#frontal view from above

[autumnmylife]

Book art

By Natasha on Mage

[dfl-inc]

AI image generation

[dangerousstrawberryshark]

Dad Jokes

🇺🇸Pairing(s) 🇺🇸→ Steve Rogers x Muted male reader ⚠️CW⚠️→ No major warnings besides a panic attack and corny dad jokes.  🇺🇸Rating🇺🇸→ Fluff 🇺🇸Requested🇺🇸→ Yes

🇺🇸Word Count🇺🇸→ 1.0k

🇺🇸Summary🇺🇸 → You were saved by Captain America during an attack but now you both were trapped inside a building from the rubble blocking the exits. You began suffering from a panic attack after getting flashbacks, and Steve jokes to make you smile. Even though they’re dad jokes.

You don’t know what’s going on. 

There you were, running errands in New York City, trying to complete them to return home to relax for the rest of the day. It was normal to leave the store with your notepad in hand in case someone didn’t understand sign language.

 You were walking down the sidewalk, shoulders brushing against the casual people with the constant sounds of cars driving by. In a bustling city filled with that signature ambiance known all over the world, a loud explosion is something you weren’t expecting to hear. 

Now, you were running among a panicking crowd. Piercing screams cut through the air, cars crashing into each other, and another explosion. Adrenaline was coursing through your body as you ran with the crowd. Then there was another explosion, but this time it was above you.

Turning to the right, the building across the street was struck. Large pieces of debris fell from the sky, impacting the ground as they fell everywhere. People's screams got louder as the building started collapsing, falling onto the street. 

Humans have the basic responses to dangerous situations; fight, flight, or freeze. Your body decided to freeze at that moment, watching as the large building was getting closer. Your breathing slowed down as it accepted your fate. 

Your life flashed before your eyes, especially ten years ago. Everything about this chaos was the same. Suddenly, you felt your body being pulled into a larger form, arms wrapped around you in protection as this mysterious man dragged you into another building. 

A loud crash rang through the air and a cloud of debris choked the air. Coming back to your senses, you began hyperventilating. Your ears rang as you looked around. There were other people, all of them scared. Some were coughing and crying, while others were on their phones, trying to contact their loved ones. 

Your heart rate got faster as tears started welding in your eyes. Nausea and dizziness were blocking your vision and you felt like dying. The ringing in your ears got louder as you held onto your head, but nothing was coming out of your mouth. The constant beating in your head and fast breathing was becoming too much to handle

‘This can’t be happening, I already lost my voice. I can’t lose my hearing!’ You screamed in your head, hoping that wasn’t going to be the case. 

You remember that day ten years ago. You were driving home when all of a sudden another car crashed into yours while turning left. Your ears rang while you were dragged out of the ruins and later transported to the hospital.

The doctors said you were alright but suffered from traumatic brain injury. The Broca's area of your left frontal lobe and the part of the brain responsible for speech production was permanently damaged,  rendering you unable to speak properly again. The emotions you felt that day were indescribable. 

It was happening again, you were having a panic attack. Your chest tightened, your heart beating too fast as the feeling of throwing up was coming up. Your eyes dashing all over the place, blocked by the debris dust as you coughed repeatedly. 

Suddenly, a large blonde man came into your view, hands holding onto your shoulders. You could feel him shaking your body, and his voice pierced through the constant ringing. “You’re okay, you hear me? Everything is going to be okay.” His rough voice can be heard as you snap out of your daze.

You nodded your head in response, but you were still having a panic attack. The mysterious man—who you now know is Captain America—began soothing you. The large man rubbed your back as he tried to calm you down. “Can you speak?” Steve said as he pulled back and sat down next to you.

Pulling out the notepad, you wrote down, “No.” Steve nodded in acknowledgment. There was a moment of silence beside the cries of the other people. You were still shaken up as you tried to control your breathing. 

“Hey, you wanna hear a joke?” Steve said as he smiled, waiting for your response. You nod and Steve tells the joke. “Why do melons have weddings? They elope… wait. No, I meant to say cantaloupe?” Steve says as he laughs before realizing he messed up the joke. You internally groaned at the corny joke but laughed at the stupidity.

“Okay, how about this one– Why can’t dinosaurs clap their hands? Because they’re extinct.” Steve said as he smiled. This goes on for a while as the blonde man tries to distract you from the situation. It was working as you were laughing or groaning from Steve’s corny dad jokes. 

“What’s blue and doesn’t weigh much? Light blue.”

“Where do you learn to make a banana split? Sundae school.”

“What cars do eggs drive? A yolkswagen.”

This went on for a couple of hours until the rubble blocking the main entrance was aggressively destroyed by the Hulk. People began cheering as they ran out. Steve gets up before holding out his hand for you. 

You grabbed his hand as he pulled you up and escorted you out of the building. You looked around, seeing the ruins of several buildings and burnt-out cars. Sirens and ambulance noises echoed through the air as there was an announcement playing on speakers, instructing the public on what to do.

“My name is Steve by the way. Maybe we’ll see each other soon. I hope we do.”

THE END

A/n: Hello, my strawberries! I never wrote reader being mute or having panic attacks, but I hope it's good! Very special thanks to my proofreader @sagethegaywitch 

TAGLIST: @hiddens-eden @spnfanboy777 @meyocoko @buckyshusband0 @zamfam4272 @raspberryyuuki @maxxioislost @furiousflowercreation

[uzumaki-rebellion]

A Daughter's Plan

Pairing: Terry Richmond x Black Female OC

Warning(s): Pure Fluff. Single Dad. Girl Dad energy. Terry's POV. Low angst.

Summary: Terry Richmond is a lonely single dad caring for his ten-year-old daughter, Pilar. When Pilar's mother re-marries and moves overseas to start a new job and family, the pre-teen thinks her dad needs to find someone for himself, too. Unbeknownst to Terry, his clever daughter has her sights set on the new neighbor, Allegra, who might be the perfect match.

Word count: 7,481

"Isn't she pretty

Truly the angel's best

Boy, I'm so happy

We have been heaven blessed"

Stevie Wonder—"Isn't She Lovely?"

Terry Richmond heard the familiar rolling sound of his ten-year-old daughter's skateboard crossing over into the cul-de-sac of their gated townhome neighborhood. He could always pick out the unique sound of her board's ka-kump, ka-kump, ka-kump rhythm compared to her school buddies as they raced each other home.

Pilar always did a few kick flip tricks by Mr. Rhea's property before she jumped the curb and circled past a speed bump near Mrs. Purdue's home. While hand sanding a rocking chair, that he made for his pregnant sister, Terry paused.

He didn't hear Pilar's skateboard anymore.

Her crew of three friends whizzed past his open garage door toward their homes, but Terry didn't see his only child roll up to greet him with her angelic smile and chaotic energy. He lifted his protective goggles and wiped his hands on his work apron. Still no sign of her.

He strode out of the garage to take a peek and he noticed her lingering by their mailbox, still wearing her protective helmet and staring across the wide street. A furniture van blocked the driveway of the townhome facing across their property. A Black woman in her late twenties or early thirties directed two burly movers to carry a brand new sofa covered in plastic through her front door. The cute bob and conservative pastel colors of her sweater and pencil skirt had him guessing she was a teacher, or worked in corporate.

He glanced at Pilar who kept her dark brown eyes laser-focused on the recent addition to their quiet corner of the world. She chewed on her lip and rolled her board back and forth with her left foot. The new neighbor bought the house of Pilar's best friend since kindergarten. Little Leslie Gardner left Ville Broussard, Louisiana a year ago, and her old house stood empty for nine months until the For Sale sign finally came down three months ago. Terry knew that Mr. Gardner put a pretty penny into renovating the place before putting it on the market, and the expense of the renovation drove the price up.

The woman across the street probably spent over two-hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the two-bedroom property. Pilar pretended to dig in the mailbox, knowing he had already gotten the mail, and stared at the woman. From that distance, he couldn't tell if Pilar was still upset about Leslie moving or if she was upset that a stranger was moving into her bestie's old home.

"Pilar," he called out.

His daughter looked his way, and so did the woman across the street.

Whoa.

Terry never got a full view of the neighbor before. He always caught sideways glances or the back of her head. But the full frontal turned out to be something else. She looked like a gorgeous Black Barbie doll. He peeped her figure a few days ago when she first showed up in form-fitting pale green sweatpants and a matching hoodie. The fall weather brought out the layers, but she must've ignored the forecast because she walked around double-cheeked up in sportswear not designed for cooler temperatures.

Miss Neighbor turned her attention back to the interior of her home and Pilar ambled over, carrying her skateboard. She pulled off her skateboard helmet.

"Hey munchkin," he said, ruffling her thick two-toned curls pulled back with a light blue scrunchie. From the roots to just above the tips, Pilar's hair was dark brown. The ends had turned their annual summer-in-the-sun reddish brown that matched her skin tone. She looked exactly like his oldest sister Brianna and had her spirited personality, too.

Pilar's down-turned lips reflected a little 'tude.

"I don't see any kids," Pilar said.

She sounded bummed.

"Checking out the neighbor, huh?"

"She's pretty. Do you think she's pretty, Dad?"

"She is very attractive."

"Very?" Pilar said with a smug grin.

"Don't read anything into that."

"We should go say hi."

"She's busy with furniture. Let her get settled in."

He guided Pilar into their home through the garage, and she dumped her board and helmet by the dinette table. She washed her hands in the kitchen sink and he pulled a PB&J sandwich on a plate and a Capri Sun from the fridge, placing them on the table for her after-school snack.

The landline rang, and he answered it.

"Hi Terry, is Pilar in yet?"

His ex wife's voice sounded perky and happy.

"Yeah, hold on.'"

He carried the cordless from the living room into the kitchen and handed it to Pilar.

"It's your mom."

Pilar's face brightened, and she chatted away on the overseas call. Terry returned to the garage and began sanding the armrest of the rocking chair. He swept sawdust on the ground and closed the garage door after he finished.

Back in the kitchen, he rinsed his hands. An uneaten sandwich remained on the kitchen table without Pilar in sight. He looked in their living room and didn't find her there.

"Pilar?"

Terry climbed the stairs to the second floor and found his daughter weeping on her bed, her face buried in a yellow Big Bird pillow.

"What's wrong?"

He sat his big body on her twin bed, and she shook her head on the pillow. He laid a hand on her back.

"Babygirl, what is it?"

"Mom isn't coming back for Christmas. She eloped with that man in Italy and they plan on flying me out there for a boat cruise instead of coming to the lake like she promised. They'll have a big party in place of a wedding in Rome next July."

Pilar never addressed her new step-father by his name, Bryson. It was always "that man" despite her mother dating him for two years. Bryson was east coast respectability. A Black Archon Boulé with a prestigious prep school background and long family money. The complete opposite of Terry's country boy/military roots. He drove a 2015 F-250 truck and drank beer. Bryson drove a 2025 Jaguar and sipped Chardonnay.

Yolanda leveled up to the Black bougie life she always wanted. Terry knew in his heart that Yolanda would never be happy building a life with him. They were both twenty and naïve, getting married the moment they found out Pilar was conceived. He quit college and joined the marines to support them. Yolanda worked as a flight attendant after their daughter was born, so Terry stayed the primary caretaker, training other marines and not deploying out of the country.

Yolanda wanted more out of life than he could provide financially and asked for a divorce when Pilar turned six. Both their families had been shocked when she granted Terry primary custody of their only child. Yolanda wanted to travel the world and her career let her do that. She eventually settled in Atlanta, working for Delta. Pilar adjusted to being shuttled back and forth for holidays and summers.

Then Bryson popped up, freeing Yolanda from the working class. He was older, established, and child-free. Also very generous with his money.

Terry had made arrangements to send Pilar abroad for a lavish wedding the following summer as her mother's flower girl. She and Bryson had planned to spend the Christmas holiday with the entire Richmond family so that they could all meet the new man who would be connected to them through Pilar. Christmas was going to be the rare treat of being with both her parents for a holiday. The Richmond clan had reserved fancy cabins by a lake for a week and planned on turning it into a family reunion of sorts. Yolanda offered to arrange her Christmas plans for the reunion so Pilar wouldn't miss out on seeing all of her cousins from all over the states. Now she eloped and switched up on their child three months in advance.

