you a few whom this tale will warm to the point of arousal. We cannot guess who amongst you will fall into which category, all we can do is relay the facts as best we can given the details of this evening. Think it of as a buffet, some dishes you’ll like, some you won’t, but you needn’t eat them all. Take what you like and leave the rest for others to decide for themselves.

And now, with no further delay or warnings, we present the minutes of the event called, ‘Impromptu’.

There are 19 (counting your dear narrator who does have a role in this drama) attendees at Impromptu, the first we must mention of course is the ponytailed assassin from Thursday; we never did learn his name. He is naked and locked bent over in a pillory bolted to the stage; facing the lounge area. His feet kept apart by a metal spreader locked around his ankles and locked to the stage. His mouth is held open by a dentist's gag. The second guest we must mention is Ling-Li Chang, mistress of the Purple Dragon Triad. She was dressed in a sailor suit, gagged and cuffed ankles and wrists to a wheelchair. A head restraint was attached to prevent her from turning her head, and support the wire speculum that held her eyes open. She was positioned as close to the stage as possible but ensured she could see the whole stage.

The 17 others were all to play a game. Each would be given a turn to subject ponytail to whatever their dark imaginations could conceive of; but whoever killed him would have to pay a thousand dollars to every guest who didn’t their turn. They drew numbers to determine the order.

We’ll skip the hour or so they spent treating this as an everyday social event, making small talk, sampling the food, making each other’s drinks and get to the examples of how it wasn’t. With that the first number was called. It was Lucas (no surname), built like a UFC middleweight; he’s a veteran member of The Syndicate who participated in the raid on Ling-Li’s villa. His past is a mystery to all, but one could speculate he was an American with military training. Lucas simply struck ponytail about the face 14 or 16 times with his fists. He clearly didn’t hold back.

Next was a woman, short, nearly 100 kg most of which was muscle. She had short hair and wore blue jeans, a grey t shirt and a red flannel shirt over it. She place a cage on his limp prick and began massaging his anus and testes with sensuous oils to encourage an erection impeded by the cage. All the men winced, hissed and/or groaned at the sight. A discussion of whether or not he was capable of preventing an erection was possible and all agreed; not with the technique our heroine used. There was an applause at the end.

Number three was an obese white MtoF transexual who went by the name Luna Turquoise; easily voted best dressed of the evening. Luna made sweet tender love to ponytail. There was a spirited debate among those on the dance floor as to how cruel this was. Sure he was sexually assaulted but he wasn’t maimed or disfigured. Also planted the thought that this would be the most pleasant thing to happen to him seem the worst torture of all. Others took the position that not removing the penis prison was the worst. Let us finish the minutes and you, dear reader, can determine what was the worst single event he suffered.

A Japanese dominatrix, unanimously voted second best dressed of the evening, though her name escapes me, took her turn next. She gave him 50 strokes with a bull pizzle on the buttocks. Nearly 30 of those strokes landed in between his cheeks. Following was Christof Select, attending his first such party. He was welcomed with gentle teasing and gratitude. He showed no signs of first time jitters as he shoved filthy and salted bamboo shoots under ponytail’s finger and toenails. He sipped a pair of manhattans and sang Norse folk songs the entire time.

Thérése (no surname), sixty-two, hailing from the bowls of France. She looks like a skeleton, has no hair, no teeth, a stinking mouth, and ass seamed with scars, it’s hole is of excessively generous diameter. She forced her fetid ass and cunt on to the subject’s mouth, rubs it all over his face. She produces some of the most foul smelling farts and queefs as she does so. Her orgasam is intense and she shouts blasphamies as it happens.

Amir Kusein, dressed in an Armani tuxedo and hold his fourth dirty snowball (Pour irish cream and peppermint schnapps over ice in a medium rocks or old-fashioned glass. Top with milk, stir, and serve in "Old-Fashioned Glass" and no garnish) had been moping the night because he couldn’t bring his dog. There was a lively discussion among the attendees about animal participation during the preamble. Suffice to say they were excluded, and Amir was disappointed. He satisfied himself while dropping teaspoons of boiling peanut oil onto ponytail’s back and buttocks. He ejaculated into the subject’s left ear.

Cammy Williams, a veteran member of The Syndicate who participated in the raid on Ling-Li’s villa. She wore an Alice in Wonderland (animated) cosplay with bunny ears atop her head. She was standing at the buffet feasting on teriyaki shrimp when her number as called. She dashed to the stage, wasted no time and showcased her MI6 training by dislocating his right shoulder and breaking a rib in one ferocious elbow strike. This produced a scream and a puddle of urine from the subject that brought a cheer from the attendees. She then returned to the buffet. No one else had teriyaki shrimp that night.

Viktor (no surname), a veteran member of The Syndicate who participated in the raid on Ling-Li’s villa; and probably the largest man you’ll ever see. He wore a white gym shirt and green gym shorts that hide nothing. When questioned about his lack of shoes he replied he liked the feel of the filth on his feet. Brandishing the third largest member of the night, he sodomized to the direction of those on the dance floor, letting them control the tempo, depth, strength, etc. of his penetrations. He finished by discharging into the crowd. They were delighted.

