#work dog jax (golden)

[stonedopossums]

peregrine and some of his friends :)

[nowherestogo]

okay i have a matty thought

(i wasnt going to post this but i saw @yarasdead’s post and i want to contribute to this)

we’ve all agreed that he secretly loves his partner’s girly pop music. BUT have we talked about how he would LOVE your girly reality shows. i just KNOW this man would eat up vanderpump rules and maybe a real housewives.

you put on vanderpump from the beginning to have a rewatch. he makes a disgusted face and makes a comment about how he thinks this is dumb. BUT BY SEASON 2, THIS MAN IS INVESTED!!! he is a tom sandoval HATER!!!! when tom finally admits that he and ariana made out at the golden nugget he goes on a rant about how he KNEW tom cheated.

if you’re at work, or he’s on the road he’ll text you like:

“MIAMI GIRL??!!” “he definitely fucked miami girl babe”

“did jax REALLY say he’s the number one guy in the group?!”

but he will not admit he liked the show. he’ll hum the tune of good as gold or the theme song and you just knew he loved the show.

im just picturing you, him, and the dogs all snuggled up watching katie and tom’s wedding and him tearing up (their wedding is my favorite wedding on the show) but tried to hide it by faking a yawn.

AND WHEN STASSI STARTS DATING BEAU HE’LL SAY SHIT LIKE “am i your beau?” BC MATT JUST GETS YOU LIKE NO ONE ELSE JUST LIKE BEAU DOES WITH STASSI

UGHHHHHH I LOVE SOFT MATTY WHO LOVES THE THINGS YOU LOVE 🥹🥹

[cockatrice-writers-guild]

My ocs and the animals that represent them cuz I've been thinking about it alot lately

Mia is mostly a black cat (unlucky + Wet Cat of a woman) and a little bit of a bull (hot headed) while Jax is an even mix of a peacock (gaudy, kind of an asshole) and a golden retriever (extremely accommodating and friendly to a fault. Any dog would do here but the golden retriever is The Good Boy and Jax has blonde hair and likes gold so it works out)

Syren is a mouse (quiet + panicky + has a lot of grit + I have the same condition as her and one of my teachers nicknamed me mouse (affectionate) in school) and Thaddeus is a hyena (Dog personality + The Laugh + the bad rep they get)

Machiko is a mix of shiba inu (general excitement, friendliness and optimism) and a mule because she is Very Stubborn. Taro is a seal cuz This:

Rainer is a horse cuz of how horses are perceived (powerful, majestic, put together) vs what they actually are (Nervous, kind of a bitch, would probably die pretty easily). Ivy is a monitor lizard cuz That's The Vibe

Flower is a spider cuz she's literally a jorogumo and I think it fits and on account of how Normal Payton is, I think they might just straight up be a human

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

NAUGHTY MEETS NERDY IN THIS EPIC BOX SET WITH AUDIOThe Dungeons & Doms Trilogy by Golden Angel is complete, and now you can own the box set and audiobooks on the platforms of your choice!! Universal: https://geni.us/DungeonsAndDoms BLURB:

Romance doesn't end at age fifty, and these three couples are here to prove it. Master Gavin and his ex-wife Leah have never gotten over each other, but she's finally ready to move on so she can enjoy her golden years with a partner. What she didn't expect was that her ex-husband wants the same thing, but he doesn't want to move on. He wants to make things work with them so they can have the future together that they always dreamed of.

With two teenagers and two busy jobs, it got way too easy for Jax and Esther to let their marriage and passion slip in priorities. But now Jax is sneaking around and Esther is getting suspicious... is their marriage in more danger than she thought?

They've been friends forever, but Master Aiden and Mistress Cyana are throwing some serious sparks. A bet and a night of passion lead to revelations for both of them, but is it too late to teach an old dog some new tricks?

#newrelease #releaseblast #releaseblitz #nowlive #booklaunch #boxset #trilogy #audiobooks #audio #books #reading #readers #booklovers #romancenovels #romancebooks #romanceseries #bdsmromance #eroticromance #steamyreads #kissingbooks #dungeonsanddoms #nerdyromance #dnd #goldenangel #bookbuzz #booknews #bookish #booksbooksbooks 

About the Author: Golden Angel is a USA Today best-selling author and self-described bibliophile with a "kinky" bent who loves to write stories for the characters in her head. If she didn't get them out, she's pretty sure she'd go just a little crazy.

She is happily married, old enough to know better but still too young to care, and a big fan of happily-ever-afters, strong heroes and heroines, and sizzling chemistry.

When she's not writing, she can often be found on the couch reading, in front of her sewing machine making a new cosplay, hanging out with her friends, or wandering the Maryland Renaissance Fair.

Find Her Online! Amazon: http://amzn.to/2DplX3X BookBub: http://bit.ly/2G68e3O Facebook: http://bit.ly/2Ds7c0e Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2rt4rdL Instagram: http://bit.ly/2CkqiqZTikTok: https://bit.ly/3sJhOod Twitter: https://bit.ly/37RSd1B Website: http://www.goldenangelromance.com

[fdsfdsfsdfs]

only good thing about jackson ? his dog

[animalhumanemn]

I feel so strongly about adoption. I adopted a cat 10 years ago. He is now 16 and still as mean as he was the day I got him. However, there is never a dull moment with him. He (Chino) certainly has a mind of his own and oftentimes the topic of conversation when discussing his many victims he has taken over the years. I adopted my German Shepherd, Wally, from the Golden Valley location of Animal Humane Society back in 2017. He was surrendered by an owner at seven months and nine days old. Wally was the best dog. He had the sweetest demeanor. He came with some training and was a fast learner! Wally loved everyone. Wally and I shared the love of running around the lake. The second I started lacing up my shoes, he was there spinning in circles of excitement. We had a spot we stopped at during our run to admire the view and appreciate nature. Wally passed away a few months ago at age four and a half. I was absolutely devastated. Wally put up a good fight, but eventually his kidneys gave out. He will forever remain in my heart. It wasn't long after Wally passed that I found myself again at the Golden Valley location of Animal Humane Society. Without Wally around, the house felt so quiet and empty. I couldn't stand it! I started searching online for rescues. It didn't take long until I stumbled upon Jax. He was listed as a 6-month-old German Shepherd/Pyrenees mix. I jumped into my car and headed to Animal Humane Society to meet Jax. He was definitely a BIG puppy! I took him outside for a walk and he plopped down on my lap. He stole my heart at that moment for that is exactly how my first encounter with Wally went. I have had Jax for about three months now. I am not going to lie, he is A LOT of work. Yet, very rewarding. Jax is my little shadow. When I take a shower, he is IN the shower. When I am lounging on the couch, he is right there laying on my belly. Mind you, Jax is now 80 lbs and still growing! Jax is not a runner like my Wally was, but Jax is there for me in other ways. No dog can replace Wally, but I know when it comes to dogs, I have a lot of love to give. 

— Katie

[kianlawson]

He paid for their drinks and waited for the barista to prepare them. Minutes later, they settled into their seats, a smile spreading on his lips at her observation. Kian chuckled softly, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. "Is it that obvious?” He asked sheepishly, Things are... really good, actually. Better than they've been in a long time." He paused, taking a sip of his salted caramel swirl. "I've been seeing someone," he admitted. "It's Armi, Amos's sister. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster, to be honest, but we worked through it. She even convinced me to adopt a dog—a husky and golden retriever mix named Jax." He laughed. "Who would've thought, right? Me with a dog?" He leaned back, eyes bright. "It feels good. Really good. Like I'm finally moving forward, you know?" He took another sip, then looked at her curiously. "But now you need to tell me what’s been going on with your life. You seemed a bit sad when I asked earlier. Everything okay?"

“I’ve been…okay?” Shivani replied with, not wanting to bother him with any of her issues when he was in clearly a great mood. The smile on his face was honestly heartwarming and she didn’t know that she’d ever seen him look that happy before. “Perfect,” she grinned at him before raising a brow when he mentioned trying something new. “Look at that—a salted caramel swirl for you, I love that—I’ll do an iced mocha latte for today, and thanks Kian,” she grinned at him as she ordered up her coffee and a cookie before moving aside to let him pay for it. “So—how are things with you?” She asked as soon as they took a seat in the coffee shop. “You’re pretty much beaming, it’s a good look on you.” 

[ladyreapermc]

Fic: Surprise Party (Chibs Telford x Reader)

Summary: A  party thrown at the clubhouse has more than a few surprises for you.

Pairing: Filip “Chibs” Telford x F!Reader

Wordcount: 1,5k

Warnings: Really cheesy fluff and my bad attempt of writing in Scottish accent. Apologies in advance.

You weren’t really expecting the party waiting for you when you got to the clubhouse. Then again, wasn’t that the point of a surprise party after all?

You had started your day not really expecting to have to use the brand-new license to practice law you got just last week. And for the most part, it had been a pretty uneventful occasion until right around the time you were about to clock out and Jax called.

There was urgency in his voice as he begged you to head to the sheriff’s station because Tig got into a fight with the owner of a dog fight rink and both men had been taken downtown. You didn’t doubt his story even for a second. Picking up your keys and bag and heading straight to the precinct.  

When you got there, Jax was already waiting outside with a very well composed Tig. Maybe that should have been your first clue that something was off because if he was already gonna post bail, why did he even call in the first place?

You didn’t have time to really consider it because Jax just loaded Tig into the passenger seat of your car and asked you to head to TM. 

You planned to just drop Tig off and head home. You had been working crazy hours, plus studying hard for the test and you were in serious need of some sleep.

“Come on, honey. Let me buy a beer to say thank you,” Tig asked once you pulled up into the lot of the auto shop.

“I didn’t even do anything,” you replied, but for a grown man, Tig’s puppy dog eyes were quite effective.

“One beer,” you sighed in defeat, turning off the engine. You stepped out of the car and followed Tig inside, nearly jumping out of your skin as everyone yelled surprise once the two of you walked into the clubhouse.

Everyone seemed to be there: Gemma, Tara, and her boys. Lyla, Nero, and the rest of the Sons, Chucky, and even some of your friends that didn’t really have anything to do with the MC but made an exception for today and stood awkwardly among the bikers.

Over the wall of mugshots there was a huge congratulations banner and bellow it a table with enough food to feed an army.

“Surprised?” Tig asked, an arm thrown over your shoulders. 

You just chuckled and nodded, still speechless as he pressed a kiss to your cheek and let you greet everyone else properly.

“Congratulations, darlin’,” Jax said pulling you into a warm hug. “Now it’s your job to make sure these mug shots don’t get updated.”

You laughed along with him before letting someone else drag you to the side for a hug and a toast and by the time you managed to reach Gemma, you already had two beers and three whiskey shots that people keep shoving in your hands as you passed them by, along with some food.

“Thanks for all of this,” you said, letting the matriarch of the MC pull you into a hug.

“You’re welcome, baby. It was well deserved,” she kissed your cheek. “But I can’t take all the credit. It was Chibs’ idea.”

You gave her a confused look once she let you go, which she replied with a knowing smirk as she gestured to a point behind you where the Scot was drinking alone by the bar, watching the proceedings.

It was because of Chibs that you met the MC in the first place. He had been in a bar just outside town when your stupid little brother decided it was a good idea to pick a fight while drunk with a few guys double his size. 

Chibs didn’t even know him but had his back, during the altercation and they all got arrested that night. When your brother called you to post his bail, he told you about the other man and you got him out too. After that, you ended up staying close to SAMCRO. 

You had no family besides your younger brother and Gemma took a liking to both of you, taking you under her wing. And since your brother started prospecting, you decided to help out in smaller legal issues when needed. Making sure everyone stayed out of jail.

For a badass gang of dangerous bikers, the Sons were a lot of fun. They took care of their own and for the first time since your parents passed away, you felt like you belonged somewhere. 

And if you favored the attention of one particular VP, with his deep brown eyes, smokey accent, and Glasgow smile, people didn’t seem to notice.

Or maybe they did, if Gemma was any indication, but didn’t comment on it.

You moved towards Chibs, offering him a wide smile, which he returned with one of his own. The sight of it made your heart race and your palms sweat and you tried to dry them as discreetly as possible in your jeans before taking a seat on the stool next to him.

“Congratulations, lass.” He raised his glass to you.

“Thank you and thanks for the party. Gemma said it was your idea.”

“Nah. Just said it would be a good idea,” he waved off your words, looking away from you for a moment and you wished his presence didn’t make you so tongue-tied. “Bu’ I got ye somethin’,” he said, setting his glass down once it was empty and gestured for you to follow him.

You had never been back here before but you knew the some of the guys had small apartments here for whenever they were too tired to go home after a job or too drunk after a celebration. 

Chibs led you to his, and if your heart was already racing before, now it felt like it was about to burst from your chest. The room was nothing special, just a bed pushed against the wall, a writing desk and chair, and a dresser. Too many pictures of almost naked women posing on Harleys, and a small cabinet with a few other essentials.

You stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, fidgeting with the hem of your jacket while Chibs dug something out of a drawer. It seemed to take forever until he finally turned around to face you and you didn’t think you ever saw him looking nervous, but he looked as bad as you felt.

“‘t’s nothing fancy or anythin’” he started, taking a step closer. “But I saw it and thought of ye. The lass in the shop said you can exchange it if ye dinna like it…”

He offered you a small gift-wrapped box in hand and you took it with shaky fingers and a trembling smile as you undid the bow on top and opened the lid.

You let out a small gasp at the sight that greeted you: a delicate golden necklace rested inside, the pendant a golden justice scale, and a small pink stone. It was gorgeous and so thoughtful and when you glanced up at Chibs again, he seemed to be looking at anything but you.

“It’s beautiful, Filip,” your voice was barely above a whisper and it might be the first time you ever used his given name, but it felt so right. “Thank you.”

“Ye’re welcome, love,” he breathed out, relieved, his smile a little more certain.

“Help me put it on?” You asked, taking the delicate chain out of the box and offering to him before turning around and pushing your hair away from your neck.

His scent surrounded you as Chibs stepped closer, bringing the necklace around your throat, his hands rough and warm, but so very gentle against your nape and goosebumps raised in your arms.

“There ye go,” he spoke once the clasp was closed and you turned around to face him, the pendant resting just below the hollow of your throat and his warm brown eyes lingered there for a few seconds.

“I really love it,” you whispered, touching the scale for a second before your hand moved to his chest, holding yourself steady as you raised to your tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his scarred cheek.

“Good,” Chibs spoke, his voice rougher, lower and you could feel the thundering of his heart against your hand and the hitch of his breath as you moved your lips closer to the corner of his mouth.

He turned his head slightly and his mouth was against yours, brushing so softly. It was a barely-there touch but it was enough to send sparks of excitement through your body and you couldn’t wait for it to be more.

Before it could, the door busted open making you both jump apart and look over startled. It was one of your friends and by the looks of it, she was completely wasted.

“Ops! Thought it was the restroom,” she slurred, her lips shifting into a smirk as she glanced between your and Chibs. “Carry on.”

She slipped out as fast as she stumbled in and just as unsteadily. A second later, you heard a crash and sighed regretfully.

“I better get out there and make sure she doesn’t cause some serious damage,” you said. “But to be continued?”

“Whenever ye want, love,” Chibs smiled at you. “Ye know where I’ll be.”

xxx

If you enjoyed this work, please consider reblogging and/or commenting please. Feedback gives life to us writers! 

[neighborhood-goblin]

Lmao remember that COF College AU

Finally decided majors and details for some of the characters I plan to include XD

My first time using a cut lol

Tristan

Business Major 

Cassian absolutely wants him to inherit the family business

Tris isn’t so thrilled by that

Sev and him are roommates

Neither of them can cook anything other than ramen or pizza rolls

Sometimes they order pizza

Disaster bi on so many levels

Went to one GSA club meeting but then noped right back into the closet

Not out to Cassian or most of his friends yet

The only person who knows is Sev

Has a brown tabby cat named Rex

duh

lmao going back through there’s like nothing here

they def got longer as they went on

Nyk

Linguistics, Interpretation, and Translation Major

(In HOF she is really interested in the Pyrean language and lore so I thought it fit)

Was homeless for a while

Ran away as soon as she graduated high school

(She couldn’t be around Val any longer)

Applied for a lot of scholarships and was able to gather enough money to attend college

Roommates with Sparrow

Helps Sparrow get to her classes sometimes

Elliot, Riella, and Kade come over to their dorm a lot

Elliot cooks for them

Probs gonna be bi and genderfluid in this au

Has a calico cat named Xephyra 

Phyrie for short 

Is a part of the GSA club

The GSA club consists of Anders, Elliot, Sparrow, and Kade

Sev

Fine Arts Major

Is really good at drawing but also likes painting and sculpting, too

Roommates with Tristan

Would rather die than ask Tris to get something off of a high shelf for him

He’s 5′3″ (160.02 cm)

Def petite

Tris put a whiteboard on the fridge to write shopping lists on but now they both just use it to write notes to each other

“Saw u staring at Nyk earlier HMMMMMM”

“stfu like you weren’t ogling that dude she was with”

Disaster gay but everyone just assumes he’s straight like ????

After his parents died he bounced around a few foster homes but was adopted by a doctor named Hestia when he was fifteen

He loves his mama and visits her on weekends

The food he brings back to the dorm is the only good stuff he and Tris ever eat

Knows Kade but only a little

All of my modern Sev hcs still apply

Kade

Veterinary Medicine Major

Shares the same major as Sparrow and they’re decent friends

He helps Sparrow get to the classes they share when Nyk can’t

Loves animals and is planning to adopt a doggie soon

Roommates with Elliot and Riella

He lived in a really crappy place before he became friends with Riella

The sibs invited him to move in with them (Kade also obviously helps with rent)

Became good friends with Nyk and he and the sibs spend a lot of time at her/his dorm

Used to shadow Hestia at the clinic (before he decided he wanted to be a vet and not a people doctor) and she gushed all the time about her son 

He met Sev and def thinks Sev is adorable 

Has also seen Sev around campus but hasn’t worked up the courage to talk to him yet

Demi and gay

Is a part of the GSA club

Thinks Anders is funny

Almost no one agrees

Elliot 

Culinary Arts Major

Idk it just came to me and I was like “might as well”

Cooks for Riella, Kade, Nyk, and Sparrow regularly

Has a golden retriever named Jax

Jax is crazy

He gets the zoomies

Jax is usually wary of strangers but he’s warmed up to Riella, Kade, Nyk, and is close with Sparrow

Aroace

Attends GSA

Regularly tells Anders where he can shove his musical numbers and snide comments

Roommates with Riella and Kade

Took online classes until Riella graduated so they could move together

Met Kade through Riella

Can’t handle spicy food and is appalled by the fact that Kade, Riella, and Sparrow are all fueled by eating the spiciest things possible

Refuses to eat anything with pepper on it, but keeps a shaker for his friends and sister

Nyk and him bond over being unable to tolerate anything hotter than a hot tamale candy

Likes driving

Owns a minivan

It’s unclear as to why he needs a minivan he just has one

He named it Elliot jr. as a joke once but now no one lets him forget it

Is super ultimate BFFs with Sparrow

Helps her around campus when Nyk and Kade can’t

Sparrow 

Veterinary Medicine Major

Nyk, Kade, and Elliot help her around campus (still blind and thriving)

Owns a parrot named Chirp and guide dog that everyone is 95% sure is just a wolf that Sparrow illegally bought a service animal vest for

No one knows the name of the dog

Sparrow claims that Chirp can talk but only does it in front of her

Sometimes Elliot will also claim that he’s heard Chirp talk but no one can tell if he’s telling the truth or not (He’s not even sure at this point)

Lesbian ace and is highkey dating Riella 

Elliot pretends it annoys him but secretly he’s thrilled because he adores the both of them (he’d never reveal this but Sparrow knows anyway)

Attends GSA

Brings her animals

Chirp usually just sits on her shoulder, and the dog at her feet

Has super unruly hair

Only a select few are permitted to touch it: Elliot, Riella, and Nyk

Nyk will braid it sometimes, but Sparrow usually likes to have it free 

Roommates with Nyk

Nyk decorated their room super cute, fairylights strung all around it and polaroids on the walls (though I guess she can’t see them rip)

Nyk loves Sparrow’s animals, and the animals get a long great with Phyrie (except for one time that Phyrie attacked Chirp but that doesn’t happen anymore)

Riella 

Dance Major

Not much is known about Riella but I just thought this’d be a cool major for her

idk she gives off ballerina vibes for some reason

Sapphic and dating Sparrow

Roommates with Elliot and Kade

All three of them share a bookshelf and love talking about books

They also play video games a lot together

Minecraft is not a competition but do not play with the three of them they will win

They share an ACNH island on the switch they pooled money for

Loves having her hair in french braids

Nyk usually braids it for her before classes

Ig Nyk just braids everyone’s hair smh

Wears rompers everywhere

Met Kade when a creepy dude approached her on her way to a class and Kade pretended to know her to get her away from the creepy dude

He started walking her to that class just in case and they became friends

Anders

Performing Arts Major

Super dramatic and way into theater

Has been out of the closet for years as genderqueer and pan (Prefers he/him pronouns; he’s used them all his life and he’s used to them)

Goes to GSA club and loves telling obnoxious stories

Has hinted at being in a relationship but no one knows who it is, and the club tries to find out sometimes (It’s Latham)

Grew up with Latham and they started dating when they were seventeen

Latham isn’t out of the closet yet, so he asked Anders to keep it a secret

Anders doesn’t mind at all, he’s just happy to be with the boy he loves :)

Was a part of marching band in high school, and still practices his trumpet in his free time

Regularly texts everyone a gross amount of emojis 

Latham and him moved in together when they graduated and started going to college

Latham does all the cooking

The last time Anders attempted to cook anything, the pan caught on fire (the cooking pan not Anders) (XDDD) (I think I’m hilarious) 

He’s not allowed to cook anymore

They each have their own beds but usually sleep in the same one when they don’t have guests (they are both huge cuddlers) (Anders is the little spoon)

Has a pet snake because he lives to be extra (It’s a ball python)

(I can’t remember what Anders’ phoenix is named so the snake is nameless for now)

Latham

Pre-Law Studies Major

Wants to become a lawyer

Absolutely talks crap about everyone he knows with Anders

Identifies as queer but is closeted

His family are all very religious and anti-LGBTQ+ so he’s scared to come out to them

The only person who knows is Anders

His father in particular scares him

His dad really doesn’t approve of Latham being ‘friends’ with Anders, ever since Anders came out publicly

Is decent at cooking (nowhere near as good as Elliot)

Doesn’t have a lot of friends

Kind of knows Tristan and Elliot but not really

Has a Pomeranian named Xane

He’s obsessed w/ little dogs 

[jaxteller87]

my little empath 2

The rumbling of the engine died down as Jax got off his bike, shaking his hair after taking off his helmet. Even though the weather was pleasant, he still found the front of his hairline matted with sweat. “Honey, " he looked around the oddly empty space of his house. Just as he was about to call out her name again, his eyes caught the sight of her lying outside on the back deck. "Amber?" he looked at her questioning. Her golden hair formed a halo around her head as she laid facing the sun overhead. Her skin glistened under its rays, her eyes closed and a small white pebble place between her shapely brows. Their pets; Buttercup and Hazel, a gentle cat and a lively dog, laid beside her; sprawled out. "I can't do this, " she removed the stone from her forehead and sat up just as Jax plopped down beside her, "I feel stupid”. “I do feel better when I hold them in my hands, "

"What are these for?" he looked curiously at the array of stones that laid in front of them. "These help me stay grounded, " she pointed at the stones, "Years ago, when I first found out that I was an empath, I started to carry them around. Initially, it was a bit overwhelming because being an empath isn't only about having a special connection with animals but they also tend to absorb all human emotions; good, bad and everything in between “A beat of silence passed between them as Jax stared at Amber with adoration. "What?" she chuckled, tucking back a lock of hair behind her ear. "Nothing, it's just seeing you open up and pour your heart out about something that you are so passionate about, " he laced his fingers through hers, "it just makes me happy”. He lifted her hand to his lips, giving her knuckles a gentle kiss, "Are you feeling overwhelmed again?”

 I’ve been having a hard time at work, being surrounded by so many people sometimes confuses me a bit, " she paused, looking down at their intertwined hands and admiring how perfectly they fit together. She let the feeling of warmth and trust wash over her before she spoke again, "I constantly have to remind myself that the emotions I'm feeling aren't my own".

 "I actually even took a salt bath the other night. That helped, " she smiled reassuringly.

"So, " he drawled, "that means you can sense my emotions too?"

 "I always have, " she nodded, "I even sense the kid's emotions but they are still too young. Their emotions are barely ever negative and even if they are, they are fleeting."

Their conversation carried on into the evening and as the sun began to slowly set, they decided it was high time to get back inside. Night soon rolled in and as the two laid in bed; their limbs intertwined under the sheets, Jax couldn't help but admire the way the sliver of moonlight shining through the curtain reflected off of Amber's eyes. He ran his hand through her hair, caressing her skin gently as he spoke, "So I did a bit of research into this empath thing of yours"

 "Yeah?" she slid her arms up and wrapped them around his neck."Mhm, I wanted to learn as much as I could, ""And what have you found out?

 "A smirk played on her lips as he pulled her body closer to his, "How they are in bed, "Laughter reverberated through the room as Amber threw her head back in glee, "And? Does it fit?"

