#maybe even a sea hare

[aka-indulgence]

Add Aka to the ocean to turn her into Very Happy Aka

[lackadaisycats]

I hope you know that literally nobody is going to be able to live up to the standard you, V*v, and Glitch have set and your arrogance and exploitation of your fanbase and connections has screwed millions of creatives out of their dreams because Hollywood is a joke that isn't worth telling and wealthy e-celebs like yourself have claimed the indie scene all to yourselves and moved the goalposts into the stratosphere.

Nope. This isn't a zero sum game. There is not some limited, prescribed number of indie trophy slots that a few studios greedily filled up, blocking everyone else out. That is not how it works. Nothing any other creator is doing - short of personally sending hired goons to your doorstep or stealing your credit cards - is taking anything away from you or preventing your success. In fact if an indie creator can manage to demonstrate that they've got something viable going, it may help to map out a pathway for others.

I think I'm not going to bother trying to address whether or not cartoons in return for support from fans - an entirely voluntary exchange - constitutes exploitation. And I'm living in the Midwest driving a 2007 economy car with 200k+ miles on it, but let's just skip past the assumptions that I'm wealthy and connected too.

Instead, let's get to the weirdly myopic notion that the indie scene is held captive by three studios. Maybe YouTube algorithms or Twitter bubbles are somewhat to blame, but in actuality there are so, so many individual people, friend groups, and small production houses out there making independent animation, I cannot possibly name them all.

Here are some anyway:

Far-Fetched Worthikids Satina | Scumhouse Noodle and Bun Punch Punch Forever Ramshackle Noodle Papajoolia | Pipi Angel Hare | The East Patch Jonni Peppers Salad Fingers Monkey Wrench Studio Heartbreak Felix Colgrave JelloApocalypse Odd1sout (started indie, got picked up by Netflix) Allie Mehner JaidenAnimations Lumi and the Great Big Galaxy Cloudrise | The Worlds Divide Telepurte RubberRoss James Lee ENA Godspeed | Olan Rogers Ollie and Scoops Meat Canyon Port by the Sea Kekeflipnote Boxtown Kevin Temmer Weebl Joel Haver CircleToons Long Gone Gulch Atlas and the Stars Animist Skibidi Toilet A Fox in Space Alex Henderson Talon Toniko Pantoja Sr. Pelo Hullabaloo Kane Pixels (started indie, picked up by A24) Homestar Runner Fennah Gods' School Alan Becker Dungeon Flippers JazLyte Psychicpebbles (started indie, Smiling Friends picked up by AS) Piemations vewn Metal Family Dead Sound chluaid Jacknjellify Betsy Lee | No Evil My Pride Cranbersher GeoExe | Gwain Saga Horatio the Vampire Mech West Playground | Rodrigo Sousa The Brave Locomotive Finchwing (+ many other Warrior Cats animators) Quazies SamBakZa Kamikaze: Trial by Fire

By no means a full list. That's just YouTube, and mostly just English language stuff, and I didn't even get to the multitudes of Warrior Cats animation collabs.

The point is, the indie landscape is vast and populated by creators new and old, making all kinds of animated media from skits, to shows, to ARGs, to films. Audience sizes vary as much as the content, stylistic approaches, subject matter, and budgets do. There are no compliance standards, no gateways to entry, no goalposts. There's not even any preset definition of success except what you decide for yourself.

Anyway, instead of nurturing your resentments, consider making something. I assure you, it's a far more rewarding use of your time and energy, and pretty much no one can stop you. ------------- EDIT- Made some additions to the list based on comments. Thanks!

[bluecapsicum]

Cold winter skies illustrations for my daily meteorological fiction project, Reports From Unknown Places About Indescribable Events (Twitter, Instagram, Mastodon, archives on my website).

Keep reading for the companion texts.

December 31st: We report: sometimes, we think we know what to expect when it comes to the sky. We go a few days, maybe a couple of weeks without much happening, a rainbow perhaps, a contrail... We think we know the sky. It happens then, that the clouds twist and knit into impossibilities.

January 4th: We report: we went to the planetarium with our expert, once. We spent an hour watching as we got further, and further away from Earth, then the solar system, our galaxy, and then our galaxy group, until there was nowhere to go anymore. We got brought home, to our beating heart.

January 11th: We report: good morning, we would like to draw attention to a lovely and unexpected event occurring at this moment. Would you please look up to the clouds and notice how, though the sky is largely grey, the gulls flying overhead are tinted orange by the sunrise light? Thank you.

January 12th: We report: in the hollow of a valley, sleepy lightning bugs. There is grey little light dragging itself through the air like it does not want to be here, and we are cold with our hands in our pockets and our nose in our scarf and our ears exposed and bright red (nobody sees).

January 22nd: We report: we have missed a train today, but we can only hope that the train dearly missed us in return. We waited at the station for the next one for a long time, watched people get off and on different trains until it got too cold for us to wait outside. Wispy cirrus.

January 27th: We report on a winter morning: there was a robin and a few hares, blending in with the snowy grass. The snowflakes were heavy enough that we could hear them fall around us. We could smell the cold air until our nose started running. Grey sludge on the side of salted roads.

January 28th: We report: it is after nightfall, but there are still many sparrows chattering in the trees. The air is dank out here, and as we walk, we can feel condensation forming on our face, the white puffs of our breath dissolving into the night. Our expert walks a few steps behind us.

January 31st: We report sometime around sunrise (what sun, rising from where, one might ask on this cloudy morning). The light, weak and mournful, does not weigh enough to reach down the deep blue dark of the ocean. The sea, torn by the wind, is busy frothing and making everything capsize.

February 20th: We report: the barometer and the thermometer are both down. It rained a lot last night, and today, the waters are murky, agitated even through the advection fog. We cannot see the horizon. We picked up a nice, pearlescent seashell that glimmered in the sand amidst all the grey.

February 24th: We report: hares in the fields, then a partridge later. The mud is frozen, the clouds are thick. Not much wind. Some colza and daffodils blooming on the roadside. A little bit more of February, its low skies and its half-steps, the transitions in the light and the time.

[wifetomegatron]

fondest, blindest, weakest. megatron(idw) / reader. drabble (nsfw)

Megatron knows he's beyond saving. Irredeemable and unworthy of grace, as the hound follows the hare, never ceasing in its running, ever drawing nearer in the chase, with unhurrying and unperturbed pace — that was his fate. His sins will catch up to him, and even as the last grains of time bubble under the currents of nothingness, his evils will remain, a wound that will forever scar the galaxy. Not even sinking to his knees could wash away the blood on his servos. He knows this.

He knows.

And yet, the thought of loving you is a seductive, selfish idea that has taken root inside the garden of his spark — where the ground is barren and dry — a stubborn seed has housed itself within his chassis. And when stripped bare, Megatron is no longer a prisoner or a warmonger or a co-captain, only a mech. A mech who wants nothing more than to watch you under the half-light, asleep and curled by his side. Guilt was the flower of loving you, beautiful and tempting, with thorns that cut through reality to let him live in a dream-like state. 

He wants to remember everything: when you arch yourself under him, hands gripping his shoulders as you tremble and gasp. Your smile and your laughter as it echoes down the room. Every time you trace your fingers down the side of his helm before kissing him, lips so painfully tender against his own — this was Primus' final act of mercy. Or maybe you were his punishment. A benevolent act of cruelty: loving you comes with the fear of losing. This was karma in its purest form.

Yet you were brave, braver than he expected. Defiant and adamant to prove him wrong and embrace him, even if you might burn. 

He runs a servo down your thighs, memorizing the weight, searing the warmth of your skin in his memory. Winter meeting spring, the land dancing with the sea, the sun waiting for the moon: that was how you described the feeling of loving him. You pulled him closer, chest to his chassis, skin trembling against the hum of his spark. 

Your body was slick with sweat, mouth babbling incoherent words amidst a string of moans. So Megatron bends down to kiss you, inhaling every little noise.

You tell him his mouth tasted like when the sky finally breaks to relieve the earth of the heat: cooling, soothing, the first rain in spring. He finds it hard to believe that he gave you sanctuary. Until you clench down, legs around his waist, hips bucking to take all of him. And finally, he understands.

Here in the dark, he was tired of repenting. All he could do was want, even if he didn't deserve it. How can he not? When you're pleading for him, hungry for him. He wants to give: to soothe away the ache and give you what you need.

Breathe, he reminds you, slowly rocking to your movements. And soon you were in tandem, lost in the shadows of your habsuite, arms roaming, hugging, holding. When you came, you shouted his name — almost in reverence, voice trembling with desire. 

Megatron knows he's beyond saving, but maybe giving you the love you deserve was enough to keep him going. He asks if you want more, servos already entering, easing, stretching. With your hair fanned across the pillows and cheeks flushed red, you nodded weakly, beckoning him to come. And who is he to deny his purpose?

