#mossy-kit

[polkadotpatterson]

For the ask game:

For Dot + Workman: 4 (in general types or specific shows, 12, and/or 25 (🥺) 

And then also and/or Salt coven for 15, and/or 37 bc now I'm thinking of salt movie night

4. Their favorite show to watch together?

I'm gonna be real I am perpetually bad at knowing what media any characters would like. I could see them both enjoying documentaries tbh? That's my vague answer lol

12. Who prefers calling to texting (& vice versa)?

I think when Dot was away in the Core and Dallas they tried to call each other whenever possible so they could properly talk!

...and now I'm thinking, what if Dot's fingers aren't particularly compatible with phone touchscreens, so they have to make a lot of extra effort to text either bc they have to wrestle with the screen, or bc they had to get an ancient nokia or something similar with buttons, and texting that way is its own kind of struggle. so, calling!

25. (a lil sappy, but..) What do they like about each other?

ough... I think the main thing has always been that they just Get Each Other in ways that other people can't. They both have that love of the sport and that great synchronicity when they play together, and they understand what it's like to be irrevocably changed by it in more ways than most players, to have their old lives stripped away and have their bodies made into something unfamiliar. and they help each other deal with that and work through it! it's good to have someone around who just understands you. kindred spirits. you know how it is

Beyond that, Dot likes that Workman is just such a warm person, someone who brightens up the room and makes them smile, makes them feel more at ease in any situation. Workman likes all the little things about Dot that the blessing tried to hide but couldn't, like their sense of humour and their devotion to their team, and of course how good they are with Beasley and how Workman can trust that Dot is the right person to take care of him when they're not around :')

SALT COVEN MOVIE NIGHT!!! this is such a fun concept. has everyone read the salt? read the salt

15. Who's the first to cry during movies that don't seem sad?

I think this definitely depends on the movie! Like, they can't watch anything with ocean scenes in it when SomeThing is around bc it gets upset and bad things happen when it gets upset!!! I think Dian would probably cry at some things in movies. Yado will cry at cute animal scenes. Phoenecia might cry a bit at a scene that reminded her too much of her old life and then she'd have to insist that this isn't crying, it's the new Moisturization Ducts that she gave herself, they're very efficient

37. Who wanted to see Oppenheimer; who Barbie? Did they switch opinions after?

I feel like this is a bit harder for me to answer when I still haven't seen either of them, but here's my best attempt at sorting them:

Team Barbie: Dian, Yado, Jenkins, Elodie, Carson (edit: KEVIN I forgot about Kevin)

Team Oppenheimer: Mehr, Austin, Weston, Phoenicia, Minh, SomeThing

Really doesn't care about any of this: Milo

I know Elodie and Minh aren't part of the coven (and technically neither is Carson) but I think this is funnier if it's Team Movie Night Double Feature and Elodie is happy to go bc yay team bonding! and meanwhile Minh is like what is the secret plan, why are you dragging me out here for this, is this an ominous threat about how you're building your own atomic salt bomb or what??? he's not having a good time

[cryinginblaseball]

🖍🤔 for the ask game :)

Oh, hello, I didn't see you there.

🖍Post Any sentence from your wip

Quinn dreamt about fire, curling beautifully into space, klaxons singing all around her.

🤔What’s a story you’d love to write but haven’t even started yet?

I really want to work more on EPCLOT but I haven't had the time! But it's a fun idea that I love and I get to hurt our players :3

Thanks for the ask, buddy!

[jayietheriverwarrior]

She opened her eyes. Daylight dazzled her.

“You’re awake!” Mothwing gasped beside her.

The air was cold, the light harsh. Frostpaw began to make out Mothwing’s “face. Behind her trembling mentor, she saw Sunbeam and Duskfur and Mistpaw. They were all here. She struggled to lift her head and saw Nightheart and Graypaw and, crowding the entrance, Nightsky and Minnowtail. Outside, her clanmates were jostling to see in. Their eyes were fixed on her, wide and shining with joy as she looked back at them. Her heart skipped a beat. They were waiting for me. They wanted me to come back. The realization filled Frostpaw with an emotion so strong, her throat tightened. She couldn’t speak. She felt a rough tongue lapping her head.

“Don’t rush to sit up.” Mothwing was washing her like a queen washing her kit. She sat back, her eyes bright with joy. “Take as much time as you need. We’re just glad you’re with us again.”

Frostpaw was suddenly aware of how weak she felt, but the deathly heaviness had gone. And she was hungry. Then she saw Tree.

The SkyClan tom was outside, blinking at her from among her Clanmates. “You heard the singing.” He pushed his way into the den. “It brought you back.”

“I was in StarClan,” she told him breathlessly. “Then I heard voices. They carried me here.”

“I’ve seen the Sisters do it,” he told her. “I wondered if it would work for you, so I fetched everyone I could think of. All the she-cats who love you.”

Frostpaw looked around once more at the faces of her Clanmates, and at Nightheart and Sunbeam. They really were shining with love for her. Her heart quickened. For the first time in moons, she didn’t feel alone.

I can't tell you how many hours I've spent tweaking the lighting and color filters on this. It's been multiple days of the drawing itself being done and just doing countless tweaking. I'm still not happy with it but I'm just. Done. I'm proud of how the poses and shading on the cats turned out and the composition of the piece, and I'm sure I'll be happier with it in a few months looking back on it, but right now I'm just. Blah.

Frostpaw is of course in the nest with a slathering of cobwebs over her throat wound, Mothwing is licking her head while Duskfur is leaning over her. Then in the middle row we have from left to right Sunbeam, Mistpaw, Tree, Nightheart, and Graypaw, then in the front on the left is Nightsky, then Icewing in the very corner of the image, with Minnowtail (who needs a new ref sheet but the new TEQ kiddies will probably get theirs first) just behind her.

The RiverClan medicine den is described as under a thorn bush overhanging a stream between two mossy rocks, with a stretch of pebbles in front of the den, and herbs hidden behind reeds within the den, so I tried to show all of that accurately.

[chasing-faith-and-fate]

And there’s the last ones- Mintswan and Valleyfrost’s kits! None of them are okay! (Very sad Mint died giving birth)

Phloxchase: King of crash out let me fucking tell you- broke up and got back together with his girlfriend SEVEN times! Got 3 of his apprentices killed, fully hates his one son, somehow always fuck up on patrols- especially when involving the other clans. He was Valleyfrost special little guy, best friends really and after she was killed he had like fights with his sisters constantly. I was able to fix his relationship to his son and then he fucked it up so fast again, and broke up with his girlfriend AGAIN- and then he died. He died of a heart attack during clan wars.

Mossypoppy: Mossy? More like messy, holy shit. Very happy child, very loved, somehow ended up with a kill count of five cats… girl what the fuck- one of them was her mom Valleyfrost, and three of the others were her mates. Had four kits over those three mates, and did love them very much! Her last victim was just a random cat in clan she had beef with. She was Loving while killing two of those mates btw! She died after being exiled after fucking confessing her crimes to the leader.

Burnlaural: Burn is as her name may imply, burns bridges left and right, she hates, FULLY in the red with everyone in clan. I don’t know how she did it and I don’t know where she went, she just got lost one moon and died out there one day. I cannot tell you how she managed to have only negative reactions and interactions but she did succeed in that. I’m genuinely know nothing about her, she lived to 57m before going missing and she never did anything but be pissed or piss off others.

