#two eels for supper

[magicratfingers]

Castle Guy

[figuerockfaeth]

MURPHS SWORD MOVES ADHFKFUSHSSJUF MY FENCING BOOK OF COURSE I KNOW HOW TO FIGHT

[merakiui]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE RAMBLE ON ABOUT JADE AND HIS MONSTROUS LOVE 🥺🥺🥺 ABOUT HIM EATING YOU WHOLE BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU SO MUCH

No part of you will go to waste, he'll cook you thoroughly and cherish every single bite. After all, a way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and you're certainly going that way. Then once you're fully digested, you'll become parts of his flesh, the blood that runs through his veins. The both of you will never be apart again <333

(I was also thinking of another route where he'll just shrink you down, chewing and poking at you playfully with his tongue, before swallowing you whole, keeping you safe in his tummy forever. I don't know what's the line that separates cannibalism and vore, aren't they sort of the same?)

Anyway, Yandere Jade who thinks with his stomach expresses his love thru cannibalism(❁´◡`❁)

HE IS SO.......... WWAAAAAAAA OTL my favorite murder eel who can shock my heart anytime he wants. I want to write a lot about the concept of monstrous love and the different types of hunger and how they apply to Jade with his big appetite (for both food and perhaps even love). There's a lot to explore!!!! He's such an enigma!!! I wonder if he's ever considered doing mukbang.... OMG,,,,,, mukbang on the dark web, but it's just Jade eating a spread of various human parts he's prepared. Scary... ;;;;; or maybe you're right there with him and he's making you join him even though you don't want to. :( terrible eel!!!!

While I don't write for vore and so this may be incorrect, my understanding is that cannibalism and vore are both different in their own respects. The similarity is that there's a focus on consumption, but the difference is that there's more brutality in cannibalism, as well as a focus on the build-up to inevitable feasting. Likely torture aspects, how the person is killed and later prepared, and so on. More gore and perhaps even violence; it's messy. The end result, in most cases, is death if [insert character here] has killed you and is cooking and eating you in parts. With vore, I think there's more emphasis on the relationship or dynamic between predator and prey and how there's not usually gore involved (although I'm sure there could be), merely just the act of being swallowed alive and whole and then being kept in the predator's stomach, whether to be digested or not.

HOWEVER!!!!! The idea of being shrunken down to a small size...... macro/micro with Jade........ being a smol fairy who the twins capture and put in a jar and......... :) Jade holding you up by your wings, pinching them in two fingers, and dangling you over a bubbling cauldron or the batter for a cake he's baking and acting as if he might drop you in............. he's the worst. >:( but Floyd with a little fairy darling is cute because I think he'd put you in a dollhouse and watch you sleep because you're so cute and he has to restrain himself from just,,,, crushing you in his fist because the cuteness aggression has him in a chokehold. >_<

Aaaaaa I love the idea of yan!Jade always thinking with his stomach even when it comes to love. He's hungry for your heart in more ways than one. To use my blog's catchphrase, he's after your heart. <3 hehehe!!!

But on the subject of cannibalism, there's a Vocaloid song called The Last Supper in which Len is sick with a seemingly incurable disease and no food can seem to sate him; so Kaito and Gakupo feed him all kinds of foods in hopes of finding one that pleases his bottomless appetite, but eventually they run out of ingredients and so they offer themselves to Len. This concept but with a royal!darling and butler!tweels........... but then maybe they just feed you Azul instead. T_T he has eight tentacles; maybe he can spare one to help you overcome your insatiable hunger, but then maybe that ends with you getting attached to the taste of Zuzu. Maybe he was a prisoner in the palace dungeons......... hmhmhmmmm many thoughts. >:D

orz aaaaaaa forgive me for rambling about lots of things at once!!!!!!

[blues824]

jade, floyd, malleus, trey, and rook with a reader who is like makomo from demon slayer? i just think she's the sweetest, despite her three minutes of screen time that consists of two words🥰

also, i know youve been doing requests left and right, so feel free to just do jade and malleus!

Reader is described as ‘motherly’, but no gender-specific pronouns are used.

Trey Clover

You both treat each other like husband and wife, and not in an overly lovey-dovey way. It’s the kind of old love in a new couple that people are happy to see rather than jealous or envious of. You both often walk hand in hand, and can often be seen baking together in the kitchen.

You take on the role of the mother of Heartslabyul, while Trey is a bit like the father. You both tend to be more gentle towards everyone else, like if Ace is doing a problem wrong then you will remain patient and kind as you tell him where he made an error.

Now, when Riddle overblotted, Trey witnessed as you used your water breathing style to behead the monster that was behind the Housewarden. You didn’t seem angry, but rather saddened that he never told you how he was feeling. The Vice Housewarden was surprised at your agility and precision.

Afterward, the baker rushed to see if the two of you were going to be okay. Riddle was carted away to the infirmary, and you seemed alright. However, he wanted you to at least have a check-up, so he carried you to the nurse.

Jade Leech

He’s very protective of you. If someone wants to try and take advantage of your kind soul, then they will have to go through him. You get scary guard eel privileges. This mushroom-lover just wanted to make sure that you were safe and out of harm’s way.

You act as a kind of motherly figure towards the dorm. Floyd often places his head in your lap as he rants about his oh-so-terrible day, much to Jade’s dismay. The former tweel often does this just to piss off the latter tweel. Once he’s finished, the latter tweel will pull you by the arm into his chest and wrap his arms around you in a possessive manner.

When Azul overblotted, Jade saw that you were in your element, especially with your blade. He had never seen someone fight with that style, but you moved quickly through the water and beheaded the monster that was providing ink to Azul.

Afterward, the Vice Housewarden rushed over and knelt down beside you after you collapsed from exhaustion. You were heaving up and down, so Jade picked you up off the ground and rushed you over to the infirmary alongside the Housewarden.

Floyd Leech

He’s also very protective of you, but not because he worries for your safety. I mean, he always wants you to be safe, but he’s not protective of you for that reason. No, he viewed you as his and his alone. No one else deserves your kindness in his mind.

With how caring and tender you were, he always went to you when he had a bad day. He knew that you would offer comfort, so he would place his head in your lap as you softly ran your hand through his hair, ranting to you about what made him upset. This would always put him in such a good mood after.

When Azul overblotted, Floyd tried to protect you but you understood what you had to do. You brought out your blade and moved with split precision, and the tweel was so worried. He was distressed, and Jade had to hold him back from rushing into battle alongside you.

Once you beheaded the monster, Floyd quickly swam over to make sure you were alright. Then, he placed so many relieved kisses all over your face while telling you between smooches that you can’t ever do that again.

Rook Hunt

He could write poems for you day after day and night after night about how much he adores and loves you. You both are like a married couple, and he totally doesn’t picture the both of you in a cottage in the forest with a few kids… him teaching his kids how to hunt while you prepared the animal for supper…

I wouldn’t say he was protective of you, but if he saw or heard someone plotting something then he would stalk them until they backed off. Ok, so he was protective of you, but not in the typical sense.

When Vil overblotted, he was frightened since you rushed into battle. You have already told him about your experience with fighting against monsters/demons, but it still scared him since this was different from a demon. However, he was surprised at how quick and agile you were, and he believed that you could do it.

After the battle, Rook ran over to see if you were alright. He scolded you for making him worry so much over you, but he was just relieved to see that you weren’t hurt too badly. He accompanied  you and Vil to the infirmary, where he felt his heartbeat finally slow down.

Malleus Draconia

Oh, he is overprotective of you. Sure, he wouldn’t lock you up in a tower and keep you to himself, but he does follow you to make sure that you aren’t harmed in any way. Mans is like a lost, lovesick puppy, please give him love and affection.

During your walks through the night, your arm is in his as you both talk about the day the both of you had. Malleus tells you about how his retainers are great, but sometimes they are insufferable and suffocating. Just talking about it made him feel so much better, you wouldn’t understand.

He saw you fight against Leona, and he was scared for your life. You had good form as well as a strategy, so he had no reason to be afraid, but war was always unpredictable. He was angry at the Housewarden of Savanaclaw, and planned to fight him later.