[thegreatwizardelwin]

The Sea Hare: Scene 2

A Freminet x Gn! Reader

After giving in to the truth of your feelings for him, you try to come up with a plan to express them to Freminet. But before you can finish your brainstorm, you must give him a hand after a rough day.

It CANNOT be lame.

You were walking through the halls of Fontaine’s music college, your mind currently consumed with romantic confessions and beautiful fantasies.

You clutched your book satchel and walked down the stone stairs, leaving school for the day.

Maybe the fountain by the Opera Epiclese? Actually, he wouldn’t want to make a scene. I’ll have to coax him somewhere less busy. 

Your heel caught the step behind you and you fell. Your books slipped from the satchel and flopped down the steps.

A few of the kids from the Acting classes passed you. 

“Be careful, Y/N!” Eloise, a snarky girl who had landed the lead in the music college’s play, called mockingly. “Wouldn’t want you twisting your wrist and missing your deadline. Then, you really would be useless!”

Her friends snickered.

You stood, brushing your hands together.

“Almost as useless as you, if people like me didn’t write your lines.” You snapped. 

She rolled her eyes.

“Yes, yes. You are oh-so important. Ever waiting in the wings; ever a name in small print under mine.”

They walked away, leaving you and the pile of books.

“I don’t want to be bigger than you.” you grumbled, bending over and picking them up one by one. “I don’t need applause to feel worth something.” 

It did hurt, constantly being overlooked for someone who spoke words that weren’t even theirs. However, fate would have it that you weren’t made for center stage. You were made to be the genius behind it all.

You made your way back to the boarding house to drop off your things. You opened the door with your key and entered.

Ms. Maddie came over to you discreetly.

“There’s a blonde boy named Freminet come to see you.” she paused. “He's a little the worse for wear. I sent him to your room, I guessed you’d be coming home soon.”

“I’ll go up to him straight away then, thank you for not sending him away.” you nodded in gratitude.

She patted your shoulder as you walked away.

“I have a feeling he needs someone like you.” she remarked.

You stopped for a moment and gave her a little smile.

“I think so too.”

+

When you entered your room, Freminet was not immediately present. You saw his hat and diving gear sitting on your desk, his boots by the door.

You laid your book satchel beside them and slowly perused the room.

Then you heard the sound of the sink running in your dinky bathroom.

You stood before the door and knocked on it.

“Is that you, Freminet?” you asked.

The door unlocked and the knob twisted.

“Yeah. Sorry for coming unannounced.” a quiet voice replied through the crack.

“No matter, you’re always welcome here. Can I come in? Ms. Maddie said she thought something might have happened to you.”

Freminet opened the door wider.

He had a large bruise spanning his cheek and jaw, and some small cuts all over his face, neck, and legs. You noted a small towel, blotted with blood, on the bathroom counter. His eyes were full of shame and discomfort.

Your face immediately softened. You stepped forward, cupping his cheek and examining the cuts.

“Oh, you poor thing. What got you?” you gently graced a finger over one, causing him to flinch nonetheless.

“A-A dendro samachurl. The thorns-” he sighed in resignation.

You resisted the urge to pull him to your chest and say comforting things.

“They can be nasty.” you opened the cabinet and took out a box of small, round adhesive bandages, a few cotton swabs, and a bottle of disinfectant.

He watched patiently, knowing you would fuss over him in due time.

You opened the box and took out a handful of paper-wrapped bandages. He hopped up on the counter and you began disinfecting and dabbing at the scratches, covering each one with a tiny bandage. 

He didn’t say a word, as if deep down he felt like he should have been chastised rather than mended.

“The bruises are from when the vines hit you, aren’t they? You got battered pretty good then, if that's the case.” you said, attempting to make conversation.

“Yeah…” Freminet swung his dangling feet, drumming against the cabinet below; an action fueled by anxiousness.

“Ms. Maddie has some ice, we can wrap it in a damp towel.” you suggested, working on his legs next.

Freminet lifted his hand and ran it over the patches on his face. He tried to be aloof about his shyness, as your fingers pressed the sticky bandages to his thighs, calves and knees.

“That would be nice.” he mumbled.

“And you can stay here until you’re ready to go back to the House of the Hearth.” you put forth. “I’ll stay with you. I didn’t have plans anyways.”

He had told you the truth about the Hotel Bouffes d'ete a few months ago, after questioning why Lyney and Lynette still lived in their orphanage when they were clearly old enough to be on their own.

It bothered you a little when he talked of Arlecchino’s cold disposition, but Freminet admired her so that you couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude towards her for protecting him.

More importantly, you knew Freminet didn’t like going home immediately after getting hurt.

“I’ll stick with you then.” Freminet announced. “I don’t want to go back yet. I’d like to ice my jaw.”

You nodded, lifting his leg to see if there were cuts on the underside. He turned his head away, biting the inside of his cheek. He most certainly was not used to being touched like that.

The scratches on the back were mostly pink and puffy, nothing in need of covering. You dabbed at them with the disinfectant, the alcohol cool against his skin. He flinched a little at the sudden sensation on his warm skin.

You promptly become aware of his flesh in your hands. It was pale and smooth, with a slight dusting of freckles on the outer-upper part that disappeared under his shorts. Of course, there were fine hairs too, that felt downy and soft.

As you finished inspecting and addressing the cuts on his legs, you found yourself clearing your throat and shutting your eyes. You shoved some extra bandages in the box and shelved your medical items.

Freminet was practically boiling over. His eyes locked on the rings of the bath curtain, literally anywhere except you.

“Shall I go get the ice?” you suggested.

“Mhm.” 

“Alright, I’ll be back. Don’t go anywhere!” you said with a slight laugh.

Freminet hopped off the counter, grabbed something off a rack, and followed you out of the bathroom.

“You’re forgetting the towel!” he thrust it into your arms.

“Oh, right! Silly me.” I couldn’t even think straight. 

Freminet didn’t even look at you, he turned and made his way to the window, leaning on the edge of your bed.

He’s been through so much. What does he think of when he’s alone?

You gave him a glance before leaving the room.

After you had gone, Freminet took a moment to look around. 

The sheets were pulled up neatly, but it was clear from the imprint that you slept on top of them under a mountain of blankets.

The desk and nightstands were practically smothered in documents; both for school and your work.

He found a small pile of interesting rocks and took a few in his palm for closer inspection. He then realized they weren’t just any rocks, they were the rocks he had handed to you on your last beach day. Sitting right beside your picture frames and favorite books. You had made them seem important.

Freminet set them down next to his own picture with a little clattering sound. You had decorated the frame as well with little seashells.

I’m important to you. 

He smiled at the collection of “Freminet” items.

You came back into the room, icey towel in hand.

“Here you go!” you beckoned him over.

He pretended like he was looking at the documents and not at your personal trinkets.

You placed the ice against his cheek. He squinted his eyes, adjusting to the cold.

He reached up to hold the ice, but his hand met yours by accident. He jerked it back down to his side.

You chuckled.

“Here-” you took his wrist and brought his hand back up to hold it.

He looked down at the floor, his round cheek a little squished as he pressed it to his jaw.

“Thank you. For helping me time after time.” 

You reached over and twirled a strand of his hair around your finger before ruffling it.

“I care for you. More than you know.”

Freminet thought back to the pebbles you had saved.

He couldn’t help but blush.

“I-I know. I know you care. A lot.”

You placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Good! I hope I make it obvious.” 

He giggled faintly before furrowing his brow.

“I need to sit down.” he whispered.

“Oh! Alright. Is your head ok? You must have gotten seriously whacked!” you sat beside him on your ottoman.

He nodded.

“It’ll be fine, I just need some time.”

“Ok. Feel free to lay down and rest if you need it.” you wrapped your arms around him. “I’m just glad you’re home and safe with me.”

Home?

Freminet swallowed, giving you his little squeeze back.

Home… I guess home can be with you. Just for today.

+

Freminet left two hours later. He had taken a little nap in your bed about half an hour ago. He was absolutely adorable, all snuggled with your pillows. You had to “awww” just a little, you couldn’t stop yourself.

When he awoke, it was around dinner time. You retrieved two servings of ragout from Ms. Maddie and ate with him.

Eventually, the swelling had gone down and he decided to head back to the orphanage.

“Keep icing it tonight, ok?”

“Yes.”

“And take the bandages off before bed so they can breathe.”

“Yes, Y/N.”

“And tell Lyney and Lynette I said ‘good evening’.”

“Understood.”

“Oh, don’t talk to me like I gave you an order-”

You hugged him.

“I hope you have a good night.” you said, muffled by his jacket.

“Thank you for everything. For all you do for me.” he whispered.