 "Oh, it most definitely does. It fits some of the things that you do perfectly, "Amber snuggled closer to him, tucking her head under his chin, "I think that's the reason I cry sometimes after I have come down from the high, ""The emotions I feel are warm, loving and passionate, " she paced a quick peck on his exposed skin, "but they are A LOT on me, ""I wouldn't change it though, " she looked up into his eyes, "I wouldn't change it for anything in this world”. Jax enveloped her lips with his in a tender yet deep kiss. "The feeling of love and tenderness that radiates from you, " she smiled under his touch as he cupped her face, "it's wonderful”. “Sorry, " she chuckled, kissing the tip of his nose this a grin on her face, "That came out cheesier than I intended”.” It’s okay, " he whispered. His nose brushed hers lightly, his breath fanned over her mouth before he drew her in for a kiss.

"You're my little empath".

[mariewroteit]

This is Anne Marie Fisher. She's 19 years old, was born in January 24th, 2002, London. She's an only child. Her parents died in a car accident and lives with her aunt Jenna in Vancouver, Canada.

Hobbies:

-Reading

-Cooking

-Working out

-Listen to music

-Watch Anime and read manga

-Yoga

-Play Videogames

-Crafting

Passion:

Anne loves to help people and to cook, she also loves animals and is looking forward having a Farm someday. Yet, she's studying to be a lawyer to put the bad guys in jail.

She loves watching scary movies and science documental. Her best friend is Seo "Zu" Yoon Ji, and she's never had a boyfriend before.

She can be a little introverted but, sometimes, when feeling overwhelmed or catches by someone, she can really get extrovert and excited about getting to know people and talk.

She loves asking questions, she sometimes draws, she's very shy but still loves to sing out loud. She does not use social media (but WhatsApp sometimes), and love using Vintage outfits cause "it suits her appearance".

Anne has 2 dogs and 3 Cats. They're named as:

*Baily - Golden Retriever

* Jax - Great Dane

*Mike - Angora

And two Siamese cats, Jake and Angelo.

Favorite Color:

Purple, black, blue and dark green.

Favorite Food:

Pizza and sometimes doughnuts.

Favorite thing:

Her mother's necklace.

Favorite Picture:

A Picture her aunt took when she was born, in the picture you can see her being hold by her dad and mom after getting out of the Hospital.

Favorite Movie:

Scary movie

Favorite Book:

The Shining (Stephen King)

Favorite writer:

Lovecraft.

Favorite number:

3

Favorite gadget:

Smartwatch

Favorite quote:

"Nothing is never impossible if you can dream it."

Mental health:

Suffers anxiety chronic, low depression and nightmares caused by night and darkness fear.

Hight:

4'5

Weigh:

43kgs.

She regularly wear glasses.

[susiron]

My brother has the most neurotic dog I’ve ever met

The dog is a golden retriever puppy (over 9 months I think?) named Jax, and this puppy wholeheartedly Hyperfocuses on other dogs. He likes people and when there are no other dogs involved he’s more loosey goosey with demanding attention. When there’s any dog involved, though, Jax just hones in on one dog and will pester them for HOURS. Complete hours of undivided attention, just sniffing and licking the other dog (and occasionally humping). He’ll follow the dog around as close to their hip as he can, whining if they’re not paying attention to him or get out of reach. HOURS OF THIS. Doesn’t matter if the other dog is asleep, disinterested, or even growling-- he HAS to be up their ass.

I know it’s partly due to the pandemic that Jax is poorly socialized, but god it’s just so... off, that my brother literally worked with K9 in the marines, but he has a dog that is this anxious all the time (I can only read this as anxiety or adhd??) 

It’s worth mentioning too that my brother uses a handheld shock collar to discipline this dog (justifying it by pointing out that he mostly just uses the beeping sound), and wow do I hate that deeply.

[elleonmybeloved]

Fondly Dreamed

TERA (The Exiled Realm of Arborea) | Gen/Multi  Words: 9623 Chapter 1 Read on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/29024796/chapters/71238090

Summary:  The titans Arun and Shara dream of a world they call Arborea. Arborea was never a peaceful world, but it was always beautiful and full of magical creatures. When one of their first and most powerful creations turned on them, they banished him to the underworld, Agaia. But the barrier between worlds is weakening, and corruption is beginning to invade Arborea, unmaking it's very essence and turning the world into a wasteland of Argon blue. Lest their sleeping forms and their precious world be destroyed, the sleeping titans dream of brave, strong heroes who can go against the very gods, and banish the corruption once and for all, before it is too late.

Yeriss dreams of glory in a world full of meaningless death. Sahlin dreams of freedom. Elleon dreams of acceptance. Jelena dreams of a world of smiles and laughter instead of blood and tears.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The early morning eye of Balder casts long shadows along the golden sand on the beach of Cutthroat Harbor. A ways away from the boats and boardwalks stands a young castanic woman. Water occasionally washes over her sandaled feet as the little waves lap forward, then pull back. A conflicted expression twists her beautiful face despite the tranquility of her vacation-worthy surroundings.

A shiny silver badge identifies her as “Yeriss.” Engraved into the metal is the sword of Kaia, and a number. Yeriss thumbs the badge. Then rears back and chucks the thing as far as she can with a frustrated scream. The badge lands too far away in the water to hear the plunk of it’s submersion. 

“I’m afraid that shiny thing is much too big to lure you any fish.” The graying human man in the wooden chair had been sitting so still, Yeriss had scarcely noticed his presence. She’d been too caught up in her inner turmoil to pay much attention to her surroundings. Still, it’s as much of a surprise to see a fisherman in Cutthroat as it is to see a pirate ship on the Jagged Coast. So, not at all.

“Ahahah. It’s just trash to me now.” She says dismissively, feeling a bit self conscious at someone witnessing her... passionate disposal of the badge.

“Looked a bit too shiny to me to be garbage. You sure?”

“Yes.”

“Hmph.” The man makes an amused sound and raises a brow. “Whatever did it do to deserve a fate with the fishes?”

“Promise me glory and adventure.” She raises her head in contempt. “And give me literally worse than nothing.”

The fisherman eyes her for a moment. “With so many of you stationed here, I’d recognize the symbol of the Kaia’s Swords anywhere. Did something happen within the order?”

Yeriss blinks and frantically shakes her head. “Oh no, nothing like that. There’s nothing to be concerned about, don’t worry. I’m not a Sword anymore actually I.... quit.” At his wary glance, she clarifies. “Recently.”

“Oh.” The man relaxes. “Well if you’re stressed about coin, you should consider taking up the pole.” He lifts his fishing rod in a way that indicates he is talking about fishing. Which is good for him, because otherwise, Yeriss was about to think yet another middle-aged human man saw her reddish skin and silver castanic markings and wanted to see the rest of them. In a setting with some other pole. 

It wasn’t the first time she’d heard a comment like that. The last man to compare her to someone working at The Rose had gotten an elbow to the kidneys.

“Uhh thanks.” Yeriss squelches a grin at the man. “But I’m not that desperate. And I can’t stand seafood.”

“Suit yourself.” He shrugs, adjusting his hat to cover more of his face from the strengthening rays of Balder’s radiant eye. “It’s big money these days, you know.”

She’s heard the rumors. “Big Ass Fish,” and all that. The idea is repulsive to her. It’s her opinion that anything bigger than you isn’t food, and thinks that if more people went to Serpentis Isle outside of the Festival of the Sun season, they might agree with her. If she concentrates hard enough she can almost smell the stink of giant crustaceans in the sun.

“Yeah I know. I’m not really the patient type though so I’ll have to pass. But good luck to you.”

“Goddess Velik go with you.” He says, a very Southern Arun goodbye. He raises his fishing pole in a gesture of parting.

Walking north up the beach towards home, her perpetual stewing thoughts have her nearly tripping over a hard obstruction poking out the sand. Were it not for her quick reflexes, she would have face-planted. Embarrassed, she turns to see if anyone witnessed that. Doesn’t seem like it.

Angrily, she kicks the thing. As retribution for tripping her. Maybe a little too hard though, because doing so dislodges it from the sand and sends it tumbling a ways across the beach. Walking up to it, Yeriss sees it is actually a wooden box, bleached a pale yellow from the ocean water, but hints of a dark mahogany at the seams suggest it was beautiful before it met the waves. Curiously, it is still shut. Quite tightly in fact.

It takes a bit of wiggling but with nimble fingers she pries up the metal latch, and with some effort, pulls open the lid.

Inside, there are several folded pieces of paper. The edges are crinkled in the way that previously wet paper dries, but for the most part they are unscathed by the ocean. Curiously, Yeriss sits down on the sand, places the box in her lap, and begins to unfold the papers. The first appears to be a letter of some kind. It’s addressed to a name she doesn’t recognize, but the sender addresses them as “Captain” several times, and as she begins to read it becomes clear that both the sender and the receiver are sailors. Pirates, actually.

“... failed to locate the Pearl of Gluda… mixed up a cargo manifest… some got scurvy… heard the Sea Dogs made a deal with Jax’s Trust… big money… suggests a considerable amount of valuable goods, or just one…” Bored, Yeriss skips down a couple paragraphs and continues reading. 

“Hmmm... won’t have enough gold to make another search for the Pearl… could sell some info… some old sailors been seeing Valkyon Federation boats heading towards the northeast Arun Sea… through the pass above Baldera… our nautical mapping suggests the rumors of an island full of monsters as their location is true?” 

Yeriss pauses, holding the paper up closer to her face. “Getting as close as we dared to their ships, we saw several uniformed troops on board. Too many to risk to the sea if they were headed for Southern Shara. Not with the Federation’s discount on pegasus travel. Where else could they be headed, other than an island?”

Intrigued, she looks through the other folded papers, but they appear to simply be maps, with some markings and writing on them. She doesn’t recognize any of the names that label locations on the map, but from the shape of the landmass on two of them, she thinks it might be southern Ostgarath. This far down however, should be Red Lash Pirate territory… how odd. It would be too good to be true if this is the location of a pirate treasure stash.

More interested in the island full of monsters the Federation is apparently keeping under a tight lid, she returns to the letter. Seems to her like they could use some help, if they need that many troops. What if she shows up and kills all the monsters for them? Joining the Federation… she’s considered it before, of course, to become one of the great heroes. Seir in his youth, the legendary Kaia’s Champion who not once throughout their valiant service allowed themselves to be unmasked, Delsha of the Golden Lance, Aldager the Spell-slinger, and of course, most recently, Elleon Kubel of the Argon War. 

The thought of being like them, known and loved everywhere is her greatest dream. But the ranks of the Federation army wouldn’t treat her any different from her extremely disappointing two-year experience with the Kaia’s Swords. Yeriss has heard enough to be sure of that.

It’s then that her eyes catch on a phrase within the letter, ‘found a few stowaways, saw them over the plank.’ 

“Stowaway…” She murmurs to herself thoughtfully, mind suddenly whirling. Who said she had to join the Federation to help them? Quickly tracing back up, she finds the part about the ship sightings again. 

“--Were close enough to read only the vessel’s name through the spyglass, and that’s because it was rather boldly emblazoned across her side in glowing letters shaped from cobala ore. The Pride.”

