#otters playing keyboard

[nataliadoesthings]

Otters just having a jam session.

[starscelly]

here is a question: if you had to assign every player on the stars (minus the gross ones or those who you do not know Like That) a musical

instrument for them to play who would get what? can be completely realistic or just what you want in your heart of hearts and also double ups are fine not everyone has to get a different one

i am inclined to give all the flying stars their instruments… so they may keep those (miro - bass, roope - guitar/vocals, otter - drums, robo - guitar)

actually i wanna give robo a keyboard. so he can have that as well i’ve decided. a stupid electronic one that he can make meow or whatever. also otter ur hands are so big and u are so dramatic . pipe organ for you as well my boy… is pipe organ the name idek. the big ones they have in church

i’ve also given wyatt a cheesy acoustic guitar before and he will ALSO be keeping that. he’s serenading delly over facetime like idk he’s a loser he’s playing wonderwall

tsegs can have a series of a variety of guitars that he keeps buying because he’s Gonna Learn For Sure but never does. he also makes really bad beats on like garage band

i want tharls on a BANJO. NOW. will not be explaining further.

can i give stank a goofy wind instrument. give this man the clarinet or something. he needs to feel embarrassed about something he picked in 6th grade

dutchy is just cringe and sincere enough for a UKULELE!! take him down to the riptide or whatever

mush… he loves to destroy so much i need him on the MOST classical instruments for the dichotomy. first instinct is violin because it’d be silly but cello feels better in my soul?

esa gets a viola because he’d be beautiful playing it. i think i also made him a bassist in my Deeper Flying Stars Lore but we can’t discuss this right now

nils can have a kazoo because i think he’d have fun and annoy everyone with it <3 and i think i’ll leave that all there <3

[bitterkarella]

Midnight Pals: Little Longfellow War

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: By the shores of Gitche Gumee Longfellow: By the shining Big-Sea-Water Longfellow: stood the mighty Hiawatha Longfellow: in a coat he made from otter

King: wow, just wow Barker: incredible stuff! Koontz: gosh! so cool! Lovecraft: really gets you right here, don't it? Poe: Poe: [muttering] he's not that good

Poe: ugh, longfellow's poems are maudlin tripe Poe: you guys actually LIKE this stuff? King: it just makes you feel nice inside, edgar Poe: King: ya know all warm and squishy Poe: King: like you just ate a big pile of water balloons Poe: yes stephen i am familiar with the sensation

Poe: i'm gonna call this charlatan out King: oh edgar, don't King: dean really likes his poems Poe: dean is hardly the barometer of good taste, steve King: oh no edgar King: you don't mean that Poe: i'm sorry i just Poe: they're not good poems!

King: they're very popular poems, edgar Poe: popularity does not mean quality, steve!!! Poe: longfellow writes pap for the lowest common denominator! Poe: oooo i HATE that longfellow!! Poe: i hate him and his trust fund!!

Poe: [typing] call out post for henry wadsworth longfellow Poe: [typing] his poetry is maudlin tripe, fit only for children Poe: [typing] his work is complete squeecore Barker: damn, edgar, i never thought I'd say this Barker: but you got the soul of a true poster! Barker: honestly i figured howard was the only true poster among us Lovecraft: [typing on phone] DEBATE ME, FRED JACKSON YOU COWARD!!!

King: did longfellow reply to your callout, edgar? Poe: no!! he hasn't said anything! Poe: he's just ignoring it! Poe: he's ignoring the discourse! Barker: damn wow Barker: what a power move!

Poe: what the Poe: ooo! that longfellow! always two steps ahead! King: just let it go edgar Barker: haha don't tell him what to let go steve King: King: oh i guess i need to say it this time King: clive

Poe: i've got one last trick up my sleeve Poe: something that no writer can resist replying to! King: no edgar you can't mean Poe: yes! Poe: i'm going to write a one star goodreads review

Longfellow: [singing and playing electronic keyboard] To stop that discourse, one-two-three Longfellow: Here's a fresh new way that's trouble-free Longfellow: It's got henry longfellow's guarantee ... [winks] Longfellow: Just don't look! Just don't look!

[spacefinch]

A few of my headcanons for Shellington!

Based on his accent, I’d say he’s Scottish. (Also: a lot of the fan base seems to agree on this.)

Multi-lingual! The languages he knows include, but are not limited to:

English

Scottish Gaelic (his first language)

Spanish

Latin (he mostly uses it for science stuff)

Hawaiian (learned it from Dashi)

French

Chinese

Japanese

Greek

Russian

Various sign languages

Vegimalese

In true European fashion, he calls math “maths” and sports “sport.”

Never goes anywhere without his comfort items:

Special satchel that Dashi made for him

Magnifying glass

Field journal and pencils

Seashell

Favorite rock

Sometimes gets so caught up in his research that he forgets to eat at the proper time. Same goes for getting a good night’s sleep.

Pretty much an older brother figure to Peso. He’s very gentle and patient with him, as well as protective. A few headcanons for them:

Peso is constantly reminding Shellington to get more sleep, and “eat some food, for the sea gods’ sake!”

They love going sledding together! And in true sea otter/penguin fashion, they never use actual sleds. They just slide down the hill on their bellies.

They also love playing music together! Peso plays the xylophone, and Shellington either plays the electric keyboard or the bagpipes.

Whenever Peso gets nervous, Shellington will hold his flipper to comfort him. He also gives Peso lots of hugs!

Scared of heights. This is already canon, but I forget what episode established it. Whenever traveling long distances, he prefers to travel by sea.

Normally, he’s the reasonable member of the friend group, but if you put him and Kwazii in the same room with no supervision, the two of them share but one brain cell.

An actual conversation they had:

Kwazii: Do you know what time it is, matey?

Shellington: Hand me my bagpipes and I’ll find out.

Kwazii: Okay, here ya go.

Shellington: *plays bagpipes*

Captain Barnacles: Who in the seven seas is playing bagpipes at 2 AM?!

Shellington: It’s 2 in the morning.

Likes to pick up rocks, seashells, sea glass, and other small objects. Most of these he keeps for his collection, but occasionally he gives some to his friends. It doesn’t even have to be a special occasion. Whenever he feels like it, Shellington has a present for any of his friends.

Headcanons for him and Dashi:

They’ve known each other since college (or maybe high school.)

They’ve collaborated on research papers many times.

They both love watching movies!

Sometimes Dashi calls him “Shel” for short.

They often act like an old married couple, even though they aren’t.

Chaos duo, but more chill.

He/they and she/they solidarity!

Whenever they haven’t seen each other in a long time (this can be a few hours to a few months), they get SUPER excited. Dashi tackles Shellington in a hug, often catching him off guard. There’s a lot of hugs/cuddles and happy stimming.

Shellington is either an excellent cook or he almost burns down the kitchen. There is almost no middle ground. It’s canon that the Vegimals are good cooks, but someone had to teach them!

Tunip and the other Vegimals aren’t the only creatures who have imprinted on Shellington. He’s also become the (accidental) parent to several birds, including guillemots, plovers, and ducks. Not to mention several sea creatures. Kwazii is the only crew member who’s accidentally adopted a similar amount of critters.

