#( oh and this has been in my drafts for. a while )

[captain-huggy-bear]

plsplspls write something fluffy and sweet with clayton 😓😓😓 i’m so so in love with the man it’s slightly concerning

This has been sat in my drafts for so long! I'm very sorry it's taken this long, lovely because I got caught up in Celly requests!! <3 Requests are currently closed while I work through current ones <3 Writing Masterlist

God, you're freezing. It was a stupid idea really, who goes to a team bonfire in the autumn without a jacket? You'd thought that it would be fine, the sun had been shining, the temperature relatively mild for the time of year and you had a jumper on, not some flimsy t-shirt.

Oh, but boy did you miscalculate. As the sun started to set and the prolonged time outside hit you, you started to freeze. Goosebumps all over your skin, hairs standing on end as the wind tried to freeze you to the bone. You were huddled as close to the bonfire as you could get without getting told off for health and safety by Kerf who had taken it upon himself to stop Cools or Doaner catching themselves on fire. Dad mode absolutely activated.

You're trying not to make it obvious that you're freezing but Clay notices. Of course he notices...you're stood there practically shivering, nearly in the fire and you haven't even come away when they announced there were doughnuts to be had. Your sweet tooth usually drawing you away from almost anything except a cute animal, but not tonight.

Call it good luck, call it fate, call it always being prepared, call it whatever you want. But after watching you shiver for a few more minutes Clay couldn't take it anymore, walking away to his car to get the spare hoodie he keeps in the trunk.

It's black, Utah logo and name across the whole thing. A little worn now because of how often he throws it on after a workout or after a long day. He takes a quick sniff before he even considers giving it to you, relieved to find that it just smells like cologne and not sweaty gym guy. God, he'd never live down the embarrassment if he gave you a hoodie that smelled like a locker room.

When comes back to you, you've shifted even close to the fire, too close for his liking. So close that Clay's fingers find the loops of your belt and tug you back a couple of steps, your back hitting his chest with an oomph.

A hand comes round you, hoodie clutched in his palm, knuckles tight, veins popping, that stupid ring on his thumb making you want to die a little because it's unfair. It's unfair that he smells this good, that he's so warm you want to curl back into him, that he's so hot that just his hand has you a little dizzy and he's not even yours. He's just your friend...

"Here, take this. You'll catch a cold." Voice low and rumbly in the way that makes you want to curl around him like a cat.

"I'm okay..." You turn to look up at him, false smile pasted to your lips even as you continue to shiver hands rubbing your arms to give yourself some sort of warmth.

He just gives you a look, brows lowering, lips pursed, disbelieving before forcing you to lift your arms up and shoving the hoodie over your head without much ceremony. You let him because in truth you are absolutely freezing...because it's easy to let Clay take care of you.

The moment the hoodie covers your skin you're instantly 10 times warmer, nuzzling into the fabric as the smell of his cologne, woodsy and spicy, surrounds you. You don't even complain that he'll mess your hair up when Clay pulls the hood up and cinches it around your face in a way you're sure is unflattering.

"Better, don't want you to catch a cold..." He tugs on one of the strings lightly, soft smile, eyes crinkling like you're the best thing he's seen today. It makes you feel warm inside like you'd downed a fresh hot chocolate,

"Thanks, Clay..." His hands linger on your shoulders like he doesn't want to let go of you quite yet. Fingertips tapping against the fabric of the hoodie, tracing lines over your shoulder and down your arms until he pulls away.

Still he's closer to you than he's been in a while, close enough you could kiss him if you wanted, if you just tilted your face a little more, if you just pressed a little further forward...but you don't.

You're still shivering slightly though, Clay's eyes narrowing at the fact you're still not warm.

"C'mere," He tugs you into him, arms wrapping around you, pulling your face into his chest and you melt. Oh, God, you melt into him in a way that feels like it should be embarrassing because he's so warm, so solid underneath you. Your fingers curling into the back of his jacket, sighing into him because for the first time in the last hour you feel comfortable, warm, cosy.

"Better?"

You just nod. You can't see it, not like everyone else, your face too firmly pressed into his chest, but Clay smiles. The softest, most lovesick sort of smile that'll have Kess and Cools, maybe Schmaltzy, making fun of him tomorrow in the locker room...because you don't smile like that while cuddling up to someone who's just your friend. You don't hold someone like that who's just your friend.

[littlejoyss]

𝓯𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽 6

“One single thread of gold tied me to you.”

Stray Kids - Felix x Reader

Red (golden) string of fate trope

Word count (so far): 13k

𝓹𝓻��𝓿𝓲𝓸𝓾𝓼 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽 ← 𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽 → 𝓷𝓮𝔁𝓽 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽 (coming soon!)

Redesigning an entire collection and creating it in three weeks was ambitious, but it felt right.

Hyejin, however, was skeptical. She stopped by your worktable two mornings later, an eyebrow already raised. “You're not still trying to redo the entire lineup, are you?”

You didn’t look up from the muslin draft you were pinning. “I’m not trying. I am.”

She let out a low whistle. “That’s… a fashion career death wish.”

“Maybe,” you said, carefully marking a dart with chalk. “But the original collection’s dead. All I can do now is make something that feels alive again.”

Hyejin tilted her head. “You do realize the judges won’t care how you got there, right? All they see is the final product.”

You finally looked up, meeting her gaze head-on. “Then I’m going to make damn sure it’s something they can’t ignore.”

She studied you for a moment longer. Then, to your surprise, she gave a small nod. “Bold move,” she said. “We’ll see if it pays off.”

As she walked away, you weren’t sure if that was approval or a warning.

Seojin showed up earlier than usual that day, lugging a bag of snacks. “Emergency provisions,” she said, tossing it onto the nearest stool. “Also, I ran into Hyejin in the hallway. She said, and I quote, ‘Your designer is on a warpath.’”

You snorted. “Good. Let them know I’m not going down quietly.”

Seojin grinned. “Damn right you’re not.”

︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶

The golden thread between you and Felix pulsed gently from your pinky, glowing brighter with every day that passed. He hadn’t missed a single night. He’d show up after practice, hair damp, sometimes dragging his guitar or a book to quietly keep himself busy while you worked.

Some nights, he helped you organize swatches and beads. Others, he just leaned against the doorframe and watched you with that small, crooked smile like you were the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen.

Once, at 2 a.m., when you nearly broke down after ruining an entire sleeve, he simply pulled you into a hug and held you.

Tonight was no different, he was sorting thread in the corner while you worked. You turned to him, “You know…I should visit you at work one of these days. You always visit me.”

He chuckled. “I don’t know if you’d want to do that. The guys can be….much.”

“How so?”

“Well, they keep asking me questions about you.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”

Felix gave you a sheepish look, the corners of his mouth twitching. “You know… if you’re real, for one. Minho keeps calling you my ‘imaginary fashion soulmate.’”

You laughed. “Wow. I’m honored. I guess.”

He continued, pulling a spool of deep emerald thread from the pile. “Chan asked if you were the reason I started writing those softer lyrics lately. And Hyunjin wanted to know if you’ve ever designed for idols before because he’s ‘absolutely willing to be a muse.’”

You rolled your eyes affectionately. “Tell Hyunjin he’s too tall and dramatic for my current collection.”

“Oh, I did. He said, and I quote, ‘Tragic. The world isn’t ready for this silhouette anyway.’”

You snorted, setting down your chalk. “Maybe I do need to meet them.”

Felix looked up, his smile softening into something more sincere. “They’d love that. But no pressure. I just… want you to know you’re not just in my world at this dimly lit studio. You’re allowed in the rest of it, too.”

“I’d like that,” you said quietly. “Soon.”

You continued sewing gold details on the pants you were currently working on.

“I think this is my favorite one,” Felix said suddenly.

You looked over your shoulder. “The pants?”

He nodded. “That gold detail on the side, it’s like armor. But delicate. Regal.”

You smiled faintly, returning your focus to the needle. “That’s kind of what I was going for. Gold has been an important color to me recently. 

Felix didn’t respond right away, but when you looked up again, he was watching you with that look again, like you were building stars from fabric and thread. Despite how fast it had all unfolded, barely a week and a half since you met, he felt familiar. Like you’d known him forever. Maybe that was just what a golden thread did. Or maybe it was just… him.

Then, he spoke, “I think I should hang out with you wherever you're staying, instead of meeting after hours in this studio.”

“Not because I don’t love being here,” he added quickly, gesturing around your cluttered, half-lit workspace. “This place is… kind of magical, honestly. But I think it’s time I show up in the daylight.”

You set the fabric down, your chest tightening with something warm. “You don’t have to do that. I know you have a busy schedule.” 

“I know,” he said. “But I want to. I want to know the version of you that isn’t always in fight mode. Not always racing against time, or sewing until your fingers cramp. I want to see what you’re like when you get to just… exist. Laugh. Sleep before 4 a.m.”

Your lips curved, quietly touched. “You really want to hang out in my dingy hotel while I stress-eat cereal and wear ugly slippers?”

“I would be honored,” Felix grinned. 

“That sounds… really nice,” you said finally. “I think I’d like that.”

Felix leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Then it’s a date.”

︶⊹︶︶୨୧︶︶⊹︶

The next day, Felix made time to come over to your hotel. “Holy shit. You weren’t wrong. This place looks like I’m about to get abducted…” He looked at the hotel you were staying at. 

You laughed as you unlocked the door, the rusted knob sticking for a moment before clicking open. “Well, if you vanish, at least it’ll be a very fashionable true crime documentary.”

Felix gave you a mock-wounded look as he stepped inside. “And here I thought you’d fight to the death for me.”

“Oh, I would,” you said over your shoulder. “But I’m also practical. I’d need a compelling outfit for the courtroom scenes.”

That made him laugh, the sound echoing warmly in the small room. He looked around, taking in the mismatched furniture, the half-empty sketchbooks stacked on the desk, and your makeshift sewing kit spread across the windowsill.

“It's kind of perfect, actually,” he said. “Very you.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Messy and exhausted?”

“Creative. Determined. Chaotic in a charming way.” He walked over and plucked a safety pin from your tangled pin cushion. “And full of tiny weapons.” Then, he nudged your shoulder with his. “So. What’s the plan for tonight? Another seven-hour sewing sprint? Or can I convince you to take a break and watch something that doesn’t involve fabric or fashion?”

You groaned dramatically. “The guilt of not working might kill me.”

“Then let it,” he teased, voice low. “Just for one night. I feel the same way whenever I go to your prep studio at night. I should be writing lyrics or practicing choreo. But I don’t. Because you’re my soulmate.”

You rolled your eyes. “Fine. But I get to pick the movie.”

“Deal,” he said, already turning on his laptop. “But if it’s Project Runway, I swear-”

“Absolutely not,” you cut in. “We’re watching something with zero career relevance.”

You ended up curled beneath the blankets together, a ridiculous rom-com playing on your laptop, Felix's arm draped around your shoulders, his thumb absently tracing the curve of your arm.

You haven’t kissed since that night in your studio. Maybe you both were just sleep deprived and acted silly…but as Felix’s fingers lightly tapped a rhythm against your arm, you wondered if maybe it wasn’t silly at all. 

Halfway through the movie, your head had tipped against his shoulder. He didn’t say anything, just tilted his own slightly to rest against yours, the weight of it grounding you more than you expected. The golden thread still looped between you, shimmered faintly where it peeked from beneath the blanket.

“I like this,” you murmured, eyes on the screen but not really watching.

Felix turned his head just enough to glance at you. “The movie?”

You hummed. “This. You. The quiet. It doesn’t feel like I’m wasting time.”

He nodded. “I used to think time spent not working was time I had to earn. Like I had to check off every box on some invisible list before I was allowed to rest.” He shifted slightly so he could see your face better. “But then you happened. And I don’t feel like I have to earn anything with you. Just… be.”

You turned your head to meet his gaze, your breath catching at how open his expression was. Soft, maybe a little vulnerable. But sure.