“It’s my pleasure, I’ll do everything I can to see you get better.” I love you.

Freminet sighed contentedly.

“Bye, Y/N.”

“Bye bye.”

After he was gone, you flopped on your bed and laughed your ass off.

He’s so precious. Alright, Y/N! Focus! This has to be the sweetest confession in the history of love!

You sat up with utter determination.

The time was now!

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

pookie saga continues…

I will be back.

yall ate the first part up 😊 many thanks for thee reads

Birthday Intermission:

[anotheraccountonthisapp]

What TMA characters do you think would be as an animal? Here's a few of mine! Only just started S4 BTW so opinions may change. Also some of these I based of what the animal represents or their tendencies.

Jon - Moth vibes, dragon fly, fox, panther

Martin - maybe a fox due to appearances. Possibly Cow. Golden retriever personality S1, ooh or an Ainu maybe an artic wolf? Maybe a bear?

Tim - ferret, racoon, lizard, cool animals

Sasha - Mimic Octopus and blue jay for reasons... But yea maybe something mousey or like an owl especially for s1?

Melanie - Pygmy Goat, ram idk she just kinda guves that vibe. Like look at them and then look at her. Same thing.

Basira - crow/raven aka a corvid bcs she's smart

Daisy - wolf, Black-footed cat, other types of hunters

Elias - snake (obvi), jackal, eagle, owl, agree with the horned owl

Peter Lukas - polar bear agree with that, squid/octopus, Kelpie (not real but oh well)

Mike - birds. Idk which just birds. Preferably blue or white. Maybe the Impundulu or Alpine Chough. A goat/ram bcs thunder. Marten. Snow lepord

Michael - Adax, box jellyfish, sea slug, lilac breasted roller

Helen - butterfly, Livingstone's Cichlids, Orchid mantis

Georgie - fluffy cat! Bat, raven, Moth, black swan

Gerry - axolotl, bearded dragon, bat, again cool animals

Trevor - bear, wolf, hawk

Julia - hare, black ram, wolf

Nikola - coyote, cuttlefish, Angler Fish, vampire squid and yknow what screaching owl

Breekon & Hope - margay, rams, bulls, parrot, gorrila, tiger

Danny (Stoker) - honey badger

Any other ideas? Even if it's just one or two give it a whirl ❤️

[the-wolfbats]

Thoughts on The Rogue Crew (22/22)

Last one! and this is so disappointing because YOU COULD TELL REDWALL WAS GOING TO ENTER A NEW ERA WITH THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT has a lot of good setup (see the last bullet point) AND IS VERY ENJOYABLE!

There's a bit more of a Corsair culture here, maybe it evolved from the last time we saw vermin “from the warm seas to the south”

There's more mentions of vermin parents saying to not become well vermin. There may be an unknown land where rats, stoats, ferrets, weasels, and foxes aren't Designed Evil and simply exist as beings with various moralities. Too bad you're in Mossflower now. 

They also grieve their friend. Actually, the camraderie between corsairs is something that's been an undercurrent in this entire series that I enjoy.

It had to happen again one day, two characters with the same name (Ruggan). 

There's been some nasty kills and events in this series, but somehow cooking a pike that ate your friend and seeing bits of them in the fish as you're presumably gutting and cleaning it, takes the proverbial cake. 

We also went from “ooh the villain accidentally dies” to”this grieving sibling decapitated a fox and may have hacked up the body and flung the rope like remains into the trees”

There's more communities than simply Redwall or Salamandastron, which is so great to see. Actual individuals living alone, the vermin being a little smarter and craftier than just kill and murder, it's really a refreshing change. 

I feel this was the beginning of a new era of Redwall, and I guess it was, just not in the way any of us wanted. 

This may have been the beginning of technological growth in this series even if it starts out as simply effective as “put wheels on a ship”. 

I like how Uggo doesn't really improve by leaps and bounds. That's more realistic. 

Between that and what we know about 23, (wait a cartographer hare and knowing the Rogue Crew is essentially the navy? 23 may have been the first direct sequel in decades!)   wow we really lost a lot of potential 😞

I'm sad again. Man. I would have never stopped reading this series as long as it kept going. My heart is broken all over again.

[kumeko]

A/N: For the Midsummer Lie’s Dream zine! Oberon just makes me so sad, I want him to find his Titania one day. I’m sure she exists, somewhere, somewhen.

…

…

…

…

Laughter filled the open plains.

That in itself wasn’t an unusual sound, especially not for Oberon. In his months in this Lostbelt, laughter was the sound that greeted him the most. That and clamoring cries for him to pay his bills, whether it be in a tall tale, a whimsical ditty, or in actual money. A smile and joke was often all he needed to squeeze his way out of those situations.

No, what was unusual was hearing it on the road. Or even actually being on the road, for that matter. Oberon rarely took his time travelling between cities and even then, he never had a travelling companion. Now, though, he was inundated with them. Leaning against the carriage, he idly scanned the open field in front of him. Gareth and Red Hare chatted eagerly about the best restaurants. Muramasa and Da Vinci teased Artoria. Blanca rested for once, taking a break between the errands he tasked her with. A wind blew through long grasses, rippling through them like the sea. There were no Mors, no other Fae, just several ‘friends’ scattered about as though they were out on a picnic and not fulfilling a prophecy.

Months ago, he couldn’t have imagined this scene at all. His trips had been merely a means to an end. They still were, but now they were filled with diversions and pit stops. Trips that would take an hour at most were now days of winding roads. What a ridiculously ordinary, fluffy trip.

It repulsed him.

“What are you thinking of?” Ritsuka asked, popping out of nowhere. For a human, she was oddly quiet, her footsteps light and breathing shallow. Perhaps it was all of her time spent fighting battle after battle, sneaking from one danger to the next. It was a matter of survival that she could hide her presence, at least long enough until she could summon protection.

Oberon plastered a smile out of habit. He couldn’t let his guard down just yet. “Just how ordinary this is. I didn’t think I’d get to travel around with everyone. It’s a lot more fun than I expected.”

Ritsuka studied him, her eyes sharp, her expression unreadable. There were times when he wondered if she could see right through him, if the betrayals and twists she’d witnessed had given her a sixth sense for it. If maybe the wars she’d fought had aged her well beyond her years. But then, just as quickly, she turned away and leaned against the carriage next to him. “I wonder why you got here so early. Tristan appeared when we did.”

“Me too,” Oberon sang, relaxing slightly. It had all been in his imagination. How could she see through him, when all of the Fae here couldn’t? He raised both his hands as though he were balancing an imaginary scale. “Maybe that’s the difference between a knight and a prince? But that gave me time to set everything up.”

“Thanks for that.” Ritsuka smiled appreciatively. She looked worn, no doubt a little depleted from a recent skirmish. Her energy hadn’t yet recharged from her latest summoning. Pushing back a stray red lock, her expression turned wry. “Though…did you really have to rack up all those bills? You don’t even need to eat.”

“It’s fun! They keep coming up with new creations, how can I say no? And it’s not that much,” Oberon denied half-heartedly. It had been all too easy to swindle others. A little smile, a little song, and they all ate out of his hand. Even animals had a better sense of wariness. “Besides, what’s a little debt between friends?”

“I don’t think that constitutes as a little,” Ritsuka replied dryly. Despite her words, she chuckled, her eyes full of mirth. “I’m amazed they still let you in. I think we could buy a country with how much you owe.”

“It’s not like they can deny my face. And I am a prince, even if only in name.” Oberon chuckled and shrugged, dismissing the problem. If things continued as planned, it wouldn’t be long before the whole point became moot. “It’s fine, we’re saving everyone, right? What’s a little money compared to that?”

Ritsuka flinched. She stared at the ground, biting her lip as she scuffed the dirt. “Saving everyone…”

Was that guilt he detected? Oberon repressed a dark smirk. Just how far should he push that feeling? Just how deep should he twist that knife? It was far too late to feel that now, after pruning five possibilities. Ritsuka couldn’t turn back now, and even if she could, Oberon wouldn’t let her. He’d far prefer to let her feelings fester, to have them deepen and darken until they consumed her. Until her appearance matched her deeds.

Yet, he was Oberon right now, and for all of Oberon’s pranks and roguish behaviour, he was not one to let another wallow in guilt.

“You are saving them,” he reminded her gently, resting a hand on her shoulder. Even for a human, she felt small, frail. “Regardless of how it ends, today’s important, right?”

“That…” Ritsuka covered his hand with hers and squeezed it lightly. It didn’t repulse him as much as it should have. “I know. Thanks.”

“Knowing and feeling something are two different things, right? Knowing the truth doesn’t always make it any easier to believe.” Oberon closed his eyes as a light breeze ran through the field, rustling his robes and ruffling his hair. He hadn’t meant to say that. He shouldn’t have said that.