Headcanons for him and his sister Pearl:

They try to keep in contact with each other, but it’s not easy! Shellington has lots of science research to attend to, and Pearl is preoccupied with her own research— and being a mom.

When he was little, Shellington caught a sea urchin and kept it as a pet. A few days later, Pearl ate it (not knowing it was her brother’s pet). Needless to say, he was very upset when he found out.

He’s definitely lied to the crew about some “fun facts” just to be funny. And unlike Kwazii, he knows how to make his tall tales believable.

To cheer his friends up, he will use his magnifying glass to make observations and compliments about them. For instance:

Complimenting Peso on his thick coat of feathers. “It must keep you very warm while you’re swimming! And what beautiful countershading!”

“Dashi, your hair clips perfectly coordinate with your outfit today! And I see you chose the sparkly ones! They remind me of these shiny rocks!”

Drinks lots of tea. Usually earl grey tea or seaweed tea. He and Inkling meet up a few times a week to drink tea and play board games. And discuss marine biology.

Sometimes he makes tea for the entire crew!

He has autism and OCD. The first one is pretty much canon (and @octoagentmiles explains it better than I could). The second one is just me self-projecting. Anyway— Shellington has to have things just so, or else he can’t relax.

He has befriended clams before, despite the fact that he frequently eats them. This causes a lot of moral dilemmas on his part. Every time he is about to eat raw clam, he prays to the sea gods for forgiveness before smashing the clam open.

He likes experimenting with different food combinations. Someone tell me the episode that confirms that he puts hot sauce on his kelp cakes!

He, Dashi, and Tweak send each other lots of memes.

He’s definitely posted several versions of “do you love the color of the sky,” much to his crewmates’ annoyance.

He chirps and purrs when he’s happy! Whenever he and Kwazii are excited about something, both their purr motors are going at full speed. He will also instinctively purr whenever he’s snuggling anyone.

He spends a lot of time in the sick bay with Peso, and helps him treat patients. If he wasn’t a marine biologist, he probably would have become a doctor.

On the rare occasion Peso is sick or injured, Shellington is the one who takes care of him.

Peso: I’m fine, really! *looks like he’s about to collapse*

Shellington: No you’re not. You’re going back to bed and I’m going to make you some hot tea. Get some rest, or so help me…

Sometimes switches from English to Scottish Gaelic when excited or angry or otherwise feeling strong emotions.

He seems like the kind of guy to enjoy Star Trek. His favorite characters are Data, Scotty, and Uhura.

Favorite video games:

Animal Crossing

Minecraft

Pokémon (mostly the older pixel style games)

Samorost 3

Signs all his letters with “best fishes.”

[sapphireclawe]

"C'mon, guys! Let's get this show set up so that we can convince Alice to sign us on as a band!" Trixie calls, carrying a speaker and her guitar on her back. A short red panda (or rather, a rose panda as her friends joke about her colouring) follows, wheeling a height adjustable keyboard after her otter friend and bandmate. A blueish raccoon brings up the rear wheeling a drum kit in front of him.

"Yeah, but didn't you hear the news about the venue? There was a fire last night and apparently someone had to be hospitalized because they were caught in the fire. Vicky, you can back me up on this, right?"

"Yeah, I dunno if I want to get the contract deal with this place if fires happen here." Vicky follows Trixie through the door. "After all, you and Rascal got top surgery and I dunno if you'd be more affected by smoke."

"It'll be fine, stuff happens. Besides, there's Alice now!" Trixie runs up to a blonde lady whose normally well-tamed ponytail is in a frazzle, mostly due to her almost pulling her hair out by talking to a police officer. It's a back and forth about insurance more than anything, but eventually the officer leaves her alone.

"Okay. You three are here for the contract, I assume, but given the fire the contenders backed out of the audition today. Plus for some reason one of my employees still hasn't been freed from a closet she got locked into just before the fire, and I haven't heard anything from her yet. So play me a song so we can say you auditioned fairly, and I'll grab the contract for your band. That being said you probably won't be performing until Starlight Square is back in full order. Okay?"

"How much are we getting paid for each show? Unfortunately we kinda need to pay rent." Vicky replies, having helped set up.

"Give me a minute, I need to see what the construction workers need, but I will pay your weekly show flat rate of $2000, first one in advance, and half the ticket profits per show. Deal?" Alice walks away, leaving the contract deal to be looked over. As the three inspect it, they find nothing wrong. Oh, and the employee is freed in that time looking much worse for wear. The band begins to play as Alice returns.

"Wow, that was really-*hack* good, you guys!" "Dea, don't try to talk, the ambulance is on its way." "Uh... thanks, I guess ? We'll sign the contract, then." Trixie pulls out a pen as paramedics rush in to take Dea away. The contract is signed, and Vicky looks out the door.

[govindhtech]

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[hehosts-moved]

has ren or any of the other hosts ever wanted to pursue other career paths? if so, what? or are they satisfied with hosting?

what makes hosting interesting or fun for them?

the short answer is yes, and we know this the most about ren.

ren wanted to be a professional musician, specifically a pianist, growing up. it is still his (dead) dream. he supplements by playing piano at the club, where he used to actively sing and perform more than he does now, leaning more towards just choreography. he still does perform, however, and has taken to more solos recently.

"hosts will do shows and performances, skits etc. ren used to perform a lot in his earlier years, but now honestly is more apt to choreograph due to being busy as both the club manager and #1 host. but! he will sing and play piano. he did piano lessons from ages 6 to 15 and then pursued it further by himself. it definitely came in handy later in his career as a host. that being said, he also loves to sing, and sings around the house often, and will croon to his lovers."

going further into specifically ren for a moment —

"REN’S DREAM. “The top three of the Big Eight, based on salary and budget, are the NHK Symphony Orchestra, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, and Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. Rounding out the principal eight are the Tokyo City Philharmonic, Japan Philharmonic, New Japan Philharmonic, Tokyo Philharmonic, and Tokyo Symphony.” 

ren’s dream was to play for the tokyo metropolitan symphony orchestra from his mid-teens on. he would see when the orchestras were in town, particularly the tokyo met., and would stand outside as close as possible to try and hear the music, or occasionally slip into the lobby undetected. the latter wasn’t always successful, but it worked enough to keep trying. ren’s dream was to play music, and to show them / the world that he was good enough."

what makes hosting for or interesting for ren is that he can escape for a while. it becomes about solving other people's problems, not even solving them, just providing temporary reprieve. they usually come back to see him, there are regulars, and so this supplements a bit of community he doesn't always find as yori. people love ren, and he loves being ren. he also can play a real piano at shining!, and while that is such a small, almost "selfish" draw, it is a draw. he only has a small keyboard at home. plus...ren is rather narcissistic. he loves the attention, he's good at his job, and he has his place there. for all the hard times he's "given" by the hosts, the way "they treat him" and are "so disrespectful," he belongs with them. he is meant to be their leader. so it's not always about the hosting for him as it is being the manager. he also is very protective of that #1 spot. he loves being #1.

when it comes to other hosts, each story is varied and unique, but it can be summed up that they are all at shining! due to specific life circumstances.

