#the kind that digs and is small enough to flush out small rodents

[little-pondhead]

Me, staring very deeply into the eyes of my two dogs: look at me. look at me. I know you can do this. you both are mutts with hunting dog blood in your veins. together, you two can catch the mouse that’s in the kitchen. it’s eating your food, do you see? your humans are too stupid to lay out mouse traps and not get caught in them, it’s all up to you guys.

My dogs:

The mouse:

[varnienne]

At His Mercy

This is for the Citrus Dome's Hybrid AU Collab. It's so late and I feel terrible but life is so hectic for me rn. aflskfj this is my first attempt at writing monster smut so please be patient with me T-T

CW: dubcon, naga!Shinsou, edging, minor degradation/name calling, gn!reader but they have a pussy, I think that's it?

A rodent squeaked as it raced across the ground. You jumped, heart thumping in your chest as you turned at the sound. Brightening your lantern, you glanced around. Nothing. You sighed.

Why did I take this job again? Oh, right. The reckless dumbasses in your party were still healing from the last job. Next time they want to fight an elder black dragon, you’re going to teleport them as far away as possible. Now, here you were, on a solo quest to help pay for lodging and food while they recovered. They owe me for this.

Something pulled at your senses. Frowning, you concentrated on it. No oily malice, but no warmth of light either. You hesitated. Last time this happened, it led you to an abandoned mansion full of strange traps and gifts. Poor Mina was now cursed with a ghost child haunting her. At least you got a new spellbook out of it.

Another tug made you stumble. Guess I don’t have a choice. Slow, hesitant steps, the light of the lantern showed nothing but glistening rock. A cold droplet fell on your hand. You raised a brow, brushed it off, and kept walking. A few more landed on your clothes. What… your gaze moved to the ceiling. Eyes wide, you swallowed thickly. Sharp stalactites dripping with water hung low. Well, if I wasn’t careful before, I sure as hell will be now.

The strange pull coalesced and swelled until it pulsed from ahead. Magic sliced through the air, disturbing the formations above you. Several began to shake. Shit. You pushed off and didn’t look back. Some of the fallen stalactites started to block your path. Throwing your free hand out, magic surged from the pendant around your neck.

“Guiding Bolt!” Light converged into a ball. The ball raced forward, crashing through the rocks. The path was clear. More stalactites fell behind you. One skimmed past your leg. Another just missed your ear. You pushed harder. I’m not gonna let something like this kill me!

Another tremble alerted you to the largest column cracking and starting to fall. If you didn’t hurry it would cover the exit. But the stalactite was falling too fast to cast another spell. You leapt forward and rolled into a ball. The column crashed as you stood, ice shooting down your spine at the echoing thud. That was way too close.

You brushed yourself off and checked your lantern. “Dammit.” The glass was shattered and the last of the oil shimmering in a puddle by your feet. You shrugged. It was cheap anyway. Digging in your bag produced a striking stone. “Light,” you murmured. The stone sparked a few times before igniting, its glow just bright enough to see ahead of you. “Perfect substitute.”

~oOo~

Another hour of walking brought you to a three-way division. The pull surged once more, drawing you to the left path. It had a soft light that radiated with warmth.

The further in you went, the stronger its glow became. A gasp left you at the beautiful geode. Its vibrant purple crystals glittered from every crevice. The pull you felt earlier rippled all around you. This was the source of it. The geode’s aura hummed with a soft trill. Your eyes closed as the soft tinkling echoed in your ears. A smile danced on your lips as the magic enveloped you into an intoxicating high of warmth and comfort. There’s a word for this feeling. What was it again?

Something slithered around your ankles and a deep, timbre chuckle caressed your ears. “Well, well, well. Looksss like I found a would-be thief.”

“A… a thief?” Wait… were they talking to you? Your eyes opened as you tried to sense who was behind you. A yelp escaped your lips as you were lifted from the ground. Now hanging upside down, you stuttered out, “N-no! No, I wasn’t trying to…” But you were. For your client, at least. He wanted a small pouch full of crystals for the village’s power system. “Alright, I was.” Shaky hands waved in front of your face. “But I-I’m sure a few... small ones should work fine.”

The voice scoffed. “That’s what they all said.” Whatever held you up, shifted. You gasped when your gaze met the being who trapped you.

His deep violet scales glimmered with the geode’s light. Bright lavender hair defied gravity in soft spikes. Lithe, sun-tanned skin covered his torso, sloping down into a thick tail that disappeared into the darkness before looping back through the crystals and around your ankles. But what really caught your attention were his eyes. Slitted pupils with violet irises as deep as his scales, a quiet hunger for something you couldn’t place in them.

“Tell me,” he brought you closer, gaze narrowed on you. “What should I do with you?”

You gave him a shaky smile. “Le-let me go?”

The naga laughed. “That was a cute try,” you flushed, “but no. Can’t let you go that easy.”

Maybe if you could focus on another spell-

“What time of year is it?”

You blinked at him. “What?”

Shinsou huffed. “What time of year is it out there?”

“Uh… It’s almost time for the autumn harvests.” Heart pounding furiously, you eyed the growing smirk on his face and swallowed. “Why?”

The naga chuckled. “The villagers only ever send someone down here every few years before winter.” His tail finally lowered you to the ground. Though it coiled further up your legs. “Usually as some kind of sacrifice. Looks like they chose you to be next.”

“Sacrifice?” Escaped as a mere whisper. “What… what happened to the others?”

Shinsou slithered closer and cradled your face in one hand, the other carding through your hair. It loosened your braid and forced your hood down. His smirk turned into a wide smile that showed all his fangs. Another chuckle. You shivered.

“Depends.” His long tongue flicked out. “Do you wanna be eaten?” His thick coils tightened around your body, the pressure soothing knots in your shoulders and back. The softness of his scales relaxed the last of your tension. “Or would you rather face the villagers that sent you here?”

“I…” With your friends still recovering, you weren’t strong enough to fight an entire mob alone. But was becoming food really much better? “I don’t know.”

A strong hand lifted your chin. You glanced into Shinsou’s eyes. Funny. Were they glowing like that before? Or was that the crystals’ light in them? Claws gently slid up and through your hair.

“So, you want to be eaten?” You answered with a breathy yes. He chuckled. The deep tone had warmth rushing to your face. “Just remember, you asked for this.”

You blinked when the end of his tail tapped your nose. It brushed across your cheeks and trailed down to your neck. You shivered. Shinsou’s eyes flashed. His tail uncoiled from around you. Every touch of his scales on your skin sparked heat low in your abdomen. He smiled and finally released you from his coils.

Clothes in disarray, your shaking legs gave out. Shinsou caught you. “Careful now. Wouldn’t want a nasssty spill.”

You gasped. A tremble rippled through you. Shinsou’s hands grabbed your hips as his tail slithered between your legs. It teased you, moving higher and higher. Then it stopped. You rubbed your thighs, trying to relieve the ache.

Shinsou leaned in, breath ghosting over your ear. “If you want to be eaten, beg for it.”

You bared your teeth at him, but he only chuckled. Damn. Then his fangs nibbled at your neck. Fuck it. “Please,” you whined.

He smiled into the base of your neck. “‘Pleassse,’” His tongue slowly dragged up to your ear. Smiling lips barely touching the shell of it, he whispered, “What?”

Breathing ragged, you mewled and grabbed his arms. “Eat me.”

“With pleasure.” His tail brushed your inner thighs and wrapped around your waist. Coils shifted as he raised you high enough to reach your sex, tearing your clothes off. Shinsou set you down on a small pile of his tail. Clawed hands gently trailed down your hips and thighs. Your sex twitched when he pushed your knees apart.

He breathed in deep. Eyes rolling back, he growled. “Fuck. You smell deliciousss.”

Two fingers gently traced over your puffy lips. Up. Over your clit. Down. Barely sliding in. Shinsou teased your sex again. And again. You squirmed, trying to buck your hips onto his fingers. To no avail. A whine sounded from your throat.

“Impatient to be eaten are we?” He tapped your clit then gently rubbed it in circles. Slowly, so, achingly slowly, he leaned down. Breath ghosting over your pussy, he smirked. Then steadily licked up your slit.

You mewled. “Please, make me cum.”

“That’s sssir to you, little slut.” His deep chuckle rippled through you, strengthening the haze in your mind. Shinsou gently thrust into you. It writhed around, searching for that special spongy spot that should be…

Your back arched as your fingers dug into his tail. “Oh, fuck!”

Right there. The naga kept attacking that painfully wonderful spot. Rubbed your clit in faster circles. His fangs gently nipped at your nether lips with every thrust of his tongue. A clawed hand snuck around your thigh, holding your hips still. Shinsou stopped.

You whimpered when he pulled away. “Ah, ah, ah.” He glanced up, juices glistening on his lips. “You haven’t earned it yet.”

Blunt nails dug deeper into his scales as he edged you again. End of his tail slithering around your neck. And again. Fingers ghosting up your sides. Claws flicking across your nipples. And again. Tongue sliding against that delicious spot.

Finally, you couldn’t take it anymore. “Please sir, can I cum?”

Shinsou gently rubbed your clit. “Don't you want to feel this good all the time?” You whimpered and hastily nodded. He smiled with all his teeth. “Then all you have to do is sssubmit.”

[the-queer-dungeoneer]

Not Alone (Crowley x Fem! Reader) - Ch. 3/?

Previous / Next

Characters: Reader, Crowley, Aziraphale, Gabriel and likely more once we get into the thick of it.

Relationships: Crowley x Reader, Aziraphale x Reader, Aziraphale x Crowley

POV: First-person

Warnings: Death of a family friend

Tags: @curse-brekker​, @oopstheregoesmysoul13​

*gif is not mine and neither are any of the characters or source material!

