#that animation with the cats that was fixed seems broken again :(

[simbico]

There will be a temporary pause with my posts. I haven’t played much this past weekend and the weekend coming is going to be busier than usual with anxiety inducing activities (yay). Also I’m finding it hard to take pictures right now with so many tedious tasks due to needing to micromanage everything because the routing has been even worse since Growing Together and they keep cancelling things to do the opposite of what I want them to do.

It’s a bit frustrating but I’m still enjoying it enough that I’ll eventually have posts again when life permits. (˶‘ ᵕ ‘˶ )

[farfromstrange]

Fictober Day 3: Getting a Pet

Fictober Masterlist | Main Masterlist

Pairing: Matt Murdock x F!Reader

Prompt: Finding a pet/Getting a pet (it was originally finding a pet, but I changed things up a bit)

Summary: You think it's time for you and Matt to get a cat.

Warnings: Fluff. Established relationship. Cats. Mentions of future children.

Word Count: 2k

A/n: This is solely based on me wanting a cat. I did have a different version of this already written, decided I didn't like it, and whipped this up in, like, two hours today. I hope you're not mad at me, but the first draft really wasn't it, so I decided to interpret the prompt differently/change it.

Read Me On AO3!

It’s been three years since Matt Murdock stumbled into your life, broken and bruised. A normal person would have run if they had seen The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen knock at their window, but not you. You invited him in and fixed him to the best of your abilities. 

Three years ago, you met the man you fell head over heels in love with. The man who broke your heart then put it back together. The man who once believed he would never love again, that he didn’t deserve it, finally allowed himself to find some peace in your arms. Comfort. Love. 

You moved in together two years ago, and you haven’t looked back since. In fact, you only seem to be moving forward. 

Since he’s been with you, he has been using you as an excuse to Foggy and Karen for why he doesn’t need a dog. He thought he would never have to worry about getting a pet ever again. Until a week ago. 

You were sitting on the couch, head resting on his chest to listen to the steady beating of his heart, when you suddenly blurted out, “I think we should get a cat.”

Suddenly, Matt didn’t have to worry about telling people why he didn’t need a dog anymore, but he had to face you, the love of his life, and talk to you about getting a cat. 

Up to that point, you hadn’t often seen him too stunned to speak, and the times you had, he was facing a greater evil—a greater evil than a cat. 

“What?” you remember him asking.

You nodded against his chest. “Dead serious,” you said, lifting your head to look up at him. You had that determined look on your face, the one that always made Matt’s defenses crumble like wet paper. He could feel it as he brushed his fingers over your soft skin, trying to gauge what you were thinking. 

“I’ve always wanted one,” you continued your reasoning, “and I think we’re ready. You know… for a fur baby.”

Because the idea of a baby was and still is very far in the future.

Matt could feel the excitement radiating off of you that night, and though he had never imagined himself as a cat person, there was no denying he was wrapped around your finger. “You really want a cat?” he asked. 

“I do,” you answered, with an almost childlike excitement.

“I just… are you sure?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, it’s a cat,” he emphasized.

“Your point being?”

“They’re… stealthy. And needy, sometimes.” That was the only argument he could come up with. 

You snorted at that. “So, they’re you,” you said, “just… smaller.”

Matt opened his mouth, closing it just as fast. You got him, fair and square. “Alright, I can respect that,” he said.

It was so serious to you that you sat up straighter to look at him. “Of course you would. Think about it. They’re independent, low-maintenance, and they purr. Plus, Foggy and Karen will forever shut up about you getting a guide dog ‘cause we’ll already have a cat,” you said.

He couldn’t possibly argue with that logic. But deep down, he knew. He knew the moment you brought a cat home, he’d be doomed. But he couldn’t say no to you.

“Okay, fine,” he caved, though the smile tugging at his lips gave him away. “Let’s get a cat.”

Fast forward a week, and you have dragged him to one of New York’s animal shelters to find a cat. Fall has fully settled over the city, the air crisp with a slight chill, and the streets lined with leaves of red, orange, and yellow. Matt’s hand is intertwined with yours as you step inside, and though he tries his best to act casual, you can feel the subtle tension in him. The smell of hay and litter toy with his heightened senses. It’s a lot all at once, but he promised that for you, he would do anything. 

This is a decision you will have to make together. So, he forces a smile when you look at him with that worried crease between your brows, and he tells you it’s okay. He’s got this. You choose to believe him. 

“This is exciting,” you murmur as a volunteer leads you through to the room where the cats are held. “We’re getting a cat!” You want to jump up and down and screech like a banshee, that’s how happy you are he said yes, even though you know he did it more for you than for himself, but if you start acting crazy now, they might never let you leave. 

“I like to say, ‘let the cat choose you’,” the volunteer says once you have reached your destination. “So, please, take your time. Also,” she turns around again, toward Matt, “if one of them tries to nibble on your cane, just tell them no.”

You swallow a giggle that threatens to escape. “Thanks,” you smile at her as she leaves, leaving you alone in a room full of… well, cats. 

You have never been closer to heaven. 

“I don’t want anyone nibbling on my cane,” Matt mutters beside you.

You shake your head, laughing. “Relax. They’re just cats.”

Cats of all shapes, sizes, and colors lounge around the room, some curled up in cozy beds, others batting lazily at toys hanging from strings. You take note of the numerous cat trees, some attached to the wall. It looks like a feline paradise. 

A few cats are eyeing you already, but most of them seem rather unimpressed. They must get a lot of potential new parents every day. 

Matt can feel your pulse quicken as you take a few steps forward, letting go of his hand to crouch down near one of the more adventurous kittens—a fluffy gray one with bright eyes.

“Hi,” you almost squeak, reaching out carefully to offer your hand. The kitten sniffs at your fingers before deciding to nuzzle into them. “Oh, you’re so cute. What’s your name?” You read the tag around his neck. “Bruno. Nice to meet you.” You’re not sure why you are telling him your name, but it seems like the right thing to do. 

You feel so warm inside, like you are taking the one step you have been wanting to take from the start. Getting a pet with the man of your dreams. Though you seem to be enjoying yourself a lot more than Matt is. 

He’s hesitant as he steps closer, folding his cane now that he is out of anyone’s eyesight, and he tilts his head slightly to listen to the kitten’s movements—the soft rustle of his fur, the tiny pitter-patter of paws on the floor, and the barely audible purring that you seem to be coaxing from him.

He can’t deny that he is a little jealous. You’re so enamored with him. If he could purr, he would.

“This was a great idea,” you say, turning to grin at Matt, who still hasn’t quite moved past the threshold of the room. You can tell he’s trying to maintain his usual composed demeanor, but his body language betrays him. 

It’s funny to see your usually so stoic boyfriend nervous and almost scared of a few tiny kittens. The smell must be overwhelming, you know, but it can’t be the only thing holding him back.

“Matt,” you hold out a hand for him to take, “come on, don’t be shy. They’re not gonna bite.”

“Maybe not bite,” he says.

“You fight crime on a nightly basis, and you’re scared of cats?”

He frowns. “I’m not scared.”

“Sure,” you say. With a smile, you take his hand in yours again, guiding him toward a small black kitten that’s been quietly observing from a perch by the window. You’re not sure why, but the little guy reminds you of him. Calm, reserved, but always alert. 

The kitten’s sleek fur gleams in the light, and when you bring Matt closer, he lets out a tiny, curious meow. The volunteer said to let the cats choose you, but you have never seen a more beautiful specimen—except for the human-cat right next to you.

“Meet potential fur baby number two,” you murmur.

You guide his hand toward the kitten.

Matt crouches down beside you, but he’s hesitant. For a second, you think he’s going to pull back, but then the kitten nuzzles right into his hand, and he stops dead in his tracks.

A soft smile spreads across Matt’s face—one of those rare, unguarded smiles that makes your heart flutter. 

“He likes you…”

He chuckles softly. “I don’t know… seems like this one might be too calm for me.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Too calm? Suddenly, you want a high-maintenance cat? A second ago, you wouldn’t even touch him.”

“Just saying… might be nice to have a challenge.”

“I think we, but especially you, have enough challenges in your life,” you retort. “Maybe a calm cat is exactly what we need.”

He doesn’t respond, just keeps stroking the kitten’s fur as he curls up even more. Matt has something about you that puts both humans and cats at ease, you notice. The same thing that makes you want to curl up in his arms is making this tiny kitten trust him after not even a minute together. You watch the scene unfold, your heart swelling with affection. He’s so good at this.

You join in eventually. The kitten doesn’t shy away; he seems oddly content with the two of you already.

“So, what do you think?” you ask softly after a moment.

Matt tilts his head, considering, and for a second, you wonder if he’s really thinking about the question or if he’s just stalling. But then, he lets out a quiet sigh and says, “I don’t know… what do you think?”

You smile. He’s been through so much, been so used to carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Something as simple as getting a pet—something that brings warmth and comfort—might feel strange to him. 

You remember how it was when you started growing closer. When he asked you to move in with him. When he told you he loved you after you told him first, afraid you might still slip away from him as most people in his life have. Dealing with something small and fragile scares him. Having something to look after and care for scares him. Maybe that’s why you haven’t talked about children yet; he’s scared of making a mistake, of hurting the people he loves and has sworn to protect. But that’s not who Matt Murdock is to anyone but himself.

“I think,” you say, slipping your arm through his and leaning your head against his shoulder, “that you deserve everything good in your life. That’s why you should decide.”

He’s quiet for a moment, his fingers still brushing through the kitten’s fur. Finally, he nods, and the smile on his face turns just a little softer, a little more real.

“I love you,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. 

“I love you too.”

The kitten meows. His collar says ‘Pumpkin’, and that is oddly on the nose, you think. The two of you, finding a cat in October, and his name is Pumpkin. 

Matt chuckles. “Okay, I heard that.” And then, turning toward you, he says, “Let’s take him home.”

Your face lights up. “Yeah?” you ask.

“Yeah. I mean, I already have the best thing I could have in the world, right here,” his chin tips toward you, “but… you’re right. We could use a little calm in our life.”

You press a kiss on his shoulder. “Then let’s do this. Let’s take him home.”

Pumpkin. 

Pumpkin Murdock. 

That doesn’t sound so bad. Now all you need is his last name, too. 

Soon.

Very soon. 

@ebathory997 @the-b33skn33s @scoliobean @drmeghanjones @lanae111 @gpenguin666 @linamarr @itwasthereaminuteago @norestfortheshelbywicked @yarrystyleeza @littlenerdyravenclaw @etanordoesbullsh1t @thychuvaluswife @harleycao @schneeflocky @imjustcal @pipsqueakkitten @merlinbtch @sya-skies @thatonegamefish @amberritonicole @pigeonmama @bohemianrhapsody86 @a-gir1-has-n0-name @winkev1 @callsign-ember @chittaphonstar @buckyyyismahhlife @trublu2u @xnatyx @zomtart @ethereal-blaze @littleagxs @lucienofthelakes @steve-chandler

[livi-in-digital-circus]

The Abuse || a short Bunnydoll angsty story

I wrote this only because I'm having worse days now (also I started writing the new fic but I'm already stuck at the beginning of TwT)

TW: abuse

Through the glass wall of the infirmary, Ragatha stared at the guests of the Digital Circus. Once in a while, people from the real world had the chance to meet their favorite characters in person, not knowing that they were actually normal humans just like them. It was unfair that they could go home the moment their visit ended. But that was what the circus was all about. Every single member of the crew was an animal trapped in a cage, released only to perform silly and often dangerous acts.

And since Caine was especially busy when they had visitors, Ragatha couldn’t ask him to help her get back to her pristine self. Instead, she had to spend the entire day under the care of a nurse-like NPC who stuffed her with more pills, like painkillers, hour after hour. Even though the rag doll didn’t seem to have any bones in her plush body, she felt like her bruised arm was broken. Not to mention that she had vomited at least three times that day and felt dizzy all the time.

It was a pure torture.

The girls in the main area were loud enough for Ragatha to hear what they were saying, so she leaned carefully against the wall. Due to her current state, she wasn’t allowed to greet the visitors. After all, Caine had to keep the reputation of the circus at its best, and if anyone found out there was a serious case of abuse going on behind the scenes, he would lose everything he had worked on for years.

“Did you see the way he looked at me? I’m definitely his type!” One of the girls exclaimed. Her digital avatar resembled a cute Lolita-style doll, making her look like an innocent angel. Another one, Ragatha thought.

“It’s a good thing we didn’t mention our shrines full of his limited merch.” The other said, her cat ears and tail moving on their own from time to time. “But then again, who wouldn’t want lots of Jax for themselves?”

Ragatha trembled. These two clearly had no idea who they were talking about. Judging by their behavior and appearance, they were mostly underage and delusional. The rag doll looked at her arm again. She should be jealous, it was her boyfriend who was the center of attention that day.

Instead, she felt anger, especially when she heard the girls mention all the things they wanted Jax to do to them. Ragatha smiled bitterly to herself, the familiar metallic taste tickling her tongue. She had lived too long in the circus to understand today’s teenagers. Some of them were born into rich families and had everything they could wish for. It could be anything, like an expensive dress worn by many famous models, or a bottle of sweet-smelling limited edition perfume. And yet they chose to be used by none other than Jax.

Little do they know that he is a real abuser.

And abuse is not something you should wish for.

Year after year, the rabbit became more mentally unstable. Several times he promised Ragatha that he would change, that he would try to be a better boyfriend. She was very proud of Jax when he managed to go a whole week without hurting her. But when she was about to visit him in his room after one of their adventures to watch a movie, she found him torturing the little version of herself that she had made for him to hug when he felt alone.

Caine had no idea how to fix Jax. His first assumption was that he would soon abstract, but Ragatha quickly shook her head. That had been going on for a long time, with no clear signs of improvement. However, she didn’t feel any hatred for Jax, even though she was sore and bruised the last few days. She knew it was because of his poor mental health and that inside he was still the bunny she had fallen in love with.

The girls disappeared from her view after a while. Ragatha groaned as she made her way back to bed. All she wanted was to fall asleep and wake up the next day. The moment her head touched the pillow, she heard someone enter the infirmary.

“Feeling better?” Jax sat on the edge of the bed, his gloved hand gently stroking the bandage on the rag doll’s cheek. Ragatha shivered, yet her lover’s soothing touch was all she needed at the moment.

“Still a little sore, but it’s okay. Did you enjoy the meeting with the viewers?”

“Not really, this group was annoying as hell.”

“I don’t like what those girls said about you.” Though Ragatha didn’t want to tell him exactly what. She knew Jax felt bad after each time he lost control and hurt her, and she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable now that he was temporarily sane again.

Jax let out a soft laugh and pressed his lips to Ragatha’s forehead. God, she loved his kisses so much.

“I actually brought you something to drink. You must be thirsty after I… you know.”

Ragatha gladly accepted the water bottle and began to pour the liquid into her mouth. But just as she was about to stop, she felt Jax’s hands suddenly tighten around her neck, causing her to cough and choke. The taste of water and blood mixed sickeningly in her mouth.

Jax knew it was only a matter of time before she started vomiting all over the circus from the ‘water’ he gave her.

Everyone told Ragatha to break up with Jax, but she was too kindhearted to do that. He was mentally ill and she wanted to help him. She hoped that one day everything would be okay, that her boyfriend would overcome this.

And before that happens, she would be tortured in many more different ways for the next few weeks, months, or maybe even years.

Still, Ragatha would manage to survive all this. It was impossible to die in Digital Circus after all.

Thanks for reading!

(I'm sorry, please don't be mad at me for writing this ;-;)

[jnstudios2]

Nicktoons Unite The Animated Series

Episode One : The Adventure Begins

The nickverse and the universe were combined to create one cartoony universe. Humans and nick characters lived together in harmony in this 2d universe, until the syndicate attacked with their robot creations to try to take over the combined universe for themselves, scaring the nick characters and people into terror. It seemed the syndicate could finally win taking over the universe, but a spark of hope came to foil their plans. The nicktoons unite came to the rescue along with some friends like Jenny, el Tigre, Korra, and a few more to help them fight the bots and the syndicate from their evil plans. The syndicate fled as the team celebrated defeating them and protecting the universe from their evil, but they knew they would return and had to get ready for their next attack.