for example, the #2 host, sho (the genki type as written by otter), is there because he wants to be. he is probably the only one that is so happy with his job. he came to the city from the mountains seeking out those bright lights, and ultimately found ren (or ren found him, it's hard to say).

the #8 host, daisuke (the athletic type), is there out of circumstance. you can guess what he wanted to be. he has home responsibilities outside of shining! that turned him to hosting, a career he otherwise would have never considered. he never once thought he would be a host, but he, like ren, has found his place with the other guys.

each host has a different strength and draw to hosting. ren was very intentional when it came to casting them into their "types" or "roles." daisuke was an almost professional athlete, so it made sense to make him the "athletic type."

daisuke likes the interactions he gets with people, the ability to sometimes actually be able to bond with someone over sports, and the attention he gets supplements the attention he once received as a rising star athlete. while daisuke is humble, it makes him feel better and more useful to be revered again, just maybe not quite in the same way. daisuke is also attracted to a hostess that visits the club semi-often, harboring a long crush on her. getting to see her is a perk!

on the other hand, sho revels in the attention. he loves how hosting makes him feel, and how he can make others feel in return. that, and the rivalry between ren and sho certainly stokes fires.

most of the hosts didn't want to be hosts, most thinking it would be a temporary thing that turned permanent. it took a few years if not longer, to get this "cast" together. throughout ren's time specifically at shining!, a set of rotating hosts has come and gone.

the last spot is usually open more often than not but has been permanently by the "rookie host," haru.

this set of hosts are we know them -> ren, sho, yūto, katsu, ringo, rōnin, satoshi, daisuke, sōta, and haru <- have been shining's permanent roster of hosts together in that order for the last 3 years. the only exception to this is haru, who came just a year prior to the main timeline. // * @shecharm

[is-the-primate-vid-cute]

Gen. zoo question: would it he good enrichment to provide animals with safe musical instruments?

I've seen videos of musicians playing for zoo animals which don't seem to disturb them, and then there is that famous video of otters playing a keyboard.

Would instruments like pan flutes, xylophones, drums, etc be good or not considering how that doesn't seem to fall under wild behavior?

Absolutely! Most of the time toys like musical instruments are kept on the other side of a fence barrier so they can be used safely, as the primates can reach through to manipulate the object.

Here's a video of an orangutan from the Smithsonian zoo playing the xylophone. While they might not play instruments in the wild, this is still a fun form of enrichment for primates.

[0cto0tter]

Can we get some Peso x Kwazii quotes from your High school/College AU :)

BAUAUQJS YES GLADLY!!!

I'm surprised someone remembered this AU ^^

•─────✦─────•

Kwazii running through the halls: Hey! Peso!!

Peso, who's just trying to get to his next class: Uh, yes?

Kwazii: So, you wanna hang out after school? Maybe have a study session?

Peso: Oh, uh, sure!

*bells ring*

Peso: Shoot, I have to get to class, see you after school!

Kwazii: See ya Peso!

*Peso walks away*

Kwazii: ...

Kwazii: YAAA-

Teacher from the classroom they are near: KWAZII CAT!! Get to class!

─────────────────────

Peso: *is studying for an anatomy test*

Kwazii: *is trying to study for a geography test*

Kwazii: So...

Peso: No, your bones can't bend like that Kwazii...

─────────────────────

Tweak: So, how did you do on the History quiz?

Kwazii: I think I did pretty well!

Teacher: Kwazii, could you come here for a second

Kwazii: Sure! What seems to be the problem teach?

Teacher: Why are there several drawings of penguins, cats, and otters on this paper?

Kwazii: Umm......

Tweak: Ha, gay

─────────────────────

Peso: Um... Kwazii??

Kwazii, completely blitzed out: Yes?

Peso: Can you not lay all over my textbooks?

─────────────────────

Barnacles: Ok, so you seem to be struggling in this subject right now. Is there anything distracting you?

Kwazii, staring right at Peso: No-

Barnacles: Ah... OK then....

─────────

Dashi: Peso, you're struggling in this subject a bit. Do you know if anything is distracting you?

Peso, zoning out as Kwazii walks by: Um... Ah! No-

Dashi, who is already planning on setting them up on a date: Understood... ;)

─────────────────────

Kwazii: Hey, do you think you can help me with this assignment?

Peso: Sure-

Peso: Why is it asked for my number?

Kwazii: Um, no reason... So! Number 3 is-

─────────────────────

Peso: Alright, I've almost finished my project, I just need a prop.

Kwazii, a theater kid: What prop do you need?

Peso: Pirate gear, it's for a history project

Kwazii, vibrating with excitement: My time has come-

─────────────────────

Peso: Hey, what are you drawing?

Kwazii trying to flirt: A map of your eyes, seeing that I keep getting lost in them

Peso: Aww...

Peso: *starts screaming in a flustered panic*

─────────────────────

Shellington: So... have you managed to ask them out yet?

Kwazii and Peso: *shocked*

Kwazii trying to play it off: Ummm... who?

Peso, still confused and shocked: What???

Shellington: Ah, nevermind...

─────────────────────

Peso: Kwazii, do you think you can help me with this final paper?

Kwazii: Sure! What do you need?

Peso: I'm writting about bones and joints, primarily the flexibility of them and how far that flexibility can go. I know you're pretty flexible, so do you think I can examine you a bit?

Kwazii, flustered: *verbal keyboard smash*

Kwazii: Ehem, um... Yes!

•─────✦─────•

Sorry this is so short + all over the place ^^;

I'm still trying to get back into writing scenarios and such, which clearly is taking some time-

I'll probably write more info on the Highschool/College AU later tho :)

[kap1ino]

IM GOING CRAZY

Way too crazy that my brain is going static

I was grieving from when security brief came out and I'm so sorry to those who follow me I have made nothing at all sorryy

Anyways, here is a fat lore dump that I made up concerning Bonnie and Foxy and where they are because I want them to be at least somewhere:

So Bonnie is put away due to damages and is replaced by Monty. He is fixed and was planned to go back but Monty was gaining more attention than Bon so Bonnie is just left in storage with no plan of ever getting him out. ( They decided not to lead the bowling because charging him would just take up more power and they didn't wanna pay for him) They moved him to a separate storage facility where old parts and unused animatronic lay unused. That is until the Fazbear company decides to expand their company and make smaller complexes which they called the the Fazbear Friends that scattered the state. One of those complexes is where Bonnie is relocated along with another classic member, Foxy, and three more named Otto the Otter and Disaster twins: Mimi and Maxie the tigers.

They were located to a decently sized bowling alley where they only had a stage and a mini arcade. Bonnie was the lead guitarist and singer, Otto was bass, Foxy was drums and Mimi and Maxie were keyboard but also played a bunch of other instruments if needed. Their introduction was a success and out of all the smaller locations; theirs became popular due to the use of animatronics instead of performers or mascots and having 2 of the original characters: Bonnie and Foxy.

Because of their popularity, the bowling alley grew bigger, leading it to be renovated to at least one third of the mega complex. They had their own stations now, Bonnie becoming the bowling mascot like he was in the Megaplex, also becoming part of the growing arcade and was the one to introduce guests.