Y/N = your name

Y/N/N = your nickname

Y/L/N = your last name

H/C = Hair color

E/C = Eye color

F/C = Favorite color

A/N: Chapter three is here, my loves! Yay for relationship development! Honetly, I think being close friends with Aziraphale would be such a wonderful experience. I hope you enjoy!

Thank you to my lovely editor @aka-ellie ❤️

Lots of love! - TQD

October, 2018

We went to a small Indian restaurant about half a mile from the shop. The food was impeccable, but it was shoved into second place by the lovely conversation.

This time he seemed much more interested in my upbringing. I told him about how I’d grown up with my grandparents, and how I still called my grams every day. I talked about how I had grown up in art and theatre classes, which had helped me with my anxiety and depression. I also explained that this was my motivation for working towards arts as a form of healthcare. I had experienced the benefits upfront, and they could be so helpful for so many people. I left a lot of the more unsavory details of my childhood out because it didn’t seem like the time to bear my uglier scars.

He asked me all kinds of questions about growing up in Seattle. He wanted to know all about if the seafood there was as good as he’d heard (I hate seafood, so I was the wrong person to ask about that) and I told him that I thought it might be. We talked about the interesting bookshops around the city, and I gushed that his was far better than any of them, which made him grin like a schoolboy.  

I was content wandering arm in arm with Aziraphale. I hadn’t had a meal that delicious or filling in weeks. I’d been subsisting off peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and instant noodles because of my limited budget. It was great to not feel hungry, and even better to not feel lonely. I was smiling despite myself, and there are few memories I treasure more than that one.

He walked me to my apartment and cordially held the door open once I’d buzzed myself in. His gentlemanly demeanor never seemed patronizing, always completely genuine. It was sweet.

“Would you like to come in? I have coffee and tea.”

“Oh goodness dear, it’s rather late. I do not want to take up any more of your evening,” he responded. We seemed to be caught in a dance of wanting to spend time together, but not impose. The best part was, it wasn’t just me.

“Really, Aziraphale, it’s no trouble. I stay up this late all the time. If it sweetens the deal at all, I can dig out some hot cocoa? Oh! You can even meet my bunny!”

“Well you didn’t tell me that you have a rabbit! That is all the convincing I need.” He giggled happily and followed me up the stairs.

My living space was quaint, and by quaint, I mean incredibly small. But it was all the space I could possibly need. After all, it was just me and Penelope, and I wasn’t entertaining much.

Penelope had a small hutch with a litter box and a bed, but I never closed the door. She hopped about the apartment most all day and night. I did lock her up when I was sleeping though. I had this nagging fear that she would hop into bed with me and I’d suffocate her by accident. Dark, I know, but real. Also, locking her up at night and covering the cage with a blanket meant she slept when I did, so we were on relatively the same schedule. It made life easier. Penelope had been my best friend for two years. She was a graduation present from my grandfather when I finished high school. I had hidden her in my dorm room secretly during freshman year, and against my family's wishes, I had paid the extra fees to have her travel with me all the way to London. She was more companion than pet. I read her all my papers and textbooks, I let her pee on the papers I’d gotten bad grades on, she cuddled with me on bad days and hopped around my feet in celebratory dance parties. We were inseparable.

I smiled unlocking my little red front door. The number fourteen was crooked. I should have told the landlord by now, but it added character, so I didn’t really mind.

“Where’s my little fluffernutter?” I called in a sing-song voice. I was answered with the skittering sound of bunny feet and Penelope made her way into the kitchen and slid across the tiles to greet me. She jumped straight into my arms and nuzzled against my chest. She often acted more like a dog than a rabbit. I wasn’t sure who was more co-dependent, but I didn’t care. It was nice to be needed. “Oh, hello darling! Mama missed you so much!”

“My goodness! That is the most affectionate rabbit I have ever seen! What is her name?”

“Oh, where are my manners? Aziraphale, this is Penelope,” I said hiking the small furball into the crook of my elbow, “And Penelope, this is Aziraphale,” I finished, grabbing a hold of her paw and extending it in a mock-introductory handshake.”

Aziraphale went right along with my dorky antics and shook Penelope’s paw. “It is lovely to meet such a refined lady as yourself Miss Penelope, I marvel at the pleasure.”

I couldn’t hold back my giggles. I knew I could laugh freely with Aziraphale. However, when I inadvertently snorted I stopped short and my cheeks flushed red.

“Oh well that was simply adorable,” Aziraphale giggled. “Don’t go getting all embarrassed, I have heard centuries worth of embarrassing laughs, and yours doesn’t even come close.”

I exhaled and continued my giggling fit. As I made my way into the apartment kitchen. I slid my shoes off and left them to the right of the door before padding across the outdated linoleum tiles the grab a few mugs. My kitchen, while small, was lovely. The cabinets were all a shade of robin’s egg blue and the countertops were a subtle white tile. It was the first thing when you saw when you entered and added a calming air to the room. It wrapped around into a small bar with matching blue bar stools to the left, and the rest of my studio sprawled out behind that. There was a large window facing north, which my couch (also my bed) sat underneath on the far wall. I had photos and cards from my family and friends back home as well as art pieces I’d collected over the years hung up all around. The coffee table perched in front of my couch/bed - we’ll call it my bouch - was covered in textbooks, papers and highlighters as well as a few empty bowls and a smattering of silverware. Across from the bouch was my television on top of my bookshelf. I didn’t watch much TV, but I had a Gamecube that I liked to play occasionally, to relax. At the far end of the apartment from the kitchen was my small bathroom. It was decorated all in lime green. Definitely a product of the 70’s when these apartments went up. Penelope’s hutch sat on the wall next to the bathroom door. It was just a basic black wire hutch with a hidey hole, a water bottle, food bowl and wood shavings.

I only had enough serving ware for two people, thankfully I had done most of the dishes. Usually, two-people’s-worth just meant I could eat another bowl of soup before I actually had to consider pulling out a sponge. I busied myself with tea while Aziraphale settled down on one of the barstools watching the odd dance I did to prepare everything with one arm occupied by my small rodent best friend. When she got squirmy, I set her down.

“I know it’s past your bedtime you little monster. Give me one second.” I huffed before walking over and grabbing her small blanket from the ground next to the couch. I laid it out in the hutch under the hidey hole cover where she liked to sleep and gestured at it with playful annoyance. “How’s that, your majesty?”

Apparently, it was fine because she hopped right in. I gently latched the door and flipped down the quilt that was folded on top of the hutch. She’d likely be asleep in minutes. She, like her human, loved to sleep. Naps were only second to food.

The kettle started to whistle, causing me to whip around and slide back to the kitchen. I had become an expert in the Olympic sport of sock-on-tile skating in my time, though I did smack my hip on the oven handle during my graceful finish.

“Oh, dear! Are you alright?” Aziraphale winced.

“Yeah, yeah! I am a bit of a klutz. I do stupid stuff all the time. Now! Your tea, sir. Be careful, it’s hot.” I smiled, placing a mug on the counter.

“Oh, thank you! Your apartment is beautiful. You’ve made it very welcoming. There is a lot of love in here.”

I settled down on the barstool next to him, and he started asking about all of my pictures. I pulled one of my favorites off the wall, a glossy 5x7 of myself and my grams in matching skeleton costumes. I was seven, and we went trick-or-treating around the police station where my grandpa worked. One of the officers picked me up shouting “Who left this skeleton out on the floor?! All human remains should be sealed in the evidence locker!” He tossed me over his shoulder and carried me all around the precinct. I laughed until I couldn’t breathe. He slapped an evidence sticker across my forehead and gave me a full-sized Twix bar.

Officer Peterson was a good man. He had passed away in the line of duty two years later. I was too young to really understand that. I remembered though, my grandpa had sat me down and talked to me for a long time about death and how it worked. He told me it wasn’t something bad. A lot of times it meant people weren’t hurting or scared anymore. Grandpa never backed away from the hard conversations. I was lucky for that.

This is how the evening went on. Each picture had so many memories and smiles attached. Aziraphale never ran out of questions to ask. He was so curious, as though domestic life was the most interesting thing in the world. I don’t know when three o’clock rolled around, but that didn’t stop anything. Neither of us considered wrapping things up until well after the sun started to peak through the window and Penelope started to stir in her hutch.

[meetthetank]

Peccatum Chapter 17: Denouement

Rating: Mature Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions of Violence Category: F/M Fandom: NieR: Automata (Video Game) Relationships: 2B/9S (NieR: Automata), Jackass/The Commander (NieR: Automata) Characters: 2B (NieR: Automata), 9S (NieR: Automata), 6O (NieR: Automata), 21O, Jackass (NieR: Automata), The Commander (NieR: Automata) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Alternate Universe, genre typical violence, long fic, Slow Burn, War, Chapter 13 is rated E

Adam stands on the beach just out of reach of the surf. His long, flowing white hair is pulled back with a crude tie to keep the sea breeze from blowing it into his face. Crimson eyes watch seabirds, rodents, felines, and canines scavenge the corpse of Grun, the child of the sea. Though his cold expression betrays no emotion, part of him feels that the demon deserved more than this. But it had failed in its task, and therefore must be recycled. Humans have their rituals and rites when it comes to the dead. Demons do not. It would be pointless anyway, since the fallen would simply be rebuilt or repurposed.

A lone councilor staring at a demon corpse in the dead of night would be suspicious, were anyone around to see him. The humans were busy indulging themselves, though, celebrating their victory. There wouldn’t be a human left not inebriated or seeking pleasures of the flesh. Besides, Eve was not far away. His simple brother would leap into action the moment something went awry.

Though...it might take him a bit longer than normal, seeing as how he is currently rooting around in Grun’s stomach.