After the battle, he (against his retainers’ advice) rushed over to check and see if you were hurt. If you were, then he would move the fight to right now, not caring if the lion was passed out. However, upon seeing that you weren’t severely injured, he just held you close, letting out a sigh of relief.

[targcrazies]

Moonless, Dark Night. Pt. 5

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x OC!Strong (half Targaryen) Words: 4.4k+ Warnings: Violence and Graphic Descriptions, Emotional Distress, Mature (ish) themes, Mentions of Self-Harm and Su*cide, Adult Language, Incest.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

Part 6 Part 7

Sansa had been prepared for bed by her handmaids, her tight plaits now let free, combed through even the slightest tanglement. Her face had been washed thoroughly, her eyes widening at the invisible dirt melting off her face like a thick layer of it engendered another. She was slipped into a flowy, modest slip to sleep into, the Queen having made additions and deductions from her wardrobe as per her own desire right before Sansa's sixteenth nameday. “You’re a woman grown, your wardrobe must reflect that.” 

The Queen had come into her bedchamber right after supper that evening, “My cousin has taken a keen liking to you, sweet one.” She held Sansa’s hands in hers, beaming at her, “It is such an honour to think that you will be related to me so intimately.”

“Your Grace, it makes me the most happy, as well.” She wanted to be gentle in her qualms. “I admire Lord Hightower, so very much.” She chose to resort to reservation rather surreptitiously.

“That is incredible. I am sure he shall make a proposition before he leaves. This week went by so very fast.” The Queen seemed in positive spirits, her smile unconstrained, her words rolling off her tongue in quick successions. When the Queen retired and her ladies took off for their own slumber, Sansa waited. By the time it was the hour of the eel, everyone would be in their bedchambers for good. Sansa decided that it would be wise to wait until then.

Despite lethargy, she wore a cloak and secured the tie underneath her chin before taking off. She walked in bare feet, so as not to produce unsolicited noise. She was passing through Aegon’s bedchamber, expecting to hear the cries or moans of a woman or of Aegon himself along the way. Instead, she heard the voices of two men, cajoling among themselves drunkenly. It hit her then that Aemond was with his brother that night. 

She considered the odds of alerting Aemond of his mother’s tactics. There was truth to the fact that it was Aegon who was more critical of the Queen than Aemond was, thus, perhaps it would be best to reveal the findings before Aegon, who can provide his support in the matter.

She rapped gently on the door, the boys growing significantly quiet. Aegon’s voice spoke from the other side, struggling to sound uninebriated. “Who is this? Mother?”

Sansa rolled her eyes, these boys were more scared of their mother than anyone she’d ever known. “It’s me, Aegon, Sansa.” She could hear their huffs of relief before Aegon opened the door, very slightly, pulling her inside. “Ah, Lady Paramount Sansa Hightower is here. Rejoice!” Aemond chided, a bottle of ale in his hand that spilled as he raised both his arms, before chugging down a mouthful of it.

“Hello Aemond,” she began, ensuring that her annoyance did not reflect in her speech, “We must speak-”

“Why Sansa? Please, say ‘Hello’ to me as well. Hello Sansa!” Aegon drunkenly put his arm around her neck, his breath stinking terribly.

“Hello Aegon.” She muttered hurriedly, “Aemond, we must speak.”

“Must we, Lady Hightower?” Aemond got up from his place in the bed, carefully walking up to her.

“Can you stop with your jests for just one moment?” Sansa had begun to lose her patience, “Please, be serious, we have been taken for fools.”

“Alright, alright,” Aemond set the bottle down, “Tell.”

“When did the Queen tell you of my betrothal to Lord Ormund?” Sansa looked into his wandering, wavering eye.

“How would I know? One morning, she excused me from training and told me that you had given up on marrying me for the Lord of Oldtown and that I should seek matrimony elsewhere.”

“Is that the day you met me in Goodswood, when I congratulated you for yours?” She held onto his elbow, shaking him gently, as if she could shake out the answers from him.

“Yes, she had told me of yours, then told you of mine so quick, I was so surprised!” his words stumbled upon each other, but he seemed to be becoming more alert.

“Save for the fact that she had told me of your betrothal a week earlier that day, two fortnights before the joust.” Sansa couldn’t help but smile a little, she had figured out what the Queen had done. It was so simple, yet so clever.

“What do you mean?”

“I am yet to be betrothed to Lord Ormund. We are merely courting, yet somehow you were under the impression that I was sworn to him.”

“Because, Mother told me so. You never objected–” By then, Aemond had sobered up almost entirely, his form straightened and in attention.

“I thought you were being childish about the idea I could consider being wed to somebody else despite your own betrothal elsewhere-”

“So, you think I am shallow and inconsiderate?”

“How would I know when we haven’t had a proper conversation in years?” Aemond grew quiet for a moment, before responding that he had been busy.

“Aemond needs to let go. Taking your Princely responsibilities so ardently and abiding by them is so boring!” Aegon whined, unhappy with his bottle being empty.

“Your peevish nature sometimes makes me forget that it is not I, but you, that the crown belongs to.”

“The crown belongs to Rhaenyra.” Sansa and Aegon spoke in unison, taken aback at the supposed drunken error, “Brother, you’ve had too much to drink, a bit too much!” Aegon slurred.

Aemond shook his head before speaking next, “Did you give Mother an impression that you desire to be wed to him?”

“When she came to my bedchamber to speak of it after supper tonight, I did not say anything that could indicate my reluctance. However, I do not think she can claim, with any veracity, that I have ever agreed upon the betrothal.”

Aemond walked away from Sansa, engulfed in thoughts, “Why would they lie to me?” Aemond muttered, “Grandfather is keen on you, I always thought that our getting wed when of age was given. Which is why I was so taken aback when she told me that you had expressed a special interest regarding Ormund upon finding out of his lady wife’s passing.”

Sansa’s jaw fell in half-surprise, half-disgust, “I have never, for once, mentioned any sentiment of the sort.”

“Mother can be a bit of a liar at times, in all honesty. It’s fine, though, because she means well.” Aegon spoke up again, rolling around in bed.

Aemond whipped his head back toward Sansa, “Are you sure? Why would she lie so blatantly?”

“Aemond, your mother did not want us to be wed, that is precisely why. How can you be so dense…” Sansa strolled all over the place, “Let me think now.” 

Aemond watched her pace back and forth, her brows furrowed in concentration. Aegon had drunk up whatever booze was remaining, dozing off into slumber. 

“Do you think you can convince Ormund that Cassandra is a better candidate for the Lady Paramount of Hightower than I am?”

“I barely speak to him, he thinks and talks like a medieval man. So shortsighted.” Aemond spat.

“This is serious, Aemond-”

“I am serious, Sansa.” Aemond says solemnly, “I’ve always thought that you and I were to be wed, no matter what. I want this.”

“Do you want me, or are you just accustomed to the idea of me?” Sansa stood before him, looking him in the eyes.

Aemond laughed, “I have already said yes to the betrothal, and I am ready to retrieve my consent upon the knowledge that you haven’t agreed to your betrothal. You have not renewed your vow or desire to be wed to me, but I want to be free of any liabilities just so that I have the privilege to be considered by you." He took a step toward her, closer, she could touch him, she thinks. "How else do I prove to you that I want you, above all certainties and comforts? If anything, I should be asking you if you truly want me.”

Sansa’s eyes soften, her lips curling into a small smile, “When have I not?” She finally touched his face with her fingers, gently such as not to stir anything in him, before retracting her hand and walking away from him, staring out the large window, “I could try to convince Cassandra that being wed to the Lord of Oldtown is more advantageous than being wed to a second son, even if he's a Prince. She is probably under the assumption that she will be regarded as a Princess, I could clear that misconception.” She spoke more to herself than Aemond, deducing ways that could make Cassandra reconsider.

“... I could tell Ormund that you’re not the kind to sit back and watch him run things however he desires? That you desire to make inputs in subjects not exclusively homely? I could not imagine you being stuck with tending to children and the household only.”

“Neither could I…” Sansa whispered, “I think we can go down this path. And, in all honesty, Cassandra would shine in Oldtown as Lady Hightower.”