“You make it really hard to keep my emotional walls up,” you said quietly.

“Good,” he said, just as quietly. “I’m not trying to knock them down, but I’d love it if you let me in.”

The space between you wasn’t very big. It never had been. The golden thread, now fully visible in the glow of the laptop screen, pulsed once, like it knew the moment was important.

You leaned in first again. It wasn’t a dramatic kiss this time, not some cinematic, sweeping gesture, it was smaller. Slower. More intentional. 

When you pulled back, Felix smiled that quiet, contented smile again. “You taste like cereal,” he whispered.

You laughed, face heating. “Wow, so romantic.”

“Captain Crunch? That tasted awesome,” he grinned. 

You buried your face in your hands, groaning. “We’re having a Moment, Lix. Why do you have to go and say things like that?”

“Because you’re cute when you’re flustered,” he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Then, softer, “And I don’t want this to be too perfect. I like us messy. Real.”

You peeked at him through your fingers. “You think this is real?”

“I think it’s the most real thing I’ve had in a long time,” he said, not hesitating.

“…me too,” you whispered.

Felix let out a breath and leaned back into the pillows, tugging you gently with him until your head rested against his chest and you could hear the steady thump of his heart. You stayed like that for a while, the movie forgotten, your fingers tracing little loops on his hoodie.

Eventually, he spoke again. “So… if I brought my keyboard over sometime, would you help me write a song?”

You looked up at him. “I don’t really know how to write music.”

He smiled. “Doesn’t matter. I just want to write something with you. Something that sounds like us.”

Your chest ached in the best kind of way. “Okay. But only if we write it in this murder hotel. It’s part of the artistic process.”

“Oh, absolutely. Tragic love song. Barely-working plumbing. A ghost in the hallway. It’s the perfect vibe.”

You snorted. “We’ll call it Threadbare Hearts.”

Felix grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Stop, that’s actually good.”

“Of course it is. I’m the creative genius, remember?”

“Right,” he said, kissing your temple. “The exhausted, cereal-flavored genius who I’m completely in love with.”

You blinked.

He blinked.

Silence.

“…Was that?” you started.

“A confession?” he said quickly. “Yes. That was. Unless it freaked you out, and then it was totally a joke and I-”

“I love you, too.”

“You- wait, really?” he asked, voice barely more than a breath.

You nodded slowly, fingers still resting lightly on the fabric of his hoodie. “Yeah. I didn’t mean to say it yet. I thought I’d wait until after I survived the show, or the next time we kissed, or… I don’t know. Something more polished. But you said it, and I realized I didn’t want to wait.”

His face cracked into that stunned, radiant smile, the one that lit up his whole expression and made you feel like maybe the universe knew exactly what it was doing when it tangled your lives together, “If I kissed you, would you say it again though?”

“Maybe,” you whispered, “but only if you do it right.”

When his lips finally met yours, it was gentle, careful, like he was memorizing the feel of you. You leaned in, closing the small distance with a sigh, the world narrowing down to just the two of you and the quiet hum of the old hotel around you.

After a bit, you pulled back slightly, forehead resting against his. “I love you.”

taglist (comment to be added): @shinygubbins @lizzygd @btch8008s @under--space @monniemons @chimmyn0chu @wickedbutlovely @hyunjinsculpture @beal-o @valkirymin @moonlitcelestial @wolfhallows4m @beepybeesnuggets @eridanuswave @lynastrawberry @multiifanbigbang @yxna-bliss @chasinghxran @velvetmoonlght

[whumpty-dumpty-doo]

Late night mush-brained I-really-need-to-edit-this-draft-because-this-is-probably-all-way-too-much-irrelevant-information late night thoughts

[endlesslytired]

[viperwhispered]

Rest

Guess what? I've got more Jamil x reader for y'all. You can also find this on ao3. No warnings, just 866 words of kinda fluffy(?) caretaking stuff with gender-neutral reader.

At this point, you know Jamil’s schedule almost as well as he does. So, when you have the chance, you head to Scarabia’s kitchen, hoping to spend some time with Jamil while he and the other students prepare dinner. 

However, when you enter, it takes you but a moment to notice Jamil’s uncharacteristic fumbling and the tired look in his eyes. The way Jamil’s chopping the vegetables has you worried about him cutting himself with that knife he’s usually so adept with, and it seems it’s only force of habit that’s keeping him on track.

You frown, and when your eyes meet Jamil’s, you can already see him put his guard up.

So he knows what state he is in, huh? And still, here he is.

It seems Jamil is reading your thoughts, all of him telling you drop it before any words are even said.

At least he still lets you lean in and give a quick kiss to his cheek in greeting.

“Hello love. Do you still have a lot on your agenda for today?” you ask, keeping your tone low for at least some semblance of privacy in the busy kitchen.

“Nothing I can’t handle,” is the response you get.

Of course.

It takes a little more pestering before Jamil actually answers your question. Your lips purse. That list is far too long to your liking.

You take a moment to think, juggling your own plans and to-do list against the urgency of the things Jamil mentioned.

“Will Kalim be eating from that?” you ask, pointing at the food Jamil is preparing.

“Yes.”

“Alright, I won’t be touching that one, then. I’ve gotta do a few things but I’ll be back when you’re done here.”

“Don’t,” Jamil says with a glare, clearly aware of what you’re thinking.

Yet even his disapproving look doesn’t have the usual weight behind it.

“Yes. I will,” you say firmly, even as your heart curls inwards with another bout of concern.

Really, when did he get so tired?

And how did you not notice it earlier?

You leave the kitchen before Jamil can protest further, hurrying through the dorm corridors to find Kalim.

Soon you have an enthusiastic – and concerned – supporter for your plans. You have Kalim point out a few reliable Scarabia students to help with a few of the most urgent matters Jamil mentioned – cleaning up the common areas, delivering some paperwork to Crowley, preparing some dorm-wide notices – while you see to Kalim getting his school supplies in order for the following day. You even recruit a couple of third years to help Kalim with his homework.