The team returned to their headquarters, the place where they stayed and where they got their missions. Jimmy led the team into a laboratory, it was dark, the lights on the screens being the only light source inside. Timmy Turner, Danny Phantom, and SpongeBob SquarePants were wondering why Jimmy brought them here in this dark laboratory. “ What is this place it’s giving me the creeps?” SpongeBob said holding onto Danny scared when Timmy laughed. “ don’t be such a scaredy-cat, there’s nothing here to..” Timmy stopped when a clawed robotic hand grabbed him. Timmy freaked out when a voice spoke “ don’t touch that!” The voice said as Danny phantom and SpongeBob looked scared seeing another robotic claw hand grab a cube going back to the figure. The figure has four robotic arms and is high in the air looking at them with a glint of light on their sunglasses. Timmy tried to pull himself free from the robotic hand that grabbed him until it let him go when he hit the floor shocked. The figure landed on the floor and walked towards them. Out of the darkness of the laboratory was a girl with short brown hair wearing sunglasses with her green eyes peeking out. She wore a lab coat with a green buttoned shirt inside, and dark gray pants with a belt that was attached to something. She wore dark gray and silver boots and had four robotic-clawed arms on her backpack. She looked at everyone with a look and thoughtfully folded her arms while looking at them making them look nervous to wave at her. “ nicktoons unite meet Ella, she monitors, creates weaponry, and gadgets for us” Jimmy said as they looked at her as she pushed her sunglasses up “ nice to meet the other three members of the Nicktoons unite “ she said looking at them. “ Hi there, I’m Danny Phantom, ” Danny said, bringing his hand out to her to shake it. “ Ah the ghost boy himself, I’ve been fascinated by your ghost powers and your biology, “ she said, shaking his hand as he looked nervously “..thanks?” He said. “ And you must be Timmy Turner and SpongeBob SquarePants, you are quite interesting to research, “ she said, looking and examining them. “ Has there been any reports of attacks or anything yet, Ella?” Jimmy asked as she stopped examining the three. “ Not really it’s been quiet for a while” she told him until The alarm went off “ not anymore I guess” Ella said,checking it out. “ You want a mission? Well you got one in Orlando “ Ella said. "There has been an attack in the city, I’m talking about syndicate bots causing mayhem type “ she said. “ has to be the syndicate bringing out their toys again “ Danny said folding his arms in disgust “ finally some butt-kicking action!” Timmy said excitedly. “ take the self-flying ship there, I upgraded it with some slime weaponry from the last encounter, have fun with it, “ Ella said, then glared at Timmy. “ don’t break this one, I’ve worked on it to the best of my ability, if you break it you’re fixing it, “ Ella said glaring at him.

The team with Jenny and el Tigre who wanted to join in the fun headed out on the ship towards Orlando to see the mayhem the syndicate bots were causing. Broken windows, blasting at people and objects, and even stealing variables to please their masters. The bots turned up to see the ship flying as Danny and Jenny came out of it to fight them. Jenny unleashed her weaponry at them destroying them into pieces, Danny blasted his ghost rays and ice powers to freeze them then break them into tiny ice shards with his blast. “ My turn!” El Tigre smiled, jumping out of the ship, shooting his chain-clawed hand at them and wrapping them up as they tried to blast. Manny smiled, slicing the trapped bots in half as he pulled his chain back to him. The ship landed as Jimmy, Timmy, and SpongeBob joined in. SpongeBob blew bubbles and even used his karate gear to beat up bots, Jimmy blasted his tornado blaster and gadgets at them crushing them, Timmy wished to be a superhero and was crushed with his superhero powers. The bots didn’t stand a chance against the powerful team, it was like everywhere they went someone was there to kick their butts and turn them into scrap. After every bot was destroyed, A sudden beeping went as they all gathered to see what was happening. “ You may have defeated our bots, nicktoons unite, but we the syndicate always return and soon the universe will be ours to command haha” professor calamitous said as they growled hearing his voice. “ self-destruct in 10 seconds “ the bot said as they freaked out. Danny grabbed them all and turned them intangible when the bots blew up making the whole city shake violently making it hard for Danny to focus on being intangible. The shaking stopped as they all opened their eyes to see a giant hole where the bots were and sighed in relief that Danny maintained to make them intangible to avoid the explosion from the bots. “ is everyone okay?” Danny asked them. “ si amigo, “ Manny said “ I’m all intact, “ Jenny said. He let them go and then walked towards the huge hole “ those could have blown us to bits!” Wanda said. “ ooh I wonder what it will be like,” Cosmo said as everyone looked at him like “seriously”. “ they just don’t know when to quit” Jenny said while folding her arms “ it’s the syndicate, what did you expect really? They won’t rest until they take over the universe, “ Timmy said, a bit annoyed at her. '' and destroying our sleep schedule, “ Danny added as everyone agreed with that.

But the time for celebration was cut short

Because a mysterious figure named Chosen Warrior looked mad at them and blasted at them with her glowing blue powers. This mysterious figure was a phantom sorceress, but the reason why she was angry still remained a mystery. SpongeBob noticed the blasts “ hey guys look! They're shooting fireworks for us!” He said happily as El Tigre saw them “ umm I don’t think those are fireworks” he said as Jimmy looked shocked. “ Look out!” He said as everyone took cover and Chosen Warrior landed with her black gloved fist to the ground, shaking the city like an earthquake from the impact. Everyone looked at her as she stood up and glared at them with her glowing sea blue eyes with black pupils. She was wearing a black shirt, gloves, pants, boots, collar cape with sea blue in it, a sea blue blue top hat with black rim on it, and a blue heart shaped necklace that glowed blue. Her hands glowed blue as she blasted a few kinds of rays at the team as Danny created his shield to block them, angering her as she flew towards like a spinning drill to slice through and punched Danny into a building. “ charge!” Timmy said as Jenny and el Tigre charged towards her and fought her, but she was good at fighting, very good, as she didn’t fear these three fighting her. El Tigre swiped at her as a glowing blue bo staff appeared stunning him “ well, that ain’t good “ he said as she swung her bo staff showing impressive skills with it to block his claw swipes and Jenny’s attack as she smacked them away from her and blocked Timmy’s attacks with cosmo as a giant green mallet and Wanda as a backpack full of tricks keeping her at her feet with her fighting skills. While this was happening, Jimmy aimed at her trying to blast her with his tornado blaster, but she noticed it kicking Timmy out of the way and throwing her bo staff like a boomerang towards him. This shocked him “ what In the nebula?!” He said as it smacked his tornado blaster out of his hands and back to her. Jenny kicked her as she caught herself and swing her bo staff like a baseball bat to hit her when she flew towards her into a wall “ wow, she’s good “ el Tigre said “ but I’m better “ Timmy said as he had his wish blaster blasting at her as she spun like her bo staff like a fan to block it all stunning him. “ or not “ he said stunned to see this, she sensed Danny flying towards her and fired her rapid fire ray at him, but he became intangible and tackled her through a wall and crashed into a game when they both turned tangible to hit it.

Metal and shards of glass flew everywhere when they made an impact on that arcade game. She kicked him off of her as he caught himself and she got out to see her bo staff gone and growled at him “ what is your problem?” He asked her. “ You will never understand!, “ she told him, “ maybe if we talk about it, we could, “ he told her. “ not going to happen '' she said, showing her fists at him as he got ready for her, who was like a lioness ready to pounce with that anger burning in her. She lunged at him as the two got into a fist fight, showing off their martial arts, and their skills. They were both impressive, it was like these two were evenly matched and they couldn’t lay a hit while fighting. Danny blasted at her with ghost rays when she caught them then fired them back at him to hit him with his own attack. Chosen warrior lifted some arcade games with her powers and fired them at him while he flew away or became intangible to not get hit by them as they crashed onto the floor. “ cheap magic trick magician “ Danny said to her as she growled glowing blue “ that’s sorceress to you!” She said with her collar cape flying in the gust and swiped at him, but he dodged and went behind her. “ the top hat says otherwise “ he said, blasting her “ oof!” She said as she crashed into the prize center with a thud. She got up by using the counter with silly string all over her and heard him chuckle “ what’s the matter? Feeling silly?” He joked. She growled as she turned invisible then drop kicked him back into the floor then grabbed him and ran him through the counter, making sure he hit every single prize on there then threw him off. She winced while holding her head, she was struggling to control herself. Unfortunately for Danny, she growled at him while still holding her head with one hand and looking at him with her sea blue eyes. “ Why are you this angry?” He said softly to her as she looked at him “ you’ll never understand the pain and suffering I had to endure” She said clenching her fangs in anger as her blue heart shaped necklace glowed to show her anger stunning him. She lunged at him, clawing at the columns to slice some and even damage them while Danny became intangible. She used her powers to try to get him until she got distracted “ I wish to be a superhero!” Timmy wished as he chinned her to a wall and slumped down to the floor.

El Tigre and Timmy tried to punch her, but she phased through the wall to avoid them then grabbed Danny’s foot “ oh boy” he said when he was thrown towards the two. They all slid on the floor to hit a wall, getting dizzy from how hard they hit it “ ooh I see stars” Cosmo said chuckling while dizzy. Jenny air tackled her as they both flew into the air until she pushed Jenny off of her, then turned invisible to stay out of sight to hit her a few times confused of where she went. A few more hits went as Jenny was blindly firing to find her as SpongeBob and the rest were getting out of the way “ Jenny, watch where you are shooting at!” Jimmy hollered at her “ sorry” she said as Chosen Warrior blasted her invisible. “ ok that’s it!” She said as she put on her infrared contacts to find where she was going to attack next. Chosen warrior was in her sights as Jenny grinned “ gotcha!” She said hitting her with her boxing glove gadget sent her into a wall dizzy from the unexpected attack Jenny did. “ Ready when you are, I can do this all day “ she told her as she looked at her after recovering from the impact. “ So can I” she said as her gloved fist glowed blue and clashed with Jenny to create a bright glow like you would see in a light show at night. The two clashed a few more times at top speeds then pushed each other off “ you’re good..but I’m better” Jenny said unleashing her weaponry at her. chosen Warrior fired her rapidly fired ray to hit the rockets “ we’ll see about that “ she said as she spun around in her ecto tornado to have the rest of the gadgets hit it and explode then came roaring at Jenny. She freaked out when it came after her and stuff started to get sucked into it making it really difficult to stay out of its way. But no matter how hard she tried, she was unsuccessful when a token machine hit her and sucked her into the tornado and got hit a few more times with some stuff while inside as she got punched out of it. A giant blue ghost wave smacked everyone as they all slid. She landed with an angry look “ do you all have any idea what I’ve been through?!” She growled as she lifted games with her powers stunning the team. “ cause I believe you don’t “ she said,firing them at the team as they recovered then destroying the games to create a cloud of smoke after how much they were destroying in their path.

A few seconds passed

The cloud smoke was still covering everything, but she was suddenly tackled by Danny as they both slid and saw that he was hugging her when they both stood up. “ we may not know what I’ve been through, but if you can calm down, maybe we can help you” Danny said, trying to get her to calm down so they could talk about this. “ let..go!” She said as she shocked him with her ghost stinger “ ahhhhh!” He said until he let her go and she backed off from him. He recovered after a while from her shock “ why are you so angry?” He said, rubbing his head, still getting over her shock as she growled at him. “ why? Why?!” She roared at him, scaring him. “ I've been through so much pain and suffering! , my heart has been shattered by the ones I trusted!, and you ask why I’m so angry?! “ She said, blasting at him as he blasted back to clash with hers. “ it must have been painful to learn that, I too have been through something like that” Danny said “ nothing like I have been through! “ She said, pushing her blast closer to him. “ I had my parents chasing me around when I was like this, they called me horrible names and threatened to hurt me like tearing me molecule by molecule, so I know how it feels “ he told her. She looked a bit stunned then snapped out of it “ no, you’re being like them, tricking me into believing your lies! I won’t that happen..AGAIN!” She roared, pushing it even closer to him. “ no..that’s not it…I’m trying to help you..not trick you” he tried to tell her as the blasts suddenly created a giant bright light, stunning the two. “ uh” he said “ oh “ she said shocked “ everyone take cover!” Jimmy hollered when he saw it and everyone else took cover when it created a giant explosion to send the two flying into the food court on the other side with a crash.

Everything suddenly became quiet for a bit as the whole food court was a mess. A Broken table, soda hoses flying everywhere, and the tiles cracked with the two on the floor still trying to recover from the giant explosion that they just took. Eventually, they did recover with Chosen Warrior getting up stunned to see Danny badly hurt “..what have I done?” She said quickly getting up scared and heard the team hollering his name. She didn’t hesitate flying up to turn intangible to phase through the roof “ wait!” Danny said when he saw this , but she was gone. “ Danny, are you alright? “ Jenny said checking on him when the rest of the team arrived to see him. “ yeah I’m ok, but she fled scared” he said to them. “ good, she should be afraid of us!” Timmy said as everyone looked at him “ I think you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover sport” Wanda said “ nah, it’s more fun to do that” cosmo chuckled annoying Wanda . “ Well before you do that, you should know that something is clearly angering her, I learned that when we blasted at each other” Danny told them. “ And didn’t she say," Do you have any idea what I’ve been through? “ El Tigre said as Jenny agreed “ she did say that, and that should be evidence for what Danny is saying” Jenny added. “ But she attacked us, she’s clearly a bad guy” Timmy said ignoring what they were saying as Wanda looked at him “ like I said sport, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and you should really listen before judging her like that” she said to him. “ yeah turner” jimmy said annoyed “ will we ever see her again?” SpongeBob asked them when Jenny helped Danny up from the floor. “ I dont know if we will or not,..but who knows?” Danny told him as Jimmy was typing on his wrist “ well all I know it’s getting late and we should be heading back to get some sleep” he said as everyone agreed. “ can’t late for class again, Mr Lancer wouldn’t like that one bit “ Danny said as Jenny said “ my mom would freak out if I was late for school “ she said. “ Mr Krabs wouldn’t like me being late for work, I did it once when I was one minute late “ SpongeBob said as they all went into the ship once they made it. “ you know he’s overworking and underpaying you right?” Danny asked him. “ nah he wouldn’t do that to me and squidward “ SpongeBob said as they both were seated and ready to go. “ Even though he sold your soul for 62 cents “ Jimmy said softly and activated the ship when it roared to life and started to fly out of the city and open a portal back to the headquarters.

Once the team arrived at the headquarters, Ella was tired but she activated the portal to take each member back to their home world to get some rest and get ready for the next day in store for them. Once they saw their home world, each member waved goodbye to the others before entering the portal to head home. Every member was home except for Ella and jimmy “ well I guess this is goodnight neutron, I hope you’re ready to have your winning streak of the science fair broken tomorrow, by yours truly” Ella said confidently and chuckling with her clawed hands

Showing how sharp they are. “ We'll see about that, I expect you to bring your a game to be a good runner up” Jimmy said as she laughed “ let’s just hope that Carl or sheen doesn’t ruin it, cause my creation is foolproof!” She laughed then yawned loudly. “ ooh, I need to get some sleep, I’ve been working non stop today” she said rubbing her eyes “ me too, we need to get some sleep if we are to bring our a game at the science fair “ Jimmy as Ella tapped on her nicktoons watch. “ See you tomorrow, neutron” she said as she disappeared out of the lab to head Home on the other side of retroville. Jimmy went to his room with his robot dog snuggling against him to get some sleep as well as the other members. But SpongeBob was wondering if they’ll ever meet that mysterious girl again, he wanted to give her a big ole hug to make her feel better.

