#spiffy critters

[miscellaneous-geekery]

I'm always happy to see folk appreciate axolotls (and other amphibians). Wild axolotls, once common enough to be a regular part of the Aztec diet, are now nearly extinct due to habitat loss, water pollution, and predation by invasive species. As amphibians, they are especially sensitive to polluted water due to their permeable skins, making them an ecological indicator species.

Captive axolotls are kept as pets, and used in research as @kellygreeny mentioned. They are amazing beasties. According to SanDiegoZoo.org: They are also used in laboratories to study another superpower: regenerating their limbs, lungs, heart, jaws, spines, and even parts of their brain!

Hi,

You once said, you like to see our pets. Here are my little axolotl, which I got as eggs and care for them until now. That wasn't an easy job. But these animal are so amazing. They can grew their limps, part of organs and even parts of their brains back like there was nothing. And we research this ability and in the future we might be able to copy that.

Aren't they cute?

They are cute. I like the beady little eyes. Good on you for having the discipline to raise them from eggs. Their regenerative abilities are very interesting. I hope those secrets can be unlocked.

I'm all for the ability to regrow limbs.

[teaboot]

Personal list of Best Words

Fuck

Critter

Honeybun

Ding-dong

Harpsichord

Encephalopathy

Carton

Alabaster

Slut

Bubble

Bugle

Tulips

Organza

Bloopers

Spiffy

Upper

Crispy

Sanctimonious

Cephalopod

Pantomime

And Worst Words

Ungent

Ergot

Clogged

Delicate

Pheasant

Parsimonious

Clapper

Philistine

Yacht

Cubicle

Tabernacle

Crass

Pleurisy

Carbine

Carabiner

Saxophone

Fantastial

Haberdashery

Rook

Claptrap

[poe-the-crow]

What do you think of the other critters? Be as poetic with it as you like.

"Poetic you say? Say no less!"

"Baba is neat, she is a little too much like me for my own good, like a snowflake split in two. She's nice to discuss abstract concepts with when she leaves her humble housing."

"ugh. Icky, most akin to sitting in the lonely dark, is better dealing with in a group and in a non serious gathering. He is intolerable if you encounter him alone."

"Rabie is fine by me, she's nice to everyone, but specifically when it comes collecting gossip. You get more fleas with extra sweet honey and a smile after all. Every I don't know how she gets it all: and I basically hide all the time where people can't see me. And I have seen a lot of stuff."

"Allie is good at what he does best, nothing. I don't fault the guy, the world sucks and is cruel. Best to spend your time doing zilch if you understand your actions mean nothing on the world."

"Tou, Tou, Tou... What to say about Tou? Well, he is a brilliant conversationist, there's pretty deep meaning in what he has to say. And he tried to... 'cook'. It is not the best. But he tries. He's charming, driven, spiffy, spectacular and.. I should probably stop before someone gets the wrong idea."

"Simon is a loveable jerk. Much like a desperate gambler, you can't stop yourself from hanging out with him. He's pretty down to earth by himself though. No one to impress."

"And Maggie.. as much as she gets on my nerves with certain nicknames, I can't help having admiration for her spirit when it comes to life. She seems like an airhead at first glance, but she is quite insightful when you get down to discussing and talking. Don't let that hunger palate get to you: it's all brain food. She's cool, yet doesn't roll over."

[iambittythings]

It's rainy af here today, so let's have a fitting cryptid for the weather, the Loveland Frogman. Just a froggy fellow, with a spiffy wand, he's a personnal fav and what's not to like?

The Frogman found a home, but if you'd like a beast, please check out Bittythings and Beasts. New critters are currently up, too!

[thatonebirdwrites]

So yesterday I went to People's Pride in my town. It's an event run by locals, where corporations and cops are NOT invited and not allowed. They want to keep it people and community focused, so that our talents are on display. A way for us to bring back the aims of the original pride (before corporations and cops took it over).

The only reason I decided to go was because it's a mask-mandated event (thank heavens, we're in the pandemic era, so community care means wearing masks for not only security but also health safety).

I also went because the friend who asked me was so eager to hang out again. (I've been isolated due to LongCovid for four years, so being around people genuinely excited to get to know me better, and who don't belittle, tear me down, constantly bring up all the things I do wrong no matter how much I apologize? I felt anxious. Wondering when the other show would drop. But it never does. They are just a very kind person.)

While there, a baby bird was found. That little critter is so soft, and I was so delighted. My friend told me I looked cute looking at the baby bird as the bird looked at me. I didn't know they had taken a picture until after when they sent me a copy. lol

My nickname is Bird. :D

While there, I encountered another wheelchair user that had decorations on the spokes of their wheelchair. I squealed in delight, "Holy crap, that is so awesome! Where did you get those wheels? I need them for mine."

The person replied, "They're spoke covers. You can get them online. I definitely recommend."

So now here I am searching the Internets for spoke covers to make my wheelchair even gayer than it currently is. (I have put so many LGBTQIA flags and stickers on it that it's kind of ridiculous. lol)

I could only last around an hour, and I did get to meet new people. The friend who took me was oddly eager to introduce me to ALL the people, and they sounded so proud. I wasn't sure why until after I got home, rested a bit, then sent them a signal message thanking them for taking me.

That's when I found out they had been SO EXCITED to share the joy of knowing me and getting to know me better. They also adored the fractal art I gave them.

My first thought was: Why?

Am I really that delightful to know?

I didn't know what to say, so I just gave the message a heart.

As an aside, I fear I'm unlovable at times because most days I feel like I don't know how to human. Like I'm a bundle of chronic illnesses and trauma wrapped up in a spiffy trenchcoat. I try hard to be kind, and I'm trying hard to not sabotage things out of fear of getting hurt/abused again.