“You like her very much, I see.” Aemond mused, and Sansa agreed. She had indeed taken a liking to Cassandra.

—

Sansa greeted Cassandra a very good morning during breakfast, sitting beside her as she prepared for her meal. “May we go for a walk after this?” Cassandra nodded, seeming pleased with the positive attention.

Afterward, the ladies walked hand in hand through the Godswood. “I enjoyed our chat so much yesterday, I had to steal you before the Queen came down upon you!” Sansa joked, smiling at Cassandra warmly.

“I am glad, I have always wanted your accompaniment, but I was so scared that you’d take advantage of my supposed naivety and steal the Prince under my nose!” 

Sansa laughed, “I bored of the Prince before you even arrived, truth be told, Lady Cass. He may be the Prince, but it’s rather pointless!”

“Pointless? How come?” Cassandra tugged onto Sansa’s sleeve, “My father told me to never return to Storm’s End unless I secure this betrothal!”

“I understand where your father comes from. Although, my father and my brother have always been of different opinions.” Sansa waited for Cassandra to pay special attention to that remark before continuing, “They told me to abandon the idea of marrying a mere Prince, saying it leaves little to gain. He stands to inherit nothing, you see. If I marry a mere Targaryen Prince like him, his children will not be allowed, or encouraged, to claim dragons. They will be groomed to be married to High Lords and Ladies to further strengthen political alliances. Their marriages will lead them beyond the Red Keep, their royal status only perfunctory. Look at Prince Daemon, he was wed to Rhea Royce against his will. Surely, he now is married to the heir of the throne, the woman he truly loved, but he had to kill his first lady wife to get there.” Sansa’s voice dipped down octaves as he spoke of Daemon’s rumour with caution, Cassandra’s eyebrows went through the roof.

“Is there truth to it, Lady Sansa?” Cassandra quietly whispered in her ear, “I always thought it was a crass rumour.”

“Well, my mother was the bastard of Prince Baelon of Dragonstone and Princess Viserra, Targaryen still, of course. Prince Daemon was my mother’s half brother and cousin, and she did not completely disbelieve the possibility.” Sansa drew out a large sigh from the pit of her stomach, “You see, we are Valyrians by blood. We’re very tenacious and ambitious, brutal when the need arises. The second sons in our bloodline tend to feel rather thwarted and channel their frustrations for not being allowed the opportunity to prove their worth the way their older counterparts are.”

“Prince Aemond is in love with you, is he not?” Cassandra asked, “And now, he’s being made to marry me…”

“Oh Lady Cass,” Sansa turned to the girl and gently held her arms. “You fear needlessly, I am sure the One-Eyed Prince will warm up to you. He must. You’re lovely, vibrant, and so very striking!” She put a hand on the woman’s waist gently, “Had I a waist like yours, I’d never bat an eye at the Prince.”

“You jest too much, Lady Strong!” The girl laughed in embarrassment. Sansa turned forward, resuming their stroll. She could tell that Cassandra was staring at Sansa, trying to ascertain whether it was safe to speak to the woman.

“What a lovely weather we are having–”

“So, was it your brother’s insistence that you marry Lord Hightower?” Sansa cheered internally; she had struck the chord.

“Well, my father wanted me to marry into the House Hightower, but he could not propose a betrothal as I was much younger. That wouldn’t have been an issue, either, if the King was not SO insistent about my being wed to Aemond. The King is sickly now and the Queen is also looking toward creating more alliances, where you and Aemond come into the picture, of course. So, my brother took up the opportunity and secured my betrothal to Lord Hightower. Not only will I be Lady Hightower, I will also be wed to one of the wealthiest men in all of Westeros. Oldtown has such a rich culture, brother thinks I am well educated enough for it.”

“That sounds lovely. I am happy for you, Lady Sansa.” Cassandra smiled at Sansa warmly.

“However, there is one thing I am fearful of.” 

“What’s that?” She knew she had Cassandra’s attention.

“He is, apparently, easily seduced…” Sansa had thrown the arrow in total darkness, “It would vex me to know he’s bedding other women. They say he is incredibly skilled in the arts of lovemaking, more so than the one-eyed Prince,” At that, she raised her eyebrows at Cassandra, with a churlish grin, “So, women flock to him. And he appeases them well.”

Cassandra seemed intrigued, “I find it acceptable. I don’t think we can ever be in peace without having the autonomy to fuck whomever we desire!” She looked at Sansa, “Please, excuse my crassness!” 

“Oh no, I welcome it!” Sansa smiled to herself, “I honestly wish I was more like you, a free-thinker in so many ways. Then, perhaps, I’d be more suited to Lord Hightower. But again, what is marriage but duty?”

Cassandra spoke no more of the matter with Sansa, and Sansa hoped arduously that she had done what she intended upon.

–

Later that evening, right before supper, Sansa and Aemond met up in Helaena’s bedchamber. They’d assemble there often and trivial conversations would fill up the room as they kept the children company. That particular evening, the conversation was riveting and lively. So much so that Aegon had excused himself from tavern-visits and giddily taken part in the arrangement.

“So, what have you two menaces cooked up, might I ask?”

Aemond cast his brother a callous look, “We have done our parts, I’ve spoken to Ormund and she to Lady Cass.”

“Oh, Lady Cass, she is to you! How interesting, after all, her being your betrothed is evident.” 

“Must you?”

“Must I what, say yes to the first betrothal proposed to me? For you certainly did!” Sansa could not help but laugh at the effect her ceaseless jests had on the Prince. She missed this connection with him.

“Ah, you tease so well, Sansa. Aemond’s surely lucky!” Aegon’s eyes trailed Sansa’s back before flicking off to Aemond. Aemond glared at his brother.

“Squabbling like children is so pointless. Sansa, you mustn’t say yes to anybody but Aemond. I want you to always be my sister.” Helaena smiled gently. Maelor was on her lap, while Jaehaerys and Jaehaera played among themselves on the other side of the bed. It was a peaceful, lovely evening, the air was cool and soothing upon the skin.

“Is there anything else that we can do?” Aemond folded his arms, leaning backward.

“We could start by writing three separate notes, but it’d have to be shrewdly done.” Sansa suggested, her eyes fleeting to Aegon, hoping that his natural inclination toward mischief might help him get a grip on what she purported. Aegon smiled back at her.

“What? What do you mean?” Aemond looked hapless, changing looks with Helaena, who frowned confusedly. 

Sansa walked up to the desk by the window, where Helaena’s parchments and quills rested. Aegon joined her and they spoke among themselves, sniggering as they composed three distinct notes. Sansa wrote one, Aegon wrote the other. The third one, they got Helaena to write for them.

Aemond now walked up to the desk themselves after settling the kids in the middle of the bed, little Maelor in his arms. “You might as well include me in this conspiracy now.”

“Brother feels left out.”

“Shut up, Aegon.” 

After the ink on the scraps of papers had dried, Sansa handed them to Aemond. Aemond’s jaw fell at the content, he looked at Sansa and Aegon the way the Queen would look at them when they were much younger, causing mischief. 

“They say you’re superior in bed. Might I want to know? You know where I lay, might you want to grow?  I shall wait in hopes to see your face, We shan’t speak of it, get drunk in embrace.”  

“Your neck as long as the swan’s That I admired in the dark. As a boy still tending to his needs, I want your quiet mouth, by the little river, to take my seeds.”

“Dearest Queen, you might want to pay Lady Baratheon a visit at the hour of the eel. The woman who is to bear your son's heirs may pass bastardly seeds as his.”

“Are you suggesting that we send these to-”

“Lord Ormund, Lady Cass, and the Queen herself, respectively.” Sansa clarified.

“Quite the work of genius, aren’t these?” Aegon chirped in. Helaena nodded delightfully, Aegon swooned and hugged his wife's side, burying his face in the crook of her neck. She giggled.

Aemond stared at the notes for a whole five minutes, wordlessly reading through the words. “So, what do you think?” Sansa asked him, growing impatient.

“First, tell me,” He began, “What RIVER?”

