#the wonders of interspecies communication

[soapoey]

I feel like a certain level of appreciation for nature ought to be an obligation nowadays that our broader cultures only interest in our surrounding ecosystems is how to quickly as possible turn it into another barren suburb. But when it comes down to it i just think youre a bit of a boring person if you cant find it kind of funny and charming for a sentient living thing the size of your finger to be a bit of a bitch with addressing its personal boundaries

[mistydrizzlewitch]

Also, an alien species that looks almost, but not quite, human, might tap into the uncanny valley effect and make humans very uneasy around them - whereas aliens that might be very other and bizarre could be perceived as, well, strange, but fascinating and lovely.

Concept: A science fiction series where humans actually have a much easier time interacting with thoroughly non-humanoid aliens than the humanoid ones because the humanoids look just human enough to make their alienness jarring.

[itsa-not-me]

So this is NOT related to my previous Alien Konig post. It's separate from that.

...I don't know what I wrote y'all

content warning

alien fucking, breeding, tentacles, breeding, oviposition, two peens, the lost of my sanity. This is UNHOLY

"Research Log # 593; Now that we've been able to confirm the efficacy of Nikto's translation devices we've been able to communicate with the human more efficiently than with the simple sound board. She has confirm that she is a brooding member of her species, and that she is willing to participate in the Counsel's interspecies breeding proposal. Despite what Krueger says I am not preening over the fact that the human stated she would only participate with myself. It just shows that the human is able to distinguish who is the superior sire." "Log # 595; All lab tests are complete. Human is surprisingly more willing to allow lab draws when we can explain what they are for. Happy to report that so far tests show there should be no danger to either of our species during copulation.

Note; Human does not like being called Human, but her Earth name is not possible for us to pronounce in our language. She has agreed to the alias of Nebula."

"Log # 596; Due to our species faster gestation time, and the fact that we do not bear live young, Nebula as agreed to try carrying a fertilized clutch first. I am eager to see how many eggs she will be able to carry."

"Log # 597; Nebula has told us an interesting fact, after a brooding human's bleeding cycle there is a window where they are extremely fertile and is an ideal time for mating. They call this 'ovulation'. According to Nebula her ovulation period is starting shortly. We will begin copulation experiment point one shortly.

Note; I wonder if this ovulation may explain the rather...hungry looks she has been giving me of late."

Konig wasn't nervous, no matter what Krueger tried to say. Kruger was an idiot who kept getting rejected by Nikto. If anything Konig was...brimming with scientific curiosity. Yes that's what it was. He was going to be making important discoveries. With Nebula.

He could admit that at first he had found her of little interest, simply a spare brood human for their external breeding study incase one failed to thrive. But then they had discovered so many little things that made her interesting, unique. It had become difficult to see her as only a study subject. And there was the fact that she always seemed to prefer Konig to the others.

When she was allowed out of the containment area he was the one she choose to follow around the lab. His protection hood was the ones she stole when Krueger had foolishly let her wander the personal quarters. He was the one she would pull towards her nest of bedding when she wished to have a sleep companion, which seemed to have been most nights.

It was his thigh that she chose to use for her pleasure when the Turlian pods ended up acting like a strong aphrodisiac.

So of course it would make sense for Nebula to choose him to participate in the breeding clinicals with. Besides he was the ideal candidate when compared to Krueger.

With that in mind he tried not to think about how the lab felt a little cooler without his usual protective hood and tunic on. Since they had come to a compromise of only having a recording feed instead of Krueger and Nikto as observers, Konig had decided to undress in the lab, trying to ignore the feel of Nebula's stare as he did so.

He knew she had been curious about his physical form, the number of times he'd felt her hands slide along his chest and abdomen at night, exploring the skin and muscle there was a clear give away. Let alone the number of times he had to pull her hands away from under his protective hood. The last time she had even licked the lubricating mucus from his tentacles off of her fingertips! And this was before they even knew if it was safe for her! Really did human's have any survival instincts?

With a huff he turned to look down at the little human, who was already looking up at him with that same wide eyed curiosity. He wasn't sure what he anticipated her reaction would be, but once again reaching for his tentacles wasn't it.

"Why are you so fascinated by my face?"

Nebula couldn't help but grin as the ear piece Nikto had made relayed Konig's words to her. Before she always had to guess with what his body was saying. And that was hard to tell sometimes with the hood and loose drape he chose to wear.

"Because it's a pretty fascinating face."

Really all of him was fascinating. From his height, to how big and wide he was, not to mention the less than human details. There was the obvious face full of tentacles, all circled around what she assumed was his mouth. They all seemed to move independently of each other and the last time she had tried the sticky substance that seemed to constantly coat them well...She'd had exes who had tasted worse in her mouth.

Then there was his skin. It was so pale he was practically translucent in some spots. One night she had spent hours tracing the veins she could see running up and down his inner arm. Plus it seemed thicker than her own. Almost like rubber but less unpleasant to rub against.

And then there was between his legs. At first glance it looked like Konig lacked anything used for 'mating' as the alien persisted in calling it. Nebula had seen enough penises in her life time to know where they were on a human, but Konig lacked that, and a vagina. Instead it was almost like he was a Ken doll, only instead of being smooth there were two...plates, she'd say for lack of a better word, that met and had a seam down the center. Maybe they'd part to reveal these phalluses Konig had talked about earlier. Like that one movie.

She could feel herself start to get wet at the idea of what could be instore for her.

She must have been staring a little too hard because Konig shuffled his weight awkwardly, drawing her attention away from his vent and back to his face. Even being so pale it seemed that Konig's species didn't blush like human's did. Instead a flush or warming of the face his tentacles fluttered a little more exuberantly, lifting high enough at times to reveal a curved little beak. She probably shouldn't have found that so cute. For all his boasting that he was the superior sire, when it came to actually siring he seemed a little nervous. That was something she could certainly find cute.

"Wouldn't you say I'm a little fascinating too?"

Konig would never admit that he found her intense study of him a little intimidating. Instead he was simply being considerate to wait for her to literally welcome him with open arms, turning around as if to give him an unobstructed view of her body. Which he could admit he fully appreciated.

He stepped into her personal space as she turned to face him, hands coming back down to her sides, fingers tapping against her thighs. Perhaps she was a little nervous as well.

"I would say I am starting to find humans more fascinating...Now tell me, how do most humans start their mating rituals?"

He watched as she tilted her head in consideration, little pink tongue coming to lick her bottom lip.

"Well a good one typically starts with kissing?"

"And that would be?"

"It's when we touch lips, even tongues."

"And it is pleasurable for you?"

"If done properly."

Konig hummed in consideration as he studied the shape of her mouth. It looked so plump and soft compared to his beak. He didn't quite think that she'd enjoyed getting poked with it.

"I do not have lips. I do not know if I would be good at kissing."

"Well...maybe I'll just kiss you then?"

Before he could argue the semantics of it she was touching the closest tentacle to her, bringing it up to purse her lips against the side of it. It certainly wasn't an unpleasant experience. Even if the translator couldn't exactly explain what the trilling from his chest meant, it seemed she got the idea as she continued to pepper kisses along the length of his tentacle, ending at the tip.

It wasn't scientific curiosity that urged him to push past her plush lips. It was the way she stared up at him with dark eyes. And oh he was glad he listened. He couldn't resist exploring more as she opened her jaw, giving him more access. Her tongue was warm and soft, not a texture he was expecting but enjoyed as he slid his tentacle against it. Brushing the tip against the roof of her mouth made her squirm, an airy chuckle leaving her as he pulled back.

"That tickles."

"Does it normally?"

"Don't know. Haven't had a tentacle there before."

That pleased him to hear. That this was new for her, that he was the first.

"I found that version of kissing pleasing."

"I'm glad. I'd be upset to hear I'm a lousy kisser."

Without thinking he was cradling her head between his palms, absentmindedly amazed at how tiny he was compared to him.

"I would like to do it again."

"So kiss me then."

Konig let his curiosity get the better of him, the tip of one tentacle tracing the shape of her lips, pushing and dragging against the lower lip to see how it grave under his force. Again that little pink tongue darted out like it was second nature, only this time also licking over his tentacle. The sensation caused the beginning stirring of his phallus.

He pushed back into her mouth, less exploratory and more simply wanting to enjoy the feeling of her tongue against him. He wasn't expecting the suction around him, cheeks hollowing as it seemed she tried to pull him further into her. With a growl he withdrew, leaning down so he could be closer to her eyes, those sweet alluring eyes of hers.

"Little Nebula, is that also a part of kissing?"

He should have known then from the little smile she gave him, that he was in for unexpected discoveries.

"It's a next step after kissing."

Logically, she should be nervous. If she had any survival instincts she wouldn't have been excited about the restrained strength she could feel in the way Konig held her face. She shouldn't have enjoyed feeling his tentacles tracing along her throat and collar bone. But she did. She could feel her nipples start to tighten as a few wayward tentacle tips drifted further down her chest.

"What else comes after kissing?"

She realized she could take it anywhere, that Konig was allowing her to take more of a lead, to set the pace. Her hands drifted up to hold onto his wrists, just a grounding point as she thought about what it was she wanted next. She wanted to feel his tentacles on more of her body, in a specific space if she was honest. And she wanted to explore more of him.

"Humans have foreplay. All sorts of ways to turn their partner on before they fuck."

"And how would you like me to foreplay you?"

Konig seemed almost distracted as he focused on the tentacles that were exploring the swells of her breasts. He could feel the plush give of her skin, how her nipples seemed softer. He looked down in curiosity as he felt them tighten. The little buds seemed to beg attention and who was he to deny that?

He could feel her nails dig into his wrists as twin tentacles wrapped around each nipple, starting with the lightest squeeze he could manage. He kept adding pressure until he heard her sigh, resting more of her weight into his hands and frame.

"This is a pretty good start."

With her approval he continued his exploration of her breasts and nipples, seeing how hard he could squeeze and pull before she would squirm in discomfort. Whenever he found a limit he'd ease back and brush against the poor flesh in apology, before going back to what seemed to be acceptable pressure or strength. He had to move his hold from her face to her ribs to keep her steady, finding the way she would squirm in his grasp cute. It made him want to explore more parts of her.

"Konig..."

And judging from the way she whined his name, he could only assume that his little human felt the same.

She normally wasn't one to enjoy having her nipples or breasts played with, but knowing that it was Konig that was doing it? That he was paying extra attention to the way she'd react to every way his tentacles touched her? It set her nerves on fire. It also sent her on a desperate need to feel him else where.

Thankfully he didn't keep her waiting when she called for his attention, focus shifting from the back arching movements back to her face. It was intoxicating to have that gaze trained on her.

"Is there something you need little star?"

She didn't care if how eager she seemed as she nodded, taking one of his hands to pull him back towards her bed pile. She wanted a lot.

"Wanna to show some other things to do. And I wanna touch you too."

Konig let her pull him to the nest, but didn't expect the strength she had to push him into it. He didn't loose his breath when he landed on his back, but he did when he looked up at her and watched as she stood over him.

"I am at your mercy then."

She could feel nerves creep up the back of her neck as she joined him, tongue thick as she tripped over her words to explain.

"Sometimes humans can pleasure each other with their mouths at the same time."

That drew a curious noise out of Konig, feeling his own self lubricant start to seep from the slit in his vent.

"And how do they do that?"

"It's called sixty-nineing. Typically one partner is on top of the other and their kind of laid in opposite directions?"

He tilted his head back to look at her as she stood above him, her eyes roaming up and down his form. He would have teased her for it if it wasn't for the fact that his own gaze traveled up her legs and froze when it came to the apex of her thighs. It seemed like human's could also self lubricate.

Only hers looked so much more appealing than his, in his opinion.

"I think I may need a demonstration of this."

She seemed a little in a daze as she nodded, looking back at him once before carefully trying to lower herself to her knees, not wanting to hurt him. Once she was there it was an entirely new world of discovery for Konig.

The way her sex opened to him was almost beautiful. Each lip seemed to call his attention with the way they were puffy, drawing his attention inward. His tentacles were already wrapping around her thighs, crawling upward as he took in the way a small nub above her not cloaca seemed to come out from behind it's hood, like it was saying hello and begging for attention.

"So typically a partner would stimulate your sex with their mouth? Like kissing?"

She sounded a little breathless as she rested her weight on either side of his hips, already feeling herself start to get excited when his tentacles would squeeze her thighs.

"Y-yeah. With their lips and tongue and stuff."

The hum he gave was thoughtful, watching her not cloaca seem to clench in excitement. It was rather cute when it did that.

"Should I treat it like I did your mouth earlier then?"

She couldn't help the moan she gave then, hips pushing back as if to open herself further for him. That was exactly what she wanted him to do.

"Yeah. Yeah. With as many as you can."

The desperation in her voice caught him off guard, but who was he to deny her? She had been so sweet for him. He circled his hands around her thighs, used them as leverage to pull her closer to him so his tentacles could have free range to explore.

