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yamithediaperdork · 4 years ago

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How to break a bully (My hero academia)

Kirishima was on cloud nine as he walked though the halls of the school. he'd just gotten a98 on his last test, He was at the height of his powers AND he had a blond cutie pie for a boyfriend and a big baby. for a daddy dom like Kirishima it was like getting triple 7's at a slot machine, even though there was ONE slight problem with his cutie pie big baby. it was that his big baby who could be loving and sweet and such a widdle cuddle bug in private..was a big brat and a total bully in public. If you hadn't of guessed as much by now, the baby in question was Katsuki Bakugo, Who as Kirishima looked out one of the hallway windows he say him bullying anther student. 'Little man..I thought we talked about this.' Kirishima thought and frowned, crossing his arms as he watched the scene. He was NOT a fan of his little sweetheart being a bully and had tried everything from washing his mouth out to spanking his bottom bright red and even tried bribing the brat, but nothing seemed to work. Slowly thought as he kept watching, a plan formed in his head. it was a evil plan to be sure, and one that might just break the little guy, but as a responsible daddy he knew it was his duty to teach his widdle guy right from wrong.

Meanwhile, not knowing he was being watched, Katsuki was having fun as he gave a third wedgie to glasses wearing student. he hadn't even bothered to learn the nerds name, he'd just felt the need to blow off some steam and the nerd had been the closet target. "S-Stop this o-or I'll-" the nerd whined and whimpered, lifted in the air by his hello kitty briefs and Katsuki snickered. "You'll what? wet your panties? Tell a teacher? go ahead~ But if I get in trouble because of you you'll WISH for something as kind and loving as I'm doing right now~" Katsuki said and then holding the geek up with one hand twirled him with the other. with the geek all twirled up, Katsuki let him spin and held out his palm so the geek got slapped every rotation. "Geez stop hitting yourself on my hand nerd!" Katsuki laughed and when the nerd was all dazed and confused, hiked him up higher and then dropped him to the ground. Hilariously at least to Katsuki, as the nerd whimpered and sobbed, the front of his pants started to darken and then the geek was wetting himself. "Pffft, Are you pissing yourself? what a BABY!" the blond bully laughed loudly, even though he was the last person who should be teasing someone else. "Maybe you should ask your mommy and daddy to get you some huggies, LOSER!" Katsuki chuckled, and again, considering he was at the moment wearing a power ranger pull up under his own pants, he had ZERO room to talk. Still, he decided the geek had had enough and walked away, whistling and feeling good and having NO idea of the hell that would be waiting for him all too soon.

That night while snuggling with daddy, Katsuki was in his normal daddy time attire (Read: A thick massive white disposable diaper and a t-shirt reading daddies little stinker, and sucking on a paci) they were watching one of daddies shows but since it wasn't a cartoon Katsuki basically tuned out of it, thinking about how tomorrow was one of his rare brief days and looking forward to it. it wasn't that the blond didn't like his pull ups or his diapers (Clearly he loved them) but well, the pull ups just sorta felt close enough to his huggies that sometimes Katsuki would almost boom boom in them before catching himself. Daddy also had promised if he could prove he didn't need his pull ups by keeping his undies clean 10 times in a row (and tomorrow was day number ten!) then he could stop with the pull ups at school anyways. with dreams of big boy undies during the day Katsuki suckled extra hard on his paci, not registering the weird taste on it and the fact he was sleepier then normal, and just snuggled into daddies side and closed his heavy eyes for a second.

when he opened them again he was being dressed by Kirishima and it was morning. "Hey sleepyhead, welcome back to the world of the living. you conked out HARD on me last night." the red head chuckled. "I..I did? huh..Weird." Katsuki said and sat up. he felt a little wonky still, but gave a yawn as daddy finished getting his shirt on him, his socks, undies and pants were already on and a glance at the clock told him that he'd super slept in, they were gonna have to boogie to get to class on time. "Sorry I conked out on you, wanted to play with you." Katsuki said and got up, pecking daddies cheek with a smooch and reached down for his school bag. "hey it happens. maybe my cute big baby needs to start taking naps." Daddy said and winked. "heh, maybe." Katsuki agreed though the thought brought a blush to his cheek. "something to talk about later, for now, let's get going. one more tardy and you'll have to spent Saturday in detention inside of crawling around in the living room making presents for me." Daddy said and lead the way out the door. Katsuki who loved being a little present maker, gave no argument.

Getting to school with a few minutes to spare, Kirishima and Katsuki split up, their lockers where on different floors and the blond noticed something weird as he walked towards his locker. Normally the other students steered clear of him or gave him looks of hate because of his bullying ways, which was how he liked it. It was part of his (in his mind) brilliant cover for his big baby life with daddy, that in public he was the meanest toughest asshole you ever had to deal with. Daddy wasn't so fond of the plan but Katsuki could endure any of daddies punishments and truth be told, while daddies spankings hurt and Katsuki didn't get off on them..well, they helped him feel like the little boy he really was. Still today as he walked to his locker he was getting lots of chuckles and smiles. a couple of girls were whispering to each other and pointing at him, then both burst out laughing and he raised a eyebrow. he stopped to go and ask them what was so funny when a boy from a grade lower then him came over, wagging his eyebrows for the sake of the crowd and then spoke up. "Are you lost little guy? Do you need me to help you find your daddy?" "..The fuck did you say?" Katsuki asked, going to go for a badass pose when anther student from behind swatted his thigh. "Bad boy! no potty mouth!" Katsuki yelped and jumped at the swat, more from shock then pain but the reaction got a chuckle from everyone. turning around to slug whoever had slapped him, the slapper had blended into the crowd. "Alright, who's got the balls!?!" Katsuki growled, and started to take a battle stance. "Awww somebodies all grumpy!" a voice from the crowd called. "I think he needs hims paci!" anther called. Katsuki's mind was racing now, his cheeks turning red. 'what the FUCK is going on here?!?' he thought. The stand off came to a end when the warning bell rang. "Aww, better hurry up and stock up your diaper bag little guy!" was the second to final insult hurled Katsuki's way though as the crowd moved, SOMEONE patted his ass! "he's still clean!" came the final insult and Katsuki was left sputtering in rage, before stomping off to his locker. almost ripping the door off it's hinge, he found a pastel blue pacifier on a whine cord hanging inside of his locker, with a note taped to it. 'Suck on this before you end up crapping yourself' the note mocked, and he didn't know the handwriting. '..Somebodies gonna die toward.' he growled red faced, and yanked the paci down and tossed it in a nearby trash can. packing his books into his school bag he dashed for class.

if he'd of thought the classroom would be a sanctuary from his torment, he'd been wrong as right there on the chalkboard for home room was a drawing of him, in just a diaper and a baby bonnet squatting and who'd ever done the art had added stink lines. with his distinctive hair it was clear just looking who it was suppose to be, but if there had been any doubt it's been labeled in big bold letters "BABY KATSUKI BAKUGO GOING BOOM BOOM!!" Katsuki let out a soundless screen and almost blasted the chalkboard, but restrained himself, barely and erased the drawing and turned to face the smirking faces of the the rest of the class. "OK, which one of you twat monkeys has a god damn death wish?" he growled. "Sheesh, somebodies a grumpy baby." Tenya chuckled, adjusting his glasses. "Maybe he needs a diapie change already." Yuuga suggested and laughed. "No, i think we'd all KNOW if the baby was poopie." Momo giggled, holding her nose and waving a hand to prove her point. "G-Guys..Come on.. be nice..it's not his fault if he needs diapers.." Midoriya said, sweat dropping. "I DON'T NEED GOD DAMN DIAPERS!" Katsuki yelled. "oh wow, then that makes it worse! you wear'em by choice!" Jirou chuckled. there was throbbing vein on Katsuki's forehead and he was about to blow up the whole classroom when not only their teacher came in, But Kirishima. "everyone, calm down and take your seats please." Fuming and blinded with raged, Katsuki stumbled for his desk and got some d'aww's and 'baby can't walk yet' comments from the class.

the rest of the morning crawled by, with Katsuki receiving more then one note with various drawing of him being a big baby, or worse questions about how his diaper was holding up. so was it any wonder that his school work for the day suffered as a result, and when he was asked to read out loud for the class he stumbled over even the most basic of words, which got quiet chuckles. Come lunch time he couldn't wait to get away from all of them, and add into it that his belly was growling from not only missing supper last night but breakfast this morning. the tummy growls had gotten him even more teasing but he didn't even wanna think about that right now. Kirishima had been called away just before lunch break and so Katsuki didn't have his daddy to help him calm down as he strolled into the cafeteria. he went and picked up a lunch tray and scanned the crowd for Daddy's trademark red hair but then first noticed a crowd at the back of the cafeteria and then noticed WHAT they were all looking at. there, in blown up giant posters were 6 pictures of Katsuki in all his baby glory. The first picture had him triple diapered and asleep, sucking on his thumb on a blanket on the floor. he was face down and ass up and using a teddy bear as a pillow. He didn't recognize when the picture had been taken but daddy HAD told him he'd end up like that more often then not when he conked out on the floor. The second picture had him laying on his back, hands balled up in fists and rubbing his eyes and laying on a teddy bear print changing mat, and in a clearly loaded diaper. THIS one he reorganized as the first time he'd loaded a diaper for daddy, he'd only meant to let out a little bit to try but his butt hadn't listened to him. he'd been hysterical for a hour but daddy had given him LOTS of hugs. Picture number three had him asleep again, this time in a crib and wearing a teddy bear onesie with a bear eared hoodie to go with it and a fluffy tail. he was also hugging a teddy bear to his chest and drooling up a storm. That had to of been from his birthday, because that was what daddy had gotten him and he'd tried to wear it as often as he could. Picture number four he remembered taking not that long ago, and had assumed that Daddy had been joking about sharing it, but it was becoming PAINFULLY clear who had posted all of these. It had Katsuki in a thick balloon print diaper sitting on a duck shaped training potty, holding onto the handles and filling his diaper, a look of pure pleasure on his face even though he was blushing. Moving onto number five and Katsuki felt himself pale even though he was blushing, making for a interesting look. it showed him on top of a teddy bear that was a foot taller then him, hugging it around the neck and kissing it, and from the blur around his pampered hips it was clear to everyone what he'd been doing. he couldn't even pin down WHEN this had been, as it was the only way he'd been allowed to get his rocks off. the last picture had Katsuki again in just a diaper, but he had paint all over himself and was holding up a poorly made finger painting for whoever was taking the picture to see. of course it was Kirishima but that much wasn't in the picture, though the painting was signed 'To daddy love Baby Katsuki' Katsuki felt his knees going weak and he tried to say something, anything as countless students laughter, chuckled and took pictures, then someone noticed he was there. "HEY EVERYONE, THE BABIES HERE!" practically the whole school turned and started laughing at Katsuki, and the taunts and jeers came. "What a big dumb baby!" "Stuffie humper!" "Diaper pooper!" "who's the big baby now?" "i bet he's filing his diapers now!" "Cry baby cry baby!" "Diaper boy! Diaper boy!" it was that last chant that caught on and Katsuki whimpered and whined. "SHUT UP! SHUT UP ALL OF YOU! I'M NOT WEARING A DIAPER! I'M NOT! I'M IN UNDIES! T-THOSE WERE ALL PHOTO SHOPPED! STOP LAUGHING AT ME!" he screamed, stomping a foot and his voice cracking and going higher and higher pitch. "prove it!" Called the geek he'd beaten up yesterday. "yeah! prove it!" a girl he'd tormented last week agreed. "H-How can I prove it?!?" Katsuki huffed, and whined, fighting back tears. Where was daddy!?! he needed daddy! "Drop your pants!" "yeah! drop your pants and show off your undies!" "drop your pants! drop your pants!" It was a mob action mindset at it's worse, and Katsuki knew it would only get worse if he didn't give the crowd what they wanted. thankfully for him, it was a undies day and he just prayed that daddy had picked a basic white pair of briefs for him when he'd been dressing him this morning. of course if Katsuki had been thinking clearly, he would of realized that since daddy had set this all up, there was no way in hell this would of ended well. but can anyone really blame him for not thinking of that? Undoing his belt to a cheer from the crowd he undid the button on his pants and let them drop to his ankles, smirking. "There see? I'm in big boy underwear!" he said, not bothering to look down. the crowd exploded in laughter and he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, then the geek from yesterday called out. "Nice pull ups! I guess compared to the DIAPERS those ARE big boy undies for you!" Katsuki's eyes went wide as saucers and he looked down to confirm that not only was he indeed in a pull up, it was a barney one. "I-I no! I..But..Daddy dressed me..and.." Katsuki whimpered and cried. "Bwhahahaha! he doesn't even dress himself! he really IS a baby!" "what a dork!" "What a baby!" "WHAT A LOSER!" more laughs and taunts and Katsuki couldn't take it and started to bawl, even as the front of his pull up started to swell and Barney's smiling face faded away. he was wetting himself. He couldn't take it anymore and turned to run away, but forgot about how his pants were around his ankles and tripped, landing face down and ass up and giving everyone a perfect view of what happened next. maybe it was all the teasing, maybe it was all of his nerves. maybe it was from the laxative powder that Kirishima had slipped onto his paci for a bit this morning before he woke up. In any case he found himself stuck there as his body suddenly had a payload to get rid of and he let out a massive fart that shut the crowd up for a second. but only a second. "wait..is he going to.." "No way!" "ah jeez, if his FARTS stink this bad.." three loud and powerful farts came out in a row and then the back of Katsuki's pull up started to puff out as he cried and sobbing, pounding a fist on the ground and putting his forehead to the floor. whether his cries and sob and behavior was from the shame of what he was doing or just trying to force what looked like a painfully large movement out was anyone's guess, though most believed it was the latter. the puffing of the back turned into a large lump that was poking out the back of the pull up and one boy who's quirk was force fields thought quick as it looked like the big baby was gonna leak. Forming one around the pull up the lump shushed against it and then as Katsuki screamed out "DADDY!" the mess was smushed all around. the ONE thing the force field couldn't contain however was the smell and lots f students started to hold their noses even as thy laughed and waved hands. "YUCK! what did you eat? roadkill skunk?" "Somebody open a window!" "Are we sure THIS isn't his quirk? super stenches?" with his poopies all out and it all over, Katsuki was crying big time and blubbering for daddy. "Awww, did somebody have a accident?" Came Kirishima's voice. Though tear filled eyes Katsuki looked up and saw daddy, who had a large diaper bag with him. "You..you.." Katsuki whined and whimpered. "am here to save the day." Daddy said, then held his nose. "whew, just in time, force field or no force field, i don't think that load is staying contained for long!" Daddy came over and scooped the blubbering baby up, and Katsuki sniffled and buried his face into daddies chest, getting a d'awww from the crowd. 'it's over..d-daddies gonna take me away and get me changed and-' Katsuki thought, eyes closed. then he felt himself being plopped onto a changing mat that had been set up on one of the lunch tables. "D-Daddy?" Katsuki asked, opening his eyes. no way he was gonna change him HERE..in front of everyone! "Shh, be a good boy and let daddy change your stinky bottom." Daddy said and winked. this was a humiliation a step too far, even in light of all of this and Katsuki screamed and thrashed about, shaking his head no and yelling it it too, till daddy rolled him on his tummy and got the kid making the force field to drop it, then walloped his squishy backside. "Little man! that is enough! you are going to be a good little boy and let me change you're pull up and put you in a nice thick diaper, then you're going for a nap, or daddies gonna paddle your bum and then all of that will happen anyways! got it?" Katsuki bawled and whined, but nodded he understood.

One change later, and earning a new nick name to go along with all the others he now had (the new one being little nub..go ahead and guess why) and Katsuki was in 4 for his over night diapers and had been changed into a light blue t-shirt with a teddy bear in a night shirt and night cap sleeping on a quarter moon on the front. He'd been given a ba-ba of formula to drink while he was changed, and it had been oddly filling but didn't make things any better for him as he now had to wave night night to the rest of the school. scooped up with dadies hands under his butt and his legs sticking out behind daddy while he held onto daddy with his arms for support, Katsuki was carried towards the shop class where they had built a crib just for the impending big baby. he was sulking and whining and looked eyes with Kirishima as he was carried away. "..why?" he sniffled. "because I told you to stop being a bully or else. you didn't wanna listen. now you'll NEVER be a bully again, and will see what it's like to be picked on. I know it's a hard lesson, and trust me, I didn't wanna have to teach it to you like this. Just, you left me NO other choice." Daddy said. "I-I would of stopped if you'd of told me this was the punishment.." Katsuki pouted and whined. "...Huh. didn't think of that. oh well, too late now. Look at it this way. you'll get to be a big baby ALL the time now. and don't worry, daddies never gonna let anyone physically hurt you." Kirishima said and kissed the huffy boys cheek. Somehow, that didn't make things better but Katsuki just didn't have it in himself to fight anymore. the bully terror of hero academia was gone, replaced with a huffy diapered toddler who could only strike back at his tormentors with stinky diapers.

The end

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medea10 · 4 years ago

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My Review of Trigun

How did I get into this anime? Let’s just say this was one of those animes that used to air on Saturday nights back in the day that I would every now and then come across while waiting for either Full Metal Alchemist, InuYasha, or Cowboy Bebop to air. But I never did watch a full episode or know a damn thing about this anime. So I’m just jumping into this anime blindfolded. All I know is that this was Johnny Yong Bosch’s first anime role.

Who is Vash the Stampede?

A frequent question that comes up throughout the series! Rumor has it that he wears a long, red trench coat and sports a Mohawk hairstyle. Some say he’s a notorious lecher. Many recount him shooting up their villages to a pile of rubble just for the heck of it. He has quite the reputation as he has a $$60,000,000,000 bounty on his head and is often known as the “Humanoid Typhoon”.

In reality, Vash the Stampede is…a bit of a dingus. He just happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time and things kinda get out of hand. But that doesn’t stop two insurance agents (Milly Thompson and Meryl Stryfe) from following him around to confirm Vash’s identity and keep his actions to a minimum. At first, it’s hard to tell if he’s a stupid-genius or just flighty and gets lucky one too many times. But when shit goes down, don’t be surprised when you see this doofus get serious.

BETWEEN THE SUB AND THE DUB: Okay, what sad company did this use to belong to, Geneon, Bandai, or ADV Films? Oh, Geneon! That means good voice actors from L.A. put in really shitty roles. On the contrary, this was a fairly decent English dub. And on a severely positive note, this was indeed Johnny Yong Bosch’s very first anime role (and a main role at that). This was like fresh off his time as a Power Ranger! And I gotta give props for giving this guy a chance at voice acting. This role was the launching point to what has been a very successful career for Bosch. As for the sub, let’s just say I’m happy any time I get to hear Hiromi Tsuru in something besides Dragon Ball. Here’s what you might recognize these folks from.

JAPANESE CAST: *Vash is played by Masaya Onosaka (known for Bill on Pokemon, Isaac on Baccano, Jadeite on Sailor Moon, Kero on Cardcaptor Sakura, Leeron on Gurren Lagann, France on Hetalia, and Spandam on One Piece)

*Meryl is played by Hiromi Tsuru (known for Bulma on DBZ, Ukyo on Ranma ½, Yubel on YGO GX, and Mika on Gravitation) [R.I.P.]

*Milly is played by Satsuki Yukino (known for Kagome on InuYasha, Mion/Shion on Higurashi, Tae on Gintama, Amakata on Free!, Hiiragi on Natsume Yuujinchou, Mutsumi on Love Hina, and Yoruichi on Bleach)

ENGLISH CAST: *Vash is played by Johnny Yong Bosch (known for Ichigo on Bleach, Lelouch on Code Geass, Makoto on Free!, Izaya on Durarara, Artemis on Sailor Moon redub, Koizumi on Haruhi Suzumiya, and Yukio on Blue Exorcist)

*Meryl is played by Dorothy Elias-Fahn (known for Kaoru on Rurouni Kenshin, Naru on Love Hina, Tomoe on Rozen Maiden, Hakuei on Magi, Houki on Fushigi Yugi, and Amane on Tenchi Muyo GXP)

*Milly is played by Lia Sargent (known for Dorothy on The Big O and Judy on Cowboy Bebop)

FAVORITE CHARACTER: Milly! I don’t need a reason, it’s Milly!