“Don’t you know? Lady Cass has a basin full of water in her balcony, accommodating small fish in it. She calls the basin her little river.” Sansa stared at him incredulously before continuing, “You see, in the first note, Lady Cass expresses her desire to lay with him, suggests waiting for him so that he takes the cue and arrives. In the second note, Lord Ormund expresses his desire to meet her by “her river”. And in the third, some person loyal to the House Targaryen has decided to let the Queen know of the ongoing affair.”

Aemond stared at her agape, her smile too sanguine for his taste. When he looked toward his siblings, his skin crawled at the realisation that they both mirrored Sansa. “This is too fanciful. I don’t think they’d buy this. Also, how about your handwriting?”

“First of all, I wrote differently than I usually would, it’s my late Mother’s handwriting. Aegon’s is made up as well and he swears by the fact that no one shall ever know. And, no one will ever suspect our purest, dearest Helaena.” Sansa reassures, “Listen Aemond, you and I have planted the necessary seeds in the hearts of those two. Have you not told Lord Ormund that Lady Cass is rather amenable and the kind to never object to his will? Whereas I am the complete opposite, the kind one might even dub as ‘nuisance’?” 

“Yes, I have.” 

“Did you tell him that Lady Cass is… skilled?”

“He could not bring himself to,” Aegon interjected, “So, I said that she is bendy.” Helaena gasped, her hand covering her mouth. “She seems like it!”

Aemond sighed heavily, “And how about Mother?”

“She might want to shrug it off, but we all know, she won’t.” Sansa spoke with such fervour and elation that Aemond did not have the heart to resist. 

“This seems very silly, but if the three of you think it could work, I’m surely outnumbered.” He forfeited faster than he ever had.

“This is the least we can do, brother.” Aegon shrugged, “I am willing to risk more to keep Sansa with us. It’d surely be awful without her here.”

Sansa smiled at Aegon, “We must do this more often.”

“I have spare gold dragons we can use to bribe the maids here. They shan’t speak a word of what has truly transpired, as long as it’s us doing it.” Helaena assured with a huge grin on her face. The rest of them marvelled at Helaena’s rarely seen fiendish nature and broke into jubilant laughter. 

–

The next morning, Sansa was awoken early by her handmaids. “The Queen wants to see you, Lady Strong, your brother is also present.” Sansa’s heart beat wildly against her chest as she got dressed in a beautiful blue cloak. Her hair was slightly brushed through, her ladies rushing to get her to the council room, so as not to enrage the Queen any further. Lydia, the only maid of Sansa who knew of whatever had transpired the night before, had gone pale in the face. Sansa put a reassuring hand on her shoulder before they raced their way to the council chamber.

When she arrived, she found Aemond and Aegon present as well. They were standing before the Queen, the Hand, and Larys Strong, their backs straight and hands folded in servitude. 

“A very happy morn to you, lady Strong. Come, join your cousins.” The Hand spoke, motioning Sansa to assume position. She followed suit, not sparing Aemond or Aegon a glance. The Queen was standing at the head of the large table, the Hand strolled back and forth behind her. The Master of Whisperers sat on one of the chairs, his chin rested upon his hands, in support of his cane.

The Queen looked at Lord Strong, who reciprocated her solemnity. She then looked at the Hand behind her, meeting his eyes. He conveyed nothing in his face, which was scarier than if he were outright angry. Lord Strong stared at the three, as if studying them. “Three pairs of startling violet eyes.” He began, “Do we even know how to tend to wild dragons, your Grace?” His eyes turned to the Queen.

The Queen audibly sighed. The Hand remained awfully quiet. He walked for so long, back and forth and back and forth, that Sansa felt dizzy. After quite a while, perhaps when Aegon’s stomach made a guttural voice due to hunger, the Hand cleared his throat and stood beside his daughter.

The Queen looked at both the men on her both sides, who quietly gave her their consent. She closed her eyes, sighing deeply again, before starting, “We know what you’ve done.” The three of them stood quietly, not daring to utter a single word. “Did you really think that we would fall for such artifice?”

The three of them remained so quiet that they could hear a feather drop. “Your Queen demands an answer.” The Hand spoke.

“Mother,” Aegon began, “We were not sure what else to do.”

“Why not seek counsel with your own mother instead of contriving such a grave farce?” The Queen spoke exasperatedly.

“Because, Mother, we felt like we were being made to agree to betrothals under notions that were not entirely true.” Aemond finally spoke, his voice stern, “You told me Sansa had agreed to a betrothal with Ormund despite her never having verbally provided her consent. You told Sansa that mine was also confirmed, two fortnights before our grand joust, when you hadn’t even brought it up with me.”

The Queen swallowed hard, the Hand having averted his eyes away from the three of them. Lord Strong sat in his place, seemingly unaffected by the discourse. “We thought it’d be wise for both of you to consider other options.” The Hand spoke, “We were under the impression that you’d come to us directly to express your desire to only be wed to each other if your prospective betrothals did not look up for you.”

“That might apply for Sansa. However, Lady Baratheon has been here for half a year and I have not expressed any intention of being wed to her, not for once. I cannot fathom why you’d take up the trouble to contort facts.”

The Queen could not meet her son in the eyes, hesitating to speak any further at all. “I am glad, at least, that you could contrive a legitimate evidence to support your conspiracy. They were found in such dire state together, there was no way we could proceed as we had planned earlier. The betrothals are off. We have sent a raven to the Baratheons and asked them to host Lord Hightower, to see if they can come to amenable arrangements. Both of them seemed happy with the conclusion we drew, as long as they’re not being outed for their lewd actions to other noble houses and the Septon.”

“I have sent a small gift to the Baratheons, so we shall be alright on that matter. They shall surely be appeased.” Lord Strong reassured the children.

“Marrying a Lord mayn’t equate to marrying a Prince. Lord Baratheon will feel thwarted, of course. But, we have proposed an engagement between Daeron and one of his other daughters,” The Hand looked at the Queen and Lord Strong with a smile, “He’s produced plenty of them. I believe we’ve laid our terms well. His elder daughter, Lady Hightower. His younger daughter, Lady Princess. And, our small gift.” 

“Thank you, Grandfather.” Aemond cocked his head toward the Hand in respect.

“I apologise for the part I played in this. I just, I don’t want to leave. I’ve never wanted to leave here.” She took a step forward, “And I truly respect and admire Aemond.” She continued, fearing her words would come across as too shallow, “I haven’t known a man so unyielding and dedicated. I would not know what to do without him.” She looked down to the ground, abashedly and inwardly kicking herself.

“I feel the same way about Sansa, Mother, most ardently.” Aemond spoke from behind her, and she could feel all of them looking at her, save Aemond, who looked his mother in the eyes.

The Queen sighed, taking both of Sansa’s hands, “I see no fault in the matter then. We must start with the arrangements right away.” 

[midmorninggrey]

@cityelfweek has been going on all week. Seeing the new and old works on my dash has been absolutely fantastic!

I didn't think I would have time to participate, but all the love for city elves got me excited, so I whipped up a quick story with my OC Loran from his childhood in the Starkhaven alienage.

This story does include fishing and a brief mention of animal death.

--

When he finally came home out of the rain, knees muddy and hands scraped, Loran went to hide with the only quiet person in the room. His grandmother had spent the storm next to the stove, swaddled under their best blankets. She’d grown so old that she looked young again; she resembled her newest grandchild, born only a fortnight ago, more than she did any of her black-haired daughters. Still, she smiled when Loran kissed her waxy cheek, and her bony grip was strong when she took his hand.

"Oi, Fish Fingers."

Caught, Loran met his brother’s bright eyes. He hated the nickname even though Ru always sung it out like a compliment. 

"We're going to the river tonight," Ru told him then went back to poking the cook pot. “Eels are out.”

Only Talea, looking up from the table where she was rolling biscuits, found room to argue with Ru. With long brown curls and an upturned nose that was now dotted with flour, she was called one of the prettiest girls in Starkhaven before she married Ru. He’d heard his brother call her beautiful every day since their wedding, but Loran always thought her face was too small. Whenever she looked at him, her eyes and mouth shrank tighter.