You’ll see to the rest tomorrow – after all, you do also have a boyfriend to look after.

Your conversation over dinner can hardly be called anything else than an argument – despite Kalim’s best attempts at acting as a moderating force between you two. It is very tempting to ask Kalim to tell Jamil to take the rest of the day off – it’s not like Jamil would be willing to openly disobey a direct order. Still, you really don’t need to remind Jamil of his position on top of everything else that you’re already doing more or less against his wishes.

Eventually, however, Jamil’s had a square meal, the most urgent things on his to-do list are being taken care of, and you’ve managed to drag him to his bed.

“I really wish you wouldn’t push yourself so hard,” you murmur, your arms wrapped tightly around Jamil. You’re telling yourself you really do just want to cuddle, to offer some respite to Jamil. Still, there might also be a part of you worried that if you were to let go, he’d just jump up and get back to working himself to the bone.

Yet, for all his protestations, just the fact that you’ve gotten Jamil to lay down with you speaks volumes of his current exhaustion.

“I can’t just leave my duties, albi. You know this.”

“Making yourself too indispensable, is what you’re doing,” you protest.

Oh, you know it’s not so simple. Not with his background, not with all the expectations and assumptions.

But sometimes you really wish it would be.

Jamil merely scoffs in response to your words.

Still, it is undeniable that he is slowly beginning to relax in your arms, slowly bringing his head closer to yours. His eyes are starting to flutter, too.

“I will still need to help Kalim with his homework, at the very least.”

You wonder who he is trying to convince more, you or himself.

“Amin and Khalil are helping him. They’re basically top of their classes, aren’t they? I’m sure they’ve got it.”

Still, Jamil frowns.

You sigh. He really is not letting go, is he?

“Do you want me to go supervise?” you ask.

And leave you, unsaid yet hanging there right after your words.

“Don’t,” Jamil eventually says, the word barely more than a breath.

It seems he has accepted his fate.

You softly caress Jamil’s hair, listening to his softening breathing.

And when you wake up, wholly unaware of having been lulled to sleep in the first place, it’s to the lightest of touches from Jamil’s fingers.

Tagging @diodellet @twstgo @crystallizsch @jamilvapologist @jamilsimpno69 as per request If you'd like to be tagged for any future works, let me know!

[perplexedjokist]

testing someone for homophobia but it's just me having them sit and watch me make my plushy batman kiss a picture of harvey dent

[anoddopal]

Take a gander at what has emerged from my drafts!! Finally getting around to posting the Post-Timeskip refs for Bun--

Artwork for Bun's Human-Beast; ie Bun-Beast form done in colaberation with @sun-uwu-kong!! [Please be sure to check out his blog if you like his work!]

🔽🔽!!Detailed Profile Below!! ⬇️⬇️

・❥・Name: Bun-Bun Silva [“Silver”] ・❥・Moniker: “Lucky Lepus” ・❥・Age: 27 [ Pre-Timeskip], 29 [pictured; Post-Timeskip] ・❥・Devil Fruit: Rabbit-Rabbit Fruit, Model: Wolpertinger ・❥・Haki: Conquer’s Haki; which Bun is able to utilize with limited ability. Mainly it contributes largely to how bun can both tame - and harness strong understandings with - the many creatures of the world. Alas, Bun never received the proper training to have complete mastery over her talent, which means it can’t be utilized to its fullest potential. Notably, Bun can only be formidable with her Haki subconsciously/in a signification state of distress. Bun is completely unaware of her ability- as are most others. ・❥・Spouse: La.ffitte ・❥・Affiliations: The Bl.ackbeard Pirates ・❥・Relevant Arcs: [Pre]A.labasta, J.aya, Post-En.ies Lobby, Ma.rineford, Post-War, [TIMESKIP], D.ressrosa, Z.ou, W.ano, Eg.ghead

・❥・Bunself: ・The very same Bun-Bun Silva that everyone knows and loves! Ah, granted, this version of Bun harbors a few negative traits, a few bad habits that come to the surface more often than even she would like to admit. Oh what, did you expect Bun to be nary a flaw? What a naive assumption to make. Regrettably, Bun is as human as the rest of us… ・If one is unlucky enough to cross paths with a Bla.ckbeard Pirate, then Bun is just about the only one a person would “want” to run into. She never quite got on board with the whole “pirating” profession. A simple offering will do in place of actual pillaging— Complimentary meals, free services, generous gifts from shops and vendors; nothing that would put too much of a hole in a business’ profits. And individuals/their residences [save for the immensely, ridiculously wealthy] will not be bothered at all. Areas of an island where she has personally wandered through usually remain surprisingly intact, and no worse off. Mostly, she just wants to be left alone when going about her day. ・Bun is still nice to those around her as a default. And more importantly, Bun is still kind. It is immensely difficult for her to be unkind… without a worthy reason, of course. Bun has changed- depending on whom you ask; for the better or the worse. And yet, some things never do change. She will always be soft for those who need it. She will always take the time to put a baby bird back in its nest, or carefully usher a wayward insect back outside. ・But be ever mindful about rubbing Bun the wrong way. Bun has a bit of a temper broiling beneath the surface. Mind you, it takes quite a bit of pushing to get bun to that point, but once somebody has… there is no reversing what has been done. No one really ever knows what to expect when Bun is pushed past the threshold, though a grand scale explosion is always an inevitable certainty. The fallout after the fact is a degree of consequence that many aren’t prepared to cope with. It behooves those in her presence to ensure they stay off of her shit list. ・An audacious little bucket of sass; even more so after eating the Rabbit-Rabbit Fruit, Model: Wolpertinger. Bun has always been playful, if not a bit verbally impish. However, after spending all of her time amongst a crew of morally corrupt pirates who encourage every maladjusted trait bun boasts, she’s become a bit of a mouthy menace. ・Bun is never to be underestimated. Do not be deceived by her tiny frame and innocent appearance; do not think for a second she’s any less capable of impossible feats than her devious associates. This prey animal bites back- and she’ll take a chunk outta ya when she does so, too.

