#sealy answers

[nat-seal-well]

I would like to know everything about the Marin and Bobby marriage and divorce please 👀 no pressure!!!

Omg hi PD!! Thank you so much for this ask, I saw it when I got up this morning and it made me smile :) And it meant I got to spend my entire shift thinking about it, haha!

After they met in college and got into a relationship, the two of them would have moved in together pretty quickly (u-haul lesbian Marin, rip). Marin would have moved into Bobby’s apartment, because they were (are) broke and refused to accept any help from Rebecca, especially financially. And Bobby lived closer to the college they were going to so really it was just what made sense. (At least, that’s what they said to themselves to rationalize it, lol.)

It was messy, of course. Bobby was Marin’s first partner, and they latched on way too fast, too desperate to be everything they thought Bobby wanted them to be. And, well, we know Bobby. She liked it a lot. It was definitely something she encouraged, but there were times that she was also annoyed by it, which would lead to arguments. Marin was also very insecure; this was the first person who’s ever been interested in them, and they were afraid of ruining it. They projected a lot of their worries onto her, and were far too clingy, so. More arguments.

But at the end of the day, they still stayed together. For the most part. There were times when one of them would get mad and leave, and things were… uncertain. At the end of the day, though, they would always come back. And things would be good for a little while. And then they’d fight again, and so on.

Marriage wasn’t something either of them ever had on the table. They were just together, and sharing a living space. The idea was only brought up one night when the two of them were drinking to celebrate passing midterms. Bobby was the one who brought it up, as a joke, because they were watching a trashy reality show.

“Hey, what if we got married?”

Marin laughed and said yes, jokingly, and they used a straw wrapper leftover from dinner—burgers from some cheap fast food joint—to make a little ring and tie it around Bobby’s finger. Both of them ended up falling asleep together on the couch, shitfaced, and woke up with terrible hangovers. The whole thing was completely forgotten about until Bobby spotted the paper wrapped around her finger, and then she thought about it for real.

“It would just make sense,” she said to them over coffee. “I mean, we’re already living together, so it’s pretty much the same thing. And there’s taxes—everyone says getting married is good for taxes.”

Marin, still a little drunk, just looked at her. And then they said, “Yeah, sure. Why not?”

They went to the courthouse later that week.

It was small, unexciting, and cheap. Bobby threw on a white sundress and Marin dug up a button-down they bought ages ago for a part-time job interview. They bought flowers at the grocery store (and a sheet cake for when they got home) and exchanged rings they bought at a pawn shop, and that was it. They were married.

And, to no one’s surprise, things weren’t any better than they were before. Marin didn’t tell Rebecca a single thing until they got divorced a year later, when (as we all know) Marin discovered Bobby was passing off their work as her own. The fight was already guaranteed to be a messy one, but somehow it managed to escalate past the point of no return. It finally ended with Bobby throwing her ring at Marin and telling them to “get fuck out” of her apartment.

So they threw a couple things into their backpack and left. They stayed with Tina, who was their friend even then, until they were able to get their own place again. The legal divorce came a few months later and left them even more broke than they were before.

They kept their ring, though. At first it was because they were heartbroken, and then it was because they were angry—partially because they hated that they were so upset, and also because of what Bobby did. It was a reminder not to go back to her no matter how much they wanted to. (And they did want to. For a long time.)

Fortunately, Bobby doesn’t know they kept it. If she ever found out, she’d be insufferable. And be even more determined to get back with them again.

(Unfortunately, it’s likely something Nat will find, sooner or later.)

[artmistersealy]

Hello I’m so sorry I couldn’t find an email address to ask you about a commission, what is the price for a full body flat colour sketch?

Hope they are still open!

I am sorry I haven't noticed your ask!! Idk how long ago you left it, but if you'd still like to commission me, I am attaching the price list. In case you have any questions please feel free to DM me ❤️

[wolfiesmoon]

A valid excuse

Floyd x gn!reader

I have been consumed by tweel brainrot there is no turning back

Anyways here's something i thought of in 5 mins lfmaooo

You were awakened from your peaceful slumber by loud and oddly agressive knocking at the door to Ramshackle dorm.

What in the world? Who is trying to visit at this hour?

You groan, gently pushing Grim off you and slowly making your way to the door to find out who your late night visitor is.

"Finally..." Floyd mumbles when the door reveals your slouched figure. He makes a mental note of how you look in your sleepwear.

"...Floyd?" You mumble sleepily, hoping you didn't say the wrong twin's name. It's kind of hard to tell which one it is in the dark.

"You sure took your sweet time answering the door, Shrimpy." He invited himself in, casually walking past you into the lounge . Yup, it's definitely Floyd.

"Why are you here?" You yawned.

He squeezed you really hard all of a sudden, which woke you up almost instantly. You felt your bones cracking, you swear. Way more effective than an alarm clock. Or Grim.

"I had a nightmare... Can I sleep in your bed?" He pouted at you almost comically.

"That's why you came banging on my door at 2 AM?" You raised a brow at him, slightly annoyed. And besides, Floyd wasn't even your boyfriend or anything. He's just that one guy who gets really excited when he sees you for some reason. Why is he coming to you with this overly childish request? Jade works just fine.

His pout increased and he squeezed you even harder. As a warning, no doubt.

Seems there's no way out of this...

"Okay, okay- Fine-" you sounded strained due to your innability to breathe. You kinda don't want to die because of Floyd's squeezing, though it would certainly be a unique way to go.

"Yay~" he let go of you, prancing over to your bedroom like an excited child.

You followed behind him, worried that he might throw Grim out the window to make space for himself. If there's one thing you know about Floyd, it's that he's unpredictable. Not that that's a bad thing, you just don't want to end up with catlike casualty tonight.

"Ehhhh, why is Sealie all cuddled up on your bed?" he sounded offended, like someone just took his well deserved space.

"...He always is." you smile to yourself, thinking of how Grim is actually kinda like a real cat when he's all curled up by your side. You always feel the urge to pet him when he's like that.

Floyd takes a step forward (to "remove" Grim, no doubt) but you quickly pick up Grim and place him down on the rocking chair to prevent a premature death. Grim so owes you for this later.

"Here, the bed's all yours." you point to it somewhat nervously, watching his expression soften. I mean, were you seriously just going to let him sleep with you? You're honestly so tired you don't even care anymore.

He flops down on the bed unceremoniously, waiting for you to join him. As soon as you do, he hugs you tightly. "My dream was soooo bad... It was just horrible..." he mumbled into you with an overly dramatic undertone.

You still have no idea if the nightmare was just an excuse or if he actually had one. Either way, he is squeezing you right now and seems quite satisfied. You let your eyes slip closed.

"Wanna tell me what it was about?" you whisper.

"Later... I feel like squishing you forever for now..." he swung one of his lanky legs over you, sighing happily.