The woman that followed is best described as actress Constance Zimmer (though it couldn’t possibly be her) cosplaying as Edea from Final Fantasy 8. Notably, she was controversially voted third best dressed at the event. She firmly planted her shoe heel in the subject’s anus and proceeded to use a megaphone to verbally abuse him with every degrading insult and invective she could shout in the time permitted. She had spent the last 19 hours memorizing them in preparation for this moment. Most took this moment to use the restrooms or hit the buffet; unless they wanted teriyaki shrimp.

A man I only ever heard called, and I do beg your pardon for this, Arse Splitter, is 28 years old. He has the look of a satyr; his majestic prick is bent saber fashion, it’s head, or glans, is enormous, it is eight and three eighths inches in circumference and the shaft eight in length. A fine curve to this majestic prick. Sodomized the subject in a manner true to his name. Many of the ladies attending wished to try him out, but learned his leanings were only for men’s asses.

Nina White, a veteran member of The Syndicate who participated in the raid on Ling-Li’s villa. She was dressed as a playboy bunny and had just been spurned by Arse Splitter when her number was called. She found large chunks of ice and used them to break eight bones in his hands. It matters not which ones or in which order it happened. It is enough to say it took considerable effort on her part, three chunks ice and only ended because her time was said to have expired.

Up next was a man who made his living as a professional Dennis Rodman impersonator, dressed in a Yves Saint Laurent wedding dress and had been very bitchy since he didn’t make the top three for best dressed. One by one he used a straight razor to cut off the subject’s toes and shoves them up his ass with a member that also fails to make the top three of the night. He discharged when the tenth toe came back out.

A squat woman dressed as Pennywise the Dancing Clown from Stephen King’s It (2017) viciously fists the subject and beats him with a one pound plastic weight in a crudely drawn sock puppet. In her, fist, is the remote for her vibrating panties. Her orgasam is so intense, so flfilling, she falls. After she falls out of him, he voids  his bowels upon her. She then has a second orgasm more intense and violent than the first. Viktor has to carry her off the stage to the lounge where they fornicate, forever tainting one of the couches.

Next was a muscular 6 foot 3 inch tall, black, MtoF transsexual cosplaying as Juliet from Lollipop Chainsaw. She tries to pull out ten of the subjects teeth with two pair of the filthiest pliers one ever did see, failing to get three. She then holds the subject’s tongue with a pair of the pliers and stabs his tongue with a pair equally filthy screwdrivers, both phillips and flat. when asked she revealed she kept the tools in the bowl of a portable toilet used by the homeless. She doesn’t stay for the orgy that follows these minutes.

The penultimate guest was Heather Camden dressed in a Star Trek TNG engineers uniform, rank Lieutenant Commander. She dumped three table spoons of some caustic powder to his mouth that reacted with the water in his mouth in a very acidic way. It produced some voluptuous gargled screams to which she frigged herself. She howled and appeared in seizure when climaxing. The woman, who’s name I cannot remember though I know she went second, carried Heather off the stage.

Last was me, your narrator gentle reader. I simply stab his six or seven times with an ornate early 18th century German smallsword; taking great care to ensure none of the wounds is fatal. The subject is then freed of his bonds and rushed to a competent emergency room. Our heroes then have an orgy the likes of which I’ll leave to your imaginations based on the information you have now. Though i must confess Viktor, Ms. Pennywise and Thérése had their own private orgy which Ling-Li was made to watch, apart from the main one. When it was over Ling-Li was returned to her corpse decorated villa with the understanding of what happens to those who fuck with The Syndicate.

[solentviews]

Starting Point (First Post)

Starting Point

Within my group I decided to take on the role of editor and animation director because I have a background in media and film. I am also currently in my second year of Media Studies. As a group we decided that we wanted to take a Disney-like approach to educating the public on invasive species. We thought this would be the best way to do so as not only would this appeal to children, who may become the next generation of citizen scientists, but to adults as well. Using an animated animal “tour guide” would not only be fun and easy to follow but it can also help to deliver a serious message in a way thats not too heavy. 

First Drafts

Above is a rough animation, sketch and drawing of our main character; Terry the turtle. We chose to use a turtle as we felt this character could be seen as a “tourist” in the Solent. This idea fits in nicely with invasive species. We have talked about playing around with the idea of Terry being Australian.  

My Input

My input in this initial stage was creating the rough animation for an intro to our presentation. I decided to use Procreate to create the base animation as this software allows easy manipulation to drawings. I am also used to this software and have prior experience using this. Going forward I have decided that I want to merge the more detailed versions of the Terry drawings with my animation and create an underwater scene that matches with the topic of aquatic invasive species. I am going to use After Effects 2022, Procreate and possibly Adobe Animate 2022.

Initial Research 

Our initial research showed us three prominent invasive species: Asian Mussel (Arcuatula senhousia), Sea Spider (Ammothea hilgendorfi) and the Japanese Skeleton Shrimp (Caprella mutica). We are planning to look into how these species came to the Solent, what their impact is and to evaluate this impact.

