#pet supplies canada

[sweetbunbakeshop]

𝕎𝔼 ℍ𝔸𝕍𝔼 𝔸ℕ 𝔼𝕏ℂ𝕀𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾 𝔸ℕℕ𝕆𝕌ℕℂ𝔼𝕄𝔼ℕ𝕋 🤍

You can now find Sweet Bun Bake Shop products at Bosley's in Parksville (if you're in BC, Canada)! 👏🏻

Bosley's in Parksville does so much good for the bunnies and the beings who care for them, and we’re beyond excited to see our products here 🙌🏻🤍

[pawbasic]

🛁🐶 Keep your furry friend clean and happy with our comprehensive guide to maintaining good hygiene for your dog! From regular baths to dental care, discover all the tips and tricks you need for a healthy, well-groomed pup. 🐾✨

[jflemings]

I have a few hcs/questions about Piper:

Piper going to Jessie and not R for things (something small like doing her hair or asking her to help tie her shoes) and R being really happy that Piper is accepting of Jessie but also a little sad cos that’s her baby and she used to just come to R for those things

Piper going to camp with Jessie instead or R for whatever reason (maybe Jessie’s camp is in the UK/Europe for once so it’s shorter travel for Piper)

Piper making 2 Mother’s Day cards at school (one for R and one for Jess) and Jessie is just in absolute tears - like sobbing - and Piper is like what’s wrong??? And Jessie is just like I’m so happy and it’s a big family cuddle day/weekend

Jess and Piper catching on that R is feeling stressed/tired/ill etc and forces a cuddle day where R does absolutely nothing and is just looked after by her girls

1. i have gotten another ask about this so it’ll be a fic :)

2. canada are set to play england in a friendly in london so piper stays with jessie whilst you go with the matildas. the kit crew make a mini fleming jersey for piper and she loves it!! she walks around so proudly in it and with jessie and your permission, the media team do a video where piper interviews jessie.

it goes a bit viral and everyone is melting at the way piper and jessie interact with eachother because although she isn’t biologically jessie’s, they are eerily similar.

piper clings to sabs and cloe through camp and a lot of great candids come out of it.

piper follows bev around like she does jonas or tony and every so often bev just blindly hands her a snack or a drink whilst yelling at the girls on the pitch. piper is completely unfazed by this because of how tony is on the sidelines.

the first thing piper says to jordyn is that she reminds her of rapunzel because she’s got long blonde hair and she’s pretty. she then asks if she’s got a pet chameleon.

jordyn and her boyfriend dress up as rapunzel and flynn rider for halloween that year, it’s adorable

3. sam and kristie take piper the friday night before mother’s day weekend because you and jessie hadn’t had a date night in soooo long. sam lets her have dino nuggets for dinner and choc chip ice cream for desert as long as piper promises to get into bed at the right time.

they draw and colour and sam puts on alvin and the chipmunks because she’s never seen it ???

kristie then pulls out a plastic tub full of craft supplies and sam is like ??? where the fuck did that come from ????

“you had nothing here for her so i got her some crafts”

“when?????”

“like a month ago”

“where did you put the box”

kristie is in disbelief because the box is kept in the back of their closet underneath all of sam’s coats that are hanging up, there’s no way she hasn’t seen it

sam does one of those paint by number things and kristie suggests making you a mother’s day card and piper immediately is going through the different coloured paper and the fancy scissors and stickers that she can use

she hands a piece of pink paper and a piece of yellow paper to kristie to fold and kristie asks her if she’s gonna make you two cards

“no silly, one’s for mama and the other is for mummy”

piper decorates yours with butterflies and jessie’s with ladybugs

the next day the two of them go to the florist to get you both a little something whilst sam heads to the bakery to grab you a cupcake each (she offered to just make them but kristie knows she can’t cook, let alone bake to save her life so store bought was the best option)

sam drops piper back home with a smile on her face. you open the door puzzled but spot the gift bag with the flowers and know that something’s up

sam leaves and piper rushes into your bedroom where jessie is putting away clean laundry with a big smile on her face, carefully putting down the bag and getting out the flowers to hand to jessie

jessie just assumes the flowers are for you because the two of them had planned something for you for mother’s day but then piper stomps her foot

“open the card!!!!!”

you walk into the room just in time to see jessie open her card whilst piper gives you yours

she’s tearing up and piper quickly becomes concerned and is worried that she doesn’t like the card. jessie assures her that she loves it and that she loves the little ladybugs she drew on the front

the three of you spend the day together, going for a picnic like originally planned and cuddling in the big bed watching movies. jessie cooks your favourite meal and gives you a necklace that piper had helped pick out and a good travel mug since you’d been meaning to get another one for ages

you look at her sheepishly and pull out a book that she’s been wanting and a photo of the three of you in a nice frame. it’s from piper’s fourth birthday party when she was blowing out the candles. you and jessie are sat beside her and there’s a clear shot of macca, alanna and caitlin in the background stuffing their faces with party pies

jessie tucks piper in that night and then comes back out into the living room balling her eyes out because she wasn’t expecting any of today. it wasn’t her first mother’s day with you and piper but she still had plans to make it all about you, so for piper to make her a card and think about her made her really emotional

you two spend the night cuddling until it’s time to go to bed and it’s the best nights sleep jessie’s had in a long time

4. jessie catches on that you’re ill as soon as you wake up. you’re groggy and don’t seem to be all with it as you trudge around the bedroom looking for your slippers that are sat by the door like they always are

she just watches you though to make sure she’s not overthinking it. you’d played a pretty rough game the night before and it had rained all week so maybe it was all just catching up to you

she knows she’s not overthinking it when piper climbs up onto her lap at the dining table

“what’s wrong with mummy?”

“you noticed that too, huh?”

“is she sick? she was coughing last night when she put me to bed”

that’s all jessie needs to hear before she’s dragging you back to bed and tucking you under the covers before literally throwing piper onto the bed next to you. piper giggles as she lands and ticks herself under the covers and snuggles up next to you just as jessie comes back with some medicine, a bottle of water and a cup of tea.

you protest because piper starts preschool regularly on the following monday and jessie can’t get sick either because she can’t miss training. neither of them are having a bar of it and force you to cuddle with them.

you fall asleep in less than half an hour after jessie turns on a documentary about safari animals. piper follows suit quickly and falls asleep snuggled in between the two of you. jessie isn’t a napper but she also falls asleep combing her fingers through your hair

[jrooc]

Weekly Tag Wednesday Thursday

Thanks for the tag: @creepkinginc, @energievie, @look-i-love-u @roryonic @sgtmickeyslaughter @thepupperino

name: Jess

age: 1 & a half of a Nosho

location: Existential Crisis

and now…

If you could hang out with any cartoon character, who would you choose and why? Miss Frizzle.. go on the Magic School Bus together and learn shit.

If you could bring back any fashion trend, what would it be? Ripped jeans.. are they out of fashion? They're my always style.

What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics? Cycling (Pause for shock)

Which actor would you want to play you in the movie about your life? Jennifer Lawrence. She'd make it funny every time something bad happened and she has exactly the same amount of filter as me.