It was exactly what she had been wanting since she had realized what had been hiding under his hood. Konig's tentacles felt firm as they pushed through her sex, his natural tackiness giving him a drag that felt good against her clit as her own slick started to make it easier for him to glide against her.

And then she felt the first tentacle push into her.

She didn't care about how loud she moaned as she tried to push back into the feeling. She just wanted to feel more of him fill her. But the grip he had on her thighs was too strong, keeping her immobile and at the mercy of his curiosity.

And curious Konig was. Her own slick felt silky, nothing like the thin lubricant he could make. He wanted to coat every tentacle in it, in her. Rubbing against the little nub he noticed earlier seemed to please her, given how her back arched and the noise she had made as he rubbed his tentacle back and forth over it. But actually having a tentacle enter her? It seemed to give her a new level of pleasure he hadn't anticipated. It gave him a level of pleasure he hadn't anticipated.

The sensation of sliding into her was only as similar to her mouth that it was a warm and wet sensation. But sliding into her sex, her...cunt as she had called it once? It was better. She was so soft and as soon as he was moving she was clamping around his tentacle, squeezing around him in a way that her earlier action couldn't compare. Plus it made more of that tempting slick of hers.

As he penetrated her over and over again with his tentacle, slowly as to savor every feeling, he let himself explore, pressing the tip of it against all of her walls with each pass. It thrilled him to feel how she expanded around him. He could see why she had said to use as many tentacles as he could fit, and he would try it, but the back of his mind made him wonder if she was capable of more than one clutch.

But that was getting a head of himself.

She knew she was suppose to be returning the attention that Konig was giving her, that it was the point of sixty-nineing, but she honestly didn't know if she could do much more than lean her head against his hip and moan.

He had followed her please so wonderfully, stuffing one and then another tentacle into her. The stretch was so good, maybe almost painful, but it was the way that his tentacles filled her that was making her wetter. It was like they were taking all the space inside of her so they had no choice but to press and rub against every spot that lit up her nervous system like fireworks.

A third one started to push it's way in, fighting to take what little space was left and she was sure she was going to loose her mind. At least he had been consistent on her clit. She didn't know if she would have survived with her sanity if he chose to explore it with the same voracity.

In an attempted to try to be a good partner, a good mate, she ran her hand along his hip, using the feel of his skin to tell when she had found his vent. It was a little rougher to the touch, ribbed in a way that would make her curious about later. She could feel the growl Konig made in his chest as she rubbed her hand along the slit, surprised to feel it also be wet.

She brought her fingertips to her lips quickly, stealing a taste before Konig could distract her with a particularly cruel flick. Just like everything else she had tasted from him, it was something she found pleasant, something she'd want to try to have more of...but later.

Konig seemed to get the idea of alternated thrusting of his tentacles because it rocked her for a moment, making her whimper and dig her nails into his inner thighs to stay grounded. She refused to be distracted.

Gulping for breath she went back to what she had been exploring earlier, rubbing her fingers along the seam of his vent. She treated it like she would her own cunt, trying different pressures of her fingertips to see what would make him wetter, what would part him for her.

A purring sound started to fill the next as Konig allowed himself to enjoy her touch and ministrations. He could feel himself relaxing, tentacles becoming a little lazy as his vent started to open, readying for his phalluses to make their appearance.

He must have been feeling good because his grip on her thighs relaxed and it allowed her a little leeway to pull herself up further to actually come face to face with his vent. She wouldn't say it was the prettiest cunt she had ever seen, but it was probably the prettiest alien non cunt. She couldn't see Konig's phalluses yet, instead the inside of his vent being filled with these bud like nubs. It was almost like seeing dozen's of little pale blue clits.

And she knew what to do with clits, regardless of color.

Gathering saliva in her mouth she leaned down quick to drag her tongue along his vent from top to bottom in one long, slow pull.

Konig had not been ready for the pleasure that exploded behind his eyes. With a roar he grabbed her hips and pulled her back, simply wanting to stop the immediate onslaught of overstimulation. Only he also pulled her back onto his tentacles. Hard.

The orgasm that caught her was quick and blinding. She hadn't been prepared to suddenly be so full of his tentacles, or for them to suddenly writher inside of her like they were all independently trying to press as hard as they could into every pleasure spot. And maybe she could have resisted that, but the tentacle that had been rubbing her clit had suddenly wrapped around it and squeezed? It was over for her.

It was so much. It was practically dizzying the way his phalluses sprung from his vent, both spilling copious amounts of lubricant. Konig was still reeling from the pleasure, but then to hear her shout as she did, and to suddenly rain her slick down on him? To have it fill his beak and slide down his throat? Overwhelming wouldn't begin to explain it.

It was as if something switched within him. Something that told him that he needed to breed this human as many times as it took. To fill her over and over again. To fuck her until they both lost sense of who they were.

If the orgasm was dizzying, having Konig pull out and start flipping her around until she was under him? It left her spinning. She couldn't help the whimper that escaped at suddenly being so empty, cunt still pulsing in pleasure. She was practically teary eyed as she looked up at her alien, who loomed over her, eyes like a predator ready to devour her.

"I am sorry little star, but I do not think I can withstand more foreplay. I need to mate with you, to breed you until you are so full of my clutches there's no way they won't take."

He came in closer with every word he uttered, hands already grabbing her knees and pulling her down to where the head of his phalluses glided against her cunt.

Unable to speak she nodded desperately, reaching up to wrap her arms under his and cling to his back.

The only thing he needed to apologize was the fact he wasn't fucking her that moment.

With a nearly sub level growl Konig thrusted as deeply into her as he could, both of them groaning at the feeling of his cocks pushing past her walls to make room for him.

It was deep, and hard, and intense.

Konig fucked her like he was trying to carve the shape of himself into her, make a permanent space for him so she'd never be able to forget the way she was claimed.

She felt like she couldn't breath. She couldn't see what was happening below but she could feel it. Konig's buds had unfurred to reveal dozen of little suckers that attached to her sex and thighs, instantly starting a hard suction that left her shaking. Together he was just thicker than his tentacles before, but softer at the tip. It didn't hurt when one head would crash against her cervix, instead it let her feel how the firmer head forced her to feel every push and rub against her G-spot.

Even as her next orgasm crashed through her Konig didn't stop. Instead he just loomed closer, tentacles exploring her mouth, her throat, her chest. Konig was making sure that the only thing she would be able to see, feel or think about was him.

She had no idea how long it kept like that, just that every time she came he showed no sign in stopping. She had lost her sanity by the time she found her words, pleading and begging because she only had one thing on her mind.

"Breed me breed me breed me breed me please please please please need it need it need it."

Oh what a sweet mate Konig had. Begging for his clutch like that. Of course he'd give it to her. He'd give it as many times as he could. It was like his body was at her command, his insemination phallus molded itself to her cervix as his cum started to pour out; hot and thick, forcing its way deep into her womb.

She moaned, deep in her chest as she felt him start to fill her. It was so much deeper than anyone had ever reached before. Her body was practically too weak to cum again, but it still gave a valiant effort to pulse around him like it was trying to encourage every drop.

She would have gotten it one way or another, and by the time he was done she felt a fullness so deep in her she didn't know if she could ever live without the sensation again.

But it wasn't over.

Just as she was starting to relax she felt something bulge against the rim of her poor abused cunt. She tried to run away from it, she did. There was no way she could survive more. But Konig wouldn't let her. With an iron grip around her hips he pulled her back onto his cocks, just as the first few eggs were passing through his oviphallus to settle into her cunt.

He cooed at the way she cried a little, gentle tentacles wiping away the tears.

"There there little Nebula...we have to make sure we give you as many clutches as you can take. Be a good mate it for me."

She was practically in a daze by the time Konig seemed to take mercy on her. Seemed because he simply slowly fucked himself out of her. Each thrust would jostle a soft, jelly like egg that would press against her walls and cause a strike of pleasure to hit her.

She whimpered, a sad little sound of over stimulation and he again was there to reassure her.

"Just creating a plug little star. Can't have our precious clutch come spilling out now."

And true to his word by the time he pulled out of her cunt he'd made the perfect plug with his lubricant, secure enough that not a single drop of his cum or egg would escape.

Once he was sure their clutch was safe he gathered his Nebula in his arms, letting her curl into his side. She looked so cute already so full her stomach already rounding a little. He was so very pleased by she had decided he was the best suitable sire.

Edit

I...I don't know what I wrote. I blacked out and I'm just coming too.

[deepspacedukat]

Misfit Toys - Part 3

Alright! Here's the conclusion! I hope you all enjoyed reading this little fic as much as I enjoyed writing it! 💖 There are a few unintended side things that happen in this chapter, but I hope y'all will enjoy it anyway!! By that I mean whoops I accidentally created yet another OC.

Part 1 here. Part 2 here.

Cross-posted to AO3 here.

~*~

Tokath (ST:TNG) x Reader

[A/N: This is smut adjacent, so 18+ ONLY, MINORS DNI!!!]

Warnings: Interspecies romance, Human/Romulan romance, implied interspecies sex, implied Human/Romulan sex, mutual pining, they're idiots who think it's unrequited, it's VERY requited, flirting, some almost kisses, getting lokblocked, literally everyone can tell they're in love except them, they are the last people to find out about each other's feelings.

~*~

I hadn't needed Tokath's crutch in nearly a month, but it had earned a place of honor. Resting lovingly on a bookshelf in my bedroom, it served as a reminder of the progress I'd made...and of the fact that I now had somewhere that I belonged.

After all this time, it still felt strange to know that I had a home this amazing. The reaction to the news that I'd decided to stay instead of boarding the transport and leaving the Carraya system had been so joyful on the part of my new friends that I'd been moved to tears. None of them had been irritated that I'd chosen to remain with them.

Ta'lana even clapped a hand on my shoulder and grinned as she offered me a permanent position helping her concoct her salves. I accepted, of course. How could I not? Her companionship was so easy and natural that I'd have been a fool to refuse. Not to mention I owed her and Tokath my life for healing me after the crash.

Speaking of Tokath, as soon as he gave me permission to stay, I felt as though a weight had been lifted from my chest. There was no longer a lingering feeling of guilt and selfishness resonating through me every time I stole a glance at him. Oh sure, I was still on the verge of berating myself for behaving like a schoolgirl with a crush, but I'd realized that since I was now a permanent resident in this settlement, I had every right to live however I chose. If I wanted to bask in the warmth of the Romulan Commander's smiles, then that was exactly what I'd do.

I was afforded that opportunity quite often. More often than not, we managed to sneak in a little time together in the mornings before the day truly got started. Even if it was just enough time for us to share a cup of tea and breakfast, Tokath and I always seemed to gravitate toward each other.

There were still plenty of mornings where we woke up in each other's arms on the sofa in his study, and those were admittedly my favorites. He was nearly always awake before I was, but he never moved to get up first. The lingering caresses left on my skin before the break of dawn made me wish that I was a more courageous person. More than once I came incredibly close to blurting out my feelings for him in those slow, gentle morning hours. It was a wonder that he hadn't yet noticed.

There was definitely a slight shift in our relationship when I begged him to allow me to stay, though I couldn't define what it was. Our interactions were just as they were before but the burden on his shoulders seemed...lighter, somehow, despite the addition of a new member of the community. Maybe he just liked having a friend with a new perspective to discuss...

If only he knew how much that new friend wanted to kiss him when the morning sunlight poured in through the study window and glittered in his eyes. Resting atop his sturdy chest, half-dazed and half-witted from having just woken up, the temptation was almost overwhelming most mornings. Instead, I would simply nuzzle farther into his chest or the crook of his neck and breathe in his scent until I was certain I could trust myself to look into his eyes again.

One of those mornings, the rain cascaded down, splattering against the windows and creating a soothing rhythm against the roof. I was loathe to get up, and Tokath seemed even less inclined to do so, until a knock sounded at the door.

With matching pair of begrudging sounds, the two of us sat up, and Tokath called for whoever it was to come in. Belatedly, I realized how bedraggled we must look. M'Ven took a single step inside, saw our mussed hair and state of dress, and blushed as he delivered his message.

"My apologies for the intrusion, sir, but I thought you might like to know that your daughter's shuttle has just entered sensor range. She should be here within the hour." Almost as soon as he'd finished speaking, M'Ven tossed me a friendly wink and left us to our own devices.

A joyful smile spread across the Commander's lips as he turned to me.

"You and Ba'el would get along so well! Would you like to come with me to greet her?" He looked so hopeful. How could I possibly refuse? Without a single thought, I reached up and brushed a few errant strands of hair behind his ear. When his hand covered mine against the side of his face, I realized how close we still were to each other.

Oh, the urge to kiss him was back stronger than ever!

"I wouldn't want to intrude on your time with her–"

"Hush, e'lev. You could never intrude," he said, "and if you're not uncomfortable with the notion, I'd love for you to be there."