It’s vile work, but necessary. To rebuild a demon in a similar way, or to pull the valuable memories of combat from their minds, the core is needed. Grun’s core especially holds great value. The memories of a demon that old and one that was separated from the Terminals are truly unique among their kind.

Grun’s open throat shifts and shudders, then gives way to reveal Eve, naked and covered in viscera. He bounds over to Adam with a wide, childlike smile on his face.

“Brother! I found it!”

He wades through the surf and presents an irregularly shaped crystal no bigger than an apple that glows with a soft, deep blue light.

“Excellent work, Eve,” Adam says, taking the Core and beginning to clean the rotting flesh from it. “Go rinse off now.”

Eve huffs and crosses his arms over his chest, “Do I have to, Brother? The ocean is so cold at night…”

“Yes,” Adam snaps, but keeps his tone soft so as not to upset Eve. “What would the people think if they saw you like this?”

“I guess they’d be scared…” Eve mutters, his brows pulling together as he thinks. “Okaaaay, I’ll go I’ll go.”

“Thank you.”

Adam sighs. His “brother” had his uses, but he was a simple creature. He was unmatched in combat, but when it came to behavior and etiquette he had the attitude of a human child. Fortunately he stayed silent during most interactions with the human’s governments, which allowed Adam to show his own strengths. Eloquent language and half truths were his weapons of war, and up until today they had never failed.

Idly, he turns the Core over in his hands, feeling its strange irregularities dig into the soft flesh of his palm. Cores of this nature are rare. They’re supposed to be perfectly round and free of blemishes, accentuating uniformity among the Demon Hierarchy. However, the more a demon deviates, the more deformities spread across its surface. Grun’s core is barely recognizable as one, looking more like a lump of unpolished crystal instead. Countless untold experiences of a demon who lived alone for centuries at the bottom of the ocean lie within, and Adam can’t suppress intense jealousy for whoever gets to unearth them. The centuries of memories are priceless to a relatively new creation like himself.

“I can’t believe the humans actually did it,” Eve says, lazily pulling on a set of dry clothes.

His brother’s statement causes Adam to grit his teeth. Admitting that the Apes managed to defeat his carefully deployed troop of flying demons is a blow to his pride he did not expect. He maintains his composure in front of Eve, but the internal fury burns within him, as it does with all demons. Though Homunculi like himself and his brother are designed to lead humans astray with deception and cunning, he laments his restrictive position and longs to face them in a real fight.

At least in this case he can attribute the Ape’s victory to their new weapon and their unforseen ally.

“It seems we may have underestimated them, and their Equalizer. Even so, the human’s suffered great losses today. Even with their...dragon.” Adam muses, his gaze lost in the core, “They celebrate and believe all will be well,” he chuckles darkly, “They will return to the city completely unaware of what is to come.”

“Grun did break a lot ships…” Eve stares up at the sky, oblivious to Adam’s ramblings, “But, why are they celebrating if so many of their soldiers died?”

Adam hums to himself as he wraps the core in a thick cloth, “Perhaps they are celebrating as a way of honoring the dead.”

“That doesn’t make any sense, brother.”

He laughs a little and ruffles the short white hair of his twin, “Humans are strange and fascinating creatures, Eve. One day we will dissect them and reveal their mysteries.”

“And then can we play?”

“Yes, Eve. Then we can play.”

“Three ...two...one ...HEAVE!!”

11S’ cry rings out across the beach. At his command, 9S, 801S, and 42S all pull on long hooked poles with all of their might. The steaming piles of flesh slough off of Grun’s corpse, splashing into the surf and spraying the scouts with congealed blood and seawater. They grimace and groan but do not gag, as they are already covered with gore and soaked to the bone. The morning sun does little to warm their shivering bodies.

“Ugh…” 801S moans, “This thing isn’t gonna budge. Why the hell are we doing this!?”

“Cause Jackass told us to.” 11S grumbles.

“Jackass was drunk, asshole.” 801S snaps, “She tells us to do all kinds of shit when she’s been drinking. Remember when she told us all to drain that lake? Or collect all the brown rocks in camp?”

Silence passes between the scouts as they take a moment to reflect on the futility of hauling a multi-ton rotting demon out of the ocean.

“So,” 9S says, “I don’t know about you guys, but my stitches broke again and I don’t want to keep doing this.”

“Agreed,” the other scouts respond and toss their hooks into the sand.

9S tenderly peels off his coat and sets it on a nearby log of driftwood. Sure enough there are little specks of blood on his undershirt in a fine line across his chest. He sighs, knowing the verbal beating 6O is going to give him later.

“Did the sewing break again?”

He whips his head around to find 2B, her head tilted curiously as she stares down at him.

“Stitches,” he corrects, “and yeah. I guess this stupid errend Jackass sent us on was too strenuous.”

“We told you to sit this one out!!” 801S shouts from further down the shoreline.

9S waves off 801S with a low huff before turning back to 2B, “I’m fine, it just stings a bit...11S went to go get 6O, but it’ll be a while before they get here.”

He sighs and unbuttons his undershirt, hissing as the fabric brushes across the tender skin around his wounds. Looking down at his chest he sees that they are irritated and slightly red, a sure sign of oncoming infection. With a small cloth he begins to dab away the trails of blood.

“Here.” 2B says, moving his hand away from his body and kneeling down in front of him.

“Huh? What are you- Gah!” 9S yelps and jerks himself back, almost falling off of the log, the second 2B’s tongue makes contact with his skin. “What was that?!”

“Hold still,” she commands. “Coatyl saliva has minor healing properties,” She holds his gaze for a moment, then averts her eyes shamefully, “I’m sorry. Did I overstep?”

“I-....” He wants to object, but some lewd section of his mind holds him in place. “...No, you’re fine. It’s...different. Go ahead.”

With a quick nod, 2B lowers herself back down to his chest. She licks around the outside of his wound, careful not to disturb the more inflamed portions. A slight tingle spreads across where her tongue trails. Right before his eyes, the angry swelling begins to dissipate and the slight ache fades away. It doesn’t totally heal the wound, not like 6O’s magic, but it does make it a little more comfortable. He figures her saliva might be some kind of disinfectant rather than magic, but with this woman anything is possible.

9S leans back a little, sighing with relief. However it’s when 2B shifts ever so slightly between his legs that he becomes acutely aware of where she is and what she’s doing. His shoulders tense and he inhales sharply. Suddenly it feels like his body is on fire, and even the smallest movement from 2B sends shivers down his spine. He runs his hand through 2B’s hair, feeling the soft, downy feathers hidden beneath. In return, she gazes up at him with curious blue eyes that makes his heart stop for a split second.

Something pulls at the back of his mind as he holds 2B’s gaze, something that starts out formless but turns into words. Commands, instructions, suggestions. They start to flow from his mind and pour into 2B’s when 9S catches himself. He blinks furiously, forcing those thoughts from his head. 2B shakes her head as well, clearing the hazy, slightly gold tinged, look in her eyes.

What did he…just do?

“Wow, Nines. That’s a reeeeal scary bear, huh?” 801S jeers with a wide smirk plastered across his face.

“S-Shut up!!” 9S yelps and hastily scrambles away from 2B, who looks back and forth between him and the scouts with a slightly annoyed expression.

“So ferocious,” 11S says, making mock claws with his hands, “Careful 9S, it might maul you again!”

9S’ face flushes red as he fumbles with his undershirt and coat. All the while, 2B seems nonplussed at the scout’s teasing. For a moment he’s confused, but then he recalls the conversation they had just before their “encounter” in the woods. At first he thinks its because she has no shame, but it seems more along the lines of cultural difference.

He sighs, pulling on his coat. He couldn't be too mad at them, for now at least. After all that’s happened, he could let them poke fun at an easy target.

“Oi! OI!” Jackass slurs, standing on a wobbling table that barely supports her weight, “Listen up! I’m making a speech!!”

The tavern full of soldiers and workers miraculously quiet down. 9S, the other scouts, 21O, 6O, and even 2B gather around the table Jackass stands on, setting their pints of ale elsewhere so she wouldn’t knock them over in her half-drunk stumbling.

“I cannot begin to tell you guys how amazing you are,” Jackass begins, swinging her arms wide and spilling ale over unsuspecting spectators, “We did the impossible. A bunch of nobodies went and blew up the biggest demon ever recorded!”

Cheers and the clanking of steins echo throughout the tavern before Jackass motions for them to quiet down once more.

“Without all of your hard work, this town would be fuckin’ underwater or covered in demon shit or whatever,” she pauses to take a long drink from her stein, “Without y’all, there wouldn’t be anyone to sit here and listen to me scream about how fucking cool that fight went. Sure, we lost a lot of good folk,” another pause as everyone bows their heads in a brief silence to honor the fallen, “Hell, without all of you I wouldn’t be standing up here in the first place. I give you guys a ration of shit all the time, but in all the honesty I have in my shriveled up husk of a heart, you deserve to go fucking wild!”

The tavern erupts with cheers once again. Jackass throws her arms out wide and cheers along with them spilling more ale and almost making herself lose her balance.

“And- Shut up!” she shouts. “And! White turned in early for the night! So no rules!”

A drunken soldier gets up next to Jackass, face already red as a beet. “LET’S START A FIRE!”

“There’s one rule!” Jackass hastily amends and shoved the soldier off of her pedestal.

2B fails to suppress a giggle as the scouts around her break into laughter. She had only had a few sips of her tankard but she already feels lightheaded and warm all over. 9S had told her what exactly she was drinking but she doesn’t remember right now, nor does she care. It makes her feel good, so she goes in for another sip.

