#the magpie's call bit is sometimes left off but the point is that the dove going “i knoooow” sounds like the dove's call

[dramatic-dolphin]

Okay, I'll bite. What's the folk tale about why doves are so bad at building nests?

it's a sweet little short story but it kind of hinges on spoken wordplay a bit. well whatever, i guess it's getting translator's notes then. :D

So, one time the wild dove went to ask the magpie to teach her how to build a nest, since the magpie's nests were always so lovely. So, she asked "Please, dear magpie, show me how to make a nest just like yours!"

"I'd be happy to help," said the magpie, and gathered a bunch of branches. Putting one over the other, she kept explaining; "csak így, csak úgy." [translator's note: "like this, like that", but you gotta say it so it sounds similar to a magpie's call]

The dove didn't understand, but she was too ashamed to say so, so she only replied; "túúdom, túúdom." [note: "i knoooow, i knoooow", but again it sounds like the dove's call.] But all the repetition made the magpie angrier, until she could not take it anymore, and snapped, "Well, if you know it so well, finish it yourself!" And she flew away.

And so the wild dove never did learn how to build a nest.

[dansnaturepictures]

2nd June 2020-Sunset and 3rd June 2020-Garden, birds out the back and Lakeside walk on a showery day

I took the first picture in this photoset of a sunset last night one of the most beautiful I have seen this year so far and I was proud of the photo. It further from what I said in my post yesterday showed brilliantly the run of hot and sunny weather we’ve been lucky to have. It was all change from this morning onwards with it grey and rain showery. I took the second picture in this photoset of the garden this morning with the hanging baskets in brilliant varied colourful flower brightening up the scene. 

I saw loads of Woodpigeons and Collared Doves on the roof opposite visible from my room throughout the day. Perhaps my two most used subjects since I’ve been working from home, I liked getting what I think is a first for me and photographing them both in one picture the third and fourth in this photoset. I took the tenth and final of three late afternoon too showing how many were about today. Starlings were around with both birds on that perch if you like a lot today too. It was very interesting to see pairs of both pigeon/dove species where one chased the other off in the exact same spot on the left edge of this roof which was intriguing at different times obviously. At one point a Woodpigeon was stationed in the middle of the roof and one Collared Dove chased and pecked at another. Every time it did the other shuffled along the roof a bit going right but the other followed and tried to get rid of it again. The inevitable happened and one flew into the Woodpigeon touching it a bit which it did not seem to like. So off went both Collared Doves. Dramatic territorial behaviour to witness. 

Late morning it was nice to stick my head out the window and smell the welcome rain for relief to the land in the air. As I did my lunch time Lakeside walk, a shortened one in keeping with my Wednesdays to facilitate little clash between photo processing, uploading and blog writing and my weekly phone call with my Dad in the evening, I took in nearly the exact route of my walk last night. The conditions could not be more different to that glorious sunny and hot evening and it looked interesting seeing the place in different weather conditions still just as beautiful. I also smelt the rain a bit here and sensed the lush vegetation growth. A beautiful feeling which I say is a feeling of summer for me. I was happy to take the fifth picture in this photoset a landscape today I was quite pleased with it having only my big lens on me. 

As part of the summery vibes in a not so obvious way perhaps it felt quite humid still. I know the temperature has gone down so maybe its just because I wore a coat for the first time in ages but it felt humid. So much so that butterflies, damselflies and moths were still happily about on the walk which shows the stage we are at in their season now getting towards the peaks really where yes when the sun shines you’ll see more but sometimes any conditions its possible to see them in. I saw a lovely Blue-tailed Damselfly once more and the Meadow Brown in the sixth and Small Heath in the ninth picture in this photoset. When at the meadow area by the car park in the south east of the site I also took the seventh picture in this photoset of another lovely young Blue Tit something I’m seeing so much of this week which is a great part of spring. I noticed in the adjoining University of Southampton sports fields some lovely poppies in a varied and colourful patch of flowers. I tried for a picture from the little access road but I was shooting through a wire mesh fence and it didn’t work. I needed some height I thought and lucky there was a mini bank in front of me which I climbed and then could point my lens above the fence and take the eighth picture in this photoset a lovely scene to capture again looking quite bright on a grey day.