SHIPPING: I didn’t really start thinking about shipping until more than halfway into this series. I thought there might be something between Vash and Meryl, but then again maybe not! Then I saw the backstory of Vash’s “younger days” and falling for the one woman who showed him compassion.

Yes, this is the same woman we consistently see in Vash’s flashbacks, Rem. Ooh boy, it’s one of those stories! So yeah, never mind my thinking with Vash x Meryl ever happening. I feel like Vash will mourn Rem’s death for a long time that I don’t think the whole thing with Meryl will ever work.

And as for Wolfwood x Milly…

FUUUUUUUCK! WHY DID YOU RUIN THIS CUTE COUPLE?!

MILLY WAS HEART-BROKEN!

…At least she got to have one night of passion with Wolfy-boy before the unthinkable happened.

THAT DARN CAT: If you watched this series, you might have noticed a little black cat spotted in nearly every episode. It’s there in the opening theme. It’s there in random places throughout the series. It’s there in the ending theme. What’s up with this cat? Well, there are a lot of theories surrounding this particular cat (or Kuroneko). Some say it’s really Rem inside that cat since you see it in literally every episode around Vash. Others say it’s because the creator of Trigun wanted to just mess with your minds with the kitty walking around in random places and towns. Seriously, it will always appear in every new town Vash and the gang comes across! As an avid cat enthusiast, I’m fine with whatever the result. Just as long as no harm comes to the little Kuroneko.

HALFWAY POINT: Halfway into the series we notice something more when it comes to Mr. Vash the Stampede. First of all, those horrifying scars all over his body! Second, that mysterious girl he often thinks about. I mean, we see flashes of her in the opening sequence. And third, the reason why he never kills. Vash has the ability of causing so much damage when pushed to a breaking point. One of the many reasons why he’s known as the “humanoid typhoon”! And that was perfectly shown when Vash chases the residents out of a town (so there would be no casualties), totally demolished the town during a fight, and made an indent on the moon!

But the story takes a sharp-left turn into WTF territory when we learn about WHAT exactly Vash is. Vash is a plant. Vash also has a brother named Knives. And while Vash has a mentality that all beings have a right to live, Knives has a “kill them all and let God sort them out” point of view. Now the existence of Vash and Knives came with a lot of controversy, especially in the ship that they were on. But that girl who Vash cares for, Rem cared for them regardless of what they were. Rem had high hopes for a peaceful world with coexistence. Too bad Knives had other motives and killed her.

ENDING TO TV SERIES: Vash has tried so hard to keep Milly, Meryl, and Wolfwood out of harm’s way. He knows there are some pretty bad people after him, including his polar-opposite brother, Knives. Vash hates death and wants to save as many people as humanly possible. He doesn’t want to see any more needless death. Probably from his flashbacks and losing Rem! Unfortunately, this doesn’t go so well.

I can see how iconic this death was now after witnessing it. Wolfwood, the priest who would hook up with Vash every now and then when they’re up against some ruffians, now finds himself in a crucial decision. He gets orders that he must eliminate Vash. And Wolfwood ends up dying instead in a very dramatic death scene. God-damn! And just that scene where Milly is sobbing freakin’ eats you up inside.

At least she had one night of passion before the unfortunate happened!

Vash hates the thought of having to kill anyone. But he might not have a choice if Knives is coming after him and even hires a powerful foe from a previous episode and the guy that killed Wolfwood to take you out. Once Vash met up with Knives, he winds up having some pretty sick flashbacks of Knives. But our homeboy was able to take out Knives, the desert area gets water, and…

I’m gonna have to read the fucking manga for more, right?

Tap dancing fuck!

BADLANDS RUMBLE: 12 years after the series ended, Japan decides to release a side-story in the form of a movie, bringing back our favorite characters like Vash, Wolfwood, Milly, and Meryl. And yes, reuniting the cast…in Japan.

By 2010, Geneon was as good as dead and FUNimation licensed Trigun. In short, they managed to get Johnny Young Bosch to reprise his role as Vash the Stampede. But everyone else was replaced. And surprisingly, the people they got to do Wolfwood and Milly were pretty freakin’ close to their original voices. Meryl’s voice, come on I know Luci Christian any-damn-where! Vash helps a young lady take out a big-bad guy (who turns out to be his father). And it has the feel of the original series where it’s set in a western town with lots of booze and shoot-em-ups! It’s an interesting side-story to the Trigun trilogy.

Trigun was a pretty good anime. I mean, not one of my favorites, but I can definitely see a lot of people sticking by this classic. Maybe you can chalk up my blah attitude to the fact that I’m not fond of westerns and I kinda took it out on Trigun. Or the fact that there was so much more that the anime could have covered before the end and the ending kinda felt off to me! Like I thought I was expecting more. But I suppose that’s what mangas are for. To be honest, the stories that really grabbed my attention were the back-stories with Vash and Knives and Wolfwood’s final episode.

*sniffles* At least Milly got one night of passion before he died!

If you would like to check out Trigun, all the episodes are available through FUNimation and Hulu (in both Japanese and English). And if you really like the anime, why not purchase the hard copies? Both the series and movie are available for home video.

Okay, that took me a while, but I’m glad to finish Trigun. What’s next on the FUNimation list?

EEHHHHHEEEHHHE

Fuck is that supposed to mean? What is that? Is that even in English?

YOU WILL BE HORRIBLY MUTILATED: The Isekai

Do you mean Re:Zero? That’s great…but that review’s not ready yet. And it probably won’t be until after April 2021! So let’s cast caution to the wind and pick another FUNimation licensed anime.

You’re watching Sarazanmai next. It’s best if you don’t ask questions.

Sarazanmai? The fuck does that even mean?!

OH. MY. GOD.

#trigun #vash the stampede #meryl stryfe #milly thompson #nicholas d wolfwood #knives millions #anime review

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anotheronechicagobog · 5 years ago

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Volomag and Vodka

Part 1

A/N: Volomag is a painkiller similar to aspirin, please do not take them both at the same time, your liver may not be able to process them at the same time resulting in death.

This story is also posted on Wattpad under the username chantalis

Written by @anotheronechicagobog

The title comes from what I think Voight would say once he realized how all his subordinates were looking at each other :D

Living with one of your coworkers was... Interesting to say the least. Hailey was just happy that Rojas wasn’t also her partner otherwise they would see way too much of each other and wouldn’t have the sister bond they’re working so hard on forming. When Hailey left earlier, to go have breakfast with Jay, Vanessa didn’t think anything of it. It was becoming more and more common for her to wake up to a note on the fridge saying that Hailey was somewhere doing something with Jay. They were partners, had survived a lot together,were totally in love with each other, and they refused to acknowledge their own feelings. So Vanessa found it odd in no way at all. It was one fateful Friday morning that something was different. A short but precise note was left on the fridge in Hailey’s swirly writing, but something was, not out of place, somewhere it was not supposed to be. In direct sight line from the coffee maker, in the little nook that herald the washer and dryer, was a basket that held Hailey’s dry load from last night that hadn’t been folded yet on top of said dryer. Even with the distance between Vanessa and the article of clothing, the fact that it still slightly crumpled up, and only pieces of it were visible from the voids between the white plastic, she could clearly recognize the shirt. The faded dark green cotton t-shirt with grey lettering stood out like a sore thumb amongst Hailey’s red, blue, and black clothes. The same t-shirt Halstead wore the first time Vanessa went to watch the blackhawks game at Ruzek’s place for the first team game night. His army rangers t-shirt.

It happened more and more over the next couple of months, Jay staying over and sleeping with Hailey, in her bed, and at least him but usually both being gone by the time Vanessa got up. She’d woken up or come back late and peeked in Hailey’s room enough times to see them dead asleep, wrapped in each other, and fully clothed. She started listening out for them, to see if they were doing anything... Eventful. But nope. She heard them, but they never had sex. Or did anything even remotely steamy. There was only a thin wall between Vanessa and Hailey’s rooms, she could hear everything but the specifics. She could hear talking, murmuring, laughing, and oddly enough, singing. From both of them. She didn’t know what was going on, but she had never seen either of them so well rested. And apparently, she wasn’t the only one. Kim was asking her if she had a boyfriend, “no, no boyfriend. Just a new pillow.” Jay, who’d been pretending not to listen raised and amused eyebrow at Hailey, and action that was only noticed by Hailey and Vanessa. And the guys ribbed Jay about finally getting laid. “She must be real special if she’s making you smile.”

“Huh?”

“Ruz is right, you’ve been smiling more, you’re definitely seeing someone.”

“And getting laid.”

“RUZ.”

“Guys,” Jay interrupted the beginning of an argument, “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I’m not seeing someone. Or getting any.”

“What? No way man, I don’t buy it. You definitely have a ‘I just had mind-blowing sex’ vibe about you.”

“You know I don’t get the chance to say this often, but Ruzek is right.”

“HEY!”

“Seriously guys. I’m not hooking up with anybody, haven’t for a while actually, I’m just sleeping better.”

“Really?”

“How?”

“I got a different bed.” That last line made Hailey inhale her coffee.

Around New Years, Jay went to spend his vacation time with the other Halstead in New York. Leaving Hailey without her bedtime companion. This resulted in the blonde woman falling asleep everywhere that wasn’t her bed. Seriously, she fell asleep in Vanessa’s bed once. This time Vanessa found her asleep on the couch, the TV still playing Wonder Woman. There had been a new addition to Hailey’s regular wardrobe. A chain, the pendant or whatever was on it, was tucked underneath her shirt. The chain wasn’t one you’d usually find with a necklace, one of those bumpy ones that were usually reserved for dog tags. When Vanessa found Hailey sleeping on the couch on January second, she found that she was right. The metal had fallen out from under her shirt due to her position, and when Vanessa pulled a blanket around her she got a good look at them.

Halstead, Jay

1234567890

AB NEG

CATHOLIC

Hailey Upton was wearing a set of Jay’s dog tags. She was shocked, so shocked it left her trembling. She was shaking as she took out her phone to snap a picture. She quickly retreated, to move the photo into a locked folder. If whatever they were got out, it wasn’t going to be through her. Once she calmed herself down fury started to cocoon her. Hailey was fucking awesome, had a fucking terrible childhood, and Vanessa was going to be damned if that fucker didn’t know what he had. So she called him. “Listen up you adicto al gel para el cabelo-“

“Rojas?”

“Don’t you dare interrupt me Halstead o juro por Dios que volare a Nuevo York y te amenazare en persona.”

“I’m sure that you have a very good reason to be threatening me- are you threatening me? It feels like you’re threatening me- in Spanish but it’s three am.”

“I don’t know what you and Hailey are doing but if you hurt her I’ll rip of your balls and turn them into a pair of earrings and give the to Hailey on her birthday. Are we clear?”

“... Yes.”

“Bueno.”

“We- we’re not...”

“Hm?”

“We’re not sleeping together- well, okay, we’re sleeping together- but it’s JUST sleep. Not sex. Just sleep. Cuddling. And eating together... and stuff. Just, uh, not sex. I’m telling the truth. Promise.”

“I know.”

“How did you find out?”

“Lot’s of little hints. What really solidified it was seeing you dog tags around her neck.”

“Oh. Yeah. Those were part of her Christmas gift. Just... I wanted her to know that she’s important to me.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t hurt her, she doesn’t deserve that.”

“I know. I won’t.” Then she hung up, he got the message, and Vanessa really didn’t want to hear him stutter in her ear anymore.

#one chicago imagines #chicago pd #chicago pd imagine #hailey x jay #upstead #jay halstead x hailey upton #jay halstead #hailey upton #vanessa rojas #kevin atwater x vanessa rojas #kevin atwater #kim burgess #adam ruzek x kim burgess #adam ruzek #hank voight #mouch mcholland x trudy platt #trudy platt

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dansnaturepictures · 4 years ago

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The third of my 10 wildlife/photography highlights of 2020 blogs: My year in the New Forest

I do this post every year now and as I felt it worked well last year I’m structuring this post like this again. I will roughly talk through notable New Forest walks and trips we had this year in chronological order, but then introduce thoughts about subsequent walks at the same place, a similar or nearby one or one that featured the same or similar wildlife next so it does flip around back and forth around the months a bit. It was another special and varied year visiting our beloved national park, even if coronavirus meant there was a hiatus where I really missed going to the forest during the first lockdown as has happened before for a different reason a long time ago for me.

It all started with an early winter visit to Denny Wood to help build my bird year list early on, for the first time since 2015 we didn’t visit here alongside Lakeside on New Year’s Day to see woodland species but still made it here early on and I had a little look at the heath between it and Shatterford on 3rd January. As well as taking in a really nice landscape as it got sunnier and sunnier that packed day for me I was happy to watch the feeding woodland birds spending precious moments with them seeing my first Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dunnock, Nuthatch and Treecreeper of 2020, with my first Rook and Mistle Thrush of the year on the way driving in and on the way home nearby respectively.

Blashford Lakes was our location of choice on 4th January getting memorably lots of year ticks of bird species beginning with G. Standout birds I have seen at this rich reserve this year have included; Goosander, Goldeneye, Goldcrest, Great White Egret and Siskin. A standout visit to Blashford Lakes this year was my second of the year on 1st March which was one of my most special days of photography this year. I took some of my pictures I am most proud of this year as part of a high amount produced that day, including ones of a Robin one really closeup one that was one of my favourite ever pictures to take an early favourite of mine that I’d taken with my new camera that I got for Christmas, rainbows especially over Ibsley water, general landscapes, a Great Spotted Woodpecker one of my favourite birds and the nice bit of red fungi that there was so much of in the woods in the early days with my new macro lens which I got for my birthday shown in the first of my pictures in this photoset.

I had another strong year at other New Forest reserve Lymington-Keyhaven on the coast. Key species I saw there this year included; Kingfisher, Spotted Redshank, Spoonbill, Peregrine, Marsh Harrier, Slavonian Grebe, many Bar-tailed Godwits on multiple visits this quite special bird became a regular here this year I thought, Greenshank, Ruff, Knot, Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail which I took the second picture in this photoset of at Pennington in early September, my first Sand Martin of the year in March and many more seen well in June, Common Tern seen fishing really closely that day too which was great, Little Tern, Sandwich Tern and Reed Warbler those three for the first time in 2020 on the same day on what was a memorable late spring return in May to here and the sea after two months away from this habitat during the first bit of the lockdown which was really a sweet and special day for us, Avocet, Shelducks and Little Ringed Plover well with offspring in the spring lovely to see in great numbers in some cases, Black-tailed Godwit, Eider Duck and the lovely Grey Phalarope and its rarer cousin the Wilson’s Phalarope on one amazing October day as I mentioned in my first highlights post. Many lovely Cetti’s Warblers’ calls heard here was great too and it was even delightful to see two Black Swans here in late January. The day I saw the lovely white headed Ruff and another later on stood out for visiting here in late February I saw the white headed and another Ruff there again in October in my best ever year of Ruffs generally this year as I took a large amount of photos and ones I was very proud of that stood out this year of flying Mute Swans, lovely sunny beautiful landscapes, Rock Pipit and more. I had an equally as high yielding photo day I was happy with on 5th September producing photos of Knot, the Yellow Wagtail, Mute Swan and Little Egret flying, young Shelduck, Turnstone up close, many landscapes, flowers and some autumnal sights which I liked a lot. I got a delightful moment on a June Pennington visit seeing two Mute Swans with eight cygnets my first seen anywhere this year cross the footpath and go down the bank into the sea to swim. I enjoyed seeing flowers such as sea aster at this reserve a lot this year too. I enjoyed other flowers at this reserve this year too including common toadflax and broad-leaved clover. On the way back from seeing those three species at Lymington on 31st October it was atmospheric and brilliant on Halloween to see a gigantic full moon in the sky over the lovely forest landscape on the way back.

Another really pivotal day in my year which I already mentioned in my bird highlights of the year blog was a January visit to the Whitefield Moor/Holmhill area of the New Forest as part of one of my biggest weekends of the year. The Great Grey Shrike was an absolutely rare and mega bird to see one that had been widely seen by many that winter and a largely reported bird in the forest it was true joy to finally see it after a few attempts, as was the Hen Harrier very likely the same bird that had been my 200th of 2019 here on my last day of birdwatching/photography that year. My all-important first Bullfinch of the year completed a golden hat trick of bird year ticks with my first Fallow Deers of the year seen from the car on the way in at a part of the forest and some seen on the walk, and I took once again so many photos and some I was so proud of. The weather was amazing and sunny and the day felt part of something important for me. The Great Grey Shrike was only my fourth ever time seeing one (all in the forest over the years) but I soon got my fifth as on a trip to Milkham in the New Forest in March we were surprised to see one far away fly high into a tree. It was a sensational sight and made me really happy after a quieter period of birdwatching when coronavirus uncertainty had just started to hit I could be seeing a really rare bird and one we’d sort of found too it was smashing. I took the third picture in this photoset of this bird. It was generally an amazing day at Milkham a real rising star of a New Forest location wildlife wise for us as we are starting to see so much there where I also got my first year tick of March seeing my first Crossibills of the year late on. A fantastic and classic woodland New Forest species always an important one for me to see in a year this was my sixth straight year list I recorded this species on which I liked. That day I also saw Hawfinches in woods near Broomy Walk on the walk, a Grey Wagtail unusually on the path and got great views of two of my favourite birds the Buzzard and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Like I said in my highlights post about my favourite birds generally this year I’ve had brilliant years for both these species. I also took many landscape pictures I was happy with that day. It was a classic New Forest day in rich and varied habitat it has so much of and with iconic forest species.

I had a sensational day back at the Whitefield Moor/Holmhill bog walk on 11th July right in the summer especially for insects. I saw my first Common Grayling of the year one of my favourite butterflies always a top one to see in a year and Common Darter dragonfly of the year that day. I also got cracking views of an Emperor dragonfly flying over a pool right beside us it was fantastic to see such an intimate moment, and I saw male and female Silver-studded Blues on the heath on a sunny and hot day two species I had an especially good year for. Butterfly wise I managed to submit some sightings to the Big Butterfly Count that day from a small patch of the walk. Large White 10, Silver-studded Blue 6, Peacock 3, Brimstone 2, Meadow Brown 2, Red Admiral 1 and Ringlet 1 were the results great to chart them at this location. There was also so many Keeled Skimmers one of my favourite dragonflies out on the heath especially lots of golden females which was great I took one of my best photos this year of one with my macro lens it unusually staying still enough for long enough for to get a closeup picture. Buzzard, Jay two of my favourite birds, lots of Redstarts, Stonechats, Greenfinch and Chaffinch completed the highlights that day. As well as common red soldier beetle a species I saw so much those few days and Black-headed Gulls in the car park which I’d not seen here before. It was also amazing to see a Spotted Flycatcher on the way back at Football Green on the edge of the forest and get some nice Song Thrush views.

In late January myself and my Mum participated in an arranged walk with two lovely New Forest seasonal assistant rangers at Kings Hat as a result of a micro photography competition I had entered late last year. On quite a dark but lovely day walking in nice light rain it was great to go about the precious landscape and learn about the amazing work being done to manage the forest and how the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme works and its benefits. I especially liked learning about the iconic and unique to the New Forest rare tadpole shrimp, the important commoning, history of the forest and the work being done to recover the area from the impacts of verge parking. We also met like-minded people on the walk that day and it was a very polite and satisfying time. It was very memorable and a day I looked forward to a lot. Later that day we came back into the forest with the dogs and enjoyed a walk around Eyeworth Pond one of our top forest spots. As I said in my first highlights post the next month I saw my first Mandarin Ducks of the year in a call in there. In early March we were back there for another call in after a walk elsewhere and it was nice to see Mandarins, a Goosander up really close and enjoy some Mallards in a bit of sunlight on the pond on a day that had been showery that the sun brought out its colours so well. I took the fourth picture in this photoset of a Goosander.