If you were the captain of a pirate ship, what would be the name of your ship? I'd love it to be something cool and Middle Earth sounding like The Aragorn... but I'd probably name it The Lily after my cat (but really my brain was only supplying 'The good ship lollipop'. Thanks brain.)

If you could see one movie again for the first time, what would it be and why? Garden State

What’s one thing on your bucket list that you really want to do? African Safari

If you could have any animal, real or imaginary, as a pet, what would it be and why? Tiger. And cuddle it. And yeah.. this was my answer before I was reading the fic The Circus. Wanna bet?

If you could invent a holiday, what would it be, and how would people celebrate it? Fanfic authors celebration day where we get to lavish our fave authors in praise.

What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever visited in your country? Oh man.. I've mostly visited the major cities .. I feel like there's so much more to Canada. Maybe Cape Breton. Maybe just Penticton, B.C. or Algonquin? St-Agathe QC? (Wow. Nailed that answer 😂)

Tagging (sorry if these don't link or if you've done it):

@gallapiech @spookygingerr @celestialmickey @heymrspatel @mmmichyyy @lee-ow @mickeysgaymom @runawaybrainsc @rereadanon @doshiart @guinguin1984 @deedala @transmurderbug @ms-moonlight-inn @rayrayor @deathclassic @solitarycreaturesthey @gallavichsuperfan @krysmiss @ian-galagher @andthatisnotfake Lots of new people in the fandom.. come play!

[leham-n-daavocado]

F1 Teams as the Districts of Panem in The Hunger Games

On the first Las Vegas Grand Prix, I couldn't resist after the driver ceremony thing.

District 1: Luxery- Ferrari

What is more luxurious than an automaker that creates uber exclusive cars that very few could afford or be part of the elite who could purchase it? They're full of wealthy people who have a long established history with the FIA/the Capitol.

District 2: Masonry/Weapons- Red Bull

District 2 is also full of wealthy citizens who are chummy with the FIA. However, they are responsible for masonry, weapons manufacture and providing the Capitol with its Peacekeepers. They're known for the career tributes who train their lives for The Hunger Games a la Max.

District 3: Technology- Mercedes

They were one of the most innovative and technological teams. They brought you DAS and seven years of domination. But they don't have the favour of the Capitol/FIA despite the reliance on their team for clout and marketing.

District 4: Fishing-McLaren

They have their own thing going on and have been able to become self-sufficient. Their Tributes are strong contenders.

District 6: Transportation- Alpine

A car manufacturer that keeps on going nowhere like a train that circles and connects districts to the Capitol.

District 7: Lumber-Aston Martin

Johanna Mason can be as out there as Fernando Alonso and Canada, Lance's home country has a ton of lumber/forests lol. Created a lot of drama, hype and early buzz.

District 8: Textiles- Alpha Tauri

Duh lol. District 8 makes textiles and supplies the Peacekeepers of District 2. Alpha Tauri makes clothes for Red Bull.

District 9: Grain-Alfa Romeo

They tend to get forgotten. They're not the best, but Valtteri and Guanyu always put in an honest effort.

District 10: Livestock-Williams

I can't think of anything more apocalyptic and terrible than Albon Pets becoming a livestock farm to send meat to the Capitol.

District 12: Coal- Haas

The smallest and poorest team. This is also where the whole NASCAR thing is around.

[breezybirdfarms]

Coturnix Quail: Early Layers of Healthy Eggs and Meat, and Joyful Pet Companions

Coturnix quail, also known as Japanese quail, are fascinating birds that have gained popularity among poultry enthusiasts and pet owners alike. Renowned for their early laying capabilities, the exceptional quality of their eggs and meat, and their joyful presence as pets, Coturnix quail offer a unique and rewarding experience. In this article, we will delve into the remarkable characteristics of Coturnix quail, exploring their early laying habits, the health benefits of their eggs and meat, and the joy they can bring to people as pets.

Early Laying Habits: Coturnix quail are renowned for their early maturity and early laying abilities. These fascinating birds typically start laying eggs at around six to eight weeks of age, much earlier than most other poultry breeds. This early onset of egg production makes Coturnix quail a practical choice for those seeking a consistent and abundant supply of fresh eggs.

Healthy Eggs: The eggs laid by Coturnix quail are not only early but also highly nutritious. Despite their small size, these eggs pack a powerful nutritional punch. They are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and high-quality proteins. Coturnix quail eggs contain more protein and less cholesterol compared to chicken eggs, making them a healthy choice for individuals looking to incorporate nutrient-dense food into their diet.

Nutrient-Rich Meat: Coturnix quail not only provide healthy eggs but also offer a delectable source of meat. The meat of Coturnix quail is lean, tender, and flavorful, with a delicate taste that appeals to many. In addition to its deliciousness, quail meat is a fantastic source of essential nutrients, including high-quality proteins, iron, and B-vitamins. Its low fat content makes it an excellent choice for those prioritizing a healthy and balanced diet.

Joyful Pet Companions: While Coturnix quail excel in providing eggs and meat, they can also bring immense joy and companionship as pets. Their small size and gentle nature make them ideal for keeping as pets, even in limited spaces such as backyards or small enclosures. Coturnix quail are known for their calm and friendly demeanor, and they can be easily tamed and handled. Their curious and entertaining behaviors, such as dust bathing, foraging, and socializing, can provide endless amusement and companionship to their owners.

Coturnix quail are remarkable birds that offer a wide range of benefits to those who choose to raise them. Their early laying capabilities ensure a consistent supply of healthy and nutritious eggs, while their tender meat provides a delicious and nutrient-rich protein source. Additionally, their small size, docile nature, and entertaining behaviors make them delightful pets, bringing joy and companionship to individuals of all ages. Consider embracing the charm of Coturnix quail and discover the wonders they can bring to your life!

If you are in Canada, stop by the BBF shop and pick up some hatching eggs to start your own flock today!

Candace Breezy Bird Farms

[worldheadcanons]

☆ miscellaneous stalker au canada headcanons!

starring. . . gender neutral reader and canada. warning for stalking (in general), general violence/murder mentioned, + nsfw in the last four headcanons.

author notes; live laugh love this little freak. he’s literally wild about reader and i ADORE that about him. he’s the type of guy to go “me and my partner don’t argue they bash my head in with a rock and i walk it off like a man.” he’s crazy.

matthew williams!

— matthew spends about an hour every day scrolling on his favorite shopping sites in search of things he thinks you’d like. he’s a smart shopper, if nothing else. he seems to know every secret coupon in the world. he really enjoys buying you cute clothing and trinkets he finds online. plushes, slippers, new satin pajama sets, sexy underwear, cat themed mugs, kitchen supplies to replace your old ones— god, not to mention the glorious food he delivers! it’s never more food than you need. it’s just enough so that you can eat your fill and still have a bit extra for later. it’s like having a sugar daddy, honestly. you occasionally feel bad for him and try to convince him to stop spending so much money on you, but williams manages to dismisse your concerns with ease. he lives and loves to serve you, he says. 