"You know Azul will get mad at you if you squish me forever, right? Cuz you won't show up to work..." you surrender yourself into his embrace fully, noting how smooth his arms are.

"I don't really care, to be honest...."

You suddenly felt a kiss on your cheek and you jolted slightly. Did Floyd just kiss you?

No, no. That was definitely just your imagination. You're half asleep, after all.

it's late at night as i'm proofreading this and i just got a rook card when i wanted the vil one😭😭😭😭😭😭my unluckiness knows no bounds

[foldingfittedsheets]

so I've been following along with the mattress questions because my mattress is just about exactly 10 years old and sags SO BAD. It's deeply, deeply uncomfortable and all the things you've been saying to look for to replace, it has. I've already decided that when I start getting my paychecks this fall, the first thing I'm buying is a new mattress.

Are there any brands that sell $800-$1000 queen beds that you'd recommend? I get so overwhelmed with choice, so names to at least check out at the store would be useful.

Also, is it better to get a mattress topper earlier rather than later? Or should you wait until you notice problems with it to shell out for one?

(thank you so much, I had just resigned myself to sleeping bad forever, but this series of answers reminded me that I'm an Adult with Adult Money and can (eventually) buy myself a new one. and as I buy the new one, I WILL be buying a couple protectors)

Hmmnnngh. Okay. So here’s the thing. There’s a lot of really good queens in that price range. But taking a recommendation usually supersedes personal comfort, which is why almost all of these asks I deal in generalities rather than specifics. Also because bed names vary by retailer to be confusing because why not.

Just because I think a bed feels good doesn’t mean someone else won’t like something better, and I’ve seen a ton of folks who buy the bed a friend recommends even though their comfort is different. They return it later. So I am going to name names, but it’s very important that you take into consideration how the bed feels not just that I said it’s a good brand. We straight up don’t tell people what we sleep on for this reason because people will just buy that one assuming it’s the best.

Sealy, Serta, and Simmons all make great beds around that price point that I’ve had personal experience with. But as scary as it is the best thing to do is go into a store. The person is there to guide you around. You don’t need encyclopedic knowledge of beds, because it’s all about first how it feels to you. Their job is to help you navigate the showroom from there.

My personal process and what’s still taught in my company is to determine the comfort that fits you, then look at different styles in that comfort. Most folks are a medium-plush if you’re a side sleeper never go firm, ever, for real. Once you know how soft you like it you can compare A-B style between innerspring, hybrid, and foam.

Most people will have a strong preference for one of the three, and you won’t know before trying. Then you can narrow down from there. There’s probably only like six maybe seven beds you need to lay on to find the one!

Regarding the topper: no. Get a bed you like out the gate. When it sags, get a new bed. The ONLY time you will need a topper is if your bed is too hard on shoulders and hips and ideally you’re not buying that because you’ve just bought a super comfy amazing new mattress that’s perfect as is.

You need a thin waterproof protector and sheets and that’s it. Anytime you’re adding stuff like a topper or an extra pillow something is failing you and should get kicked to the curb.

[dootznbootz]

Which Greek mythology character would you like to see talked about more?

OHoho. you all already know this.

It's Penelope.

And I am being so fucking serious about it. I'm also sleepy and angry and mother nature is stabbing my gut so I'm putting a lot of my emotions into this ask.

BUT her fangirling, angry, bitchy rant of mine, I will save for the end. (and I'll explain it more down there) Not gonna lie, I will probably be mean. Don't take it too personally. (Some folks I know genuinely love her and have stuff for her. Y'all are fine :D )

I have many other characters I wish would be seen more, but hers rant is ooooh. it's been boiling angrily for a long time and this is the perfect ask to let loose.

Take note: This is more about characters who I feel are either underrated and/or not really given love. It's a whole other can of worms about characters who ARE given a lot of attention but are either fandomized to the point of being unrecognizable or people just...really see them wrong.

Ariadne:

A young princess who helped out Theseus to end the cycle of violence against the youth of Athens. Despite the fact that she was going against her family by helping Theseus she did. When he left her, for whatever reason, she was rescued by Dionysus. In which these two have a loving and healthy marriage. There is so much potential here and it makes me sad that she gets butchered and/or just ignored.

Danae:

She was locked up by her father because of a prophecy that happened anyway. She is now pregnant with Zeus' child. She is then locked into a chest in which she is sent floating in the sea. She washes up on Seriphos. Her son is sent on an impossible quest in order to keep her from a forced marriage. Her story is inspiring and ugh sdkf j badass mama! ;~;

Telemachus:

Got that right here :)

Sthenelus:

Fucking love this lil hotheaded cheerleader man. Go boy, go! He got yeeted by Athena from the chariot. Diomedes and him tell each other that they love each other. Tells off Agamemnon for mocking Diomedes' and his dad. He was a child soldier alongside Diomedes. I love this weird lil guy.

Hephaestus:

It makes me sad how people only see him as the "cuck" of Aphrodite and Ares. (no hate to them. do not hate either of them) He's badass in his own right! He does that bigass fire in the Iliad! And one of my favorite scenes in that epic, is him welcoming Thetis! I think he's neat :D

Hebe:

Ganymede isn't the only cupbearer on Olympus you know.

Menelaus:

I love me a goofy wifeman...But if that's all you see him as, I'm sad. What about the sealy man? (aka him wrestling a god for a while and making him tell him answers) The exiled prince? The younger brother? The angry charioteer who yelled at Antilochus? The man who interfered with his brother's letter to his wife to warn to not bring their daughter? Being the sweet uncle figure for Telemachus? (he and Penelope get a lot of the same treatment in a way. with the whole "just the spouse" ;~; )

Psyche:

I think she's pretty popular, but shout out to her anyway :D Because I love her story a lot.

And last but absolutely not least,

Penelope

Heads up once more, but I'm going to be so fucking mean right now. I'm very tired and runnin on 4 hours of sleep and my tummy hurts. This is all over the place and I'm sad.

I think some of you treat the fact that Odysseus is (rightfully) obsessed with her and adores her as if that's HER personality trait... as while it's adorable to see him simping over her as he does, she's not just there for him (and me) to simp for. In the same vein, I think some of y'all only see her for her love of Odysseus and nothing more. Some folks don't see her as anything more than what she is for Odysseus.

AS IF HER HUSBAND ISN'T JUST AS INTERTWINED WITH HER AS SHE IS WITH HIM!

And yet, there is so much stuff with him about the other people in his life. The other Achaeans, Polites and Eurylochus, Athena, etc. You know Penelope has people in her life other than her husband and her son, right?

Even stuff that's just her, it's usually her weaving the shroud...That still ties back to Odysseus. If you wanna have her weave, maybe have her weave something happily. Maybe her chatting with Anticlea or Athena while she does! Or Helen! or her sister!