Nearer to the outskirts of the New Forest at Badminston and Badminston Common I began my February by seeing one of my birds of the year when we managed to spot a Hoopoe that had been seen there, only my second ever. It was so amazing and perfect to get to spend a few minutes watching this esteemed, iconic and in some ways ultimate bird species moving about in horse fields. One of my best bits of the year for sure I was proud to have this experience and I took a record shot the fifth picture in this photoset of this remarkable bird. It was a beautiful new spot to discover in the forest too whether it be one offs or regular species birds often lead us to discover New Forest locations. We had a nice walk at nearby Calshot afterwards on the day where it was nice to see Brent Geese and a Little Grebe. aAs February went on a string of wet New Forest walks would provide us an outlet to still get out with the dogs and walk through named storms Ciara and Dennis. This included woodland walks at Acres Down and Hawkhill. It was quite something to see nature’s full force with trees swaying in the wind and that rain a moment in the year as such that will stay with us it defined those few weeks and what better place to observe this than the forest. This little period of time culminated in a walk at Blackwater where the weather wasn’t so bad throughout it eased off rather and it even got a little bit sunny, as the landscape my sixth picture in this photoset shows. I took a good few more photos that day after a slight drought for them with the weather and I got a surprise when at a strong place for them and a place we only discovered for them we got a distant view of my first Hawfinch of the year late on in the arboretum. Always a big moment for this strong forest species for me.

To end February on Leap Day at Pig Bush we had another classic New Forest day for us at this my favourite forest car park and walk. In the height of my boom period of photos at that stage where I’d regularly produce around 20 per trip and it became the new normal for a bit the new normal would be even higher later in the year of course I took yet another high amount of photos and some I was so happy with wildlife and landscape. I also got some top birdwatching done with views of my first Lesser Redpolls and Jack Snipe of the year in the woods and a boggy area respectively. It was great for the first time ever for me to see redpolls out in the wild sort of so not at a place where there were bird feeders. Obviously Blashford Lakes is where I usually see them in this setting and I’ve had some amazing up close views of them there especially last year but seeing some in the open like this shows another side to the species really. Like many of my walks this year there was a brilliant supporting cast of other species seen on this walk including Treecreeper, Redwing, Goldcrest, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker and Buzzard again. Both the February Pig Bush and March Milkham visits gave me huge senses of being in a wilderness and both stood out for months to come. The weekend after this before the March Eyeworth Pond call in I referenced above in another sunny patch of the day we had a great walk at Hawkhill again seeing the duo Buzzard soaring against a brilliant bright blue sky and Great Spotted Woodpecker flying high into trees again and I took some memorable landscapes including the seventh of my pictures in this photoset showing its distinctive grassland.

On a grey Friday off work on 20th March I spent part of it at Acres Down where I got a brief view of a Goshawk flying in the sky, only my second ever of a top bird we first discovered this place partly for. One of my standout birds of the year again. There were also a lot of Buzzards around in what became a day of raptors with Peregrine and Sparrowhawk seen at Winchester Cathedral later in the day and Buzzard at home too. Alongside a Pennington visit the next day where I saw my first Sand Martins this year these were to be my last New Forest trips before the Covid-19 enforced hiatus in the first lockdown. What a way to sign off for a bit. When there later in the year I was happy to see my first Tree Pipit and Redstarts of 2020. Both exceptional species especially the former that I felt so lucky to see this year. I’ve had a great record for seeing Redstarts down the years especially in the forest which I was proud I could carry on with but the Tree Pipit I didn’t manage to see last year at all after a three year run of seeing them before so I was happy to see it on a hot and sunny day singing a bit too these two are among my birds of the year for many reasons. On a showery but quite humid July Saturday it was great to see a Red Deer in the New Forest on our way to nearby to Acres Down Millyford Bridge. A pretty nice view of it through vegetation. The second Red Deer I’d seen this year at that stage, quite unusual for us even more special that it was a New Forest sighting though as they’re such a key part of the biodiversity of the forest a key mammal there and I’ve not seen them here nearly enough in truth. On the walk at Millyford it was nice to see quite a few Song Thrushes and some foxgloves that appeared to have been knocked over but the flowers had started growing upwards from a sideways plant beside the river in woods it was beautiful to walk in that day a really sweet habitat I find which the New Forest hosts well which was interesting. It was also good to see a tree with mushrooms on that day too. We came back to Millyford Bridge later in July seeing more mushrooms, as well as Robin and cow both with young which was great, lots of Grey Wagtails it was lovely to see a great bird in this watery habitat, New Forest ponies, some Fallow Deers running through, lots of little moths and a Large Red Damselfly on a very relaxing Monday and tranquil walk on a Monday I had off work.

On the way back from Martin Down in May it was great to see a couple of adorable New Forest pony foals and Canada Geese with goslings by Janesmoor Pond. On the way back from Martin Down in July it was good to see some Fallow Deers and get great Stonechat and Goldfinch views in a layby on an ice cream stop by Stoney Cross when the forest landscape looked nice and atmospheric on a rainy day after seeing Goldfinch well before and after the walk at home. I had an astonishingly good day’s wildlife watching on a walk from Fritham to Cadman’s Pool in the New Forest on a very beautiful, hot and sunny second May bank holiday Saturday. On it I saw two beautiful Cuckoos and heard them on the walk my first of the year and I got second views this year and pretty spectacular ones too of Tree Pipit and Goshawk with two each seen. One Tree Pipit view was classic Tree Pipit with it singing loudly on top of a tree which was brilliant. On that day I also saw my first Southern Hawker and Keeled Skimmer dragonflies of the year, many Fallow Deers, many House Martins and Chaffinches, Redstart, Mistle Thrush, Buzzard and a few Small Heath butterflies. What a late spring day!

On 6th June I had a brilliant walk on a dry patch of a grey and showery day from Turf Hill to Deadman Hill. I felt a strong sense of wilderness of hearing the trees swaying a bit in the wind and smelling a summer heath. I also saw a little bit of early purple heather coming out and one of the habitat’s star species my first Silver-studded Blue butterfly of 2020 an amazing moment to see this precious species so nicely an early sighting for it in a year really on a mostly grey day slightly hunkered down on the slopes of Deadman Hill. A view of Yellowhammer, a young Stonechat, some Fallow Deers really closely, bog cotton grass and an adorable New Forest pony foal completed my highlights that day.

On a scorching Sunday at the height of a heatwave at Cadman’s Pool on a brief walk after another elsewhere in another national park the South Downs I was so happy to see my first Golden-ringed Dragonflies of the year flying over the steam here. Classic New Forest wildlife on a vintage summer wildlife day for me always a beautiful and well-marked dragonfly I aim to see in a year. I also got great Southern Hawker views of a female and did my last of many Big Butterfly Count surveys there seeing 8 Large White, 4 Gatekeeper, 4 Small White, 1 Holly Blue and also 1 Peacock which was nice adding some real variety of habitats for my butterfly counts this year. That day I was also thrilled to see like Golden-ringed Dragonfly a summer New Forest speciality two young Siskins, Bullfinch over a period I saw them a lot and lots of New Forest ponies on a hot day including foals after seeing adorable baby donkeys on the way there and a pig. The weekend after the weather had changed and it was a wet day the Saturday but on it I discovered a new place and had my first ever walk at Matley. It was nice to photograph a view here I had seen lots of times from the car on the way to and from other car parks we walk at very nearby and could never photograph I took the eighth picture in this photoset of this. The walk and on the way in was the first time I saw heather gloriously purple and at its peak this year so I thoroughly enjoyed seeing and appreciating that and getting photos I especially loved seeing it and photographing it when it rained hardest looking very atmospheric. A sight I adore in the forest especially. Wildlife wise it was great to see on that walk a Kingfisher briefly flying along a stream, Swallows quite late in their season over the heath, moths and lots of Robins. Lots of autumnal sightings that day too as I address early on in my autumnal highlights blog. The heather at its purple I expect of late summer but the autumn really was seeming to have come early in this strange year.

The heather looked glorious on a walk at Ashley Walk in the New Forest to the Leaden Hall area and back it was so purple and carpeted the landscape so nicely. I saw some top wildlife that day including another Common Grayling butterfly, Wheatears including young, Linnets, Stonechats, Meadow Pipits, Mistle Thrush, Buzzard, many Fallow Deers out on the heath two herds which was so nice to see it was particularly a great day for grazing animals with cattle calves, donkeys and New Forest ponies both with young also seen very well and included in my photos a few taken that day. In a great bit of flower action alongside the lovely heather I loved spotting my first ever devil’s-bit scabious a wonderful flower to see which I took the ninth picture in this photoset of. I identified it using the plant net app photo identification a kind Twitter friend suggested it to me and it became invaluable in my best ever year of flowers which I speak about more in my two butterfly related highlights posts. Other autumnal colour in the landscape and nice sky scenes on a showery to start the walk but mostly very nice afternoon stood out that day. We were back at Ashley Walk for our now annual October walk from here up to Leaden Hall of an afternoon to try and catch the Ring Ouzels coming through on their outward migration and we were so delighted to see at least two of these beautiful thrushes really well that day. It was a brilliant afternoon watching this truly special bird it was special to see them for a fourth time for me, and get views as I did of them they really were my best ever views of these birds for the length of views time wise and how clear I could see them in binoculars and landed the birds showed well and did exciting flyovers which I loved and make out the differences to the very similar Blackbirds which were about namely the white bib on the plumage of the male, the lighter and quite creamy underwings when flying and how much bigger they are which I particularly noticed that day. One of my best bird species seen this year too without doubt and it makes me so proud of the New Forest having these birds around they really are incredible. I also heard one make its nice “tak” noise that day and in the rich berry bushes with them and the Blackbirds was a Song Thrush. I took the tenth and final picture in this photoset of a Ring Ouzel that day. That day I also enjoyed seeing Buzzard flying over, get stunning Kestrel views of one right beside the path and with Meadow Pipits and Stonechat get brilliant clear views of a delightful Dartford Warbler one of my favourite birds flitting around at the tops of bushes. A famous New Forest species that I’ve had such a good year for them this was however the first I had seen in the forest this year which really matters to me as for such a rare bird the New Forest is a key refuge for them and it’s a key bird of the habitat and where I fell in love with it. We also took in great mushrooms, landscapes and sky views. And as I mention in my seventh of these posts about my autumn on the way home by Bramshaw I saw my first pigs out for pannage of the year which is always a memorable moments and some Fallow Deers during their rut at Leaden Hall.

I had a brilliant walk at Blackwater on 4th October when as I mention in my seventh of these posts about my autumn in which I mention the New Forest quite a bit as usual in also seeing a herd of Red Deers and red fly agaric mushrooms. But on that day I was so happy to see a cute, fascinating, beautiful and shy mammal a Muntjac Deer briefly it was a fantastic view of only my third ever and first of the year. It took my mammal year list to 17 making it my second highest ever after last year’s. It also meant for the first time ever after the Chinese Water Deer sighting in Norfolk meant I’ve seen all six wild British deer species in my life that I saw all six of them in a year quite special following last year seeing the five deer species I’d seen in my life this took it a stage further nicely. I also loved seeing another Lesser Redpoll on this fairly wet walk yet another I’d seen in the open forest this year which felt very satisfying to see this beautifully marked bird again I did enjoy seeing it as well as Coal Tit and two Treecreepers. The wildlife I saw on this day made me so proud to know, love and live so close to the New Forest and I enjoyed some great atmospheric views on a mostly wet day which I always love at Blackwater.

On 24th October one of my best days this autumn and ever for two autumnal features as I wrote about in my seventh of these posts about autumn we went back to Pig Bush for a third time this year. Alongside the autumnal bits it was a classic Pig Bush visit as on a pretty wet day it was interesting and beautiful to see the rain showers move through the big landscape. I also enjoyed seeing a second New Forest Kestrel in as many Saturdays quite close after the one at Ashley Walk, a dragonfly quite late either Migrant or Southern Hawker, lovely New Forest ponies and cattle with calves too. There were also lovely flowers around some nice yellow ones and scabious probably small scabious. This was a special day as our annual October Pig Bush visit as that’s when we first ever went there one of if not the favourite individual spot in the New Forest for me so it reminds us of how it looked that day and it was actually 10 years on from when we first went there. It was a fitting top afternoon for that occasion. I wrote about Pig Bush in my autumn as I have said and week off in June highlights posts in this year’s thread of blogs. The next day at Rockford Common I really liked seeing a rainbow over the heath and being the backdrop of New Forest ponies this was very beautiful, especially lovely with what rainbows came to mean in honour of our National Health Service this year. Other highlights were Roe Deer seen quite closely, Stonechats in the sun which was quite nice to see and some other autumnal things as I wrote about in that highlights post later in this thread of blogs. Also that day the day after the clocks went back this autumn as the sun came down over the heath walking through fairly dark woods we heard a loud barking noise. To my delight I looked up to see a smashing looking Raven fly over with its big beak and I got some great views of it. A really fantastic wild moment, as it had done before elsewhere it epitomised the wilderness of the New Forest for me, beautiful. A fitting end to what was a thrilling and packed wild New Forest weekend for me.

I wrote a little bit about the New Forest in my fifth highlights blog coming up in this thread about my week off in June this year, during which I saw my first Spotted Flycatcher of the year at Pig Bush which was a great moment for me. The New Forest gets mentioned in and indeed began with me seeing devil’s finger and the very rare and New Forest speciality nail fungus near Bolton’s Bench my bonus 11th and final post about my November and December.

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kbmercer · 4 years ago

Text

Ch.1, Part 1: Encounter

My Heroic Pokemon Squad (A Pokemon/My Hero Academia Crossover)

Summary:

After receiving an emergency call to assist in sedating the legendary pokémon of time and space, Top Ranger (Y/n) (L/n) gets caught in the crossfire of their rampage. Sent barreling into a world unknown, (L/n) must now navigate her new surroundings and somehow find a way home. Yet, the aftermath of a momentary rift between dimensions carries drastic repercussions, especially considering that pokémon had never existed in this place to begin with. Not only that, but it seems humanity here have powers of their own, not unlike that of the creatures she has grown to love.

“In today’s news: ‘International Turmoil’.

It has been 48 hours following reports of a spike in supernatural activity occurring all over the world leaving countries on high alert. According to the investigations currently underway, it is said that all instances appear to stem from the creation of portals. The portals have since disappeared, yet the aftermath of this phenomena has resulted in a noticeable change, specifically in the wildlife. ‘Quirked animals’ are said to have begun inhabiting the areas where the portals had manifested. In Indonesia, pictures posted on social media show a group of mole-like creatures with steel claws drilling into the earth; and in Canada a video from a wildlife researcher spotting a dog-like creature with a pointed tail and curved horns spitting fire from its mouth...”

To say that (Y/n) was frazzled by this information would be an understatement. The young Ranger stood on the pavement of an unknown street within an unknown city listening to a broadcast presented by people unknown to her. She was one person within a crowd of many, watching the grid of televisions displayed at the window of a small tech shop. The air of uncertainty was palpable within the people surrounding her. Conversations about animals having “quirks” was the hot topic. Words of fear, anticipation, and curiosity fly from the people’s mouths, intertwining into a tangle of chatter.

“Oh my goodness, look at them! I would’ve never thought it to be a dog if I wasn’t told.”

“Man…I guess if humans can have quirks, animals gaining some of their own was kinda inevitable, yeah?”

“Don’t say that! This has to be some sort of mistake…”

“This isn’t good! We’re already dealing with the fall of All Might and now we have to deal with this?!”

The commotion had gotten louder and incomprehensible leaving (Y/n) to stop listening. She separated herself from the crowd. Taking a deep breath, she adjusts the red duffel bag she carries with her, keeping it close to her body like it was her lifeline. It might just be, considering the circumstances. She had no shelter apart from a makeshift tent she possessed, and the food she had been eating upon arrival two days ago had since depleted. She wasn’t only feeding herself…and while (Y/n) was sufficient in money, the girl highly doubted that this world’s currency was the Pokémon Dollar. Pokémon had never even existed here.

If the commentary wasn’t clear enough, in this world, Pokémon had never existed until those portals had opened.

Perhaps the extent of how big of a problem this was didn’t catch up to the young ranger until she thought about it in further detail. Perhaps the shock of waking up on some random beach with minor injuries and a wet uniform took all of her attention. It’s entirely possible that all her time and energy was focused on making sure she and her pokémon party who suffered the same fate could effectively recover. Though, she neglected to consider the bigger picture – the grand question: What do I do now?

Panic began to overwhelm (Y/n) but she suppressed thee tears that threatened to spill. Pokémon are especially perceptive to their trainer’s emotions both inside and outside their capsules. Her companions were a rather rambunctious and protective bunch know to break out of their pokéballs to aid her, but she couldn’t risk that. Instead she mulled over a potential plan of action as her feet carried her any which way. Down streets and past crosswalks, (Y/n) took in her surroundings: skyscrapers as tall as the eye can see, bustling city folk, narrow alleyways, advertisers and advertisement posters, vending machines that light up when anyone happens to walk near them, stairs to the subways. Despite the location being different, the girl couldn’t help but draw similarities to all the cities she had traveled to back in her own world like Rustboro City in Hoenn or Goldenrod City in Johto. Both were just as busy and energetic, complete with districts lined with stores and fast-food spots with corporate buildings being just around the corner. Though, it was by no means as Castelia City in Unova. That was a completely different beast.

By the time the top ranger had collected her thoughts, the sun had since set over the horizon casting a warm yellow-orange glow through the metropolitan, welcoming shadows to form underneath the feet of passersby. (Y/n) had her head lowered (e/c) eyes trained on the asphalt beneath her. After weighing her options, all she could think of was either settling for another day of living under her tent or simply searching for enforcement, the only viable option of helping her. The caveat to that decision, however, was that her lack of identity could possibly garner suspicion and make her situation worse than they already are. She was at an impasse. The young Top Ranger had never been stuck with so little options and it was upsetting. With a stamp of her foot she settled on taking repose in a café within her vicinity, unintentionally ignoring the welcoming words of the employees stationed behind the counter in her frustration and taking a window seat. (Y/n) failed to notice the inquisitive looks she received as she kept her eyes out the window, especially the person she had unceremoniously sat in front of.

“Well, if you’re going to take a seat there, the least you could do is acknowledge my existence,” (Y/n)’s eyes widened as her head snapped to the woman sitting opposite of her in the booth that she had sat. With bright blue eyes staring at her past the bangs of her deep purple hair, her upper body clad with a red camisole reclined in the place she sat. It was clear that she was mildly displeased at what happened. The girl sputters abashed by her lack of awareness before bowing her head.

“Sorry! I d-didn’t mean to not notice you. I just have a lot on my mind I guess…” Her eyes averted from the woman, she wanted to look anywhere but towards her pointed stare.

“Oh yeah? Then I’ll bite. If you’re gonna keep me company I’ll settle for a little small talk.” The woman takes a sip of the coffee in hand, but the hesitation from the girl across from her gets her guessing. “School trouble? Family issues maybe?” She gasps. “Is it about a boy?” (Y/n) shakes her head profusely.

“No! Nothing of that sort!” Oh Arceus, is she really the person she has to air her troubles out to? A brief moment of pause results in (Y/n) deciding to take the opportunity. This woman is just a regular civilian. What’s the worst that could happen? It’s not really like she had any better options. Under the blue-eyed woman’s expecting gaze (Y/n) shifts in her seat.

“It seems that I’m kinda lost…I don’t know where I am or why I’m here…” The woman’s gaze appears to transition into a deep frown and (Y/n) gets progressively nervous but resists the urge to clamming up. “I…washed up on the beach near here…and I don’t really have a home to go back to, if that makes any sense…I’ve been deciding on whether I should talk to law enforcement about my predicament, but I just feel that nothing good will come of it…y’know.” The steel grip (Y/n) kept on the duffel next to her doesn’t evade the eyes of Kayama. The words spoken from the teen were undoubtedly distressed, the contained uncertainty shown in their eyes coupled with the tenseness of their body supported that. It’d be foolish to dismiss and turn a blind eye to this. Yet, the reason to why she hadn’t already risen from the booth to take the girl to the police department was because of her last phrase. “I feel that nothing good will come of it.” Is (Y/n)’s relationship with authorities a sour one, or is there something else that she’s deliberately not telling her? Kayama let out a hum before viewing the skyline. The sun had taken rest for the day and streets of Musutafu were dimly lit by the various streetlamps and remainder of open shops on the strip.

“I know talking to authorities isn’t really a thing people like to do. But if you are is in as much of tough spot as you say you are, don’t you think it’s at least worth a shot?”

