#r: the menagerie

[pocketgalaxies]

best show ever

[tha-wrecka-stow]

[sundrykitsch]

ya like jazz?

[liliavalley]

whoops. still thinking about colour show swk.

[salted-macarons-archived]

[OC] Testing out some new brushes

[ramblings-of-lola]

I was thinking about the Crows and their tattoos, which is a smaller detail I often forget about them. These are teenagers that have been forced or choose to permanently have marks are their body that reflect something about themselves.

Nina has a tattoo from The White Rose, the brothel she was employed by. Every time she glances at it, does it remind of her of Matthias, who she took the job for?

Inej had a tattoo from The Menagerie that she had crudely removed. Does the scar of it remind her of being captive or her freedom?

Kaz has the "R" tattoo and one for the Dregs. When he sees it in the mirror, does he remember Jordie and the boy he used to be? Does the Dregs tattoo remind him of the criminal he's become to get his revenge?

Does Jesper's Dregs tattoo remind him of the debt he got himself into? Does it remind him of his father and their farm?

Does Matthias have trouble understanding why the other Crows have tattoos because he never had to permanently mark himself to prove his loyalty to the Druskelle?

Does Wylan wish he had the Dregs tattoo that would resemble some sense of belonging that he never really felt at home?

[vkelleyart]

Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) just dropped on NetGalley for WHEN THE TIDES HELD THE MOON!

The Erewhon Team and I put ourselves through the gauntlet to make sure these ARCs included finished illustrations (which is why I’ve been so sparse on Tumblr of late, though I promise I will catch up here soon!), and I cannot wait for readers to meet Benny, Río, and Morgan’s Menagerie! I am rooting for everyone who applies for an ARC to get one, and hope those who snag one will love this book as much as I loved writing it. 💙🧜🏼‍♂️🇵🇷🌊🎟️🗽🎡

NetGalley members can request an ARC as an early reviewer at the link below:

[freddycartr]

guys, i just did a rewatch of season 2, and i want to say kaz is totally and absolutely justified in going fucking hard at pekka. you want to know why? because rollins fucking threatened to fucking put inej in the menagerie, to fucking chain her up and have mogen “take a trophy” from her, to fucking have mogens r*pe her because he tells kaz “i fixed up a cellar at the menagerie got the best shackles money can buy” and that he’s going to “sleep well”. so yes, kaz fucking brekker going after pekka was justified because he threatened inej ghafa.

[howlingday]

So funny idea I told Fatallyobsessed.

What if Opzin hired Kali to be a communication and home etc professor at Beacon?

Like to teach them how to take care of themselves and how to deal with civilians in the field. I'm sure they learned medical practice at Prep school.

I just saw that. And yeah, I think it would be a pretty neat skill to learn. Actually, I recently learned some things about baking and cooking that I think might make these classes all the more useful to up and coming huntresses and huntsmen. Now, where did I put that Culinary Doctorate degree...?

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

Prof. Kali

With a recent decline in White Fang activity globally, Ozpin had decided to reach out to any friends left in Menagerie for assistance with his school. As it turned out, one of the best chefs on the island micro-nation was none other than the chieftain's wife, Kali Belladonna. Ghira was worried about her leaving, just as any husband would, but she eased his fears that she would stay safe enough to keep in touch.

The interview was a breeze to get through as she was a certified chef, baker, and cook. She knew the right ingredient to use as an alternative when a student had an allergy, what sorts of proteins and minerals were required to keep a huntsman functioning, and had proven to be impeccable at time management, cooking for the staff at Beacon to prove her skill. Ozpin offered the job and added a bonus if she helped in the cafeteria, too.

Starting her first day in the middle of the school year put her a little on edge, but she steeled herself as she stepped into her classroom, ready to help these students become self-sufficient monster hunters. Honestly, the only thing she didn't prepare for was-

"Blake?!" Her daughter was powerless to stop Kali from wrapping herself around her. "Oh, my baby girl, you're okay~!"

"M-Mom..." Blake gently pushed her off. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" Kali parroted. "What are you doing here?"

"I... I'm attending Beacon." Blake answered. "I... left and-"

"It's okay, sweetheart." Kali held her hand up. "We can talk after. For now, take your seat while everyone else is coming in."