There's the saying of "the characters respect women but the author does not" and I'm noticing that a LOT in this fandom. I don't think it's intentional, but it's very telling with what people prioritize in their creations how they feel. (and no, I'm not talking about Homer. He wrote incredible women.)

I'm not saying you're not allowed to have favorites. But even if Odysseus IS your favorite, if you have Penelope so one note or with such weak characterization while having so much for Odysseus, FOR THE MEN WHO HE IS NEAR... It's just really telling.

I've even seen some shit with "Well, there's not much to do with her." as if y'all don't make OCs with less. I've seen people give Astyanax, an AU baby, more characterization than her. (Have him alive in your AUs but if you give him more character than Peenlope, I am side-eying you so hard.)

It genuinely pisses me off how overlooked she is. I hate how her tags are basically empty (honestly? I might start tagging my silliness for her correctly because it has so lil.)

Hey, why do followers of the other tags show up but not for #penelope of ithaca? It's clearly because she has SO many followers/fans that she broke tumblr! Especially with the fact that you can scroll all the way to the bottom pretty quickly! /sarcasm

(btw, before you say something, I know there's no consistent tag for Penelope. I follow many of them. #penelope odyssey is kind of the best bet I believe. #penelope of sparta is mostly about that new show that's coming out and hyping about it. still not about HER. #penelope mostly has some bridgerton character. so yeah. Not much on tumblr)

(shoutout to the artists who got their art on front of the tag! That's exciting! I'm being a mean bitch right now but that's fun and exciting!)

I hate how people see her as so one-note. I hate how she's often just "Odysseus' wife". MOST CONTENT OF HER IS HIM SIMPING OVER HER. (that's something I'm guilty of too! I plan to fix that soon. I have so many wips and so lil time and too high of personal standards because since she has so little content of her, I WILL make it good. I'll TRY to make it good.)

EVEN HEADCANONS! SO MUCH OF FANDOM STILL ONLY HAS HEADCANONS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ODYSSEUS OR TELEMACHUS. GIVE ME SOMETHING ABOUT HER CHILDHOOD. GIVE ME LIL QUIRKS SHE HAS. What does she struggle with? What's her favorite color? Does she like dancing? ANYTHING.

Feelings about how fandom sees her are also summed up by this and this. (Edit: This one too. She's not even dead in the Odyssey but people act like she doesn't exist until Odysseus is there.)

...Do you see my problem? Just one of my problems?

So many people genuinely read the Odyssey and just see her as the "crying wife". People diminish her character and her intelligence all the fucking time. You wanna know something I've noticed? PEOPLE ONLY TALK ABOUT HER INTELLIGENCE WHEN ODYSSEUS IS THERE. Like with how she tricks him and how she tricks the suitors. Nobody talks about the moment when Athena appears as her sister in her dream and she is immediately like "hey, if you're some god, is my husband still alive?" she clocks her as Athena RIGHT AWAY.

People constantly forget her violent thoughts against the suitors! Or when she sasses Telemachus and Euryclea. When she scolds and threatens the maids. (she's not always nice y'all!) Do you really think Odysseus would be obsessed with someone who isn't on his level?

We all know that he loves her. BUT WHY?! "Because she's smart like him." Yeah, we know. WHAT ELSE?

They are Likeminded! Thinking and acting alike! You know how fun that is?!

Homer, you absolute mad lad genius. You made her a mystery to the narrator, Odysseus, and for some reason, people see that as her just being a straight up mystery. You wrote her so wonderfully and so complex with how she is so sneaky in her own way that people are literally tricked by her as readers as well!

Or sadly, more likely, people fucking blackout when she's in the scene and there's no Odysseus. 🙄

Look, even if you have Penelope be the "braincell" who keeps her husband in line, MAKE SURE SHE'S NOT ACTING LIKE ODYSSEUS' FUCKING MOM. They're both grown ass adults for fuck's sake!

Also...please...PLEASE have her be more than a prop for the men around her. I've read some things that could literally have her be replaced by Euryclea, as Penelope is sometimes just used as a sounding board.

I'll be even more bitchier. Even in the OT3 she's commonly in. It wasn't a NOTP until I noticed most creations of that ship was just "Odysseus and this person for 6000+ words... Oh, and Penelope making an appearance in the footnotes." If it's an OT3, they all love each other right? Where's the PenDio fics/art, cowards?

I have a weird theory about how people treat her that way. (other than fandom prioritizing men)

So there's "girlbossing" and "uwu sad victim" that fandom can never seem to leave. I think People do this with Helen and Clytemnestra and that's why THEY are "blorbo-able". (not saying they shouldn't be but they definitely get more love than Penelope)

Helen, despite not always being a victim in her story, has been through so much. Kidnapped and some people blame her for it (irl and some people in canon do blame the war on her). Very easy to cling to. I cling to her too! (she's on the "UwU always victim. tragic blorbo" end)

Clytemnestra, is a victim in the sense that she's a grieving and angry mother and wife. And so she killed Agamemnon. Her violence and anger is seen as "girlboss" despite all the horrible stuff she also did to her children. (she's more on the "girlboss" end)

Penelope, is not a victim to the same degree as Helen nor does she murder anyone (how could she? it was 108 people against her and the Odyssey shows that the suitors' parents were enraged. Even Odysseus was skeptical he could beat them.)

She's not on either end of the "scales" for people to find her "blorbo-able". She doesn't murder her husband or the suitors by herself or is a victim to them in the same way Helen is.

And that's just for people who know her husband didn't cheat. I think with people who think Odysseus did cheat, they hate her because "she let it slide". That she's "weakwilled" for knowing her husband went through literal hell and wanting him to be happy and safe.

Idk, It's a little lonely being one of the few "Penelope crazy" blogs.

I sometimes wonder if people kind of come to my blog in a "Hey, can you love her for me? Can you think about her for us?" as I have seen very little on her childhood for example. It's STILL mostly in relation to others.

It's not even the "sharing ideas" that bugs me. it's the feeling of people not wanting to come up with headcanons/ideas for her OUTSIDE of canon.

"She was in Helen's shadow." Okay, well, how did she feel about it? What did she do about it? Did she hide away? Did she internalize that? Did she find that freeing? To not be the center of attention?

Stuff like that. Dive DEEPER. PLEASE

It makes me happy that people love my Penelope as I love her too, clearly. But I really fucking hope you love the CANON Penelope too. If you think I made Penelope "better" or anything like that, then leave. She's already fantastic on her own.

I want to talk about her more. I want her to be seen more.

[rattlyglitch]

What Happens When the Sky Cries

Enjoy my open-ended angst about Grim and Yuu from twisted wonderland.

Everything felt dark and cold. It made it hard for him to think to breathe to understand what was happening. The only thing Grim knew was that he was scared and alone. He wanted to be back at the dorm with Yuu. Be back with the friends they both had. It didn't matter where he and Yuu were as long as he was with them.