— if you identify with one of the binary genders then he’ll eventually start calling you a ‘good girl’ or ‘good boy’ over the phone. it’s not something he’s stubborn about, so if you ask him to stop he will. it’s nothing really sexual as he mostly uses the pet name to tease you, enjoying the way you roll your eyes or huff at his words. matthew never dishes out something he can’t take, so you deciding to mirror him isn’t an issue. in fact, he takes pleasure in it, grinning to himself in the bushes of your front yard. you’ll tell him to be a ‘good boy’ and turn himself in to the cops and he’ll simply laugh into the phone. “y/n,” he’d coo, “i can’t turn myself in. you know you’d miss your good boy too much if i went to jail.”

— he’ll occasionally show up at your place of work depending on whether or not your job deals with the public. if you’re something like a fast food worker or a cashier, then you’ll definitely be seeing him from time to time. he’s clever enough to not let you hear his voice off the phone. he’ll either avoid speaking entirely or put on a completely different voice to the best of his ability. williams likely won’t even do anything related to your work, mostly sitting or standing around and pretending to be busy on his phone or, if he’s in a store, pretending to browse for something. he watches you, occasionally taking pictures when he can. when he gets home, matthew prints them out, adding them to a physical scrapbook of semi-blurry photos taken of you. pictures from your front yard.. from your back door.. in the store.. in the parking lot.. in your own bedroom…

— one day he actually sends you a text. when you block the first number, williams texts you again through a different one. the text message comes after he sees you going out the house with another person. he takes offense to the mere sight of you with someone else and it’s here where he starts to show his more violent side. it's a jarring wake up call for you. you couldn’t help but begin to think of him as someone different.. someone romantic instead of creepy. someone almost cute instead of murderous. how silly of you. you slid your phone into your pocket but his message continued to echoe softly in the back of your mind. ‘have fun tonight. if i catch their hands anywhere near you, they'll end up in your mailbox by morning ❤️’

— he stalks you on any and every open social media account you have. instagram, twitter (you tweet the strangest things, matthew loves giggling at your musings), tiktok, tumblr, facebook— hell, he’d look through myspace if he had to. whenever he’s bored at work he starts browsing through everything he can. he just wants to feel connected to you. it’s not enough to have a small picture of you taped to the inside of his briefcase. besides, williams wants to stay updated on your life and scrolling through your social media definitely helps with that. 

— on the more sexual side of things, god does he love to masturbate. the mere sound of your voice is enough to make him hump into a pillow like a dog, whining and groaning softly to himself while still trying to seem present on the phone. not to mention the countless blurry pictures of you that are now covered in his cum. he doesn’t want to waste his clear shots of you, matthew would much rather keep those clean. he just wishes he could get his hands on you and show you how much of a degenerate you’ve made him into. it’s a real shame you don’t get to hear the way he groans your name as he cums all over the place. it’s always a messy finish with him, even though he finds the clean up process to be embarrassing. williams never learns his lesson.

— just let him into your house, just once, and he can make your dreams come true. he wouldn’t mind being dominant or submissive, most of the time he just wants to see you get off. he’s the type to kiss the ground you walk on and then fuck you like an animal all in the same night. matthew would be rough with you but still clearly worship you and your body. williams adores giving and receiving praise during sex. he dreams of the day you’ll tell him he’s doing a good job, really, it would mean everything to him to hear that he’s pleasing you. in return, he’d coo into your ear that you’re the only one in the world for him. the only one he’d ever want or need. every inch of your skin would be covered in gentle kisses after he fucks you. he’s a god at aftercare and would make sure you feel like royalty before even thinking of settling into bed beside you. 

— he really wants to see you covered in his cum one day soon. positioning doesn’t matter to him, he just wants to see you completely wrecked. williams wants to see your legs shake and your tight little hole quiver. he wants to see you beg for more even though you’re so fucked out already. god, the things you do to him. you’ve made him into such a sick man.

— matthew enjoys giving and receiving oral sex. he’s great at it and even if you’re not the best he would help you get better. he’d have you cum into his mouth over and over until you’re twitching with ecstasy and he’d never even lift a finger. all williams needs is his mouth. his eyes would look up at you with a mischievous glimmer, almost as if he was wordlessly teasing you for enjoying this so much.

[harloqui]

Shifting Safety Tips

I now have enough experience with shifting to make a list on the dangers of the outdoors! This isn't everything you could encounter, but this is a pretty good basics list for anybody wondering about the dangers of being out in nature as a shifter (or even as a human!)

This list isn't supposed to make you anxious or paranoid by any means, but is supposed to warn you about the potential dangers outside and how to handle them. The chances that you'll get lost or stuck out in the wild are small, but it's good to know what to do if something like that were to happen.

▪︎Tell people where you'll be.

Don't go out in secret. You don't have to tell people not in the know, but you shouldn't be sneaking out without telling anybody where you'll be. If something were to happen to you you'd want someone to alert the authorities early and fast, and sneaking out without telling anybody works against you. Tell a shifter friend, tell a human friend you'll be exploring X area, but regardless of who you tell let someone know where you'll be.

▪︎Take note of your surroundings.

When outdoors and in an isolated area, try to make a mental note of where you are and who's around you. Don't tune everything out, especially when you're exploring a new area for the first time. Pay special attention to odd parts of the landscape that stick out - if you get lost you can use these things to help you get back to where you started.

It can help to learn about the native plants and wildlife in your area. You don't need to become an expert (unless you want to) but knowing about what is growing all around you can help you navigate your surroundings with ease. This information can be useful even on quick journeys, and help you identify when you're near dangerous animals, plants or landscapes.

Avoid suspicious individuals. Some people have bad intentions in isolated areas. If someone appears to be acting a little too interested in you for no apparent reason, appears to be coyly following you or seems to be trying to herd or lure you someplace, head back to an area with people and get out of there.

▪︎Carry backup.

It can be dangerous in heavily forested, isolated or wooded areas, especially if you're a visible minority. When traversing these areas you should always have some sort of backup defense or weapon, just in case. This may seem silly, because if you're a shifter shifting should be enough to stop someone... but you don't want to only rely on shifting to protect you. After all, a human can still overtake most animals provided they have the right weapons.

This also goes for tools and necessities. Bring a backup charger for your phone if you're going to be out most of the day. Bring food and snacks if you're trekking somewhere new. Keep a swiss army knife on hand. You don't need to pack like you're going to climb mountains, but you should have the appropriate backup supplies should something go wrong that day.

▪︎When in the forests as a human, wear orange.

Animal hunters (such as trophy and food hunters) often camouflage themselves within the surroundings, which can put you at risk if you're also sneaking around the area. When shifting in a hunter-filled area, wear something orange (whether a collar, bandana, or a vest) so hunters can see you and avoid you. Even if you look like an animal, an orange piece of clothing surrounding you will let them know that you're associated with humans in some way and shouldn't be killed.

You can follow this rule as an animal, but note that it may look odd depending on what you are and where you live - a wolf with orange on won't attract much attention in Canada, but a cheetah might, and may get reported as a possibly escaped exotic pet. Be careful with how you go about this while physically shifted.

▪︎When stuck, call for help.

Got stuck in a trap? Lost and need assistance? If you can, call for help. If you have your phone on hand, use it. If not, call out for someone or wait for someone to come and find you.

