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winedarkthoughts · 7 months ago

Text

house of addams (2)

— 🌖 pairing: ot7 x fem.reader

— 🕷️ genre: mystery, angst + fluff + smut

— 🗝️ word count: 3.3k

— 🍄 summary: you and yoongi tackle your first day of fieldwork, and this town and it's mysteries prove to be stranger than they first appeared.

— ☕ content warnings: private investigator!reader and botanist!yoongi being nerds, mentions of death/missing persons, scientific inaccuracies lol

— 🕸️ a/n: and the mystery continues!

previous chapter ← series m.list → next chapter

chpt. 2: but first, fieldwork

september 22, 2004

You've been having strange dreams. Normally, you don't remember most of your dreams, but these have been oddly vivid and long-lasting, like the lingering stench of a cigarette that sticks to your clothes.

In some, you're wandering through a forest, wading through a thick mist. No, not wandering, because it feels like you're searching for something, you just don't know what.

In others, you're submerged in murky green water. Tendrils of seagrass like twisting trees brush against your ankles. And there's a sound reverberating through the water, something like chittering and groaning at the same time.

When you wake up, the window above your bed is open, though you don't remember unlatching it last night. Just outside the glass is a canopy of green, bright and vigorous from the early dew.

You pull the window shut and dismiss the dreams completely from your mind, because you have things to do. Today is your first day of fieldwork with Yoongi, the botanist.

Yoongi is punctual, which you very much like. He arrives at the meeting spot three minutes early. Luckily, you were there ten minutes early.

"G'morning," he mumbles, his voice still raspy with sleep. His hair is ruffled and his eyes are slightly droopy. He's wearing dark jeans and a flannel, but appears comfortable in the frigid air.

"Morning, thanks for coming," you say, handing him the iced americano and glazed bun you just picked up from the coffee shop.

Cat's Den, it's called. The same barista from your previous visit was working, and he seemed just as cheerful.

"Thank you," Yoongi says with new life in his voice, gratefully sipping from his drink.

You inform him that your first stop will be the residence of Mrs. Bradley. You want him to see the strange fungus in person to get the most accurate identification.

The two of you pile into your Honda CRX. It's a beater car, with scratches on the exterior and ripped seats. You've had it ever since you were a teenager, but the engine has held up throughout the years.

When you ask Yoongi if he's heard of the death of Michael Bradley, he just scrunches his brows.

"I think it was in the paper once," he says. "Something about household cleaners and chemicals. The mayor kept it buttoned up, apparently."

Again, the mention of the mayor. She kept the case under wraps, but clearly she trusts Yoongi to know about it since she recommended him to you.

"Hmm, well Mrs. Bradley won't submit to questioning so far," you say, rattling with the car as it traverses over a ridge in the dirt road.

"So far?" Yoongi prompts, and you can hear the slight amusement in his tone.

The corner of your mouth tugs up in a barely concealed smirk. "I can be very persistent," you add.

You stop the car a block away from their house. Yoongi follows you dutifully when you exit wordlessly and make you way onto their lawn. The ring of mushrooms is still there. In fact, it appears to have gotten wider.

You drop to one knee and begin taking pictures.

"Won't Mrs. Bradley get upset?" Yoongi asks, looking into the dark windows of the house.

"She leaves for work at five a.m." you reply. "We'll be finished long before she gets back."

He doesn't reply, because the mushrooms have snagged almost every ounce of his attention.

"Very peculiar," he mutters to himself.

"Can you identify them?" you ask, trying not to divulge how much you're waiting on his reply.

Yoongi pulls a retractable magnifying glass from his pocket and flips it open, dropping to the damp earth beside you.

"Infundibuliform cap shape," he says, more to himself than to you. But from what you've gathered from the book, it means a "deeply depressed" cap shape. In this case, it makes the cap look like a set of tendrils. Reaching out.

Yoongi takes out a pair of tweezers and turns the mushroom this way and that, examining it.

Something catches your eye.

"Pores and gills?" you say. Typically mushrooms have one or the other, but this one has a membrane covered in small holes as well as an underside full of thin openings.

"False gills, ridges," Yoongi supplements, deep in concentration. "Gills can be detached, but ridges are built into the structure."

"Is that common among mushrooms?" you ask.

"Hmm, not entirely sure. Not a mycologist," he replies, snipping off one of the mushrooms and dropping it into a specimen bag.

A part of you lights up inside. It looks like he's going to help you with this whole thing, judging by his interest in the strange fungi.

You're greatly appreciative, because reading that book on mushrooms was not exactly the most effortless research endeavor. It was plenty interesting, but still chock full of scientific terminology that you aren't familiar with.

"I have a friend back at the university who can take a closer look at this," Yoongi says, rising to a stand.

A flutter in your stomach. This is coming along nicely. The more professional opinions you can get, the better.

"Take a look at this," you say, leading him to the rotted tree trunk.

You watch as his delicate features twist, perplexed. He really is very pretty, but you shouldn't be thinking such things.

"Is this common among trees?" you ask a little hesitantly. It's such a shame to break his concentration when he looks like that.

"Not that I know of," he mutters, taking a tentative step closer.

You did a bit of research on tree rot, but nothing you saw looked quite like this. Wood, even rotted wood, has a splintered appearance. This wood looks almost wet, maybe even flesh-like. It looks, and smells, like an infected wound.

You take plenty of pictures.

"Can I get a copy of those?" Yoongi asks, looking at you with wide, eager eyes. A cat that's caught sight of a treat.

"Yes, of course," you reply with only the slightest bit of difficulty.

"Thank you." He flashes you a gummy smile. Fuck.

"Okay," you blurt out suddenly, pretending to check your watch. "Let's get moving."

Your next location is the sight of Jarvis Laplan's death.

The forest, you've learned thanks to Yoongi's kind direction, has been unofficially divided into sections by the surrounding civilians. There's the "North Star" area, mostly made up of sparse trees and grasses. This is where most of the residential homes are backdropped against, including Bradley's.

Then "Gunman's," an area southwest of North Star. Aptly named, this is the designated hunting grounds, clearly labeled and fenced. A few residences outline Gunman's, including Laplan's. But Laplan wasn't found in Gunman's, he was found in Ulthar's Grove.

"Ulthar's Grove," south of Gunman's and absolutely NOT a hunting area. Apparently, local stray cats and other rodents flock to this area, roaming about freely and building nests in hollow tree stumps. Children and teenagers can sometimes be found playing in this area, because of the several residences tucked into its borders and the relative safety compared to other areas of the forest.

Then, at the center of it all, Lurking Lake. Aptly named, it is not well-inhabited and generally avoided by locals. A naturally formed lake, it is infested with algae, an invasive species of eel-like fish, and characterized by a distinctive musky smell.

You and Yoongi enter into Ulthar's Grove, weaving through gnarled trees and mossy stones.

As if he can't help it, Yoongi points out the names of the local flora as you pass them. The scientific names and the common names, seemingly for your benefit. It's quite amusing, watching his face light up when he recognizes a familiar species.

And you learn a lot, taking as many notes as you can on the local wildlife while navigating the path.

You don't notice, but Yoongi is sneaking glances at you while you scribble feverishly.

"Are my ramblings really that interesting?" he prods playfully.

Your attention is jerked from the page. You glance at him over your shoulder, feeling a burn in your cheeks.

"I try to remember everything I learn," you say, and your voice betrays none of the slight embarrassment you feel at being observed in your "natural habitat." Because you've always been very intent, maybe even obsessed, with collecting knowledge. You suppose that's one of the things that makes you good at your job.

As if he can sense your thoughts, Yoongi says, "So, you're a journalist?"

You never told him exactly what your occupation was, only that the mayor sent you. You hesitate for a moment. For some reason, you have no desire to lie to him.

"Private investigator," you reply.

He hums in acknowledgement. He doesn't ask who you were hired by, but the subtext is clear enough. The mayor recommended him to you for a reason, after all.

The two of you arrive at the site. No longer is it wrapped in police tape, but the same eerie air of caution still lingers.

Aged thirty-five, he was found in the woods. More specifically, in a little clearing among the closely-knit trees, in the center of a ring of dead grass.

Apparently, Laplan was dissatisfied with the control of local wildlife, and took it upon himself to do a bit of "population control." He was found in hunting gear with a .35 Remington, without a single shot fired.

Yoongi says that very little information was in the papers, similar to Bradley. Just a warning to civilians regarding a recent animal attack.

"He wasn't attacked, he was mauled," you can't help but say as you examine the site. The mayor gave you snippets of the police reports, but you still have yet to get your hands on the coroner's report.

"By what?" Yoongi asks, a strange hesitation in his voice.

You look at him.

"Not sure" you reply, turning your attention to the surroundings at hand.