Foxy and Otto became a duo, their station was called Dark Oceans and they were placed on a broken ship that lay in the middle of a mini water park. There, Otto and Foxy would do skits, sing songs (most probably some edgy stuff since their outfits turned to more punk and metal themes) or join the kids in the pool to teach them to swim since both were waterproof. Otto is the one to teach them tho, since his model and programming was designed specifically swimming. Foxy can too but his original design isn't that good for swimming. He's a lifeguard tho.

Mimi and Maxie get their own place called the mini Jungle, a play area that was mostly on the roof and you had to climb most of the time. Their place expanded over most of the bowling ally though. The complex plan was to use these tubes to explore the complex so that kids could have fun viewing areas. They go almost everywhere, into the kitchen, backstage, and even into pirate splash where the mini water park is stationed. Not all the tubes are accessed through the Jungle area though, some entrances being outside the area, highlighted with the faces of Mimi and Maxie.

They perform on the stage together from time to time.

Eventually more animatronics come in, Moley, Rolly, and Poley the penguins that work with bonnie for bowling (he uses them as Bowling balls) or Foxy as extra actors. They are also mini security. There are Kiwi the kiwi, Tuna the monkey, and Polly parrot that live and stay in the jungle area.

Then there is tinker the lightbulb Hunny the lop and hooty the owl that live in the library, the quietest place in the whole complex. The walls make sure you hear nothing of the rest of the place and is somewhere you can go for injuries or just to drain out when the action becomes too much. Tinker and Hooty help with the books, Tinker being a walking lightbulb with a suit that reads aloud to kids and Hooty is a monitor for the system, with full 360 view. Hunny is the nurse who speaks very quietly. You can never hear when Tinker or Hunny are walking so be aware lol. No performing animatronics are allowed inside the library and vice versa.

All the animatronics are aware that they work under the fazbear company and that the mascot, freddy is a bear but thats it. Sadly, Bonnie's memories had been wiped due to the damage he took and because of that, his drive had been completely wiped. Now, he only recognizes freddy as the mascot of where they work at. Foxy was supposed to be part of the megaplex gang but his concept was too stuck to him and didnt fit the standard so they had scrapped him. He was already built tho but was set to stay in storage. Because of the opening of miniplexes and didn't need to stay within the theme that much, he was free to stay as foxy the pirate along with some new adjustments. Bonnie and Foxy stay pretty much the same as to whatever the fandom gave them before. Same characters, just different memory and outfits. Otto is the biggest of the animatronics and he mostly talks in this australian accent but it also sounds like hes really high. Hes a chill animatronic and does a lot as Foxy's first mate, teaching kids how to swim, entertaining them and what not. Hes a quick swimmer and can get to any area of the mini water Park in a matter of seconds if there is any water leading there.. His huge size is so that he can carry many children at a time.. Mimi and Maxie act as surveillance for the kids but cause more trouble than good. They are sneaky as hell and like to spook the adults with the help of the kids. From an adults perspective thay are devils but to kids they are super nice and funny. Tinker is a weird one and has a soothing voice, he has a screen on his stomach where he reads the books from and his tie is like one of those pull down light switches. Hunny is a soft spoken Lop bunny who very silent, shes reserved and doesn't speak unless she feels like it. Her ears are made of soft and fluffy yet stretchy and durable material that is used to calm kids down if they are crying. They can warm up and cool down and her soft voice music to the ears. Hooty has no personality and just stands in as more of a security system with a 360 turning head. They're quick to catch things like injuries, emotions, and can anything on a person physically. They have some insanse hearing but they cant detect Tinker or Hunny because they are so quiet. Kiwi, Tuna, and Polly more or less just act like regular kids and Moley, Rolly, and Poley only squack to speak role around. They act like those cute penguins you see at aquariums that do tricks.

The bowling alley has had no incidents and is overall just a regular complex.

Here are some drawings:

Ok I'm done lol

[starscelly]

a pleasure to ask more about the flying stars, i love hearing about it! 💚 i love the imagery of them with a long list of names they are debating for their band with only slightly mild hysteria of being up too late whether on some bighuge whiteboard or on a notes app like a baby names list before throwing their hands up, throwing a (hopefully metaphorical!) dart and introducing themselves as a different name every other night and taking audience feedback (getting a crowd of twenty something people to shout out if they prefer shooting stars or seeing stars) i think its so funny that they only realize that roope and robo go absolutely wild after they start performing 😭 five injured, microphone dead, still waiting for the crowd to pass robo back to them, divine inspiration struck for their band name at a show under an overpass and they still gotta pack their gear back up! i know you mention players as staff or assistance or a friend but are there other players involved in the scene? could be performing, could be a fan!

DEEPLY SORRY I LEFT THIS IN MY INBOX FOR SOO LONG.... forgive me. i love discussing the boys i just take forever to ruminate on my thoughts for them <3 i hope the long ass answer makes up for it omg

and oh yes at one point when theyre still figuring out the name they for Sure just start running a bit before shows "WE'RE THE [mumble unintelligible grumbling] STARS!" "hope you're excited to see the [WET COUGH] stars!" "... and with our dearest otter on the drums, WE are YOUR [loud clanging and banging from drumset] STARS!"

also hello "still waiting for the crowd to pass robo back to them" is so funny and so true. he's lost a shoe and ty is trying to drag him back to the stage but somebody has like a death grip on him and onstage otter and roope are frantically looking for something to write the name down with before they forget (miro wrote it in his notes app like the second one of them said it but he's staying quiet about it)

AND YES SO. delly harls are strictly Helping Out. delly by virtue of being otter's best friend/roommate BUT harls was like Into the punk scene!!! and really liked their sound (definitely NOTHING to do with any looks........) and befriended del who introduced him to the band etc etc so he was a fan turned roadie!

and wyatt DOES help run their merch table but he is ALSO a guitarist and singer . his stuff leans a little more like. indie rock than Heavier Punk like the flying stars play but he's a Friend of the Band (dating delly and always at his and otter's apartment because he's renting a room in Normal Dude joe pavelski's family home and is NOT bringing his boyfriend back there) and to seem more Professional they just have him perform as an opener ! because he is very good! though he honestly just ends up playing acoustic covers of popular punk/emo songs half the time the crowds are very endeared by his boyish swag.

i have ALSOOO played with the idea of him eventually Gaining Bandmates. which would probably end up being stank mav and nils! but i just havent fully decided their like. Instruments. i think one of them on keyboard would be kinda fun but grain of salt lol. i also want lian in here somewhere but i need him to get nhl time/more ahl time before i can flesh out those vibes.

