#Assembler Helper

[robinsnest2111]

change of plans. just helped my father assemble the new kitchen cabinet and install the oven and microwave instead of eating breakfast 👍

[dissolved-g1rl]

happy fathers day ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

You poke Vergil softly, enough that it makes a slight indention in his cheek. Feeling relief when he doesn’t stir, for a demon he’s a pretty heavy sleeper, maybe you’ve just domesticated him. You sneak out of bed, replacing yourself with a pillow, he nuzzles it and you stifle a laugh.

“Nero baby, wake up.” You croon, kneeling at his bedside, lightly jostling his shoulder, it’s bigger than his crib, a sign of his growth. You were so emotional that day, while Vergil had to basically assemble it all by his lonesome and deal with Nero excitedly bouncing around about his new “big boy bed”. “Mom.” He wipes his face with his sleeve, turning towards you with little crusties in his eyes, and faint lines dented in his cheek from his pillow. “Still wanna help with dad’s gift?” You ask softly, brushing his hair with your fingers. Nero nods, kicking his blanket off, holding his arms out towards you. You scoop him up, holding him from the bottom of his thighs as he loosely drapes his arms around your shoulders. You smoother his sleepy face with kisses, he looks like a baby kitten when he furls his nose “Mom!” He whines hiding his face in your neck, his sort hair’s tickling your skin. You pad to the kitchen, setting Nero onto the counter, riffling through the fridge, setting different ingredients down on the counter. “Can I crack the eggs mom?!” Nero asks, kicking his legs back and forth. “Shhh, dad’s sleeping, yeah baby you can crack the eggs, you’re my helper!”

Nero being “your helper” does more damage than good, but you know he’d be so heartbroken if you hadn’t woken him up to help, You wipe flour from his cheek, he wriggles away from your grasp like most toddlers do when you’re just trying to wipe ‘em. There’s dirty bowls in the sink, and whipped cream smears on the counter, it’s okay, you managed to create a cohesive breakfast for Vergil. A hefty stack of french toast, ripe berries laying to the side with picturesque dollops of whipped cream, all sprinkled with powdered sugar. You set everything very neatly on a tray, Nero has the large responsibility of holding Vergils mug of coffee. He toddles behind you staring the the mug with such intensity you’re further reminded of how much he is his father’s doppelgänger. You guys giggle your way into the master bedroom you set the tray down, taking the mug from Nero. He launches himself into bed, right on top of Vergil, jumping all over his dad, who groans, immediately sitting up. “Dad! Dad! Happy—Happy Father’s day!” Nero squeals, launching himself into his dad’s lap. “That’s today?” He murmurs, glancing at you from over Nero’s shoulder, he’s cupping the back of Neros head like a puppy. Vergil’s hair sticks up on one side and is flat on the other, he looks about as awake as someone could be when they’ve woken up to a toddler jumping around all over him. “It’s the same day every year.” You hum, picking the tray up and setting it beside him. “Dad I helped! I did the eggs, and umm I brushed my teeth.” Nero lists all his accomplishments, eager for dad’s praise. Nero sticks his tongue out like he’s at the doctor, showing all his little teeth, Vergil makes a face when Nero’s warm breath hits his face, continuing to pet his hair. “Good job.” He murmurs, looking at you appreciatively when you hand him his mug of coffee.

You sit beside him in bed, Vergil feeds Nero slices of strawberries from his plate, wiping his chin clean of dribbling juice. Vergil lays back in bed, propping his knees up, Nero sits on his dad’s bare stomach, laying back on his dads legs. “You want more fruit?” Vergil asks, raising his arm when you slot down beside him, pulling you close. Nero shakes his head, flopping to the side to wiggle his way in between the two of you.

“Hey! Give mom back.”

“She’s my mom!”

“She’s my wife!”

Nero sticks his tongue out at Vergil, and wriggles on top of you, smiling like a little gremlin when you reciprocate and wrap your arms around him. The disrespect of your son makes Vergil squint, he needs to find better babysitters who aren’t his idiotic brother. “Come here you little brat.” He grumbles, prying Nero from your arms, digging his fingers into Nero’s tummy and ribs, the little boy shrieks with giggles and high pitched laughter, flailing his arms around in an effort to escape. “Tch that’s when I thought.” Vergil grumbles, placing a kiss on Nero’s pudgy cheek. “Nero, why don’t you get the card you made?” You suggest and he gasps, remembering, eagerly clambering off his dads lap and running out of your bedroom. Vergil smiles at you lazily, “A father’s day card?” He asks pushing his hair back. “Just cause you forgot doesn’t mean we did.” You retort, adjusting a stubborn cowlick that droops forward on his forehead. “Thank you for breakfast, it was lovely.” He croons, kissing your cheek, then your mouth, he tastes like sugar.

Nero comes back weirdly out of breath, like bringing his card was a rather exasperating task. You feed him another strawberry and he’s okay, sitting in your lap, he’s a gentle little angel who knows better than to use you like a trampoline, his dad gets the brunt of it. “Mom I can’t find it.” He whines, looking at you with a pout , laying his head on your chest sullenly. “It’s okay, we’ll look for it later okay? Did you look in your bag?” You murmur, he nods, “I looked everywhere!” He sighs, “It’s okay Nero, we’ll find it.” You pat his back, Vergil is just happy he doesn’t have to fawn over glitter chunks. He sulks, and Vergil reaches over to brush through his hair when you give Nero back rubs.

The card is found by Vergil, it was in Nero’s transformers backpack. He sits on the corner of Neros twin sized bed, It’s dark blue, with black crayon, his heart skips a beat seeing how Nero writes the “D” in “Day” backwards. Inside floppy construction paper is a drawing done in marker, its the three of you, both of you on either side of him, Nero in the middle of you two smiling. Theres a big heart in the background, one side larger than the other. He hums, feeling a disgusting amount of affection bubbling in his stomach, and a little misty eyed. The rest of the day is spent as a family, he holds Nero close all day, for no reason of course, no reason at all.

dividers by @uzmacchiato

[jagalart]

I don't normally post my booth as a separate post, but this one was definitely my biggest yet! Huge thanks to my dad and the incredible @vrak_czlovieka for being the greatest helpers I could imagine, I wouldn't be able to assemble half of the things here without your help ❤️ Once again, huge thanks everyone for Pyrkon ❤️ see you all at Krakowski Festiwal Komiksu, Wakacyjne Targi Fantastyki and Dni Fantastyki! 🔥

[hoe4hotchner]

Christmas | [A.H] - Christmas 2024

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x Gn!Reader | WC: 0.8k | CW: Fluff, christmas based

A/N: Merry early Christmas to everyone.

Read other parts here: Snow | Tree | Presents | Christmas

The glow of the Christmas tree filled the living room with a soft, warm light as you placed the last ornament on its lower branches. Jack had taken care of most of the decorating, carefully hanging candy canes and baubles with excitement. Aaron stood nearby, holding an oversized mug of hot cocoa, complete with marshmallows that had melted into a frothy layer on top. He wasn't much for the sweet taste, compared to his usual black coffee or occasional green tea. But the pleading looks you and Jack had given him had been enough to persuade him.

“Looks perfect,” you said, stepping back to admire the tree.

Jack clapped his hands, his eyes twinkling in the light of the colorful string lights. “It’s the best tree we’ve ever had!” he exclaimed, bouncing slightly on his feet.

Aaron crouched down beside him, his smile soft but full of pride. “You did a great job, buddy,” he said, ruffling Jack’s hair. “Best decorator in the house.”

“And best helper,” you added, bending down to join them. “You’ve been working hard all day. I think that calls for some cookies and another Christmas movie.”

Jack’s face lit up even more. “Can we watch the one with the train?”

“Of course,” you said with a grin, knowing exactly which one he was talking about as you shared a glance with Aaron. He gave you a knowing smile, clearly happy to let you steer the evening, enjoying that he didn't have to be in charge when home.

While Aaron queued up the movie, you and Jack headed to the kitchen to grab a plate of cookies and refill everyone’s cocoa. Jack chattered excitedly about Santa’s arrival, his belief in the magic of Christmas still strong and pure.

“Do you think Santa will like the cookies we picked?” Jack asked, carefully balancing the plate as he carried it back to the living room.

“He’ll love them,” you assured him, guiding him to the coffee table where he set them down. “And I bet he’ll leave a thank-you note this year. But we have to remember to put out the milk before you go to bed.”

Jack beamed, and as the opening notes of the movie filled the room, he curled up between you and Aaron on the couch. Aaron’s arm stretched along the backrest, his fingers brushing your shoulder as Jack leaned against your side, clutching his stuffed reindeer tightly.

The morning came all too quickly, the faint sound of jingling bells pulling you from sleep. You blinked blearily, realizing the source of the noise was Jack racing down the hall, calling out, “Santa came! Santa came!”

Aaron stirred beside you, a sleepy smile spreading across his face. “He’s up early,” he murmured, voice rough from sleep.

“It’s Christmas morning,” you replied, stretching. “Can you blame him?” You both climbed out of bed, Aaron grabbing his robe and you throwing on a sweater before heading to the living room. Jack was already at the tree, kneeling in front of the neatly wrapped gifts and inspecting the tags.

“No peeking,” Aaron said, his voice laced with mock sternness as he entered the room. Jack froze, caught mid-reach, but Aaron’s warm smile quickly set him at ease.