UPDATED RESEARCH (30/03/2022)

From looking at the ‘England Biodiversity Indicators 2021′ I can not find any mention of any type of Sea Spider in the invasive species list. It may be this list needs to be updated as of 2022 however, this particular species will need to be researched further before being confirmed as a part of our research. 

UPDATE #2

Due to the uncertainty around the Sea Spider it has been removed from the presentation. 

[dailynewswebsite]

200 years ago, people discovered Antarctica – and promptly began profiting by slaughtering some of its animals to near extinction

Workmen dissecting a whale carcass in Antarctica, circa 1935 Hulton Archive by way of Getty Photographs

200 years in the past, on November 17, Connecticut ship captain Nathaniel Palmer noticed the Antarctic continent, considered one of three events to take action in 1820. Not like explorers Edward Bransfield and Fabian von Bellingshausen, Palmer was a sealer who rapidly noticed financial alternative within the wealthy sealing grounds on the Antarctic Peninsula.

Within the two centuries since, Antarctica has seen a variety of economic, scientific and diplomatic developments. Whereas some international locations tried to say territory on the continent within the first half of the 20th century, in the present day the area is ruled via the worldwide Antarctic Treaty System.

Though the treaty claims to manipulate Antarctica within the pursuits of all “mankind,” some international locations have gained better advantages from the area than others. Whereas mining is at the moment banned underneath the Antarctic Treaty and the times of sealing and whaling are over, Antarctica’s marine residing assets are nonetheless being exploited to at the present time.

Fur and blubber

Palmer was adopted by a rush of different sealing ships, largely from the USA and Britain, that methodically killed fur seals alongside Antarctic seashores, swiftly taking populations to the brink of extinction. Seal fur was used for clothes within the 18th and 19th centuries in lots of elements of the world and was an necessary a part of U.S. and European commerce with China within the 19th century.

Fur sealing had an actual boom-and-bust high quality. As soon as a area was picked over, the sealers would transfer to extra fruitful grounds. Earlier than 1833, at the least 7 million fur seals had been killed within the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic. As early as 1829, British naturalist James Eights lamented the lack of the fur seal on the Antarctic peninsula: “This stunning little animal was as soon as most quite a few right here.”

‘The Antarctic Butcher’ painted by Standish Backus, 1956. U.S. Naval Artwork Assortment

Elephant seals had been additionally hunted, however for his or her blubber, which might be transformed into oil. It was not troublesome for hunters to drive them to the seashores, lance them via the center (or, later, shoot them within the cranium), drain their blood and take away their blubber. “We left the useless issues, uncooked and meaty, mendacity on the seashore,” in line with one sealer. The birds would decide the skeletons clear inside days.

Sealing quickly declined within the 1960s, owing to a mixture of evolving cultural sentiments and altering availability of different supplies, resembling plastics, that might be made into heat artificial clothes and petroleum-based lubricants.

The printed of footage exhibiting Canadian sealing within the early 1960s scandalized North American and European residents and prompted a fast shift in attitudes towards sealing. The Conference for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals was signed in 1972, regulating the large-scale slaughter of seals for all nations within the area. At the moment, the inhabitants of fur seals has rebounded, with a colony of over 5 million on South Georgia alone, although numbers have declined since 2000. Elephant seals, too, have largely rebounded, with an estimated secure inhabitants of 650,000 because the mid-1990s.

Blood-red water

The whaling grounds off Antarctica had been so wealthy they drew fleets from many countries. First got here Norwegian and British firms, later to be joined by others from Germany, Russia, the Netherlands and Japan. Whaling had occurred within the Southern Ocean within the 19th century, nevertheless it wasn’t till the primary half of the 20th century that whales had been hunted to close extinction there.

Within the 19th century, whale oil was used primarily for lamp gasoline. However after 1910, new makes use of had been discovered for the oil, together with as industrial lubricants and edible fat.

Whaling grew to become extraordinarily profitable for a small group of firms, together with Unilever, whose early fortunes had been constructed from margarine made with whale oil.

Aboard a Japanese whaling ship close to Antarctica, 1962. Marka/Common Photographs Group by way of Getty Photographs

At first, whales killed at sea needed to be dropped at a shore station to be processed. In 1925, an observer wrote, “What an appalling stench it’s…The water during which the whales float, and on which we too are using, is blood crimson.” From the late 1920s on, these shore stations had been changed by pelagic whaling stations, the place whales had been processed extra effectively on manufacturing facility ships at sea.

In 1946, some worldwide efforts had been made to guard whales. The aim of the Worldwide Whaling Fee created that 12 months was “to offer for the right conservation of whale shares and thus make potential the orderly improvement of the whaling trade.”

However, once more within the 1960s, public attitudes towards whales, like seals, started to vary when environmentalists revealed they had been extremely smart, sociable creatures that sang within the ocean depths. Most nations ceased whale looking within the Antarctic by the top of the 1960s – due to this consciousness and likewise as a result of there have been cheap alternate options to whale merchandise.

Fishing

Antarctica’s wealthy marine life continues to be exploited in the present day. Krill and toothfish started to be fished within the 1970s.