Titania.

Unbidden, he thought of her once more. What a silly, stupid thought. If only he hadn’t ‘settled’ as Oberon. Naked and fractured, he hadn’t thought of anything more than survival when he’d first surfaced in the forest. And now, he was paying for that weakness with a body that swirled with conflicting wishes and thoughts.

He didn’t need any of this.

He wanted it more than anything. A doomsday device shouldn’t have desire, yet it filled him nonetheless.

How troubling.

“Yeah.” Ritsuka looked at him once more, with those perceptive eyes of hers. For a moment, he thought she’d read his mind.

Before she could say anything, he cut in with a teasing smile. It was far too early for him to lose control like this. “Just look at Artoria.” Oberon gestured at the young woman in front of them, her face bright red from either anger or embarrassment. Or both. It was usually both. Especially when she had to deal with Muramasa, who looked like he was setting up a competition. “She really doesn’t seem like the chosen one, does she? She’s not like the Artoria from our world at all.”

Ritsuka laughed. “Yeah, you’re right. Still…” She pursed her lips as she glanced at their companion, her expression softening. Did she see something of herself in the chosen one? They had both been thrust into a task they hadn’t been ready for, with no way out.

“Still?” Oberon prodded, curious despite himself.

“It’s…uh…it’s corny, but they have the same eyes.” She rubbed her neck sheepishly. An embarrassed flush spread across her nose. “They’re…unwavering. She's not confident, but…it’s like when I talked to Artoria Lily. She’s stronger than she realizes. She just needs a push.”

“Ohhh?” Oberon grinned, steering the conversation back to lighter pastures. It seemed his decision for team building exercises was finally paying off. “Looks like someone has a fan. You should tell her that.”

“That…yeah.” Ritsuka looked even more embarrassed at the thought. “I’ll think about that.” She laughed awkwardly. “It’s like Mash all over again.”

He had seen little of Ritsuka’s preferred Servant. “They’re similar?”

“A bit. I had to praise Mash a lot in the beginning too. She never seemed to believe me or herself.” Ritsuka smiled wistfully as she leaned back, staring up at the sky. “I hope we find her soon.”

“We will.” Oberon tapped Ritsuka’s hand, the master’s seals impossible to miss on her pale skin. “You’re still connected to her, right? And we’ve got everyone searching.”

Softly, she mumbled, “Yeah.”

There was something nostalgic about her expression. Oberon couldn’t quite place where he’d seen it before. It was the most vulnerable he’d seen her.

Ritsuka didn’t look at him as she added, “And you too.”

That caught him off guard. Puzzled, he pointed at himself. “Me?”

Now she turned to him, her gaze thoughtful. “Titania. I’m sure we’ll find her one day.”

Oberon didn’t know what to say to that, whether he should fake a laugh or look appreciative. He should never have let that slip earlier.

Ritsuka didn’t comment on his silence. She clasped her hands in front of her. “There are other servants like that. Nursery Rhyme. Jeanne d’Arc Alter. They didn’t really exist but they also do. It happens sometimes.”

He didn’t need to be a mind reader to guess where this was going. Oberon forced a smile. “If we’re lucky.”

“Well, I think I’ve got that covered.” Ristuka chuckled sardonically. “I mean, all of this is happening, but I made it pretty far. And in one piece. You never know; she might appear one day.”

“I…” It was strange. Ritsuka was consoling him. Oberon had never been consoled before. He had never needed to be consoled either. Even now, he didn’t need to hear those words. Even now, there was something about the whole idea that made his skin crawl.

Yet, hope bloomed within him nonetheless.

It unnerved him. Maybe this was one of her abilities as a Master. Maybe this was the ‘Oberon’ within him. He should have cut this part of himself out long ago.

Ritsuka grasped his hand comfortingly. “You’ll find her. I’m sure of it.”

“Yeah.” He forced himself to stay still, fighting down the urge to recoil. They’d been in this discussion for too long; he needed to change the subject before they delved any deeper. Ritsuka was perceptive in the worst of ways and he didn’t need any more interferences with his plans.

Fortunately, there was an easy target in front of him. Oberon gestured in front of him, at Artoria as she started to swing her wand around like it was a sword. Muramasa drew his sword in response. “Who do you think will win?”

“Is that even a question?” Ristuka laughed before paling. “Wait, do you think he can cut through the Staff of Selection?”

That was a question that had never crossed his mind. Oberon stared blankly at the duel in front of him. “It’s magic.”

“That…hasn’t stopped this before.” Ritsuka jerked away from the carriage and took off like a bullet. “Wait, Artoria!”

Oberon snorted. Somehow, the scene in front of him had become even more ridiculous. Everything to do with Chaldea, with Ritsuka and her entourage, had a way of breaking his expectations in the best ways. Now there was a three-way duel, with Da Vinci and Red Hare laughing as a panicked Gareth tried to pick a side.

How absurd. How annoying. How pointless.

He couldn’t tear his eyes away. The sound of laughter filled the plains once more. For all that Oberon hated people, he didn’t hate the sound of laughter.

I’m sure she exists.

And for all that Oberon hated everything, he didn’t hate Ritsuka.

[rosehippiefield]

A crt tv sat on the carpeted floor. It was old and square, with all of those weird buttons and little leds.

All that was played on the screen was field covered in snow, but it could also be the tv static. A serene scene, full of nostalgia.

There could be heard a child's giggle. It made the room warm when, behind the windows, a cold winter was raging outside.

She ran, happy, chasing invisible butterflies. Her laugh was like snowdrops, blooming in snow. Her moves were wild like roses, a beautiful sight in forests. Her head full of garden flowers and dreams, stuffed with every thought there is.

The screen showed two hares—it made her stop and think. Hares are beautiful, but hard to catch. Nothing like bunnies she saw on street markets, where animals were in cages, waiting and looking at the free sky.

Hypnotized by colors and soft furs, she touched the screen and felt electricity fly through her. From fingers to head, to heart, to legs. She blinked.

And she was standing in the middle of the field. Green, even if frost was catching edges nearing the forest. The view was beautiful, wrapped up in frozen breaths from her mouth. But she wasn't cold—spring was coming.

Above high, magpies flew past her and their tails almost looked like paintbrushes that paint the sky. Hares circled her, wanting her to catch them. Playful but fast, faster than her legs.

They knew she was smart, they saw the flowers in her eyes. Who knew flowers could shine brighter than stars?

She didn't know if time stopped or if years passed, but the sun was higher and grass grew taller. Petals were scattered with every color she could think of. The wind was warm against her skin.

Hares came and went away to come again. It all felt like seconds.

"Will you stay with us?"

The question was asked once, but with the power of thousands of times. Was it the first one, or did she forget all the other questions?

Did she have a choice? She lost sight of tv and her childhood carpets. But she wanted to stay. And she could choose her ways.

She could pick to become a hare and run in opposite directions. She could pick a magpie and fly on painted skies. She could choose bees or squrrels or even grass or clouds or trees.

But all those colors she could see—purples, greens, browns and blues. It all looked like someone she knew.

Rose—.

She didn't even have time to think and her world began to change. And the world began to hear about a beautiful Rose born from dreams.

A rose, not exactly what she wished for, as nature does things fast and listens later. The only fruits of rose could Rose give now were her thoughts and words of wisdom. Embracing others with a velvet, red cloth—warm and soft in touch.

When Rose asked, people thought hard. When Rose sang, words went across the whole field. Flowers singing, wind spreading wings, animals wanting more. Befriending golden moons, suns, rivers and seas.

Smart and nice, open for starry nights. Sometimes she hid behind her leaves. But she was sweet and had a heart made of gold. Traveling through seasons and fields.

The only rose having rosehips.

(for the description fanfic! I may have bent some things to my liking, but my brain wanted it that way so I went with the flow. It is kinda a prolog to Rose's poem story bc why not :33)

Wow Goldy I'm blown away, this is so beautiful!

This story indeed feels like a metaphorical backstory

I love all the references to our talks (maybe I haven't found all), they are so interwoven into the story it feels natural. The tv of nostalgia, the hares and magpies (I didn't expect them and it made me smile). Dreamy girl that didn't want to leave the mesmerising world of magic, that didn't want to leave the whimsical childhood, and thus became part of that world too... As a rose, of course. I love the way you describe the Rose, I'm honored)

The last paragraphs make me think about being on Tumblr (because where else do I get to be a rose), where I get to post my opinions and befriend Golden Moons. I thought about Tumblr analogy when you wrote poem story (like we're apart but still interacting, creating special atmosphere), and here it feels like a logical conclusion. Even if it's not intentional I like to interpret it that way

Also, I feel like there are references to my fanfic description with brushes of magpies tails (I thought it would be fire lol) and flowers brighter than stars. It's like our stories are interconnected

[lamentingocean]

~Seongtae x Jaha~

-Master Seongtae x Master jaha-

Warning: NSFW (thank me later) a bit of ahem..jacking off, cussing, a bit of sex, pleasing and venting, murder, a bit of comedy, very attractive men going at it. go wild and go crazy.