Overall, People's Pride was a good experience. The entertainment was all local folks either doing drag, singing and interpretative dance, poetry slams, or sharing stories at the nearby amphitheater. The vendors were just local folks who make art, mending library, repair library folks, tea folks, and just folks who manage LGBTQIA shared spaces.

The organizers asked to store things in my garage, and I agreed because I don't use it. Fair Air Network (FAN) already uses it to store their masks and air filtration supplies -- they are the group I help with and who are doing their best to educate people on mask-wearing and the necessity of continuing pandemic mitigations.

I'm fine with my garage being a community storage for LGBTQIA folks and groups. It's nice to be able to give back to the community in what little ways I can.

Anyway, wanted to share this story. :) I love when community comes together like this. It's beautiful.

[probably-a-plant-thing]

opinion on driders?

or just. idk creatures with many eyes. i love many eyes. and friend showed pictures of a drider from bg3 yesterday.

Had to look those up and uh.. yeah, spider centuars! That's spiffy!

I like things with a lotta eyes, they can be either really cute or really spooky !! I like my critters with an abnormal amount of eyes,

[hardcoregamer]

11 Bit Studios Showcases New Story and Gameplay Trailer for Creatures of Ava

Creatures of Ava bills itself as more of a "creature saver" where Vic is a young nature adventurer on an expedition, finding herself having to save the land's creatures from an infection known as "The Withering" that seems to result in creepy growths of withered plants. So Vic has to help out the creatures by saving them, and can also tame them through music via an indigenous flute, making friends with the critters in the process through non-violent gameplay.

Check it out!

[burnwater13]

It was true. 100% accurate. Grogu had done so many things that the Mandalorian couldn’t explain it would make your head ache. How did he look so gosh darn adorable? How did he get to be such a spiffy dresser? How did he manage to eat, not one, but three, count them three, frogs fresh and whole and not even burp? These were mysteries and Grogu didn’t blame the tall bounty hunter for being unable to figure them out. He did them and he didn’t even know how it worked!

And Grogu would argue that Din Djarin was just as inexplicable as the Mandalorian accused him of being. How did he manage to survive in hot humid environments wearing that armor? Why in the name of the great Jedi of the past, did he polish his armor so often? How could he tolerate eating one tiny bite of a thing at a time? And of course, how could you spend so much of your life hiding your face from everyone else, especially your eyes? It was unconscionable! But the Mandalorian did it. 

Now, if Mando was really talking about Grogu’s ability to use the Force, when he was talking to Ahsoka Tano, well, Grogu could explain that. He just wasn’t sure that the Mandalorian would like the explanation. 

It wasn’t some simple explanation like he ate all the veggies he could tolerate and grew strong and was able to manipulate the mass and potentialities of atoms of any sort.  That’s what he told people who just wanted to understand the science of it all. 

Everything in the universe had mass… well almost everything. The vacuum of space didn’t have much in the way of mass, because it was a vacuum. Vacuum was the definition of empty, nothing, absence. But space itself, actually had all sorts of mass and it even had negative mass, but Grogu wasn’t going to explain that to the Mandalorian. He barely understood it himself. Anyway, if things had mass, the mass could be influenced by a field. Grogu was able to use the Force (uppercase) to manipulate mass because the Force was a field and he was able to manipulate that field because he was Force sensitive. There. Got it? Nope. That’s okay. He didn’t like that explanation much himself. 

The Jedi had kind of treated the Force like it was akin to will power. You chose to control yourself and your actions and non-actions every day. Some of that was done in the back ground. You didn’t even think about it. Like breathing. Grogu didn’t know why he remembered to breath when he didn’t alway remember to brush his teeth, but he did. So obviously some process was happening in him that caused him to inhale and exhale. 

So with the Force, if you concentrated, ‘opened yourself to it’, and could express, somehow, what you wanted done, a thing would happen. Sometimes that thing that happened was unscrewing a knob from a flight control lever and throwing it to yourself. Other times it was arresting the momentum of a charging mudhorn and then lifting the critter off its feet so it couldn’t just go collect some momentum again and squash your friend. 

Grogu was pretty sure that the Mandalorian wouldn’t really like that explanation either. Grogu had concentrated pretty hard when those red and blue wires became a thing and the Force did absolutely nothing to help him make the right connection. It was a lot like gravity that way. You had to understand the thing you wanted to do with it to get it right. But unlike gravity it wasn’t a weak force. Nope. 

He remembered one time, at the Jedi Temple, he and his friend Ian were playing… that is studying  a lesson on how to apply the Force carefully. A whole row of chicken eggs (yum) had been lined up and they took turns lifting the eggs and moving them over their sleeping class mates. Whoever broke an egg first lost the … uh… whatever. In any case, Ian wasn’t as good at controlling the Force as Grogu and when he went to collect just one egg, he actually picked up three of them.

Well, that right there was a violation and Ian should have put them down, but just at that moment, one of the Masters came into the room the younglings used as sleeping chamber, no doubt to check and see if they were all asleep. It was Battle Master Drallig. 

They had been studying battle tactics with him earlier that day so Grogu was kind of surprised to see him again. Maybe he wanted his light saber back. Grogu was pretty sure that Ian had managed to make it disappear. Ian clearly thought that was the case and instead of putting the eggs down and pretending to sleep, which is what Grogu was already pretending to do, Ian heard the Jedi Master step on something, most likely his lightsaber and curse. 

Grogu knew Ian hadn’t meant to use the Force that way, but you have to learn control for good reasons. The three eggs were suddenly shattering all over Master Drallig, causing him to roar loudly with annoyance and then the rest of the eggs followed suit. It was a mess. Control is very important when you use the Force. Ian was probably just about finished writing those lines down by the time the Sith attacked the Jedi Temple and he had to escape. Grogu missed him and Master Drallig, who never seemed quite the same after the egg incident. 