Laplan was found here, among this break in the trees. The ring of dead grass remains, and half of you expects to see a pool of blood in the center of it. But there is nothing but brittle vegetation.

"What kind of animal?" Yoongi asks as he circles around the perimeter.

"A mountain lion, presumably." But for some reason, a reason that you can't name, you doubt it.

A wave of uneasiness ripples through you.

"Let's fan out a bit, try to see if any of the trees around here have the same rot," you call out, eager for a distraction.

The two of you explore the area for a while, noting irregularities in the plant life. Evidently, thanks to Yoongi's commentary, you discover that the surrounding plants appear to be dehydrated, despite the abundant rain. Neither of you find any of the strange mushrooms in this part of the woods.

Yoongi checks his watch at noon on the dot.

"We should get moving. You said there's one more site you wanted to visit, right?"

He's right, the site of Sharon Mason, the final and most recently deceased. You remember now that Yoongi said he had to leave at two p.m., though he didn't mention why.

Lurking Lake, and the surrounding woods which apparently don't have a name, according to Yoongi. They are simply known as "the woods surrounding Lurking Lake."

And you must say, the name lives up to its potential. First of all, it's bigger than you thought it would be. It has a presence, the beating heart of the forest.

Under the gray sky, the water is dark green with a peculiar, abysmal deepness. The perimeter of the lake is outlined by wild grass and moss-robed stones, and the outer edges of the water have a film of algae.

Fog hangs over the landscape like a misty curtain, swirling along the ground.

"She was found by the lake, right?" Yoongi asks, examining some sort of cattail grass by the lakeshore.

"In the lake," you correct, bending over to look closer at the pebbled shore.

"Barely anything in the papers again," Yoongi says before you get the chance to ask. "Mainly because they don't know all that much."

"Hmm," you reply, staring at some sort of microscopic, squirming plankton in the shallow lake water.

Sharon Mason, aged seventeen. Found floating in the lake. Homicide ruled out, apparently.

The third death in under three months, and it certainly left a mark on the community, especially since she was only a teenager. You wonder if this was the catalyst that drove the mayor to hire a private investigator.

"Has the college noticed anything unusual about the lake? In the ecosystem, I mean," you ask.

"Not that I know of," Yoongi immediately responds. A little too quickly.

You straighten up and watch as he paces around the edge of the water, hands in his pockets.

"Nothing?" you ask again, a little more pointed this time. Because you hardly believe that nothing has surfaced at the university. Why else would the mayor include investigative services in "ecological disturbances" in her job description?

"No, ma'am," Yoongi replies, and the politeness in his voice is incriminating.

You'll have to look into it.

"Well, I won't know the finer details until I get the coroner's report," you say.

Yoongi looks up at you.

"The coroner?" he asks, curiosity and something else in his tone.

"Yes, I'll need to speak to him eventually. Do you happen to know where his office is? I've been having trouble getting him on the phone," you say.

You're watching closely for his reply, and you see his eyes flicker to something in the distance.

Following his gaze, you see it. The massive house on the hill, dark and towering over the valley. Through the mist, it looks like an abandoned Victorian mansion.

"The Addams House," Yoongi says from behind you.

"Addams? Is that who lives there?" you ask with your eyes still fixed on the house, like a beacon that you can't look away from.

"Used to, they're long gone now," Yoongi replies. "The new owner rents it out now,"

"And who would that be?" you press.

Yoongi just shrugs.

"The only people who know for sure are the tenants themselves. Apparently, he's a bit of a recluse."

Hmm, interesting.

"And...that's where the coroner's office is?" you ask, a little incredulous.

He nods a little hesitantly.

"Mm hmm, it's in the basement."

"Ah, of course it is," you can't help but reply, and it makes Yoongi smile a bit.

There's a pause as the two of you poke around.

"So, what exactly are you looking for?" Yoongi asks.

That makes you stop and think for a moment, because you're not entirely sure what it is you're looking for here. At Bradley's place, it was the mushrooms. Laplan's place of death, any indication of unusual wildlife or animal activity. Here at the lake, you don't even have a cause of death.

"I'm not entirely sure," you admit, again not finding it in you to lie to him. "I'll have a much better idea when I get the coroner's report."

Something you said seems to remind him, prompting him to check his watch.

"I have to go now," he says, quickly gathering his things.

"Alright, I'll give you a ride back," you offer. Not that you would ever admit it, but you're not quite ready to part from him yet.

"No, no, that's alright," he blurts out, already making his way towards the outline of trees. "It's a short walk," he insists.

"From here?" you question, but by the time you turn around, all you can see is his dark hair and slight frame darting expertly between the trees.

Your shoulders deflate as you let the rest of your sentence die with a puff of breath. A strange man, no doubt. But then again, that's how you like them.

Later that day, you venture to the coffee shop to do some more research, but the establishment is closed. The man mentioned something about only being closed on Wednesday afternoons.

The bookstore on the other side of the alley is closed too, none of the warm light from last time leaking from the front window.

You use your entire living room floor as your cork board and red thread, scattering open books and papers like a difficult-to-navigate parchment sea.

And you sail that sea until three a.m.

Five missing. The first is Alissa Ward, aged thirty-two, last seen at a grocery store at 5:32 p.m. She returned home at 5:47, according to her home security system, and then randomly left through the back door at 2:42 a.m. She lived alone, and it took a while for authorities to report her missing.

Then, Brynn Synder, aged twenty-nine, last seen at her boyfriend's place the night before her disappearance. Apparently, she had a habit of running through the woods in the early morning, and she was reported missing when she failed to show up at brunch with friends the next morning.

The police searched the woods. They found nothing.

You fall asleep on the couch as you're nearing the end of her file, dreaming of feet pounding on dirt.

september 23, 2004.

The coroner proves to be even more elusive than you thought. He appears to be averse to his faxing machine, and downright allergic to his telephone.

By midmorning, you're trudging up through the damp earth to the house on the hill. The closer you get, the more massive it appears. Ancient brickwork, towers and iron spires, neatly clipped hedges flush to the sides of house, and crowned by spindly trees overhead.

There's a tall iron gate encompassing the entire property, spiraling with twisting designs. You try it, but it appears to be sealed even though you don't see a lock of any kind.

You still rattle it a few times for good measure, causing the metal to creak and screech as if it were alive, and very displeased at the rough treatment.

A moment later, a figure emerges from the fog. A man, it looks like, wearing a large coat. As he approaches, you notice the floppy black hair hanging in front of his face.

"Hello, I'm sorry to bother you," you call out when he's close enough to hear you. Really, you're not sorry, since you've been trying to get a hold of the coroner for several days now, with not so much as a return message.

The man is young, with a strong jaw and handsome features. But his skin, it's somehow completely colorless. You can't quite explain it, but it looks like ice, translucent yet cloudy at the same time. And what's weirder is the way your eyes can't quite stay focused on it. It makes your head throb if you stare at the same place for too long.

"I need to speak to the coroner," you say, putting authority in your voice. If you want to get anywhere with this case, you'll need the causes of death.

"He...He isn't here right now," the man says, sounding a little nervous. Now that you're closer, you can see his bunny-like front teeth biting at his strangely colorless lips.

"When will he be back?" you reply.

The man's head is downturned, eyes flickering over the ground.

"I'm not sure. He's spread quite thin, you see," he says.

You raise an eyebrow, unsatisfied.

"W-Well there aren't many forensic pathologists in this area, so he has to service the next three towns. And he always takes Wednesdays off for personal reasons, so he hasn't been in yet and-"

"Alright, kid," you interrupt his rambling, since he only appears to be getting more nervous by the second.

"Just have him call me as soon as possible, okay?" You hand him a card with your information scratched onto it, and he reaches through the gate's bars to take it between his extremely cold fingers.

"Yes ma'am," he says obediently, scurrying back up the hill and disappearing behind a hedge wall.

Strange young man, you think. But, as you're starting to realize, that is the norm in this town.

"She saw through my glamour," Jungkook announces to the room. And everyone freezes, stealing little glances at each other.

"I told you, she's perceptive," Yoongi says from his place on the chaise lounge.

"Curious too, she came into the bookshop looking for something on strange fungi," Namjoon supplies.

"And spent the entire night in the cafe reading," Jin adds.

"She won't stop calling my office. I'm not sure what I'm going to tell her," Taehyung admits.

"She's just doing her job," Jimin counters.

"In any case," a stern voice interrupts, the only voice that hasn’t spoken so far.