AND I DONT THINK I EVER TALKED ABOUT THIS IM JUST REALIZING???? BUT MENTOR BAND!!!! disbanded mentor band but well. they all were fans of [insert tbd band name here actually maybe this is why i never talked about it] who were like. kinda on the cusp of fame? like were probably one album away from Making It before everything kinda crashed down. and it consisted of segs (vocals), klinger (guitar), esa (bass), bish (drums). their breakup was kinda messy and somewhat rooted in like. the very anti sellout culture of punk. to summarize it with like Minimal Detail (bc i would love to make a whole Thing abt it lowkey):

klinger out of nowhere is like. i have to go. there's better opportunities for me in california i know it (which was a Fucking Lie there was Drama with their manager but he didnt know how to or really want to articulate it and just wanted to get far away and his best offer was coming from california) which obviously everyone in the band IMMEDIATELY jumped on him like. what the fuck youre such a sellout we started this band as friends and youre leaving us for better opportunities?? in fucking california?? they were also all already like. on edge and stressed from the level of fame they were starting to get. so it was messy. and then him and esa had a messy breakup ofc. they're all cordial now but it lead to the immediate disbanding of the. band. because esa and tyler wanted to bring in other guitarists but bish refused to play with randos he wanted to play with his FRIENDS and it just. never worked out. so now esa tyler bish (and sometimes klinger when hes in town but . he tries to avoid being in town) spend their days working relatively normal ass jobs and going to flying stars shows and being like Don’t Be Us Don’t Go Sell Out Don’t Run From Feelings. and you know their asses are Listening to that Advice.

^ somehow that was the abbreviated version just trust me

[sardinesandhumbugs]

Okay but imagine wild wooder! Portia calling Chief dad by accident.

Oops, this sparked a ficlet! This I banged out on the keyboard in an hour while still in bed, so it may be a little rough around the edges, but inspiration hit so I ran with it! This is kinda me playing around with the whole wild wooder portia au, getting a feeling for the setting and emotions. Please enjoy! 

*

The otter hunt which took Mr Otter happened when Portia was only a very small pup. She remembers the tears, the potent grief that submerged her home, and the animals who visited with hushed voices and sad eyes – but she remembers precious little of her father.

She doesn't tell her mum this.

Oh, there are fragments. A lullaby hummed in easygoing tenor notes, a full-bellied laugh, being chased through the kitchen while her mum scolded in a teasingly affectionate tone which has faded since. There are fragments, but nothing in which she can point and go that. That is who my dad was.

And because she is young, because she is tenacious and stubborn in the way pups are, she wears her fatherless state with a sort of fierce pride. She sees the way her dad's death has left her mum nervous, scared in a way she hadn't been before (she does not see that the fear is born of protection for her remaining family) and Portia instead grows bold.

It is this boldness which leads her into the Wild Wood and into the clutches of its inhabitants.

They are going to eat her, they tell her.

Her mum will save her, she warns them in return, but her voice cracks and she fears her mother too scared to ever venture into the Wild Wood, even for a missing daughter.

Let her try, the Wild Wooders retort.

And they almost do seem to let her mum try. She hears whispers of Riverbankers in the Woods, of even the intimidating Mr Badger venturing from his sett, but then the stories change – instead she hears tales of Toad and his driving machines, of arrests and courts and, finally, of 20 years jail time.

But still no rescue.

So when the Wild Wooders relocate to Toad Hall, it is almost a side thought when they bring her along. And when Portia's place on the menu crops up, the Chief Weasel announces that she's too skinny for the eating and there is almost something like... relief among his companions.

"Good night, sleep well," each evening she's told. "We'll most likely eat you tomorrow."

And still no rescue.

"They probably thought you already ate me," she informs them grumpily when one of the weasels – Lesser, did the others call him? – forgets himself and asks. "Given up and accepted the worst."

Lesser's muzzle wrinkles. "Then why aren't they out for revenge?"

Portia can only shrug at that. She does not think of her siblings, or of her mother who has suffered keenly that grief before but still has mouths to feed and pups to protect. She can only think of herself, of the otter pup whose mother has left her for dead.

The conversation seems to whisper around the Wild Wooders in the following days. "The Riverbankers don't care if one of their own are taken," come the unkind rumours. (They do care, Portia wants to protest, but revenge is not their way.) "They've abandoned an otter pup, all because their precious Toad got himself in a spot of bother." (They didn't, she silently thinks, its all just bad timing.) "They're never going to save her." (Not true, not true, not true...)

Eventually the rumours reach the Chief Weasel's ears, whose ire, in return, reaches everyone's ears.

"They're what?" he snaps. "Do they think we're running a frigging daycare? A pupsitting club for the recently-kidnapped? Are you telling me they ain't even gonna mount one measly little rescue party?"

The rambling anger goes on for some time before the Chief Weasel approaches Portia.

"What," he asks, in tones that make it sound like it's her fault they kidnapped her, "are we gonna do with you?"

"You could always just eat me," she mutters sulkily.

He glowers at her, but doesn't get the cauldrons cooking. "Nah, nah," he says, "I think the Riverbankers deserve some karma. We're not gonna eat ya."

"You're not?"

"We're not?" ask several nearby Wooders.

"Nah. We're gonna recruit you."

*

She thinks about making a bid for escape several times in the following weeks. It would be remiss not to. And at first the Wooders seem aware of this too, always keeping an eye on her when the possibilities of freedom loomed near. But the longer time goes on, the more that petty little ball of anger cements inside her.

Her mother never did come for her.

The Riverbankers accepted her death without question.

She was never going to be rescued.

The Chief Weasel and his two second-in-commands take priority in what she might very generously call her 'training.' It's more akin to settling her in, teaching her the lessons that Wild Wooder pups learn in their infancy.

Instead of teaching her to fear, they teach her the dangers of the Wood and how it might be traversed safely. She learns how to spot the mossy dips which warn of the open mine shafts below; she learns how to navigate even through the foggiest nights; she learns which berries will heal and which will harm.

She also learns of her keepers.

She learns that Lesser is easily distracted, impulsive and playful. He is the easiest swayed by her ideas, curious in a way she recognises, and fun in a reckless way which her mother has been too scared to be.

She learns of Cheryl, the stoat who has risen to the ranks of Chief's other second-in-command. The stoat is the least enamoured by her sudden pupsitting duties, and has little patience for Portia's tomfoolery. Her verdict is that if Portia can't keep up, then she deserves to fall behind, and she seems begrudgingly impressed when Portia doesn't. She takes no shit, and there is a fearlessness to her which Portia can't help but admire.

And she learns of the Chief.

Despite his loud mouth and snappish nature, he is not as fearless as Cheryl, but what he lacks he makes up for with his fierce protectiveness of his own. Portia sees it only once – in a close call with a hound – but once is enough. This, she realises, is why he's the chief.

He is nothing like the fragmented memory of her father. He does not hum lullabies, and his laughter is more of a cackle than a guffaw, and he leaves the play chases of the pups to Lesser, but there is more than one way to be a father.

Portia just didn't realise it until she accidentally lets the name slip.

(She doesn't think he notices. At least, he doesn't berate her or even comment on it. But she doesn't think she entirely imagines the grin which he hastily tucks away in the corner of his mouth.)

[lovemesomesurveys]

[created by: vyvyan86]

Would you like to be a fly on the wall, observing someone else's life? I’ve thought that before.

Would you be interested in building a water feature for a garden? No.

Do friends come to you for ideas for things like haircuts? Yeah, I’ve had people ask me for my opinions on things like that.

Do you know anybody, who's gone to university at the age of 16? I have a cousin who went to community college at 16.

Does your keyboard have a wrist rest? No.

Do you have plants in your house? If so, what kind/s? Nope.

Do you consider the letter Y a consonant or a vowel? It’s a vowel sometimes.

When you're really thirsty, do you go for still water or sparkling water? Just water out of the two. I don’t like sparkling water.