Violent and lacking scruples as they may be, Yeriss has to thank these pirates for their information. Now all she needs to do is find out where and when The Pride is to set sail… and sneak herself aboard.

~~~

Castanics get a lot of credit for their agility. There’s a saying Yeriss has heard, not even one made by her own people, that a castanic will always land on their feet regardless of how high a drop they fall from. The biggest testament to her castanic agility right now, however, is how she’s managed to fold herself into such a shape as to fit within this wooden barrel. It smells like sarberries, which is an intentional choice on Yeriss’s part. Like everything else being loaded onto The Pride, it is marked with the four-pointed circular compass symbol that represents the Valkyon Federation.

Her hips and lower back are starting to hurt by the time she has been picked up and carried onto the ship. There weren’t any reasons why someone would lift the lid to check the cargo, but she holds as still as possible regardless. 

Whoever is carrying her is lucky she’ll never see their face. The way they swing down and toss her barrel to thunk against the floor like nothing more than a sack of mudroots has her silently seething to Mother Shara to please give them holy retribution in the form of sea sicknesses. 

“No need to be so rough with that.” Someone remarks, and she can hear the sounds of three or four sets of footsteps. “I think these have the fruits and vegetables in them. The recruits from Poporia won’t be happy with you if their fruit is covered in bruises.” 

Yeriss silently agrees with them, though she supposed she should actually be the guilty one here. It’s a shame about the sarberries she had to dump into the ocean. But she wasn’t about to spend an extended amount of time in a cramped space with an unpleasant smell.

Her hips are really starting to complain by the time she no longer hears the sounds of people loading barrels into the cargo hold. The slight rock of the ship is making it worse, because it makes the rough wood dig into her side. Originally, she was going to wait until she was sure the ship had set sail before coming out of hiding, but now, she lifts the lid and cautiously pokes a head out as soon as the sounds of loading cargo have quieted.

The dimly lit hold is full of crates that surround her, but free of people. Yeriss carefully clambers out of the barrel and does her best job to silently arrange herself in a spot between them, hidden from sight. Distantly, she hears the bell ringing, signaling their departure. The steady sway of the vessel turns into a repeating bob up and down, and she guesses that means they are picking up speed.

Well… now comes the waiting part. Yeriss thinks wearily. She is not the patient type.

She makes it less than an hour before she’s inching down the hall, much too far from the crates and barrels than she should be. Hidden underneath a covered latch, she can hear some sailors or soldiers chatting above her.

“... second station with the Federation…”

“...heard about the First Expedition and applied to be a part of the second, but-... and Leander left in such a hurry I missed my chance to-”

“-yes, we served together on our previous post and,”

“Pleasure to make your acquaintance, I’m the-”

From what she can hear, it sounds like people are introducing themselves to each other. It’s odd because she'd assumed that the troops on this… third “Expedition”? to all be part of the same regiment. It’s sounding like they just accepted anyone within the Federation who wasn’t essential on their post to apply.

Eyeing the empty underdeck, she weighs the risks of getting closer. She’s not the best actor but if most of the sailors and soldiers weren’t even already acquainted with another, maybe she could pretend to be a recruit? Wait no, there was certainly a consul on deck for this many troops, and if she ran into them, they might know she wasn’t a Federation soldier. Or would they?

A creaking sound nearby startles her out of her risky mental debate, and she darts back down the hall. Adrenaline surges in her veins as she tries to scramble back into her hiding spot between the crates as quietly as possible while heavy footsteps approach down the hall. Clapping a hand over her mouth to quiet her breathing, Yeriss holds very still as the person stops in front of the cargo pile. There’s a quiet pause before she hears the sound of shuffling as whoever it is starts moving the barrels aside. 

Wood creaks as the person opens the lid of a crate. From the light of a carried lantern, a large shadow is cast on the wall of the ship, and from the size, shape, and the horns and long pointy shapes coming from their head, she thinks it may actually be… an amani? An odd popping noise has her raising a brow. Did someone just… uncork a bottle?

“Can’t say I anticipated having weevils in my hardtack on a job like this.” The rich, feminine voice rings out clear and sharp, and were Yeriss the jumpier sort, she would’ve certainly flinched at it’s suddenness. “You’d better get out here and explain yourself before I deal with you the way I’ve always dealt with rats on my ship.”

“...” Maybe she’s bluffing?

“There’s no point in hiding, I can see your horns. We amani have much better eyesight in the dark, you know.”

Damn.

Cautiously, Yeriss climbs out from her hiding spot. To her surprise, there’s no weapon pointed at her. Instead, a tall amani woman in gray and black leans against the wall, sipping a bottle of spiced rum like it’s water. She sees no identification pin on her, so maybe this is one of the sailors? Or the help? There’s no way this is the captain… she’s never even heard of an amani owning a ship, or even being interested in something other than the honor of glorious battle.

“Who are you?” She asks, genuinely curious.

The amani raises an eyebrow and lowers her bottle. “You’ve got some nerve. Who am I? Who are you, and what are you doing stowing away on my ship?”

“Your ship? So you actually are the Captain?” 

“Yes. They call me Mahera the Sealion, and I bought this vessel, The Pride, and all her deadly upgrades with no small amount of gold. So if you don’t tell me who you are, you slippery little castanic, I have the authority to dump you in the sea this very second. You should get talking.”

“Sorry, I was just… in shock. I’m Yeriss. I’m a swordswoman. I heard the Federation was sending troops to the Island of Dawn on this ship and that there’s a bunch of monsters there… I uh, recently quit the Kaia’s Swords and I haven’t seen much action recently so I wanted to come help.” She hastily explains.

“Uh huh. Why not enlist and just board the official way?”

“... I heard they are only letting veteran soldiers come here. If I joined today I would probably end up on the Island in three years or something. So I figured I’d skip the waiting line.”

“Oh really. And how did you ‘hear’ about the Expeditions when the Valkyon Federation has been very particular with myself and anyone else involved that the island needs to remain secret until they have the situation under control?”

“You probably won’t believe me, but I read it in a letter I found in a box washed up on the beach.”

“You’re right. I don’t believe you. I think it’s much more likely you’re a spy or an enemy of the Federation waiting to sabotage the vessel.”

“It’s the truth, I swear to Kaia!” Yeriss insists, putting her hand over her heart.

Before Mahera can reply, there’s a bit of a commotion above deck, and suddenly a gush of water falls through the grate above them, spraying them with salty water from what must have been a ridiculously sized wave.

“Ow! What the-?” Something hard and wet hits Yeriss in the face before bouncing off and clattering to the floor. Rubbing her forehead, she bends down to pick it up. 

“No way.” Yeriss stares at it in disbelief.

“What?”

“It’s… my Kaia’s Sword badge. That I threw in the ocean.” Yeriss says incredulously, shaking her head. She hands it to Mahera. “You wanted proof, here you go.”

Mahera’s expression cycles through doubt, to surprise, to amusement as she examines the badge. “Looks like the titans dream fondly of you today. This is beyond lucky.” She raises the rum bottle to her lips and takes a swig. “But just reaching the island won’t help you, Yeriss. The Federation’s got the Island strictly barricaded the further in you go, and the bankers and merchants on board aren’t allowed past the first one. You’d have to pass for a soldier if you wanted a hope of getting anywhere near a monster.”

“I could just-”

“Sneak past and fight alone?” Mahera interrupts her. “Not a chance. There’s a reason they chose one of the fastest ships on this side of Arun to transport this many troops after there’s already been two previous expeditions. The monsters on this island are enormous, and fight with a ferociousness we’ve never seen before.”

Yeriss wants to reply that unless they’re bigger than a vulcan, she’s got a one on one fight in the bag, but Mahera sees the defiance in her eyes and scowls before she can say so. “I’m serious. Don’t be stupid.”

“... I’ll figure it out.”

“Not if I tell the consul you’re here.”

“Or could you just keep quiet and pretend you never saw me?” Yeriss suggests hopefully. “It’s not like you’re part of the Federation.”

“You don’t have the coin to buy my silence.” 

Yeriss wants to refute her statement, but the meager pouch of gold, silver, and bronze coins in her pack probably weighed less than the liquor bottle Mahera is rapidly going through. But wait… 

“I could give you these!” Yeriss takes the maps she found the day prior out of her pack, unfolding them hastily and smoothing them out before holding them out to Mahera.

The amani captain hesitates, giving the papers a disdainful look before sighing and setting down her liquor and taking the papers. “What am I looking at, exactly?”

Yeriss has no idea, so she just shrugs. “Seems valuable, so…? You can have them if you keep my secret.”

After a minute of scrutiny, Mahera’s open expression closes off and she stares intensely at the maps. It’s hard to tell with her thick grey skin, but it seems like her face flushes. Yeriss looks on impatiently, wondering why she isn’t saying anything. Mahera lifts a hand to cover her mouth, and finally she can’t stand it anymore.

“Well? Do we have a deal?”

“...” Mahera lifts her hand, revealing a very satisfied, sharp-toothed grin. “We do.” She extends her four-fingered hand for a shake, and Yeriss eagerly grips it, ready to have this obstacle out of her way.

Relaxing, Yeriss sidles up next to her to look at the maps. “So what are they? Guessing you know since you accepted them.”

“You can’t go back on our deal if I tell you.”

Yeriss balks. “Why would I go back on our deal? What, cause I’m castanic? That’s low. I won’t, I promise, just tell me!”

“No, not that.” Mahera looks like the cat that ate the canary. “It’s because this is the location of the secret hideout of the Red Lash Pirate captain… the fearsome, and also filthy rich naga pirate Nakarash. Unlike his better known grotto in southern Ostgarath, this shows a different location entirely. I bet it’s where he’s keeping the motherlode.”

“You’ve gotta be yanking Saleron’s chains. I just gave you the keys to a fortune?”

“According to hearsay, more than five hundred thousand gold worth. And well, it could be fake, but it’s very difficult to imitate naga. They write with their tails, not their hands, after all. I’m willing to take the chance. I’ve been itching to update my cannons and plating with some of that fancy new stuff the Unified Theory Institute discovered. With this, I’ll finally be able to afford it. And install a new prow, one with a lancet that doesn’t break off so easily this time.”

Yeriss visibly deflates. She’s not much of a money chaser but she just unwittingly gave over an actual treasure map! So much for being lucky. 

“Eh, don’t look so glum.” Mahera cajoles her, slapping her shoulder as she takes a merry gulp from her rum. “You’d’ve needed a boat to get there anyways.”

“All that gold…”

Mahera laughs, and tips her bottle at the pouting castanic woman. “Tell you what. As thanks for this, I’ll solve your problem.”

Yeriss watches curiously as Mahera lifts crates out the way one-handed. Must be nice having claws. The amani opens a crate at the back, and after periodically lifting a few things up to look at them, finds whatever she’s searching for.

“Your luck hasn’t run out just yet. Turns out my crew forgot to unload the crate full of the belongings of Federation soldiers from the First Expedition deceased or missing in action. Which means I can give you what you need: the identity of a federation soldier.” The amani holds out a silver badge engraved with the four pointed circle of the Valkyon Federation.

Yeriss takes it and holds it close to the light of the lantern. “Yerenica.” She reads aloud.

“Figured it would be easier for you if the name was similar. She was a castanic too, I think. Give me a minute and I’ll find her papers. Should be good enough to get you through if any of the officers notice something amiss about how you look.”

Mahera gives her a once over, glowing reptilian eyes lingering on the light luriafiber fabric of Yeriss’s crop top. “Speaking of which, you’ll need some armor.”

~~~

Minutes later, Yeriss is suited up and equipped with everything she needs to pass as Yerenica. Mahera retreats to her cabin with a new bottle of rum -celebratory this time no doubt- and Yeriss makes haste for above deck, ready to be anywhere but the dreary cargo hold. Sailors mill about tending the vessel, and there’s a large circle of upturned barrels serving as seats for a group of what looks to be twenty to thirty federation soldiers. 

Yeriss makes a beeline right for them. Picking a dry spot of deck between a few people sitting on barrels, she sits cross-legged on the floor, making sure her federation badge is clearly visible where it glints clipped to her collar. There are several conversations ongoing, and she tunes in to the one of the people sitting closest to her.

“Actually, I heard that we’ll be arriving just three days after the Second Expedition gets there. I wonder if Leander will have found Elleon by then.” A talkative human woman with fashionably styled hair is saying animatedly.

“So Elleon is still missing?” A bearded human man asks, looking worried.

“Yeah, I’m afraid so.” Another, more muscular human man says, and Yeriss notices he is wearing fancy white and silver armor that sets him apart from the rest of the recruits. Although, the way he’s casually slouched as comfortably as possible over the barrel conflicts with that image. “But don’t worry, if anyone can find him it’ll be Leander. For Elleon’s sake, I actually hope he doesn’t find him too fast.”

A female castanic with choppy shoulder length gray hair and light blue eyes sitting next to the man laughs. “I’m sure my sister would say the same, Consul Dougal.”

“I know I’m not gonna have to remind you again that I don’t want any of you all calling me Consul, Davina. If just Dougal is too hard, sir is fine. We’re out of Velika now and unless Aide Vene is hanging around there’s no need for it.”

“Wow, really? I’ve never met someone so high ranked who didn’t act like all that and a bag of mudroot crisps.” The stylish human woman remarks. 

Dougal waves a hand. “We’re all friends in the Valkyon Federation, I’d like to think. If you want to stand on ceremony, save it for Tribune Adria when we’re on the island. She’ll be more in charge of you than I am. Or Vene, if you want, but be careful. His head is already big enough you might fool him into thinking he is the Vanarch.”

Yeriss knows who Elleon is of course, and knew of Dougal, Commander Seir’s right hand man before, but otherwise she’s pretty lost in this conversation. As the others continue to chat, the baraka perched politely on the barrel beside her turns to her. He is a bit smaller than most baraka she’s seen, and doesn’t have much ‘facial hair’ present in the soft stone of his face.

“Hello there. I haven’t seen you around yet, my name is Heqim. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Surprised but happy to be included, she returns his friendliness. “Hey, I’m Yeri- Yerenica.” She quickly corrects herself. Oops! “And yeah I wasn’t feeling so great earlier so I was resting below deck. Looks like I missed out on the important details of the fishwife gossip, huh?”

“You certainly have, though I do remember it all if you truly wish to be caught up on it.” Heqim says. Like most baraka, his face and tone are unreadable… but after a moment of scrutiny, he cracks a perceptible small grin. That was a joke? Yeriss can’t help the surprised laughter.

“I’m only kidding of course.” He says, looking pleased at having amused her. “At some point I started recalling a very interesting tale I heard during my previous post in Bastion and got a bit lost in thought.”

“Oh really? I’ve actually never been to Bastion, and not because I’m a castanic, just haven’t had the chance. I don’t think Balder would really mind anyway, since he was so kind and uh, I’m such a garbage artisan. I’ve heard it’s beautiful and wild and full of historical discoveries just waiting to happen.”