“Keep an eye on her.”

a/n: thank you muchly for reading!! if you tell me your thoughts i might explode with joy

NEXT PART: 05/15/24 @8:00 a.m. PST

#bts ot7 #bts x fem!reader #bts x reader #bts fanfic #ot7 x reader #bts mystery #bts series #bts angst #bts fanfiction

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arlemoon · 4 months ago

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venus, planet of love, has one moon.

contains: established relationships, implied character death, implied murder, bittersweet endings, angst.

arlecchino’s mind could be equated as a pond. within it contained a diverse body of aquatic creatures festering about. these could be called both her memories and emotions. some lived by feasting upon the seagrass and algae, creating harmonious and symbiotic relationships with those it coexisted with. others, the more ravenous ones, persisted through much more barbaric means akin to invasive creatures. without natural predators, they’re destined to overwhelm the rest of the pond like conquistadors.

it is a cherished skill to be able to create those said predators. or, perhaps, is it but a mere pitiable circumstance in which the mind has forced itself to find ways to cope with trauma? whatever the case was, arlecchino is no novice at containing her invasive creatures, though a hefty sum of her ability to do so was attributable to none other than the one she called her lover. her darling, darling lover.

ironically, the one that nearly sent the effectiveness of all of arlecchino’s developed coping mechanisms down the drain.

it was all too characteristic of life and fate itself that things would twist and turn into such a grotesque ending. what was even more grotesque was how bright the moon reflected against the ocean’s still currents. what was more grotesque was how nothing else seemed amiss in the world. the cliff wasn’t crumbling, the forest wasn’t wilted, and the crickets still played their otherwise comforting melodies as if arlecchino’s mental anguish meant nothing.

what was most grotesque of all was the disgustingly content and gentle smile decorating your face. the face that arlecchino couldn’t bear sparing more than a glance at lest she let anger or sorrow consume her.

she of all people stressed to her children that anger causes impulsivity, and that sorrow causes wavering, and she was an avid practitioner of what she preached. arlecchino tries not to give in and break the silence, but she can’t stop the small utter of your name, weak and defeated.

your response is adeptly timed—elegant and poise as always, she takes note of.

“never in my life could i fathom the idea of hearing my name slip from your tongue with such vulnerability lacing it, my dearest, arlecchino. does this gentle breeze not quell your heart?” you reply, said gentle breeze nearly drowning out the quiet whisper of your voice without exertion. thankfully, arlecchino’s unknowingly trained herself to cling onto every word you say like it was gospel or words of the divine.

her throat is too parched to reply, and it’s as if her pyro vision has snaked its way up to her throat and burnt it up until it shriveled like a plant. still, these moments with you are too precious to let her own mind stop her from talking with you.

“you are such a foolish lover of mine. you of all must know that something as minute as a gust of wind could never hope to pacify something as immense as my unrest,” she slowly starts, finally bringing her gaze onto you for longer than a short glimpse. it was shattering to see how full of life you appeared—flushed skin, hair that was tamed and very clearly tended to.. it all served as a stark juxtaposition to what schemed within your very being and soul.

“we both are foolish lovers, then,” you reply, no beats missed. “the two of us both made mistakes. yours, falling in love with me, and mine, being born.”

arlecchino uncharacteristically bristles at that.

“do not say such ill words about yourself. in fact, do not call what has happened in the past a mistake. mistakes are something to be regretted, and i do not regret and have not once regretted falling in love with you,” she sternly replies, and you have to refrain from letting your slight amusement show.

“pardon my insensitivity, my love. i forget you’d scold anyone who talked ill of me, myself included.”

“you particularly, actually. you mustn’t forget.”

“hm? that wounds me, my love.”

a few seconds may not have summed up to much, but those few seconds of lighthearted banter were heaven itself to arlecchino. after all, small moments like these rarely came. after all, small moments like these would never occur again at all. after all, to arlecchino, these last moments were all she had.

because arlecchino was fair.

she always looked at the grander design—the big picture, and in this case, it was the world at stake. all seven regions were at risk because of this one predicament: you. more specifically, the tumor that grew within your soul, leeching onto your energy until it grew big enough to leave your vessel and infect the world with its curse.

contrary to what some people may assume, arlecchino did not want the world to burn. arlecchino was no villain or antagonist, but she was no saint either. she was somewhere in limbo—an anti-hero of the sort. she wished not for the world to crumble, but rather for it to simply exist.

though, in no foreseeable future could her desires align with you keeping your life.

“arlecchino, my dear? i worry when you fall silent. i cannot help but wonder what goes on inside that mind of yours,” you start, a bittersweet smile coming to your face once more when you hear the sound of materializing metal.

“oh, my love.. how i will always forgive you.”

venus, planet of love, had one moon.

#genshin #genshin imagines #genshin x you #genshin x reader #arlechinno genshin #arlecchino x reader #arlecchino imagine #genshin impact #genshin arlecchino

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naffeclipse · 1 year ago

Note

Okay basing this off the fact Eclipse can travel waters, what if Yn tells him they can't live in one cold and he just takes them to the warmer waters?

Heheh seahorse yn

Oh my gosh oh my gosh hhhhghghghhghg new Y/N just dropped

This would be one setting where it's not in the Arctic but Eclipse has left those waters to drift about, and look what he happens to find! A lovely little siren, hiding in the kelp.

A leafy sea dragon that can camouflage and even change colors to hide themselves in seaweed and the kelp formations they live amongst. Speed is not their forte. They also have a prehensile tail that can coil around or grasp things. They would live in deeper waters and have beautiful dark brown, yellow, and greenish hues to their leaf-like appendages over their tail with small, transparent dorsal and pectoral fins!

Every time Eclipse glides through the warm waters of seagrass, searching like a hungry shark, Y/N clings tightly to kelp with wide, terrified eyes. They watch him drift closer, hoping against hope that their tail colors have shifted enough to blend them into invisibility. But, somehow, he always snatches them out of the protection of the underwater forest and meadows. Y/N cannot run away, they simply lack the agility and speed, so they're stuck once Eclipse has his hands on them.

Y/N gets used to Eclipse's grabbiness—it's strange to interact with an apex predator that doesn't want to eat them (at least not right away.) They will relax enough to let Eclipse pull them along, his pace so much faster, and even coil their tail around him when Eclipse decides to stretch out on the seagrass for cuddles.

Y/N's leafy appendages are a great source of awe and admiration for Eclipse, and Y/N has never seen such a black and white fish like him before, especially not in their home. Eclipse loves Y/N's slow and drawn-out singing. Y/N doesn't often sing, especially when he's taking hold of them, but he'll keep his hands off just to let them echo a few notes while weaving in between the long kelp strands. He'll follow, much less graceful in the watery forest, but he never loses sight of them.

#ghrhghghhrhrrhrh new y/n #i'm not normal #y/n grows to accept that once eclipse grabs them he has them for as long as he likes—which grows to be more fond and gentle view #once y/n sees he's not hungry for leafy sea dragon sirens #seadragon!reader #orca!eclipse #cailaventog #apex polarity

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thehollowwriter · 23 days ago

Text

Warnings: Murder, implied mutilation, handling and disposal of a body, general crimes ansbdnddj Word count: 1258

Summary: When the lights at the edge of the kelp forest start flashing, Silas knows he has a job to do. (Aka I introduce everyone to Silas' other job)

(Pls reblog and leave a comment ❤️)

Lights

There were few times Silas Clearcove felt the need to be discreet on his own property. In a sprawling kelp forest, hours away from other signs of civilisation, there was little need to worry about prying eyes.

When those familiar flashes of light, three short signals, went off in the far distance, though... it was better to be safe than sorry.

Every night at 10:30 like clockwork, Silas would gaze out across his land at a very specific place, waiting. When nothing happened, which was often the case, he'd turn and get ready for bed.

Tonight had been no different. Silas had fixed his eyes upon that lonely land in the distance, tapping his claws against his side, until he saw those little flashes.

Silas drifted out of the rocky cavern he called home and turned away from the stone path that stretched from his garden into the quiet forest.

With every flick of his tail, the light of the lanterns faded to give way to darkness. It was so dark, most others couldn't see an inch in front of their face.

Where he was going, there were no lanterns, no markers to guide his way. All there was to see was an endless stretch of sand and rock and kelp in every direction.

That was fine. Troubled as his memory was st time, Silas knew very well where he was going.

His wards, carefully crafted runes and spells encircling the entirety of his property, pulsed gently to inform him of the stranger on the edge of the property.

Silas saw little use in the lights used to signal him since the powerful magic protecting his home would let him know all he needed, but, well, they insisted.

Silas came to a stop just short of the edge of the forest of kelp. There, in front of him, were a pair of piercing yellow eyes shining in the dark.

The other merfolk, a gulper eel, didn't move an inch further from where they floated. They wouldn't dare. Not without a lantern, or without Silas' permission. The wards did not take kindly to strangers, and they knew it well.