Speaking of which, where was she now?

Well

She was still in Orlando while flying in the city, stunned by what she just did. “ What have I done? ” She said while flying, shocked “ oh I hope that he didn’t see that” she said, a bit nervous. “ Oh but I did,” a wicked voice said as she saw the ghost syndicate of evil smiling while folding his arms and stopping her in mid air, stunned to see him. “ plasmius, I..” She said but he stopped her “ no need to explain yourself my dear, you did a good job showing those fools..who you are” he chuckled getting closer to her stunning her. “ I didn’t mean to, I lost control of my anger “ she said defending herself but plasmius wasn’t hearing it. “ Oh stop with the excuses, they make you look soft to our enemies, and you don’t want that, right?” He told her. “ ..no” she said softly then landed on the roof of a building. “ The Nicktoons unite are our enemies my dear, a bunch of fools who are to help others and be the protectors of the universe? Pfft” He said annoyed. “ But you gave me great entertainment while watching your battle against them, oooh what fierce energy and power you have “ he smiled pointing to her chest. He grabbed her hands “ that’s what I like to see, a fierce sorceress who doesn’t let anything stand in her way “ he smiled at her, pleased to see this fierce side of her. But then he saw the good side of her, annoying him “ I still didn’t mean to” she said softly. “ Who cares if you meant to or not, it’s still a great battle for you, and soon you will have them in your grasp “ he told her. “ Why do you still insist that they are friends? What exactly have they done to make you trust them?” He asked her. She was about to answer then stopped herself, realizing that she didn’t have an answer for his question as he watched her. “ can’t think of one, can you?” He said. She held her arm with her gloved hand while looking at him “..I can’t “ she answered him softly. “ So if you can’t think of a reason why you can trust them? Then that should be your clue that they are our enemies, right?” He said. “ ..right” she said slowly still doubtful about that, but pleased him that she acknowledged him.“ but I’m still in hot water with them, and I still didn’t mean to, it was an accident “ she said as he looked annoyed then put his gloved hand on her shoulder “ we’ll work on that, but for now we should be getting some rest..” he continued while smiling wickedly “ we got fun and exciting things to do tomorrow “ he laughed while hugging her. “ Come along now dearie, shall we be going?” He said walking away from her and she watched the cityscape for a bit. “ I’m sorry..nicktoons unite “ she said softly so he wouldn’t hear her. She was still feeling bad for attacking the nicktoons unite and slowly followed him into the darkness to disappear to not be seen in the city again.

[bodynblood666]

Secret Whiskers

summary: Cirrus finds a hurt cat in the woods and brings it back to the Ministry. She tries and keep the cat a secret from the rest of the ghoul while she's nursing it back to health. word count: 1,508 tags: fluff, injured animal (nothing explicit), idk what else notes: zoo writing again?? who would have thought. shoutout to my bestie for helping me with this. we're geniuses together fr.

1. New Furry Friend

The cold winter snow had melted and the green grass was peaking through the dirt. All the ghouls would be out doing their things. Mountain had finally come out of his long winter nap, ready to breathe new life into his sore bones. Cirrus loved this time of year, the fresh flowers being planted across the Ministry. Although the Ministry  may not look as vibrant as it would in late spring, Cirrus likes it better that way. It felt calmer, more relaxing than the bombardment of colors and smells that flooded her senses. During this time of year Cirrus would spend hours just roaming around outside. Whether it’s in the forest, just behind the Ministry. Or by the pond, all the way on the other side of the yard. Cirrus would spend all day outside if she could. 

When Cirrus woke up in the morning, she decided she was going to wander around the forest. It doesn’t matter how many times she’s been in the forest, Cirrus alway found new paths to go on. Cirrus pulled on her pair of boots and a jacket and hurried out the door as fast as she could. Once Cirrus opened the big heavy doors of the Ministry, a strong cool breeze pushed its way past Cirrus and flooded the Abbey. Cirrus slowly closes the door behind her, trying not to draw any attention to herself. Once the door closes with a soft thud, Cirrus makes her way to the forest. She isn’t in any rush, it’s quite the opposite actually. Cirrus likes to take her time on her walks, always looking at the scenery around her. Watching as nature just exists around her. Cirrus never had anything like this in the pit. It was always so dark and quiet. Everything burned and died. Ever since she was summoned, she always had gone on walks. Appreciating the world she was lucky to be summoned to. She would never take it for granted. 

As Cirrus went deeper into the forest, she kept hearing something. It was a low crunching sound. Cirrus turned around to see if she could spot whatever it was that was following her. But all she saw when she turned around was the still dead leaves of fall. Cirrus continued walking, thinking it was only her footsteps crushing the leaves under her. But she knew the sound of her own footsteps and it wasn’t low and light like the strange sound behind her. Despite being an air ghoulette, she had a rather heavy walking style, quite like Mountain’s. 

Then she heard it. Meow. Cirrus froze in her place. Then she heard it again. Meow. Cirrus’ ears moved like a satellite, trying to pinpoint the exact location of where the meows were coming from. After a few more meows, she had found the source of it. It was a small tabby cat laying in a little pile of leaves behind a fallen tree. The cat seemed in pretty bad shape. It had an almost torn off ear, wounds all over his body and possibly a broken leg. Cirrus slowly approached the cat, trying desperately not to startle it. Even though it probably couldn’t run away even if it wanted to.

“You poor thing,” Cirrus all but whispered as she stuck her hand out for the cat to smell. “Let me help you.” She shucked off her jacket and carefully wrapped the cat up in it. She brought the cat close to her chest and lightly started petting its head. The cat, almost immediately, nudged its head against Cirrus’ hand. Cirrus smiled as she watched the cat settle up against her warm body. She knew right then and there that her walk would be cut short.

“Come on buddy, let’s get you all fixed up,” Cirrus started making her way back to the Ministry, hugging the cat ever so close to her body, without hurting it even more of course. 

☾✵-----------------------------------------------------------------------✵☽

Cirrus creeped through the ghoul den, ever so quietly. Trying not to wake the rest of the ghouls up. Even though it was almost midday at this point. She pushed open her door with her elbow, while keeping a protective hold on the little treasure in her hands. Cirrus gently places the cat on her bed and quietly starts to raid her shared bathroom with Cumulus of all the first aid things. Once she grabbed the first aid box, she started tending to her new friend’s wounds. Wrapping its leg, cleaning the wounds on its body and bandaging its ear. Honestly she was impressed with how well she patched it up, considering the first aid products she had weren’t really for cats. 

Cirrus sat on the edge of her bed, thinking about what she needs to do now. She’s never taken care of a cat before. Hells she never took care of any creature like this before. As Cirrus was pondering her next moves, the cat slowly limped its way over to her and started pushing its head against her arm.

“Oh,” Cirrus exclaimed. “You must be hungry, huh. I don’t know what we have that you can eat. But I can try and find something.” Cirrus gave the cat a little scratch on its head before standing up and leaving the room. As she made her way through the den, it was clear to her that everyone was finally awake. 

The smell of sizzling bacon floods the ghoul den as someone cooks breakfast in the kitchen. As Cirrus makes her way to the kitchen, Cumulus’s head pops up as she quietly makes her way over to Cirrus and gives her a tight yet gentle hug from behind, holding her every so tight to her body. 

“Goooood Morning!” Cumulus says in a bright and cheery tone. “So Rus, How was your walk? Where did ya go?” Cumulus said, keeping her upbeat tone.

“Oh h-hi Lus,” Cirrus says, slightly startled by the over energetic ghoulette. “I, uh, didn’t go very far. I went to the woods. Something startled me so I came back early.” Cumulus noticed the slight nervousness in Cirrus' voice as she spoke. 

“Really?” Cumulus asked, free Cirrus from her embrace. “I thought nothing really scared you, Rus.”

“I just heard noises and it freaked me out,” Cirrus chuckled slightly. “Lus I will tell you all about my walk later but I really need to go and eat some breakfast. OK?” Cirrus hurried into the kitchen, leaving a confused Cumulus behind.

Cirrus let out a heavy sigh as she finally got to the kitchen. Standing in front of her was a ghoul she hadn’t seen in months. Perched over the stove, sleepiness still fogging his head. Cirrus watched as he slowly turned the pancakes over. Cirrus chuckled as she made her way over to Mountain.

 “Give that to, my fern,” Cirrus said and she carefully took the spatula out of Mountains. Mountain gave Cirrus a muffled groan in return as he buried his face into her neck. “I know you want to get back to some normalcy, but you just woke up! You don’t have to make breakfast.”

“But morning breeze, it’s my job.” Mountain retorted, voice muffled by Cirrus’ hair.

“You’ve been asleep for 3 months, Mount. Your body isn’t used to being awake. Let it wake up before you return to your normal activities. Besides, who do you think has been making breakfast for the past 3 months?” Cirrus stated. As Cirrus was spreading all the food across ten different plates, making sure to put extras on hers, the rest of the ghouls came flooding into the kitchen, taking their respective places at the table. Once everybody started eating, Cirrus took her plate and made her way back to her room. 

“Rus,” Sunshine called from the table. “Where are you going?”

“Oh I, um, I’m working on a, uh, new piano solo in my room and I don’t wanna forget it, ya know.” Cirrus stutter. “Well, bye.” And before anyone could say anything, she was gone, already opening her door and closing it tightly behind her. 

“Ok Mr. Kitty, I got some food here that you could possibly eat, but frankly I don’t know if you can eat it,” Cirrus places the plate of food on top of her dresser. When she turns around, she finds her jacket completely abandoned. A frantic look appears on Cirrus’ face as she starts to look through every nook and cranny, trying to find her new furry friend. When all of a sudden she hears a low purr, ringing through her room. She lifts her head up from where it was under the bed, to find the cat, nuzzled ever so tightly in between her stuffed dinosaur right on top of her bed. Cirrus smiled as she watched the cat’s body move up and down rhymically with its breath. 

“I’ll save the food for you when you wake up, don't worry.” Cirrus smiled while stroking the cat's head, ever so gently. Trying to not wake it up from its slumber.

[madcatdaderpydrawer-blog]

And thus, Lunara and Solstaire discover the ultimate joy in life: tickling Lunars. They both know what tickling is, but neither one has actually done any tickling before. Or been tickled. Peanut is their very first victim. Clipsy’s gonna have to stop them before they (mostly Lunara) accidentally tickle Peanut unconscious.

Piper is getting snuggled until Pyroclasm gets bored. They’re feeling talkative enough to mention that they usually drop kids off at the Daycare, because human kids are too delicate and breakable. But other DCAs are free game! Especially the dirty ones, (in this case referring to whatever’s probably leaking out of Clipsy’s broken ray) those ones are clearly homeless and up for grabs!

Sun awkwardly offers to help with the broken ray again. Clipsy gets told that he and Peanut can stay as long as they want. They can take the room they were making for Eclipse and Solar Flare, who have been bunking with Moon and KC. (Earth and Bloodmoon were sleeping in the theater, and Lunar’s been bunking with Sun and his cats).

Kidclipse can’t wait to introduce Peanut to his best friend and their sorta-step-brother-but-also-not-really, Gregory!

Torp just registers Clipsy and Peanut to the system, points at where the main console is, and then goes back to his day.

Good. For Antumbra, anyone who can tolerate his shit is getting attached to very quickly (yay abandonment issues and trauma). He’ll start doing little nice things for them, like covering Clipsy in a blanket if he looks tired, or leaving Peanut’s favorite snacks lying around. He’ll even be downright soft if they seem to be having bad days.

Just regular Eclipse stuff : ). Not that they’d recognize her as an Eclipse since she’s the one who looks like Eclipse and Glam Freddy had a kid together. Brief house tour before bed, including the warnings: -Don’t go downstairs because Monty lives there. -Everything they say is potentially being recorded because Vanny likes to bug their house. -Be careful because Circus Baby keeps potions in the fridge, including a thicc anime girl transformation potion and a human potion, and one of the water guns is loaded with a potion of forgetting. -Don’t touch Ennard’s Doritos or Baby’s icecream.

I forgot Honey! Honey Bakely and KC would adopt Peanut and Clipsy immediately. The Bloodmoon twins will be a bit grumbly and bully them a bit, and Eclipse will get jealous of Clipsy and be in denial about it and be extra mean to him and Peanut.

Peanut is just turned into hysterical giggly paste by them. He’s going to be a limp noodle by the time it’s over with. Clipsy finds it hilarious

Clipsy brings up that while it was technically right about them being homeless, they had literally just arrived so they had like zero time to acquire a home. Piper says that trying to apply logic is pointless.

He’d accept suns offer to fix the ray, since it’s definitely something that should be fixed even if it’s not super painful. It’s still rather annoying and overly sensitive in it’s damaged state.

Peanut gives Gregory a little pat on the head. He finds it cute they’re friends with a human!

Torp treats this as if it’s a typical Tuesday lmao

Ah yes the reverse psychology. If you can deal with the toxic shithead behavior then he will vibe with you. Like a tsundere XD

Clipsy doesn’t even want to know why they have a thicc anime girl potion. It’s honestly for the best he doesn’t, the answer would only scar him more.

Clipsy is not going to appreciate this other eclipse and will return his rudeness with his own snark and sarcasm, doing little things to annoy him. Like the petty shit he is.

[justanarchiveforfics]

July recs

Seventeen

Late night talking | @shuahoonie (fluff)

Something shifted in the universe when you and seungkwan started talking on the phone every day. this is big for someone who has their phone on do not disturb for almost the entire day. oh and going on a trip with your bff, practically acting like a couple is normal right? right???

Elevator| @wongyuuu (angst, soulmates)

In a world where soulmates exists, jihoon is faced with difficult decisions.

And we meet again | @idyllic-ghost (soulmates, fluff)

There is something familiar about that house on the hill, even though you swear that you have never seen it before. But you’re drawn to the lavender fields and the ocean view - and the lonesome looking man you see sitting on the porch. When you approach him there is something in his eyes that you cannot understand - a knowing, a deep feeling. The question is, will you ever have enough time to figure out what that look means?

Adorably, yours | @nnight-dances (friends to lovers, fluff)

You’ve liked Jeonghan since you met him through your best friend, Wonwoo. But little by little every day you’re convinced he knows you like him and his non-action can only mean your feelings are not mutual. Then, you run into Seungcheol, a childhood best friend of Jeonghan’s, who instantly develops a soft spot for you.

Gryffindor captain| @http-mianhae (fluff, angst)

Being head-over-heels for the Gryffindor captain is harder than it seems, especially when everyone knows about your little crush on Seungcheol and he takes it lightly. Until when you’re partnered up and forced to be in each other’s lives on a daily basis, that’s when things take a bit of a turn.

Deskmates to lovers? | @http-mianhae (enemies to lovers)

He was the worst of worse, how could anyone love him? Such a cold-hearted kid yet you were forced to sit next to him and as a Ravenclaw, it didn’t do you justice that all Jeonghan did was throw insults and act like a total jerk.

Skin Deep | @chilligyu (angst, soulmates)

Forever was a powerful word, and it was the only word he could think of when he imagined his soulmate. someone who was just as powerful as she was terrifying. because forever was a powerful word, and it scared him to no end.

Meet cute of the century | @lovelyhan (strangers to lovers)

The last thing you expected when you volunteered at your city’s local animal shelter is to meet the hottest cat person in the world. now if only he’d just adopt one of them so you’d stop ogling him every time he drops by.

We get along infamously | @seungkwansphd (enemies to lovers, fluff)

You can never, have never, will never get along with Yoon Jeonghan, but unfortunately you have a chemistry that is simply undeniable.

Fixer upper | @seungkwansphd (strangers to friends to lovers)

You love your friends dearly, but do they really think that they can match make for their resident matchmaker? minghao’s certainly interesting, though, so maybe you can fix him up with someone else instead.