I had a fantastic natural moment as I walked back towards home. I let out a little gasp when a Green Woodpecker flew right beside me. I was impressed with how close a view I quickly got of this one of my favourite birds. As a bird I had heard at this country park a lot recently I had not seen one for months I don’t think so I was thrilled to see one again. I saw it fly on again further on after it had gone from view and I was so happy to see it so close and make out the features of why I love it the beautiful colour and shape etc. Seeing birds on my list of 30 favourite birds the more common ones especially have really kept my spirits up especially the ones I’ve seen over Lakeside the key ones, Green Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Great Crested Grebe, Little Egret and Buzzard with some seen from home too its given me such joy to see them a nice little club of my favourite birds I have been overjoyed to see. 

I am glad that within a showery day today I was still able to walk in a nice dry patch and see brilliant wildlife and take pictures I was happy with. I hope you’ve all had a good day. 

Wildlife Sightings Summary: One of my favourite birds the Green Woodpecker, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon, Starling, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Blue-tailed Damselfly and a few nice moths.

[hexusproductions]

What You Can’t Escape (Part 2)

Summary: When Crow is kidnapped by the musical duo Morendo and Piper, it captures the attention of the green-skinned villainess Pleonexia. Subjected to the malicious whims of the partners-in-crime, Crow may face a fate worse than death. Author’s Note: Chapter 1, posted shortly after the prologue because I get excited when I get any sort of positive response. Plus I see prologues as extended teasers so I can’t restrain myself from not leaving it alone

This was strange. Extremely peculiar.

“Crow?”

Pleonexia stepped out of his office, closing the door behind her. There was a faint frown on her lips as she walked along the balcony, looking around. He hadn’t been in there, or in his living quarters. As Pleonexia came down the stairs, several Magpies approached, having heard her call and investigating. Scout, Jay, and Ducky all looked as confused as she did.

“Have any of you seen Crow?” Pleonexia questioned, barely glancing at any of them.

“No.”

“Not since this morning, ma’am.”

“Where is he?”

“That is what I am trying to find out.” Pleonexia replied flatly. Ducky looked the most concerned of the three, and Scout stepped forward with a short nod.

“We’ll try and find him.” He assured her and hurried off, Jay going another direction and Ducky almost outrunning the both of them. Pleonexia continued to frown as she remained there for a moment. This was unlike him. Crow rarely left the building by himself and certainly never for this long.

Pleonexia exhaled before crossing the room to the further set of doors. She refused to tolerate or accept this disappearance. He had to be here somewhere.

Elsewhere, the duo had returned to their shabby place of residence and, along with the stolen loot, were entertaining themselves with their newest plaything.

“You are, a wolf!”

“You’re part of the circus!”

“You’re a dove!”

It never failed to get old. Piper was perched on the back of the sofa, rifling through the bag and laughing with Morendo as the two of them threw commands to the hypnotised man. He followed all of them without any restraint, changing on a dime and saying nothing but a few appropriate sound effects. Piper’s laughter died down a little and she slid back onto the main part of the sofa, the bag resting on her stomach. Morendo glanced back over his shoulder, and when he saw her attention was elsewhere he turned around.

“No-one carries cash anymore.” He remarked with a small smile.

“Just pictures of their ugly kids.” Piper agreed, holding up a wallet with the aforementioned pictures. Morendo unwrapped the white, musical stave-decorated scarf from around his neck and dropped it over the back of the sofa before turning his attention back to the stranger. He silently continued giving orders, occasionally emphasizing them with a hand gesture as if he were conducting an orchestra. This was one of his favourite parts, making people do things they would never do voluntarily. Flapping their arms and pretending to be a bird, attacking people they were close to and cared about, he’d even made one person walk along the edge of a skyscraper. Granted he’d snapped them out of it halfway through and they had, well, slipped but, it was fun and that was all he cared about.

As Morendo occupied himself Piper rolled over and looked at their box of a tv, also stolen like most of the things in their home. She smiled and sat up, excitedly digging around for the remote.

“I bet we made it on the news this time.” She found it under the sofa cushions and flicked on the television.