[jasperthehatchet]

I upgraded my altiods tin sewing kit! (More details are in the image ID)

I added more needles, safety pins, thread, and a sharp pair of thread scissors just small enough to fit inside the tin. There's usually two needle threaders in here but one is in use atm. And there's enough stuff inside to fit perfectly so that the lid can close all the way and nothing slides around so that's nice

I am gonna post my little altiods tin emergency chronic pain/migraine kit within the next few days as well so keep an eye out for that if you're intrested

[ID: various pictures of a metal altoids tin, about 3.5 inches by 2 inches, with sewing supplies inside. A little bag of silver safety pins, varying colors of thread on 5 small spools, more colors of thread wrapped around two small rolls of paper and inside a small plastic bag, a folded piece of paper measuring tape, a small pair of orange thread scissors, a needle threader, and some buttons inside a little bag. There are varying sizes and types of sewing needles that are stuck in a small rectangular piece of green felt that fits on top of everything inside the tin. It has sharps, darning needles, embroidery needles and one curved needle.

The colors of thread included are: light pink, a muted rusty orange, white, a few shades of light brown and off white all wrapped around one piece of rolled paper. The other paper rool has more vibrant saturated colors including red, blue, yellow, dark green, and orange. The little bag had extra recycled pieces of thread i salvaged from other projects that are long enough to still be used. And the colors on the 5 small spools are black, dark mossy warm green, dark brown, light brown and white. End ID]

[badsongpetey]

Lance talks Hunk into going with him to find a secret waterfall deep in the forest, rumored for it’s pure, clear water. As they walk thru the dense foliage, Hunk stammers, “They say it’s… haunted.” Lance scoffs, “That only means we’ll have the place to ourselves!”

After hours of hiking, just when they're about to give up and admit the waterfall was some kind of wilderness myth, the trees part and before them is something out of a movie.A gentle waterfall splashes down a mossy, flower-covered cliff side into a pool of water so clear and pure, that if it weren't for the sunlight sparkling off the surface, it wouldn't even be visible.

Lance crows, triumphant, and tossing off his shirt and shoes wastes no time cannon balling into the center of the pool.

"Lance!!" Hunk shouts when Lance resurfaces, "We need to test it first!"

Lance huffs and throws his arms in the air, splashing Hunk. "Dude! My MAN! Look at this, it's pristine! And fucking WARM! Must be some hot spring. GET IN HERE!"

"NOT until I test it. YOU might not mind spending the night barfing up a lung from some weird secret waterfall bug, but I do." Hunk sighs and removes his pack, crouching down to rifle through it to find his test kit.

Lance huffs again, but resigns himself to letting Hunk be Hunk, and tips to float on his back in the buoyant water. Closing his eyes he thinks this is the perfect reward for all that hiking, it's possibly the most relaxed he's ever been in his life.

That is until, "LANCE!!" Hunk whisper-shouts at him.

Lance cracks open one eye to look over at his friend. "Don't need to shout, right here."

"Lance, who's that??" Hunk visibly blanches as he points to something behind Lance.

"Har har, very funny, stop stalling..." Lance mutters as he spins to find himself nose to nose with... something...

[c-u-c-koo-4-40k]

Do I Know You? - Part 2

Summary: While Lullaby spends their first days alone in a long while, Khopesh and the rest of his claw are busy on their mission. It's a matter of extreme delicacy, and importance as it involves the disappearance of hybrid children. 

Previous Chapter: HERE

Next Chapter: Not Here Yet

First Ever in the Series: HERE

Tag List: @kit-williams @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan (all of whom have amazing characters that make cameos here!) @sleepyfan-blog @egrets-not-regrets @legionsofthehungry

@passionofthesith @bispecsual @bleedingichorhearts @beckyninja

Location: Redacted 

Time: 11:00 PM

Current Objective: Pre-mission Briefing 

As Khopesh enters the briefing room alongside his Claw and behind his ‘father’ Anrir, he realizes there is a familiar face here. 

A portly Death Guard with a mouth of sharpened teeth on his gut, probably to replace the jaw decaying off his face. 

“Xerxes,” Khopesh greets the marine who smells of death with a sharp but genuine smile. 

“Ah…Khopesh….good to seeee…you once…Again.” He breathes, both mouths speaking in sync. 

The other in the room, an Ultramarine Apothecary, glances between the two. “You know each other?”

Xerxes smiles. “Indeed…Medeathe…we share some…common interests…” 

Khopesh grins. The absolute Cheek of older cousin Xerxes, implying their alliance right in front of a stranger. Well the Ultramarine is a stranger to Khopesh, he's not sure if Xerxes knows him better. They'd make an odd combo regardless, with Xerxes as a walking nurgle corpse and Medeathe practically the poster child for an Ultramarine, with his bright blond hair and deep blue eyes. 

As for the reason Khopesh and Xerxes interact…not like he can complain, he'd probably do the same. 

Xerxes continues his explanation, “And I often traverse ... .his neighborhood.”

“Haven't seen you as often though. Have you found a place with better leftovers to pilfer?” Khopesh chuckles. 

Xerxes takes the comment in good humor and lets out his odd lilting and slow laugh. “HaHaHa, Perish…the Thought…I have been…occupied with matters…of the home…”

Anrir perks up a bit at that. “So it's finally happened then?”

The others in the room perk up a bit at Anrir's apparent interest. 

“What's fucking happened?” Karlsor asks. 

Xerxes lopsided grin grows wider. “Ah…sharp as…ever…Nightlord…and Yessss.” Xerxes pulls out his vox and begins swiping through it. 

The Night Lords, save Ghosk, immediately crowd around the image being shown. Khopesh, Claude and Karlsor are curious as to what the older Marines are talking about, and Anrir does so for scientific curiosity…mostly. Ghosk doesn't want to bother leaning pushing his way into the crowd, but he does glance at the images being shown. 

On the screen is a baseline human and a tiny bundle with a face in her arms. Ghosk seems to realize something Khopesh doesn't and chuckles with a “Well I'll be…”

Khopesh and Claude don't really get it. “A baby?” Like sure babies are cute but plenty of bonded humans have them from previous pregnancies or adoptions. 

“Your baby?!” Anrir asks with an uncharacteristic, almost reverent tone.

“Holy Fucking Shit.” Karlsor mumbles. 

Xerxes beams with pride. “They're name is Vespa… my little Larva.” He says, cooing over the photos. And indeed in other pictures where the child is a bit older it's far more obvious the little one has mostly their mother's looks, but their bright green eyes and their mossy hair hint at their father's identity. 

Medeathe just stares wordlessly, perhaps he feels uncomfortable with the thought of hybrid children. 

Claude blinks. “Wait! That's actually possible?? For a human and an Astarte to…To-”

“Yes!” The Ultramarine breaks in on the awkward statement with a terse tone. “It is Possible, Scout. Do not make a scene.”

Khopesh narrows his eyes at the rebuke. Mild or not, he doesn't take kindly to people chastising Claude for no reason. 

Medeathe takes a steadying breath, and his next words are much kinder. “I apologize for my tone, Scout. But I've had that conversation so many times at this point it's driven me damn near the edge of my sanity.” 

Xerxes laughs again. “Indeed…there is a reason…at the clinic…they call you…the Midwife…” Medeathe rolls his eyes but Xerxes continues. “He is…the foremost…when it comes…to labor and delivery of…hybrid children. He was even consulted…during my mate's…premature delivery.”

Claude speaks up. “It is alright older cousin, I understand the headache of having to explain things more than once.”

Khopesh pulls back on his snark. Medeathe is right, baselines can also treat the subject of hybrids…poorly, and perhaps the Ultramarine didn't want Claude to pester Xerxes. He'll hold his tongue for now.