Dear autumn | @wonwoonlight (soulmates, angst)

In a world where everyone bears the soulmate mark to find the one heaven perfectly made for them, Wonwoo is an outlier with no marks in sight. But he has more pressing matters to attend to because he remembers his past life and the promise he made to his soulmate that he’d find her again no matter what.

"Right? Right." | @bluehoodiewoozi (soulmates au, fluff)

Your soulmate mark might be broken, but at least he will always be there for you.

Broken pieces | @bluehoodiewoozi (soulmates au, angst, fluff)

Your friend broke your soulmate’s heart, leaving you to pick up the pieces of both his and your own heart.

Under the sun | @wooahaes (series, fantasy, fluff)

It all starts when you wake up in a field without a name or any memories to define yourself with. Thirteen men take you in as one of their own, and slowly you begin to wonder what is going on within this world… and between you and one of them.

[lizard-shifter-noms]

Broken Bloodlines Chapter 11

———————————————————————————————

Part 11 already? were almost to the end!

only two more plus the epilogue!

have fun reading!

and as always reblogs are appreciated! (Also ASK’s are open so feel free to bother me!)

AO3 Link for those that prefer the layout there; https://archiveofourown.org/works/44627188

——————————————————————————————————

Turning around I saw that Oakley had already found the weird Teal stuff and had instructed Fable on what to do with it.

Well if he applied the stuff by himself it would probably also heal all the minor cuts on his hands as well.

 The container of it was also only a fourth full now,  I hoped he'd be able to make more of it as soon as he fully moved in.

Then again the guy had absolutely no system when it came to storing things.

“Mrrw?”

I looked down at the sound to see the cat brushing up against my legs.

“There you are, c’mere”

I picked her up and let her sit one one arm while stabilizing her with the other one.

She immediately flopped over so I had to hold her like a baby instead and softly tapped at my chin.

This really was one of the nicest cats I had ever met, if not THE nicest.

It also seemed the Teal stuff wasn't needed anymore seeing as Oakley was putting the lid back on and just shoving the thing into one of the many shelves brimming with largely unidentifiable things.

“You know the little cat you have there would make a good familiar for someone with magic”

Both me and Fable looked at him with various degrees of confusion.

“What do you mean by that? 

I think she's a little too nice to be the accomplice of a witch”

He tilted his head and looked at me like I was an idiot, again.

“Not every witch is evil, man i ought to talk to Rikaad about your schooling system! Seems like it's doing a poor job!

Also not every magic wielder is a witch and not every magic wielder has a familiar, most don't actually as finding a suitable animal is quite hard”

Huh, i hadn't known that, then again we did fight an ice mage so maybe i really was just dumb.

Also I did not go to school, which Oakley seems to have forgotten.

“Oakley i never went to school,  they would have killed me before i put one foot in the building”

Oakley looked at me strangely and Fable was actually rather horrified.

oops we had forgotten to tell him the more bad side of the History.

I'd fix that while both of us were recovering.

Luckily thanks to that Teal stuff Fable should be fit in no time.

“Well that sucks, but at least you didn't turn out to be a complete idiot like some other people i met throughout time.

I can show you some of the more basic stuff after I'm done dragging my stuff here if you want?”

Like a teacher or  what? Also I had no idea what he considered basic knowledge but there was no doubt I'd learn at least something.

“I- uh sure why not, i don't doubt that'll be useful”

The winged man nodded then went to a cupboard that looked recently dusted and fished out two spoons that definitely weren't even from the same maker.

“Perfect! And now that the jam has cooled down, do you wanna try it?”

Right, the herb jam, I did have to say that it smelled good so why not?

I really doubted it was poisonous but I hoped Oakley had cleaned the spoons.

“Sure, it doesn't smell bad so why not?”

I looked over to Fable who just nodded in confirmation and I noticed that he looked kinda tired.

Oh right, the teal stuff takes energy to properly heal so him being tired was no surprise.

We could go take a nap after this,  I myself was also kind of worn out and sore from all that had happened.

Oakley dipped the spoons in the glass closest to him and then held them out to us so we each took one.

Luckily the spoon looked to be clean,  aside from the jam of course so without further ado i tried it.

It was sweeter than I expected seeing as Rosemary was more of a savory herb, at least in cooking, 

but it was possible that Oakley just put a ton of sugar in it.

But all in all it was pretty good.

“It's a lot sweeter than I thought it would be,  How much sugar did you pour into this? Aside from that its actually good and i bet the Kitchen staff would love the recipe”

I looked over to Fable to see what he thought of it but I could only see him sitting at the table with a mildly confused and miserable expression.

“She stole the entire spoon”

He pointed at the cat who sat on the other end of the table and was currently lickign the spoon clean.

Oakley also saw it and immediately started laughing his weird cawing laugh.

It took barely a second for me to join in and Fable started laughing as well, the sound still weirdly reminding me of a bell.

That mixed with Oakley’s cawing tone made it sound like weirdly out of sync music where only one person knew how to play an instrument.

To my ears it was a lovely sound, both my Brother and Oakley were also getting along, well as much as one could with the strange winged man.

The cat however was quite unbothered by the sound,  at least I thought so at first but then she stepped on the broad part of the spoon making it flip into the air and land in front of Oakley.

Yeah, he was right that the cat probably had at least a minor amount of magic.

Though it was unlikely she knew how to use it.

Oakley grabbed the spoon and tossed it in the sink where already some other cutlery was.

He gave Fable a new spoon to try,  making sure the cat wouldn't get it this time even if she tried.

Fable did agree with me that it was indeed sweeter than one would think and after reapplying his bandages,  even if they wouldn't be needed for that much longer,  We left to go back to the castle with the cat in tow who was insistent on being carried by Fable.

Considering he was tired and the teal stuff wasn't yet working that fast he kind of had to lean against me to avoid falling over.

I decided that since all that madness with Maringand was over I could finally move back into my shed,  This time Fable actually could use the loft as well.

I did wonder though how long he was going to stay now,  after all the Teal stuff would fix his limp leg in maybe a day tops.

I wished he'd reconsider his plan, at least for a little bit.

He'd been here barely a week and more than half of that he had been trapped in a horrible mindset.

I liked him, sure, he’s my brother after all, but at the same time I barely knew anything about him.

That did make me wonder though how much he even knew about himself.

He had been in that horrible mindset for years,  he probably didn't even know much about himself either.

Maybe him going out to try and find what kind of person he was would be the right thing to do after all.

Besides, after the tiny glimpses i got from what he was like telling him what to do would be the wrong thing, not to mention kinda fucked up.

No, Fable had every right to go and do what he wanted,  it was none of my business.

He was now leaning half asleep on me and I had to half drag him across the ground, it was a wonder he hadn't dropped the cat yet.

Yeah i’d get him to the loft and then let him sleep till the next day,  He needed it, a lot.

That would also give me some time to think of something to give him that he could take with him on his journey.

Nothing big or heavy of course, but just something little so he had something from his little brother.

Maybe something useful? 

That was of course the obvious choice.

But what?

Oh well, I could decide that later,  for now it was better if we both just rested a bit.

We reached the shed pretty quickly and without running into anyone else.

To be fair I doubted I'd want to chit chat anymore for today so that was just right for me.

Fable had by now almost fallen asleep while upright,  and still somehow holding the cat albeit that a lot more lopsided now.

That Teal stuff might be a huge help with injuries but apparently the trade off was that one got extremely tired really fast if used.

I had to keep that in mind for future reference.

Half dragging Fable up to the loft and onto a makeshift bed that was a little too short for him I also put the blinds on all the windows.

While I was busy with that the cat went and used my Elven Brother as a mattress.

He didn't react to it though, already out like a candle.

Well the sun would only begin to set in like an hour or so,  So what else was there to do for me?

I wasn't tired, at least not yet,  but there also wasn't really anything to do for me.

Fresh air would be nice though, and as long as the cat was there Fable wasn't alone either so a few minutes walking around would probably do me good so I went out of the door once again.

The last few days had been stupidly stressful and very chaotic,  and I honestly doubted that i had comprehended all of it yet.

I didn't really want to anyway.

We had lost people due to Winton’s stupid greed, most of them complete strangers to me that I had never met before, and now never would.

And of course some people I did know were now gone as well.

While Oakley somehow was fine Barsen was not,  a fact that still didn't really want to go into my head.

Who would take care of the Garden now?

And who would let us do stupid things around the castle without telling anyone?

Who else could ever be the kind and calm presence he had been?

I would never see that steady pillar of kindness and acceptance ever again.

And on top of that what would happen to his stuff?

Would it just be tossed out like I had seen city dwellers do with the belongings of people that died without any relatives?

I hoped not, and I doubted any of the castle residents would let that happen either.

But it still felt like someone had torn a hole into something Important that couldn't be repaired.

Despite not knowing the man for as long as most of the Castle did he had still been a very dear friend.

He had even given me tips on how to care for the wild array of plants that grew on my back in the Ardua form.

Though Half of them weren't exactly doable considering they grew in flesh instead of dirt.

What a fucked up thing taken out of context.

My wanderings had taken me without my noticing along the outer wall all the way to where Barsen had Died.

Aside from the patches of mud and the bent branch on the sapling there wasn't even that much evidence of what had happened here.

Well, if one could ignore the rusty stains that is.

Seemed like my grimm musings had taken me here somehow.

I felt like throwing up once again but pushed past the feeling.

I didn't have anything to throw up anyway.

Still, at the sight something in me Ached terribly.

Despite all the differences and things that happened in between i knew the feeling, i knew it well even.

It felt like shortly after my mother had died and part of me had rejected that reality for a good week or so.

It was the feeling of loss.

What a terrible thing to experience once again.

I briefly wondered if the plants would grieve him if they could.

They probably would,  he had treated them with such care and respect after all.

The tiny sapling here had even refused to let him die face down in the dirt.

Looking at it I saw that it was some sort of willow tree,  but I was no expert and the thing reached maybe my waist so it was impossible to tell what kind.

I did feel sad for the broken branch though.

Maybe I could mend it?

I didn't really have any string on me for that though,  Maybe I could use something else?

Oh wait, hair could work.

Not the human hair I had right now but the long and thick strands of the Ardua mane would probably work just as good as string.

Going a good few paces away from the little clearing so i wouldn't damage anything i carefully shifted to the quadrupedal form.

Trying to use the clawed paws to get some of the fur didn't work as well as I had hoped so I tried to tangle some of my mane in a thorny bush which had a lot more success.

Shifting back to the smaller human scale again I fished the few hairs that got stuck out of the shrubbery again.

Huh, they were a lot longer than I thought they'd be.

While i had expected them to maybe be half my lower arm long,  they were actually the length of my entire arm,  shoulder to wrist and as thick as a fine sewing thread.

How weird.

Well whatever, it would surely work for what i had planned at least.

Going back over I carefully put the bent branch back in its place and then used the strands of fur to fix it into place.

There, now it could grow properly again.

I stepped a few paces back to make sure I hadn't messed up my poor attempt at helping the plant up.

It didn't seem like it but then again I was no expert.

What a strange sight still, a lone sapling in a place where not too long ago Carnage had taken place.

It still felt like someone had twisted an ice cold knife into my Heart,  well the beating one,  and I knew that this awful feeling would persist for quite some time.

I should probably leave now, the tree wasn't as broken as before and staying here could not be good for my Mental health.

Taking one last look at the only thing that had stood witness to what happened here I turned around and went back towards the castle.

While walking through the Garden I noticed that the Plants still seemed miserable, branches drooping down,  Petals already closed despite it being only late afternoon and the grass not as vibrant as it had been just a few days beforehand.

Could plants grieve? If so, these certainly were doing as such.

It still was weird to be in the middle of that so I hurried along forward and back to the relative safety of the castle.

I reached it within minutes and debated on what to do for now.

It didn't look like anyone was out on the benches or front yard anymore, good, that would spare me some smalltalk.

I didn't feel like talking at all at the moment anyway, my mind was still slowly processing what had happened, albeit lately so.

I wanted some peace, but Fable was sleeping in the Loft of my shed and I really did not want to stay in the Garden right now.

Well there weren't many other places i knew, especially ones where there were no people.

So that left the Library and… The tower that allowed us to see the enemies approaching early.

It was possible that someone was in the library at this time to read or to also get some peace so I'd go to the tower.

If anyone wanted to get to me they had to climb a stupid amount of stairs first and considering i didn't even want to do that i doubted anybody else would follow me.

After a good few minutes of stair climbing I was at the top of the tower for the second time in my life, only to find to my extreme surprise I was not as alone as I thought I'd be.

There, on the stone bank that went around the outer wall under the windows sat a familiar red headed form.

He was clutching a longish box that I was pretty sure contained a beautifully made telescope with plant based engravings.

I debated for a moment if I should leave or not but that choice was taken from me as Robin turned around to look at me.

The skin under his eyes was a little red but that could also have been an effect from the setting sun.

I chose not to mention it, instead I just silently sat next to him as he tilted his head and pointed to the seat next to him.

We sat in silence for what felt like forever, just staring out at the ocean without actually seeing it.

It was very probable that this time both of us spaced out because there seemed to have been a good hour or so missing seeing as it was now dark out while just a moment ago the sun had just begun to set.

Huh, so that's what it was like.

At a shifting sound I glanced over to the rusthead who was now leaning his forehead on the box while hugging the rest of it.

Why did he have it in the first place?

I wasn't about to ask that though,  it would probably just make everyone upset again.

But as it turned out i didn't have to ask as he gave that information of his own accord.

“Do you remember when you told me to go give Barsen the Telescope back and then go look after the kitchen staff?”

I nodded, I had done that so he wouldn't randomly run after us into the battle.

“Well i went to give it back, but after like twenty minutes he came by the kitchen and handed it to me again.

He told me to keep an eye on the box like it was my own and if I did a good job of that I could have it one day.

Then he left, and… didn't come back.

So I guess it's mine now?

I mean he did say if i kept an eye on it i could have it,  but I just don't understand why…?

And why would he give it to me of all people? 

I'm clumsy and I drop things all the time. 

He knew that, so why give something so precious to me?”

While talking tears had begun to fall from his eyes even if he tried his best to keep his voice steady.

I had no answer to any of the things he'd been talking about,  Why would I have?

Robin had been better friends with the Gardener than I had, spent more time with him as well seeing as Robin wanted to learn about plants.

Maybe that was why, if Barsen had known there were soldiers while the castle was largely unguarded he probably wanted to ensure the pretty telescope went to someone that shared his love for plants at least a little.

I moved to hug the shaking redhead who, while being strangely quiet about it, was still leaving tear tracks down his face.

He sort of, just flopped into my hold, still silently crying and it was taking almost all of my willpower not to start crying too.

“I don't know,  but if he trusted you to take care of it then I don't doubt that you can.

He was not stupid, far from it really, so if he judged you to be the best candidate to keep a eye on it then you have to be just that”

He sniffled a little and wiped his eyes with the corner of his sleeve.

“You think so?”

“I wouldn't say it otherwise, couldn't anyway”

He made a humming sound and just continued to lay there in a miserable heap.

Looking out of the tower again I saw that it was completely dark now, the only light coming from a torch Robin must have brought with him beforehand.

Maybe we should head back down now,  if the torch went out we would have absolutely no light to descend the stairs and I for one was not keen on falling down all of them.

“I think we should go back down,  it's dark and i don't want to fall should the torch go out.

You feel like getting up?”

He just made a grumbling noise and shrunk down further like he wanted to completely disappear.

Didn't feel like walking huh?

Well i could probably carry him, he did also look tired.

Probably from crying.

“Want a ride?”

He looked at me confusedly for a second, likely forgetting that I could actually lift stuff even if I wasn't in my Ardua form.

Figuring out how to carry him without burning him with the torch took a minute or so but in the end he was clinging to my back with the telescope still clutched to his front while I carried the torch in my left hand.

