#pup really needs some structure

[yellowlikelemons]

Dont doubt me.

Bedtime at midnight from now on

-💜

But Mommyyyyyyy.... really? I'm staying up tonight cause I literally woke just now... (you can punish it if you want) but after that i'll try my best, okay? I want to be a good boy for you, Mommy 💛

[forestshadow-wolf]

Thinking about soap not being a dog person, but ghost is. Ghost finds riley (the dog) and asks price to let him keep her. Price says yea on the condition that soap agrees since they share a room. Ghost begs (on his knees) soap to let him keep her. And of course he says yes bc he can never say no to him.

He's still not a huge fan of her but he is in no way mean/hostile towards her. He'd just rather not to share his bed or food with her if he can help it. Which is fine, riley is a good pup, she listens to him. Regrettably soap is aware that riley adores him and ghost much more than he adores her, it's sad but he can't really MAKE himself like her more.

Ghost trains riley up so she can enter the field with them. He really put in the hours with her. Teaching her stealth, retrieval, how to bite and attack when needed, and even to know when to ignore an order when needed. But the most important thing he taught her, the very first thing he had her master, was find and rescue. He hoped to never need her to use it but in their line of work that was a far off dream.

------

One mission soap and riley had gotten seperated from his team due to a structural collapse after a rouge explosion. He was taking up the rear, making sure everyone got out safely; knowing just how dangerous post explosion structures could be; and riley wouldn't leave his side. They weren't caught in the initial blast, but one of the collapsing walls had spat debris at them, knocking him over. He could feel the warm slickness of blood coming from the right side of his torso. His calf had a wicked looking slinter of wood protruding from it. And he thinks he fell wrong on his left ahoulder because hand can't move his arm. Riley was relatively unharmed as far as he could tell, because he'd gently knocked her out of the way a moment before the wall had cracked and then crumbled around them.

Aside from that he can still move, though not very far. Especially since the doorway out was now just a pile of rocks. There was a small gap that allowed sound and air to filter through into his little cavern. It looked just big enough for riley to fit through, but there was know way he was fitting; even without his tac-gear.

When voices and commotion began outside he little hole he tried urging riley out, out to where he could hear Simon's voice. But again she stayed, after a few urgings and even telling simon to call her up still she refused. There was a pause when he tried to command he out, a hesitant step, but they he came right back to him.

It was like she knew just how much he feared being left there alone. How the only reason he commanded her out was so that ghost wouldn't be left to bury two bodies when he didn't make it out. Like she knew if she left that he'd lose all hope, so she didn't.

He couldn't help but love her for that. For staying with him for the three and a half hours it took for him to be dug out of that hell hole. For offering comfort and love when the pain and fear began to spill over. He could help but love her when she wouldn't leave his side though out tje wait to get out, or the ride home, or medical. When she only left because ghost had to pick her up to feed her and give her a bath, and then she returned to his side.

She was allowed on the bed after that, and to some of his food.

[tinydefector]

So ther was this Australian show that was called h2o just add water and another show called mako mermaids that was featured in the same universe. In the show the mermaids/ mermen had powers and can go from human to mermaid as long as they stay dried. But I��d like they get splash by liquid even something as small as dropping a glass of water on themselves. They had seconds before they transformed into their mermaid selves. Question is if this was a concept that could happen with the future pups or in another version of a merformer au?

These were two of My favourite shows when I was younger outside of the movie Aquamarine.

1. I'm not planning on the mers having powers outside of what the outliers already have and I'm just modifying it so it fits more for underwater. Such as Rodimus can withstand lounging in underwater Volcano's, Skywarp can blip himself further through water, Mirage can go full invisible and uses it to hunt very efficiently. And such on with the outliers in transformers.

2. I'm not a big fan of the oceanides being able to shift into humans, the closest thing they would look like if they were to shift would be the amphibian man from shape of water, humanoid but not the same, and they would be much taller than humans. But I'm not really branching into that side in Marine Centre, might be a cool idea if someone wants a shape of water type fic later on becuase I'd be all for the oceanides shifting into a creature like that, still needing the water to survive but having the ability to walk from pond to pond. Or a crude version of a Näcken.

3. For the pups in Marine Centre I'm sticking with they still look very much like the oceanides with jsut a few different features, such as their eyes are more human like and their vocal range is much better with talking than the main oceanides due to skull stucture. And that also adds into their bone structure. I do like the idea of once the pups get older in their tails you can clearly see the outline of what was meant to be legs but they didn't develop. I might actually have to do some drawings of the bone and cartilage stucture of the mers at some point for people. But I'm keeping with they look pretty much the same as the oceanides outside of a few little changes.

But I'm not aposed to writing tadpole like pups later on for another fic becuase at this rate I'm pretty sure Human Effects, Labratory logs and Marine Centre are my three most request fics.

[diy-fire-water-pups]

(( End of the "Troll Gift" story, in which a follower of this blog gifted Marshall a small stone statue, but Marshall didn't know it was a magical Troll item which would become a large destructive Golem. For those unfamiliar with this item, it's from the "Tales Of Arcadia" series. ))

Marshall had no time to waste- kind of literally.

What used to be a small stone statue of sorts, now had grown to be a giant made of mud, some grass and small stones, all from the Lookout yard. It took a couple steps ahead and looked around, like an angry grizzly bear which had just been woken up from hibernation before due time.

Marshall gulped as he began stepping back as quietly as possible, but just as he was succeeding in getting far from the monster, he stepped on a squeaky toy, forgotten on the grass after being played with.

The Golem turned to look. Spotting the startled pup, it advanced towards him, lifting its arms. With a scream, the Dalmatian pup took off running away.

For a moment he was relieved to notice the monster wasn't really fast, but he was heavy and definitely wasn't happy. When he ran past the Lookout's playground, he heard Zuma calling and got pulled by his collar into one of the structures.

“Marshall, what the hell is that thing?” Zuma questioned in a hushed tone, hoping they wouldn't be heard.

“I don't know what happened!” The spotted pup panicked. “One minute it was a small stone statue, the next it was just growing out of control. I don't know why or how–!”

“Ssshh!”

The Lab placed a paw over Marshall’s mouth as the Golem stomped by and went ahead, looking for them.

“Last thing I saw before running was that we need to hit it dead center and destroy the stone statue inside.” Marshall whispered as soon as Zuma released his mouth. “I don't have anything to hit with, though!”

“It's made of dirt, do you think we can wash it away with your fire truck hose?”

“I'm not sure, it looks too solid– Oh no.”

“Oh no…? What are you seein- Oh no.”

Zuma followed Marshall's glance and saw that the Golem, seemingly annoyed for not finding the pups, was now heading towards Chase’s Pup-House, which was the closest.

“Dude he's gonna wreck Chase's house! We gotta find a way to get it away from here before he starts destroying everything!”

“He's looking for me, right?”

Not waiting for an answer, Marshall ran out of their hiding place and barked as loud as he could to call the monster's attention.

It worked.

Maybe a little too much.

Not even five full seconds later, Marshall was now running for dear life down the road to the woods with the Golem hot on his tail.

“Zuma, get the crystals! I'll keep it distracted but I don't know how long!”

**********//////////**********

Rocky was on his way back home from his Garage, just about to finish crossing the bridge towards the Lookout and he did NOT like what he saw. For a moment, that large creature glared at him as he slammed on the brakes and skidded his truck to a stop, but it lasted just a moment. The monster seemed to lose interest quickly and resumed its pursuit after the Dalmatian.

Just a few moments after, Zuma piloted his hovercraft down the ramp going after them.

“Hey Rocky! No time to explain, follow me!”

Revving the engine, the mixed breed pup accelerated until he caught up with Zuma.

“Where did that thing come from?”

“Marshall's stone statue! We gotta destroy the statue inside it, the problem is how to reach in there and that's where you can help!”

Before Rocky could question, Zuma threw a meteor crystal for him, which he barely caught and it immediately magnetized to his Pup-Tag.

“I don't know if you're aware, Zuma, but we're in the woods! There's nothing here I can use to hit–”

“Really? Don't tell me your truck's empty! It's NEVER EMPTY!”

Of course. Rocky would've facepalmed if he wouldn't have his paws busy steering his truck on the dirt road. Marshall and the mud monster were just ahead now, the Dalmatian didn't go far and was now dodging the Golem's attempts to smash him.

“I'll try to slow it down for you!” Stopping his hovercraft, Zuma sat on the front hood and sprayed water from his paws, creating large mud puddles on the ground around the giant. The Golem slipped and lost balance, falling down.

“It's working!” Marshall celebrated, taking the chance to run over to their side, climbing onto the recycle truck. “Now we just need to…”

He fell silent as the three pups witnessed the Golem getting back up and assimilating more mud onto his already massive body. Rocky and Marshall both turned to look at Zuma, who shrunk in place with an awkward panicked smile.

“Oops. I think I only got him angrier.”

“Angrier? You gave him MORE MUD!” Rocky nearly screamed but held it back.

“There’s gotta be a way to–!! WOAH!!”

Again Marshall was interrupted, this time as Rocky floored it and drifted an U-turn to run away from the Golem, which was now targeting his truck - probably because Marshall was there now. The Dalmatian held onto the cargo's top to not fall off and crawled over next to the front where Rocky was driving as fast as he could on the bumpy road.

Zuma came right after them. ���We gotta find a way to restrain it somehow!”

“You called?”

A loud engine roar could be heard just before a coral-pink colored motorcycle with turquoise blue and white highlights arrived from across the woods, quickly aligning to drive beside Rocky's truck.

“Liberty???” All three pups were surprised.

“What are you doing here?” Zuma asked from behind.

“I got a message saying you guys needed urgent help! Let me guess, that statue over there got tired of standing still?”

“You could say that!” Marshall chuckled awkwardly. “It's all my fault…”

“No, it's not!” Rocky was quick to cut him off, as they reached the paved road once more. “You had no idea!”

“Well, I do have one idea, but you won't like it!” Liberty looked back at the Golem before turning to the pups. “I can hold it for a moment, so Marshall can melt the pavement to get it stuck and Zuma can blast water to wash off as much mud as he can…”

“... And then I can hit it with something until we break the stone statue!” Rocky completed with a grin. “Why wouldn't we like this idea?”

“Guess who's probably getting wet, fixing the road and cleaning all the leftover mess later?”

“... Oh.”

**********//////////**********

Liberty went ahead to put her motorcycle aside and prepared to do her part as soon as Rocky and Zuma would drive by her.

This first part of the plan worked well, as she managed to wrap herself around the Golem, but it only slowed him down from somewhat running to walking. With its short legs still free, she couldn't make it stop entirely.

“Marshall!!!” She called, grabbing onto a tree to try and hold the monster back, with little success. “Little help here???”

The Dalmatian gulped and leaped from the truck, rushing back with his crystal already magnetized to his Pup-Tag.

“Here goes nothing…!” He stopped at a short distance from the Golem and pressed his front paws to the pavement, overheating it as fast as he could. It acted as a very thick and stinky quicksand, as the Golem sank half to his short legs into the newly melted tar pit, unable to pull himself out from that hot black goo.

Liberty had to let go of the giant, as it was getting now too hot for her to stand being there just above melted tar. As soon as she shrunk back to her normal size, the Dachshund rushed to hide behind Zuma, who jumped off from his hovercraft and focused on blasting the strongest stream of water he could manage.

With such strength, the water blast was able to slowly wash a lot of mud away from the Golem, weakening him as he had less and less mud armor around its core - the stone statue - to protect it. The water spraying on the melted tar immediately steamed with a loud hiss and refreshed it, making it harden again, which caused the Golem to get even more stuck, completely unable to escape.

Furious, it started flailing around, flinging whatever mud balls and stones were still a part of its body at the pups. They all retreated, sheltering themselves behind the vehicles.

“Ow, I just buffed my truck yesterday!” Rocky protested as some stones hit his vehicle, leaving some scratches on it. He groaned while digging through the pile of random stuff inside until he found a thin metal pipe. That should do it! But the Golem kept shoving rocks at his truck, so he also picked up a broken chair to use as a shield.

Fully equipped, the gray pup ran away from his hiding spot, with his improvised shield protecting himself from whatever the Golem threw at him. Startled, Rocky noticed the ground was also cracking… The Golem was about to set himself free again! He had to be fast!

“Alright, you wanna play baseball? Catch these!!”

Rocky approached the monster, hitting the stones and flinging them back with his metal pipe, moving it with ease by using his magnetic powers. Once he was close enough, he swatted the pipe at the Golem.

Even weakened, the mud around it was still strong and sticky, Rocky couldn't get through it like that... Not to mention every time he beat mud away, it would crawl back to regenerate the damaged parts of the monster! So, Rocky changed tactics and focused all his might to move the pipe away and then bring it back full force, stabbing across the Golem just below the chest area.

The stone statue was successfully pushed out of the Golem, falling to the ground a few yards away, such was the force of the impact. Without it, the Golem collapsed and broke down, defeated. Not satisfied yet, Rocky rushed to the place where the smaller statue fell and hit it several times with the pipe until it was broken beyond recognition.

“Woah, chill it, Rocky!” Zuma chuckled as he came closer, still slightly wary. “I'm pretty sure it won't get back up anymore.”

“Well, not after that, for sure.” Liberty came right after the Labrador, eyeing the remains of the statue.

Marshall walked up to them as well, slower and making himself as small as possible, ears and tail down, with a sad expression as he glanced over at the damage caused on Rocky's truck. “I'm sorry for all this…”

“No, you can stop right there.” Rocky cut him off again and let go of the pipe, placing it on the ground as his front paws ceased glowing. He turned to Marshall with a serious look on his face. “It's not your fault. None of this was your fault.”

“Yeah, you literally had no idea. None of us knew about it!” Zuma stood beside Rocky, agreeing with him. “It could have happened to any of us.”

“But… Someone tried to warn me and I didn't understand it.” The Dalmatian tried to insist, sitting and looking down while circling the ground with his paw. “I should be more careful. We got so many gifts lately, I was just… I don't know.”

“We should be more careful when accepting gifts from strangers, sure.” Rocky sat down as well. “But even then, you couldn't have possibly guessed this statue was gonna grow and attack you.”

“It was really a gift from someone?” Liberty glanced at the broken pieces again, raising an eyebrow. “Looks more like someone tried to take advantage and attack you guys!”

“One way or another, if there's someone who should be sorry, it's the dude who gave you this thing.” Zuma glared at the pieces too. “He should know it's dangerous!”

“That's assuming it wasn't his intention from the start.” Rocky growled. He hated to think someone really did that and his protective instincts were rising up, he could feel it.

“Deliberate attack?” Zuma frowned, as Marshall looked away.

“We may never know.” The gray pup sighed. “But one thing for sure, I don't trust him anymore.”

“I don't even know who it was, but I'm with you.” Liberty agreed. “This… Statue thing was very strong, I could barely hold his arms to slow it down. Who would give anyone a statue that attacks you? It's crazy!”

“Okay, guys, I think that's enough.” Zuma called their attention, motioning his head towards Marshall, who had gotten up and was walking away, towards the Lookout down the road. “He's not okay and I bet he's gonna keep blaming himself for this mess, you know how he is.”