No someone Else was doing that already. “I knew when I smelt the pregnancy hormones from your mate on you. When was the due date! And how long was the gestation!? Were there any complications pre or post delivery? You must tell me!” Anrir asks with urgency. 

Xerxes chuckles and is about to reply when-

“Save the baby pictures for Afterward gentlemen. We have a matter of great importance to attend to.” A dark and gruff yet refined voice speaks from the doorway. 

The others turn to see a Black Legionnaire with a face of criss-crossed scars and a cybernetic implant that goes from his chin to his forehead. In fact it seems to go further, actually trailing along the marine's bald head and down to the back of his neck. 

“Captain Horlux.” Anrir greets, making a quick battle sign to which all the Claw members stand at attention and make way for the other marine. 

Horlux walks past, seemingly reading each of the Claw up and down. Claude feels himself sweat a bit, the Captain's gaze is intense, and his presence feels as if it has a pressure all its own. He briefly remembers how it felt being examined by his previous Raven Guard commanders. 

Just as Claude is feeling his stress rise. Horlux nods, seemingly satisfied with what he's observed and turns to walk to the front of the room with a quickly grunted. “At Ease.”

The Claw relaxes where they stand and move to gather where Horlux and the Ultramarine Apothecary are setting up the presentation. 

“I have Gathered you here to undertake a very important and delicate mission.” Horlux explains, and some images flash on the projector screen.”

Images of a warehouse appear, along with several images of different baselines and Astartes. They seem to be bonded pairs.

Khopesh smiles while a growl bubbles up in his throat. He remembers the rage he felt when he learned of the Chaos Blood Angels who would kidnap bonded humans to kill them so they could feel the warp backlash of the bond breaking. Then kill the Astarte if they'd captured them. 

“Easy Curzling,” Horlux hushes. “So far we know for a fact these baselines aren't dead. However, they have all been through a truly horrific experience.”

The next slides show the baselines; mostly social media or medical photos. Every single baseline shares one thing in common; they are all heavily pregnant, clearly near the end of their terms. The after was far more clinical, and each stomach that was once round with child now laid flat and empty. The only evidence on the outside of the previous state was a perfectly stitched scar. “We have reason to believe there are illegal experiments regarding Pregnant Baselines taking place at this location.” The coordinates flash up on screen.

“Your first priority; determine the fate of the missing offspring, extract any that remain alive. Second; capture the perpetrators alive so they may face judgement. Third; secure the scene and retrieve any and all documentation of their doings for evidence.” Horlux turns to the room. “Any questions?”

Claude hesitantly raises his hand. “I must ask, what Kind of experiments do we believe are being committed?”

Horlux seems to take a moment, seemingly debating what or how to explain. “All we know for certain is that our most recent victim was somehow taken and returned to her domicile without her nor her Astarte mate noticing. We have reason to believe some kind of sleeping or amnestic agent was used on both of them. When the baseline awoke she had no memory of the trip, and her child had been removed from her womb. Her mate rushed her to the hospital as soon as they awoke and discovered her state.”

Xerxes speaks next. “Do you think…the perpetrator is targeting humans…whose pregnancies are those…from Astartes?” His tone is clearly troubled. 

And Claude meanwhile is still boggled that such a thing is even possible. But putting that aside, it Is troubling. He may not be an apothecary but he knows Regular baselines can be fragile. Those that are pregnant or freshly born are even more so! 

Horlux nods. “Indeed, which is why we cannot wait any longer. The most recent victim was a few days ago. Our Hydra sector and Apothecary Sargent Medeathe here have been instrumental in gathering information and scoping out possible holding locations. But now it's time for your Night Lords to do what they do best.” Horlux says. “Get in under cover of darkness. Find the missing offspring. And drag the offender or offenders back here to face punishment.”

“Sir yes sir!” The Claw replies. 

Horlux turns to Xerxes. “You will be using your little friends to provide further reconnaissance.”

“With Pleasure.” Xerxes replies, bringing some of his little pets to play and walk over his hand. Medeathe can't seem to stop himself from physically recoiling at the sight, even if the movement is slight. 

Khopesh lets his teeth show. “Not a fan of bugs ey Sargent?”

Medeathe huffs. “Not a fan of…strange insects.”

Strange…aka Chaos. And again Khopesh narrows his eyes. He's worked with skittish Loyalists before, so he'll put up with this. The sooner this gets done, the sooner he returns to you. 

Claude speaks up. “I…can't say I disagree. They also ah…trouble me a bit.” 

The statement actually causes Medeathe to laugh a little. “Well, at least one of your lot has some Sense here.” 

As the squad turns to leave for their mission, Khopesh catches Xerxes's attention and pulls him to the side. 

“Forgive me for delaying our mission, but this is the first time I have been away from Lullaby for an extended period.” Khopesh says quickly and quietly. “Has there been any change in the…”

Xerxes smiles reassuringly…as reassuring as a half rotted face can be. “There has been…no movement…of my pets Nor the…Interloper. Be…at ease…” 

Khopesh feels that knot of tension in his gut unwind. He's grateful for that. “Thank you Cousin. I know you said the same when I'd first asked but I still find myself troubled by the vision.”

Xerxes nods in understanding. “It is…only natural…to be so concerned with one's…life mate.”

Khopesh nods. “Still Thank You.”

Xerxes waves his hand. “Let us save thanks…for later…for now…” His eyes and voice become deathly serious. “We have a mission to complete.”

…

Location: Warehouse 

Time: 11:47 pm

The group stays in the trees at the perimeter of the structure, from the outside it looks very innocuous, but Night Lords know that such places are Perfect for traps.

“Gather round,” Anrir pulls out the building plans for the warehouse, the Hydra Sector Horlux spoke of had clearly done some digging into mortal building records to find this. Rooms, doors, walls all labeled with letters so they could be identified. 

But they know that This is the building as it was during its first construction. There's no telling what could be swapped or changed on the inside. 

“Alright, Xerxes you're up.” Anrir prompts and the Death Guard does as he's instructed. 

“Go…lend me…your sight…” He breathes, and his wasps go on their way. The warehouse is surprisingly insulated against the weather, but Xerxes wasps are specialists in getting through small spaces. 

“Hrm…it is…very dark. But my pets…can see….ah…tricky tricky…” Xerxes breathes. “The inside layout…is mostly the same. Some new walls…have been erected…here…here…and here…” He marks them on his map, and Khopesh notes how the routes from the entrance split in two directions. 

“Looks like we'll need to split into groups of two to sweep the place.” Ghosk grunts. 

“Not yet, Xerxes,” Anrir prompts. “What do you see?”

Xerxes focuses again, and his expression morphs into slight frustration. “Hrm…it seems that…there are certain rooms…my pets cannot enter. There is…interference…”

“Interference how?” Karlsor asks. 

“Hrm…my pets…are sensitive to…vibrations. Differences in air pressure…and sound waves…can make their vision and flight…more difficult. Certain rooms…seem to have those frequencies…emanating from within…”

“So there's some kind of device or system we need to dismantle then?” Medeathe asks. 

Xerxes nods, and he seems troubled. “It would seem…so…”

Anrir speaks next. “Any life signs otherwise?”

Xerxes answers. “No. All the places…my pets can see…are uninhabited…and look as if they have been so…for a looong time…no traps that they can sense or see.”

“Very well.” Anrir nods. “We can assume that if the missing offspring And the perpetrators are anywhere, they are within one or more of those shielded rooms. They are our first priority, therefore, our breach Must allow us to sweep and secure those, as well as blocking off the exits for any potential hostiles.” He points to the map. 