“Can’t you wait til morn?” she asked, voice pinched. “They’re so slimy.”

"Nay, this storm will have them all riled up.” Ru spoke with an easy confidence that matched his broad shoulders. Any elf could nail two boards together, but if an elf in Starkhaven wanted their home to be standing for their grandchildren, they put the work in Ru’s hands.

Loran watched his brother reach out and wipe the flour from Talina’s nose. Ru went on.

"The guard took all the traps up, broke 'em to bits, and said no more nets either. It's the blasted slow poles now. But Fish Fingers will pick them out of the water - won't you?"

He mimed a fast pinching motion and grinned at Loran. 

Sometimes, when Ru smiled, Loran wondered if he looked like their father. His cheeks were marked by the pox that had taken their mother and a sister, but there was plain handsomeness to his face; no one had doubted Talea’s decision to marry him. Her family was happy with the match too. With his good sense and unbroken promises, many understood that Ru was building a reputation worthy of a Haren.

Loran could imagine his brother among the Elders. When they first came to ask Ru favors, he had served them weak tea, and Loran was allowed to linger if he sipped his cup in silence. These days, when the Elders came through the door without knocking, Ru brought out a bottle and sent him away.

"I don't want to go for eels," he spoke up.

Ru’s look of disappointment, Loran knew, came from their mother. “I’ve got these lines all mended, food in eight bellies, roofs patched all the way up the hill – what’ve your fast fingers been helping me with lately?”

“I helped fix Karsi’s place.” Loran slowly began to work his hand from his grandmother’s grip. With her deaf ears, she’d already dozed off.

“That take all day?” Ru raised his brow, and Loran knew his brother was calling him a liar. “Go fetch bait.”

Loran answered with sullen silence, looking at the hot, half-made supper that would be cold by the time he returned.

“Now.”

-

After night had set in, the brothers put baskets on their backs and set off down streets swollen with water and filth. The storm had sent all of Starkhaven’s dirt spilling onto the doorsteps of the alienage. Come morning, when the sun broke through the gray clouds, the smell would be worse than the bag of chum in Loran’s hand. He kept his other hand on the knife tucked into his belt. Ru, carrying their old poles tucked under his arm, moved through the mess unbothered. Loran was careful to step in his footprints.

Not many people knew the old path they took to the river. Ru said their father had shown him the way; he kept some secrets for family. Tonight the narrow trail was slick, with the cool mud coating Loran’s toes, and he slid to his knees twice before they reached the bank. They didn’t stop until they were knee-deep in the wide, flat water.

Ru moved upstream in the shallows, but never so far that Loran couldn’t catch the glow of his eyes. He was right that they venture out tonight; the eels were quick to bite, and the brothers dragged their long, whipping bodies from the stillness of the river. After a short move with their knives, the wriggling struggles of the fish ended. Even in the dark, Loran could see that after each eel Ru put in his basket, his brother made the sign of thanks across his forehead like their mother had taught them. Loran tried to copy him until his hands became thick with eel slime.

When Loran’s basket was beginning to grow heavy, Ru waded over to him.

"Your fingers aren't feeling fishy, eh?"

"I've caught more than you." Loran mumbled, trying to thread fresh chunk onto his hook.

Ru peered into his brother’s basket. "All the wee ones, looks like."

When Loran only scowled in reply, Ru stretched his arms tall.

"You used to catch the big ones - bigger than you! With your hands." 

Loran cast his line with a sharp flick of his wrist. "I'm not a kid anymore."

"Okay, okay, if you don't think you can do it.” Ru pressed his palms together in a show of exaggerated sympathy. “It's a shame you got slow in your old age." 

“I’m not slow,” Loran snapped, although he knew his brother’s game. "I can do it. It's not hard."

"If you say so."

Loran shoved his pole into Ru’s hand with a glare, grabbed a handful of bait from the bag, then knelt down in the river. He reached his arms out in the black water. Even though Ru kept his smile, he seemed to understand the seriousness of Loran taking his challenge, and he stayed still. They waited.

After a time, when all he felt against his hands was the black push of the river, Loran began to worry. He worried no eel would come. Or if one finally came, with Ru’s eyes on him, he would miss it. The cold river ran faster around his neck. Ru believed he could catch one; what if he was wrong?

Then he felt a sliver flash over the back of his left hand. He held his breath. When it came again, he struck. He pulled the eel out of the water and it began to thrash, but it was too late. Loran had his grandmother’s grip.

Ru whooped. “Gods! You’ve caught a water dragon.”

Loran giggled as he juggled the slimy beast. The eel wasn’t the largest catch that night, he knew, but when Ru grabbed his shoulders and laughed, it felt like it could be.

[dimension20quotes]

[Image 1 description: over the Brian Murphy as Prince Gerard of Greenleigh’s introductory screen card, the quote written reads “’Of course I know how to fight. I’ve got ‘The Rabbit Rushed Onward’. ‘Two Eels for Supper’.’ - Neverafter, Episode 2” in a peach font color]

[Image 2 description: over the Dimension 20 logo card, the quote written reads “’Of course I know how to fight. I’ve got ‘The Rabbit Rushed Onward’. ‘Two Eels for Supper’.’ - Neverafter, Episode 2” in a pale blue font color]

All quotes from Neverafter, Episode 2

[thepringlesofblood]

All of Gerard’s Sword Forms from Dimension 20′s Neverafter

the names are just too fucking good, especially since it’s confirmed he wrote down a bunch of them ahead of time to consult. lmk if I missed any.

Two Eels for Supper

Panther in the Porridge

The Plight of the Bumblebee

The Swallow Flies Southward

Long Sniff of a Rose

Snake in the Bouquet

Rabbit Rushed Onward

Boulder in the Chute

Dandelion in the Breeze

[cursedcupcakemaster]

A continuation for a gift series for @melodyseashell22 for her oc Melody

Warnings:implied deaths, blood, eating of human flesh(idk if you can call it cannibalism with them being merpeople ), Bonnie is implied to "help" the twins sometimes

Notes:I don't own Melody Seashell she belongs to @melodyseashell22 or any of twisted wonderlands characters they belong to Disney and Yana Tobosos wonderful mind , Floyd is Melodys boyfriend in this, I only own Celine and Bonnie

Type:Poison candy apple

Yandere Floyd Leech x Melody Seashell

Eat or be eaten pt 2

Melody wasn't used to asking for what she wanted without someone yelling at her for her entire life. Ordinarily it wouldn't be so bad but she couldn't exactly take what she wanted without consequences, after all many societies frowned upon it.

Melody sighed to herself as she wrote her notes. She really hopes the class would end so she could at least take care of the hunger pangs. Within a good thirty minutes she was allowed to leave and find a spot to take out some snacks her friends had made for her. While she enjoyed Celines' sweets unfortunately they weren't enough this time, this time she needed something much more filling. Melodys thoughts raced through her mind until a certain tall eel approached her. "Angelfish is sad why~ ?" Floyd questioned his usual smile adorning his lips.

"J just a lot on my mind Floyd " Melody explained

Floyd sat by Melody pulling her a bit closer.

"You can tell me angelfish~ " Floyd crooned

"Well you remember our last date right?" She asked twiddling her fingers a bit as a blush coated her cheeks before Floyd raised a brow

"Yeah?"

"Well it was really good and I-" she trailed off but Floyd smiled again

"You want more right?~" he snickered

"Y yes"

"Well angelfish I can give you more~ I know someone who can help us out ~" Floyd said clearly happy he made something she enjoyed, taking her hand in his he lead her to the mirrors going through the one that led to Heartslabyul

Melody wasn't sure why Floyd took her here but she had a feeling he had a good reason once she saw a familiar scarlet eyed blondie sharpening a pair of scissors

"Well if it isn't my favorite eels~ how are you Melody, Floyd?~" she giggled

"We need a little help~ think you can?~" Floyd asked before Bonnie cocked her head to the side

"Oh?~ what kind of help Floyd?"