“Indeed it is!” Heqim agrees, looking as excited as a baraka can. “The tale is actually about Balder’s friend, Shakan, the lord of the beasts. A researcher group from the Mysterium that my squad and I were guarding uncovered a new repository of knowledge from before the age of the Divine War. On it was recorded a collection of recordings from one of the temple servants at the time. Quite scandalously, they regale the listener with tales of just how much fur they have to clean off the temple floors every time Shakan came to visit his friend and rumors that since none of them have seen him directly… well.” 

Heqim casts a furtive gaze among the soldiers to see if anyone is really listening to him. “They basically insinuated that Shakan in reality was just Balder’s large hound, and that he wanted his pet to feel special and loved and so gave him his title as the Beastlord. They said they heard him speaking to Shakan in a tone not unsimilar to one used to coo at one’s pooch.”

“No way.” Yeriss says. “Shakan, the god? The great lord of all beasts, rumored to have foot-long claws... a dog?”

“It’s more plausible if you consider it carefully. All the fabled descriptions could be exaggerations encouraged by Balder to make his loyal pet happy. Would it not be common for a temple servant to bemoan the claw marks of a hyper dog amongst themselves, and call him a beast with the largest of claws?”

Yeriss stares. “Uuuuuum...you know what, I think you’re right. But if anybody from southeastern Shara, especially a high elf, heard you right now you’d be fighting for your life. Or your credibility I guess, which among those academic types is their life.”

The stylish human woman overhears this, and makes a statement about high elves and academia that has the group of varied races in something weapons short of an argument. Over the next couple days at sea, Yeriss learns that a boat is a very small place to be with so many troops. Though the Valkyon Federation was revolutionary for its unification of the seven races, expecting them to get along all the time was another matter entirely.

~~~

Three days later, they arrive at the Island of Dawn. For an island that is supposedly overrun with huge monsters, it’s absolutely gorgeous. If you ignore the ring of shipwrecks around it of course. Clear sky, nestled a few miles down in the ocean in a way that makes it look like it’s surrounded by perpetual waterfall on all sides, double rainbows made from the mist of the falling seawater, and the biggest pinkest… tree? which is a strange combination of wood and stone carved entirely with glowing turquoise runes. What a view.

They can’t actually approach the island by boat of course, so they dock on a small wooden platform and reach the island by pegasus, in groups of 8 since that’s how many they have to share. The crew of The Pride begins loading the Federation’s cargo onto three airships like the ones they have in Velika.

Yeriss and the rest of the soldiers are filtered through several tents, getting assigned squads and locations, debriefed on the situation at the island, and given maps, issued weapons, and today’s supper. By the time all that business is over, the sun has set. Tribune Adria, who Dougal was right in saying is the main person in charge of all the troops here, announces that the Island is too dangerous at night, and the majority of the battle force on the island will convene tomorrow at first light and resume their fight at the bridge that crosses to the area the monsters come from. They call it the Tainted Gorge, because unlike the rest of the gorgeous, lush island filled with magic and nature, the Gorge is withered and gray, with little to no flora surviving in the place.

While the others retire to their tents for the night, Yeriss decides a closer look is in order. Unfortunately there’s no way to the southern part of the island from the Tower Base where the Federation main camp is other than the bridge east of the Shrine of Yurian. Approaching the area as if she’s just out for a night time stroll, she sees that it’s too well guarded for her to sneak past. There’s two guards on each side of the bridge, and subterfuge has never been her strong suit.

Walking around the camp as confidently as the rest of the soldiers out on patrol, she wracks her brain for a solution to her problem. Passing by the airship dock, covered pavilion, and makeshift debriefing area with barely tidied scrolls and tactical maps, she eventually finds herself at the partially roofed enclosure housing the winged horses. Most of the steeds are resting in the area beneath the roof, but one of them is leaning out as far from the fence as possible. It is a beautiful, deep brown with tawny wings, and seems to be trying very hard to reach an open barrel of gold and purple apples nearby.

“Why not just… fly over?” Yeriss wonders aloud.

The winged horse’s ear twitches and it turns it’s head briefly to look in her direction. Suddenly, it lifts and extends its wings out from it’s side and a very obnoxious sound like a tinkling bell interrupts the island’s nighttime ambience.

“Oh.” Many creatures on Arborea are capable of understanding some of the common tongue, but she didn’t actually intend to speak to the horse. She’s not embarrassed though, it’s not like she would know that the Federation put such a spell on their steeds. “Afraid you’ll get caught? Me too.”

Yeriss tucks a piece of her copper hair behind her ear and furtively checks if anyone around is looking at them. “Maybe we can help each other out.” She says impishly, and picks up the barrel and puts it within the winged horse’s reach. Ducking under the shadow of the roof’s overhang as much as possible, she watches as the horse tucks into the apple barrel with the reckless abandon of a man starved. So much for it not wanting to get caught- there way the seeds are flying, it will be clear as day to whoever approaches next just what happened to the apples in the barrel. Maybe it just didn’t want to get caught in the act before it could eat all the apples.

“What kind of apples are these? The way you’re eating them makes me think I should be eating them too.” Yeriss remarks. The winged horse stops it’s chewing for a brief moment to send her what is clearly a warning glare. “Just kidding! But if you tell me, maybe I can find you more of them, so…”

Instead of answering her, which considering it can’t speak and therefore she really shouldn’t have expected such, the horse finishes it’s frenzied feast. “Hey, horse. Wanna return the favor?”

The horse does not look like it wants to return the favor.

“Okay… hey horse, wanna escape the scene of the crime?”

The horse does not look like it gives a care in the world about escaping the scene of the crime.

“...Wanna go look for more apples on the other side of the island?”

That earns her an interested whicker. 

“Great! So, how do I go about turning off that annoying bell sound?... Hey, don’t look at me like that, I just got here with the Third Expedition, I’m not suspicious at all.” Yeriss complains, following the horse over to the other side of the enclosure. There’s a box on a table near the door. “This?”

Opening the box, she sees a book inside. Riding Skill: Tulpar, Bay, Raju, Ash, Basil is written on the book cover. Before she can even try to open it and look inside, the horse snatches it up in it’s mouth and shakes vigorously until it tears apart.

“...Um.”

The horse lifts its wings in a glorious skyward stretch and aside from the faint rustle of it’s deep brown feathers in the wind, it is soundless. Clearly, the issue is solved. Yeriss easily vaults over the fence and hauls herself up on the horse. Despite it’s perceivable attitude, it doesn’t shake her off. Her added weight is no hindrance to the steed, and with the ease of a bird, it takes flight.

Being atop a flying horse isn’t a new experience entirely - Yeriss has been on her fair share of pegasus flights. But this is a living, breathing being who isn’t confined to the predetermined path of it’s creators. This is much more exciting, and though it takes some gentle tugs to the mane of the beast, she eventually convinces it to fly in the direction of the Tainted Gorge.

“By the titans… that’s a lot of big ass monsters.” She says aloud. Ahead of them, many miles below, is the Gorge. There’s hardly any grass, certainly no flowers - in fact, the only surviving vegetation is the winding thorns of some kind of bush. More than that however, it’s crawling with monsters that appear to have previously been fey inhabiting the island. Blown up twice their normal size, she recognizes some of the monsters as fangspawn, a common corrupted form of earth spirit, as well as several teraliths that are going berserk and hurling rocks amongst themselves. 

There are some she doesn’t recognize, that look almost demonic in nature - some sick, twisted thing that appears to have several long appendages that come out from a common base which appears to have the torsos of two… human looking figures on top of each other. Nearest to the bridge are some humongous nagas, whom she can guess arrived on the Island of Dawn via one of the crashed pirate ships in the graveyard of vessels that encircles the entire island.

Yeriss has to admit the monsters are bigger than she thought they would be. No wonder the Federation wants to keep this under wraps. She heaves a very disappointed sigh. There’d be no overnight heroics… yet. 

She could probably still take the ones made of flesh and bone out in a one on one fight, but creatures of living rock and metal are always a pain in the ass without a magic user to help enhance your weapons. When it came to the vulcans and gulas she has experience fighting, the bigger they were the harder they fell. Maybe these would be the same. She’s seeing a disturbing lack of legs however.

“Let’s go back.” Yeriss sighs again, patting the winged horse’s neck. “Oh wait, wait- let’s check the Timeless Woods for some of those apples you love first. Then they won’t wonder where you’ve gone, if you show up with one in your mouth.”

~~~

The next morning at dawn, Yeriss and all twenty-something new arrivals stand gathered around a raised platform on the outskirts of camp, weapons glinting in the early light of the sun. Tribune Adria stands atop the platform, in full armor just like the rest of them. Despite Adria’s friendly demeanor and pretty face, there’s a seriousness to her that makes her commanding of respect. The large double-bladed greataxe that rests on her back is a physical reminder of that.

“Our reports list either direct contact with or sightings of the following creatures, which though you will be assigned to particular spots, it is important that you are aware that you may be attacked by these at any time: orisks, basilisks, ovoliths, teraliths, fimbrilisks, fangspawn, nagas, and hydraths.” Adria observes the reactions of the crowd as she speaks, and as if seeing something she expected, she continues. “These ovoliths are likely much bigger than the kinds one can find in the north of Poporia in vampir territory, and prefer to use their front legs as claws. Be wary of their eyes, because they will glint when enraged and often follow with a frenzied, devastating flurry of attacks.”

Adria looks for something among the container of scrolls she brought up with her on the platform. Unrolling one, it reveals an image of the twisted, metal-like thing Yeriss saw last night with the two humanoid bodies coming from either side of it.

“This is a hydrath.” Adria says. “I’m not surprised that many of you haven’t seen one, as they are quite rare. Rather than a creature that exists in nature, the hydrath is made when two individuals either succumb to or make a pledge with a powerful demon, who then severs both sacrifices at the torso and builds a hydrath using the two as well as the heads of several living stone serpents. Out of everything on this island, the hydrath is by far the most dangerous monster we have yet to encounter. If you see one, you are to fall back immediately and report to me or the consul of its location as soon as possible.”

Some of the soldiers ask a few questions, and aside from a useful warning from Adria that the range of a hydrath is quite large, Yeriss doesn’t hear anything else worth noting before the tribune is organizing everyone into balanced squads of five.

Moving to stand where directed, it’s less than a minute before four others have moved to join her. A male aman carrying a large shield and lance, the stylish human woman she saw before, carrying a greatsword on her back like Yeriss’s own, a male high elf with a large, graceful looking bow and quiver, and to her great pleasure and surprise, her baraka friend from the boat whose mysterious looking sorcerer’s focus swirls and collapses in on itself in a beautiful dance.

“Heqim!” Yeriss greets him in delight. “I should have known you were more dangerous than you looked.”

“I do believe there is a wise saying in there somewhere about not judging the contents of a book by the cover alone.” Heqim says, in a mock sage tone. “It’s a pleasure to serve with you, my friend.”

Yeriss flashes him a wide grin. “Same. I can’t stand boring battles.”

“Looks like the two of you are already friends.” The male aman’s voice is deep and soothing, unlike some she’s heard before that more resemble gravel. “That’s good. The better we know each other, the more effectively we will fight together.”

Making a fist over his heavily armored chest, the aman nods at the group. “I am Kagaran.”

“Oh you better hope we do, because I didn’t come all the way here to lose.” The stylish woman says, tossing her hair over her shoulder despite it being in a braid. “I’m Winra.”

“...Sein.” The high elf man says simply, and turns to the baraka beside him.

“As my friend Yerenica here mentioned, I am Heqim. Let us be smarter than our enemies in the Gorge, and our victory will no doubt follow.”

It is a very good thing that Heqim mentioned her name, because Yeriss had completely forgotten she was supposed to be someone else up until this point. She had been fully intending on introducing herself as Yeriss. By the titans, that was a close one.

“I’m Yerenica. Let’s send these overgrown monsters back to the dream, yeah?”

Tribune Adria comes back around then, with orders of where they are headed. There’s a north eastern entrance to the Gorge, but only the most experienced soldiers, and almost all users of the arcane at that, are sent there to hold the perimeter. Simply because it’s the area with the hydraths. 

Most of all the other troops are going with Yeriss’s squad southwest to get to the gorge by going up the hill, and the few left are to be stationed at the guard camps to hold the road and make sure no monsters sneak by and endanger the Tower Base. As they follow the path south accompanied by several other squads, with Adria at the helm, the beautiful scenery around them melts away into barren land. Yeriss wishes they would all walk just a little faster. Isn’t this kind of an emergency?

A heaviness in the air begins to settle on her skin the closer they get, and Yeriss recognizes the presence of evil mana. A human man called “Jarius” is a researcher responsible for the three barrier shields they’ve put up on the island. Twice now he has gone ahead of them to temporarily disable the shields they have set up along the path, and as they crest the hill above the Gorge, he takes the utmost care in signaling them the okay to go through. The shield is invisible, but she can imagine it sealing the path behind them as Jarius places the focus stone back on the pedestal. 