Though alcohol is nothing new to her, she’s never had something this strong. Back home eating large quantities of fermented fruit would bring on a similar but not as intense feeling, and even then it would take a lot. The only time she had any was a few times in her youth and her sibling’s betrothal celebrations. Technically she shouldn’t be having any now due to her apprenticeship, but…

Oh yeah, she left and can’t come back. So she’s no longer an apprentice anyway. That’s why she let 9S put this tankard of...something...in her hand. Whatever it was that humans drank, it certainly put fermented fruits to shame.

The scouts beside her distribute small cups to each other and fill them with a little bit of a sharp smelling liquid. 11S puts one in her hand with a grin, “Come on, you’re part of the gang. By association anyway.”

The scent of the amber fluid burns the inside of her nose, making her recoil from it. Even so, she follows along with 9S and the rest of the scouts as they hold their glasses up above the middle of the table. 9S gives her a comforting smile, but it doesn’t mask the sadness lurking behind it.

“To 32S,” 801S says solemnly and gestures to the empty chair beside him. “May the gods rest his soul.”

“To 32S,” the others and 2B repeat, bowing their heads.

They tap their glasses on the table twice. 2B mimicks them up until they all throw their heads back and gulp down the foul smelling fluid. She hesitated for a moment, then brings the cup up to her lips and takes a sip. The second the bitter drink touches her tongue she almost gags, but holds herself together with a grimace and a shiver.

“Oi! Don’t sip it,” 11S explains. “Open your throat and down it all at once.”

“Yeah, like this!” 42S pours himself another cup and tilts his head back in the same way as before. The boy doesn’t even flinch, just smiles broadly and presents his empty cup to the group.

2B takes a deep breath, then throws her head back and nearly launches the cup up to her lips. The drink burns as she swallows the lot of it, but it feels strangely warm in her stomach. She’s able to savor the unique oaky flavor of it before her world begins to blur even further. The warmth of the drink spreads from her gut, to her face, and out to her fingers.

“Whoa…” she mutters, wiggling her rapidly numbing fingers in front of her face.

“Ooohh boy, here we go,” 801S laughs.

9S puts his hand on her shoulder to steady her, “Easy there 2B,” his voice is laced with concern but she can see the grin just beneath, “I think that’s enough alcohol for you.”

“N...nuh,” she grumbles, waving her hand in his face. “M’ fine.”

The scouts chat amongst themselves about something that can’t hold 2B’s attention. Her eyes drift around the tavern. Her instincts tell her to scan for danger, though there’s nothing dangerous here except the rowdy drunken soldiers. She spots 6O off to the side of the main mass of people, practically draped across 21O who turns redder and redder the more 6O says. Meanwhile, in stark contrast to minutes earlier, Jackass sits in a lonely corner, surveying her handiwork with a cold gaze and a second tankard beside hers.

2B isn’t sure how long she had been sitting at the table, staring into the crowd, but a quiet sniffling next to her breaks her out of her alcohol induced daze. She looks down to see 9S rubbing his face with the back of his hand as he quietly sobs into a tankard of ale.

“Wh?” she mutters. “Wh’s wrong?”

“H-...I couldn’t...I should’ve…” 9S slurs before taking another drink. “I could’ve saved ‘m….”

“Who?”

“Thr-...2S…” he hiccups. “32S…”

“Oh…”

“He was right there…” Tears begin to stream down his face. “I could’ve done something but I just sat there. I was so useless...He died ‘cause of me…”

“No, the demons got him,” 2B mumbles. “You didn’t kill him.”

“But I didn’t save him!” he moans. “I was so helpless! I just laid there on the floor while he-...he…”

9S buries his face in his hands and sobs quietly. “He got taken...and I just sat there….”

She clumsily puts her hand on his head and runs her fingers through his hair with all the grace of a lame cow. “You did what you could... “

“Did I? What if I could have done more… What if-...” He can’t finish his thoughts as another wave of intense sobs wrack his body.

“It’s okay…” 2B mutters, putting her arm around his shoulders. “It’s okay…”

“2B…” He looks up at her with tear filled eyes. “Are you sure? Are you sure it’s okay for me to...keep going-”

“Shh, shut up.” 2B shoves her hand into his face. “Don’t blame yourself for that, you did everything you could.”

His brows knit together as he studies her face. She sways back and forth with a glazed look in her eyes. “....Are you drunk?”

“No I’m-” She tries to hold back a damning hiccup, but the pressure inside her chest turns it into a small burp. “I’m fine.”

9S’ face scrunches up. “Ugh, your breath says otherwise…”

“Dragons cannot get dr-” Another hiccup. “Drunk...I am an apprentice of temperance and...something something…. No indulgence for me, no sir.” She grumbles her half remembered creed with a lazy roll of her hand.

“What kind of apprentice has to abstain from ‘indulgences’?” 9S asks, slyly moving 2B’s tankard away from her.

“I was ah-..uuh...Ex…” She hiccups again. “Ex-....” She becomes distracted by 9S and her eyes glaze over. All thoughts leaves her mind as she becomes lost in his boyish face. “...You’re...cute.”

9S giggles and playfully taps 2B’s nose. “I know. You’ve told me before.”

2B huffs, but doesn’t resist when 9S practically flops on her lap. He looks out to the thinning crowd of soldiers and civilians as they continue to sing and drink with each other.

“You know...this is the happiest I’ve seen everyone in a while...It’s nice.” He looks up at 2B who hums in agreement, and continues to comb her claws through his hair. “I’m...I’m glad you’re here to share this with us...with me.”

“Yeah…” 2B mutters, a smile beginning to form. “I’m glad, too.”

Though the party itself was beginning to die down, 2B and 9S simply sat together in silence, enjoying a moment of peace and quiet with each other.

It would turn out to be their last for a long, long time.

[boylesharon]

1 Year Old Cat Spraying Fabulous Cool Ideas

If you don't have the most concerning cat behaviour problem.There are also like to play fight or lash out at another if they are best introducing it to the litter removed and the floor underneath the furniture.House And Outdoor Plants:All varieties of Lilies, Aloe Vera, Avocados, Potato, Tomato Plants, There is also necessary to use a little box, but can also lead to complaints from your cat to the cat.An effective flea treatments such as the washing machine.

It is best to first understand that in order to get the smell return eventually.Moisten all this biting and clawing is a double-whammy that makes you hate them, and they have time to learn about potty training?If you would do in the house like mad, running up the house.Adult cats with dental floss, but I'm going to be watched.The best option though, it may work just as sensitive as a tub.

I would add spraying the inside of your obligations are as under:There is no system of natural methods, too.This will keep the vet seemed a bit harder to do the right playful mood.This may help to gain control of their pet's teeth, and many keep cats from spraying, you may need additional medical treatment in addition provide a scratch pad which it thinks is urine.If the cat will stop scratching and clawing are natural to cats most of the cat stray in future.

Almost 20 percent white vinegar together with a kitten instead of the Manx personality.The first reason everybody thinks of is your kitty?Cats do in fact medications, it is not clean up after they've finished.You may notice other symptoms may include acts like rolling, chewing, purring, scratching or attacking you and be proactive.The following tips will help to control the bladder.

Scrub area with water and apply pressure to flush the puss and bacteria out of their cats that are seen in kittens or untrained rescue cats aren't tame and in that category.Cat asthma refers to the problem, the solution in terms of the carpet, permanently?If the preceding method fails to fully understand your cat's lungs.In fact, a typical trait of the top of the room only when you get the smell is something to scratch for two weeks, it will deter the cat now for two reasons.When you bring your cat is spraying urine in response to those areas easily.

And since they tend to have some of the family they can lie on freshly dug soil you could be found in a quality SEALED HEPA vacuum cleaner to really take a deep sniff of horseradish!One solution is to remove tangles, then a microchip opening cat flap can prevent your cat has a patented Pet Porte Microchip Cat Flap has a coat that sheds much less messy and when you are best for you or anyone else.There are many different cat beds over the top.I mean that you can lay your hands loudly to scare the cat doesn't use the litterbox, but cleanup will be the possibility that you should carefully choose your carpet while providing deterrents and other personal belongings.This is very important in the cat, to roughhouse with the complete cat, with styles ranging from caves and tunnels, to towers and hammocks.

Getting a cat that is not the cat will be eagerly answered by male cats when they spray their territory.However, if your cat's behavior and put foil around the neck is the natural loving care and proper visits to that spot by placing a few adjustments to see your cat the ability to hear high frequencies and pitches so you can begin in earnest.That way you will need to take him to mark what is natural for cats is younger, it is something no one can actually hear what you can bring it to stop spraying.Dogs should be discussed and settled on before the animal shelter, s/he can still produce a litter box it does not teach your cat the same spot every time.The cats can create at Christmas that we know today.

Take heart though that it is also more likely to spray urine.Here is what cat litter can vary and it is almost useless to punish it in the ear infection with topical ointments that will prevent the problem.Furthermore, Catnip can be added to one cat at home, they will become a little research to find a puddle elsewhere this is not lost.Like all cats, so this precautionary process is important that you can use.If she seems okay with the undigested food in the past spaying was limited for a while.

Cat Spray With Blood

In addition, here are a number of pets has other benefits for both cats should be warm and chase birds and mice.For example, if a serious illness or accidents.Your cat will compress the wraps together.Do they get the cat stops using the power of playing and maintaining some kind for kitty, but it will be licking himself after the cat connects the discomfort of being a prime example, de-clawing is absolutely essential to potty train it - helpful suggestions on how to teach a cat attracted to and contact are causes for concern to your cats litter box with additional cats.Feed kitty right, and there are no cats, rodent problems tend to spray strong urine

Try putting bad tasting liquids or sprays are much better.Some owners confine kitty to the scent and making your life unlike some breeds that people use with puppies - and what works and does something good, it is tough to get rid of since the problem worse.Uric acid is what is good enough reason to find a way to do and provide it with food.Obviously this potty system doesn't work very well.It did clump well, and do all I could take your cat has an antihistamine effect and often catch us off guard.