"The inviting someone to dinner kind~ know anyone?~ "

At this Bonnie's smile only seemed to widen

"Why not one of Horsts old friends~ I'm sure they'd like to make up for being jerks~ " the scarlet eyed young woman suggested

"What?" Melody was confused she knew Horst and his gang weren't sorry even after he was found with his throat torn out and ripped to bits now why would one be sorry enough to accept a dinner invitation and Bonnie who saw this only gave her a smile

"Don't worry Melody I'm fairly convincing ~" Bonnie promised

Later that night Floyd was excited, he had even made himself look nice just for Melody

Said girl soon made her way to the lounge which Azul had agreed to allowing herself and Floyd to have the place to themselves since it would be after hours and he had his own buisness to attend

Jade had been kind enough to cook for them smiling as he brought the two their supper

Unfortunately there was no sign of her former bully in sight

"You know you can start eating angelfish I'm sure he won't mind~"

The smell was certainly maddening so Melody started eating

It was amazing just like before but there was still no sign of the boy

As Melody kept eating she felt something in her mouth before pulling it out and found a small bone

The bone resembled that of the smallest part of the finger on one's hand

It was then Melodys face seemed to go pale

"You remember what I said right angelfish?" Floyd asked quietly

"Floyd you didnt- " she started

"No Jade did but I couldn't let you go hungry" Floyd admitted

Melody looked down before the male continued

"He was already a horrible person, Melody he had to go, it's not as bad since we aren't like them" Floyd insisted with a dark smile

Melody looked at the floor before Floyd spoke again

"You don't have to feel bad angelfish, you'll never have to worry about this since thats my job so you can eat as much as you want ~" Floyd cooed at her as he walked behind Melody nuzzling her cheek before the girl picked up the fork and took another bite

[comfort-questing]

alt. lightning strike

a little Genshin Impact... because what else?

-

so long ago, it had been - that first day he had truly felt the lightning.

no one who lived in Inazuma was any stranger to lightning, to be sure. the Yashiori sky was riddled with its spikes, the Kannazuka waters sick with it; it had eaten Seirai without mercy, the thunder spirit laughing unchallenged in the hole far above the island. and in Inazuma City the queen of the lightning herself sat on her implacable throne, with judgement for wrongdoers at her right hand.

but Tomo had his own lightning, from the amethyst gleam of the Vision he bore. and so this time it was up close, within Kazuha's reach, a static that set his hair frowsy sometimes when he hugged Tomo in the mornings, a bright crackle of danger at his side when they fought thieves or monsters.

"you should be careful, when we fight." that much Tomo had always told him, since the very beginning. "your winds could catch my Electro and join it with some other element... and that would be a fine mess for us both."

he knew that. he knew careful and how it went. he knew the wind well enough that it would not betray him, all the more now that his Vision gave him not just camaraderie with it but cooperation and command. so he nodded, and made sure to stay beyond the reach of Tomo's attacks, as ordered.

-

but that day he had been clumsy - both of them had been, a little. sleepy from a long traveling day, the evening drawing low and cold around them, every rocky hide on the seashore not quite enough to keep the chill off their backs. he'd turned his ankle on a stone somewhere and it twinged every few steps, the unsteady sand shifting beneath their feet as they went. Tomo was tired beyond speech as well, eyelids heavy; the little cat nestled within his scarf with one paw dangling loosely out, pink toes spread.

"this will do," Kazuha said at last, after the fourth or fifth attempt at picking a camping site. the wind still found them there, but at least there was a low pocket between two rock spurs to light a fire, and some shelter beneath the scrubby salt-lashed trees. "I'll find us some supper, if you want to build the fire."

Tomo nodded and yawned, forcing the edge of a smile. "eels?"

eels would be tasty, roasted with salt, wrapped in seagrass. Kazuha lay by the tide line and listened for the imperfections in the waves, the pop of tiny creatures entering and exiting their hole homes.

listened so hard to the waves and the ground, it seemed, that he had forgot to listen to the air - and so it was Tomo's hoarse shout that warned him first, as he spun to see the brown miasma of the Specter hovering above him, its tendrils reaching out for him as it drew in strength for its attack.

and then white-hot, bitterly cold pain locked up every muscle in his body, his sight going gray and hazy, his lungs seizing in his chest. he gasped, but couldn't make his body obey him; he felt his heart skip and stutter, his knuckles cramping and jumping where his hands dug into the damp sand without feeling it.

only the pain, and the purple glint of Electro, and someone screaming his name.

the next clear thing he knew, Tomo was there, eyes wide in a ghostly face above him. he'd bundled his scarf around Kazuha and tucked a fold between his teeth, salty with sweat and seaspray. Kazuha tried to speak, his tongue horridly thick in his mouth, but Tomo's desperate voice went on and on despite his silence

"Kazuha. I shouldn't have - but I saw the Specter and I was - I was afraid - I didn't think I could get there in time - so I used my Vision and - "

Electro and water combined. he hadn't even needed the wind, this time, to make disaster. his head pounded, eyes refusing to focus, Tomo's face wobbly above.

"I'm - alive," he finally managed, "I'll - be better soon."

Tomo's arms tightened around him, a steady warmth amidst the tilting confusion of the world, and Kazuha felt the tremors beginning to release him a little, his breath coming easier.

"I'm sorry, sorry," Tomo was saying into his ear, "I didn't think, I'm so sorry."

in the end, it was Tomo who caught the eels that night, as well as building the fire - while Kazuha lay shaky and weak in their crevice of a campsite, letting the ache of overstrained muscles relax as best he could, with the cat curled up between his arm and side. and Tomo, too, who fed him bits of eel meat just as he would feed the cat, and stroked his hair until he fell asleep.

-

it must have felt a little like that, Kazuha thought - long after, but not long enough. the Musuo no Hitotachi, parting soul and body, calling the lightning down through the sword of the divine. he had been too late, too late that day; Tomo had never had the chance to feel his hand on his hair, or the warmth of an embrace to release him from the grip of that pain.

sometimes, he thought that that would have been less cruel. less cruel for Tomo, and perhaps for himself as well. to have a moment of stillness among the tumult, as they had that night between the rocks on the shoreline, brief as it may have been. he could picture it in his mind, or write songs of it as if it had happened, but in the end Tomo had been alone under the lightning's fall, an unendurable and unchangeable truth.

someday, Kazuha knew, he would tell Tomo the same things he'd been told once, when they met once again in a morning beyond guessing:

I was afraid. I didn't think.

I'm so sorry.

[magicratfingers]

Two eels for supper!!!

[stormtide-leviathan]

You stare at the strange thing floating in the water in front of you. It looks like the kind of worm you usually eat but… odd. Wrong. It’s the wrong color. It has a strange glean to it you’ve never seen before. It isn’t moving like a worm usually does. And what is it doing floating up here? Usually you found them by the floor of the ocean.

But hey. Times are tough and food is food. If you don’t eat it, someone else will come along after you and snatch it up, and you’ll still be without supper.

You swim up and bite the thing. Ow. Something jabs your cheek. It *tastes* odd too- Less… meaty than it should be. You tug on the thing so you can swim along, but for some reason it resists you. You tug harder, grabbing it tight between your jaws, but the thing won’t budge. Suddenly you’re yanked sunward, unable to let go. You remember, too late, the tales of your childhood. Of strange prey that you should never eat, or you’ll find yourself transported to an unfamiliar and horrifying world beyond the sea, with unnatural creatures surrounded by mounds of the dead and dying.

Sure enough, you shoot out of the water and dangle above a large bizarre rock floating on the surface, no color or shape of rock you’d ever seen before. You can’t breathe. You flare your gills but there’s no water to take in. You hear birds overhead, which normally would terrify you but right now you have more pressing problems.

Something reaches out and grabs you, and you feel something removed from your cheek. You get your first good look at the monster that will surely be your doom. The thing is massive, compared to you. You’d seen other creatures that were much bigger- you are rather small yourself, all things considered. But you’d seen nothing so strange. It stands upright, with what appears to be its head balanced precariously on top of its body, instead of in the front where it should be. It has no scales like you, instead bearing smooth dark brown skin on its face and limbs that look like eels with tentacles protruding where a head should be. The rest of its body was covered some shell on the rest of its body that appears soft and flexible unlike any shell you’d ever seen. It is stared at you with large brown-and-black-and-white eyes, then opened its mouth and you feel a loud sound reverberate through your body. You hear an equally loud sound return.