Terry kept his anger in check in front of Pilar. He'd call Yolanda when his daughter was back in school and give her a smooth cuss out. He offered to switch Thanksgiving for Christmas because it was important for Pilar to experience a big reunion for the first time on his side of the family.

Pilar turned her head from the pillow. Big, wet eyes stared at him. Her bottom lip trembled and his heart squeezed in his chest. His daughter was the light of his life. Watching her expectations crumble hurt his soul. Pilar came first before anything, and that was the difference between him and Yolanda. Their daughter became a secondary consideration with her. His ex wasn't a terrible person. He loved her once a long time ago. She was ambitious, energetic, pretty, and gave him a perfect child. Yolanda just wasn't cut out to be a mother saddled with the responsibility of putting her daughter's emotional needs first. To Yolanda, whisking Pilar off to Rome probably sounded like giving her child the best in life. Bryson was an American Express Exec for their Italian branch and lived in a lavish home with staff and chauffeurs. Yolanda shopped, dined, and played tennis every day in luxury. She wanted Pilar to experience that lifestyle. In his own way, Terry wanted their daughter to have that chance, too. But without pulling the rug from under Pilar. She set her heart on having them all together for once since their divorce.

"Tell you what…I'll talk to her and try to convince them to come for Christmas."

"She said the cruise is their early honeymoon and they want me to go so we can bond as a new family. I already have a family!"

Pilar buried her face in his chest, and he stroked her hair.

"How about we go to Cholly's Burgers for dinner and you can mope over a double cheeseburger and a big chocolate malt?"

Pilar sniffled and wiped her nose.

"Okay, I'll go…but I can't guarantee that I'll feel better."

"Deal," he said.

He left her alone in her room and went down to the kitchen and put her sandwich and juice away. Checking emails on his smartphone, he spent the next couple of hours watching TV and then ironed Pilar's clothes for school. He showered and called his daughter down for their dinner trip. Outside, their new neighbor carried some things from her cream-colored Mercedes S-Class in the driveway.

"Excuse me," the woman called as Pilar jumped into his truck's passenger side.

"Yeah?" he called back.

"Hi, I'm Allegra…new neighbor…um, can you tell me what day the trash and recycling go out?"

"Thursdays!" Pilar called out.

His daughter had her head stuck out of the window with a big grin on her face.

"Yeah, Thursdays. They normally roll through around eleven a.m.," he said.

"Great, thanks."

"I'm Terry, and this is my daughter, Pilar—"

"Are you married? Have kids?" Pilar asked.

Allegra smiled politely, holding a small box. Her eyes bounced from Pilar's to his, then back to Pilar.

"I'm not married. No kids."

Pilar whipped her head around to look at Terry. He ignored her.

"Have a good evening," he said.

He climbed into his truck and started it up.

"You're really not good at finding a date, Dad."

"What are you talking about, little girl?"

He backed out of their driveway and headed toward the main road that led to the highway.

"A single, beautiful woman with a fancy car asked you about trash day. She could've called her realtor or looked it up online."

"We were right there in front of her. It's quicker to ask a neighbor. That woman is not looking to date people she lives around. Besides, she saw me with you, so she'll think I'm married with a family already."

"She'll know pretty soon that it's just you and me."

"I don't think most upwardly mobile Black women are interested in men that already have children nowadays."

It took them twenty minutes to arrive at the burger joint, and Pilar's mood lifted considerably. They talked about her upcoming soccer game and she slurped down her chocolate malt content with life once again.

Back home, he washed and braided her hair in two cornrows, tying it down with a black satin hair scarf so he wouldn't have to do her hair in the morning. Their evening bedtime routine went off without a hitch and he allowed her to watch a cartoon before she went to sleep in her room.

The next couple of weeks were normal in the Richmond household. He'd ride his bike in the morning to take Pilar to school, following behind her as she skateboarded ahead of him with her classmates. Later, he'd ride his bike over to check on the restaurant he invested in. He spent a few days with his financial advisor and moved some money around that he received from a police settlement. His current financial status allowed him to enjoy not having the worries of steady employment until he found something he wanted to do. He put funds in stocks that did well, paid off the townhouse, and Yolanda's monthly child support covered the rest for Pilar. His woodworking kept him busy during the afternoon while Pilar was in school. But once she was home, he went straight into daddy mode. Soccer Dad duty, carpooling to games, checking homework, cooking and cleaning, fixing things at his parent's house and running their errands…they all filled his time.

Once a week he went bowling with friends and drank at bars, chasing a little tail, but not really trying to catch much. His three older sisters rotated keeping Pilar with their kids so he could have some adult time. The last few "dates" he had were with single moms who complained about their ex-husbands or ex boyfriends. He thought one woman named Michaela would be a long-term situation, but she reconciled with her boyfriend and moved to Dallas.

After a Saturday soccer practice, Pilar came to him and asked if she could bake some cookies for a school party. It was nearing Halloween. He pulled out some easy to bake pre-made Tollhouse cookie dough from the freezer. All Pilar had to do was place the small chocolate chip cookie dough squares onto a baking sheet and use the stove timer to keep them from burning.

He kicked up his feet to watch the news and when the stove buzzer went off, he trotted into the kitchen to make sure Pilar didn't burn herself by taking them out of the oven with the oven mits. She only baked a dozen.

"Shouldn't you bake more for your class?" he asked.

"It's a potluck, so people are just bringing whatever to share."

After they cooled, she used a spatula to scoop them onto a decorative plate of pumpkins and fall leaves. He covered them with plastic wrap.

"Maybe you should put them in some Tupperware," he suggested.

"No, this is good."

He left her to handle her party business.

Terry didn't think anything about the cookies until three days later when Allegra showed up at his open garage door. His electric sander and earplugs prevented him from hearing her approach. He turned toward the street and almost jumped, not expecting someone to be standing near his truck watching him. Shutting off the sander, he pulled out the earplugs and stared at her with his goggles on.

"Sorry to startle you…Terry…right?"

He nodded.

"I came over to bring you back your cookie plate. That was such a thoughtful housewarming gift. I ate every single chocolate chip cookie. Perfectly gooey in the center the way I like! The note you wrote was really sweet, too. Thank you so much."

"I'm sorry?" he said in confusion.

Terry pushed up his goggles. Allegra handed him the plate that wasn't empty. On it were slices of banana bread. He looked at the baked goods, then back at her.

"To show my appreciation for the cookies…I just made it last night. I didn't put nuts in it because I don't know if anyone in your family is allergic to nuts."

"No, we aren't."

"I'll remember that."

Allegra's pretty eyelashes curled over naturally, and her lips had just enough red lipstick to give her plump lips a rosy tint. She was dream girl material, and the cut and style of her bob reminded him of something the old Black starlets wore in the sixties, but it looked contemporary too with a soft flip on the ends. Terry became lost in her face and she seemed equally lost in his, her gaze never leaving his eyes. That was one of the physical traits that women always said they loved about him. The green, lion-like eyes. She looked up at him and their size difference was quite obvious. She was petite-chic, the cut and color of her clothes making her seem taller far away. Allegra was shorter than his ex wife. He felt like a big giant standing next to her. She smelled so good. Her perfume hinted at jasmine in the summer.

"My daughter and I will enjoy this. Thanks for bringing it over with the plate," he said.

Allegra smiled and his chest caved in. Was it possible for her to be even more attractive with a smile on her face?

She glanced around his makeshift workshop.

"Woodworking? You do this for a living?" she asked.

He stepped aside to let her see the dining cabinet he built for another neighbor.

"Actually, it's a hobby of mine."

"Hobby? This is true craftsmanship."

He touched the side of the cabinet.

"I learned it from my dad and kept at it in highschool."

"If I paid you, could you make me a couple of custom bookshelves?"

"What type of wood?"

"Not too expensive."

"I can make some maple wood shelves and stain them to look expensive.'

"I like your way of thinking. When I get the time, I'll measure my walls and let you know what I need."

"Still settling in?"

"My god, I haven't unpacked all of my boxes. I'm still eating takeout because I dread unpacking everything in my kitchen. My new job keeps me busy and I'm usually too tired by the end of the day. I should be unpacking right now, but I have to leave for an event soon."

She sighed and pushed back a flipped curl on her forehead.

"I better let you get back to work. Again…thank you for the sweet welcoming gesture."

Allegra left him alone in the garage and he watched her walk back across the street to her place. She had a little sway in her hips as she walked in her well-fitted navy blue dress pants and structured white button-down shirt. The light pink cardigan sweater tied around her shoulders was such a classy touch, along with her chunky blocked-heeled pumps.

He looked down at his dust-laden ripped jeans and brown work apron. Not too shabby, but he almost wanted to spruce up. He took the plate into the kitchen and checked the time. Pilar would be there in half an hour. He wanted to know what she wrote in that note to Allegra.

Running a hot shower, he cleaned his body and stared at his reflection in the mirror afterward. Time for a fresh line-up. His facial hair looked a little ungroomed. He took time to shave and then changed into better jeans and a fitted long sleeve shirt. He waited at the front door, peeking out of the screen.

Allegra stepped into her Mercedes wearing a pastel coral cocktail dress with an upswept hairdo, looking like Diahann Carroll with a smidgen of Grace Kelly. She drove off to wherever she needed to go and he imagined how breathtaking she'd look, stepping into a crowded room with all eyes on her beauty.

Ka-kump. Ka-kump. Ka-kump.

Pilar glided onto the sidewalk near their house and headed for the garage.

"I'm right here," he said.

She looked at him through the screen. He opened it and stepped outside. Folding his arms over his wide chest, he gave his daughter a questioning look.

"Am I in trouble?" she asked.

Her friends Caleb, Trudy, and Aisha waved at her and kick-pushed their skateboards toward their houses while yelling hello to him.

"You baked those cookies for Miss Allegra. Not a school party."

Pilar gave him a sheepish grin.

"What did you write in the note?"

"I just said something like…welcome to the neighborhood. Enjoy these homemade cookies. Then I put your name on it."

"Just my name?"

"Yes."

"She brought the plate back and made us some banana bread."

"Ooh!" Pilar said, rubbing her hands together. "My plan is set in motion."

"What plan?"

"Dad…c'mon. Miss Allegra is the best-looking woman around here. I think you should ask her out on a date."

"I don't need my ten-year-old setting us up."

Pilar put a hand on her hip.

"Well, Auntie Brianna and Auntie Sloane said she's gorgeous and they think you should get to know her. She might be your perfect fit."

"How would they know? They've never seen her."

"I snuck a picture of her on my phone and sent it to them."

"Why the sudden interest in getting me to date?"

Pilar's gaze dropped to the ground.

"No reason. She's new and you don't go out as much anymore."

"That's because I have to take care of you. You're my priority. Dating can always come later."

He stepped aside and let her come in with her skateboard.

"It was a nice thing you did…giving her the cookies," he said.

Pilar grinned.

Terry was an adept father and took pride in keeping a meticulous home, and his child put together well when she exited the front door. Two weeks before Thanksgiving, Pilar started coming home from school with wildly disheveled hair. Even if he put protective styles in with twists or high buns with little curls framing her face with cute tendrils, his daughter returned looking like her head went through a blender.

She'd claim it was the weather. Bad rainfall, or the wind messing it up, but for ten school days, she rolled back home with her hair every which-way, rubber bands busted, barrettes missing, and knocker ball hair bobbles vanished into thin air. She'd roll through, and each time, their neighbor Allegra would be outside collecting her mail. Pilar would wave and say "Hi!" really loud and Allegra responded in kind before stepping back into her house.

He assumed she wanted her hair out, craving to wear hairstyles like her older girl cousins. Rather than make a big deal about it, he started putting a headband on her.

One Saturday afternoon, Pilar played outside on the curved part of the cul-de-sac with her friends, kicking a soccer ball into Caleb's two netted goal posts. A typical loud day of children freely running around screaming and playing in the street. Pilar rocked a bushy 'fro and had the loudest voice out of the bunch.