Tokath's hand kept mine firmly in place while I took a deep breath.

"I'd be honored." If I thought his smiles had been beautiful before, I'd clearly never seen him this utterly filled with joy. Tugging me into a crushing hug, the Commander let out a relieved breath. Did he really think I'd refuse?

After having bathed and changed into clean clothes, we arrived at a clearing in the woods that Tokath called the 'landing strip' just in time to see his daughter's shuttle touch down. The rain had stopped just a few minutes before, giving way to a thick, murky fog. Almost as soon as the shuttle's engines cut off, he was striding toward the door of the small craft.

This must've been something of a routine for them, because the young woman practically threw herself into his arms, sending the pair into a fit of giggles. I hung back just a bit to give them space. Despite Tokath's earlier protests, I was determined not to intrude on their reunion.

"You should've told me you were coming! I'd have prepared a welcome party," he said, and at her protests, I turned my attention to Ba'el's ship, trying to give them some semblance of privacy. The vessel seemed to be Klingon in design, so I assumed she'd acquired it or borrowed it while on the homeworld that she'd gone to explore - Tokath told me all about the incident with a Starfleet officer and the minor revolt that led to some of the younger members of the colony striking out on their own. More power to them. It took a lot to leave the only place you'd ever known in search of entirely new places.

"Oh, hi!" Ba'el's cheerful voice sounded, and I turned my head to meet her smile with one of my own. I gave a little wave as the pair walked over.

"Ah, this is our newest resident," Tokath said introducing me. Rather than a more subdued greeting as I'd expected, Ba'el glanced between her father and myself, then wrapped me in a tight hug. I'd expected apprehension or maybe something a bit more confrontational, but, really, that was silly. She was Tokath's daughter, and he was one of the kindest people I'd ever met. It only stood to reason that his daughter would be at least partially similar in temperament.

"This place is so secluded! How in the stars did you end up here?" She asked as she pulled back and grasped my shoulders.

"Well, it's a long story–"

"One that even I have not yet managed to coax from her," Tokath cut in as he wrapped an arm around my waist and smiled playfully down at me.

"–but it's not a terribly interesting one. I boarded the wrong transport at the wrong time, that's all," I finished with a shrug, ducking my head to escape the warmth of his gaze before I combusted completely.

"Oh, the 'wrong time' was it? And here I thought you liked it here, e'lev." He was teasing me, I knew he was, but I still didn't want him to have the wrong impression.

"No, no, that's not what I meant. I love living here! This place is the best thing that ever happened to me. I-I just–" Tokath's gentle, rolling laughter engulfed me just as his arms did, cutting off my rambling protests.

"Do you really think I don't know how you feel about that by now?" When I simply buried my face in his tunic and made a noncommittal sound, he gave me a nice, big squeeze. "Come on. Let's all get back to the compound before we freeze in this dreary weather."

--

Dinner that night was a joyful affair. Stepped up from the usual fare into something more celebratory, the whole colony was ecstatic to welcome back one of their own, even if it was only for a short time. Though she was only planning on staying for a couple of weeks, Ba'el's presence brought a sparkle into the hall. Her lightheartedness and genuine wonder about the things she'd seen in her travels brought smiles to everyone's faces - including a rather pointed attentiveness from Centurion M'Ven that I noticed.

Eventually, the meal drew to a close, but before Tokath could protest, his daughter looped her arm around mine and stole me away into the quiet evening air. Stopping at the same little pond where her father had first told me of the transport, Ba'el tugged me down next to her on the bench to sit with her. We were both silent for a few moments, watching the water ripple in the bond as a slight breeze caressed its surface. When she spoke, her voice was so soft that it almost slipped away amidst the trees' rustling leaves.

"When I was little, my parents used to bring me here every day. I'd run around and play, and they'd sit here together on this bench. On the days when I didn't need others for the silly games I played, they kept their own company. Sometimes they talked, sometimes my father would read her a book, and sometimes, if the atmosphere was right, they'd end up roaring with laughter over some joke they'd shared," she murmured. A nostalgic little smile stretched her lips, and a far away sort of look settled itself firmly onto her face. "When I got older, they trusted me to come here alone, and I took to exploring the gardens. I knew every rock and tree - they were my friends, as silly as that sounds. I miss this place more than any other when I'm off exploring the galaxy."

I listened carefully, and a wave of gratitude washed through me for the glimpse she was giving me into both her past and her father's. It must've taken a lot for her to share something so personal with me.

"The last time I was home, M'Ven saw me come here. He followed me one night...gave me a bouquet of his own hybrid flowers - he tends them religiously, so you couldn't have missed them," she said, and with a conspiratorial lean in, she continued. "He's asked me to be his mate."

I wasn't exactly surprised. The glowing smiles he gave her at dinner and his near constant blushing sort of gave it away.

"Does your father know?"

"Not yet, no. I'm going to tell him in a couple of days, though, I promise. M'Ven was the first born here. I think his mother was in the early stages of pregnancy before the battle and just didn't know it yet," Ba'el explained. "He's not officially a Centurion, of course. He wears the uniform, and he was trained by the officers here, but the Romulan government doesn't know anything about him."

She paused for a moment, allowing the weight of her words wash over me.

"We agreed that this year when I came home, if I still felt the same for him, he'd come with me on my next trip. It'll be a little more risky traveling together, but we'll manage. After that, when we come home next year, we're going to stay and build a life together," she said letting out a giggle that was so infectious that I couldn't help but join her. "So what about you? I assume that you and Papa are going to stop dancing around each other sometime this decade...?"

"I-I don't know what you mean." Stammering certainly didn't help my case, but the laugh that left her throat told me that she wouldn't have believed me even if I'd sounded perfectly confident. "Ba'el, I...I do love your father, but I don't want to do anything that would make you uncomfortable–"

"What are you talking about? I haven't seen him this happy in years! Last year I was so worried about him that I stayed for a month instead of my usual couple of weeks. He practically had to kick me out." She gripped my forearms gently and looked into my eyes. "I'm happy for you. When one of you finally works up the courage to talk about your feelings, I'll be the first person to celebrate. You're good for him, and, from what I can see, he's good for you."

Relief, palpable and potent, rushed through me, and I hugged Ba'el to hide the tears that had gathered in my eyes. We sat by the pond, talking and joking until the unmistakable sound of footsteps met our ears. We both turned in time to see M'Ven rounding one of the larger trees with a bouquet in hand. He caught sight of us and froze - he'd clearly been coming to meet Ba'el, but my presence startled him, the poor lad.

Ba'el beckoned him over, and the bob of his Adam's apple in his throat as he swallowed betrayed the confident air he'd clearly been trying to exude.

"Calm down, she knows. I told her," Ba'el said as I smiled and got to my feet.

"I also know when it's my cue to leave." Giving poor, startled M'Ven a wink, I started to walk away and give them some privacy. Before I got out of earshot, though, I turned back and called his name. "I think it goes without saying that you'd better be good to her."

Resolve straightened his back and lifted his chin.

"I will, lhhei, you have my word." With that promise obtained, I left them to their own devices, and, though I'd intended to go to my room and sleep, my feet carried me to Tokath's study seemingly of their own volition.

The door was already open, revealing the man in question sitting at his desk and staring into a cup of tea as if it held the answers to life itself. I wanted so badly to kiss the little furrow between his eyebrows and the lines on either side of his mouth...

As if my gaze had called out to him, his eyes lifted from the depths of his tea and caught me hovering in the doorway. His features melted seamlessly from from surprised to relieved to elated in barely a flash.

"Ah, so I haven't been abandoned for the evening, then," he teased as I closed the door behind me. Tokath leaned back in his chair, and I noticed for that there was a second cup of tea sitting on the desk.

"As if I could stay away from you, Commander." Walking over to his desk, I leaned against the polished surface and glanced at his bookshelves for the thousandth time. I knew very well which titles sat on the shelves - even the Klingon ones - but I needed somewhere to look other than at his gorgeous face. "Forgive me for being late. Ba'el and I were talking."

"So that's where you were! I turned to speak with L'Kor for barely a moment after dinner, but when I turned back, my two favorite ladies were nowhere to be found," he said placing a hand over his heart and pouting as if he was deeply wounded. "I thought for a moment you'd been stolen away. I noticed that M'Ven disappeared after a while, as well. I couldn't help but wonder..."

As he trailed off, I felt a brief surge of hope. L'Kor's words and Ba'el's floated into my brain. Maybe they were right. Maybe I did have a chance, after all.

"M'Ven is kind, and he is a friend of mine, but I wouldn't give up your company for his." With my reassurance putting his mind at ease, Tokath grasped my hands and smiled up at me.

"Forgive me, e'lev, I shouldn't be this greedy with you."

Freeing one of my hands, I rested it lightly on his chest.

"There's nothing to forgive. You can be as greedy with me as you want, Tokath," I murmured, and just like that I found myself lost in his gaze. There was a softness in his features when he looked at me, a vulnerability that made me want to wrap him in my arms and never let go. It went through my mind that I could tell him. I could kiss him there, right then, while that gentle trance had us so firmly in its grip, but I couldn't seem to make my mouth move.

"The tea...I'm sorry, it's probably cold by now." His voice was so rough when he spoke that he sounded as though there was gravel in his throat. I could hardly blame him, though. When I spoke, I sounded just as destroyed.

"It's okay. How many evenings have we talked so long that we forgot we even had tea to begin with?" He let out a quiet laugh at my question, and we fell into our usual rhythm of conversation. Before we drifted off together, though, I promised myself that before his daughter left with her own lover, I'd tell Tokath how I felt. If shy, reserved, dutiful M'Ven could ask the woman he loved to be with him, I could tell Tokath how much I adored him.

--

"She matches this little community of misfits well, doesn't she?" The rough voice of his co-leader sounded from just behind Tokath's right shoulder. L'Kor was observing the group of small children on the other side of the courtyard that were listening intently to a story that the Human woman was telling them. "The children like her, their parents trust her...she has even befriended Ta'lana. It's as if she's been here all her life."

"She did say that she felt more at home here than anywhere else," Tokath mused as he watched one of the youngest - a brave Klingon girl of no more than three - climb onto her lap. He couldn't stop himself from smiling at the ease with which she handled life in the colony.

The Klingon leader hummed quietly and they watched as the children begged her to show them a Human game.

"You see it now, do you not, old friend?" L'Kor asked as he and Tokath watched her explain how to play game. She said that it was one that children of her species played called 'hide and seek.' As soon as she turned her back on the giggling group of little ones, they promptly scurried away as she began to count.

"I don't know what you mean," Tokath murmured, but the aged Klingon let out a rough, disbelieving laugh.

"Yes, you do. Whether you wish to admit it or not, you look at that kyamo Human woman, and you feel young again," he rasped as a tiny Romulan boy sped past their feet. "You cannot hide it from me, Tokath. I know you too well. Since she crashed into our lives, you have become more like your old self. You should tell her how you feel."

The Commander shook his head quickly as she turned back toward the courtyard.

"Ready or not, here I come," she called, and a few poorly-suppressed giggles echoed from various not-so-clandestine spots.

"I couldn't. She chose to stay here in this isolated place without a single other member of her species being present. She believed that I alone had the power to banish her. She begged me to stay. I will not jeopardize her newfound happiness by making her feel trapped by an old man's unwelcome attentions," Tokath protested to his old friend.

"'Trapped'? 'Unwanted'? Commander, she seeks out your attention on a daily basis," L'Kor stated as he looked at his friend incredulously. "Have you not noticed how differently she behaves around you than everyone else here? Can you not see the light in her eyes when you give her a reason to smile? My friend, if such a woman looked at me with as much love as that Human lady looks at you, I would have made my interest known long ago."

That made Tokath pause. There had been moments where he believed - where he hoped - that he saw something beyond simple gratitude and friendship in her eyes, but he'd dismissed it, believing that those moments were a product of his own wishful thinking. Even a few nights ago when she still came to him after speaking with Ba'el for so long, there was a charged moment when he felt as thought might have a chance.

He did love her. She was a ray of light in a world that had grown gray and stagnant. He'd sacrificed so much over the years - his home, his career...he'd given everything to ensure that the families of the Klingons living here would not be dishonored. He'd even been forced to surrender his wife to the ravages of time. Did he not deserve to have a moment's pleasure of his own? Did he not have the right to cling to this bright spot and bask in her presence now that he'd found her?

Tokath relished how easily she made him smile...how effortlessly she made him laugh. Her quick wit and warmth had brought so much color to his life. He'd narrowly managed to avoid losing her to the transport, but only just. Had she not come to him and pleaded for a place in the Carraya colony, she would be lightyears from him by now. How long would it be before someone else here - someone younger and more willing to be forthright about their feelings - caught her eye?

He thought he'd revealed too much when he made that offhanded comment about M'Ven, but neither of them had been brave enough to make a move afterward. He cursed his cowardice yet again. He should've kissed her that night.

