#quail reads

[4th-make-quail]

ahh i love so many authors how can i pick? octavia butler is a sci-fi genius. shelley parker chan has an incredible historical fantasy book called she who became the sun. gideon the ninth by tamsyn muir and also anything else she has written. the fifth season by nk jemisin! s.a. barnes and caitlin starling are two of my horror favs. - book anon

Oooh I have Octavia Butler on my TBR for sure! I've been trying to read more classic SFF on my bingos and I know her stuff is super good and very influential.

I actually have She Who Became the Sun on my card for this year!! I might read that next in that case 🤔 i need to pick my next book still!

I fucking LOVE the Broken Earth trilogy ahhhh!!! Jemisin is such a good writer, that series changed me forreal lmao. And ofc in unsurprising news, I absolutely LOVED Schaffa, what a terrible guy.

i'm gonna add S.A. Barnes to my TBR because that series sounds fun and I wanna read more SF horror style, but i regret to say i finished Luminous Dead earlier this year and didn't really like it ahah. Tamsyn Muir i never got into, if only cos I think I'll bounce off the style and it's suffered (for me) from a sort of over-hyped situation which puts me off.

you have good taste, book nonny!! have you ever read Joe Abercrombie? :3c

[4th-make-quail]

Adding a few more recentish SFF recs!

Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon - an epic fantasy doorstopper with matrilineal royalty, dragon riders and courtly intrigue, I absolutely loved this one!

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri - a tale of vengeance and royal intrigue with some very cool magic. It tends a little darker in the second book, but I have faith it will all work out

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martin - a scifi murder mystery with some really cool cultural linguistic stuff and a subtle wlw relationship that's more of a backdrop, very fun

The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood - a story of gods and priestesses, sacrifice and magic, really fun and the wlw relationship is super cute

The Councillor by E.J. Beaton - political fantasy full of courtly intrigue and a real fun protagonist embroiled within it. I'm looking forward to book 2 coming out!

The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson - this one is on the darker side (check the content warnings at the storygraph link), but it's so fucking good!! About an accountant trying to win back freedom for her people from the empire who conquered them, by playing the empire's game

The Thousand Names by Django Wexler - this one isn't so recent, but it's a flintlock fantasy with a main character who crossdresses as a man to join the army. Very cool magic and setting, and although the wlw relationship doesn't turn up til the second book, it's still worth reading!

why are wlw books so angsty and deep all the time like where is my casual wlw romcom or my fantasy lesbians, space bis and trans princesses like not every wlw has some lost love in some town in the middle of nowhere

[explodingquails]

"Nemesis was a Romano-Egyptian deity in the form of a griffin. She was associated with fate, and complete statuettes often showed one paw resting upon a wheel representing fate."

Pose Reference

[da-janela-lateral]

Some psychic birds I was requested to draw a time ago.

[fuzzbuns]

Stupid joke based on birds i saw at my bird feeder

[honeybubbledivination]

Hello, All!

I’m Bunny and I have some pick a card readings for you if you’re open to them! Well, more so pick an image! If you’d like to stop by and see if there’s any messages for you, please do! Now, I do have cards in relation to the Bible in my reading as I believe in Christ. My readings are for everyone and anyone! I encourage you to take what resonates and leave what doesn’t and open your mind to a different perspective! All of this is in good fun and is not meant to replace any kind of medical or professional advice! If you need help, please contact your local resources! With all that out of the way, if you feel called to, please say a prayer or take a moment to meditate on what image calls to you! I hope you enjoy! ✨

(Artwork is by Will Quinn.)

Pile One:

Hello, Pile One! Welcome to your reading!

Today, I have two blessing cards for you, one oracle card, and five tarot cards. As mentioned above, take what resonates and leave what doesn’t!