So, the Force could be explained a lot of different ways, but none of them really mattered. You could either use it or you couldn’t. Some people were really good at using it all the time and others got out of practice or found themselves ‘closed’ to the Force. But it wasn’t as different from other skills some people had that other people didn’t. Skills like caring about the weak and helpless. Or taking care of orphans. Or laughing at the drawing you did of Master Drallig getting pelted by eggs. Those skills were valuable and rare and made all the difference to Grogu, even if he couldn’t explain why Din Djarin was so good at them. 

[whitherwordswither]

Logs from the Starfields, IX

Captain's Log #0.09:

… .. .

Y'know what I hate? Runnin' all over the known universe tryin' to track someone down… and there they are just. Chillin' in your own backyard.

That's where Marco was. Hidin' in plain damn site just about. The proprietor of the Red Mile agreed to set up a meeting for me. On one condition. I run the infamous Red Mile. I almost regretted saying yes as soon as I got out there. This frozen dirtball of a planet is pretty hostile. And the local wildlife? Christjesusalmighty. They. Pack. A. Wallop. Forget the desert hounds on Akila. These things mean… meaner business!

I thought I'd work at a nice pace, taking these critters out as they came up. But they will absolutely gang up on you. And none of my guns packed enough punch to warrant hopping around, wasting time trying to blast them. Which is saying something about the durability of these critters! 'Cause I've got a lot of nice guns on me. On top of that, the freezing cold was biting through the toughest thermal protection I had. So, yeah. I see where the mile got its name. … I booked it. And I kept booking it. (Unless I saw a worthwhile enough corpse to stop booking it for two seconds to rummage through for potential spoils.)

I did manage to make it there and back again. Mostly intact. Surprisingly. There were a couple times where I thought I was gonna end up chow for the beasties. It's ok though. I'm only slightly addicted to Amp now. I uh… I can quit any time I want. Besides. There's totally a drug to cure the addiction to this drug. It'll all be a-ok.

After bustin' my ass in the mile, I was looking forward to administering my aggressions out on Marco.

Marco's ship was planetside, just. Chilling there. No outside defenses set up. And for the size of the damn thing, there weren't a whole lot of guards either. A few ceiling mounted turrets. But good lord was it stocked and lined like a god damn luxury cruise. Carpeted floors and posh plants. And whole heckuva lotta free stuff. The guards kept staring at me, but I was picking up trinkets and vases and little statues left and right. No one gave a damn. That's how stupid rich this asshole was. The audacity of it all…

I made my way to the very back of the ship where he was, looking out over his prized medieval dining hall sized main deck. He watched me pick through his keep, stuffing his most expensive prizes in to my woefully tiny pockets. He didn't even bat an eye as I entered his private suite and poked through every little nook and cranny, making sure I wasn't missing out on anything good. Didn't even turn around while I picked the locks to snoop through his bedroom or the room at the opposite end where some pretty spiffy gear was.

I'm starting to think he was some kind of uncaring robot. He stood there, still staring out his highest-horse window while I logged on to the personal computer at his desk and adjusted the turret control system. I was completely dumbfounded. Like. Sir. Are you drugged out of your mind? You're going to die.

Finally, we spoke face to face. God I wanted to just… punch him. But I waited. He seemed to think he was the hottest shit on the sun. He got two or three more words before I had had enough. I ended the conversation prematurely and shot him. In the face. Right in his smugugly face. He didn't offer up anything useful. Just some I'm-above-the-law and I can do whatever I want rich-elitist bullshit.

I probably could have talked him out of the data slate I pried from his still warm corpse. But… the universe really needs less people like this asshat in it. I'm tired. I don't want to play this game any more. The alarms are blaring. The turrets are singing the song of their mechanical people and keeping Marco's guards busy. I load up the cool shotgun I found in the crate from the locked room and mosey my way on out, blasting through the still standing mob as they are scrambling for cover.

As I'm trudging back to the Tiny Pixel… I wonder… if I find my way back here after this is all said and done… can I take this ship and sell it? Its got to be worth a pretty penny and it ain't like anyone else is gonna be using it, right? The Rangers sure don't need a big luxury boat.

Eh. Maybe if I remember. But… I don't think this mission is over quite yet. I have a feeling we've got another twist coming up. Why? Because nothin' is cut and dry no more.

Why did I ever quit haulin'…?

End Log.

[seriouslysnape]

Moonlight Dip

Neville Longbottom x Fem! Reader

Warnings: Fluff, Sexual content (super brief).

Word Count: 2,588

“We’re going swimming.”

Hogwarts was always desolate and quiet at this time of night. The only person who was supposed to be stirring was Filch, Mrs. Norris, and possibly Professor Snape keeping an eye out for any students who had grown bold enough to break curfew. Most students didn’t bother trying to sneak around the castle at night. Not because they were afraid of getting caught, but because if they DID get caught, they’d have to deal with Filch’s overly strict behavior. Honestly, that was a punishment in and of itself. 

Which was why Neville just couldn’t seem to figure out why you were leading him through the dark corridors, moving like a woman on a mission. You had crept into his dorm around midnight or so, pouncing on his bed and shaking him from his gentle slumber. You barely waited for him to wake up before you were whisper-shouting at him that you had somewhere for the two of you to go. He never minded a surprise visit from you, but he also wasn’t very keen on attempting to slip out undetected. Still, his curiosity won out.

“Hey, uh, flower?” He whispered, not knowing where Filch might’ve been.

“Yes, Neville?” You whispered back, peering your head around the corner to check for anyone coming. 

“Where are we going exactly? And why are you in your robes?” He questioned, feeling a bubble of nervousness in his chest.