“Can we open them now?” Jack asked vibrating with excitement.

“Presents first, or breakfast?” you asked teasingly, knowing full well what his answer would be.

“Presents!” he shouted, earning a soft laugh from both you and Aaron. You handed Jack the first gift, watching as he tore into the wrapping paper with eager hands. His delighted gasp when he uncovered the train set he’d been asking for was worth every late-night wrapping session and the relentless searching for that specific set. Aaron helped him open the box, and the two of them immediately got to work on assembling the tracks, almost forgetting about the rest of the gifts.

You sat back, watching them. The sight of Aaron patiently guiding Jack through each step, his expression full of love and warmth, made your heart swell. This was what Christmas was all about — moments like this, filled with laughter and connection.

Once the gifts were all unwrapped and the living room floor was a chaotic sea of paper and ribbons, you all settled in for breakfast. Aaron took over pancake duty, flipping what should've been reindeer-shaped batter on the griddle while Jack “helped” by sprinkling powdered sugar on the finished ones.

As you all sat down to eat, Jack launched into an animated recap of his favorite gifts, making both you and Aaron laugh.

Aaron reached for your hand under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Merry Christmas,” he said softly, his eyes meeting yours.

“Merry Christmas,” you replied, squeezing back.

Jack’s giggles filled the room as he smeared syrup on his face in his enthusiasm, and you couldn’t help but smile. It was messy and chaotic and absolutely perfect — a Christmas to remember.

The day stretched ahead of you, full of more family traditions and the simple joy of being together.

[strangelittlestories]

"I hesitate to say that you've 'screwed the pooch', but only because it's an understatement."

The Gray Wolf and Reynard the Fox stood over the smoking ruins of the fairytale castle.

The Gray Wolf continued, "It may be more accurate to say that you have single-handedly assembled a 3-piece flatpack canine-themed bedroom suite."

"Alright, hear me out though-" Reynard was cut off by a secondary explosion, which took out the one remaining tower.

The fox danced out of the way, hot-footing around the flaming debris. The Gray Wolf, meanwhile, shapeshifted into a firebird to avoid the scorching mess.

"I would say you crapped the bed," continued the wolf/bird, "but in fact you have turned an entire luxury hotel into a collection of 4-poster manure heaps. The hotel owner will need to pivot to selling fertiliser and that is not the career they dreamed."

"Okay, but-"

"When you brought me in to help with this job, I trusted in the quality of your reputation as a trickster, huckster and confidence creature." The Gray Wolf transformed back into her familiar salt-and-pepper form and gave Reynard a wintry form. "Imagine my surprise that it turned out the only trick you ever pulled was convincing the world that a single braincell of yours existed."

"On the plus side, technically we did save the shepherd girl?"

"Saved her from what? A life of luxury in the palace with the Queen? All we needed to do was get her in the right place, provide a little guidance, and help her answer some riddles." A wolf should not be able to tut like a schoolteacher, but this one managed it. "Admittedly, the interference from the 'Stiltskin was unexpected, but your incompetence leads me to only one conclusion."

"Which is?" replied the fox, miserably, slinking into a sad embarrassed puddle of red fur, "That I'm a waste of ink? A story whose moral is failure? A two-bit firecracker in a ten-shilling box? Proof the oral tradition was a waste of breath if it produced me? I've heard it all before."

"No. Never put down to incompetence what should be attributed to malice." The Gray Fox pounced on Reynard and pinned him to the ground, revealing the knife of bleached boned hidden in the dirt beneath him. "My conclusion is that you're a traitor."

"Aw, dang." Reynard's eyes lit up with the flames of chaos. "I really thought I had you there. Turns out the animal helper can help herself too!"

"Who turned you? The snow queen? King Cole?"

"Oh, that's a long story." Reynard smiled a smile that had beguiled a thousand fools. "And you don't have time..."

Then the third explosion went off.

---

Enjoy my stories? Consider supporting my live show! https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/poor-life-choices-at-the-edinburgh-fringe

[drarryspecificrecsdaily]

2024.12.24 ~ Christmas Eve

Complete fics posted on AO3 this day

1. Oxytocin by WouldItWere [E, 179k]

Draco Malfoy cannot sleep. If he keeps going like this, he will go mad, or die, or both. For some reason, though, he can sleep whenever Harry Potter is with him. And Harry Potter is nothing if not a helper to those in need.

---

Fest/Exchange

1. As Luck Would Have It by Anonymous [E, 12k]

In Sixth-Year, Harry and Draco both win a vial of Felix Felicis from Slughorn and, under its influence, have sex in the Room of Requirement. In the aftermath, can Draco and Harry navigate their respective roles in the war, while grappling with their burgeoning feelings for each other? ★ H/D Erised 2024 | @hd-erised

2. where i have to go by @hollyhawthorn [E, 8k]

assembly instructions for something new in an old place. ★ Magical Menagerie Gift Exchange 2024

---

★ DCC Holiday Exchange

Birthday Blues by @edieblakee [M, 5k]

Burn Like Fire by @dodgerkedavra [E, 4k]

How Much by @kamaela [E, 3k]

Northbound by @pl0tty [T, 6k]

Shag, Interrupted by @arminaa8 [E, 1k]

Under the Mistletoe by @jelliewrites [E, 4k]

[matthewswifeyx]

Matt building Y/N's furniture <3

Warnings- suggestive, swearing, pet names

I have this habit of randomly hanging my room suddenly, but the problem is, I can't build furniture to save my own life. Good thing I have Matt though. He never turns down helping me out, that's what makes him so sweet.

I had bought new shelves, a desk, a dresser, a chair and a full length mirror. So this challenge was going to take pretty much all day.

All of the boxes were laid out across my wooden floor, Matt had the idea of building the furniture in the order of which one looked the easiest wo build. So he started off with my mirror. I did try helping him, but I was more of a distraction than a helper to Matt.

"Just sit on your bed, read, and look pretty. Okay sweetheart?" He smirked at me.

"Yes Matty." I huffed out in frustration and took my book off of my bedside table.

Matt had his well used tool box open beside him. He screwed in what he had to screw for the mirror, and assembled it perfectly.

"Where do you want this baby?" He asked.

"In this corner please, Matty." I blushed.

Matt moved the mirror into the corner and got going onto his next task. I had already marked on my wall on where I had wanted my shelves, so all Matt had to do was place the screws in the holes and drill it into the wall.

Every now and again Matt's hand would meet his forehead to swipe away any beads of sweat. My hardworking Matt. He was wearing a plain white wife beater with grey sweatpants hanging dangerously low on his hips. I wasn't actually reading, I was watching Matt over the pages of my book. He was so hypnotizing, in literally any activity I cannot keep my eyes off him.

"Fuck!" Matt yelled out. I was startled out of my trance.

"What's wrong?" I placed my book to my side.

"They forgot one of the screws." He said.

"I can go see if there are any in the kitchen draws? You could probably find anything in there." I joked and sat up.

"Uhh yeah, please." He flashed me a quick smile

I got up off of my bed and trotted towards the kitchen, I searched through the draws for a couple of minutes until I found a packet filled with a variety of different sized screws. Drilling had started, coming from my bedroom. I snatched the bag from the draw and went back to Matt. I opened the door again and held up the bag.

"I have your scre-" I was met with a now shirtless Matt drilling a shelf into my wall. Could there be a hotter sight? The drilling stopped just like me. And Matt looked over.

"Cat got your tongue?" he asked sarcastically. he also chuckled under his breath at my reaction to him and the expression on my face. I walked over towards Matt, still not saying anything. It's not like I had never seen Matt shirtless before, it's just the situation Matt it more intense. My face began to grow hot and turned a light shade of pink. I handed the screws over to him. I sat back down on my bed 'continued' reading. My eyes sat nicely staring over the top of my book again. "Seriously Y/N stop staring." He laughed. "Or i'll have to make you."

"It's not my fault you look hot." I said without thinking, not even realising what he had just said. It hit me and I grew impossibly redder. But, I wanted to play along. "Go on then." Matt had gone back to drilling. He stopped again, and dropped the drill.

"Fuck the shelves." He came over to the bed and smashed his lips against mine. I fell back onto my bed, Matt still kissing. My book had fallen from my hands and went on the floor somewhere.

Lets just say that Matt didn't put the shelves up that day, and had to continue his work tomorrow.

Banner credits to @bernardsbendystraws <33

Hey guys! If you have any suggestions/requests please do not hesitate to send me a quick message, and i will try and get back to you asap! <3

[syrupyy]

end of an era (10/27/2021-01/07/2025)

cookie run fans,

it is with sadness in my typing that I announce the end of the original (pre-Comic Studio) Cookie Comic Creator. the hosting company killed it b/c the debit card that was paying for it expired, and I completely did not see the payment failed notice in the flood of spam emails they send me every month - I have so much more I could say about why this company sucks, but point is I do not have all the files as they were before, and it would be too much hassle to bring it back when the site has been all but replaced with Cookie Run Comic Studio

if I don't forget to (and can find it all), I will add the last few changes I made to its code to github.com/syrupyy/cook... but, as it hasn't gotten new cookies or updates in a year+ anyways I just redirected it to Cookie Run Comic Studio, which is better and you really should be using it anyways...

thank you all for making comics with the stupid site I made for my friends to celebrate crob's 5th anniversary for so long HAHA. I know some people (in South Korea and China especially) still prefer CCC over CRCS, but the host has basically forced my hand here - and it's for the best IMO! we've put so much work into Comic Studio over the past two and a half years, and if you haven't tried it I highly suggest you do :')

also, it's worth mentioning that Comic Studio is doing great and is not going anywhere for as long as it pays my (and my friend and helper, illbloo's) bills. I keep daily backups of all its content, and HyperHimes has been keeping the Cookie Run studio up to date for me, so rest assured this will not affect anything on that front!!! we're also working on Scene Studio, and a whole bunch of other projects under a company I recently started - expect to hear more about that soon. for now though, we mourn the site that put us on the map; the idea that started it all with 600 lines of hastily assembled JavaScript.