Blessing Cards, 101 Blessings - 101 Messages to Encourage & Inspire: “Amazing Grace how sweet the sound.” “When you go through deep waters, I will go with you.” -Isaiah 43:2. “He will cover you with His feathers & under His wings you will refuge.” -Psalm 91:4

Oracle Card, ‘Woodland Wardens’ by Jessica Roux: The Bobcat and Blackthorn, Patience. “A difficult journey ahead requires preparation and patience. Channel the bobcat’s stealth and pack plenty of provisions. Ration your sustenance carefully, remembering that berries are often sweeter after a hard frost.” “How might I mentally prepare such that I can survive when supplies are low?”

Tarot Cards, Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Tarot Deck and Guidebook: Ace of Hedgehogs, Suspension, Eight of Hedgehogs, Temperance. (This is the only pile with five cards! It seems you guys need some extra reassurance!)

Pile one, it seems like you’re being tested and asked to move out of a period of stagnation to work towards your goals, continue to build your skills, and put your nose to the grind to get want you want and need from this life! If you are struggling financially right now and are having doubts, know that the Universe/God/The Divine/Spirit has your back and is making sure you don’t fall. But, you have to put in the work and time to make your dreams a reality. Once an object is in motion, it will stay in motion until it’s break time! You are going to be okay, pile one! Stop stressing and give it to God/The Universe/The Divine/Spirit! Or, if you do ancestral work, give the outcome of the situation to an ancestor you trust to get stuff done! Someone strong enough to help you through your journey when you feel weak to a situation! I hope this gave you some guidance and resonated with you! Love and light, little bees!

Pile Two:

Hello, Pile Two! Welcome to your reading! Today, I have two blessing cards for you, one oracle card, and four tarot cards. As mentioned above, take what resonates and leave what doesn’t!

Blessing Cards, 101 Blessings - 101 Messages to Encourage & Inspire: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” “[Choose joy.] Consider it pure joy …whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” - James 1:2-3

Oracle Card, ‘Woodland Wardens’ by Jessica Roux: The Hound and Pear, Loyalty. “A friendship is flourishing. Your kindness and loyalty have been noted, and your friend appreciates you.”“Am I loyal to my friends? How can I improve my friendships so that my companions feel loved and appreciated?”

Tarot Cards, Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Tarot Deck and Guidebook: Justice, The Star, Seven of Flowers Reversed, Two of Cups.

Pile two, you’ve been social lately! If not, you’re about to be! You’re building some lasting bonds after potentially cutting people out that weren’t for your highest good! As you’re choosing situations and people that align with your highest path and what brings you joy, you shine even brighter! You could be meeting these people through social media, but that may not be the case for everyone. Keep an open mind as you shine, you’ve learned how to set boundaries and protect yourself! Now, you can form new relationships and friendships with people you wouldn’t expect to! Keep shining and being brave, little bees! I’m proud of you! Love and light!

Pile Three:

Hello, Pile Three! Welcome to your reading! Today, I have two blessing cards for you, one oracle card, and four tarot cards. As mentioned above, take what resonates and leave what doesn’t!

Blessing Cards, 101 Blessings - 101 Messages to Encourage & Inspire: “With God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26. “I praise you because I am fearfully & wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” - Psalm 139:14.

Oracle Card, ‘Woodland Wardens’ by Jessica Roux: The Quail and Gooseberry, Anticipation.“The event or outcome you’ve anticipated is about to occur. Take advantage of your foreknowledge, preparing for what’s to come.” “Am I often surprised or caught off-guard by how things turn out? How can I balance vigilance with a healthy openness to risk?”

Tarot Cards, Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Tarot Deck and Guidebook: The Hermit, The Wheel of Fortune, Queen of Hedgehogs, Four of Hedgehogs.

Pile Three! You are closing out a cycle that has tested your faith in your belief system and yourself! You may be a mother or a parent who provides both emotional and financially to someone. You’ve been taking more time to yourself and being practical even through your fears! Your ability to buckle down and hold your ideals and morals close are about to pay off for you in a major way that, I believe, you’ve been hoping for. Whatever you prayed for or manifested is already yours and it is on its way! Keep your money mind and remain steadfast in your practicality and faith! Congratulations, little bees! You’ve worked so hard for this! Love and light!