“If I may be honest, at this point I don’t think I have much of a choice,” with up-turned brows and a embarrassed scratch of the cheek, (Y/n) sighs in resignation. “I just don’t know where to start, I’ve basically been wandering all day.”

“Well, lucky for you I know exactly how to get you there.” Downing the remainder of her caffeine, Kayama motions (Y/n) to follow suit to which the young ranger obeys, securing her crossbody comfortably.

“Thank you, Ms…”

“There’s no need for the formality. Just call me Midnight for now.”

#crossover #fanfiction #pokemon #my hero academia #shonen #nintendo

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ranger-thirty-nine · 4 years ago

Text

A Rather Chaotic Harvest Day

In which it is Harvest Day and Martin has to fix everything going wrong.

Find it on Wattpad and Ao3!

A flurry of papers showered down around Martin as he shot up from his chair. He dropped his quill. Scrambling to the door, he quickly ran a hand through his hair and straightened up his jerkin.

“My lord!” he said. He clicked his heels together, lifting his chin up as Baron Arald poked his head into the office. “What can I do for you, my lord?”

Baron Arald smiled. He slapped Martin on the shoulder as he wandered inside. His face brightened at the plate of biscuits that sat on the desk. “Just checking in,” he said, picking one out for himself. “What’s on the agenda for today?”

Martin jumped. He lunged for his desk, sifting through the stacks of paper to find his schedule. “Today is Harvest Day, my lord!” he said. “The festivities officially start at ten o’clock, and you are expected to make a speech. The grand picnic starts at noon, so you have a few hours of downtime before then. You will be seated with all the craftmasters, and the Heaped Platter will be providing the meals.”

He took a deep breath. “There will be two shows. The first one at one o’clock, and the second at three. The results of the pumpkin carving contest and pie baking contest will be announced at five o’clock. You will be judging with Walter, the village constable, and Sir Rodney has agreed to be the third. At six, dinner will be served here in the castle. You will have to return beforehand to prepare. Joining you will be Sir Montague of Cobram Keep, Sir Maurice and Lady Sybil, who reigns from Norgate fief, and of course, the lovely Lady Sandra. You will be entertained by a choir and an ensemble of dancers. The day will be finished with yet another speech from you at about half past seven. Was there anything you would like to add, my lord?”

Martin looked up. He blinked at Baron Arald’s blank expression. “My lord?”

Baron Arald made a twirling motion with his finger next to his head. He waved his biscuit in the air. “Could you perhaps repeat all of that for me?” he said. “Slowly, this time.”

Martin set down the paper, gulping down a big breath. He opened his mouth and began reciting everything he had just said from memory. He clasped his hands behind his back, tapping his finger to keep rhythm. “Today is Harvest Day, my lord!” he said. “The festivities official start at—”

“You know what?” Baron Arald jutted in. “Why don’t you write it all down for me?”

“Yes, my lord! Right away, my lord!”

“In the meanwhile, I’m going to go have my breakfast. Drop that schedule off at my study when you’re done, okay?”

“Yes, my lord. I will do just that.”

Martin pulled open his desk drawer and retrieved a piece of parchment. Dipping his quill into his inkwell, he began to write. His handwriting was neat, some would say too neat. He agonized over each word, each letter, making sure it was all perfect. There was no excess amount of ink, and there was definitely no lack of it. Under his watchful eye and careful hand, there would be no mistakes. Everything would go the way it was planned.

His door swung open.

Martin scrambled onto his feet. His heels clicked together in an effort to make a loud clack, and he straightened his back. “My lord!” he said, almost knocking over the inkwell. “I did not expect you to return so soon. Did you need—oh.”

He looked up to find Desmond, the head steward. His best friend. Martin relaxed, letting out a breath. He leaned against his desk and shook his head. “Good morning, Desmond.”

Desmond was out of breath. His face was all ruddy, dark hair messily tumbling over his eyes. He grabbed Martin by the arm, lowering his voice. He whispered into his ear. “We have a problem,” he said.

Martin frowned. “What happened?” he asked, hand going slack.

“One of the singers is sick!” Desmond said. “We don’t have a replacement. He was supposed to lead the song after the baron’s speech.”

“What?” Martin said, louder than he meant to. He winced. “Are you sure?”

Desmond nodded.

“Take me to him.”

Martin grabbed his cloak as he passed his coat rack. Swinging it over his shoulders, he walked at a brisk pace and urged Desmond to walk faster. He put on a smile, nodding at the servants they passed. Nobody would know that there was a setback. Everything was the way it was supposed to be. Everything was fine.

Desmond led him out of the castle and into the courtyard. Martin paid no heed to the blast of wind that crashed into his face. He pushed forward. He squinted as his eyes adjusted to the dark. With winter on its way, the sun was slower to rise and quicker to leave. That meant there was no time to waste. Daylight was precious.

Running out of the castle grounds, they passed the drawbridge and dove into an array of colorful booths. The tents were red and gold and violet. They were bright, vivid colors, and they popped like a burst of fruit in the bleached morning. Orange and blue streamers hung from the posts, flowing in the wind like glittering flags.

It was barren and empty despite the lively atmosphere it seemed to bring. There was no one around. The air held a serene quiet, peace before a day of live performances and fun games. Silent anticipation and excitement.

Martin didn’t stop to catch his breath, pushing open the flaps of a dark purple tent. He pushed past Desmond and looked around. “What happened?” he demanded.

“Oscar is sick!” The fair’s ringmaster said. “We don’t know what to do.”

“Are you sure no one can take his place?”

“We had to use our replacement to take Astrid’s place for the show. Everyone else is too busy! They don’t have time to learn the part.”

“Everything is fine, guys.” A wheeze came from the corner of the tent. Oscar pushed himself up, struggling against the mass of blankets that had been over him. “I can do it.”

“You shouldn’t strain yourself if you’re—”

“Are you sure?” Martin spoke over Desmond. “Can you sing all right?”

“Just get me some tea. I’ll get through it.”

“No.” The ringmaster stepped forward. “I’m not letting you sing like this.” He turned to Martin, eyes set. “What are you thinking? We could just cancel this one song,” he said, dragging him outside by the arm. “I don’t want anyone else getting a cold because of this.”

“But—”

“He’s right, Martin.” Desmond placed a hand on his shoulder. “One song isn’t going to make a huge—”

“Hey!” Martin shouted, darting away towards a lone figure. “You there! Ranger Will Treaty! You can sing, right?”

Will looked up as Martin approached. His eyebrow rose. He had been taking a stroll before the day’s activities. “Hello, Martin,” he said. “Happy Harvest Day.”

“Yes, yes.” Martin nodded. “Ranger Will, you can sing, right?”

“I believe so.”

Martin didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Will’s arm, running back towards Desmond and the ringmaster. “Here!” he said. “I found you a replacement.”

“What?” Will pulled himself out of Martin’s grasp. He dusted himself off. “What am I doing?”

The ringmaster stared at Will. He hummed to himself. “You can sing?”

“Uh, yes?”

Leaving them to it, Martin followed Desmond back towards the castle. He exhaled. “That wasn’t so hard.”

Desmond chuckled. “It wasn’t like anything was going to stop you,” he said. “You never let anything like this cause some sort of problem.”

“Well, there was that one time…” Martin trailed off.

He looked up, standing at the edge of the drawbridge. Frowning, he strained his ears. “What is that?” he said.

Arguing could be heard from the castle. They were too far away to decipher what was being said, but the fighting was clear. Sharp voices drifted into Martin’s ears, and from the sound of it, the two offenders weren’t even bothering to keep it hushed.

Martin felt his cheeks flush hot red. He shared a glance with Desmond before sprinting up the drawbridge. “Hey!” he said. “Hey, what do you two think you are doing?”

He slid to a stop in front of the stables. The two individuals in question spun to face Martin. To his surprise, it was a young stablehand and a member of the traveling fair. The stablehand had a panicked look about him. He seemed close to tears with a red nose and hair like a mop. The fair member, however, was angry. Her eyes were little flames, a beacon in the coming morning. She glared at Martin.

“This fool took all the apples for apple bobbing!” she screeched.

“It was an accident!” the stablehand said. “I said I’m sorry!”

“But what about apple bobbing? It’s a tradition!”

“I didn’t know!”

“Hush it! Both of you!” Martin said. He crossed his arms. “You.” He nodded at the stablehand. “Why did you take the apples?”

“I thought they were for the horses!” he said. Sweat dripped from the side of his head. He swallowed. “They were in the usual spot where we get our shipments!”

“But they weren’t!” the fair member said. “You should have checked with someone!”

“I didn’t think to!”

“Whose fault is that, then?”

“Stop stop stop!” Martin waved his hands in the air. A strand of his short, cropped hair fell down onto his forehead. He opened his mouth and looked for the words he wanted to say. “Let’s think this through! Are you sure we don’t have any more apples?”

The fair member sighed. She huffed at a strand of her hair. “No,” she said slowly, drawing her words out as if what she was saying was obvious. “The cooks need the rest of the apples. They need to make enough apple cider, candy apples, and apple tarts for everyone.”

“What if you don’t use apples?”

Martin looked at Desmond. “What? Say that again!”

Desmond cleared his throat. He awkwardly smiled at all the eyes that were trained onto him. “What if…” he said. “We don’t use apples. Pears? Can we use pears?”

“But not all pears float.”

“Then, mix it up.” Desmond inclined his head. The gears in his head turned methodically. “Use both pears and oranges. If you find apples, add them in too.”

The fair member blinked. “That… could work.”

“Yeah?” Desmond nodded his head like an excited puppy. “Come. I’ll take you to the kitchens.”

Martin sighed when Desmond and the fair member went out of sight. He ran a hand through his hair. Closing his eyes, he took a moment to himself.

“Excuse me?” the stablehand said. “Are you alright?”

Martin waved his hand away. “I’m fine,” he said. “Just fine. Get back to work.”

“Yes, sir.”

Martin quickly left the stables, headed towards the doors that led into the castle. It wasn’t until he reached the doorway did he realize the sunlight that peeked through the clouds. He spun on his heels, and his eyes widened. Jogging back the way he came from, he looked towards the sundial.

Ten o’clock.

The festival was supposed to be starting. Baron Arald was supposed to be making a speech. But where was he?

A gasp tore through Martin’s throat. The hairs on the back of his neck bolted up as realization struck him like a lightning bolt. He dashed towards the castle, climbing up the steps two at a time. Pushing the door open, he yelped in surprise as he ran into someone.

“Excuse me—oh! Baron Arald!�� Martin scrambled backwards. His heels instinctively tapped together, and he straightened up. He sucked in a breath, standing at attention.

“There you are!” Baron Arald said. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“I am so terribly sorry, my lord!” Martin said. “Some things came up, but I have them resolved now. You do not have to worry about anything.”

“Martin, I actually—”

“My lord, the people are waiting for your speech now. You should hurry. I will get back to writing down your schedule for you. Do not worry!”

“Martin!”

Martin was already scurrying along the hall. He walked straight to his office, not bothering to say a greeting to anyone he passed. His door was open when he arrived, and Martin frowned. He was sure he had closed his door.

Walking inside, he looked around. Perhaps, he didn’t. The morning was all a blur, and Martin couldn’t remember half of the things he had done.

He plopped down into his chair, relaxing against the soft cushions. Martin picked up his quill to continue writing. Dipping it into the inkwell, he paused. Where was his original schedule?

Setting down his quill, he looked through his papers. He carefully fingered through each of them. Martin frowned. There was no way he could have lost it! It had been there earlier that morning. He hadn’t done anything with it, had he?

Martin looked through his papers a third time. His heart began to pound faster and faster, hands slippery with sweat. He didn’t even hear the knocking of his door until it creaked open.

“Excuse me?”

Martin glanced up at the courier. “Yes?”

“I bring a message from Sir Ellis of Aldstock Hold.”

Martin paused. He set his papers down slowly, standing. “Sir Ellis?” he said. “I thought he wasn’t coming.”

“That’s the thing, mister. Everything’s cleared up. He will be arriving in an hour.”

“An hour?” Martin echoed.

“That’s right.”

Dismissing the courier, Martin muttered underneath his breath. He picked up his quill and began to scribble on a piece of parchment. Someone would have to warn Master Chubb to cook an extra dinner, and the servants were going to have to prepare more guest bedrooms. And from the looks of it, Martin was the only one in the castle who knew of Sir Ellis’s arrival. That meant he would have to tell them himself.

He headed for the kitchens. The castle was quiet with the majority of people out enjoying the fair. Everyone had at least half the day off, and no one was going to waste it inside doing work.

“Master Chubb!” Martin said, walking into the loud kitchen. He cleared his throat over the popping and sizzling. He raised his voice. “Master Chubb!”

Master Chubb looked over at Martin. He motioned for another cook to take his spot. “Martin,” he said, wiping his hands on a towel. “Happy Harvest Day.”

“Sir Ellis of Aldstock Hold will be here for dinner. Be sure to prepare something for him.”

Master Chubb frowned. He tapped at his ear. “Speak louder! I can’t hear you with all this background noise!”

“Sir Ellis!” Martin shouted. “He will be here tonight!”

Shooting him a thumbs up, Master Chubb waved at a handful of servants. Sighing, Martin stumbled back out of the kitchen and back into his office. He could hear the laughter and chattering from outside. The small children screamed, chasing each other and begging their parents for sweets. Many of the knights took part in the games, and the hoop throwing one seemed to have been frustrating them. Even Baron Arald seemed to have trouble with it.

Martin shut his curtains before taking a seat. Leaning forward, his elbows landed on his desk. His eyes skimmed over all his papers, his brain empty. He yawned.

His eyelids drooped down, enraptured by the sweet lure of sleep. His hands were the only thing holding his head up, and his whole body had powered down with the thought of rest. Sleep came to him the way a fish would bite onto a hook. Slumber was a bait too strong for Martin to resist, especially after a restless night and hectic morning. He pounced on it, and his consciousness was no more. His head landed on his desk.

It felt like seconds before someone was prodding at his arm. Martin groaned.

“Martin! Martin, wake up!”

Rubbing his eyes, Martin slowly sat up. He blinked as light entered his pupils. Someone had opened his curtains. “Huh?”

“You fell asleep at your desk.”

Martin froze. He knew that voice. He hopped out of his chair. “My lord!” he said, bowing down. “I am so—”

“Relax, relax.” Baron Arald chuckled. “Desmond tells me you’ve had quite the morning.”

Martin looked at Desmond, who stood next to his window. He glared at him, but Desmond didn’t seem to be affected by it.

“My lord, I assure you I will make it all up to you.”

“Martin, you really don’t have to—”

“What time is it?” Martin looked back. “Desmond?”

“A little past two.”

Martin nodded. “My lord—”

“Martin!” Baron Arald practically shouted. “Calm down for a minute, would you? Harvest Day is not ruined!”

“My lord?”

Baron Arald dug in his pockets, pulling out a piece of parchment. “I came to your office when you didn’t leave the schedule on my desk. I took your copy of it.”

Martin stared blankly at the schedule in his hands. “Oh.” He opened his mouth to apologize, but the baron raised a hand before he could.

“Don’t be sorry,” he said. “Just don’t.” Baron Arald paused. “Have you ever considered taking a break, Martin?”

“A break? My lord, are you… what are you saying?”

Baron Arald laughed. “I’m not firing you, Martin. You’re very good at your job, and I don’t know anyone else who would put in all the effort you do. But perhaps, you should take the rest of the day off. It’s Harvest Day, after all.”

“My lord, you really don’t have to do that. I am quite capable of—”

“That was an order, Martin.”

Martin’s throat went dry. He stiffened, clacking his heels together. Standing up straight, he nodded. “Yes, my lord.”

Baron Arald nodded. He turned to Desmond. "You too."

Desmond bowed. He smiled as the Baron exited the room, humming to himself. Elbowing Martin in the ribs, he laughed. “You can be so dense, sometimes.”

“Really? Should I do something about that?”

Desmond rolled his eyes. “Nevermind,” he said. “Let’s go to the fair. We can make it to the last show.”

Martin smiled. He shuffled in his position, shifting his weight around. It wasn’t often when he had nothing to do. It was strange. But orders were orders, and Martin soon found that it was a good strange. He could get used to taking days off.

“Okay,” he said. He squeezed Desmond’s shoulder. “Let’s go.”

#ranger's apprentice #thanksgiving #harvest day #minor character appreciation

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nightwingshero · 5 years ago

Text

Lonely Eyes Part 2

So...That little thing I was working on has another part to it....AAAND I’ve been sitting on it for awhile, because I love/hate it. I really don’t think I captured Hudson well, at all. I tried to make it funny and I was hyped up on too much Monster. So, there’s that. I just really think Wren and Rowan are chaotic dumbasses together sometimes, and it really shows here. Anyway! Here’s the thing with the stuff. @chazz-anova you seriously helped in convincing me to do this lol

“You set her up with who?!” Hudson asked, completely flabbergasted. She groaned as she shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Of all fucking people, Rowan.”

I chuckled under my breath as I took a bite of the yogurt I was working on. Rowan had stopped by to eat a late breakfast with me and Hudson. Of course, she immediately demanded I tell her what happened. I shrugged, giving her just the bare minimum. I was still embarrassed for how everything had turned out, and I had gone home with the smell of sandalwood in my hair. I did not need them knowing about John Seed, especially since Hudson seemed to work closely with him a lot of the time.

“Eli fishes with him sometimes. I don’t know him well, but I thought it would be worth a shot! He’s friends with Pratt—”

“That should have been your first flag, Ro.” Hudson snorted before popping a piece of her bagel in her mouth. I laughed fully as I leaned back against my chair. “I mean, you’re with Jacob Seed all the time. You couldn’t have set her up with—”

“I am not with Jacob all the time!” Rowan gasped out, becoming defensive. “We just hunt sometimes.”

Hudson raised her brow as she stared at Rowan. “You hunt all the time, liar. Just do it, man. Seriously. It’s so obvious you two are into each other.”

“It’s true, dear!” Nancy chimed in from the next room and we laughed as Rowan’s face burned red. One of the disadvantages of having such a small office. Everyone heard everything if you weren’t careful. “Bye, girls! You have a good one!”

We turned to see two women walk out, one blonde and the other a darker, almost a dirty blonde. They both smiled at Nancy as they made their way to the exit. The oldest had honey brown eyes, her long hair pinned back and framing her face. She had a yellow sundress that reminded me of a warm summer day. The youngest had flowers printed on her white dress. They exchanged looks, both smiling with a secret hiding behind their bright eyes. They waved at us as the made their way outside.

“Who are they?” I asked.

“Oh, that’s Whitney and Faith Seed. They stop by here and there for Whitehorse, you know, to help with organizing community benefit stuff with their church. They’re probably here about the county fair. Faith is the baby sister and Whitney is married to one of the brothers.”

“Which one?” I blurted out without thinking. Rowan and Joey eyed me, and I tried to recover. “I mean, how many brothers are there? There’s two, right?”

“Three.” Hudson corrected with a laugh. “Whitney is married to the middle brother, Joseph, and they have a couple of kids together. He’s a pastor at the church further North.”

“Oh.” I replied.

“So, what did you say? When the guy came back from the bathroom?” Rowan asked, folding her hands together as they supported her chin. I just sighed and smirked, twirling my spoon in the cup of yogurt.

“Told him off for being rude and disrespectful, you know? Then said that girls love to go mudding.”

“Hell yeah we do.” Hudson chimed in, taking a sip from her coffee.

“I may or may not have told him that girls didn’t like guys with small dicks who use their dad’s money to buy trucks they can’t drive.”

“Deputy Blake!” Nancy cried as we lost it.

“Sorry Nancy!” I called back as we began crying from laughing so hard.

“You—you should have seen his face!” I gasped out. “Oh my god!”

“What did he say?!” Rowan gasped through her fits of laughter.

“He called me a bitch and a fucking tease, then left saying he couldn’t handle my crazy shit.” I replied with a shrug, calming down a bit.

“Wow. What an ass. I’m gonna get him the next time I pull him over for drinking and driving. John won’t protect his ass this time.” Hudson scoffed with a smug smile on her face, a mischievous glint in her dark eyes.

I frowned as I gave Hudson a look. “What do you mean?”

