#game of fox and squirrels

[bluearc009]

[wipbigbang]

The 2025 WIP Big Bang & WIP Reverse Bang Are Open For Sign-Ups!

Welcome to a new round! We're bringing back the OG WIP Big Bang, which is for finishing fic and getting art to go with it, and introducing the first full round of the WIP Reverse Bang, which is for finishing artwork and getting fic to go with it. All fandoms/ratings/ships are welcome, including original works!

Schedule

All times are by 11:59pm PST. Convert time zones.

Big Bang/Reverse Bang Sign-ups Begin- April 1st

Big Bang/Reverse Bang Sign-ups Close- May 28th

Big Bang/Reverse Bang Check In #1- May 22nd

Big Bang/Reverse Bang Check In #2- June 15th

Big Bang/Reverse Bang Snippets Due- July 1st

Big Bang Art Claims/Reverse Bang Fic Claims Begin- July 17th

Big Bang/Reverse Bang Check In #3- July 22nd

Big Bang/Reverse Bang Check In #4- August 6th

Big Bang/Reverse Bang Rough Drafts Due- August 15th

Big Bang/Reverse Bang Posting Claims Begin- August 23rd

Big Bang/Reverse Bang Posting Claims Ends- September 1st

Big Bang/Reverse Bang Final Drafts/Art & Fic Due- September 7th

Big Bang/Reverse Bang Posting Starts- September 8th

SIGN UP LINKS

WIP Big Bang | WIP Reverse Bang

FAQ

[drtenebrisxii]

Palworld - A Brief Farewell

Aidan and Rebeca must go back to the lands of the Wixens of the East to report on they inding nothing at Astra's old refuge, and are going to use one of those mysterious efigies of fast travel to do so. And despite their promises of coming to visit soon, Astra can barely hide the sadness she feels, she just met them and already likes them a lot.

Fortunately for the katress, it seems she is not going to be alone while waiting for her friends.

Friday of Palworld! :D And with this, we end this first story :3 Hope you like this ^^

[chestersbraincell]

👁,🍜,🐈‍⬛️,😇, 📺 ask game :D

👁️-wellllll, it’s a lil complicated(hard to tell), so here’s a picture

(Eye reveal 😱😱) from the picture itself, it looks green, maybe grey?? But up close, like I mean really close, my camera isn’t that good type of close, it’s more of a greyish muted blue with a light green ring around it so 🤷🤷

Here’s to why I’ve always struggled with this random question ahaha 🎉

🍜-Hmm, well it tends to change pretty often. I quite enjoy meat a lot(and I’ve been working my way towards building tolerance for the more fatty parts of beef to enjoy that aswell) ESPECIALLY fried chicken dude I fucking love fried chicken. Erm, I also really enjoy curry/otherwise meat stew based dishes! (Here’s a little fun secret for how it’s nice to enjoy them. Have you ever tried serving a curry or a stew over hashbrowns?? Lifechanger)

🐈‍⬛-I love all sorts of creatures!! But the first that come to mind are cats, foxes, seals…I also like a bunch of creatures that behave and look similar to like squirrels or ferrets or meerkats…those kinda critters

😇-can’t force me to choose just one blorbo!! But the first ones that definitely come to mind are Orlam(Our Wonderland), Gaster(Undertale/Deltarune), Flowey/Asriel they are the same person you will not convince me otherwise(Undertale), Chara(Undertale), and many many others but those are the ones that come to mind first thing

📺-Not much of a series watcher I’m afraid(well, not the tv kind atleast, I like a good few web series like hermitcraft, life series, DHMIS, although I guess that one IS a TV series now???, same with Hazbin, occasionally tune into Helluva Boss but I’m not crazy about it), but I quite enjoyed both The Good Place and You(it’s a Netflix one)

[invinciblerodent]

Me: "I don't have a voice-, or a praise kink, why do you ask"

Me: *waxes poetic about characters' voices in fic for pages on end*

Me: *consistently falls for characters whose speech is genuinely pompous and/or playfully exaggerated in its formality*

Me: *has characters use "darling/my dear/sweet (thing)/dearest/my love/etc. as if it was punctuation*

Me: *has characters call their partner some variation of- or something to the effect of "good boy/girl/pet/etc." and praise them in every steamy situation*

Me, still not getting it somehow: this means nothing i do not find these things hopelessly attractive

[soniccitynet]

Sonic Mania Plus Now Available on Netflix Games 

Sonic Mania Plus is now available on Netflix Games!

Check out the full details in our latest article linked below!

[lightluxcollie]

Commission done for Faros. Hoodwink from the game Dota2, patriotically ringing in the 4th of July. New Zealand flag included because that's where her voice actress is from. ... https://www.sabercolliestudios.com

[qbdatabase]

A Game of Fox & Squirrels by Jenn Reese After an incident shatters their family, eleven-year old Samantha and her older sister Caitlin are sent to live in rural Oregon with an aunt they've never met. Sam wants nothing more than to go back to the way things were … before she spoke up about their father's anger.