He kept an eye out for them while watching a football game by leaving his livingroom shades open. Snacking on some chips, he turned his head to check on the action outside.

He quickly ducked his head down low.

Allegra played outside with the children.

Terry hid behind the couch and secretly watched Allegra interact with the neighborhood kids doing soccer ball tricks with her knees and sneaker'd feet. She kicked the ball to Pilar and his daughter charged her, heading for a goal post. Allegra wasn't shy about her defensive moves and easily swiped the ball away from his daughter, kicking it with a curved arc into the opposite goal post. All the children squealed in delight and high-fived her. She stepped aside to let the children continue their boisterous match up.

Terry's back ached from being hunched over spying. Pilar spoke to Allegra for a long time, ignoring her friends, and her bouncy energy kept a smile on the woman's face. Allegra glanced toward his open window and Terry dropped to the floor, hiding his body.

He waited five minutes.

"Why are you on the floor, Daddy?"

Pilar stood above him with a quizzical expression. She'd come in the house through the garage door.

"Stretching my back out," he said.

"But you're on your stomach."

"Can I help you with something?" he said, standing up.

Outside, Allegra stood watching him through the window.

"I asked Miss Allegra how she kept her hair so pretty and she told me her hair care routine. I'm coming to get a pen and paper for her to write it down so you can take care of my hair."

"What? I know how to take care of your hair! I've been doing it since you were born."

Pilar grabbed a Bic pen and tore a piece off some junk mail envelope sitting on the coffee table.

"Daddy, please. Work with me here. I've been looking raggedy for two weeks to get her attention. She finally asked about my curls and I asked about her hair."

Pilar dashed out the front door before he could stop her. She handed Allegra the pen and paper. Terry became flustered. His daughter pretended to be unkempt to fool a grown woman into having sympathy for him.

Allegra scribbled on the paper outside and he felt exposed for something that wasn't true. Pilar ran back into the house through the front door and handed him the half envelope. Most of what Allegra listed, Terry already had in his bathroom for his daughter.

However…she wrote her phone number down, too.

"Boo-ya!" Pilar said, flinging her fingers open like an explosion going off.

"Come into the kitchen with me," he said.

Pilar followed him.

"Sit," he commanded.

He stuffed the half envelope in his back pocket.

"Pilar…babygirl…I know you mean well, but please…stop the antics."

"But Daddy—"

"I mean it."

His voice went down an octave, his baritone sounding harsh. Pilar ran from the kitchen table and stomped loudly up the stairs. He closed his eyes in frustration and waited fifteen minutes before going upstairs.

Pilar cried on her bed. Her loud bawling startled him.

"Munchkin…I'm not mad…I just…you don't have to do this."

"I do!" she wailed.

He sat in his usual spot and let her get her emotions out. She eventually calmed down to gaspy shudders and sad moans of pain. He brushed her hair back, and she threw her arms around his neck.

"I don't want you being alone. Mom married somebody and now she gets to be happy. I want you to be happy, too, Daddy."

"Munchkin, I am happy. I have you…grampy and grandma, your aunts, my friends—"

She shook her head against his neck.

"It's not the same as having someone for yourself. I'll grow up and go to college and you'll be here by yourself. Everyone in our family has someone. Grampy has Grandma, Auntie Brianna has Uncle Mitch…Auntie Sloane has Uncle Kenny. Even Auntie Monique has her boyfriend Gordon. I'm scared for you, Daddy. You're such a good, kind person and you deserve what Mommy has."

Pilar burst into more tears and his eyes grew blurry. He wiped them and pulled back from his daughter.

"It's not your responsibility to worry about me. My job is to worry about you, hear me?"

Pilar kept crying. Her nose ran, but she nodded at his words.

"When the time comes for me to find my special someone…it'll happen. Naturally. Understand?"

"Y-Y-Yessss," she blubbered.

He kissed her forehead and used his thumbs to wipe away warm tears.

"Can I tell you something that will make you happy?"

"O-O-Okayyyy," she choked out.

"Your Mom and 'that man' agreed to change their plans back to coming out for Christmas. And, I don't have to trade Thanksgiving."

"For real?"

"For real. In fact, Bryson urged your mother to reconsider, and he rescheduled the cruise for next year. He's not so bad, huh?"

Pilar sniffled, and her swollen red eyes pained him.

"I guess not."

"Let's make a deal, okay? You don't worry about hooking me up and just enjoy being a little girl with a happy father."

"Are you happy?"

"I am. I have you and a very full life. Promise. Go wash your face and get back outside with your friends."

"Okay, Daddy."

She jumped off the bed and ran to the hall bathroom. He went to her bedroom window and peeked out from the blinds. Allegra went back into her home. He pulled the scrap of envelope from his back pocket and stared at her phone number.

Saturday afternoons were usually Terry and Pilar's time to decompress and watch movies together. Sometimes there was a slumber party with her cousins at their house or one of his sister's. But on this particular Saturday, it was football fever on the flatscreen TV with his buddies while Pilar was at her grandparents' house.

Terry had plenty of pizzas and beer, and his sound system blasted the play-by-play of the game. He enjoyed the company of his buddies, all Black men with families, and very little free time except for the small moments of respite at Terry's place. The Steelers beat the Commanders and the guys talked shit, then they played his AuxGod Hip Hop Edition game. He rapped his ass off while playing Nas's "One Mic" on his smartphone and got his friends hyped to share R&B music. They all howled when someone messed up playing the wrong songs based on cards they pulled, thinking they had the perfect jam. Good clean fun.

The afternoon wound down into late evening and he cleaned up pizza boxes and empty beer cans. His friends bumped fists and gave each other dap as they left out the front door. Rain started falling, and he noticed Allegra pulling into her driveway. The late hour had him guessing she had a night out again. Her job didn't keep her from a busy social life. He often caught sight of her coming and going on the weekends. One time, another car brought her home and stayed overnight in her driveway.

He waved his friends away and pulled out his cell to call his father.

"Hey Junior," his father said.

"Hey, Pops. How's it going over there?"

"Good. The girls are playing and your mama is letting them stay up late to watch some Godzilla movie on Amazon Prime."

"I wanted to say goodnight to Pilar."

"No problem, hold on…Pilar! Your Dad is on the phone!"

Terry waited for his daughter, and soon enough, her voice rang in his ear.

"Hey, Dad."

"Being good?"

"Of course. What time are you picking me up tomorrow?"

"After you get back from church."

"Aw man. You can't get me early, so I don't have to go?"

"I had to suffer through it. It's your turn now."

"But they take forever. Even God goes to sleep by the time that preacher gets done."

"Hey, don't blaspheme, and don't you two keep Grampy and Grandma up too late, okay?"

"We won't. Night, Dad!"

Terry swiped his smartphone and noticed Allegra's car lights were still on. She hadn't left her driveway. He guessed she was talking on her cell phone.

His house smelled of cigars, pepperoni, and Budweiser. He finished cleaning up and sprayed the dining room with air freshener. Rolling his neck muscles, he climbed up to his bedroom. His blinds were open, and he checked the street again.

Allegra stood near her car in the rain looking up at the sky. She stuck her tongue out, tasting the droplets, and spun around in a circle with her arms outstretched. He smiled. She looked like a big kid having fun.

The rain drenched her hair, and she swiped it back, her tresses turning into slick ringlets. The playfulness she exuded cracked something open inside of him. Maybe Pilar was right. Maybe he did want someone to share his life with. He and Allegra barely exchanged enough words in passing for him to sense that she would be open to going out for a coffee or dinner. She never got back to him about the bookshelves, and he never called her phone number to ask about the hair care products she suggested for Pilar.

His confidence in asking women out had waned that year. Each time he thought he might want to spend time with a woman, schedules didn't match up, or he didn't feel that pull to pursue a relationship. The spark wasn't there. Part of him was afraid to put his heart back out there. His ex, Yolanda, had been a heartbreak he finally let go of two years ago. It frightened him into not wanting to be vulnerable with another woman again. Romantic love was for the brave, and Terry was not feeling brave anymore.

But Allegra?

After shaking her arms, she finally went inside her house, not caring that her snazzy outfit was soaked clear through to her skin. He looked at his dresser. The envelope with her number sat next to his hairbrush.

He texted her number.

Hi, Allegra. This is your neighbor, Terry. I was going to pick up some lumber at Home Depot tomorrow and wanted to know if you were still interested in getting bookshelves made? No rush to answer. I'm always going there every other week. If you changed your mind, that's cool, too.

He sent it off, and seconds later, she rang him up.

"Hello?"

He sounded breathless.

"Hi…Terry? It's Allegra…from across the street. Got your message."

"Oh, great. Sorry for texting so late. I was about to turn in and wanted to ask you before I forgot and left tomorrow."

He winced. His words came out in a rush of nervous energy.

"I do want the bookshelves made. I've been so busy I just never got around to measuring anything. Could you come by tomorrow before you leave and take a look at my floor space? You'd have a better idea of measurements than I would."

Terry stared at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes turned into saucers.

"I can do that. I've got to pick up my daughter from church tomorrow at one. I can drop by with my digital tape measure before then and then go to Home Depot."

"Can I go with you? I'd like to see the wood you're considering besides the maple you told me about."

"Uh…sure."

"What time should I expect you over here?"

"Let's say ten?"

"Great, see ya then."

"Goodnight."

He hung up, stunned.

She wanted to go with him to the Depot?

"So, what do you think? Two shelves here and then two more in my office room?"

Allegra watched him make final calculations on his phone. He surveyed her living room set-up one more time to ensure efficient use of her space. They'd spent a good twenty minutes upstairs in her stylish office and he made a quick sketch on his notepad of the shelving unit he could make for her in there. She would pay for the wood and any extra supplies he needed, and he insisted on doing the work for free.

The layout in her house was roomy and leaned toward a mid-century modern styled interior. She liked rich and luxurious wood furniture with mustard yellow and avocado-colored accents. Her home fit her personal style the way he imagined it would. It had a timeless quality. He told her a little about the family that lived there before she bought the place, and the conversation meandered into her own hobbies of painting and gardening. She showed him her patio space in the back and he offered to build her plant containers to grow her favorite flowers. Those were easy to put together and would be cheaper than her buying them pre-made online.

He learned that she had been a highschool soccer star, and that talent landed her a full-ride scholarship to Brown University where she almost landed a spot on the Olympic team. But a skiing accident ruined her shot. She still liked to watch the game and play occasionally.

Allegra worked from home mostly as an In-House attorney for a legal firm with document heavy cases, thus the need for bookshelves to hold all her law books. She did contract reviews, legal research, and dealt with a lot of intellectual property research for her clients.

Terry listened to her talk about herself, and her warm personality gave him the courage to open up about himself. Of course, he bragged about Pilar, and on their way to Home Depot, he pointed out places of interest to her.

"I always wanted to live in a small town," she said. "I grew up in New England, but my grandparents were from here, so I had annual trips for holidays and always liked it. Now that I can work remotely from home, I put stakes in the ground and live here full time. Getting away from the east coast has been a relief. This place makes me happy."

"We love it here. Excellent schools, nice people who look out for each other."

"It's just you and Pilar?"

"Yep. My ex remarried and moved to Europe."

"Co-parenting overseas must be rough."

"Yolanda…my ex…she recently moved there. It's going to be a change for sure. I'm used to Pilar flying a quick hop to Atlanta. Now, she'll have partial summers there and I don't know if I can handle her flying so far away where I can't get to her fast, y'know?"

"I had to do it when I was young. My parents divorced when I was twelve. I hopped from Boston to England to stay with my dad and his new wife on my school breaks. My mother was a nervous wreck at first, but you adjust."

"I hope so. I try to be stoic for Pilar, but I know I'll be in shambles when she flies out there next year."

Allegra laughed and the sound of her voice so close comforted him.

"I'll help talk you down when those nerves kick up," she said.

They walked up and down aisles at the Home Depot, and since he was a regular, the workers there were quick to help him because he didn't waste time. Terry explained the different type of wood options and they compared prices. He did his best to keep costs down for her, and she went along with whatever he thought was best. She'd seen his work output and trusted his skills.

