Last spring my neighbour asked if I could let Pirlouit mow the grass around his barn from time to time, which Pirou was happy to do at first but if I left him there several days in a row he got pretty sad about being alone (lots of wistful, melancholy braying). So this year when my donkey was hired for this job again, I went for a different formula: for the past few weeks I've been bringing all the animals to the neighbour's barn for an hour of landscaping services now and then at apéritif time.
The fence is extremely not Pampe-proof so I have to have my apéritif while sitting on the road in a strategic position from which I can toss a stick in her direction if she tries to escape, but other than that I've been really enjoying this peaceful evening ritual, just sitting there reading and watching the animals while feeling like I'm doing my neighbour a favour. Pirlouit doesn't get all the grass to himself anymore but I've learnt that he prefers to be rich in friends than in food.
You'll notice that Merricat is present in every photo, looking alert. She too has been hired, but for the thankless job of Thought Police. She may look like she's just napping on the warm asphalt with not a care in the world...
... but she is working! Keeping an eye on the llamas, always.
I've discovered that in a specific context my three cats can act as precogs and warn me of Pampe's future crimes. My theory is that they developed this skill because of Poldine, who loves cats. Any cat who enters the pasture will soon be noticed and (lovingly) chased by Poldine, who wants kisses. Cats not only do not want llama kisses, they don't differentiate between individual llamas. They are all potential kissers. So even if it looks like she's all relaxed, Merricat is constantly monitoring where the llamas are and what they seem to be planning. If we are on the other side of a fence and Pampe approaches it a bit too slyly, Merricat will jump to her feet, ready to flee (and I will toss one of my anti-Pampe sticks, and say NON.)
Merricat and I are a very good team! We've foiled several of Pampe's plots, but we need to be on the road for Merricat to remain wary (if we were in the pen Pampe's escape attempts would involve getting away from us and the cat wouldn't care.) Cars are rare so it's okay (plus it's so quiet you can always hear them coming), and on the few occasions when someone showed up and asked why I was having apéritif on the road, I pointed at Pampe and they were like, "Ah! Didn't see her here. Good luck!"
"Hedgehog-moss, you're exaggerating. Pampe can't be that—"
She is! She is. And she always seems to notice when Merricat is on a bathroom break and I'm absorbed in a book.
There was one evening though, when she got distracted by a fascinating new idea. I don't claim to know what's going on in this llama's head (except when she's looking at a fence, then it's easy) but as you can see, once I brought the animals to the barn Poldine started eating flowers, Pirlouit started eating grass, and Pampe started eating the wall.
After a moment she slowly circled the barn, then stopped and lay down right next to it, settling down in a comfortable position but with focused ears and her head still turned towards the wall. It was suspicious behaviour, but on the other hand she now looked so uninterested in the road that I decided to take a risk and run home to bring back some dinner—and she didn't move while I was away! I even brought Pandolf, who is usually banned from these soirées because he would disturb my Merricat alarm system. He was happy to be finally included.
It's unclear if Pampe was eating the wall, talking to the wall, or carefully examining various parts of the wall as Step 1 of 27 of a complex plan only she understands, but she stuck close to the barn all evening instead of lying in wait by the fence so I was able to have a picnic in the grass rather than on the road, which felt more bucolic. I know that "Pampérigouste has a new, mysterious project" is a worrying sentence but at this early stage (feasibility study) it felt to me and Merricat like a little holiday!
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breaking my silence we as a fandom (collective) need to have a quick meeting. now look, we love praising fan artists and giving them lots of love which, hey they deserve it cuz they’re amazing and incredible and talented and should be revered but!! i think we need to give an equated amount of love to fanfic writers. these mfs are a) putting their time and effort into A NON PROFIT PIECE OF MEDIA entirely for their and our benefit just because they want to b) going through life threatening situations to get their chapters out c) using their talents to feed our delusions and desires d) making OUR LITTLE DUMB HEADCANONS COME TO LIFE!! THEY MAKE IT HAPPEN!! THEY MAKE IT REAL!! i will literally forever be indebted to fanfic writers bc no matter if their work gets 10000 hits 10 hits or stays in their notes app they STILL!! WROTE IT!! still took the time to carefully craft and mend their masterpiece!! made someone’s day even if it was their own!!! the fact that some of them come up with LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WORDS OF FIC feels kinda undermined to me??? like mf they DID THAT AND NO ONE ASKED THEM TO? (mean that positively) LIKE THEY JUST DID? not to mention the research and genuine care that goes into some fics I’ve seen. and the fact that some try to make their fics accessible by writing it so anyone who isn’t even in the fandom understands the story?? anyway. fanfic writers all around not just mutuals (tho i love u guys) truly, you’re amazing. kindergarten teacher voice everyone say thank you fanfic writers. <3333333333
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I just feel like Rafe would totally love the fact that you've been in a long term relationship but you lost your virginity to him instead
omg YESSSS he's so freaking possessive. he would adore that you didn't feel right with the other guy but that youre ready with him <3333 lemme try to write a lil blurb with shy reader!!
"so, you're sayin'... you dated him for, what?"
"like a year. ten months." you admit quietly, glancing up at rafe and then looking back down at your shoes. your face feels hot, embarrassed already—you're shy about a lot of things and your virginity is number one on the list.
"and you didn't sleep with him? not even once?"
"no..." you trail off, fiddling with your dress. "didn't feel right."
you're worried rafe is judging you, so you try to cover your own tracks.
"we kissed though. um, and one time he fing-"
"shut up." you listen immediately, quieting, eyes brimming with tears. rafe tilts your downtrodden face up with his fingers, looking into your eyes. "if you finish that sentence i'm gonna have to go kill him. i don't think y'want that, hm?" you shake your head.
"are you upset?" you ask, almost afraid of the answer.
"why would i be upset?"
"b-because i don't have any experience. and, um, i thought you would like that-"
"i like you like this." you look up, eyes wide, beaming. you rush in for a hug, pressing your face against his chest, listening to rafe's laugh from your position. "you're cute, kid. thought i'd be upset that i'm gonna be the first to wreck that virgin pussy. hah."
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felix who knows you get sleepy when you're drunk; who lets you fiddle with the clasps of his bracelets and trace the tips of your fingers over the star tattoo on his hand to keep you occupied and awake when all you really want is to fall asleep in the crook of his neck. felix who forces water down your throat on hot days because he knows you'll forget and complain of a piercing headache later. felix who tucks you under his arm at the pub, who lets you splay your calves over his thighs and massages shapes into the soft flesh. felix who empties your ashtray and leaves it by the bath for you because he knows you'll forget it and whine and plead with him to retrieve it for you as soon as you've gotten in. felix who carries you bridal style everywhere because he knows it makes you laugh (and he secretly likes to show off how strong he is). felix who knows you hate the empty feeling of your bed, who finds you outside with a half smoked cigarette at three in the morning and coaxes you back inside for a cuddle. felix who play fights with you in the pool but always makes up for it with kisses. felix who shares a sun lounger with you so you can soak up his sun-kissed warmth as you read - and who can save your page when you inevitably fall asleep. felix who loves the very bones of you, even if you don't always love yourself.
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