[laikaflash]

Remember when I said the Soul Archive site had a page's worth of info on the Fu-Ma clan? Well, here it is. I actually recreated that table at the bottom for my notes, and while I could make a version of it that would be readable here, I wanted to go into more detail than that would allow, so I present...

A Condensed Overview of the Fu-Ma Clan

(Including the kanji because I think it's neat. Usually, their names are written in katakana.)

Who is who:

Toki (斗鬼): Clan leader and despot for most of the story. Taki's adoptive father and mentor. His long-standing grudge against his rival Hachibei fed into his eventual madness, which was not helped by the sword Mekki-Maru's power. His weapons of choice are a sword cane and smokescreens. Created the Yasunobe faction to act as his enforcers. Literally became a demon, much to his downfall at Taki's hand.

Nki (雲忌): By far the most enigmatic one. Rarely seen in the village and never goes without a cloth mask over their head. Weapon of choice is unknown, but can apparently make their opponents' heads explode. Seems to be a survivor of the original Manji clan, per New Legends of Project Soul.

Taki (多喜): The roster's resident demon huntress herself. One of very few ninjas to master both demon-sealing and sword-smithing. Any more and a good chunk of this post would just be her story.

Hachibei (八兵衛): One of the clan's most respected ninjas, next only to Toki for a time. He stole the kodachi Mekki-Maru from Toki and lived in hiding with his daughter Chie. A master at stealth; his weapons of choice are a sword cane and shuriken. He's part of the Urabe faction, whose job is to monitor the leader and assassinate him if he becomes a danger to the clan, which also bars him from taking over.

Chie (千恵): Hachibei's daughter and Taki's childhood friend. She was mute for years owing to the trauma of witnessing her mother's murder. Fled the clan with her father, fell in love with Li Long, and narrowly survived an attempt on her life by one of Toki's assassins. The webpage specifies neither fighting style nor weapons for her, but according to NLoPS, her talents lie in spiritual power rather than in direct combat. She eventually returned to the Fu-Ma with her son Riki, and succeeded Toki as leader.

Elder Enkai (焔界老人): Head of the Inobe (blacksmith faction). He taught Taki how to forge her own magic blades. He's a stickler for the clan's traditions. While he was an old friend of Hachibei, he can't accept him going rogue. The same goes for Taki. His weapons of choice are gunpowder, a fire pot, and a hammer.

Shuki (朱基): Head of the Fujibe (demon-sealing faction) for most of the story. Former student of Hachibei. Described as young for his title of elder, even though SC6 showed him with gray hair (maybe he went prematurely gray, I dunno). He's normally cool-headed, though his temper tended to flare up around Toki's right-hand man Geki (more on him below). He's also secretly a member of the Urabe. His weapon of choice is a kodachi (kagekiri in SC6). Lover of Juju, which led to his death by Arahabaki between SC4 and SC5, as the Fu-Ma's inaction after she went missing enraged him.

Fuki (布季): Publicly, she's a member of the Inobe and expert with hidden weapons (namely cat claws, kunai, and shuriken), though she prefers to make defensive equipment. Secretly another Urabe member. Mother of twins Kiki and Chiki and a mother figure to Shuki and other younger Fu-Ma members. According to the old Fu-Ma relationship chart on Soul Archive, she and Hachibei used to be in love with each other in their youth. Secretly, she's also an Urabe member, but she hesitant to act as she was outmatched by Toki. By SC5, she trains the younger Fujibe members.

Juju (樹寿): Fujibe member and lover of Shuki. Interestingly, her techniques of choice are listed as "terrain manipulation" (地形操作) and "psychological bewitchment" (心理的幻惑); I really wish I could say more on those. Her weapons of choice were a kogatana (presumably a short sword) and traps (or snares). The only other thing to note is that she was the first one sent after Arahabaki, who possessed her and forced her to kill Shuki and many other ninjas before Taki, unable to seal the demon, resorted to killing her.

Rekki (列輝): Shuki's successor as head of the Fujibe. He was like a little brother to Shuki. By SC5, he's in love with Kiki and hostile to Natsu (presumably, he's not over what happened to Shuki). He specializes in throwing techniques and his weapons of choice are described as boomerang-like objects.

Kiki (嬉紀): Fujibe member; Fuki's eldest daughter; twin to Chiki. Her weapon of choice is (checks notes)... described as a "small animal flute". Her fighting style... sounds like she specializes in summoning small animals (namely squirrels). I'm not making this up. Also, the old SC Fu-Ma relationship chart mentioned that she and Chiki studied under Enkai. She and Chiki were like younger sisters to Shuki.

Chiki (稚紀): Fujibe member; Fuki's youngest daughter; twin to Kiki. She also specializes in some sort of magic flute, but this one apparently controls small plants (mainly vines). No, I didn't make that up either. By SC5, she and Kiki are each other's enemies for some reason. Maybe the sibling rivalry was there all along.