When lost you should try to stick to a particular area until help arrives. Don't go wandering off when people could be searching for you- you could be delaying your chances of being found. Make a shelter out of whatever is available to you, and be particular about what you eat, if you eat anything wild. Meat should be properly cleaned and cooked well to reduce the chances of food poisoning or parasites, and you should only eat plants you know for sure won't poison you.

If shifting to catch food, be very careful about how you do it. Remember, animals often get hurt or injured when hunting, so if you must hunt choose weak prey. Try to avoid carrion unless necessary, as that also caries a risk of disease. If you must scavenge, look for something recently killed. If you're grazing, make sure to pick flora that seems healthy - many places that seem clean can be teeming with all sorts of pathogens or human chemicals, and some plants may be toxic to shifters.

If you're not too lost or must wander off, use your animal senses to help you find civilization. Odd, out of place smells or sounds may be indicative of industries or people being nearby. Don't disregard human pollution - if you see more bottles, trash, or discolored water near one place than another, that is a good sign that humans frequent that area, and by following the trash trail you can get back to society.

Lastly, if you are lost don't stress out. Stress can weaken your immune system and ruin your motivation to escape your situation. Don't focus on the negatives, keep a positive attitude and take things one step at a time.

I hope these tips can help any shifters nervous about exploring the outdoors, or wondering how to survive if they need to. Stay safe out there!

[deluxewhump]

Erik's Journals pt 1 (2011)

Note on this project: This is a companion piece to Carlo's story. It is an epistolary mea culpa (of sorts) of the series antagonist, Erik Holstrom. It can be read as a stand alone work. The main themes are legalized slavery referred to as a "pet" trade, and the ensuing psychological and emotional mistreatment of a character, often when said character was a minor. Entries range from when Erik's pet was eleven until he is in his mid twenties. Chapters are marked by year and month of entry. Readers may find themes, content, and the moral relativisms of the narrator disturbing. 46k words.

Content Warning for entire series: institutionalized slavery of a minor (11-18), emotional abuse and manipulation, dubious comfort, pet whump, disordered eating, violence, guns, mutilation (off screen, no main characters), corporal punishment, sexual content/dubcon ( character is 18+), broken bones, death of a parent, unreliable narrator

Journals of Erik H, regarding Carlo H. Sent to Max S. Baltimore, Maryland. November 2018

What is Yours Will Always Be

another note: For anyone who read Carlo’s story; Erik’s journals deviate quite often from the original version of events. The idea to revisit it at all last winter came from a strong desire of mine to develop Erik from a background whump villain who would keep a boy in a cage and never call him by his name in nine years into a more sophisticated character who blames his own evils on the systems that created them.

This was both a new challenge and a way to offer insight into why Carlo struggled with such powerful vestigial feelings of loyalty and homesickness toward his old master, which I think is a major theme of his story. Thank you and I hope you enjoy (or enjoy not enjoying).

June 2011

I will record here the various instances and worthy notes regarding Carlo Holstrom, pet, age eleven, acquired and taken into my supervision June 1, 2011.

I had no intention of buying a pet until I laid eyes on this one last week in California. I had spent the long blue evening on a poolside patio with two colleagues, sipping white rum drinks under skinny palm trees. Our talk always circled back to work, as it does among colleagues. 

As to why I was in Palo Alto, I co-own a shipping and logistics company with a long time friend of mine, Martin Olson. O&H (Olson & Holstrom), as an LLC, has eighteen hundred trucks on over three thousand popular commercial shipping lanes at any time, day or night, throughout the U.S. and Canada. This California trip was planned months ago to meet with the CEO and CFO of one of our most prolific and loyal customers, a dry goods chain that supplies every major grocery store in the south and southwest. 

I was going to return to my hotel balcony early with a drink in hand. That was until I saw a bloated, eager man with gin-blossomed cheeks making his way past the koi pond and tiki bar, up the attached wooden stairs to the card rooms and billiard tables on the second floor. He had in tow the most beautiful boy I had ever seen, wearing a cheap state-issue collar and a look of tempered but unmistakable fear.  Despite the boy’s long strides trying to keep up and obvious attempts to anticipate the man’s every move, the man was yanking him along by the wrist, as if he expected resistance and was too stupid or too drunk to see he was not being met with any. 

I paid my tab and followed them upstairs until I spotted the man’s broad, sweat-darkened back at a card table. I made brief eye contact with the boy, reaffirming the fear and uncertainty I’d seen downstairs. He soon dropped his eyes. I sat down at the same table and asked the man what he was drinking.

I knew from his car-salesman smile and his bloodshot eyes what he was here for, the cheap collar on the young pet was another gleaming clue. It was the same material as a hospital bracelet, steel gray and marked on one side with a discharge stamp. My limited knowledge of how the state dealt with those given up to pethood led me to believe he was fresh from a state home, or some sort of correctional facility. Did they have juvenile correctional facilities for pets? Most were at the very least fifteen, I couldn’t imagine a boy his age in one.

Two sweating Coronas arrived and the cards were dealt. I watched the frightened child until he felt my gaze and met my eyes again. I held it and nodded hello. He was leaving there tonight with me, and I think he and I both knew it, though his keeper did not yet.

It took me three hours and twelve thousand dollars, along with a considerable bar tab. But he left at my side. I did not pull him alongside me like a reluctant dog on a leash. I didn’t have to.

I requested a folding cot and extra linens from the front desk. With them I made him a soft bed between the television set and the balcony. God only knew when he’d last been fed, so I ordered soup from room service, which he ate by dunking the crackers it came with in the broth and eating those. He nursed a can of ginger ale like it was a security blanket. 

Only once did I put a finger under his chin to encourage him to look up at me. “Don’t be afraid,” I told his solemn dark eyes. “Everything is alright now.”

July 2011

I brought him home with me to Maryland. My property is a gated and green six acres punctuated with several very old oak trees, in the southwest of what they call the Valley. Our portion of the Valley is the berg of Foxfollow, in the suburbs of Baltimore.

The house, which I bought to be near our new O&H headquarters in ‘05, was built in 1870, replete with crown moldings, brass accents, the original paneled doors with their crystal knobs and ornate skeleton key mortises, carved bannisters, gleaming mahogany floors and stone hearths. The beams in the west living room are wood from the original Baltimore train station, earning the house a plaque sent to me by the Maryland historical society. On paper it’s a six bedroom brick colonial, three full baths and two half, a generous back porch, an office downstairs and library upstairs, two living rooms, and a solarium that faces east I call the music room, on account of the piano I’d found a home in there. From those easterly windows one can see the city skyline at night, though from anywhere else on the property it feels as if we are in the middle of the country. 

Carlo’s file has been difficult to obtain from the state of California, as his previous owner seems unreachable to give consent to release it. Maybe he finally hanged himself in the closet of a Motel 6. There are several regulations blocking my acquisition of the file by any simple means, courtesy of the state of California and its impressive labyrinth of bureaucracy.