+Made by your favorite Rotmd blogger-Ocean+

____________________________________________

Jaha. The mad demon. Known to be one of the most dangerous martial artists across the wind of china. known to be ruthless to men that do terrible things without saying a word to the innocent and then just shit on them, expecting the innocent and the poor to eat their shit and then gulp it up like it's 2 day old soup from a dirty pot. jaha is known to have a heart for the innocent and the defenseless. even when they can't wield a blade correctly in battle or engage in hand to hand combat if a gamble has been lost to a fat bastard that takes from the poor and gives to the rich. whatever enemy takes from the poor. jaha will coat his black hare's tooth with their blood. and cut their body up into peices. he wouldn't stand for a man who uses people for no reason. this is just giving an example to the black sea wolves leader. You have commoners at your own living establishment but choose to drown yourself at your own wealth just by these people eating dirt for dinner that has probably been stepped on by dirty shoes. He is such an inspirational man. go from a errand boy.

Serving people their beverages and food to get spoken whatever people want to speak to you as.

To a badass master that doesn't give a flying fuck about fat men towards their women, masters to their town to take from the innocent, to the men that can kill off their own army to take down the main hero. the selfish kind. spread across their blood around the white steps of snow in hopes of getting their mind set right for what they are doing. Their ticket to heaven is revoked.

Their innocence is revoked from the moment they are born into the world of ancient China. you either live to be a normal citizen who is forced to live in a world that can kill you when a fight breaks out between the factions or live as a title to yourself. It's how things work, after all. If society as humans didn't have a formatted system to follow, then it's just pure chaos.

insanity is like an ecosystem. It can spread everywhere across the earth and be the scent of everyone's noses, and then the scent starts to become addictive as if it's being used as a drug. we all live around madness since it's supposed to be referenced as an ecosystem that is manifesting through everyone's minds in this sick reality we live.

jaha looked at his sword, "the black hare's tooth," customized to the leader of the black rabbit clan. that bastard is burning in hell, like william afton paying the price for committing child murder. his eyes scrolled up and down to its further appearance. Getting a kick out of the rabbit bastard's way of weaponry. his hand slowly flinged out his two fingers to caress his clear skin to the body of the sword. trying to see if this weapon is worth fighting off formidable enemies with weapons that are durable, powerful, and sturdy and able to even slice a brick wall in half by just one swing.

A presence swayed right in like a ghost. it's a timid knock. Is it hongshin? Is it the head maid of black rabbit? Who could it be to have a knock so light and so soft to make a door blush. its seongtae cha. a master swordsman and a potentially revoked manager of ilyang prefecture. formidable in wiping ass when he's being commanded to or maybe not. his smile expanded to jaha's glances of disturbance. "Hello jaha. what are you doing here?" jaha's hand flinched to grab the sword to keep his blood pool of eyes raving the details of the sword. "trying to look at my sword. I'm still waiting on my pole that the blacksmith clan is going to promise me in the future. I can predict that the black hare's tooth isn't going to be held in fighting the demonic cult. the number one enemy of murim." The golden artifact defining seongtae's eyes look up to the sword in property of jaha. he's right. Only a weapon he used for a lot of killing can't hold against every faction of murim.

"I see. Hopefully, I will be able to fight alongside you in the future. just in case you will be more a madman than what you are today. while I will be the light demon. it's to compliment your goal into becoming mad demon. while I shine a beam of light to the enemy of the factions. and then will be blinded by my beauty, for I have the power☆" he had a lot of confidence and self-love into speaking that so bluntly to the man that threw a glass across his face. jaha's voice snickered in comparison to his serious act to blind the enemies with his utmost beauty.

"Hopefully, they won't die of ugliness or have the overbearing weight of being gay." his breath trickled, turn shackled to his claim as his head almost went lollipop red to his snickering. but that insultive snickering seems like a laughter of enjoyment into teasing the great seongtae cha.

"You asshole. Your hair looks like the long black haired version of Medusa. watch me get stoned by black musk." his head was boiling to jaha openly, starting to lose his footing to the enemy of laughter when his head was turning red and it was boiling hot water just how angry he was. "I'm s-sorry. It's just that you would either say your name multiple times to powerful enemies or glamorize them with your beauty." his head banged itself on the table when his mouth spat out laughter. never had the mad demon be this so full of genuine laughter instead of laughing out of insanity.

"Fine! If you are going to insult me, then I will call arson upon your inn motherfucker. see how that feels." his laughter shut off like a lightswitch. he turned from kind to badass in a second. his glaze shook seongtae's bones to bring up his inn even though it's been burned down two times already. his fingers slipped to the waist of the sword like he's going to stab him at any second. "a-ayo chill, it's a j-joke. don't take it offensively, jaha."

"Take it back right now. don't target my inn." At a full flash of a fire blow out of candle. seongtae's back has been pushed to a wall as he's trapped in a position. he can't move at all. since seongtae's strength is nothing but a polygon to jaha's strength. 1- point for differences. their faces were so close to each other that even their eye colors started to gleam like a sunset. trivial red to red hot pink red (based on jaha's eye color) to seongtae's light gold eyes. his breath exhaled to clear off his attitude to their unexpected closeup. "I don't want to deal with more fuckers that think its ok to burn down my inn just because I was a errand boy. I do not want to deal with that anymore. I got truama, ok?" his head bopped up and down to his share of having truama about his inn. seongtae cha definitely understands him. But it's something about this that makes seongtae want to be close with him.

The crave to want to kiss his lips is rising up on his mind right now. Even jaha was being silent about it if their minds merged within each other. like a cosmic dying star colliding with a new one to regain some life force.

His legs gave it to the floor. but jaha acted quickly, for he grabbed a chunk of his royal silk only to just throw him back to his border of his lips. being so close as to completely emerge himself to his cunning attitude. "You must see that I'm threatening you as the mad demon. we are demons of our own. don't fuck with me seongtae." blinking to pat off some of his anger to him. but he did an action that would leave the great seongtae cha in a state of shock, surprise, and scarce undying lust for the virulent insanity of his general personality, only to be shattered by the definition of normality.

jaha's lips stuck himself against his, overbearing his taste in hopes of charisma sparking in the mind of the plum blossom pavilion manager. seongtae pressed himself on him like a sticker on free wet wood. just slowly pulling his self-worth and love into it as if jaha begged for it to be thrown in the fire. until his mouth begun to do a sound banging in the walls like a cave.

he struck a little moan as he tilted his head down to press his lips onto his more. he pushed his body up to dominate him in such a way that would even make a military brute shit their pants to handle in this. jaha's hand slowly slid down with his finger asserting possession to his skin. "Why is he being like this now?" seongtae thought in his head before he opened his eyes to see such a sight never to be seen in his life.

Only to see jaha completely hot with a shade of dark blush taming the skin of his face down to sit, his hair nearly done as his tie is hanging on for dear life support and his hand wanting to get access to the insides of his pants. and then he did.

sensually sliding his hand down to seongtae cha's short but lustrous cock wanting to crave human touch since he been doing that just now. the golden eyes of seongtae rolled back to his touch and just gave in to the mad demon's sensual unexpected craving. even a little droplet of pre-cum started to leak from its tip. the palm of jaha's hand adjusted to what his pleasure is going to do. jacking him off while his other hand closed up his way to break out of this.

This is a luxury to him. Especially getting jacked off by the same asshole that threw a table full of food at some men and stomped on them out of anger. pampering him with his seductively aggressive mood to his inn and teasing seongtae a bit. Isn't it funny to see such a serious man do this? his breathing turned shaky, his body is shaking too to jaha's sudden rapid hand movement to his sensitive cock. but he continued to kiss him much harder than before to shut up and take the estacy to rise.

That was...quick.

jaha quickly flings out his hand to see a white liquid ooze from the skin of his finger. it coated his hand a bit since it stinks. his fingers played with it to see how much it can be used for delectable things in his order. he discarded himself from their unbearably long make-out session as jaha's hair bounced and flinged back to his longing estacy to seongtae sudden lustful side to the mad demon "fuck me please. I want my self worth to be restored..please fuck me down.'' he glanced at his face like his confidence been bombed into flames but wants to be destroyed in a way that is....way different instead of indulging himself to his own riches to be happy about what he wants. if seongtae wants to be included in something. Then he has to. jaha tore the clothes into pieces.

to see his skim chest and his slim white banshee looking body to scan in the hell that is jaha's eyes. he rose his head down to lay small timid kisses on his abs to mark more of his possession on him. to let his subordinates know that the manager of ilyang is know his property. but he did something else.

he slowly slid his pants down, but as soon as he did that. He shoved him back just so that his face could be in the riverside of the wall and that he's forced to be an obedient pet and raise his ass up. jaha stuck his fat cock out to let its vibrant scent wither his nose to let him know that he's about to give his request granted. The stinky scent of his cum...their make-out session, jaha jacking him off.. this is a paradise to his mind. but he flinched when he felt it arrive to the insides of his anal. He didn't waste no time.

thrusting right in, seongtae's mouth bled moans.