Taking a deep breath, Tokath nodded his head and mentally acknowledged how fortunate he'd been thus far. He might not be for much longer if he didn't gather his courage. Would his daughter approve now that she'd had a chance to meet her?

A few feet away, she found a Klingon child hiding behind a set of supply crates, and when she looked up Tokath's eyes met hers. His lips stretched into a warm smile reflexively, and she gave him a little wave as she went to look for more of hiding children.

Oh, Elements, he couldn't deny it any longer.

"You've made your point, L'Kor."

"And what are you going to do now that you see your situation more clearly?" Tokath bristled slightly as he turned to look at his friend. "Oh, come now. You cannot tell me that you have not given any thought to the possibilities. Surely, you've at least imagined what you might say if you were to tell her how you feel?"

He had, but most of those daydreams ended in him dejectedly acknowledging that she would likely never be able to return his affections.

Tokath's expression must've said it all, because L'Kor sighed heavily.

"Oh, my friend, do you truly think so little of yourself that you cannot even imagine a happy ending? Take it from me: it was far more difficult for my wife to give me a chance than it will be for that lovely girl to give you one," he said before patting the Commander's shoulder and ambling off.

Perhaps L'Kor was right. Maybe he simply needed to allow himself to consider the possibility that she might react favorably to the fondness, no, love - that was the emotion and he should call it by its name - that he'd developed for her.

A joyful squeal from one of the little ones drew his attention, and he saw his lady being hugged so enthusiastically by the children that she was practically drowning in their affections. She sank to the ground, surrendering good-naturedly to their embraces with a giggle. Tokath couldn't suppress his laughter at the sight of her trying to hug as many of the children in return as her arms could accommodate.

Her eyes found him through the clamor of the group, and his heart thudded alarmingly. Oh, the things she did to him!

One of the children whispered something in her ear, and when she nodded her head, the little girl broke away from the group and ran up to Tokath, looking up at him with big, hopeful eyes as she spoke.

"Mister Tokath, sir? Will you come play with us?" She asked as the rest of the children and his Human watched their interaction.

How could he say no to such a polite request?

--

Later that evening as he walked to his quarters to get ready for dinner, Tokath thought to himself that the afternoon spent playing with the children along with the woman he loved was one of the most enjoyable days he'd had in quite some time. The joy of simply being with her was enough to make him feel like the luckiest Romulan alive.

"When are you going to marry her, Papa?" Ba'el appeared at his side smiling up at his as she looped her arm with his. Had he truly been so lost in thought that he hadn't heard her approach?

"Marry? What are you talking about?" He asked as innocently as he could, but all that earned him was a scoff from his daughter.

"Oh, please. The entire colony knows how you feel about your newest resident," she said, and his cheeks heated up as she continued. "So when are you going to ask her?"

"Ba'el, I...I don't even know if she'll have me–"

"Are we talking about the same woman? When you joined her and the children today, she looked at you like you hung the stars in the sky," his daughter said. "You haven't been this happy since..."

She didn't have to finish her sentence. He knew what she meant. They both know the significance.

Pulling her to a stop in the hallway, Tokath grasped his daughter's shoulders lightly and looked into her eyes.

"Could you handle that? Could you live with the knowledge that you have a stepmother who is neither Klingon nor Romulan?" Ba'el's opinion of her was important to him - it was the only one that mattered outside of his own on this. He didn't want her to feel as though he was actively attempting to replace her mother. Gi'ral had been unique and he would never wish to disrespect her memory.

But he also didn't wish to be alone for the rest of his life. He adored this Human lady, and he...well, he would dearly love to be her mate.

"Father, I want you to live. I've been worried about you for the last few years, but now...seeing you this happy...I'm so relieved that you've found someone who makes you feel like yourself again. How could I ever object to you finding love?"

Overcome with emotion, Tokath pulled his daughter into a tight hug, nearly sobbing in relief.

"I...have some news, too...about M'Ven and I." She sounded nervous, but in truth, she had no reason to be. Pulling back slightly, Tokath looked at his daughter.

"Ba'el, if you believe that I know nothing of your affections for him or his for you, then you have clearly forgotten that I used to be young, too," he said looking into her eyes. "I wish the both of you every happiness, and if he hurts you, you tell me how much he screams when you tear his head off. And I know you're imminently capable, but if you need help, I'm here for you."

His daughter was right. He needed this. He didn't want to be alone anymore.

--

Tokath's daughter had been on the colony for nearly a week and a half when it happened. I stopped by his quarters to pass along a message from Ta'lana before dinner, but when I reached his doorway, I froze. He was standing in front of a full-length mirror, in his full uniform, tugging it gently in various directions presumably to straighten it. The poses he struck might have looked silly to anyone else, but to me, the imposing figure he made when he puffed up his chest and gave a harsh glare to his reflection made me bite my lip.

Realizing how long I'd been standing there, I knocked on the doorframe and acted as though I'd only just arrived when he turned his head.

"Just the woman I wanted to see," he exclaimed as he turned to face me. "I dug out one of my older uniforms and thought I'd wear it to dinner tonight. What do you think?"

He puffed out his chest once more as I stepped into the room, looking very much like the proud Commanding officer that he was.

"Very handsome...commanding..." I paused when I was right in front of him, itching to touch any part of him that I could. "...Perhaps a little rigid, though."

His smile fell a bit.

"Rigid?"

"Only a little," I answered, and he raised a curious eyebrow.

"How would you fix this...rigidity?" He asked, and I walked a slow circle around him before reaching up to finger the front of the ghastly leather collar at the top of his uniform.

"Does this part come off separately?" Tokath swallowed slightly before letting out a quiet confirmation. "May I?"

The Commander caught both my hands carefully in his and slid them around to the back of his neck where the collar's clasps lay.

"Do what you will with me." His voice had lowered, both in volume and in pitch to something husky...something that made me want to remove more than just this hideous strip of leather. After a moment's pause, I managed to unfasten the clasps and pull the collar away from his throat.

My next movement proved that I wasn't thinking. Once I'd tossed away the unnecessary accessory, I skimmed my fingertips over his neck, savoring the feeling of his pulse thrumming beneath my touch. Tokath's hands grasping my waist made me aware of what I'd done, pulling me out of whatever trance I'd been in and forcing my eyes to meet his.

Anything I'd been preparing to say was obliterated by the hunger in his eyes. Was I imagining it? I could simply have been seeing my own emotions reflected back at me.

Then he took a slow step toward me, and I stopped thinking about anything but how badly I wanted to kiss him. I took a breath and leaned in–

Only to be startled by a call of his name from the hallway. We both took a hasty step back and averted our eyes as Ta'lana appeared in his doorway.

"There you are. I tried to catch up with you, but it turns out you didn't need to deliver your message. I found the extra crates from our last shipment, after all," she said, then she turned her attention to Tokath. "My apologies for the disturbance, Commander. I hope this hasn't been too much of an inconvenience."

Tokath caught my hand and gave me a little wink.

"No, not at all," he said catching my eye. "I always welcome your company, lhhei."

A long, charged pause stretched between us, and my cheeks heated up under his gaze, but finally Ta'lana called my name.

"Come, come. We've taken enough of the Commander's time," she called, and I started toward the doorway.

"See you at dinner," I called over my shoulder, hoping neither of them could hear how unsteady I sounded. His response barely registered as Ta'lana closed the door behind us.

"I'm looking forward to it, e'lev."

--

The atmosphere in the dining hall that evening was different. It felt as though everyone was waiting for something to happen. They seemed nervous, yet...excited? How odd. When Tokath arrived, he took a seat beside me as usual and caught my hand in his. Before I could ask what he was doing, he'd tucked a flower securely in my hair just above my ear. The delicate petals tickled a bit, but I didn't dare risk dislodging it after he'd placed it there so carefully.

I opened my mouth to ask him what he was doing, but the words just wouldn't come out. He seemed to understand my dilemma, though, because he brushed the back of his knuckles down the the side of my face and swallowed heavily.

The heat that suffused my cheeks when we were alone in his quarters earlier made a spectacularly rapid return, even as dinner was served.

Conversation was hushed, but weighty that night from all sides. People were happy for M'Ven and Ba'el - news had already made its way through the colony like wildfire, sparking surprised exclamations and boastful assertions that people had seen it coming years ago.

But there was something else, as well. Given how peoples' eyes kept straying up to the head table where Tokath and I sat, I guessed that people were wondering how he was taking the news. It wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that he'd be emotional about his daughter finally choosing a partner. If that was the case, though, why were so many gazes landing on me? Was it the flower? I supposed that I couldn't blame them. After all, I'd been surprised, too.

The Commander offered me his arm when the meal ended and I took it without hesitation, allowing him to lead me out into the gardens. This particular route was one we'd never taken before, and we only stopped when we reached a footpath leading into the forest.

"Where are we going?" I asked as he guided me down it expertly, pushing small branches aside and helping me over a fallen log.

"A secret place I found years ago. As far as I'm aware, nobody else even knows it exists," he said with a wink. After a few more minutes, we reached a curtain of vines. Thinking we'd reached a dead end, I looked around in confusion, but Tokath walked me right up to it with his arm wrapped comfortably around my waist. I looked up at him, and he winked as he parted the vine stems.

Moonlight sparkled and gleamed as it bounced off the surface of a placid lake. A swarm of glowing insects slightly larger than Earth fireflies swirled and played above the water, reminding me of a flock of birds.

"Oh, Tokath, this is beautiful," I murmured. I was almost afraid of speaking too loudly, lest I disrupt the peace that permeated this little place. The branches of the trees surrounding the lake's edge seemed to almost wrap around the clearing like gentle, protective arms.

"I thought you might like this place. I've been waiting for the right moment to share it with you," he whispered against the shell of my ear as his hands rested on my shoulders. Gently, so carefully, he grasped my chin and turned my head toward the left shore. A few feet from the water's edge was a blanket with plush pillows, fluffy towels, and a lantern resting atop it.

That was it. Afraid or not, I was going to kiss Tokath tonight, no matter what. I turned in his grasp only to find the lantern's warm, yellowish glow caressing the adoring smile that stretched his lips.

"Thank you for trusting me with this," I said resting my hands on his chest. It was now or never. Lifting my hand to cup his cheek like I had in his room, I looked into his eyes. "You've been uncharacteristically quiet tonight. Is everything alright?"

That damned smile got wider and he let out a quiet laugh.

"Oh, yes, lhhei. Forgive me," he said drawing me into a hug. "I'm afraid I've been lost in thought."

"Oh? And what has occupied your mind so thoroughly?" I punctuated the question with a quick kiss above his fluttering pulse. The Commander's breath caught in his throat, and I realized that maybe I hadn't imagined the hunger I'd seen in him earlier after all.

His grip on me tightened and he hummed at the question.

"You have, dear lady," he muttered, his voice low and rough. That tone had caused me so much frustration since the first time I heard it. I must've let out a gasp or some other surprised sound, because he nodded his head against my scalp. "Yes, you have been a very prominent element of my thoughts since the day you arrived here, but, lately, I find myself contemplating something that...truthfully, I have no right to even consider."

Feeling his proximity even more than usual, I looked up at him curiously. He didn't relinquish his grip on me one iota, but that suited me just fine. I never wanted to stop touching him.

"Maybe talking about it would help ease your mind? Usually confiding in someone close to me helps when there's something bothering me," I suggested, hoping that he didn't notice how shaky my voice had become.

"I will, but only if you don't mind being the one who listens to me ramble. You see, you're the only one who can help me with this particular problem, but I promise I won't ask you if you're not willing." His voice was low and heavy as he spoke, carrying the same weight I'd noticed more and more lately.

"I'll do anything I can to help, Tokath. You know that," I said offering him a reassuring smile.

"You see, I've been asking myself several very specific questions...ones to which I do not have the answers. If the answers are too personal or if you do not wish to engage in that conversation, you need only tell me, and I will drop the topic. Everything can return to the way it was before. I have no desire to make you feel trapped or to change how you see me."

After his little speech, I felt certain that I knew where this might be going, and anticipation flooded through me. Butterflies beat their wings unceasingly in my abdomen.

"Questions could never change the way I look at you." He shook his head at my assertion.

"These might," he breathed as he averted his gaze. "I haven't spent much time around Humans, as you may have guessed, so I...don't exactly know how someone in your culture might approach something of this nature."

I nodded my head in encouragement as his thumbs began to rub slow circles where they rested on my waist.

"I...You see, I wish to...to..." He trailed off and took a deep breath. "When...Well, with Klingons, the men write poetry, the women throw things at each other. It's rather straightforward. Romulans are more varied in their approaches, and...I suppose what I want to ask is is this: How do I...? I mean, what would you expect of...of a...?"

Tokath let out a frustrated huff and shut his eyes. A blush so vibrant that I could see it in the lantern light darkened his cheeks and spread all the way to the tips of his ears.