For more overall info in regard to this version of Bun; please check out the #Forbidden Fruit AU tag on my blog! A few important info dumps are:

・On Bun's Dynamics with the crew [1], [2], [3]

・On Bun's thoughts on Teach [1]

[one-flower-one-sword]

well I know what you want from me you want someone to be your reflection, your bitter deception setting you free won't you come and dance in the dark with me? show me what you are, I am desperate to know nobody better than the perfect enemy and I know what you want from me you want the same as me my redemption, eternal ascension setting me free

for @bladesmercy's fic The Fear of Falling Stars

[catsandcahills]

the 39 clues text posts 5/?

[bonefall]

Don’t know if this is the right place to ask, but could you talk more about zoos? I’ve seen many people say that zoos are inherently exploitative and that we should instead focus on advocating for wildlife preserves, etc., but I’m not sure what to think of that. You seem to know a lot about wildlife protection, so what’s your opinion on this?

There are folks faaaar better than myself to talk about the issues of zoos specifically and I'll try to toss in some sources so you can go and learn more, but let me try and explain my mindset here.

Summary of my opinion on this: BOTH of these things can be poorly managed, and I broadly support both. They should exist in tandem. I am pro-accredited zoo and am extremely sensitive towards misinformation. I also do think the best place for animals to be is in their natural environment, but nature "preserves" aren't inherently perfect. They can also be prone to the capitalist (and colonialist) pressures that less informed people believe they're somehow immune to.

Because of the goal of my project being to make the setting of WC accurate to Northwestern England, my research is based on UK laws, ecology, and conservation programs.

On Zoos

On Nature Reserves

An Aside on Fortress Conservation

On Zoos

The legal definition of a Zoo in the UK (because that is what BB's ecological education is based around), as defined by the Zoo Licensing Act of 1981 (ZLA), is a "place where wild animals are kept for exhibition to the public," excluding circuses and pet shops (which are covered by different laws.)

This applies equally to private, for-profit zoos, as well as zoos run by wildlife charities and conservation organizations. Profit does not define a zoo. If there's a place trying to tell you it's not a zoo but a "sanctuary" or a "wildlife park," but you can still go visit and see captive wild animals, even if it's totally free, it's a marketing trick. Legally that is still a zoo in the UK.

(for fellow Americans; OUR definition is broader, more patchwork because we are 50 little countries in a trenchcoat, and can include collections of animals not displayed to the public.)

That said, there's a HUGE difference between Chester Zoo, run by the North of England Zoological Society, which personally holds the studbooks for maintaining the genetic diversity of 10 endangered species, has 134 captive breeding projects, cultivates 265 threatened plant species, and sends its members as consultants to United Nations conferences on climate change, and Sam Tiddles' Personal Zebra Pit.

Sam Tiddles' Personal Zebra Pit ONLY has to worry about the UK government. There's another standard zoos can hold themselves to if they want to get serious about conservation like Chester Zoo; Accreditation. There are two major zoo organizations in the UK, BIAZA and EAZA.

(Americans may wonder about AZA; that's ours. AZA, EAZA, and BIAZA are all members of the World Association of Aquariums and Zoos, or WAZA, but they are all individual organizations.)

A zoo going for EAZA's "accreditation" has to undergo an entire year of evaluation to make sure they fit the strict standards, and renewal is ongoing. You don't just earn it once. You have to keep your animal welfare up-to-date and in compliance or you will lose it.

The benefit of joining with an accredited org is that it puts the zoo into a huge network of other organizations. They work together for various conservation efforts.

There are DOZENS of species that were prevented from going extinct, and are being reintroduced back to their habitats, because of the work done by zoos. The scimitar-horned oryx, takhi, California condor, the Galapagos tortoise, etc. Some of these WERE extinct in the wild and wouldn't BE here if it hadn't been for zoos!

The San Diego zoo is preventing the last remaining hawaiian crows from embracing oblivion right now, a species for which SO LITTLE of its wild behavior is known they had to write the book on caring for them, and Chester zoo worked in tandem with the Uganda Wildlife Authority to provide tech and funding towards breakthroughs in surveying wild pangolins.

Don't get me wrong;

MOST zoos are not accredited,

nor is accreditation is REQUIRED to make a good zoo,

nor does it automatically PROVE nothing bad has happened in the zoo,

There are a lot more Sam Tiddles' Personal Zebra Pits than there are Chester Zoos.

That's worth talking about! We SHOULD be having conversations on things like,

Is it appropriate to keep and breed difficult, social megafauna, like elephants or cetaceans? What does the data say? Are there any circumstances where that would be okay, IF the data does confirm we can never provide enough space or stimulation to perfectly meet those species' needs?

How can we improve animal welfare for private zoos? Should we tighten up regulations on who can start or run one (yes)? Are there enough inspectors (no)?

Do those smaller zoos meaningfully contribute to better conservation? How do we know if they are properly educating their visitors? Can we prove this one way or the other?

Who watches the watchmen? Accreditation societies hold themselves accountable. Do these organizations truly have enough transparency?

(I don't agree with Born Free's ultimate conclusion that we should "phase out" zoos, but you should always understand the opposing arguments)

But bottom line of my opinion is; Good zoos are deeply important, and they have a tangible benefit to wildlife conservation. Anyone who tries to tell you that "zoos are inherently unethical" either knows very little about zoos or real conservation work, or... is hiding some deeper, more batshit take, like "having wild animals in any kind of captivity is unlawful imprisonment."

(you'll also get a lot more work done in regulating the exotic animal trade in the UK if you go after private owners, btw. zoos have nothing to do with how lax those laws are.)

Anyway I'm a funny cat blog about battle kitties, and the stuff I do for BB is to educate about the ecosystem of Northern England. If you want to know more about zoos, debunking misconceptions, and critiques from someone with more personal experience, go talk to @why-animals-do-the-thing!

Keep in mind though, again, they talk about American zoos, where this post was written with the UK in mind.

(and even then, England specifically. ALL UK members and also the Isle of Man have differences in their laws.)