Silas tilted his head to the side at the eel and silently held out his hand, across the boundary of his property.

The other narrowed their eyes before handing over a black bag that, until now, had blended perfectly into the dark.

It was large, bigger than Silas himself, and heavy. It was long, too, and Silas couldn't help but sigh at the thought of dragging it all the way back from whence he came.

"Becareful with that," the eel rasped. "This one didn't have a very pleasant time. Things got... messy."

They grinned, a sick and twisted pulling of the lips that showed of rows of gleaming, sharp pearly whites.

Silas didn't react. He simply bowed his head in a silent goodbye to his deliveryman, then began the swim towards the centre of his kelp forest.

He didn't go home, though. He swam past the entrance and around the side, through the garden that sprawled on behind it, even bigger than in the front.

Silas swam through the seagrass and coral and kelp and sargassum until he came to a cave, not unlike the one that housed his abattoir.

Silas heaved the bag onto a table carved from the rock, the decades old injury in his tail crying out in pain and sending shock waves to the rest of his body.

He took in a sharp breath and waited for the pain to subside, then opened the bag, pulling down the zipper and staring down down at his newest project.

Glassy, lifeless eyes, stared back at him from a face that barely resembled a person. The rest of the poor soul didn't far much better, gashes and bruises marring deathly pale skin like a blight.

Silas didn't ponder what this one did to be brought to such a violent end. He didn't care. It was no business of his, no, his business lay in making this unfortunate lump of flesh disappear.

The stagnant silence of the kelp forest was interrupted by the sound of a bone saw striking at its target, worked away by wrinkled and nimble fingers.

Silas' joints were aching by the time he finished and placed his bone saw down to clean later. He wondered if, perhaps, he should request that they do all the hacking for him beforehand, as time was not very kind to his body. He couldn't imagine doing all this for another seventeen years on top of his regular work.

Silas scooped up his newly acquired selection of parts and drifted back out of the cave and across the garden to where a single brain coral sat still and waiting in the dark.

It was a huge, sprawling thing. A pretty orange and yellow boulder brain coral that would leave avid farmers of coral green with envy at the size. It stood out amongst the mostly green garden, bright, bold, and beautiful.

"Evenin', Gillian." Silas grunted, holding up what was probably an arm. "Got some supper for ya."

The absurdly large brain coral, naturally, did not respond. At least, not with words. What it did do was slowly ripple and move, shifting around and opening up until there was a large hole in the centre. A mouth of sorts. Silas could probably fit inside, not that he was stupid enough to try.

One by one, Silas tossed the pieces of the poor soul that had incurred the Leech family's wrath into the gaping maw of his beloved pet, waiting a few minutes in between each piece.

It took some time for every piece to be discarded. Whoever this was certainly wasn't small, and Silas would not choke out Gillian by shoving it all in at once.

When the last remaining parts were finally gone, Silas patted Gillian's side, and the coral slowly closed up once more.

"Good boy." Silas said, then returned to the cave to clean off the bone saw. There, technically, wasn't much to be done, as blood didn't really stick underwater. However, Silas knew better than to leave it at that and spent the next twenty minutes or so scrubbing and brandishing with soap and magic until the deadly blade was spotless.

Satisfied, Silas slid the bone saw back into its place in the little cave, and left to finally return home.

It was midnight when Silas shut the door behind him, and he tried not to think about how a few years ago he would have been done by at least eleven. There was no point in mulling over it. He couldn't do a thing about time.

Usually, Silas would check on Finn once he finished with "business." Take a peek into his son's room and make sure he wasn't struggling to fall asleep or experiencing nightmares again.

But... Finn wasn't here. No, he was away at school, the same school Morrigan attended, learning new things and, hopefully, making new friends.

Silas swam to his room and rested on the edge of his bed with a sigh. His lamp flickered, casting shadows on the wall.

What would tomorrow bring, he aondered. Hopefully not another "job", this one left him feeling exhausted. But he couldn't complain, could he? He signed up for this, quite literally.

With a slow exhale, Silas reached over and turned off the lamp. His room was plunged into a deep, comfortable darkness, and he let calm overtake, just for tonight. He could rest now.

-End

...........................................

A/N: I hope you guys liked this one! Sorry if it seems a little wonky or weird, I'm trying to get back into writing, and I've had a lot on my mind. I also didn't really know how to end this.

Tagging: @distant-velleity @br3adtoasty @rainesol @theleechyskrunkly @jovieinramshackle

@galaxies-and-gore @cyanide-latte @cynthinesia @officialdaydreamer00 @krenenbaker

@offorestsongs @kitwasnothere @elenauaurs @boopshoops @inotonline

@1dont-really-know @kazumify @minteasketches @elysia-nsimp @skrimpyskimpy

@casp1an-sea @offorestsongs @tixdixl @poisoned-pearls @the-trinket-witch

@ramshacklerumble @ghostiidasponk @thegoldencontracts @the-banana-0verlord

@cloudcountry @skriblee-ksk @twstinginthewind @lumdays @theolivetree123

@natsukishinomiyaswife @authoruio @jewelulu @raguiras @honeynclove @moonyasnow

@skibidibabygirl @paperclvps @quartztwst @yuizenihaswriten @devosin

#silas clearcove #twisted wonderland #twst oc #writing

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iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia · 6 months ago

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Vesuvia Weekly (poorly doodled): M6 as mermaids

linking back MC as a mermaid here! please excuse my poor quality doodles once again, I do not claim to be an artist XD

Julian: buys scavenged medical instruments from the underreef market & spend hours figuring out how to apply them to merhealth. always, always follows ships during storms in case of a shipwreck

Asra: the legendary sea sorcerer who nobody realizes is also the neighborhood merchant with the randomest wares and unpredictable business hours. does shows on the reef sometimes

Nadia: the queen of the reef who takes her duties very seriously, but who has such a colorful and impressive tail (painstakingly well-maintained, btw) that it's hard to connect past the intimidation

Muriel: originally from the cold waters further south, he lives in a seagrass forest several miles away from the reef. lives on plankton and seaweed and looks after any fish that seek refuge with him

Portia: spends half her time socializing as Nadia's tail-carer and half her time using all those connections to coordinate with other reefs against encroachers, poachers, and pollutants. wins all her fights

Lucio: so fascinated with humans that he mistakenly made a deal with them for fancy trinkets in return for access to the reef. now he assists with the cleanup project and border patrols against them

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dandelionsresilience · 1 month ago

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Dandelion News - October 22-28

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles on Patreon!

1. Industrial wastelands to wildlife oases: Five nature wins that have actually worked

“[An archipelago in the Indian ocean] experienced a major whale comeback after signing up to a debt for nature swap[….] In Sri Lanka's capital of Colombo, local efforts have transformed what was once a rubbish dump to a wetland teeming with [wildlife….]”

2. Louisville launches America’s first 100% electric garbage truck fleet

““These innovative EV collection trucks will fulfill our trash, compost and recycling needs, reduce noise pollution, and include larger windshields to increase each driver’s field of vision and lower greenhouse gas emissions[….]” [The trucks are equipped with] audible devices that alert nearby drivers and pedestrians to compensate for their quieter operations.”

3. How a nearly extinct crocodile species returned from the brink in Cambodia

“By the late nineties, [Siamese crocodiles] were thought to be extinct. […] Today there are about 1,000 Siamese crocodiles in the wild[….] The first crocodiles were reintroduced into the wild in 2012 and they have begun breeding in the wild: over a hundred eggs were discovered in the forests in July, the most so far.”

4. Before his death, this conservative combat veteran filmed a PSA advocating for his transgender son

““Eric [“a conservative South Carolina U.S. Army combat veteran and father of a transgender child”] believed in the importance of freedom for trans kids — the right to live authentically and without fear,” [his widow] said. “He saw this not as a political issue but as a human one, recognizing that every child deserves the chance to thrive and feel whole.”” [Curator’s note: obviously, utmost condolences to Eric’s family; I’m including this as good news because it’s impactful to see a respectable member of the political party more often known for transmisia instead publicly advocating for his son’s human - not just political - rights]

5. Azores to create largest Marine Protected Area in North Atlantic – and a 'blueprint' for the rest of the world

““The Azores’ waters are a hotspot for marine life, hosting a third of the world's whale and dolphin species,[…” and harbouring] “cold-water corals and sponge fields that act as nurseries and feeding grounds for countless species, from deep-sea sharks to commercially valuable fish stocks.””

6. ‘It’s a big lever for change’: the radical contract protecting Hamburg’s green space

“Citizen power forced Germany’s greenest city-state into a binding agreement balancing housing and nature[….] The authorities signed an agreement with the citizen’s initiative to protect 30% of Hamburg’s land area – 10% as untouchable nature reserves and 20% with a looser conservation status – and ensure the share of public green space in the city rises over time.”