If you carry a water bottle, do you reuse the same one or buy a new one? I’m gonna get judged for this, but I use plastic water bottles. 

If you wear them, what are your loudest pair of earrings? I don’t have any loud earrings. I don’t like dangly or big earrings that clink and clank. 

Would you rather wear a tie or a bowtie? Ehh, a bowtie I guess.

How many birds can you name just by looking at them? Maybe like two?

Which birds are most common around your neighborhood? I’m not sure what type they are. I don’t know much about birds.

When's the last time you had a potluck? It’s been several years. If you don't understand a reference in something, do you look it up? Yeah, most likely.

Are you the kind of person to look at accident sites, when passing them by? I probably would take a quick look, but don’t rubberneck and hold up traffic doing so.

Do you ever see candles burning by the road side? I have.

Did you ever make dolls or hand puppets in primary/elementary school? Yeah.

Aren't baby chicks adorable? Aww, yeah.

Have you ever seen a polydactyl cat? It’s possible. 

Do you find Polish folklore interesting? I don’t think I’m familiar with any Polish folklore.

If so, what are some of your favorite aspects of it? --

Have you ever been interested in the Middle Ages at all? Not especially.

Are there any languages you could try to work out what some words mean? Yeah.

When you were little, what sorts of make-believe did you play? I loved playing house and school.

Has a friend's parent ever given you a present just because? Yes.

What do you do with clothes you can't wear anymore? I donate them.

What is something you're very particular about? My food and my coffee.

What is your dearest stuffed animal that you own? Why is that? All my giraffe stuffed animals.

Have you ever had to try to pronounce words that have letters with umlauts? I’ve attempted to, yeah. I’m sure I was way off.

Are you more an Eeyore, a Piglet or a Tigger? Eeyore and Piglet.

Name something awesome from another culture that is not part of yours: There’s a lot of things.

Do you have an appliance running right now? If so, which one? My TV, laptop, and two fans are on in my room right now. 

What makes you wary about a person? Too many red flags. <<< 

Do planes fly over your area often? No, not really.

When at a Chinese or Japanese restaurant, do you use chopsticks? No. 

How do you break your routine when you feel like you're stuck in a rut? My life has been very routine for the past few years.

If you could, would you enhance your body with technology? Uhh, how so?

What are you grateful for NOT having? Something terminal.

What's something you can't wait for about growing old? Uh, I’m not looking forward to getting old.

How do you expect your life to go like? How are you ensuring that? It’s hard to imagine things changing and getting better at this point. :/

What's a yard game that you still enjoy playing as an adult? I don’t play any yard games.

What do you think is the most interesting sea creature? I think otters and sea lions are cute, but honestly most sea creatures freak me out.

How do you reset your head to zero, so to speak? Not sure what that means.

Have you ever gone exploring an abandoned building? No, but I watch a YouTuber whose channel centers around doing that. I find it very interesting. 

What's for dinner today? I don’t know, yet. Are there any foreign television shows you enjoy watching? When my aunt was here a few weeks ago she showed me a Japanese drama on Netflix called, Erased. It was really good. 

[otterenergy1962]

Letting go of old beliefs - part 3

In part 1 and 2, I wrote about life situations that caused me to have limiting beliefs about myself. For this entry, I am focusing on one that has run through the core of my being and has been persistently there for my entire life. As I examine it, I am starting to locate the actual point(s) in time that caused this limiting belief.

I am plain and unattractive.

It is a simple fact that I don’t always see why others people think that I am attractive. Some people even go as far as to say that I already know that or that I take advantage of it. I’ve been accused of being an attention seeker for posting a picture of my weightlifting progress… Many people just make assumptions and seem to be quite willing to express the same to me because they feel safe behind their keyboard.  Would any of them have the courage to say so in front of my face?

One of my old desires was to look like a Tom of Finland drawing. For my straight friends, Tom of Finland was an artist who drew gay men in a hyper-masculine manner. The men were often extremely muscular and well-endowed. I always thought that I was a man who was too far from even being close to resembling a hyper-masculine caricature. I felt very different inside. I was still that overweight kid that had low self esteem and low self worth.

Sometimes guys project their ideas and feelings onto me. I’ve gotten friendship requests on FaceBook from men who seem to be a really nice guys. Once friended and without my request, a dick pic (or other parts of the body) shows up and I feel disappointed because they must only see me for what they believe I am. If I post a picture of myself without my shirt on does that mean that I am a whore and want others to automatically think think that I am seeking such? That I am willing to toss them a nude shot of me without any self-respect?

My ex husband would often say that I was the straightest gay man that he had ever known. He said this because I would often wear jeans and a t-shirt, didn’t seem to have any fashion sense or didn’t partake in the stereotypical gay man’s activities. I didn’t want to sleep around with everyone, didn’t obsess with HGTV, didn’t go to raves stoned on various drugs or believing that the grass might be greener on the other side of some stupid fence so that I could dump one man for a better one…. He even said that I didn’t have the gay designer gene!

After all, I didn’t fit the Tom of Finland stereotype. I liked reading, writing, science fiction, gardening, cooking and more. I liked walking on the beach and camping.   I didn’t ride a motorbike or wear leather and role play hyper-masculine fantasies. So, why didn’t I start acting like I was a Tom of Finland man so that I could PRETEND that I was something that I was not? My ex husband, Henry, did that all the time. I used to giggle about his desire to be a butch leather fantasy man who loved doilies, frilly antique pieces and miniature doll houses! I didn’t deem it necessary to pretend that I was something that I wasn’t.

In my journey of self discovery, I have learned that it is okay to be silly, dance to Madonna in my underwear while making dinner or singing Donna Summer tunes while cleaning the house. By the way, I clean my house in jeans and a t-shirt! How “un-gay” can that be? I love otters, not in the gay sense, but the animal. A gay otter is a man that loves bears. Bears are big and hairy guys. So, I’m not a gay otter, but am nicknamed Otter because I want to be playful like my spirit animal. A friend recently told me that one of things he loves about talking to me is how I say goodbye on a FaceTime call. I wave bye-bye like I do with my students! He says that I have this cute child-like grin on my face and wave quick little wave. He says it is really cute!  Okay, definitely not Tom of Finland! What makes it okay is that I don’t have to conform. I can be anything I want.

As I write this, I think back to when I was a child. I loved to play ball tossing games and skipping rope. Tom of Finland guys don’t skip Double Dutch… or do they? This brings up a question that my friend, Gary, recently asked me. “What would you say to that little kid that loved Double Dutch and tossing a ball against a wall whilst singing songs? Why does he like doing those things?” He would say because it was fun. There wasn’t a rule that said I couldn’t do those things. I didn’t like playing sports that much and seemed to enjoy the girls’ company more than the boys’.

It wasn’t until I was a few years later that I found out that being different would surface in a negative way. Suddenly, the word “Fag” starting being heard. The Double Dutch guy was a fag who felt dumpy and nondescript. I think that I was trying to make myself that way to avoid being noticed. If you made yourself as nondescript as possible, the bullies wouldn’t notice you as much. Duck your head and look the other way! I can even remember telling my mother that I didn’t feel good about myself. She just said that I would grow out of it…

I didn’t. I took that idea into my adult life. I continued to believe that I was nondescript and unattractive. When I came out, men liked me because of my age, or so I thought.  I figured that being young made you attractive. It never occurred to me that I was attractive in some other way.