“That's what makes me even angrier.” Rocky growled again. “Why him? He was just finally back to being himself after that whole deafness issue. This is gonna take ages for him to recover and stop blaming himself and it wasn't even his fault!”

“Deafness issue?” Liberty questioned. That was new for her.

“Long story.” Rocky sighed. “Turns out Marshall might become deaf when he grows up due to some bad genetics stuff. We've been over this by now, but it took him some time to stop brooding all over the Lookout yard.”

“Anyway, yeah, I'm angry now too...” Zuma sighed, looking at the Dalmatian go. “But now Marshall needs our support. We won't do any good if we just get mad. He probably thinks it's his fault for just accepting all gifts without suspecting from anything or anyone.”

“As if we weren't all doing the same thing.” Rocky rolled his eyes.

“Should we go after him?” The Dachshund questioned. “I can stay here for a while if you need me. I'd like to help him.”

“What about the city's HQ?” Zuma asked her.

“Carmen and Tony can keep an eye on things and the tots will be around with them too.” Liberty smiled proudly. “Those furballs are doing really well with their few duties and training. They can handle themselves for a day or two!”

“If you say so…” The Labrador shrugged. “Come on. I'll give Marshall a lift back home, we can worry about fixing this road later.”

**********//////////**********

It had been a few hours after they went back to the Lookout. Rocky, Zuma and Liberty reported everything that happened to Ryder and the other pups, while Marshall locked himself in his Pup-House and hadn't left ever since. Not even Chase managed to convince him to open the door, so Ryder told them to leave him be. He would come out when he would feel like it, they just needed to give him some time.

In the meantime, the other pups went out to the location where the fight happened, to clean off the debris and fix the damaged road. Only Zuma and Liberty stayed behind, chilling together in the front yard, from where they could see Marshall's Pup-House. Ryder insisted Rocky should stay back and rest as well, but the gray pup was adamant on helping fixing the damage, feeling responsible for part of it.

When the sun was going down and the sky was just turning several shades of red, orange and pink for the sunset to come, the two pups heard a sound and looked up. Marshall had just come out from his house and was now drinking water from his bowl.

His body language made it clear he was still very upset, so both pups approached slowly and kept a respectful distance.

“Hey, buddy.” Liberty offered a sympathetic smile, when he looked up from his bowl to her. “How are you feeling?”

“Still frustrated, I think.” The Dalmatian shrugged.

“Sad and mad...?” Zuma in turn had a small grin, which Marshall didn't miss and it made him roll his eyes.

“Please, don't.”

“Smad, perhaps...?” The Labrador dared, getting a small chuckle from the Dalmatian in response.

“I hate it when you do that.”

“I know, and I love you too.”

“Well, no wonder you feel like that.” Liberty chuckled too at their friendly banter, while Zuma nodded in agreement. “This whole thing was a total mess.”

“Before you go about that again…” Marshall sat down, now looking at his own wavy reflection on the water in the bowl. “I'm not blaming myself anymore. But I just can't stop wondering… Why?” He looked up to the two pups, who now stepped closer and sat down as well. “Why did he do that? Why make something so dangerous? And then give it away like that? If it were anyone else instead of us, people could've gotten hurt or even worse!”

“Yeah, that's really messed up.” Zuma agreed again. “Things like that shouldn't even exist. But I don't think we'll get an answer about it, and even if we do, we probably won't like it anyway.”

“I wouldn't trust any excuse this guy would give about it.” Liberty shivered. “Who would know if he would be lying anyway?”

“I remember he said he was forgetting about something, but if he couldn't remember what it was, then it shouldn't be important.”

“You really believe that?” The Chocolate Lab raised an eyebrow. “How can someone carve a stone statue which can come to life, grow giant and mad, and just forget it happens, then make more statues?”

“Yeah, that's not something one can just forget about.” It was Liberty's turn to nod in agreement.

They fell silent for a moment, until Marshall looked up again. “Thanks for helping, by the way. You too, Liberty. I don't know who alerted you, but I'm glad they did. If you wouldn't be there to hold the giant back, I wouldn't be able to stand close enough to melt the road and get it stuck in place.”

“Not to mention the plan to defeat that thing was yours!” Zuma bumped her shoulder with his paw, grinning. “That was some serious fast and great thinking!”

“I only came up with the idea, you guys did most of the work and you should thank Rocky for doing the worst part.” She giggled back.

“It was good teamwork.” Zuma smiled, to which both Marshall and Liberty smiled back. “So, we good?”

“We good.” Marshall snorted. “Won't you go back home, Liberty? It's getting late and you live far…”

“Nah, I'll stay over for the night.” She waved a paw, dismissively. “I talked to Ryder about it already. We should take the chance and catch up on the news before sleep!”

“Sounds good to me!” Zuma wagged his tail. “Wanna check our toys room? We had to get a room for them because we got too many plushies and Marshall received a ton of gifts on his birthday.”

“Wow, really?” She looked over to Marshall, who smiled sheepishly.

“Yeah, some plushies are kinda… Huge too.”

“I got a stingray that's so big I can use it as a blanket!” Zuma beamed, now standing up and trotting over to the front door of the Lookout. “Come on, we'll show you!”

Marshall and Liberty chuckled and got up, following the young Labrador inside.

**********///// THE END /////**********

(( THANKS FOR READING!!!

Just a few things now.

First, thanks to @stretch-n-fetch for letting me "use" her muse in this. I figured it was fair, given the fact Liberty posted that she was on her way to help them before I started writing this story. And I know she uses the pink text for Skye but I also figured it could be used in this story, as Skye wouldn't show up in this anyway.

Second, I'd also like to thank @cottoncandyswirl828 for helping me out with a few bits in this story. English isn't my first language so there are things I'm still learning.

And last, please enjoy this because I don't intend to do anything like this again for a LONG TIME... XD It's "just writing" but it took me two days and two nights, and I literally had to stop blogging to not have more asks incoming and possibly changing what I had written already so far. For example, whoever called Liberty to help them, also called other blogs while I was already writing. If my pups inbox would be open, they would probably have sent asks offering to help and it would have me rewriting everything again and again as more characters would join the story. Just... Nope. Have mercy.

Also on a last note, FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOOD IN THE WORLD, ASK ME BEFORE SENDING CROSSOVER ASKS and giving a continuity to the replies. Again, you were lucky I've watched Tales Of Arcadia and decided it was worth going with it. If you guys try to send anything from another fandom that I don't know about, there's nothing I can do at all!

That's it, hope you guys enjoy this short story, I died to type it all on my phone, now I need a break, bye 💀 ))

[moreespressoformydepresso]

TBOSAS where the thing that fixes the pain and suffering is the Capitol’s cruelty. Because I love positive irony like that.

Somehow, the zoo enclosure where the kids are kept is destroyed. Since it’s so unbearably hot in the books say something caught on fire and the tributes were taken out of the enclosure because there won’t be any games if all of them are dead. This conveniently sidesteps Brandy’s death because it happens either just before or right after she stabbed Arachne. If she did kill her bitch of a mentor the fire was so beautifully times that all evidence of her little crime was destroyed and nobody knows it was her. How convenient. One could almost say it’s divine intervention. Now, the kids need to be kept somewhere, and the zoo was sooooo annoying for the mentors, so the tributes are put in cages around the city. Near the academy so those poor oppressed rich kids who aren’t about to die don’t have to suffer even more for traveling 10 minutes to see the vile district scum. This… backfires horribly for the Capitol. See, the tributes are separated. For the sake of this story they’re all in separate cages on their own.

How does this lead to a fix-it? Well, it’s now much harder to not interact with the tributes. You don’t have to go to the zoo to see them, and you won’t have to pay money either. The tributes can’t hide in the enclosure, so everyone can see the discomfort plain on their faces as they try to cling to some kind of privacy. The cages have one side agains some kind of structure, so seeing these kids ducked agains the one solid part of their cage is very hard hitting because it’s impossible to ignore what they’re going through now. Even the biggest tributes look small, all alone and helpless.

And then the mentors get involved, and things really kick into high gear. All the tributes like Sejanus, and at first people thought it’s because he’s district. Now they can see it’s because he’s actually nice to them. The nicer mentors are trying their best to help their tributes, and the less amazing ones receive a bit of a cold shoulder. Several fights between different pairs of mentors and tributes happen, and all of them color in the kids’ perspective of everything in a way that’s undeniable. I feel like a big part of why the Capitol citizens had so little empathy is because they refused to see things from the tributes’ perspective due to not seeing them as people. But when massive crowds witness these arguments, it’s hard not to. When all you see is a figure deep in the enclosure and a face on a screen it’s easy to chalk their anger up to some irrational grudge or just vile beasts being their vile beastly selves without thinking about it too much. It’s a lot harder to do that when you have Facet screaming at Livia for treating him like a disposable object and shirking all her duties as a mentor, such as providing his basic needs, while pretending she’s done jack shit for him. When the citizens hear the raw emotion in his voice, it’s very difficult to not feel even the slightest bit of empathy.

And when they watched Lamina cry on a screen, it was easy to laugh at her for being so weak. But when this young girl is sobbing right in front of you, and you can see the pain on her face? Suddenly it’s a whole lot less funny. Even more so when she calls Pup over and ignores the food he offers her in favor of asking about her district partner. The crowd can’t ignore what they’re putting these kids through when they watch a clearly starving girl only accept food when she’s reassured a boy that has to die for her to live is being fed. When Lucy Gray sings for food it feels like the beggars in the city until she asks her mentor to bring more than half of what she got to Jessup and whichever tributes have gotten the least that day. And when all the tributes keep asking about each other with clear and obvious worry, even for the tributes from other districts who they’ve only known for days, suddenly the people find themselves stuck with the unescapable notion that these are kids who are being forced to perform like circus animals, who are about to be forced to kill each other, yet still find it in themselves to show empathy. It’s especially inescapable when the tough, strong tributes who everyone expects to be vicious are the ones doing this. Reaper and Coral for Dill and Mizzen, of course, but even more impactfully Marcus for Sabyn. Two of the stronger tributes showing concern for one another, despite neither having that underdog or innocent air the younger tributes have.

At one point, Treech is performing for a crowd and some of the mentors pass by, including Vipsania. As soon as they approach he stops what he’s doing and retreats to the one solid side of his cage. Vipsania calls for him, and he utterly ignores her existence. All he dignifies her with is a hateful glare. Then Pup comes into his line of sight, and he shoots up immediately to ask whether Lamina’s okay. It’s only when Vipsania gets huffy about this that Treech actually acknowledged and responds to her. Not nicely though. Rather, he goes “now why ever would I not want to talk to you? It’s not like you starved me so I’d perform or anything. Gosh, it’s such a mystery!” Before turning back around intending to sit down. Vipsania tries to defend herself and it goes about as well as you may expect. By which I mean, a one-sided screaming match ensues. More like Treech giving into the urge to start ranting and raving about all the shit he’s been through while finally telling Vipsania how he feels about her treating him like a toy to use and discard once he’s no longer of use to her. When she says she just wants to help him now, he reminds her that her “help” so far has come down to actively making his life harder for her own benefit. “You’ve done enough, Sickle. Go back to your prissy princess palace and leave me alone.” Very similar to Facet when he finally gave Cardew a piece of his mind, actually.

And slowly people start giving the tributes food, even when they’re not performing. Slowly they start to change their minds about the games, and once the interviews happen they finally realize all these kids have families and friends waiting for them in the districts. And only one of them gets to go home. But… they’ve seen how sweet these kids are to those that don’t treat them like shit. And honestly, nobody really wants to see them die anymore. And they realize if they don’t act now it’ll be too late. So they act. And long story short the games are finally stopped for good.

[meowsgirldrawing]

Prince Astarion vs Princess Anna (BG3)

Prompt: The ragtag gang of tadpole holders saves a princess (daughter of a grand duke) from a miserable fate by some monsters, then decides to help escort her back to her town. Astarion didn’t mind any of this, but after weeks since his and Tav’s exchange of real affections and confessions, he’s not too keen on allowing her fluttering eyelashes and obvious thing for heroes to go on any longer.

Note: Tav is a tiefling in this, because I love tieflings so much, but I'm trying to keep it mostly open so people can imagine their Tav's easier. More or less a little self-indulgent on my part.

Warnings: Little spicy moment, nothing explicit, just Tav and Astarion being in love and maybe a little bitey here and there. 🤷‍♂️Cussing, noble insults, some violence but it's Baldur's gate so nothing new right?

Word Count- 9,948 (I was having fun, alright? Sue me)

A03 Link

Masterlist Link

“Let’s save the little princess, they said!”    “It’ll be harmless, they said!”   Astarion bristles, leaned up on the tough wood pole that holds up his tent. The pure white pup beside him pays no attention, his gnawing noisy and breaking the air occasionally with happy whimpers. “I mean really??” He manages to keep his words low-ish, but his hand movement, flaring up in mock dismissal, is rather the opposite. “Who does that little minx think she is?-”   “GO WYLL, GO!” Karlach’s booming voice interrupts him. Loud enough that Scratch finally peers up, tail wagging. Oh so you’ll ignore me but as soon as the big fire lady says one word-   Not that Scratch really needs to listen anymore, Astarion trails off, finally resuming on the scene before him. The scene he was so diligently watching for a few reasons only before his disgust came filtering in.  

Gale steps up, settling in beside Karlach,  “Do we really need to do this?”  “Have a little fun, Gale,” Tav huffs lightly, playfully, as they snatch up another log and set it up in the stump, axe glinting in the sunlight from their hand.  

“Of course we do! Since Tav thought it was oh so wise to comment-“   “It was just a joke, Wyll-“ They try.   “On my “princely-ness” I must show them exactly how prince-like I can be!” His shirtless chest puffs up in confidence, or faux bravo as Tav rolls their eyes and sighs. And that is through a friendly log-chopping competition apparently.   “Tsk’va-“ Lae’zel settles up next to Gale’s side, her eyes focused on the pile beside the two morons. “As long as we get firewood, I don’t care how it’s done.”   Tav nods, grateful “Thank you, sweet Lae’zel. See Gale, it’s harmless my guy!”   Lae’zel does her dismissal words, rolling her eyes. The friendliness form of ‘no problem’ a Githyanki, at least their favorite one, can offer apparently. 

  What? No, the competition is certainly not Astarion’s source of disgust. The sight of a bare chested, years of fighting showing in rippling muscles, Wyll going against their broad-shouldered, built in both structured and height Tav, whose upper half is covered by a mere tank top. That is absolutely not it. If anything, he could sit there all day watching both go at it like morons over a simple joke.  And no, it’s not how he can clearly see the others taking in the sight as well. Gale watches in more amused confusion compared to most, but if you looked harder, his eyes are certainly not straying from either’s form.  Karlach’s tail wags lightly, while her eyes glim with her hearty laugh. Perhaps if she wasn’t already burning up from her engine, she’d probably be visibly burning up in another way. Still, her focus is on Wyll, amused and thoroughly intrigued.