7. Behind the Scenes at the Federal Bee Lab Powered by Native Plants

“Once native plants reappeared at the lab, he says, the impact was dramatic. In the first year, many of the region’s 200 native bee species arrived in droves. [… B]irds Droege had never before seen on the premises began to turn up to feed on the native plant seeds[….]”

8. Atlanta neighborhood hired case manager to address rising homelessness. It's improving health and safety for everyone

“Michael Nolan, an Intown Cares social worker, is trained in an approach that emphasizes individual autonomy and dignity, recognizes that being homeless is a traumatic experience, and prioritizes access to housing. [… H]iring a social worker has enabled East Atlanta Village to resolve conflicts gently, through conversation and negotiation.”

9. Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nests Make a Remarkable Comeback in Greece

“As long-lived and migratory species, [loggerheads] contribute to the health of seagrass beds and coral reefs, which are vital habitats for many marine organisms. Their nesting activities also contribute to beach ecosystems and help promote biodiversity.”

10. Rapid genome analysis of a Whippet sighthound sets new standard for biodiversity research

“[Scientists] have sequenced and analyzed the complete genome of a Whippet sighthound in less than a week. […] Rapid analysis is increasingly important for the conservation of endangered species, [… giving] insights into their biological relationships, evolution and adaptations to environmental conditions.”

October 15-21 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

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tojigasm · 2 years ago

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I’m crossfaded right now but I need diff Jake x pregnant reader a combination and angst, fluff and smut I literally don’t care what it is please !! It will make the wake and bake hit

I'm so fuckin deranged. In so sorry for this. This is so evil. I went down an angsty route with this one. I wrote this to be a sequel to "Who am I to Love you"

It rots within him. A thorny, prickly weed burrowing itself in the thick of his mind. It pricks and prods at his thoughts, trickling down his spine in a sickly plague.

He bides the long days with time in the ocean. Learning the ways of the metkayina and spending time with his children. He's braiding seagrass when his mind crawls back to the metkayinas soul tree. The tree where he'd seen Neteyam soon after his death.

He wonders if you're there too.

"Daddy, you're not braiding it right." Tuk scolds from beside him, taking over the thick weed and finishing the fishtail with a knot at the end.

"Sorry, Tuk," Jake doesn't go to the tree.

—

"I know you're thinking of her." Neytiri speaks through a sigh, cutting pieces of fruit. She places her knife down to rest a hand on Jake's back.

"Thinking of who?" Jake hardly acknowledges her, finishing a thread of grass, cinching the dried weed into a fold.

"Dont–" Neytiri takes a sharp inhale through her nose. "Don't even."

Jake drops the padded grass to turn to her, "what?" He shrugs, "what do you want me to say?" He stands up to pace around the length of the hammock.

"My Jake," she speaks softly, massaging the skin of her arm in an attempt to comfort herself.

"You want me to go talk to her?" He points outward to the ocean, and Neytiri drops her head in defeat, braids swaying side to side. "You want me to go pour my heart out to my dead mate–

"Our." She chokes under her breath.

It's begin to rain.

"Y-you want me to attach myself to her again? Attach myself to the one thing that I can't come back from? If i go there, i won't leave." He shakes his head solemnly. "God only knows how hard it's been fr'me to not take a knife to my fuckin' throat." Jake's voice croaks and blubbers.

Neytiri looks up at him under her lashes. A deepened blue shadows her features, and her honey eyes run an amber heat to them. She stands up and meets him eye to eye.

Jake's crying.

"She was my mate too, Jake." There's a sickly hiss to the way his name is spit from her tongue. "Not just yours," her ears flatten back and her canines bear, "you suffer in silence, but I will not."

He watches her leave.

—

It's late past eclipse when Neytiri returns home. Wet footsteps make their way into the hammock and a breeze pulls him from his light sleep before she slots herself against his back.

Neytiri presses a kiss to the base of his neck, thumbing his braid gently.

"She misses you."

She knows he's awake. He knows that she knows. Even so, he doesn't say anything.

—

He waits along the surrounding rocks of the tree of souls for hours. Fiddling with sheets of rock and coral that spots the ground as though it were weeds.

He thinks about going back to the clan. Back to his children, back to his mate, and back to his home. And a part of him thinks back to the forest and the years before neytam had been born. He thinks back to you.

It's not a long swim to reach the sprouting limbs of the tree, making the bond with shaky hands.

There's a moment of darkness before the forest surrounds him. He walks through the heavy brush and thick plants, running the tips of his fingers over the small flowers that litter the forest. He remembers the flower crowns you'd made for him. He wishes that the petals would live forever. Instead, they rot away, trapped in a chest hidden within the hammock. They lost their color long ago.

"Jake?" Your voice calls to him near the pond, and he can see you as he rounds a thick tree.

"Hi, honey," he whispers. His voice is quiet and soft. He thinks he might cry.

You're glowing under the rays of sun that glitter along the forest floor. Capturing you in their wake and painting an almost infinite image of you.

You run to him, jumping into his arms so quickly he doesn't have time to react before the both of you fall to the floor. "I missed you!" You squeal through a giggle.

"Woah," Jake chuckles lightly, "missed you too, kid." He kisses your temple, wrapping his arms around you loosely as you laugh into his chest.

Rolling off of him with a giggle, you land on your back beside him, arms and legs outstretched through the thick blades of grass that tickle your thighs.

Jake props himself onto an elbow beside you, tracing over your soft features, taking in the glow of your excitement with a warm smile.

"I never see you anymore." You say, lifting a hand to trace your finger over the outline of a few clouds thay scatter the sky. "Are you mad at me?"

Jake physically recoils at your question, scoffing at the idea that you could ever do anything wrong, let alone lead him to be cross with you.

"No, I'm–I'm not mad at you," he follows it with a laugh, brows furrowing. He watches you roll to your side, meeting his eyes.

"Then why don't you see me?"

"It's not–"

"Neytiri comes to see me all the time. She's made bracelets with me, and she's so excited to have another baby!" You scrunch your nose in glee.

A lump crawls up Jake's throat and plants itself there. He nearly chokes on it.

"M'sure she is–"

"Do you not want another baby?"

The genuine innocence in your voice makes Jake want to scream. He wants to rip his hair out and bite his lips until they bleed and choke on his tongue and sit at the bottom of the shallow water until he just falls asleep there.

You don't know about Neyetam.

"Jake," you stroke the soft of his jaw softly, and his eyes fill with tears. "Are you okay?"

He doesn't even realize he's crying until you're cupping his face in your small hands.

"M'so scared, baby." Jake's voice shakes under the weight of his fear. It cracks, and it bubbles over.

You aren't quite sure what's happening, settling on pulling yourself closer to your mate, letting him hold you to him.

There's a long while of quiet, only filled by the soft strokes of Jake's hand along your stomach as he presses kisses to the back of your ear.

"Thinking of any names fr'the little squirt?" Jake asks, voice hoarse as he massages his thumb over your belly button.

You shake your head. "I was hoping you and Neytiri could figure something out. Maybe a mix of both of you guys' names?" You pull at your bottom lip.

Jake nods, eyes falling from your own to your lips. He kisses you gently, stroking a hand over your cheek and the other at your hip.

When you pull apart, he holds you in his lap again. "I like that idea," he offers, kissing your shoulder.

You nod, "what did you mean earlier?" You fiddle with your anklet, tracing the engrained 'J'.

"What do you mean?" Jake shrugs through a hum.

"When you said you were scared."

"Oh."

—

Jake tells you about Neteyam. He tells you about the metkayina. He tells you about the forest and the sky people and your ikran that still follows him around like a lost puppy.

He tells you about the ocean and the pretty talkun that come in waves and about Ronal and how the two of you'd be friends.

He tells you about how big Tuk's gotten and how much trouble Loak still causes. He tells you about Kiri and Eywa. He doesn't tell her about how Tuk braids exactly like you do, or how Kiri's picked up on your mannerisms, or the fact that Loak subconsciously still leaves extra pieces of food for you.

Jake sits with you for hours, letting you trickle and trace lines with the tips of your fingers over the stripes that litter his arms and ribs.

He lets you sing to him, and he hunts with you for the night.

And it's only when he's completely certain that you've fallen asleep that he pulls himself from the root of the tree.

He does so with a heaviness as he makes his way back to the clan. Back to the hammock and back to Neytiri and back to the rotted petals and braided flower crowns.

He knows you won't remember when he comes back to visit — if he comes back at all.

#jake sully #jake sully x reader #avatar #dilf jake sully

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zephxoxu · 18 days ago

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Wanderer Fluff // A well-served Dish for a Special Someone .