“Xerxes will remain outside so he may focus on relaying what his sentries see to us over vox. Ghosk and Karlsor take the rear exit. Khopesh and Myself the route that goes right. Claude and Medeathe the route that goes left, any questions?” 

Khopesh almost protests, if anything Claude should be paired with one of them. 

“No fa- I mean…Anrir. We are ready when you are.” Claude nods, seemingly having no problem with the orders. So again, Khopesh holds his tongue. Anrir nods. “Very good. Everyone to your positions, and on my signal, we breach.”

…

Claude, Medeathe, Anrir and Khopesh creep up to the building's main entrance, while Karlsor and Ghosk make their way to the back.  

“Karlsor, Ghosk, are you ready?”

“Ready on your signal Anrir.”

“Good, on my ‘go’ 3…”

Claude readies himself, right behind Medeathe who will be leading. 

“2…” 

Khopesh flexes his claws, he'll be busting down the door and the others will follow after before the split. 

“1-GO!”

A flurry of movement breaks out and a CRASH is unleashed as Khopesh kicks the flimsy door open. Their thundering foot falls seem to make the walls shake as they flow into the building.

Claude and Medeathe as planned go left, down a hallway with their bolters drawn they come to another fork. Claude takes a half second to recall the map, and the direction to the shielded room on this side of the building. 

“It was a right turn. Keep up Scout!” Medeathe grunts, barely giving Claude a chance to cover the other side of the hallway as he moves. 

They come to the locked door of the shielded room and Claude prepares to set the charge to blow the lock off. Any Space Marine could kick the door down, but that would leave the breacher vulnerable to counterattack by those inside the room. A detonation will open the door and hopefully stun any hostiles inside so they can neutralize them. 

“Wait!” Medeathe hisses. “Let me,” He pushes past, and brings out his own detonation charge. “If the infants are inside, we can't risk using a full charge.”

Claude nods, of course of course. He takes position to the side of the door. 

BANG! 

The charge still blows the door back, but not off its hinges and Claude and Medeathe surge inside, bolters drawn. Claude looks left, then right, checking all corners and possible attack points before lowering his weapon with a “Clear.”

And now that his focus is off of checking every corner for hostiles, he truly takes in the room before him. It is Much more clean and inhabited than the rest of the warehouse. In fact it’s covered floor to ceiling in medical machinery. 

And filled with tiny fragile humans inside that machinery. Almost like…a nursery. 

He's…he's heard of these types of machines. They're called…Incubators. And though small…the little ones inside Seem to all be breathing. Some are completely baseline in appearance and others have horns or teeth, longer claws, pitch dark eyes. There are clearly a number of different hybrids here from all kinds of Astartes here. 

But…there's still something wrong with them. In spite of the loud entry they're…they're all so quiet and…Some of them have surgery marks others have… metal body parts.

“Augmentation…” Claude whispers with a strange horror in his voice. They've clearly been augmented. Claude isn't sure why he feels so upset, he was given his first augment as a young child. 

Yes, when he was around ten! These are neonates or barely any older!

“It's fascinating,” Medeathe breathes in awe. “To think someone could construct a facility of This level in an abandoned warehouse.”

Claude doesn't really like the…reverence in his tone, but he can't deny the statement rings true. He chocks it up to Medeathe's specialty being in neonatal care. “I suppose. Now we need to report the location.” Claude hurriedly types on his vox. 

“Anrir, come in Anrir, we have located the missing offspring. We're in sector X of the building…there appear to be about twenty incubators.”

-Bzzt "Message received, we will proceed to your location. Are any of the little ones injured?”

Claude swallows the lump in his throat and answers. “All have life signs, but they're all…all of them have evidence of augmentation…and they are all currently inside incubators with locks and hooked up to various tubes…I'm not sure how to remove them.”

“Medeathe should know how to remove them while keeping them stable. Follow his orders until we can reach you.”

“Wilco.”

Medeathe looks over the room. “Seems almost a shame to dismantle this…” He sighs. 

Claude pushes the same discomfort as before aside and shrugs. “Well, the medical equipment can be salvaged…and it'll do more good in a hospital than here.” He peaks into the incubator he's standing in front of as Medeathe busies himself with the mechanics of how to transport the infants. 

The little one inside is soooo small, pudgy and soft looking, and an odd part of Claude's heart wants to hold them. He thinks this little one is female but he's not one hundred percent sure. But he cannot remove them yet, so he moves to place his hand to the glass where hers is. 

“Ah Ah Ah! Don't…do that.” Medeathe grunts. “This little Night Lord has a touch of psychery. You might startle her.”

Claude pulls back. “Oh right…I wouldn't want to-”

Time stops, just for a moment. 

“Sargent Medeathe…” Claude's tone is a question, but it is laced with…fear. The Sargent's hands stop moving. “How did you know this little one is a Night Lord spawn?”

“I ah…I saw her eyes. She opened them when you weren't looking.” He replies. 

Claude feels heat pool under his skin, rage…and disbelief. “You could've said she was a Raven Guard or even a Carcharodon, but…you also said she has psyker capabilities.” He mumbles. “But you're Not a psyker, there's no way you could know that unless…”

Suddenly his mind goes back to the breach…how Medeathe seemed to know the Exact way to go. How He was the one to set the charge before Claude breached this room. 

Even his odd stare when Xerxes had shown his newborn. Claude felt his skin crawl. 

“Oh Little Primaris…” Medeathe soft voice speaks, almost like that calm disappointment parents would show children when they've seen something they shouldn't. 

Claude whips his bolter out and trains it on the Ultramarine. But rather than jumping to attack him, the Ultramarine regards him with a calm…almost Fond look. It makes Claude want to vomit. 

“Halt!” Claude snarls, training his bolter. “You are under arrest.”

The Ultramarine tilts his head. “Under whose jurisdiction?”

“The Alliance.” Claude states. “You will be taken to stand trial for your crimes-”

“Ah yes!” Medeathe nods astutely. “The Alliance, full of Traitors…and Heretics…and Deserters-Tell Me, why does a Loyalist son of Corax himself, take orders from a Chaos inclined Night Lord?”

Claude hesitates. “Anrir is Not Chaos.”

“But your other Brother is…the one with a set of throne damned Bat Wings who made a mess of my front door.” He replies. “The other one with the foul mouth may not look it, but I can sense the Stink of that rotten warp corruption upon him…” He steps carefully around Claude who still has his bolter trained on him. 

For a moment Claude thinks to shoot the bastard dead, until he sees something move on the ceiling behind Medeathe. Instinctively, he knows who the dark shape is, and what it's signing. 

Can't shoot in here. Risk to babies. Keep him talking. 

So he allows Medeathe to keep talking. 

“And as for your…Anrir, he's a Traitor to the Imperium. All of his wretched ilk are.” Medeathe swears. “Even back in their ‘loyal’ times; nothing but a bunch of savage skin peelers looking to sow fear and get their fill of torture.”

The hypocrisy sets Claude off. “And what does that make you then!?” Claude snarls. “Look where you're standing, look at what you've done to these little ones and their families!” Claude gestures to the room of infants too young to be parted from their parents. “DON'T moralize to Me about torture, the torture you've put those human baselines and their mate's through by Stealing their children from their wombs is worse than anything the Nightlord's could do!”

The dark shape is almost in position now, but Claude is truly having to hold himself back from killing Medeathe outright. 

The Apothecary’s response is chilling, Claude can Feel the smile behind the helmet. “I am only continuing the good work I did before. The Imperium will need more Neophytes, more serfs, and of course…more servitors. It is only natural to pick from hybrids as they have an even better chance of surviving the process.” He gently places his hand on Claude's bolter. Claude allows him to move the gun down. 