Geki (激): One of many heads of the Yasunobe, Toki's right-hand man, and an arrogant slimeball. A battoujutsu user who wields a kodachi carried in a scabbard that creates a wave of wind that slices his foes (and shuriken, incidentally). He was sent after Taki to steal Rekki-maru. Quite literally a different beast in SC Legends.

Doki (努鬼): One of Geki's subordinates. A big dude with a massive hammer (Great Maul in SC6). The Fu-Ma relationship chart in NLoPS lists him as one of the "purged" Yasunobe members.

Gaki (蛾鬼): One of Geki's subordinates. Also another odd flute user; his fighting technique is described as "using insects". The Soul Archive site and the SC6 library mention him as one of Geki's party searching for Taki, but I sure didn't see him in her Soul Chronicle.

Kashizuku (渦雫): One of Geki's subordinates. He specializes in swimming, diving techniques, and wields a tantou and chains. He's not accounted for by SC5.

Suuhaku (嵩狛): One of Geki's subordinates. He's a specialist of hidden weapons, namely kunai, kogatana, shuriken, and needles. Listed as "purged" in NLoPS.

Ryokko (緑胡): One of Geki's subordinates. She specializes in mixing and using poisons by way of powders, traps, her body (nails, teeth; etc.), snakes(!), and daggers. Not accounted for by SC5.

Yamikaze (闇風): One of Geki's subordinates. His fighting style is described simply as "fast running techniques (basically not fighting)" and he wields a kodachi. NLoPS lists him as exiled from the clan. By SC5, he has a son(?) named Okiwari (沖割), who trains under Hachibei.

Isurugi (石動): One of the Yasunobe heads. Once exiled from the clan for employing a vengeful spirit he was supposed to have banished, but Toki pardoned him. What's more, he seems to ignore Toki's orders at times. Listed as exiled in NLoPS and in a secret alliance with a Fujibe member Hosen (or Housen: 泡閃). However, in Sc6, Taki seemingly killed him...? His "This body has outgrown its usefulness" line implies he could possess another body.

Niime (弐依芽) and Miime (魅依芽): Seemingly a pair of twin girls, but they're actually vengeful spirits bound to human forms controlled by Isurugi. Niime on the webpage is described as specializing in curses and taijutsu (broadly, empty-handed combat); SC6 shows her wielding Megalodon elbow blades. Miime, according to the webpage, specializes in curses and paralyzing the senses; SC6 shows her wielding the Steel on Steel ring blade.

Maki (摩希): One of the Yasunobe heads. She specializes both seduction and martial arts, and poison needles. Noted to be one of the few who doesn't abuse her authority, but she's just as merciless as the rest of his minions. Also, she's suspicious of Isurugi. She's not accounted for by SC5, but in the new timeline, she gets killed trying to assassinate Taki.

Harugake (春掛): One of Maki's subordinates. He specializes in what I think is a bird-summoning flute and he also uses shuriken. Fate unknown.

Shouensai (翔円斎): One of Maki's subordinates. His weapon of choice is a kusarigama (chain-sickle) attached to an oil cloth, and he also specializes in fire techniques and hypnotism. Fate unknown.

Kazuki (伽月): One of Maki's subordinates. She specializes in seduction and hypnotism. Her weapon of choice is a kusarifundō (a sort of chain with a counterweight). Listed as "purged" in NLoPS.

Kotonashi (言無): One of the Yasunobe heads. A former student of Hachibei and second only to him in stealth; his goal is to show he has surpassed his former master by killing him. He also has the greatest skill in ranged weapons such as bows, blowguns, kunai, shuriken, etc. Noted to be exceptionally cruel, though his subordinates seem to admire him. As the kanji in his name implies ("No Words"), he is quite taciturn. He and his subordinates were sent to hunt down Li Long. His fate is unknown.

Saiha (彩葉): One of Kotonashi's subordinates. Interestingly, her fighting style involves a huge mechanical prosthetic arm and leg. Presumably, her "iron nails" are the on the hand, though the word "tsume" (爪) can also mean "hook" or "claw". The "iron lump/ingot" (鉄塊) is probably the leg. Dammit, she sounds cool and we never see her! Anyway, her fate is unknown.

Iki (威貴): One of Kotonashi's subordinates. He's a unique one in his weaponization of sound, using flute and bell to inflict "paralysis by high and low frequency sounds". He also uses smokescreens and a kogatana. Fate unknown.

Hijirine (聖音): Uniquely, her weapons are "thread that slices, her own hair; kunai attached to a thread". Man, Kotonashi really did pick some interesting ones... Again, her fate is unknown.

For all Toki's minions whose fates are unknown by SC5 at most, just use your imagination. For my purposes, they're presumed gone by at least 1590.

I think I'll go over the ones only mentioned in New Legends of Project Soul another day. It would be shorter. *collapses*

[keytogala716]

currently trying to get back into reading, hoping it will reignite my love for writing as well. currently listening to A Game Of Fox And Squirrel, by Jenn Reese. i read this book once before, but I really wanted to listen to it again. also trying out a reading tracker, so, fun :>

[mixedbagofships]

So the Golden Acorn is just like a regular acorn now that Sam has gotten her wish.