!! Warnings : None , non canon , made by someone who does not know much abt sumeru ( u can tell ) , bad writing

It was a sunny morning , where you found yourself walking down the streets of Sumeru City . You heard the news of The Wanderer coming back to Sumeru City after visiting Port Ormos . You wanted to prank him a little .

Yes , you had a relationship with him .

You were thinking about the specific little trick you wanted to play , until you heard a familiar voice .

"Y/n ? You there ?"

You decided to keep quiet as he sighed and walked away . Funny how he cared so much .

You saw his wide , cyan-colored hat disappearing in the distance , and that was when a lightbulb had been shined in your head .

"Bingo ."

So , when the Wanderer had rested in the forest , you snuck up to him and tapped his nose . "Hey , you there ?" You said in a teasing tone .

The Wanderer started to stir and blinked his eyes when he saw you .

"What the hell , Y/N ? What do you want ?"

"Sooo .. I've been thinking about something ."

"Sigh . Just tell me ." His expression softened just a bit , and that made you feel assured that it was really okay to do your little prank .

"I've seen in Sumeru lately they have these fancy types of ways they serve dishes ." (lie) "And ?"

"You see ... Are you feeling hungry ? I have one of those types of plates and I thought you would like some food ~"

"Sigh . Fine , just let me sleep for the Archons' sake ." "Pffttt ! Of course , my little hat guy ."

The name made him blush a little , but his annoying hat covered his cute pouting face .

You got to work , and prepard Eel Slices , Rice and Seagrass . You made a broth with some salt and other special ingredients and your prank was almost done .

When the Wanderer was sleeping , you quietly snuck over and took something very important to him .

"Y/n ? Where the hell is my hat ?!"

"Oh , that's just a pity . But I have your Shimi Chazuke all ready ~"

"How the hell does tha- "

"..."

"Y/n ."

"Who the hell told you you could use my hat as a plate ?!"

"Aww , you never told me I couldn't use it ! How about some kisses for some compensation ?"

"As long as you give it back for heaven's g*ddamn sake ."

"Aww , why the attitude ? I thought this was your favorite dish ."

"N- Ye- Ugh . Just give me my hat after this ."

And that settled the evening with some arguments and some blushing . Thankfully he didn't have his hat so you could see his face .

thank u for the first request 💙

-- 2024 , zephxoxu

#angst #genshin impact #genshin fanfic #fluff #genshin #genshin character x y/n #genshin x y/n #genshin x reader #genshin impact fanfic #wanderer #scaramouche #wanderer x y/n #scaramouche x y/n #wanderer x reader #wanderer x you #z3phsbookz

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dinoberrypress · 7 months ago

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Walking Thrones are giant terrestrial crabs that make their home with the mermaids of the Soothloch. These friendly creatures build chairs and nests on their backs using rock, moss, woven seagrass, coral, and anything else they can find on the lakebed.

They love to filter feed on every type of terrain, and they’re more than happy to give others a comfortable ride in exchange for companionship & compliments~ Mermaids often befriend them and in exchange the thrones help them travel across land!

Wheelchairs, both mundane and magical, exist in the Enchanted Forest... and so do massive crab friends. 💕

#fantasy #crab #wheelchair #creature #creature design #ttrpg #ttrpg art #rpg #trpg #indie ttrpg #rol #fantasy accessibility

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bumblebeeappletree · 2 years ago

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youtube

In recent years scientists monitoring the seafloor noticed something strange was happening... The beautiful and mysterious kelp forests and seagrass meadows are disappearing and being replaced with a barren landscape, covered in sea urchins and devoid of life.

ABOUT THIS PROJECT

===============================

The beautiful and mysterious kelp forests and seagrass meadows are disappearing and being replaced with a barren landscape, covered in sea urchins and devoid of life. The coastal ecosystem is rapidly collapsing under our watch so scientists have set out to understand this phenomenon. Why are these massive urchin takeovers taking place? and Why is something that has maintained its balance for tens of thousands of years suddenly tipping over and falling apart?

We have found some answers in an unlikely character, a fluffy, cute looking marine mammal that inhabits these kelp forests, the sea otter.

🦦 Learn more about our sea otter project: https://mossy.earth/projects/rewildin...

Originally posted on YouTube on September 7th, 2021.

#mossy earth #Solarpunk #tidalpunk #rewilding #ocean #sea #seafloor #kelp forest #seagrass meadows #kelp #seagrass #sea grass #sea urchin #otters #sea otter #marine life #ecosystem #marine ecosystem #Youtube

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that-foul-legacy-lover · 6 months ago

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okay mermay is technically over...HOWEVER-

legacy exploring around fontaine at dusk as a treat for not going haywire while ajax attempted to do all his paperwork, and coming across a small lake hidden behind rocks and trees with a lovely oceanid(in their human form) living inside!

it is ALWAYS mermay in my heart!!!!

Foul Legacy's drawn in by the sound of singing, a gentle melody dancing through the thick forest and trees before breaking into a small clearing. the pond nestled deep in the woods is crystal clear, surrounded by lumidouce bells and lakelight lilies, and within the water was a single body, glowing and sitting perfectly at the bottom of the lake. your blue-streaked hair floats around you as you sing, your only companions being tiny fish and seagrass- then there's an echoing chirp above you, and when you tilt your head up you meet a faceted sapphire gaze attached to a crimson red mask and two twinned horns, all wobbly and distorted by the motion of the water

Legacy's breath catches when you peek your head above the water, looking at him curiously, and he lets out a delighted trill

you're so different from each other, yet the same, both inhuman and alone in the world. even in your human form a few of your fins remain, Legacy touching them carefully with awe while you examine his horns and armor. you play with the water so effortlessly, a collection of tiny animals at your beck and call, and Legacy adds a miniature narwhal from his Vision, watching you smile happily. he shows you Ajax, half of himself, and you allow him to glimpse your true Oceanid form, elegant and floating in midair. yet still, you don't dare to leave your pond- Egeria had told you, long ago, that the world was dangerous- and Legacy whines sadly, but gently nuzzles his face against your cheek, a promise to return again

that day, the rain that falls is particularly bright and fresh

#genshin impact #childe #tartaglia #foul legacy #foul legacy childe #genshin tartagalia #genshin childe #genshin tartaglia #it is never not mermay to me #i love sea creatures and sea monsters and mermaids #ALSO HAPPY PRIDE MONTH #IT'S JUNE FIRST WHERE I LIVE #short scenario #other's stuff #good evening #chit chat

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scarletwritesshit · 1 year ago

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⛓️ Wriothesley x Reader ⛓️ Eye of the Beholder

In Fontaine’s rugged, unforgiving depths, there is no beauty to be seen by the sane traveler, unless one finds themselves with a curious fascination for filth. The ambience was dark and dreary, with only the most rusted of browns and aged of grays visible to the naked eye. Disgusting, it was, compared to the well-developed aquatic and surface regions of Fontaine and even the rest of Teyvat.

As a warden of Fontaine’s unforgiving dungeons, Wriothesley had no reason to see any sort of beauty in his surroundings. It mattered not if the convict was dressed in the finest reds or the most lowly of rags; if he caught them acting out of line or they somehow managed to slip under the noses of the wardens, he would not hesitate to hunt down the prisoners and bare his fangs. Little bark, all bite, he was known for.

On the rare chances that he did have an opportunity to rise to the surface, his poor eyesight did become somewhat of a hinderance. Under the cover of darkness, everything was in at least twenty different shades of gray. The real world as he knew it was merely blue, golden, and gray.

Through his eyes, the world was merely comprised of shades of those three colors. The rainbow of corals filling the sea and the colorful fish swimming alongside aquatic travelers were sights that Wriothesley was cursed to never behold himself. He had grown used to it, walking along the dungeons and all, but a deep part of him yearned to see the world in its full vibrance.

As you looked down from the water’s edge and found yourself engrossed in the diversity of Fontaine’s nature, Wriothesley would not share that same enthusiasm as you did. Perhaps it was due to his lack of occupancies outside of wrangling prisoners that he found no value in frivolous nature watching. You had faith, however, that if he could actually see what you were experiencing for himself, then he too, would be engrossed by the beauty of Fontaine’s upper-class regions.

He stood by a post out of habit, scanning the area around him while trying to keep his focus on your whereabouts. It was a warden’s habit to remain wary, as it was something that cannot be helped. He wasn’t too eager to hit every sightseeing location in the vicinity, but the fresh air at the very least would do his health some good. Wriothesley rarely had a chance for personal recreation, but when given the chance, he did not hesitate to accompany you on the surface for the time that he was allotted.

Raising an eyebrow, Wriothesley asked you, “What could you possibly find so intriguing about Fontaine’s waters?”