Truth be told, Neville felt a little underdressed. He was clad in his pajamas bottoms and an old t-shirt that he only used to sleep in. You looked back at him with a smile, his heart leaping at how beautiful you looked under the illumination of the Lumos you had uttered from your wand. Neville had learned to be more spontaneous after he had begun dating you. You were as sweet and respectful as anyone, but you definitely had a wild side that sometimes shaved some years off of Neville’s life. He wasn’t sure what to think of it at first, but over time he found that he loved all of your silly shenanigans. Even the ones that had gotten you both in hot water before. 

“I told you, Nev. It’s a surprise!” You answered, squeezing his hand that was interlaced in yours, “It won’t be a surprise anymore if I tell you.”

Neville made a puzzled, yet thoughtful look as he racked his brain of possible ideas. He thought that maybe that you were daring to venture to Hogsmeade for a late night snack. Every now and again, you’d convince Neville to help you with sneaking into Honeydukes after hours to snag a few treats (don’t worry, you always left the right amount of money on the counter to pay for it). 

However, his theory was proven wrong when he realized that you were taking him past the courtyard and in the general direction of the Quidditch field. He was glad that it was well into spring now, and the nights were warm with the days. You didn’t play Quidditch though, and neither did he. So he couldn’t fathom why you were headed that way.

“The Quidditch fields are always dark this time of night. There’s no way we’ll be able to see.” Neville pointed out, mumbling under his breath when he almost tripped on a loose rock. 

You turned to look at him again, another smile plastering on your face. 

“Then it’s a good thing that we aren’t going there.” You replied.

Sure enough, you kept walking towards your desired locating, keeping your antsy boyfriend in tow. About the time that Neville had given up on trying to figure out where you were taking him, his question was answered. The lake was always so pretty at night, and tonight was no exception. The moon was only a phase away from being full, but still offering enough light to where the two of you could somewhat see. The reflection bounced beautifully off of the dark lake, creating glittering ripples in the water when it was agitated from it’s still position.

You let go of Neville’s hand once you were standing on the bank, crouching down to untie your shoelaces. Neville stood still, his arms at his side rather awkwardly. He wasn’t picking up on your plan just yet.

“I didn’t know that you like to fish.” Neville said aloud, not bothering to whisper anymore since there was no chance that anyone would be out here.

“I don’t.” You giggled, removing your shoes and socks.

Neville’s eyebrows raised, still oblivious even as your fingertips worked at untying the cord around your robes. Well, he WAS oblivious, until it was literally right in front of his face.

“Then why are we- oh my God, what are you doing?” He cut himself off when your robes fell to the grass, revealing your bra and knickers underneath.

Neville was glad that it was mainly dark outside, because his sudden deep blush would’ve been painfully obvious otherwise. You smirked at the bashful boy who was frozen in place, unsure of what he was supposed to do.

“We’re going swimming.” You announced, reaching for his hand again. 

Except he didn’t take your hand. He wasn’t on board with this idea at all.

“Oh no. No, no, no. I draw the line at swimming naked!” He rattled off, taking a step away from you.

You weren’t offended in the slightest, and you were even rather amused at his skittish behavior. This was nothing new to you.

“I’m technically not naked.” You reminded him calmly.

“You’re in your knickers!” He hissed back, his eyes widening as he actually took a second to look at the lacy material.

“Exactly. Which equals not naked.” You returned, fighting the urge to burst into laughter.

“Nope!” He protested, sitting down on the grass instead, “I’ve defended us for getting caught sneaking off for Chocolate Frogs and breaking into the library at 3 o’clock in the morning. But I will not try to explain why we were in the lake naked.” 

Neville seemed adamant about staying put where he was. He was tempted to get up and leave, but there was no shot in hell that he was going to leave you out here by yourself. He was perfectly fine with sitting off to the side and observing from a safe distance.

“You see me in my underwear all the time, Nevy,” You said, not really believing that the lack of clothes was what he was timid about, “Is it the ‘nakedness’ or the critters that sometimes live in the lake?”

Neville was frightened of a lot of things, and while he tended to love animals, aquatic animals were an exception. Fish and water-based bugs freaked him out for some reason that even you didn’t quite understand. The only animals that lived in and around water that he liked were frogs and toads. The only aspect of the lake that he might enjoy (aside from seeing you wet and half-naked) were the plants that were undoubtedly growing below the surface.

“Maybe both...” He murmured, resting his forearms on top of his knees that were pulled into his chest, “Regardless, I’m staying right here.”

You shrugged your shoulders, believing your intuition that said that he’d be in the water with you in less than fifteen minutes.

“Suit yourself.” You told him before making a graceful entrance splash into the water.

He watched as you plunged in, your entire frame disappearing under the water that looked black due to the inky color of the sky. Neville felt his nerves get fired up when you went under, a slight anxiety in his gut that you might not come back up. The lake wasn’t super deep by any means, only coming up to just below your hip. Neville knew that it was possible to drown in any depth of water, which was why he became a bit on edge.

Thankfully, though, you emerged from below the water before he could get too worked up. He watched with interest when your hands swept your wet hair backwards, slicking it on your head. 

Neville had always found you pretty. He thought you were the most beautiful girl on the planet. While he always thought that you looked stunning, there were still times where it was much more clear to him. For instance, early in the morning when you’ve just woken up is one of his favorites. Or right before a Gryffindor party on Friday nights when you’ve taken extra time to get spiffied up. Seeing you always made his heart beat with a little more purpose. It reminded him of how much he cared for and loved you. 

And this moment now really had him swooning.

His eyes studied as water droplets dripped from your frame, soaking into your underwear and gliding down your beautiful skin. It created a shiny gleam over you, bringing out all of his favorite parts of you. He must’ve fallen into a lusty daze, because he felt himself snap back into reality when you called to him.

“You sure you don’t want to get in?” You spoke, letting your fingertips trail over the surface of the lake.