[originalartblog]

Fall is pretty much over, however I still welcome you to this late tiny autumn feast!!

there are 17 tiny friends already enjoying the celebration, can you find them all? 👀

Tiny lineup (with extra thanks to everyone who helped me pick animals!!! this was a group effort 💖)

Fukuzawa: capybara (chill with all)

Haruno: red panda (from this post!)

Mushitarou: chinchilla (vibes, I can't explain)

Ranpo: fluffy cat (for Fukuzawa)

Poe: highland cow (same hair, thank you sibling)

Katai: pangolin (shy little stance creature, thank you Remi!)

Atsushi: white tiger (of course)

Junichirou: tanuki (something something magic shapeshifter illusion, thank you Remi!)

Naomi: raccoon ("western version" of the tanuki)

Dazai: cat (you know this)

Lucy: American red squirrel (fierce little creature)

Akutagawa: bat (you know, thank you Story!)

Yosano: honey badger (cannot be killed)

Kunikida: stag (majestic and proud, thank you Story!)

Kyouka: shiba inu (small game hunting dog, thank you Remi!)

Chuuya: fox (you know this also)

Kenji: dog (shepherd/working dog, from squidsandthings!)

[drtenebrisxii]

"White Clothes!"

Fan art of a cute RPG videogame called "White Clothes" It tells the story of Milne, a lovely but serious chinchilla(?) swordsman who harness a unique power which manifests as hearts, and her quest to find her sister... The game is a typical turned based RPG set in a world with magic and machinery, is only in Japanese (I hope someone translates this game one day) but can be played for free in Steam. What I liked the most are the character designs (being Milne, the protagonist, my favorite by far), they all are adorable and... funny enough, all of them have big breasts XD with the cat witch, so far, beating the rest with her extra large rack jaja xD The Monsters could use a rework and some extra ideas, though, but in general, the game seems funny enough, is relatively easy to play (even without understind a word you can advance), and at least for me, it is clear that the developer put love on it x3 Anyway, hope you like this :3 I found out about this game thanks to "Pulsa A" a youtuber (speaks Spanish) who makes walkthroughs of these unknown games x3 here is a link to the fifth video of the series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSt.....phVA5L0dlD_uCo

[another-random-fanfic-blog]

Saving them, Saved me

Warnings: 18 plus (future chapters may have smut, unknown), swearing, violence, blood, gore, torture.

Masterlist

“Enjoy your time,” the man chuckled as he locked the door behind you, leaving you to stare at the six hybrids on their knees, mouths gagged, heads bowed, and arms behind their backs.

You throw your bag on the chair by the door and kick your heels off, stalking towards the hybrids, examining their features as you walk. Each was dressed differently, some type of gimmick, what you assume to be a dog hybrid, probably Doberman given the ears, dressed almost like a fairy. Make up was used to make his skin lighter, yet the birthmark near his left eye remained uncovered. He had delicate features and just by staring at his physical appearance, it was easy to see why he was a fairy, chin length black hair pinned back made a striking contrast to the pale makeup on his face, his body draped with fake flowers and white see-through cloth, and shimmering highlights on the apples of his cheeks made his look otherworldly. Next to him must have been a big cat, you couldn’t tell if he was a jaguar or leopard, but he had black ear letting you know he was born with a melanistic version, a ‘black panther,’ a rare animal to find in hybrids. He was extremely regal, draped in cream cloth and gold adornments and chains, making him look like a prince you would see in fantasy games. He too had long black hair, chin length that contrasted the stark white makeup on his face, though looking further down his body, you could see the honey colored skin that suited him, glancing at the other hybrids, they were in similar situations regarding the make-up. The next hybrid was built more muscular than the others, he was dressed as a boxer, with bruises and cuts on his face and body, it didn’t take a keen eye to tell those injuries were real and not painted on. He had cat like eyes that kept glancing at you before looking away. The ears on his head were similar to the prince hybrid, which meant he was a ‘black panther’ as well, you just couldn’t tell the species.

Next came another canine hybrid. This time, it was easy to see he was a wolf, his ears pointed and at attention. This hybrid was tall, taller than the rest, probably about 6��1, he was dressed in oversized clothes that pulled away far enough to show glimpses of the muscles underneath. He looked like a boyfriend type, the kind of person you'd cuddle with, in hybrid form. Following him was a fox hybrid, smaller than the others he too had feline like eyes despite being a canine hybrid, dressed in all black it matched his black hair, making his orange ears stand out brightly. His black clothes were sheer, making him look like a stripper or 'entertainer' for hire. He kept his eyes down but squirmed against his restraints as you moved past him. The last in the room was the smallest in stature but seemed to have the biggest presence. This was a squirrel hybrid, dressed like a pirate, even though he wasn’t looking at you, you could see the anger and defiance in his eyes, his muscles taunt as he waited for what was to come. It was interesting seeing a prey hybrid mixed with predators, something you didn’t see outside of fighting rings. He had a sharp nose and plump lips that weren’t just wrapped around the ball gag in his mouth, but were held in a type of snarl, the only way he could really show his feelings without being hurt. He was also the only one without his hands tied behind him.