“You just need to take a moment to have a close look for yourself. From floor to surface, its bursting with colorful life,” you said.

Wriothesley shook his head, disinterested in your frivolous observations. The world above Fontaine’s dungeons was just as dull and colorless as the one below him, and so he showed minimal interest in observing the varieties of gold and gray, something he was far too used to seeing in the underground. Silently, he rejected your invitation to observe the waters, and continued resting his body by the post where his gaze remained sharp.

How do you get someone who cannot see the full rainbow to experience life’s vividness through your eyes? Red was but a concept to him, as he was even blind to the intimidating aura of his maroon clothing. Luscious flora was not an attention grabber, with nature’s blessing of the color green being nothing more than a shade of gold to Wriothesley’s wolf-like eyes. The violet corals accenting the forests of pink and orange…to him, they all felt merely the same.

If the physical appearance of color mattered not, then you would have to resort to other methods of conveying the beauty of the world that you saw. You grabbed his arm and tugged him away from the post, dragging him to overlook the waters below. A tall, dancing bush of seagrass waved happily in the gentle current, which you had pointed out to Wriothesley.

“Look at that. What color do you see that as, exactly?”

“…Golden, diluted by a crisp ocean blue. Why do you ask?”

You shook your head, though you knew that he was answering with complete honesty and precisely what he saw from his view.

“Feels like it blends in with the rest of the world, if I’m not mistaken?” you asked.

Wriothesley nodded his head.

“Now…define it not as the golden brown you perceive it as, but more of like…as if the seagrass was brimming with the energy of mother nature herself. It radiates serenity…tranquility…an ornament to emphasize the liveliness that is Fontaine’s ecosystem. This seagrass is but a small example of what the force of life in Teyvat’s has to offer…what we are blessed to call ‘being alive.’ Serenity…peace…the sea itself, all hidden beneath the human nature of envy and illness that is part of this inevitable cycle.

He tilted his head curiously.

“Through my eyes, I simply see it as the color green. To you, however, it exists not as a sight to behold, but as a concept with meaning that the average eye could simply not do justice with sight alone.

You pointed to a batch of branching corals not too far from the seagrass that you had observed.

“These corals,” you said. “how do they appear to you?”

“Darker than the seagrass, though still a shade golden yellow,” he stated.

“Hmmm…these corals are, in fact, quite energetic compared to their seagrass companions. They are bursting with vibrance, capturing your attention and filling you with joy as you gaze upon their tree-like structure. It’s a sense of happiness that cannot be put into words, yet it brightens you day like a warm sun during early autumn…”

Wriothesley focused on these corals as you explained how they felt, though he could feel his attention drifting from the meaning of the words to the mere sound of your voice.

“That is what I call orange. To you, it is the idea of happiness, bustling with joy and energy. Take pride in being able to embrace its luxury, for we do not appreciate its brightness until it has departed our lives.

Wriothesley seemed more attentive than before, as perhaps you had opened his eyes to the feeling of color, rather than thinking of it as something to merely see. He was scanning the water itself, both surface and floor, attempting to visualize the shades of gold that he sees as the feelings that you had described. After a few moments of observation, he pointed to a rounded coral, distinct from the branches you have described prior.

“Those?” you asked.

He nodded gently. “The rounded, lighter blue ones amongst the branched varieties…”

“The rounded corals serve as a metaphor for our imaginations. Their curious existence invokes a sense of mystery and discovery in the ones who have the honor of spotting these rarities. Nobles of both past and present would adorn themselves with these gems, limited only by their imagination; something that the lower class may not have the honor of witnessing in their lifetime. The diamonds in the rough you see here, are what I know as the color purple.”

Wriothesley had become so invested in your beautiful words, that he had lost his concentration on the truly vibrant world that his eyes were blind to. He looked down at himself, perhaps out of shame for his self-perceived dullness, then gazed out at the sea full of energetic corals and peaceful seagrass that stretched as far as the waters would allow. Nothing more than shades of gray and burnt yellow, he was doomed to see himself as.

But Wriothesley was far from what he viewed himself as. His own unique vibrance told a story in itself. It told how he had experienced years of bloodshed from such a rough occupation, how he showed passion to what was important to him, and how he had the strength to carry on despite the injuries that threatened to take his life on numerous occasions.

The dark red suit told a story in its own. Wriothesley was a tough man, but he was also full of care and compassion. By showing no mercy to those who broke the nation’s laws, he assured that the citizens of Fontaine could roam the streets freely and safely.

Wriothesley’s suit was the color of the feelings that you two had for each other.

Not to mention, the color of his face when you explained the meaning behind the red he was adorned with.

#genshin impact #wriothesley #wriothesley x reader #fanfic #fanfiction #genshin impact fanfic

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techs-ass · 2 years ago

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Shark Dump: Lemon Sharks!

Some of you seemed to enjoy my shark facts and honestly, if I can get the chance to rave about sharks, I will. So here are some shark facts starting with my favorite, Lemon Sharks!!

If you guys enjoy this, feel free to leave me a request with the name of a shark you'd like to learn about and I'll be happy to info dump on them. I'm thinking about posting one every Sunday (Shark Sundays!!! :D )

Technically I was supposed to post this earlier but I didn't lol oops-

Conservation Status: NEAR THREATENED

This cute guy here is a Lemon shark or Negaprion brevirostris! They get this name from their yellowish skin and yellow bellies but they can be anywhere from brown to olive colored. Lemon sharks are mostly native to the Atlantic Ocean and parts of the Pacific where they occupy coral keys, mangrove forests, bays and even docks. Most populations can be found in Gulf of Mexico, the West Indies, and the Caribbean.

They can grow up to 11 ft long which makes them one of the larger species of sharks but don't let their size scare you! These guys are mostly scavengers that hunt for food near sandy in-shore areas. Most of the lemon sharks diet consists of bony fish, crustaceans and stingrays although they occasionally snack on seabirds or smaller sharks. They hunt using electroreceptors on their nose, called ampullae de Lorenzini, which help them detect fish and other creatures, even buried in the sand.

(Remember, sharks don't have hands so they rely on their nose and mouth to explore the enviroment around them!)

Lemon sharks usually live in oceanic waters that are no deeper than 188 ft although some have been found in waters at depths of up to 300 ft. They are one of 43 sharks that can swim in freshwater but usually don't travel very far into these waters as they can't survive for long periods in them. If you see a lemon shark in freshwater, they're probably just there for a quick bite to eat before heading back to the ocean.

Fun Fact: Bull sharks are the only shark that can survive in both salt and fresh water! They're also one of the dumber sharks and will try to eat anything that fits in their mouths.

Despite how scary they look, lemon sharks are actually a favorite among divers and marine biologist because of their docile behavior! They rarely attack humans (As of 2011, researchers had found only 10 cases of lemon sharks attacking humans, and none of these cases were deadly), in fact, they are very shy and usually try to avoid us. Though if they do approach, they're usually just being curious and will bump you with their nose.

But my favorite thing about lemon Sharks? Once they get over their shyness, they LOVE getting belly rubs! They find the sensation very pleasant and will actively seek out the divers who pet them, even chasing other sharks away if they feel the diver’s giving them too much attention. Sometimes, if you rub their belly too much or if you stimulate the tiny sensory pores located on their snout, you can put them into something called tonic immobility.

Tonic immobility is a reflex that causes a temporary state of inactivity in an animal. Similar to hypnosis! Researchers aren't sure why sharks do this as it's usually thought to be a prey instinct so apex predators like sharks shouldn't have this. But most researchers have found that the sharks aren't stressed when they perform this behavior so it might just mean they're really relaxed! This is backed up by the fact that when in this state the shark’s muscles relax and their breathing becomes deep and rhythmic. Sharks usually enter tonic immobility in less than a minute and they can remain in this state for up to 15 minutes. It doesn't hurt them at all and researches use this to help subdue them.

Lemon sharks (like many other sharks) are imperative to keeping our reefs alive and healthy. Without them, we've already begun to see a major decline in coral reefs and seagrass beds. By taking these sharks out of the coral reef ecosystem, there's nothing to keep the larger predatory fish in check and they overfeed on the herbivores. With less herbivores, macroalgae expands and coral can no longer compete, shifting the ecosystem to one of algae dominance causing the reefs to eventually die out.

Now, back to lemon sharks and the most important fact I have about them: their conservation status.

Lemon sharks are considered to be near threatened. This means that they are likely to become endagered in the near future. This is because they are targeted by commercial and recreational fishermen primarily due to their highly prized fins. Their meat is also in high demand and is considered a delicacy in many areas. Further, the continuing destruction of their habitat has led to the severe decline of lemon shark populations.