(If anyone has other zoo education tumblr blogs in mind, especially if they are European, lmk and I'll edit this post)

On Nature Reserves

Remember how broad the legal definition of a zoo actually was? Same thing over here. A "nature reserve" in the UK is a broad, unofficial generic term for several things. It doesn't inherently involve statutory protection, either, meaning there's some situations where there's no laws to hold anyone accountable for damage

These are the "nature reserve" types relevant to my project; (NOTE: Ramsar sites, SACs, and SPAs are EU-related and honestly, I do not know how Brexit has effected them, if at all, so I won't be explaining something I don't understand.)

Local Wildlife Site (LWS) Selected via scientific survey and managed locally, connecting wildlife habitats together and keeping nature close to home. VERY important... and yet, incredibly prone to destruction because there aren't good reporting processes in place. Whenever a report comes out every few years, the Wildlife Trust says it often only gets data for 15% of all their registered sites, and 12% get destroyed in that timeframe.

Local Nature Reserve (LNR) A site that can be declared by a district or county council, if proven to have geographic, educational, biodiversity, or recreational value. The local authority manages this, BUT, the landowner can remain in control of the property and "lease" it out (and boy oh boy, landowners do some RIDICULOUS things)

National Nature Reserve (NNR) This is probably closest to what you think of when someone says "nature reserve." Designated by Natural England to protect significant habitat ranges and geographic formations, but still usually operates in tandem with private land owners who must get consent if they want to do something potentially damaging to the NNR.

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) (pronounced Triple S-I) A conservation designation for a particular place, assessed and defined by Natural England for its biological or geographic significance. SSSIs are protected areas, and often become the basis for NNRs, LNRs, Ramsar sites, SACs, SPAs, etc.

So you probably noticed that 3/4 of those needed to have the private ownership problem mentioned right in the summary, and it doesn't end there. Even fully government-managed NNRs and SSSIs work with the private sectors of forestry, tourism, and recreation.

We live under Capitalism; EVERYTHING has a profit motive, not just zoos.

I brushed over some of those factors in my Moorland Research Notes and DESPERATELY tried to stay succinct with them, but it was hard. The things that can happen to skirt around the UK's laws protecting wildlife could make an entire season of Monty Python sketches.

Protestors can angrily oppose felling silver birch (a "weed" in this context which can change the ecosystem) because it made a hike less 'pretty' and they don't understand heath management.

Management can be reluctant to ban dogs and horses for fear of backlash, even as they turn heath to sward before our eyes.

Reserves can be owned by Count Bloodsnurt who thinks crashing through the forest with a pack of dogs to exhaust an animal to death is a profitable traditional British passtime.

Or you can literally just pretend that you accidentally chased a deer for several hours and then killed it while innocently sending your baying hounds down a trail. (NOTE: I am pro-hunting, but not pro-animal cruelty.)

The Forestry Commission can slobber enthusiastically while replacing endangered wildlife habitats with non-native, invasive sitka spruce plantations, pretending most trees are equal while conveniently prioritizing profitable timber species.

I have STORIES to tell about the absolute Looney Tunes bullshit that's going on between conservationists and rich assholes who want to sell grouse hunting access, but I'll leave it at this fascinating tidbit about air guns and mannequins which are "totally, absolutely there for no nefarious reason at all, certainly not to prevent marsh harriers from nesting in an area where they also keep winding up mysteriously killed in illegal snares, no no no"

BUT. Since Nature Reserve isn't a hard defined legal concept, and any organization could get involved in local conservation in the UK, and just about anyone or anything could own one... IT'S CHESTER ZOO WITH THE STEEL CHAIR!!

They received a grant in 2021 to restore habitat to a stretch of 10 miles extending outside of their borders, working with TONS of other entities such as local government and conservation charities in the process. There's now 6,000 square meters of restored meadow, an orchard, new ponds, and maintained reedbeds, because of them.

It isn't just Chester Zoo, either. It's all over the UK. Durrel Wildlife, which runs Jersey Zoo, just acquired 18,500 acres to rewild in Perthshire. Citizen Zoo is working with the Beaver Trust to bring beavers back to London and is always looking for volunteers to help with their river projects, and the Edinburgh Zoo is equipped with gene labs being used to monitor and analyze the remaining populations of non-hybrid Scottish Wildcats.

The point being,

Nature preserves have problems too. They are not magical fairy kingdoms that you put up a fence around and then declare you Saved Nature Hooray! They need to be protected. They need to be continuously assessed. They are prone to capitalist pressures just like everything else on this hell planet. Go talk to my boy Karl he'll give you a hug about it.

"Nature Preserves" are NOT an "alternative" to zoos and vice versa. They do not do the same thing. A zoo is a center of education and wildlife research which displays exotic animals. A nature preserve is a parcel of native ecosystem. We need LOTS of nature preserves and we need them well-managed ASAP.

We could never just "replace" zoos with nature preserves, and we're nowhere near the amount of protected ecosystem space to start thinking of scaling back animals in captivity. Until King Arthur comes out of hibernation to save Britain, that's the world we live in.

An Aside

My project and my research is based on the isle of Great Britain. The more I learn about the ecosystems that are naturally found there, the more venomously I reject the old lie, "humans are a blight."

YOU are an animal. You're a big one, too. You know what the role of big animals in an ecosystem are? Change. Elephants knock over trees, wolves alter the course of rivers, bison fertilize the plains from coast-to-coast. In Great Britain, that's what hominids have done for 900,000 years, their populations ebbing and flowing with every ice age.

Early farming created the moors and grazing sheep and cattle maintain it, hosting hundreds of specialist species. Every old-growth forest has signs of ancient coppicing and pollarding, which create havens for wildlife when well-managed. Corn cockle evolved as a mimic of wheat seeds, so farmers would plant it over and over within their fields.

This garbage idea that humans are somehow "separate" from or "above" nature is poison. It's not true ANYWHERE.

It contributes to an idea that our very presence is somehow damaging to natural spaces, and to "protect" it, we have to completely leave it alone. NO! Absolutely NOT! There are places where we have to limit harvesting and foot traffic, but humans ALWAYS lived in nature.