He gestures to the cradle in front of Claude. The tiny female baseline with brown skin and fully pitch black eyes stares back. “And as for the spawns of Traitors like This little Night Lord, they will Finally have a chance at redemption.” Medeathe turns to the Raven Guard. “That's what you want too, isn't it?” 

Claude forces himself to not recoil as Medeathe reaches a hand out to gently touch his face. “Don't you want what you were promised…to serve the Imperium and Atone for the sins of your blood?” Medeathe breathes, thinking he's got the Primaris right where he wants him. 

That does catch Claude off guard. “How d-did you?”

“How did I know you have Traitor's blood?” Medeathe coos. “Oh dear child, it's written all over your face. And come now…why else would those wretched traitors tolerate an abomination like you?”

And all at once, the spell passes. Claude nods jerkily and almost…laughs. “Of course…”

“See, I told you you'd see sense.”

“No I mean of course you'd say something that's absolutely fucking HORSESHIT!” The laugh turns into a snarl as he slams his fist straight into Medeathe's helmeted face. The Ultramarine reels and falls back a few steps. 

“You wretched little Traitor bastard!” He curses and reaches for his own bolter. 

“Ah Ah AH!” Khopesh chimes gleefully, dropping from the ceiling and literally swiping the side arm away with a slash of his Lighting Claws. Before delivering a sharp kick to Medeathe's gut, sending him back to Claude. 

“You don't know ANYTHING!” Claude snarls, landing another devastating punch. “You don't Know ANYTHING! ABOUT! MY! FAMILY!” Claude locks in, just as he had the Last time he faced a bully, and starts beating the blue off Medeathe.  

“Not so much fun to be the one caught between, Is it Ultramarine!?” Khopesh snarls as he and Claude literally volly the apothecary back and forth as he fruitlessly tries to escape. 

“N-no!” The Ultramarine is beaten to the ground and tries to drag himself to his sidearm. 

CRUNCH! “ARGHGAAAAH!” 

“Ooops~” Khopesh chimes with sadistic glee as his armored boot Crushes the Ultramarine's wandering hand. 

Claude drags Medeathe back and locks his arms around the apothecary's neck. He tightens down and the Apothecary begins to lose consciousness. 

“You,” Claude huffs, his breathing is labored. “Are Under Arrest! You will be Tried! And you will ANSWER! FOR YOUR CRIMES!” The Apothecary struggles in his grasp before he goes limp, but Claude waits a few agonizing extra moments to make sure he is well and Truly out. 

Then he slaps on the Astarte grade restraints but as he does Claude is breathing hard, almost hyperventilating. He can barely hear Khopesh as he talks until…

“Claude…CLAUDE?!” Khopesh gently takes Claude by the shoulder. “You alright Claude?”

Claude feels his veins ice over. “They're all so small…” The little ones, taken from their mother's too soon. All in the hopes of What!? Making more neophytes!? Kidnapping and traumatizing and butchering mothers and children with metal and organ augments!? Even if it were possible to make Space Marines on Terra as the Imperium had, the children hybrid or not deserved a Choice on what they'd become. 

“Hey Hey! Look at me!” Khopesh snarls. “We Saved these little ones, and who knows how many more pregnant baselines?”

Claude nods, shakily, but he does. 

“Without you, they'd still be in Danger and that!” He points to Medeathe's unconscious body. “Fucking bastard, might be free to try again!”

“That's true.”

Khopesh smiles. “Of course I'm right. And now we need to focus on moving these little mites and getting them back to their families.”

“Well said Khopesh.” 

Claude and Khopesh turn and see Anrir and the other Night Lords filing in. 

“Father!” Claude, much like a child himself, feels so relieved to see his family. 

“Good to see you Anrir.” Khopesh greets. “We'll certainly need your expertise since the other apothecary is…” He glances to the unconscious Ultramarine, still held in restraints. “Out of commission.”

Anrir nods. “I assume there is a good reason for this.” 

Khopesh smiles wide. “You might need a Special Cell for this one.” Khopesh pulls out the recording he'd taken while Medeathe was rambling. 

Anrir's expression morphs subtly, and Khopesh gets Excited. Anrir is disgusted. Karlsor picks that up as well. 

“Ho ho ho, looks like we'll get to have a fuckin Party once we get this fucker back to base.” 

Anrir nods. “Yes…I think we shall.” He then sends a copy of the log to Horlux and Xerxes. With the additional message for Xerxes to receive Medeathe into custody. By which he means Ghosk and Karlsor haul (drag) the bastard outside so Xerxes can keep his and his pets eyes on him till he awakens. 

The elder Night Lord moves along the incubators, examining them and the infants inside. “The air inside these is laced with a sleeping agent. Not enough to be deadly, but enough to keep the little ones drowsy and quiet though I wouldn't be surprised if this room was also sound proofed…” Anrir grimaces, and he recognizes the IVs. “And they're hooked up to nutrient drips, and waste disposal tubes. The fool couldn't even be bothered to feed or change them by hand. Idiot.” Anrir growls. 

Khopesh feels his excitement Skyrocket. Not about the infants’ situation, fuck no this room makes him so angry it hurts. But Anrir being this angry means the retribution will be Slow and Aaaagonizing. 

Exactly! The kind he relishes, and the kind this misbegotten bastard deserves. 

“Our play time will have to wait, Khopesh, there is still much to do here.” Anrir points out. “Not only securing safe transport for these little ones, but turning this building upside down to ensure all relevant evidence is collected and no…unwanted surprises assail us. Oh come now…”

Anrir coos as one of the little ones begins to cry in their pod. Perhaps the gaseous agent that kept them calm is running out. He reaches one ancient hand to the little one and lays it against the glass. 

The little Night Lord gurgles, and puts her hand up against his, babbling with interest at this new face that she may or may not be able to see. “There now, isn't that better. Shhh…”

“Brrr-agalb-lphht.” The baby says in response, but she is calm now and Claude feels a more proper relief flow over him. 

Khopesh puts his hand on his younger brother's shoulder. “Well done Claudy, well done.”

Claude nods, and even blinks a bit. He Actually feels a bit of wetness coming to his eyes. They're happy tears, but still he wipes them away quickly. 

“Thanks…but we've got more work to do.” 

…

1 Day Post Mission

The Claw walks throughout the rest of the compound, their sweep after showing that the other shielded rooms held medical supplies, and documentation of the…experiments Medeathe was conducting. 

“I suppose he's lucky none of the little ones passed from this.” Ghosk sighs, thinking about the cluster fuck the Apothecaries had experienced moving all the offspring from their ‘nursery’ to the neonatal care unit at the nearby Steelix Base. 

Khopesh's grin splits open. “Not like it matters, he's a dead man regardless.”

Anrir nods as he gathers the documentation. “Too true. At the very least he was smart enough to not sign his name on these pages.” 

“But Not fuckin smart enough to realize that stealing offspring would land him where he is now.” Karlsor remarks. 

“To think a Son of Gulliman would fall so far.” Claude ponders. 

“Evil doesn't have a legion color, Claude.” Anrir hums, taking a moment to read over the medical study's findings. 

“And neither does Crazy.” Khopesh adds. 

2 Days Post Mission 

“We've cleared the entire structure Anrir.” Claude reports proudly, he's also holding a number of different documents. 

“Claudy found the last of the papers. Sniffed em out, through a wall.” Khopesh announces, also with pride. “Yeeesh, these are more…personal.”