• Closing Note: I hope you got what you needed from my reading! All of the piles really spoke of success in different areas of life and I’m so happy to see such bright gifts for the collective moving forward. We are all deserving of love and peace within and around us. That’s all for now! Thanks for buzzing by, little bees! I hope you have the loveliest day/afternoon/night!

- Bunny 🍯💛

[couch-house]

Round 2 has been SO close! However it ends in the next 24 hours, @snowpearart's Crux has been so cool and a great opponent! I'm glad Dog got the opportunity to go up against a hardcore #gamer (WITH epic powers, a great personality, and a cool story, don't forget!). Dog's friends are invested in the outcome, but Dog is just glad he got to meet Crux! @sonic-oc-showdown

[quailxcrossing]

💄 🍄 🎈 WONDER

💋 and ❗️(if it’s not too spoilers) Runo!!

🎸 🚨 Bartenn

💔 🌹 Machwell

🥩🍒🍎 Imogen <3

🪓 🍷 Kennedy !!

HOPE I DONT OVERWHELM YOU I KNOW THIS IS A LOT HAHA. I’ve been thinking abt these guys a lot (as always)! :3

JUMPS UP AND DOWN WITH YOU .hiiiii <3 i got really busy with hw so i wanted to wait until i had a moment i could sit down and really dig into these >;3ccc

i will always take an opportunity to talk about Wonder

💄 - What does your oc think of their face? Do they have a positive or negative opinion? Do they wear makeup? Do they have a skincare routine? What traits do they like most about their face?

Wonder has such a contentious relationship with its entire body; its face is no exception. It knows objectively a lot of people find it attractive, and it pays attention to its skin and makeup (usually focusing on its eyes) a lot. It'll stare at itself in the mirror and go yeah i know i'm hot shit. but also i don't think this body belongs to me and the only way I find that semblance of freedom and control is putting metal into it. it really wants more piercings, which is why in AUs i often give it the nose ring, bite piercings, eyebrows, etc- but in canon, it was advised by its team that getting more piercings would make it "harder to look at". they were appalled when Wonder showed up one day with the lip and bridge, but it was too late! being "hard to look at" is a phrase Wonder has not ever let go of.

(I think it makes them look super hot but whatever what do i know)

🍄 - Does your character like being in nature or do they prefer the indoors? Do they have any outdoor hobbies like camping or fishing? If they prefer the indoors, why?

Indoors all the way, Wonder dislikes the unpredictable nature of what makes the outdoors so great :( its house is extremely sterile and plain and empty because Too Many Things make it stressed out, and well! the outdoors is full of things. Its warming up a little bit to some things, Marya takes it down to the beach and it sits all bundled up in towels and a huge hat and sunglasses on a reclining chair while Marya wanders the shore and swims.

🎈 - What does your character do at parties? Are they a wallflower or a party animal? Do they go with friends or alone?

Wonder is still a fan of going to parties, its where it meets most of the people its in cahoots with, but things are a little different since its mental break. As I stated about disliking Lots Of Things, well parties are full of things, and very loud and very messy, so Wonder usually has to be in some state of mind to handle parties. It used to be a lot more rambunctious but the break caused the difficulties with busy locations and lots of socializing - but it still goes. Wonder doesn't really care if its uncomfortable.

runo love of my life

💋 - Is your oc a good kisser? Have they kissed anyone before? Do they even enjoy kissing? What was their first kiss like in comparison to their most recent?

This is such a cute question.....yes he's a perfectly fine kisser! he's just some straight man....he likes it, he likes kissing his wife......he just never knows when it's a good time, so sometimes he misses the mark or just waits for Peony to tell him "yes this is a good and normal time"

his first kiss was when he was first living away from his mom's house in a group home, definitely a little too rushed but there was a pretty girl his age and he was delirious on freedom

❗️(exclamation point) - What was the scariest moment of your character’s life? Does it still affect them?