“You,” you say, stopping in front of the squirrel hybrid, “on the bed now.”

His jaw clenched under the gag as he stood up and walked over to the bed, sitting on it carefully, still not looking at you.

“Scoot up towards the headboard,” you order, watching as he moves up, “arms out to the side so I can cuff them.”

He moves without a sound, defeat in his eyes and body posture as you cuff his one hand to the bed post, climbing on the bed to do his other, seeing his ears moving with as you move away. You position yourself over his hips, holding yourself just high enough that you don’t touch him, but low enough that no one could tell if they came to look. Leaning closer to the squirrel, you remove his gag and move your head so it looks like you are kissing him.

“I’m here to help you,” you whisper, seeing his eyes move to yours, “can they hear anything on these cameras? Nod or shake your head just barely.” He shakes his head with such imperceptible movement you almost miss it. Moving your head to make it look like you are biting his neck you speak again. “Do they come to check on what’s happening in here?” Another small shake, “a rescue team is incoming, just another minute. How do you usually act when you are in here with someone?”

“I don’t…this is our first time put in here. Normally, we are in the punishment room,” the squirrel whispers to you.

“Then I need you to try to tug your arms in a way that no one will notice they aren’t really cuffed, but make it look like you are struggling against me, you are a defiant hybrid, they expect you to struggle.” You mutter, the squirrel nods his head carefully and pulls on his restraints gently. Just as you open your mouth again, he speaks.

“Jongho ‘n Mingi.”

“What?”

“They took Jongho and Mingi, leave me here and find them, please,” he pleads looking in your eyes.

“Closing in,” you hear in your ear.

“I’m going to help all of you, and I will find Jongho and Mingi for you,” you state sitting up, just as the door bursts open.

“Room clear, continue checking the others.” Someone yells as you climb off the squirrel.

“Get these ones to medical,” you order the people remaining in the room while the squirrel sits up on the bed, looking around with a mix of fear, anger, and hope. “What kind of hybrids are they?”

“Bear and rabbit.” You nod in reply.

“Keep them together; I’m going to find their friends.”

You walk out of the room and continue down the hall, radioing to everyone that you were looking for a bear hybrid named Jongho and a rabbit named Mingi. You look in every room you pass, and the revulsion inside of you grows as you see abused hybrid after abused hybrid.

“Found the hybrids you were looking for,” a voice says through your earpiece, “the bear is in the fighting ring…it’s not looking good, but medical is on the way, the other hybrid was in some type of torture room, same status as the bear, maybe worse.”

“I’ll be there in 2.” You reply as you continue down the hallway, remembering the layout of the facility from the blueprints you looked at before coming here.

When you arrive at the fighting ring, you see a bloody lump lying in the center of the arena. Medical teams approaching the hybrid that’s barely able to open his eyes. He has round cheeks and short red hair, though it’d hard to tell the real color with all the blood soaking it. There isn’t an inch of his body that doesn’t have cuts or bruise on it from your point of view. Ignoring the others around you, you approach the hybrid.

“Jongho,” you call out as you enter his line of sight, seeing his eyes barely make it to yours as they fight to stay open, “your friends are safe, and you’ll be seeing them soon.”

With that message, any strength and bravery that he was attempting to hold on to left his body as he let out a sob before passing out from pain, blood loss, or both.

“Once we stabilize him, we will be moving him to the hospital. He will be needing surgery,” the medic states, not taking his eyes off his patient.

“The hybrids from the room I was in and one other named Mingi are his pack, they get placed in the same room for recovery, no arguments,” you reply, walking away so no one can try to argue with you on your orders.

Continuing down the hall, you head towards the punishment rooms. Honestly, none of these hybrids have done anything that would justify punishment, especially these types of punishments, but torture room doesn’t sound as appealing to customers. Some hybrids are sent to these places for crying too much, breathing too loud, looking too pretty, or just existing at the wrong time. What you wouldn’t give for the law to allow you to force these ‘customers’ to endure the same thing the hybrids did, eye for an eye punishment. When you walk in, the scene in front of you is heartbreaking. The rabbit hybrids, who is probably 6”0 is sobbing for them to ‘stop’ and ‘not touch him.' His back looks like ribbons from the whips that were used on him as he hangs from the ceiling by his arms.

“Let him down slowly, don’t just drop his arms,” you say to the people untying the rope. They nod and slowly lower him so his feet touch the ground, then stop, knowing that if they don’t gradually lower his arms, he will be in even more pain from the sudden change in position of his muscles.

“Mingi,” you say, standing in front of the hybrid, getting his attention instantly. You want to reach up and wipe his tears away, but you know you can’t touch him. “Your friends asked me to look for you, a squirrel hybrid, he-“

“Hongjoong!” Mingi cries out, trying to look around for his friend.