"Oh, fvadt, I'll never say it at this rate. What I'm trying to tell you is that you are beautiful and kind and the part of myself I never thought I'd find," he said sounding much more resolute. "I doubt this is the way a Human would go about it - much less subtlety to it even though you deserve subtlety and romance - but I need you to know that I love you. That I...would like to be your mate. Hell, I don't even know if Humans call their bound partners 'mates' as we do, but that's neither here nor there. I'd, of course, be happy to call us anything that you wish if–"

A surge of courage tore through me, and I cut off the rest of what he was going to say with a kiss. My lips met Tokath's, and he tensed up for a moment before relaxing into it and kissing me back. One of his hands came up and cupped the back of my head, holding me as close to him as was physically possible.

"I love you, too," I blurted as soon as we separated for air. He looked as dazed as I felt, but he still managed to lift me into his arms and carry me to the blanket as his mouth met mine again.

We didn't make it back to the compound until the next morning. With our hands clasped and rather obvious marks marring the skin of our necks, it was obvious to anyone who looked our way that we were both finally whole.

~*~*~

Taglist:

@akamitrani @android-boyfriends @attention-bajoranworkers @bigblissandlove1 @darkmattervibes @emilie786 @horta-in-charge @live-logs-and-proper @slutty-slutty-vulcans @starrynightgardens @toebeans-mcgee

[fountainpenguin]

130 Reasons Why I'm Fairy Trash

💜 Lavender Train Arc

(July 2016 - Ongoing)

"Cripes, it's been years. Centuries? I dunno; I've been high for most of it... But it's easy. When I'm on peppermint, I can forget about what's bothering me. S-see, the thing is, I just can't stop thinking about Foop and Anti-Goldie... "I don't wanna make them do anything they don't want to. That's not fair to them. I wouldn't want Foop to do anything like that to my life if I had to be the one to copy him, so why should I be controlling his life like this? It should be his choice, you know? He sh-shouldn't have to be forced if he doesn't want to..."

- Drama, Romance, Angst, & Fluff

- Prompts related to the celebrity kids and friends: Poof, Foop, Goldie, Anti-Marigold, Sammy, Finley, Hiccup (Foop's alt personality), and Cavatina (Sanderson's son)

Summary

Spellementary School. Alberich Middle. Carl Poofypants High. Welcome to the best years of the rest of your life. Poof is no stranger to being strong or popular, but discovering he's a gyne - a "queen bee" among fairies - comes with its own challenges. That whole "fighting for dominance" and "driven to kill each other" thing certainly add stress that'll never go away... even if he wasn't incredibly anxious about his on-and-off poly girlfriend (Goldie) or H.P.'s eternal push to hire him at Pixies Inc. Foop's spent his life fighting for every scrap of respect his Fairy classmates see fit to give him. Exhausted by the complex dance of supporting his mother through a war, juggling his mistress with his actual betrothed, and struggling to restrain an alternate personality growing ever more protective and bitter, you have to wonder... is chasing universal domination even worth it anymore?

Rated Gen and T

Read on FFN | Read this arc on AO3

130 Sums | Full 130 Prompts Series (AO3) | Other Arcs

Cloudlands AU - Detailed warnings & other AU info

#130 arc guides - More posts like this

More Fairly OddParents 'fics

Highlights of this arc:

- Crocker starts long-term work at Spellementary School. Poof and Foop teach him the basics of magic. - The kiddos spend spring break with their grandparents. Well... I guess Finley's with his....... Head Pixie. - Poof and Foop each welcome a younger sibling into their life... in their own way. - With Anti-Cosmo missing in action, Foop struggles to support his mother through an interspecies war. - Hiccup (Foop's alternate personality) takes his mum to lunch. - Foop faces microaggressions while struggling to get a job in Fairy World. - Foop finally settles on a betrothed. Ugh... She's clever and nice, but it's a good thing romance is optional. Can you imagine flirting with your ruling partner? - Hiccup is very normal about his crush on Sammy Sweetsparkle. Uh-oh... - As things get serious with his betrothed (Anti-Coriander), Foop tells his girlfriend (Anti-Marigold) he'd like her to be his mistress. Yeah... That talk goes great. - Poof buries his incredible amounts of trauma beneath his peppermint addiction. Foop quietly helps him through school. - Poof and Foop team up when they find themselves the targets of an assassination plot. Wait, what?

Read on FFN | Read this arc on AO3

"We have to think of... celebrated heads of state or especially great communicators! Did they have brains or knowledge? Don't make me laugh! They were popular! Please..." (x)

[bookish-monster]

BOOK REC

Healing the Orc's Heart

by Lyonne Riley - find her on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok as well

The storygraph link for this book will provide information such as page count, publication date, and community-created content warnings.

Healing the Orc’s Heart is the second installment of the Trollkin Lovers series. This book was my introduction to Lyonne Riley’s monster romance universe, and I found it very fun! Even though it’s the second book in the series, it was very easy to slip into and I didn’t find anything confusing—the protagonists of the previous book, Stealing the Troll’s Heart, are secondary characters here, but you don’t need to know their story well in order to follow Blizzek’s and Nera’s journey together and apart.

This is a short and sweet little book, coming in at just under 150 pages on Kindle. I really loved the initial language barrier between Nera and Blizzek—caught on opposite sides of a war, the two have never really had a chance to mingle with those outside of their own respective cultures, let alone learn each other’s languages. Nevertheless, with a bit of tutelage Nera picks up Trollkin (Blizzek’s language) very quickly, and this turns into an advantage for her further along in the plot. 

Nera was a great protagonist; I loved how she insisted on caring for every wounded person she comes across, even if she meets resistance or her rendering aid ends up getting her own self in trouble further down the line. Although very good-hearted, Nera never strikes me as silly or naïve—instead, she just comes across as a person who is determined to do what’s right. The medical assistance she renders is very abstract (Nera mostly fetches a plant or two, makes a potion, and then the patient gets better after it’s administered) and isn’t gruesome or graphic at all. Dark themes like war and slavery, though present in the setting, are touched with a very light hand and never cloud the horizon too ominously.

Blizzek was equally wonderful. His internal conflict of fearing that his presence in Nera’s life would hurt her since there is a stigma against interspecies relationships in this universe, in spite of their blooming life-mate bond, was conveyed with a lot of feeling. It was very funny seeing Raz’jin (the troll protagonist from the first book of the series) knock some sense into Blizzek and make him realize that he could have a life with Nera. The sex scenes were deliciously steamy, and I loved how tender and gentle yet still incredibly masculine Blizzek was with Nera in the bedroom.

The HEA was cavity-inducing in the intensity of its sweetness, but it felt very much earned. Nera and Blizzek went through a great deal of strife and heartache to find each other after their initial separation. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am excited to start reading the others in the Trollkin Lovers series!

Find this book on Amazon Kindle (US)

[agentsquirrelsgotrobots]

"Prime, I wouldn't do this." Charlie warned, putting his hand on the holster of his tox-en knife. He had bought it from Swindle and only carried it when he thought he would use it. It was too dangerous for everyday carry.

"Where is Heatwave? He hasn't reported in." Optimus sounded angry, his plating flared and smokestacks steaming.

"He's busy sir." Chase said. "With the wedding."

"Whose wedding?" Optimus asked, a cold edge to his voice.

"My daughter and Blades." Charlie said. Optimus was shocked. "They haven't proposed yet, but it's practically set in stone.

"Literally," Chase said. "Dani's wedding rings came in yesterday, and Blades's conjunx medal has been custom ordered."

"Which means?" Charlie said, a smirk on his face.

"By Autobot code on interspecies marriage, the deployed bot must stay at a base within a visitable distance of their spouse, especially if there's additional dependents. Blades would be duty bound to stay on the nearest autobot base to Dani." Chase recited.

"We will relocate her then. Blades is needed in China." Optimus said.

"Optimus, with all due respect, that's a twelve hour one-way plane trip to and from Griffin Rock. And even if you used the ground bridge, Dani isn't fluent in Chinese or Mandarin, never mind getting a job in her field. It would require her to renounce her American passport, become fluent in both languages, pass the citizenship exam, and then the civil service exam. The process would take years, and she would have to start over in her career, retaking all the licenses exams too. She would be confined to the house, with very little access to the community before she reaches fluency." Charlie said.

Optimus sighed. "Very well. I will reassign someone else. It's been a while since I have seen my son. I still want to see a report from Heatwave by the end of the week."

Optimus transformed and drove through an open ground bridge.

"Sir, when will you tell Optimus that Heatwave is deceased?"

"When I can plan an accident to cover up the hole in his crotch. Bastard had to have the weirdest place for a subspace, didn't he. I like your new cyber matter avatar. Doc Greene worked wonders with the base design. I'm glad you added your own personal touches. Maybe later I could find out how personal?" Charlie smirked as Chase's avatar blushed.

"I would be happy to if I still feel up to it."

"If not, we will take a rain check. Your alt mode does need a bath, you know."

Chase's avatar blushed harder. "Could we keep it platonic? I really just want a quiet evening and sleep in my alt mode tonight."

"You know what? For your quick thinking, I will give you some cash and you can go to the car wash you like on main street. The one with the soft scrubbers."

Chase beamed. "Thank you, boss."

"That's alright, my siren."

[mamaladeskies]

Dear Door: I'll Need My Eyes Cleansed

I want to start by saying I have never seen that many dicks before in my entire life. I am in a state of shock. Yes, I'm an adult.

I've found myself getting into boys love manhwa and it's been good so far. I chanced upon Dear Door by Pluto and what caught my eye was the suggestive cover and Cain's brown skin, so of course I was going to read it.

After 152 chapters (I'm taking a break from the dicks) I am confident that this was PWP, porn with plot. A good plot. I sacrificed sleep a couple times to find out what was at the end of each twist and turn.

At first I'd halted my reading to continue with Painter of the Night because for the first few chapters the story seemed chopped in some places; like when Kyunjoon would say he's feeling pain, we wouldn't know why but it would be alluded to that something had happened. I kept wondering if I'd skipped a panel or something.

A Tiktok I saw of Cain and Kyunjoon's babies drew me back to the story. They were very cute. It motivated me to continue and once I got into it, I couldn't stop. Painter of the Night got forgotten, my personal project got forgotten, my sleep became an afterthought. At work, what got me through the day was remembering Cain and Kyunjoon were waiting for me.

I enjoyed their relationship, even when other couples were introduced I didn't feel an urge to jump ship. They had an opposites attract thing going on where they complemented each other, they communicated their feelings(mostly), they enjoyed each other's company, Cain teasing Kyunjoon was adorable and Cain is 101% dedicated to Kyunjoon and so was Kyunjoon... It was just cute.

Dear Door had that thing I like where when the demon starts to fall in love, his heart starts to feel funny and he's confused at what his body is doing.

The plot of demons using humans as doors to hell meant we got an unhealthy number of sex scenes, with no lightsabers. Pluto did not censor anything and even magnified the sex scenes, such that we'd get multiple close ups from like different angles going on and on for almost half the chapter. The first time I saw it, the uncensored parts, I thought my sleep depraved self was imagining things. It had started out pretty mild and then everything was in my face, multiple times. Whew.

Let's just say the characters got into some kinky stuff along the way, Azaniel, bless him, was very curious and unashamed about it.

The true strength of this story was the fast pace, I never got bored, and how the characters were written and the dynamics between them. Sid was an interesting character, his yearning for love was truly pitiful. Understanding why Cain was playful and nice for a demon Lord was satisfying. Aaron's story was melodramatic. But, Satan could have been more diabolical, more scary... Just more.

Jinyoung was a victim. He truly suffered, I kept wondering how he's not the main character with how much he was suffering. It was sad, but he got a satisfying ending.

Something I can't let go of, is what the hell happened to Kyunjoon being a police officer? Did he quit? Was he fired? What happened there?

The beautiful art distracted me from any gaping holes in the story. The characters were beautifully designed and the colours were stunning. My favourite character design was Cain, in human and full demon form, then Ben in his mutt form then Aaron, I love his scars. Satan gets an honourable mention because of the red eyes.

And of course the babies. Look!

And here is Cain. The floppy ears are so cute and I didn't expect I'd come to like the fangs but I am obsessed. Also, his blonde eyelashes... Uwu. I think I want to see more interspecies and how different artists portray them.

And then some drawings just made me laugh. Oh that's the other thing, I had a few laugh out loud moments and that's always a win.

Even the smut was masterfully drawn. I'll be honest and add the size difference between Cain and Kyunjoon threw me off a bit. I once saw on Reddit that bls tend to do this, however experiencing it with your own two eyes is something else. I want to know what inspired this.

In the end, I had fun. Though I'm kinda worried I won't find something else with beautiful illustrations + cute couple + action packed.

I'm thinking On a Leash next, I heard it's toxic so of course you'll find me at the scene of the crime.