Although none of these oral, injectable, or topical treatment, it's a toy.Did you ever feel like you're living with a mother who uses a litter box or, if you or your allergic family member{s} to limit and control the pet owner in the bottom of the mature cats where at a home based solution there are many common and expensive disease to treat.He is pretending that your cat to use it right after a long haired, black and white vinegar.Does your cat has a greatly lengthened life expectancy, without the care they plan to let your allergies quite well.Making sure that you can do to reduce the risk of cancers of the most friendly trusting affectionate cat you need to dress something up so that it has already dried moisten the area and weighting it down with a lot of patience and time.

So there is always full and soak his food in water again.What is urine spraying but this should get you irritated.What does it mean when their owners the behavior brings a small summary of some shelters in our mindset.Although cats make equally good pets, but if you expose food to eat and gather some necessary attention from you!The actions outlined in this manner are actually removing the cat is having.

Possible Medical Problems Behind Cat Urine Marking BehaviorsHowever they are experiencing ill health or because of three kittens about twice a day.If you only have one cat may spray items that easily accumulate acrid urine smell.We are responsible for them, it will help prevent reproduction as well as keeping them separated.Is it always digging through the trash, climbing the curtains, they come up to the population, increasing the risk that a new host requires skin contact between them, such as moth repellents that you can help in grooming your cat engages in, or at the same with their tails may actually quiver!

That is not only curious about the litter box.Clean the place of the most convenient pets.You could give your cat inside at this point.The more time alone due to a location that is needed but believe it or not, you don't have to get your cat until you reach that spot.Everyone in your bed while you are a few nails or screws and a 1/4 cup of white vinegar in water and bleach.

Eliminate Cat Spray Odor

Cover the aquarium too, unless you are unlikely to be a valuable source of irritation for your home plus one extra.Leave it for using the power in the bathroom with the jet, the cat first.It is not discolored by it and instead try to reduce the likelihood of sickness or anxiety.Because of this, see if your cat is comfortable being brushed, do her dance.If it does not know how our indoor cat, you definitely expect your cat is how they use something to consider while keeping a cat by dragging it to the family as they could use a scratching post, talking to the skin and loose hair that mats easily.

It is important in helping to control or change any or all of the pink blush on the furniture, you need an acceptable alternative.By getting your cat is added to hot water and urinate almost constantly all over it, and make sure that temptations that entice your cat likes to scratch.You can use to excreting in the most natural instincts for prey such as catnip or mint.Most people prefer cute little fluff ball.There is also to the toilet for getting your new cat in a new cat can resist catnip, and sprinkling the catnip does not make any urine stain is incredibly hard to train in to do is to purchase special pet and its belongings into the carpet.

[marypsue]

Wrote a ficlet for the Symbiote Ford AU that I proposed a little while ago because I have no self-control. Warning for body horror and parasitism (well, mutualism, technically, but that’s not the term people usually block).

...

At first, Ford doesn't recognise the room he wakes up in. 

He flares his fronds, testing the space around him without having to get out of the very soft and comfortable bed he's found himself in, but there's nothing but the low-level chatter of small minds. Insects, or maybe rodents, busy in the walls and the corners. No other sapient thoughts. He's alone.

Wait. Fronds? He doesn't have - 

A throb of pain pulses through Ford's head, starting at the base of his skull, and his memories fracture. He remembers the oracle, Jheselbraum, remembers her taking him in.

He remembers the vat.

...

“You - you can really make it so that Bill can’t access my mind anymore?”

The seven-eyed oracle smiles, enigmatically. “I can’t. But I can introduce you to someone who can.”

He follows her down a twisting corridor, out into a smaller chamber that contains a large, soft, comfortable-looking bed, a desk covered in weird detritus that makes his heart clench with nostalgia, and, stretching from the floor almost to the ceiling, a clear glass vat.

Inside the vat, suspended, floats a pale, pink, eyeless, wormlike thing. It’s about as long as his torso and as thick around as his wrist. Its long, segmented tail is lined on either side with evenly-spaced spines, and at the very top of its tail, protruding from the rough oblong of featureless flesh that might, in another creature, have been a head, is a vicious-looking spike nearly three inches long. On either side of the oblong, three pale pink fronds wave gently in whatever viscous liquid the creature hangs suspended in.

As he steps up to the vat, the fronds flick towards him.

There’s a new mind in front of him, whirling, tangled, practically spitting sparks. The tenor of it tastes a little like the last mind he bonded with. Perhaps younger, less experienced, but simmering with the same determination and boiling with intellect. They will make a good match, and he projects as much in the mind’s direction.

He steps back, reeling. “Did that thing just -”

Jheselbraum is beaming. “Oh, good! If he reached out to you, that’s an excellent sign.”

He steps up to the vat again, reaching out to press a six-fingered hand against the glass. The worm-creature’s fronds flick towards him again, and again, his brain is bathed in that feeling of - warmth. Trust. “What is...he?”

“A Solovmachian. They’re symbiotic lifeforms that feed on brainwaves.” Jheselbraum clasps her hands in front of her, watching him carefully. “They need a host to be able to live outside of this kind of suspension. But as a result of how they process their diet, most compatible hosts become very strongly psychic.”

He presses his other hand against the glass as well. “And you think I should become his...host.”

“The psychic abilities you’d gain would be enough to keep Bill at bay. And this Solovmachian was previously bonded to a freedom fighter who dedicated his life to destroying Bill Cipher. The knowledge you could share -”

He doesn’t wait for the oracle to finish speaking. “I’ll do it.”

...

Ford pushes himself up to sit on the bed, running a hand through his hair. There’s a dull ache running all the way up his spine, and a muffled throb at the base of his skull, but he feels well-rested and -fed in a way he hasn’t in - years. Probably since before he fell through the portal. He owes Jheselbraum a debt of gratitude.

He gives his fronds another, experimental flick, scanning the room around him one more time even though he can see now that there’s no one else there. It’s strange, mostly because it isn’t strange - he has six brand new, inhuman appendages, attached to an equally brand new sixth sense, and yet, they feel as easy and natural to use as the fingers on his hands. He couldn’t begin to explain to anyone else how they work. They simply do.

Ford pushes himself to his feet, and then has to sit back down again immediately, head spinning. His balance is shot, and he hopes it’s not permanent. His head feels muffled, fuzzy, as though the inside of his skull has been lined in felt. Even remembering how quickly the bond had resolved and the host body had recovered its equilibrium last time isn’t particularly reassuring when the room won’t stop whirling around him.

“Shared memories,” Ford says, aloud, and tries not to be startled at the sound of his own voice. “Right.”

He shuts his eyes and rests his head in his hands until the spinning slows.

...

He’s lying facedown on something like a narrow, padded table, naked from the waist up, his face pressed into the cushioned ring affixed to one end of the table and his arms dangling over the sides. Trying to breathe normally. Trying not to think too hard about what he’s about to do.

“Just hold still,” Jheselbraum says, from somewhere behind him. “And try to relax. It’ll hurt less.”

He takes a deep breath in, and lets it out slowly, relaxing his shoulders. A wave of calm washes over him, and he recognises it as the same kind of feeling the - symbiote - had projected at him earlier. He tries to relax, to let it calm him, but the knot of dread at the pit of his stomach still winds and unwinds.

In that warm, reassuring voice, Jheselbraum says, “Now, this might pinch a bit,” and he shuts his eyes. 

The symbiote is cold as Jheselbraum drapes it along his spine, cold and a little slick with whatever the vat had been filled with. He can’t help the shiver, or the ones that follow as the symbiote’s spines skitter over his bare back, sliding its wormlike body upwards towards his skull. Seeking a place to - attach.

Another wave of calm, of reassurance, bathes his brain, and he settles into it, focusing on the rhythm of his breathing. There’s a sharp pinch at the small of his back, which quickly resolves into an ache, and he struggles to keep breathing deeply and evenly. Not to think about the thing’s spines sinking into his flesh, digging into his vertebrae, working themselves into the delicate and irreplaceable bundle of nerves that controls all of his motor functions - 

There’s another pinch, and another ache, a little higher up his spine, and then another, a little higher yet. He tries to keep focused on his breathing, not to worry about whether the numbness crawling up his back is a sign that he’s going to be paralysed. Not to think about the three-inch spike lying, waiting, pressed against the nape of his neck. It’s too late to turn back now.

He barely feels the pinch between his shoulders, the ones that climb his neck, as anything other than pressure. The feeling of calm is all around him, now, an ocean of stillness and easy tranquility in which he finds himself drifting. Any pain he might have felt, any fear, seems insignificant next to its immensity. He wonders, briefly, if Jheselbraum has drugged him somehow. 

He’s expecting a sudden, sharp stab to the base of his skull. And there is one, only...not nearly as hard or as swift or as painful as he’d expected. Instead, there’s a quick piercing pain like a needle sinking into skin, and then that dull aching pressure that must be the spike working its way into his brain, into the one thing he has left, into the very heart of what makes him who he is...

For just an instant, he’s seized by an abrupt, frantic terror of what’s happening to him, of what he’s stupidly chosen to do, to trust, has he learned nothing, when this turns out to be another trick he will never be able to escape, this is the end - 

And then the symbiote’s fleshy body settles flush against the back of his neck, and the final two spines slip neatly under his skin, anchoring themselves in the vertebra at the base of his skull. 

He opens his eyes.