It will have to wait a few weeks, and then can begin an appeal process for it. Without file or title, though,  I can tell you the boy is well mannered, healthy and bright. I had him tested for aptitude. He has an eleventh grade reading level and shows basic understanding of fourth grade math, if lacking any practical application. He does not give any outright indications of having been physically or sexually abused, as per a pediatric psychiatrist. He understands his position, and does not seem to covet any other, or think himself above his station.

Understandably, he fears returning to a state home, does not enjoy crowds, noisy places, or other children, and is timid around my dogs (perhaps because they are hounds, excitable and vocal. This is alright though, as they do not come inside the house).

Carlo has wavy, unruly dark hair and expressive black eyes, a button nose that is slightly broad at the dished bridge, and olive toned skin. He is only little, but he has both an androgyny and racial ambiguity about him I think he will grow into nicely, though I am in no rush for the baby fat to melt from his cheeks, as I am finding it is endearing to me.

August 2011

The file shows just the one previous owner, the one trying to flip him for a profit like a beachfront property. Before that, group state homes.

Titers show proof of MMR, Varicella, Polio, and Tdap vaccinations. Mother: Luca, Chiara. Deceased. Father unknown. No known siblings or relatives. Birthplace - Palo Alto, California, 2000. Blood type O+.

The surname Luca is Italian, or often Romanian, but could be from any number of places, belonging to any number of diaspora. It also could be a maiden or married name, and is not necessarily the boy's blood relatives anyway.

Carlo is adjusting well. I try to imagine how it feels to be in a new place as a pet. I can’t quite, but I can at least grasp at it just by employing my best empathy. I try to remember being so young, and there’s certainly memories, but it is difficult to remember how my mind worked, how each day felt. I remember how I felt about my sister and my friends and my father and homework. I remember learning to shoot a rifle that year, wondering if it would not blast apart the slender hares on our property and make them useless for pelt or stew. I remember trapping one and giving it to Mathilde as a pet.

My father wouldn’t let anyone shoot anything in a trap. Did I understand that? Did I resent him for not letting me pull the rifle to my shoulder and blow it apart at close range? I can’t remember my inner thoughts. Only facts that were catalogued as if by someone else. 

With him, I try to be diplomatic and easy to get along with. Clear instructions and kind words. I bought him a new wardrobe with plenty of comfortable cotton, complete with winter coat and boots he won’t need for months yet. I put a writing desk in the bedroom I gave him, as he seems inclined to bookishness and already has several notebooks, a sketchbook, and a few paperbacks among his personal possessions.

He took a liking to a painting I had hanging in the dining room, a framed John Moore. I noticed him studying it more than once as we ate our dinner at the table in relative silence, interrupted only by Anna returning to refill my wine. 

In the landscape, a castle sits atop a craggy hill lit by silver moonlight that shines through wisps of cloud. In the still bay at the base of the hill is an anchored ship, with rowboats deploying a dozen passengers towards the dark shore. I told him the name of the painting, Lindisfarne Castle and Abbey, Holy Island, by Moonlight, and asked him why he liked it.

“Because it’s quiet,” he said. “But it’s almost got a sound.”

“What sound is that?” I asked, and he looked at me to first make sure I wasn’t teasing him. Encouraged by my earnestness, he replied, “A humming. Like quiet, but louder.” A few days later, I  had it moved to the wall in his room above his desk. 

September 2011 

Carlo has tutors in math, science, and English. I took him into town and had his hair cut, for it was starting to hang in his eyes like the mane of a colt. He looks like a wavy-locked Tsarevich now.

He contracted the flu last week, and I had Dr Amalfi come by the house. It was treatable with tamiflu, soup, and as much fluid as I could get him to drink. I set a cool cloth on his forehead when he was hot and a heating pad on him when he was cold.

He vomited right in his bed the first night he'd fallen sick, and had unfortunately been lucid enough to realize he'd done so. Bright-eyed with fever, he begged me forgiveness and to leave it for Anna, tomorrow, but I'd already stripped the vomit-splattered blanket and sheets into a pile.  "It's fine, sweetheart," I told him, taking his soiled pajama shirt from his clammy, reluctant hands. "Go wash up, and let me take care of this. I want to get some medicine in you."

Even when he returned clean, with fresh sheets and comforter ready for him, he'd been unwilling to meet my eye. Perhaps I should have let him strip his own bed, but his temperature had distracted me too much to even think of it.

I sat on his bedside trying to get a fever reducer and tea into him, and told him how I’d been a medic in the army many years ago, before he was born. To be squeamish about a little accident such as his was not within my scope of understanding, I said, after the manner of things I’d been up to my elbows with in Iraq and Kuwait. I do think that, delivered with an air of nonchalance, made him feel slightly better. 

It did not happen again, as far as I know, though I left a bowl by his bedside. 

The morning his fever broke, I checked on him when I woke. I found him sleepily watching television, and I was relieved.

November 2011

Last week I punished Carlo for stealing chocolates from my office. They were a gift from a visitor, some pretty truffles in a pretty box. I would have given the lot to him if he asked. The sweet is not the point, but the theft. I believe he thought I wouldn’t notice, as they’d been sitting there at least a week. After he did it I wondered if I had subconsciously laid it as a trap. No, I didn’t think so. I was genuinely surprised when he’d taken one without asking. He admitted to it immediately, which was brave at least.  

Come, I'd called him, and bade him lean his forearms on my desk. I struck him only once, swiftly, on the back of his legs like a 19th century Headmaster. He cried, more from embarrassment than pain I think, as I have never hit him. Afterward, I explained why to him again, which I think only further embarrassed him. He understood perfectly well, and reiterating what he'd done wrong was only insulting his intelligence. I am hoping it is not an incident often repeated.

The following Monday, I called him into my study, a room he'd avoided ever since the incident. He glanced about the desk nervously, looking for a clue of some new transgression he might have committed. “You’re not in trouble,” I assured him. “Don’t be skittish.”

I gifted him a new ipod touch and a pair of headphones, as well as a desktop speaker that it docked into the top of to charge and play aloud. He looked disbelievingly at the box in his little hands. "If you need help setting it up let me know," I told him. "Or Anna, she's good with these things. What do you say when someone gives you a gift?"

He hurried to find his tongue to thank me.

-

Yesterday Mathilde brought some friends by for dinner. I had Carlo assist my paid help to serve drinks, entrees, clean up, etc. It’s good and helpful for him to at least be comfortable with that element of pethood.

At one point two of Mathilde’s guests (for though they were in my house, they were not mine) got into a heated argument at the climax of which a glass was broken. The two involved in the argument, a rather soused woman named Natalie and her antagonist Ben, stormed off to clean her dress of spilled wine. Little Carlo came forward to pick up the shards in his bare hands until I clicked my tongue at him, gesturing for him to leave it and come by me.

“Let one of the staff get it, honey,” I said to him from across the table. “I don’t want you getting cut.” 

He came and stood by my chair as I’d beckoned and shifted his weight to his other foot, unsure what to do with himself or his hands. 

“Look for anything that needs clearing whenever you are headed back to the kitchen anyway,” I said near his ear, like the advice was conspiratorial. “Efficiency is key in most things.” Quite seriously, and I think grateful for the clear directive, he took my empty plate and two others with him to the kitchen.