Lae’zel’s possibly the only one who isn’t doing much leering, but she isn’t so innocent. She goes from watching their forms swing down the axes on Tav’s call to being unable to take her eyes off Tav’s arm stretching out for another log. She huffs but does nothing more besides crossing her arms. He can’t blame them, not at all, his Tav alone is a sight to behold. Not to mention their overall friendly and sweet persona that takes no real effort, a gentle giant is what he’s heard multiple times by Shadowheart. Added with Wyll, an admittedly gentleman despite his profession at slaying off monster heads, his demeanor also alone can melt the strongest of hearts.  Pair them together, and you got a nice show to sit back and enjoy. Especially with the banter thrown left and right.   “Ready to give up, Tav? Even by your tail I can tell you’re struggling.” He grins, eyes crickling in mirth.   Tav scoffs, their tail adjusting the log before swinging back to behind them. “Try me, warrior boy. I’m just getting started!”   “Well-” At the next call, both heave up their axes and slit the wood in two. 4 more added to their respective collections. “So am I, my friend!”   Astarion’s lip quirks, but then turns into a full frown as soon as he hears it again.   A high pitched giggle.   A little ways behind the two competitors, there sits a young woman in a fair and fluttery day gown, dark long locks curled over her shoulder, manicured and well cared for hands trail near her full and red lips as she giggles out her response, “You’re doing just amazing, both of you!” But her eyes stay on Tav. His Tav.

  His lip curls, eyes piercing from the other side of the camp. There she is, the little princess he and his group just so happen to come across when dealing the final blows on a goblin camp.   Annalisa, or rather, Lady Annalisa-Daughter and heir of Duke Salton. Who just so happens to be from the town they planned to head to next before her untimely landing into their group.   They had just taken down the last of the slavers; Astarion retching his arrow from his latest kill’s head. He grimaces as he looks over the chip on it’s side. Great now he has to make a new one. He’s all too ready to un-proudly announce his discovery and wills to leave, but an explosion cuts him off. His companions all brace themselves at the sudden arrival of flames. Gale whipping up a new spell, one to counter fire possibly. Lae’zel who didn’t even put her sword away yet, already making her stance beside Tav. Tav slides out their last blade, their other one lost in one of the bodies scattered about them, yet freezes. Tail stiffening up high.

“HELP!”

There, on the cliff side connected to the burning stairway, stands a young woman, arms tied infront of her, a makeshift gag hanging around her sweating throat as she peers down at them with a crazed fear in her eyes. She must’ve been one of the most recent captures, if her ripped and ruffled clothes and tangled hair have anything to show for it. She’s going from them to the burning stairway, “It’s too hot! I can’t make it!” Gale tries to shoot out his spell, but- surprise, it just grows further. Licking up the sides of the cliff she’s on, the woman is tittering back as a scream tears from her throat. Ringing through their ears and into the night sky.

“There must be a source fueling it on the other side.” Lae’zel deducts. “Shit.” Astarion glares at the flames. His mind reeling for ideas.

Before anyone else lets out another word, Tav rushes forward. Their dagger making a mark in the dirt as it lands. Boots thump hard against the earth all while they ignore the calls from their companions. As they get as close to the fire as safely possible, arms fly forward in an improve net.

“Come on! I got you!” “What?!” She gapes at them. “Jump and I’ll catch you!” “But-“ “Theres wooden planks under you, yes?! It won’t be long before that ground is covered too, so jump!” The woman whimpers, tears fueled with fear drip down her cheeks, “I can’t!”

Astarion, from his position amongst the others’, can’t see it but something changes with Tav that has the woman altering aswell. They’re smiling.

With a friendly grin as sweat drips down their forehead, dirt and blood milled on their armor, the Tiefling simply lifts their arms more at her, “I promise you can! I’ll be right here for you!” Something shifts in the woman’s gaze, but she nods, backing up. She’s still shaking. “Y-you’ll…you won’t drop me?” She begs, and it could almost break Astarion’s undead heart. Could…if his heart wasn’t so set on the sight of his lover literally on the edge of flames.

“Of course I won’t!” Tav actually laughs. They have a way of keeping the air light, even in the most heated environments. A skill they use especially now, the gentle giant keeping their expression light and open as they call out to the frightened young lady, “You have my word, I won’t let you go for even a second!”

Another stilling moment. Another moment were Lae’zel almost decides to go up there herself to get the woman off. Another of Gale searching his mind for any fire deucing spell as a backup plan. Another moment of Astarion glancing from the flames to Tav, not liking the lack of distance as flames brew. “Tav-!”

Then she falls. Astarion feels his words lodge in his throat, his yell coming out instead. All as Tav ducks further near the flames, arms awaiting for the impact. Fire licks at their arms as the woman is caught, before swiftly pulling out. They twirl on their heel, yanking both to the arms of safety. Just as another explosion lets off. Immediately covering the area Tav once took.

He knows damn well their resistance to fire is apparent. Still, he’d rather them be afraid of it or wary at the very least than walking into it, arms open. Literally. It didn’t help that as soon as the bindings were off, gag cut from her throat, the woman turned to his lover with the sweetest little smile, “My hero!” She sung.

Lae’zel merely rolled her eyes at it, stashing her sword away. Gale chuckles, an anxious finger scratching at his beard. Tav blinked but soon chuckles, a palm at their neck, “It was nothing.”

Yet the praises kept coming. And to the point were a side of Astarion wished they never even found the practical puppy at their presence. Especially when Tav later got it out of her that she was the daughter of a Duke, having been snatched up in the night, ending up with a bunch of slavers who’d sell her off for some dirty coin. And especially when her hand lingered, cupping their bicep far too long for his liking.   Now…

“HELL YEAH!” Karlach’s engines spur, her excitement fueling Gale’s astonished laugh. Wyll had won.

“Well,” Tav gives a laugh of their own, offering up a handshake. A nice show of good sportsmanship. “Congratulations, my friend, you know how to chop wood faster than I.” Their hands clasp together as both allies grin.

“Oh, don’t beat yourself too hard, pal. I’m sure you have more suitable talents that will show themselves soon enough.” As Tav barks a laugh, giving good ol’ Wyll a pat on the back, one that has him stumbling forward some, Astarion immediately notices movement behind them.   He can’t even get up before Annalisa is running words off her tongue. “That was wonderful, Tav!” Her fingers tangle together, the show of shying as her eyes can’t necessarily stay on Tav too long. If you’re too shy to say one sentence, perhaps you shouldn’t speak at all. “37 logs in an 30 minutes…that m-must be a record of some kind.”

His eyes jump to Tav. Desperately hoping no expression can have his chest squeezing uncomfortably. They smile, cheeky, “Oh you don’t have to save my ego, Anna. I stopped counting by the 12th, I simply wanted to see how much Wyll had in him for such a short time.”   “And yet,” An arm is wrung around their neck, tugging them down a slight. Wyll’s horn knocking into theirs lightly, almost as much as a hip bump, “I still obtained 51. I’d say keep the compliments coming, Lady Anna! This one might need it.” He gently pats their shoulder, as if consoling them.

 At that, Tav’s eyes roll and they’re shoving the Warlock off. Both he and Anna, who once the woman realizes the playfulness, are swept into a small fit of laughter each.

  The camp air is light, a nice break from the overall dampening gore and violence that plagues their days. The scene, seeing his companions tossing banter back and forth, doesn’t exactly feel exclusive for Astarion. He feels fine, watching the others prattle around like children.

His only wish..

For Anna to finally give an extra meter to the feet apart she is from Tav. Like 12 meters, perhaps 15 if he were so lucky.

Or rather simply..or kindly drop dead. Either way satisfies Astarion.

--------------------------------------------   It’s late. Crickets are alive and making their music to the world known. Distant owls coo and stay wary of the fire crackling in the middle of the camp. Or rather it’s people surrounding it.   Wyll and Jaheria have already staggered off to bed, the high moon clear to everyone of it’s dark hours. Halsin too, the druid tired from a long day of happily helping Tav on their village run. They plan to stay one more night before packing up and heading off to the next area, the one where Anna will be promptly dropped off and their next assignment picked up.

The only people left up and about were Shadowheart, Gale, and Lae’zel. For once, the two women aren’t at each other’s throats, simply for the nice reason of Tav and Astarion settled in between their positions. Oh and Karlach’s watchful but friendly eye from her bedroll, chatting easily with Gale over a new spell he’s experimenting with at the moment. She may look lost, tad confused, but whose to say she isn’t interested to some degree. Especially with how hyped up the little wizard, half her size, prides himself joyously.   Astarion huffs, “Did you really have to go on and handle that heinous creature all by yourself??” Ah yes, what the camp lovebirds were up to. He tugs their arm closer, pushing their rolled up sleeve higher. Only to reveal more purple and blue forming at it’s slow-ish pace.

“Halsin was already busy with the herb finding, “ Tav’s eyes nearly roll to the back of their head, “If I didn’t settle the horse down quickly, I’d possibly have more than scrapes and bruising.” “And your response was to go to it’s front and stand in the cross fire of it’s flying, hard hooves?” Shadowheart chimes in, her held tilt making her pause in her fire poking.   “I’ve handled horses before, I knew what I was doing.” They defend again. “Yes, and now you being a moon painting on legs is clear proof of such knowledge.” Astarion drops their arm into one elbow, throwing up the other. His face twisted in clear and loud irritation. “I’m fine, Star,” Their laugh breaks out at the sight. Pulling the arm out and behind his shoulders, they tug him close, “At least they are just bruises-“   “Big, growing bruises as we speak-“   “Bruises, Astarion! It’ll heal in a few weeks from now and I’ll be back to my regular color in no time.” He wants to push further, wants to lecture them until they agree to not even look another horse again. But with their cheek rubbing into his hair, hand trailing on his side in a gentle caress, his argument is faltering. He huffs, ‘attacking’ their arm in a light slap around the wrist. They feign an OW! Chuckling into his white curls.

“I swear, if Halsin comes back again with a report of you being a complete and utter idiot-“  “You know very well it’ll continue, why even threaten them in the first place?” Lae’zel mutters aloud, her steel sharpener giving little shrieks with each slide.   “Well-“   “Hello everyone!” That voice chirps rather loudly from behind. Tav’s grip loosens in a way that has Astarion growling from his throat at two things instead of one. Shadowheart shoots him a look he arrogantly ignores. Tav’s head twists, a smile quirking up on their features. “Hey, Anna!”   The princess beams, cutting around the log the two sit on and coming into everyone’s view. What she has in her hands, or rather platter, has Shadowheart furrowing her brow and lightly tilting her head, “What you do have there, Anna?”

“Drinks! Gale showed me the recipe.” If she wasn’t holding the platter, she’s sure to be fiddling with her fingers. Her head faces downward instead. So shy and sweet. Astarion’s grip on Tav’s waist grows. Enough so that Tav takes their attention of Anna and to their vampire lover, eyes asking ‘are you ok?’ He simply flashes a smirk, waving off their comment and detaching from them. Fast and quick. Like a youngling found out by their parents.

Tav’s concern only grows. Astarion, while fine flaunting their relationship around of the rest of their misfit crew- holding hands as they tred along, pulling them down for a quick peck before splitting off, showing no shame as he walks out of their tent at early sunrise- he’s surely one to tone it down in front of strangers unless he feels reason not to. Like at the festival they recently went to, the one with the druid and her love test, he was proudly holding their palm and strutting along like a newly wed afterwards. It must be that.

Their face tenses a little, concern warping their brow. As much as they want to ask further, wane for an answer, they know it won’t help. Most definitely not while in front of their crew plus Anna. Astarion will always refer to their shared tent if he had a problem, somewhere private and safe. Easy for him to unload whatever plagues him. It must be that. Hopefully, he can talk then.   When Anna isn’t looking, they check and peck his forehead, all before releasing him themselves. He doesn’t react, eyes on Anna.   She passes around the drinks, all merrily and happy as can be. A hum to her lips, eyes crickled and flashing with joy every time someone thanks her for their drinks. Of course Astarion doesn’t miss the lingering fingers against Tav’s as she hands over theirs. He keeps his hiss quiet and nudges closer to their side once she changes course.

She still smiles as she offers up her gifts to Astarion and Lae’zel. To which Lae’zel declines, her palm up as she critically eyes the concoction, “ Is it sweet?” “Of course, I-“ “Then I have no need for it.”

Astarion giggling mind stirs at Anna’s slightly puppy, dejected face, all before being put to a stop by Anna’s switch to him. “Would you like a cup, Astarion?” She flutters sweetly.

He hums, staring at the juice that came from that of an apple. If he has his scents correct.  He lets a smile polite enough to etch on his face, “Apologies, my dear, but fruit isn’t for me. I prefer something with a different type of juice.”

Tav nearly chokes on their latest sip. So does Shadowheart, who giggles rather nervously. Anna, feeling a joke she’s missed out on, doesn’t take it to heart. She tilts her head but accepts his decline with a light expression.

Gale immediately recognizes the flavor as it hits his tongue, awing in gratitude, “Oh, Anna! This is amazing! It hits the nerves just right.” She bows her thanks, “Thank you, Gale, where had you learn this recipe anyway? I found it the most fun to experiment my brewing skills with!” “My mother,” He says as proudly as he always mentions her, “After spells and incantations, my mother made and taught me such wonderful recipes the Dekarios family has been passing down from generation to generation.”

“Well, remind me to give my additional thanks to Momma Dekarios, this is awesome, Anna!” Karlach as always, is loud in her approval. She swallows down a gulp, licking up the excess as a hearty smile dawns her face.

---------------------------------------- “If you don’t mind my asking….how’s Tav?”   It’s about time the fire is put out and people retreating into their tents for the long day tomorrow. Gale pauses in his storing, leftover porridge poured into a sealable bowl for another time. Shadowheart too, her bedroll under her arm and a second one, for Anna, on the ground next to her. “How’s Tav? As in health or character?” Gale can’t recall anything odd about Tav. They finished their fill and left a little soon after, yawing out a goodnight as Anna left for a moment. Of course with the oh so friendly vampire of the group not too far from following suit.

Kalach did the same after another fill of the juice Anna shared before heading off to her bedroll. Anna blinks, “Oh, character! I’m sorry, I’m merely curious as I seem to know only one side while everyone else is more or less open in comparison.”

Ah that’s true. As open as a listening Tav is, their stories and dreams aren’t shared as much amongst the group. They only want to focus on others, not themselves. Shadowheart, with a knowing chuckle accompanying, tells Anna such. “Don’t take it personally, Tav has always been that way. It’s rare to see any drastic difference.” To be fair, they can’t seem to remember half their life story, amnesia being a killer on their soul.

Gale nods along, “But what we do know is they have a good heart despite it, always willing to help, even if they could loose limb or life along with way.” “They are also such a jokester, don’t forget,” The bedroll spreads, palms finding rocks and nicks in the dirt and pulling them out from beneath, “Gods only know how that mind works for the especially stupidest ones.” Anna giggles, taking the last of the supplies from Gale. Who smiles in thanks. “Oh really? Well, I did get a hint of that with Wyll that one time.”   Gale’s head tips back, long tangles waving down, as he groans out, “Oh they have been much worse from that.”   Anna hums, eyes thinking, “So…uhm…is Tav perhaps..single?”   That, not Gale’s ice spell for the cooking fire, freezes them. They share a look and glance back to a fidgeting Anna. Did she not see Tav and- A wince pulls on Gale’s face, apologetic almost,“Anna-“ You gotta give it to him, he tries.   “I’m sorry!” Her hands fly, “I’m sure they have a different life behind this whole journey you are all gathered for, but I simply can’t help but ask! They seem so sweet and noble, not to mention so handsome and beautiful! I couldn’t help but become curious.” Her cheeks are aflush, bright red upon fair skin.