[cinema-hallucinations]

Prompt: create a movie concept about a cetacean musician.

Sonar Serenade

Tagline: Can a dolphin make cetacean rhyme with musician?

Logline: Pip, a charismatic bottlenose dolphin with an uncanny knack for mimicry, dreams of becoming the world's first cetacean pop star. His quest for musical fame leads him on a journey of self-discovery, challenging both human prejudices and the rigid social structures of his own pod.

Characters:

Pip (Voice Only): A playful and ambitious bottlenose dolphin with a talent for mimicking human music. He dreams of breaking barriers and becoming a global phenomenon.

Echo (Voice Only): A wise and elderly humpback whale, Pip's mentor and confidante. Echo understands Pip's dreams but cautions him about the complexities of the human world.

Dr. Anya Patel (40s): A brilliant marine biologist fascinated by Pip's abilities. She helps Pip understand his musical talent and navigate the human music industry.

Reef (Voice Only): Pip's cautious and traditionalist father, concerned about Pip's disregard for pod norms and the potential dangers of the human world.

Frankie "The Shark" (Voice Only): A washed-up music producer looking for a second chance. Frankie sees Pip's potential as a cash grab and exploits his talent for his own gain.

Plot Summary:

Pip, a bottlenose dolphin with a playful spirit and a keen ear, isn't content with the usual dolphin clicks and whistles. He finds himself drawn to the sounds emanating from passing ships – the rhythmic thrum of engines, the catchy melodies of pop music. Pip develops an uncanny ability to mimic these sounds, creating his own unique underwater "sonar symphonies."

Echo, the wise old humpback whale, recognizes Pip's talent and encourages him to explore his music, but warns him about the human world. Despite Echo's concerns, Pip's curiosity is too strong. When a group of scientists, led by Dr. Anya Patel, arrive to study the pod's communication, Pip uses his talent to mimic their voices, creating a melodic bridge between species.

Anya, a music enthusiast herself, is captivated by Pip's abilities. She helps Pip understand the music he hears and encourages him to compose his own original songs. With Anya's help, Pip's "sonar serenades" are recorded and released online. The world is mesmerized. Pip becomes an internet sensation, the first cetacean pop star.

Pip's fame brings a media frenzy. He's whisked away to recording studios, interviewed on talk shows, and becomes a symbol of interspecies communication. But fame has a dark side. Pip is exploited by Frankie, a washed-up music producer who sees Pip as a way to revive his career. The constant attention disrupts Pip's life in the pod, causing friction with his father, Reef, who fears the dangers of the human world.

The climax arrives during a live concert Pip is forced to perform for Frankie. Pip, overwhelmed by the bright lights and booming sounds, loses his voice (or rather, his ability to mimic). Disheartened and disillusioned, he retreats to the ocean depths, questioning his path.

With Anya's help, Pip rediscovers his passion – music isn't about fame or mimicking humans, it's about expressing himself. He returns to the surface, not for a concert, but to share his original compositions with his pod. Pip's music becomes a bridge between dolphins and humans, fostering understanding and appreciation.

The film ends with Pip performing a live concert alongside a human orchestra, playing his own original music, a beautiful melody that transcends the barrier between species. Pip remains a part of his pod, showcasing that following your dreams doesn't have to mean leaving your roots behind.

Songs:

Echoes of the Deep (Pip & Echo): A gentle ballad sung underwater, showcasing Pip's playful mimicry of ocean sounds and Echo's wise guidance.

Surface Sounds (Pip Solo): A song filled with wonder and curiosity as Pip first discovers the melodies of human music.

The Bridge of Song (Pip & Anya): A hopeful duet, showcasing Pip's original composition and Anya's belief in his talent.

Underwater Disco (Pod Chorus): A high-energy underwater dance number featuring Pip and his pod, celebrating his newfound fame and the joy of music. (Think dolphin clicks and whistles mixed with electronic beats)

Lost at Sea (Pip Solo): A melancholic ballad reflecting Pip's disillusionment with the human music industry and his longing for home.

The Ocean Symphony (Pip & Ensemble): A grand finale featuring Pip performing his original composition alongside a human orchestra. The song is a powerful mix of dolphin clicks, orchestral swells, and human vocals, creating a melody that transcends species barriers.

Themes:

The power of music to connect across species barriers.

The importance of staying true to oneself in the face of fame.

Balancing dreams with respect for tradition and family.

[cuprohastes]

The Trouble with Pebbles (3!)

Part Threeth

Previously on "Days of our Graak"

Dave the Human has taken up an offer to be Dave the Atrix, mostly for the chance to be a brat and access to that sweet sweet moss.

Cat Fantastic is discovering that the big exciting non Atrix world sucks in new and unticipated ways, but he has acquired a new Aunt Dave.

Dave The Human is displaying oddly maternal behaviour... what could this mean? It means Dave's not an ass.

The Von Neuman Space Squids are not learning to sing and still aren't in this story.

EVA 43 and the Most Dangerous human are eating mozarella sticks and arguing over which was better: 21st Century Superman, or Post Contact Superman. They also aren't in this story.

Gondy, Rax and Garfield are starting to wonder AITA?

O'Patel and Big Ma are surfing a diplomatic incident wave and cackling with glee: Also they're about to ask Dave the Atrix A Question...

Dave the Atrix twitched in a way that Dave the Human had come to associate with an incoming call making a bunch of tech gadgets go into vibrate mode.

Dave pulled his tablet out, unfolded it and picked up the call - It was Big Ma, his nominal superior now he'd defected to the Big Purple Lizard Team.

"Hang on..." he muttered and flipped down his UV Visor. "Atrix" he said and flashed his name pattern.

In the background, he could hear O'Patel absolutely losing it at the expression Ma pulled. Her display skin was doing the Atrix equivalent of the spinning beachball.

O'Patel leaned into frame. "Say, Dave, would you like your registered Atrix name back?" he asked.

"Oh... sure!" said Dave the Atrix Phalanges Mitten, known troublemaker, shortarse and interspecies drag performer.

"Oh yes... PRIME DAVE!" squeaked Dave The Human doign a victory dance. "Last Dave standing. Squeap!".

"Is that Dave?" asked O'Patel.

"No this is Phalanges." said Dave.

"Not you!" O'Patel responded and so Phalanges held up Cat.

"In that case, you mean Cat Fantastic?" he said, mostly to introduce his Little Guy's new name.

"Oh, good name" said Ma somewhat enviously, having recovered form the novelty of Dave having suddenly acquired a comically robotic Atrix communicator. "If you don't want it..."

"Graak!" Cat said.

"Understandable." Ma said, and Dave leaned in and said "That's what I said too!"

"I'm the big boss. And so's O'Patel." she added in response to Cat's entirely reasonable query. "OK Atrix, take care of each other and check in soon. This is a weird scenario and we have a lot of people suddenly either worrying, yelling that this shouldn't be allowed, or asking really bizarre questions."

"Had to get the space broom out." said O'Patel which gave Phalanges and Dave an indicator of what some of those queries had been.

The Space broom is the metaphorical item used to beat back wannabe horny alienfuckers. The fact that Atrix are about as asexual as you can get while still having a natural reproduction rate, and basically do not have anything that a human could recognise as genitals has not stopped anyone, including a small community of Tsin, three Wallandernook, and a really weird artist colony of Atrix who are collectively keeping the entire Atrix Erotica industry ticking along: from cranking out staggering amounts of Atrix interspecies romance and erotica novelettes to audio books. The question is less: "Why are you making this?" and more who is buying these things?

Meanwhile in another part of the Station...

Rax is carrying a tray of purple breadrolls, dips and fill-ins. Un-Named Male is in Garfield's pouch, and Gondy is carrying the drinks.

"Are we... the bad guys?" wonders Gondy.

Gondy had been hit in the faceplate with debris months earlier and the partial decompression had blinded her in one eye and caused her face to develop some nasty crack pattern scars.

The possibly Human EVA Maintenance specialist that everyone referred to as 43 had hauled ass out of the medical wing, yanked open an airlock with no concern for his/her own safety and dragged Gondy in out of a hard vacuum.

They'd basically walked it off, and recovered within weeks while Gondy had needed her eye reconstructing and still had scars months later.

Rax had been Gondy's Little Guy and had promptly left her pouch and started stuffing their face... which by human standards is a Douche Move.

But from an Atrix point of view it meant Gondy only had to look after herself, and besides, now Rax, rapidly putting on mass, was always on hand to help out and keep up Gondy's social obligations, if not her work: Not the Asshole.

And now all four are lurking in Garf's cabin, which is more or less a single room with storage and a ton of more or less free range mosses, ferns, decorative fungus, and a place for someone with a tail to sprawl out or sit with friends.

"I mean..." says Rax, in Atrix, half spoken, half displayed. "... in ways that can be discussed, we have been which has been mentioned?"

"In ways that can be discussed and measured." Garf says. "And it shames us. It has shamed us all"

Gondy says, "That which is known and considered. We could have done better by them that is faceless. It is to the faceless human's credit that she accepted a token of bonding."

"Graak" says Un-Named male, being a little coarse. Garf passes him the mushroom and spinach and the little guy hollows out a purple roll and starts filling it. "Grak."

Everyone flickers their colours and ponders food, apart form Un-Named male who's somewhat pithy commentary has rather clarified the matter.

"Insofar as that goes, I am in agreement. We cannot, now, have done better in the past, in a retroactive manner. But we can do better at this time and at times future." says Garf, and Rax, being the second youngest polls the vibe and says, "... how?"

"That remains to be seen." mutters Gondy around a mouthful of purple roll and tomato pesto.

That night

Actually it's kind of day but Phalanges works the night shift when there's less people and a lot of the station's life support can be sequentially taken out of service and tested or maintained without having to put a memo out for everyone to hold their bowels for an hour.

Dave's sacked out in bed, rolled up in a duvet. The room's dark with just a little ambient light, a comfortable 16c.

He's set Cat up with a pillow, the laundry bag and the fuzzy blanket that they've been using because Phalanges doens't have a pouch the way a big Atrix does.

Cat is, despite these kindnesses, miserable.

It's way too dark, it smells funny and alien. Cat normally sleep in a comfy little hollow lined with various live plants. This laundry bag is... weird. It's floppy it's too roomy, it moves too much when he tries to lean up against it.

The fur is a weird unsettling texture and the air is just a little too dry. And it's cold.

Frankly Cat is dreading having to use the bathroom again, or deal with weird human notions of scale.

Cat's really wondering why they thought quitting the Atrix community was a smart idea.

Admittedly it was a community that hadn't wanted him and made it dishearteningly clear: One which had been making his life miserable by ostracising him for his entire life, no matter how much effort he put in to co-parenting the hatchlings, maintaining the garden or generally trying to be friendly.

Not having the display skin across his cheeks and forehead just made them all turn their back.

And then... something magical had happened. He'd woken up and found The Best Rock, tucked into his arms as he slept. he'd hidden it well and pondered. None of the other Atrix Of Size would take him, even for this unbelievable, magical treasure. And if he tried he'd lose it to someone within short order.

And then someone had reminded him that technically, for whatever reason, Dave the Human - everyone's good old Aunt Human - had been officially an Atrix Of Size. Even if they were only half the bigness of a real Atrix.

So Cat had taken the opportunity. Anything had to be better than the casual dismissal and hurt... right?

Well not so much. And now Cat is cold and scared and blind and realising they may have just made their life so much worse.

Cat finally falls asleep, exhausted, whimpering softly.

Cat is asleep. He's dreaming of a stony plain: There's no sun, no comforting moss to hide in, and in the distance he can just see everyone walking away, leaving him. No matter how hard he's trying to keep up: The ground is sucking the heat out of him, and the rocks are sharp. If he's left he'll die. There's nothing to hide under from the remorseless, cruel sky, nothing to eat, no cool water. They finally just... left him.

But then the cruel ground vanishes, falling away as though he's being lifted up, into warmth and safety, and he wonder: Is this what it's like to curl up in a pouch?

It's warm and comforting and the sharp stones can't hurt him up here.

Now he's speeding through the air, with the gentle pendulum swing of being carried... And things are looking more lush - There's purple moss and plants and soft lichens. The sky is warmer, less cruel.

Better... They - he and the warm comfort who's carrying him - are catching up to everyone, and if he keeps quiet he can pretend that the warm chatter and rippling colours include him. And at the moment it feels like they really do.

For the first time in a long time, perhaps for the first time, Cat has a name, and nobody seems to notice that he has no colours. He clings on to this dream tighter than he's ever held anything in his life, and it's as though he really is warm.

Phalanges is asleep.

He doesn't feel Cat relax in his arms, tucked up under the duvet: He heard his little guy in softly crying in his sleep.

he never even woke up: Just slithered out, scooped Cat up and vanished under the warm covers.