(note: the official tag for posting comics on Tumblr will still be #cookie comic creator. this is for legacy reasons, but I also think it's cool to keep the original name going in spirit - you can always just set the panel size to Classic and pretend nothing has changed, after all!!)

so long and thanks for the unicorns, syrupyy

[pitchsidestories]

Carve your name into my bedpost II Millie Bright x Reader

chelsea women masterlist I word count: 1856

"All of this silence and patience, pining in anticipation My hands are shaking from holding back from you (ah, ah, ah) All of this silence and patience, pining and desperately waiting My hands are shaking from all this (ah, ha, ha, ha) Say my name and everything just stops I don't want you like a best friend" ~ Taylor Swift, Dress

Since Millie Bright joined the Chelsea FC Women squad in 2015, the friendship between you two has grown and deepened over the years. You began to work for the blues around the same time as physio for the women’s team. The same amount of time the defender had spend at the club you had a crush on the broad-shouldered defender who’s hugs always brightened up your day, even the particular grey ones due to the English weather. Pun fully intended.  But you were sure whatever was going on you were supposed to stay best friends.  All those things went through your mind earlier that day when the English football player was named captain for Chelsea during the season 23/24 which was about to start soon.

Millie’s snot brought you back into the present moment, arguing with you over her phone: “No, I’m coming to your place, don’t start without me. Rach texted me; she will join us later.”

“I’m fine, I can do this on my own. Really you don’t need to come.”, you told your friend.  

The northern woman scoffed at your remark: “Too late. You said you need help building your new bed, so I’m coming over.”

“Thank you, Millie.”

“No, worries. And don’t do anything until I’m at your place.”, she demanded with a smile on her pretty lips.

You could not help to roll your eyes a little by the comment the blonde made: “You don’t think I’m strong enough, huh?”

“No, I know you can be clumsy.”, the defender laughed.

“Oh, please that one time.”, you tried to downplay your clumsiness. On the other side Millie grinned: “You know exactly that you’re!” With a loud sigh you gave in: “Okay, I’ll wait until you arrived.” 

A few minutes later you opened the door for your best friend, your face being lit up the moment your eyes were set on her: “Hi, don’t worry, I got some snacks and drinks for my little helpers.”

“I hope they’re at least good snacks. If I’m being paid with food, I want it to be delicious.”, the blonde winked at you.

With a sweet smile you promised her: “Of course they’re, if you’re lucky you can get paid with hugs aswell.”

“Who said I like hugs?”, Millie asked in a playful tone.

“You might be tall, broad shouldered, muscled as hell and have a lot of tattoos but I know you still like them, you paused for a second before adding, you know looks can be deceiving.”

The defender just rolled her eyes at you; “Stop quoting Mapi’s tattoos.“ You innocently blinked at her; “Don’t worry, you’re still my favourite defender, Millie.“ She scrunched her nose in mock disgust but you didn’t notice.

You led her into your bedroom where multiple pieces of the furniture were laying on the floor, covered in packaging material. “So, those are all the parts we need to build the bed.“ Millies’ gaze wandered over the floor and then back to you; “What’s all of that?“

With a guiltless smile on your face, you moved closer to her, the instruction manual in one hand; “Here are the instructions and in the end it’s supposed to look like this.“ You pointed to the picture on the front of the manual.

Millie immediately grimaced; “Really? That’s the bed you chose?“ “What? You don’t like it?“, you yelled out, feigning outrage. „No.“, Millie continued teasing. With a smirk, you crossed your arms in front of your chest; “I thought you like challenges. This is one.“

“You can stop that. I’m already on it.“, Millie finally gave in and sat down on the floor. You followed suit and watched her starting to assemble the first pieces of the bed frame; “Okay, tell me, how can I help you?“ The defender nodded towards the manual; “Hold the instructions for me.“ “Okay, I got you.“, you replied, doing as you were told, even though you knew she only wanted to keep you busy while she worked.

She laughed at how serious you took your task; „Thanks.“ “You’re welcome.“ “Very good job.“ You let her work in silence. Millies messy bun bounced on top of her head as she put the pieces together and your bed slowly took shape.

Your gaze was fixed on her prominent biceps that constantly flexed and relaxed. You couldn’t stop yourself from touching her arm; “Your strength is really impressive.“ It was genuine awe mixed with a bit of teasing. Your touch send a shiver through Millies body that was barely noticeable. “Please don’t disturb the work.“, she warned with a laugh.

“Okay fine, I’ll let you continue in peace.”, you sighed. Relived that she could focus on building your bed now and stop being distracted by your presence which made Millies heart race faster and made her questions her feelings toward you, the defender said: “Thanks.”

It took a few hours until the woman from the Northern part of England finished your bed but when it was finally done you let out a delighted squeak: ”Doesn’t the bed look amazing? Time to test it.”

Immediately you two jumped onto the bed at the same time, that was the moment when the Chelsea player confirmed giggling, It doesn’t look amazing. But at least it’s sturdy.” “Well, we kind of proved the sturdiness now.”, you told her, the comment turning the cheeks of your best friend red.

“Not too bad. For now, let’s check if the mattress is comfy too.”, Millie decided, laying fully down with her body on the mattress and gazing on to the ceiling because she knew looking into your face in this moment would only make her blush deeper.

Meanwhile you kept your gaze on her, mildly amused: “It’s very comfy if you ask me.” “I think I have to agree. You’ll sleep well in here.”, the defender admitted, her hand running through her light hair, turning the bun even messier.

A small gesture you could not help but noticing, before you confessed half-jokingly half serious: “Without you I’d still have slept on the mattress.”

Looking at you with a side eye the blonde replied grinning:” You’re lucky you’ve me.” “I’m very happy to call you my best friend.”, you said in an honest tone.

The tension between you two was getting almost unbearable which caused Millie to clear her throat: “You’re very welcome.” Quickly the Chelsea player decided to ask nervously: “So, I guess we’re done here.”

“Right.”, you nodded slowly not sure in which direction this confirmation would take you.  

The defender reminded you with a smirk on her face:” But I was promised snacks.” “Wait, right here, I’ll get them for you.” your best friend looked up to you grateful as you were serving her the food she asked for: “Thanks.”

With interest, you watched her try the offered snacks; “And? What do you think? Am I paying you right?“ “Yeah, definitely.“, Millie nodded, still chewing. A satisfied grin tugged on your lips; “Good.“ “Delicious.“ “You can get the hugs after you ate if you want them.“, you suggested amused.

“I want them now!“, protested the defender. “Alright, come here.“, you stood up, dragging her up with you. You wrapped your arms around the waist of the taller woman and pressed your cheek against her shoulder. The hug threw her off balance; “Woah, wait,“

”Woah?“ ”Don’t make me lose my balance.“, Millie laughed, pushing herself against you to steady you both. You grinned up at her; “I won’t. I will catch you.“ “You can’t catch me if your hugs are the reason I lose balance. It’s physics.“, Millie reminded you.“Want me to stop?“

The smile disappeared from the defenders face; “No…“ “Are you sure?“, you smirked but still let your arms drop to let Millie out of the hug. “Sure. Come here.“, she replied, pulling you back into her and carefully picking you up to carry you over to the bed.

You laughed while she dropped you on the mattress; “Time for bed.“ “Sleepy after your nations league games?“, you teased as Millie sat down beside you. Millie laughed, “Actually, I meant for you.“ You nodded in agreement; “Yes, being a physio can be very tiring.“ “Good that you have your new bed now.“ You watched her lay back on your bed.

Slowly you turned around to face your best friend, searching for her familiar blue eyes; “Millie? Will you stay the night?“ “You know I don’t live that far away.“, Millie stated plainly and you distinctly noticed that she didn’t decline. “I know that…“, you mumbled but before you could add something, Millie slowly nodded; “But I can stay.“ “I’d like that… very much“, you whispered, suddenly painfully aware of how close your faces were. And without thinking further about it, you bridged the gap between you two and pressed your lips on the football players’.

Surprised the defender stammered: ”What was what?” The bewildered look on the blonde’s face made you regret your fearlessness: „Shit, I’m so sorry.”

“No.”, determined the defender shook her head. Now it was your turn to be the one who was looking confused: “Wait, what?” “Do that again.”, Millie demanded. Your heart was pounding hard against your chest as you followed her wish, nervously you took a moment to watch her following facial expressions:” What do you think?” “This is nice.. I like it.”, the Chelsea player replied. Truthfully you told her: “Me too.”