“Meh, Trey’s dad would hire John to defend his son every time he got in trouble. He used to have some sway here in Hope County. Used to be mayor before Virgil. Anyway, John got tired of it, defending this guy over and over for him to just end up repeating the same shit. So, he told him the next time his son gets caught, find another attorney, and pray it’s a good one.”

“John said that?” I breathed out as Rowan eyed me.

“Fuck yeah he did. Well, he would have to pull someone from Missoula and even then, with John’s reputation? There’s no fucking way. Big time Atlanta lawyer? There was no way he wasn’t making waves showing up here. Whitehorse was thankful, you know? For once he had someone that wasn’t afraid to cross that damn family. He knows his shit, man.” She threw me a smirk at me. “Oh, does he know his shit. You wanna get set up with someone? John Seed, sweetie. Ride that train.”

“I thought you said you hated him.” I wanted to ignore her comment, but I couldn’t ignore the fluttering in my stomach as I looked back down at my cup of yogurt.

“No, I said I can’t stand him half the time. And that’s when he’s defending someone I’m trying to put away.” A door open and closed, and we could hear Nancy’s low voice talking from the next room over, deeper voices answering her in return. “Don’t get me wrong, he can be a bit arrogant and cocky —”

“He can be sweet, too.” Rowan interjected in his defense as she threw Hudson a look. But Hudson just kept going.

“—But the guy can back it. Fucker knows he’s good looking, too. Knows he has a certain affect on people, good or bad. I swear he can read people like the back of his hand.” Hudson sighed as she tore another piece of her bagel. “Either way, don’t listen to Rowan the next time she thinks you’ll hit it off with someone. Come to me before she sets you up. I’ll save you, Rook.” She smiled as she popped the piece in her mouth.

Rowan threw her hands up and rolled her eyes. I just shook my head and took another bite of my yogurt. I decided right then that it was a good call on my part to keep the details about what happened with him under wraps. I could only imagine the lash back for that. We heard deep laughter then, pulling our attention to the next room. Whitehorse and Pratt were standing near the front, laughing and talking with none other than John Seed. He laughed at something Whitehorse said as the Sheriff shook his head. Briefly, just briefly, his blue eyes met mine. In that second, my heart seized as panic filled my veins. I didn’t know just a glance could hold so much weight, it was practically unbearable as I recalled the utter humiliation that resulted from our last run in. I look away immediately, all the liquid courage I had last night was no longer there to help me out of my shell. I fought the urge to run and hide, but I was at work for fuck’s sake, I needed to get over it. The embarrassment would go away…eventually. Then I would be able to show my face around him without a threat of a blush or the memory of his breath fanning across my skin. I gave an involuntary shiver at the thought.

“Deputy Hudson, Deputy Blake—" I jump clean out of my skin before Hudson and I both turn to see Whitehorse approaching us, just in time for him to catch sight of Rowan. My eyes widened a bit as his face twisted in confusion. “Palmer? What the hell--? What are you doin’ here?” Rowan and I shared a quick look, trying to figure out the excuse we were gonna use this time. We both turned, word vomiting in front of everyone at the same time.

“We’re long lost fraternal twins—”

“Ride along.”

Whitehorse’s brows furrowed as I took in what Rowan had said. I place my fist against my mouth as I shot her a look. You’ve got to be kidding me. Rowan’s mouth is a straight line, her eyes wide as realization dawned on her. Snapping her fingers and then pointing at me, she gives Whitehorse a smile.

“Ride along.” I shook my head slowly in disbelief as I stared at her, my fingertips pressing into my temple for support. I couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes at this point. How the hell was this person becoming my best friend? “Just like Wren said. I’m, uhm…riding along for the day.”

Whitehorse crossed his arms as Pratt snickered next to John as they stood behind Earl. “Rowan Palmer, I’ve known you almost all your life. Not once have you shown an interest in law enforcement. Even after you came back from the military.”

“People change, Sheriff.” Rowan insisted. He cocked a brow at her, and Hudson chuckled before chiming in.

“Wren and I were just taking Rowan’s statement. There was a bad run in with a park ranger last night, and it was Rowan’s fault.”

“That’s the third time you’ve changed your story in the past five minutes.” His honey voice rang out, a light amusement in his tone. I didn’t dare look at him, but I knew his blue eyes would be full of amusement with a smirk on his lips. “Even I wouldn’t want to defend you if you were on trial, Hudson.”

She glared at him, immediately taking the bait. “Nobody asked you, Seed. Besides, Rowan would be the one on trial. You know, for setting her up with Trey fucking Kohrs—”

“Hey!” Pratt cried out as Whitehorse let out a sigh. “That’s my best friend you’re talking about!”

“Well, fuck—” Hudson caught the way I crinkled my nose and she held her hand up. “I stand corrected. Non-fuck your best friend. It’s Rowan’s fault for setting them up, and he should be put on trial for how he treated my partner. Do your fucking job, Mr. Hotshot Attorney. He’s a fucking cu—”

“Deputy Hudson!” Nancy shrieked in horror from the next room. I turned slowly and stared at Hudson, completely mortified. I realized quickly that I was wrong, oh so wrong. I told them about how the person next to me had heard everything and made a snide comment at the end, but that was it. Maybe if I had told them from the beginning, this wouldn’t be happening. I tried to avoid trouble, tried to avoid it turning into something else or maybe escaped some teasing I knew Hudson would’ve thrown my way. But I underestimated how much damage these two could do when kept in the dark. Hudson smirked at me as I glared at her. Rowan whipped her had around so fast, I wasn’t sure how she didn’t snap her damn neck.

“Shut up, Joey!” She hissed. “That was so not my fault! Trey—"

“Alright.” Whitehorse cut in, raising his hands in a calming fashion before giving Rowan a look. “You know what I’m gonna say—”

“We’re in a polyamorous relationship, so I’m visiting my wife and mistress at work. It’s important for our communication and love life, Sheriff. Happy wife, happy life.” Hudson and I both look at Rowan as Pratt loses it, bent over and clutching his stomach as he leans against a desk for support. Whitehorse’s face goes red, and in the corner of my eye, I can see Nancy peeking around the corner. I didn’t dare look up to meet the blue eyes I felt burning a hole in my face. I wanted nothing more than for a black hole to appear and swallow me whole.

“Are you serious?” I asked, finally breaking my silence as my hands come up in absolute horror at the turn of events. “You couldn’t stick with ride along? You had to go that far—"

“What the fuck?” Hudson asked as she stares Rowan down.

“Number four.” Pratt muttered as he elbowed John.

“Shut up, I panicked!” Rowan replied, getting defensive. She looked at Whitehorse while pointing at me. “That’s my wife and you can’t destroy our love.”

“But I’m not gay—"

“Why is she the wife?” Hudson’s voice rising in pitch as she glared at Rowan incredulously. “I’ve known you way longer.” Rowan threw Hudson a smirk, her eyes full of wrath.

“That’s the point.”

My eyes widened as Hudson slumped back with a scoff. “Fine. Neither of you are my type, anyway.”

“Wren is wifey material, Joey. Total babe.” Rowan shrugged then, making a show of examining her nails. “Besides, she’s a silver-tongued devil, you know? Comes in handy.”

“No. Please just stop.” I beg as I rest my face in my hands in pure embarrassment from the sexual innuendo. This was my best friend. This person in front of me. “For the love of God, please stop.” I could hear Nancy choking on her coffee in the next room, the Sheriff shuffling uncomfortably. Pratt just laughed harder. Rowan wasn’t usually one to pull something like this, from what I had known of her, but she always became flustered when nervous or caught doing something she wasn’t supposed to.

“You’re married to your long-lost fraternal twin, and you’re here for a ride along with her and the mistress in your relationship?” Pratt wheezed out. All I wanted in this moment was for it to end. This was too much.

Rowan hesitated for a second. “Yes…?”

I sighed out as I looked back at the Sheriff and he just shook his head. “Palmer, I need you to leave. And hun, you gotta stop sneaking into my station.”

Rowan groaned and agreed as Sheriff finished giving Hudson and I orders. We hummed in agreement before him and Pratt walked off, and it was then that I noticed that John had already gone. My shoulders slumped a bit, but I was mainly relieved. How the hell was I always embarrassing myself around that guy? I grabbed Rowan’s arm, pulling her to the side with Hudson. I gave a quick look around to make sure we were in private for the most part as they gave me weird looks.

“You know how I told you just a bit about the guy that was sitting next to Trey and I last night?” They both nodded and I took a deep breath. “Yeah, well, I may have left out the fact that the man was John Seed. And that maybe, maybe, there’s bit more to the story than I had originally led on.”

It takes just a second for it to hit them before they’re eyes are widening. “Oh shit…so, my little comment about the park ranger—”

“Yeah,” I said, cutting Hudson off with sarcasm dripping heavily off my tongue. “Thanks for all that, by the way. None of that was embarrassing at all.”

“Hey, I didn’t know!”

“Wait.” Rowan chimed in as she put her hand up. “So, what happened then? What didn’t you tell us?”

I sighed, biting my lip before I go more into detail as I recalled everything that had happened last night, not leaving anything out. They hang onto every word as I relive the worst date of my life. It was awkward, and my face burned bright red the whole time. And then I came to the end, taking note of every move he had made, reciting him word for word. When I finished, Hudson was smirking at me and Rowan just gapped at me.

“And then what?” Rowan breathed out.

“Nothing. I checked outside for him and he was just…gone.” I shrugged as she sighed in disappointment.

“So, he bought all your drinks? Without you even knowing? God, that’s such a John move.” Hudson scoffed and shook her head before looking back at me, crossing her arms. “Makes all those comments I made about him doing his job so much sweeter, though. Totally worth it. So then, when are you going out?”

“Uhm…what?”

She furrowed her brow and cocked her head to the side. “When you are you guys going out? Like, you stopped him when he was here, right? To ask him out? You know, follow up about showing you around and being a legit gentle—did you seriously not talk to him?”

“No!” I rushed out as I motioned to the next room. “I had no fucking clue he was even here!”

“No idea—Wren, he’s always fucking here since you started.”

I froze and stared at her. “I mean, he’s supposed to be, right?”

“Are you kidd—okay.” She put her hand up, stopping me as she pinched the bridge of her nose with her other hand. “I’m surrounded by idiots. Seriously, the both of you. I don’t know how you two survive being this blind. I’m setting this straight right now, or else I’m going to scream.” She sighed as she looked at Rowan. “Jacob is into you. You’re doing things with him and his daughter all the fucking time. He literally only hunts with you or his brothers. He’s only ever hunted with Eli a few once or twice. Ask him out, I’m tired of you not getting plowed by that fucking lumberjack soldier guy.” She turned to me and I gulped. “And you, partner of mine, need to get your head out of your ass. We’re in the 21st century. Know what that means? We have cell phones and email. You think John needs to be here all the fucking time? Does he look like someone who really belongs in this damn station day after day? No, he doesn’t. In fact, before your pretty ass showed up, he was hardly ever here. Now he’s always here, and Whitehorse isn’t complaining. He likes doing things face to face, he’s very old fashioned that way. Pratt doesn’t notice shit like that, but Nancy and me? Oh, we noticed.” She scoffed, looking at her boots with a shake of her head before she gave me a curious look. “He was in Alaska with Jacob for a hunting trip when you showed up, did you know that?”

“I remember that.” Rowan muttered. “Lucky bastards.”

Hudson ignored her as she continued, placing her hands on her hips. “He comes back, sees you, asks Nancy, Pratt, and I about you. Because he was gone a fucking week and all of a sudden, we have a shiny new deputy. A deputy with long dark hair and pretty eyes, who, for some stupid reason, can’t seem to stop fucking smiling at everyone. So, dumbass, when we’re done with our shift, you’re gonna go home. You’re gonna put on jeans, boots, and a flannel with a tank top. Maybe a t-shirt. You’re not going to dress up for this. Now, don’t get me wrong, you probably looked great last night. But he called you on your shit, so going back like that again is gonna be the wrong thing to do. You’re going to be 100% you. So, you’re gonna braid that fucking hair of yours, skip the makeup—you don’t fucking need it, and walk your ass into that fucking bar. You’re gonna sit next to him and buy that guy a fucking drink.”

We stared at Hudson in shock, not sure how to respond to her. Nancy walks past us to grab something from the copier. “Blue, darling.”

“What?” I asked, turning to her. She looked up at me, her red lips turning into a smile.

“Wear blue. Trust me.”

Hudson groaned again as we made another pass on the main street. The fair was in full swing this late afternoon, the sun high with no clouds in sight. It was hot with our uniforms and I thought for sure Hudson was going to drop dead beside me. We were just here to cover our bases. Apparently, that was what the two Seed women were doing this morning at the station. Making sure they had some security for the people of Hope County. Despite the heat, it was a good day. Cotton candy, popcorn, and fresh straw hung heavily in the air. Kids ran by giggling and screaming in excitement to the next ride, their faces painted. I smiled as I took it all in, it had been so long since I had gone to one of these. It was a nice change in pace.

“Won’t be too much longer before Pratt shows and we take a drive around the county to make sure everything is all good.” Hudson said as she watched the Ferris wheel, her hand shielding her eyes as she looked up. I had to fight the laughter that threatened to escape. She immediately threw a cussing fit when she realized her aviators were still at the station. She threw me glares here and there as she studied mine. I had offered to buy her a kids’ pair, all pink and covered in flowers. That only led to her flipping me off in return.

“Think he can handle it?” I asked with a scoff. She laughed and shook her head.

“Poor guy—”

“Excuse me, Miss Police Officer Lady?” a small voice called. I turned to see a little girl staring up at me with wide eyes, tears threatening to fall any second. “I can’t find my daddy.”

I knelt down, pushing my glasses up as I smiled. “That’s okay, I can help you. What’s your name?”

“Luna.”

“Hi there, Luna. My name is Deputy Blake, but you can just call me Wren.” I held my hand out to her. I watched as she clutched her plane toy close with one hand as she reached out and shook mine.

“Like the birdie, right?” Her bright blue eyes were glistening, with her red hair pulled back in a French braid. “My daddy knows a lot about animals.”

“Just like the bird. I can’t fly though.” She laughed at my lame joke and I smiled brighter. “You know,” I pulled at my necklace, bringing the plane pendent out of hiding. “Even though I can’t fly, I like planes. I really like your toy. I have a necklace just like that.”

“Oh, cool!” She smiled, stepping closer to look at it. “It’s pretty.”

“How about we do this? We’re gonna look for your dad. I’m gonna put you on my shoulders and let you wear my glasses, so it’ll be like you’re flying. How does that sound?” She nodded enthusiastically and I stood. I handed her my glasses before I picked her up and placed her on my shoulders. “See? Safe and sound, and you can see almost the whole world.”

“I’m so tall!” She giggled. I turned to Hudson as we began to search the crowd.

“That’s Luna Seed.” Hudson muttered to me and I gave her a look. “Jacob’s little girl. We just gotta find one of the brothers, or Whitney. They should be around here somewhere.”

Hudson stopped to ask people if they had seen the family, and while she did so, I made airplane noises to keep the poor girl distracted. Anything to keep her from feeling as scared as she was when she approached us. It only took us about 15 minutes to spot the frantic family. My eyes first caught onto the two familiar figures. I laughed as Hudson shook her head.

“Hey wifey! You lose something?” I called and Rowan whipped around. Spotting me, her face broke out into a huge smile and I could see her visibly relax. A blonde from this morning waved behind her and Hudson threw her a thumbs up.

“My best friend and better half, I love you.” Rowan laughed as I approached her. Luna greeted her with a wave as the blonde, Whitney, reached for her. “Seriously, thank you.”

“Of course. Never a problem.”

“I’m glad I caught you. Come say hi.” Rowan motioned for us to follow her. Sharing a glance, we followed. We were trailing behind, laughing here and there. I froze immediately once I saw where she was taking us. Nancy was chatting away with a group of people by a few pickup trucks, and by the looks of it, they were grilling out. I swallowed as I took in a tall man, his long hair in a bun with yellow aviators covering his eyes. He was playing with a pair of twins, one boy and one girl. Whitney approached a tall, broad shouldered man with the same hair as Luna. Jacob. Whitney handed Luna to Jacob, a stern look on his face before holding her close.

Luna giggled as she turned pointing to us. Jacob and Nancy both turned, and I couldn’t help but return the smile. Nancy waved us forward, wrapping me in a hug once I got close.

“It’s good to see my favorite deputies out and about.” She said as she rubbed my arm, turning to the strangers. One by one, she introduced me to John’s family. Joseph was pleasant and polite, his wife a total sweetheart. Jacob shook my hand, thanking me before he gave Rowan a soft smile. I looked down with a smile on my face at the interaction.

We laughed and talked as I slowly got to know the rest of the Seed family. Whitney, who turned out to be Nancy’s niece, was an art teacher and helped out at Joseph’s church whenever she was able. Joseph talked a little bit about his work, even inviting me to come watch on Sunday. Jacob was a man of few words, but I could tell he felt strongly for his family. I also took note of how he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Rowan when she wasn’t looking. Luna beamed at me, asking me to fly her around again, just like her Uncle John would. I almost died as Hudson burst out laughing. Jacob just chuckled and pulled her away, distracting her with a kite he had for her instead.

“We should get going, our shift is almost over.” Hudson said after a while, and I gave her a quick nod.

“Yeah, that sounds good. It was a pleasure meeting all of you.” We all said our goodbyes, exchanging pleasantries before Hudson and I were off to finish what we had came here to do.

I found myself sitting in my jeep, glaring at the Spread Eagle. After work, Hudson had pointed at me, reminding me what she had said. I had gone home then, took a shower, and did exactly what she had told me. I even found a blue flannel, which wasn’t too hard. It was my favorite color, in all honesty. I wondered if that was why Nancy had suggested it.

I was desperately trying to work up the courage for this. I wasn’t sure what would happen, being bold wasn’t something I was normally good at doing. I opened the door, my boots hitting the gravel. It was like déjà vu, and I prayed that maybe tonight would end differently. I crossed the road with my hands in my back pockets. Before I set a foot on the porch, I turned back around with a curse under my breath. What was I going to say? Hi, remember me? Yeah, so you were totally right and I’m sorry?

I scoffed to myself. Did he really want me to call him? Did he mean that or was that a way to make a point? Maybe he wanted some sort of sick gratification for being right. Guys like him weren’t usually interested in girls like me. He was rich, if the watch on his wrist or the shiny black mustang in the parking lot, with JSEED on the license plate, said anything. He was so out of my league. And yet…I looked over my shoulder, eyeing the entrance. He had sounded so genuine, and he had been right. I knew that, I wasn’t a total idiot. He had even bought my drinks without asking for anything in return. I exhaled heavily in frustration. This whole situation was so new to me, I wasn’t used to someone being so straightforward with me without ulterior motives. The doubt was eating me up on the inside, he hadn’t said a word to me this morning. It was like it never even happened.

I sighed as I turned on my heel, making my way to the entrance. I opened the door and was immediately greeted with the rumble of a loud crowd. The fair had the people super excited, so it was more crowded than usual. It made it almost impossible for me to scan the bar for him. Getting bumped into here and there, I tried to squeeze through. I stopped, spotting him in the same seat he had sat in the night before, the one next to him just as empty. I breathed out at the irony, a light chuckle escaping from the back of my throat. He wore a white button up with a black waistcoat. Black slacks fit him tightly, showing off the muscles in his legs. I immediately felt my face flush. Maybe I should have worn something else. I felt too dressed down to even sit next to him, assuming the seat was even available. What if he was saving it for someone else? I bit my lip and approached the seat cautiously.

I caught Mary May’s eye and she glanced between him and I before smiling at me, sending me a wink. I returned the smile, her encouragement boosting my confidence just a bit. I hopped up on the seat and leaned forward on my arms. Mary May approached with a smile.

“Well, look at you. Blue is definitely your color. That dress was super cute and all. Gotta admit though, I’m sucker for a woman in flannel.” She teased and I laughed at her.

“I’ll be sure to tell Joey.” I replied with a wink. She blushed, looked at me in shock for just a second before recovering.

“You do that.” She smirked, her eyes shining a bit more brightly. “Wine?”

“Bourbon, actually.”