In a spirit of such softhearted warmth that it was foreign to me, and probably in apology to how the incident with the truffles transpired, I have designated a drawer in my kitchen to be Carlo’s, and filled it with things I’ve noticed he liked, sweets and peppermints and truffles. I told him it was his, and to take anything from it any time he liked. 

I want him to obey me with unquestioning haste when I do ask something of him. For the rest of the time, I don’t want him to walk on eggshells. I want him to see this as his home.

He may as well, since it is. 

Next

[fanficfish]

micronations and their parent countries: a hetalia ramble

so i was thinking about this and couldn't find shit so here goes my headcanons

well it feels more like i'm stating facts but there's some headcanons in here and def since I haven't read the latest episodes properly. I'll probably make a proper headcanon list later

First off- i imagine them as like. What happens when a group of people get ambitious, and suddenly this personification pops up like some weird ritual. This post sums it up. I mostly agree with it.

anyways

Austria: from my parenting post: he's a lot better at ot it now, or maybe he just decided that trying tobdo anything to Kugel is just too much work. He's...definitely one of those parents with the slightly-feral child, and okay so he did try to profit off the kid but he does that with everything including his own famous composer, his own landmarks, and everything in between. Look, the kid's (usually) fed, has endless art supplies, and as long as he doesn't do anything too destructive Austria lets him be. Actually he and Sweden might be in kahoots, considering that time both Ladonia and Kugelmugel planned to do some construction work....(Veneziano is just a little jealous Kugel doens't have no-pasta punishments)

Speaking of Sweden: total pushover. Ladonia knows this. Sealand is learning this. If your eyes are big enough you WILL get the reward. But he's also best dad, such a dad, had a closet of dad stuff, we all know this he's a family man (Finland is the babysitter bestie that ends up at Sweden's half the time because the man lives in an IKEA and it's a little bit chaotic he won't lie) (I imagine they did quite a lot of renovation work to make the IKEA liveable, but that does beg the question: how many living rooms does Sweden have and can you imagine trying to leave Sweden's after a night of drinking- actually maybe that's why, Sweden was trying to do a social experiment on drunk Denmark-)

but anyways yeah, Finland lets Sweden deal with the children. His kids, his problem. It works, and anyways between them they already have Aland and all those other bits of their countries to deal with. Finland's got his hands full. Sweden's def the dad teaching you how to fix all the problems yourself though, Ladonia and Sealand def know how to unclog a toilet and change a sink pipe. Probably have the most human-like family experience, excluding NikoNiko. A sense of normalcy if you will.

America is more like the cool older cousin. He's already got 50 states and too many territories, why not add a few micronations? He and Canada treat the micros like the rest of their states minus the boring legislature stuff- their micronations can run wild, just don't cause problems, pay your taxes, and they can run themselves it's probably fiiiiine. I mean, look at Alaska and Hawaii! They're doing fine! Uh, don't look at Florida, or look at Quebec wrong. Though unlike the states and provinces, the gaggle of North America micronations tend to submit more to their ruling country considering 1. America and Canada are very very very strong and 2. Why try to fight for independence when you can chill out and have them do most of the work for you? Their states and provinces they reside in kinda just don't care too much, but Nevada and California are also Just Like That anyways, no comment on the Aerican Empire's colonization of Mars though. America and Canada keep some awareness of their micronations but unlike China and Japan, who have all their provinces with them in one house, it's spread over like....70 hours total....so for the NA bros, just an occassional check-in is usually fine to them. The micronations end up being a bit free-reign from this but America and Canada tend to be a little occupied being superpowers. America did get Molossia that weird pet of his as an apology a long time ago, and Canada sends maple flavored cookies to his micronations whenever he does a baking stream with America.

Australia: Probably the strictest of the parent countries, somehow. Cracks down on Hutt River's missed taxes, insists on the Wy Driveway Issue, etc. He's a wilderness hellscape trooper, alright? New Zealand is the cool uncle that's tired of playing parent so he lets everything be.

England looks at Sealand like his annoying little brother, or that little cousin you have to keep an eye on. He's plenty guilty for the whole war thing, but is usually too busy fighting France or America or restoring castles or dealing with royals to keep tabs on a child at the standard he'd prefer, so he lets Sweden handle Sealand most of the time. Sealand's first instinct is to bother England though, so that's that. It's actually kind of sweet, once you get past England's default mode being being pissed off by something and Sealand mouthing off on purpose to be The Problem (for attention). And England, despite his threats, will never leave Sealand out in the rain on his doorstep. To the point he's canonically sat through weird phone conversations. He's just...not ready to be essentially a parent again, after America and having to let go of Canada, Australia, India, New Zealand...... (he is also very scared of his family tree if he thinks about micronations)

Japan is an old man. He's a socially Awkward baby deer who's somehow in charge of all these prefectures and now he has to deal with NikoNiko poping up every so often???? Screw that! (He does give NikoNiko his personal number though. The kid might have a living family and micronation friends to hang with and the prefectures to bother, but Japan's still a believer in raising them right, and his door's open no matter how...odd....the circumstances are)

Seborga just hangs with the rest of Italy's former city-states. I headcanon that when Veneziano and Romano became the two prominant personifications for Italy, the others backed off like with Germany's older brothers uniting to form Germany, except the two already existed. Most of them disappeared, but a few stuck around and surrpsiingly because Seborga couldn't decide if he should be his own country or not he got to stick around too! Italy V doesn't mind and neither does Italy R, so Seborga finds himself quite relaxed with two older brothers, he's disappointed he doesn't get to grow up but he's probably the most "normal" of the micros and honestly? The Italies treat him like he's a state, so he's fine where he is in life. At least he gets to see his brotheres frequently enough

actually it was probably like he woke up to find out everyone was one country now, and was like "cool whatever i'll do the paperwork later", few asleep, and later on he was like "oh shoot" but Italy had unified and at some point Seborga kinda just accepted he was a micronation when his people went "yo" since he never actually signed anything and the Italies were like "lol thats funny yeah that's fine whatever". Oh gosh, does that make Seborga technically adoptively realted to Austria and by extension Germany and wait does that Make Kugel technically Seborga's cousin-

wait omg that one episode where Seborga asks Austria about Kugel.

welp that's enough for one day

idk thats it for now i need to catch up on the new guys.

[pawbasic]

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[sportsthoughts]

15 people 15 questions

thank you for the tag @couthbbg !!

1. are you named after anyone?

depending on which of my parents you ask either lucy pevensie (chronicles of narnia) or lucy in the sky with diamonds (beatles) i'm kind of good with either tbh

2. when was the last time you cried?

lol i watched the makeover episode of canada's drag race this afternoon while i ate my lunch and it had me in bits. this season has been a*

3. do you have kids?

not yet. hopefully in the next two years. my inspiration is my sister who has a newborn baby and is still plugging away writing fanfic. best believe if i'm fortunate enough to have a baby i'll be on here doing night feeds and shitposting.

4. what sports do you play/have you played?

very keen gym goer and pilates doer but no fun team sports. did some dance as a kid. i love literally every sport though and will watch and enjoy any sport as a spectator.

5. do you use sarcasm?

does anyone answer this question with no?