He loaded up the truck bed, and they swooped over to his grandparents' church to pick up Pilar. His daughter's eyes widened when she noticed Allegra sitting in the truck. She ran past Terry and chatted with Allegra. He soon introduced his parents to her, and they invited her to attend a church service in the future.

Pilar hopped in the seat behind Allegra, and he drove them back to their home.

"I'll unload this and start working on your shelving units tomorrow," he said.

"Great."

Pilar watched them interact. She wore the goofiest grin on her face.

Allegra took off across the street and he watched her leave along with Pilar. When she was outside of earshot, Pilar grabbed his arm.

"You hung out with her?" she enthused.

"We talked about her bookshelves."

"So you went inside her house and spent time with her, right?"

"I did."

"Isn't she cool? She plays soccer, and she likes monster movies…"

Pilar stopped gushing about Allegra.

"I forgot. You told me not to interfere."

"I might've been wrong about that," he said.

Pilar's face lit up.

"Oh, yeah?"

"I like her. She's really nice and smart."

"My work here is done," Pilar said.

She skipped into the house, and he unloaded the truck.

Making bookshelves and planter boxes was the beginning.

Next came inviting Allegra over for football game gatherings with his family.

He introduced her to his oldest sister who gave birth to a baby boy, her first, and he watched Allegra nervously hold the newborn with trepidation in her eyes.

"You got it…just hold his head like this and keep him close to you…yeah, see, you got it," he said.

Terry's new nephew was a little chocolate drop.

"He's so tiny and adorable," Allegra said.

All of his sisters liked her, and his mother took the grand gesture of inviting her to join them on their family Christmas trip. Allegra looked genuinely receptive to the idea, but she already had plans to fly out to Boston to spend the winter holiday with her family. Terry felt bummed about it and realized that he was catching feelings for her.

He kept their budding friendship platonic, but by the following spring, it was clear to everyone around them that something was blooming past friendship. They hadn't been physical with each other yet, not even kissing. He liked the slow, easy pace. It gave him time to know her before jumping into anything serious, especially since he had Pilar to think of.

His daughter was crazy about Allegra.

He was too.

As time ticked on and it grew closer to the time that Pilar would have to fly overseas, his anxiety spiked. He was not planning on attending the celebration. His former sister-in-law, Zarah, was going to fly the long distance with Pilar to Rome.

The day his daughter was to leave, he paced in his living room, going over Pilar's packing list several times. Allegra hung out with him, reassuring him that all would be well. Zarah was on her way in a Lyft to pick up Pilar. They all thought it best that he say his goodbyes from home and not go to the airport.

"Go to the restroom one more time before you leave," he told his daughter.

Pilar ran upstairs to her bathroom.

"I'm going to put the roast in the oven for our dinner tonight," Allegra said. "Be right back."

He walked her outside of his home. When Allegra reached the sidewalk, she turned around to face him. For the first time, she slid her arms around his waist and looked up at him.

"You're a great Dad, Terry. Pilar is so lucky to have you…and so am I."

Terry locked eyes with her, and any fears he had about taking a chance on finding love melted away.

"May I kiss you?" he asked.

Her eyes twinkled like she'd been waiting her whole life to hear him say those four words.

"Yes, you may, Mr. Richmond."

He placed his forehead against hers first and savored the moment before the moment. Yes, he deserved someone for himself. His wily daughter had been so correct in her assessment of him. Forever grateful for Pilar's push to get him out into the world with the special woman in his arms, Terry lowered his head and kissed Allegra.

His full, lush lips were nothing compared to the soft place of comfort he found pressed against her mouth. Her lips coaxed a passion out of him he hadn't felt in years. He kept the kiss a little below chaste…she gave him a little teasing of her tongue to entice him for more later, when they would be alone. His grin broke their physical contact and the butterflies in his stomach told him she was the one to take a chance with.

He pushed a fluffy bang away from her left eye and Allegra glanced up toward his second floor. Terry followed her gaze, and they both glimpsed Pilar looking down at them from her bedroom window. She fist-pumped her right hand, and the expression she gave them was pure joy.

Her little plan worked.

Author's Note:

I wanted to write something fast and fluffy to put out the day after the horror of that anti-Black orange menace being put back in office by racist white people and their non-Black PoC racist minions. Black women need soft, joyful things to get us through. We all we got. Remember that.

[lilacargent]

How cold is too cold?

The Quelec had been left alone after their adamant refusal to join the Conclave. This draconian looking species viewed most other creatures as lesser, which made the conclave just as happy to ignore the Quelec and their nearly uninhabitable icy planet.

It didn’t take long before the Prideful creatures couldn’t stand being put to the side like they didn’t matter. Requesting a diplomatic convoy to reopen the conversation was only a ploy to take them hostage and issue ridiculous demands to capture the Conclaves attention.

It is now that a conclave mother ship is hanging just out of orbit to make a plan to get them back. Above a massive map of the icy landscape with one thin line of forest across its median, the three crews tasked with the retrieval are discussing loudly.

“No they can sense electrical currents, and any blast from their breath weapons will shut down our vehicles.” The tall bipedal alien that looks remarkably like a yeti yells at the other people around the table ‘going in with a full frontal attack is going to get everyone killed and if they don’t the cold will. The hostages are held at this planets south pole, which functions as a great prison because of its insane cold!’ The group of Lokachs (a more serpent like alien) hiss at the hostile tone ‘ssssoo far you have not gotten a better idea. Perhaps think for yourself Loquacious.’ When a fight is about to break out the human mediator steps forward. Followed by a tall bearded man and a woman dressed in remarkably non uniform clothes, with markings on her face. ‘No fighting here, they send all of us because we have different experiences with the cold. You, Loquacious of the Relokip, can keep your internal temperatures high like the Quelec can but you’re saying they can sense how you do that?’ the second in command responds ‘Captain Drissum, sir. We generate static electricity in our fur and change it through our nerve system into heat. But the energy will set off the sense of the Quelec.’ With a slow nod Marcus will gesture to the people with him ‘We specifically picked people from a cold climate with generations of experience for this mission: Katjuk from the united Inuit tribes, and Bjørn from the high north and re-established viking society. After many humans left the planet because space travel became widely available the sudden climate changes from the departure of all these people caused an ice age to some degree. All of a sudden skills their people had perfected over generations became increasingly valuable, now they come to share this with us.’

Stepping into the middle of the group Katjuk is the first to speak, ‘we have means to travel the icy tundra without alerting the Quelec, and my friend and his crew have the skills and weapons to protect us during this track. The air is almost good for us the only dangerous aspect is the sulfur and a simple respirator will fix this without using electricity.’ Loquacious lets out a loud bellowing laugh ‘How in the eternal universe are you going to survive the cold without your electricity run suits then? And if you people are soooo cool why do you need us?!’ Marcus just facepalms and Bjørn shoulders past him towering above most people here, but only at eye hight with Loquacious ‘Unless you want us to drop you at the surface with us, you get to sit in your pretty ships and shoot up the other pole and if you are actually brave you can make a bigger splash by going into orbit and making sure they leave their hidey holes.’ kitjak pulls out several packages of fabric and shows one of them to the groups ‘these are a type of clothes our ancestors have used to keep warm in horrible cold, we are going to use them now to do the same. Now on how to get on the planet we are going to do a dead drop, with parachutes. No electricity involved.’ With a thoughtful expression the elder woman looks at the main Lokach, ‘we are going to need your biggest stealth ship, i have been told that it can start up with unheard of speeds almost straight up, is that correct? If so we would need it dropped with us, it is going to be our way out, hopefully it is too quick for the Quelec to respond and we can be picked ultimately outside of orbit.’ Taking a step forward the male bows his head ‘thisss iss the cassse indeed, how do you know it exists?’ Marcus laughs ‘we know most things, but that is not the point now.’ Seemingly having decided that the other groups knew all they needed the humans start speaking with eachother about how they are going to time all of it.

After the fact Loquacious recounts with stunned admiration to the Conclave ‘they dropped down from our highspeed ships with 30 creatures they call dogs, specifically trained to pull sleds and run in packs. The sleds flew over the icy landscape with no regard for the cold. Once they arrived at the strong hold Bjørns men put on spikes on their feet, ropes all around them and scaled the walls like it was nothing. Somehow it took no more than 30 minutes for them to return with the hostages, dropping them down with the ropes like they weighed nothing. Immediately being clothed by Kitjacks group put on the sleds, to return at breakneck speeds.’ Loquacious is silent for a bit when Ilsop (the head Lokach) speaks up ‘with no regard for their own safety they returned the people to the ship we had dropped in the forest line, the dogs are trained to not fear anything their people will tell them to do. There was no sign of exhaustion on these creatures, i believe they would have been able to walk so much further.’ Shocked faces all around look to the massive windows overlooking the internal park of this garden world where a dozen humans are playing with dangerous predators without a fear in the world.

The humans will always find a way.

Outside Bjørn is speaking with Kitjak ‘You know it wasnt even that cold, a Canadian would have worn shorts’ Laughing loudly the woman agrees.

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

Tadah

As this is not my culture i did a lot of research, if i have represented things wrong please tell me. Because of that i have remained vague on certain aspects i could not find clear info on.

This took a bit but in response to @caffineandsugar s request for nordic/inuit/ scandinavian focussed.

[bethanythebogwitch]

Wet Beast Wednesday: Atlantic cod

Hello, do you have tome to hear the world of cod? You see, the Atlantic cod is one of the most popular food fishes in the world, but it is in danger. these mighty fish once dominated the north Atlantic, but their numbers have dropped massively due to overfishing. I will tell you the lord of the mighty cod so you too can become an evangelist for this magnificent fish.

(Image: an Atlantic cod swimming. It is a long fish whose widest point is just behind the head. Both the head and tail taper to narrow points. It has three dorsal and two anal fish, with small pelvic and pectoral fins. A single, curled barbel extends from the lower jaw. Its body is spotted brown and white, with a notable white stripe running down the side. End ID)

Gadus morhua is a bony fish in the Gadidae family of true cods. They are large fish, with adults typically reaching 1 - 1.4 m (3.3 - 4.6 ft), though there are record of individuals reaching up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft). Cod used tog et larger, but fishing has reduced the maximum size. Cod are long-bodied fish with a pointed face and a humped back that then narrows to the tail, forming a torpedo-shaped body. They have three dorsal fins and two anal fins, more that other fish have. The cod's mouth contains sharp teeth hidden behind prominent lips A single barbel extends from the lower lip. Atlantic cod have a prominent lateral line. The lateral line is a series of pores along the side that detect pressure changes, allowing the fish to read the movement of the water around them.

(image: a cod viewed from a more frontal angle, seen floating just above rocky sediment. End ID)

Atlantic cod are found in cold northern waters of the Atlantic ocean from the east coast of the United States and Canada, southern Greenland, Iceland, the British Isles, mainland Europe as far south as the Iberian peninsula, and north into the Baltic Sea and Arctic Ocean. They tend toward deeper waters along the base of the continental shelf, but can be found in shallower water as well. Cod are typicality found between 150 and 200 m (492 - 656 ft), but can dive as deep as 600 m (1969 ft). They are demersal, meaning they spend most of their time near the seafloor. They also prefer rocky seafloor to sandy or muddy. Cod are predators with a very wide diet that consists largely of fish and crustaceans, but can include molluscs, worms, tunicates, echinoderms, and comb jellies. Cod are also cannibals known for eating the young of their own species. Their barbels and lateral lines are useful for finding prey buried in sediment. Cod are shoaling fish, swimming together in large quantities. The largest (and therefore oldest and most experienced) fish scout ahead and seem to claim the largest and most varied share of the food. Even the smallest fish, who lag behind and get the smallest share of the food, benefit from being in the shoal as they get more food than if they were hunting alone. Atlantic cod are high on the food chain, with only large sharks and toothed whales being large enough to eat adults. In parts of their range, including the Baltic Sea, they are apex predators as adults.