But thankfully, there are steps already being taken to help protect these sweet sea puppies. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission prohibits the harvesting of lemon sharks in state waters. Any lemon shark that catches onto a hook is to be released immediately, either by removal of the hook from the shark or by cutting the shark free—whichever will release the shark quickest. Some countries are also slowly starting to put in protections for them as well.

You can also help! Many people view sharks as blood-thirsty monsters due to decades of slander campaigns and hollywood scare movies (I'm glaring at you Jaws). But we can change that view by showing the world just how beautiful and intelligent these creatures really are! The more informed people are about the sharks, the more we can do to help them. Just by reading this post and learning about lemon sharks, you're helping! Now, the next time you hear someone talking smack about sharks, you can smack them with some cool shark facts! Then hopefully with enough smacking, we can change how people see these lovely predators and get more support for their protection.

#science #marine biology #sharks #shark facts #marine life #lemon shark #conservation #shark conservation #i just love sharks man #sea puppies #that's all they are #sea puppies with very sharp teeth

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tulkunmakto · 2 years ago

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Fishing at eclipse

Description: Human!reader has spent many years of her life on Pandora, originally as part of the science team. She learned Na’vi with the Omaticaya, in the forest she considered a home away from home for many years. Left Earth in search of something more. Now resides with the Metkayina (don’t ask, I just felt like being w them) and has a deep relationship with a Metkayina male. Though she is beginning to assimilate into the Metkayina clan, she doesn’t always feel like she fits in and gets homesickness for a place she fears may not exist. Her mate is there to help her through it.

OC!Na’vi x Human!Reader / OC!Na’vi x Human!Y/N / Metkayina!Na’vi

AN: Absolutely not proof read/edited. Originally didn’t plan to share but why not. Enjoy, or don’t, you do you.

Most Na’vi words are italicized, though those spoken by my OC!Metkayina are are not written with the glottal stop now that we know the Metkayina don’t use that sound in their accent.

Basically I just saw this Metkayina side character (my mans on the right) and think he’s hot as hell and wanted to create my own character for him.

The sky was reaching its peak, colors beginning to shift from a cloudless blue to shining gold. It was your favorite time of day, the change of colors. You always wished it lasted longer than just a few moments, trying to soak up as much daylight as possible. Eclipse was closing in.

Against the sky stood a shadow, outlined to show a Metkayina tossing their fishing net to sea.

Taronyu.

His braid swung against his back as he stood to his full height again, settling in to wait until he’d captured enough fish. The food still wasn’t your favorite, but slowly you were coming to terms with a new diet. So different from the offerings of the Omaticaya forest.

You pulled your woven seagrass shawl tighter, the wind filtering through the small braids. A small smile crept across your mouth, spreading like the pink across the sky.

“Ateyo,” you called to your mate.

The Na’vi spun to greet you with a warm grin that reminded you of comfort.

Far from the forest, and even farther from Earth, sometimes a homesickness snuck up on you. Yet you knew you couldn’t go back to your past dwellings. Everything was so different now, and you knew your present self just wouldn’t fit in there. Nevermind living among the Na’vi as a human, even more so the Metkayina, who had never lived close with the human scientists on the mainland. The Metkayina were more hesitant to accept you, though your relationship with Ateyo was slowly changing that.

“There you are, yawne,” he said.

Funny, his accent was different from the one you’d grown to understand in the forest. Though he found your English accent far more humorous, always finding new ways to tease you. Ateyo always found it more endearing than it probably should’ve been.

“Come.” He held his arm out to you, urging you in the water.

Where it was only ankle deep for him, you found the ocean just above your knees. It was soft and quiet, gently lapping the rocks. You closed your eyes as you snuggled against his body, warm and inviting. So much taller than you, so solid and sturdy. Nothing could hurt you so long as he was there. His arm gave you a squeeze and you put your hand in his.

A sigh escaping your lips had his forehead quirk in question.

“What is it, y/n?” Ateyo asked, his voice a deep rumble in his chest.

“I missed you at kelku. I was feeling lonely,” you confessed.

Both of your arms wrapped around his hips, never tall enough to reach his waist. The difference in size was something you both rather enjoyed, coming as more of a blessing than inconvenience.

“I cannot catch dinner quick enough for my mate?” Ateyo teased.

You smiled, burying your face into his light blue torso. You noted a small birthmark just by his navel and kissed it.

“Would you prefer Varu? I believe I watched you eyeing him just this morning,” he continued, the smile evident in his tone.

“Teyo,” you warned, shaking your head.

“I am only joking, txelan. Something is troubling you, and I wish to know what it is.”

You sighed again, though this time it was less lighthearted. You snuggled as deep into him as you could, and if you could bury yourself under his skin, you might do that too.

“Today did not go as planned. You know how I felt ill just after waking, and it lasted all day. Something about it made me miss my original home,” you explained.

Ateyo kept the fishing net in his free hand, but took a step back from you to get a better look. His beautiful face showed concern, his blue eyes furrowed.

“Do you want to return?” The slight shake to his voice told you he feared you’d leave.

“No, Teyo,” you answered. “At least, I do not think so.”

Now it was his turn to sigh, turning to look out to sea for a breath. He closed his eyes for a moment, and kneeled down in the water. He still towered over you, but at least now you didn’t have to strain so hard to look up.

His hand came to cup your cheek, and you leaned into the touch, resting your hand atop his.

“What can I do?” he asked. “Can I do anything to alleviate the feeling?”

You gave his lips a quick kiss, ever grateful that he was always so patient with you.

“It’s not that I want to leave, I can’t go back now. There is more for me here than there is anywhere else. Some days just feel difficult. And I know not everyone is pleased with my being here. Especially that you spend so much time with me.”

“The clan is coming around, do not worry. They are stubborn. You have the blessing of Oloeyktan, that is what is most important. You pull your weight. You are accepting, and soon enough everyone will do the same to you,” Ateyo countered.

You felt tears begin to prick at the back of your eyes, and you swallowed hard to keep them down. Ateyo leaned into a sweet kiss to your forehead, trying his best to dissolve the lines there.

“I do not think Tsahik likes to see her warriors with a human,” you argued.

Ateyo’s lips pressed into a line, feeling a tug at his fishing net. He yanked his wrist back, standing again to collect his bounty. As he fought with the fresh catch, he spoke.

“There is nothing more to be said about that, nothing more to be done. I have chosen.”

You wiped a tear with the back of your hand and watched as he finished wrestling with the fish. Dinner was set.

“Does it not bother you?” you asked.

Ateyo sighed, motioning with his head toward the shore. You walked beside him in silence until you reached your shared home. He set the net of fish down, gathering the necessary tools to prepare the food. You sat in silence on a woven mat by the fire.

“Your asking is what bothers me,” he said.

You watched him gut the fish, a bit more aggressively than usual.

“What?” you said.

Ateyo swore under his breath, looking up at you through long lashes. The firelight gleamed off his skin, dancing across the white bioluminescent patterns there.

“I have chosen, y/n. I have chosen you. It does not matter to me that you are not born of the Metkayina, nor of the Navi. The clan can learn about you, see you as I have. You do not need to continue asking me, y/n. Oel ngati kameie,” he said.

You sat stunned. Not because Ateyo had confessed an unknown truth, but because hearing him say it out loud no matter how many times he’d said it, would always move you. All of your life’s choices had led to this.

In a woven home above a Pandoran reef, truly off grid. Sitting across from the most beautiful male creature you’d ever laid eyes upon, his black braids cascading the side of his face as you watched him fix dinner. Your warrior, your hunter, lover, mate. It wasn’t that you never believed him, it was just so hard to believe that you could ever be that lucky. It didn’t feel real most of the time.

“Teyo,” you whispered, causing him to meet your eyes. “I do love you.”

He smiled softly.

“I know, sweetheart. Do not worry. I will get this cooked and you can show me how much you love me after, yes?” he replied.

You chuckled, reaching over to take a fish from him, threatening to hit his head with it but he grabbed your wrist in time. With a glint in his eyes, he held both of your arms in his hand within one swift move. Bending to your mouth, just a hint away, he challenged you to hold his gaze.

“Oel ngati kameie,” you exhale.

He smiled, teeth white and fangs on display. Sometimes you wished he would devour you whole. Beautiful male.

“Nga yawne lu oer,” he whispered, closing the space between you.

———-

Taronyu - hunter

Yawne - love

Kelku - home/house

Txelan - heart

(Oel ngati kameie - I think we all know this one)

Nga yawne lu oer - I love you/you are beloved to me

#navi x reader #na’vi x reader #OC!na’vi #navi x y/n #na’vi x y/n #metkayina #avatar #atwow #atwow x reader #human!reader #fluff #fanfic #the way of water

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