“Hello girls! Finally!”, Rachel greeted them cheerfully as she entered the bedroom with a spare key to your home in the free hand. The Aston Villa player laughed because you two looked very embarrassed and she did not get why. Anxiously her best friend questioned her sentence:” Finally?”

“I mean finally, the bed is built.”, Rachel stated smirking. A giggle escaped the defender’s usually huge mouth: “Oh you mean that.” The grin of the Aston Villa player intensified: “Oh and you two were about time too.” “What?!”, you exclaimed astonished by the statement of your good friend. Flustered Millie added: “I thought we were talking about the bed.” “I thought so too.”, you mumbled under your breath.

The bright smile stayed on Rachel’s lip while she joked:” Oh sure. I was definitely talking about the bed.” “Rach!”, you screamed embarrassed. The woman who was called after shrugged her shoulders in a nonchalant manner:” I was just checking if you’re done or if you still needed help. But it looks like all is well, so..see you tomorrow.”  “See you tomorrow, Rachel.”, Millie said her goodbye to her best friend. “Good night you two.”, Rachel waved at you before she went to leave your home for now.

After you could hear the Aston Villa player was ultimately gone you hid the face in your hands:” Oh my god.” “She knows.”, the blonde laughed. “Sounds like she knows us better than we do.”  A crooked smile lit up the defender’s face: “I’ve to kill her for that tomorrow.” “But for now.”, “For now?”, Millie threw her eyebrows up teasingly. “Can we go back to kissing?”  “On your new bed?”, the blonde wanted to know. “Yes.”, you nodded. “Coming!”

[lemonlover1110]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟑𝟖𝟏

Toji Fushiguro

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[Chapter 12] Toji's Second Job

Pairing: Toji Fushiguro x f!Reader

Discord +18 - Twitter - Ko-Fi

Getting something for Toji is a task that you find impossible. You’re not sure what kind of gift he’d appreciate. Your big issue with Toji is that while you think that you’ve got his personality right, you’re not too sure about his interests; so when it comes to buying something, you’re completely clueless. 

You’re making him a cake, cooking something special for him, the last thing you’re missing is his gift. You have no idea what to get him, and since Toji is back to work in new years, you’re taking care of Megumi; no one knows Toji better than Megumi. Of course, you hadn’t thought it through.

“What do you think your daddy would like for his birthday?” You ask him, his eyes are just focused on the buttercream that you’re working on. He sits on the counter while you’re working.  He licks his lips, his mouth salivating at the sight. You chuckle, “Megumi, I’ll let you taste the buttercream if you tell me what you’d think your father would like.”

“Um… Your teddy bear.” Megumi answers, pointing to the big bear that you have in your apartment. You chuckle, and you tilt the bowl so he can stick his finger in and get some of the frosting. He gave you an answer, just not the one that you were expecting. Maybe a shirt is good enough.

“Thank you for your help, Megumi.” You pat his head. Once he gets the bit of frosting, he asks to be put on the floor and you help him down and watch as he runs to the TV. You keep thinking about what you should get for Toji though, even though a shirt should be enough, it isn’t. He’s the same man that got you a charm bracelet for the holidays even though you weren’t expecting anything.

Toji isn’t expecting anything from you but you still want to give him something. Maybe when Megumi is asleep in his apartment you can… No, sex isn’t a birthday gift. You’re completely empty, and you try to occupy yourself with the cake that you’re making. A shirt will suffice.

You’re doing more than what you intended, and definitely more than what he expects. You just have to finish the cake and you’ll go out shopping with Megumi to get Toji’s shirt. Maybe you’ll go to his apartment to look at the size he wears (most likely a large or extra large) before going shopping.

“Do you want to go shopping, Megumi?” You ask, and he’s too focused on the television to care about what you’re saying. It makes you laugh; you’ll repeat the question later, but now you have to assemble this cake.

Your phone rings, and you almost miss it, but thankfully Megumi hears it. He breaks from his trance and walks over to you, holding up the phone that displays Toji’s name. You pick it up, a smile on your face before you mutter a thank you to your little helper.

“Hey, Toji. What’s up?” You greet him. You watch as Megumi walks back to his spot, ready to continue watching his show.

“Hi…” He sounds embarrassed. You wait for him to say something else because you’re not going to repeat yourself. “I’ll be showing up late.”

“Late? How late?” You ask him. You don’t want to spoil the surprise, so you’re just hoping that he doesn’t have to work till too late. He tells you the time, and it’s a bit late but you can make it work. “Alright, I’ll see you then, Toji. Megumi and I will have so much fun without you.”

“You’re mean.” He responds with a chuckle. You laugh as well, saying your goodbye and hanging up the phone. 

You stare at the buttercream of the cake, and realize that you have a lot more time to spare now.

There’s a knock on the door, way past midnight. It awakens you. You realize you’ve got your arm thrown over Megumi and you’re both on the floor. You get up from the floor, a yawn escaping your lips as you stretch. There’s another knock, and you begin to walk to the door. It’s probably Toji, who’s way too late. He told you a somewhat reasonable time, not– Your eyes fall on the digital clock that you have. You squint your eyes and read it. Three in the morning.

You open the door to find Toji, a sheepish smile on his face. He steps into the apartment to pick up a sleeping Megumi. His eyes fall on the counter, where he finds a plate of cold food, a plate that was meant for him. He picks up Megumi from the floor and goes back to the door. He bites down on his lip before muttering, “Didn’t think it’d take so long.”

“You’re fine.” You try to smile at him, your eyes closing on their own. You yawn again and point at the counter, “There’s some food there for you, you can heat it up and eat it if you’re hungry.”

“Okay, thank you.” Toji responds, he takes the plate of food. He walks out of the apartment, and you shut the door. You lay down on your bed, and your phone brightens up. You can’t help but pick it up to see what it is. It’s just a stupid notification for a game but then you notice you have multiple messages from an unknown number.

You’re about to turn off your phone to go back to sleep, assuming it’s just a stupid scam but your curiosity gets the best of you. You unlock your phone and click on the message. The images wake your half-asleep-self back up. You’re wide awake.

“That lying son of a bitch.” You say, looking at the pictures. You really can’t believe it, the man that swore he wasn’t dating is right there.

He’s all dressed up, his arm intertwined with another woman’s– The same woman that you accused him of dating. Momoko. They’re smiling at each other. You swipe to see the next picture and he’s pecking her lips. You feel your stomach churn and you drop your phone. 

You want to run to the apartment next to you and pound on the door, letting him hear a piece of your mind. You manage to take a deep breath before laying back down on the bed and shutting your eyes. It’s not worth it. 

You’re not wondering who sent you the images, you just know that you’re so fucking pissed off at Toji. You’re fucking jealous.

You hear a knock on your door again, and you know it’s him. You’re thinking of just ignoring him and trying to fall asleep. You’ve set your mind to it, but he knocks again. You’re raging, you doubt that you’ll fall asleep so it’s best to handle the situation now; so you get up from the bed and open up the door to find Toji much more comfortable.

“Hey… The food was good, I meant to–” He begins, and your blood boils as you hear him speak. You can’t handle just standing there emotionless.

“I know that you were on a date with Momoko!” You burst, and his eyebrows furrow. He looks confused, and you’re starting to wonder if that was actually him in the pictures. Maybe your heavy eyes saw wrong, and it wasn’t him. You almost believe it when he responds,

“What are you talking about?” You step into the room to get the birthday bag with his gift. You hand it to him before sighing. 

“That’s your birthday gift.” You tell him, and he looks inside to find a shirt. It has nothing to do with your current conversation, but you don’t want to hold on to it. After taking a peek at the shirt, he goes back to your original conversation.

“What do you mean about Momoko?” He asks.

“I don’t know who but they sent me pictures and–” You begin, and he bites down on his lip. Maybe he should apologize for lying to you, but that’s the last thing he’s going to do.

“That’s not your business.” He says, and you raise your brows. You’re taken back by his response, and you feel tears well up in your eyes. You have no idea why he– He’s so fucking confusing.

“I thought we had something going on, Toji. You kissed me yesterday… Not even just that. I spent my entire day taking care of your son free of charge, baking a cake for you, cooking dinner, I went out of my way to buy you that gift. The least I deserve is an explanation and not a lie.” You tell him, fighting back your tears. Toji bites down on his tongue, not sure how to respond. He’d give all his money away to be able to know what to say right at this moment, but he doesn’t. You chuckle, trying not to cry. “Would you look at the time? I should go to bed.”

“Wait– I swear Momoko is no one.” He stops you when you begin to walk away. It’s three in the morning, the main thing in your mind should be sleep, especially since your eyes are closing on their own. You shouldn’t push for an answer, you should let him go back to his apartment to sleep and continue a cordial relationship with him. Yet you still say,

“Right… That’s why you were kissing her.”

“Show me these pictures.” Toji orders, and you purse your lips together. You stare at him for a moment, unsure if you want to actually show him. You still walk to get your phone, and you pull up the pictures. When you hand him the phone, he takes a deep breath. It’s him. There’s no way he can deny it.

“I don’t care if you’re seeing her, just don’t… Try to get with me or lie to me about what you’re doing.” You respond, and it’s taking everything in you to not burst into tears. Toji sighs, and he’s trying his best to figure out what to say. “I’m tired, Toji. I don’t know why I believed you.”

“We’re not dating.” Toji says, even though he saw it clearer than day how he kissed another woman.