OKAY WELL. okay the obvious answer feels like when he realized he might lose his younger brother forever (and he did) but there were a lot of other emotions happening there- grief, guilt, confusion, stress.....

the second scariest moment of just Pure Fear wassss probably when he found out Peony was gonna have their first daughter. he'd grown up his whole life with his mom beating into his head that having him was the worst mistake of her life, and that his dad was even moreso; Sunny was tentatively talked about before she was conceived, both Runo and Peony were like "yes this is something that would be cool" but when it Actually Happened he was terrified that he completely fucked everything up, and this was it, the end, that he was doomed to repeat his parents' mistake and Peony had been lying to him the whole time and she actually didn't want this at all- thats it! the relationship is over! and its all his fault!!!

obviously that was not what happened and Peony was extremely excited!! once the blind terror passed Runo was also a weepy excited mess, bc yess this is something that would be cool <3

bartenn questions from the bartenn enjoyer

🎸- What’s your character’s music taste like? Do they have one or two artists they play on repeat or do they have a varied and eclectic collection of music? Do they like mainstream artists or prefer underground musicians? What genres do they enjoy?

i mean you knowwww this guy is a classic rock dad YOU KNOWWWW IT I MEAN CAN HE BE ANYTHING ELSE!!!!!! you know he's got the most varied and crazy collection of old rock bands and his gas station exclusively plays oldie and if he hears a tiktok song from Harlie's phone, he keels over

🚨 - What’s your character’s relationship with the law? Have they ever been arrested? What for? What are their opinions on law enforcement?

he's never been arrested, despite his many crimes such as Starting A Time Loop. he's gonna be some big trouble with the Fold when he dies but i think they can forgive him....i mean just look at his scruffy little face he didn't mean it.....

he doesn't like police officers he doesn't give them free coffee when they ask

machwell machwell MACHWELL

💔- Who has your character hurt most? Physically or emotionally? How did it feel? Do they regret it?

absolutely Runo ABSOLUTELY absolutely runo absolutely Runo....his baby......Runo was so betrayed by him, Machwell's non-existence in his life was not a shadow out of the corner of his eye like it was for Goat- for Runo it was this big gaping hole, never able to be filled and always something Runo was blamed for.

Machwell regrets a lot- the leaving Runo guilt is humongous- which is why he's working very hard to completely forget about Runo so it doesn't hurt him anymore! yay! coping mechanism that's slowly killing his cognitive abilities!

🌹 - What does your oc find attractive in other people? Are these traits found in their friends and/or romantic partners?

blue hair and round little ears

personality wise he likes people who are very self-assured and assertive, strong people who can nudge him around, but not too much or else you've got a Francine who overhandled him to the point of regressing; he needs someone who is confident in themselves but also confident in Machwell, who'll nudge him around but in a way that's pushing him to stand up, instead of making him dependant on them again

imogen you have no IDEA i have wanted to talk about imogen 4 so long....underrated baby girl.....she is so important to me

🥩 - Does your oc have any coping mechanisms? Healthy or unhealthy?

the most major one that comes to mind is comic spoilers, or at least its something i'd like people to notice her doing and go "ohhh..."

🍒 - Does your character have a best friend? How long have they known each other? What do they like most about each other? How did they meet?

oh!! claps my hands!! no! no, Imogen doesn't have a best friend, she doesn't have a lot of friends, really! Imogen has always been pretty isolated by her peers- not because of anyone's choice, but literally, her peers don't like her. she's weird to them. there's been some light friends here and there, but after an event that happened when she was about 8, she realized her classmates genuinely didn't like her and felt she was too uncanny to be around :(

If Imogen were asked who her friends were, she'd say well, her dads! and her dad's friends- ooo! and her aunts and uncle!! and her grandparents!! and her dog, Bunny!! she has lots of friends!! she's friends with the grocer who has known her since she was small, and she's "friends" with plenty of retail workers around town who watched her grow up and are kind to her. she's friends with some of the older neighbors, and she's friends with....uh...her dads? oh she said that already

she hopes when she goes to college that she'll meet others who are more accepting! she's really really hoping for friends THAT ARE HER AGE....and she'll get some, although i don't think it happens in the comic. she ends up meeting Vega, and well. Vega is VERY used to strange uncanny people, so they're already starting off on the right foot!