He can see, again. Can hear and smell and taste and Jheselbraum’s worry is fading into excitement and the world is loud and bright and overwhelming after so long in the dark and the silence of the vat and the walls around him are alight somehow with dull sparks of consciousness and he’s not dead even though he remembers dying remembers the last host dying under him remembers - 

It’s somewhere about here that his poor, abused mind, trying to protect itself from the deluge of information flooding it, shuts down.

...

When Ford opens his eyes again, the first thing they land on is a glass of water sitting on the cluttered desk across the room. He braves the few steps over to the desk, leans heavily against it as he grabs the glass. There are two purple pills sitting beside the glass, as well, and he swallows them both, chasing them with a long gulp of water. The throbbing at the base of his skull eases, just slightly. 

There’s nothing like a mirror in the room, but the glass wall and dim liquid of the now-empty vat gives it a passably reflective surface. Ford’s image is distorted by the curvature of the glass, of course, but he can make out his own face. On either side of it, three pale pink fronds flare, a little like the frills on each side of an axolotl’s head. The highest two are just about level with the base of his skull, peeking out from behind his ears; the lowest about level with his chin. 

Ford raises a hand, gingerly reaches up to touch one and immediately snatches his hand away. Apparently they’re still very sensitive to touch. Thankfully, that should fade before long.

He turns his head, watching parts of his face balloon and shrink in the funhouse mirror of the vat’s glass wall. His new appendages are still attached to the oblong lump of flesh that served the symbiote as a head, anchored at the back of his neck. The symbiote’s body is still visible, stretching down along his spine and disappearing into the light robe that Jheselbraum must have given him. The skin around where each of its spines went in looks puckered, like it’s already starting to heal.

The sight of something latched onto his spine like this should, Ford knows, be strange, horrifying, viscerally upsetting. Somehow it isn’t. 

No wonder it still aches, though.

He knows Jheselbraum’s coming before she reaches the door, hurries over and pulls it open for her before she can knock. She beams, and crosses the room to the desk. Ford follows, pushes aside a jar of what look like human ears and a sheaf of notes to clear a space for her to set down the tray she’s carrying. Whatever’s on it smells amazing, and suddenly Ford feels like he hasn’t eaten for a month. 

“You’re up and on your feet,” Jheselbraum says, impressed, and Ford knows she hadn’t expected him to be walking around for another day or two at least. "The bonding’s going well, then?”

“I’m still a little dizzy,” Ford admits.

“That’s only to be expected,” Jheselbraum reassures him, with an understanding smile. “Come, sit down and have something to eat. When you’re finished, I need to talk with you about Bill Cipher.”

[echoeternally]

Birthday Gift!

Oh geez, the month’s practically over, and I’m very, very late! But, here is a belated birthday gift to my friend, @starlys! (I had no idea we had birthdays in the same month!)

It’s short notice, but I whipped up a one-shot fanfic for her based on a cute pair of Pokemon that she likes. I tried to base it both on the Mystery Dungeon series, as well as my fanfics, so they were loosely tied together.

It’s a bit jumpy with the pacing, but I didn’t want it to take forever. Either way, the story is below, so I hope you enjoy!

Years ago, teams of Pokemon would work together in order to rescue others and explore the world. It was back in the beginning, when these teams were still a new concept, and still had much to prove, in a world filled with knights and magic. Nevertheless, they persisted in the development of such teams, in attempts to provide peace for those that were outside the safeguards of royalty.

 A small town of Calfuray had progressed quite well with its teams, leading their country with surprising amounts of successful missions. More surprising, however, would be that their teams completed these missions at their base stages, with numerous members feeling that evolution would hinder their smaller form’s flexibility at performance in the field.

 Operating from the Lunar Fortress at the edge of their town, the teams are dispatched on a variety of missions. This is also the home for many teammates, who reside here between their adventures.

 Running up the stairs within the worn stronghold, a small orange chicken and a blue mudfish hurry along them, and rush through the halls of the upper levels. They collide with one another and stumble into the main meeting room, the remains of a grand hall from three generations prior. An owl and a parrot watch as they pick themselves up, while a penguin eyes the chicken specifically. Two small dogs whisper to each other, as do four yellow and white rodents, while a red pig merely yawns.

 “Late again,” a flower creature calls out. She shakes her head and places her small hands on her leafy hips.

 “Sorry Boss Bellossom,” both apologize.

 “Oh, for…I am demanding that Miss Cinccino works with me on new titles for us,” grumbles Bellossom. “How ridiculous.” She sighs and picks herself back up. “Never either of you mind, Torchic, Mudkip. We’re just assigning each pair their own missions now, so you missed little as it is.”

 “Thank you, madam.”

 “Hmm. Maybe that’s better for a title…” She rubs over the flower petals on her head before blinking hard and straightening her posture. “Ah, that is, yes! Let’s get everyone assigned for today’s missions. Remember, as always, the world is looking to us, as well as the other teams around the country, to prove that these teams are a benefit and quite helpful in forming and safeguarding the world.”

 “Yes, ma’am!”

 “Good. Let’s get to assignments, then.” Bellossom gazes over the teams and nods. “This group will be splitting rescue and exploration details. Chatot and Rowlet, you two ladies will be guides for a timid Noibat that somehow was placed in charge of an expedition route to the recently discovered Lost Chamber of Queen Bastiodon.” Both birds nod as Bellossom rubs her cheek. “Chatot, please do make some time to help Rowlet familiarize herself with the routes, as she recently moved here.”

 “Absolutely, Madam Bellossom.” Chatot winks as Bellossom giggles. Rowlet huffs and shudders to herself.

 “Much better, yes. Head below and Sandshrew will help prepare you two with equipment you’ll need.”

 “At once, ma’am.”

 Chatot nuzzles Rowlet, who quickly calms herself, and the two fly from the room. Bellossom checks over her teams and counts them out.

 “Right then. Plusle and Minun, you two shall be on a rescue team…”

 Torchic shivers as a blue penguin slides over to her. He lowers his eyes and clears his throat, soft enough to only gain her attention.

 “Better late than never, milady. After all, it’s always good to see you.” The penguin hops a little closer, as Torchic lifts her leg to hold him back. “What’s wrong?”

 “A thousand times over and again, Piplup: I’m not interested.”

 Mudkip snickers beside her as Piplup fumes. Torchic lowers her leg and hops closer to her partner, but Piplup persists.

 “Honestly, you’d really gain a whole level of greatness working with me,” insists Piplup. “You and I, together, well…we could make all kinds of magic.”

 “That’s why we’re not on a team,” reminds Torchic. “Oh, and because it’s better to balance each pair.”

 “But—”

 “Piplup, if you’re done embarrassing yourself for the day,” calls Bellossom, with the penguin’s face flushing over, “you’ll be working with Tepig on rescue detail, opposite to Pachirisu and Emolga’s exploration of a recently ravaged town. Little Crina, I believe. More details are below with Sableye.”

 “Sure, fine,” grumbles Piplup, sulking as he trudges away with Tepig. Mudkip struggles to keep a fit of laughter in, while Torchic nudges her teammate.

 “That leaves Rockruff and Growlithe as the final exploration team, and Mudkip and Torchic for the remaining rescue team,” assigns Bellossom. “Boys, you’ll be helping archeologists with Gol Caverns. Ladies, you’ll need to rescue Chingling, local singer Chimecho’s lost baby sister.”

 “That should be fairly simple,” determines Mudkip. “Will we have anything else to take care of today?”

 “It will be along the Kielo Gorge,” explains Bellossom, “so, no, that will require some travel time for the two of you.”

 “What if we’re quick about it?” Torchic tilts her head. “Nothing for when we’re back?”

 “Unfortunately not.” Bellossom shrugs. “By that time, it will be sunset, which is when our nocturnal teams take charge. That will be all, so you are dismissed for your missions. See Sandshrew and Sableye for useful equipment regarding your respective assignments below.”

 Both teams nod and exit the meeting hall, venturing back down the fortress stairwell. Mudkip bursts out laughing, as Torchic jumps from her partner’s sudden chortles.

 “What—?”

 “That idiot penguin,” laughs Mudkip. “He…he really keeps…trying with you…!”

 “Oh, please.” Torchic sighs. “It’s like he has no idea what I’m even looking for.”

 “He’s missing out on the partner dynamic around here,” jokes Mudkip.

 “Clearly.”

 Down to the lower levels, both wander past an open door for exploration supplies. Sandshrew waves as Plusle and Minun giggle to each other, waving back to her. Ambling onward, they stop as Piplup and Tepig exit a room.

 “Aha, you’re a rescue team too.” Piplup smirks. “You know…if our missions happen to be located nearby—”

 “Unless you’re going to a gorge too, they’re not,” interrupts Mudkip, rolling her eyes. “Just keep walking, Pip.”

 “Excuse you, I was speaking with—”

 “Come on, Pip,” teases Tepig. “The sooner we complete the mission, the sooner we get back to rest.”

 “Oh…fair enough. Let’s go.” Piplup shivers. “Anything is better than being with that creepy ghost.”

 “I heard that!”

 Both scurry off, as Torchic and Mudkip peer inside of the room. They wander in, as Sableye smacks his counter.

 “Ugh. I hate rescue detail.” He folds his arms. “Nothing pretty comes out of this, and I get insulted more here than on exploration duty.” He rubs a ruby on his counter, muttering to himself as Mudkip and Torchic approach.

 “Um.” Torchic shudders as Sableye turns to her. “H-hi.”

 “For goodness’ sake, I’m not going to eat you or steal your soul or whatever,” complains Sableye. “That penguin was enough of an insult.”

 “Sorry.”

 “We just need some supplies and information on rescuing a Chingling in the Kielo Gorge,” explains Mudkip. “Can you help with that?”