Neville shook his head in response. 

“I’m good here, tulip. Promise.” He said, still not sure if this was something he wanted to do. 

You never pressured Neville into doing things he didn’t want to do. You never wanted him to be uncomfortable around you or associate discomfort with spending time with you. However, you knew that Neville was a worrier. He was an avid overthinker and sometimes just let his nerves get the best of him. You encouraged him to live a little more, without thinking about every single possible outcome of a situation. It’s great to be cautious and aware, but life without taking some risks could be...boring. You just didn’t want Neville to grow old with you and wish he hadn’t let his head get the best of him.

You swam out towards the middle of the lake, but not so far that you couldn’t see or hear Neville. You floated on your back and played with things that you found on the mushy, sandy floor of the lake. Neville maintained a conversation with you, but found himself feeling tempted to join you. It was just swimming. It wasn’t like the two of you were trying to blow up the lake or anything. 

“How does...how does it feel?” Neville asked, stifling a giggle at how you were bouncing on your feet with your head lolled to the side to get water out of your ear.

“It’s nice. It’s not warm by any means, but it feels good.” You told him, wringing the excess water from your hair, “Changed your mind?”

Neville chewed the inside of his cheek, but he was warming up to the idea.

“I don’t even have a pair of swim trunks with me.” He argued.

You motioned towards your own body with a look of hilarity.

“Oh, and I’m wearing my swimsuit? It doesn’t matter, love. Just take off what you have on.” You instructed, getting hopeful that he was actually going to do it.

Neville stood from where he sat, stripping down to his boxers at a snail’s pace. He folded his clothes neatly, setting them next to your robes that he had also folded previously. He dipped his foot into the water, expecting it to be much colder than it actually was. It was a lukewarm temperature, something that would be refreshing on a hot summer day, but far too freezing for a frigid winter day. For his moderate spring night, it was perfect.

Neville didn’t love how the bottom of the lake felt on his feet. It was a mix of a squishy, gelatinous feeling. You reached for his hands excitedly, taking them as he waded out to where you were standing.

“So, what do you think?” You wondered, careful not to freak him out too much,

“It feels...nice. I don’t think I’ve ever been in this lake,” He admitted, “How did you even come up with this?”

“Well, you told me once that your Gran used to have a little pond behind her house that you liked to swim in during the summer. You said you enjoyed it and I thought maybe this would be something you’d like too,” You explained to him, suddenly feeling insecure about this whole thing, “I know it’s probably not the same or as fun.”

Now things really started to make sense. Neville felt the cage of butterflies flutter all into his belly whenever you did something sweet for him. Especially when it was something with sentimental value. 

Neville had undeniably fallen in love with you. Not because of your witty personality or the random adventures you liked to take him on. Those things were plenty great, and he cherished those things with everything he had. But that wasn’t what made him decide that you were his future. 

It was the pureness of your heart.

He fell for you more and more each time you did something for him. Whether it was as small as you combing your fingers through his hair when he was asleep on your chest in the common room, or as big as the time you devised a plan to throw a surprise birthday party for him at his Gran’s house. No matter what it was, you never hesitated to spend your energy, time, and love on making him happy.

“I did always like that pond, flower. But...you want to know something?” He said smoothly, with just the faintest hint of shakiness in his tone, “This is a lot better.”

He pulled you in close at the sight of your brightening eyes, bringing you down with him as he sank down to his knees under the top of the water.

“Oh, yeah? Why’s that?” You pressed on.

“Because you’re here.” He mewled, pressing a kiss to your forehead. 

His descent of kisses trailed down to your nose, to your cheeks, to your lips. His kisses were never rushed in moments like this. They weren’t ever in a rush to get to the point or so rough that he didn’t have a chance to feel it. He liked to take his time with you. He liked to savor you.

“I love you, Nev. I really do.” You professed once he pulled away from you.

“I love you, petal,” He returned, going to kiss you again, but stopped when he took a big swash of lake water to the face.

He let out a startled gasp at how he was totally soaked now. It dripped from his hair, droplets rolling to the tip of his nose before falling off back into the lake. He caught your mischievous expression, your cheeks puffed out as you fought your laughter.

“Really funny, doll.” He sputtered, nonchalantly reaching around to your back and unclasping your bra with one hand. He managed to whip it off of you with ease, leaving you completely naked on top.

“Neville!” You squealed, “Give it back! That’s my favorite one!” 

Neville teased you as he held your bra high in the air above his head, chuckling as you struggled (and failed) to get it back.

“Don’t worry, love bug. I’ll take good care of it. But if you want it...” Neville paused, shimmying past you and waddling further out into the lake with a sneaky, yet innocent sneer on his face;

“You’ve got to come and get it.”

*****

Tags: @lupinsslut @writingscape @msmimimerton​ @thefilmcity​

[yukikorogashi]

💞💖💘💕 🥺👉🏻👈🏻

Positivity meme (No longer accepting)

Send 💞 and my muses will say something nice about your muse

   AT THE MENTION OF HER SENSEI, the little one would LIGHT UP just as brightly as the midday sun itself. “Rohan sensei? Well...” Their FIRST MEETING together would have already been the BESTEST DAY IN HER LIFE. “It ain’t no secret dat he’s one-a da most talented, most amazing artist in da WHOLE WIDE WORLD! A-Ah didn’t even think ah’d have-a chance of meetin’ him, let alone talk ta him!” And yet... it was from that day when things got better. When DREAMS WOULD BECOME A REALITY, as the gifted mangaka took her under his wing, and offered her every bit of LOVE AND SUPPORT that she didn’t even think she deserved in the first place. 