Even the ecosystems that this mindset comes from rejects it, but this shit doesn't JUST get applied to British people who become alienated and disconnected from their surroundings to the point where they don't know what silver birch does.

It's DEADLY for the indigenous people who protect 80% of our most important ecosystems.

It's a weapon against the Maasai people, stopped from hunting or growing crops on their own land. It's violence for 9 San hunters shot at by a helicopter with a "kill poachers on-sight" policy, as one of the world's LARGEST diamond mines operates in the same motherfucking park. The Havasupai people are kept out of the Grand Canyon that they managed for generations because they might "collect too many nuts" and starve squirrels, Dukha reindeer herders suddenly get banned from chopping wood or fishing, and watch wolves decimate their animals in the absence of their herding dogs.

It's nightmare after nightmare of human displacement in the name of "conservation."

That all ties back to that mindset. This idea that nature is pure, "pristine," and should be totally untouched. There are some starting to call it Fortress Conservation.

You can't begin to understand the criticisms of modern conservation without acknowledging that we are still living under the influence of capitalism and colonialism. Those who fixate on speaking for "animals/nature/trees who don't have a voice" often seem to have no interest in the indigenous people who do.

Listen. There's no simple answer; and the solution will vary for each region.

Again, my project is within the UK, one of the most ecologically devastated areas in the world. There are bad zoos that the law allows a pass. There are incredible zoos that are vital to conservation, in and outside of the country. There's not enough nature preserves. The best ones that exist are often exploited for profit.

I hope that my silly little blog sparks an interest in a handful of people to understand more about their own local ecosystems, and teaches folks about the unique beauty even within a place as "boring" as England.

But, my straightforward statement is that I have no patience for nonconstructive, broad zoo slander that lumps together ALL of them, and open contempt for anyone who tries to sell nature preserves like a perfect, morally superior "alternative." We need them BOTH right now, and we need to acknowledge that zoos AND preserves have legal and ethical issues that aren't openly talked about.

[v4mpyinred]

guhhh thinking about akijun studying/doing homework together but they can't get any work done cuz they're alone in Aki's room and Junpei's too busy flirting with Aki and theyre both so giddy and laughing and blushing and dkadnksandaks

At some point Aki's like: "if you focus on the rest of your homework in silence, I'll give you a kiss." which causes Junpei to lock in immediately (to the best of his abilities of course.)

then i can just imagine at the end of their study session, Junpei immediately goes for the kiss. But not without Aki pausing him to tell Junpei how proud he is of him before their lips finally lock :')

[rubybloodhound]

Kirby shitposting because they sure aren't incorrect quotes

Kirby: GUYS Kirby: GUYS STOP FUCKING DANCING HE ISN'T BREATHING Kirby: GUYS-

Meta Knight: As a heterosexual this is true Galacta Knight: Ok

Bandee: Remember that one time Great King pissed on the moon

Galacta Knight: Watch what happens when I kiss Meta Sounds of Meta Knight being kissed by Galacta Knight Meta Knight: NO HOMO???

Dark Meta Knight talking to Meta Knight on the phone: Yeah were in hell atm could you come over

Meta Knight: So I'm staying at the castle, I decide to take a nap because I got there pretty late, next thing I fucking know I'm waking up to screams I'm drenched in water and there's a pan of fire in the kitchen that's being put out by the sprinkler system, not to mention Tiff is fucking screaming at me Tuff and Kirby are both panicking Escargoon is sobbing and Sword and Blade both have their heads in their hands Meta Knight: Over all, a great night

Tiff: This man, with full confidence, grabs a pan, slaps onto the stove, snatches Escargoon's sandwich right out of his hands, slaps it on the pan, turns the heat to max, and then just sits there like he didn't just commit horrible crimes against cooking

Meta Knight to Dedede: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE- King Dedede: What do you what Meta Knight: King Dedede: Meta Knight: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE-

Sir Arthur: Working at the GSA is so hard once someone knocked and instead of saying "come in" I screamed "SHUT THE FUCK UP FALSPAR I'M WORKING" at some poor private and they just squeaked "..okay."

Sir Falspar: One time I got super drunk and someone called me and instead of asking who was it or anything, I just whispered into the speaker "Hey. Hey Arthur. Arthur. Arthur hey. Say hello." and then hung up Sir Falspar: Anyway it was Bandee on the other side and I think he shat his non-existent pants

Sir Nonsurat: It's summer and Arthur just vomited up the largest hairball I've seen today is going great

Shadow Kirby: Like I'd ever be marketable enough to become a plushie. Shadow Kirby: HELP I'VE BEEN TURNED INTO A MARKETABLE PLUSHIE

Lololo & Lalala: We're going to defeat you with the power of friendship and this glock we found!

Galacta Knight to literally any butterfly: Hey Morpho

Morpho Knight: I USE IT/SHE PRONOUNS!!!!!!!!!!!!! RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Lady Adeliza: ....Okay

[pat too]

[b4kuch1n]

IT ARRIVED IT ARRIVED IT ARRIVED

DESPITE EVERYTHING DESPITE MY CHRONICALLY CURSED INTERNATIONAL MAIL PROBLEM I AM STILL THE ZONE RPG

[triglycercule]

guys its finally done

after exactly like 3 months the killer analysis is FINALLY done......oh my trio we're so back WE'RE SO BACK!!!!! in exchange for this long awaited victory i will be working on a little comic.........killer WILL be featured there will be no more of excluding him here ‼️

here's a wip panel from it x3

[bearimba]

Johto Culture/Worldbuilding Headcanons

Since the New Bark Town kids are out of the way, I figured I'd do some basic worldbuilding stuff before we start covering more characters. There's more I'll cover later on, but to start off with, let's go over the general culture of Johto!

As a whole, the people of Johto lean towards more "traditional" values such as putting family first, a sense of obligation towards their communities (national pride/patriotism is very strong in older populations), an emphasis on respect towards elders, etc.