Yet they can’t get an answer out. Gale flushes, remembering all the times he’s accidentally stumbled upon a sneaky Astarion and flustered Tav in his search for privacy in the woods, all to the point he thinks some are purposeful. Shadowheart feels the same. The tadpole isn’t active, but she still ends up in the same predicament. Flashes of glimpsing at their tangled hands as the two converse at the back, shared pecks (mostly Tav to Astarion) when they think no one is paying any attention, lovey-dovey shit that can make anyone, relationship or not, feel as single as a tree in baren woodlands. “Anna-“ Gale tries again.

Anna cuts him off again, “You know what, I’m too tired, that’s it! Let’s forget this ever occurred, please!” She winds up snatching up her bedroll from a grimacing Shadowheart, tucking tail and fluttering off with a short but rushed, “Good night, my friends!” over her shoulder.   At the silence that follows, the two left behind blink at one another. “Oh..Astarion is going to loose it.” Shadowheart clicks her tongue. Remembering all the times Astarion smirks as Tav’s attention flies to him instead of anyone else, Gale can’t help but agree wholeheartedly.

-----------------------------------------------

“Excuse me?” The hiss hits Gale hard enough that he’s no longer wondering why Shadowheart left the idea up to him. His fingers trail up to rub his forehead, he feels Astarion boring into him, red eyes pinched in a sneer.   “She merely asked a question-“   “Yes, a simple and innocent question on if MY lover was single or not.”   “I tried to tell her no!” He whisper-shouts back, eyes drawing up to meet his. “She flew off like a scared squirrel before either of us could tell her such!” So much for being a good friend and trying to warn Astarion ahead of time. Ugh..he should have went to Tav themselves instead. They’d at least wouldn’t keep interrupting him. “Look, I’m not one to go about messing with anyone’s relationships, but I think the best thing is talking to either Tav or Miss Anna or both.” He waves his hand around, “Clear the air so they say.”   “You’re right, surprisingly.” Astarion blinks. Gale pauses, still walking beside him. Is he actually going to- “You aren’t one to go about messing with relationships, at least until after you get it through that oddly shape skull of yours that it isn’t your place.” And that’s how the small spark of hope of Astarion’s redemption arc died in Gale’s heart. His shoulders lower in his defeat. But perk right back up as a palm slaps on his and another onto Astarion’s shoulders. “What we talkin’ about?” A sharp whisper fills his ears. Astarion jerks, Gale just about yelps out his soul. Both turn, meeting dark eyes of their favorite baalspawn of the group. They grin, eyes hooded, “What? You boys kept whispering a little too much, Tav asked me to check on ya’ll!”

“Durge!” Astarion, once again, hisses with their common nickname, “Did you really have to sneak up on us?”   “You’re a rouge..” They blink slowly, diligently, as if the concept should be obvious to all, young and old, “You didn’t think to keep an eye on your own purse?”   “I think you meant to say back.” Gale’s head tilts. Astarion’s hands start wandering around, patting his sides.   “Nope.” Astarion confirms the opposite, a grumble falling as his gaze clicks upwards. The well flourish decorated pack goes bouncing from the little rope that secures it as it hangs from their grasp. Their lip bit in their covered chuckle.

The bag is snatched, Astarion stuffing it as deep as it can go in his pocket, stink eye glaring down at the thief in front of him. Gale picks at his brow, rubbing as he groans. “Durge…” “Yes, handsome?” They purr, turning to him with the biggest look of innocence that Astarion has ever seen. Hands clutched behind their back, head leaning sweetly, eyes fluttering.   “It’s not rather becoming to eavesdrop…” His eyes do that weird softening as he says that. Mystra, then Tav, then them? No wonder the man has the oddest relationship with romance. Astarion feeling his eyes draw to the back of his head nearly with how hard he rolls them. Maybe he goes any farther, he can see that tadpole that gotten him in this mess in the first place.  The idea then turns a tad too grotest for his liking so he stops with mute boredom. 

“Hey!” They start, “I told ya, Tav asked me to check on ya.” Gale fixes them with a look.

“Anyhow!” They send one right back, no hesitation. However, it isn’t hard to see the twinkle of fondness they share. Astarion feels his eyes about to roll a second time. “Wanna spill?” They wink.

Gale looks at Astarion. He boredly blinks back. He takes that as the equivalent of ‘go ahead’ as he huffs. “Anna’s been showing a rather kindly interest in Tav as of late, yet doesn’t seem to get the hint that Tav and Astarion are…a thing?” He looks at Astarion again, edging the last words carefully.

“That’s one way to put it.”

“Ohhhh.” Durge walks in stride with them. Their eyes squinting ahead at Anna talking animatedly with Tav. Hands parading about in some clear story, Tav’s fluffed shoulders bouncing in presumed chuckles. If they look hard enough, focusing really good, they barely see the red that fits her cheeks. And they don’t seem to be from the sun at all, hells, it’s chilly more than anything this odd morning.

“So that’s a thing.” Such drama in this camp. Their giggling mind can’t get enough. “So what are ya gonna do about it?” The question is for Astarion pointedly, but their glance at Gale keeps the conversation opened. “I was just telling Astarion that he should speak with Tav about it, maybe drop it in casually or say he’s just noticed things here and there.” He too looks at Astarion pointedly. “I think it’s the best thing to do when you notice someone’s throwing heart eyes at one’s lover.”

“And I think that if it’s how you say, my relationship, I should handle it my way!” 

Gale’s jaw drops, about to defend his statement with ever breath he has, but the arm looping around his shoulder chokes those words up. His breath freezes in hit throat as Durge yanks him closer to them, easy smirk meeting his confused gaze. It promptly drops the moment heat meets his skin, burning his face red. 

Durge throws an eyebrow his way, grin growing, then focuses on the vampire glaring intensely at the back of Tav and Anna’s skulls. His eyes darting down the moment Tav seems to glance over their shoulder. “Alright then.” Durge shrugs, whistling their contempt. “Keep it and store it in until little miss princess figures out the same way you got Tav to bend over backwards for your wayward soul.”

Gale pales. ‘What are you doing??’ His whispers a harsh breath on Durge’s ear. The Baalspawn looks nothing close to uncomfortable, they only grin at Gale. ‘Don’t worry about it, handsome, just focus on our little magic date later, k?’

That clamps the wizard up. “Way-Wayward soul??” Astarion squeaks. His glare intensifies onto Durge. It’s then a bubble of laughter, nothing of joy, all full of sarcasm-Gale and Durge exchange a look- spills from his lips. 

He scoffs, “I’m just going to ignore that comment, please and thank you, and besides that, I highly doubt some daddy’s little brat stain will be able to get through, and while I adore them so, Tav’s platonically-stricken head.” His hand flies up and places delicately over his chest, claws out. “I hate to announce it to the class but it took me explaining the basic idea of sex for Tav to understand what I wanted from them at the Tiefling party!” 

Before Gale or Durge could go on any further, or Durge just encourage Astarion’s sass fess, the spawn turns heels and marches to the front. He sends the last comment in a hiss over his shoulder, “Like that butterfly flapping, pampered parasite would even try it anyway if I have anything to say about it!”

-------------------------------------------------

He thought the privileged princess wouldn’t try anything. Afterall, she sounded like a blushing virgin at the mere thought Tav knew what plagued her as she attempted in asking Gale and Shadowheart, at least by what Gale told him.  But…he should've realized something.

If he can go thinking he easily seduce their unofficial leader with batting eyes and whispered promises with no issue, only to get turned on his metaphorical side and end up in the first committed, healthiest relationship he’s had in over 200 years by accident- then he should’ve realized all things don’t go as planned.

And by that he means that Anna definitely didn’t act a blushy nun, keeping her feelings locked up safe from the world, she decided to do the rather opposite.

Any chance she got, she was trying to either stay by Tav’s side or help them out around camp. Even going as far as to interrupt some conversations with their companions, mainly Shadowheart- suppose she saw how the two bonded over loss of childhood memory and supporting each other in most arguments amongst the group- enough so that it took Lae’zel directly ignoring her input as she was talking to Tav. Oh and doing it again one time because Tav was late for their planned training. 

Yeah, he remembers snickering on the side with a not so quiet Durge as the half-twit fumed red in the background, all the while their astral-dwelling companion grabbed Tav by the collar and dragged the poor, apologizing sheepishly tiefling double her size to their usual area.

At least he got a chance to ‘soothe’ Tav’s bruises that night, tent flap tied up tight.

She isn’t the fighting type at all, so surprising for Astarion-Gods!- so the only time Astarion got Tav to ‘himself’ was when picked to go out.

And even that got limited!

The crew recently found a mining crew in need of muscles to get their buddies out of an explosion gone wrong, amongst other things, so they’ve yet to move their camp for the last few days as Tav took Karlach, Gale, and Shadowheart out to help. They would’ve brought Halsin too, possibly to help with the healing bits they are sure to come across, if not for the warnings of the mining crew about sightings of a creature wandering around too.

So yeah. Tensions be high. And higher for the two who unknowingly/knowingly pine for the same sweet leader of their stitched together group.

Astarion’s been pointedly ignoring Anna during the day, immediately retiring to his tent the moment Tav’s safe and sound. And the others too he supposes.

Thankfully everyone has enough sense to not pry the vampire about it, merely giving him glances or odd looks whenever he excuses himself from anything Anna wants to talk to him about. Save for Lae’zel who honestly could care less about brewing drama afoot in the camp and fills the silence by sharpening or training just about all day. 

After yet another failed attempt by Anna in her new request to speak to Astarion privately, he once again guesses wrong in thinking she finally stopped, finally got the point he wants nothing to do with a prancing bird, parading around his lover day in and out.

Imagine the dear’s surprise that first thing he walks into in the morning is seeing Anna waiting outside his tent, fidgeting and picking at a small sack in her hands. His eyes dart to Tav, the teifling wrapping a conversation up with Halsin it seem, sack thrown over their shoulder with a casual grip.  Seems Anna won’t be putting on fluttering eyes and sweet smiles for Tav today. 

“Astarion!” She perks up immediately as the man slips from his tent. Face immediately fitting into place with a light smirk and narrowed eyes. 

“Lady Annastasia, and to what do I owe the pleasure to?” He stands straighter, arms folding lightly. 

She bites her inner cheek, “Oh nothing big, I merely need to ask a question of sorts.”

“Ah I see.” His head tilts, studying her. Going up and down. She sways in place, as if nerves are biting at each angle of her sides. “ Is it wrong to assume it’s about our Tav?”

As he expected, she blinks wide at him, freezing in place. Her eyes dart from him to the taller hero who just made their way to their three traveling buddies for the last day at the mines. Tav told him as he curled in their lap, getting his fill in as they carded their fingers through his locks last night. He didn’t mind their rambles as he ate, if anything, started to encourage it as of late.  Doesn’t have anything to do with their absence of voice filtering around his tent, oh no.

Anna’s voice can’t help but come out as a waver. “Is…Is it that obvious?”

Admittedly, Astarion lets the sympathy slide through, “As obvious as  a little puppy longing for it’s owner?” He makes that gentle hissing sound through his teeth, “I’m afraid so, darling.”

She visibly drops, a pout pulling. “Oh.”

“But not to worry, my dear, Tav isn’t the brightest tool in the shed when it comes to romance, so I think you’re safe.” For now. He wants to add. “As a rogue, these things are quite easy to catch amongst other things.”

She nods, agreeing with him as a small bout of hope pools her eyes once more. She blinks up at him, a gentle smile relaxing her features. “If so, I still want to ask my request of you! If you don’t mind, of course.”

Why the hells should I? 

“Of course, whatever the Lady desires!” He says instead. 

She begins speaking her request to him and he listens for a bit till he realizes she’s close to telling her life story as she rambles. So his ears do the most rational thing and begins drowning her out, getting only bits and pieces, enough to be able to nod or agree without seemingly ignoring her.

All the while, Tav stands at the edge of camp, close enough for them to catch his eye with little exaggeration. To others, they may look fresh and bushy tailed, ready for another adventure. To him, they look exhausted. Without even being near them a whole lot, he knows right away they’ve been restless the past few days. 

Call him silly, but they can’t help but remind him of a giant puppy in a way. Always eager to please him, always looking forward to talking with him or following him around, even while he’s doing the following most days. They miss him. 

Despite the non-angsty but hollow look in their eyes, he kept help the slight, odd satisfaction on knowing he’s the only one able to make that happy unintentionally. 

They smile, grim and tired wrinkles around their corners. 

He smiles back, Anna thinking he’s still listening throughout. 

Tav does a quick, funny look around, as if trying to make him laugh, which he has to stop himself with a clearing of his throat, before bringing up their hands in an overall cliche heart symbol. Someone could see it and they don’t care. 

He keeps himself from acting any stranger in front of Anna. For the few times too many, he’s glad he can’t physically blush in front of others. 

With that, Tav wanders over to their group and begin their last day to the mines.

“-I know you’re close with, so I was hoping to get your opinion of this gift I bought them?”

Astarion blinks out of his little dream world of pink clouds and sweet nothings, and comes back to the ever nervous Anna in front of him. 

“Oh right! Yes, I’m sure whatever it is, they’ll adore it.” 

Anna beams and takes no time to pull out a silver necklace. Red gems, rubies possibly line the chain in small drops. It’s beautiful. Clearly carefully crafted and made for the loveliest lads or ladies.

Astarion makes his stand back as subtle as possible.

“Lovely, isn’t it?” She raises it high, thankfully close to her. “I saw it in town with Durge the other day and couldn’t help but snatch it right up!”

“Terribly sweet.” He marks. Winces carefully hidden.

“Yeah! It could also help with their little ‘problem’.”

Astarion perks at that. Ears winding. 

‘Huh?’

Questions on his face must be evident cause Anna immediately jumps to an explanation.

“Oh, I’ve noticed these odd markings or rather…” She looks left and right, leaning in just a slight. As if whatever she says would bring panic to all around them. 

“...Bites!” 

He blinks, again. 

“I understand if Tav has some…arrangement with someone of the night, but I worry for them!” Her eyes fill with an emotion he’s seen way to many times. Pity and anger. 

“Vampires are..vile, dangerous things! The vampire that Tav lets them feed from must be seducing them, using them a mere cattle!”

Tav said something to him once about comments they get as a tiefling. How they obviously look like devils but the real insult is being compared to livestock. Namely bulls or..

“Cattle?”

Something sparks in him. The whispers he had when he first met Tav and their small group of Shadowheart and Gale begin again. 

Anna nods dutifully. Almost sadly. He hides the grit in his teeth as his claws scream at him to rip that nod clean off. 