"What?" Blake blinked, watching as her mother quickly walked away and shouted to students as they were coming in.

"Come in, come in! Everyone, take a seat~!" Kali made it to the board and began drawing her name on the board. "I am Professor Kali Belladonna, and I will be your Home Economics instructor at Beacon Academy."

"Wait, like Blake Belladonna?" A blonde girl asked, sitting next to her daughter.

"Yes, Blake is my daughter, but that doesn't mean she, or any of her teammates can slack off on their assignments." She rounded the desk and looked around at her class. "Home Economics is a class for preparing young students like yourselves for the real world."

"The one filled with Grimm?" A girl with orange hair asked.

"Yes, and who's going to fill your bellies while you fight those Grimm? Because let me give you a spoiler warning; it's not going to be your mother, your father, or your teachers."

"What about our butlers?" A girl with black hair with red tips asked, raising her hand that was swiftly brought down by a girl with white hair.

Kali giggled. "Do you really think you're rich enough to have butlers? Maybe if you're the head of the Schnee Dust Company, but last I checked, Jacques Schnee had no interest in being a huntsman." The girl with white hair blushed at the comment, angrily glaring at the girl next to her. "How many of you know how to cook already?"

A few hands went up. A boy with long, dark hair, another boy with blond hair and blue eyes, and a girl with long, blonde hair and a cheeky grin. Kali nodded, since this was at least two more than she expected. She quirked a brow, though.

"Blake, I thought I raised you better." The class laughed at the tease, earning a blush from her daughter. "But life does happen. It can get in the way of us sitting down to a good meal, which robs us of our energy, which makes it harder for us to fight, which makes us hungrier, which takes away more energy, and so on and so on until..." She held out her hands. "You know what happens if a huntress can't fight."

Kali snapped her finger. "Pop quiz!" The class groaned. "Who knows what tryptophan is?" A girl with red hair raised her hand. "Yes, Pyrrha Nikos!" The girl blinked, suddenly off-put by the address of her full name. "I saw your fights when I was cooking dinner one day. Sorry. Do you know what tryptophan is?"

"It's the chemical in turkey that makes you tired, isn't it?" Pyrrha answered.

"Isn't it? Yes, it is!" Kali giggled. "But that's only if you eat about eight pounds of it. Like, say, at a big banquet to celebrate human and faunus unity?"

"I can eat that." The orange-haired girl commented.

"So can my husband!" Kali laughed, getting a laugh from some of her students. "Now, what fruits should you avoid after taking heart medicine?" The students shared a confused look. "It's tricky, isn't it? Anyone want to guess?"

"Apples?" The blond boy offered.

"Bzzt! Nope!" Kali giggled. "Anyone else? No?" She shrugged. "The answer is grapefruits, though you should also avoid limes, pomelos, and certain oranges. These fruits contain a chemical called furanocoumarins, which causes your heart to slow down and stop as a reaction to the medication." The young girl with silver eyes gaped in amazement as her mind was blown. "Knowing the specifics of what you put in your body can mean the difference between life and death."

"Um, Mrs. Belladonna?"

"Yes, Blake?"

"What... exactly is the lesson plan?"

"I was getting to that. Thank you, Blake." She wasn't. The truth was that she was so excited to share fun facts that she was about to spend an entire class pop-quizzing kids on food trivia. Thankfully, her daughter was here to stop her, just like her father would when she'd talk her guests ear off about food back in Menagerie. "Starting tomorrow, you will all be assigned to complete a recipe. You will go to the market in your free time and look for the best prices for your recipe. By the end of this week, I should have the recipes. By the end of next week, you should have the real thing sitting in front of you, ready for taste-testing. Failure to provide will result in F for the assignment."

Reaching into the desk, Kali hefted a stack of books. "These will be your textbooks. We will go ever each chapter, learn what we need you to learn, and then apply what was taught into your skills." She walked around, placing books in front of students as she passed. "Failure to bring your book won't be a failure, but it will be noted. Are there any questions?" The classroom was silent. "Good. Now, open your books to page..."

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

"Mom?"

"Hi, Blake." Kali greeted from outside the dorm. "Can we talk?"