Since the coldness was all Grim felt he wanted to do his best to ignore it by thinking of how Yuu would hold him in their arms. He had never admitted it but he enjoyed being in Yuu's arms. It was a safe place for Grim. A place where he knew that no matter what came at him from the world he would be safe.

Something he had always hoped for when younger. A weird warmness came over him. It felt comforting and nice but it wasn't a warmness he knew. It was a warmness that scared Grim. It made him feel like he was on fire.

Like something was trying to burn him. That was when a scream came over him. Grim screamed as loud as he could. His screams turned to a cry for help for some force that would keep the fire away. When the fire got to its worst point when it got to the point of suffocating him Grim opened his eyes.

He was on the ground for some reason in a puddle of black ink with a pounding headache. It took a long while to try to figure out what was happening. Someone seemed to be overbloting and fighting Leona, Malleus, and Azul. "Sealie are you with us?" Grim groaned and rolled over before coughing.

Two hands quickly pick him up and turn Grim over. Every cough hurt and it seemed black ink kept exiting his mouth. When they stopped Grim painfully wheezed. Why did his body feel like fire? "What hurts Grim?" The voice he couldn't see who it was but it sounded like Deuce and the one that had spoken first must have been Floyds. "Everything hurts."

That's when the tears started falling and Grim sobs. "I want Yuu. Take me to Yuu please." They would be able to help Grim he was sure of it. Yuu had the answers to everything it seemed like. They could make his pain go away. Make it feel better with some of that homemade tuna soup that was made when he was sick.

"Grim we can't do that. Yuu's overblotting and we don't even know how it started." Grim looked over to the area where the Ace sounded voice came from. "It's my fault." Ace looked at Grim confused. "What do you mean by that?" Grim meowed in discomfort.

"Yuu had a dream about going home. Then they started thinking about it and I made it worse by saying that if they left that meant Yuu wouldn't come back. Yuu started to panic after thinking about it." Grim hugged himself his sobs getting harder.

"I didn't mean to upset them I swear. I just don't want my only friend to leave. I-if they leave then I'll have to leave and no one's going to care." Broken sobs exited Grim along with coughs that came with them making his body shake uncontrollably. "You really think we would just abandon you after Yuu leaves?" Jack asked now next to Deuce.

Grim nodded. "Why would you stay? No one likes me." Grim was certain that no one would care if he had to leave the school. "You're obviously an idiot if you think you can get rid of us that easily then." Kalim was glaring at Grim.

The disappointing look would have been scary if it also didn't look worried. "We care about you Sealie. Kalim is right that you can't get rid of us that easily. Even if Yuu left we couldn't just leave you on your own. That would be disrespectful toward Yuu. You're their first companion. Their first friend." Grim nuzzled into Deuce's shirt when he started comfortingly rubbing his back.

"What we're going to do now though is take you to Professor Crewel. We need to make sure there's no more blot in you." Grim froze at Deuce's words. If he was taken to the professor then that meant he would be further from Yuu. Unable to help Yuu. If the others couldn't help Yuu then that meant they would die. Yuu wouldn't even have the option of returning home or staying.

They would have to live out whatever moments were left in pain and agony and sorrow. No one was there to help them in their final moments. No one to comfort them.

Grim reacted as fast as he possibly could then to get away. He managed to get out of Deuce's arms and ran as fast as possible towards Yuu. He didn't care if they were overblotting or accidentally hurting him. What Grim knew was that Yuu needed him more than anything. They needed to know that now even though they were so sad and worried that Grim would be there for them no matter what. That's why Grim knew he needed to get their attention.

"HEY YUU OVER HERE!"

Yuu turned to look over at Grim their overblot in full view. The ink monster was large and seemed to have a torn school uniform on. Yuu who had been wearing a school uniform now seemed to have on black suit with frilly cuffs and a cape running down the back the fit finished with a top hat adorned with a purple gem that seemed to be tied around it.

The way it looked made Grim grasp for the mage stone on his neck only bringing him to the realization that it wasn't there. The realization made Grim unsure of what would happen if his stone started to blot. "GET OUT OF HERE NOW!" Grim looked over and saw Riddle looking at him face red and angry. "WE DON'T NEED THIS SITUATION ANY WORSE."

Grim felt his heart drop at the thought that he may make it worse but if he didn't at least try to help then all would be lost for sure. Grim looked determinedly at the tree behind him and began to climb up it as quickly as he could. Once he thought he was at a good height Grim yelled at Yuu with all he could manage.

"YUU YOU'RE OK JUST LISTEN PLEASE. I'M SORRY OK? EVEN IF YOU DO LEAVE THERE HAS TO BE A WAY FOR YOU TO COME BACK!"

Yuu's overblot seemed to slow down in their attacks hesitating for only a moment before attacking again. That moment though was all Grim needed to know he was getting through to them.

"YUU, LISTEN TO ME YOU'RE STRONGER THAN THIS JUST HEAR ME PLEASE I NEED MY FRIEND!"

The attacks stopped altogether and Yuu's looked over at Grim their overblot following their gaze before moving towards Grim. Students seemed to be panicked as the overblot seemed to move. Grim could see Ace, Deuce, and Jack rushing over and began trying to hit the overblot with spells.

Eventually, though it reached Grim and the overblot's hands picked him up before placing him in their palms. Grim smiled at the overbot tiredly exhaustion overcoming him. Grim managed though to whisper what he could to Yuu while he could.

"I know it's my fault you're like this but please come back for me. You can be as mad as you like at me. Be as mean as you want to me. But I still need my other half. I still need my best friend. So please fight this for me?"

After the words he spoke Grim fell down his body out of whatever adrenaline it had been running on and tired from its forced movement. Grim smiled though even if he was unsure what would happen it seemed that Yuu would be ok and was able to be saved.

/////////////

Everything stopped when Grim collapsed in the hands of Yuu's overblot. Time seemed to stop running as the overblot and Yuu looked at the dire beast confused about what had happened.

The inky being gently moved a finger over Grim in a petting motion when Yuu moved their hand as if trying to see what was wrong. When his breathing seemed to slow though was when the overblot started to panic. It let out a pained cry before looking around and kneeling holding its hand out to the closest person in reach.

"HeLp HiM" Yuu spoke in a broken voice. "HeLp My BaBy."

Malleus was the closest to the hand and carefully walked onto it before kneeling down and picking Grim up. "I don't know if any magic can help him. He's dying-" A scream pierced the air again.

"HELP HIM!"

Malleus looked over and walked to Lilia who stood next to Professor Trein and Professor Crewel. He held out Grim to Lilia and looked at him. "You have to know how to fix this right? Even if you don't someone else can?"

Lilia looked down at Grim and then up at Yuu and their overblot. "I don't know if there is anything I can do." Yuu looked at Lilia terrified before their eyes started to fill with inky black tears that turned into open sobs their overblot slowly sinking away.