   He wasn’t just her hero and art teacher, but would become the BIG BROTHER that she had only ever dreamed of having, “He’s just been so kind ta me... always helpin’ me out in any way he can ta when it comes ta mah art. An’ uhm gonna make him proud! Uhm gonna keep workin’ real hard ta be a mangaka jus’ lahk him! Oh y’all jus’ wait, ehehe!”

Send 💖 and my muses will say something nice about you, the mun

   “Well, ah’ll be a flyin’ squirrel’s cousin, if it ain’t Kitty! ‘Ave a seat, ‘ave a seat!” Pulling up a chair for the GUEST OF HONOUR, Itsuki would then run off briefly. Before returning with several dishes that she had made just for the occasion, as well as two cups of freshly brewed tea, “Ah hope ya don’t mind! As sweet as SODA is, it’s a whole lot betta if ya wash dat all down wit’ some pipin’ hot tea!” And with that, the little one would take her seat from across them. Clasping her hands lightly together and giving a grateful “Itadakimasu!” before digging into her own food.

   And in between a few busy munches, Itsuki would smile up to them. Hoping that they were enjoying the meal that she had prepared just for them. “SHE speaks da world of ya, y’know? Always gushin’ on ‘bout what a talented an’ hardworkin’ fella ya are! An’ jus’ how proud she is ta know ya an’ call ya her FRIEND! An’ oooohhhh! All demm cute critters ya got back at home! Yer a real kind soul fer watchin’ o’er an’ lovin’ all those darlins’! Ah sure wish ah could go and see em’ fer m’self, one day!” She would take another spoonful of rice then, “Ehehe, uhm jus’ so happy ah got ta finally meet wit’cha’s m’self! It’s a real honor, yup, yup! ... Thank ya fer bein’ such a great friend, Kitty-san.”

Send 💘 and the mun will say something nice about your muse

   Hehe, well hello, hello, MR VOGUE! It’s about time we had some coffee together, huh? And lookit you, looking as SPIFFY as always-- pft! But no seriously, I am absolutely JELLY over how you can just make any outfit look like it was tailored just for you! Just how good you make everything look on you! And so it means a lot that your FABULOUS SELF likes my makeup and wardrobe! Also, where can I get those headbands? Because I always thought that they are the cutest! I would totally love to try one on myself, one of these days! If, you don’t mind that is. I know it’s kind of one of your signature accessories, after all, but pretty please~? You got them in several colours too! But your green one is totally my fave!

   Also, I just wanna say... thank you. Because you’re just such a sweetheart, okay? You are clearly so busy with your work as a mangaka, but that also never stops you from being there for your friends and from giving back to the community itself. And I’m just so SO GRATEFUL that you are there to look out for my little snow child. And just what an absolutely POSITIVE INFLUENCE you have been on her, since you two met! And of course, that’s not all. You have honestly just been a DEAR to all of my other muses too! Like, I know Josuke doesn’t want to say it, but I know he appreciates having a big brother figure in his life as well! 

   And of course... you know your BIG SISTER REIMI is too, and will always be proud of you... and will always want the best for you, Rohan. She really misses you, you know. And one of the few things she truly regrets in life is the fact that... she couldn’t be there with you. When you worked so hard to be the amazing artist that you are today. But you know what? She just wants you to be happy, Rohan, as do all of my other muses. And I hope you will continue to pursue the happiness you deserve in life.

Send 💕 and the mun will say something nice about you, the mun

   Aaaaaa my darling Kittyyyy, please forgive me for being such a broken record. But you know just how much I adore you and just how highly I think of you. I will be forever proud to call you my friend, and am so grateful that you offered your HAND OF FRIENDSHIP to me that very day! Like oh my goodness, I also appreciated Snii recommending me to you, but ahhhhh... I-I was actually so nervous and shy too when we first started talking (Heck, I was this way with Snii too. But it’s like... omgosh, these two are so flipping talented, so please, don’t screw up your one chance to talk to them!)? So oh gosh, I was just so happy when we hit it off as well as we did! How you literally welcomed me with OPEN ARMS, as we started talking about how Itsuki and Rohan were going to interact, and what relationship they would have (Which to this very day continues to ofc be one of my most FAVOURITE RELATIONSHIPS that Itsuki got to be blessed with).

   And it will always warm my heart to see what a FANTASTIC FRIEND you are to not just me, but to your other friends, especially when it comes to Snii. The INFINITE AMOUNT OF LOVE AND SUPPORT you give just awes me, truth me told. Like good lord, that love you radiate for your friends is just... incredible, okay? And when I see you two are up to your shenanigans on the dash, I am always here chuckling. I am always so happy to see you two have so much fun together, and what INCREDIBLE CHEMISTRY you two have together, especially when it comes to your ship! I’m just... aaaaaaa,  you are the absolute sweetest, truly. And we are all just so lucky to have a pal like you in our lives, Kitty. MUACK! I will always be cheering you on from my end, okay? You best remember to treat yourself too, you hardworker you! DOUBLE MUACK!

[sciencespies]

Two-headed snake discovered in Florida reveals rare natural phenomenon

https://sciencespies.com/nature/two-headed-snake-discovered-in-florida-reveals-rare-natural-phenomenon/

Two-headed snake discovered in Florida reveals rare natural phenomenon

What has two brains, no legs and the best profile pic on Facebook? That would be this rare, two-headed racer snake recently discovered by a house cat in Palm Harbor, Florida.

The cat’s family was rudely introduced to the supernatural serpent about a month ago, when their cat, Olive, dropped the critter on their living room floor, according to a Facebook post. The family was bewildered to see that a small, speckled snake with two heads attached to the same body, each one able to move its eyes, neck, and tongue independently.

The family named the snake “Dos” – Spanish for “two”.

Dos, the two-headed snake. (Jonathan Mays/FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute)

“His biggest problem is eating,” Kay Rogers, the cat’s owner, said of the two-headed snake on Facebook. “We are trying lots of things, but he has trouble coordinating his two heads.”