Anrir cocks an eyebrow, somewhat unimpressed. Not by the find but what he imagines the pages entail. “Let me guess. ‘No one understands what I'm doing.’ ‘I am the only one who can lead us into the future.’ ‘Everyone else are Fools and will quake when I am finally allowed to put the brilliance of my research into the sunlight?’”

“Yep, pretty much.” Khopesh shrugs. 

“Eh seen one evil scientist motherfucker seen em all.” Karlsor huffs, and casts a pointed look at Anrir. 

Anrir is not amused. “Get back to work.”

…

3 Days Post Mission at the Steelix Base Neonatal Care Facility.

The Claw waits with varying levels of boredom or anxiety. Things have been wrapped up, the Warehouse is fully cleared, Medeathe is set for transport, everything is Done.

So whyyyyy are they stuck here!? Khopesh groans, mentally of course. Most of his energy comes from Desperately wanting to see you again. Oh he's missed your sweet voice and your warmth and your nest…

Karlsor is like Khopesh but not Quite as intense. Really his annoyance is being amplified by Khopesh's fidgeting, and that base annoyance comes from wanting to go home to his Sunshine. He can't act out directly so he settles for directing a Very low frequency growl at Khopesh to tell him to Stop Moving Dammit!

Ghosk is old and tired and annoyed and wants to pull his Rabbit into bed the Second he sees her. And he's mutually being annoyed by Khopesh fidgeting And Karlsor's noises. But he's better at tuning them out…

“Mother fucker I SWEAR if you don't hold fucking STILL!” Karlsor hisses, as Khopesh's leg keeps twitching. 

For the most part…

“Hush.” 

And immediately the line of Night Lords fall into order at the sound of their apothecary's voice. He'd been pulled into some kind of meeting, why they decided to have it here they have no clue. 

Luckily, Anrir explains. “It seems we are finally set to be dismissed from further duties related to this case.”

““Thank Fuck.”” Ghosk and Karlsor sigh in unison. ““Oh fuck. Fucking stop it motherfucker!” Claude and Khopesh can't help but snicker. “”The fuck are you fucking laughing at!?”

“Language!” Anrir chastises. Ghosk rolls his eyes, while Karlsor bites his tongue. “There is one last matter to handle.” Before the Claw can complain, Anrir continues. “One of our Legion Brothers wanted to thank us personally for our aid.”

A Legion brother? 

And indeed, through the same door as Anrir came an Astarte and a Baseline. The Night Lord has a dark Mohawk that sweeps down his neck and short buzzed sides. The human baseline has dark skin with a warm undertone, and her hair is done up with an elegant headscarf.

In her arms she holds a tiny bundle, with a face. 

“Is that…?” Claude asks as the woman and her mate approach. The Night Lord is on guard, even anxious with what has happened, but he knows this place is safe. 

And that he has these Battle Brothers to thank for the return of his little one. 

“I am Siros,” The Nightlord greets, “Nightlord Chaplain and this, is my bonded.” He has his arm wrapped sweetly around his mate. 

“My name is Folake, and before we…we leave to take her home I just…” Folake begins to tear up, but she forces herself to finish. “I just wanted…wanted to say Thank You.” 

She gently rocks the child in her arms. The little Night Lord with brown skin and her father's dark eyes. Claude smiles as he remembers her past form, and how much more peaceful she looks, free of that awful machinery. 

“Have you chosen a name yet?” Khopesh asks, also looking at the little one. He agrees, she looks much healthier. 

“Not yet…” Folake admits. “After everything that has happened…my Husband and I have been so caught up in just having her back, we haven't had time to think about it.”

The little one's eyes suddenly open, and she sees Claude. He's not sure if she recognizes him but she giggles and makes those silly noises again. 

“Abbabbab-plllthth-brrr..” Then she breaks into another giggling fit. Her mother actually cries on the spot and Siros can't seem to help but pull his family close and purr. 

“Your father has told me…that it was You that stopped him. The man who…who stole my daughter.” Folake says, once she's wiped the tears away. “So he couldn't hurt anyone else. Could you please, tell me your name?”

Claude blushes. “Ah well…It wasn't just me. My older brother Khopesh is the one who helped me take him into custody. And All of my brothers made the mission possible.” He explains, nervously. “My name is Claude.”

Folake seems to think for a moment. “Claude…Claude…Claudette!” 

“Brabblpthft!” The baby babbles happily  in response and her mother beams. 

“Do you like that? Do you like that name, my sweet child?” She nuzzles her baby, then turns to her mate. “What do you think, Siros?”

Siros reaches down a huge pale hand and tickles his little one, causing her to try and nibble his hand. He smiles a wonderfully soft smile. “I think it is a fitting name.”

Claude feels a variety of emotions but mostly overwhelmed, happy and a tad embarrassed. “Ah…thank you! Truly! It's an honor.”

Siros nods, then turns to Anrir and says something in Nostraman. “I appreciate your invitation, but I will need some time to spend with my family.”

Anrir smiles and responds in the same language. “He's not going anywhere, I'm happy to hold him until you have a chance to…visit.”

Siros smiles, and it is indeed a proper Nightlord smile. But then he turns back to his love. “Come my darling. Let us take our little Night Lord home.”

With that the family departs. 

Claude stands there for a moment slightly stunned. Well…it's not everyday you get a child named after you. But at the same time there's a…warmth he feels. 

Anrir takes notice and gently places a hand on his shoulder. “You have done well, my son.” Anrir's expression falls to become more somber. “But you must understand, not all of our missions will end so happily. This is the risk we undertake, even here where there is so much less conflict. It is not just a risk to our bodies, but to our hearts and minds as well. Do you understand?”

Claude nods. “I do father.”

Anrir nods in approval. “Good, now…let us go Home.”

“Fucking FINALLY!”

“Language Karlsor!”

…

Last stop before he's finally, FINALLY clear to call you, is a final debriefing at the Rot Bone Base. 

Captain Horlux addresses all of them. “Well done. Your performance on this recent mission was exemplary. Not only were all the pilfered offspring returned, but the perpetrator was brought to face justice.” A troubled look passes across the Black Legionnaire's face. “Medeathe was one of the Alliance's most expert apothecaries, especially in the area of hybrid deliveries. To lose that is a blow, but we will recover.”

“Hopefully his research notes can provide us some aid in training other apothecaries.” Anrir hums. “However mad he may be, the fact he was able to set up an entire nursery and keep all the infants from dying is testament to his skills.”

Claude doesn't like the comments about Medeathe, but again, they are technically correct. 

Horlux grunts, before picking up another sheaf of papers. “The only question that remains is How the bastard managed to abscond with all that medical equipment and supplies.”

Anrir agrees. “True, we'll have to keep him alive until we can ascertain if he was operating alone. It is not infeasible that Medeathe could have falsified the supply documents and removed or collected items over a longer period of time to build his lab. But it's just as plausible that he could have done so with outside help.”

Horlux nods. “He'll be turned into your custody for interrogation. I'll send the order now, and it should be processed in about a day.” The old marine huffs as he goes over the mountain of paperwork in front of him. 

“My condolences.” Anrir jokes, but the sentiment is genuine. 

“Yeah yeah, go on. You and your Claw are dismissed for now.” Horlux waves his hand. “But remember! Keep the bastard Alive until we can get that information out of him.”

Anrir salutes, and he and the Claw turn to leave. Claude notices Khopesh typing a message on his vox. 

“Trying to contact Lullaby?” He asks with a smile. 

Khopesh nods quickly. “Yep yes yes Yep, that last meeting was driving me Insane, but now we're dismissed and I can Finally contact them.”

Khopesh 🦇💙: Lullaby! I cannot wait to see you and hold you and LOVE you! When I see you I will pull you into my arms and not let go until the Sun Rises! 