"Um, sure." Blake stepped out, standing by her mother. "Is everything alright?"

"I don't know. You tell me." Blake felt a chill up her spine. "The first time I see you years and it's at a huntsman academy? What is going on? What happened to you being in..." She looked around. "You know?"

"I... I left." Blake answered.

"And... you're not going back?"

"No! And I'm here because..." Blake looked uneasy. "Because it was the safest place and I thought that I could make up for what I did in the- There, here."

"Oh, Blake..." Kali hugged her only daughter. "I am so sorry you had to go through all of that. And I'm so... proud of you."

"Proud of me? But I... I was-"

"You were." Kali nodded. "And it took some time, but you finally got enough sense to see things the same way your father did, and now you're doing the same thing he's doing."

"...Running away?" Blake winced.

"Making up for it." Kali held Blake's hands. "You saw what horrible things Sienna and Adam were doing, so now you're trying to make up for what you've done by becoming a huntress."

"But... isn't that selfish?"

"Kitten, I am holding hands and hugging a student, both of which are against Beacon staff policy. Do you think I'm selfish for wanting to hold my daughter?"

"...Would I be wrong for saying no?"

"No, but I would still be wrong because what I'm doing is selfish. But enough about right and wrong, selfish or brave- show me, your mother, where you're living!"

"But Mom-"

"Professor Belladonna."

"Professor Belladonna, what about the... Beacon staff policy?"

"I'm sure they'll make an exception for the hugging. And as for me coming in, I'll just say it was a late-night inspection. I have heard a few things about what your team has been getting up to."

Blake shrunk a little. "Well, okay..." She then opened the door, bringing her mother into her new life.

[redheartedtramp]

Blake: Take care of yourself, Ilia. I know Menagerie is going to need you.

Ilia: I'll do my best, Bla-

Ruby: HOLD IT!

Ruby forces herself between the two Faunus Girls

Ruby: THIS is the Ilia you talk about?! This is the absolute babe you said was 'crushing so hard for you'?!

Ilia: *turns red*

Blake: R-Ruby, inside voice...

Ruby: You chose ADAM, fucking Adam, over THIS absolute cutie?!

Blake: R-Ruby, please...

Ruby: *gets on one knee and takes Ilia's hand* On behalf of Team RWBY, I am retroactively sorry for the poor choices of my teammate.

Blake: You're fucking shaming me...

Ilia: ...Are...you flirting with me?

Ruby: Only if it's working~

Ilia: ...It is a little bit...

[pocketgalaxies]

pango: at least it's not the little ones. i must protect the little ones.

[baldurs-gape]

Traditions

Every tradition had to start with its first iteration as some point. The hope was that the reunion party was going to be something similar to what Withers had hosted six months after the Netherbrain's defeat but with more people attending. As well as the regular suspects, friends and family were also welcome, which was how Ulder Ravengard was stood next to Minthara and finding himself both enchanted and caught in a web of ambition. Their little chat was interrupted by none other than Astarion and Gale.

"All I'm saying is that my mother has a lot of opinions and will share them with those who care to listen and those who don't."

Astarion's scoff was audible from quite a distance away.

"At least we know where you got that particular trait from. Tell me, was she also the one to teach you that tongue trick?"

Lae'zel clapped her hands over Xan's ears and glared at the two bickering.

"Rolling one's 'r' is an essential part of wizardry, even first years at Blackstaff could tell you that enunciation is vital in spellwork. But see? This is exactly what I'm trying to say. You won't get my mother's blessing, she's very much a woman of her generation."

"You forget how old I am, dear. Trust me, I know how these things go, you'll be betrothed to me by the end of the night."

Perhaps it wasn't the most romantic of proposals but then again anyone who knew Astarion would have thought Orin was back if he suddenly got all sappy. Even Gale's determination to have his mother's blessing was expected too. The most surprising part of the whole thing was that Gale and Astarion were actually still together. Maybe it shouldn't have been such a curiosity, Gale was loyal to a fault and Astarion was not in the habit of letting go of good things he could sink his claws into.

Any further bickering was cut short by the arrival of none other than Morena Dekarios. She greeted her son with a sturdy hug before giving Astarion the same treatment.

"It's good to finally meet the one my son has been so besotted with."