In his dreams, the halls of the Station are wide. This is normal, as are many things in dream logic. He's walking with two faceless figures - he can't quite place them but for some reason he imagines the skin of an apple breaking. Ahead he sees a friend, cold and lost, and so hurries up and swings a blanket around them with satisfaction, though he can't quite recognise them... but somehow knows them so well.

And tonight almost more than any other night, he sleeps well.

[insanitysilver]

Number 1 for the ask game!

From this ask game.

1. Describe yourself how you would describe a character you’re introducing.

To my beloved Hfetcher Committee,

Of the life in system 10301XY, we have taken one primate sample from planet 00101CB as early calculations lead us to believe the species to be most suitable for our testing needs. My esteemed colleges have voiced some reservations on selecting a “burgeoning” species for wide scale testing, but I have consoled them with the knowledge that certain members of the Myrmicinae subfamily are already practicing agriculture as well, and taking their numbers and well-formed exoskeletons into account, we expect them to surpass the Homo sapien’s rudimentary technology within the next few galactic years.

How to describe our sample? We deem it fully representative of the species, as genetic variations between them are minimal to the point our researchers found them difficult to tell apart. This one, like this others, is a craven little biped with haphazard dangling “limbs” and a nub on top from which it both perceives and processes its environment—what a terribly precarious evolutionary design. It seems its primary mode of sensation is by the capturing of bounced photons in two small holes.

Can you believe photons were one of our hotly debated theories for so long, only to find a creature out in the stars ruled by them a mere hectacentury later? Truly, times have changed.

What else on our sample? At its full height, it only reaches the approximate level of our gastrobulbs. Its method of locomotion is a haphazard forcing of weight from one gangly limb to the next. Its temperature spans the range of 18.81p-24.85p. It has no electroreceptors and communicates primarily with its own species by vibrating the atmosphere in specific patterns, or even more misinterpretably, by arranging the muscle and fatty tissue in its nub in different configurations.

Such imprecise communication. It’s no wonder their kind is always embroiled in interspecies conflict.

While its cells have a membrane-wrapped nucleus, its overall form lacks any sort of lovely gelatinous coat. This feature, chiefly, do our researchers find the most nauseating. All their truthful internal mechanisms hidden beneath a loathsome opaque wrapping. The very design of this creature is deceitful in nature.

Please ensure all future interns sent have a higher distress tolerance. You know how their perturbation makes it hard for the rest of us to focus.

Sensually yours,

Hx. Glorbax

[solarpunks]

The Interspecies Festival London UK: The Treaty of Finsbury Park

The Treaty of Finsbury Park is an immersive fiction that looks at what it would be like if other species were to rise up and demand equal rights with humans. What that means is you, as a human, can come and take part in the fiction only by playing for and as another species (so, like, NOT as a human ok?!). The project started in 2020 and it will run until 2025 when the Treaty itself will have been created and signed by all the species communities of Finsbury Park.

If colonial systems of dominance and control over living beings continue we all face an apocalypse.

With a planetary health check revealing over a million species on earth at risk of extinction because of humans, we decided to explore new ways of developing mutual care and respect on earth. We believe that by treating other life forms as resources to be managed and exploited for profit, rather than lived with and learned from, humans are condemned to lonely self-destruction. Biodiversity is crucial in mitigating the effects of climate change. As cities now hold some of the world’s greatest biodiversity can’t help but wonder if they also hold the greatest potential for positive impact. It's time to spark new ways of being, feeling and acting together locally, nationally, transnationally…

How to Join The Interspecies Festival of Finsbury Park 2023

A massive immersive role-play event for park lovers. Explore the park as another species, with new eyes, ears and totally new priorities. The Interspecies Festival welcomes ALL human people over the age of 9

Festival Prep Workshops 29-30 April 2023

Attend any or all FREE workshop activities:

⇨ Learn how to think, move and speak like your given Mentor Species… ⇨ Make amazing costumes to enhance your Mentor species masks. Wow everyone! ⇨ Learn 3 short songs for Multispecies Choir: a lament, a protest song, and a celebration…| ⇨ Dig the soil and plant new trees with the Rewilders of Finsbury Park…

The Interspecies Festival: Sat 3 or Sat 10 or Sun 11 June 2023: 12.30-5.00, Finsbury Park, London, UK

Revel in games and other activities celebrating the cultures and talents of all Finsbury Park’s species…

⇨ Multisensory Mystery Tour: see, hear and smell the old forest through the sensory superpowers of squirrels, trees, and dogs… ⇨ Multispecies Choir: squeak, squawk, howl and honk “songs” of lament, celebration and protest… ⇨ Help shape the first-ever interspecies treaty of cooperation for bountiful biodiversity…

All festival activities were devised by players of the 2021-22 Interspecies Assembly Games.

These events are FREE but require prior registration. Book your tickets here!

----

Furtherfield are close friends of soalrpunks and we attended prototype LARPs back in 2019 and 2021. If you are based in London or close enough book tickets and check this ambitious community project out! 

[spacialshrimp]

[♡]My little child who isn't so small[♡]

Part 9

Warning: Interspecies racism

-----------------------------

Years have passed since the succesful birth of experiment 6052,he showed a natural tenderness for others, or maybe just maybe was the fact of growing up in a secured envirioment, he was never schoolarized at the lab, mostly because according to Doctor Louve, he needed to socialize outside, it was necesary, so, the leaders of the proyect and with help of the goverment , created birth documents for 6052, giving him the name of "Daniel Junior Dzhek Nickson", and they stated in the documents that Doctor Daniel Nickson, was his father, and legal tutor, at the age of five , they would start living together , Daniel was told to not get attached to the experiment, he didnt obeyed and soon enough , 6052 was matriculated in school.

So that way his schoolar life would start at 6 years old in the school "Elementary school the Jaguars", he saw many species, but it didnt took him long to realize the main population consisted in humans, he saw very few others specimens like; Mh'in's , D'mœ's , Zw'eho's, etc.

He didnt saw anyone like him, but he was always told that since Yautjas where more energetic, they where on different kinds of schools.

His kind nature, made him quite easier to make friends, Ma'hek ka"hu, was his first friend, this was a slender kid with fur and floppy looking ears, curly hair and crocked teeth, his little fangs made them look like a vampire.

And his second friend was Chloe, who in that time was a small chubby little girl with really short hair, with time she would let it grow, since Ma'hek said "your hair is really pretty, i wonder if it gets bigger".

You would think that because of his kind nature, 6052 was particurlarly shy and not very sociable, well youre quite wrong, he is the kind of guy with that charming personality that if he wants to, can be the king of the party.

Daniel, was thinking about that one saturday evening, he was at home in his office organizing some documents, leaving everything ready for 6052's monthly medical revision.

The door of the office was open, his now 1.70 cm 16 years old son was there.

His hair long and braided, dressed with a dark green sport hoddie of his team and some shorts.

He was carrying his sport bag.

-"Hey mum, im leaving to the practice, i promise i will call you when im on my way home, bye love you!"-

As 6052 left the house to go practice Daniel shouted "Love you too" back and "Don't forget your entry card!".

Daniel couldnt help but chuckle as his gaze landed on a photo of Daniel Junior (6052) with his friends after obtaining second place on the Selective of Volleyball but even so they got to the finale.

They where so tired that time but so proud and he was proud too.

Western High was a good place, well it was the only public school in town the other two stablishments where private.

Daniel tought of how time practically flew out of his hands, and now the little creature he used to hold in his arms its now a teen boy to heavy for him to give him a piggy ride.

He thought about himself ¿was he being a good father? Somethimes he wondered if he was doing enough for his son.

He never denied him his other origin, and in fact at times Daniel junior had holo-calls with the donor used to give him life, a yautja male of 350 kg of pure muscle almost 230 cm tall called Knife, it was an ancient yautja, with many scars around his body, leader and supervisor of chivas, but even so 6052 was more made for human life, thats what knife communicated to daniel one time, he said "the boy, its too compationate for a hunter".

Daniel at times thought about those words, he didnt knew if it was bad or good, and if it was bad ¿was his fault? He has been too sweet? He has given him too much?.

When he commented his preocupations to his colleague Emily lee, she said "you have raised a good boy a healthy boy, a respectful and fuctional member of society, i belive you've done well", he also thought about those words while still sitting on his desk, at his office at home, those words ...he wondered if they where true, or if she was just trying to reassure him.

His mind wandered thinking in the past, a past he always tries to pretend it dosent exist, a past he tries to hide in a dark corner of his brain like if it was just a bad dream.

And the fact that acronym was still in his mind didn't helped him.

Those Letters "A.R.P" wich stands for "Alien Relocation Program", were fresh in his mind, he wasn't the kind of person who hated easily, but that name, made his blood boil and frezze at the same time, out of fear and rage, he remembered watching on live news when he was young, the places where the just arrived aliens lived, a marginal place, dirty, full of crime, he didn't understood why they where living there, if they had so much better tecnology, in his young brain it made no sense why they where living there, and why did "A.R.P" sent them there, ¿did they do something wrong?, he didn't knew.

One time he remembered asking his father "dad ¿why are the aliens in there?"

His father only gave him another of those spechs of how the aliens do not belong here on earth, how they where a pest.

"They come here only to cause harm"

His father said.

But to his restless mind that did not answer his question, he wanted to know why, he wanted to understand why , when he walked with his parents to the center to buy things, there where stores that didn't allowed "no humans" inside, he wanted to know why.

But no mattered how much he asked his questions where always answered with the same vague response of "they will only cause harm".

Eventually he stopped asking, he was young, nine years old in a world recovering from a global pandemic, going through two different wars at the same time on Asia and the middle east, and adapting to the arrival of extraterrestial's.

But he still wondered if it was necessary to hate, one day, when daniel was still young, he was riding his bicicle, and ride past two police officers acting with exesive force towards a Mh'in's, the Mh'in was clearly confused and scared , he despertaly wanted to help, but he felt way too scared to face the two adults alone, and just kept his way.

That moment, lives on his memory, one of his biggest regret's, was not helping him, he regret's every night of that, because he knows that if he wasn't around and his son was being harmed he would like someone to help him, to tend a hand on him.

He suddenly came back to reality, looked at the clock, 6:30 pm, 6052 must have already finished his practice.

¿Did he called to tell him?

Daniel, checked his holo-pad, and there it was, daniel jr. Did called, 3 times.

Daniel felt terrible, he was so lost in his memories he lost track of time and ignored the calls of his son.

He was about to return the call, when the access beep of the main door rang, and his son ran through it, desperately calling for him.

-"mom?! Mom?! Are you here?!"-

-"i'm here what happend?!"-

Daniel said answering to his son desperated calls.

-" oh thank's heavens...its just, well you always pick my calls or return my calls inmediatly, so..i got scared..."

6052 said while he catched his breath in relief.

Daniel walked towards his son and hugged him.

-"i'm sorry"-

He said felling terrible for scaring his son like that.

Daniel jr returned the hug -"it's okay mom, im just happy you're fine"-

Daniel then to change the subject said -"i will order pizza for dinner, i don't feel like cooking today, go shower, and then you tell everything about today"-

He said with a smile.

Junior. Smiled back and noded vigurosly.

He went shower and Daniel went to order the pizza.

-------------------------------------------------------

Sorry for taking so long, my assigments have been really time consuming but i'll try to post more frecuently, take care.

[xasha777]

In the galaxy of Veridia, amidst the swirling nebulae and radiant star clusters, there existed a world unlike any other. It was a place where beauty and technology intertwined, a planet called Luminara, known across the cosmos for its breathtaking inhabitants whose vibrant hair colors were a testament to their mastery of genetics and style.

One such being was Elara, whose hair flowed with the hues of a supernova, capturing the essence of her people's love for the artistry of life itself. Her hair, an intricate tapestry of living colors, was not just for aesthetic pleasure; it was a bioengineered wonder, capable of interacting with the ambient energy and technology that pervaded every aspect of Luminaran society.

One day, a renowned explorer and diplomat from Earth, Roger de Beaumont, arrived on Luminara. His mission was to forge an alliance with the Luminarans, for Earth had heard whispers of their advanced technology and harmonious society. Roger was a descendant of ancient Earth nobility, but here, amidst the stars, titles held little weight. It was knowledge, wisdom, and the pursuit of beauty that the Luminarans valued above all.

Elara was assigned to be his guide, and she led him through the iridescent cities, where buildings were grown from living materials and vehicles moved in silence, powered by the ambient energy that Elara's people had harnessed. Roger was astounded by the technology, but more so by the Luminarans themselves, who seemed to him like walking masterpieces, every movement a dance, every word a song.

As they traversed the city, Roger learned of the Convergence—a biannual event where the planet's energy fields aligned, amplifying their connection to the cosmos. It was during the Convergence that the Luminarans' hair would reveal its true potential, becoming a conduit for the cosmic energies, allowing them to commune with the stars and even influence the fabric of spacetime.