I’ve already written about the AIDS crisis and how it affected me. When you are HIV+, you see the world through a different lens. In the early years of AIDS, people like me were considered pariahs. You were considered so because people were afraid. I remember the stories of the early years where men who had this unknown disease were isolated in rooms at hospitals, their food trays left in the hallway for fear of getting this unknown disease. For more information, read this article: https://www.out.com/positive-voices/2016/12/01/woman-who-cared-hundreds-abandoned-gay-men-dying-aids#media-gallery-media-1 . Like the men in the story, I felt abandoned. My partner at the time was so afraid of the syndrome that he refused to touch me. In my mind, he abandoned me, so I  abandoned him and tried to move on. Relationships became more and more difficult.  Even hook ups were impossible because I didn’t want to infect someone else by accident. So all those years of dealing with HIV had a major affect on my view of being unattractive and undesirable. It fortified my original concept of myself. Gradually, as I met more HIV+ men, I began to have relationships that were more comfortable, but the effect of the situation has stayed with my all of my adult life.

I’ve also written about how exercise saved my life in those times. I’ve been exercising ever since in the form of weights, aerobics and group fitness classes. I also taught them from 1990-2013 and developed a real sense of physical fitness. In those times, I developed the belief that to be attractive, one had to be muscular and fit. I was able to hide my disability though exercise and bulking up. In all that time, I never considered the possibility of looking inside and seeing the person or soul who had the muscular, fit body. All I could see was an imperfect body, never fit enough, all the flaws with my face, my body, and my soul. I could rally a major list of flaws, but seldom looked at the positives.

It has been in the last few years after major relationships ended, and dealing with cancer that I have come to see what I need to see. I began to look inside for the answers. I am still on that road to understanding and loving myself. I can honestly say that I am an attractive man, not totally because of my outside appearance, but what is also inside. My friend, Gary, again come up with a nugget of wisdom one night as we discussed the difference between being attractive, being desirable, being appealing etc. We even discussed who we thought was stunningly beautiful! The nugget was, “Keep your eyes, ears and heart open to an opportunity to try something new!” I’ve opened all of my senses to take the opportunity to see what is beautiful in me!

So, I was curious about what people thought of me. I asked a group of friends, some of them have been sexual partners and some have been platonic friends. The answers stunned me. The points that came up the most were:

“… you are a man that speaks and acts from your heart and have nothing but the best intentions for those you care about most.”

“You’re incredibly kind and caring. You’ve been kind of like a "Daddy" type to me by nurturing me and giving me tough love when needed. You're an animal lover. You’re intelligent. Strong. All of that. Confident.”

“Your eyes are intense, showing your beautiful soul and genuine warm and caring smile.  Then you’re so warm, kind, respectful, affectionate...  fun and adventurous.”

“You come across as what we call in Arabic, ‘the combination of the opposites’ - you are silent and brooding but at the same time really kind and caring, and you can be goofy and fun when the time calls for it. You are a serious man who has no problem showing emotions and vulnerability. You are strong, yet fragile.”

“You’re kind and easily let people in. And it’s just very easy to be around you, a very welcoming presence.”

Where there examples that showed that they thought I was attractive?  You bet! However, they have been tempered with the above points, telling me that it is more than just what is on the outside, and that the inside is just as important:

“Physically, for me you are definition of what I consider hot, attractive, not pretty girly but stern masculine look and a warm beautiful smile, you’re tall and muscular and very aggressive sexually chemistry that just is a drug to me.”

“Obviously you’re extremely handsome and built. You’re into a lot of fun and hot things, such as rubber and kink.”

“Superficially, you’re ruggedly handsome.”

“Ok, here’s my honest answer: physical aspects: silver, salt and pepper hair and beard are very attractive to me, combined those signs of a well seasoned man with the body of a well trained one and then you have a lethal combo that many can’t resist.”

“And top if off, you’re a very sexy and handsome man. ��️”

So, can I honestly say that I am attractive? Am I a Tom of Finland kind of guy? The answer has been coming to me more lately. I’ve taken a few selfies and I’ve looked past the crooked smile and the grey hair. I’ve ignored the wrinkles and saw the warmth and beauty in my own eyes. There is a softness and a love that I’ve not noticed before. Is it selfish or conceited to find the self love and the things that make me attractive to myself?  I’m going to have to say no. If anyone says that I am posting pictures of me with my new glasses to just to get attention or to make me feel better by hearing everyone’s opinions… I have have something to say: These guys need to push off and find somewhere else to dump their own insecurities! They need to acknowledge their projections and their own conceptions of self onto me. I’m not a narcissistic man who posts pictures and says, “Look at me! Hello! I am here! I am beautiful and don’t I know it?”  Give me a fucking break!  All I am is a man who looked into the mirror, deep into his own eyes and found the soul and heart of a man that people find attractive and beautiful for many reasons.

I’ve since had that conversation with the little boy inside who thought he was nondescript and unattractive. We’ve consoled each other and come to love each other for all of our traits. Thank you guys (Gary, Bryan, Seann, Ray, Masoud et al), for your comments. Thank you for helping me see that being attractive starts at home in the belief of the self. I love you guys!

Carpe diem!

[crysta-cub]

Crysta’s Lamia Experience: A Good Move

After a week of recover, Crysta realizes that some big changes are needed to move forward.

AO3

Previous

Oh boy, has it been a long week. I’m not much for being a low energy creature, I do enjoy roaming and going out, but its harder to get away with coming and going without my human form. I was able to get my car returned to me, which was nice to not worry about that.

During this time I observed a few things that began to bother me. The first main issue was that this house just seemed to be just too small for one of our newest members of the family. Hero was struggling to get around. In my soul, I knew he would never complain, but going from free roaming in the forest to being shoved in an older home, built for humans. I knew Guardian also desired to roam and explore, it just never felt safe enough with his age. I was sure that Hero would also prefer to have some territory to explore and patrol. And if Hero was too big for the house, the ever growing Munchkin would also soon be too big.

The second problem, maybe a little to the fact that Butterscotch had become a bit more protective over his twins than originally thought. Alpha would be the only Lamia to be allowed in the room, barring Munchkin when I carried him in. I began to wonder when the older young lamias would want a room of their own.

The third, well Hero pointed it out to me. I’m no longer comfortable living here. The encounter with those hillbilly folks had really unnerved me. If they were able to track me and catch me while I was out in the open… maybe this place isn’t as safe as it once was. I’m finding myself more comfortable in areas closer to the pet shops, where all sorts of creatures seem to be able to live freely. It was like a bubble on earth that melded all sorts of realities.  

All week I kept tinkering away at my laptop, using some of my smaller forms with more dexterous toes, ranging from my Black-footed ferret form to my smooth-coated Otter to my Opossum, to manage the keyboards. I had an idea and hopefully the others would allow for this bit of change. I wouldn’t want to do anything that they would be uncomfortable with.

I think I found the perfect solution.