Krill, a small shrimp-like crustacean, is utilized in dietary dietary supplements and pet meals. Norway, China, South Korea and Chile are its largest harvesters. Toothfish, which has been marketed as Chilean sea bass, is on menus worldwide.

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Since 1982, the Fee for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Dwelling Sources has managed these fisheries with the overriding aim of sustaining the entire ecosystem. Whales, seals, birds and different fish depend on krill, making them important to the Antarctic marine ecosystem. Whereas krill and toothfish are at the moment each plentiful within the Antarctic, it’s unclear how a lot the discount of sea ice and the altering migration patterns of predators who feed on these species are affecting their populations.

Traditionally and at the moment, solely a small variety of folks have profited from Antarctica’s residing assets, on the nice expense of animal populations. Even when sustainable harvesting is feasible now, local weather change is quickly undermining Antarctic’s ecological stability. Whereas main environmental campaigns attempt to elevate consciousness of Antarctica’s fragility, most shoppers of its merchandise probably don’t even know their provenance. Whale and seal populations proceed to get well from previous overexploitation, however the future impacts of present fishing practices and local weather change are unsure.

Alessandro Antonello receives funding from the Australian Analysis Council.

Daniella McCahey doesn’t work for, seek the advice of, personal shares in or obtain funding from any firm or group that will profit from this text, and has disclosed no related affiliations past their tutorial appointment.

from Growth News https://growthnews.in/200-years-ago-people-discovered-antarctica-and-promptly-began-profiting-by-slaughtering-some-of-its-animals-to-near-extinction/ via https://growthnews.in

[sheriflavored]

Sometimes I really need to take a step back and look at my goals without the magnifying glass that I’ve been holding up to’m. The end of 2017 is coming and it’s coming fast. I remember thinking, holy cow it’s 2017. Now I’m thinking, holy cow it’s almost 2018. I remember turning 24 and freaking the hell out, not feeling like I’ve accomplished anything or did anything to be proud of. Sometimes, I need to be reminded that I’m still young and what I’ve done so far is quite good. Not excellent, but it’s something to be proud of. 

I tend to think of years as Aug-June since you know, school. So I’m going to recount all the cool things I’ve done since I started (and finished) grad school. 

Beginning July 2016-December 2017:

1. Survived MSAN bootcamp + fall mod 1 (2016). Hands down, the toughest 5 + 7 weeks of my academic life. I was emotionally, physically and mentally drained every day. I cried a lot at the end of the 5 weeks, I just couldn’t bear it anymore. I was sleeping 3 hours a night and felt like when I was awake, a baby was just sitting on my chest the entire time. I downed large cups of coffee (not an avid coffee drinker really), oh two, I downed on average two large cups of raw black coffee a day. Oh and I almost got put on AP, chewed out by my director for conduct issues and decided there was no way I was going to be able to train and do this grad school thing at the same time. 

2. Japan (2016). I started my trip with a 30 page EDA assignment due in the middle of my trip. I stayed up for approximately 40 something hours, with mini one hour naps in between. My dreams bled ggplot color schemes. I watched Natalie sleep on the chairs of the Vancouver airport over the glaring screen of my laptop. I spent the first 5 days refreshing my email, hoping that I didn’t get kicked out of the program. Apparently, we went during the absolute worst time to go to Japan. I was reminded of what typhoons felt and looked like. Boy, I not miss the 6 inches of rain that happened within a matter of minutes nor do I miss having to wear long pants so people wouldn’t be scared of my mosquito bitten legs. But I do miss the food, the people, the cleanliness. Oh, I got to say I went paragliding off a random mountain in front of Mount Fuji with some cool Japanese stoner bros and ate ramen literally every day for 7 days. 

3. Chicago (2016). The bean was underwhelming. The ambiance was aight. I can’t believe the night life there lasts until 5am. Oh, the best part? Lou Malnati’s. 

4. Snowboarding (2017). I learned how to heel/toe this year after going 3-4 times this past season. How? I fell on my ass and ate it (not my ass) a few times. Totally worth. 

5. 3500 Mile road trip from Raleigh/Durham North Carolina to San Jose California (2017). This was probably one of the favorite things I’ve done this year. Went to New Orleans, Austin, Phoenix/Grand Canyon, Los Angeles, Home. Cafe Du Monde, overrated. Shaya, fantastic. We rode bikes through the rain all about NOLA. Waited hours for oysters, had good fried shrimp from a random liquor store ran by an Asian man and his son in the middle of some residential neighborhood across the (bleh) Mississippi River. Had shitty “Korean Fusion” tacos--taco. Walked around the grandest of canyons. Stuffed our faces with KBBQ and American bbq. Drove continuously for insane amounts of hours, but I wouldn’t been able to bear it with anyone besides my bestie. Oh, yeah we were also in a prius with a Bernie sticker plastered on the bumper. Could you believe that we didn’t see one god damn prius for almost the entirety of the south? 