(Image: a small shoal of Atlantic cod swimming together. End ID)

Cod reproduce seasonally, with the date varying based on the location of the population but usually taking place between January and May. For many, but not all, populations, the spawning ground is in a different area than a feeding ground, requiring a yearly migration. They are broadcast spawners, releasing gonads into the water and providing no parental care. Pawning occurs in batches, during which the female will release thousands of eggs for males to fertilize. Males compete for access to females by establishing dominance hierarchies and territories that they defend. When a female chooses a mate, they will ventrally mount each other can release eggs and sperm. The mounting ensures the maximum amount of eggs get fertilized. A mature female can release millions of eggs a year. The eggs and young larvae are carried by the current to nursery grounds. Larvae are sustained by a yolk sac for the first few weeks. Juvenile cod are vulnerable to predators and spend most of their time in rocky areas or amongst seaweed where they can hide. Cod become sexually mature between ages 2 and 8 (varying based on population and temperature) and can live for up to 5 years.

(image: a juvenile Atlantic cod. It is similar on body plan to the adults, but the coloration is different. It is a patchy brown and white, with brown stripes on the finds. End ID)

Atlantic cod are classified as vulnerable to extinction by the IUCN. Their main threat is overfishing. Atlantic cod are one of the most heavily fished species in the world as their meat is high quality and tasty. The wild cod population today is a fraction of what it was before industrial-scale fishing started, with some estimates placing it at 5% of historical numbers. In particular, the North American population underwent a major collapse in the 1990s. This led to a trophic cascade, with effects occurring all over the food web. The collapse led to the cod's prey animals increasing in population, putting strain on producers. Interestingly, many of the local ecosystems affected by the collapse are beginning to stabilize, with former prey species filling the same role the cod did. The North American cod population has not shown signs of recovery despite regulations and bans on fishing in the USA and Canada. The Greenland and European populations are more stable, but still threatened by overfishing. Many seafood watch and conservation organizations recommend you not buy cod to reduce the demand and help populations recover.

(Image: two cod, with more in the background One cod is brown while the other look more yellowish. End ID)

[vimse]

Ah wow it’s almost 2025, which means it’s time for the yearly art recap. Time flies when you’re struggling through your thesis, but I’m very pleased to scrounge up at least one Tech drawing per month. I’ll do a (not so) short reflection about my 2024 art under the cut if you’re interested, but for now, I’d like to express my greatest gratitude for everybody who has stuck around and shared my art. Hoping that 2025 will be a more productive art year. Byeee 🧡

Tl;dr under the cut: ramblings about my struggle in school, 2024 highlights, hopes and dreams next year

—

Let’s look back at last year’s summary:

What's next in 2024?

More Tech. Some things I'd like to explore in 2024 is character drawings beyond portraits, anatomy, simple backgrounds, OCs, storytelling through short comics, TBB band au, and maybe some commission work

Well, safe to say I didn’t get too much of that done haha. The reason for that is I’ve been really struggling with my undergraduate thesis work in chemistry. I don’t really know the root cause of it, but I just can’t bring myself to finish it and I’ve been procrastinating badly, so much that I’ve missed two presentation opportunities. The third opportunity is within 2 weeks and I’m nowhere finished or ready. It has been a constant source of stress and anxiety throughout 2024. I got burned out by the end of May and went to the school counsel to hand in my resignation notice, but got convinced to stick around but to finish it at a later date, because this is literally the last thing to do before I get my degree. Then afterwards I decided to go back to my old job full time, which has been very tiring and took a long time to adjust to. This is very obviously reflected in the amount of full illustration produced during July to October, especially September when I couldn’t bring myself to draw anything beyond Tech’s hand lol.

If I don’t finish my thesis in time for this round, I think I’ll finally throw in the towel for real. Maybe I’ve doomed my future or something but…this experience has made me feel incredibly (and constantly) bad for a whole year, and it has affected every aspect of my life. I’m very tired of it. And although my current job is very tiresome and probably detrimental to my health, it pays well and the colleagues are wonderful. Additionally, it is a niche job that I have years of experience in, with good connections, so I’m not currently worrying about my future job at all. And it’s still within the chemistry industry, so all the time I spent in school isn’t going to waste. In regard to my future, I’m more worried about wasting all of it on a conventional 7-16 job, of which I don’t think a degree in analytical chemistry would help me avoid anyways.

Okay, I’ve rambled enough. If you’re still here, thank you. Now, let’s look back to some positive highlights in my art year of 2024:

I think I’ve finally reached the point where I’m content with how I draw Tech. As evident by the picture above, it’s sort of consistent too, which is a bonus.

I joined my first zine!! It’s the Pabu Days zine and I can’t wait for everyone to get their copy of it. Everybody’s pieces are amazing. I wish I did better/more, but the creation period was during the worst time of my year, mental health-wise, and I have to accept that it was the best I could do at the time.

As for the “masterpiece” of 2024, my most proudest work is the CX-Tech piece I did during the height of TBB season 3. I’m incredibly happy with how the rim lights turned out and the overall mood of it. Also the texture on the armour turned out sooo good, I can’t believe I was the one who painted it lol. I wish I could personally show the picture from my monitor, because all the details seem to disappear when viewed on tumblr. Below is the illustration I’m talking about, along with a side by side comparison to the picture I referenced the lighting from + some closeups. Looking back at it now, I wish I added a stronger frontal light source, so that the picture isn’t so dark.

Also, extra shout out to the back study series. I am traditionally not a painter (just grew up as an anime weeb) so making these this was an incredible accomplishment.

With that, I’m wrapping this very long post (sorry) with some 2025 hopes and dreams. Basically it’s the same things I wanted to do in 2024: improve anatomy, more background, work on OC, work on AUs. I want to try very hard to make commissions happen next year, if people are still interested. Something else I want to do that isn’t strictly art related is to connect more with people, especially with those who are still hyperfixated on TBB as I am. I find it hard to socialise on tumblr, but I try to be more social on bluesky. Idk, I think it would be fun to find a small active community that is maybe more focused on clones and oc stuff.

Okay, that’s all! If you’ve made it this far, thank you thank you thank you. Have a happy holiday and may your 2025 be a wonderful, wonderful year.

🧡 vimse

[thewintersoldierdisaster]

Ugh 😩 since we’re on a Nylander high imagine Alex snooping through Willam’s phone and finds videos of her squirting and ass pics of William’s bite marks on them that how he found out she’s a 💦

you guys send in the best smutty asks i swear to god 🙏🏻 i’m so lucky to have such amazing anons 🥰

alex doesn’t mean to snoop and honestly he’s not even really snooping. not when william gave him permission to use his phone.

sure it was permission to use spotify during his workout and not to go flipping through his camera roll, but his thumb slipped, okay?

and really, isn’t it william’s fault for having a whole photo album of you right out in the open? that’s the kind of shit that needs to be locked behind a pass code

but the photos are right there and alex is curious and you’re gorgeous so he can’t help but pull up the album and start looking through it.

it’s like a treasure chest of gold, the photos and videos william has of you

full frontal nudity, partially clothed, mirror selfies, it’s endless

there’s the shot william had to have taken, where your head is cut off right above your swollen, red, kiss-bitten lips. your neck is littered with hickies and your nipples are puffy and raw, pebbled into tight peaks, come splattered over your skin

there’s the picture of william’s hand splayed over your stomach, the base of his cock barely visible at the entrance of your cunt

there’s the picture of your ass, perked high in the air, with william’s handprint raised in red on one cheek

there’s another picture of your ass, your legs spread wide so your pink, glistening cunt is visible, your fingers playing with your clit

again, another picture of your ass with a bite mark on one cheek, the imprint of william’s teeth surrounded by chafing from his beard

(fuck, william’s clearly an ass man, as if alex didn’t already know that, based on the sheer amount of pictures he has of your bare ass)

and the videos? fuck him, it’s like a porn website in the camera roll

videos of you playing with your tits, giggling and moaning perfectly audible

videos of you fingering yourself, whining for william to join you

videos of you with your vibrator pressed tight to your clit, the angle telling alex that it was one you took yourself and sent to william

the best video though, up close and personal with your cunt, william’s voice loud as he talks you through the fingering. there’s a clear view of two of william’s fingers buried in your cunt, curling and thrusting. you’re moaning and whining and your hips are lifting off the bed as william works, warning him that you’re close. alex doesn’t expect what’s next, the way you come harder than he’s ever seen, squirting all over your thighs and the mattress

liquid gets on the camera, smudging the view, but it’s still clear enough to see william’s fingers still working you over, loud enough for alex to hear william’s praise -“what a good girl. squirting for daddy, making a mess” - and then william’s fingers spread you, the swollen bundle of your clit clear as day on the screen

alex is beyond hard, leaking in his pants, palming himself over his shorts

he scrolls through more pictures, finding another video of you squirting, this time on william’s cock, the video shaky and angle not as good. alex can still see the gush of come from your cunt, the wet spot that forms on the sheets beneath you, the ragged breathing as you come again after squirting already

there are other pictures too, come leaking from your cunt, your folds messy and wet, william’s cock pressed against your inner thigh with a ring of cream around the base

but alex keeps going back to the videos of you squirting, obsessed with the noises you make as you come 😇

[demigodsanswer]

percabeth blind date & secret relationship

Boozy drag brunch with Annabeth was always one of the high points of Piper's week. While Percy spent his Sunday morning in a kickboxing class with Clarisse, Piper got Annabeth all to herself.

"I can't believe you're putting an end to these," Piper said, sipping her bloody Mary.

Annabeth shoveled french toast and whipped cream onto her fork with an eye roll. "I'm not putting an end to it."

"You just told me you are Percy and going to try for a baby soon," Piper said.

"That doesn't mean this will end. I'll be here weekly, drinking orange juice from a Champaign flute. And anyway, it might take a while to get pregnant," Annabeth said. "And before long, I can bring the baby. I'm sure they'll be a smash hit."

"I hope you're joking," Piper said.

"Obviously," Annabeth said with a smile. "I'm gonna run to the bathroom, but they can take my plate if they come around."

Piper nodded as Annabeth excused herself.

Piper clicked around on her phone a bit, when she heard Annabeth's buzz. She'd left it by her plate. Piper tried not to snoop but ... was that the Tinder logo?

Piper picked up the phone, sure she'd seen wrong. Annabeth would never ... Percy would die if she ... They were going to have a baby!

It was Tinder. Annabeth had gotten a message from someone named Indigo. Piper couldn't help herself. Call it love goddess instincts or a friendly intervention, she wasn't about to let Annabeth throw away her marriage for some dude named Indigo.

She unlocked Annabeth's phone, already familiar with her password, and scrolled through the messages. Indigo had texted Annabeth a location and a time -- today at 7:30, a fancy Italian place.

Indigo

I can't wait to meet you.

You look so beautiful

Piper scrolled up in their messages, and nearly dropped Annabeth's phone into her left overs when saw pictures of Indigo's dick and balls (well, if Annabeth was going to cheat, at least this man was impressive), and above it, a full-frontal nude of her friend.

Piper locked the phone and set it back where it had been, making her own note on her own phone to go to that restaurant tonight at 7:30 and see this for herself. And then, gods help her, she was going to have to break the news to Percy.

~

Il Forno seemed like the perfect place to conduct an affair, Piper thought. It was dark, most of the tables were booths with high backs to conceal patrons, and the bar was all the way in the back, away from the window.

From her spot at the bar, Piper saw Annabeth enter, looking all dolled up -- dress, makeup, heels -- things Annabeth never wore unless she had to. Piper's heart sunk. She was starting to think she didn't know her friend at all.

The hostess led her to a table. The mystery man's back was to Piper when he stood to take Annabeth's coat from her. But even from her distant viewing point, she could tell the man was looking her over, and Annabeth might as well have been posing for his evaluation.

They slid into the booths, out of her view.

Well, now or never.

"Annabeth," Piper said, marching up to the table. She couldn't bring herself to look at the mystery man.

"Piper?" Annabeth said, her face flushing with shame at being caught.

"How could you do this?" Piper asked her. She spotted Annabeth's left hand. It was free of her wedding and engagement ring. She'd spent weeks with Percy to pick out the perfect ones! "I can't --"

"Piper --" the mystery man said, his voice low.