“Do you just kiss random women?” You ask him, and his lack of response makes you shut the door but his hand stops it. You’re not ready for the words that leave his mouth next.

“I’m an escort.”

[citrineandrosmarin]

🦉Athena Masterpost: Epithets🦉

🐍 Masterpost Link 🐍

Last updated: 30 April did a full revamp and added some epithets

Note: I use "kh" for chi (X) instead of "ch" and "u" for upsilon instead of "y". Colored dots correspond to sources at the bottom, otherwise source is stated in the entry

Aiolomorphos ● "Shapeshifter/Of changing form" -Orphic Hymn to Athena

Aithuia/Aithyia ●● “Diver” -May refer to a diving bird, such as a gull, shearwater or gannet, or potentially refers to Athena teaching ship-building or navigation as ‘aithuia’ more figuratively refers to a ship.

Ageleia ●● “Leader or protectress of the people”, or perhaps “pillager”, “she who carries off the spoils”, or “war-leader.”

Agoraia ●●● “Protector of the assemblies of the people in the agora/Of the marketplace”

Alalkomeneia ●●●●● “Powerful Defender/Protectress/She Who Wards Off/Helper in Battle” -Could also be from the Boeotian village of Alalcomenae where she was believed to have been born. 

Alkis ● “Strong One” or “The Strong”

Alkidemos ● “Defender of the people”

Alea ●●●● “Protectress/Shelter/Asylum” -From a syncretism with a local goddess, Alea.

Alexikakos ● "Averter of evil"

Amboulia ●● Unknown, may mean “Without Council” or “Delayer of death”

Anassa ● “Queen/Lady”

Anemotis ● “The subduer of the winds”

Apatouria ● “Of Deception, Deceiver”

Apatropaia ● "Protector from evil"

Areia ●●● “The warlike/Of war” -Possibility that this epithet is derived from ara, a prayer, or from areo/aresko, to propitiate or atone for

Atrutone/Atrytone ● "The Unwearying" -Iliad, Book 21

Arkhegetes ●● -Invoked under this epithet as a founder of Athens

Axiopoinos ●● “Returning Vengeance/ The Avenger”

Boulaia ●●●● “Of the Council”

Despoina ●● “Lady/Mistress”

Dios ekgegauia ● "Zeus-born"

Drakaina ● "She-Dragon/She-snake"

Epekoos ● “Listening to prayer”

Ergane ●●●● “The Worker” -Refers to Athena’s domain and instruction of the arts

Eriopis ● “Strong-eyed”

Eruma/Eryma ● “Defender”

Erusiptolis ● "City Protector" -Homeric Hymn 11

Euresitekhnos ● "Inventor of the arts" -Orphic Hymn to Athena

Gigantoleteira ● “Destroyer of Giants”

Glaukôpis ●●●●● “Bright-eyed/Gleaming-eyed/Darting-eyed/Blue-eyed/Grey-eyed/Owl-eyed” -Glaukos denotes a quality of gleaming or shining brightness. It can also refer to the little owl (glaux).

Gorgolaphas/Gorgolopha ●● “Gorgon-Crested”

Gorgopis ●● “Gorgon-eyed”

Hephaisteia ● “Of Hephaistos”

Hippia ●●●● “Of Horses”

Hippelateira ● "Driver of Horses" -Orphic Hymn to Athena

Hoplokhares ● "Delighting in arms" -Orphic Hymn to Athena

Hoplophoros ● "Armed," "Warrior" -Orphic Hymn to Athena

Hormasteira ● "One who urges on" -Orphic Hymn to Athena

Hugeia/Hygeia ●●●● “Of good health”

Huperdexia/Hyperdexia ● “Protector of the people”

Keleuthia ● “Of the Road”

Khalinitis ●● “Tamer of Horses by means of the bridle”

Khalkioikos ●●●● “Of the Bronze House”

Khrusolopha/Khrysolopha ● "Golden-plumed"

Khrusolonkhos/Khrysolonkhos ● “Golden-speared”

Kissaia ● “Of the Growing Ivy”

Koruphasia/Koryphasia ● “Of the Head”

Koruphagenes/Koryphagenes ● “Born of the Head”

Korie/Koria ●●● “Maiden/Of girls”

Kranaies ● “Of Cornel-Wood,” or "Of the Ram"

Kyparissia ● “Of the Cypress Grove”

Leitis ●● “Distributor of War Booty,” “Goddess of Plunder”

Medousa ●● “Queen”

Meter/Mater ●●● “Mother”

Mekhanitis ● “Inventor/Contriver (of Plans and Devices)/Skilled in inventing”

Mousike ● “Musician”

Moria ●●● Could mean “The Fateful” but was used in relation to Athena’s protection of the sacred olive trees, the moriai.

Narkaia ●● Could mean ‘goddess who petrifies’ but it comes from Elis where there was the hero Narkaios who built a temple to Athena Narkaia and the epithet may come from that.

Nike ●●●● “Victory”

Nikephoros ●● “Bringer of victory”

Obrimopatre ● “Daughter of a mighty father”

Ophthalmitis ●● “Of the Eyes”

Optiletis ● “Sightful”

Oxuderkes/Oxyderkes ●●● “Sharp-Sighted,” “With penetrating gaze,” “claer-sighted”

Paionia ● “Healer”

Pallas ●● Uncertain meaning. May refer to the myth of Athena’s childhood friend Pallas, or of the giant named Pallas whom she slayed, or may come from the verb pallein, “to brandish,” or from the word parallax, for “maiden.”

Pammakhos ● Either “Victor in combat sports” or “Warrior par excellence”

Pareia ● "Adder"

Parthenos ●●●● “Maiden”

Phemia ● "The Oracular"

Phobesistrate ● “Router of armies”

Phratria ●●● -Refers to her role in overseeing young men’s entry to citizenship, and young women’s transition to the status of citizen wives.

Polemedokos/Polemadoke ●●● “War-sustaining”

Polias/Poliatis ●●●● “Of the City”

Polioukhos ●●●● “Protectress Of the City”

Poluboulos/Polyboulos ● "Exceedingly wise," "Much-counselling" -From the Odyssey

Polumetis/Polymetis ●● “Cunning in many ways/Crafty”

Potnia ● “Queen”

Promakhos ●●"Champion,” “Fighter at the front”

Promakhorma ●●●● “Protector of the Bay,” “The one who fights in the front,” “Guardian of the anchorage”

Pronoia ●●● “Of foresight”

Pulaimakhos ● “Fighter at the gates”

Salpnix ●● “Of the war trumpet”

Soteira ●●●● “Savior”

Sthenias ●● “Of Strength/Strong/Mighty”

Tritogeneia ●●●●● May refer to her birth by the lake Tritonis in Libya or the river Triton in Boeotia, or a reference to her birth from Zeus’ head (“tritô” signifying the head)

Xenia ●● “Of Hospitality, Of the Foreigner” -Refers to her presiding over the laws of hospitality, and protecting strangers.

Zosteria ●● “Of the girdle/Girder in Armour”

Main Sources:

●Theoi.com

●Athena in the Classical World - Deacy, Susan & Villing, Alexandra

●Symbolic Elements in the Cult of Athena - Luyster, Robert

●Athena’s Epithets: Their Structural Significance in Plays of Aristophanes - Anderson, Carl

●Ancient Greek Cults - Larson, Jennifer

●Athena - Deacy, Susan

[sashathegreyhound]

"What Gordon had gone through was immense hurt. I mean at first he was disbelieving, and then almost inconsolable"

How does one justify a betrayal? Do you think decades later you could stare at a camera and talk about how heartbroken your ex best friend closest ally was when you helped his greatest counterpart, the person he had thought of as his greatest supporter (and why wasn't that you?), stab him in the back and steal his lifelong goal out from under him, and not regret it?

Could you convince yourself that it was necessary for the good of the party? Could you convince yourself that that made it worthwhile?

And now I will make the necessary connections to Julius Caesar yet again (hold out no hope for consistency in character assignations between posts, they're all Caesar at some point, trust me)

"If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar’s, to him I say that Brutus’s love to Caesar was no less than his. If then that friend demands why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.”

Caesar trusted Brutus completely, he was his greatest helper and closest friend. Their relationship was built on such love and trust that his support was never questioned. Cassius won Brutus on warnings of danger and promises of prosperity for the city-state. Brutus betrayed Caesar because he thought it would be better for Rome.

"Et tu Brute?"

It is strange then that even in the upholding of that betrayal you cannot help but look to him. Cassius may have won Brutus but the betrayal was Brutus' to enact and Caesar's to experience. Cassius may feel the fire of his actions for the rest of his life but he will not feel the hints of reconciliation, for that honour rests only in the one whose betrayal was so dumbfounding in the first place. It was not the counterpart who the world might have suspected to take that step, but the dearest friend who silently and tragically supported him that drove that final dagger home.

"I rather tell thee what is to be feared than what I fear, for always I am Caesar, come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf and tell me truly what thou thinkest of him”

He will live in constant fear of Cassius, always suspecting a betrayal or a fight or a coup where there is none. But will he ever trust you Brutus again?

Mystifyingly, yes.

[e-vay]

The Sonnet of Domino & Phlox - Ch2

[A/N: Click here to read the previous chapter. This story is also available to read on AO3]

“Aren’t they something?” an older gentleman asked with a sigh, adjusting the glasses on the edge of his long snout.