“Hongjoong? Is that the name of the squirrel?” You ask, gaining Mingi’s attention once more and earning a nod. You watch as his arms lower a little more and he winces, so you decide to take his mind off the pain coming towards him. “I met Jongho as well, he’s getting treatment as we speak, and you’ll see him soon.”

“He’s our maknae,” Mingi sniffs.

“Hmm, I met some others, can you tell me their names as well?” He nods in response, “Great, what about the fox?”

“Wooyoung.”

“And the wolf?”

“Yunho, my best friend.”

“That’s fantastic, he’s okay as well. How about, the Doberman? I think he’s a Doberman.”

“Yeosang.”

“There were two panther hybrids, one has long black hair-”

“Seonghwa, jaguar hybrid, the other is San a leopard hybrid.”

“Great,” you nod as you steady Mingi on his feet, his arms having been lowered to his side during your conversation. “We are going to get you help, then get you to your friends ok, the medics here will take care of you.”

You motion for the medics to come over, and when you look back at Mingi, he’s staring at you with the biggest, saddest eye’s you’ve ever seen. He watches as you walk away from him to the people who found him in the room, the ones that were talking to the medics. He doesn’t want to move his eyes from you even as he’s taken out on a stretcher. Once he’s out of sight, you turn to the others.

“How was he still conscious?” You ask, thinking of the various other wounds on his body.

“When we came in the bastards had just finished giving him a shot of adrenaline. I don’t think he will be conscious much longer, but hopefully, he’ll hold out to the hospital.” Samuel answers through clenched teeth. Samuel was raised with a hybrid as a brother, then one day when they were 16, his brother was kidnapped, when the police finally found his the poor hybrid, he’d literally been torn to pieces for ‘humans’ amusement. Samuel was your first employee when you started this organization. Nodding, you walk away to oversee the rescue of the other hybrids.

You started this organization when you were 18. Your parents wanted to teach you the value of money when you were young, so they gave you a few hundred dollars to do what you wanted. You asked around about what you should do with it, and everyone gave suggestions on what you could buy. It wasn’t until you asked your elderly neighbor that you received sound advice. He told you to invest it. If you invested at this young age, by the time you became an adult, you could have much more. Mr. Edwards had no family and no one to talk to, so he made you an offer. If you visited him once a week, he would give you investment advice, and you did. Eventually, you began seeing him more than once a week because you liked his company. He was a crotchedy old man, who said what he wanted and did what he wanted, he was blunt, could hold a grudge, and loved to trick people, but he was also kind, caring, and in need of friends, so that is what you became.

When your parents died, Mr. Edwards took you in, and when you received the estate and whatever was left of your parents, he helped you sort out what to keep, what to sell, and what to hold on to until the value went high enough to sell, like their house. He stopped you from throwing things out that you thought you’d never need, like photos, jewelry, old baking pans. He knew that some of these things had sentimental value that you weren’t factoring in and wanted you to keep them, you’re happy he did that. You invested every penny that you made from your family, and when Mr. Edwards died when you were 18, he left you everything of his as well. Turns out the old man was a billionaire, and with his money, combined with what you invested with your parent’s money, you had a billion dollars. Both your parents and Mr. Edwards taught you about hybrids and the unfair treatment that they received. While you never owned one, Mr. Edwards did, and he loved her, but she passed away due to an illness caused by the abuse she endured before he saved her. You could have lived a life of comfort and never worked, but you got bored real fast.

That was when you started a small information organization. You were kind of like a private investigator, but you also liked collecting information for your own use in the beginning. You would gather information on the rich, politicians, influential families and people, anyone in positions of power, and businesses. This came in handy, occasionally you would use the information to get something you wanted, but mostly you used the information to expose some asshole of some crime that they were trying to deny doing. That was how you met Samuel. No one was arrested for killing his brother, and with his help, you found the people responsible, and they paid for their crime. That was when you decided to start another division of your company that focused on hybrid rights. You and Samuel fought hard to change law to protect hybrids, and you also managed to get your organization the same powers of authority as the police, so essentially, you were an organization that operated like the police to protect hybrids. Over the years your company expanded to include hybrid hospitals, better than human hospitals, adoption centers, independence centers, education centers that gave better educations than human schools, and protection shelters for those that were abused and ran away from their homes. Humans could attend these places as well, so long as they did not look down on a hybrid. Unfortunately, these were the only places hybrids were treated as humans. The law still had a long way to go, but everyone was working hard to change them. The company became so big that you couldn’t handle everything yourself. Therefore, each division had its own director. They answered to you, but they were able to proceed without asking you every little question needed to function.

“What do you mean?” You ask angrily, glancing at the six hybrids encircling the injured seventh and eighth in the bed, hooked up to wires. “You can’t separate them, they are a pack.”

“No one wants eight hybrids,” Jimmy sighed out, pinching the bridge of his nose. “The only way to get them adopted is if we separate the pack, I’m sorry.”

“Then we get them registered in the independence system.”