No, no mystery man.

Piper turned to actually look at Indigo.

When on earth had Percy grown a mustache?

"Oh what the hell?" Piper asked.

Annabeth scooted into the booth, and patted the seat for Piper to sit.

"You were on Tinder," Piper said. And then she looked at Percy and pointed to his wife, accusingly. "She was sending nudes to some guy on Tinder."

Both of them flushed. Annabeth took out her phone and showed Piper her Tinder account. Her name was Elizabeth Bennett, her photos were all stock images of owls, and there was otherwise very little information. Percy profile was similarly bare, populated only with images of the beach.

"So this is all just you two having a little adventure?" Piper clarified. They both nodded. "And the pictures you got were actually of ..." she pointed to Percy, who had buried his face in his hands at the realization that Piper had seen his dick picks. "Good for you, girl," Piper said to Annabeth, who did finally smile.

"Well!" Piper said. "So sorry to ruin your night!"

"You're a good friend, Piper," Percy promised, his face still red. "I appreciate your willingness to do this when you thought ..."

"Any time," she said.

"Be honest, how do you feel about the mustache?" Percy asked.

"Not my favorite," Piper said. "But it does make you look more like a man named Indigo."

Percy smiled and nodded. "I'll take it."

"Enjoy your night, Elizabeth," Piper said, sliding out of the booth.

"You too, Pipes," Annabeth said.

"And change your phone passcode maybe?" Piper suggested.

Annabeth laughed. "Sure."

[tiredofthehumanlife]

More bestfriend!Luke please. 🙏 Just the idea of reader knowing exactly how Luke feels about them and using it to their advantage. I’ve been thinking about them since I read your post abt him taking the underwear and reader knowing.

Warnings: don't treat real people like this it's weird, can you tell I watched saltburn, it's basically the bath scene but like a window and this Felix doesn't die at the end, sorry this took so long I wrote one story And then I didn't like it so I restarted, lmk if this doesn't satisfy, mostly not proof read, too many commas, enjoy

You knew Luke extremely well. You knew his favorite color, his favorite food, his thinking face, his feelings for you. All the basic bestfriend knowledge. You also knew he got nightmares fairly frequently. When he did he was always welcome in your cabin. First, Luke would sneak behind the bushes that grew up against the outside wall of your cabin. Second, he’d peer in through a window that had your entire bunk and side table in view uninterrupted. Finally, he’d tap the window and you’d come to his rescue, letting him in. Your warm bed was always seemed to wash away Luke's fears instantly. Or maybe it was you. You also knew sometimes he’d just come to your cabin because he missed you. Sometimes you just got wrapped up in your camp counselor duties. You would just get so busy you couldn’t even squeeze in your valuable Luke time.

That was your most recent situation. A new camper had arrived, to your cabin nonetheless, and you needed to make sure they were comfortable. Which takes a lot of tours and explaining and so much time. You had no problem with that but you missed Luke. You knew Luke missed you too, so you had a sneaky feeling he would be coming to visit you tonight. You were a bit of a scheming little nuisance. You decided he had missed a lot of time with you, therefore to make up for it you were going to give Luke a show. Your cabin was mostly silent, except for the occasional snore and sleep talking. All the lights were off keeping your cabin mates sleepy. The only light was coming from your curtain-less window and the small candle sitting on your side table.

You had tossed your blankets to the end of your bed. Knowing Luke was on his way to tap on your window, only to find the sight of your naked body illuminated by the small candle, was making you very very excited. You moved your hands against your own body reaching between your thighs.

Out of the corner of your eye you recognized Luke's head popping up. He seemed to be frozen for a second, questioning his own morals. Luke ducked his head back down leaving his eyes peeking over the edge. You smiled to yourself and quickly turned your head in the opposite direction so he wouldn't see that you were smiling.

Your breathing picked up with the pace of your hand. Your body's mounting buzz makes you pick your back off your mattress, pushing your hips and head further into the sheets. You squeeze your eyes shut, furrowing your brows together. You turned your head to face the window, keeping your eyes shut so Luke wouldn't find out you knew he was there.

You imagined Luke dragging his hands over his own body once he returns to his cabin tonight. Whispering your name over and over again. You knew he would. You knew he'd think of you. You wanted him to. You let your jaw hang open as you reach your peak. You mouthed his name, staying silent as to not wake anyone. You needed him to know you were thinking of him the whole time. You needed him to watch his own name fall off your tongue with your hand shoved down between your thighs.

As your breathing slowed you sneak a glance out the window to see Luke's curls still peeking out over the frame of the window. You relaxed your body. Stretching your back with your hands above your head. You sat up and leaned over towards your side table. Giving your Luke a full frontal view before blowing out your candle. You laid down and curled up under all your blankets and heard the very soft scratching of the bushes on your window as Luke ran back to his cabin.

The next day at breakfast you asked Luke if he did anything fun last night. He sputtered and choked on his drink. You slapped him on his back before he finally answered you saying no and asking why you brought that up. You shrugged, played dumb, and said you were just making small talk. You slipped into telling Luke you missed him over the last few days, mentioning you should catch up. Luke agreed to which you quickly added that he should come over to your cabin tonight so you can catch up and have a sleepover. Luke shrugged, face bright red, and said sure. You gave him a time and left him with a kiss on the cheek.

You opened your window and leaned on the frame. Your cabin mates thought it was a bit out of character but ignored it, assuming you had a bad nightmare last night and wanted a bit of peace before bed. As time went on and they all fell asleep, you watched the stars. When Luke finally parted the bushes and stood next to you, you smiled down at him. Luke pointed inside at your cabin. You shrugged. You told him to wait, you wanted to tell him something first. His heart was beating rapidly. You were going to call him a creep and a weirdo and a freak and tell him to never speak to you again. Luke was going to lose his best friend all because he was freakishly nosey. You reached out and grabbed one of his hands, intertwining your fingers. He couldn't run away even if he wanted to.

"I know you watched me last night." Luke's face dropped and his chest heaved. He shook his head and decided the best route to saving your relationship was to apologize immediately.

"I'm so sorry I didn't mean to it just kinda happened I saw you and then I just got captivated and I have no right to make excuses I crossed a boundary I shouldn't-" you smothered his rambling with your hand. You shushed him gently. You moved closer to him and brushed your lips against his. Luke chased after your lips as you pulled back.

"I liked it." You muttered, keeping your mouth just a few millimeters from his, keeping him tethered. Luke pulled back giving you a confused look. You smiled, pulling him back in. You tilted your head, opening your mouth for him. Just as he pressed his tongue into your mouth, you pulled back. Luke whined and deflated obviously tired of chasing after you.

"I thought it was hot, I was thinking about you. You know that?" He hummed in agreement, his eyes glued to your lips. You shook your head giving him a quick kiss. He looked up at you, puckering his lips out at you. You patted his cheek and dropped his hand.

"maybe I should reenact last night but this time I use your hand, hm?" He quickly looked back to your eyes staring at you to figure out if you're being serious. He quickly nodded, happier than ever to be your best friend at this moment.

[bambiraptorx]

[I.D. Four panel comic using Mikey and Draxum from ROTTMNT. Mikey is drawn with hair of a 4b or 4c texture in thick twists. In the first panel, Mikey's hands are shown, cupped around a small baby turtle with markings somewhat like his own. Below that is a drawing of Mikey from the shoulders up, his eyes sparkling as he smiles excitedly. He has locs that are a little less than chin length. Above him is written "Just made a baby with magic accidentally." The next panel shows Mikey from the thighs up and Draxum behind him. Mikey looks over his shoulder and says happily "Draxum, look! I made a baby!!" He holds the baby in one hand and points at it with the other. Draxum holds his hands up in consternation and yells "I was gone for ten minutes how the f did you make a baby" in all caps. In the third panel Mikey is shown from closer, about waist up. He smiles widely at the baby in his palm, the other hand held up near his face, and exclaims "I'm gonna name you Vermillion, after your spots!" Behind him Draxum frowns and says "That's a shade of red tho???" In the last panel, Mikey turns to Draxum, cupping the baby in his hands once more, and says "Huh? No, I'm pretty sure it's yellow." Draxum glares down at him and retorts "It's not yellow". End I.D.]

cringe is dead and i've killed it myself (made another ninja turtle fankid lmao)

Anyway this is Vermillion, Beatrice Helena's younger cousin by like 7-8 years or so, idk. If Donnie gets an accidental science baby then Mikey gets an accidental magic baby, it's only fair.

[I.D. Two digital drawings of Vermillion. The first image is three uncolored drawings of his head from different angles; a right three quarter, a left three quarter, and frontal. In each of them, his right eye is mostly shut, and he has a mostly circular spot to the outer lower corner of it. Vermillion's right profile shows that the right side of his face is more pronounced and angular than typical for a baby's. The left profile shows him crying, both eyes pinched shut. His right cheek is somewhat concave. The frontal view shows him smiling happily. His facial structure is uneven, with the right side of his face sunken in. In the second image, Vermillion is drawn in full color, looking very similar to Mikey in canon. He sits up, happily sucking on a finger. He has yellow patches on his right shoulder, right ankle, left bicep, and left knee, as well as the corner of his right eye. Towards the bottom third of his shell is a sharp inward dent. His right eye is currently open, showing a clear conformer that serves to hold the eye socket's shape. End I.D.]

I'm still working out his exact face shape and how to draw it consistently, but the current plan is that he has anophthalmia (born without his right eye) and either hemifacial microsomia or Goldenhar Syndrome. I gotta do more research before I actually decide.

[zuko-always-lies]

Every Single Time Azula Insults or Criticizes Zuko

"The Avatar State":

Zuko:[Angrily.] What are you doing here?

Azula: [Holds up a shell in her hand.] In my country, we exchange a pleasant hello before asking questions. [Rises and walks toward Zuko and Iroh.] Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?

2.

Azula: You know, Father blames Uncle for the loss of the North Pole. And he considers you a miserable failure for not finding the Avatar! [Cuts to Zuko, who is panting heavily.] Why would he want you back home, except to lock you up [Cuts back to Azula.] where you can no longer embarrass him?

"Zuko Alone":

1.

Young Azula: You waste all your time playing with knives. You're not even good!

2.

Young Azula: [Sits back down, and looks at Zuko out of the corner of her eye and whispers.] You'll never catch up …

"The Chase":

Azula: [Coolly.] You mean you haven't guessed? You don't see the family resemblance? Here's a hint. [Covers her eye and deepens her voice, imitating Zuko.] I must find the Avatar to restore my honor! [Aang remains silent; back in her normal voice.] It's okay, you can laugh. It's funny.

"The Crossroads of Destiny":

Azula: You're so dramatic. What? Are you going to challenge me to an Agni Kai?

"The Beach"

Zuko:[Cut to closer view of Zuko and Mai. Angrily.] Doing nothing is a waste of time. [Rises from his seat next to Mai.] We're being sent away on a forced vacation. [Walks over and grips the railing of the boat.] I feel like a child. Azula:[Frontal view.] Lighten up. So Dad wants to meet with his advisors alone, without anyone else around. Don't take it personally.

2.

Zuko:[Frontal view from behind the girls. Losing it now; furiously.] I'm angry at myself!Slamming down with his clenched fists he causes the camp fire to turn into a pillar of fire, the girls recoil from the flames. Cut to close-up view from above of Zuko. Cut to a wide-view of the entire campsite as the flame dies down. Zuko turns away. Azula: Why? Zuko[Close-up.] Because I'm confused. Because I'm not sure I know the difference between right and wrong anymore. Azula: You're pathetic.

"The Avatar and the Firelord"

1.

Azula: It's never too early for a sitting with the court painter, Zuko. Make sure he gets your good side.

2.

Zuko: But how did he die? Azula: [Turning toward Zuko.] Didn't you pay any attention in school, Zuko? He died peacefully, in his sleep. [Cut to a shot of the full room, as Azula walks away.] He was ancient.