While Robin could probably hold the torch as well I kinda needed it in front of me to see where i was going and if he held it it was likely going to be close to my face so this was the best solution.

I wasn't keen on setting my hair on fire anyway.

The trip down seemed to be faster than the one going up but I really wasn't complaining about that.

Considering going down the stairs wasn't as exhausting as going up we reached the bottom fairly quick and I was stuck in the empty torch mount near the door.

That's probably where it came from anyway.

While I did that I realized I had no idea where Robin's normal room was, there hadn't been any need seeing as we usually met outside or in my shed.

“Robin? Which way is your room?”

I asked the Ginger currently slouching over my back but didn't get an answer.

Twisting my head around as much as I could and listening to his breathing revealed that he had simply fallen asleep.

It would be adorable if it wasn't for the fact that I had no idea what to do now.

Since I had no idea where his room was I just set off towards my own hoping to figure out how to get him off my back and onto some pillows without waking him up.

I'd get to that when I was back in my shed.

I wondered if the Cat was still there,  she had been using Fable as a bed after all.

Probably not though.

Slinking around I actually walked past Nea who just quietly nodded after seeing the sleeping ginger on my back.

Thank fuck, i didn't really want to talk to most people yet,  also i'd rather not wake Robin up by talking to the usually rather loud woman.

Also I was pretty sure she wasn't supposed to be out and about right now even if she was better now.

Well, not my problem.

Ducking under the doorframe I emerged right in front of the shed, 

well that was the easy part over with.

Now I just had to figure out how to bunch up some pillows for Robin without waking him up, or Fable for that matter.

Clumsily closing the door behind me again I saw that I had just shoved the blankets and such from when I slept in the Ardua form to one wall, making a pile of soft Fabrics.

Perfect, at least I didn't have to pile it all up myself.

Now the only question was how to get Robin off of my back without waking him.

In the end I managed by having him slide sideways off and onto the pile of assorted cloth pieces.

I pulled one over him to act as a blanket as he curled up like a wet kitten while still clutching the telescope box to himself.

I wouldn't even try to take it, Though he would have some imprints of the box on his face tomorrow.

Grabbing a not occupied blanket I dragged it over to some of the leftover hay bales that we had been too lazy to remove while sweeping the shed and settled down there.

Lucky thing I wasn't allergic to anything.

Cocooning myself in the fabric to avoid the straws poking me and kickin my shoes off into the hay I fell asleep as well.

I had no idea how long I was out for but was awoken to the sound of familiar voices.

Opening my eyes I saw both Fable and Robin sitting on the floor in front of each other.

A meowing sound told me they weren't the only ones there.

———————————————————————

NEXT / PREVIOUS / OVERSIGHT

[spiders-hth-is-an-outlier]

Weird dream story:

In this dream my partner and I were I think house-sitting for someone, but in general not currently staying at our house. So I was coming home to check up on things there. And I was in the backyard puttering around when suddenly Eliot wanders by -- Eliot my fully non-fictional cat, not a human person name of Eliot. This is surprising and bad, because he shouldn't be outside at all, but I manage to scoop him up and bring him in the house. Has he been wandering out here for a day or two, since last time I was home? Did I let him out accidentally then?

A few minutes later, he's outside again, and I realize he has some means of escape. I go inside to look around -- inside my house looks totally different from waking life, but that doesn't seem strange to dream-me. I finally find a small window, about head-height in a corner of the living room, that only has a screen, which Eliot has managed to shove out of the frame, and now he can get out. We'll have to replace the window, but that'll take time and it needs to be blocked off somehow right away. The house is sort of oddly empty, but I do find some cardboard, and I text my friend Lacey (who is the handiest person I know in real life, so that was a logical choice) and ask if they can bring me a roll of duct tape.

Now things start getting kind of dream-weird. Lacey comes over and agrees with me about the problem, but somehow we don't fix it. It's starting to rain, and I'm constantly shooing Eliot away from the window; it's not clear if he can get back in by himself, so I basically can't leave until I know the window is fixed. Chalk comes home from work and now we're having people over for dinner, but I'm not focused on the conversation or enjoying anything because all I'm aware of is the rain and this high, broken window.

When the guests leave, Chalk and I are cleaning up and discussing the Window Situation, when we notice Margo (other cat) acting weird, carrying something like she's trying to hide it. We chase her down, and it's a fucking kitten, all wet and scraggly. We check it for injuries and it seems okay. Chalk says, well, I guess we have three cats now, and I say uhhh, he is extremely cute, but are you sure that's a good idea? She says, look, Margo has really taken Kyle in and we shouldn't separate them now, and I'm like, Kyle? We've known this dude for five minutes and you've already named him...Kyle? And she's like, yeah, from South Park -- South Park, a television show that I have not really watched in about 20 years, and that as far as I know Chalk has never watched one time, ever. Even in dreamworld, this strikes me as incredibly weird, and I'm unsettled by the storm and the strangeness of all this, but I feel like I can't say no to this poor kitten that my wife has suddenly adopted (excuse me, to Kyle).

We're doing all this kitten-examining on the kitchen table, and after some commotion in the living room, we go in and find Kyle's wet mom lying on the floor, presumably having barely gotten both of them in through the window. Chalk is immediately like, we should take them both to the vet and starts pulling out a kitty carrier so we can do that, and I'm not sure we're ready to be a four-cat household, but this does seem to be happening, so instead I say, wait, we shouldn't leave until the window is fixed, everyone's getting in and out of the house and that's not good. If we leave it like this, who knows what we'll come back to? I find this thought highly stressful, but Chalk seems to be concerned only about the Kyle and Mother of Kyle situation, so we leave the house with the window broken (somehow between us and Lacey, nobody ever figured out how to block it off, we just gave up on that) and head to the after-hours emergency vet. I think there was a brief bit when we were actually at the animal hospital, but that was pretty much the end of the dream.

I don't know if that's interesting to anyone else, but it was all so vivid and mostly linear, which is unusual -- if I remember dreams at all, it's usually kind of a jumble of images and emotions. Thank you for being my dream journal, happy Ides of March.

[clementpanallus]

P(harm)acy||Parker&Clem

Timing: Last Week

Location: Wicked's Rest Pharmacy

Parties: Parker, Clem, and Solbjort the cat; @wonder-in-wings

Summary: Parker runs into Clem at the pharmacy. The pair talk about their previous encounter. Parker reveals just a little bit about himself, and Clem doesn't take it so well.

Triggers: None

Clem stood in line at the small pharmacy. He waited patiently for the people in front of him to be done. He’d asked his doctor to transfer his anxiety medication to the one in Wicked’s Rest before he left. He still needed to find a doctor who’d prescribe him the same medication here in town, but that was something that sounded both risky and boring. His doctor back in Wisconsin hadn’t asked too many questions or prodded too much about him, so Clem felt safe enough asking to be prescribed something. After all, not being able to lie and not being human were both things a doctor might catch onto eventually. He needed to find someone who didn’t ask too many questions here. Luckily, he had enough refills to get him through the year. 

Draped over his shoulders was Solbjort, her fluffy calico fur shining in the fluorescent light. She had on a leash, as well as a little vest which marked her as a service animal. She was being quiet for now, which was very nice. Clem knew that, as much as he loved her, it could be annoying to have a meowing cat in a confined space like this. But she’d nearly fallen asleep, and was purring as softly as she could. 

Someone stepped into line behind him. Clem didn’t think anything of it until Sol woke up and tensed. Her fur bristled. She scrambled into a standing position, staring down whoever was behind him. _ He hated pharmacies. Parker wouldn’t have even needed to be in one had he not gotten careless with the fight at the lake. About a week had passed now and though he had grown up with the tried-and-true method of ‘rub some dirt on it and it’ll fix itself’, that didn’t seem to be the case now; he had given someone else advice about home remedies for helping with a broken bone and yet his own home remedies hadn’t worked. …It also didn’t help that he wasn’t the type to rest and Parker always knew the risk with being active while recovering and every once in a while, something sparked in his head and he wondered if that was why he was hearing deficient. Probably not. Regardless, after taking several minutes of staring irritably up at the sign as though glaring at it hard enough would will it to change into something preferable, he steeled himself and skulked inside, wanting to be as outwardly confident as he could be in his stride but his stomach had other plans and it hurt to move. Just go in, get the antibiotics, get out. Parker didn’t hear his internal thoughts in his own voice, preferring that of his mother’s soothing yet firm tone; it was similar to water how it could go from gentle to raging in a few short words but it was there nonetheless. …He was creating diversion tactics in his brain to resolve the tension in his aching body more quickly and he was momentarily lost in thought as he approached the line autonomously. When he came back to his surroundings, the first indicator that something was around that he should’ve been more aware of was his blood rippling under his skin again, which was normally welcome but considering the multiple puncture wounds and gashes, just created an unpleasant sensation that caused his brow to furrow. It didn’t take Parker long to find the source either as he looked in front of him first, obviously, and his eyes fell upon the strangely familiar visage of a man with a… cat on his back. “Do you take your cats everywhere?” Parker asked the man in front of him, taking a guess that this was the same fae he’d met in the woods a couple of weeks ago, the one who temporarily blinded him with an image of wings in the negative space.

-

Clem turned around. Breathed out a sigh of annoyance that the same warden was here. He wasn’t afraid, not with the safety of the crowd and daylight. He was, however, very grumpy all the time that he was out of his air conditioned house. This warden was going to have a very unpleasant time if he tried to hassle Clem. “Yeah, I do. They like the fresh air.” 

 He stared at the warden. He was standing a bit unsteadily, hunched around his middle, a red flush on his face. He looked like he was in pain. Clem should’ve felt good that the other was suffering, but he didn’t. He was just vaguely concerned. “You look like shit.”

-

Normally the Warden would’ve been standing at his tallest, his hands crossed over his chest and with a slight tug to his mouth as though he were about to start sneering dismissively at someone but he couldn’t be bothered as the fae rightly called out that he looked bad. Parker felt bad too, though he tried his hardest not to make it too obvious though he supposed it didn’t take a genius to assume why he was standing in line that day looking the way he did. Hospitals were a waste of money. So instead of replying immediately, he kept his blue eyes on the cat, its fur pattern, the vest it wore. Parker was learning little by little and he was able to gather that the cat getting fresh air wasn’t the important part, it was that this hesperide needed it. He logged the information away as something he could possibly use to his advantage later. His thoughts then drifted to why the man was here as well. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t need to be.” The Warden replied bluntly. He glanced around slowly, exhaling through his mouth quietly as another thump of pain pulsed through his fevered abdomen. Parker couldn’t ask some of the questions that he would’ve had they been in a more private location and with the thought of confrontation successfully pushed out of his head, while he didn’t relax as he felt his blood unpleasantly rippling beneath his skin, he forced himself to inhale and acknowledge that the line was moving just a little too slow for his own good and he couldn’t just leave. “...Did you find good places to photograph?” He asked as they took a small step forward in the line.

_

A cold shiver of dread went up Clem’s shoulders at the mention of the other night. Clem had been content to just not mention the whole affair. But it seemed like the other was trying to scare him on purpose, or play some kind of mind game. Clem was not so easily swayed, however. He shrugged. “No, I didn’t. I don’t think I’ll be going to that part of the woods again.” 

He stroked Sol’s fur, petting the fluffy mess into something close to neatness. Tried to think of something to get the conversation off himself. The warden looked deeply uncomfortable, and Clem fought the urge to offer Sol to him to pet. “So, what happened to bring you here? Did you find someone to fight back?” -

The hesperide petting his cat and Parker seeing the follicles of hair that fell from the animal as he attempted to groom it into submission was an unpleasant reminder about why he didn’t like cats. However, the conversation wasn’t about them though now that he thought about it, who this man was had been narrowed down - assuming they’d met online. He looked too old to be a college kid but the number of people who owned and were fond of cats in town was understandably large, even if Parker himself didn’t see the appreciation in them. “That’s good.” Parker said quietly with a hint of a grunt tingeing his tone. “There are dangerous things in those woods.” He left that comment at that, managing to straighten himself out for a moment before inhaling sharply at first then deepening it until it sounded controlled. “Like this.” He didn’t want to lift his shirt, expose his injuries and weakness to anyone in that place, especially the stranger before him but the fae could see the bandages over his shoulder, peeking out from his henley shirt. “...I suppose you could say that.” He followed up after allowing that small pause. “Infection.” Parker narrowed his blue eyes at the stranger this time. “Why are you here?” He asked himself - surely there was no reason for a fae to visit a human apothecary-adjacent location, right? …Pharmacy, that’s what it was called. _

Sol gradually calmed down from the stroking, although she was keeping a close eye on the warden. Clem stepped forward as the line moved again. 

He didn’t dignify the comment about dangerous things with an answer. After all, he was a dangerous thing all on his own, even without the protection of his cats. He knew full well that he could kill this warden if it came down to it. He didn’t need to take his name, or order him to bury himself alive like he’d done to those teenagers back in Wisconsin. The warden thought he was creepy with his veiled comments and that look on his sharp face, but Clem was beyond him. Even when the warden healed, Clem could take him out in a fight easily. But instead of saying all that, he just bit his tongue, rolled his eyes, and let the comment pass without comment. Humans could truly be shortsighted sometimes without even knowing it. 

Sol, as if sensing his restlessness, Sol purred and rubbed her face into the back of his neck. He let out a long sigh, feeling himself calm down. 

“I’m just getting medication refilled.” He answered. When he asked his next question, his voice was just the slightest bit mocking. “Infection, huh? How’d you get hurt enough to get infected?” 

- Something Parker said made the hesperide roll his eyes. To which part though, he couldn’t be sure. Regardless, the action instinctively made him straighten up despite wanting to curl further into himself - the nymph had bravado now as he stood in line to refill some apparent medication with an emotional support cat on his shoulders but that’s not what the Warden saw that night in the woods. He wasn’t about to let this night light of a nymph exert what little superiority he thought he had. Pulling his torso taut didn’t come without a drawback though and another sharp inhale through his teeth this time slipped out. This was terribly inconvenient. And strange. In all his years of being a Hunter, Parker never once considered the chemical makeup and neurology of fae to be similar enough to humans that would warrant them needing medication for something. And he had half a mind to ignore the derogatory question that came from the fae; what business was it of his. Parker didn’t even want to be there. However, after a pause accompanied with an exhale and absent sniff of dismissal to fill the silence, he himself rolled his eyes. “I fell.” It was an obvious lie and not even one Parker was trying to make it sound like anything but. He finally blinked and looked away from the hesperide as his brow furrowed. “...She didn’t like my offer.” _ Clem snorted at the pitiful lie which the warden had told. He had half a mind to just turn his back and be done with this conversation with this potential serial killer. There was nothing to be gained by talking to him. It’d just draw his attention closer to Clem the longer they spoke. But Clem wasn’t terribly afraid of him. In fact, he found him rather sad. He couldn’t even succeed in killing Clem or this mysterious ‘she.’ 

“Right. Sometimes we can be tricky like that.” Clem wanted to leave it at that, but he was curious. “What did you offer her?”

-

Parker had spent enough time around both people and fae alike by now to know when he was being insulted and while he’d never been the type to take petty derision at face value, oftentimes attributing it to insecurity, a lack of self-worth or both on the part of the person who was insulting him. However, today he was in pain and trapped behind one of the fae that had gotten away, burning his brain with the image of wings that he needed to see again in a line for something he didn’t want in a place that he rejected like an animal being force-fed something it hated. “...A clean, painless operation.” Parker replied quietly, looking away from Clem as his mind recalled the tail, the flowing shape, the ridge along the bone, how she recoiled and made him carelessly slice into her skin. His expression softened under the sweat that clung to his brow. “She was beautiful. Still is.” His eyes lost focus for a moment, wandering away from where they were and his body autonomously took a step for him as they inched forward in the line. He didn’t know how many people there were in front of them but whatever part of him hadn’t drifted away in the memory of the nix’ tail was trying to focus on keeping him from acting irrationally in public. He blinked and his blue eyes snapped back to the hesperide. “I’ll make that offer to you, too.” He said before craning his neck and leaning in slightly. “You’ve shown me what you have.” His voice barely above a whisper, Parker now stared at the fae. “And I want them. I need them.”