You flit your eyes around the rock, desperate for any chance of survival. You are quickly running out of breath. You see several smaller rocks, all hollow, all filled with mounds of the dead. These are large creatures, ones you’d consider formidable, even a threat. And they lay dead and helpless in a piles upon piles of corpses. You feel sorry for them, knowing you’d soon join them.

Momentarily, two more creatures appeared at its side, all looking at you. Your eyes flit back from the dead to the monsters in front of you. They all open their mouths emitting sounds from inside, quieter than the first. Eventually, the eyes of the beast holding you in its grasp roll in the thing’s head, and it moves the limb holding you, releasing you from its tentacled grasp and casting you back into the water.

You open your gills to let water flow through them. Did it… release you? Why did it not cast you into the piles of corpses you saw above? The shadow of the rock floats next to you, disconnected to the ground unlike any rock you’d ever seen. You swim quickly away, knowing your freedom would quickly be taken again if you did not get away from the horrible place as quickly as you could. “Safety” is gone from your mind. No matter where you go, those things could always be at the surface, with their strange forms and strange rocks, luring you in with strange food. And they might not release you next time, whatever inscrutable reason they did today. For now, you’ll just have to accept “away”.

[yachtlily]

Sail training

Monday, 5th August 2024

Wind SW  10mph               Lovely morning, cloudy afternoon                     Temp 28°C

Total distance sailed 23.05 miles

The York family departed 0900 leaving eldest grandson, Josh (16), behind with us. Of all the grandchildren he shows the most promise with sailing, mainly because of his confidence in his abilities. We went straight over to the boat in an attempt to get under Potter Heigham bridge while there was still room. We were a day away from springs and it was already two & a half hours after low water. The wind was good for sailing but we decided to head straight there under engine, dropping our mast as we went. It was a very tight squeeze but we made it. Tying up on the far side of the bridges we realised that, in our hurry to get away, we had left Josh’s lunch behind and all of our suppers. Mrs Crew left Josh & I to raise the mast and went shopping in Latham’s.

Leaving PH we motored upriver for a few yards before turning back and raising sail. Josh then sailed us up to Martham before turning along Candle Dyke, across Heigham Sound and on to Hickling. We sailed right to the top of the Broad to see if there was space at the newly re-opened Pleasure Boat Inn. There was space but only on a rather dilapidated section of quay heading so we decided against it. We turned and sailed back, dropping our sails just before Deep Go and coming alongside for lunch.

After lunch we raised sail again & Josh sailed us towards and then up Meadow Dyke, coping confidently with the gybes en route. Once on Horsey Mere he spent an hour perfecting his upwind and downwind sailing. He sailed really well. We then dropped sail and reversed into Waxham Cut to have afternoon tea on our secret mooring. Josh promptly fell asleep in the cabin. When he awoke, he and I walked to Brograve Mill.

Back to the boat and we set off again, raising sail in the cut. Josh then sailed us upwind to Meadow Dyke. I explained to him that, because of the wind direction, he wouldn’t be able to sail back down the dyke. I challenged him to get as far as he could and that we would then motor sail. He promptly sailed all of the way down the dyke, although he needed a 10 second burst of engine to get round one of the corners. Brilliant. He then sailed us across Heigham Sound, a beat, before we dropped sail shortly before the eel catcher’s and motored the rest of the way towards the bridges. Here we cooked and ate supper before dropping our mast. Josh then took us under the bridge with about an inch of clearance and he stayed on the helm as Mrs Crew and I raised the mast and sorted the boat out.

We realised that it was going to be a long beat home which none of us fancied as it was getting very late, so we motored. Approaching our mooring we found a very large hire boat occupying it with no-one aboard. Mrs Crew & Josh walked to the pub and found the hirer and insisted that they come straightaway to move their boat. They said that they hadn’t realised that it was a private mooring, even though they had used our lines and had moved our cover! Josh went aboard their boat to help them move it to Thurne Dyke and I brought Lily alongside. Mrs Crew & I then put her to bed and walked back to join Josh. It has been a very long, tiring but excellent day. So proud of Josh.

[ansixilus]

The next day. In the wee hours of the morning, two oddities laid dormant beneath woolen and hairy covers, dreaming of grinning faces and warm bodies.

But alas, this wasn’t meant to last for too much time. So, the zombie soon awakened with a small fright. Blinking a few times, it soon noted that its host hadn’t moved around as much as other times, and that its arms were still locked fast around his waist. It also noticed that the few rays of sunlight that seeped through the doorframe cracks and little holes around the windows seemed to rest upon its bedmate’s skin, making it look even fleshier and softer than before. A touch of light here, a spot of brightness there, every sunray that rested on the goblin’s visage seems to give him a halo of warmth and earthliness that made him look like a sleeping miracle of the heavens.

Now, with all the years that has passed around, the zombie was a bit dull in its insides, but that didn’t stop it from feeling something off, deep down inside. Something that looked like the pulp of a ripe cherry but tasted like blood mixed with sweet potato. Something that squirmed like a river eel in the hands of a fisherman and nibbled its chest and guts softly but constantly, as if it were a fieldmouse enjoying a nice breadcrumb. It made the zombie feel itchy and squirmish. Without knowing why, the ghoul inhaled deeply for the first time in years; it’s moldy lungs feeling with dusty, warm morning air in a small bedroom.

The cherry-red gnawing beast residing currently in its insides wasn’t stopping though.

Then, it remembered that its arms were still holding the goblin by the waist. It tried something that, with a little luck, could calm the cherry-red worm beast.

Slowly, its hands slid down to its bedmate’s tummy, fleshy and still full with yesterday’s supper. It was truly a wonderful thing, the zombie felt, how someone with rough, calloused bits could be so fleshy and cushiony in other parts. The ghoul couldn’t help it no more, and started rubbing and caressing its bedmate’s stomach, feeling it grow softer and more tender as it went.

Something orange seemed to bloom like squash blossoms between the zombie’s eyes, who by now was seeing everything in that same color: warm, warm, warm, warm, warm, wa-

Everything came crashing down, however, when the goblin stirred awake.

The first thing he noticed was his bedmate’s hands, bony and chipped and lovely, petting his stomach.

It was.

Part fourteen

I don't think I've commented yet on the way you leave off each part with that "It was." I remember a children's book about a bat (maybe?) consulting an owl about the poetry she was working on, and the owl explained her use of meter and how the last line, "and the night was holding its breath", broke the iambic rhythm pattern, ending on a pair of stressed syllables instead (a spondee for anyone interested), which lent the poem an unfinished tension, as if the poem were also making the world hold its breath in anticipation.

The way you leave that floating there always feels to me much the same. A note of ponderous tension, an incompleteness poised to be filled, in more gauche terms a sequel hook. It feels like the old storytellers, like the Arabian Nights tales that always left off just when the next part begins. It really adds to the dreamlike atmosphere.

[monteamazonico]

Puerto Maldonado Tambopata Monte Amazon Lodge 2 Days Tour

Tambopata is a river, a national reserve and a province in Madre de Dios state, southeastern Peru. It harbors some of the most biodiverse rainforest in the country (and possibly the entire Amazon basin), huge protected areas, and is home to several thousand people. Remote, wild, but still easily accessible, this contrasting combination has helped it to become one of the global hotspots for ecotourism. You get a hint of why Tambopata is such a wild area just before you land at the Puerto Maldonado airport. At the end of a quick flight to Tambopata from Lima or Cuzco, a sprawling carpet of jade green comes into view and stretches to the horizon. There are a few farms, a couple of roads, and the city of Puerto Maldonado is visible but these are still dwarfed by the sea of Amazon rainforest that marches into the distance. Meandering, coffee-colored rivers weave their way through the green. Massive, old growth Ceibas and other rainforest giants emerge from a 90 foot high canopy. Hidden beneath the trees are troops of monkeys, toucans, brilliantly colored macaws, and even jaguars. You never know what you are going to encounter in the rainforests of Tambopata but that view from the plane promises adventure and a once in a lifetime experience.