"The honour is all mine," Astarion drawled and took Morena's hand in his, kissing the back of it. "Though I believe we have another matter to discuss. In exchange for Gale's hand in marriage I can give you four hens, two geese, an ox and a piglet."

"Astarion!" Gale half hissed half yelped. All eyes and ears were on them.

"Hush dear, it's okay, you're worth it. And I won't even ask for proof of your virginity. That's a little too old fashioned for me. What do you say, Morena? May I take Gale as mine?"

A titter of laughter was the first reply before Morena hid her grin behind a hand.

"Oh dear. You're rather serious, aren't you?"

"I can make it two piglets if you insist." Astarion gave a wry smile and eyed Gale before turning back to Morena. "You drive a hard bargain but you're right, if I could, I'd offer the world to you for his hand."

Morena patted Astarion's arm, eyes soft.

"That's all I need to hear, dear. And why don't you keep your menagerie for the start of your married life? The youth need all the help they can get in this day and age. Just ask Gale if he'll say yes, you have my blessing."

Eyebrow raised, Astarion turned to Gale.

"Well?"

"Of course I'll marry you. Even if you have some strange ideas sometimes."

"Excellent." The cocksureness melted from Astarion and he looked sheepish. "I don't suppose you know what to do with some hens, geese, an ox and a couple of piglets, do you?"

[sundrykitsch]

but what if they were iced cream!!!

[rwby-encrusted-blog]

Snowleapord blake and the schnee siblings watch kali and ghira hit on willow till willow goes to there hotel room.

Willow: *Enjoying a nice meal with the Belladonnas*

Ghira: *Flirting with kindness*

Kali: *Flirting with promiscuity*

Blake: *Hiding in Bushes* Oh they Fuckin'

Winter: *Also hiding in Bushes* Please don't speak about our mother so crassly!

Weiss: *Also hiding in Bushes* Indeed, we just keeping an Eye on her. Even if your Parents are forgiving many other may not be.

Whitley: *Sitting at a nearby table, not hiding in the slightest* I think Mother deserves it.

Weiss: HUH?

Winter: What! Whitley!

Whitley: She was with father for your entire life Winter, much like myself. The heavens know I'd take a new dad the moment he presented himself a worthy candidate. The few folk I could imagine being worthy are your teammate's families Weiss.

Winter: That's incredibly-

Weiss: No no, he has a point.

Blake: My parent's will treat her right.

Winter: *Sigh* Fine.

Whitley: Ope. They're moving. Check please!

Blake: Alright! Let's follow them!

~The Quartet move through shadows (Except Whitley, who just walks normally) trailing their parents - to a hotel~

Winter: Alright, And now they break apart and mother- Mother's going in with them.

Blake: Like I said, they're fucking.

Weiss: I mean not necessarily. she could just be visiting-

Whitley: *On his scroll* It's a love hotel.

Winter: How do you-

Whitley: *Showing his scroll to her* It's a love hotel.

Winter: ...

Winter: *Clicks tongue* Well, I hope she's alright.

Blake: Oh she'll be alright~

Weiss: Okay, YOU REALIZE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR PARENTS TOO?

Blake: Menagerie's a lot less uptight about sexual relations - we have the lowest "Messy" divorce and STD Transfer rates in all of Remnant. I don't think about what parents do, but I am cognizant of it.

Whitley: She's right.

Weiss: How do you know that-

Whitley: Looked it up. I decided to look over all public knowledge of the Belladonna family, and Menagerian cultures and beliefs. Mother just wanted me nearby in case something went wrong so I could support her. She'll be fine.

Winter: Why you? Me and Weiss are strong-

Whitley: Yes, you r both strong, while *I* have nothing but my charisma. You'd both make a scene, while I can calm them down - better than either of you, at least.

Winter: Well-

Weiss: No, no, he has a point.