Yeriss isn’t scared. Below them are monsters. Her excitement has her struggling to reign in the urge to just run down the hill and jump for a leaping strike at the temptingly exposed eye of a fangspawn dragging itself around on the dirt. Finally the soldiers move, unsheathing their weapons, and she and the rest of her squad run after Kagaran to the east, where they were instructed to go, while the other squads charge down the hill.

Hauling themselves across the dirt on large, red hands, are five fangspawns. The closest to them sees them approaching, and lets out a high pitched gurgling screech. Heqim chants in an ancient tongue, and their weapons start to glow a faint blue. Yeriss knows this spell, it makes an edge twice as sharp, and a shield twice as durable. Sein kneels and launches a volley of arrows into the sky, and Yeriss and the others charge under the cover fire he’s providing.

Kagaran drives his lance towards the great snaggle-toothed maw of the beast, but it merely chips the side of the teeth as the beast snaps its mouth shut. Winra closes in to try and slash the flesh of its side, while Yeriss takes the other. They barely draw blood before the beast is rolling backward out of the way. Some of Sein’s arrows find their mark in a few of the fangspawn’s many smaller eyes, but this just serves to make it angrier rather than slow it down. Rearing back, it opens its maw wide and blasts a spew of liquid fire in front of it. Yeriss quickly ducks behind Kagaran as he raises his shield, and Heqim has a shimmering barrier covering Winra’s retreating form. Yeriss can feel the heat in the air around them. This is taking too long.

Of course the two most vulnerable points of a fangspawn are it’s largest eye, and the inside of its mouth, since a lucky stab upward through either would pierce both its brain and it’s heart, killing it instantly. But every time Sein fires an arrow towards the eye, the fangspawn just tips forward and catches it between the large curled horns at the top of its head instead. Despite the length of his lance, the beast is simply too much taller than Kagaran for spearing it through the mouth to be an option unless it is wide open. 

Dashing in and rolling aside, half the time getting knocked away by swipes of the beast's large hands, Winra and Yeriss manage to land enough slashes to the sides of the fangspawn. The beast stumbles, losing strength and it opens its mouth once again to spew some defensive fire. Kagaran is upon it before it can gather enough of its ignitable liquid, and spears the thing through the roof of the mouth.

With a last shriek and shake, it rolls over dead. The three melee are breathing hard. Harder than they should be, in Yeriss’s opinion, from only felling a single one. The other fangspawn haven’t noticed them yet. Though spawns have many eyes, they are all located on the front of their body, and have no ears to speak of. Nor a nose, for that matter.

“That thing wasn’t so tough.” Winra says, pretending like she isn’t winded as she twirls her sword in self-satisfaction.

“Can you lure one to us, Heqim?” Kagaran asks, tapping his lance against the ground to get the gore off. “We can take them on one at a time.”

“I know just the spell.” Heqim answers readily, and raises his focus to do just that.

Yeriss isn’t happy with this answer though. Not only are there four more, who knows what other monsters could show up in the time it takes to defeat them. No, she wants to report to Tribune Adria that they cleared this area, easily, and can advance further within the Gorge. The next fangspawn approaches, following the twinkling golden orb of light Heqim summoned like a cat to a light reflector. It’s honestly funny, and Yeriss can’t help a breathless laugh.

Sein glares at her. “Keep your wits about you, Yerenica. This fight is far from over.”

“Oh come on, just look at it! You gotta admit that’s funny.”

Sein doesn’t look like he agrees with her, but the fangspawn is close enough to notice them now, and abandons Heqim’s light lure to charge at them. The party springs apart, and they start again in earnest. But in five minutes of attempting to stun it, spear it, and slash it, the fangspawn just continuously launches itself into the air to dodge and slams down, the shock of the impact sending them all tumbling backward several times. Yeriss’s legs are starting to bruise. 

More annoyingly than all that, the fangspawn keeps ignoring Kagaran’s attempts to draw it’s attention and instead chases after Heqim. Though Heqim is able to dodge each time, it’s getting increasingly harder for him to focus on keeping up the enhancement spell on their weapons. Kagaran’s shield has a large dent in it. 

Sein actually lands an arrow in its largest eye, and for a minute Yeriss thinks they’ve killed it. She approaches it to inspect whether or not it’s still breathing, greatsword out in front of her cautiously. Suddenly, it launches itself forward, the smaller eyes flashing red as it rolls straight towards at top speed. 

“Yerenica watch out!!” She hears Heqim call out in warning.

There’s no time to roll out of the way. On pure instinct, she charges towards it instead of away, and just before impact she turns to the side and puts all her weight and moventum onto her sword, in the hardest slice she can muster. If she can’t go around, she will go through! Briefly blinded by a flash of blue, it’s a moment before she can regain her balance. The fangspawn lies in two halves on either side of her. 

“Wow.” Yeriss says breathlessly. “I wasn’t sure that would work!” She smiles at Heqim. “Thanks for the shield.”

“You’re… welcome. Of course.” Heqim says, looking surprised despite clearly having caught on to her idea quickly enough to amplify her weapon’s edge and shield her from the gore. Her other companions are staring at the fangspawn’s halved remains. 

“Well done.” Kagaran says, sounding half impressed and half like he’s not sure he should be complimenting her. “Are you hurt?”

“Nah, I’m fine.”

Sein is staring at her now, like she’s the one with twenty eyes. “That was incredibly risky.”

Yeriss shrugs. “It was too late to-”

“I think the rest of them noticed us.” Winra interrupts her. 

Indeed, the other three are dragging themselves towards them, albeit slowly. Perhaps the sight of one of their own cleaved in half was making them cautious? Despite their large size, fangspawn brains are actually quite small, which is why you can’t just impale them at any spot in their main body and hope to pierce their vital organ.

Kagaran stands firm, but looks a bit nervous. “I suggest we fall back and look for a way to separate them. We haven’t proven adept at neutralizing these beasts fast enough to take on all three at once.”

“Fall back?” Winra repeats, looking offended. “We can handle this. The Federation didn’t send us here to take a year and a half just to kill some monsters.”

Yeriss actually totally agrees with the essence of what she’s saying, but not the way she said it. She got a bit winded earlier sure, but now she’s all warmed up and ready to kick some ass.

“Whatever we do, we can’t allow them to leave this place. I’m sure the other squads are clearing their areas, therefore so should we be.” Sein sniffs.

“Very well. Don’t make any risky maneuvers.” Kagaran acquiesces, seeing no other choice as the fangspawn close in on them. Raising his shield, he lets out a roar worthy of an aman to attract the attention of the fangspawn. 

Winra and Sein break off to try and get behind the group, and behind her Heqim brings out a different focus - a large spell tome this time. Instead of following Winra however, Yeriss approaches the front of the spawns from behind Kagaran, and waits for him to block as the fangspawn swing their large hands at him. Each blow glances off his shield, a testament to his strong grip. As he lands a goring pierce through the hand of one who didn’t retract it fast enough, Yeriss irately thinks there must be a faster way to take these things down before the triple tag-team of monsters can wear out the strength of Kagaran’s shield arm. 

Sein’s arrows hit the smaller eyes of the fangspawns and the area around it one by one, but with three of them it’s much harder to get a straight shot towards the big eye on their front. Especially since, although not the brightest on this Arborea, they’re naturally protective of their weak spot. Winra crows with victory as she lands a lucky blow that cuts up from the side of one of the fangspawns mouths up to right below it’s eye. Bleeding heavily, the thing can’t dodge the enchanted arrow Sein sends straight up through its main eye, piercing its brain. 

Before they can celebrate the victory, one of the fangspawns darts forward to take a bite at Kagaran’s right side, but Yeriss springs out from behind him and raises her greatsword diagonally, supporting the top on the flat of the blade with her hand to block, and angrily shoves it backward.

Across from her, Winra is muttering to herself as she swings repeatedly at the other fangspawn. “Stupid, overgrown, one-eyed, kumas sucking piece of filth-!”

Automatically, the image of a kumas comes to mind. To kill a Kumas is actually pretty hard because you have to cut off the arms, which are made of living stone. ...Wait. Gods curse it… forget the eye, forget the mouth!

Yeriss looks upon the monsters with new eyes. Native to this island, these fangspawn here have had limited contact with civilization and technology. The armor fangspawn usually wear on their arms is limited on these to whatever they could find among the shipwrecks nearest the gorge. Unlike other fangspawn, like the kind in Fyrmount, their armor only extends halfway up their arms, leaving the upper part bare. There’s not much space between the bulbous main body of the fangspawn and it’s arm, but it’s a big ass monster, and Yeriss is a castanic. She’ll fit.

She waits for Kagaran to block another blow before jumping up to push off his shield with her feet, riding the momentum and using it to give her speed as she darts through the space between the fangspawn’s body and forearm, slashing upward hard before rolling to soften the blow as she hits the ground. Using her sword and the force from her roll, she pushes herself back to her feet and looks back at the fangspawn. Blood gushes from the slice, the arm a bit more than halfway cut through. Yeriss frowns as the monster screams and spews enraged fire at everything in front of it. She’d meant to cut it off. 

“Heqim!” She calls out as she moves behind the fangspawn towards the other arm. “How sharp can you truly make my blade? I just need a second or two.”

Erecting a shield to help Winra block a rather hefty looking punch from the fangspawn Kagaran isn’t distracting, it’s a moment before Heqim answers her. “I see your plan my friend! But make it truly only two seconds, lest my mana deplete entirely maintaining your enhancement.”

Holding her blade high above her head, she runs forward as fast as she can towards the other arm of the fangspawn. “Now!” This time, her blade flashes a bright gold as Heqim pours all his magic into her greatsword. The sharp spikes on the side of the fangspawn’s body scratch painfully along her side, splitting the boscleather of her armor and drawing blood, but Yeriss doesn’t slow down, yanking her sword through the flesh of the fangspawn’s upper arm as hard as she can. It comes clean off behind her, making the fangspawns body fall over sideways. Kagaran extends the inner side of his shield arm out to catch her as she tumbles forward, and spears the dis-armed fangspawn through the eye with his lance in the same motion.

Recovering her balance with his help, she regains a steady grip on her blade and rushes to help Winra with the last fangspawn. The two slayers close in on the beast from either side. Unable to decide which way to dodge, the fangspawn doesn’t move, and dies impaled from both swords on either side.

After double checking the corpses to make sure the monsters are dead, Heqim is by Yeriss’s side, pressing a small bottle into her hand. 

“For me? Thanks! You’re so well prepared.” Healing potions are expensive, because they take a while to make as well as a certain level of alchemical skill to refine, so she typically just uses bandages until she can be tended to by a priest. The scratch is painful, but by no stretch is it serious. She won’t refuse his kindness, though. Yeriss takes a swig and hands it back. “Nothing like the taste of crimson essence.”

A survey of the area reassures her squad that the space is clear and secure. Those who were fighting relatively nearby are nowhere to be seen, but the corpses of several orisks and their green goo seep into the ground. Kagaran leads them back up the hill to rendezvous with the Tribune. They are not the only ones arriving there, and Adria quickly congratulates them on their victory and sends them and the other squad to aid one of the squads to the south struggling with a set of fimbrilisks. By the time the sun is high in the sky, Yeriss and her team have aided in taking down six more big ass monsters than their original five, but every time they clear an area a few more monsters seem to trickle in to fill their place. When they retreat behind the shield stone for a quick lunch, several soldiers seem to be complaining that there are much more monsters on this island than they thought.

Without a doubt this is true. But Yeriss doesn’t mind in the slightest.

[shipsforeveryone]

XL Ship For Anon

Their Request - 

Hi! Can I request a ship for all of your fandoms. Males only please!

Oh and for the scenario - First Fight. For TVD?

I am a tall, curvy straight female with blonde hair and blue-green eyes.

I am introverted, intellectual, I have a bunch of interests and hobbies, which I tend to hyper fixate on. I am also a bit of a jack of all trades as I like to learn/teach myself how to do a wide variety of things.

I have a very idiosyncratic point of view, I'm bookish and very interested in history. I have a knack for accurately predicting the likelihood of the future. I tend to test people to see if I can trust them a lot but then I become a friend for life. Literally, a ride or die. I have hidden dimensions and intensity and they're hidden because I'm pretty withdrawn. Wanting to watch people from afar to see if I can even poke my head out of my shell around them.

I tend to act arrogant, cryptic, or cynical when afraid. I can be diplomatic and say things without saying them. I am defiant/rebellious towards authority and habitually find counterexamples to whatever others assert. Despite this attitude, I'm incredibly loyal, hardworking, ambitious, and very idealistic.

I struggle with ADHD, social anxiety, and paranoia. I can brood over injustices or entertain conspiracy theories. I am a bigger fan of sneaky vengeance over outright confrontation. I can be passive-aggressive and self-attacking. I love all animals though I never want to personally own a dog, due to how needy and loud they are. I'm more of a cat or reptile person.