This condition – known as bicephaly – is an uncommon abnormality that occurs during embryonic development, when identical twins fail to fully separate, Live Science previously reported. The condition appears in all sorts of animals, including deer and porpoises; humans seem to encounter living bicephalic snakes about once a year.

In 2019, a bicephalic baby rattlesnake named “Double-Dave” turned up in New Jersey, while a two-headed viper slithered onto a family’s property in Virginia in 2018. Dos just helped 2020 meet its quota.

Bicephalic animals tend to have a rough go of it in the wild, where their competing brains make it harder to do things like catch prey or flee predators. As such, they often end up in the custody of wildlife experts.

(Jonathan Mays/FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute)

For now, Dos is being cared for by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which recently took some spiffy head shots (heads shots?) of the snake for Facebook. FWC experts identified Dos as a juvenile southern black racer (Coluber constrictor priapus), a small, nonvenomous snake common in the southeastern United States.

Dos certainly has a better shot of survival under the care of FWC herpetologists than in the wild (for starters, no need to worry about curious cats anymore), but life will be far from easy. In nature, two heads aren’t always better than one. Just ask this worm that grew a second face on its butt.

This article was originally published by Live Science. Read the original article here.

#Nature

[rainbowofcrazy]

I have lots of little critters with their own spiffy hats that are now available. These are all original ACEO paintings. 👑👒🎩🎓🧢⛑ 

Camel: https://etsy.me/2lGs6EQ // Echidna: https://etsy.me/2kvRMnE // Shrew: https://etsy.me/2k6HXMO // Cheetah: https://etsy.me/2m34Jpz // Macaque: https://etsy.me/2k73lS8

[plastic-pipes]

So you're at ClexaCon?! Do you have a booth or are you just hanging out? My friend and I have been lamenting the lack of Alex/Sam art. :

Yeah , I'm here! I don't have a booth but I am around Critter and Mollie's(who have some really spiffy prints) booth a bit c: I too am lamenting the lack of agentreign stuff lol

[faierius]

In His Shoes (18. Hidden Talents)

Chapter One (Can’t We All Just Get Along?)

Chapter Two (Out Of Body Experience)

Chapter Three (We Don’t Talk About That)

Chapter Four (My Body Won’t Change My Heart)

Chapter Five (Myth and Mystery)

Chapter Six (Baby Steps)

Chapter Seven (Sleep on it)

Chapter Eight (Seeds)

Chapter Nine (All About Perspective)

Chapter Ten (Sweet Dreams are Made of These)

Chapter Eleven (This is Not Our Name)

Chapter Twelve (The More You Know)

Chapter Thirteen (Lie to Me)

Chapter Fourteen (The Choice is Yours)

Chapter Fifteen (Heat of the Moment)

Chapter Sixteen (Welcome Home)

Chapter Seventeen (Tears)

               “I don’t like it.”

               “Why not? You don’t think I look professional?” laughed Timorea, slicking his hair away from his face.

               “No, I think you look ridiculous,” Eyoralin replied, twisting her own long red hair into a complicated style of braids.

               “A week talking, and you certainly aren’t shy about voicing your opinions, Lyn.”

               She smirked at him and nudged him away from the bathroom mirror. “Yes, well I am your sister, after all. Not hard to tell by looking, but I’ve yet to ask how you found me.”

               “I’ll answer all of your questions, dear sister, once you’re stronger,” he replied, reaching over and tugging on a loose tendril of hair.

               Sliding some pins into her twists and knots, Eyoralin frowned at Timorea. “How much stronger do you expect me to get, Scruffy? Between medicine, the food, and the weird potions I’ve been instructed to break over my chest daily, I feel stronger than I ever have. I’m healthy again, thanks to you.”

               “Maybe so, but you need to start slow. Just being up and moving is a miracle after the state of your muscles. You were skin and bones, my sweet girl.” Patting her cheek, he returned his attention to the mirror to slather shaving cream on his jaw.

               Huffing out a breath, Eyoralin finished fastening her hair and crossed her arms. “You needn’t baby me, brother.”

               Sighing, Timorea stopped and faced the woman. “I’ll stop once you can lay me out on my back in training,” he told her. “So train up, take care of yourself, and maybe in a decade or two, you can.”

               “A decade or two?” she laughed. “With this much help, I’ll be able to do it in six months.”

               Timorea choked back a guffaw. “Six months? You think so, do you? Well, don’t overdo it/| Grinning, he kissed her cheek, leaving a smear of white cream on her face.

               Swiping it away, she clicked her tongue and stomped out of the small bathroom. Her brother’s laugh followed.

               I will do it in six months, just you watch. I may not know anything right now, but I’ll learn. I’ve learned how to be human again in just one week. Imagine the strides I can make in half a year.

               Sighing to herself, Eyoralin sat down on the sofa, comfortable in its age, and waited. She had so many questions about her new life, her new family, but no one was willing to answer. It was true she was similar to a toddler learning to walk, but her mind was sharp as ever. She had never lost that, even at her lowest, she was always able to think. Though her thoughts were dark, sluggish from days, months, years of suffering, they were coherent.

               When you’re stronger, they told her. Timorea, Mr. Gelida, the Citadel physicians, everyone. After being immobile, dying in the street, she felt superhuman in her strength. She was still stick-thin and could barely stand for half an hour without resting, but she didn’t need anyone knowing that.

               A few minutes later, her brother entered the living room. The scruff on his face was gone, his glasses were gone, and his messy hair had been drawn back into a barely restrained ponytail. Black leather pants covered his legs, knee-high, buckled boots on his feet, a chunky belt around his hips, and a simple black tee-shirt with a skull motif covered his torso.