6. Completed two internships (2017). One focused on Machine Learning and the other software engineering. 

7. Completed my M.S. (2017). Yeah I guess that’s cool--I got my M.S. before I turned 25. 

8. Thailand (2017). It was emotionally and physically draining. Too hot and humid. Too much empathy. Too much poverty. Cheap. Would only return for the islands. Oh and, apparently mosquito repellant isn’t 100% effective. My bites turned purple, lowkey thought I was going to die. But--I got to visit an elephant sanctuary and fed, bathed and hung out with some pretty rad elephants. Went to a real live muay thai fight night--although I did fall asleep through half of it because I was just exhausted at that point. I lived in a bamboo hut that made me realize I really don’t need that much to survive and live a fulfilling life. I had the best mango smoothie and pad thai of my life. I got a massage almost every day I was there. Oh and I ate some weird things like scorpion?

9. Outsidelands (2017). This was cool. Day three was the best. Would never go for all three days again, once is enough. Never buy presale for OSL.

10. Met a cool dude (2017). Now we’re dating and I’ve never been so happy and fulfilled. He’s showed me what qualities from a partner I desired, could live without and could not live without. For the first time, I’m being treated like a queen. 

11. New York (2017). I fell in love with the city. I never thought I’d fall in love with any city more than I had fallen for San Francisco. It’s really got something to it.

12. About to start my first big girl job (2017/2018). Offer is about to be served soon.

I guess when I list it out like that..I’ve done quite a bit in the last year and a half. 

In terms of personal growth, I’ve recently began recognizing all the emotional trauma that I had to go through for the last six or so years. I’ve learned to accept that not any one person can take the entire blame for anything that goes wrong. You can keep shifting the blame from person to person, but you’ve also got to learn how to move on and give yourself the credit you deserve. It’s been a slow and grueling process, but I’m slowly emptying out the skeletons in my closet. I don’t have space for them anymore. This year, I started to learn how to let go. Let go of things that clutter my space. Let go of painful memories. Let go of grudges, let go of people.

I’ve learned that things don’t always necessarily go in the ways we plan them to, but it’s our actions during times of adversity that show our strengths. 

I’m learning to be full.

[jeffreyhowardz]

Top Five Garden Pests that Can Skeletonize Plants

Gardens and farms are two of the most common sources of income in the suburbs. Because of the growing demand for commodities, it’s important to care for your plants and crops to generate more supply and earn more income. However, pest infestations make this impossible. Pests with chewing mouthparts can eat portions of our plants such as the leaves, flowers, stems, and roots. This usually causes the plants to discolor, twist, or curl. It’s important to diagnose the problem effectively to understand what actions are necessary to eliminate, if not prevent the issue.

To give insights about these pests, here are the five most notorious plants that can skeletonize crops and plants.

Japanese Beetles

It’s difficult to miss the works of the Japanese beetle. It is by far one of the worst pests to deal with especially in extreme populations. These creatures can literally skeletonize your plants, specifically ornamental plants and flowers. Which is why it’s important to keep their population at bay. These creatures are common in late June until the early fall. During these months, it’s important to keep an eye out for these pests to prevent extensive damage. 

Snails and Slugs

These creatures are common in the garden. Most of them rely on decaying materials such as fungi. However, some of them have strong mouthparts that can feed on leaves. They also feed on fruits and plant succulents. Snails and slugs are common during night time. This is why we do not usually see them during the day. They are also common during the cloudy and foggy weather. It’s like these pests know when humans do not check their gardens often. It makes them almost undetectable to people. Which is why we need to be observant towards our surroundings. Rain or shine, we need to manage our gardens to monitor these pests and eradicate them.

Sowbugs and Pillbugs

These two are isopods. Many believe that these creatures are insects but they’re actually closer to crabs and shrimps. They have a head which is as obvious as their antennae and a trunk with 11 pairs of legs attached to it. These creatures hide during the day and emerge at night to feed on decaying materials. In small numbers, there’s no harm in having sowbugs and pillbugs in the garden. The danger comes when they populate and start to feed on leaves and stems.

Millipedes

These creatures are often confused with their cousins, the centipedes. To compare and contrast, millipedes have antennae and elongated trunks with more than twenty or more segments, each has two pairs of legs connected to them. They are slow-moving insects that prey on ornamental plants. Centipedes, on the other hand, have only one pair of legs per segment. Plus, these creatures crawl faster than millipedes.

Spidermites

Spidermites have various species and a few of them attack bedding plants and perennials. They feed on the undersides of leaves and can remain undetected for the rest of their lives. One sign you need to watch out for is the yellow pigments on the upper surface of leaves. You can also see fine webs early in the morning which can coat the plant when infestations are severe. Spidermites are common during the summer. So, you have to upscale your methods for pest management to keep them from damaging your plants.

These are only some of the most common insects that prey on crops and garden plants. Now that you know what they are, it’s important to research more and identify strategies to eliminate them. If infestations get out of hand, you can always call professional exterminators to do the job for you. This way, they can help you eliminate and prevent garden pests using safe and environmentally friendly methods.

The post Top Five Garden Pests that Can Skeletonize Plants appeared first on Kravelv.