Domino continued affixing a spray nozzle to a hose but shifted her eyes in the direction of the shrew’s gaze. “Uhh…” she hesitated, unsure what to make of the orange, mechanical bipeds that stomped down the street. With each weighty step, the ground trembled and rattled the ladder the hedgehog was standing on. “What exactly are they, Mr. Mayor?”

“Our ticket to the future, that’s what!” The politician boasted. “Two months ago this eccentric human rides into town on a floating caravan! He requests a meeting with me, claiming he’s some kind of genius inventor who wants to help this great city reach its full potential,” He adjusted his vest with pride. “That’s when he showed me the blueprints for these beauties.”

Hedgehog and shrew watched as the two large robots paused in the middle of a large patch of untouched earth. With a metallic groan, the crude “hand” of one of the machines retracted into its arm and was replaced with a long drill head. It stiffly bent forwards and began boring into the ground. The bots were impressive but noticeably rough in their assembly, including large clunky bolts and bright orange paint hastily splashed onto the metal framework. The designs didn’t have the polish and finesse that one would normally find on something like a car, but perhaps that was to be expected from a budding inventor. Domino certainly didn’t know any better. Still, something about the eerie “smiley-face” logo that was stamped on each mech didn’t sit right with her…

“He told us these were cutting edge technology, that they would put us centuries ahead of neighboring towns, and golly was he right. They were only delivered a few days ago but they’ve already streamlined our building processes and made huge improvements to the city.” The mayor’s speech was interrupted by the sound of townspeople cheering as the two robots completed their construction – a well with a hand pump – in record time. Young children ran towards the well, heedless of the metal giants, and used the pump to draw up fresh water that they then splashed at one another. 

“Huh…” Domino mused. She returned her attention to the hose in her hand and sprayed a steady stream of water in the freshly cleared gutter that hung along the roof she was leaning against. She tilted her head either way, making sure no drips escaped from the seams of the gutter, before looking down at the rain spout and assuring that the water ran clear without any blockage. Satisfied with her work, she turned off the hose and descended down the ladder. “Gutter’s clean. You should be set for the winter.”

“They might be a little crude now, but with our investment, he promised the models will only get better,” The shrew said more to himself than the girl next to him. “Soon enough there’ll be smaller models, capable of doing just about anything!” He suddenly turned to the girl with a wide smile. “Just think! You’ll never have to be bothered with odd jobs ever again. It’s like he told me: ‘The Botniks are here for you!’”

Domino did her best to force a smile but couldn’t help but rock on her feet from discomfort. Odd jobs were how she got by. What was she meant to do if these “Botniks” started popping up everywhere? Well, best not to fret about it now.

“Um… Mr. Mayor?” the teal hedgehog hinted awkwardly. “I finished clearing the gutters.”

“Ah! Right, your payment!” The shrew took out his wallet and began counting the contents before hesitating with a pained smile. “Uh… You’ll have to forgive me… The salary posted on the job board is… outdated. We used most of the city’s annual budget investing in our ‘little’ robot helpers here so I can only give you half of what was originally offered.”

Domino’s quills bristled. HALF?! She nearly screamed out loud. Gee, would’ve been nice to know that BEFORE I scaled this blasted roof! She bit her tongue and took a deep breath in. This meant she’d need to take on more gigs than planned, and letting loose some snarky remarks to the mayor of all people would definitely get her kicked out of town before she’d made enough money. She forced a tight smile and politely pocketed the payment handed to her. 

“Nooooooo sweat…  If there’s anything else ya need that your big bots are too bulky for, just holler!” 

She turned on her heel before she said something stupid. 

Glancing up at the town clock, Domino’s grimace was quickly replaced with an excited grin. She sprinted towards the city gate with glee. After all, it was difficult to stay glum when she was promised an adventure with a charming purple hedgehog.

—

“Did those ‘very important duties’ of yours involve drinking 8 cups of coffee?” Phlox teased. He briefly took his attention away from the instructions in his notepad to look up, noticing the teal hedgehog jumping from tree to tree above him. 

Domino seated herself onto a branch and swung backwards into a knee hang so she could lock eyes with Phlox. 

“What makes you say that?” she winked. 

Phlox trepidatiously hopped over several large rocks to meet up with the girl who had gotten far ahead of him. “Oh, I don’t know-” he shrugged as he squeezed his way through some dense bushes. “-all the running and leaping about like a grasshopper could have something to do with it!”

Domino giggled. Phlox may have called himself a nature photographer, but it seemed he had the enthusiasm (or lack thereof) of a city dweller. Escaping the city walls and going on an escapade–however small–always filled Domino with energy. She simply couldn’t keep it in! The lady hedgehog laced her fingers behind her head and closed her eyes, swinging casually from the branch as she waited for her hiking partner to catch up. “I’m just in my element. Besides, I’m itchin’ to see this hidden treasure of yours. You need to keep up!”

If her eyes were open, she’d see a devilish spark light up in Phlox’s eyes. He might have been the quiet type, but he was extremely competitive and loved a challenge. He secured his camera tightly to his side and took off in a sprint. Keep up? Oh, he’d show her. 

“Like this?”

Domino’s eyes jolted open as she felt Phlox’s breath tickle her nose. She let out a high pitched squeak upon realizing the guy she thought was several yards away was nose-to-nose with her. The shock made her loosen her grip on the branch and she was in for a quick plummet to the ground. 

“Whoa!” The indigo male threw his arms out and caught her, holding her securely to his chest. He was strong! Of course, her transient lifestyle and meager diet left her on the smaller side, but Phlox held her as if she were weightless. The muscles in his arms were dense and firm against her slight body.

“I didn’t think you’d startle so easily,” he teased.

“Yyyeah, well-” Domino began to excuse herself, but couldn’t find the words. Geez, what was it about this guy that made her so tongue-tied? Sure he was plenty sweet, certainly nicer than most people she’d ever met. And yeah he was good-looking—she couldn’t deny that. Now she noticed how nice he smelled, too; something woody, earthy, almost sweet, like sandalwood. And his fur, so warm and soft…

Her fingers combed through the shaggy, wheat-colored fur of Phlox’s chest, sending a shiver up his entire being. His heartbeat quickened against her fingertips and she swiftly withdrew her hand realizing what she’d done. Domino looked up to find his muzzle as scarlet as hers surely was. “Uh…”

Phlox felt the urge to say something, but his shyness got the better of him. He instead cleared his throat and set the young woman back on her feet. “Sorry for scaring you…”

“Nah,” Domino replied. She twirled the tuft of fur near her cheek bashfully as she ruminated over what just happened. She shouldn’t be getting close to someone like this. Letting someone in only led to betrayal or disappointment. Besides, what did she have to offer him? She had no home, no money. Relax. She reminded herself. It’s okay to have a little fun…

“Besides, you just gave me an opening.”

Phlox’s eyes went wide. With his voice barely above a whisper, he asked, “To do what?” 

“To do… this!” Domino snatched the notepad from Phlox’s hands and bolted away.

“H-HEY!” The boy shouted before swiftly chasing after her. He was not nearly as graceful navigating the woods as she was, especially with a camera slung over his shoulder, but he managed to stay close on her tail. 

Domino cackled over her shoulder. “I thought you said we needed to see this grotto at a certain time of day! So hurry it up! Or are those cool jeans of yours slowin’ ya down?!”

“These pants provide full mobility!” he shouted. The two laughed as they weaved their way through the forest, Domino skimming the instructions in the notepad and leading them the rest of the way to their destination. 

She abruptly stopped in front of a wall of weeping katsura trees and Phlox had to clumsily skid to a halt to keep from crashing into her. Domino looked back and forth between the green palisades and handwritten notes. “I’m pretty sure this is it,” she confirmed. She returned the booklet to Phlox before presenting an arm to the curtain of emerald leaves. “This was your goal. After you.”

Phlox shook his head with a smile. “Together.”

A little taken aback, Domino simply nodded in agreement and squared herself up beside Phlox. Both hedgehogs drew back the partition of leaves and stepped forth.

The grotto was truly a sight to behold. Dozens of large trees stretched and twisted amongst each other as if embracing in a circular huddle, leaving a medium-sized clearing in the center. Fountains of leaves and vines draped about the branches, painting the enclosure every shade of green. Tiny sprigs of yellow and white wildflowers dotted the forest floor, their blooms diminutive and modest but still serving as a beautiful compliment to the rich viridescence of the grass they sprouted from. Silky, golden rays of sunshine poured through the canopy in beams so crisp, they looked as though one could reach out and touch them. The early autumn breeze glided along the treetops and the soft pitter-patter of the leaves tickling each other echoed down into the grove. The willowing trees all made for a perfect shelter, completely cloaking this little slice of heaven from the rest of the world. It was only the two hedgehogs and a sparse flight of fluttering insects that were privy to this space.

Domino’s breath wavered in awe. She silently stepped deeper into the natural arbor and sat down with her knees pulled to her chest. Even though she spent the entirety of her life out on the road, the planet never ceased to amaze her in new and spectacular ways. She folded her arms over her knees and rested her head on them, sighing with a soft smile.

Phlox took a deep breath, letting his lungs expand entirely with the crisp fresh air before releasing it and setting to work on adjusting his camera. As he delicately fiddled with the device, he couldn’t help but notice Domino’s silent reverie in the corner of his eye. His heart filled with pride knowing the young lady seemed just as touched by the setting as he was. He walked over to her, whispering as not to break her daydream.