“It’s overcrowded, we have so many hybrids vying to for independence for themselves or their pack that it’s almost a year long wait, and we don’t have any more housing. The builders can’t go as fast as we need them to, not if we want these places to be safe. This will be the first time we split up a pack, but we may have to start doing this in the future as we rescue more hybrids.”

You look back at the hybrids and see them crying, some harder than you think they did the night they were saved, and you realized that the hybrids heard everything being said. They knew they would be forcibly separated and it was breaking their hearts.

“I’ll take them,” you say, not realizing what was coming out of your mouth before you said it.

“What?”

“What? Shit! I’ll take them, all eight of them. Go get the paperwork.” You sigh leaning against the windowsill staring at the hybrids as they begin to comfort each other. “And come up with a solution or proposal to ensure no pack can be separated. This does not get to happen.”

“You’re adopting them?” Samuel asks, walking up from behind you.

“I can’t let them be separated.”

“I agree with that, I also agree that they would probably do well with you. You need someone in your life outside of work.”

“You’re one to talk,” you scoff, staring at the group in their room. “When was the last time you went on a date?”

“It was more recent than you.”

“Asshole.”

“I’m serious, other than some one night stands and what you do at that club, you haven’t dated anyone or even hung out with anyone outside of work since...ever. I've literally never seen you with anyone or leave your home for nonwork things,” Samuel comments.

“What about-“

“That was work.”

“Okay, or,”

“Work.”

“But-“

“It’s always work.”

“You’re a dick,” you grumble.

“Because I’m right?”

“Yes,” you reply pushing away from the wall and walking away.

“Where you goin?” Sam yells after you.

“To get 8 beds and…8 of everything I can think of,” you yell back looking slightly stunned at the prospect of having 8 hybrids living with you. “Get some rollaway beds put in that room so they can sleep there tonight. See you tomorrow.”

With that you wave your hand in the air at him and continue out the door. Technically it was only 9 pm and the stores were still open. At first you want to run and buy some things, but then you stop. Each hybrid will have their own sense of self, their own personality, style, likes, dislikes, should you really go buy 8 of the same bedroom sets. After thinking for a few minutes, you decide you will. You call Darlene at the hybrid housing and ask if they have 8 spare bedroom sets, giving her permission to replace everything with your private bank card tomorrow and have it shipped to the rescue. Once the 8 determine what they like and what they want, you will allow them to buy new furniture to fit them individually. With that, you head home to wait for the delivery and installation of the sets. One good thing is this will let you know if the sets are worth the money you spend on them. Once you got home, ate dinner, showered, and oversaw the set's installation, you collapse in bed, letting out a deep sigh and collapsing into darkness.

Your phone starts blaring at you at the asscrack of dawn…not really, it was noon, but it felt like that. When you answer, you're informed that your new hybrids had to be removed from the hospital to make room for others. The two that were injured were stable enough that the hospital could set up makeshift rooms in your house and have a doctor and nurse come check on them. You offered home care to hybrids so they wouldn’t feel tense in the sterile surroundings of the hospital, while you knew this was good, you were somewhat regretting that now, just wanting a few more hours of sleep. Groaning, you woke up, showered, and got ready for the hybrids to be delivered, looking for the best rooms for Jongho and Mingi to recover. You chose a large room with a sliding door in the middle. That way, if they wanted, they could have peace, but also be with each other if they chose not to shut the door. There were large windows for sunlight, but nice curtains for when they wanted to block them out. TVs, stereo, books, and bathrooms completed the room, as well as a beautiful view of the large yard and woods behind your house. The glass doors also opened to a patio. That way, once they healed a little more, they could sit outside and get fresh air.

Just as you sat on the couch in the living room, the door rang. Standing up you knew this was it, either you kept these 8 for the rest of their lives, or they applied for their independence. Opening the door you were met with the doctors and nurses, pushing their way through with the medical equipment needed for Jongho and Mingi, following the poorly drawn arrows you pinned to the wall for them and leaving 6 scared hybrids standing in the entryway of your home.

“Well, come in,” you say, making a large sweeping gesture with your arm and moving to the side to give them room.

Slowly, each hybrid enters, and you clock each one thanks to Mingi, who was being unloaded from the ambulance. Looking back to the six in front of you, they all seem too scared to meet your eyes until Hongjoong managed to look up at you.

“Thankk you,” he whispers with a slight stutter, “for everything.”

“You don’t have to thank me. Each of you have a room upstairs, the furniture is temporary, and you can pick out your permanent furniture when you settle in. You are more than welcome to sleep in the room with Jongho and Mingi until they heal, but at least claim a room.” You move back some more as both Jongho and Mingi are wheeled in on stretchers and taken to their rooms. “Once those two heal, we will all go clothes shopping. Until then you can buy your necessities online…I figured you wouldn’t want to be too far from them and I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving them alone while they heal. So…Welcome home.”