“Doubtful.” Morendo hummed. Piper hammered in different channels until she stopped, standing up and making excited giggly noises as she jabbed a finger towards the screen. Morendo wasn’t looking and she rolled her eyes before grabbing him by the coat and yanking him around. It was little more than grainy CCTV footage from the store’s cameras but it was enough to put a smile on both their faces. The reporter’s voice detailed what had happened and the damage that had been done, Piper biting back a squeal as the duo were addressed by name, and then the reporter spoke about how the local authorities were reacting to the crime.

“This of course being the second offense committed by a supervillain or group of supervillains in the past week, after the earlier theft of a selection of extremely valuable items from an auction house by the infamous Pleonexia-“

“Wait, what?” Piper questioned, looking insulted as their time in the spotlight suddenly ended, “Where’d we go?” The store disappeared in favour of better-quality footage of the auction house, an entire group of people in suits breaking in. Piper crossed her arms and slid further down the sofa, sulking, but Morendo was still watching and his head jerked a little in surprise.

“Wait a minute.” He looked behind him at their captive, then back to the screen, “Oh my god.”

“What?”

“It’s not…” Morendo said in disbelief as he stepped around the sofa, “Pause it, pause it!”

“You can’t pause it it’s tv!” Piper exclaimed and Morendo wrestled the remote out of her hands, aiming at the set-top box and pressing a button. The audio continued but the image froze, a large pause symbol appearing in the top corner.

“Well I’ll be damned.” Piper remarked quietly. She hadn’t known it could do that. Sometimes she was surprised the thing turned on in the first place.

Morendo stared at the screen, eyes wide and mouth open in shock.

“No way.” He started to laugh, unable to believe it, and Piper stared at him as if a third horn was growing out of his forehead.

“What?” She repeated, and Morendo pointed to the screen again before turning to point to the man standing stock-still behind their sofa.

“That’s Crow! Pleonexia’s henchman!”

Piper’s jaw dropped with a loud, over the top ‘NOOOO’ and she whipped around, long brunette plait almost whacking her in the face as a result. She stared at the man before turning again to compare him to the man on the screen, dressed up in a dark suit with a determined frown on his face. Morendo just kept staring, speechless, as Piper clambered off the sofa.

“Oh my god! The actual Crow!” Piper squealed. The two of them, along with being villains themselves, were devoted supervillain fans and naturally that meant they were fans of Pleonexia. Together they had followed most of her exploits, gathered as much information as they could get their greedy and manipulative hands on. Being in the presence of just her right-hand man was an honour.

“This is amazing!”

“Pinch me, I’m dreaming.”

“I can’t believe this is actually happening.” Morendo was looking at the man confirmed to be Crow in awe, but suddenly he stopped. He spun around to Piper, looking almost as excited as she was.

“Piper you gotta let me play with him.” The words tumbled out so fast they barely made sense as he clasped his hands together, “Please I am begging you let me poke inside his head for a bit.” Piper screwed her face up a little as she looked at Crow, and Morendo got down on his knees.

“Please!’ Piper watched him squirm for a moment before she smiled and nodded. Morendo grinned from ear to ear and jumped to his feet, pulling off his burgundy-coloured coat. Throwing it haphazardly over the back of the sofa, Morendo rolled up his sleeves as he all but skipped towards Crow, that wicked glint once again flashing in his eyes.

The door opened slowly, Ducky poking her head in before slipping inside. The curtains were still shut, blocking most of the light. Pleonexia sat at her desk, hunched over it with a hand to her forehead.

“Anything?”

Ducky shook her head.

“No sign of him.” She spoke quickly, nervous. Pleonexia didn’t move an inch, completely still. She didn’t even seem to breathe.

“Have you tried calling him?”

“He didn’t answer, miss.”

Pleonexia’s nail tapped on the wood, three times exactly. She hadn’t needed an answer, she’d already tried him several times with no response.

“Do you have any clue as to where he is?”

Ducky trembled a little, holding herself tensely. Enough of an answer on its own.

“No Miss Pleonexia.”

Pleonexia’s free hand clenched and she stood up suddenly, bringing her hands down on the desk with an audible thud. Ducky jumped back with an involuntary squeak.