“This is why the timing was so crucial,” Phlox said softly. “I’m sure this spot is beautiful all the time, but at this exact moment, at this exact time of day? It’s-”

“Heavenly,” Domino concluded. It was true. The sunbeams filtering through the trees managed to diffuse the light to give the space an ethereal glow. Anything that was lucky enough to catch the direct sunlight appeared to have a soft, colorful halo as the light bounced off its surface. Phlox nodded and headed off to document the scene.

Meanwhile, Domino reached forward and let her arm glow in a sunbeam as she let all the worries that normally plagued her mind dissipate. Here in this cove, she didn’t have to concern herself with the upcoming winter. She didn’t have to think about how–or when–she’d find her next meal. Even the looming threat of “Botnik workers” that would soon replace her managed to escape her mind. Right now, she could just be. Her eyes studied every leaf, every blade of grass, every sway of the branches that hung above her head so that even on the bad days, she could look back at this moment and feel peace.

Eventually, her attention shifted to the indigo photographer at work. He walked so carefully and quietly it was as if his boots weren’t even making contact with the ground. At one point, the boy managed to approach a flutter of blue butterflies that didn’t seem phased by his company, shining and dancing in the late-afternoon sun like fairies. She wondered if it was possible to capture the serenity of this moment in a photo. It would be nice to see if he succeeded, but he likely wouldn’t develop his roll of film any time soon. She’d be long gone before those photos would come to light. The thought caused a strange weight in her chest, a sinking feeling she shouldn’t allow herself to feel. She diverted her attention to some of the wildflowers beside her.

Neither were sure how much time passed as they each quietly enjoyed the space, together but individually in their own ways. Once satisfied, Phlox walked over and took a seat next to Domino. “I didn’t get to ask you earlier...” he broke the silence, but his soft, honey-smooth voice was so reposeful it might as well have been part of the ambient melody of the forest.

“Hm?” Domino hummed, looking over to the boy beside her.

“What’s your dream?”

The girl leaned back with her palms behind her and surveyed the shelter of leaves above them as she pondered. Her dream. Such a big question. What should she make up this time? What would impress this guy the most? ‘To conquer a mighty dragon’? ‘To soar among the stars’?

“I want to make a difference,” she found the truth slipping from her lips. She shook her head and shrugged with defeat as if that goal was too ambitious for someone like herself. “Even if I can do just one good thing.”

Her words were so simple but there was such a bitter heaviness to them. Did she really think she was of such little significance? Phlox hardly knew her, yet he sensed something positively great about her. The brief hours spent in her company were already changing him, encouraging him to become more of the person he was striving to be. What or who made her think so little of herself? He wanted to ask, but wisdom told him if he did, she’d likely withdraw even further.

Instead, he placed his hand on hers and gave it a firm squeeze. 

“You will.”

Domino turned to Phlox with a soft gasp. His words sounded so genuine. Oh, how he looked at her, too. The way those green eyes surveyed her made her feel like she was the only thing in the world. It was intimidating. It was exciting.

Though her heartbeat grew louder in her ears, she still managed to pick up a faint assortment of sounds off in the distance. Chattering? Shrieking? She wasn’t sure but it was quickly growing louder. At the same time, she and Phlox looked towards the barrier of trees and noticed the branches and leaves beginning to tremble. Something was rushing through the forest and rapidly making its way towards the grotto. The tops of the trees shook and the roar of what sounded like a crowd was quickly upon them. Domino only briefly saw a flash of color burst through the curtain of leaves before closing her eyes and throwing herself on top of Phlox to shield him from whatever threat found their hiding spot.

The roaring now completely surrounded them, making its way over their heads and echoing all around them in the grotto. Domino tried to flatten herself and Phlox as close to the ground so they wouldn’t be hit. But despite the overwhelming noise, nothing struck them. She heard Phlox gasp. “Minnie, look!”

Domino opened one eye to see Phlox looking skyward, a wondrous smile on his face. She hesitantly turned just enough to peek over her shoulder and gasped as well. Hundreds–no, thousands of colorful birds were flying in mass above the canopy. Despite their numbers, they all moved together in perfect harmony, creating a magnificent, undulating patchwork of color in the sky. Domino rolled onto her back and the two hedgehogs watched in awe. She knew that birds were likely to migrate before the winter months hit, but she never witnessed something quite like this. The setting sunlight shone through their wings as they fluttered above, painting the entirety of the sky with a brilliant rainbow. Just as quickly as they had approached, the last of the birds flew past and the grotto returned to the peaceful silence once again.

Phlox and Domino both blinked. The moment had come and gone so quickly, it was almost as if it didn’t happen at all. They turned to each other, Domino’s head still resting on Phlox’s arm, and at once they both giggled in breathless bewilderment. 

“What are the odds of that?” Domino grinned, placing a hand on her forehead in disbelief.

Phlox smirked confidently. “Right place, right time.”

“Ah yes, your ‘super power’,” the girl rolled her eyes and began to shove herself away. However, Phlox quickly wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight to him. She squealed with laughter and fought against him in protest.

“Don’t mock my talent,” he chuckled while Domino squirmed in his grasp.

“Lemme go, you brute!” The teal hedgehog shoved her palm into Phlox’s face, making him laugh even harder. Still, he held her close.

“Naht ‘til you apahlagizsh,” he muttered under the pressure of her hand. 

Domino removed her palm and leaned in with a playful scowl. “Never.”

Phlox met her smug glare. “Then I’ll never let you go.”

Domino stopped struggling and her smile faltered a bit. She knew he was joking; after all, she started this game, but something about those words… Something inside her wanted them to be true. She enjoyed the feel of his embrace. She wanted him to hold onto her endlessly, and the thought made her curse to herself. ‘Wants’ were stupid, frivolous. Her lifestyle only allowed for ‘needs’: shelter and sustenance.

Domino was beginning to realize that Phlox’s presence caused an entirely different kind of hunger within her.

The male’s chuckles diminished as Domino stared at him quietly. His cheeks and chest grew warm as he suddenly registered just how tightly she was pressed against him. Phlox searched her cyan eyes, wondering what she was thinking. Was she upset? He was inexperienced with flirting; had he gone too far? She wasn’t pulling away, though. Her gaze briefly flickered to his lips and his heart raced faster and his purple fur prickled up. 

“...Do… you realize what that was?” Domino whispered.

Phlox’s eyes widened. Was she asking about his sudden shiver or the display of birds they just witnessed? He hoped it was the latter.

“Uhh… a… murmuration…?” 

“A-K-A…?” she nodded expectantly and a smile began to curl on her lips.

Phlox’s eyelids dropped with realization and he sneered, “Don’t. You. Dare.”

Domino sat up and poked at Phlox’s chest to punctuate her words. “Those were FLOCKS of BIRDS!”

“That’s it!” He went to snatch her again, but Domino was too quick for him this time. She sprinted to the edge of the grotto and giggled while she waited for him. Phlox hurriedly packed up his gear and threw his camera strap over his shoulder. “You’re in for it now!”

The girl squealed and darted away as Phlox chased her all the way back to the village.

—

Domino let out a long yawn after collecting payment from her most recent task. Despite completing her fourth odd-job of the morning, she still found herself struggling to stay awake. Then again, she did have a hard time falling asleep last night…

It wasn’t the cold that kept her awake. No, she was plenty used to sleeping outside in all manner of harsh weather conditions. What kept her up were thoughts about that damn boy. That quiet, dazzling boy. 

She didn’t recognize herself when she was around Phlox. Talking to him either led to embarrassing, truthful slip-ups (she still couldn’t believe she’d told him her “dream.” How stupid!) or left her unable to speak at all! And that stunt she pulled in the grotto to try and save him… What was that?! She’d lived her whole life looking out for herself. Her entire existence was all about self preservation. So why did she throw herself on top of him when she thought they were in danger? Domino was annoyed with how quickly her priorities were shifting. And even more annoyed by how good it felt to care about somebody other than herself for once. 

Tossing and turning over all these thoughts left her with little shut-eye last night. 

An idea came to her suddenly. Perhaps a cold dip would wake her up! Besides, after doing all the dirty jobs that the townspeople didn’t enjoy and the “Botniks” were too clunky to complete, she could use a bath. 

She exited the city and headed downhill. Her years traversing the wilderness trained her to easily find rivers, and after carefully listening for running water and taking note of the ways the trees leaned, she found what she was looking for.

It was a serene creek with blue-green water that was clear enough to see the bottom of the river bed. It would be plenty deep enough for a proper swim. A medium-sized stack of boulders allowed for a steady flow of water to gently trickle down into the larger body of the creek. On days where the weather was more severe, she imagined the waterfall would crash into the river with a thunderous roar. But on this mellow autumn morning, the water was calm and tranquil. 

It made her think of Phlox. 

“Chaos,” she cursed to herself. The Domino she knew would have just shrugged it off and gone about her business. But this new, thoughtful Domino realized this was the exact kind of scene Phlox would love to photograph. The idea of gifting him with this little treasure and seeing the look of excitement on his face was too much to resist. “So much for ‘priorities’ huh?”