"There has to be something you can do I'm begging you." Yuu reached their hand out towards Lilia ink starting to drip off their arms and the suit they wore slowly turning to their school uniform. "I'll do anything just don't say he'll die." Slowly the inky tears turned to clear ones washing away the trails of ink on Yuu's face.

"Please."

[luonnon-varainen]

*(bursts through the wall)*

Hi! I'm gonna start with the titans bc I love them <3

So I love how you thought of the Titans being bigger and having more fat to withstand the cold (the polar bear characteristics are a cool (heh) touch)

Their tails are vestigial from their time as nomads, right? That does make me wonder if polar titans would have lost/shortened their tails if they had more time to evolve, given extremities tend to be small in polar animals (sticky outy bits get cold, as a wise person once said)

OH on that note, their eyes are AMAZING and then being basically colorblind in favor of a better night vision is 👌

I haven't researched much in this topic, but I belive they could benefit from countercurrent heat exchangers on their extremists? Like, their feet and outer skin could be at a lower temperature than the rest of body to avoid heat loss

(mine wall my lovely brick wall :"))

Halko~

Thanks! It's so sweet to hear<3 I put some thinking process into and it really made my day especially when I can reconsider some aspects with I believe fellow biology geek

Indeed you're right. If they had more time their tails would shorten in some generations. It's not really efficient to have such a big limb sticking out in the snowy land. Titans are warmblooded animals which itself is a huge energy cost and additional they use enormous amounts of energy and nutrients to metabolize their magic. The long sealy tail is cute n fluffy is not really great choice in their homeland. However I don't think they would lose their tail totally or have it almost invisible like polar bears. Probably it would in a final form resemble in size a reindeer tail, but kept the fin like shape. Short, with a lot of fluff on the bottom side. Their nonverbal communication would need to develop a brand new sign of joy and curiosity as wagging wouldn't be an option anymore

Jup, they could benefit a bit for that, but I'm not sure if in their cases it would change a lot. If ploars would live in the environment analogous to the Antarctic or the Arctic they surely would have this system, but they don't live there. After all it's still a land of ice and lava. Only habitable areas of the continent are nearby the rivers, which keeps the ground warm enough to sustain trees. Still freezing and cold but not to the -70°C on average on the ground level. Actually walking there bare foot without knowledge where you step could results with burnt paws. Especially if focusing on the cities, pavements and roads were in many places heated because they used the underground lava system as the blueprint. So more blood veins in their paws could be even better deal as they could take some heat from the ground and transport it to the core. Honestly I need to rethink this topic a bit more but it's the first thing that formed quite decent answer which makes sense in context of the environment they happened to be in

[richaldis]

All I want for Christmas is for mstoxitea to read some actual history by reputable historians rather than fixating on YouTube conspiracy theorists.

Don't get me wrong, it's great she's trying to learn about black history but please could she do it from people who actually know what they are talking about.

There are dozens of prominent black historians she could learn from. In the UK alone we have Hakim Ali, Ama Biney, David Olusoga, Mark Sealy, Hazel Carby, Len Garrison and many more.

She could start small with Zeinab Badawi's An African History of Africa. Maybe move on to Kris Manjapra's Black Ghost of Empire, once she had the basics down. And if she really wanted to understand how many black people there were in the UK before Windrush ( the answer isnt half the population by the way) then Miranda Kaufman's Black Tudors and Hakim Adi's Black British History are both great and, more importantly well researched and full of references for further study.

[if-seal]

Say hi to your new advice-giver, IF Seal!

In honour of the dear dormant @if-confessions and the even older, beloved Story Hospital I am here with an advice blog to hand out cheerleading, encouragement, advice, and maybe even some writing and narrative design wisdom to interactive fiction creators and players.

If you have questions like...

I'm stuck on a branching scene that's turned huge and can't figure a way of getting through it.

I'm worried about players wanting to take actions in my IF that I don't want to include.

I've fallen in love with an IF and want to give critical feedback but don't want to offend the author.

I've made some characters that I LOVE but once I start the story I just don't know what to do with them.

Readers are saying my game doesn't take their choices into account and I want to change that.

Readers are saying my game doesn't take their choices into account... and how much does that really matter?

...I am here to help out!

I hang out in @hpowellsmith's bathtub from which I dictate my many and varied thoughts.

Please send in your questions and I will share my sealy knowledge and experience!

A few notes:

If you're talking about a particular game, please anonymise it. If you don't, I will assign it a comedically anonymous title

I am not much of a Tech Seal and it is unlikely that I can answer detailed technical questions, but I will try to point you in the right direction

I am not interested in answering "which scripting tool is the objective best" because unanswerable questions are beyond my sealy ken but I will have much more to say about "which scripting tool might suit this project best for which reasons"

If you send a non-anonymous ask, I will check that you're happy to have your name on it before I post an answer

Enjoy!

[captain-mj]

You thought you were so smart and clever with that 7th chapter of Sealie Cafe, huh? Now listen here you little sh-

Okay, but actually, I love where this is going so far and I have so many questions.

How old was Soap when he got married? We know he gave Wayne his coat but is there a possibility that maybe Wayne groomed him? It's usually what happens with a lot of selkies.

How is Ghost after this? I know he's probably screaming and crying and murdering people but I'd like to see it.

What about *Soap*? What about everyone else? I'm on the edge of my seat here MJ!!!

I hope whatever happens gets resolved soon because as much as I love angst, this type of heartbreak is the worst kind.

Love u stay safe!!

I’m going to be working a bunch the coming week before having a few days off so… let me answer some of those!

Soap was 19 when he got married, Wayne was 21

No grooming in the traditional sense happened, though Wayne was aware of what Soap was and definitely influenced the decision.

Ghost is not doing well i can tell you that. I’ll be updating the tags soon (this was not in the original plan or i would’ve put them in when i first posted) but be prepared.

Alejandro is angry, understandably. Gaz told him he was married and he immediately tried to reach Ghost but as in the chapter, Ghost ignored the calls.

Y’all saw Rodolfo’s reactions

Price actually has not been made aware of everything, he’s not in the gossip ring but he will be told shortly.

Gaz was more surprised Ghost hadn’t been told than anything.

Soap is… Soap. I haven’t decided if i want to make the next chapter Also from his perspective or from Ghost’s so you may get more info on him, may not.

[cristinapereirascp]

The Many Mattresses for Beds

What question can you ask a person that will never be answered yes? Are you asleep? If you're hearing "no" quite often then that is an unfortunate sign that your mattress isn't as comfortable as it should be. In this article we'll take a look at the many click here to learn more variety of mattresses for beds.