“Everything else is to be put on hold, do you understand me? I want all available Magpies searching for Crow and no-one is to rest until he is found!” Pleonexia ordered, and Ducky nodded quickly before scampering out the door, “Finding Crow is the number one priority!” The door closed again, and Pleonexia exhaled. She slowly eased back into her seat, lips drawn into a frown. She looked down, glancing over the drawers in her desk, as plans began to formulate in her mind.

[hearsaykrp]

                 Presenting — jeong arin as the swan.

— info.

name / jeong arin birthday / 930409 pronouns / she/her occupation / legal assistant 

— traits.

( vindictive, cunning, witty, charismatic )

from the moment jeong arin was conceived, just a barely there bump beginning to show, her mother was already whispering to the unborn of all the great things she would achieve. and how she was destined for it.

at a young age, she’s already begun learning how to wrap people around her finger. her mother dresses her up in the cutest sets of clothes, ones that she spent way too much money online to find, puts her hair up in pigtails with the prettiest bows, sometimes she’ll even sprinkle some glitter on her child’s round cheeks. anything to make her daughter stand out. but she’s groomed the princess well behind closed doors, so even without her mother’s doing, her only daughter will follow what she’s taught. she’s friends with everyone, floats around the room greeting everyone and listening to what they share about their lives. if sometimes she uses that information to get what she wants, whether it be the answers to the homework or the extra snacks in their lunchbox, well she’s only doing what her mother said. she’s so compelling, naturally draws everyone in, that her teachers even joke about how even so young she has her own little clique, ruling the playground. it’s what is expected out of the queen bee. as she grows, long limbs stretching out, all those traits that were once praised or watered down were now planted roots blooming. she smiles at someone and they bend to her will, she wraps her pretty hands around someone’s throat and they never cross her again. she jokes back and forth with someone and they fall in love, she steps on others without a second thought and they learn to move out of her way. she’s only doing what she was told.

— about.

“tell me about your childhood.”

"what’s the relevancy in that, detective?“  

"humor me."

there is a mountain of past due bills. the sound of the bank knocking on the door echoing around the four walls. brand new shopping bags from places outside the boundary of ilmyo. a mother with red stained lips, constantly praising, constantly nagging, constantly demanding. that is what makes her home. no father present. she forgets the story. it’s changed way too many times. she isn’t even sure if any version of it has been the real one. but  the end is always the same: he was a bastard. didn’t care for them. would have never been able to provide for them. but at least he gave me you, her mother says. that is what makes her home. sometimes, most times, it felt like the roles were reversed. like she was the one taking care of her mother. it causes her to grow up quicker. stronger. harsher. because her mother views the world through rose colored glass. but even from a young age she’s known the truth. all that is to the jeong name is debt and a pretense for more than what this country town can give them. she listens well though. does exactly what her mother asks. keeps up perfect grades. wears her hair the way she’s told. dresses in whatever was left on her bed the night prior. learns the whispers that crawl around town. keeps up the pristine image. such a good daughter, is what they all praise. at some point she can’t stand to look at the bills thrown mindlessly into the trash. her blood boils when the bank teller stops her on her commute home. have your mother call me, she warns. she’s never liked being told what to do from anyone but her mother. she remembers that the bank teller has a daughter her age, starts to watch her every move at school. smiles at her. listens to her worries. pretends to care. snakes her way into her life. urges her to bite the poisonous apple. tell your mother the bank has decided to give her an extension, the bank teller pleads. the white flag was waved. her mother meets someone. says the right words. kisses sweetly. most importantly, he saves them from the near drowning water. pulls them upwards. there are no more annoying bank tellers. no more past due bills. no more maxed out credit cards. safe. stable. a man that helps their image. you should find yourself one, her mother urges. remember, soft hands run through her hair, you’re destined for so much my princess. that is what makes her home.

"i’m told your cheer captain.”

“i am.”

“your mother must be so proud.”