Top Five Garden Pests that Can Skeletonize Plants published first on https://wallsgshop.tumblr.com/

[steamishot]

Thoughts

It’s been a little slow at work, now that I kinda know what I’m doing now and am putting off the work that I don’t like doing lol. I’m also feeling slow cause its Monday. Anyway, after having a little more than a month off to recharge from that work + class lifestyle, I’m kinda ready to get productive again. I’ll start working on my portfolio and continue learning more about coding and tech on my time off/weekends and create projects for myself instead of just going out and having fun. Because even that feels exhausting after a while and like I should be using my time for something more productive.

I’ve been thinking about life a lot and I feel like I’ve been living my life as if I’m invincible for the most part.  I procrastinate and say I’ll do something eventually, or when the time is right it’ll happen. I think about how all the organisms alive right now are just coexisting. And I try to see other people as my fellow humans instead of things to avoid or be scared of. I think of myself as a skeleton with active organs and how when I die, I won’t have the capabilities my organs offer me anymore. I think that in American culture, the topic of death is pretty taboo. Unlike other cultures that acknowledge the dead, Americans don’t have any traditions for that. Well, outside of religion. I still feel scared thinking about death, even though statistically speaking, I should have the most time left here as opposed to my immediate family. I want to get more into Buddhism teachings to feel more at peace with life and adopt a Buddhist mindset on the topic of death.

I used to not understand coupling up or the desire to be in a relationship, or when people jokingly say “I’ll just die alone” or “I’m scared to be alone”. But after some thought, life is a scary journey and having a “life partner” can be really comforting. So I am glad and thankful that I have a partner currently. Having him with me gives me another layer of support and strength.

To show appreciation for me, he spoils me with food. This past weekend we had hot pot and Japanese food. On Friday evening, I had spent 2 hours in traffic to meet him at a hot pot place in Arcadia. He arrived like 10 minutes before I did and it might have been the second time ever that he arrived before I did. During dinner, I told him that I’m planning on going to Hawaii with my friends over memorial day weekend. He was a little hurt by that it seemed because that was one of our trip ideas. I told him that we’ve been talking about taking a trip for some time now but that I feel he doesn’t follow through, so I’d rather just go with my friends. He said that he wasn’t sure how serious I was about it because I wouldn’t respond very enthusiastically. Which after some thought, is correct. I think my main reservation is that he’s still a secret from my family and vice versa. And even though it would be exciting and fun to travel with him, I dread bringing him up to my family. Another reasonable thing is that he is kinda out of it emotionally right now because of not matching. He is focused on what he needs to do next in his career and how to proceed, and it was a selfish request of me to want him to put more attention on our relationship. However, it was good that I said something. He is very reasonable and caring. I like that he accepts criticism and is constantly looking for ways to improve.

On Saturday, I brought my mom and grandma to in n out for lunch. I enjoy taking them out for activities and it has been a while since I’ve done so. Since next weekend is a 3 day weekend, I asked if they would be interested in going to the flower fields to see poppies. My mom clapped and responded really enthusiastically with a smile, and nudged at my grandma saying “hey! Act enthusiastically. If you don’t, then she’s not gonna know if you want to go or not/she’s not gonna want to take you.” LOL. My grandma is more cool and she matter-of-factly said “of course I want to go.” That was a little lesson for myself on the topic of enthusiasm, since I’m not really good at showing it when I have reservations, and I’m not that expressive in general.

Last night when we facetimed, he wanted to make sure that I was fine emotionally. He noted how I wasn’t happy with certain things that he did during the week, but that I seemed happy and didn’t have complaints over the weekend. Although it seems small, I felt secure and happy when he brought that up. Because it shows that he is able to work with me to make things work between us, and that he cares about my (emotional) well-being. Protected is the word that describes it.

Little things he did that made me feel fuzzy inside- when we had Japanese food, I had the sashimi combo and he had the cold soba with shrimp tempura. We also had a medium fatty tuna bowl. At this point, we share our food by default. Since we were sitting across from each other, it was hard for me to grab his food. The cold soba had to be dipped into this soy sauce mixture in a small cup. So he would put soba into the soy sauce container and then leave it on my side of the table a few times. I think I started the trend of like getting food for him (placing things in his hot pot to cook, or getting cooked things out of the pot for him) so he started to mirror me. Another thing was when we went to universal studios. I like to wear his northface jacket when its cold (that’s my default jacket of his). He brought a backpack that day with an extra sweater and was wearing the northface jacket. He said when it gets cold I can wear the northface jacket and he’ll wear the extra sweater he brought.

Yesterday was my sister in law’s birthday. She went on a trip to Vegas with my brother on Saturday but neither of them had mentioned it was for her birthday. They drove back from Vegas around 1pm yesterday. Facebook notified me that it was her birthday and I texted her asking if she had any plans that night. She said no, so my family and I arranged something for them. I ended up picking up a cake and gift for her, and we had family style hot pot for dinner. My brother was like, good thing you bought her a cake because she was getting mad at me lol. Apparently my brother didn’t buy her a present either, thinking that the vegas trip would be sufficient as a birthday gift. Anyway, it seems that she liked the dinner, cake, and present. And hope she had a good birthday overall.