6. what's the first thing you notice about people?

physically - hands. not sure why

7. what's your eye color?

what's YOURS

8. scary movies or happy endings?

happy ending. i am not joking when i say you could not pay me to watch a horror movie.

9. any talents?

i am the best houseplant gardener i know. i have never met a houseplant yet i could not revive or make thrive. at this point i maybe have like 50+ houseplants. hmu for gardening tips seriously. its a passion

10. where were you born?

England. not being more specific although if you followed this blog 5 or 10 years ago i actually used to have the name of my HOMETOWN in my blog title. I actually shudder to remember this. what was i thinking. at least i don't live there anymore lol

11. what are your hobbies?

watching sports obvs, pilates, walking, gardening, digital photography, reading, really want to do more crafty stuff but at the moment i struggle to make time for it even though i've hoarded a ton of art supplies. husband is trying to get me into gaming but honestly have 0 patience for it.

12. do you have any pets?

besides my houseplants no. not in a pet friendly house atm. would love a dog but i have to vicariously live through my sister and her cats.

13. how tall are you?

5'4

14. favorite subject in school?

call me crazy but legit all of them. my high school experience was actually pretty positive and i didn't really hate any of school except maths. favourite at a push was probably history although that was mostly due to a very foxy teacher

15. dream job?

feel like most of you know what i do for a job anyway and yeah, it's my dream job. wish i got paid slightly more for it but the work is a dream.

Tagging any of my followers, feel free to say I tagged you! Aaaaaand @heartsoftruth @carlando @geooooooorge @malkinse @queeerkings @cornerihaunt @prettyhockey @ferperss if you're in the mood!

[whump-card]

This Death That I Chose: Chapter 7

1350 words

CW: discussion of self harm, injury care, manipulation, conditioning, derogatory language, discussion of past noncon, fade to black dubcon, pet whump, character referred to as “kid” is an adult

First, Previous, Masterlist, Next

~~~

“Got it!” Tao burst back into Karlo’s room with the first aid kit, ready to patch up the young man’s thumb. He would have brought Faye to take care of it, but when he said he was going to Karlo had looked at him with big eyes and asked hesitantly, “Can you do it?” and how could Tao say no to that?

He sat on the bed and popped the first aid kit open, digging out antiseptic wipes. He ripped open one of the little packages and made a come here motion at Karlo. Karlo leaned forward and offered his hand, which Tao pulled onto his lap. Karlo inhaled sharply when the wipe made contact with the bite mark.

“So,” Tao said, as he gently cleaned the wound and the smeared blood on Karlo’s palm, “You did this to yourself?”

When he looked over, Karlo had his head slightly bowed and was gazing at Tao through his eyelashes.

“I didn’t mean to,” Karlo murmured, “I just got overwhelmed.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that.” Tao tossed aside the used wipe and uncapped a tube of antibiotic ointment. “Is that something you do often? Hurt yourself?”

Karlo shook his head. “No, sir. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” Tao smeared the ointment on Karlo’s thumb and then started hunting through the kit for an appropriately sized band-aid.

“I’m not worthy of your kindness,” Karlo said softly.

“Oh, don’t even start,” Tao chided, “We’re not trading you back for anything.” He found a finger band-aid and applied it to Karlo’s thumb, carefully peeling away the paper from the sticky sections and wrapping it firmly. “All done,” he announced, setting Karlo’s hand down palm-up on his knee.

Karlo leaned forward a bit further, nearly touching his forehead to Tao's shoulder. He rolled his hand over to rest his palm on the older man’s thigh.

“Is there any way I could… pay you back?” he breathed.

“Aww,” Tao patted his hand, “Don’t worry about it, kid.” He stood and gathered the trash he’d generated, and closed up the first aid kit.

“Are you – are you leaving?” Karlo sounded confused.

“Yeah, so,” Tao rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand, “The community decided, not only are we keeping you, we’re going to make our final run for Canada. Since you said the Commander knows we’re here. I need to help organize people and pack up supplies.”

“Can you please stay?” Karlo pulled his knees up, chewing his lip.

“I really can’t,” Tao said regretfully, “But Hannah will look after you today, alright?”

Karlo shook his head. “But I don’t know her.”

“Uhh…” Tao scoured his options, then snapped his fingers. “How about Vic? He’s my friend, I trust him.” But didn’t quite trust him to be organized enough to be effectively helpful at packing supplies – Vic was a genius in a fight, that’s why he was a Watch leader, but his personal space always looked like a bomb had just gone off. Becca and Tao wouldn’t miss him today.

“Your friend,” Karlo echoed.

“Yeah, would that be okay?”

Karlo didn’t look satisfied, but he nodded.

Tao left, somewhat pleased that Karlo seemed to be taking a liking to him. He still couldn’t get a clear read on the boy’s real personality, though. Karlo had been, in turn, defiant, terrified, unflappable, and now, a bit lonely. Tao couldn't help but wonder what Karlo would be like once he accepted he was safe. He remembered the bright smiles in Marina’s photo collection, and his heart twinged. Would Karlo ever get that smile back?

~~~

“You must be Vic,” the young man sitting up in the bed smiled shyly. His eyes darted up and down Vic’s figure where he stood in the door; tall, muscular, with a shaved head and dark blond eyebrows. Like Tao and the other Watchmen, he carried a gun.

“And I hear you’re Karlo,” Vic replied, politely returning the smile.

“Actually, I – I really prefer Lark.”

Vic had been on the receiving end of more than one conversation with Becca about respecting people’s preferred names and pronouns, so he shrugged.

“Lark it is.”

He closed the door and moved over to sit in the chair next to Lark’s bed.

“Tao told me you’re feeling a little lonely?”

“Yes, sir.” Lark’s voice was soft and pleasant, very unlike the feverish shrieks that had come out of him the last time Vic had seen him. Vic chuckled.

“You know, I’m always trying to get the Watchmen to call me sir. It never sticks.”

Lark tilted his head, curious.

“I thought Mr Tao was in charge of the Watch.”

Vic cleared his throat.

“Well, it – it’s shared. We’re both in charge.”

“Hmm,” was Lark’s only response. It sent a twitch of annoyance through Vic – not at Lark, but at Tao. They were supposed to be joint leaders of the watch, but with how impulsive Tao was he usually ended up giving orders first. Tao’s older age also commanded another level of respect, while Vic was only in his thirties. He changed the subject.

“You must be glad to hear we’re heading for Canada. The Commander won’t be able to get to you there.”

“Actually, I…” Lark bit his lip and shook his head. “Nevermind.”

“What is it?” Vic frowned.

“I…” Lark glanced nervously at Vic, then away. “I miss him. My master. Is that bad?”

“No, no!” Vic rushed to reassure him, “You’ve just… been through a lot, that’s all.”

Lark nodded.

“I just – I haven’t been touched, by anyone except doctors for the past two weeks, and… I feel like I might wither away, or something. I miss him so much.”

Vic wasn’t sure how to respond to this admission, so he just bobbed his head. “Right.”

“Well, what about you?” Lark turned to look at him with wide, shimmering eyes, “You’re so handsome, sir, you must have someone.”