“she is."

it’s no different than the life she has already formed for herself. if anything, high school is the place where she cements her footprints. where everyone knows their place in terms of her food chain. she’s at the top.  that much anyone can tell you. when she walks the halls, everyone parts like the red sea. the queen bee. the cheer captain. not first of her class, but top five is still something to brag about. every girl wants to be her. every guy wants to be with her. that is her legacy. every queen needs her right hand. she makes plenty girls believe it’s them. dove is loyal. lark is desperate. park jungsoo is useful. they’re friends. as genuine as a relationship can be with a girl who finds everyone disposable. close enough that when the unattainable jeong arin finally finds herself tied down to someone, they’re the first people she tells. it isn’t long before the rest of the town hears about it though. it’s only fitting, jungsoo praises. her friends seem happy for her. but there is no one happier than her mother. those same red stained lips had never parted so wide. he is so beautiful, her mother wails. invite him over sometime, her mother’s boyfriend smiles. over her dead body. robin was good for her image. great actually. nobody could deny the beauty of seeing the two together. it was as if they were fated to be together. and it worked. there were times the cold shell of the princess melted just a bit. enough to where there were real moments for her. moments where she forgot that they were tied to an image. that didn’t last long. park jungsoo has been sleeping with him, lark whispers into her ear. a fire burned inside of her.

"you had a sleepover?”

“yeah. our regular sleepovers.”

“park jungsoo was there?”

“of course. we’d never not invite her.”

“anything happened that night?”

“nothing out of the usual. we caught up on our shows, childishly gossiped, went to bed together. when we woke up, she wasn’t there.”

nobody knows. everyone gets their own half truths. she’s still our friend, she tells lark. it’s just a little fun teasing, she tells dove. you should’ve never crossed me, she tells park jungsoo. sends her off to the highest mountains at the middle of the night. gives instructions to not come back unless she’s told to. but it was never about the boy. those are disposable. she can pick any guy out of the flock and make them into the golden boy. and it was never about their friendship. those are tiring. she could’ve easily just ousted her the same way she did rosefinch, loon, and magpie. that wouldn’t have been enough though. park jungsoo made her out to be a fool. played her and then smiled in her face. if she lets that go by, she’s weak. that was something she swore she’d never be. as soon as she sees the girl walk through the woods, nothing more left of her than the whistling branches, she goes back home. cuddles up next to dove in her king sized bed and nods. she gets a call. is quick to roll her eyes at the pleading over her phone speaker. please, i swear it’ll never happen again, it was a mistake, i’m so scared, i think someone is out here with me. if had half a heart maybe she would’ve gave in. felt pity. felt shame she was treating a friend that way. but she hadn’t felt any of that. just anger. no one is out there you cry baby, and i’m not done being mad, stay out there or you’re in for much worse when you come down. that is her nightmare. she had never expected for the monster to not be within her, but on the mountain that night next to park jungsoo.

it’s a secret dug up with the skeleton of park jungsoo. or at least the grave she’s made for her. she keeps it tight lipped. not even robin knows she knew the truth in the end. no one suspects her. who would ever dare to suspect the girl closest to her. the girl who made park jungsoo everything she was. seoul. that’s the next destination. a full ride to a university there. it’s harder though to be the queen bee. too many fish, too big of a pond. she still has the same grit, the same hunger for power. she still finds a way to make some shake in her presence. maybe it’s that natural pull. or maybe it’s just her beauty. but soon she graduates. entertains the thought that maybe she could make it in this big city. she can’t. she goes back home. missed the way everyone praised her. missed the way she was put on a throne for the smallest of things. says she’s only back because she wants to take care of her mother. it is only them now that her mother’s boyfriend passed away. heart attack. or was it in his sleep? she couldn’t remember. comes back to town with her head held high. becomes a legal assistant in the one law firm. it’s okay. it’s enough. it isn’t high school, not anymore. everyone’s adults now. but the labels they created has stuck with them. has shaped them. their future. she passes by classmates and they still kiss her ass. she still gets told just how beautiful she is. thinks she can still claw her nails into anyone she can grab a hold of. but it isn’t comfortable. that’s what her mother wants. whatever happened to that beautiful boy you dated in high school, her mother questions. i should marry you off, her mother repeats. remember, rough hands run through her hair, you’re destined for so much my princess. oh mother, honey and wildfire are both the color of gold.