Her brows raised. “Oooh, nice choice. I knew I liked you.”

She quickly turned away and I pulled out my phone to check my notifications. Just a text from Rowan asking me if I was at the bar, a meme from Hudson, and a couple of junk emails. The glass was set in front of me, and I gave her a genuine, beaming smile with a thank you. I was…lighter. I was here on my terms, no ties that kept me here. No expectations, no obligations. Just me and whatever I wanted to do. It was so…freeing.

I take a sip, and revel in the strong taste. I hummed lightly to myself as it burned all the way down. My body was already buzzing from the adrenaline, my heart pounding loudly to the beat of the music. I was ready to combust, and I willed the alcohol to calm me, but I didn’t see it happening anytime soon. I ran my fingers through my long bangs, gathering them and any loose strands of hair that had escaped the braid, and tucked them behind my ear. I took a deep breath, and I dared a glance to my left.

He was rubbing his finger lightly over the lip of his glass, leaning back like he had been the night before. But the second my eyes landed on him, his eyes shot up to mine, meeting my gaze head on. My breath got caught in my throat at the intensity, and he just continued to play with his glass without a word. I tried to swallow but was having a difficult time with just that simple task. I turned back to take another sip, immediately regretting stepping foot in this place. I should have stayed home in my pajamas to watch Netflix or read. This was so stupid. I couldn’t bring myself to even say hi.

The question hung in the air between us. I knew he wanted to know; he had asked me to inquire as a favor to him. He wanted follow through. My pride wasn’t letting me though. What would that really prove? That is was a waste of my time? Maybe that was all he was in for. Just a little game, another boost to his large ego, the one Hudson claimed he had. I suppose it would give him something he could muse over and laugh at later. I took a deep breath, settling my nerves as I began to trace the vine tattoo snaking its way down the side my wrist, from the top and all the way down to my thumb. The leaves branched out a bit, covering some of the back of my hand. One on each wrist, one with a bloomed flower, the other with just the buds. They seemed interesting suddenly, as I fixed my attention to the ink on my skin.

That’s not what you really want. His words, so confident and sure. Luring, even, and something told he hadn’t even been trying. The longer I sat there, the more I could smell his cologne as I slowly circled the small flower buds on my right hand with my middle finger. I licked my lips again, trying to scramble to find something, anything to say. All I could do was replay his words. He probably thought I was crazy. I glanced at him again, and to my mortification, found him still staring. The serious look in his eyes was gone, replaced with a light amusement and it dawns on me that he’s actually waiting for me to speak, to make the first move to show that I want to engage him. That this was on my terms. A fluttering in my stomach makes me squeeze my glass a bit. I rolled my shoulders lightly, forcing myself to relax, and suddenly I was word vomiting before I could even think.

“Oklahoma.” I sighed as spun my glass slowly, my other hand pulling away. “I’m from Oklahoma.” Daring to meet his eyes once more, I see his smile spread across his face.

#my writing #deputy wren blake #rowan palmer #john seed #chaotic dumbasses #not edited #bad language #seriously #wren and hudson have potty mouths

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a-shadows-tear · 5 years ago

Text

The Boy Far from Home

The young boy woke up to the sound of a fight between his father with someone over the phone. He was only two turning three in two months and it was expected that this memory in future was never to remember this. He was too young. He came down from the not so comfortable couch, clutching a light blanket which was royal blue in his tiny grip of one hand, the other hand was a little fist rubbing his tired eyes. His tiny footsteps were inaudible as he walked into the kitchen where his father was.

“Daddy?” the young boy questioned, looking up at him with his eyes half open due to the kitchens light being too bright to adjust to at the moment. His father stopped his harsh words and turned, a soft smile on his lips. “just a moment buster” his father spoke in his soft, deep tone. The young boy nodded and waddled back into the sitting room and got back onto the couch. He looked about in curiosity at what to do but he soon stopped being bored, he became scared.

A loud smash came from the kitchen and he hopped down from the couch yet again, clinging onto his blanket. “Dad-” He couldn’t finish his sentence as his father had sprinted out, taking the young boy into his strong arms. The young boy clinging onto his father’s shirt, eyes tightly shut. His father grabbed two bags that had already been packed in advance for whatever reason that the young boy didn’t even bother questioning, as well as Quinn’s jacket and shoes.

Gunshots and yells of his father’s name were the only things the young boy heard. he was now crying, the fear of the harsh sounds and now the sound of a ship engine. The boy was sat down in a chair far too big for him and the seatbelt put on him. He opened his eyes to see his father with that generous smile of his on his face, it made the crying boy stop, especially when the man said, ”you’re going to be fine buster”. If he was any older, he would have known that this was an ok scenario.

They were upon the Ranger, a ship that was aided by the a.i Alanzo. With the call of the a.i’s name, a voice greeted them. “hello captain and Quinn”, he spoke. The little boy in his innocence replied with an adorable, “hi Alanzo”. The ship shook and things weren’t so happy anymore. “get us to Mars Alanzo, this is a code 21″, the captain spoke and the ship soon took off to the location issued by the captain.

The young boy was Quinn Zephyr. His father was Charlie Zephyr, better know by the galaxy as Captain Pleasant. The captain though wasn’t pleasant like his name was… In this current moment in time, Quinn knew nothing about why he was being brought to mars and he certainly didn’t know what a code 21 was either. He didn’t speak, all he did was look out the window at the planet he was born on fade into the dark sky filled with dancing stars. He held onto his blanket, sometimes tearing up but wouldn’t cry in the fears of distracting his father in his work.

At some stage, young Quinn had fallen asleep due to the long, boring journey and woke up when they had arrived on Mars. His father had woken him up and picked him up. he brought him over and got a small box down from the shelf. he opened it and took out a small disc-like piece. He crouched to one knee and stuck the metallic piece behind the boy’s ear. “I got this made for you. Its a mask. go on, press the little button”, he said to Quinn, watching the young boy press the button and a mask came over his face. He was now looking through two blue lenses at his father who put in a similar mask. “These masks are oxygenated which means that we can go onto Mars and breath till we are in the safe zone. the mask will change in size naturally as you grow older”, he said. Quinn’s eyes lit up, “that’s so cool! I’m like a hero!” he cheered. The captain laughed softly and got one of the two bags, took his son’s hand, “yeah, just like a hero” he replied to the excited Quinn. The door opened for them to get off onto the bridge, Alanzo spoke before departing, “goodbye young Quinn…”. If only he knew why Alanzo only said goodbye to him and his father.

The city had an oxygenated field but to get in you must travel on a bridge with no oxygen is present. A guard stood there at the gateway in and his father gave him two cards. Fake I.D. The guard nodded and they walked through the gate. His father took off his mask but Quinn was too busy thinking he was a superhero with his blanket now as a cape. There was a long walk down a road till the city came into sight, Quinn ran ahead but his father called his name. They weren’t going to the city. The trail now was filled with the red sand of mars, small huts coming into view. Quinn reached up and took his father’s hand as they walked past some of these huts. People came out or were out already. they all stared and some mad nasty comments. “ah, look at the lil’ one. he will be scraps to the dogs if he ain’t careful”. Quinn winced and quickly moved closer to his father. This place was a place of the poor, people were thrown out of the city. This land was called Salvatoria, the land of the poor and the junk lands.

The reached a hut which had many types of things outside like bikes that were made from scratch, scraps of metal and a little toy robot. His father knocked on the door and it opened. A man slightly older than Charlie came out with a smile on his face as he wiped the oil off his hands with a dirty rag. his smile was loving and generous but that soon faded. The man looked down at Quinn who still had his mask on then back to the captain. “I wasn’t expecting you both so early… come in,” he said, movie aside for them to come in. The man looked about the outside of the hut and quickly closed the door.

“who was that honey?”, came the voice of a woman. She soon came into view for Quinn to see. She looked as shocked and scared as the man did when he laid eyes upon Quinn and his father. Charlie put a hand behind his son’s ear to take deactivate the mask. Quinn’s teary eyes and terrified face came into view, he then broke into tears with a sad sob and cry, reaching out for his father to take him into his arms. His father picked him up and hushed him, kissing the top of his head. “no need to cry, buddy. You’re safe” he started. His father sat down as did the man and woman who seemed to have expected them both. His father began to sing a lullaby while rocking his son in his arms. A lullaby the young boy was not familiar nor anyone else.

“When you feel scared and all alone, I will always be with you little one. Don’t waste those tears, just close your eyes and you will see me. if you can’t sleep at night, look up at the stars and smile because that’s where I will be, son. Hush your confused little mind, close your eyes and listen to me young boy… you are my son and I am your father… my love for you will burn like the sun. So don’t cry and feel scared in this world, for you are the captain’s son”

Quinn listened to the words and closed his eyes, hearing his father hum on with the same trying tune. He soon fell asleep in the warm, safe arms of his father. He awoke several hours later on a soft mattress with multiple blankets surrounding him, he was no longer in his father’s arms. he sat up and clumsily got away from all the blankets but kept his loyal blanket with him. He slowly walked into the room beside her he lay to see no one. “Daddy?” he called, hugging his blanket. He hurried to the next room, no one. “D-daddy?”. The next room and then the room after that he found the man and woman from the night before working on something he didn’t care about. “Where’s my Daddy?” he asked in a small shaky voice. “he just left kiddo… but he will be back soon,” the man said in a soft tone. As nice as the man was, as kind the woman was, Quinn didn’t want them. He shook his head and began to cry. “no… I want my daddy to come back now! I want my daddy!” He cried. He did calm down after a while, the man and woman cheered him up by making pancakes. He learned their names, Astrid and Tyrone. He learned some of the robots names they made or help fixed that went around the house or helped them with the amazing things they made, making friend with a small drone who got kicked out of the city named Rocky. They sat on the doorstep together gazing up at the stars, waiting for his dad to return. he did that the next night, the night after that, and many more nights after that too.

They say that you may regret saying or doing something in the past as you believe if you changed what you said or did would get a better result. Quinn regretted this. He regretted falling asleep. He could never sleep the same again. If he didn’t fall asleep, he could have at least said goodbye to his father. As he grew older, he forgot his real father as he was too young to remember and too sad to ever want to remember that his father had left him for a reason he was yet to learn.

all he can remember is the silly little lullaby.

end of part 1

#Quinn Zephyr #my ocs #original character do not steal #my idea #space pirates au #i cried writing this #i hope you enjoy #Quinn's backstory

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vulpixelates · 5 years ago

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Hey! So, I noticed a post of yours talking about how much different races are in your gfs world. I'm currently worldbuilding for my homebrew campaign that I'll run in two weeks. I want the races to be unique and break stereotypes (such as goblins being greedy, orcs being barbariac, etc.) What tools did your gf use to figure out what the races should be in her world/what are some examples of it? Thanks!

This got really long, I’m sorry. :’) I tried to be as thorough as I could though!

Basically, she tried to do the opposite of the shitty, racist things that white dude authors usually do with fantasy races. She didn’t make new of everything, but she took what was existing in the canon lore and made it her own, twisting things to better fit the world she wanted to tell stories in. Some of her updated races were inspired by real world cultures and mythology (especially weird misogynist myths to turn upside down) and did a lot of research on them. Another thing she thought about was how the influence of magic on the world and how it would effect certain races.

Examples:

Since you mentioned orcs, I’ll start with them: They are still tribal and still have the blood rage, since that’s pretty integral to what orcs are, but both things are a result from being hunted so much that they were blessed by a god called Gruumsh, who gave them the ability to defend themselves. (It’s very inspired by TES lore I think, where they used to be related to elves but were changed.) They’re also really connected to nature and animals, naturally have a proficiency in Animal Handling, and typically tribes have a really close relationship with one animal from the area that they’re from. But on top of that, they’re also one of the races that are at the top when it comes to engineering and technological advances, right under the gnomes. They help the world recover after a phenomenon when magic is wiped out of the land, and without the orcs, they wouldn’t ever develop scientific medicine.

She has some lore about goblins too: they’re in a state of flux right now, where a grand majority of them are trying really hard to end the stigma on their race. A lot of them can be found in cities, trying to escape what people think of them.

Magical reproduction is super common among some species rather than physical reproduction (dwarves are carved from stone, gnomes have little gnomeling plants that they carry around in dirt backpacks for gestation, the world is heavily populated with LGBT+ folks so gender/sex doesn’t matter when it comes to magic rituals to make babies, etc.)

Dwarves are also very in-tune with nature! They have a close relationship with the Elemental Plane of Earth because they live underground, so there’s a lot of dwarven druids and rangers who instead of working against nature (like dwarves do in a lot of canon fantasy worlds) their mission is to protect the mountains from the Underdark below because they feel an innate urge to protect the stone.

Also I think it kind of started as a joke, but dwarves eat stone too? A dwarf once told me that instead of like cow milk or something, they make milk out of stone? I’m not sure if she was joking or not but it’s kind of hilarious and it makes me like dwarves more.

Drow aren’t inherently evil. You can find drow farmers with big sunhats on. The idea of a purely evil species is pretty racist, so she tends to stray away from that at all costs. (Related: Yuan-Ti Purebloods don’t exist ‘cause yikes! Racist and probably antisemetic.)

She basically re-packaged all of the tiefling and devil lore to make it more interesting; she really embraces the tiefling variants. Tieflings’ appearances and inherent magical abilities and bonuses are related to the devil that they are related to. My tiefling druid, Leda, is my favorite example because she’s so weird: She’s the granddaughter of Tiamat, so she looks super dragon-like (scales, weird feet, claws) and instead of Hellish Rebuke, she has a breath weapon. Little homebrew things like that have made tieflings go from my least favorite race to one of my favorites to play.

High elves are typically the most boring to me in any setting, but she made them pretty rad in a simple way: their appearances typically depend on what time of the day and year they were born. Morning elves are pale while night elves are very dark-skinned; summer elves have golden or green eyes, spring elves have blue or hazel, fall elves have orange or red, and winter elves have purple or silver.

Half races aren’t just half-human. There’s an infinite combination! My latest character, Gadget, is the daughter of a half-elf/half-orc and a gnome, so her physical appearance has little glimpses into that. That has really made the world feel more real and alive.

An example of turning misogynist myths on their head is Gorgons. In her world, they were created by a goddess after men were invented to help protect women, and they’re a very neutral good species. A lot of them are super peaceful and monk-like.

I hope that helps! She told me to mention that you definitely shouldn’t feel pressured to go along with canon; it’s mostly just the basic chunk of clay for you to mold into what you want to exist in your world. Have fun with it! And don’t be afraid to be weird.

#long post #dnd rambles #slightly-sad-scribe #replies

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windlion · 5 years ago

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Transmigrator Pile-Up (Pt 4)

Some small sads, progress, and a monster encounter! I cannot and will not ever give Jay any dignity whatsoever. None.

"Are you. . . are you all right?"

"No." Jay stood slowly, wiping a hand over his face and trying not to snuffle noisily. God, he was disgusting. Boss Feng would probably die before losing face like this. Hell, he was Feng now, wasn't he? Jay was just the ghost possessing him or something. Time to buck up and stop scaring the locals. This was fine.

He rubbed his eyes clear, staring down at the bird. Nothing like a bridle on the head, but he remembered that detail; the heads were free for maneuverability. Down the neck. . . He skimmed his hand along the feathers as he spoke, "There should be a harness. Gear. Whatever can be salvaged, we should bring back."

It took stepping directly on to the crumpled wing with a whispered apology before he could actually see the saddle. The spear went straight through the goddamn thing, so it wasn't like it was going anywhere. The jagged edge stabbing up was stained dark, and he didn't want to look too closely at it. So the saddle itself was a loss. Jay grimaced to himself and steeled himself to keep going, climbing up and running his hands along the harness looking for packs and anything useful.

Not everything survived the crash: the right hand side had taken a lashing from branches on the way down then been thoroughly redistributed by the carrion feeders. He swiped the string from the shattered remains of a bow stave with not an arrow in sight. What may have been a water skin was burst, nothing left but limp tatters, and a bag within easy reach of the seat had been ripped open. Probably food in there, and the animals were welcome to it, given the dark stains that marked it. Hell, he should be grateful it rained.

What was intact looked . . . remarkably fine, despite being left to the elements for a week. Oil, wax, something, sealed the leather and fabric so that water still beaded and ran off it without signs of mildew. He unbuckled the bags and straps that he could, cut off the ones he couldn't, and tossed piece by piece back over his shoulder to Xu Jin like he was lobbing cargo off a jetplane.

He wasn't sure what was in them, but this wasn't the time and place to check. Anything was better than the nothing he had before. And if it wasn't useful for him, it might be for the family.

After a few minutes, he was fairly sure he'd gotten all the salvageable gear. There were a few things he didn't toss back but instead stowed on himself; even he knew better than to handle weapons like that. One of the first things he'd found was a very utilitarian dagger fastened to the underside of the saddle. Also ready at hand was an equally practical dao sword. He didn't think they were spiritual weapons-- he couldn't remember Boss Feng having any in the books. If anything, it would have been the bow. . . or Taifun himself.

That gave him a thought that made him hesitate, standing at the front of the saddle. He wasn't really sure how the bandits mourned their birds, but he thought he remembered something about feathers. Before he could second-guess himself into oblivion, Jay whispered a quiet apology and neatly harvested a bundle of feathers: from the golden nape, the darker brown ruff below the neck, and a few coverts and secondaries from the extended wing. The shorter feathers he tied together with the bow-string into a strange sort of sheaf, and the secondaries he slid into the waterproof roll beside the dao. They were even longer than the blade; he probably could have used the primaries as oars, as some of them were taller than he was. He smoothed the feathers down with a gentle hand before stepping back, bowing one last time to Taifun.

"You will be remembered."

Xu Jing waited for him to finish paying his respects, then gestured at the pile of bags built up beside him with some obvious trepidation. "How are you planning on carrying this back?"

Like asking how all those bags were going to fit in the trunk. Or gear in the backpack. Jay cast a Tetris expert's eye across it. "Oh ye of little faith."

Together they relocated the pile to a relatively clear spot, and Jay set to with the salvaged straps. Bags that could fit inside other bags did so. Most of the gear had been designed to be buckled on and off the harness as separate units, so. . . doable. He was just gonna look like a Liefeld character when he was done. Ehhh. He'd done worse hauling gear out and back, especially when they were doing releases. (Yeah, you try carrying two hard kennels worth of disgruntled raptor that vomit and shit when cranky up a mountain and see how you do. There was no honor, no dignity, just yelling over your shoulder like a frazzled soccer mom, "Kids, don't make me turn this car around!")

The end result was some unholy hybrid of harness and bags that kept catching his long hair, but it worked. Xu Jing schlepped his much smaller bandolier/messengerbag without enthusiasm, eyes continuing to glance up at the sky. Jay could translate that easily enough, giving himself a shake to make sure everything stayed put. "Time to go."

"Yes." Xu Jing had a furrow between his eyebrows that had been growing more pronounced. "We'll need to hurry to make it back by dark."

Right. Night in the Arrays of Heaven outside said arrays was . . . uh, not for the faint of heart. Jay winced, turning and sighting his way back along their trail. "Don't have to tell me twice. Let's go."

"You know where you are headed?"

"Uh, the way we came?" Jay blinked over his shoulder, pointing the way back northeast to the steading. "Might be faster to cut through the valley and up instead of going along the ridge. . ."

Xu Jing flinched a little at that suggestion. "No, higher is safer."

Jay tilted his head in acknowledgment. Always listen to the locals. "Right. I start going off course, you let me know."

He took the lead, setting a quick pace. The good thing about being Feng Mahti; he had a long stride, and even the weight of the new gear and weapons didn't feel like much of anything. It should: he knew it was probably about the same amount of crap as a frame backpack, without the added benefit of being constructed of lightweight materials, and . . . nope, didn't make a difference.

Boss Feng really was a musclehead.

On the route back, he had more of a chance to appreciate the sights and sounds of the new world, now that he wasn't keeping his eyes peeled for roadkill. While the local flora didn't look particularly changed, the fauna was. . . different.

From the valley to their left came the sound of what he thought were frogs, just way deeper than any spring peeper he'd ever heard. Small mammals scuttled through the underbrush away from them, and he thought there might be smaller birds in the conifers, hidden among the pine needles. Most things seemed shy, or else they were just making too damned much noise.