"Nightmares and Daydreams"

Azula: Hello, Zuzu. If you've come for a royal hair-combing, I'm afraid you'll have to wait. Zuko: So I guess there's a big war meeting coming up, huh? And apparently I'm not welcome there. Azula: What do you mean? Of course you're welcome there! Zuko: Oh, yeah?! I guess that's why no one bothered to tell me about it! Azula: Oh, Zuko. Don't be so dramatic. I'm certain Dad wants you there. You probably just weren't invited because it's so obvious you're supposed to be there. Zuko: Well, were you invited? Azula: Of course! I'm the princess. Zuko: And I'm the prince! Azula: Exactly, so stop acting like a paranoid child! Just go to the meeting.

"Sozin's Comet Part III":

Zuko: Sorry, but you're not gonna become Fire Lord today. [Jumps off Appa.] I am. Azula: [Laughs.] You're hilarious.

The most consistent things she criticizes him for are being too "dramatic" and immature.

[anlian-aishang]

Kinktober Day 12: Virgin!Levi & Cunnilingus

kudos to @bluebellhairpin for inspo <3

tags: virgin!levi, cunnilingus, fem-ejaculation, fem!reader word count: 2600

Nearly naked, unabashedly displayed, shamelessly sprawled - Levi wouldn’t change anything about you. It was all he could think about from the end of his bed, how perfectly you looked on it. A nervous smile graced your lips. Nipples hardly hidden beneath your lace lingerie. Matching panties, the cotton stretch over your slit clearly soaked through. He had a full-frontal view of your pathetic state.

Yet somehow, he was the embarrassed one.

Levi’s hands clung to one another in an attempt to ground himself. A thick gulp you could see in the bob of his larynx. Just as obvious as his nerves, though, was his lust: dilated pupils, flush in his chest, solidity outlined in his increasingly taut briefs. Steadfast yet calculated was his crawl towards you: one knee sunk into the mattress, hands followed until they could perch themselves beside your shoulders. Slowly, he flexed his muscles to lower himself to your lips. Push-ups put to use. 

Though most things were still foreign to your virgin, he had grown into a remarkably professional kisser. A fast learner. Soft brushes at first, tongue dipped into a tango with yours. He made sure to delve deep as though you were a destination he was eager to explore. Unafraid to prolong the kiss, getting accustomed to and even craving your taste. Tonight, he would try a new one. 

Swiping and signing off, you held his cheek in your hand and lifted his gaze to yours, “You sure about this, Levi?” You returned your lips to his briefly, reassurance that you loved him regardless of his answer, “I don’t want you to feel rushed.”

Levi propped himself on one arm, letting his free hand trace its sultry way down your chest. He cupped your breast in his hand and grazed his fingers over your peaks, increasingly firm. “I’m ready,” between his knuckles, he sandwiched your point, “I want this.”

You clenched your teeth hard enough to make your jaw tremble. “Are you sure?”

Levi sank his head down in the crevice of your chest. Chin perched above your heart. Silver eyes glared through his curtain bangs, “Gonna make me beg for it?”

You giggled: half-nervous, half-malicious. Not yet.

The begging would come later, but for now, you intended to guide him with grace. As much as he tried to hide it, and as doubtful as you were that he could feel this emotion, Levi was nervous. 

The way he undressed you, though, you were progressively blinded to his anxiety. Fingertips flicked, teased, squeezed the sensitive tips of your breasts, the start of your blood’s rush south. Dry palms cupped your smooth curves - the contrast in textures mutually adored through his blush and your sighs. After giving your chest its due attention, Levi brought his touch and body down down down. His digits bent to match the arcs of your waist, torso, hips - his hold intentional throughout. Levi had not said the words yet, but his actions spoke louder: he was in love with you.

Meanwhile, a blend of love and hate was how he felt about this last garment: the pretty black panties that blocked him from your sex. Right hand bunched into a fist, trembling with an animalistic urge to rip your underwear in two. Left hand twitched in yearning, admiring how perfectly the color complemented your skin tone. At the lace hem, they met in compromise: hastily yet thoughtfully hooking his thumbs through the loops, using the dainty fabric as a grapple on his dive down.

Ice gaze was dead set on your core, you could not help but chuckle at the shamelessness of his stare. Mere inches away from the reveal, so close, you could feel his exhales fall on your slickened skin. As those breaths grew heavier, so did the chill of the current. You nestled your shoulders into his pillow and shuddered with a near-silent hiss.

Near silent.

As fixated as his vision was, his ears were always tuned to your voice. At the first sign of your discomfort, his tug halted immediately, “You okay?”

“Y’Yeah,” you squirmed. More than okay. Arch of your back and the bend of your knees invited, “Keep - Keep going.”

His heart was beating faster than ever, yet he gave two slow and assessing blinks. When your parted lips gradually returned to a composed press and glimmer of a smile, he swallowed and continued.

This time, he alternated his attention from your facial expression to your lap, that hiss of yours still ringing in his reddened ears. Yet, for the seconds that your sex finally separated from its cover, he could not take his eyes away. Made to glisten in their own arousal, causing your panties to stick as he stripped them off of you. A clear strand of a substance unknown to him - stretched impressively far between the cloth and your middle. An instant obsession: heart jumped into his throat, Levi nearly choked, but cleared his airway through a cluster of curses. 

A shaky exhale, “Goddamn, baby,” chills coursed violently through him, “you’re so -”

“- wet?” You chuckled, both embarrassed and teasing. Kinda what happens in these things, you know. Actually, you pondered his inexperience, maybe he didn’t know. You perched yourself up a tad, just enough to reach his own arousal, “Bet you are, too.”

“Hey,” Levi glared and smirked, guiding your hand away from him and back to your side, “tonight’s about you.”

It was how he envisioned it, that tonight would be all about your pleasure, but he had to reconcile that this was indulgent for him, too. If it was truly all about you, he probably shouldn’t have bunched your panties snug in his fist and tossed them recklessly to the ground. If it was all about you, why was he so hard and leaking this much? If it was all about you, how could he feel this fucking good?

At last. The two of you shared an unspoken shared sentiment - he was finally between your legs. Laid on his stomach, toes dug stable into his comforter. Shoulders sturdy beneath the backs of your thighs, propping you at the perfect angle. Muscular arms snaked around your legs, hands anchored at your hips. Having such intimate, intertwined contact with him made his shivers contagious, inciting a brief duet of his moans and your mewls. 

Levi palmed his way down your front, bringing his right hand to your middle - the first direct touch. Your feet slid against the other in delectation, ankles twisted, arms ran weak. Levi rolled his wrist to invert his stance: base of his hand to your hood, middle finger aligned to wedge between your slit, fingertips gave their first swipes from bottom to top and back again. Skin calloused, but deliberately lotioned: a perfect solidity veiled in delectable smooth. His hands were heaven-sent. You sighed in praise to a higher power - God, karma, or Levi Ackerman himself - what the fuck ever did I do to deserve this?

You grabbed a hold of his feathered pillow, nails threatening to pierce the case. You threw your other hand back against his headboard, a feeble attempt to push yourself further down, closer to him. 

Maybe he was new to this, but intuition was his namesake. Fluent in body language, especially yours, Levi translated: you wanted more. He jerked his contact further into you, close enough for your clit to complete a palm reading. The digits that lined your gap plunged inside. In trying to fit, they were forced to meet your curve, by unspeakable mistake, allowing him to tap the spot it took other men years to find.

Instantly, your legs shot straight, your lips snapped apart, loud shrieks escaped promptly. Levi felt a sting of panic, but it was swiftly washed away by a flood of endorphins. Confident that he could do this after all. His minute, cocky smile remained a secret to you - your eyes still squinted shut in pleasure. By the time you managed to peek past, his thin brows had narrowed in determination - on a mission for more of those screams. 

In this objective and others, Levi always dove straight in. Purpose seized his being. In one suave motion, his hand traded positions. Now, his nose to your pearl, his lips to your folds, his tongue in between them. At first, it was your feel: warm, wet velvet - his cock ached in imaginative longing, how good it would someday feel around him - even better than he had dreamed. Then, it was your taste: a blend of all the delicacies that made his tongue sing. A bakery’s transparent glaze, the tart of lemon liqueur, the succulence of steak. Black tea - no sugar, no cream - your harmless bitter and hidden sweet were strikingly similar: your spirit was ascending into his favorites list. 

It was a race to the finish, it seemed. Levi could feel your muscles clench around him, could hear your gasps accelerate and heighten. At the same time, he was painfully aware of his own wavering. Up to his head in the best life had to offer, his tethers had been snipped fuck by facial fuck. Each round of vertiginous shivers had ended the same way: expelling their energy through his middle, coating himself in slick - only making those rocks sleeker, smoother, and harder to hold back. His bedding soaked through, only your sex could distract him from that. 

If not your sex, then his shivering - Levi cursed himself, the goddamn shivering - that had subjugated his figure since the very start. Known for his strength, he should have been grateful that you were the only witness to his crumbling. Instead, he leaned towards dismay: Levi would rather have anyone but you see it. 

A glass-shattering cry of yours summoned a proportionately violent round, one that actually managed to break you from your selfish bliss. “H’Huh?” 

His only response was a series of twitches. “Levi?” Your hold on him drifted: fingers formerly wrapped fierce in his hair gravitated gingerly down to his temple, traced along his jawline, until pinching his chin and lifting his gaze towards you. “You alright?”

“I’m fine.” Levi objected sternly, nearly offended. Though he had to admit, you were not wrong in recognizing that he was not his typical self. Levi closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, overwhelmed with infatuation. Neck-deep in indulgence, he shivered again, “It’s just…”

I haven’t done this before.

I know, sweetheart. I can tell. 

With the back of your hand, you brushed his bangs aside. Noticing the sweat that coated them, you felt warmth fill your being, flattered by his endeavor. Still, though your lust was aching - throbbing - your consideration for him stayed strong. “Should we stop? I really don’t mind.”

It was the truth - you didn’t mind - it was just the kind of person you were, and how you had lured him here in the first place. Countless were the nights you had dreamt of this scenario - Levi Ackerman between your legs - and even with that scene culminating before you, you would easily abandon it for his sake. Your smile was genuine, but so was his frown. Brows angled in anger, lip twitched in fight. His hold on your hips ardently tightened. Past grit teeth, he sneered, “No.” Knuckles bent sharp, turning white as he pinned you down to the mattress. Levi buried his face in your sex and growled, affirming to both you and himself, “I’m going to make you cum.”

Eye contact made, a devious smirk dominated his expression. This time, you were the one to shiver - the first of many as he delved in again.  

Tongue licked you up like an ice cream cone on a hot summer day - catching all the drips, licking his lips clean of your taste. In those swipes of your sides, he relaxed the muscle wide and flat. In fucking your insides, he sharpened his tongue to point - aiming to reach your pleasure centers. After enough repetitions and growing fluent in your figure, Levi added his fingers back into the mix, penetrating the places his mouth left neglected.

Concern could only last so long - a lesson you learned as your euphoria revived. His actions were calculated, driven, intentional - instigating an equally opposite reaction. Done by his control, your grip invariably loosened. Vision hazed, reaching only as far as these four walls, then his bed, then the couple, then yourself. 

When he began to shiver again, you held back your concern and stayed focused on yourself: it’s what he’d want you to do. In that blissful ignorance, you missed the way his moans intensified, his sweat dripped, his hips quickened. Twitches and breaths you assumed were intended for your pleasure were actually the symptoms of his. Each lick, swipe, and swallow of your taste has contributed to the burn in his insides. A flame in his middle, desires hot, composure melting away. Levi growled and jutted his hips into the mattress in an attempt to ground himself, the novice didn’t know that it would only compound the sensation. 

Levi’s moans were muffled into your middle, you rolled your eyes back and drowned his voice out with yours. Heat flooded into his center, a wave that would not be thwarted. Physiology stomped the last of his digits: the virgin sent himself over the edge that he tried so hard to cling to.

Post-coital comedown flushed his skin an embarrassing shade of red. Its clarity forced him to swallow an even more humiliating truth: even when eating you out, he finished before you. The closest he came to whimpering, Levi mused in defeat. He thought that tonight would be the night he made you cum first. Upset, angered: his frustration was subconsciously taken out in his movements. Taken out on you and your most sensitive area. 