[healthmasterlove-blog]

what do sardines taste like The Nasty Bits: How to Make Sardine Lovers out of Sardine

I prefer sardines right from the can, hit a slice of bread therefore all the oils that are fishy sink in the bread and also the flesh smears and flattens merely therefore.  I enjoy this the bones tiny lettuce are tender enough to be eaten together with the fish.  A handful fillets result in a quick meal in case the bread is still good as well as the fish is business and also un-mealy. 20120110-186097-nasty-bits-sardines-pan.jpg Only anecdotal study informs me people harbor a bias against canned salmon, or maybe canned fatty fish for a whole.  Like salmon, sardine flesh is dense, rich and fatty. But fresh lettuce are just another issue.  Their taste is still unmistakably sardine-esque, yet toned down for a broader audience.  Cooked precisely so the flesh has just begun to flakeout, the flesh is tender and maybe not so fishy in any way.  In the event that you're able to get sardines which are extremely new, then the simplest thing to accomplish would be always to grill or broil them accordingly that your skin chars just a little.  Sprinkle with salt, freshly ground pepper, and vinegar or lemon. If, however, you realize that fresh lettuce are still overly bleak for the own taste, think about a very simple marinade.  I personally use ginger to combat the fishiness, only a small wine for thickness, soy sauce, and a dash of sugar and salt.  Other activities you might throw in the curry: a dab of ginger, lemon, lemongrass, chili peppers, shallots, and garlic.  The curry not just brines and keeps the fish, also it functions like a palliative to the majority of all their fishiness.  I'd even function this to a guaranteed sardine hater. You Will Discover new lettuce in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese markets.  (Additionally, check in other fishmongers who know that a few humans like eating smelt and bait fish.)  The sardines is likely to not be any further than five or four inches in total, but this provides you with plenty of meat and also the skeleton comes next to as soon as you have eaten a negative. Sardines in many cases are sold with no eviscerated, although the fish are still so small it is only a question of attaining in and lightly taking the slide of viscera inside.  After Shrimp, they could possibly be broiled, grilled, or panfried in moments. Obtain the Frog Marinated and Broiled Sardines " Chi-chi WANG  COLUMNIST PROFILE EMAIL I am a excellent eater and an adequate cook.  Tasks from your kitchen I find soothing: seasoning my cast iron skillets, boiling bones, making lard.  When I am not exercising, eating, or writing, I make an effort to balance my life out using non-sedentary tasks, such as swimmingpool, uh walking into restaurants.... Read the full article

[raptinawe]

Japanese Skeleton Shrimp - Caprella mutica 

Photos: 1. by Éric Le Bel; 2. EoL; 3. by Thomas Ermak. (via Encyclopedia of Life)

[healthmasterlove-blog]

what do sardines taste like The Nasty Bits: How to Make Sardine Lovers out of Sardine

I prefer sardines right from the can, hit a slice of bread therefore all the oils that are fishy sink in the bread and also the flesh smears and flattens merely therefore.  I enjoy this the bones tiny lettuce are tender enough to be eaten together with the fish.  A handful fillets result in a quick meal in case the bread is still good as well as the fish is business and also un-mealy. 20120110-186097-nasty-bits-sardines-pan.jpg Only anecdotal study informs me people harbor a bias against canned salmon, or maybe canned fatty fish for a whole.  Like salmon, sardine flesh is dense, rich and fatty. But fresh lettuce are just another issue.  Their taste is still unmistakably sardine-esque, yet toned down for a broader audience.  Cooked precisely so the flesh has just begun to flakeout, the flesh is tender and maybe not so fishy in any way.  In the event that you're able to get sardines which are extremely new, then the simplest thing to accomplish would be always to grill or broil them accordingly that your skin chars just a little.  Sprinkle with salt, freshly ground pepper, and vinegar or lemon. If, however, you realize that fresh lettuce are still overly bleak for the own taste, think about a very simple marinade.  I personally use ginger to combat the fishiness, only a small wine for thickness, soy sauce, and a dash of sugar and salt.  Other activities you might throw in the curry: a dab of ginger, lemon, lemongrass, chili peppers, shallots, and garlic.  The curry not just brines and keeps the fish, also it functions like a palliative to the majority of all their fishiness.  I'd even function this to a guaranteed sardine hater. You Will Discover new lettuce in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese markets.  (Additionally, check in other fishmongers who know that a few humans like eating smelt and bait fish.)  The sardines is likely to not be any further than five or four inches in total, but this provides you with plenty of meat and also the skeleton comes next to as soon as you have eaten a negative. Sardines in many cases are sold with no eviscerated, although the fish are still so small it is only a question of attaining in and lightly taking the slide of viscera inside.  After Shrimp, they could possibly be broiled, grilled, or panfried in moments. Obtain the Frog Marinated and Broiled Sardines " Chi-chi WANG  COLUMNIST PROFILE EMAIL I am a excellent eater and an adequate cook.  Tasks from your kitchen I find soothing: seasoning my cast iron skillets, boiling bones, making lard.  When I am not exercising, eating, or writing, I make an effort to balance my life out using non-sedentary tasks, such as swimmingpool, uh walking into restaurants.... Read the full article