Lullaby 🎶🌙: Awe Babe!❤❤ That's so sweet! 

But you know I'm just in the bathroom. You don't need to text me from the living room. 

Khopesh 🦇💙 :Lullaby…what are you talking about? I am not in the living room, I am at the Rot Bone Base. I've only just been debriefed and released from my mission. 

Lullaby 🎶🌙: Wait, then…who's here with me right now?

Khopesh's blood runs cold. His pace had turned from a swift walk to a run to full on sprint. Claude had kept pace as he noticed Khopesh's mood change from excited to fearful. 

“What's going on?” Claude asks as the two run through the base and outside. 

Khopesh 🦇💙: Do not panic. Stay in the bathroom and make an excuse like you're having stomach issues. Try to sneak out the window. 

Lullaby 🎶🌙: Okay. I love you. Please hurry!

Khopesh🦇💙: ❤

“There's a fucking Hydra in my Nest!” Khopesh snarls with Claude close behind. 

A soon to be very Dead, very Flayed Hydra. And if Anything happens to his Lullaby there won't be a single power on this world or any other that will be able to stop his wrath!

[wooly-ids]

weirdcore / dream core ID pack for ...

a discord user

NAMES

ANIMALS : Chev (Short for chevrotain), Moss (or Mo), mothy, hare, fawnly, birdee, beetle, buggy, bugby, sparrow, sprite, frog, froggy, froge, foxy, larkling, pup, kit, snak, snake, snek, fisshu, fish, PLANTS & LOCATIONS : Oceana, mossy, twilight, rainy, rain, stormy, storm, meadow, meddy, thunder, thunderly, frost, hoarfrost, lichen, lichy, frosty, snowy, icey, tide, ocina, sky, ripple, rippel, stream, lily, rose, mushy, mush EMOTIONS N ITEMS : dreamy, achey, teeth, velvet, yearn, glitchy, pulse, heartbeat, heartbreak, haunt, fady, fading, faid, shivver, doubt, worry, love, oddling, drift, phantom, faint, liminal, nostal, Key, static, Compass, silver, spoon, Forky, locket, echo, phone, post, cardee, ghosty, ghost, spooks, pin, murmur, mug, vinyl, ticket, pale, mirror, thread

PRONOUNS

Weird/weirdself, odd/oddself, key/keyself, nos/nosself, nox/noxself, stat/statself, static/staticself, ap/apself, fru/fruself, mush/mushself, Moss/moss-self, pop/popself, shrooms/shroomself, ghost/ghostself, echo/echoself, strange/strangeself, winde/windeself, clock/clock self, stone/stone self, creep/creep self, liminal/liminalself, lim/limself, ina/inaself, film/filmself, noir/noirself, mist/mist self, mystery/mysteryself.

GENDERS N IDENTITIES

MascTVthing -- 4 of the listica type -- dreamcoredollic & Weirdcoredollic -- blendreamic -- Liminalspacestalgic -- Snowyroadic -- Oddcoric (Fandom wiki) -- Emptic -- fishteleveisic -- Oldreamsgender (Pinterest) -- Parantoboy/girl (PInterest) -- Nyctobscurthing (PINTEREST) -- Stickerdecorated (Pinterest) --ghostvitic (Pinterest) -- Spiaircea (Pinterest) -- Flowieeamic (pinterest) -- Staticgender (Pinterest) -- Scribblegender (Pinterest) -- dollcorpsic (Pinterest) -- Gremlingender (Pinterest) -- Marainotroic (Pinterest) -- existinaut (Pinterest) --

[fadedsweater]

WIP Wednesday (Veilguard Spoilers!!)

Not tagging anyone but feel free to consider yourself tagged if you want to join in 💛

Finishing Veilguard has dragged me back into the pits of solavellan hell(heaven?) and also gave me a ton of writing energy. I started a post-Veilguard solavellan fic the same night I finished the game to process some of my feelings, and it's slowly growing into a bigger fic than I'd planned. Here's a tidbit from that:

Eira looks over her shoulder, out into the soft green of the forest clearing where she left Solas. He is staring after her as if he doesn't know what to do with himself. That's all right. She has been given, by some small miracle, the tools she needs to do what must be done next.

Solas watches her work, a faraway look on his face. He sits where he directs her, on an overturned log beside the fire-pit. It is not difficult to reignite it, and the old mossy wood from the nearby pile works well enough as fuel. The fire sputters for a while, smoking angrily over the damp, but eventually it evens out into something she can use.

The rest is muscle memory, habits she's had since childhood: Gather the wash basin and hang it over the fire. Open the healing kits and prepare soap, bandages, salves and tinctures. Spread out a wool blanket to keep the injured clean and warm and dry.

When she's done, she turns to him and gestures to his armor. Solas hesitates. Then, with a voice she now recognizes as raspy with injury, he says, “They will heal of their own accord, given time.”

Eira kneels in the soft grass before him. “I won't force you,” she says softly, and runs her thumb over the back of his hand. “But I know you are hurting. Please, let me help.”

Solas makes a soft, sad sound. His face is still shiny with tears, illuminated by the flicker of the fire; she wonders if he's been crying all this time, since the moment they stepped together through the tear in the Veil.

She wipes his face with her sleeve and he looks at her with such love and devotion that she almost starts crying, too. 

Slowly, Solas begins to unfasten his armor. 

[polkadotpatterson]

Ooh what about ship bingo for [redacted] and [redacted]. As a treat :)

I mean I think we can say that one of them is Spears Nolan so people are slightly less completely confused by this, so here's spears and his secret gf lol

[frogs-crackcorner]

Choose your own story: Fae edition

Welcome to Choose Your Own Story, where I set the scene and you write the story!

It's been centuries since the fae and mortal world's combined. Most humans had died during the great war. Those that survived were seen as lowly creatures or animals, many became slaves. Those that didn't were sold as pets to the wealthy fae. Humans became increasingly more rare. This is how you find yourself surrounded by four, rather intimidating, fae generals. The king decided to reward their hard work by gifting you to them.

The fiercest and leader among them was Price. A broad, sturdy man with a thick beard and bits of mossy green dotting his skin. He was said to be a monster on the battlefield. He could bend and command the earth to his will. Rocks would break and explode, vines would decimate enemy armies. He was truly the best of them all.

Next in command was Ghost. He was tall, hulking mass of muscle. A large gash in his cheek hung open revealing his molars and his body was covered in scars and wounds that never seemed to fully heal. It must be part of his magic because liquid never spilled out of his mouth as he drank. Ghost was the commander of death. Sudden and silent, his power of disease wiped out armies without a single arrow fired.

After Ghost came Gaz. Gaz was a charming, slender fae. With dark skin and bright eyes, it was hard to suspect him as being a formidable warrior. He was known to be able to drown a thousand men without anyone ever seeing a drop of water. His power of water was also highly regarded for supplying fresh water to exhausted soldiers.

Last up was Mactavish. A muscular man with a wild Mohawk and fiery eyes. He was the wild card. His power of fire was known to get out of hand on occasion. He had an obsession with explosions and destruction, he seemed to thrive in the chaos. He was unwavering, unpredictable, and undefeated.

As ruthless as these men were, they knew how fragile mortals could be. They made sure to get plenty of enrichment for you. Any activity you wanted to do they made it happen. Sewing kits. Bowling pins. Acrylic paints. Swings. Soccer balls. Any hobby you decided to try they made sure you had everything you needed. They built a library for you in the house. Put a garden in the backyard. You practically had your own little zoo with the amount of animals they got you.