“Y’Yeah…” you hummed, “There. Right there, Levi.”

One brow shot up in confusion. His mouth remained at work, his expression demanded: Huh?!

With your eyes fluttered shut, you unknowingly answered his question: “F’Fuck…” your voice was sweet and syrupy, then seering and screaming, “F’Fuck! Oh, fuck, Levi!!”

By now, he had come to know what that meant. Hands instinctively pressed down on your hips. Fingers spread you wide and shameless. Strong and innate were the final movements that got you there: circling your clit, massaging your middle, fucking your deepest depths. The physical game was one he was learning, but the mental one - he was an expert in. 

“Yeah, that’s it…” Levi relished the way your ridges clung to him. He was nothing in this moment. All consuming was his longing to make you cum. To you, it was an order. In his perspective, he was begging. “Come on, let go,” at last, his unparalleled praise, “my good girl…”

Levi’s low and luscious voice melodied your gasps and writhes - the crudest symphony: you lost yourself in it. The lightning: a tidal wave. The thunder: a flash flood. From your center and through every capillary, achievement and ecstasy soaked your entirety - and soaked him. 

Mere seconds after its onset, you consciously snapped from your orgasm. Body still rocked by ripples, voice interrupted by them, you looked down to Levi - drenched from bangs to clavicle - and panicked, “L’Le-vi? Are you… alright?”

Levi snickered briefly, the current of his laughs chill on your sweat-covered thighs. With two fingers, he massaged your vulva still twitching, “You’re the one I should be asking about.”

Still catching your breath, you coughed lightly and inexplicably stuttered, “Y’Yeah.”

“So you’re ready for round two?”

Your stutters inexplicably cured: “Yeah.”

Kinktober Year 3 Masterlist

[autumnmobile12]

About the Infant Skull in the Belmont Hold

Trigger Warning: Sensitive topics below.

In a post I made last year, I pointed out the small skull in this display is case belongs to a baby.

The 'crack' down the center of the forehead is a frontal suture which closes between the ages of three to nine months, and to showcase the fact it's not just a cracked bone, the animators included a fontanelle between the bony plates of the skull, which closes before the age of two.

There is the skull of an infant in the Belmont Hold.

So what's the story here?

Theory 1: The Skull is a Vampire

This could have been a human baby that was turned by a vampire for whatever reason. Maybe this was some vampire's twisted idea of a pet. Maybe it was a horrifying, psychological trauma where a human woman lost her baby and after becoming a vampire, turned an infant into a vampire so as to never experience that pain again whilst tragically blind to the fact an immortal infant would never grow up.

If either of these were the case, whichever Belmont found this child could have viewed his or her death as a mercy. Since the baby would be immortal, it would be impractical to keep it alive forever, not to mention almost cruel because what kind of life is that? And it would be equally inhumane to leave the vampire to starve to death, so the options are limited.

The skull was brought home not as a trophy but as a specimen to study and serve as a grim reminder of a harsh reality.

...

Theory 2: The Skull is a Dhampir

Carmilla's above comment gives me the vague impression that it's not unheard of for a vampire to have a child with a human and then turn the human into a vampire, creating a family unit. (Just the way she says it. Like the unspoken line was, "You married a human, you succeeded in getting a child off her, so she was free to become a vampire after, no?" Turning Lisa after Adrian was born was the next natural step in her mind, so it baffles Carmilla why Dracula's wife remained human.) So maybe dhampirs are uncommon, but Alucard is far from the first one to ever exist.

So if the skull belonged to a dhampir like Alucard, this opens up another set of possibilities, but before I go into those, I want to address the Belmont Clan's potential view towards vampires and human-vampire hybrids. It's not clear if Alucard needs human blood to survive. He eats human food, but so do the vampires. Lenore comments they get their essential nutrients from blood, but whether or not this also pertains to dhampirs is up for debate. In the Gresit Underground Keep scene, it does look like he had some form of blood transfusion system possibly sustaining him, but this could arguably be a life and death situation. As in, he doesn't need blood to survive, but it can also save his life if need be.

There's also the possibility the blood-drinking is not the same across the board. (Say Alucard doesn't need blood to survive, but another dhampir was saddled with the shitty genetics that make blood a requirement.)

For the Belmonts, I can see dhampirs being a controversial subject. From Leon to Trevor's time, there are four centuries and countless individuals with their own set of similar but unique values and opinions, so it would be understandable for various Belmonts to have points of contention as well as shifts in viewpoint down the generations as new information about the enemy comes to light. Some members might have the stance of, "Dhampirs do not need blood to survive, are not a threat to humanity, and therefore it is unnecessary to hunt and kill them," while others may have taken the more extreme stance of, "Dhampirs are unnatural creatures that do not belong in this world any more than vampires do." Without the precedent of Alucard and Trevor having a common enemy, there would be nothing to sway the entire family one way or the other.

So if this is the case, the skull could have come from a vampire family similar to Dracula, Lisa, and Alucard's, and that family could have been discovered by a Belmont who made the decision to eradicate the them, including the dhampir for whichever reason:

The existence of dhampirs hadn't been discovered/confirmed yet, so the infant was assumed to be a vampire and it was viewed as a mercy killing out of ignorance. (Remember, Trevor thought Alucard was a vampire when they first met, so there is no visual difference between the two species.)

Dhampirs are assumed by the Belmonts to need blood to survive and are therefore a predator to humans that needs to be put down, again out of ignorance or just plain malice.

This particular Belmont was a heartless psychopath who had no qualms killing an innocent baby just for existing.

...

Theory 3: It's a Dhampir and the Belmonts Have a Really Fucked Up History With Dhampirs

There is also the possibility the mother of the dhampir child was a human woman that was raped and impregnated by a vampire. (Surviving somehow...?) In this scenario, there is a woman terrified by the idea she is about to birth a monster and goes to the local vampire experts for help. The Belmonts take her in until she delivers this unwanted child and the fate of the baby dhampir is entirely in their hands, which brings us back to the mentioned controversy among the family members.

If the mother abandons her 'monster' child, the Belmonts are left which the choice, "Do we kill it before it grows up to kill someone or do we give it a chance and let it live?"

Another possibility is the dhampir was brought up within the household for the purposes of 'studying' or 'rehabilitating' its nature. Say the family discovers dhampirs don't need to subsist on human blood and are relieved. "Wonderful. Dhampirs can live as humans and there is no need to kill them." The dhampir grows up happily among his or her adopted human family.

But then there is a tragic accident where he or she doesn't know their own strength and fatally harms a family member. The Belmonts then make the decision: Lock them up or execute them as a monster.

Based on this precedent, the family then closes off the idea that dhampirs can live as normal humans forever and they subsequently commit infanticide against any future dhampir children that cross their path, a blanket decision based entirely on a one-time misfortune.

Theory 4: The Belmonts Were Not the Cause

This again calls into question how dhampir physiology works, but maybe the infant died of an illness of failure to thrive. Alucard is strong and healthy, but that may not be same for other dhampirs, especially ones that may have been rejected as a 'freak' by both humans and vampires. He had the advantage of having a loving family and a safe environment in which to grow up. Other dhampirs might not have had the same good fortune and their health suffered for it. (Or they got dealt a bad hand in the gene pool.)

As for how the skull wound up in the Hold, it could have been one of the 'weird stuff' the Belmonts found and brought back home with them.

This could also apply to a situation where a vampire killed a rival family and kept their skulls as trophies, and the collection simply wound up in the Belmonts' treasury after destroying said vampire.

"It's like a museum dedicated to the extermination of my people, so no. Not thrilled."

Whatever the truth of the skull, I'm inclined to believe Theories 2 or 3 because this scene struck me as a very subtle nod to how no side in a war is completely innocent. On the one hand, vampires like Carmilla, Cho, Godbrand, etc. hunt and toy with humans for sport and view them as lesser beings, and so the Belmonts seeking to eliminate them would be an understandable measure to protect humanity.

On the other hand, the presence of the infant skull indicates a tragic and bloody history of poor choices, old prejudices, potential atrocities committed by the 'heroes,’ and generational trauma. A past history even Trevor isn't particularly proud of for all the pride he has in his lineage. It really showcases the line between man and monster and aligns with the recurrent theme of 'we can be better than this' that occurs throughout the series.

But let me know if you've got any theories/headcanons different from what I have listed above. I'd love to hear it. Crediting Theory 4 to @thetvpenigma. Thanks for your help!

[thepratandtheidiot]

🍿 movie knights week two ⚔️

nosferatu (2024)

my entirely arbitrary rating based on nothing:

4.3 out of 5 ⭐️

ooh this week’s a twofer, we finally made it to the cinema! mild spoilers under the cut.

1. CINEMATOGRAPHY… gorgeous, lush, utterly atmospheric. the slow build of tension was unparalleled. also several imposing wide shots in and around the castle ruins had me feelin like a prey animal (complimentary)

2. top-notch performances, from willem dafoe’s manic scenery gnawing (man was clearly having the BEST time) all the way down to nic hoult’s gloriously fluffy sideburns. also the latter running around orlok’s castle in his billowing white sleeves was, by 1838 standards, SLUT behaviour!!! we love to see it.

3. ellen’s silk lilac gown may have single-handedly won me over on gigot-sleeve dresses? still reeling from that one tbh

4. GRETA THE CAT YOU’RE MY FINAL GIRL 🫶

5. honourable fucking mention to the moment where the renfield stand-in bites off a pigeon’s head* onscreen, and his attending physician asks, in the most bored and deadpan tones known to man or beast, “my dear fellow. why ever did you do that”

⚔️ theo says: “i enjoyed the first half more than the second half, also nicholas hoult was fire. that’s all”

*if you plan on viewing, please heed the warnings/triggers list linked above! animal death, body horror, questionable portrayal of Romani people, allusions to SA, the plague, full-frontal monsterfucking… this film had something for everyone.

🍿 thanks @sapphicgeriatric and @adamdreifus for the recommendation!

[lumen-tellus]

i told myself i would draw cny outfits for all my blorbos but that was three weeks ago and now it's two days into cny and i have not a single blorbo to show for that thought

except this one. and it was supposed to just be a waist-up doodle bc im also feeling a little sniffly so honest to god, i couldnt doodle All the blorbos i have in mind regardless - but i guess since ive dropped the goal to just one, my brain decided to doodle quick design references to go with the doodle lol

"thats cool but which of your many dozen blorbos is this" it's yulia. yes. that one. the "im putting out wallpaper vibes on purpose" one.

it's cny tho so she gets to dress up a bit imo!!!!!!!!!!

(design notes below bc i have many thonkles for a doodle)

so to preface - i drew this yully with rp developments in mind aka this is yulia from her sole rp-based au aka aka this is PGR Commandant Yulia

the above is an important background point bc some of her design elements are soooorta taking the setting in mind - prominently the cape (meant to evoke that one canon commandant sprite with the cool cape) and the slight extravagance of her outfit (she comes from a decently well-off family in the setting, and considering what Babylonia's rich and elite are even Like - well, this is a subtle indication of that, frankly)

her hairstyle is based on two other people: her (real) mother—who wore her hair back in a pinned-up, braided hairstyle, which is unfortunately similar to Empyrea's hairstyle—and her alternate persona Maria—who is rather childish and youthful in looks and behaviour, the same thus being evoked in the rather juvenile side ponytail.

other smaller details/design thonks is that i was basically wrestling with very funny concepts while sketching out the extremely simplistic "full" design on the side - Yulia is by nature a simplistic person, so she wouldn't wear anything too flashy, though she might have a hint of mystery to her; these two aspects are seen in the semi-opaque fan and the rather conservative frontal view. HOWEVER, I, ME, MOI. wanted her outfit to be a little bit sexy too............... so that's why the back is the way it is. (Yulia herself would Not find this all that appealing. but i am her creator and mun and sometimes i want my girls to flaunt their looks okay. also imagine if any of her construct love interests wrapped an arm or placed a hand on her back like WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BOLD INTERESTING MOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)