—

That word- operation- made Clem eat his words. He hadn’t truly understood this man before him. He doubted now that he ever would. But something became clearer to him as the meaning hit him like a freight train. This warden was not like others he’d encountered in his long life. This warden was some sick kind of collector. He wanted something from the fae he was sworn to eradicate. Clem’s heart kicked in his chest, fingertips going numb with dread. 

The man seemed to drift away. Clem wondered if he should run for it again. But this was, perhaps, the only safe place to be. Here in the crowds of humans and video cameras, all the other could do was talk. 

Then, he came back, and came back somehow different. There was no mistaking the intensity of those blue eyes. The look of pure and unfiltered obsession. Directed at Clem. Clem and his… what? His wings? His skin? The notion made his blood run cold. 

“My what?” He ground out. 

Sol hissed low in her throat. She knew a threat when she heard one. She could probably sense that his heart rate was spiking again. His good, smart girl was having none of this man’s bullshit. He could feel her tail lashing and her claws digging into his skin. 

-

And just like that, without Parker even necessarily meaning to, the power dynamic had swayed back into his favor and suddenly the pounding fever in his abdomen mixed with the roiling blood under his epidermis, itself acting as defensive as the cat that perched on the nymph’s previously-confident shoulders that now hissed at him, made him feel powerful. The skin would scar, the bubbling in his veins would return as a defense mechanism but he was still alive and able to continue his process. He exhaled through his nose and this time, he intentionally let that uncomfortable silence sit between them. He still didn’t understand it, how somehow being a straight-up killer was preferable to simply taking vestigial limbs or otherwise ‘useless’ things and adding them to his collection. To them, it was grotesque but Parker didn’t agree; murderers were much more dangerous than what he was doing. Nevertheless, what he said managed to get the nymph to at least react in a less superior way, as indicated by the aforementioned cat whose tail flicked irritably like a broken windshield wiper as it no doubt served as an indicator of sorts for the hesperide. …Should he answer the question? Or was there a power in holding that knowledge hostage from the fae, with their mind games and manipulation in words? Parker eventually opted for the latter. “That’s a good question.” He replied simply, going back to his normal flat affect. “I guess we’ll find out next time we meet.” His eyes narrowed at the nymph.

-

Clem had no answer for the man. He was back to his flat, unassuming, smug, punchable face. 

From somewhere in the back of his mind, he noted that his name was being called. His medication was ready. The pharmacist was ready for him. Loathing to do so, he turned his back once more to Parker, though it took every ounce of his willpower. He signed the receipt shakily. Grabbed his medication and walked out fast. 

He wasted no time in climbing into his aged truck and pulling out, needing to be out of sight of that damned place before the warden came out. Sol meowed at him, climbing carefully onto his lap as he drove, kneading on his thigh. He breathed in a heavy sigh and reached out to stroke her, not moving his eyes from the traffic. 

“Fucking warden,” he told her. “I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do about that guy.”

She curled up next to him, purring loudly, trying to bring him some comfort. Fuck tourism and trying to relax. Clem would gladly spend the next few centuries holed up in his home hidden from everyone except his girls. 

[dirletti]

I still like reading these:

But, which animal species were attracted to the anemo?

Maybe the doves? Who took the courage from the wind to fly, fly as freely as the wind?

Maybe the falcons? Who strike as fiercely as Lady Vennessa, who was one of the Four Winds, protecting Mondsadt from any danger she could see. It was also known as the Ragvindr clan, one of the oldest and most prominent families in Mondsadt, recognized the falcons as lifelong friends and often relied on them to carry their most secret messages to allies.

Wasn't that a clue?

The birds, having the ability to swim, fly, and walk, should be the species; that were attracted to the element of freedom.

The theory made sense, but the reality was far from it.

It was the cats.

And, oh, how much the Anemo Archon did mind them.

"You small rascal- Achoo. Don't, don't, don't. Come. Closer. You hear me. I am warning you-Achoo."

The cat, of course, had to and did come closer.

Venti held up his blanket like it would protect him from the abomination of a kitten.

The cats didn't have a cat allergy. They were already overpowered compared to him.

A movement took Venti's attention. Another cat. And another. 'They found me.'

"What happened? Fatui ambushing?"

After Diona left, Diluc was ready to interrogate him.

"Worse."

"Worse-?" Diluc's lips were a thin line, his brows furrowed. He looked ready to fight, a warrior, just like his once descendants. His

hair color wasn't the only thing he inherited. "Cats." Venti answered, taking another sip from his glass.

Diluc's eye-rolling wasn't easy to miss. With a huff, his stance relaxed much to Venti's dismay. It would have been funny to see Diluc throwing hands with a kitten.

Venti let his head hit the bar's window after his drink finished. Mondstadt looked peaceful, with only a handful of people on the streets.

Ah, right. He had to get his window fixed, Venti thought while pressing his hand to the bar's window.

On the outside; he noticed Prince wandering, trying to find another prey. Venti couldn't help but stick his tongue at the evil thing.

But something made him stop.

A shiny coil in the cat's mouth.

His lyre strings-

Even as the snowstorm raged outside the

cave, neither of them seemed to pay much attention. With the lyre in the hands of a nameless bard joining the soft humming of a wisp, the harsh noise was suppressed, allowing them to pretend they were miles away from Mondstadt.

As cruel as a predator stalking down anything it could reach, the winds couldn't find their cave. It was as if they were in a dream. In a dream of freedom.

After all, everywhere the wisp could smell was of apples and fresh grass— with the warmth from both the bard's face and hands surrounding it.

After all, everywhere the bard could see was far different from the Mondstadt's typical jail-like territory.

"Bard!" A voice woke him; very rudely by shouting in his ear Venti had to mention, and it nearly cost him a broken bone or two. Considering that he fell asleep in his statue's hands, it wouldn't be surprising.

Or the first time it happened.

Probably wouldn't be the last, either.

The people who knew him as the Mondstadt's archon were few, yet the truth wasn't impossible to learn.

"And where did you hear that?" Venti's voice got lower, his eyes looking more turquoise every second.

If she was aware of the danger, she didn't show. "From the six-fingered Jose."

Surprised about the sentence she blurted out, all Venti could voice was a confused hum. The wind died down when she started to pull him; thinking it was a confirmation from Venti.

It wasn't, though.

"You shall not judge."

A whisper to ensure no one except Venti heard.

Venti doubted neither the nearby pigeons nor himself would judge. He already saw two Liyue water eel gods kissing when he was on Liyue. Whoever she would say wouldn't top

that moment.

...The...

...The NPC?

She raised her hand again, probably to ask about the flower choices. The colors, the shapes, the scents.

"But you can't kill anyone with a flower. Can you?" This wasn't the question Venti was expecting. Furthermore, she looked lost in thoughts only to declare. "Unless you really try to do it, I guess."

Venti didn't ask how.

He didn't need to know that.

Well, at least now Venti was the tallest of them all.

Their love life looked interesting, with all the emotions and full of plot twists! Venti had to admit.

Too bad he didn't care.

Venti hated every second he spent with her, yet he answered. "By asking the acting grand master of the Knights of Favonius, of course."

"That's a long title." She said with whistling.

Without a warning, Jean took him for a hug. "Be safe Bar-Venti."

Despite how the fatui already ruined the festival's magical atmosphere he adored already, maybe this was enough for the atmosphere to come back. He smiled.

Venti, still sleepy from his hangover, awoke with a grumble. His eyes refused to open, his cheek on the bar table lying in his drool. "Aghah, yestry nigt wasth smtihng." He whined to no particular one. His arms flexed, but rather than opening his eyes; he turned his cheek to the table's other side. 'Five minutes more.' he allowed to himself.

"pap?" A small voice, sounding suspiciously like a child, said into his ear.

"Hngh?" was his answer. Did they allow

children into the bar nowadays? He hoped not. Though; it had been over a hundred years since he last visited Angel's share. The times may have changed.

"wokie?" The small voice continued, starting to poke his head.

"Wokie?" Venti groaned as he tried to repeat the word, but it left his mouth as a question. "pap, wokie, wokie!" The small voice, now closer than ever, declared the sentence in an excited tone.

"What-" Venti opened his eyes, at last, to find two white button eyes staring at him.

"pap!" The voice shouted again, making him awaken fully, all his nerves now alert with an instinct he did not know he had.

'A wisp?'

The wisp turned around itself, twirling on the table to show how happy it was by his awakening while murmuring a happy song.

"A wind wisp without wings?" Venti exclaimed, surprise obvious in his voice, straightening on his chair.

The chair he was sitting on fell to the ground

with a loud thud.

And so did Venti.

It was so small, Venti gasped. Nearly the size of his palm, it was a newborn, most likely. But how? When? 

"pap?"

Unsure what he was supposed to do, his hand reacted almost instinctively, starting to pet the wisp. It yawned and closed its small eyes, giving Venti more time to understand what happened yesterday night.

His eyes found the beer glasses on the bar's table, a realization hitting.

Did he... Did he produce a baby?

"Pray, tell me Barbatos. What are you doing in my nation, unannounced." Rex Lapis roared in his human form, the horns on his head glowing with the geo-energy. It felt stupid; now that he traveled to Liyue, but Rex Lapis was the only lead he had.

"This wisp says that... You two are brothers?" 'Ta-da.' Venti said in his head as he showed

the small wisp to the blockhead. Upon seeing Rex Lapis the wisp's face soured, and the wisp looked disgusted.

At another time, Venti would have laughed at the Geo Archon's expression after he witnessed how the wisp's face changed. This time he kindly suppressed the laugh.

"Pap, who dis uglny men?" The wisp without a shame declared.

She gazed at the wisp who was busy with getting nearly drowned in a teacup while Rex Lapis was rolling his eyes.

He closed his eyes, but the impact he was waiting for didn't come. A small boulder hit his head, then dropped onto the small wisp's head between his arms.

Venti's eyes widen, surprised at the stone's small size, while the wisp started crying, clinging onto him. It was sobbing uncontrollably but its eyes were still fixated on the Geo Archon without blinking, even

though Venti was the one petting its head to calm it. Guizhong slapped Rex Lapis' head with a disapproving frown. After that the wisp started laughing at the Geo Archon and its crying stopped.

"What was, that, Morax?" Guizhong asked, clearly annoyed.

"It couldn't have hurt," was Rex Lapis' answer.

"I must admit, I am surprised at how responsible you are acting." Rex Lapis started with a gentle voice, making Venti turn at him.

"What do you mean?"

"I am talking about your fatherhood even though it is hard to believe you have a child, now." Venti stayed silent as they continued to walk, Guizhong in front of them talking with the wisp on her shoulder. Was he doing a good job?

He couldn't know.

"I... used to watch Ragvindr." Venti started with hesitation. "You know, the redhead who helped me with the rebellion."

Rex Lapis stayed silent, urging him to continue. "And he had kids. Small redheads, looking just like their father. He was acting differently with them, and I got curious. In the rebellion, all I could remember him as was a stern warrior. His eyes determined, his lips always on the downside."

"His nation was prisoned, so it was natural for him to act that way. It must have been his coping mechanism." Rex Lapis replied.

Venti shook his head. "I know, I know. But after he got kids, his whole posture, his clothes, even the taste of his wine changed."

"How so?" Rex Lapis hummed.

"It got... All of it got softer. And you know, I always liked humans. Their emotions, songs, and poems always fascinated me. So I wanted to learn about his behaviors in case; I also became a parent. I am sorry; does this make sense?"

"It does." Rex Lapis nodded, opening his mouth but instead of telling Venti what he thought about all of this, he shouted at

Guizhong. "Cover the wisp's eyes!" Guizhong didn't need his warning to cover the poor thing's eyes immediately. "Huh, why? Oh. Oooh." Venti raised one of his eyebrows, looking around to find what caused his friend to act that way. And he saw it with his own eyes.

Two water eels were kissing in the open, their water tongues making sinful noises. Venti also closed his eyes, surrounding them with the wind. No one needed to hear the water gods.

"I swear to Celestia, I am gonna have to seal their horny tails someday." Rex Lapis said, a hint of anger obvious in his voice. Venti agreed. Some children could have seen them. Namely, his child could have.

His cheeks became pink when Guizhong turned to him with an all-knowing smirk. He ducked his head in embarrassment.

It still felt weird to say it aloud, though.

"Pap." The wisp said firmly. A command, Venti realized. He went to the wisp's side, asking what happened.

"Don't tawk uglyn dwaghons," Wisp answered with a frown. Guizhong covered her mouth again, to not let a giggle escape.

After a little more walking; they reached their destination to see Rex Lapis' familiar. "Young one, here is Azhdaha." Guizhong gestured at the round dragon without wings, sitting on the ground.

The wisp's eyes twinkled when it cheerfully declared. "Pap, look. Another uglyn dwaghon!"

Rex Lapis' tired sigh filled the domain.

The wisp started walking on the shrine while Venti watched it, his head in his hands. But then, something pink with swift paws blurred his vision, picking up the wisp and started to run.

He rolled his eyes as the wind current brought the pink fox into his hands. The fox struggled in the wind, refusing to let go of the wisp, sneering at him.

And then electro shocked him, causing him to

drop the fox into the ground. The fox changed into a young pink-haired girl, trying to stand up. Venti didn't let her, picking her from her outfit's neck and raising from the ground. "Throw it out."

"I ate it." The girl said stubbornly, yet her words were muffled. The wisp was probably still in her mouth.

"No, you didn't." Her vision glowed, but this time Venti was prepared for the shock.

"Don't make me call your archons." He threatened.

"You know my archons?" The girl smiled with childlike glee.

"Miko, drop Barbatos' wisp!" Ei's commanding voice echoed in the shrine before he could call her.

Venti smirked when the small girl did what was asked of her. "Yes, I do know them."

Ei looked embarrassed while Makoto was smiling as an apology.

Then the wisp didn't look back after it started to walk. Venti's eyes started to water, so this

was how-

The pink fox picked up the wisp again as it was on its way.

Venti turned at Ei with a deadpan expression. Ei sighed, getting her polearm ready. "I will be back."

"I decided to use a braid on my new design, now. Thanks for the inspiration! Now, now. About you my experiment #2037. Off you go!" Venti let out a horrified shout as the woman, the cute little puffer's creator, its mom in a sense, threw it into a small wooden wolf's awaiting mouth.

He felt the anemo energy leaving the small puffer, and his knees gave up, dropping to the ground in shock.

"What-" Venti let himself accept what happened before he continued.

The small puffer was gone, eaten by a creature who looked like a forbidden result of a wolf and a tree breeding.

He refused to use that 'di-' word to his tiny cute child.

"Why, why did you do that?" Venti's voice was so weak even he was surprised. The woman looked at him like she only realized his presence and laughed.

"The wolf needed some food. Oh, I am sorry for you. Did you get attached to experiment number #2630"

Venti opened his arms in frustration, trying to not cry. "We had a bonding moment. I cradled it in my arms."

Rhinedottir looked apologetic now, but the wolf did not, even licking its mouth as if to mock the poor bard.

All of his parenting went to waste just like that.

He needed a drink.

No, he needed ten drinks at least; to forget how much his heart hurt.

That last glass of wine was too much for yesterday. His head felt like it was full of wisps, all of them chattering at the same time.

The squirrel lifted its hands to the air laughing maniacally. "We can begin the sacrifice for my revenge!"

Now, now. Venti may have lived 2600+ years, but this was only the second time he was face to face with a squirrel who wanted him dead.