“I feel this necklace could help them scare whoever it is off, yes?” Then her expression shifts, eyes turning downward in that shy act once more. No, coy.

“I just think it’s best for them, you know?”

THATS NOT YOUR FUCKING CHOICE TO-

“Of course! Such wretched creatures need to be purged from this world!” He may be playing it off a little too much. He adds in a wiping motion, swift and able to startle Anna. But she looks at him with big, woefully hopeful eyes and he knows he has her.

A feeling he welcomes greatly, especially in this moment as anger shakes his very soul, comes to play. It claps it’s hands, plays it’s tunes, drafting it’s first idea with gleaming eyes full of mirth.

He keeps it hidden with a gentle smile, dare he say gentlemanly. So charming he’s sure Anna would’ve been swooning if not for Tav.

“I suggest giving it to them tonight, my dear.” He wraps a friendly hand over hers, ignoring the light sting he feels from one of the dangling bits passing through her fingers and onto his. “Afterall, with how much Tav has been working tirelessly with this whole mining business, who’s to say that fiend won’t be lurking about when embers cool? They’ll be too tired from the mind to be able to have their guard up, this might just be their savior.”

Anna makes Astarion realize something new as she giggles, feeling suddenly heroic for her idea as she agrees fully to his idea. 

She’s the biggest fucking idiot he’s ever met. And he’s met plenty.

-----------------------------------------------------

Lurking he does. 

The moment Tav says their farewells to their companions, treading to their tent in wavering steps and light winces. Body full of a long recent days that guarantees how their next morning will go.  Resting and allowing their body to recuperate, hopefully with a certain cold lover at their side. Oh how they’ve missed such a face, such a presence bursting with sassy jokes and dreadful touches. 

Its no surprise how fast their tail starts swinging left and right the moment they hear the flaps of their tent open, pulling their tank down with no real speed. 

They turn and see him in all his awaiting glory. His crimson eyes lure from up to down, taking in their freshly washed appearance. 

“Long day?”

“The longest.” Their body sags. 

Astarion tuts, pulling the most pitiful, sympathetic pout only a mother could give. “Oh you poor thing. A guess saving a loud, smelly bunch of miners is a big killer on the whole heroic motive, yes?”

“Wish I could agree with you, lovely.” Their lip quirks, “Still into the heroic image, unfortunately.” “Pity. Thought I could finally pull you into the dark side of things.” He moves closer, grabbing the towel from their neck and begins dabbing the remaining drops on their collar. “You know, evil laugh, lunatic planning, leather galore and dark lairs, all the sorts.”

“You know…” It’s now they can pick up his, and he hates when they say it, perfume he keeps refilled. The smallest luxury behind the many books he tends to the most. It’s not strong, subtle enough for the allspire bit to mix in surprisingly well with the woodland essence they must be all drowned in by now. “I might be persuaded a bit?”

His eyes slide to theirs. Cheeks making them squint with his smirk. “Oh?” His head tilts. “And with what exactly?”

“Blame the miners actually, but perhaps this ‘hero’” Their hands prick quotation marks, he snickers, “wants a little time with their favorite little villain.”

“Little?!” He grabs the towel in a firmer hold, swatting them on the arm. All gentle, no worries.

“Astarion, I’m nearly as tall as Halsin and taller than Karlach.” Their words deadpan, tone full of underlining giggles.

His fangs show and he wastes no time in pulling them to the bed on the side. “ It doesn’t matter, my dear! I will not be resorted to such words like ‘little’!” 

“Then why are you getting on my lap?” They ask as he indeed does so, huffy as he goes.

“Shut it, now.”

“Whatever his majesty desires.” His hand covers their mouth, eyes glaring. Their palms face up in a surrender. 

“I will do what I desire..” His arms curl around their neck, nose nuzzling into theirs. Tav began doing that at one point when he was still getting used to the intimate but nonsexual shows of affection. A quick nuzzle when one of them felt off and they immediately perk up as if the action itself forced new energy into them.

He feels arms close around his waist, low enough to not touch his back scars directly but also not too low to suggest anything past cuddling. He huffs at their tenderness, patting their arm to tell them what he wants.

They curl tighter in response. They appear to have needed that cause in mere moments, they go from tight body and straightened back to relaxed and curling into his front.

A long breath escaping. 

Astarion purses his lips, ducking into their neck. 

“Are you alright?” His whisper soft.

Their shoulders lift and fall back as if that took alot of effort in itself. “Tired.” They’re knowledgeable about the horns as they nudge further into his collar, “And missed you. ‘M sorry for not bringing ya. It was really dark and cramped and I just didn’t-”

“Hey-” He’s quick, finger flicking under the chin and pulling up. “What did we say about unnecessary apologies? I believe they were your own words, love?”

“They are unnecessary, therefore we don’t need to say them.”

“Exactly!” His finger boops their nose. The silly act making them smile onces again. It’s tired but happy so he’s happy. “Wow, you are so wise! Perhaps Gale needs to watch his tracks.”

“Pft- Nah. I like swords more.” Their head shakes as laughter spills.

“More things for us to bond over, I suppose.”

“You like daggers more.”

“A blade is still a blade. Doesn’t matter how long.”

Their eyebrow pricks. “Why do I sense an innuendo?”

“Perhaps you’ve just been in that mindless gutter far too long.”

“Eh.” Their forehead knocks back into his chest. A slither around his thigh and a touch from his fingertips confirms the scaly tail. “Maybe.” It begins wagging as he curls a palm around it, thumb rubbing circles in the side, before letting it do it’s clinging thing.

It’s late. And he’s sure Anna will show soon. And as according to his plan, Tav stays locked in his arms in such a way that would be impossible for even the most idiotic of idiots to mistake it for platonic.  Especially when they’ve just begun trailing kisses up his neck. Soft and delicate. Going from his collar, to his adams apple, to the edge just under his sensitive ear. 

His arms tighten, claws digging into the tank top underneath them.  “Tav-”

They pause, pulling away a bit and a side of him whines at the loss in milliseconds. Before, he would have pulled a pity party at himself for having such an inward reaction, being made into mush just over a few kisses.  But the other side of him now? HA, he’s more concerned over that look in their eye. Thinking they’ve done something wrong. Their grip loosens too and he knows he needs to stop that.

His arm unhooks from their neck and grabs their forearm.  “Don’t. I just wanted to ask you something?”

They blink and tilt their head. All ears as he would say. 

A thought plagues his mind. He knows it’s really silly but…Something about what Anna says kept replaying in his mind all day. No idea why, he already knows the answer to what he wants to ask but..

“What is it, Astarion?” They frown lightly up at him.

His legs under his thighs, pressed against theirs, shift as he works through his question. With them waiting all patiently of course.

“I understand if Tav has some…arrangement with someone of the night, but I worry for them!”

“Im used to comments of how damn devilish I look, literally. Not figureativ- stop with that look, Astarion. And I guess it’s not the worse but..cows or cattle gotta be a real ego destroyer.”

“Vampires are..vile, dangerous things! The vampire that Tav lets them feed from must be seducing them, using them a mere cattle!”

“Do you feel weird when I feed from you?” He blurts.

Their stare is loud. Looking all over his face as if he’s mere seconds from breaking into laughter, playing up into a joke.

When that doesn’t happen, they stay silent a moment longer. 

“..No?” They glance around, thinking, “Should I?”

“I just-” He inhales, a burst of dustration bubbling up, He’s not a feelings person but he wants to try. Tav’s always telling him to talk if he’s worried about something. Might as well get used to it now. “I know our circumstances were an agreement of sorts but..I suppose.” His eyes dart down. A wave of vulnerability washing over him.

“I suppose I’ve been overthinking and…and can’t quite seem to get it out of my head.”

“Are you asking about side effects or ‘feelings’ feelings?” They try to match his gaze.

“..The latter.”

Tav hums, tugging him closer. 

They’re a planner. Always have been, might always will be despite this fucked up situation they might be in. Unconsciously, maybe that’s why if anyone in this group were to be asked who the leader is, even durge who likes doing their own thing, everyone would point to Tav.

Thus, he gets an immediate idea as why they ask if he trusts them enough to pull them to the bed. With him under them. He shrugs but after a look, says his consent with a roll of his eyes.

Pulling him down, they make sure he’s absolutely comfortable amongst the silk pillows and fur blankets before wrapping themself over him. Legs straddle their hips, arms playing boredly at their neck, and he can once again feel their tail tapping on his thigh, all before wrapping around it in a soft cage.

They smile at his questioning gaze, assuring him they won’t try anything funny without his explicit consent, all before leaning into his neck for a kiss. 

He stops the yelp in his throat. They’re right on the mark, teasing the sensitive skin from earlier. Their chest vibrates with their chuckle, end of the tail wagging. 

 “It’s ok, lovely. I won’t do anything more than this.” Lips murmur as they trail up his neck again, going to the other side. 

His legs jerk, wrapping around their waist just they hit his ears again.  His teeth grit, “You’re doing- doing this on..p-purpose!” he accuses. Another kiss lands at his lobe, canines only a tiefling could have probing it’s edge, “T-trying to distract me from my question??”

Was it that silly they would ignore it outright?

Before any odd feeling could come in place of his non-beating chest, their arms circle his waist, pulling their bodies closer. Making a tangled mess of the shorter elf and tall tiefling. 

“On purpose? Mm, Maybe.” They nip the skin just above his scar, not directly on it. A part, deep and nervous, but somehow longing more, whines for a little lower. “But I wanna prove a point.”

“What point?” A hiss escapes and his claws dig crescent moons into their shirt again. They pause in making a mess out of the man beneath them, pulling away and meeting his hooded gaze with a soft look. So soft and uncensored for it’s immediate openness he nearly stops from trying to catch his breath.

“That I want this too.”

Then they drag their head back down again and he’s back to drowning.

“I want you satisfied. I want you happy.” They lick a small line up and his unlatches from the fabric to catch his moan. “Want you laughing, teasing, sharing feelings, and when you need to” Their words stop as they get a little into it, tightening their hold and suckling a small bit into one spot. He just about bites his tongue when a squeak wants to make itself known, nearly tearing a new hole into the shirt as he stops himself from jerking up and more into their hold. Not that he could move much if he wanted to. They keep a safe hold on him. As if they knew how he’d react. 

He curses and bites back a groan from that.

They let go and lick their lip. “I want you to feed.”

“Cheeky devil!”

“I thought you adored that?” They chuckle in his face, nuzzling into his neck immediately afterwards. 

His hand swats their back.

They keep on chuckling, and they keep on their attack on his neck. 

He lets them, despite all the clawing into their shoulders, leaving marks that make it look as if they lost a fight to a feral cat, occasional tightening and shaking of his legs on their hips, groaning and small whimpering melting into their neck. He holds them tight against him, letting them show how much they want him, Astarion, their little, sassy, vampire elf. Bites and all.

His eyes open from their clenched state the moment his ears pick up something. They twitch but Tav’s too busy on one particular spot on his neck vein to notice. 

Crimson eyes land on the figure at the tend opening. The same one who clutches the horrid necklace in one hand and clenches the tent cover in a tight fist with the other. Dark eyes staring on the curled up form looming over Astarion, tail wagging furiously as if they’re getting the bestest damn treat in existence.

Anna. The doe eyed little princess they picked up on their journey. The same one who doesn’t look at them with the same little doe eyed expression she’s been throwing left and right since they’ve saved her. They scorn with a glaring envy Astarion has been all too familiar with since she arrived and made moves on his lover. 

Speaking of which….

He looks her straight dead in the eye as Tav makes a new mark into his pale skin, curling his fingers deep into their tank as he lets his jaw drop and hang to a loud groan that filters the tent. The corner of his lip curled at her immediate response.

She stiffins. Eyes pooling. Pooling with all he's felt every single time she rested a delicate hand on Tav's arms. The same ones that wrap around him and have become the first nearly-safest place since his escape.

The same feeling he got every single time she looked up into Tav's unknowing gaze with huge hearts for pupils. The same person that looks over every moment he opens up, makes a joke, or even gets just the tiniest bit about a book they got for him simply because they heard his low comment about it. 

Only he isn't the one mourning some fairytale. Not anymore. His relationship with Tav might not be one he could only imagine every cold and sickly night in Cazador's reign, but gives the same exact feeling he's always looked for underneath and that's plenty enough for him. 

A sharp prick at his neck and he's letting out a louder moan than the previous, hand curling around their bicep as they adjust to get even further into him. A hand snakes up to his head and when the thumb brushes his ear, he gets closer to loosing it again. 

Perhaps he should've warned her. Tell her who was really making Tav happy every night and day. Save her from inevitable heartbreak of her wanton fairytale image being shattered. And he was planning to the moment she showed up to his tent this morning. Yet…

“Vampires are..vile, dangerous things! The vampire that Tav lets them feed from must be seducing them, using them a mere cattle!”

His eyes dart to Tav’s neck, recently healed sometime today. 

He believes a mark of their own should be the best for them.

He wastes no longer in letting his fangs show, shining fleetingly in the tent's handing lamp, and pledging them into Tav’s neck. Eye slamming close the second iron hits his taste buds.

He hears a gasp but it gets drowned out by Tav’s grunt turned moan. Hugging him tighter. He drinks like every night, but maybe a tad less than usual. They really did have a long day after all. 

Blood drips down his lip, onto his chin as he pulls back and looks at the entrance. 

Gone. The girl ran off. 

Good. More time to reconnect with his dear again, and in the best ways possible too.

A laugh escapes him as they tickle his side for the surprise, turning to end in another moan as they get to his under chin now.

--------------------------------------------------

Bonus:

“That’s odd, Anna doesn’t seem like she wants to speak to me anymore.” Tav mentions as they wonder back into their tent the next morning, finished with their morning check in it seems, “In fact, she’s asking how long until we get to her home town.” 

Astarion hums ‘thoughtfully’, reclined and the almost relax on their bed. The only thing he wears is one of their shirts, loosely buttoned together and opened up enough to let the world see exactly how far their little ‘time’ went last night, plus some shorts he’s left from time to time in there. They actually didn’t get farther than leaving a trail down his chest and him, many marking bites around their shoulders and collar (those he can see clearly with the spare button up half heartedly put together) but it leaves enough for anyone to assume and like hells he’s gonna correct anyone if they did. “I did find this though.”

He glances up from his book, page carefully marked so as to not lose it. It’s getting rather good. It may be some silly romance genre Tav found for him, but it’s Tav. Why wouldn’t he indulge a little outside his usual?

“Oh, a necklace.”

“Yeah, silver and honestly extremely eye-catching. Not something I’d wear however.”

Oh yeah, he forgot. Tav likes the less complicated jewelry. Think of single chain or lonely gems in the center type. Says it makes it easier to wear under the pelted heat and armor.  Ironic he supposes.

“I mean silver? Really? When I have a vampire for a lover?” Their head shakes and they stuff it in the ‘to sell’ bag. 

His ear perks up, “What does my state of being relate to your choice of jewelry?”

Their stare into him offended him slightly. As if they are questioning his very wits. 

“Lovely, unless my reading is fucked, vampires are basically allergic to silver.” They state, a small deadpanning in their tone.

…Wait, they read about vampires….for him?