🍎 - Does your oc go to school or take classes? Did they go to college? What was/is their favorite subject? Did/do they get good grades? Did/do they enjoy school?

Imogen LOVES school, her favorite subject is earth science and her least favorite is language. it just bores her. she loves learning about the planet and about cool rocks and plants and SPACE!!! she got her dad Caius's love for learning, having grown up on their books and lessons. she doesn't love it AS much, but in general, she doesn't mind school itself. what she does mind is the previously mentioned isolation, and how difficult it is to fit in, no matter how many shapes she tries.

kennedy

i like them.

🪓 - Does your oc have survival skills? Have they ever had to use them? What would they do in an apocalypse? Could they survive?

Kennedy doesn't look the part, but they do have some decent survival skills. they grew up out of their house quickly, so they had to learn early on how to couch-surf and feed themselves. for urban survival skills, they've got it covered!

would they survive dropped in the middle of the woods?? maybe for a little bit, purely because i think they'd be so scared they would go into some kind of override where suddenly they don't care about being covered in dirt and eating worms. but the instant they find civilization they're rolling over and crying bc their hair is sooo greasyyy

in an apocalypse i think they'd be awesome haahaha twirls my hair. kennedy knows how to fight and use blunt weapons so yeah i think they could get down to business. i think they'd be awesome haha

(the last question discusses alcohol!)

🍷 - Does your oc drink? What kind of alcohol do they enjoy? What are their drinking habits? What kind of drunk are they?

yess....maybe too much.......they drink white claws. white paws whatever. they love fruity shitty little drinks, but also they'll drink almost anything if you make it look pretty enough. they usually drink socially, and they're pretty used to it (a tolerance-built heavyweight) but sometimes they're just miserable for a variety of reasons, and this is their Not Great Coping Mechanism. it's not great because Leah knows if she finds them black-out that they've been drinking a lot. luckily this doesn't happen too often, but even once or twice is too many times.

as for what kind of drunk they are, the weepy clingy touchy annoying one. drunk Kennedy is a lot happier and chattier and it takes a lot more to make them angry at people! yyyayyy....?

[chiropteracupola]

in which we interact with some wildlife (specifically the great crested newt)

[oflights]

Hello!!✨ 10 or 17 for the fic writer asks? If you want!

hi quail!! thank you! 🥰

10. Is there a fic that got a different response than you were expecting?

i feel like i've said this before but i will never get over how heated the Close Behind comments section got about harry lol. i feel like i wrote so many author notes pleading for his life and defending him. people were so mean to him! i was constantly like

17. What’s something you’ve learned about while doing research for a fic?

hmm i think i've said before that i learned all about like, running a restaurant for Make This Leap (i have never actually worked in a restaurant and most of my knowledge comes from research and friends who do work in the industry, but mostly as front-of-house staff so that's why this wasn't from draco's chef POV lol). also all about sourdough starters, stuff i didn't even wind up using in the fic.

ooh, another one is all the different names for the full moons, like the Snow Moon for February etc. i had never heard that before i started reading about moon cycles for all the western stars. i did a ton of random werewolf-centric research that didn't actually make it into that fic because draco spends most of it oblivious to the fact that harry's a werewolf lol.

ask me fic things!