A customer walks into a store and asks the clerk behind the desk about a mattress for their bed. The clerk says ok, then asks "do you want a spring mattress?" To which the customer replies "Oh, well... I actually need it for the whole year!" This little joke is all in fun but there are many new types of mattresses in the marketplace for beds that many consumers are unaware of. These new trends in mattress bring many interesting features to the typical bed and are definitely worth taking a look at. In this article we'll examine some of the new trends in mattresses and what they can offer your bedroom.

Innerspring mattresses for beds. These mattresses are among the most traditional and classic designs in mattresses. Spring mattresses provide good support and are used well throughout the world. The first thing you're going to come across is coil count. The coil count tells you how many coil springs are used throughout the unit. This of course varies from mattress to mattress. Typically a queen mattress with a coil count greater than 390 coils should be suitable for every night sleeping as opposed to a guest mattress. Different layers of foam and batting will be used at the surface of the mattress which will make the mattress firm or plush. Pillow top models are also available that make the mattress quite soft. Most innerspring mattresses feature a fabric quilting sewn into the mattress. There are many brands of innerspring mattress available at many different price points. You should find one that is comfortable, made for everyday use and is within your budget. Major brands include Serta, Sealy, Simmons, Spring Air and King Koil to name a few.

Viscoelastic mattresses for bed frames. Introduced over twenty years ago these mattresses started out quite pricey and were only in select higher end homes by people who could afford them. Today, there are many brands of viscoelastic mattresses and can be found in a much greater number of homes. Viscoelastic has unique properties in that the mattress is made up of material called visco cells. These cells have a memory and when they sense heat the material conforms around the heat. Your body supplies the heat and the mattress molds around you. This is different than innerspring mattresses in which you lay on top of the mattress. With visco mattresses you actually feel the mattress around you. Coverings for these mattresses can range from fabric, bamboo, cashmere or any number of materials. In recent years some customers have commented that the mattress becomes hot while laying on it. Tempur-Pedic which is a leader in viscolelastic mattresses has since created a more breathable covering to disperse heat. Its not immediately clear if other manufacturers of these mattresses have done the same. Viscoelastic mattresses have been promoted as helping those with bad backs find greater comfort. Tempur-Pedic and Dormia are just a couple of the many brands available.

Waterbed mattresses for platforms. Popular in the 1970's waterbed mattresses are still available through select specialty stores. These mattresses of course feature water as their primary filler. Special platform frames are made that accommodate these mattresses due to the heavy nature of the mattress. In recent years the waterbed industry has come up with new innovations in design. There are several types of waterbed mattress. The hard-side waterbed mattress requires that in be surrounded by a wood/MDF system to ensure that the mattress is contained. Soft-side waterbed mattresses feature a sturdy foam around the perimeter of the mattress that allows it to keep its shape. The soft-side is the most popular waterbed mattress today. The biggest complaint about waterbeds were movement. Motion sensor technology and or tube or bladder systems were created to help reduce this movement so as to provide a more comfortable sleep.

Air mattress beds. Often thought of as that blow up mattress your grandmother uses for guests, air mattresses have actually come a long way. Select Comfort is one of the fastest growing companies offering air beds. The air mattresses feature chambers that pump and release air in and out of the mattress to help the user find the perfect firmness or softness for their sleeping needs. Referred to as finding your "Sleep Number" which starts from zero to 100. Because each user can adjust their own side each mattress provides the user with their own unique comfort. Some individuals have said that they can't get the mattress firm enough for their needs so its best to try one out first to make sure it's right for you. Aero Bed is another type of inflatable guest mattress.

[nat-seal-well]

Hi! "Things you forgot to say" for Nat and Marin, maybe? No pressure ♥️

Seren, thank you so much for this!! It was a lot of fun, hehe. I love writing about these two so much!! Especially when it’s something silly and sweet 💙💙

Title: you forgot to say it (also on ao3)

Pairing: Nat Sewell/Detective (OC)

Rating: G

Words: 1,004

Warnings: None

(prompt list)

Tagging @yelenasvestpockets, as requested! 💙

Nat shuts the bedroom door as softly behind her as she can. It only protests slightly, squeaking as it closes, but she still pauses when the sound reaches her ears. Frozen, she listens, waiting for any signs of stirring from the other side.

Nothing. She sighs in relief.

It’s a short walk from Marin’s tiny bedroom to the only slightly-larger living room, where her shoes wait by the front door. She slips into them with ease and shrugs on her leather jacket. The hour is so early that the sun’s just barely started to rise, with pale light trickling in through the window, and she takes care as she picks her way through the apartment to collect her things in silence. Waking Mari now, after trying so hard to slip away unnoticed, is the last thing she wants.

Wallet. Phone. Agency keycard. There’s just one last thing—where is it?

Patting herself down, Nat hunts, feeling for the tiny piece of silver metal. Really, she should put it on a chain. At least that way she can find it easier, or maybe tuck it under her shirt…

There’s something in her inside pocket. She fishes it out with a flourish, and allows herself a small smile since there isn’t anyone else around to see.

If she’s being entirely honest, it’s a rather plain thing. But its appearance isn’t what makes it important to her; it’s what it’s used for. And what it means. And who gave it to her.

Nat presses it against her lips. After spending so long sitting in her pocket, the apartment key is sweetly cold. A stark contrast to the warmth of Marin’s cheek when she kissed them goodbye without a word.

Marin had pressed it into her hand weeks ago with nonchalance, as if it were a casual thing.

I just thought it made sense, they said. ‘Cause you spend so much time here.

They tried to hide their flush, and Nat let them pretend it wasn’t there. But she curled her fingers around the gift all the same, and pressed it over her heart. She was being invited to make their home her own, too.

How could she have said no?

With the key safe in her hand, Nat unlocks the front door and finds herself face-to-face with a pair of green eyes.

“Ava,” she says—whispers, really—with surprise. “I didn’t hear you.”

In response, Ava raises a brow. “I was waiting below, but you never came down. I came to fetch you. We’re going to be late for morning patrol.”

“Yes, of course. I’m sorry, I just…” Didn’t want to leave them. “…Lost track of time.”

There’s a slight twitch of Ava’s lips, as if she’s holding back a smile. It only lasts for a moment, so quick that anyone who isn’t a vampire wouldn’t notice it ever happened at all.

“I’m sure,” is all Ava says in response.

At least it’s only her who Nat’s patrolling with this morning; if it were Morgan, or Farah, there would be no end to their teasing. She might not survive their route if that were the case.

Ever the Commanding Agent, Ava continues on. “If you’re ready, we should be on our way. Agent Lin is expecting us at—”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

At the sound of Marin’s voice, Nat spins on her heels. Her first instinct is to berate herself for waking them anyway, after going through all that trouble. But her second is to smile—especially at the sight of them, standing there without their glasses and their arms crossed over their chest.

Their hair is a mess, wild from sleep, and they’re squinting at her. Nat sighs.

“It’s only patrol,” she assures them. “Ava and I…”

“You forgot to say it,” they interrupt.