Huh. Actually.

Xu Jing was making enough noise for both of them. Something about Feng Mahti's leather boots or Jay's familiarity with hiking all over creation was keeping his own steps almost silent. That was either really cool or really bullshit.

Xu Jing gave him a dirty look when he caught Jay waiting with his head tilted. "Not all of us are cultivators of the wild."

Okay, so probably ranger stealth bonus bullshit. Jay flashed him his best guide's grin, "You're doing great. We're making good time."

"Not good enough." Xu Jing was sweating, his sleeves rolled back. Jay wondered if it was the exertion or the stress more than the temperature; there was a gusts of gentle breeze from the west, carrying the floral smell of the budding bushes. (Rhododendron? It looked like it to him, but was that even native in Asia??? Eh fuck it it's post apocalypse, anything can happen. If he tried to worry about native and invasive species here he'd be crazy before the second week.)

Speaking of post-apocalypse, he hadn't seen any signs of previous civilization between the steading and where Taifun fell. He asked Xu Jing casually if there were any ruins around.

"In the valley," Xu Jing panted, keeping his words short. "That's part of why it's dangerous."

Duly noted.

About two hours later, as they were making their way along beside a stream bed, something started to bug Jay. Like an itch on the back of his neck, the sound of a mosquito. He couldn't identify what or why, just that. . . something was up.

He looked back at Xu Jing to see if the other man noticed, and the farmer gave him a serious look and a nod, murmuring, "Danger."

Great. About time for his first monster encounter! He wasn't sure he counted the vulture with the glowing neon red eyes, as that could have just been some really freaktacular near-death hallucinations. . . . What the hell even lived out this way? He couldn't remember all the monsters from the books, but there were supposed to be quite a lot of nasties in the mountains that the bandits frequented. Bears. Tigers. Giant bugs. A couple of really cool pangolin that he was actually kinda dying to see in person now that he thought about it.

So, what was contestant number one?

After a few minutes of the slowly growing creeps without any sign of an enemy, something rolled out of the stream bed on to the bank in front of them.

Jay just stared for a long moment, incredulous. "Seriously? That's it?!"

The thing that had been making his hair stand up on end wobbled closer.

Xu Jing hissed behind him, "Either fight, or run. Choose now!"

His hand was already on the sword's hilt. It felt natural to him, well-balanced and the grip broken in to his hand. With a prosaic shrug, Jay drew the blade. No time to find out his battle skills like the present, and it was such a level one monster, too. Thank you, starting area!

Blade raised, he charged the blue-green slime.

It was not unlike hacking sorta sentient jello to bits. Maybe it was some mutation off a slime mold. Those were actually kinda terrifying in a cool way. Or kinda cool in a terrifying way. Whatever. They were smart! This one tried to get in a few hits at Jay, but he ducked back too quickly for it to make contact. He kept herding it away from Xu Jing, trying to avoid halving it into multiple entities while cutting it down. Muscle memory knew this, the same way he used to know swimming.

After rendering the thing down into pieces small enough to fit in individual pudding cups, he looked at Xu Jing. The man was staring with an expression somewhere between utmost disgust and bewilderment. Jay poked a jelly bit with his toe. It wiggled. "All right, I'm going to bet those will reform into a colony if they're given long enough. Think there's going to be more in the stream bed?"

Xu Jing took a moment before he answered faintly, "Not likely enough to be an issue."

"Cool. Onward, then. Let's get you home for dinner."

#sometimes I write #nanowrimo #Transmigrator Pile-Up #I was going to let him have something cooler #and then my brain went *no*#it is far more entertaining this way #. . . also he's shit at playing any sort of part #Xu Jing is kind of wondering if the show is worth the price of admission #(It is)

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redrose-arrow · 6 years ago

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The coffee was cold. But the honey was as sweet as ever.

Hi, @kkatsudone!! It’s your Secret Santa (speaking of which, thank you @ra-secretsanta for organising this all)!!

Anyways, I was looking at your prompts and I honestly loved all your fic requests so,,,,, I tried to sort of combine them all into one story??? Which turned out rather long (4357 words!)??? I’m not so sure how I like it, but I hope you do! I did my best :) Hope you had great holidays and may you have a marvellous 2019!

The coffee was cold. But the honey was as sweet as ever.

Stealthily he began to move forward. Slowly, consciously placing one foot in front of the other, carefully shoving leaves and twigs to the side as to not make a sound, he made his way through the forest. When he’d found his spot, Will turned around and lowered onto one knee. Two eyes, a brown and a blue one, looked up at him in anticipation and he patted Ebony on her head. His other hand pulled some fabric from his pocket and held it in front of her. She snuffed at it.

“Alright girl,” Will spoke softly, making sure he got her attention. He moved the little cloth to make sure she would understand.

“Find. Hunt.” Ebony barked softly to let him know she understood. He smiled and rubbed her fur. Then, she spun away. He watched until she was no longer visible to him, getting up and looking around. The trees around him rose high up, like clouds of green. Choosing one, he put the cloth away and hung his bow over his shoulders. He grabbed a branch and pulled himself up, repeating the movement and finding solid branches to place his weight onto. Until he found the perfect spot with the perfect view and perfect room to move and yet stay invisible.

Will reached over his shoulder and grabbed an arrow, laying it against the string of his bow, pulling them both backward until his fingers brushed his cheek.

Every single Ranger in the Corps was a dead shot and never missed their target. At the same time, each and everyone of them had been shot at more than once in their lives, during life-threatening situations, and they all knew exactly how to avoid an arrow being fired at their bodies. It was a dangerous combination, placing opponents against each other if they all knew how to never miss and how to never be targeted. To avoid serious accidents, Crowley had therefore forbidden the use of real arrows. Instead, they all carried a quiver filled with pointless arrows, soft cushions fastened at the tip as to prevent the arrow from seriously damaging the skin. It would merely create bruises.

Holding his position, bow drawn, Will skimmed the forest. His eyes moved quickly, never focusing on one spot for too long. They could be here any minute.

Any minute now.

Listening intensely, Will heard the barking, followed by muffled cursing. Only then did he see the movement of leaves a few meters away. The barking intensified, resulting in more careless movement, which Will followed. He grinned, satisfied with the results of training that he’d given Ebony. She just had to push him a little further…

There was a unexpected movement away from him, and his instinct told him that he had to aim a little further if he intended to knock the flag out of Gilan’s hand.

Will stepped forward, momentarily forgetting that he had been hiding in the top of a tree. He released the arrow and instantly knew that his aim was successful. The surprised scream that confirmed his success muffled the crack of the branches underneath his feet and Will barely got the time to grin before he came tumbling down, finding himself under the tree instead of in it a few moments later. A snicker came from the bushes behind him.

“Oh shut up Simon,” he yelled at him, groaning as he tried to get up but his legs were momentarily numb. He massaged them, until instinct told him there were other people approaching and he had to roll to the side in order not to be walked over. Will recognised one of the Rangers running as Ralf, of the other team and he quite literally pulled his leg, sending him to the ground as well.

“Fu-” But there was no time to finish curse words because another group of Rangers came running past. Pulling himself up against the tree, Will quickly grabbed another arrow and sent it flying after them. Sensing movement to the right of him, he spun around, sending another arrow to what turned out to be Gilan, forcing him to step aside, losing his balance. Ebony jumped on top of him and enthusiastically started licking his face. Hugh, who was on Will’s team, saw the piece of red cloth that Gilan was holding and pulled at it. But the tall Ranger refused to let go, sending them both to the ground. Will took a dive for it but was pulled down by the person he had taken down a few moments earlier.

The bushes behind them were now shaking with laughter.

“Ebony!” Will called out and he pointed towards Simon’s hiding spot. “Hunt!”

The dog let go of Gilan and raced past the Rangers crawling on the ground. She jumped on her new target, licking his face enthusiastically. The laughing stopped. But the chaos was not over. The two waves of Rangers that had passed the group on the ground earlier returned as one.

Will and Ralf, both still on the ground, shared a look and simultaneously started pulling each other’s teammates down at random. The Rangers left standing moved left and right avoiding them, pulling and pushing against each other as to not lose their balance. Hugh was the first to go down.

It was chaos, with everyone sprawling over each other, until someone yelled “Stop!” and the movements freezed. Gilan, who used to hold a red flag that belonged to the opponent team, was being taken down by five other Rangers at the same time, both teammates and opponents. Will, Hugh, Ralf, along with the remaining four Rangers, lay on the ground. Simon was still being licked by Ebony.

Crowley was standing in the midst of it all, hands on his hips and eyeing his Rangers curiously.

“Every year’s a bigger chaos than before,” he admitted grinning, “But it stops now. I can’t have any injuries. How am I going to explain to a Baron that his Ranger is temporarily out of duty because the other Rangers got out of control during a game of flag stealing?” They all laughed. The red-haired Commandant clapped his hands. “Alright, everyone freshen up. You look like you’ve just come out of battle. Dinner’s ready soon and none of you will be allowed to join the tables looking like you do now.”

More laughing, as the Rangers started helping each other up. This wasn’t the first year that Crowley had been required to stop the game due to an enthusiasm overload. As the laughing continued, Gilan approached Will.

“You okay?”

“Yeah,” Will grunted. He accepted Gilan’s hand and his friend pulled him back to his feet. “You know using Ebony is cheating, right?” he said. Will wasn’t impressed.

“According to what rules?” He pulled some leaves from his hair and Gilan did the same.

“Touché.”

Muffled protest reminded them of something and they turned to Simon, still being being held down by Ebony. They laughed and Will called Ebony to him. Simon scrawled to his feet and wiped his face in frustration, but when he spoke he sounded amused.

“I’ll be getting your for that one, Treaty.”

“It’s what you get for laughing, Simon,” Will replied, ruffling his loyal dog’s fur and removing some leaves from it. Gilan grinned and rubbed his hands.

“Very well. Crowley interfered, at which point I no longer had your flag, but you didn’t have ours either, so we’ll call it a draw. Again.” There was some snickering as that comment reached everyone’s ears. Gilan looked up alarmed. Hugh shrugged and pulled something from his pocket. It was a flag, as yellow as the sun, and it belonged to Gilan’s team. The tall Ranger was speechless.

“What did you say about your flag, Gil?” Will asked faking innocence. Gilan shook his head.

“Alright, you won.” He slapped his friend on the back and Will winced.

“Sorry,” the tall Ranger grinned unapologetically.

Will eyed him. “I feel like my entire body is bruised.”

“The sweet price of victory. You like it?”

“Not as much as I’ll like telling Halt about your defeat.”

“If you tell your side of the story then I’ll tell mine. I’m not the one that fell out of a tree today.”

“If you tell him that, I will tell him about -”

But Crowley stopped them. “Save it for the campfire, will you? I think there are more of us that would like to hear the stories of your failures.”

“How about your failures?” Will queried innocently.

“I don’t have any failures.”

“That’s not what Halt says. He said -” Crowley glanced at him but Will was left unfazed.

“You know, that doesn’t really impress me, because Halt’s glances are much scarier, but I will shut up because I think there ‘are more of us that would like to hear the stories of your failures’.” Crowley shook his head in acting disapproval but he couldn’t disguise the amusement in his voice.

“Thin line, Treaty. Thin line.”

>>>----------> <---------<<<

A fire crackled in a corner of the campsite, projecting long shadows on the surrounding area. The light cast by the flames danced across the dark trunks of the trees, twisting and curling in obscure shapes and providing a small radius of light. The fire itself was pulsating, the glowing embers seemed to move in rhythm with the flames, matching every dip and sweep. It was mesmerizing to watch, colour of orange and red gave way to yellow and white near the centre, where the emanating heat was the greatest. A kettle hang above the fire, filled with grinded beans in boiling water that slowly started to evaporate a fresh coffee smell. They sat around the fire, Will and Gilan, along with their teammates, Ralf, Hugh, Simon and the other nine Rangers. They all sat together, sharing stories of routine missions, and routine problems, as well as honest mistakes and accidental failures. It was a mixture of self-ridicule and sarcasm, but it was more than just friends talking. Aware of their job and their responsibilities, they all knew that relatively careless moments like these were rare and they seized the opportunity to have fun.

With the Corps being as exclusive as it was, all Rangers knew each other - and their stories - well. Most of them didn’t have many close friends outside the Corps and even less had the chance to settle down and have a family. Though almost all of them entertained a steady bond with their fief’s Baron and his inner circle, that relationship remained mainly professional and could hardly be called a friendship.

So when a Gathering took place, all Rangers seized their chance to talk to old friends and to enjoy a cup of coffee together.

Yet there was more to their conversations than just interest in a friend’s job. All Rangers in the Corps were aware that it could often be the little things that helped save lives. So when they told each other stories of their own problems, mistakes, and solutions, it was not just a general conversation topic. They used it to expand their own knowledge, to make sure they would not make the same mistakes as someone else had before them and they helped each other to figure out ways to solve a problem.

But that didn’t mean that their conversations were purely work-related and there was more than enough laughter that emerged from around the campfire.

Ralf had just finished the story of his last assignment. Being assigned to Highcliff fief, he was a key factor in keeping an eye on smuggling. This meant that not for the first time since his stay at Highcliff, he had been forced to jump off a lower point of the cliffs into the the freezing sea water.

“But what could I do? The locals swore that they saw someone falling into the water. I couldn’t ignore that,” Ralf explained.

“So you jumped into the water,” another Ranger finished his sentence. “So I jumped into the water,” Ralf agreed, “Finding absolutely nothing. When I returned to the village, dripping wet, they told me that they hadn’t actually seen anyone falling into the water, they just assumed that had happened because there had been a fight on top of the cliffs.”

“So what did you do?” Gilan grinned. Ralf looked at him.

“What could I do? I turned around and left. Honestly, some days I kick ass, other days I-”

“Get my ass kicked,” they all replied simultaneously. Except for Will, who’d been dozing off. Gilan nudged him, a questioning look in his eyes.

“Just tired,” Will explained quietly and he turned to Edward, who began to tell a story of his own.

“Now that there is no real threat to the kingdom, exaggeration seems to be a main problem. The other day I was riding my routine route through the fief, when a couple of farmers claimed to be losing their stock to some huge monster.”

“And?” Hugh asked, intrigued.

“Long story short, the stock they were talking about was on the loose for most of the time, making them an easy target for anyone out there, human or monster. As for the latter, the monster turned out to be a puppy! Sick and underfed, the poor animal had tried to feed himself by hunting down some of the farmer’s chickens that had been on the loose for the majority of the night.”

They laughed, the prospect of an underfed dog posing as a monstrous threat fueling it.

“Speaking of, where’s that damned dog of yours now, Treaty?” Simon inquired. He wiped his face by the thought of the dog’s wet tongue licking him a couple of hours earlier.

“Probably washing herself in a spring somewhere trying to get the taste of your smug face off her tongue, Simon!” Ralph suggested and a wave of laughter engulfed them. Simon laughed the hardest, Will noticed with a grin. He whistled. Ebony sprang toward them in bounding steps that were almost like jumps. As she turned, her back legs swung outwards and she almost lost her balance. Then she leaped up, pawing with her forepaws for attention and her wet tongue licking furiously at Will’s out-stretched fingers. He moved to pet her but she jumped to the side. He was laughed at for the dismissal of his dog and now Ralf offered his hand but she avoided it. Ebony seemed exceptionally pleased with herself now, avoiding all Rangers’ attempts to pet her. She jumped around in a stagnant ditch, splashing blackish water all over her newly washed cream fur. She stuck her nose under the surface and snorted, then tried pulling at a stick but it was stuck firm in the dirt. A squirrel darted up a tree several metres away and she set off headlong into the forest to chase it. Will didn’t even bother to call her, knowing full well that she’d return whenever she pleased. So instead he stirred in the kettle, and when he was sure it was ready, removed it from above the fire.

“Coffee, anyone?”

“Yes please,” a voice sounded from behind him and Will visibly rolled his eyes, sending another wave of laughter through the group. He picked a mug at random, filled it and handed it over his shoulder.

“There you go, Crowley. Halt?” He didn’t wait for an answer but filled another mug, also handing it over his shoulder to the second person standing behind them. There was some audible protest from the Rangers sitting around the fire.

“They weren’t first in line,” Hugh protested. Crowley took a sip of his coffee and sighed appreciatively.

“Privileges of the Command, Hugh.”

“Halt isn’t.”

“I get your point, but I still think it’s invalid,” Halt replied, without missing a beat. There was laughter as Halt and Crowley found themselves a seat around the fire.

“So what were we talking about?” Crowley asked.

Will and Gilan glanced sideways at each other and before anyone else got the chance to say anything, they started exposing each other rapidly.

“Gilan’s team lost in flag stealing because he let himself get licked by Ebony.”

“Will fell out of a tree today.”

“Gilan dropped his sword.”

“Crowley once accidentally set his cloak on fire,” Halt added casually. The exposed Commandant looked at him in pain.

“What did I do to deserve that?” Halt shrugged. “Your men need to know you’re human,” he explained.

“I’d walk through fire for you all.” Gilan declared suddenly. Halt raised his eyebrow questioningly at his former apprentice and there were sounds of disbelief from the other Rangers. Gilan shrugged.

“Well, not fire, because that’s dangerous, but it’s the thought that counts.” Hugh slapped him on the back with a grin.

“You’re an idiot, Gil.”

“But an idiot that would theoretically walk through fire for you,” Gilan pointed out, sending the so manieth wave of laughter through the group.

Will shook his head grinning. He looked up and caught Halt’s glance. The grey-bearded Ranger gestured to the forest but Will shook his head. He stood up.

“Although your conversations are ever so interesting, I’m going to bed,” he declared. He saw Crowley and Halt share a look and could feel Gilan’s eyes on his back as he walked away. At the same time, Crowley clapped his hands.

“Anyone have something interesting to tell their Commandant?” he asked. Will looked up to the sky. He knew precisely who were sitting around that fire and he knew that Crowley might as well have asked for weird facts because those were exactly what he was going to get.

“Bricks are just domesticated rocks.”

“It’s physically impossible for you to lick your elbow.”

“There are no words that rhyme with month, orange, silver, or purple.”

A small smile touched his lips. There weren’t many things Rangers loved more than to team up against their Commandant, he thought, as he walked further away from the fire.

>>>----------> <---------<<<

He was running.

His rasping throat and lungs were parched but he inhaled deeper, faster, as he speeded up, ignoring the pain in his exhausted limbs. His heart was beating frantically. He knew this forest better than that they did, but they had had a significant head start and there was no telling if he would find them on time. He pushed twigs and leaves to the side, his boots slipping on the wet forest ground. He had been forced to leave behind his bow and arrows, but his throwing knife was in his hand, ready to be used. But he never did.

A scream. Full of panic, hysteria, anxiety. He could feel the hairs on his neck stand straight up as the terrible sound filled his ears. It pierced right through him, his blood turned cold.

And then there was the ill-making sound of a knife being stabbed into a body, once, twice, thrice. The screaming stopped.

And he shot up straight, sweat dripping down his spine, his breath in spurts. Ebony looked up at the sudden movement and barked softly as if to ask if he was alright. Will closed his eyes again, slowly breathing in and out. In. And out. In. And out. He kicked away the sleeping bag and further unzipped the tent. Gilan sat there, next to a small fire and he turned around when he heard Will stumbling.

“You okay?” he asked, concern evident in his voice when he noticed how Will’s hair was sweatily stuck to his head. Will gestured vaguely.

“Yeah, just trouble sleeping,” he answered but he avoided looking straight at his friend. Gilan moved towards him.

“You sure? You don’t look okay.” The tall Ranger wanted to lay a hand on his shoulder, but Will dodged him and instead strapped on his boots.

“I’m fine, Gil, really. Just need some fresh air, that’s all. Thanks, though.” He tried to smile but then walked away towards the trees that marked the line between clearing and forest. He kept on walking, until he was sure none of the scouts set out for their watch could see or hear him. Will leaned against a tree, eyes closed and breathed deeply.

During the day he found that it was rather easy to act normal, to pretend that there was nothing bothering him. He found that it was easy to smile and grin and joke around when in fact, he felt empty. It was definitely easier than telling everyone what was on his mind, he thought. But when the nights came it was almost impossible to ignore the thoughts that were eating him up. A tiny sound caught his attention and he instantly knew what it meant.