Something stirs in his chest, the same feeling from last night as he blanks at them. 

“....Get your ass over here right now darling and kiss me.”

Their tail shoots up, expression thrown back, but soon a grin grows, canines begin flashing and demonic eyes sparking. “Oh like you have to ask me twice!” They laugh.

—----------------------- “Should I tell you who tried to give you the necklace by the way?”

“Huh? Oh, sure, lovely.”

“You know our dear Anna, yes?”

“Yeah…I just told you how she keeps ignoring-...”

“....”

“Did she know about the silver?”

“Yes, very much so in fact.”

“Was she at the tent last night?”

“Possibly-maybe.”

"........."

"............"

“....She leaves tomorrow.”

“ :)”

[mundupays]

oc introductioon numero UNO

yoyo it's ya girl . arbi . probably

anyways i said i would explain my anthro rain world oc in the tags of my last post so i sort of have to.

This is Arbi! (she/they/it) Also known as "The Seer," she's a spear-totin cowpoke with a love for bug pupa and pong. yep!

(art by clownvomited on discord)

storywise, it was adopted by an iterator named receding tides (who's design i can't decide on for the life of me) after getting lost as a pup.

tides is pretty lenient/laid back as an iterator but does go about showing her basic survival stuff. the two also watch EXTREMELY old ancient entertainment.. like.. cowboy shows.. ehh? ehh?? you see what i did there? anyways. the two also play pong in tides' chamber. tides is WAY good at it but arbi has probably beat her once or twice. they bond alot is what im trying to say.

The two are very much like parent and child but there's also that weird "hey i need you to go on this really dangerous mission for me" thrown in there occasionally. Usually it's just to check in on members in the outskirts of their local group given tides isn't super well connected as a result of their structure being a little outdated. the missions are never too far but they still cause problems!

quick side tangent about the outfit: the outfit came as a result of her fascination with the really old ancient shows. tides wasn't super sure about it first but thought it was too cute not to humor her past a certain point.

to explain that "the seer" thing: arbi is half blind. one of her missions took her through a scav toll, which resulted in her being attacked. a bomb lobbed at her damaged her hearing, as well as tearing up the left side of her face, rendering that eye permanently damaged. struggling her way back home, tides would obviously be like. Mortified that this happened because of something she did. she'd take care of Arbi as best she could and, in the future, would create an overseer that Arbi could take with them so they'd have a little more assistance. thus they are called the seer.

i'd explain more stuff BUT this post is already very long winded. i hope u enjoyed this in some form or another.

here she is again but litoler :) (by picopubbydawg!)

[mint-shrike]

Fauna around SBAC's structure

Fauna around Soft Breeze is unique in its temperature and lowered amount of oxygen in the air. Many creatures have evolved and changed to better survive in the harsh climate, changing their colours to whitish to blend in with the snow or choosing to live inside of the can or really close to it

It is worth mentioning that while the mountain SBAC lays upon is extremely cold at the top, the hyperstructure emits some warmth, so the closer to SBAC's can - the warmer it gets, thus many creatures live near it, while others avoid it

Read more for descriptions

1. A common snow lizard/yeti lizard. Those specimens have evolved to have thick fur and a good layer of fat beneath their skin, they are solitary creatures, ignoring each other at most upon any accidental meeting. They are bigger than a usual lizard, tankier, can't climb pols and can be tamed pretty easily, but beware, is you tame two of those they'll fight over who stays with you until one of them is no more. Just run away from them and they'll be no problem because they're slow

2. Snowdeer. A descendant of a common raindeer. Due to harsh climate they've lost their long legs because they were getting frostbitten. They've also got fur and are facultative herbivores, meaning they won't shy away from eating a piece of meat or two when given an opportunity. They usually come in large groups of 5-8 specimens (not counting fawns) and answer with aggression to any provocation. Try avoiding bringing any weapons around them and don't harm any of them or the whole colony will come for you. Sometime very old snowdeer leave their colonies and become much easier prey

2.1 snowdeer fawn. Very small and fragile creature, they are always surrounded by adult snowdeers that protect them from predators and harm. Not aggressive, but if you harm one an adult one will go for you

3. Harverger. Basically a distant relative of scavengers that is much smaller and fragile. However, they travel in large groups, scattering around on danger and confusing predators. They live close to snowdeer, seeking protection from them while looking out for any predators and warning snowdeer with high-pitched squeals in exchange. A good source of food, as long as they're not near snowdeer

3.1 Harverger pup. Harverger pups have long fur on their backs to make them look bigger and like yeti lizard's pups to make predators avoid them. Harverger are extremely protective over their pups, being good parents and never leaving them alone. Not worth eating. Can be used to lure adult harvergers wherever you need

4. Lesser vulture. Vultures have surprisingly evolved to be smaller, hunting down small lizards and harvergers. Most creatures no longer see them as danger, thus carrying a vulture mask would make every creature aggressive to you instead of scari g lizards off. Pretty easy prey, but they do try to get away upon taking damage

5. Burrower lizard. Those lizards have evolved to be much smaller, they live by burrowing through the ground, creating small underground and undersnow. They live in big colonies, and while one burrower lizard is barely any danger, they never travel alone, subduing much bigger creatures with the amount of them. They also use their red spines for communication between each other and intimidation of larger creatures. Easy of alone, practically impossible to fight when many. When you're taming one of them, you're actually taming the whole colony!

6. Needlefish. A relatively small specie of fish that lives in the water reservoirs of SBAC's structure. Due to their thinness they are able to swim against the water and quickly get wherever they need to. Just be wary of their sharp snout and you'll be fine

6.1 Needlefish roe. A string of needlefish roe. One day it'll hatch into many more needlefish that will immediately swim away wherever they see. A good source is food! Just try to avoid adults that protect their future generations

7. Par. Pars are large, rotund creatures, capable of rolling. The only reason they haven't gone extinct yet is their foul taste

8. Scolipede. Scolipede live in dark places, usually inside SBAC's structure. Despite not having the ability to shock like their relatives centipedes, Scolipedes have strong mandibles, capable of crashing bones and mauling creatures

9. Slugcat. Some slugcats live around SBAC's can, preferring. They are largely carnivores and very territorial. They have evolved to have long fur and small ears to fight the coldness

10. Overseer. SBAC's overseers, they largely track how far into the structure creatures wander to avoid allowing any of them to reach much more intricate parts that can be easily broken

11. Suckerfish. Cannot be picked up as long as it's alive and connected to any surface. They largely clean insides of tubes the water comes through. Unironicly the only living creature SBAC doesn't mind living in his structure

12. Big eyed fish. Their big eye is actually just a mark, their real eyes are located closer to their nose. They live inside of water reserves and eat any plants that grow there

[hatkuu]

taps my claws together... Did u know the typical structure of wolf packs out in the wild is a breeding pair and all of their pups (some leave as they enter sexual maturity [~2 years old, males more likely] to start their own packs, but a fair share stay and help raise the next litters of pups).

Anyway. Imagine a PC with the wolf tf mentioning/confessing this to Kylar and just how overjoyed Kylar might be by the fact... Esp if they got the wolf tf From said PC, but either way - to think!! That PC might want them as their mate (*surely* they do, to tell them this), to *breed* with them, to have a loving family like that... isn't it ideal? And of course, even if PC didn't tell them directly, it's not like Kylar can't do their own research <3...

OR wolf tf Kylar themself!! Scrawny little thing... Having found such a perfect mate, wanting so *badly* to have a family (pack) again after their parents got sick and Sydney stopped talking to them, so devoted and loving and wagging their tail rapidly as spend time together, helpless to stop it bc they're just so happy... (TRYING TO HIDE HOW MUCH THEIR TAIL WANTS TO WAG IN THEIR LOW LOVE STAGES BC THEYRE STILL SHY AROUND YOU......)

Just. Thinking so much about Kylar getting to be part of a pack honestly bc it's really sweet to me. Maybe throw Sydney in there for funsies (+ so they'd have more warm connections than just PC and any theoretical kids/pups) also... Honestly I just think it's cute to consider them getting what the want and it hit me a moment ago that would pack structures do kinda lend to that

(BONUS: SUPER LATE. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REPLYING TO MY FOXBOY KYLAR ASK SO HEARTFULLY IT WAS ABSOLUTELY FUCKING DELIGHTFUL TO READ. BEAMS)

(i'm so glad you enjoyed my rambling!! reveal your blog to me right now. get off anon. i love seeing big asks in my inbox! they're always so fun to read and they make me feel like i've gotten a FREE COMMISSION AFHSKJK) (also i gravitated towards m! kylar for this ehe) wolf tf stuff and having babies with kylar stuff below

you confess anything about starting a family to this freak he loses it. gets himself so worked up that it's all he's been thinking about for a week straight. he starts mishearing things you say - he has to slap a hand over his mouth to stop himself from moaning out loud if you mention anything regarding his/your wolf tf.

also. kylar doing his own research is SOOOO true. this would happen with ANY tf that you have. looks up mating rituals, what ur tf finds most attractive in a mate (and replicates it horribly), and googles when ur mating season is. he's a freak. probably hyperfixates on your tf and blurts out fun (disgustingly degenerate) animal facts while you're hanging out with him. eg. "did you know wolves mate for life??? what do you look for in a mate, pc?? :)"

i feel like if he's the one with the tf, he's a lot whinier about his ruts. makes it out like he's bed-ridden and needs you to take care of him. please please please let him knot you! if you're the one going into heat/rut, he'd be all over you! doesn't want you leaving the orphanage/his room. look! you're presenting yourself to him as soon as he walks in! you can't possibly go out when you're acting like this!! it'd be unsafe!!

i think kylar obsessing over starting a pack with you is 100% accurate. he'd get so emotional and sappy over everything. probably cries with happiness after you let him knot you for the first time, just because he's thinking about the litter you'll have (yes. he refers to ur babies as a litter/pups. even if he's the one without the tf. sobbing.)

a pack with sydney would be ...something. poor sydney would turn into a glorified babysitter. so many little feral children running around and they're all clones of kylar. it is SHOCKING how virile his sperm is. with the amount of children kylar insists on the two of you having together, you'd think that some of them would look like you, but no. kylar taints the gene pool. they're all coming out with dark hair and freakish little green eyes. yeah. poor sydney.

[ryuichirou]

Replies

More replies! We have a couple of asks about Jack today~ Talked a lot about the good boy of the cast lol

Oh, and spoiler warning for Kuroshitsuji and twst ch7 for the second reply (the first one under the “read more”) thing. Kind of sort of?? Just to be safe.

Anonymous asked:

"I try not to spend more than one hour per day on writing replies." Omg, ryuichi, you spend almost 1 hour replying to asks?! Are you ok?! Don't push yourself.

Also, femChenya, being able to change her breast size, is so cursed that i love it. Thanks, i won't stop thinking about that for the rest of the day lmao.

(related to our hc post)

Aww thank you for your concern, Anon!! I’m just very slow at writing things, and I tend to talk a lot, so it takes longer than it should. But I really want people to get their replies + I really enjoy writing them, so it’s fun! If I get tired, I’ll just skip a day or two… As long as people don’t mind me replying after like a month, it’s all good lol

I’m glad you enjoyed that Che’nya headcanon! She is one cursed cat, I’m 100% sure she has startled Riddle with this trick multiple times…

Anonymous asked:

Silver 🤝Snake

Being cute silver haired boys mentally broken  by Yana Toboso by finding out the truth about two conflicting sides related to their family/found family

TRUEEEEE!!

Every time we talk about Snake we keep calling him Silver :( This is a curse that cannot be lifted, and of course both of these calm and quiet silver haired babes are going to suffer emotionally in the worst way possible. Poor boys (they look so cute when they suffer though)

Anonymous asked:

Hehe...Vil and Azul being in-laws will be hilarious. Like if it is Christmas and that all those two did just bicker and argue. Idia too scared to confront them while Ortho cheers for Vil. Also a way to get Azul to exploit Vil...

(related to our previous repliy)

God how much I want to see them celebrate Christmas together lol it really would be a disaster. Poor Idia just wants everyone to disappear, he has games to play and anime to watch.

I wonder how long it’d take for Azul to stop trying to act like the slimiest smiling nice guy in the world and start getting openly irritated by Vil who doesn’t buy his bullshit. I guess spending Christmas holidays together would be enough lol

furubatsu asked:

I just read Jack's dorm vignette and idk if you ship them or not but I need your take on whatever the fuck he and Ruggie have going on. He's insane in that story.

*addendum of my prev ask: I meant I now you don't ship them, I just wanted your take on Jack and Ruggie because what the fuck is that vignette? (Also even with some of your ships I don't like, I am very into your takes o  the chara ters and their dynamics)

Sorry for the late reply, but we FINALLY watched that vignette, and it was so funny and weird. Just like you said…  Jack is insane TwT

Just like you said, we don’t ship these two, but that interaction gave us quite some food to chew on. And ironically, the only thought I have in my head after watching this is “wow, Jack really is just a puppy”. Maybe it’s because with Jack I always get this weird desire to treat him like a pup, he is surprisingly cuddable for a guy his size. In a “gosh how pwecious you are, with your floofy tail and ears awwww who’s a good boi yes you are mister doggie sir”. And Jack’s behavior in this vignette certainly didn’t help with that at all lol

But overall it’s just cute that he has this dog (wolf) mentality of trying to find order or hierarchy in a group that he is a part on. He needs the structure of a pack, I guess it’s just more natural to him. What’s also interesting is that while he admires Ruggie and I guess has chosen him as a leader (congrats on being an alpha, Ruggie…?), he doesn’t want a boss. I think the guys nailed it when they realised that Jack is acting like a little brother who has a lot to learn from Ruggie.

Which is suuuuper ironic because while being a good older brother for his own younglings, Ruggie really doesn’t want to get all familial with the guys from NRC. He wants connections and useful friendships, but when it comes to the type of dynamic Jack asks for, Ruggie is like the one person who wouldn’t want this type of closeness. And it’s very interesting to see how he just doesn’t get Jack’s desire to help him out and protect him selflessly and gratuitously.

So yeah, they’re interesting! We also liked their interactions in the Portfest event. Jack is super stubborn with his morals and his urge to do good things to people he respects, and it’s hilarious how Ruggie can’t really fight it and is visibly uncomfortable with it because of how unusual it is to him.

(Also, thank you so much for your kind words, I am very happy that you like the way I talk about the characters even if you don’t like some of our ships <3 I appreciate it a lot!)

Anonymous asked:

how do you feel about jack/epel? is a vanilla but sweet ship imo, and i think epel definitely would have a thing for buff men

i also may or may not hc rook has an interest in everyone’s “mating habits”, especially the non human students. he’d find it interesting watching his junior take on a big beastman

They are kind of too vanilla for us because Jack is general is kind of vanilla despite his animalistic side, so it’s not a huge ship for us, but it’s still a very good one! Epel absolutely has a thing for buff men, it’s funny how pretty much all of his ships are just him + huge animalistic guy… Epel would try to act like he’s “one of the dudes”, just another buff bro in his soul, but we all know how giggly he would get if, you know. Things happened.