Nat blinks in silent confusion.

With a huff, Marin crosses the space between them, as if Ava isn’t there. They probably can’t see her. Nat watches as they stop only a foot away, close enough to touch. Close enough to drown in their scent.

“You forgot to say it,” they repeat. “I heard you get up and just leave.”

Nat flounders. “I…I didn’t know you were awake, Mari, I’m sorry; I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“Well, I’m very disturbed. Because you were gonna walk right out the door without even telling me you loved me.”

“I…” she laughs, just once, before she can stop herself. “That’s what this is about? I only didn’t want to wake you. You were sleeping so well—at least, I thought you were.”

Ava can wait for just a little bit longer, she decides, as she steps forward to brush her knuckles over their cheek. This is far more important than any patrol. Marin leans into the touch immediately, melting under her touch like a cat in the sun.

“I love you, ya rouhi,” she tells them softly before bending down to kiss their cheek, like she did earlier. “I hope you have a wonderful morning. I’ll see you this afternoon, I promise.”

That’s all it takes for Marin to smile as they let go of their affronted facade. “I love you too, baby.”

Behind her, Nat catches Ava’s exhale of mirth. So does Marin, apparently. They narrow their eyes at her, trying to figure out who it is with their poor vision, but her golden hair must make her easy enough to identify.

“Keep her safe for me, Ava,” they say.

Nat can hear the hint of amusement in Ava’s voice even as she replies seriously with, “Of course, Detective.”

Satisfied, Marin returns to bed. Nat watches them leave before locking the door behind her, once and for all, and turns to see one of Ava’s rare smiles; it must be because she knows Marin couldn’t have seen it, without their glasses.

“Is there something on your mind, old friend?” Nat asks.

“Of course not,” Ava replies as they make their leave, but Nat knows her better than that. “Not at all.”

[puriette-archived]

Would you have any tips for someone wanting to start a blog like yours? I've been using xenogenders for years but only really found out about the coining community recently and I'd really like to participate!! Though, please don't worry if coming up with an answer is stressful. I just thought it'd be best to ask someone who seems really well versed on what the community is like and what people usually do. Have a great day ^^

biggest tip ,, coin for yourself && have fun with it !! coining for others can make it difficult sometimes && can make your sense of self get skewed ! take as many breaks as you want , it's your blog && you're the one who decides what to do with it ! if people are being rude or mean about something you made ,, ignore them or block them if needed ! if you need tips on flags and things like that ,, you can find a bunch of templates on tumblr && deviantart :3 hopefully this helps ! feel free to ask more questions ,, sealie loves helping others <33

[foldingfittedsheets]

Joining the mattress querying - what recommendations, if any, do you have for pregnancy and mattresses? We’re planning to have another child, and the weight gain (70lbs, I don’t do pregnancy with grace) from our first kid absolutely trashed my side of the bed (which admittedly is from 2014 so it was eight years old at the time and is now ten). I want a new (larger - definitely time to go to a king with two kids, ye gods they kick) mattress prior to undergoing The Most Uncomfortable Year Ever again, but I don’t have any idea where to start. I’ll be hot, my joints will hurt, but I’ll be really heavy and not very mobile. And I don’t want the weight gain to wear in my side of the bed in ways that don’t work for not-pregnant me again. Thank you so much for looking at this, and I completely understand if you don’t have the energy to answer (or any thoughts on the matter).

I'll preface with I've never been pregnant, so keep that in mind. In my experience memory foam beds have greater resiliency under weight strain though. The downside is that some memory foam can run hot and most of it does impede your movement somewhat.

There's hybrid mattresses all memory foam top over springs that might work, they still have some bounce from coils to move, with more bounce back than traditional beds and can have cooling elements.

But first, waterproof protector. You're gonna sweat and they should just be on all the time but, fun fact, sweat is one the biggest factors in foam breaking down so you can get a cooling protector and also keep the bed safer while also cooling you down. I personally really like protect a bed, this is their cooling one. I like to get two so I can put one right back on when I wash it. Protectors should get washed about every other time you wash your sheets or every two weeks whichever is sooner.

There's cooling all foam beds, Tempurpedic's doesn't mess around but the feel of their beds isn't for everyone, and again it can make it harder to move around. I loved the hybrid Sealy mattress I had for a while too, and I'm generally very in favor of hybrid/foam beds but that feel might not be for you. Going and laying on a bed should always be the first step because everyone's comfort can vary so much.

The biggest and last thing is if you get a traditional bed quilted foam on top of coils and experience a pregnancy divot, 70lbs isn't actually a huge difference to the mattress permanently. It was probably more a matter of not wearing the foam down around you evenly, or sweating more and breaking it down if you didn't have a waterproof protector. Having a partner get up and walk on the foam around your sleep divot should help immensely to keep you out of a rut.

[angelazieigler]

The Many Mattresses for Beds

What question can you ask a person that will never be answered yes? Are you asleep? If you're hearing "no" quite often then that is an unfortunate sign that your mattress isn't as comfortable as it should be. In this article we'll take a look at the visit site here many variety of mattresses for beds.

A customer walks into a store and asks the clerk behind the desk about a mattress for their bed. The clerk says ok,The Many Mattresses for Beds Articles then asks "do you want a spring mattress?" To which the customer replies "Oh, well... I actually need it for the whole year!" This little joke is all in fun but there are many new types of mattresses in the marketplace for beds that many consumers are unaware of. These new trends in mattress bring many interesting features to the typical bed and are definitely worth taking a look at. In this article we'll examine some of the new trends in mattresses and what they can offer your bedroom.

Innerspring mattresses for beds. These mattresses are among the most traditional and classic designs in mattresses. Spring mattresses provide good support and are used well throughout the world. The first thing you're going to come across is coil count. The coil count tells you how many coil springs are used throughout the unit. This of course varies from mattress to mattress. Typically a queen mattress with a coil count greater than 390 coils should be suitable for every night sleeping as opposed to a guest mattress. Different layers of foam and batting will be used at the surface of the mattress which will make the mattress firm or plush. Pillow top models are also available that make the mattress quite soft. Most innerspring mattresses feature a fabric quilting sewn into the mattress. There are many brands of innerspring mattress available at many different price points. You should find one that is comfortable, made for everyday use and is within your budget. Major brands include Serta, Sealy, Simmons, Spring Air and King Koil to name a few.