Vic couldn’t help but flush.

“I don’t, but. Thanks.”

“Oh… How long has it been?” Lark asked innocently.

“It’s been…” Longer than Vic cared to admit. “A while.”

“I can’t imagine,” said Lark sympathetically, “I mean, my master fucks me every day and without it I -” he broke off, pressing a hand to his mouth, “I’m sorry, sir, I’m so sorry, that was gross.”

“I – it’s alright,” Van reassured him again.

“You don’t think I’m disgusting, sir?” Lark watched Vic fearfully, and Vic’s stomach did a flip.

“No,” he said firmly, “You’re not disgusting.”

“It’s just that… it feels like everyone else thinks so,” Lark looked away, brow furrowed with sorrow, “No will look at me or touch me… Not in the way that I want.”

Vic was captivated, staring at Lark’s sharp, mournful profile.

“What do you want?”

Lark bowed his head, picking at the corner of the band-aid around his thumb.

“It’s terrible. Nobody here understands.”

“You can tell me,” Vic found himself saying.

Lark shot him the briefest of glances before looking away again.

“I…” he took a breath, “I’m the Commander’s pet. I was made to have sex. It’s what I’m good at, and I enjoy it, and I – I miss it. But no one here would ever…”

“I could -” Vic started, before he caught himself. “I mean – I’m really sorry, I wish I could help you.” How could he even consider having sex with this traumatized young man? It didn’t matter how badly Lark wanted it, or how pretty his long silky hair was, or how beautifully his eyes shone when he was on the brink of tears; Tao and Becca would have Vic’s hide if they ever found out.

As if he could read Vic’s thoughts, Lark murmured, “No one would have to know, sir.”

“What about Faye, what if she…?”

“She just checked on me before you got here. She won’t be back until lunchtime.”

“I just – I don’t know, Lark…”

“Please?” Lark looked at Vic, catching his gaze and holding it this time. “Sir, please.”

Vic stared at Lark, at his pitiful, needy face, and all the blood rushed out of his head.

“Yeah,” he breathed, “Okay.”

~~~

First, Previous, Masterlist, Next

Taglist: @angst-after-dark, @sunshiline-writes, @flowersarefreetherapy, @pigeonwhumps, @whump-em, @morning-star-whump, @thecyrulik

[aemiron-main]

yooo fostering cats is such a great hobbie that's so cool!! how did you get into that i always wondered how that works in the US, does it work via working with a shelter or are there other ways? (but also great long term planning for your evil villain ways 👏👏👏 now you already have an excess supply of cats you can pull in your lap and pet while evilly scheming how to terrorize tumblr. fantastic organizing on your part, now you only need to rent a villain layer with a shark tank or something for the complete package)

AAAAAAA HELLO THANK YOU!!! <33333333333

I got into it by growing up on a farm/living rurally my whole life & having rural neighbours/being involved in those communities and unfortunately a LOT of farm people see cats as disposable/are very very lax about cat safety and survival and health and don’t spay or neuter etc, so over time as a kid/teen I just got a reputation for being The Guy You Can Bring Unwanted Cats/Kittens To Without Questions Asked because a lot of shelters etc won’t come out and catch feral cats, but I’m happy to go to peoples’ places and catch them (i should become like. a cat whisperer or smthn) and a lot of shelters also will NOT accept newborn kittens since they don’t have the resources to care for them as frequently as the kittens need, whereas I will care for newborn kittens. Shelters where I live are also turning animals away frequently because they’re sadly too full, so instead of spending hours trying to find a shelter with room, people will just ask me!

So yeah, people usually give me a call when they’ve got kittens/cats they can’t care for & either drop them off or I go pick them up!

And I’m actually Canadian, so I’m not sure how it works in the US, but I’m also not fully sure how working with a shelter works in Canada, as I just do things more informally! :DD As wonderful as I’m sure it is working with a shelter/I’d encourage people to do so, I’ve found that I’m most helpful to the animals by just doing things on my own, as a lot of rural folks around here will just leave the animals to die if the choice is between “take them to a shelter which is going to be a fairly long drive to the nearest city” or “turn a blind eye and claim it’s nature taking its course” but when they have the third option of “call that one cat dude who lives down the road and who will happily take them off your hands,” more kitties tend to get helped!

AND HEBFNFFN HELP YES IT IS GREAT LONG TERM VILLAIN PLANNING FOR MY EVIL WAYS HEHEHEHE <<333 im scheming, im plotting, i’m raining hellfire upon byler tumblr via my kitten minions and their paws of fury….. and oh my god YOURE SO RIGHT I NEED A VILLAIN LAIR AND A SHARK TANK YESSS…. Maybe i can just put little shark costumes on the kitties….

[literary-illuminati]

Book Review 25 – Speak Easy by Catherynne Valente

I’m a longtime fan of Valente – she might honestly be one of my favorite prose stylists currently writing, at least in her better works – and as a rule I absolutely adore any sort of fantastical take or twist on the early 20th century. So really the shocking thing is that I hadn’t already read this short little number about a faerie-supplied and hedonistically surreal bootlegger hotel in 1920s New York City sometime years ago.

The book is very, very theoretically an adaptation of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. By which I mean the book takes a second sometime in the third act to stop the action and loudly say ‘wow, isn’t this so similar to that one fairy tale about the twelve dancing princesses?’, and once it says that you can stop and squint really hard and kind of see what it means. I say this as a devoted fan of off-kilter fractured fair tale retellings; it’s a reach. It does sort of make this sort of a series with several of Valente’s other works though (I would say stronger than Six Gun Snow White, weaker than Comfort Me With Apples, and Deathless is like three times as long so the comparison seems unfair but much weaker than it too).

The story’s about the inhabitants of a supernatural and decadent residential hotel full of every scraps of Prohibition era style you can imagine, jumping between a half dozen POVs but mostly about Zelda, a flapper and belle of every ball she deigns to attend. There’s a journey into ‘Canada’ beneath the ground, from which the hotel’s supply of liquor and drugs arrive, and a magically high stakes poker game, and even a shooting – but honestly in terms of plot and character development and just things happening this is an extremely light book.

Though one thing about it that I didn’t realize until embarrassingly late in the game is that some of the main cast are actually historical figures – Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, specifically. Possibly others, but if so I entirely missed them. As far as I can tell, this is done entirely to add some period colour to the whole affair, and also Valente really really does not like F. Scott very much as a person.

So yes, the book is short and insubstantial, and there’s only barely anything you could call a plot. But I really can’t find it in myself to get particularly angry about all that, or really regret reading it. The actual star of the show itself is the style, the hotel and how it contains every roaring ‘20s archetype you can imagine, mixed with a heavy, heavy serving of the absurd and surreal – mobsters and artists and dancers and critics and politicians and mistresses and debutantes and bellhops with probably delusional dreams of grandeur. There’s a friendly pet bear on the roof and swimming pools in the basement and pneumatic tubes running through the whole structure, and the owner’s ever so helpful supplier clearly has blue skin beneath his makeu. The narration helps with this, too – it’s got a great chatty, gossip-columny sort of tone, and it really does do an excellent job selling the whole show.

Still, there really just isn’t much there there.