Someone came right in the middle of this.

It's a random assassin with a knife balmed with the name: "Dark faction." On it.

He let go of seongtae in an odd manner when he took one glance at this random bastard that interrupted their time as technically a couple. now he's mad about it enough to have blood gushing through his veins violently. 2-point for pissing me off.

"....what should we do? I knew my sounds were gonna catch the wrong kind of attention." At an action. he flunged a random shattered glass at the guy, and he succeeded in stabbing him in the head. having a sprinkle of blood full in the halls of the golden dragon palace. but he's glad that nobody is in the palace to see this.

"Ah-"

"Jaha. Are you ok?" his chin raised up to jaha's ridiculous handsome face, touching the border of it. "We will deal with this later."

(Here you go, guys. man kinda feels like I got upgraded somehow. (Even though I feel like I'm constantly ignored by people ah-) but hope you enjoy it.)

[antlerhorror]

i'm going to info dump about this and maybe nobody will see it! but this story means so MUCH to me.

imagine you're in the grishaverse okay, you have shadow summoner and sun summoner and holy shit those are teenage criminals that collapse an entire government system because they want money, isn't that incredible? the whole world is a mess, this is true, but what about ... the ocean? who's crossing the seas and making that, too, a laborious task for anyone minding their own business? we already know pirates are a vaugly established group in the universe; everyone insists on calling nikolai one when he presents as sturmond. so where exactly are these pirates?

here enters the ocean's disgrace, a renowned crew of cut throats and criminals who scour the seas for plunder, particularly with the ravkan navy because fuck those guys, am i right? led by imani oakfor, queen of the seas (penned by @riverstyxsarts), this band of pirates is both comic relief when you need it and a look into the lives of characters we don't usually see in the shadow and bone setting. they're different.

imani oakfor, transwoman pirate captain of the ocean's disgrace and renowned for her ferocity and her cruelty ... with enemies, that is.

bones, a disgraced fjerdan who insists he's too old for work and has an infinity for incredibly bad romantic novellas ‐ and he can't even read.

hawk-eye, son of ambassadors turned pirate and imani's lover. once thought to be dead for years, he now makes it a point to be a cocky bastard.

kenji yào, autistic map-maker and bathtime extraordinaire. he's a squaller who's afraid of birds - no, seriously, he is. petrified of them, really. currently dating hare and another member of the crew.

hare hamilton, the quickest thief on the seas. just a young boy from the wandering isles who made due to survive and got a mother figure out of it somehow; imani might as well be his mom for how well he treats him.

fleur meijer, a runaway from the navy after she realized just how bigoted those assholes are. certified woman lover with a heart of gold and courage like no other.

and so many more characters. you don't quite understand how honored i am to write a story with someone so so talented and make entire worlds out of something that im passionate about. these guys invade my brain more than the canon cast of shadow and bone do! i know this was a bit of a doozy but let me know if you want to know more. it's my special interest at this point <3

[heirbane]

Stjarna wants to know, and of course, with honesty, how it felt to crawl out of the Praetorium, barely alive, what kept Gaius alive in those moments.

It is not something he consciously remembers. Like a word out of a reach, a thought once recalled but unavailable, the aftermath of his fall from grace exists - but not for him.

Valdeaulin does. It is the Duskwight's recollection that Gaius has memorized: the image of a corpse shambling from the rubble, helm shattered, body contorted in such a way that he believes the man to be but a twisted flame. But he lived, carrying himself on his own two feet.

Gaius van Baelsar hadn't died when Agrius fell; but to most, he did die in Praetorium.

The men scarcely had escaped the fire when the Legatus collapsed. Valdeaulin attempted to drag the man away from the rubble, but found the armored bastard to be too heavy for him alone: and there were too many around, clinging to life themselves. He would not rely on their dying delirium. If any of Gaius' soldiers caught him with their officer, Valdeaulin feared he would be followed and killed, too.

He ripped off layers of metal, hot and smoking. Gauntlets, their magitek communicators shattered, were thrown into the abyssal chasm left behind by Ultima. There was little left in terms of under armor on Gaius: the flames of death had burned so fiercely that it melted most of the ceruleum polymer.

By the time Gaius was in a state that could be removed from resting place of their soldiers, Valdeaulin had, well and truly, believed him to be dead. The corpse would still be a trophy the Garleans would search for, and the Duskwight had nothing to lose. If he could not have the man's life, he thought, his head was a suitable alternative.

Gaius' first waking memory was of a shack outside of Thanalan. The smell of sick and sweat had bile in his throat. For but a moment, he thought he had awoken alone, the early morning still quiet and calm.

The false hope did not last long. He heard whispering pleads, a hissed order, and then traction on his leg. No alchemical concoctions would have silenced the sound that burst forth from his lungs, ragged and burning from smoke inhalation, before he returned to his fitful haze of being.

Valdeaulin never told him who he had threatened. He never shared who the medics were that came and went, supplementing the Gridanian's own conjury, or if they had been alive to go at all: but the elezen was not the only one tending to him, that much was certain.

Maybe his suffering - those gasping, conscious moments when he awoke in agony, when bone was set and burns re-dressed - was deserved. Maybe this was to be his lot in life. He had spat upon Hydaelyn for over half a century: to be greeted by a roiling, furious mockery of the aetherial sea would be suitable for him. He would drown in the water just as he had suffocated in the flames, never greeting death and being allowed to slip under the tide.

But those blinks became more. He would surface, the sound of his own voice foreign and wrong. He would hear Valdeaulin's pacing, his mumbling. He would feel the sting of a blade upon his skin, the pinprick promise that he lived yet.

And, eventually, he would muddle his way to his thoughts. If he had died, he thought, his savior would not be afoot. If he had died, he would no longer feel the throb of broken bone nor the horrific itch of new skin.

Death was peaceful. Living was not. And so he had to still be alive, grasping at the edges of existence between one potion and the next.

Valdeaulin would state it took the fallen hero nigh two full moons to even begin to return. Gaius felt as if it took autumn and winter and further before his body felt livable and consciousness as if it were not a damnation.

(Valdeaulin had doubted he remembered any of it, he would say, until the night he roasted a hare, the smoke curling into their cabin, the smell of melting flesh and heated entrails enough to have Gaius finally - finally - on his feet, upheaving in a sound half-sob and half-fury.

He did remember.)

[moonybadger]

Trying to make a compilation of “good” vermin characters in Redwall, since I feel like the books get a little generalized in the idea that they’re always “all vermin are bad, all woodlanders are good” all the time. It is MOST of the time, but not as often as people say! Let me know if I forgot any, there’s a few of the later books that my memory is a little foggy on and I haven’t read Doomwyte or The Rouge Crew yet so I might have missed some characters from there.

Redwall - Squire Julian and Captain Snow (Captain Snow needs to be convinced, but still that’s better then most antagonists)

Mossflower - Gingivere and Sandingomm, old unnamed rat living alone on the beach (he was killed by seagulls and found by Martin and co), arguably Ashleg too, since he scarpered before the final fight and dreamed of living someplace peaceful. I think there’s also an argument for Verdauga, since even though he’s a conqueror he’s shown in a more positive light then Tsarmania, and Argular who seems like a neutral party at best but not actively malicious.

Martin the Warrior - maybe Wulpp? He gets spared by Brome

The Bellmaker - the LEGENDARY and beloved Blaggut

Outcast of Redwall - Bluefen obviously, but I guess we can include Veil in this (even though I really hate how his character was handled) Arguably the flock of crows attacking Swartt’s army as well, since they were doing it in revenge for their leader’s mother being killed.

Pearls of Lutra - Romsca, another legendary example. Graylunk as well; when he fled to Redwall he became good friends with Fermald the squirrel and trusted the pearls to her when he realized he was dying. I would also put forth an argument for Barranca (Romsca’s captain), since he seemed more interested in overthrowing Ublaz Mad Eyes to avenge his brother and because Ublaz was a dangerous, untrustworthy ruler rather then for a selfish desire for power.

The Long Patrol - I would say the two doofy foot soldiers Lousewort and Sneezewort, since they spend the whole book in over their head, don’t really hurt anyone, and then skedaddle before the final fight. 