“How did you know?” he asked. Although he couldn’t see it through closed eyes, Halt shook his head with a tiny smile of approval touching his lips when he realised that his former apprentice knew he’d been there, despite his cautious approaching. “Gilan. He sent you this.” Will opened his eyes to see a mug of freshly brewed coffee being handed to him. He took it and gratefully clasped his cold hands around it.

“Thanks.” But he didn’t take a sip. Halt examined him.

“You okay?”

“Yep,” Will replied shortly. But he couldn’t fool his former mentor.

“You don’t look okay.”

“That’s exactly what Gilan said, before he let walk into forest on my own.”

“After which he woke me up from my well-deserved sleep and sent me after you with a mug of coffee. Cut the bullshit, will you?”

Will closed his eyes again and bit his lip. His legs were shaking and he could hardly keep himself up anymore. Halt’s strong hand caught his arm and he helped him to sit down. He kneeled beside him.

“This is exactly what I mean, Will. You’re wearing yourself out. I bet you haven’t slept in days. No matter how funny it might be, you wouldn’t have fallen out of that tree today if you’d been as fine as you keep saying you are. I know it, Gilan knows it, you know it.”

Will didn’t reply. Halt sighed.

“Will, that kid dying, that’s not on you.” Will’s eyes shot open and he looked at him.

“How do you know?” But he didn’t let Halt answer.

“Crowley,” he stated and Halt nodded.

“He read it in your report and asked me how you were holding up with it. Except I-”

“-didn’t know,” Will finished his sentence.

“No I didn’t,” Halt acknowledged.

“Is that why you’ve been keeping an eye on me these past days?” Though he didn’t say it, Halt was glad to know that despite his lack of sleep, his former apprentice had not let down his guard.

“Yes, but I didn’t even have to try. You didn’t full-out laugh one time during the entire Gathering, neither did you make eye contact with anyone. I noticed it, Gilan noticed it and all the others probably noticed it, too. You’re not fine, Will.”

“Now you sound like Alyss.”

“That’s because we both care about you. Gilan does too.”

“Does he know?”

“No. But he’s not stupid.” “That comment about walking through fire was.”

“I said he wasn’t stupid, not that he didn’t say stupid things.” Will smiled, but there was a lack of true joy in that smile.

“You’re avoiding the topic, Will. I’m serious. That kid’s death is not on you.”

“Isn’t, though? For all we know, if I had just been a little more careful then they would have never known that a Ranger was up on them. Then they would have never taken that kid hostage and then she wouldn’t have died.

“Because she wasn’t supposed to die, Halt. She wasn’t even supposed to be a part it of all. It was a routine mission, nothing special, but if I would have treated them as anything other than regular bandits… she would still be alive today.”

Halt laid a hand on his shoulder.

“You don’t know that.” Will looked up at him. “I don’t. But-”

“Then you don’t get to draw conclusions without concrete evidence. You did what you had to do. You did your job.”

“Well, it seems like an awful lot of people die when I do my job,” Will said repulsively. Halt looked at him, until he was forced to make eye contact. The older Ranger’s eyes were serious, and when he spoke, his voice was too.

“Will, listen to me. No, don’t talk, listen. I know being a Ranger is not always easy,” he shook his head when Will opened his mouth to say something, “No, shut up. It isn’t and every single person in the Corps knows that. It’s a lot of hard of work and a lot of sacrifice and sometimes people die. And that sucks. And I’m not going to say that it’s for the greater good because the truth is, sometimes it isn’t. But that doesn’t mean that those deaths are on you. Until the day that you are willing to kill someone in cold blood you are doing nothing but your best.”

“It doesn’t make it any less awful,” Will said softly, breaking eye contact and Halt nodded.

“It doesn’t have to. You’re allowed to feel bad about it. Just don’t let it get in the way of things. Because if you do hold yourself responsible for every bad thing that happens just because you were out there saving people… that’s going to be the end of you,” Halt finished softly.

They sat in silence, for a few minutes, until Will looked up at him again and smiled softly.

“Thanks, Halt.”

The grey bearded Ranger stood up and brushed some leaves off his legs. He smiled down at his former apprentice.

“You’re welcome. Do me one favour though and pray tell Alyss and maybe Gilan, will you? They care about you and telling someone helps you to move on,” he said and he walked away, but before he disappeared he turned around one last time.

“Enjoy your coffee.”

Will smiled and took a sip. The coffee was cold. But the honey was as sweet as ever.

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jutsei · 5 years ago

Photo

(ART NOT BY ME! Drawn, commissioned from, and uploaded with permission by @cheesecakewitch ! )

“I just kinda got really fed up with people telling me Elderbeak wasn’t real, plus doing all that work for a waking world that doesn’t care about me, I’ve got all I need right here, isn’t that right, Elderbeak?”

“Mrah! (Of course!)”

Context/Behind The Scenes: An OC concept that’s relatively new, I wanted to make an example of a Dream Mage, since I’ve only had Dream Nomads so far! Since Dream Mages are those with Dream Magic and the ability to affect the sleeping world far more than a regular dreamer, it felt like it’d be a fun concept, so I got into contact with my friend Celine... who happens to be a massive fan of Digimon, so I had the concept of a dreamer who had an Imaginary Friend to channel those vibes, in the end we decided to make her be an in-between of a Dream Mage and Nomad, not one or the other! We also decided on a D&D type theme since that’d be a lot of fun to play with in the character

The “Imaginary Friend’ ended up becoming it’s own recurring concept too, unlike Dream Creatures, which are 75% Emotion/Thoughts and 25% Imagination and made from 10-1,000,000 people’s thoughts...

Imaginary friends are more personal, made from 1-5 people’s creativity and imagination, and are far more grounded in reality and less abstract, they’re related to Dream Creatures, though! Roughly 75% Imagination, 25% Emotion.

Like Dream Creatures, they have symbols upon them! But these are golden (never blue or red), and have symbols that are far more grounded in reality, in Elderbeak’s case, they resemble the dice Phlox so loved in her youth!

Phlox, formerly Philia, is a Dream Mage that has wandered from her home Dream Plane, borne of frustration at her waking world being cruel, constantly defying her attempts to branch out, and never giving her time to pursue her true interests, and on top of that, they keep insisting her very best friend Elderbeak isn’t real! They’re very real... just in the dream planes! For that end, she has begun an extended trip away from her body. Her avatar is based upon her concept for a character in a tabletop game she never quite got to play.

However, the mists of the dream realm are slowly beginning to warp and change her, in particular, adding a tail and claws to her cloak and making it more like a cape! Should she abandon her waking body, she will fully become a dream nomad, and the draconic additions to her cloak may just become closer than she’d like...

Phlox’s dream avatar/self is specifically based off of what Philia wished to play in a Tabletop RPG that was never meant to be, specifically, she is a half-demoness Thief/Ranger with some gems embedded in her!

Elderbeak, however, is an Imaginary, a creature borne from Philia’s endless wonder and creativity towards a fantasy tabletop roleplaying game she read in her youth, constantly dreaming of playing it and going on an adventure. Due to her sheer lack of friends (And therefore no one to play the game with), Philia kept thinking about a creature with the traits of both an owl and a bear, and then, one day, was greeted by one in her dreams, who quickly became her friend and partner in her duties! The two became friends very quickly...

And every day, Elderbeak grew smarter, kinder, and cuter, until the two became inseparable. As time went on, Elderbeak began getting more draconic traits as Philia’s inspiration and muse soared, until they became a rather original creation! Gifted with the strength and endurance of a bear, the wisdom of an owl... and the sheer unmatched power of a dragon, if Phlox ever stumbles, Elderbeak is there to pick her right back up! While Elderbeak can talk, they prefer to speak in coos that only Phlox can understand!

Elderbeak is an Owlbear with the traits of a Gem Dragon mixed in together, so the technical term would be a Dragowlbear!

Synopsis: Dream Mages are those borne with a most particular ability, that of dream magic, a form of mana that only becomes nascent when the user falls asleep and enters the world of dreams, though they are charged with a most important task, their work is never acknowledged in the waking world, much to the dismay of some.

Philia, as she was known, was one of these dream mages, born to a family that was relatively well off, she was never left wanting for much... and yet, she never could quite make friends. For whatever reason, whenever she opened her mouth, she picked the wrong subject, said the wrong thing, made the wrong expression, wrong wrong wrong, she simply consistently failed to connect to people

And every day, she would return home in a frustrated mess, and retreat to the basement, for there was her source of comfort... books for playing an “Ar Pee Gee” with pen and paper from a time long before her birth, it was meant to be played with up to four people, with one “master” setting the scene... every day, Philia would come home and read every book hidden away in the basement, even asking her parents about the adventures they must’ve had before putting these Ar Pee Gees away! Their tales, as well as every book captivated her imagination, planting a deep desire to play it herself one day, and the fact her parents every so often got her new editions of the books she read certainly didn’t help either...

... And that deep seated fantasy certainly helped her when she learned that she had a sacred duty to protect a realm of sleep only deep sleepers could ever enter, for if balance were to shatter, the real world would suffer. Though she didn’t want to, Philia obliged... if only because it was the closest thing to the adventures she wished to partake in!

And yet, in the waking world, every attempt to connect or even discuss her fantasy game resulted in people mocking her or thinking that her interest in the game was “faked”, whatver that meant. And once more, she retreated to her second home of fantasies that were just out of reach. She wished with all her heart she’d have a friend to play it with... or at the least, something from the fantasy to experience herself... as her eyes turned to the book, she saw something and smiled... a strange creature, the head of an owl, the features of a bear... an owlbear! How could anyone not love something like that? Well... if Philia couldn’t have a real world friend, she’d just make one up!

Quickly thinking up the name “Elderbeak”, she would pretend to have the burly creature nearby her to protect her and support her when she needed it. Even if she never got to play this game, she’d at least carry a part of it with her.

... And imagine her surprise that when one night, when falling into the realm of sleep, she was greeted by an owlbear that matched her exact vision of Elderbeak, down to the pattern of feathers...! It introduced itself as Elderbeak, and knew instictively that they were her friend. Philia’s heart swelled, she finally made a friend... literally and figuratively, but Elderbeak was real, right there in front of her! Happily, she hugged her new friend, and began taking them with her on her adventures around the dream plane to protect it.

As the two worked to do their duties together, Philia’s imagination and passion for the “RPG” as it turned out continued to grow, why’d Elderbeak have to just be an owlbear? They could also be a dragon... and with Philia’s passion, Elderbeak too changed, becoming softer, warmer, and cuter (But no less dependable), and gaining traits and features as Philia continued brainstorming, eventually settling on an owlbear with the traits of a gem dragon..

To match her dear friend, Philia had certain traits of Elderbeak attached to her “Dream avatar” as a sign of affection! Since Elderbeak was from the fantasy game, Philia decided she would be too... she weaved an image of a kind but daring purple skinned demoness in her head, and that image became her own... it was the character she yearned to play, a half-demon adventurer named Phlox... and so, that would be Philia’s identity in the dreamplanes!

Years passed, and Philia continued (and failed) to get an adventure in the RPG going, each attempt thwarted be it by time issues, people losing interest, or again, simply thinking she was :faking” interest, and this constant neglect was causing a negative effect on her personality, making her more snippy to those who did show genuine interest, or were simply approaching her, how could she know if they were just pretending to be her friend just to betray her later?

She kept trying when there was genuine effort though... and she came close once, very very close... she begged the “Master’ to allow her to play her half-demon character Phlox with her pet Owlbear... and the Master would allow Phlox... but not the Owlbear. Philia didn’t take it well. She lashed out, yelling about how it wasn’t fair to her best friend, only for the Master to flatly say he wasn’t real.

Getting a black eye and a missing tooth for their troubles, the Master prohibited Philia from ever playing with his group. She did it again. She messed up a connection, and her unhealthy obsession with this “fantasy” as well as an imaginary friend... at age 14 was starting to give her teacher and parents some concern, there were talks of taking away the books, doing a “regiment” to break her dependence upon Elderbeak, Philia... didn’t take it well.

How dare they! How dare they insist Elderbeak wasn’t real! He was real, just not in a place they could see or reach, if she could show them, they’d believe her if she just could...

The stress very quickly became too much to bear as all manner of horrible outcomes stewed in Philia’s head, why was the waking world so cruel, so banal, so horrible!? Nothing good ever happened there, and Elderbeak wasn’t there was much as she liked... Then... a thought occurred...

“I need a break from all this!”

Philia simply flopped onto her bed, closed her eyes, and decided to stay asleep for as long as possible. She was going to stay in the Dreamplanes for a week, no...a month... no, a year! A year away from all this stress would make her parents forget about all this nonsense, and she’d miss a year of school too, win win! ... She could probably also use a break from her Dream Mage duties!

So, packing up her imaginary things and hopping onto the back of Elderbeak... Ph-... Phlox left, her waking body falling into a comatose state as her dreamself went on an adventure through the dreamplanes, going from place to place, not worrying about any duties but the thrill of adventure.

... Though, lately, dream mist has been coalescing onto Phlox’s cloak, making it appear longer, get a tail, and even golden claws... somewhat concerning, but Phlox is assured it’s probably nothing

For now, she simply wants to be away from the horrific stress of the waking world, and if the dream realm truly appears to be better than the waking world...

...

Then she’ll just decide to never wake up again, plain and simple!

#shins other ocs #shins dream worlds #commissions ive gotten

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alecmagnuslwb · 6 years ago

Text

Accidental Superheroes...Again

Part of my Malec/Saiabelle Power Rangers AU

Read on AO3

“So, in conclusion math was created by the devil and a few years from now when it’s time for me to graduate, I won’t because I never passed a math class,” Magnus grumbles miserably one hand tangled with Alec’s the other gesturing animatedly.

Alec chuckles pulling Magnus in close as they continue to walk across NYU’s campus towards home.

“That’s not gonna happen babe,” Alec says turning to press a quick kiss to his boyfriend’s temple. Magnus had received an email with the grade of his latest exam while waiting for Alec to finish his night class and the result hadn’t been excellent.

“Oh, but it is,” Magnus says. “The Dean of Columbia University themselves will look me in the eyes, deny me my diploma and say ‘ya math dumb’.”

Alec rolls his eyes at his boyfriend’s dramatics. “You’re not dumb,” Alec says with conviction. “Plus, I doubt the Dean of one of the most known universities in America would use the phrase ‘ya math dumb’.”

“Fine, they’ll say it more diplomatically then,” Magnus sighs. Alec stops using the hand clasped with Magnus’ to turn him so they face one another.

“Magnus, you are brilliant math just isn’t your thing but you’ll figure it out and kick it’s ass,” he says with a smile looking into Magnus’ deep brown eyes with surety.

The frown on Magnus’ face fades a bit as he rolls his eyes, “I guess you’re right,” he relents.

“I usually am, it’s-” he starts but is cut off by the sound of a shout coming from nearby. Magnus’ head perks up looking in the direction of the shout as it sounds again. Without thought they both take off, Alec tossing his backpack off to the side, hopefully safely for the time being, under a nearby tree. They both rush, growing closer to the shouts when from a distance they spot a young man fighting off two muggers alone.

For the first time in months Alec feels the thrumming energy of his powers coming to life. Since they moved to New York they haven’t once had cause to break out their armor or even really use their powers except for the extra strength it took to carry a mattress up four flights when they moved into their apartment. He hadn’t realized he missed the feeling of it till this moment and judging from the smirk on Magnus’ face he feels the same.

With a nod of his head he calls on the armor, the cool metal now just a thought away covering him quickly as Magnus does the same. Magnus reaches the muggers first grabbing the taller one by the collar and pulling him back from the scared student.

Alec grabs the other mugger by his wrist his fingers clinging roughly into the student’s shirt. The mugger twists only startling at Alec’s alien looking appearance for a moment before rushing forward with a knife in hand. Alec easily deflects the blade knocking the mugger to the ground as he sees Magnus dodging a punch from the other culprit easily catching his fist in hand.

“Really?” Alec says as the mugger scrambles around for the knife tossing it poorly at Alec, the dinging sound it makes bouncing off his armor almost humorous amongst the shuffle. Alec picks the knife up snapping it in two, which causes the muggers eyes to widen in fear, and tossing it off to the side out of the muggers reach as Magnus grapples with the other mugger pulling him into a sleeper hold that knocks him out cold fairly quickly. He drops the unconscious criminal to the ground next to the other one who’s still staring up at Alec with wide fearful eyes.

“Don’t move,” Magnus says with a chuckle throwing a quick look to Alec as he steps toward the scared victim who’s now hiding behind a nearby bush. “You okay?”

The boy nods and stammers something that sounds like an affirmation as Alec’s attention is drawn to the sound of heavy fast-moving footsteps nearing them. Not far in the distance campus police are closing in, the blue and red lights of an NYPD vehicle closing in as well. Magnus helps the boy to stand as Alec leans to grab the discarded broken knife throwing the sharp edges expertly into the side of a tree.

“Here we go again,” Magnus sighs gesturing to a small cluster of students who’ve gathered with phones in hand. Alec huffs taking his eyes off the still frozen in fear mugger for a moment. The myth of the suited superheroes of Alicante Grove had died down immensely remaining mostly a local legend, that however seemed like it was about to change.

“We should go,” Alec says ignoring the clicking of cameras taking one last glance at the criminals before them as campus police reach them skidding to stop a little wide eyed. “Have a nice night,” he salutes before grabbing Magnus’ hand to run back to his backpack and to their evening as planned, superhero drama free.

***

“We’re famous again,” Magnus says as he rolls from bed the next morning his phone in hand.

“And a good morning to you as well,” Alec says sitting a plate piled high with waffles on the small coffee table in front of the couch. It’s barely a second before Magnus reaches him, their studio apartment is essentially only two rooms: a bathroom and a living room/bedroom/kitchen space or the ‘living-bedchen’ as they loving call it, tossing his phone at Alec before planting a quick kiss on his lips.

“Good morning darling,” he says immediately reaching out for the waffles gesturing for Alec to look at the phone.

Alec unlocks the screen sitting down next to Magnus revealing a series of texts from Maia, most are in all capital letters with too many exclamation points but the most recent is a link to a viral twitter thread. It seems that somewhere between their dinner last night and the quiet breakfast Alec is not getting to enjoy the students who’d posted photos and short videos of last nights incident on their feeds have already connected the two of them to Alicante Grove incident.

“Well, shit,” Alec says scrolling through the comments, some of which are attempting to connect who or what the mystery metal heroes might be.

“It’s not that bad,” Magnus says through a mouthful of waffle, Alec takes a moment despite his sudden worry to appreciate how cute it is.

“What if they figure out it’s us?” Alec says gesturing wildly as Magnus plucks the phone from his hand tossing it onto the empty side of the couch. “And if they figure out it’s us, they might connect it back to Iz and Maia and Simon.”

“Alexander,” Magnus says calmly placing a hand on Alec’s cheek. The touch is simple but it grounds him in a way nothing else can. “There’s no way anyone will figure out it’s us, people still think that the Rangers are aliens not actual people, we put a hole in the center of our hometown and people stopped talking about it after a few months, by the end of the week something else insane will happen on campus and this will all be forgotten. This is one of those rare times we can be thankful for the 24-hour news cycle world in which we live today, okay?”

Alec rationalizes that Magnus is right. If Alicante Grove, a town with not much to talk about had accepted them as a legend and mostly moved on, it’s no doubt that a large campus in a huge city will forget about them within the week or even sooner depending on how things go.

“Okay,” he nods which makes Magnus smile bright. He turns back to his waffles putting two small pieces on the end of his fork and offering it to Alec.

Alec smiles, his frenzied mind calming as he leans in to eat the waffles chewing slowly as the sun streams in through the windows brightly. Magnus smiles right back bopping Alec on the nose with the now empty fork playfully.

Somewhere in the depths of his mind he’s still worrying that one day someone might put two and two together, not that there’s any real physical proof to connect it all up, but there’s no sense in fretting over things that likely won’t ever happen, especially not when a quiet sweet breakfast with the love of his life is right in front of him.

#my fic #malec fic #power rangers au #magnus bane #alec lightwood #shadowhunters

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