I called all the lamias for a family meeting. There was only a mild struggle getting Butterscotch to finally come out of the room, the twins took a little to be rocked to sleep before he could be carried away to the living room by Alpha. Butterscotch gave an affectionate huff as he was sat upon the cheetah printed throw pillow, I knew all would be fine.

Munchkin wiggled in Hero’s arms, he was just excited to see everyone in one place, calling out to his momma Butterscotch and waving frantically at him. Everyone turned to look at me expectantly. Well, I am the one to call the meeting, guess it’s time to get started.

“Alright everyone,” I shift my paws, currently sitting in my Greyhound form, “I have been noticing for a while that, well, to put it simply, I think this house has gotten to become a little too small for our family now. It’s definitely too small for Hero to get around comfortably and we’re probably going to be needing more rooms. I have been doing some research and I think I found a solution.”

I nudge the laptop around for the lamias to look at. It's a large two story wooden home with a wrap around deck and stairs leading to a trail into a large wooden area. A sizable fenced yard, large enough for Eevee to run herself silly and a fenced in pool, large and deep enough for a growing Twister.

Alpha approached the laptop and began to scroll through the pictures. It was a large lot with practically no neighbors. There were several rooms, a basement and garage. A theatre room that Guardian and Moonstone Oooo’d and Ahhh’d to. A sizable kitchen and not a tight space in sight, even the doorways seemed wider. There was something whimsical about it and the price… “How much isss it?”

“That’s the thing, It’s in the same area as Vex and Selie’s adoption centers and all those rescues we see online. All you have to do is want it hard enough and it’s ours. I just, don’t want to make a decision on it without you guys wanting for it too.”

“you want usss to move? now?” Butterscotch asked

“Well soon, there maybe something we’d have to get done, packing and all that.” I answered. “But only if all of you want to.”

“I think it would be bessst.” Hero commented, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You haven’t felt entirely ssssafe.”

I shrug, “I know I’m safe with you all here to protect me, but I do have a sense of unease. Like something could happen at any moment, and not just to me. But I also want you all to be comfortable and happy. I don’t want to force anything.”

“I really like it,” Moonstone piped up, “It looksss really cool and I think we can all be happy there, Munchkin can learn how to ssswim in sssomething bigger than the kiddy pool.”

“It looksss like there’sss a river along the trail.” Guardian began going through the outdoor pictures. “There’sss ssso much to explore.”

Alpha nodded then looked towards Butterscotch. “What do you think, love?”

Butterscotch took a moment to ponder, glancing from the images, to the teenage lamias to Munchkin. Then he glanced back to the singular lamia room. Coming to a decision, he looked back at me. “i think thisss isss a good idea. you ssshould go for it Crysssta.”

I smiled a doggy grin at Butterscotch, “alright, I should make a call to the agency.”

“Are you able to shift to your human form, not many can underssstand you otherwise.” Alpha ask, giving me a raised brow.”

“Hmmm, let’s see.” I felt for my human form and sure enough it seemed it had healed from the previous ordel. In a puff of red smoke, I shifted from my Greyhound form and emerged Human, still clothed in the clothes I was captured in. “Aside from the need to change, I think I’m doing better.”

Guardian and Moonstone cheer, Munchkin following their excitement a moment after. I can tell Hero is watching me, his relief filtering over to my soul.

“May I asssk sssomething?” Moonstone raised his hand, waving it around.

I smile down at him. “Sure.”

Moonstone turns towards Butterscotch, wringing his hands nervously. “Can I give you a hug, Momma Butterssscotch? I really misssssssed you this week.”

Guardian swept his tail over the floor. “Me too. We underssstand if your not ready yet.”

Butterscotch’s jaw trembled with emotion before throwing his arms open. “Of courssse. I misssssssed you two, too.”

Moonstone and Guardian rushed into his arms and into a deep hug. Munchkin began to fuss and squirm in Hero’s arms. Hero lowered him to the floor and allowed Munchkin to bolt forward. Moonstone and Guardian moved aside to let Munchkin join them. Alpha leaned back, smiling proudly at them before Butterscotch, pulled him into the cuddle pile.

I smile at them, leaning against Hero, feeling him finding joy at the sight. Maybe Butterscotch might ease up on his protectiveness soon, though with a move, who knows how that would change. Well, looks like there’s a phone call to make.

It would take a few weeks to pack up the house, toss or donate things we just didn’t need anymore. But once it was all said in done, we got into the new house with very little stress. No one would let me take any other room than the master bedroom, with a bathroom that had a tub big enough for even Hero to be able to soak in.

I abandoned the old bed, one little queen size bed was no longer enough. I opted for two cal king beds, side by side, creating a colossal bed that would fit Hero comfortably, and myself, especially if I chose to be in my largest snake form, one that has been described to be a 16ft snake with the markings of a Diamond-back Rattler, with the rattle, the hood and fangs of a king cobra, all on a body much to the size and strength of an Anaconda. One of the many species of the universe that hadn’t had a name to it. Hero kindly refused to have his own room, I can feel that he really just wants to be close to me. I don’t mind sharing.

It seemed that aside from the obvious Dragon form, most to all my forms will fit within the house. It was like a dream come true. A dream home. I know we’ll all be happy here.

Alpha and Butterscotch claimed the next room, one with a beautiful bay window, overlooking the forest behind them. There were plenty of napping spaces, most hidden for when Butterscotch needed a little extra space. There was a safe little nursery section where the twins Tempest and Nightwish could be found sleeping and playing. While everything was still being arranged, Butterscotch maintained his stance of keeping the babies to himself. Moving boxes could be dangerous and a certain curious pup wasn’t always great at being gentle.

Moonstone and Guardian’s room was more of a play room than a bed room, still preferring to sleep with me and Hero. Video games and board games, everything in their proper spots as well as cubbies for their collections of shiny outdoor collectibles. Munchkin would be able to pick out a room when he’s older, for now he enjoys drifting from either my room or Butterscotch and Alpha’s room, as well as joining Moonstone and Guardian to play in their room.

Last box put away for the day to be dealt with later. I flop down on the couch, Eevee jumping up to sniff at my face before running off to explore more of the house. She’s been loving it, except for being locked outside when the doors were left open, don’t need her running off in unfamiliar territory. Hero comes over and hands me a glass of water. I thank him and watch as he coils up next to the couch.

“This place really feels like home.” I comment before taking a sip of water. Hero nods, the tip of his tail taps the ground. I can feel a little bit of nervousness coming from him before he slowly wraps it around my leg. I smile, sending a happy acceptance to his forward motion. I motion for Hero to lean closer, waiting for him to be close enough to lean back against him. A pleased rumble resonates from his chest before he wraps an arm around my waist and rests his skull against my head.

I reached up and began to pet him behind his hood. Yea, things are definitely shaping up just nicely. Definitely a good move.

[bubblesthemonsterartist]

sabraeal replied to your post “I read Ever After and Watchtower first, but I gotta say when I think...”

SOMETIMES OTTERS MUST ENCOURAGE, FOR THEIR PANDAS LIKE TO BE CAJOLED

Or, ya know, dragged by the arm. Wacked upside the head. Wrists tied to the keyboard while the otter goes “Write me Hakizanaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, I KNOW YOU HAVE B-SIDES PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND, DO IT FOR MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE” T_T