I like to record my thoughts out loud and later organize them.

I'm also currently fighting the urge to delete this because I think I sound very full of myself in this lol

Pretty please and thank you! Also sorry this was so long.

My Response

No worries, babe! You don’t sound full of yourself at all. I love the fact that you didn’t beat around the bush about describing yourself!

Avatar: The Last Airbender 

OTP - Zuko. He would love your idiosyncratic point of view and how insightful you are. And would often come to your for advice.

BrOTP - Aang

NOTP - Sokka

Bright

OTP - Nick Jakoby

BrOTP - Tikka

NOTP - Daryl Ward

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

OTP - Rupert Giles. You have quite a bit in common, and you may even end up arguing the uses of technology while admiring books as much as he does.

BrOTP - Daniel “Oz” Osbourne

NOTP - Buffy Summers

Doctor Who

OTP - The 10th Doctor. He’d gently coax you out of your shell. And he’d take you anywhere in time or space that you want to go. If you don’t outright say where/when you would like to go then he’ll pick up on it by listening to your latest interests. 

BrOTP - Is it cheating to say the 12th Doctor? Oh well. I think you would be partners in crime all the way.

NOTP - Rose Tyler

Dragon Age

OTP - Solas. There’s so much in common and I think you’d probably be the best option to convince him to change his plans. 

BrOTP - Merrill.

NOTP - Cassandra.

Fast and Furious franchise

OTP - Tej Parker

BrOTP - Deckard Shaw

NOTP - Luke Hobbs

Game of Thrones

OTP - Tyrion Lannister. Tyrion would tease you to draw you out of your introverted shell. He'd be very interested in your hobbies, interests and your knack for predicting the future. He'd admire your wide skill set, loyalty, defiant attitude and how hardworking you are. He’d often suggest books to you and vice versa. 

BrOTP - Jon Snow

NOTP - Daenerys Targaryen

Golden Girls

OTP - Dorothy. 

BrOTP - Rose

NOTP - Sophia

Hannibal

OTP - Will Graham.

BrOTP - Alana Bloom.

NOTP -  Jack Crawford

Harry Potter

OTP - Severus Snape. Your mind, skill set and attitude would all appeal to him very much.

BrOTP - Luna Lovegood

NOTP - Ron Weasley

Inglourious Basterds

OTP - Hugo Stiglitz

BrOTP - Donny Donowitz

NOTP - Aldo Raine

John Wick

OTP - John Wick

BrOTP - Marcus

NOTP - Winston

Jurassic Park franchise

OTP - Dr. Ian Malcolm

BrOTP - Dr. Ellie Sattler

NOTP - Dr. Sarah Harding

Kingsman

OTP - Merlin

BrOTP - Harry Hart / Galahad

NOTP - Jack Daniels / Whiskey

Legend of Korra

OTP - Mako

BrOTP - Asami Sato

NOTP - Tahno

Marvel 

OTP - Bucky Barnes

BrOTP - Loki

NOTP - Natasha Romanoff

Mayans MC

OTP - Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes.

BrOTP - Johnny “Coco” Cruz

NOTP - Emily Thomas-Galindo

NCIS

OTP - Timothy McGee

BrOTP - Abby Sciuto

NOTP - Tony DiNozzo

New Girl

OTP - Nick Miller

BrOTP - Winston Saint-Marie Schmidt

NOTP - Julia Cleary

Once Upon A Time

OTP - Killian Jones / Captain Hook

BrOTP - Regina Mills

NOTP - Mary Margaret Blanchard / Snow White

Parks and Recreation

OTP - Ben Wyatt

BrOTP - April Ludgate

NOTP - Jean Ralphio Saperstein

Peaky Blinders

OTP - Tommy Shelby

BrOTP - Alfie Solomons

NOTP - Ada Thorne

Pokemon

OTP - Brock

BrOTP - Bulbasaur Ash Ketchum

NOTP - Jessie

Rick and Morty

OTP - Rick Sanchez

BrOTP - Beth Smith

NOTP - Jerry Smith. 

Schitt’s Creek

OTP - David Rose

BrOTP - Ronnie Lee

NOTP - Moira Rose

Sherlock (BBC)

OTP - Sherlock Holmes. He'd adore your mind and find your skill set useful. Sherlock would love your defiance of authority and ambition. Though you'd butt heads every now and then ultimately your differences would make you an even better match. You'd both bring out each other's emotions more and understand each other better than anyone else ever could.

BrOTP - Mycroft Holmes. I know, very surprising. But like with Sherlock there’s a lot in common and a lot different. So you’d frequently argue But in the end you’d have the common goal of looking out for Sherlock to make you both closer.

NOTP - Jim Moriarty.

Sons of Anarchy

OTP - Jackson “Jax” Teller.

BrOTP - Bobby Munson

NOTP - Tara Knowles

Star Wars Prequels

OTP - Obi-Wan Kenobi

BrOTP - Qui-Gon Jinn

NOTP - Anakin Skywalker

Star Wars Original Trilogy

OTP - Luke Skywalker

BrOTP - R2D2

NOTP - Han Solo

Stranger Things

OTP - Jim Hopper. I think Hopper would admire you for testing people so thoroughly to see if you can trust them. And he’d really love how loyal you are to the people you do trust.

BrOTP - Alexei. Here me out, the two of you seem to have a bit in common. First and foremost your intelligence. And I think you’d make Hopper quit being such an ass to Alexei.

NOTP - Nancy Wheeler

Supernatural

OTP - Sam Winchester. Okay I can just see you researching together. Staying up all night in the Bunker’s library poring over every single book.

BrOTP - Charlie Bradbury. Do I need to say anything more than nerd power?

NOTP - Mary Winchester.

Teen Wolf

OTP - Chris Argent

BrOTP - Stiles Stilinski

NOTP - Lydia Martin

That 70’s Show

OTP - Eric Forman.

BrOTP - Donna Pinciotti

NOTP - Jackie Burkhardt

The Expendables

OTP - Lee Christmas

BrOTP - Barney Ross

NOTP - Mr. Church

The Hobbit

OTP - Thorin Oakenshield. Thorin would admire your wide skill set and your ambition to learn how to do so many things. He'd adore your loyalty and knack for diplomacy. 

BrOTP - Fili Durin.

NOTP - Thranduil

The Lord of the Rings

OTP - Faramir. 

BrOTP - Samwise Gamgee

NOTP - Denethor

The Vampire Diaries & The Originals

OTP - Elijah Mikaelson. I think that Elijah would adore your intelligence and would encourage your interests and hobbies. If you want to know anything about history? He'd be more than happy to discuss his own experiences with you. He'd often get your opinion on a course of action before doing it, due to your with and ability of predicting the possible outcomes. He'd love your original, no pun intended, point of view. And though he loves your tenacity, your ambition, your idealistic nature and your loyalty, sometimes it can frustrate him when he thinks certain people who have your loyalty don't deserve it. Or at least not at the intensity that you give it. 

First Fight - Your first fight would probably have to do with your friendship and loyalty towards Klaus. While sometimes he admires it, he often wishes that you weren’t so loyal to his brother. Thinking he isn’t always deserving of it. Afterwards you’d both go in different rooms to brood until ready to make up.

BrOTP - Niklaus Mikaelson. Klaus would admire your intelligence, ambition, hard working and even defiant attitude. Your skills and ability to think differently from everyone else. He would also come to you for advice though he wouldn’t always adhere it. Though what Klaus would love most of all is your loyalty. Especially after he made it through all your tests and found himself on the receiving end of your loyalty. And he would feel guilty when your loyalty and friendship with him would cause a rift in your relationship with his brother. 

NOTP - Damon Salvatore. Damon is impulsive and has his own way of testing the loyalty  of those around him. Though his form of testing is more of him doing things that makes them less loyal and trusting of him. He’d probably end up trying to test and strain your loyalty towards Elijah and Klaus. Which would infuriate you. And he would fail which would infuriate him.

The Walking Dead

OTP - Negan.

BrOTP - Carl Grimes. In an AU where Rick’s Group became saviors instead of finding Alexandria. I think Carl would have become Negna’s protege and may have even softened him up.

NOTP - Rick Grimes.

The Witcher (show)

OTP - Geralt of Rivia

BrOTP - Yennefer of Vengerberg

NOTP - Queen Calanthe

True Blood

OTP - Eric Northman

BrOTP - Bill Compton

NOTP - Sam Merlotte

Vikings

OTP - Ragnar Lothbrok

BrOTP - Ivar the Boneless

NOTP - Björn Ironside

WWE (kayfabe personas)

OTP - Roman Reigns

BrOTP - Finn Balor

NOTP - Chris Jericho

[melien]

Hasan Wilkes for @teekapoa‘s May love be perfect ‘just by love’ BC

Easily Impressed / Good Sense of Humor / Schmoozer / Flirty / Dog Person

Hasan has always been the main comedian of his friend groups. He’s charismatic, eloquent and knows how to find approach to anyone, which is why he is universally loved. He also never passes up the opportunity to flirt with people, but given his playful and humorous personality, no one knows if he really means it. Lately, many of Hasan’s friends started getting married and having kids, which resulted in less social situations, and he can’t help but feel like that guy from the movies who serves for comic relief and doesn’t usually have his own story. It can’t be told from the first look at him, but he’s actually very easily impressed and vulnerable. All he dreams of is having a nice house and kids with someone he loves - and of course, at least a few dogs, because his love for dogs is endless, and he adores his golden retriever Jax. Will Valte become that special someone he’s been looking for?

TOU: Don’t claim him as your own or reupload, don’t change his genetics and face features. You can change anything else in his look (hairstyle, makeup, clothes, your own defaults etc.). Tag me if you use him! :)

Private download unless he’s eliminated.

CC: hair / eyebrows (Lana) / blush #8 / stubble

Interview questions under the cut.

Why do you think we will click?

Valte seems like someone who has a similar sense of humor to mine. I sense that he can always make me laugh, and I can make him laugh in return. Regardless of what happens, I think we have potential to become good friends, but it would be even better if there was a spark between us.

What’s your favorite thing to do, to pass time?

I like watching YouTube videos and listening to podcasts. I used to play mobile apps a lot but am trying to break this habit. But what I love the most is spending time with my dog - Jax never fails to improve my spirits.

What do you think is your biggest weakness?

Even though I try to hide it, deep down I’m in frequent need of people’s approval, and I may also take criticism too personally. I’m working on these flaws.

What is something that never fails to make you laugh?

I can always find something funny in ordinary things! To be honest, I can’t help but giggle at dumb puns and memes. Of course, there’s a line - I don’t laugh at anything offensive or downright stupid.

[believeitseeitdoit]

Sunday Surprises

Summary: Week one of regular NFL season is always entertaining, but this year is extra special for you and Seb.

Pairing: Sebastian Stan x Reader

Author Notes: Ummmm Hi, this is my first little ‘published’ fic, please be kind (or brutal it’s fine).  I'm only motivated enough to post this because @thebescht and Evan Williams are brave. For reference, the dog here is based on my moose, a 100lb Black English Lab, I might make a moldboard to go with this idk, I might also delete this soooo cool thanks bye. 

You sit on the ottoman, twiddling your phone in your hands waiting for Sebastian to find his coat. Jax bounces around the rest of the grey leather couch, disturbing the abundance of blasted throw pillows your mother insisted you buy when she first visited your’s and Seb’s apartment in Boston. Somehow, Jax hasn’t completely destroyed the merlot and sand throws, just a sprinkle of black fur littering their patterns.  A quick ping rings out from your phone, accompanied by rapid fire vibrations buzzing up your thumbs, notifying you that Chris has sent yet another “are y’all coming yet” text.

“Babe, kick off is in 30 mintues! I will not be late to the first watch party of the season because you can’t find your one pair of Pats socks just to appease Chris!” You holler towards the bedroom where Seb is inevitably wasting time to avoid being in a room with multiple football obsessed humans.

“Y/N, I swear they were in the drawer and now they’re gone! Did you wash them or give them to Jax?” Seb playfully questions back from the depths of his closet. You know full well the socks are already on his feet. Hopping off the ottoman, you grab the dog’s leash and your jacket as motivation to move your boyfriend along. The hardwood floors creak as you walk through the kitchen, narrowly missing the island with your hip bones and whistling to Jax so he can bound to Seb and investigate the slowdown.

“Seb, seriously, can we just go? It’s not like Chris will give two shakes about your socks. He’ll be too busy complaining about my disgrace of a jersey to be disappointed in your not-actually-missing socks,” you sigh as you wander back to the bedroom and lean against the door frame, feigning annoyance.