[invinciblerodent]

i swear, every time I play Iona for even the shortest time (just did the hag quest, it was done very quick), I get new feelings that I then don't fully know what to do with

(she probably relates to Mayrina in more ways than just the whole "being insufferably pretty (see above)" and "partner is undead and there's not much to do about that" angles)

And right now i'm thinking mainly from the "lost little girl married village boy far too young" angle, but there's also the "husband became someone you don't quite recognize" and the "shackled by duty to a relationship that is -whether literally or figuratively- no more than dead weight" aspects that have me wanting to eat aquarium gravel

I like to think that Iona; loveless as her marriage was; really WANTED to love Herric. For like the first decade or two; she wanted to love him so much, because, by all means, it SHOULD have worked well. They should have been a success story.

They were similar ages (though her slightly older), they were members of the same community, and, young as he was, he was also handsome enough- not to mention that, hidden as her real self was, everyone was saying that they were a good match. He loved her with the textbook puppy love of young men, and she -she supposed- liked the attention, and the safety marrying "Birchlight's boy" gave her, cementing her position in the community even despite her and her father coming in as outsiders, and as fey folk.

But that wasn't enough.

It soon became apparent that what they each loved wasn't the other, but the idea of the other: he loved the thought of having a docile, unremarkable, but unaging, pretty, and sexually available elven maiden wife (who'd give him many pretty half-elven children), and she liked being married to a kind dolt of a man whose "normalcy" could cast a wide enough shadow to conceal her as well.

Neither was anywhere near the truth.

I think this is why I love playing with honesty and dishonesty between her and Astarion so much, because while they both have ample experience leading people by their noses, when it comes to each other, they're both mostly aware of the deception from the first moment on. They know that what they're seeking from the other isn't love, they play at courtship, play this fox-and-pike game while masquerading as cat and mouse, and they both know it's fake very well, until it suddenly isn't, and they're both kind of left stumbling in the dark, trying to find each other.

This is why I love the headcanon I have that, following his act 3 romance scene, her own little scene (so her big character development moment) is them using the tadpole to meld their minds.

Until then, she never allowed anyone into her mind willingly and avoided using the tadpole whenever possible, but... it's such a gesture of trust, for her, to not just allow, but invite him in like that!!!! and not even with any ulterior motive, but just because she can't think of another way to show him that the her that's deepest in her mind, the most private, most well-guarded part of her, is one who loves him.

Just.

I love their fucked up love so much, man

[dedalvs]

LangTime Studio Season 7 Starts TOMORROW

It is time! But as we're starting a new season, I thought it might be good to review some basic information, such as...

What the Exactly Is LangTime Studio?

LangTime Studio is a YouTube series that airs every Thursday from 2-4 p.m. Pacific Time. The series was started by David and Jessie Peterson (language creators behind Game of Thrones, Dune, The Witcher, Elemental, The 100, etc.) as a live conlanging show. Each season we start a brand new language and keep working on it during each live stream—and only during each live stream—until it reaches a point of stability. It usually takes us about 35 episodes to "finish" a language (in quotes because a language is never finished, and can never be finished; a conlang is only active or inactive; a natural language only living or dead).

What Languages Do You Create?

Good question! We create languages for societies of anthropomorphic animals. These animals feature in a board game that David and Jessie are creating called Sovála. Thus far, we have created the following languages (in order):

Engála: A head-initial minimally inflectional language for rabbits.

Tpaalha: A bizarre head-final language with wacky inflectsions for opossums.

Wokuthízhű: A head-final polysynthentic tone language for mice.

Sarkezhe: A vowel-harmonic head-final language with noun classes for cats.

Haughòf: A head-initial analytic language with consonant mutations for dogs.

Nulisü: A head-final minimally-inflecting language for beavers.

The first five seasons featured languages created for animals a part of the original version of the board game. Seasons 6 and 7 will be for the animals in the first expansion, and seasons 8, 9, and 10 will be for animals in the next expansion (bats, river otters, and squirrels!).

What Language Are You Creating This Season?

We're creating a language for anthropomorphic foxes! It has no name yet (we'll create it during the course of the season), but it's going to be an a posteriori language built off the same proto-language as Haughòf, the dog language. By the lore of the game, the foxes broke away from the dogs early on and their language took a divergent path at that point.

Do I Need to Know Anything About Linguistics or Conlanging to Watch?

Nah. We explain stuff along the way, and anyone following along in the chat can always ask questions. It's very informal.

Will I Be Lost If I Haven't Watched Previous Seasons?

Not really. You won't know some of the inside jokes from seasons past, but our main viewership has joined at different times, so new stuff comes up every single season. Plus, it's all just for fun! There's no homework or quizzes. 😆

Anything Else I Need to Know?

We have a Patreon which is tied to our Discord server. Our Discord server is very active and friendly, but, since it's tied to our Patreon, on the smaller side (which we rather like). We've also got a Redbubble store that features artwork from our languages and little animals (most of the artwork is done by Jessie!).

When Do You Stream Again?

The first episode of season 7 is tomorrow, Thursday, February 6th at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time. We stream every week Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time. We hope to see you there!