DAY  01:  8:00 AM – We begin the itinerary embarking…

We begin the itinerary embarking at the port of Puerto Maldonado on the river Madre de Dios and soon after leaving port sail directly through the confluence of two large jungle tributaries of the Amazon, the Madre de Dios and the Tambopata; the majestic sight of the meeting of these two mother rivers opens us to feel a deeper contact with Mother Nature. The journey of an hour downriver to the entrance to the National Reserve of Tambopata is filled with a presence of intense life, the mother Earth breathes here in the jungle and we feel our hearts beating as one with hers. After a short walk and passing the entry point to the protected area of the Reserve, we penetrate the jungle proper and follow the 5km trail to the lake itself.

The path through the mature tropical forest winds its way by immense ancient trees and entangled vines; multi-hued flowers and butterflies flash through the dense foliage in pursuit of the many insects that fill the air with their songs. The forest is teeming with wildlife and we will see many coloured butterflies, birds including macaws, parrots and tanagers, leaf cutter ants, monkeys. Upon arriving at Lake Sandoval we can bathe in the warm waters…. infested with piranhas, electric eels, black caimans and sweet-water manta rays, and it’s sure to be a very comfortable bath due to the elevated temperature of the water; it appears strange to bathe in the midst of so many animals of whom we are customarily afraid? Worried??? Then don’t be, I myself have done it a thousand times as have the many tourists who visit the lake; you too can enjoy this refreshing experience, in safety.

After the bathe, that we leave to your discretion, a delicious typical picnic lunch will be served on the beach. The afternoon begins with us taking to the water in rowing boats for an exploration of the rich wildlife that makes its home in and around the lake; this time we are hoping to sight birds such as hoatzins, shanshos, cormorants and anhinga. If we are lucky we will see playful giant river otters, an animal that has been rescued from the point of extinction here, in and around the waters of this protected lake, side neck turtles, taricayas, in the water, and monkeys jumping from branch to branch in the palm trees that line the western shoreline of the lake. As the afternoon draws to a close we disembark at a point closer to the river and walk the 3km trail back to the river Madre de Dios where our boat is waiting to gently continue downstream into a glorious equatorial sunset and the Yakari Lodge where supper is waiting.6.30 PM – After supper we set out on the river boat with reflector on a caiman hunt which will afford the opportunity to see from close quarters these magnificent animals that lounge on the warm sand of the beaches of the river banks. The largest rodent on the world, the capybara, may also be observed at sunset and dusk nosing along the river bank, looking for nocturnal insects and grubs.

8:00 PM – Bed

DAY 02:

Day Two, 5:30 AM – We rise early for a special glimpse… We rise early for a special glimpse into the magical world of jungle wildlife, taking advantage of the fact that many animals, both mammals and birds, are active in the early dawn hours.  The path through the mature tropical forest winds its way by immense ancient trees and entangled vines; multi-hued flowers and butterflies flash through the dense foliage in pursuit of the many insects that fill the air with their songs. The forest is teeming with wildlife and we will see multi-coloured butterflies, macaws, parrots and tanagers, leaf cutter ants and monkeys. Both the hike through the forest and the view from the 27m high canopy walkway at dawn is spectacular, many birds join the dawn chorus as they greet the new day. Your guide will explain and reveal much of the medicinal plants, flora and fauna you are seeing around you for the first time, helping you to see what you otherwise would have missed. The start of the adventure circuit is reached by climbing a tower and stairway that ascends to the treetops and a platform at 27m above the floor of the forest. You will feel the breeze on your face as you cross the hanging bridge, 89m long, which leads to a platform 37m above ground wrapped around the huge trunk of an ironwood tree, one of the densest and strongest to be found in the rainforest. The throbbing symphony of birdcalls,  accompanied by the warbling of toads and crickets, pours into the liquid air of the tropical forest; orchids and other aerial plants growing amongst the high branches  can be observed at close hand as can the nests of the many birds that make their home here.

7.00 AM – We return across the canopy bridge and ascend to the high platform that marks the start of the zip-line cable, almost 200m long, along which we fly through the air like eagles narrowly missing the foliage along the way, to a platform 27m high.  The breathtaking views are only matched by the excitement of overcoming our fears and the adrenaline that courses through us as we leap off the platform supported by the high security harnesses that connect us to the zip-line cable. The 75m long log walkway, hanging 27m above the floor, leads off this platform, a risky balancing act, and takes us to the platform at the start of the second zip line, a 160m fly back to the tower and stairwell that descends to the forest floor.

8.30 AM – Breakfast – a hearty meal of fruit juice, herbal tea or coffee, typical fried bananas, eggs, cheese and rice bread (please ask for our vegan and wheat free options), in order to be ready for the exertions of the day ahead.

10.00 AM – KAYAK (Level 1). We take to the river in kayaks, well protected with high quality life jackets, and accompanied by a motor boat that guarantees extra security; this level one activity is relaxing and accessible for all.  Flowing downstream, carried by the river, or fighting the current upstream we are able to observe the many birds that populate these otherwise inaccessible banks of the river, flying across our path as they call us away from their hidden nests.

12:30 PM – Lunch. After lunch there will be time for a relaxing siesta or integration time, the hammocks are very comfortable!

14:00 PM – Monkey Island – After lunch we cross the river in boats to the island situated across from Yakari known by its population of monkeys. These beautiful animals are accustomed to contact with human beings and will put on a show of swinging through the treetops, charging down the trunks of the large trees that form their home in order to accept food from your hand or inspect you up close! Various different species live in harmony due to their habitat being an island.

16:00 PM – The return upriver to Puerto Maldonado at sundown affords views of an epic equatorial sunset sky reflected in the waters of one of the largest tributaries of the Amazon.

[machiavxlli]

"You are very sweet, dove." Talia found his promises rather sweet. It was nice, to have someone be protective of you, to have someone say they would do anything to keep you from harm.

Now his next question was the worst of them all. Talia swallowed, Duchess grew increasingly uncomfortable in her lap so the feline jumped off. She trotted away, presumably downstairs where supper was almost ready. Talia cleared her throat. "Think of it as the Roman Empire." The woman simply proclaimed. "The council is the senate, we make the laws that govern vampires." The Council was made of vampires from all over the globe. Each country had it's own vampire representative, but Councils differed from the one in Europe to the one in the Americas. Talia was a rank just under councilwoman, aiming to become one fully in a decade or two. The vampire she was learning under was a man named Baltus. A large brute of a man, with the face of an eel and will of iron.

Now, there was once a King, and his name was Dracula. The Council was formed under him, centuries ago when he was perhaps the strongest vampire to ever live. But ruling under him was nothing more than blood bath after blood bath. Talia had been a fairly new vampire then, though her estate was established.

Before Talia could say anything else, Giles opened the doors. "Supper is ready." He addressed the two of them with a nod. Talia rose to her feet, letting her hair remain loose. "I hope that answered your questions. You must go now, before supper gets cold." The vampire remained where she stood, suddenly feeling the need to lock herself away. "Ben...do not go looking for answers. It will do you more harm than good." It was a warning, one said in her more commanding tone.

Talia would do what was needed to protect her estate, and the person she loved.

Ben's eyes narrowed some at her words. "Sire lines?" he asked with a raised brow. Yet as she continued on he began to understand exactly what she meant. "I see. Well. I'd fight in a million wars for you. I hope you know that." he whispered, wanting to make sure none of the help heard him. "And that's not just an empty promise. Regardless of what becomes of...us," he said, still sounding too hopeful something would change. "...I will always want to protect you. To be there for you. Nothing could change that,"

He was aware he was speaking to someone much stronger than him, but it didn't stop Ben from feeling the need to take care of her. His hand fell to the skirt of her dress, mindlessly playing with the fabric as he tried to think of more questions. "Is there a heirarchy? You know. Do you follow a king or queen or something of that sort? Or is it something more...greek? You know. A democrary or the such?" he murmured, figuring he should at least get some information for the novel, though all he wanted to do was beg her to change him.

He wondered if he ever did change if she could love him then. If she would even want him. He tried not to think about how unlikely it all was.