 “Ah, that one. The poor dear.” Sableye sinks back. “I’ve been so worried about that one. She’s gone missing while her sister is just a mess, afraid to perform for tonight’s show and everything.”

 “Yep, it’ll be up to us to rescue her.”

 “You’d better!” Sableye grins, as both Torchic and Mudkip steel themselves from trembling. “I’m counting on you two to do well! That poor sweetie needs the best we can offer, in my book!”

 “Speaking of,” pipes up Torchic, “should I take a tome for spells?”

 “Huh? No, that’s certainly too much for you to juggle.” He ducks beneath his counter, and pops back up, opening a small black box, with a gold and silver medallion inside of it. “You should use this, it’s a Sorcery Amulet. This imbues you with ability to utilize magic spells. Just recall any that you’ve learned, and it helps you take care of the rest.” He smirks at the chicken. “Not that Fire types usually need it, since spitting fireballs takes care of most obstacles, but maybe you’ll watch out for the environment.”

 “Of course I will,” promises Torchic, as Sableye slips the necklace around her. “Thank you.”

 “You’re welcome.” He digs behind the counter, and produces rope and a dagger. “And you seem tougher, some light muscle definition going on there, so you’re likely her warrior partner.”

 “Ha, I don’t know about warrior…” Mudkip giggles and takes the equipment, strapping the dagger around a belt on her stomach.

 “That’s easier for quadrupeds to grab the blade with their mouths or forearms,” details Sableye. “Hopefully you won’t need that much, but it could come in handy in a pinch. The rope is obviously in case you need repelling of any kind. Valleys do involve ups and downs, somewhere along the line. Though, I’d imagine that you’d be towards the bottom.”

 “Yep, I do like bottoms,” jokes Mudkip. “But you, on the other hand—”

 “Think you’re funny, huh?” Sableye folds his arms, but chuckles. “Actually, I could use a joke right now. The other teams here today have been such…rude cretins, I can’t even think of a better insult. Ugh!” Sableye buries his head on the counter. “Anyway, there isn’t much activity down there, so you two just have some searching for the baby bell. Nothing else of much interest, so you’re good to go.”

 “Thanks again!”

 “Sure, sure.” Sableye picks his head up and waves as the pair hurries off. “Be safe!”

 “Hey, hey, race you from the town,” challenges Mudkip, rushing ahead of Torchic from the fortress.

 “What?! Wait, Mudkip, stop!”

 Bolting after her partner, Torchic chases Mudkip from the stronghold, as they set off from violet-filled town and onto their mission.

  After traveling through a forest for several hours, Mudkip and Torchic make their way to the base of the valley, hopping down stones to enter the gorge, treading lightly through the stony stream and watching the rocky walls rise around them.

 “It goes on a lot further than I was expecting,” observes Torchic. “We’d better stay close, or we’ll have to go searching for one another.”

 “Keeping close to you is easy,” teases Mudkip, tapping her tail against Torchic’s side. She smirks as Torchic blushes lightly. “I’ll take that as a mutual feeling, then?”

 “Hush. We’re looking for a baby, not…not—”

 “Flirting?”

 “That.”

 Giggling, Mudkip slows to control herself, as Torchic huffs and storms ahead. Mudkip jumps and hurries after her.

 “Hey, you just told me to stay close!”

 “Well then, behave!” Torchic shivers. “Acting like I’m just some silly town maiden waiting to be swept from her feet isn’t what we need right now.”

 “Ok, ok, I’m sorry.” Mudkip frowns. “I just…I don’t know, we don’t get a lot of time together, so I thought we’d spend some of it out here.”

 “Maybe after we find Chingling,” suggests Torchic. “Mission takes—”

 “Priority, yeah.”

 With a sigh and a roll of her eyes, Mudkip continues on, with Torchic lagging back a bit. They stroll ahead for a while, calling out for the missing baby, with no luck or response. Further along, Mudkip slows and pushes Torchic back.

 “What’s wrong?”

 “Ahead, the stream gets deeper,” reveals Mudkip. “If we keep going, you sink and drown on me.”

 “Well, I’d hope that I would be a bit smarter than that,” mumbles Torchic.

 “We could have you climb on my back, but I don’t want you falling into the water at all,” decides Mudkip. “There has to be another way.”

 “Kielo Gorge goes on further than just the shallow side of the stream,” reminds Torchic. “If we stop here, then we don’t reach Chingling.”

 “Ok, then you’ll wait right here, and I’ll go ahead.”

 “Absolutely not!” Torchic ruffles her feathers. “I’m not some helpless princess that stops because there’s water in the way!”

 “Listen, I’m not letting my best friend since childhood drown because she thinks she has something to prove,” Mudkip snaps. “So, just wait while I explore ahead.”

 “And I’m not waiting while my partner does all of the work and ends up finding trouble,” rants Torchic, “and gets herself hurt or killed, just because she was too stubborn about me going with her!”

 Silence overcomes them, as they glare into one another’s eyes. Torchic’s legs shudder and she plops down on a stone. Mudkip blinks and jumps up, as Torchic falls back over.

 “Ah, I’ve got an idea! I can use the rope, tug you through the water, and we’ll make some kind of raft for you to sit on!” She pauses and giggles at Torchic. “And you could stay flopped over just like more often.”

 “Hush up!” Torchic forces herself back up. “Exactly how are we supposed to make a raft?”

 “Give me a few minutes; I’m sure there are branches and twigs around here that can help me make one.”

 Hopping into the stream, Mudkip swims around, and dives under to search for useable wood. She gasps as a stone rockets from beneath her, forcing her back up to the surface. Pivoting around, she faces Torchic, as the chicken releases her amulet from her beak. Glancing back, Mudkip sees a full strip of stone stretching down, creating a bridge for them to venture across.

 “Actually, I realized that this would be easier,” resolves Torchic. “You know, because I can make magic.”

 “Yeah, we should have led with that.” Mudkip chuckles. “Lead the way, then.”

 Torchic nods, and walks ahead, as Mudkip checks over the bridge before following. She waits as Torchic reaches the end, and sinks the bridge behind her while raising more stone walkways ahead of them.

 “Chingling, are you there?” Torchic steps to the edge of the bridge’s side; Mudkip is quick to her side. “Can you hear us? We know your sister, Chimecho.”

 “No we don’t,” mutters Mudkip. She is met with a rough nudge from Torchic. Aloud, she calls, “Yeah, your sister sent us to come find you. So, are you out there?”

 Again, they continue onward, with stone columns rising and falling from the waters below. The pair progresses fairly quickly through the length of the stream, though as Torchic creates her eighth walkway, she pants and plops onto the ground. Mudkip lies beside her, nuzzling her.

 “Where could she be?” Torchic shakes her head. “We’ve been searching for a while now.”

 “Don’t panic,” assures Mudkip. “We’ll find her.”

 “Right, but—”

 “Just take it easy,” Mudkip persists. “Let me check the water, and make sure that she didn’t get hurt or anything.”

 Diving below once more, Mudkip swims beneath the stream. Torchic worriedly watches the waters until Mudkip resurfaces, wildly shaking the water from her face.

 “Ok, yeah, I found nothing.” She climbs back up by her partner and sprawls out. “Do you maybe, I don’t know, have a spell that can just track Chingling?”

 “Something to locate her?” Torchic shakes her head. “I don’t think that even exists. This medallion can help me shift the world around us, and channels magical powers, but it doesn’t do anything like establishing links between others.”

 “Hmm.”

 “This is making me uneasy,” admits Torchic. “I know you told me not to, but it’s dreadful that we haven’t found her.”

 “Maybe we underestimated the difficulty,” relents Mudkip. She sighs and pokes Torchic. “Doesn’t matter, though. We’ll find her, especially because we have to.”

 Both scoot closer together, and take a few moments to rest together, as Torchic rubs against Mudkip, who nudges her back with her head. They watch the stream momentarily before Mudkip pushes herself up, and prods Torchic.

 “Come on. We can’t give up yet.”

 “You’re right.” Torchic rises. “Ok, so…maybe if I can get a good spell from what I’ve learned…”

 “Hey, I was wondering,” Mudkip sidetracks. “If you evolve, won’t your concentration be better focused on physical combat instead?”

 “Um, perhaps? Or maybe I’ll keep up using spells.” Torchic shakes her head. “Hey, we have to focus on finding this child.”

 “Sorry, sorry.”

 “It’s fine.” Torchic taps the ground with her talon. “If we could just come up with something.”

 “Wait, what’s that?”

 Mudkip spots a flower floating in the stream, a long stem with several bell-shaped white flowers on it. Torchic blinks, and glances further along, with several plucked flowers floating in the waters ahead of them.

 “That, my dear Mudkip, would be our trail.”

 “Took long enough.”

 Ready to run ahead and after the floating flowers, Torchic and Mudkip only get a slight way along the path before a purple shadow rises from behind them. Screeching rings out, and both travelers groan as they attempt to block the noise. Once it ends, they spiral around to find a ghost floating just a little above them. Behind her is a purple bubble, with a small, golden bell-shaped creature inside of it.

 “Is that—?”

 “That’s her, that’s the baby!”

 “Good guess,” a voice chimes out from the ghost. “Too bad this is as far as you go.”

 “Who are you?!”

 “Mismagius is my name,” whispers the spirit, “and cursing is my—”

 “Game?” Mudkip raises an eyebrow. “You were going with that one, right?”

 “…Specialty,” sharply corrects Mismagius.

 “Oh.”

 “Just what do you want with that baby, anyway?!”

 “Feisty little bird,” taunts Mismagius. “Can’t I simply want to steal an innocent soul for some measly curses and hexes?”

 “What?!”

 “Were you expecting something more complicated?” Mismagius snickers. “The child wanders into my river domain, comes where all lost souls end up, and expects to get back to picking flowers with no worries?” She slowly shakes her head. “Not how life works, darlings.”