[lirri-eats-eyes]

more skyborn hidden talent headcanons

Flamingo: you can’t kill them via salt poisoning

Macaw: pattern recognition/they can immediately make tesselation patterns even with their eyes closed

Gull: good at running (with legs). you also can’t kill them via salt poisoning

Osprey: extremely good balance. if they catch colds they become a normal amount of balanced

Heron: extremely good reaction time

Swallow: they have demetrace that’s enough. Fr though, they’ve memorized Moh’s hardness scale, and can measure specific gravity just by holding a rock, which i think scientists are lying about. like i think they just made that up.

Hummingbird: superspeed/no negative effects after sugar intake

Quail: if they hate you hard enough they can kidney fail you

Quetzal: they can see shrimp colors

Crow: fucking around and finding out

[4th-make-quail]

i love robert jackson bennet! have you read the foundryside series yet? it Blew My Minddddd. also read the tainted cup this year and it was perfect 👌🏼

YESSS NONNY HE'S SO GOOD!!!! I read Foundryside and I have the other two waiting on my kindle, but I need to kinda hustle with my bingo card (because I spent so long inhaling a LOT of iwtv fic......) so I dunno if I'll be able to shoehorn them in. I will try though! This is encouraging feedback, because I enjoyed Foundryside but felt like it skewed a tiny bit to a younger audience than the Divine Cities trilogy? I think I just preferred the fucky city vibes of the Divine Cities, I'm a slut for a fucky city vibe heh

what other authors do you like, nonny?

[helenofblackthorns]

Sophie getting dressed up and leaving the Institute to meet with Gideon only to tell him she can't see him 😭 Sophie you're breaking his heart he has a picnic basket and everything

[shidoukanae]

*rereads Paris and Helene's second meeting for the nth time*

me every goddamn time: THEY HAVE SO MUCH CHEMISTRY HOW THE FUCK DO THEY HAVE THIS MUCH CHEMISTRY

It's so so so SO fun watching this entire meeting and how they both seem to constantly be in a little dance of sorts wherein Paris openly declares his interest in her and Helene keeps shutting him down ("You should come to Kylon. We won't overwork you the way your family does" -> "I don't have time to indulge in a life with people who don't think" -> "well that's good because i think about you so much i can't sleep"-> "and? get to the point already". like jfc he's not fucking vague about this At All).

But the best part is, for offstandish and disinterested as Helene is towards Paris (with her words cold and blunt towards him), it's really hard to deny that there isn't some interest on her part without there really being interest on her part (which is. confusing i know but. in context. oh. my god. she's a queerplatonic icon around Paris and i adore her for it)

My favorite thing to see in this scene is the way Paris reaches for Helene's face, casually brushing the back of his fingers against her cheek and through her hair (while commenting on how being this close to her makes his instincts spike with unease), and the moment Helene downs him she does the same exact gesture to him, lifting up his chin and brushing the back of her fingers against his face similarly. Which. Wow. I need more female antagonists to do this shit it is literally so cool to see.

Also the way Helene and Paris constantly are gauging each other is so neat. The way Helene tells Paris to "not long for what he can't have" (i.e. herself) is so neat. The way Paris is clear about his interest in Helene and she in turn matches that interest by toying with him in a way she's done with no one else in the cast is just. there is sooooo much there between them and i greatly enjoy whatever the fuck kind of chemistry it is they share because it is literally the epitome of what i crave in ships

[fuzzbuns]

Im probably gonna draw something about this anyway so ill get into it more later but when ever i draw a shitpost about the mirror world (specifically about 2 quails) i feel like it gives off the impression that i trust the premise of the mirror world but i dont at all. Like ive read the picture perfect arc.. why on earth would i ever trust moa-

[beeseverywhen]

It infuriates me how cheap chickens are

Like eggs are so expensive. Chickens lay too many. If I had chickens I'd have TOO many eggs. Obviously you've got to feed the chickens but I mean. I could grow them food (you aren't allowed to give chickens food scraps here. I'm not sure why that is)

There is a cost to keeping chickens no matter how you do it but omg I don't think people realise how cheap they are.

I have nowhere to keep chickens. I'm not allowed. But you bet if I had a garden I'd want chickens in it.