[healthmasterlove-blog]

what do sardines taste like The Nasty Bits: How to Make Sardine Lovers out of Sardine

I prefer sardines right from the can, hit a slice of bread therefore all the oils that are fishy sink in the bread and also the flesh smears and flattens merely therefore.  I enjoy this the bones tiny lettuce are tender enough to be eaten together with the fish.  A handful fillets result in a quick meal in case the bread is still good as well as the fish is business and also un-mealy. 20120110-186097-nasty-bits-sardines-pan.jpg Only anecdotal study informs me people harbor a bias against canned salmon, or maybe canned fatty fish for a whole.  Like salmon, sardine flesh is dense, rich and fatty. But fresh lettuce are just another issue.  Their taste is still unmistakably sardine-esque, yet toned down for a broader audience.  Cooked precisely so the flesh has just begun to flakeout, the flesh is tender and maybe not so fishy in any way.  In the event that you're able to get sardines which are extremely new, then the simplest thing to accomplish would be always to grill or broil them accordingly that your skin chars just a little.  Sprinkle with salt, freshly ground pepper, and vinegar or lemon. If, however, you realize that fresh lettuce are still overly bleak for the own taste, think about a very simple marinade.  I personally use ginger to combat the fishiness, only a small wine for thickness, soy sauce, and a dash of sugar and salt.  Other activities you might throw in the curry: a dab of ginger, lemon, lemongrass, chili peppers, shallots, and garlic.  The curry not just brines and keeps the fish, also it functions like a palliative to the majority of all their fishiness.  I'd even function this to a guaranteed sardine hater. You Will Discover new lettuce in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese markets.  (Additionally, check in other fishmongers who know that a few humans like eating smelt and bait fish.)  The sardines is likely to not be any further than five or four inches in total, but this provides you with plenty of meat and also the skeleton comes next to as soon as you have eaten a negative. Sardines in many cases are sold with no eviscerated, although the fish are still so small it is only a question of attaining in and lightly taking the slide of viscera inside.  After Shrimp, they could possibly be broiled, grilled, or panfried in moments. Obtain the Frog Marinated and Broiled Sardines " Chi-chi WANG  COLUMNIST PROFILE EMAIL I am a excellent eater and an adequate cook.  Tasks from your kitchen I find soothing: seasoning my cast iron skillets, boiling bones, making lard.  When I am not exercising, eating, or writing, I make an effort to balance my life out using non-sedentary tasks, such as swimmingpool, uh walking into restaurants.... Read the full article

[healthmasterlove-blog]

what do sardines taste like The Nasty Bits: How to Make Sardine Lovers out of Sardine

I prefer sardines right from the can, hit a slice of bread therefore all the oils that are fishy sink in the bread and also the flesh smears and flattens merely therefore.  I enjoy this the bones tiny lettuce are tender enough to be eaten together with the fish.  A handful fillets result in a quick meal in case the bread is still good as well as the fish is business and also un-mealy. 20120110-186097-nasty-bits-sardines-pan.jpg Only anecdotal study informs me people harbor a bias against canned salmon, or maybe canned fatty fish for a whole.  Like salmon, sardine flesh is dense, rich and fatty. But fresh lettuce are just another issue.  Their taste is still unmistakably sardine-esque, yet toned down for a broader audience.  Cooked precisely so the flesh has just begun to flakeout, the flesh is tender and maybe not so fishy in any way.  In the event that you're able to get sardines which are extremely new, then the simplest thing to accomplish would be always to grill or broil them accordingly that your skin chars just a little.  Sprinkle with salt, freshly ground pepper, and vinegar or lemon. If, however, you realize that fresh lettuce are still overly bleak for the own taste, think about a very simple marinade.  I personally use ginger to combat the fishiness, only a small wine for thickness, soy sauce, and a dash of sugar and salt.  Other activities you might throw in the curry: a dab of ginger, lemon, lemongrass, chili peppers, shallots, and garlic.  The curry not just brines and keeps the fish, also it functions like a palliative to the majority of all their fishiness.  I'd even function this to a guaranteed sardine hater. You Will Discover new lettuce in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese markets.  (Additionally, check in other fishmongers who know that a few humans like eating smelt and bait fish.)  The sardines is likely to not be any further than five or four inches in total, but this provides you with plenty of meat and also the skeleton comes next to as soon as you have eaten a negative. Sardines in many cases are sold with no eviscerated, although the fish are still so small it is only a question of attaining in and lightly taking the slide of viscera inside.  After Shrimp, they could possibly be broiled, grilled, or panfried in moments. Obtain the Frog Marinated and Broiled Sardines " Chi-chi WANG  COLUMNIST PROFILE EMAIL I am a excellent eater and an adequate cook.  Tasks from your kitchen I find soothing: seasoning my cast iron skillets, boiling bones, making lard.  When I am not exercising, eating, or writing, I make an effort to balance my life out using non-sedentary tasks, such as swimmingpool, uh walking into restaurants.... Read the full article