Marlfox - the water rat soldiers of the Marlfoxes seem eager to throw their weapons into the lake and give up their lives as soldiers. It’s implied that though some of them relished the power they had in the army, most of them were there against their will.

Lord Brocktree - Groddil is a little ambiguous, but the book absolutely supports his vengeance for his family and bodily injuries when he pushes Ungatt Trunn out to sea.

 Taggerung - Sawney Rath is a REALLY fascinating character, who is a good if ruthless leader who genuinely cares for Tagg as a baby. He’s definitely a villain, with him ordering the death of Rillflag and Tagg’s kidnapping, but he has enough moments of genuine love for the kid that he becomes very engaging. The biggest injustice this book did was killing him off so soon, when they could have REALLY explored the depths of his and Tagg’s weird fucked up relationship.

Triss - Plugg Firetail and the crew of the Seascab. Again, not really GOOD per say, but Plugg was unusual in that he and his crew actively cared about each other and his crewmates were devastated when he was killed.

Loamhedge - Flinky and Crinktail are vermin mates who actually love each other! Flinky also ends up leading his group to a good location where they settle down permanently are implied to never resort to their previous bad ways again.

Rakkety Tam - We don’t know much about Askor, but he definitely is a far cry from the monster that is his brother. He comes off more as proud in the one scene we have of him, but not actively cruel. Same with their father, Dramz.

High Rhulian - while it’s definitely a stretch to call Lady Kaltag sympathetic (since she’s the queen of an island of slaves and all) her grief over the death of her son feels very real and visceral, as does her fall into madness over it; Especially when contrasted to the hare Cuthburt’s similar reaction to the death of his own daughter. And Jeefra is just so pathetic and his death is so brutal that it’s hard not to feel a little sorry for him.

The Sable Quean - Gliv and Lugg also aren’t really good people, but they fall into a similar category as Flinky and Crinktail, in that they’re mated vermin who actually love each other.

And just for fun, here’s some “bad” (or morally ambiguous) woodlander characters:

Mattimeo - Skan the shrew and his friends (abandoned the Guoism shrews to try and help Slagar, but he just made them slaves)

Mariel of Redwall - Pakatugg is pretty self interested for most of the book and pretty mean to Mariel, until his final stand with the Salamandastron hares at the end.

Salamandastron - Arguably Wild King MacPhearsome, just because it’s presented as a possibility that he’d kill Thugg and Dumble when they first hear about him

Martin the Warrior - FULL OF ‘EM TBH; we got the Pygmy Shrews (they keep slaves of their own and only free Martin and his friends because they saved the leader’s annoying son), the pack of murderous squirrels that make a game out of attacking people, the family of stuffy rabbits who try to scare travelers because they’re snobs, and the hedgehog who poisons people eating his cherries. And of course Druwp the bankvole slave who sells out the other slaves in exchange for food and luxuries. 

The Long Patrol - interestingly I would argue that The Long Patrol itself is shown in a pretty morally ambiguous light in this book; Cregga’s battlelust is feared even by her hares and her mad charge after the Rabscallions is disapproved of by many of her officers. The price they all pay for the battle is very high, with the death of several major characters and Cregga being blinded. Russa even tells Tammo on her deathbed that it’s alright if he doesn’t join the Long Patrol, because he isn’t battle hardened and harsh like them. Tammo is an interesting contrast to the Long Patrol hares, because he’s easily one of the most sensitive warrior main characters in the series and there’s an indication that both he and Russano change Salamandastron to be less warlike and more peaceful when they return there. 

Marlfox - Fenno the shrew, who kills Log-a-log, and the Gray One, a sly water vole who takes over Burble’s tribe and plans to steal the green stick from Song.

The Legend of Luke - Folgrim ate people

Lord Brocktree - while they are ultimately a force for good, I like how morally ambiguous Jukka was and how she and Fleetscut clashed over their ideals so often. Also Bucko is practically an antagonist until Dotti wins their competition.

Taggerung - Even though we never see him in person (alive), Nimbalo’s father is actively abusive, to the point where he’s driven both his wife and son away. Nimbalo does end up avenging him anyway though

Rakkety Tam - The Squirrel King and Queen are really not shown in a good light at alllll

Eulalia! - Orkwil Prink is a little shit hedgehog who gets banished from the Abbey for a season for stealing constantly. I remember finding him pretty unlikable, but in hindsight he does feel like a redo of Veil’s character if Veil actually learned any lessons (like Veil who was the son of a warlord, Orkwil was the son of thieves who abandoned him as a child)

[hareofhrair]

you can either answer this in charecter or not

boom, you wake up one day on a sandy ass bitch ala castaway, before you can start doing what the british assumed to be inevitable and start worshiping a pigs head you found, you see a god damn sea gull in a lil hat with a newspaper and map! oh shit, you just got fucking isekaied to the one peice world!

the question here is this: what do you do?

what devil fruit would you go for?

would you be a pirate or join the marines? hell, maybe even go and be a fucking revolutionary?

feel free to make any assumptions you want about your circumstances.

"Well, lets go ahead and assume the island I landed on is some kinda devil fruit orchard with every available kind growin, and someone's even labeled em all helpful like so I can peruse and choose one at my leisure. Because let's be honest, otherwise I'm just eatin tha first fruit I run across, I ain't that picky. But assumin it was actually convenient ta have a choice... I'd choose the Mythological Zoan fruit Usa Usa no Mi model Jade Hare. Which is one that hasn't been discovered yet on account of it's new. The old man that grows the devil fruits on this orchard island was experimentin or somethin. It turns me into a rabbit person, makes me fast as lightenin' with legs that can jump straight to tha moon. It also gives me tha ability ta harmlessly break off parts of my body and turn em into food and they'll just grow back after a lil while. And probably some other neat things I figure out later, on account of it's a god fruit after all. If I can choose any fruit, why not go for the best?

As for what I'd do after I eat the fruit, well, I aint interested in bein a pirate. Treasure's nice but I don't care fer fightin. I'd prolly just wander around gettin inta trouble and stealin stuff, havin adventures and such like. Playin music, maybe do a little smugglin. Basically what I do already, cept I'd be even harder ta catch and I'd never have ta pass by anyone hungry without offerin em somethin'.

Check out my one piece 'sona."

[dansnaturepictures]

Our Scotland trip 2024

Over the past week we have been on a wild adventure in Scotland, independently (rather then on an organised tour this time) we visited locations in the Cairngorms where we were based, wider Highlands and Moray to look for wildlife and we managed to cover many places and see so much incredible wildlife which was thrilling and fantastic. 

Alongside all the big wild locations visited we need to look no further than the cottage we stayed in near Duthil near Carr Bridge for exciting wildlife experiences on many occasions, set in gorgeous countryside with a view over a vast area including the impressive Cairn Gorm range and some lovely wetland and pine woodland nearby, we saw so much wildlife. Singing Willow Warblers, a sensation of the holiday it’s amazing to think the one I saw as soon as we arrived was my first of the year given how many we’ve seen and heard this week, and charming Brown Hares getting some of my closest ever views of them were a constant. Curlew, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Teal, Rook, Buzzard, Chaffinch, Skylark, beautiful Yellowhammer, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasants, amazing scenes of Pink-footed flying over a valuable chance for us to see them this year, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies, Cuckoo heard, Roe Deers, Crossbill and oil beetle in the woodland and only my second ever Stoat were some of the other amazing species seen with many seen whilst having breakfast. 

After enjoying the quirky sight of Oystercatchers (what would go onto be a star of the trip) on a roadside verge by the hotel we stayed in near Preston to break up the outward journey and Blackcap at Ralia services on the way, Sunday arrived and it was time to explore. We firstly headed to the first of many amazing locations we had visited on our past birding tours with Heatherlea in 2018 and 2023, a location with top views of an Osprey nest which is always a breathtaking sight. Then onto Laggan Dam where I’m thrilled that we picked out two stunning summer plumage Black-throated Divers in the beautiful setting of Loch Laggan and the mountains. With rain really set in we headed for Lochindorb securing our first views of Red Grouse this week a key species of the area that we don’t get at home and my first Common Sandpipers of the year. Monday arrived and we went to Strathdearn to search for eagles, finding at least one and maybe two gigantic White-tailed Eagles. In this stunning mountainous landscape along the Findhorn River it was also great to see many Common Sandpipers, Goosander and Wheatear. Later in the day we headed for Chanonry Point where my first Kittiwakes of the year, Gannet and Razorbill were waiting. On the way and way back so far north it was brilliant to see my first Hooded Crows of the trip another novelty to us not resident at home. 