And the Rook hc is pretty much canon, at least in my head lol There is absolutely no way he wouldn’t get interested. What a blessing it is that Epel’s potential mates are wolves, eels and all kinds of animals~ It makes the whole experience even more beauté

[hashtag-xolo]

It's funny (/sarcasm) how people are so passionately defending how much better off their understimulated, poorly socialized, and emotionally neglected dogs are than well-worked dogs living in climate-correct shelter because their "fur kids" live inside of a house. Kind of like people don't enjoy facing the fact that dogs are not cute robots who are pre-programmed to be obedient and friendly and you know... Actually have complex needs that are different from our own. You know... Just like our own human children.

Like, if these really were your "kids"... Then you would have to actually "parent" them. Meaning you would have to take responsibility and teach rules, boundaries, and skills that will help them be comfortable and successful in life. Such as:

-socializing your dog's properly and in healthy ways, not flooding them. Like how you would teach a child about the world and how to kindly interact with others in their lives.

- giving them clear criteria for behaviors and expectations so dogs have the security of a structure to their lives. Like teaching your own children skills like reading and writing, and setting up daily routines like mealtimes and bedtimes.

- embracing foods that are actually healthy for dogs and have research to back then up, not following the latest fad diet trends. Because malnutrition is bad in kids and dogs and dad diets are bad for both.

- engaging with your dog and allowing your dog to pursue activities that are fulfilling to your dog - even ones that might be kind of inconvenient or boring to you, like letting your dog get some good sniffaris in. Like how you should let a child pursue their own interests and hobbies even though you really wish they'd play football like you did.

The amount of "pet parents" that give their dogs the bare minimum of food, shelter, and some pets and call them well-cared for while ignoring their dog's true needs for interaction and structure... Is a lot. That isn't a good life to exist anxious and without guidance. Trust me, I was raised in a household where I had a roof over my head and food but emotionally was neglectful at best. And all I hear when people say "but my dog is indoors not cruelly outdoors!!!" Is that same sort of logic that as a child I should be grateful for the shitty treatment my parents gave me because I had physical shelter. Or the people who yank their dogs along on a walk instead of letting their dogs fulfill their integral need to sniff at their environment, and then wonder why their dog has developed leash issues and anxiety make me think how children deprived of their own passions develop deep anxieties...

Also like... Dogs like structure and routine. It gives them a strong sense of security actually to know what to expect in their life. People who let their pups do whatever because "oh they're my kid I could never force them to do anything" just tell me they don't know how to teach, only how to bully. LIMA or strictly force-feed, there are plenty of trainers who have never had to use aversives to raise wonderfully behaved dogs. (This is not an invitation to debate training methods or aversive use, just making a statement that training that is minimally aversive to zero aversives actually works.) Setting boundaries and expectations isn't cruel. Refusing to communicate and engage with your dog, though, is neglectful. Just like ignoring your kids and letting them play on an iPad all day is neglectful of your responsibilities as a parent.

A dog who has proper shelter and who gets plenty of social engagement and time with its humans while getting to fulfill its biopsychological need to hunt/herd/pull/work is a really happy, lucky dog. This dog is comfortable, confident, and getting fulfillment on multiple levels beyond what a dog left alone in a house for eight hours a day is getting. This dog is getting proper shelter. Not every single dog wants to sleep on the bed right next to a human. Hell, even my incredibly Velcro dog wants some space at night time because he wants to sleep without getting jostled awake. It's not abusive to give your dog a sleeping place that isn't inside of a house as long as it's properly sheltered.

But ultimately I think the biggest issue is people are having to face that their dog who sleeps inside isn't actually that well taken care of. That leaving a dog bored at home for ten hours a day, taking it on a half hour walk while you ignore it further and check your social media, and only give maybe an half hour of focused engagement total at home really isn't such a good life. But that is a hard thing to admit so it's a lot easier to scapegoat those whose interactions with dogs looks really different. And calling them your kids makes them seem oh so loved while ignoring the fact that like far too many children, these dogs are living in emotionally neglectful and stifling homes because like human children, dog children take work and need teaching, guidance, and social interaction. Dogs have distinct needs from humans. They are not the same as children and nothing I said above is meant to imply they are the same, just that like with children of your own you need to actually take responsibility for the lives in your care. And some of those responsibilities actually are similar.

Now, is every "fur parent" this bad? No. Plenty of people take time to actively spend time with their dogs. And plenty of these people do call their dogs their kids. But, I do think that the people crying the loudest are those who most deeply need to examine the ways they relate to animals and children. And really any disenfranchised populations of humans. Because there's a deep difference between simply existing and living a good life for both humans and animals. Proper shelter takes many forms and is just one piece of a bigger web of needs. It's important, but just having that isn't enough.

[the1975attheirverybest]

Hey!

I really want to get a puppy because i love dogs and always wanted one.But i have depression too and some days, i dont want to get out of bed. As someone who has mental health struggles and a pet, how do you manage to take care of both?

Any advice would be appreciated

Hey, friend 🥰

THAT IS SO EXCITING OMG!!!

okay, I have a lot to say about this, so sorry in advance about the length of this response. putting in a "read more" so it doesn't annoy people.

Firstly, would this be your first dog or do you have experience with dogs and dog training? if this is your first dog, I strongly recommend that you not get a puppy. Instead, look into dogs that are a year old or older.

puppies are A LOTTTT more work than adult dogs because they have a lot of growing, puppy energy which means that they require a lot of exercise, feeding a lot more frequently, are completely new to the world and will depend on you to "socialize" them. Socialization won't just be about teaching them to interact with other people or other dogs, but with literally the entire world. Like, puppies dog know how to climb stairs, they don't understand that cars could run them over, they don't know that some things are edible and some things aren't. They're also still teething, and will lose their baby teeth to get their big doggy teeth, they're not potty trained, etc. That's SO SO MUCH WORK and needs a pretty structured and rigid schedule.

They also cost a fair bit cuz you'll have to change their diet, get their vaccines, buy different toys, etc as they go through developmental stages.

improper socialization can lead to behavioral issues, aggression, anxiety, etc as the dog grows up. So, if you don't think you have the experience to handle all that, I strongly encourage you together a dog who is at least a year old.

Idk about you, but as a severely depressed person who also had ADHD and a lot of other shit, that is just not possible for me to pull off.

Now, lets say you decide to get a dog who is a year old, or more.

The good news is, the amount of work that you have to put in decreases over time! overall, the nonnegotiables are 3: potty schedule, food, exercise.

So, depending on where you get the dog from, most dogs of 1 year old are leash trained or at least have good leash manners and know how to walk while on one. Most adult dogs (if cared for properly) are potty trained, so you don't have to worry about that either.

potty accidents happen, of course, and some dogs get confused when they're moved into a new home. cuz at the shelter/ rescue/foster home, they have a specific area to go potty in, they know the specific people and time (dogs can tell the time of day based on their sense of smell), etc. when they're in an entirely new space, they don't know when they're gonna be taken out or if their new person is going to take them out at all, so you may have to reinforce training a bit for the first few days.

For the depressed pet owners, or if you live in a part of the world where it snows heavily, strongly recommend this thing if you have a place to put it. Mine's on the balcony.

I would say you should expect to feed your pup at the same times every day, but ngl, as a mentally ill person, I'm not always consistent with it. For me, it's more like within the same time frame. so I feed him between 8:30-9 am, he has a snack around midday, and then dinner between 4 pm and 5 pm. I wish I could say it's like 8:30 am on the dot every single day or whatever, but some days i just literally can't get out of bed, so it is what it is.

obviously, a dog isn't going to die if you're late on meal time every once in a while. but don't skip meals, or they'll start to think "oh i dont know when ill eat again" and develop issues around food.

what's made it easier for me is I feed him and myself at the same time. this has the added benefit of forcing me to find something to eat, even if its just one bite, on bad depression days. also minimizes the amount of work i have to do cuz ill get his bowl and fill it while in the kitchen.

Exercise will depend on your individual dog, his health, age, breed, etc. but most dogs thrive on daily walks, and AT MINIMUM need to walk 3 times a week.

there are breeds that require less exercise cuz they're bred to be lap dogs or whatever. Great Danes are lazy despite their giant ass size. they're total couch potatoes. Greyhounds too. some breeds will straight up become destructive if you don't exercise them regularly. Especially working breeds. You know, dogs that were meant to herd sheep, or hunt, or dig. They're genetically wired to WANT and thrive on activity. If they don't get that out healthily, they'll do it in unhealthy ways that cost you money.

My baby has destroyed hundreds of dollars worth of textbooks in his day. Back when we were on zoom and people would schedule one meeting after the other? if he we went too long without stimulation, forget about it. say bye to all those expensive school books.So, look into the breed that you want before getting it.

are we going on long walks every damn day? honestly, no. Sometimes, all I have the energy for is a few laps around the building after he pees. thats okay. but i do make up for it on days when i am able to do stuff.

also enrichment toys are your best friends on bad days. For most dogs, it keeps them busy and offsets the need for vigorous exercise on rainy days, days when you're just not getting out of bed, etc.

Now for the most important stuff:

IT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE SOOOO MUCH BETTERRRR.

I promise. all the cliches you've heard about dog ownership are VERY TRUE. YOU'LL NEVER BE ALONE AGAIN.

My dog loves me more than any human being, including my parents, has ever loved me. I went through some reallllyy dark shit this past year. This good boy was NOT LEAVING MY SIDE AT ALL. he would somewhat disgustingly lick my tears with all his might whenever he'd see me crying, he'd bring me his toys and start doing a "play bow" its that silly little butt wiggle dogs do when they're inviting you to play with them, and roll on his back because he knows that shit cracks me up.

On days when I'm having a hard time getting off the couch or out of bed, he climbs up and hangs out next to me. he doesn't care that he's not out there living the big life, he just cares that he's with me.

on days when I'm struggling, sometimes knowing that I need to go let him out to potty, or to take him for a walk or something is the literal only reason i get up.

when I was suicidal, he kept me around cuz the thought of him having to be taken to the shelter after someone finds my body killed me.

I cry whenever i have to be away from him. like if im going out of town and need to leave him somewhere. or if I drop him off at daycare and know I won't see him until 7 pm that night? I AM MISERABLEEE i need him just as much as he needs me.

with depression, im sure you know that your brin has a tendency to hate you and berate you and make you feel worthless and like nothing matters anymore. well, if my only point in life is to exist as his feeder and caretaker, thats enough sometimes. even if my life as a human ends up amounting to NOTHING AT ALL, at least I'm his personal assistant.

Do I feel guilty sometimes? yes, ngl. I wish I were the type to take him on long car rides or to those bars and restaurants that allow dogs, or set up playdates with different doggy friends every day....i just cannot. thats not possible for me because sometimes leaving the house at all is impossible. and sometimes i think maybe his life would be better if he had a stable, extroverted, normal ass mom who takes care of him better than I do. but then I look at him and think about how I WOULD LITERALLY KILLLLLLL for this baby. with my bare fuckin hands, i would snatch someone's heart right out of their fuckin chest. and nothing else matters.

the bond that a mentally ill girlie has with her fur baby is the most powerful shit in the world. just watching him eat and make cute cronch, cronch, cronch sounds with his lil dog teefers, or squeeze his squeaky toys or run around in circles when he gets the zoomies is sometimes the highlight of my very very shitty days. 10000000/10. would recommend.

[copperbora]

Ho boy.

Here's the thing - actual wolf scientists (like Dr. L. David Mech himself,) are saying "please don't call them alpha/beta/omega as those terms have been debunked." It doesn't 'woobify' (I assume you mean anthropomorphize) wolves to say that their families are much like ours. They are generally led by a mom and a dad (or breeding female and breeding male, if you prefer,) with the rest of the pack made up by siblings/littermates of the main mated pair, pups and older family (grandpa or grandma may even be present although not usually due to dispersal.) And just like human families some of them are screwed up and murder happens.

The reason the term 'alpha' is so bothersome and misleading is because it makes some people believe that wolves have military societies, like the alpha wolf is some cold heartless general or something who fought his way to the top, beating the crap out of every other wolf to get there then ruling their pack and keeping their position at the top of it through fear, ruling with an iron paw. In truth, wolves care about each other - they look after their injured/elderly, instruct their pups how to hunt (wolves possess generational knowledge which is evidence of their intelligence,) play together, groom, and they have even been known to mourn their dead. And yes sometimes they kill each other and are extremely territorial because life is hard and they only have finite super dangerous prey on their pretty finite land which can only be as large as that family of wolves can defend. You can't afford some stranger poking in your pantry.

And yeah, I'd kill my sister too if she was coming to kill my babies, that's what good moms do.

Photo by Blair Dudeck.

Another good example of wolf family structure and dynamics is in the Netflix documentary Island of the Sea Wolves, which I thoroughly recommend watching. It has a similar tale of two mama wolves but it was filmed on British Columbia's Vancouver Island which boasts a genetically distinct subspecies of C. lupus, the sea wolf.

Again, the term 'alpha wolf' has negative connotations because it makes them seem militant and to some people who hate wolves, reinforces that these animals are Other, or Not Like Us, not deserving of our sympathy or protection. It is important to point out how wolf families are like human families because this makes them more sympathetic to the masses, who instead might think "Hey maybe we shouldn't kill these wild doggos, they're really not doing any harm and are in fact highly beneficial to the environment."

The terms alpha, beta, omega sound like army ranks and are from outdated research of captive wolves - which means not relevant to wild ones. Animals behave differently in captivity than they do in the wild, away from human interference.

Another interesting account of wolf culture is the wonderful old book In the Shadow of a Rainbow by Robert Franklin Leslie which tells the remarkable story of a very large wolf pack that lived before wolves got super persecuted in British Columbia from the eyes of an indigenous man who managed to befriend its leader. It gives a heartwrenching account of the culture that wolves once had - back in the days when very big complex packs with multiple breeding pairs did still exist in places other than Yellowstone. (In general, our environment is no longer vibrant enough to support the great populations of prey needed to support such packs.) To quote wolf expert Oliver Starr, it's like wolves are a civilization that suffered genocide. And wolves did and still are suffering literal genocide.

To me, it sounds like you are defending these outdated 'rank' terms because you just really like them. That's okay that you like them - I used to really like them too - but these terms are falling out of scientific use because they unfortunately fuel/spread innaccurate perceptions of wolves. Just look at the (very fictional*) animated movie series Alpha & Omega, where the alpha wolves are portrayed almost as a ruling class with the omegas being dumb hippies. (Omega wolves don't exist, by the way.) Wolf scientists don't like these terms for the same reason why shark scientists no longer like the name 'great white shark,' instead simply calling those animals 'white sharks.' Removing the 'great' from the common species name drops the negative connotation brought on by Jaws (as well as Discovery's blasphemous trashfire Shark Week,) and makes white sharks seem less scary. (And they should be perceived this way because even mighty white sharks pose extremely little risk to humans.)