“Fair point, Y/N. He won’t even get near you in your Seahawks jersey; bad juju or something,” Seb spins around and strides over to the walkway, reaching around your waist and tucking you into his side while he jokes. As you travel back up the hall to the front door, you look at the pictures hanging from the walls, more of your mother’s visiting touches. All perfectly angled and spaced down the walkway and throughout the living room, moments from your lives together and alone. One of you with a client’s daughter back in Seattle brings a fond memory of your time with youngsters and your retired lesson horse to the front of your mind. Determined not to cry, you sniffle and hustle the boys out the door.

Finally ready, supposedly lucky Patriots socks on his feet, Sebastian gathers his sunglasses and car keys while you hook Jax up to his harness and wander down to the car. The oversized labrador flings himself into the backseat of your Xterra. Seb catches you for a kiss on the cheek before starting the car and heading across town to Evans’ place.

“Remind me why we’re going to this again? We could just as easily watch the game in our living room and not have to hear him and Anthony scream at the TV for two hours of the Pats winning… again..” Seb whines.

“Because, A: I’ll be yelling too and you would complain either way. B: Chris always hosts Sunday Night Football, we host Monday, that’s how it’s worked since he learned I love the game, babe. And C: you love me so…. Also you know the sex is always better after a good screaming match between me, Chris, and the TV.”

“That last one is so not a reason but I’ll let it slide because the sex is always great. Did you tell Chris we’re bringing Jax or are you just assuming he and Dodger will leave everyone to mind their own business?” Seb asks as the black moose tries to climb over his arm onto the center console and into your lap.

“I texted him about it last week. He said it was fine. Plus, they’ll make each other tired so we don’t have to take him on a run tonight. More time for activities,” you giggle as you shove the dog back into his territory and wiggle your eyebrows in Seb’s direction.

“You are so smart, you know that? Better knock on wood he doesn’t interrupt again like last week with the damn light up ball.”

“Hey , you bought him that so I take zero blame. Turn up at the corner. There’s a spot to park right there,” pointing to an empty space just a few doors down from Chris’ place.

You climb out and grab Jax while Seb grabs the case of beer from the back and start up the steps, laughing at the obnoxious yells already coming from his stairwell. The door’s unlocked the way it always is when you have watch parties, so Seb turns the knob and Jax goes bounding through the hall in search of the noises after you drop his leash. A resounding “oof” and various yelps of “dammit, Jax” and “hey, buddy!” make you burst into a fit of laughter as you and Seb round into the kitchen. Spying Mackie on the floor with Jax square on top of him, you reach around to help him up, only to have Dodger come bouncing out from behind the island and toppling you over next to him, leading everyone into a second bout of laughter.

“Boys, off! Jesus Chris, teach your kid some manners,” you jokingly chide as you hop up and start greeting the harem standing around the kitchen island.

“You say that like your’s is so trained,” Chris sighs humorously as Jax launches his front paws onto the counter to swipe a piece of cheese. You shove him off and toss a rogue chunk of cheddar in his general vicinity, giggling at Chris’ hand motions toward the dog.

“At least he knows what he wants,” you shrug and grab a cube for yourself and snicker. “What did you expect from oversized bear cub? Seb feeds him off the table all the time.”

“Excuse me, he was your dog first, and you started that. I just can’t be the asshole who denies him!” Seb shouts from inside the fridge while he digs for a beer that didn’t just come out of a roasting car.

“Alright, this is fun, but can we actually turn the game on now? Kick off should be in five and I need to judge this rendition of the National Anthem beforehand,” Anthony interrupts the dog banter while heading to the connected living room.

Jeremy nods and lifts his beer in agreement from the barstool to your left, adding, “Just turn it up and we can watch from here. Y/N, grab yourself something and lets catch up for a minute. Tell me about the ways you plan to ensure the Seahawks somehow take it all this year.”

You lift your Yeti and aim the straw at Seb in response, “I’ll stick to water, gotta be functional enough to get this lightweight home tonight. Russell’s got a better O-line this year starting out. If he can whip his runners into shape for the long passing game we’ll be knocking on the playoff door easy. So long as Pete has mustered up a good, fresh defensive line, they can block anything and everything from here to New England.”

Seb makes his way around the kitchen to you and reaches around to bear hug you. “Babe, you’ve never denied yourself at least one beer at a game. What did I miss? I am also not a lightweight. It was Jaeger and it was ONE TIME!” He leans into your back and continues to hold you with one arm and reaches for a chip. “And, we were all drunk. It wasn’t just me. Chris was puking for hours when we got home that night. Mackie was passed out on the couch. Downey had to play sorority sister and hold Chris up. At least I was responsible enough to call you to come get me!”

“Actually, Robert had already called me and I was on my way, Honey, but whatever you say. I’m fine, really, just a little nauseated from your terrible driving skills. Give me thirty minutes and I’ll be golden.” You turn around in Seb’s arms and soak in his warmth while reassuring him you aren’t reaching imminent death. “Now, let’s go watch shitty football!” You slip under his arm and drag him toward the leather sectional where Chris and Anthony were trying to convince Jax and Dodger to not wrestle in front of the game.

“I heard that! Oh, c’mon! Boys, out! Go play in my room. I need to see what BS call the ref has made already,” Chris yelled as he launched a squeaky ball down the hallway towards his master bedroom for the dogs to chase. You jump to the side so you don’t get taken out again at the knees and Seb pulls you down to curl up into his lap in the long corner of the couch.

“You just assume it’s bull because you think every ref has it out for Tom Brady since ‘deflategate’. The tight end was clearly over the line of scrimmage before the ball moved!” You shoot a playful slap at his arm as you shout agreeance with the ref’s call.

First quarter turns to second and as half time creeps closer, you still feel queasy. It comes in random waves that are just enough to make you curl into yourself tighter and feel a small spark of fear for Chris’ upholstery, but not enough to leave.

Seb notices you shift your hands into you stomach and prods for answers.“Babe, seriously, you have a body of steel. You didn’t eat anything crazier than usual yesterday and you actually haven’t eaten much today from what I’ve seen. Are you okay? Do you need anything? Do you want to go home? No -- I know that’s a dumb question. I just don’t want you getting sicker here cuz you hate being sick in front of people.”

“I’m fine, just -- jimminy christmas trees what did you eat? It fricken smells Seb. Get away, go get some listerine or something, please,” you shove him off of you as whatever forsaken food wafts into your nose, throwing you over the edge. By luck, you make it to the spare bathroom in time to dry heave and throw up whatever water and miniscule amount of crackers were in your system.

“Ungh, shit. This is going to be a long season,” you mutter into the porcelain throne of misery. Adding a grunt of effort, you lift yourself up to rinse your mouth out and splash some water onto your face. “Maybe this was a one time thing. Maybe I won’t be riddled with this for three months or so. I’m 100% going to be fine,” you tell yourself while staring into the mirror, trying hard to convince yourself that it was a fluke and morning sickness wasn’t real.

“Y/N, you ok? I’m sorry the chips smelled weird. I think Mackie switched them out. Hey, you look a little pale. You need to go lay down?” Seb rattles off concerns and gives you a visual once over when you open the bathroom door and make your way back into the kitchen.

“Seriously, Y/N, you look like you might fall over on us. Please, the guest room is clean and open. Ma made sure it was done when she visited last week. Just go lay down and take a break for a bit. You can’t tell us this is a fluke. You’re a vet assistant. Strange smells don’t do shit to you…” Chris came over and aimed you toward his spare room while Seb grabbed your water.

“Dear God, everyone chill I’m fine! And I refuse to lay down in that guest room where I know for a fact that your teenage boy style New England Patriots bed sheets are currently laid out. I can’t defile a Seahawks jersey in that way. It’s straight up blasphemous,” you grumble at the boys who are trying too hard to take care of you. You think your grumbling works until you see a few black dots and grab Seb’s arm to steady yourself.

“Ok, fine. I’ll go lay down but only because that room probably doesn’t have whatever mystery dip stench is coming from the kitchen, NOT because I am dizzy and tired and kinda still nauseous,” you state matter-of-factly at both Seb and Chris.

“Your grip’s awful tight for someone who’s just getting away from a smell. Okay, okay, point taken, c’mon.” Seb guides you to the back of the apartment while simultaneously avoiding your half-assed slap to the back of his head.

You pitifully look down at the bed and Sebastian stifles a laugh. You were right about the sheets, but also too out of energy to resist the calling of a nap, even if it meant sleeping on Patriots logos. He tucks you in, kissing the top of your head and telling you he’ll check on you after half time. You don’t register him shut the light off and let the dogs in to cuddle with you. You’re too busy rolling over into the pillows.

Somewhere after halftime, you wake up with Jax next to your arm and Dodger on your opposite leg, both dogs dead to the world. You revel in the moment of peace, smiling down at your not super flat stomach currently covered by the jersey you won’t be able to wear by the Super Bowl. You hear a dull set of hurrahs and cheers from the hall, assuming the Patriots got an impressive first down or a touchdown, and giggle. “Well, I ain’t cheering em on, but those stupid sheets seemed to calm you down I guess. At least we know Chris will like ya.” You rub along your stomach, joking about your baby’s future in football. As the cheering dies down, you continue to think about the million little things that will happen from this point on. You only found out about your pregnancy a couple days ago, haven’t even told Seb, yet.

“Waitin’ on the right moment, huh, baby?” You whisper to your stomach as you think of the perfect way to tell your boyfriend. Kids weren’t in the plans yet, but your birth control had other plans. Damn that .01 percent. With a smile and last sigh of peace, you throw the sheets back with a plan.

Just as you work your way out of the bed, feeling alive and functional again, the dogs leap up and run out to alert the boys of your movement. You make your way down the hall and into Seb who meets you halfway with a kiss.

“Feeling better? You look much less dead, Babe.” Seb smiles at you and embraces you tightly.

“Mhmm, much better. Your badmhmm….” You nod and mumble into his chest while soaking in his warmth.

“Didn’t catch that last part. Hmm?” Seb looks down at you with a quizzical eyebrow. You look up with a smile and press a kiss to his lips.

“I said, your baby likes the Patriots. They finally settled when I laid down and bundled in those stupid sheets.” You turn your lips up into a smirk waiting for the words to settle in and his reaction to launch.

“Wait, what baby? Jax doesn’t give a shit about the Patriots. I’m los…..” Seb’s confused expression turns into a bright smile when he registers you putting a hand to your stomach and your telling smirk. “You mean, our baby? As in one currently growing as in your gonna be a mom? I’m gonna be a father? No shit? Baby you’re shitting me? HOLY SHIT!” Seb rattles off curses of excitement in happy tears and litters you with kisses and pulls you back into a tight hug.

“What are we yelling about?”

“Why are you two crying?”

“What did we miss?”

The guys all ask in one quick sweep while staring at your exchange. You look at them from in Seb’s arms and ask if they should know.

“What do you think, Seb, tell ‘em? Leave ‘em guessing? Or be kind?”

“Baby please, we can’t be cruel after this little moment.”

“Ok fine. Only cuz we both suck at secrets. I was just telling Seb that his baby really likes the Patriots because they only calmed down once i was laying down on Chris’ blasted sheets. So I am assuming this kiddo’s gonna be a big fan of uncle Chris in a few years,” you retell the tale and walk over to the guys while they all start smiling wildly.

“Baby?! What the hell Y/N!? Shit so happy for you, Smalls!”

“Seb, man you’re so done for.”

“Dude, I am so happy for you. “

“You two are going to be amazing parents.”

“I call dibs on buying baby’s first jersey!”

The congratulations and hugs fly in the kitchen, week one game completely abandoned in favor of your news. As it dies down and the fourth quarter timer is heard from the living room, everyone saunters back to catch the last two minutes and other game recaps. Seb wanders away to his coat and calls the dogs over to help him with his own surprise. You turn around to call him over only to see Jax trotting at you with a strange collar attached to him.

“Where did this bowtie come from, huh, Bubs?” You reach down to inspect the adorable black and white tuxedo bowtie collar and find a box attached at the buckle. As you unbuckle the collar and separate the box, you stand up and see Seb coming out from the hall with a sweaty, nervous smile.

“Babe, what’s this collar? And did you forget to take this weird magnetic tag off?” You toss the cardboard back at him, only to underestimate its weight and lob it at his head.

Seb catches it and pulls you closer. “It’s for him to wear if you say ‘yes’. But you have to look inside the weird box first, Y/N.” Seb returns the box to your hand and lets you inspect it.

You open the taped slit and find a black velvet box, immediately you have to wipe tears from your eyes so you can look at Seb’s cerulean ones.

“I’m only gonna ask this once baby. You’re my best girl, closest friend, fiercest supporter, my rock. And now the mother of my child. I don’t ever want to spend another day without knowing we will come home to each other. So, Y/N L/N, will you marry me?”

You can barely form the words, but a choked “yes” and the happiest sob of your life come out as you launch yourself into Seb’s arms. A slough of hoops hollars and more congratulations come from the vicinity of the couch, along with howls and barks from the dogs at your knees. You wrap your hand up to Seb’s neck and pull him down for another kiss. “I love every Sunday night of fall. But this is the best Sunday night ever, Baby.”