We headed for the Moray coast on Tuesday and were spoilt at Spey Bay with exhilarating moments watching Bottlenose Dolphins, as we saw here last year Ospreys fishing in the river, Red-throated Divers including one in exquisite summer plumage, Common Scoters, a distant Puffin out to sea and thanks to some of many kind like minded people we met on the trip giving us invaluable advice and information on species and locations a lovely White Wagtail. It was then onto RSPB Loch Spynie when as happened last year here we spotted a Tree Sparrow a very valuable species to us alongside Yellowhammer and Brambling. Later that day we were treated to more sensational views of fishing Ospreys over the river at Lossiemouth East Beach a personal favourite location of the Heatherlea trips we’ve done and the gorgeous sight of my first Little Ringed Plover of the year as well as more Gannets. Lovely headland at Burghead beckoned before we headed back to the Cairngorms and on a beautiful sunny spring evening it was great to see Long-tailed Duck, more Gannets, Guillemot, Wheatear and the amazing sight of hundreds of pretty Knots huddled on a rock. 

Wednesday brought an early start to see Black Grouse at a lek site that another kind person we met on Monday recommended and it was a pleasure to see these birds evocative of open spaces, before getting astonishing views of Dippers one of my favourite birds that I love seeing at Nethy Bridge in bright sunshine. We then headed for RSPB Loch Garten where just a day before a dramatic nest takeover it was special to see the Ospreys on the nest and the site where Ospreys first nested here. Without that iconic pair from the Scandinavian population settling here and the amazing work of the RSPB to protect the nest Ospreys might not be so successful now across Scotland as we’ve seen this week but also across the whole of the UK with Loch Garten paving the way for the reintroduction programmes elsewhere such as Poole Harbour and especially Rutland Water that has given me so many amazing opportunities to see this bird that I love so much and have such a special bond with over the years. Also standing out that day was precious time hearing Crested Tit and Cuckoo, and seeing Goldeneye, some of many Common Sandpipers this week and Redstart. Next was a stop at Dell Woods where it was nice to see a Red Kite. We ended the day via another look at the Black Grouse spot and seeing them again revisiting Lochindorb to take in the nice views of the castle in clearer weather and we had some of the most magical and intimate wildlife encounters of the trip. Firstly we saw Common Sandpiper and Oystercatcher right at the edge of the loch from the car, then a phenomenal moment as an excellent and dashing Black-throated Diver surfaced right near to us in the car and we were all spellbound watching it and it’s partner getting fabulous views of them. The best views I’d ever got of a rarity in home areas and a species I only saw for the first time in 2020, simply one of my best ever wildlife watching moments. The icing on the cake was a similarly stunning intimate and prolonged encounter with a ravishing Red Grouse by the roadside which was an honour. 

Thursday saw our return to Strathdearn when alongside White-tailed Eagle again we achieved a massive trip aim of seeing a Golden Eagle. What a bird, the icon on wilderness. Possibly seeing a Goshawk too, some of the many Buzzards seen on the trip, my first Red Deers of the year and as we took an exciting walk up a mountainous track at Coignafearn a brief view of a Mountain Hare with only a bit of it’s winter white left another iconic species of the area were other highlights with Cuckoo heard. That day on a fine afternoon/evening we moved onto the beautiful RSPB Loch Ruthven. The summer plumage theme of the trip continued here as we were in awe of four summer plumage Slavonian Grebes. A bird we usually see in winter in Hampshire as with last year here it was a magnificent novelty to see them in their summer finery in their breeding grounds. Little Grebe, the serenading song of Willow Warbler and call of Cuckoo and another Osprey seen were also highlights here. Another magical encounter on a sunny morning awaited on a revisit to Dell Woods on Friday when we saw a glorious Red Squirrel, another heartfelt mammal encounter this week. Jay and Willow Warbler were good to see here too before seeing a Dipper at Nethy Bridge passing through again this time seeing their nest on the bridge. Another mountain walk followed that afternoon as like last year we drove up Cairn Gorm and walked a little way. It was breathtaking to take in the beautiful views in the sun and perseverance paid off as we just got a view of a Ring Ouzel late on, a fine final addition to my bird year list of the week which soared to end the holiday on 183 after ticking nineteen species for 2024. Top views of Willow Warbler and Meadow Pipit stood out there too. 

On the final morning yesterday we were invigorated once more visiting Loch Garten and Loch Mallachie before beginning the journey back south to home, getting amazing views of Goldeneyes, hearing the loudest calling I’ve heard from a Cuckoo yet this year and seeing and hearing the loud drumming of the Great Spotted Woodpecker. A Grey Heron and Moorhen was nice to see at Milton Loch soon into the journey. It was great to hear Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Woodpigeon and Magpie on International Dawn Chorus Day morning at the hotel we stayed in near Warrington to break up the return journey today. Other standout birds throughout the trip included many Common Gulls seeing them in their breeding grounds which is unique for us too as we usually see a handful at most of these at home, Sandwich Tern, Red-breasted Merganser, Greylag Geese, Siskin, Swallow, Sand Martin and enigmatic Ravens seen and heard a lot. Mountain Goats at Strathdearn alongside Highland Cattle a nice sight of the area and Sheep on the trip were nice to see.

Butterflies very much played a big role on the spring trip especially when it got sunnier with the Small Tortoiseshells at the cottage and Peacock across the week joined by Orange Tip and Green-veined White and I saw moths too including The Streamer at the cottage. A Green Tiger beetle, an incredible and exuberant species, on the path at Coignafearn was another insect of the trip as were regular bees. It was a fantastic floral week too with it nice to see seas of daffodils a beautiful sight now passed at home. Wood sorrel was a revelation of the week in the Abernethy Forest at Loch Garten and at Loch Ruthven, beautiful flowers adorning the forest floor. Wood anemone, lesser celandine, marsh marigold, gorse, broom, dandelion, daisy, violets, red deadnettle, thrift, scurvygrass, primroses, ferns, bog myrtle, wood rush especially at the cottage and a bit of groundsel there and stunning coltsfoot on Cairn Gorm were other highlights. It was good to see fungi clinging to trees including hoof fungus and much lichen and moss. 

It really was so awe-inspiring seeing all this wildlife and being in the vast mountainous landscape and also enjoying woodland, coast, wetland, moors, lochs and pretty whitewater and otherwise rivers. I found this week so fulfilling, captivating and inspiring and it brought me such valuable and refreshing tranquility. I am sad this anticipated amazing week is over and I feel it will have a lasting impact on me as I hold dear many fantastic memories from the trip.

The photos in this set from the trip are of; one of the Crossbills, a view at Pattack Falls where we briefly called into, the lighthouse at Chanonry Point, Herring Gull at Chanonry Point, one of the Willow Warblers on one of my morning walks from the cottage, Small Tortoiseshell on a dandelion in the cottage garden, daffodil at Ralia services on the way, the Knots at Burghead, a beautiful view at Loch Garten and the Red Grouse we got close to at Lochindorb.

[kariachi]

Thoughts on which pokearthropods (bug types and nonbug type bugs) make for the best to farm in terms of meat, eggs, other products, and uses? (Also I have to imagine that peeps in the pokeworld are using silk for a lot more stuff given the availability and ease of getting silk from a big ass caterpillar or spider tho which would be more valuable for silk pokecaterpillars or pokespiders?)

My pre-existing list of bug pokemon kept for meat includes Kricketune, Sewaddle, and Wurmple- the latter two are a little over five and seven lbs respectively, not actively toxic, and don't give any real trouble in care, while the former hits over 55 lbs at lvl 10, and none of them are very strong or uncommon. You could probably also manage Blipbug, maybe the Volbeat/Illumise line.

Goomy would probably be out, just because it is a dragon-type and even an easy-going dragon is going to be a bit of a bitch.

The Paras line are of course used for mushrooms and the like, and Spinarak canonically have their webs harvested for use in fishing nets. I don't know if their webbing would be used for general silk as much as other species- such as the Sewaddle and Tarountula lines, but it's certainly a possibility.

Really silk probably is very common compared to our world. The ease of access is very much there. I think which species you went with would probably be a point of much debate, though with the Sewaddle line already being so heavily associated with fashion it may be that they're already considered the top of the heap.

Ledyba are known to be kept for pollinating plants, and Combee probably are the same with the bonus of making honey. Meanwhile Ribombee pollen balls are a valued commodity canonically. Shuckle is canonically kept for juice/wine production...

As far as eggs, snail caviar is a thing in our world so I assume we'd be looking at a similar thing. So, given the Shelmet line is the only snails that aren't either dragons, fire, or legendaries I assume we'd be looking at them. If we're also including proper slugs, then you could probably add Shellos to the list.

Some people could sea hares among Pyukumuku's inspirations, so if you want to include them as another sea slug (for all they are clearly a sea cucumber) then raising for the sake of moisturizer production is an option, and they may go on the egg list.