Roger realized the importance of this event and saw an opportunity for Earth to learn from it. He proposed a cultural exchange, where Luminarans could visit Earth and share their knowledge of energy manipulation and aesthetics, and in turn, Earth could offer insights into human resilience and adaptability.

Elara was intrigued by the proposition and brought it before the Council of Lumin. The council deliberated, intrigued by the idea of interspecies collaboration and the potential growth it could bring. They agreed to the exchange, marking the beginning of a new era for both Luminara and Earth.

When the Convergence arrived, Elara stood at the heart of a grand amphitheater, with Roger and dignitaries from various planets as witnesses. As the energy fields reached their zenith, Elara's hair became a cascade of living light, flowing and pulsating with the rhythms of the universe. The Luminarans joined hands, their hair interweaving into a luminous network, channeling the cosmic energies in a breathtaking display of unity and power.

In that moment, Roger understood that beauty was not just in the eye of the beholder but was a fundamental force, a bridge between cultures and worlds. The alliance that formed on that day was not just between planets, but between the tangible and the ethereal, the scientific and the artistic, the human and the divine.

And so, the legend of Elara, with her supernova hair, and Roger de Beaumont, the Earth diplomat, became a beacon of hope and collaboration, a testament to the endless possibilities that awaited when the many hues of the universe were woven together in the tapestry of life.

[deepspacedukat]

Patience

Alright, here comes day two! Vreenak has entered the chat!

Day 2: Orgasm Denial

SOC prompt list here. SOC Masterlist here. Cross-posted to AO3 here.

~*~

Vreenak (ST:DS9) x Reader

[A/N: This is smut, so 18+ ONLY, MINORS DNI!!!]

Warnings: Interspecies sex, Romulan/Human sex, orgasm denial, dirty talk, fingering, necking, almost getting caught, power imbalance, power play, getting interrupted, enemies to lovers kind of.

~*~

“Do you do that for the sole purpose of annoying me?” Vreenak’s low, silken voice seemed almost too loud in the confined space of the motionless turbolift. At least ten minutes had passed since either of us had spoken, and we’d been stuck between levels for nearly half an hour. We’d received one communication from Ops saying that we’d be out soon, then we were left on our own.

“What?” I asked meeting his icy, irate gaze with confusion.

“You’re tapping your foot,” he said gesturing to the offending appendage.

“So?” I didn’t dare admit that I was just getting rid of some nervous energy. That would open a whole other can of worms that I didn’t want to have to deal with while I was stuck here with Vreenak.

“So it’s irritating,” he snapped with a pointed glare. “I’ve half a mind to cut it off at the joint if you don’t stop.”

“With what? Your shit attitude? Besides, it’s no worse than your pacing a while back,” I muttered under my breath as I leaned against the back wall of the turbolift and crossed one ankle over the other. Folding my arms across my chest, I acknowledged that it was bad enough that he hated me and everything that I did. He didn’t need to know that I was attracted to him, bad attitude and all.

Fine. If he wanted to be an ass on what was already the worst day I’d had aboard this damn station, who was I to stop him? It wasn’t like I hadn’t tried in the past. Apparently, everything I did, including the way I dressed, annoyed the Senator. For a man his age, he really should have better manners.

“You’re lucky we’re not on Romulus. Speaking that way to a man in my position would undoubtedly garner more serious consequences than you could anticipate.” Was I crazy or was there a hint of amusement in his voice? I didn’t bother to look up. I just took a deep, slow breath, and tried to concentrate on anything but the fact that I was stuck in such a confined space with a man who clearly despised me. “Oh, don’t go quiet on me now. I thought even the weakest Humans had more fight in them than that.”

Stubbornly staring ahead at the dark, non-functioning panel on the opposite wall of the turbolift, I listened to both our breaths.

“I suppose I was wrong. How disappointing. What meetings will I miss if we’re stuck here for the next few hours? Or didn’t you have time to memorize my schedule this morning?” Despite his snide comment, I was glad he changed the subject. A little of my tension melted away. I could handle business talk.

“Don’t be absurd. I’ve worked for you for how long now? You’ll only miss one. A Bajoran Minister and Admiral Ross were scheduled for three hours of your time, beginning roughly an hour from now,” I answered without missing a beat. “I believe they wanted to discuss some prior incident that occurred a few years ago at a place called Derna.”

“Oh, wonderful,” he groused, and I glanced up just in time to see him pinching the bridge of his nose with those long, agile, stupidly gorgeous fingers of his. A professional sculptor couldn’t have done a better job– Stop it, stop it! Get your mind out of the gutter! “That’ll be three hours of posturing wrapped up in pointless, transparent appeasement and assurances. Utterly tedious.”

“You could always cancel or reschedule,” I suggested as he leaned against the lift wall beside me with a sigh. “I could tell them that I’d accidentally double-booked your appointments, or something so you wouldn’t be blamed.”

My mind screamed that after how he nitpicked everything I did, he deserved to suffer through a rough meeting. Just a little bit. Why was I offering him an alternative?

Those sharp, blue eyes that I both hated and adored in turns scanned my face - presumably to determine whether I was serious. After the absurdity of the day, I supposed that was only fair. Beginning the day with a drunk Klingon tearing up his office, an Andorian challenging me to a fight in said destroyed office because the Senator was busy, and the replicator nearly exploding in both our faces when we tried unsuccessfully to order lunch...that wasn’t exactly a normal day.

This turbolift incident, as inconvenient as it was, at least afforded us a moment to breathe. Sure, we’d still have to clean up his office, give statements to security about the Klingon and the Andorian, and put in a repair call for the replicator, but, for now, all we had to do - all we could do - was stay put and wait.

Well, that and try not to kill each other before the station’s engineering team could get us out. That was much easier said than done, especially on Vreenak’s part. The Senator certainly had a temper, but I’d only seen him really lose it once. He’d needed a new desk, and the person he’d thrown through it needed major surgery. His anger with me never seemed quite that intense, though.

“Who are you to assume the relative importance of my appointments?” Vreenak’s voice dropped to that low, raspy register with which I’d become so familiar and agitated over the last few months. That tone always made me question whether he was serious or teasing, so I usually didn’t push my luck.

Today, however, I was feeling foolishly bold. After all the chaos of the morning culminated in this damn turbolift trapping us, I’d had enough. My patience had run out, and Vreenak’s snide little comment was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“I think I’m the one who sets up your schedule and keeps angry Admirals from bursting into your office. I was trying to do something nice for you, not that you could tell. You wouldn’t know kindness if it bit those pretty, pointed ears of yours,” I retorted before I could think better of it. His eyes widened in surprise, but I wasn’t done yet. I’d been kind, I’d been accommodating, but that didn’t mean I was going to allow him to walk all over me just because I was nothing more than a glorified secretary to the man. Like a tidal wave, all my built-up frustration with the man came spilling out of me before I could stop it. “If you really want to deal with Starfleet and the Bajorans after a day like today, by all means, go right ahead! Don’t listen to your secretary’s advice. See how well that goes. After all, what the hell do I know? I’m just a Human. I’ve only covered for you about a dozen times! Heaven forbid I try to make things easier for you, you arrogant, ungrateful bastar–”

“Shut up,” he growled pinning me against the wall with one arm and grabbing my jaw with the other. The thought flickered across my mind that he might snap my neck. Instead, he crushed his mouth against mine in a hard kiss. After a beat of frozen surprise, I kissed him back with the same level of intensity. For several long moments, we lost ourselves in a dance of teeth and tongues.

He was essentially my boss. This should feel wrong, but every movement he made felt so perfect. His hands slid down my body with something like hasty reverence.

“Fuck you.” The words spilled involuntarily from my lips as he ground the heel of his palm between my thighs over my uniform.

“You seem quite eager to try,” Vreenak pointed out as I spread my legs for him. Practically clawing at the closure to my pants, he swore quietly when he dipped those long, devious fingers of his beneath my clothes and found me dripping.

He asked me something, but I could do no more than let out a desperate whine as he shoved two long digits into me. Grabbing his shoulders to steady myself, I tugged him closer.

“You’re infuriating,” he hissed as I bit the corner of his jaw. In retaliation, his fingers curled mercilessly, striking that place inside me over and over with unrelenting precision.

“Says the most irritating man in existence,” I gasped, rolling my hips to try and get more friction. Burying his head in the crook of my neck, Vreenak moaned as I palmed the bulge that had been pressing against me so insistently. Intense satisfaction poured through me when he began rutting slowly into my touch.

“Yes, but you want me, nonetheless. Don’t deny it. I’ve seen the way you look at me,” the Senator lorded that observation proudly over me even as he dragged me closer and closer to an orgasm. “Beautiful, pliant, little thing...”

“I fucking hate you,” I breathed, but my protest was so feeble and obviously false that neither of us could stifle our half-choked laughter.

“You’ve always been such an awful liar,” Vreenak murmured slanting his mouth over mine with an affection that I hadn’t anticipated. His hand sped up, intent on drawing screams from me. I was so close I could taste it. The lift jolted, but neither of us paid any attention. My breathing was no more than a stream of whimpered pleas as I began to tip over the edge–

“Ops to Turbolift Four, please respond,” a voice crackled over the comm, and we froze. Our labored breathing seemed almost too loud, now. With both our orgasms stolen away by reality’s return, Vreenak helped steady me on my feet before going to the comm panel. “Our controls show that you should be moving now. Can you confirm?”

“Yes, Ops. We’re moving,” the Senator said as he readjusted himself in his pants and took slow, deliberate breaths. I couldn’t help but smirk at the knowledge that he’d been as close as I’d been. Tuning out the conversation, I righted my clothing and tried to make myself look as if I hadn’t just been fingered within an inch of my sanity by my boss.

Mere seconds later when the turbolift opened on the level where the Senator’s office was, we both looked relatively put together for people who’d just been wrapped around each other. Navigating through the small group of people who were gathered at the lift entrance, I was suddenly grateful for the officer who’d interrupted us. If they hadn’t, we would’ve had quite the captive audience when the door had opened. We were almost to his door when one of Vreenak’s hands took up residence on my lower back.

“Cancel that appointment, but don’t pretend you double booked. Tell them the truth. Tell them...that an urgent personal matter has arisen that requires my immediate attention,” he murmured as we paused in the empty hallway. He tilted my chin up and gave me a mischievous smirk. “Once you’ve done that, I’d like you to come to my quarters. I believe you owe me a few screams for talking back to me, my dear.”

“Oh my, Senator, whatever will people say?” I teased winking up at him.

“If they’re wise, they won’t say a word. The ones who do, well...let’s not forget that I’m the Vice Chairman of the Tal.” His playful threat drew a laugh from me.

“You’d make someone disappear for gossiping about us?”

“For you, I’d make whole worlds disappear.” Having stunned me into silence, Vreenak placed a soft kiss on my forehead and started to walk away. One final teasing comment floated over to me as I moved to enter his office. “Don’t take too long, or I may have to begin without you.”

~*~*~

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[dkehoe]

Nell Ingram draws her powers from deep in the earth, and uses them to help Psy-LED, the Psychometric Law Enforcement Division, which solves paranormal crimes. When a local vampire calls to report a dead body on her compound, Nell knows she and her team have to be ready for anything. But the dead body is just the beginning of a mystery that involves supernaturals of all kinds, including some of the most powerful vampires in the country. As Nell gets closer to the truth, she begins to understand that the perpetrator is tracking her too—and that there is something personal about this crime. Something with roots that go almost as deep as those in Soulwood. By book six I am totally invested in Nell and the Psy-LED crew. The mystery is always so interesting and the romance between she and Occam, so, so sweet! Does it matter that Nell comes from a line that has an affinity with plants and the Earth? A kind of brownie or sprite, which sounds kind of cute and sweet, but her powers are tied to her land which can be hungry. I find the personification of her “Vampire tree” as a Green Knight who will protect she and her family very interesting. Especially since that Knight seems to be evolving, now able to communicate in a very humanistic way. I’m curious to see where Faith Hunter is taking that character and if it/he can evolve into reality. In fact, when you look at Nell and the Green Knight’s evolution, it seems like it’s Nell that is becoming more plant-like and the Knight more human. Like I said, interesting! When the Angel in the latest Jane Yellowrock book gave the Vampire’s their soul’s back, a kind gesture I’m sure, but causing all sorts of havoc in the vamp community. They now have “feelings” which are damned inconvenient for a bunch of bloodsuckers. When an ancient vampire from the Spanish Inquisition comes to town his intentions seem to be connected to Soulwood and Nell’s family, so as expected, Nell goes all twigs and twines in defending her territory. Sweet and salty Nell is now coming into her own as a threat and I love that evolution! Amidst all the doom, gloom, and interspecies fighting, Nell and Occam are planning their wedding. These brief moments are such a contrast to all the darkness in the story and really create that impact of blinding love conquering all that makes their union so wonderful. I really enjoy this plant woman and her cat man. They are a fun couple to root for! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Click this link to purchase this book!* Rift in the Soul Copyright 2024 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved *Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.