So please stop using the term 'alpha' - it hurts real wild wolves. There is a growing trend in science to recognize the ways that some animals are like us. For the longest time the scientific community was extremely against anthropomorphizing animals and indeed there is still an element of wrongness to anthropomorphizing animals, particularly when it comes to domesticated species like dogs (please let your chihuahua walk on its own four paws,) but there is also a wrongness to ignoring the miriad ways that some animal species are legitemately very much like us. Recognizing these things that these imperilled wild creatures share in common with us humanizes them, which helps more people like them and speak up against those barbaric humans who still think that the only good wolf is a dead one, that they like to, quote, "smoke a pack a day."

*Precious few fictional depictions of wolves have any basis whatsoever in what these animals are actually like. Most are wildly inaccurate with the so-called 'wolves' bearing very little resemblance in appearance or behaviour to real wolves.

Art by me, circa 2022.

So in the past few years I’ve seen so many videos / posts that are like:

“Actually wolves don’t have hierarchies!  They live in family groups where the ‘alphas’ are mom and dad and the other wolves are their CHILDREN and offer their respect willingly! :D”

and I just have to say

how dare you try to make normative nuclear families out of wolves

Yes, a lot of the old “nature red in tooth and claw” stuff about wolves is nonsense. (Like anything from Jack London.) And anything ‘alpha’ you see sleazy men trying to relate to dating (yikes!) is especially nonsense.

But wolves are complex social creatures and they create complex social structures. Just as you can’t say “THIS is the way human society is structured. Just THIS single way and no other”, so too there is no single form for a wolf pack.  

Some packs are a mom wolf and a dad wolf and their wolf children.  Others are two small ragged packs that combine to form a large pack.  Others are packs where a lone wolf joins and eventually becomes a leader. Others are packs where a grown child-wolf has pushed their parent out of the leadership role.

Speaking of the latter, let’s look at the tale of Wolf 40 and Wolf 42.

Wolf 40, Wolf 41, and Wolf 42 were wild Yellowstone wolves, daughters of the alphas. Their father was illegally killed by hunters and shortly after ambitious Wolf 40 ousted her mother, driving her out of the pack.  Wolf 21 became the new alpha male, and 40′s mate.

Wolves have personalities, and Wolf 40′s personality was “volatile”.  Imagine Scar from The Lion King combined with the boss from Office Space, and you have Wolf 40.  She habitually bullied the other female wolves, attacking them until they expressed abject submission.  And the wolves that got the worst of it were her sisters, Wolves 41 and 42.

Wolf 41 got tired of the bullying and left.  Wolf 42 remained, perhaps because she was close to Wolf 21, the alpha male.  Despite that, Wolf 21 did not interfere when his mate harassed Wolf 42.

Unlike 40, Wolf 42 got along well with the other female wolves, spending time grooming them and relaxing with them. Wolf 40 could have followed her sister’s example and built up positive social bonds. But she didn’t.

One day, Wolf 40 went out on an important task.  She was going to kill another litter of her sister’s pups–having done the same in two previous years.  This isn’t uncommon wolf behavior (but is not universal, as we will see.)  Typically only the alphas breed.

However, Wolf 40 never returned from her important task because Wolf 42–who previously had submitted to her alpha and sister, who had allowed the killing of two previous litters of pups–had had enough.  She fought back.

And the other female wolves jumped to aid her.

Collectively, they killed Wolf 40. Because “alpha” isn’t a magic cloak of protection, it doesn’t even mean “strongest wolf”, it’s just a job title.

The next day Wolf 42 carried her pups, one by one, to her sister’s den.  She set her children among the pups of her dead sister and raised both litters together. And when another wolf in the pack had pups, Wolf 42 carried them to the den to be communally raised as well.  She was the alpha female now and she made the rules, and the first rule was “we don’t hurt pups here.”

As for Wolf 21, he became the mate of Wolf 42.  Maybe he understood that Wolf 40 had been riding for a fall. 

As alpha female, Wolf 42 continued to be supportive and kind towards the other pack members.  Wolves who had been nervous wrecks under Wolf 40 began to relax and come into their own; one of the former omega wolves gained self-confidence and became one of the best hunters.

“Alpha”, for wolves, just means leader.  They might be good leaders, whom you respect, or they might be bad leaders, who fill you with dread.  They might be your parents, or they might not.  Even if they are your mother or father, wolves don’t contextualize those relationships the same way humans do.

But one thing wolves have in common with humans is that they have individual personalities and experiences, and their actions derive from those.  There is no “typical wolf pack.” And I think that’s beautiful.

If you want to learn more about wild wolf dynamics, I recommend reading the annual Yellowstone Wolf Project Reports.  Which are FASCINATING.  There are also some good wildlife specials out there.

Wolves are my favorite animal. <3  It pains me to see them misunderstood as crazed bloodthirsty brutes, but it also pains me to see them woobified.  They deserve better than that.

[dog-braces]

Beyond Walks and Wags: How Dog Knee Braces Transform Lives

One sunny afternoon, Emily watched her golden retriever, Max, limp back from their favorite trail. His wagging tail couldn’t mask the pain in his eyes. The vet’s diagnosis was a torn cruciate ligament—common in active dogs like Max. Surgery was one option, but the vet also recommended a dog knee brace for stability during recovery. At first, Emily was skeptical—could a brace really help Max regain his playful spirit? That brace, however, would become a game-changer not just for Max but for their bond.

The Secret Superpower of Dog Knee Braces

Dog knee braces are not just fancy accessories; they are essential tools for canine mobility and comfort. These devices provide stability to weakened or injured joints, especially for conditions like cruciate ligament injuries, arthritis, or luxating patella. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), 1 in 5 dogs in the U.S. suffers from joint problems at some point in their life. A well-fitted knee brace can reduce pain, support healing, and even delay or eliminate the need for costly surgeries.

Why Are Dog Knee Braces Underappreciated?

While dog braces are growing in popularity, they’re still overlooked in many recovery plans. Most dog owners are only familiar with surgery as a solution to joint issues. However, a 2021 study published in Veterinary Evidence found that over 65% of dogs using braces for cruciate injuries experienced significant improvement in mobility without surgery.

Braces also offer an alternative for senior dogs or those with health conditions that make surgery risky. This makes them a versatile option for many pet parents looking to improve their pup’s quality of life.

Beyond Recovery: Preventative Benefits

Few websites touch on this: dog knee braces aren’t just for injuries—they’re preventative too. Active breeds like Border Collies or Labrador Retrievers often strain their joints from intense physical activity. By using a brace during high-impact activities, you can protect your dog’s knees from wear and tear.

For working dogs—whether they herd sheep or serve in search-and-rescue teams—a knee brace can mean a longer, healthier career. Prevention isn’t as flashy as recovery, but it’s a wise investment in your dog’s future.

A Tailored Approach: Why Customization Matters

Here’s another under-discussed aspect: one-size-fits-all doesn’t work for dog knee braces. Every dog’s anatomy and injury is unique, so a custom-fitted brace is crucial for optimal support. Improperly fitted braces can cause discomfort and even exacerbate the injury. Brands like My Pet's Brace specialize in tailored solutions, ensuring your dog’s brace works with their specific gait and body structure.

The Cost vs. Value Debate

Dog braces can range from $100 to $800. While this might seem steep, consider the alternatives: cruciate ligament surgery can cost $2,000 to $5,000. Plus, recovery from surgery often involves weeks of restricted movement, which can be emotionally draining for active pups and their owners. A brace, on the other hand, allows your dog to stay mobile while healing.

A Future Full of Walks

Max’s story has a happy ending. With his knee brace, he not only avoided surgery but regained his zest for life. Emily now takes him on shorter hikes, always ensuring his brace is securely in place.

Your dog deserves the same chance at a joyful, pain-free life. Whether for recovery or prevention, investing in a dog knee brace could be the best decision you make for your furry companion.

Sources:

American Veterinary Medical Association, AVMA.org

Veterinary Evidence, 2021 Study on Non-Surgical CCL Management

OrthoPets and My Pet’s Brace official websites for customization insights

[goldencatuae]

For dogs and cats dubai

This dog food has extra prime quality fixings than most elective brands. it's appallingly palatable and as per its minerals and nutrients. The kibble estimates square measure made inside the right surface and structure to suit in a quite certain variety's mouth. Subsequently, it's fundamental that you just select the legitimate Imperial Canin petfood for your pet. With the legitimate eating routine and kibbles, your pup are prepared to process the food and ingest the supplements basically. The kibbles square measure more sturdy for dogs that have more grounded teeth, and delicate for more modest dogs and young doggies.

Dog owners who have fulltime jobs have to create time to meet their pets' nutritional and medical needs. They have to ensure that their pets have an adequate supply of the good they need to remain healthy. Purchasing on the web pet items can make life a lot simpler for pet people. On the off chance that you are hoping to figure out how you could benefit by submitting pet inventory requests on the web, then, at that point, here are a portion of those advantages:

Smart cat feeder Dubai 

Online pet food order

For dogs and cats dubai

Cat food pack in uae

Cat Scratching Pads dubai 

Large cat scratch pate

Cat scratch pads for floor

1. You get to spend time with your pet

If you work fulltime, then weekend is a precious time to hang out with your pet. As a go owner, you can order your dog supply online and have delivered to your door step instead of running around all day shopping for the dog. You can then free that time and spend it with your dog instead.

2. You save on gas

When you order for supplies such as cheap dog toys or dog food online, you cut down on the cost of gas that you need to get to the pet shop and back. This also means less mileage on your car.

3. You enjoy the convenience that comes with shopping online

Anybody who has purchased dog food has an idea of how heavy the bags can be. You certainly do not want to carry them from the store the car then lift them again from the car to your house. Shopping for dog supplies online rids you of all this trouble and you can wake up to a huge dog food bag right on your door step.

4. You enjoy variety

There are numerous pet toys, treats and foods in the market and no single store can stock them all. Searching online pet products is the only way to know about such products as well as be able to buy them. You will be surprised that shopping for pet products online will expose you to many pet products that are not available in your local pet store.

5. You can surprise other pet lovers easily

Sending a cheap dog toy or a bag of dog food to a family member or even a friend at a time of need is always a great gesture. They may be ill and experiencing some medical related difficulties or have their hands full after getting a baby or they are old and just need some help. Ordering pet supplies online and having it shipped to them with a note that lets them know they are on your thoughts can really lift their spirits. The best thing is that you can get all this done without having to leave the comfort of your home.

[weaselle]

Early human match ups with animals

Wolves: have a very similar social structure and lifestyle as early humans, benefit greatly from group dynamics -- teaming up with humans allows them greater access to food at less risk, safer sleeping, higher pup survival rate, better protection from the environment. One wolf eats about as much food as one person, so it's a normal member to add to the group in terms of resources.

Cats: have some amount of social overlap (cat sisters often help raise each other's kittens, and grouping approaches common in some cat species, notably in lions, but also for example in cheetahs, where brother cheetahs often stay together for life in groups of up to 4). Humans are HUGE prey attractors for them, drawing in rodents in large numbers - also meaning people don't have to give up their own food to feed them. Human housing is safer from the elements, keeps competitors and dangers like snakes and larger cat species away. Associating with humans gains special grooming and healing unavailable to wild species, such as draining and cleaning abscesses caused by infected bug bites or, very importantly, feeding and caring through a major illness or injury. A wild cat with a broken leg will often die, a human's cat with a broken leg will live to hunt again.

Goats (which we actually turned into Sheep): Herd structure similar enough to human social structure as to be compatible. Guaranteed food during winter and other times of scarcity -- and none of it is human food. Higher offspring survival rate, robust protection from predators and the elements. Horses : same. Cows: same. Deer/caribou: same but a little less so, actually surprisingly good at both fight and flight (cows, specialize in fight, horses specialize in flight) often travel more distance for resources so have better access during lean times; can match but less beneficial to the deer.

Other animals be like

Big cats like Tigers: Why the fuck are there so many of you in one place. This cold doesn't bother me at all because i'm so big my core stays warm. Just what do you think i need protection from? I'm super capable of feeding myself, and even if food is scarce? you have to sacrifice enough food to feed several people to keep me fed, which is a bummer for your group if food is scarce, and i cannot eat your stored food like dried fruits and grains. Your lifestyle is incompatible with mine, i hate everything about being forced to live with you and also it doesn't benefit me at all. Lions: yeah, plus I already have all the group dynamic benefits you could offer me, you're actually the weakest link in my group, be careful or we might outnumber you, being near us all the time greatly increases the number of times murderous male lions attack this group

Bears: Listen. Even if i get injured i'll just eat something that doesn't run from me until i heal (some brown bear populations spend a couple months a year mainly eating moth colonies, they will eat anything, including moss and fungus). This makes me a direct competitor for ALL you food, btw. Speaking of which it takes like 15 people's worth of food to keep me fed. If i get angry someone is definitely going to die. Protection? from what? The most dangerous thing to a bear is another bear, so also you can't really have more than a couple of me in any group, and staying near me greatly increases the chance of some territorial wild bear rolling up to camp with murder on their mind. What do you meeeean keep wandering around actively instead of sleeping in one spot for months at a time? My life is literally worse with you than without you, and your life is probably worse with me around too.

Weasels: Fuck off you can't keep up with me i eat half my body weight in food every day and bite everything near me. Try to contain me and see what happens i'm made out of teeth and murder and cleverness, and destruction of property and theft are my favorite games and i'm basically always bored unless i'm hunting or fighting or fucking with something. What do you meeeean hold still for 30 seconds now i'm mad and you'll basically have to kill me to stop me from going after whatever i want forever. I will absolutely try to murder every other animal you associate with no matter what size it is, and i will totally also eat all of your other food too because i love fruits and fungus and anything else you like to eat probably - you can't keep me out of your food stores and what i don't eat in the moment i'll steal and hide in my own stash for later. Excuse me now i have to sleep for 18 hours i do not understand why you want to keep doing things for so much of the day.

Don't ask me about ferrets they must have been bought with rodent hunting opportunities like the cats, total fluke if you ask me (ferrets are, in fact, domesticated, after more than two thousand years of human intervention. And it's kind of weird that it happened but i think they were the exact right size to make it work)

I think it's a common misconception that domesticating animals is somewhat like enslaving them. It really is more of a symbiotic relationship. No wild animal would have willingly put up with early humans if they didn't get something out of it. Wolves wouldn't have stayed with us and become dogs if they weren't getting food and safety out of it. Many large herbivores that are now domesticated could and would have easily trampled their early human captors or broken their enclosures open if they didn't have a reason to stay. Sometimes individual animals still do if we don't give them what they need.

The animals that have stayed with us for thousands of years have evolved to cooperate with us better. Dogs have additional facial muscles around their eyes that wolves lack in order to mimic human facial expressions. Sheep grow their wool perpetually while their wild counterparts don't because a bigger fleece means they're more likely to be allowed to breed and be kept around. Domestic dairy cows produce much more milk than wild bovine species and domestic hens lay more eggs. Do you know how energy costly producing eggs or milk is for an animal? It's pretty intense! They wouldn't be able to do that if we hadn't given them the food and safety from predators and the elements to.

And we really need to show these animals respect and gratitude for what they give us by taking excellent care of them. They gave up a lot to be with us, often including the means to take care of themselves in the wild. That's a huge reason why I'm not against using animal products, but I hate factory farming. They are still living, breathing creatures with needs and feelings. They deserve a comfortable life and, when the time comes, a humane death.