That being said, Johtonians are also very private---typically, what happens behind closed doors stays behind there for better or for worse. That doesn't mean people aren't extremely nosy, just that they wouldn't actively disrupt the public peace with their gossip.

Joint families are the most common form of family unit, though nuclear families have become more prevalent in cities such as Goldenrod due to limited living space. Houses tend to consist of one main living space (usually living room/kitchen/dining room combined) with bedrooms and bathrooms accessed through either a side hallway or a second floor. Sometimes (usually in downtown areas), a family business may be on the first floor while living/private spaces will be located on the second floor.

Similarly to Sinnoh, Johto's history is considered very important and conservation efforts are taken very seriously across the region. However, those efforts are mostly aimed towards preserving current knowledge instead of actively discovering the past, meaning there is still information that gets forgotten and lost to time.

Due to this (and also because of the burning of Brass Tower), Ho-Oh receives much more reverence than Lugia. Before, they were considered the twin guardians of the region and protected the balance between people and pokemon, but now, Ho-Oh has been deified while Lugia is sidelined and nearly forgotten.

Johtonians have a very distinct accent, mostly since they're a bit more secluded compared to other regions. Goldenrod and Saffron City residents have a stronger mix of Johtonian and Kantonian accents mostly due to tourists and commuting workers on the Magnet Train.

Johto exports a large amount of artisanal and handmade goods, especially woodcrafts such as cabinets or other large furniture (it's much more heavily wooded compared to other regions), but the region also has a very successful maritime industry that could almost rival Hoenn's.

Johtonians receive their ID card on their 13th birthday. At that point, they may opt in to take the gym challenge. If they do, they will receive a trainer card that contains information pertinent to the gym challenge on the back, which is then updated with every gym the trainer beats. They will keep the same ID their entire life regardless of whether they complete the challenge.

On a similar note, the age of majority is 20, which is a bit older than most other regions (Sinnoh/Kanto are 18, Hoenn is 17, etc etc.)

Children typically get their first pokemon (also referred to as their starter pokemon) at a very early age. This is to help teach them responsibility and respect for pokemon, and it provides them protection when they're unsupervised.

Public schooling is free up to 13 years age, at which point they can choose to pay to go to secondary school, take a break to go on a pokémon journey and take on the gym challenge, or quit altogether.

Far more often than not, children will take about a year to go on their journey and then go back to school. Upon their return, they generally have the option to skip certain classes (both the ones they missed and future classes) if they're able to put together a decent report detailing their experiences and what they learned on their journey. If not, they may have to catch up and even be forced to graduate a year later than their peers.

Nontraditional scenarios include students returning from their journey earlier or later than a year, students going on their journey and not returning to school, or going on their journey/dropping out of school at older than 13 years (there is technically no upper age limit at which the gym challenge can be started).

Crime rates are pretty low (especially major crimes such as assault, burglary, kidnapping etc.), which is part of the reason why children are allowed to roam the region unsupervised. This is mostly due to heavy restrictions on which/how many pokemon are legal to own, with and without certain permits. Additionally, the maximum number of occupied pokeballs a person is allowed to carry at once is six, although the average person will own at most three pokemon. Such laws are common in other regions, but Johto is more strict about their regulations.

Additionally, since taking care of children is often a community undertaking ("it takes a village to raise a child"), many adults will keep a close eye on nearby kids and keep them out of trouble regardless of whether they're related.

Honorfics are pretty much mandatory, the more so the younger you are. In a casual context, everyone older than the speaker is refered to as Aunt/Uncle no matter their actual age or relation. However, this can be seen as rude if said to someone of a similar age to the speaker. When speaking to strangers and/or people of an unknown age, it's safe to just refer to them as Ma'am/Sir. Grandma/Grandpa is a highly respected honorfic and is reserved for family-use only unless the speaker is invited (the same goes for Mom/Dad, just to a less strict degree). There are other honorfics in common use, but they're usually used in workplace/formal contexts (such as refering to coworkers, public employees, and even hosts if you're staying at someone's home).

Since traveling trainers can’t hold down a steady job, a common way to earn money is just to pop into local businesses and ask if they need help. It’s not guaranteed to work, but most businesses will either find something small for them to do or recommend a different business to ask.

Hospitality is a huge source of pride for most households, especially out in rural areas. It doesn't matter if the visitor is family or a complete stranger, they're to taken care of to the absolute best of a household's abilities. In return, guests treat their hosts with the upmost respect and will often leave tokens of their gratitude. (it's not uncommon for trainers to randomly show up at your door looking to spend the night if you live out in the middle of nowhere)

Live performance tends to be the most popular form of entertainment across the region, including traditional/ceremonial productions, theater, and music. Historical enactments are also very popular during festivals. This is in part because oral storytelling used to be the region's main form of chronicling its history. (There are a few exceptions, such as the Dragon's Den containing extensive records of the Dragon Tamers and the local area, but unfortunately, access to those records is generally very limited.)

Slowpoke tails are somewhat of a local delicacy, but because Slowpoke farms are few and far between (there's strict laws on humane treatment such as how many Slowpoke can be kept on one farm, the space and amenities required to keep them, harvesting methods, etc.), they tend to be quite expensive and typically have to be sourced from the farms themselves. Trying to export them in large enough quantities is even more expensive, especially before the shipping methods are modernized, so for a long time the tails remain purely a Johtonian cuisine.

[bookshelf-in-progress]

To prove that I am trying to write a retelling, here's a failed opening paragraph to a "King Thrushbeard" retelling that I'm never going to write.

Our first year of marriage, my husband and I lived in a hovel. It was a tiny, damp, dim little room, with a dirt floor, a straw roof, and a chimney that always smoked. It sat a mile from the nearest village, abandoned by a farmer who had failed. It sat on the banks of a tiny creek, and at sunrise I would leave the dim confines of the house to wade in the shallows and watch the water ripple over stones, watch the sun flash on the water, watch the birds dive for bugs and sing their praises to the living God who'd given them another day. Sometimes I dream of returning there—the creek would be the same, I think, even so many years later. Of course, at the time, I was miserable.