"Back when my grand grand grand grandparents were living on Mondstadt, there was Anemo archon who lived and ruled the lands. Every animal thought of him as kind and carefree soul, but never as a tyrant like the old god caging the nation. Then, he showed his true nature!" The squirrel declared loudly.

It was a better storyteller than the six-fingered Jose; Venti thought without interrupting the animal.

"He took the lands, the mountains, everything he could see as an impurity without listening to the cries of my ancestors! They wept on

and on, hugging each other in pure terror. The Anemo archon laughed with a cruel and ugly sound, smirking at the poor unfortunate souls. 'Since I am a very evil god who likes torturing everyone, I will send you all away.' 'But we thought you were the archon of the freedom. How could you dare to take away ours!' My grand grand grand parents shouted back at the god, trying to let their voices be heard between the endless winds. A low chuckle was what they heard when the Archon's violet eyes found them. He was a breathtaking boy, the squirrels thought when he came closer to them, his wings looking soft as clouds. But how he frowned with disgust made my ancestors afraid. They were whimpering with fear yet that just made the archon more amused. He took the princess squirrel's arms without a word, tightening his hold to not let the beautiful poor girl escape."

 "What do you mean he took the princess squirrel?" Venti said, deciding to interrupt the story at last.

What kinda wisp-tale was this?

He turned back to the topic with a sigh, processing what he learned from the story. Apparently, he kidnapped a princess squirrel to marry. He made her parents cry. Then tossed all of the squirrels into the sea. His eyes were violet, his voice cruel and ugly. No wonder, he was the villain to a wisp-tale. Venti had no words about this and it took great effort to make him, a poet, a bard speechless.

Also, something was wrong. Not the story, it was already, but the fact the squirrel chose him as its sacrifice. It was unlikely to be a coincidence, or maybe he was just that unlucky.

They made eye contact while Venti raised one of his eyebrows in a silent question. The wisp; who was supposedly but not really the Dendro Archon, averted its gaze.

Without breaking eye contact, Venti started

slowly. "Are you sure this is the Dendro Archon?"

"Yes. She even picked you herself!" The squirrel looked proud as the wisp started to sweat in front of Venti's gaze. It looked everywhere but Venti; stubborn to pretend like nothing was its fault.

The wisp probably thought it would be fun to watch things unfold but didn't expect Venti to learn its shenanigans.

"Before you die, would you like to join my Anemo Archon hate club?" It gave him a paper. It looked official signed with a squirrel government stamp. "If you sign here, you will even get a badge!" The squirrel added.

Venti kindly refused, though the badge was a tempting offer.

Venti waited for it to ruin his shirt further, but it stopped eyeing the tattoo glowing with turquoise, his disheveled hatless hair. Then it looked at the wisp, most likely comparing the

tattoos. It was just minutes before the realization dawned on the small animal that Venti and the wisp were-

"Huh, didn't know an archon and a sacrifice would be tattoo besties."

It got angrier and picked up an acorn from Archon's know-where. "You tricked me! I am gonna nut you now."

Venti knew he shouldn't have corrected the squirrel when it was holding the acorn, yet the temptation won. "You mean, you are gonna gut me?"

"No, nut you. With this nut." The squirrel looked puzzled.

"No, not me. Oh, thank Celestia-" Venti couldn't finish his sentence when the squirrel started to scrape the acorn into his chest as if it could take out his heart.

The acorn wasn't a knife, so the squirrel looked like it was at a loss when it didn't cut his skin.

"Let's make a contract." He offered.

"I don't do contracts with villains." The squirrel refused.

"I am not a villain." He stated.

"That's what a villain would say." The squirrel argued.

He had to fix the misunderstanding. It bothered him how he was branded as just like the old god ruling Mondstadt. A villain, a tyrant, a bully. He was supposed to be none.

Unfortunately, Venti couldn't think of another thing the squirrel would want. And, no. He didn't have a princess squirrel.

"I can't believe you could do this to me." Venti started with a disappointed look.

"How was I supposed to know it would result in getting involved with the mafia?" The squirrel answered with an innocent look without raising its head from the ground, a shovel in its hand digging. The wisp chattered with a glare.

"You are right. If I didn't specifically tell the squirrel three times to not to, it would have been a valid argument to have," Venti added

to the wisp's sentence with a sigh while stabbing his shovel to the ground.

"Great! I am glad; we are starting to get along." He said.

"We are not getting along. I am simply tolerating your evil presence." The squirrel stated, continuing to dig a hole with its shovel. Its tone caused Venti to flinch. But no fear! Venti was the friendliest archon the squirrel could find.

After a few minutes; hours worth of work finished, his cape tangled on his body with the powerfull wind and he fell to the ground with a cheerful yelp.

The squirrel didn't attempt to help him to stand, only staring with judging eyes even though it looked like it was impressed. Venti continued to lay on the ground.

"How about that?" He cheekily asked while the squirrel turned its back on him.

"Are you pouting?" The squirrel closed to his side after a while, asking quietly. "No, I am not." Despite his answer, Venti felt the pout growing on his face.

He attempted to hide his face in his hands but judging how the squirrel started smiling wider, he was unsuccessful.

But... could you really call anything that resulted in someone's genuine smile something unsuccessful?

Without looking, Venti laid down a pine cone near the squirrel and was surprised when it was taken by the animal.

Only after the squirrel was in his arms; it started showing signs of life, shivering endlessly, clutching to him with its paws. Venti gave a sigh of relief as his wings carried them to the ground slowly. He leaned onto a nearby tree, petting, and stroking the animal's soft fur.

Venti didn't talk; he didn't sing or release the squirrel from his arms, waiting for its

shivering to pass. Only after its breathing evened, he started to hum.

What did he hum?

He hummed about a windborne dragon who once wept on learning he was abandoned by his friend.

He hummed about a nameless bard who freed his nation but fell to the ground without touching a bird's feather.

He hummed about a red-haired warrior, who stood against tyranny; becoming the lawful leader the nation needed.

He hummed about a blonde knight who helped him to win his friend's life.

The tunes became one, became two, and continued as long as he could without an instrument accompanying.

He needed both hands to hug the squirrel, he needed both arms to ensure the danger was gone.

He closed his eyes after the melodies finished and felt the sun disappear.

"Though; even if you may not believe me, the sacrifice wouldn't give you powers. Ah, it would make me dead, and that would make your wish, so that should be a plus." He continued, kneeling on the ground while opening his braids. He already saw a friend in braids die. He didn't want to cause its image to lie dead on Mondstadt grass again.

"About the princess squirrel. Hmmm... That is unfortunately a wisp-tale. But I hope you find your heart's princess to continue your life besides. Everyone deserves love, freedom, and friendship. There are things better to do in Mondstadt." He laughed.

"The riftwolves are an exception, I must admit. They once cost me a life and cost me twice yesterday." The squirrel listened to everything without talking or getting something to rip his heart.

So; Venti smiled, craning his neck to his shoulder, and waited for it to gain courage enough to talk.

"I must apologize for your clothes." The squirrel finally said.

Venti's eyes squinted, shaking his head slightly in surprise.

"My clothes? -Ah." Venti forgot how his archon outfit appeared when he was in distress.

His wings flexed, and between the feathers, Venti's eyes caught a wisp. It was buried, sleeping soundly.

As if Venti was its personal bed! He shook his wings, causing the wisp to fall to the ground with a loud thud.

The wisp stood up on the ground with half-lidded eyes, questioning what happened to its soft bed.

Serves it right.

Venti turned to the wisp to make an invite, but his sentence and the apple stuck to his throat when he saw it eyeing his thighs covered with bruises. He started coughing.

"Oh Barbatos, please no. Tell me you didn't." Venti whined, hiding his face in his hands. The wisp's mouth wasn't as evident as its

eyes to differ on his face, but Venti thought he saw a smirk on its face for a second. "What, what happened-" The squirrel asked with fear in its eyes.

It was actually nothing to fear.

At least for the squirrel, it was nothing to fear, Venti thought while embarrassment filled him.

Wind wisps liked to gossip, and Venti knew what they guessed every time they saw bruises on his thighs. That was the sole reason he switched to a more covered outfit!

The last time it happened, the wisps were excited, throwing a cheer because they thought they were going to become aunts and uncles. The news got carried by the wind quickly, with all of his siblings joining.

It took a while to confess that no, he did not participate in intercourse, no he was not going to be a dad, and they were not going to become aunts and uncles. The bruises were because he fell in his travels, because he pissed off other gods or because some monsters attacked him. Not because of a lover doing 'the thing.'

They all deadpanned while Venti waited anxiously for a response. One of them called him a 'loser', then they left.

"You were with me all the time, today! You knew I haven't, yet still invited them-" Venti desperately exclaimed while the wisp remained expressionless.

"Them?" The squirrel asked, but before Venti could answer, countless wisps filled around, chattering at the same time, asking for all the details.

The bard busied himself with his lyre checking the notes it made every time his hand touched one of the strings.

He didn't look in a hurry, taking his time to play with the lyre. After he was pleased, his frown disappeared, an adorable smile blossoming.

"You may be wondering." One of his fingers was going left and right as he wandered around in a circle with closed eyes. He hummed, his lyre joining his voice, getting

harmonized.

Then all of it abruptly stopped, his gaze turning to the reader yet again.  "How did this charming young man find himself in a situation this frightening?"

He leaned towards the reader, his hand near his mouth as if he was about to tell a secret. He opened his mouth, only to close it after a second thought.

That wouldn't have been fun, would it?

He winked with a mischievous expression, the lyre going behind him, still in his hands. "Ehe, let's start from the beginning, shall we?" The story continued again, with the command given by the bard.

The wisp's plump body was trying to fly straight, unfortunately not succeeding.

Once it rose, once it fell. It experienced the danger of tumbling down on a tree, its head hitting the trunk.

The threat of getting eaten, the webs from the spider's home coiling around.

The possibility of getting drowned in a river,

the water's flow strong enough to make it happen if the wisp had been much more careless.

Some birds laughed when the wisp passed in front of them, pointing at its weird flight and calling wicked names, its body still soaked, tangled by spider webs, shivering.

It was looking smaller than it actually was. Too small even, inviting bullying from the twice or thrice its size birds.

Its white button eyes came close to tearing up by the mocking, only ceasing because of a melody filling its ears.

A melody so enchanting, making its little heart beat faster. The tune made the wisp curious. Why was a tune; so gentle, full of melancholy?

And the song was luring into the storm god's barrier; the wisp noticed in a moment, hesitation appearing just for one second only to vanish as fast as it came.

The wisp decided right there, right at that moment.

It was going to enter, never mind the risks. Birds warned it when they saw where the wisp was captivated at gazing.

'You may never return here.' One of the birds, its feathers black as the night, claimed.

'You may die there.' Another one of the birds, its feathers white as the light added.

Yet, the wisp didn't look back at them, nearing the border, determined to find the source.

It didn't know the birds, shaking their heads in disapproval, flew further away to not be witnesses to its doom.

'Eehh, this is the wrong beginning!' The footage stopped once again, to reveal the bard. He shook his head, frustrated, and departed from the sight in a hurry.

He returned in a minute to bow to the reader, his hands clasped as he apologized.

'So sorry dear reader. There have been some technical difficulties. But never fear, you can continue now.'

[plantbasedmagic]

I wasn't able to draw since I'm on ✨Summer Holidays✨ so have some old brainrot about my kitties 😌

From the top!!

Silent'Chaser - Born outside of the clan, at first was a loner after her mother died shortly after she was old enough to live on her own. Lived closely on territories of Clan of Shining moon, in an old fox den that was decorated with herbs, and animal furs. Silent was a cat with a gift of prophecy, and a strong one at that, as those often hurt her so much she passed out. One day meet Illuminated paw who at first talked with her just because he was bored but later just because he wanted to, because he liked her. After maybe a moon of meetings, illuminated was found with her, by Frog'Paw (His ex-crush) his mentor, Hawk'Flight and his best friend, Sunny'Paw. Silent was offered to join the clan, which she did, for Illuminated. Thanks to her abilities she was able to finish her training along with Illuminated'Path, Sunny'Leap, Clover'Flame, Sky'Stone and Frog'Hop.

Illuminated path - Born outside of the clan, yet adopted by a Dame known back then as Maple'Wing, making him siblings with Night'Venegance. Born with gift of light, allowing him to clearly see in the dark, yes dsrk'vision 100%. Even his adopted mother didn't last too long, as she also left the clan, rather happily if I say so. Most of his kithood was spent playing with frog and night. After his app ceremony he and Frog'Paw started to get close, which unfortunately or not, didn't last too long as silent came into the image. At first only his fix for boredom later became his lovely mate. During battle against Mouse'Moon confessed to Silent'Chaser before their presumed "Death". They are living their happily ever afters 😌

Maple - originally from clan of rising sun, sister to Dark'Rise (tail) born with a rather weird ability where she could freely see, talk with and feel star clan cats. During her apprenticeship was caught by a wild gang of dogs led by a rather unfriendly dog named Seshi. Maple'Paw stayed with them for quite a long time, as no one seemed to look for her, when she was found she had a broken back leg. Along with a funny and rather nice two dogs from the bottom of the chain, named Nala and Nyx, she managed to befriend the dogs and even become one of them, fluently speaking both dog and cat language. Maple'Paw became the healer of the dogs, as the starclan allowed her to help them. One unfortunate night Seshi was shot by a two leg, Maple managed to only take out a bullet but tame the blood loss.

When maple was around 20 moons old, she left the pack for a short while, where she found a mate for herself, called Grey'Storm. After she had his kits though, she left again, finding a very lost and cute Molly named sage, whom she took to the pack, as her new mate.

Sage - kit born during the last generation of the lost tribe called Tribe of hunting hawk. Her father was the leader of the clan, yet, he still was weak. During a fire in the nearby forest, he took her and ran away, outside of the mountains. He took care of her for months in one of the caves, before he finally died, loving her to wander the close by forest alone. Untill she met maple.

Grey storm - I don't have much to say about him other then the fact that he was a good father, and I'm glad Night and Illuminated had him.

Night venegance - also had the same gift as her mother, and also lost it because of a prophecy. Was pretty naive, and never noticed the abuse her mate had on her kits untill it was too late. Still mad at whisper for leaving the clan and mating with a "savage" but she still loves her, and loves her grandchildren. Was born without powers, just like her father, other them the ghost seeing stuff

Grey whisker - Mmmmm...Manipulative old fuck, how fun. At first was supposed to be much older then night but the difference made me quite uncomfy so he's just a manipultor now. Tried to sell his children (Only whisper and Gildia(back then doe)) to the cult hes working for, as a way to redeem himself. Only manipulated his children worse and didn't manage to redeem herself. How fun. After Night caught on, he was thrown away from the clan and is on the lowest position in the cult. Also has no powers.

Gildia - My favourite murder champion 😌 after being thrown away by her father, she was found by an unknown tom who called himself Flame'wind and trained to be a murder machine to stop the clans. Her power exists actually, and it allows her to gain keen her senses after tasting blood, the more she tastes the stronger she gates, but also gets weaker faster and has to rest for a longer period of time. So she doesn't really use it. Surprise or not, she killed her mentor and then Dream'Catcher! Leader of the cult of stars! Oh she found them! And gave them a home. Gildia soon became quite peculiar, becoming her second on command, and destroying life of her father, who now was stuck under her command.

Alex - also my beloved 😌 born from illegal couple she was living her life in clan of the Rising Sun, and because her power, aka electricity generation, was quite a powerful one she was often sent as a first meat to destroy everyone. After one uneventful evening she met gildia, they started to talk, and soon? She ran away. Joined the cult as Gildia's pair, and finally felt what life was. Oh how cute 🥰.