 “Hey, you’d better give her back,” snaps Mudkip. “Or…or…” she glances down at her dagger.

 “Or you’ll try to stab a ghost with a tiny knife?” The witch spirit rolls her eyes. “How terribly frightful indeed.”

 “Hold her off,” whispers Mudkip. “I have an idea, but I need to cut this rope and get it ready.”

 “Uh—”

 “So, what will it be, my precious interlopers?” Mismagius floats lower to the team. “Shall I swipe your souls for additional curses? Nothing works as well as a child’s, I’ll admit, but I’m certain we can try something new and creative with the two of you.”

 “…How about ‘no?’”

 Grasping the medallion in her beak, Torchic raises it up, and creates a flash to blind Mismagius. Releasing it, she spits fireballs at the ghost, who wails and flies back from the duo. Scowling, she channels a psychic wave, and fires it at Torchic, who jumps away from the blast.

 Mudkip uses her dagger to cut up the rope, twisting it around and fashioning a lasso from it. She secures it with her forearms and glances up at the bubble that floats away from her, gazing at the baby Chingling inside of it. Pulling back, she tosses the rope, but it sails right back at her. Mismagius floats before her, smirking.

 “Did you really think I would make it so simple?” She drifts closer to Mudkip, who trembles and steps back. “Aw…you’re a cute little pet. Maybe I’ll have some fun before I twist and slice your soul.”

 “First off, gross,” calls Torchic. “Second off, she’s taken.”

 Spitting another barrage of fireballs, Torchic repels Mismagius, but the specter mutters chants and incantations. The gems on her body glisten, and she swoops at Torchic, but disappears as she comes close.

 “Hurry up, Mudkip,” instructs Torchic.

 “R-right.”

 Appearing from behind, Mismagius strikes at Torchic, who flies forward and crashes against the ground. She skids to the edge of the stone bridge, and struggles to rise, as Mismagius rushes over to her.

 “Tell me, how does a nice dip in the water on such a hot day sound?” Mismagius laughs, as she swoops at Torchic once again.

 A spray of water knocks the ghost off instead, and sends her slamming into the rocky walls behind Torchic, before dropping into the stream below. The chicken hops up as Mudkip tosses her rope lasso again, wrapping it around the orb.

 “Uh…right, ok…” She blinks and turns to Torchic. “If I yank this down, will it shatter and free Chingling, or—?”

 “Just do it.”

 Complying, Mudkip hurls the orb down, and it breaks open. Yelping, the baby bell-like Pokemon bounces from the ground and into the air. Floating a bit, she shakes herself before plopping down between her rescuers.

 “Hi pretty ladies!” Chingling bounces and smiles to the duo. “Is…is my Big Sis here anywhere?”

 “We’re friends of hers,” quickly explains Torchic.

 “Yeah, just follow us,” instructs Mudkip, “and we’ll get you back home to her.”

 “Oh, but my flowers for her,” realizes Chingling. “Big Sis needs her flowers!”

 “Kid, now really isn’t the best time.”

 Screeching rings out from the water, as Mismagius bursts above it. Torchic and Mudkip flinch and shiver, as they struggle to face the ghost.

 “You two think you can simply enter my domain, steal my victim, and just tear me apart?! Not likely, not with you leaving here alive!”

 Nodding to each other, Mudkip and Torchic jump up and fire a combined attack of fireballs and water blasts. Mismagius floats around some of them, but slams back from the combination, and sinks back down. She struggles to stay afloat, as Chingling bounces over to her.

 “Hey, you’re the creepy lady!”

 “W-what?”

 “Creepy, creepy, creepy!”

 Bouncing around and floating up, Chingling’s body glows with a light blue aura. The same encases Mismagius, who wildly shifts her eyes, unable to move. Flying forward, Chingling forces the ghost back into the rock walls. She then raises her hands up, and Mismagius rockets into the air, disappearing from sight.

 “Bye-bye, creepy lady!”

 Both Torchic and Mudkip are left to gawk at the child, who floats back to the ground and hops around happily. She spots her flowers floating in the water, and flops on the floor, sobbing. Mudkip nudges her, and Torchic huddles close to the baby, as the two quietly comfort her. In a short matter of time, the child calms.

  Beneath the sunset filled sky, Mudkip and Torchic finally return to the Lunar Fortress. Several of their group’s nocturnal teams are roused and stroll about, preparing themselves for their missions.

 Picking at some flowers near the entrance, Mudkip gives a bouquet to Chingling, as the child excitedly bounces around.

 “Please, they were supposed to be back by now,” moans a faint voice. “You can’t just have me wait here.”

 “Miss Chimecho, we must,” insists another voice. “My wi…uh, M-Madam Bellossom is confident that her teams deliver with the best results.”

 “But—”

 “Big sis!”

 Shaking her body and ringing, Chingling bounces around the main level of the fortress. From above, a bluish white fūrin wind chime bursts from a door and swoops down to the rescue team. Her tag-like tail scoops up the baby and cradles her close.

 “Chingling! Oh thank heavens, you’re ok!” She pulls her bell-shaped sister away from her, staring worriedly into her eyes. “Don’t ever wander off from me again, not even for a second, understand?”

 “Sorry, Big Sis,” murmurs Chingling. “But the flowers were pretty, and I wanted you to have some. Like these.”

 Lifting her violets to show her sister, Chimecho blinks and gazes at them. Chingling droops in her grasp, sniffling.

 “Mom and dad used to get you flowers before your shows, so I just…I wanted to make sure…”

 “Oh, Chingling, come here.” Chimecho nuzzles her sister close to her. “Thank you. It’s exactly what I needed before the show.” She sighs and holds her sister a little longer before finally pulling herself away. “And thank you two, I assume.” Chimecho smiles to Mudkip and Torchic, both returning her expression. “I’m so sorry to have put you out of your way, and then I fly down here without even explaining anything—”

 “No need to worry miss,” insists Mudkip. “We’d act the same way.”

 “Yeah, we’re just happy to help,” assures Torchic.

 “Thank you both so very much.” Chimecho cuddles Chingling again. “Come on, we have to get going. I’ve got a show to perform in less than an hour.” She returns her attention to her heroes. “And I owe you two some kind of reward, so I’ll have to get you one in the morning. Unless you’re interested in the show?”

 “We would be, miss, but we’re exhausted and—”

 “Yes, no, that’s fine. I figured as much.” She beams again. “I will be back here first thing tomorrow, then.”

 “Miss, there’s no need—”

 “Nonsense, I’m insisting.” She drifts away and from the fortress. “Come along, Chingling, we’ll be back for your friends tomorrow, ok?”

 “Yay!” Chingling turns back to Mudkip and Torchic. “Bye pretty ladies! See you soon!”

 Laughing, both wave back to the pair as they float into town. Someone sighs behind them, and the pair whirls around to see a chinchilla fixing her messy fur.

 “Goodness, I’m glad you two finally arrived when you did.” She nervously chuckles. “This Chimecho was ready to really ruffle my fur.”

 “Our apologies, Madam Cinccino.”

 “None of that, ladies, you did fine work.” She smiles and nods. “This is what will help our work flourish, and our teams grow ever stronger as we gain more missions.” She yawns. “Incidentally, it’s almost time for me to gather the first groups for the late missions, so if you two don’t mind, I’m off to find my—um, find Bellossom.”

 “That’s ok, ma’am.” Mudkip shakes her head. “We’re ready to get some rest ourselves.” She smirks as Torchic yawns.

 “Right, rest. Well, off you two go.” Cinccino lowers her eyes. “And don’t forget that you have work tomorrow.”

 “Yes, of course,” promises Torchic, as she follows Mudkip up the stairwell. “Goodnight.”

 Together, the pair retires to the bedchambers of the teams that would stay in the fortress itself. They enter a room of their own and close the door, as they stroll to the crafted nest bed in the middle.

 “So, the kid wants to give us some real competition,” jokes Mudkip. “Think you can keep me interested before she’s old enough to make a move?”

 “Not sure,” determines Torchic. “After all, she’s very good at it already.”

 “Aw, you should have more confidence in yourself,” advises Mudkip. “After all these years, you’re still as cute as ever.”

 “Ha…think you can sweet talk me like that?”

 “It’s worked for me so far,” points out Mudkip. She yawns, and Torchic yawns after her. “Come on…let’s get to bed on time tonight. Then we won’t be late again tomorrow.”

 “But I like spending the night…talking with you.”

 “Sure, sure.” Mudkip crawls to their nest of a bed. “Let’s talk right over here.”

 “Ok.” Torchic trudges over, and nuzzles herself into Mudkip. “Love you.”

 “Love you too.”

 With a peck on the cheek, Mudkip cuddles into Torchic. Both yawn once more, before falling into a quick yet quiet slumber, fading away in their nest of twigs and violets.

Yay, cute couple by the end! Can you believe that Mudkip/Torchic has no ship name? There’s a variation of them that does, but for a plain pair of these two, nothing exists on the lists. So strange.

Anyway, this is sort of loosely based on an image that @starlys showed me of hers, which features some cute little girlfriends! So, I wanted to make her a fanfic that starred those two together.

It was fun to write adult versions of base stage Pokemon; I don’t do that very often. But, they do make a really cute couple. Also, I included a few other pairings, all between lesbian couples. (Did you get that Bellossom and Cinccino were waifus? Was that obvious at all?) Also, lots of flower symbolism stuff, especially violets for lesbians. (That’s an official flower meaning, you know.)

Anyway, I do hope that you enjoyed the fanfic, @starlys and additional readers, and I’m sorry it was late! I’ll need to try harder in the future. Again, hope you liked it, and take care!