They also made sure to give you plenty of tasks to do. A list of tricks that all humans should know. How to sweep. How to wash a dish. How to get dressed. How to feed themselves .The list goes on. Every fae that owns a human should know how much work they are. Humans are not as developed or cultured as the fae are, every fae knows that to be fact.

Sure, they can be a little demeaning at times but you were used to that. It's how every fae treated you and some were down right cruel. But you knew these four were well intentioned albeit a little misguided. They really did care for you. The high class society they had grown up in had taught them that humans were low life forms that should be cared for similar to house pets. Humans were things to own and show off.

You were taught the same. Your whole purpose in life was to be owned. To be a good pet. You had been sent to school at the age of 13 to be taught how to be a pet. But deep down, you knew you wanted more. You were smart. You could do so much more than be a party trick. Deep down, you didn't want to be just a pet.

Now you have a choice to make

[mouseclan-clangen]

Chapter 1 - Moon 9 - Green Leaf

During this Green Leaf the two apprentices spend almost all their time together, becoming inseparable besides going out for patrols. They are becoming more used to their version of clan life, with just the two of them providing for each other. Lazing in the hot sun and cuddling during the sweltering nights has become the norm.

Early on in the moon, when Charpaw goes on patrol they come across a set of tunnels and start to explore. They come face to face with a fox. The two creatures stare each other down and Charpaw slowly backs away, leaving unscathed.

Later, on Galepaw's patrol he hears the sounds of a mewing kitten on the wind. He follows the sporadic cries to a mossy outcropping of stone. Underneath it is the cold body of a queen and a gasping kit. Galepaw tries to help the kit, but fails, it was barely hanging on in the first place. He sits there for hours- feeling paralyzed and questioning how he can call himself a healer. By the time dusk arrives Charpaw tracked his scent down and sits with him while he cries. Galepaw has reached the age of 12 moons.

Back to the Start | Previous | Burrow Further

[bunnithechubs]

would this be annoying question to ask (hopefully not) but how did you learn your sim style! I’m currently wanting to learn a new style that doesn’t look 🤢 and i love the way you create your sims! tips and tricks - I would love to learn from you!

There are NO annoying questions! Ask as many as you like. To preface I am much better at making feminine sims than I am at masculine sims (imho). Also, get ready for me to yaaaaaap :D

expose yourself to a lot of different sim styles and get yourself inspired, make sure if you take too much inspiration that you give proper credit!

do yourself a favor and if you're able - download as many sliders and presets you can find. This includes body presets too!! THIS single handedly got me better at making sims what the game has is good but you're pretty limited.

Give your sims a favorite feature- this will help you with making your sims look different. I'm a nose girl, idk why but I usually give my sims some cool and different nose shapes.

If possible get yourself a few good skins/skin details. I like to think it's the little details that make a sim really appealing. Like with Charlie I had a mole detail which put a mole on her lips and I was like THATS it. lol. I'll list some creators I use frequently below

DONT GIVE UP ON THEM. If you're like me you're going to hit that point in CAS where you are like WTF is going on. Keep adjusting features it will eventually work itself out.

BONUS: Have a purpose for them. What are they like? What career will they have? Do they have any little quirks like they have a favorite pair of jeans they wear a lot. Are they a shoe person? Are they fashionable? Are they bold? Are they messy or put together?

BONUS 2: I always ask myself do I have something I already purchased before I use CC. This is just for us peeps that use too much cc and not the stuff we actually paid for. Cause in this economy.... I better be using what I paid for.

I hope this helps and sorry for the yap session, your millennial granny likes to share. Under the cut are some creators I use a lot!

Skins: I mostly use northern siberia winds and nesurri. Some faves in the community are sims3melancholic and mossy lane.

Skin Details:

little details by @nesurii all about face by @pyxiidis face kit 2 by miiko face details by @okruee

[shardssystem]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let's spread the self-love 💞

Luckily, I have written at least five things! <sigh of relief>

In no particular order:

Once Was Lost - The start of it all. I still “enjoy” the feeling that the inevitable approach to the gallows gives.

To Tame A Tiger - We are all miss Blaseball, RIV, and all that. I wasn’t as active as I would’ve liked, but I’m still proud of this piece, and how it gives a bit of character to an underrepresented player.

Future Past - While Once Was Lost is the start of things, this is where a little of the meat of the story starts coming into play.

Pulling Loose The Threads - Escalation is the name of the game here, and shows a solid link to the established canon, which I’m always wary about doing.

Holiday In Eorzea - Not just a Dead Kennedys reference! This is easily the most ambitious thing I’ve written to date, and it’s far from over. The sad thing in my mind is that it comes after a lot of other parts that are yet to be written. But sometimes, stories have their time and demand it.

Thanks for the ask, @brasideios! I’ll leave the floor open for anyone else who would like, but I’d like to hear from @kosmosxipo , @mossy-kit, and @cyndakip - Talk some Spit!

[theworldbrewery]

1d8 places to camp in the woods

Under the spreading limbs of a gigantic elm beside the road. Many a traveler has camped here, each adding their name to carvings in the elm’s bark. A small lean-to shed stands stocked with dry firewood, and a large fire-pit has been lined with stones over the years.

In a secluded glade, inhabited by a herd of whitetail deer. The deer are unusually docile and unafraid of people. At the center of the glade there is a single block of granite, carved into the shape of a rounded idol. At night, fireflies congregate around the idol.

Beside a babbling brook, with a mossy wooden footbridge passing over it. The brook is teeming with fish, and a forgotten fishing pole is still wedged between two slats in the bridge. After a heavy rain, the water rises to cover the footbridge.

Within a small, stone roadside sanctuary. The sanctuary’s statues and walls are crumbling with age and overgrown with ivy. A colony of feral cats has made it their home. The oldest, a one-eyed tuxedo cat, greets all who enter her domain.

The still-standing but abandoned barn beside the burned remnants of a woodcutter’s cabin. A crude wooden memorial shrine is built there to honor those who perished in the fire; a bundle of withered weeds is tucked into the shrine as an offering to any restless souls left behind.

On the shore of a placid lake. Mists drift gently across its surface, and in the dark of night, a quiet song rises from amidst the cattails. In the gray hours before daybreak, a common loon calls out mournfully and fixes any approaching creature with the accusing stare of its red eye.

In a clearing ringed with quaking aspens. When freezing-cold breezes blow through in the night, the aspen leaves rattle, reminding travelers of a hushed warning, but high above, the stars shine brighter than ever before. A watchful owl hoots throughout the evening, but gives the camp a wide berth.

At the base of a waterfall, which spills down a rocky cascade before vanishing into a pothole in the stone. The water does not appear to resurface. It seems a message has been carved into the stone above the pothole, but the message has been worn away by the water. The rocky campsite is split in two by a massive toppled spruce; within its hollow trunk is a nesting pine marten and her kits.

[kiwistickers]

Mosspelt/Silverstream minicomic <3

A twitter user I follow hosted a Warrior Cats RAREPAIR tournament bracket, so here's some propaganda and appreciation for my favorite background character. <3

For those unfamiliar, Mosspelt is the queen who took in Graystripe/Silverstream's kits after her death. She is also the mother of Willowshine! I've always felt there was hidden potential in that adopted family dynamic, and that like to headcanon Mossy had a bit of a crush on Silverstream, hence her taking in the kits without question. A very bittersweet love, with unanswered questions of what could have been.

In canon, Feathertail really is the StarClan cat who first visits Willowpaw- however she doesn't recognize her? I find it strange RiverClan wouldn't have told stories about one of the original TNP journey cats, especially since its only been a few moons since they moved into the territory.