               “That’s your uniform?” Eyoralin questioned, one brow arched.

               Smirking, Timorea turned, showing off the patterning on the back of his shirt. A large silver skull and crossbones between his shoulders with consistently smaller replicas trailing down toward his hip. “Pretty spiffy, right? Designed it m’self.”

               Eyoralin blinked at him. “Probably a good thing you didn’t go into fashion.”

               “Ouch.” He winced comically before crossing the room to the closet. Pulling open the door, he tugged his coat off the hanger. Swinging it around his shoulders, he put it on with a flourish. The double-breasted jacket fell to mid-thigh, flat black with bright blue collar and lapels, buttons in the shapes of skulls, and a split tail in the back which fell a touch longer than the rest of the hem. It was fitted at the waist with two more large skull buttons on the back. The sleeves hung to his knuckles, the cuffs the same blue as the collar, with another pair of skulls on each.

               “I like the coat. Doesn’t really go with your hair, though,” she told him as he closed the door.

               “Goes with my skill set though, dear.”

               “And what, pray tell, are your skills? Besides sass and sarcasm?”

               “Have I not told you?”

               “Timorea, you didn’t even tell me your name until four days ago. Your mind is so scattered, I doubt you ever would have had I not asked Mr. Gelida.”

               He waved his hand, trying to distract her from the tinge of pink coloring her cheeks. “Pff, Mr. Gelida. Just call him Pops like I do. And I’m so used to everyone knowing my name, it slipped my mind to formally introduce myself. You don’t have to use my full, stuffy name either. One of my many nicknames is perfectly fine,” he explained to her, picking up the boots he purchased for her.

               “You didn’t answer my question,” she said, accepting the footwear. Staring expectantly at him, she slipped her feet into the knee-high red leather boots.

               Licking his lips, he smiled softly and raised his hands, cupped together like he was holding a small critter inside. “I was born with a gift, one which has placed me in great favor with King Mors.”

               “You can hold your own hand?” she teased, smoothing a wrinkle in her black leggings.

               “Your tongue is nearly as scathing as mine, love. Just be quiet a moment and watch.” Rolling his eyes, he slowly parted his hands and knelt before his sister. In his palm rest a tiny contained flurry. A compressed snowstorm, shiny with ice crystals, swirled in his cupped hand.

               Eyoralin’s eyes grew wide. “Magic? I thought only the royal family could control the elements!” she whispered in awe. Reaching out with trembling fingers, cold washed over her hand, radiating from the spell.

               “Typically, yes. No one knows why I have this ability. I was never blessed by the King, and my magical talents are limited to ice and minor healing,” he explained to her, dispelling the ice and extending a hand toward her. He placed two fingers between her brows and blinked slowly.

               A rush of warmth and a minor surge of power tingled through Eyoralin’s body. She sighed.

               “That should keep you through the afternoon. Your legs won’t tire for some time.”

               “Thank you.”

               “You’re welcome, dear.” Patting her knee, he stood once again. “I need you fit as a fiddle for your visit to the Citadel. I’m back to work today, and I want you to come along.”

               “Do you, now?”

               “To see what you’re up against when you’re deemed healthy enough to join us.”

               Eyoralin tipped her head. “Join you?”

               “The Guard. You’ll be joining the Crownsguard.”

               “What?” she gasped, brow twitching into a frown.

               “Think about it,” he replied, moving back to the closet, “You and I are siblings, right? As you said, not hard to tell by looking. I’ve got these fantastical abilities, so it stands to reason you must have some as well, right? Enlisting you in the Guard will help you discover them!”

               “Timorea, as far as I know, in my entire seventeen years I have not shown any signs of having magic,” she grumbled at him, standing up to accept the hand-me-down coat she had been using. Mr. Gelida promised to take her shopping for new clothes once she put a little weight on her bones.

               “Doesn’t mean the talents aren’t there, dear girl. We’ll find something, Sweetpea.”

               “I’m just an alley cat,” she reminded him, shaking her head.

               “On the contrary, m’dear. You’re a coeurl who was never taught to use her whiskers.” With a wink and a bow, he extended his hand toward her.

               “You’re a charmer,” Eyoralin sighed, walking past him and delivering a solid smack between his shoulder blades.

               “And you’re blunt as can be. We’ll make a dangerous pair, sister.”

               “Try and keep up.”

 ***

                My life had taken an abrupt about-face. From a nobody people wouldn’t blink twice at, to a respected, though yet unofficial member of the King’s Crownsguard. Much like yourself, yes? Picked up off the street due to a stroke of dumb luck.

               I am official. I was asked by Noct—

               Not my point, Sunshine. You were nothing until the Prince. I was nothing until my brother. My life went from hell on Eos to paradise. Three years passed before that all came crashing down around us. I’m going to show you, make you suffer through the pain I felt, to drill it into your stupid little brain that people are never what they seem.

               My friends are! Noctis, Ignis, Gladio…they’re all honest, amazing, loyal friends. We stick together no matter what.

               My brother, the charmer, has his claws in them. No one stays loyal for long with him messing about.

               You don’t know them like I do.

               They’re all the same! They work for themselves, screw everyone else! It’s always been the same, from the beginning of time. It happens again and again and again. You trust someone, and they betray you. You love someone, and you lose them. The nobody is never the hero.

               That’s not true, Eyoralin.

               You know nothing! I have lived and died, reborn again through centuries of horror!

               …Centuries?

               We are undying! Cursed by the Astrals to suffer over and over again simply for existing! No more questions. Just watch. And suffer with me.

[artmann100]

Wednesday Wormholes! If your production budget is sucking your cash into another dimension, fight the drag with this spiffy bit of low-cost art, ready for use in any space-oriented science fiction game!

https://www.rpgnow.com/product/51621/Clipart-Critters-54--Wormhole