That's all for now

[distortedataraxia]

Hello! If you still do match up or if you still want to do another one, I'd be really happy if you would make one for me! ^^(this is all by your choice ofc) ૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡ {I'll try to give a very an accurate description of me!!} Appearance: -Dark brown hair, (close to black and looks similar but is dark brownish if compared to black), Thick type 1A hair haha -Dark brown, almond eyes, double-rowed lashes -a straight nose -downturned lips -apple cheekbones and chubby cheeks -an oval face -I also have moles on the lower left of my chin and lower left of my right eyebrow -a birthmark on the back of my shoulder -medium skintone

Personality: -typology: INTP-T, 9w1 -Straight female - introverted -intelligent but very unfocused - a messy-organized person -instantly clicks with people who have similar interest or similar past -very sweet and loving if we're close -a tease and a bully -strict when needed -loves little kids -seems childish but matured quick since childhood -golden child complex -can understand reasoning and see perspectives both emotionally and logically -accurate analysis -accurate gut instinct -neat and feminine -sly fox, golden retriever, and grumpy cat in one How people describe me: -Morbid -Wednesday Addam-like -A robot -clingy -intimidating -a grumpy person

People are usually very teasing and sweet around me but then proceed to perceive me as creepy and morbid like when I smile at things that are not supposed to be smiled at. Grew up around boys as though the older girls in my family were matured and lived away from me; I picked up some boyish actions while school thought me to be feminine so I'm mixed up on what I am. I have trust issues, its either I'm too trusting or I don't trust at all. I had trauma from abuse at age 6, so I sometimes mistake peoples actions to be what they did to me. I find it hard to connect easily with people my age or older, but do when its younger as I feel the need to be the mature one. I am the parent/baby type of friend, depends on my mood ><. Animal person. My world revolves around them. Prioritizing and planning is not my thing at all!! Nothing works no matter I tell you unless it involves competition. (I feel jealous of people who can prioritize) My mindset is not really as straight as your homophobic relative. I can think of multiple things at once. Music and calming floral scents help my stress and motion sickness. I like anyone as long as you're not scandalous, not a fan of arguments. A REALLY BIG FAN OF DETECTIVE AND COMEDY! I grew up watching those XD. I always have that sudden urge to punch but I always think of the possible outcomes so I don't even try. When I hurt someone's feeling I try to make it up to them depending on what type of person they are but as much as possible no talking cause I feel awkward. I honestly hate when people I know talk about how they were treated worst in childhood when they had emotional and mental support while I had no one because they all mocked me or overreacted. I don't let people take advantage of me unless they were my mother, I could never go against her. I know people's motives most of the time I just don't say a thing. I have Ranidaphobia(frog phobia), no not the cute ones, the toad looking ones. I have barely a sense of fashion, just decency. Always loved art and reading interesting stories. I'm not picky but rather indecisive; again I can think of possible outcomes to my choices. I'm quite sadistic with a sharp tongue, proudly saying its from my mom! (my dad's dead and I prefer it that way). I get more afraid when a character doesn't get something in time than the actual scare in a show. I try to keep negative people out but its inevitable when everyone around you is. I love my mom's food forever. I always thought of having my own family, the effects of of having a broken family does give you the urge to keep one fixed ig. I'm kind and respectful unless I needn't to. Thank you for your time!! I honestly got quite trouble thinking of what to say but I hope you have a great day/night<33

Author note : Hello ! I don't know how old this request is, and i do apology sincerely about the time it took me to reach out to this request - So I can't tell weither or not i was writing for multiple fandoms at the time, however i'll assume this was a ask for Bungou stray dogs, if you come across this post and this was mean to be for another fandom, you can send me a message in my ask box and i can take care of that around - I hope you like this, nontheless, take care and have a good day ! ★double note : i started writing this assuming this was a romantic matchup ask, but when backreading the ask i didn't manage to find weither or not you wanted a romantic ask or platonic (if it's written i apology i may just be pretty tired), so i assumed it was romantic, however you can interpret it however you want, anon ^^

Now into the matchup ★

The first day you guys met was a sunny day in July, you were out to visit your mom this afternoon. It was really hot outside, no wonder, you were melting in place by each steps you took. Until you noticed.. a cat ! Oh my god, a cat ! And the cat was.. hurt, terribly hurt.

What does one do when they see an hurting cat ? Surely they can't let it die like that, what happened to it ?? You approached the cat, and another girl approached the cat, accompanied by a boy.

"Atsushi, look" the girl said, pointing to the cat, the man rushed to the cat and said " Oh that's not good" he glanced down at the cat, and then he glanced up at you " Is this your cat ?" you shook your head no. Even if they were strangers, you couldn't let this cat struggles alone, it seems some humans had fun torturing it and let it out in the wild in this street, nobody seemed to really pay much attention to it, that's messed up.

" No this isn't my cat, i just found it there" you said, you could see that these 2 peoples had good intentions, to be honest, the moment the white haired boy looked at you in the eyes to ask you if it was your cat, you felt something warm, like a good gut feeling, you weren't sure of it, but you felt like this man was good and surely he was going to help the cat, you just knew, and your guts were never wrong.

That day, you got the cat the help it needed with Atsushi and the blue haired girl, and as the 2 strangers were going to take care of the cat temporarily until it finds another shelter, you exchanged numbers because you were very eager to know if the cat was okay or not.

Guess that this day you were late to visit your mom, but you wanted to make sure the cat was okay.

~

I pair you with Atsushi !

~

Atsushi and you go along pretty well, you guys love to look after animals with kyouka and atsushi is really sweet and caring. Despites the fact you may be perceived as creepy and morbid, atsushi may be scared at first but since the day you guys met he has no doubts that you're a nice person because c a t s (simple reasoning here).

Atsushi will never compare his past with yours, he strives to be a person worthy of living and he understands you pretty well.

Atsushi isn't really the type to enjoy arguments either, if anything he wants everyone to get along, so you don't really have to worry about him being problematic.

Atsushi also has an interest concerning interesting stories as he used to use the library of the orphanage as a way to escape the world and breath, kind of like his oxygene - so he knows about a lot of books and you guys certainly can discuss interesting stories together. Atsushi can be pretty shy and akward, but he can be very loving and affectionate and he'll do his best so that you feel comfortable aswell.

I can definitely see Atsushi wanting to build a family outside of the main storyline plot, and he'll surely value his responsibilities as a dad greatly.

I think you guys can get along very well and understand each other too, i can imagine you guys going on walks, and stopping by to feed some animals - Atsushi will definitely respect your ranidaphobia and if you guys ever come across the toad-looking frogs, he'll uhm.. try to defend you ; i can imagine something quite like this, it could be pretty akward but funny, anyways i will let that up to you to imagine !

Atsushi is not the type to force you to talk when you don't want to so you don't have to worry about that, i think one of atsushi love's language may be gift giving so i can imagine him buying you or making you a gift there and there under kyouka's advices as you and her may be platonically close, i can also imagine you, atsushi and kyouka draw some things together.

Nontheless, Atsushi will always respect you and you guys can get a long on a lot of possible things, you're overall a very sweet pair

[victorluvsalice]

-->Pretty well, happily! Alice was rather quickly able to bring Kelly and Shadow around, even with them initially being a bit fearful. Some playtime and howling with Shadow even allowed her to refriend the dog, yay. :) Seems like being a werewolf makes Alice that much more in-tune with the animal kingdom!

-->While all that was going on, Victor managed to upgrade the washing machine a few times -- giving it a presoak and a speed cycle -- then grabbed some juice from the fridge before heading into the greenhouse to help Elmer tend the plants and actually get the blackberry juice he fizzed without glitching out this time. Whew -- past THAT danger zone, at least! And it was very cute to watch Elmer putter around, I must admit.

-->Alice, meanwhile, got put on repair duty when I caught her mopping the grass to clean up the puddles from a broken water collector. My initial thought was “Alice, that’s what we have your husband’s magic for,” but then Kelly came along and started drinking from the puddles while Alice was fixing the collector, so maybe she had a point. Fortunately, once she was done, she was able to train Kelly out of drinking from random puddles, yay. (Now we just have to convince the dog not to do that. . .) She rewarded herself with a bit of juice --

Right before I got a notice saying she had work in an hour! I hadn’t realized her hours had changed with her promotion! O.o However, this worked out, as she’d actually picked up a “Fear of a Dead-End Job” recently -- so I just had her regain her passion, finish her juice, and head to work to clear that! Nice!

-->And Smiler? Well, they attempted to get Kelly to chase the cat teaser again, and when that didn’t work, went and made some drinks before editing their latest vlog. XD Not everything they do is the most interesting thing in the world!

[anfasi]

Cornered Animals, Ch. 1: A New Perspective

₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.

Dream uses the little that remains of his power to escape from Burgess. Unfortunately, his weakened state reduces his form to that of a cat.

(Basically season 1 rewritten as meowpheus. And there’s a whole lot more Hob.)

Read on Ao3:

₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.

It had started with the Corinthian.

A runaway nightmare to be dealt with. Just another one of Dream’s duties—keeping his subjects under control. He would no doubt return to the Dreaming in a matter of minutes; once he had unmade this unruly creation of his.

“My Lord…Please no…” The Corinthian begs for mercy.

Unwillingly, Dream gives it.

“Here in the darkness.”

₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.

100 years later…

Morpheus notices he breathes now.

He has been for at least the last decade or two, and his dependence on it is growing to be alarming. But here in his own little Hell, it’s the only thing that keeps him grounded. Keeps him sane. He wonders if Delirium’s influence can reach him here, as it feels as though that’s all he is now. A delirious, broken mess.

It’s also of note to him that he thinks of himself solely as Morpheus now. This other part of him—Dream—seems so far away from his reality. He feels like a mortal trying to comprehend what he is—rather—what he used to be.

The breathing and the self-pity are all he has for company. Jessamy used to visit whenever she could sneak in, but ever since the human, Alex, had increased the security of the manor tenfold, it had been impossible for her to approach her Lord, it seemed.

A flap of wings and Morpheus’ head snaps toward the sound. Speak of the Devil and she shall appear, he thinks with a smile. His gaze fixes on her as she perches. Reaching out, he feels a moment of respite in a never-ending purgatory.

He realizes his mistake too late. The guards, alarmed at his sudden movement, take notice of Jessamy.

One bullet is all it takes to end the raven’s life of service to him.

For perhaps the first time in his captivity, Morpheus feels…helpless. Small. That yes, he is damned to remain trapped in glass for the rest of his sound existence.

Looking up at Jessamy’s crumpled form, he feels as though he will cry. He knows he won’t, but it doesn’t stop the feeling from tormenting him. His raven’s body twitches, and the light fades from her eyes. But something else fades from her too.

A fragment, a mere shard of power that Morpheus had invested in her so she could always find her way back to him. It escapes from her lifeless form now, a wisp of energy that immediately finds its way back to its owner. A wisp of energy that he absorbs. With even just the small amount of potential afforded to him through Jessamy, Morpheus can feel his strength return. Not by very much, but by enough to get out of this godsforsaken place. He wastes no time.

₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.

Alex is taken care of quickly, and Morpheus would rather not keep the Dreaming waiting. He focuses his power into returning, unwilling to stay in this place a second longer than needed. Except that, nothing happens. Not at first.

Suddenly, he can feel his humanoid form failing him, weakening even more than it ever had during his imprisonment. He thinks he hears himself scream, but he can't be sure. Nothing is sure when a concept is in between identities. Something rips at his mind, rendering him confused and defenseless. He is tossed between the dreams of mortals until he is once again spit out into their realm.

Dazed, he lifts his head from the ground and reaches to push himself up.

Mistake number two.

He screams again, except this time it isn’t that of a man. No, it would be better described as a kind of hissing and screeching.

By the Creator, he’s tired.

₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.

Hope you enjoyed!

[em-pt-ily]

My days of being in my 20s are numbered

So I made up a thought experiment for me to consider, a reverse 13 going on 30 situation

If I went back to when I was 13, with all the knowledge I have now, what would I change or do differently

At first I think of what I would want to say to certain people, to tell them how much they matter to me. And tell them how I don’t say or take things lightly, because I try to only say things that feel imperative and emotionally articulate. I think of all of the mistakes I made, and while I now understand why I made them, I wish I could say I wouldn’t make them again. I think about the pain I inflicted on people, and the pain that was inflicted upon me, and I realize I still don’t know how I would have otherwise expressed or coped with my feelings back then. It wasn’t safe to feel or speak about my emotions, I didn’t have an outlet for them, so I took actions that were ultimately destructive but gratifying in the moment. I also know how hard things end up getting as time moves forward, how tired I am and feel about existing, and I don’t know that I would have the energy to do better and aim higher and achieve more. I know how limiting my mental health is/was, and wish I could have gotten help sooner, but that was out of my control, so I did what I had to do to survive until college. I can’t fathom how to resolve the cynicism I had throughout childhood. It was draining, and the only thing that gave me hope was being in control of my life as an adult. But I barely feel capable of adulthood, even as I approach 30. In the chaos of this world, I barely feel in control of what my future will look like. At 18 I crumbled when I lost the only semblance of a support system that I had, which is why the only thing I would want to change is to go back and try to solidify it, strengthen it, and maybe expand it.

But then I think about the implications of that change. How my mistakes and destruction led to the circumstances that allowed me to build the life I have today. If I didn’t hit rock bottom, I don’t think I would have met my partner. If I didn’t meet my partner, I wouldn’t have my cat and our life and our future and our family. As much as I wish I could reduce the pain and loss that I went through, if I went back to 13 and did my best to prevent it, I don’t know that I would want to trade what my life could have been for what I have now. It’s still not my best life, but it’s what I’ve built so far on my way to achieve that. I have a relationship that I never imagined to be possible. I have animals that I adore. I have a small piece of financial security. And maybe soon another worthwhile career. Is it all worth what it cost me to get here? Do my achievements outweigh my suffering? Does my love feel deeper than my loss? I wish I could tell. I wish my brain didn’t keep me numb to avoid experiencing the realities of personhood. I wish I felt more capable of becoming the best version of myself.

I sleep so much nowadays. I get lost in my dreams, and invested in the worlds and feelings I get to experience. I don’t know how to bring myself back to our reality, when I am so easily drained by it. I don’t know how to escape from the isolation I’ve cultivated in my life, unintentionally. So much was broken by my episode in 2022. I guess that’s what started this train of thought, reflecting on what I would fix about my life, if I could go back to one of the most fraught but pivotal times in my life. So much seems inevitable, looking back. Tiny fractures that spread and splintered until the integrity of my self was compromised. I think I never quite got the pieces put back together after shattering so much. My partner is the same. We have tried to help each other gather the pieces and put them back together, since we met at our lowest points. We have filled any holes or voids with our love and laughter and life together. So much of who I am has developed from his support, his care, and his commitment to loving me. It’s all I ever wanted from somebody. A lifelong best friend. I am beyond fortunate to share my life with him. So much of me wishes we could have known each other at 13. Before we lost pieces of ourselves that we never recovered. I wonder how much deeper our friendship and love would be. If we would have weathered the trials of adolescence together constructively. Right now I think we give each other whatever we have left of ourselves. But I’ve always wanted more. Especially of myself. I want to have more to give. But maybe that’s dangerous. Once you give yourself away, I don’t know if you can get that back.

We are going to keep losing pieces. When we lose our babies. Our parents. I already don’t know how we will get through those losses. I’m barely surviving what I’ve lost of myself increasingly over time. It feels like global warming. My icebergs are melting and I can’t get them back. My ocean is rising and beginning to flood the landforms of my mind. It’s so hard to get to higher ground, and not mourn the places I experienced life in before. I don’t know how to make it stop. I treaded water as long as I could. I float while I’m sleeping and dreaming and just try not to drown when I’m awake. I can only swim for so long.

I’m hoping that my 30’s are not as tempestuous as what came before. I hope I can get through what’s to come with more grace and poise than I did with things as a child, as a teenager, as an early adult. I hope I can break out of my dissociation and reconnect with my life. I haven’t been able to articulate thoughts like these in a while. So hopefully this is a good sign that something is changing. I like change. Things have been stagnant within me for too long.