Viscoelastic mattresses for bed frames. Introduced over twenty years ago these mattresses started out quite pricey and were only in select higher end homes by people who could afford them. Today, there are many brands of viscoelastic mattresses and can be found in a much greater number of homes. Viscoelastic has unique properties in that the mattress is made up of material called visco cells. These cells have a memory and when they sense heat the material conforms around the heat. Your body supplies the heat and the mattress molds around you. This is different than innerspring mattresses in which you lay on top of the mattress. With visco mattresses you actually feel the mattress around you. Coverings for these mattresses can range from fabric, bamboo, cashmere or any number of materials. In recent years some customers have commented that the mattress becomes hot while laying on it. Tempur-Pedic which is a leader in viscolelastic mattresses has since created a more breathable covering to disperse heat. Its not immediately clear if other manufacturers of these mattresses have done the same. Viscoelastic mattresses have been promoted as helping those with bad backs find greater comfort. Tempur-Pedic and Dormia are just a couple of the many brands available.

Waterbed mattresses for platforms. Popular in the 1970's waterbed mattresses are still available through select specialty stores. These mattresses of course feature water as their primary filler. Special platform frames are made that accommodate these mattresses due to the heavy nature of the mattress. In recent years the waterbed industry has come up with new innovations in design. There are several types of waterbed mattress. The hard-side waterbed mattress requires that in be surrounded by a wood/MDF system to ensure that the mattress is contained. Soft-side waterbed mattresses feature a sturdy foam around the perimeter of the mattress that allows it to keep its shape. The soft-side is the most popular waterbed mattress today. The biggest complaint about waterbeds were movement. Motion sensor technology and or tube or bladder systems were created to help reduce this movement so as to provide a more comfortable sleep.

[leaderpinhead]

Floyd - The Biting Urge

Prompt: @flashfictionfridayofficial weekly prompt Rating: T Characters: (Main) Floyd, Yuu (Minor) Ace, Azul, Jade, and other first-years Pairing: None (I tend to "ship" Floyd/Yuu platonically, but feel free to interpret them how you feel) Masterlists for my other fics

Floyd had the uncontrollable urge to bite something. 

So when he spotted the Shrimpy Brigade in the courtyard between classes, he immediately abandoned Azul and Jade. He circled the little group of freshmen twice. None of them noticed since Croc and Sea Urchin were having some boring argument. He stopped right behind Shrimpy, who was ignoring the boys and scribbling in her notebook. He slowly crept closer.

Crabby glanced up from his cell phone when Floyd’s shadow fell over him. His orange eyes widened. “Floyd, what’re you–?”

Floyd lunged forward. Shrimpy’s surprised shriek had all of the Shrimpy Brigade whipping around to face them. Sealie started shouting after Shrimpy threw him off her lap. Little guppy gaped at him, and Mackerel sputtered like an actual fish out of water. Sea Urchin’s loud growl made Floyd turn a wide, toothy grin on him. He ran his tongue over his teeth, tasting a light hint of copper. “You wanna fight, Sea Urchin?”

He had barely gotten the taunt out before Shrimpy tackled his stomach. He grunted and staggered slightly, more from the suddenness than pain. Shrimpy’s bony little fingers and knees dug into him as she leveraged herself around his hip and up his back. Floyd twisted to grab her, but an equally bony elbow clocked him in the sternum with enough force behind it to not be an accident. Shrimpy wiggled herself up onto his shoulders and locked her legs around his chest to keep her balanced. One arm wrapped around his neck, nestling his Adam’s apple in the crook of her elbow. 

A sharp sting on the tip of his ear made him cackle. He grabbed Shrimpy by the knees and squeezed. The answering pressure on his ear made him cackle more. “You trying to bite off my ear with those blunt teeth of yours, Shrimpy? I’ve tussled with sharks bigger than you.”

Shrimpy released his ear long enough to say, “I told you the next time you bit me, I’d bite you back!”

Floyd cackled. “You call that biting? You’re like those little fishies at those spas that nibble on people’s toes.”

Shrimpy tried to squeeze her legs tighter around his chest. Floyd squeezed her back even tighter just to show how unimpressed he was. The arm squeezing his neck accomplished more, giving his cackle a slight wheezing effect.

Shrimpy was the first to relent. Floyd knew she would. She was never able to do a proper death squeeze despite the many times he had shown her how. Sometimes Shrimpy was more bark than bite even when she was literally biting.

Floyd took advantage of her lax grip. He grabbed her by the upperarms and ducked forward. Shrimpy flew over his head with a yelp, her legs unable to keep a proper grip once she relaxed. Floyd wrapped his arms around her and pinned her arms to her sides. She wiggled in protest, kicking backwards a few times to catch him on the shins, but Floyd was relentless. He nipped at the same ear he had earlier. A little red bead of blood dripped down the rim of her ear. He cackled. “Come on, Shrimpy! You can do better than–!”

The back of Shrimpy’s head connected with his chin. The sudden shock of  pain was enough to make Floyd jerk back but not release her. While he blinked up at the sky in a daze, her blunt teeth latched onto his exposed forearm. It took him a moment to register the dull pain. Floyd laughed even harder and used his free hand to roughly tousle her hair. “You really are like one of those little toe fishies. I’ll call you Toe Fishy from now on instead of Shrimpy!”

Shrimpy went completely lax in his hold. “Don’t you dare.”

With a final mad cackle, Floyd let her dead weight fall to the ground. She yelped in surprise, obviously not expecting him to release her. Floyd chuckled and ruffled her hair some more. Her entire skull was barely bigger than his hand. “See you later, Toe Shrimpy!”

Shrimpy’s growl wasn’t nearly as intimidating as Sea Urchin’s. Floyd left the Shrimpy Brigade with a happy hum. He didn’t have to look back to know they converged on Shrimpy the moment they could. Crabby’s voice had a funny little pitch in it when he said, “Are you freaking crazy! What made you think biting him back was a good idea?”

Shrimpy made a funny trumpet noise. “Sometimes you just have to bite back. Show him who the real boss is.”

“He could literally squeeze your skull like an orange.”

“Then at least he’ll have sticky hands.”

Floyd loudly laughed all the way across the courtyard where he rejoined Azul and Jade. Azul was shaking his head, but Jade had one of his smarmy little grins. Pushing his glasses slightly up his nose, Azul asked, “Now that you’ve had your fun, can we continue discussing next week’s menu for the Mostro Lounge?”

Jade chuckled. “You must admit, it’s quite amusing to watch a tiny shrimp put up such a dramatic fight.”

Floyd held out his forearm to show off the little indentations from Shrimpy’s teeth. “Look at how cute Toe Shrimpy’s teeth are!”

Azul tried to cover his smirk with a tiny cough. “How long do you plan for that nickname to last?”

“Until I get tired of an extra syllable,” Floyd admitted. Jade humorously poked at the reddened bite mark. “Shrimpy’s more fun to play with than you two.”

Azul snorted but switched the topic back to the Mostro Lounge’s menu as they continued to class. Floyd ran his thumb over the little indents in his arm. There was already a light purple mark forming. He knew he could show it off later and make Shrimpy all pouty about it. He’d guilt her into taking a shift in the Mostro Lounge next week.

That way he could poke at the little Toe Shrimpy and see how long it took her to bite again.