Winter: *Disgruntled Huff*

~~~~~

Willow: They're still out there ...

Kali: Well, if they want to walk in on something~

Ghira: We'd be more than happy to teach them not to pry into 'Private' Matters~

Willow: O-oh! You've been serious?

Kali: Well, Yes. If that makes you uncomfortable, We understand but ...

Ghira: You are very stunning Willow. We don't need to do anything immediately if you don't want to, we don't need to do anything at all. Just know the offer is there.

Willow: *Blushing* W-Well it has been a while since I slept in a warm bed ...

Kali: *Grinning like that cat that caught the mouse, grabbing onto Willow's hips* Perfect~

Ghira: *Gently Pinning Willow to the wall* We'll be as gentle as you'd like

Willow: (OH SWEET MERCIFUL HEAVENS~)

[jujulebee]

even if i asked u rly nicely and gave u extra hearts?

a bet you would lose. you would lose this bet.

-- Juan

[dr-borpo]

NIGHTBREED PACK -- KINSKI & NARCISSE

Happy belated Simblreen everyone! In tradition, I am 1000% late to the party and posting this in November, but this pack was one of the planned uploads I had for this month! (This ended up being the busiest month of the year for me so I do apologize.)

With that, I'd like to introduce you to Kinski and Narcisse from Clive Barker's Nightbreed, based on the novella Cabal. This is one of my favorite films of all time and I have been dying to bring these guys to life in game! The whole film has a menagerie of different monsters but these two are some of my favorites.

This is also the very first time I've created CC! I created a swatch for Narcisse using @ugliecc's Skinless Beauty skin detail, which you will need to use my swatch. For Kinski, I created a forehead preset that gives him that *chef's kiss* crescent-moon face.

CC Credits and Download Link on my Patreon Below the Cut

DOWNLOAD AND CC CREDITS

(BASE GAME COMPATIBLE)

CC Creators (that I could find): @sewersims @faaeish @pyxis-likes-ts4 @shandir @obscurus-sims @o--b-s-c-u-r-u--s @ssspringroll @aniraklova @s-club-tbr @simdulgencemods @nell-le @ugliecc @rachirdsims @crilender @golyhawhaw @dumbabysims @pirumxsim @aleniksimmer @solistair @kotcatmeow @plazasims @luumia @makesims

DOWNLOAD LINK AT MY PATREON HERE

I have also added Voidfeather's now MIA CC in the same ZIP as my swatch and preset.

KINSKI:

Head

Skin Details: Dark Force by Sewer Sims, Nose Shaders by faaeish, AboutFace by PYXIS, Tired Gaunt Overlays by Voidfeather, Facial Structure by faaeish

Facial Hair: Renathal Beard by Shandir

Presets/Sliders: Kinski Forehead by drborpo (included on my Patreon), Nose Slider by obscurus, Eyesocket Extreme by ssspringroll

Makeup: N3 Lips by Obscurus, Gore Collection by PaleSecret

Body/Traits/Skills:

Outfit: Werewolf Jacket by UTOPYA, Raver Chained Pants by AnirakLova

Sliders: Thigh Slider by hokusai26, Enhanced Butt Slider by cmar, Enhanced Thighs by cmar

Accessories: Dalila Rings by Moriel, LL Ring by S-Club

Body Hair: Male Body Hair by simdulgence

Traits: Heroic by chingyu, Calm by Kuttoe

NARCISSE

Skin Details/Hair: Skinless Beauty by UGLIE + Swatch by Me (included on Patreon), Eyebags by obscurus, Pop Eyebrows by rachirdsims, Teeth by cerberus, Tired Gaunt Overlays by Voidfeather, Nose Shaders by faaeish, Ortheka Hair by Voidfeather, Creep Hair by sewersims, CAS Unlocks by crilender

Presets/Sliders: Extreme Eyesocket by ssspringroll, Nose Slider by Obscurus, Glasses Control by ICONIC, Neck Slider by GOLY, Creepy Grin by Dumbaby, Jawline by pirumxsim

Makeup: Gore Collection by PaleSecret, N3 Lips by obscurus, Chat Blanc Blush by AleNik

Accessories: Talmor Hat by Moriel

Body/Traits/Skills:

Outfit: Longcoat by Solistair, Skinny Jeans by KOTCAT, V-coat by plazasims, Stellar Stuff Top by SSP, Male Kimono Jacket by NELL

Sliders: Neck Height by LUUMIA

Accessories: Live Fast Gloves by MakeSims, Clothing Dirt by MoonchildLovesTheNight

Traits: Insane and Creepy by chingyu