She convinced herself that this would be her way of repaying him for the grotto trip yesterday, nothing more. Satisfied with that reasoning, she hurried back to town in hopes to find that photographer that seemed to be making a home in her mind’s eye. It didn’t take long for her to spot him. The young man was sitting under a shade tree, writing in his notepad. Butterflies filled her stomach at the width of his smile upon hearing her call his name. The feeling intensified with how quickly he agreed to go with her. 

“I’m telling ya, you’re gonna make this place THE travel destination once the world sees all your photos. Especially of this spot I found!”

“Had I known you were a location scout, I’d have hired you sooner.”

“You can’t afford me. Heiress, remember?” Domino teased with a wink. “I’m offering you this location on the house.” Phlox laughed his mischievous laugh as he followed the young woman. Once they reached the creek, Domino raised her arms into the air and spun around with a triumphant, “Ta-daaaa~!”

The purple hedgehog placed his hands on his hips and his grin was brighter than the sun. His reaction was even better than she had pictured.

“So, whaddya think?”

“I think,” Phlox chuckled, lowering the camera from his shoulder and placing it on the ground. Domino blinked as he kicked off his boots. “This is going to be so cold!”

“What?” Domino scoffed while Phlox removed his beloved pair of jeans and pried off his gloves. “You’re really gonna jump in there?”

“Like you aren’t?” Phlox raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile plastered on his sandy muzzle. “That’s why you came out here in the first place, right?”

“I-” she scratched her quills and shrugged, “I guess I just took you for the prissy, hot-shower type.”

The boy turned to face the girl while walking backwards and used his fist to make a stabbing motion into his heart. “Minnie, you wound me!” He spun on his heel with a laugh and ran towards the creek before leaping into the air, curling into a spinning ball, and crashing into the water with a mighty splash. 

Just as quickly as he had jumped in, he resurfaced and his voice cracked as he shrieked. “I WAS ᴿᴵGᴴᵀ! SO CₒᴸD!”

“PFFTT!” Domino burst into a fit of laughter, doubling over and holding her stomach. “Gaia! I had no idea your voice could reach that high!”

“Shu-shu-shushhhh up and guh-get in here!” Phlox demanded through chattering teeth. He swam to face the other way so Domino could strip down to her undergarments without him watching. 

Domino shook out her hands to mentally prepare herself for the cold plunge before jumping into the water, wailing. She resurfaced with a gasp. Well, she certainly wasn’t tired anymore. 

“Whu-whu-whyyy duh-duh-did we d-do thissss?!” 

Phlox’s ears were pinned flat to his head. “‘Cuz wuh-we’re young and sssss-stupid!” 

“C-c’mon Young, ssswim with Stupid,” Domino laughed despite her shivering and waved him over to follow her as she began to swim. “The mmmore ya move the w-warmer you’ll be.”

The two hedgehogs made a game of who could swim the fastest from one edge of the creek to the other, and before long they had quickly adjusted to the temperature of the water. It turned out that Phlox was an excellent swimmer, capable of doing laps around Domino. The girl rolled her eyes as he gloated over his many wins.

“Ya know, I think I liked you more when you talked LESS!” She startled him with a tackle and dunked him under water.

He sprang back up and shook off his quills. “You opened this Pandora’s Box, there’s no putting it back now.”

“Oh yeah?” She went for another tackle, but now that he was onto her, he dodged and left her rolling face-first into the water. Domino made several more attempts, but Phlox would either stay so still it was like slamming into a brick wall, or he would use her momentum against her to make her plunge face first into the water. 

Her most recent effort left her clinging to Phlox’s side, trying to push his face into the water with no success. “Grrrrr why won’t you go down?!”

Phlox laughed and pried the girl off him with ease. “I love your enthusiasm. But you won’t beat me in a battle of brawn.” He tapped his temple. “You’ve got to assess the situation and play to your strengths.”

The teal hedgehog let her head fall back and groaned with frustration. “You said it yourself: I’ve got no strength.”

“I meant ‘do what you’re best at,’” Phlox scratched the fluff of his muzzle as he pondered for a moment. His green eyes suddenly lit up and he snapped his fingers. “I know a game we could play!” He swam a distance away to make room between the two hedgehogs. “I’m going to guard this end of the creek. If you get passed me and make it to the bank, you earn a point.”

Domino’s shoulders sank. “You’re the better swimmer and you’re bigger than me. I’m never getting through you.”

Phlox smiled with encouragement. “Assess the situation, Minnie. You’re smaller, but that makes you faster and more slippery. Use that to your advantage to get around me.”

“Hmm,” Domino considered, her pout turning into a genuine smile. “Okay, I’ll give it a shot!”

“But!” Phlox held up a finger. “To prove that I’m not going to just let you win, let’s raise the stakes. If I catch you, you have to answer a question. Truthfully.”

“Pfft,” Domino sputtered. “That’s not much of a reward.”

“It is to me,” Phlox grinned. He stretched his arms out to either side. “Now show me what you’ve got!”

Domino’s eyes twinkled with determination and she rushed forward. She originally tried swimming to the side of Phlox’s reach, but he was able to quickly catch up to her. She panicked at the last minute and tried to charge him, but he caught her and she went limp in his arms in frustration. 

“Next time, don’t give up so fast. There’s still a chance to break free.” Phlox shifted the girl in his arms so he carried her bridal style and swam them back over to Domino’s side of the river. “So, how many siblings do you have?”

“70.” She moped. 

“Hey, I won my prize. The truth. How many do you really have?”

Domino rolled her eyes and shoved herself off him. She muttered quietly, “It’s just me.” Her answer was guarded, but Phlox couldn’t help but pick up the loneliness in her tone. He tried to lighten the mood with his own response as he made his way back to start-position. 

“Wow, the center of attention, huh? We’ve got two litters in my family. 3 brothers and 1 sister. I’m right in the middle.”

“5 guys in one house? I bet the place stinks!” Domino teased, finding her sense of humor again. “Ugh, you have no idea!” Phlox joked and rubbed his nose. “When I first started out on the road, I felt like I could breathe for the first time in my life!” The girl attempted to swim by him again. Phlox grappled for her and though he did briefly get his arms around her, she was able to wiggle through his forearms and kick off his back to propel herself to the creek bank. Domino couldn’t help but dance along the shore at her win. 

“See that’s it!” Phlox threw a fist into the air. “Show me what else you can do. Besides those sick dance moves.”

Domino hurried over to her side again and strategized. She knew he would just keep catching her if she tried to swim around him, and though she could wiggle free, she’d get exhausted in no time. She looked down and noticed how similar the blue-green shade of the water was in comparison to her own fur. 

She squeaked as she was suddenly rushed and held tightly in Phlox’s grip. 

“What the HELL?!” she squirmed. This time he locked her forearms across her chest and she couldn’t wiggle loose. 

“Who said I couldn’t leave my post? You were taking too long and I have questions!” 

Domino slumped against Phlox’s furry chest, defeated. Her voice was monotone, “What is your question, O devilish Phlox?”

“If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?”

Domino giggled before her eyes went wide. “Ohhh, those hash browns from yesterday!”

“That’s it? Hash browns?” Phlox cocked an eyebrow. Domino shoved off him so he could return to his position. 

“I’m not a picky eater and those were good! Why, what would yours be?”

“Chili. The spicier, the better!” Phlox answered before whispering under his breath, “Hmm. I could learn to make hash browns,” Meanwhile, Domino returned to her plan that she was formulating before she was last captured. She took a deep breath and submerged herself completely underwater. 

“Uh-oh,” Phlox panicked. The only patches of Domino’s fur that weren’t teal blue were her cheeks, stomach, and the inside of her ears, and while she was underwater, she was just about invisible. His eyes searched frantically, trying to figure out which side she would attempt to get around him. He yelped when he felt something brush the undersides of his paws. Once he realized it was Domino swimming below him, it was already too late and she was on his side of the river. 

“HaHA!!” She cheered and shimmied her shoulders in a victory dance. 

“Very clever,” Phlox grinned. “I’m onto you now.”

Their game went on for several more rounds, with Domino taking the lead by a substantial amount. Still, Phlox was determined and managed to get a few more answers out of her before their game was through:

“What’s your biggest pet-peeve?”

“When people are snooty. Get outta here with that crap!”

“Morning-bird or night-owl?”

“Of course you’d ask a ‘bird’ question, ‘Flocks.’ I always start the day bright and early.”

“What’s your favorite thing about yourself?”

“Oiiiii… Hmmm. My resourcefulness.”

“Excellent choice. I’ve never seen anyone wield a roll of tape better than you.”

“And you never will~” 

“Would you ever want to have kids one day?”

She had to think about that one for a moment. Logistically, her lifestyle wouldn’t allow for that kind of thing. It wasn’t responsible. But Phlox did ask her to answer honestly. A soft smile formed on her lips. 

“Yeah. I would.”

Phlox bit the inside of his cheek in hopes to suppress his smile and the blush creeping up his neck.

Domino attempted one more round, but at this point she was drained and Phlox caught her without much struggle. 

“Okay, okay,” she panted and the young man released her. “You win. I’ve had enough.” The girl huffed and puffed, struggling to tread water with the amount of energy she’d exerted. 

The boy chuckled and took her hands into his. “Here, catch your breath.” He was surprised that instead of merely holding onto his hands, Domino pulled herself close to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She rested her chin on his shoulder and closed her eyes as she attempted to regulate her breathing.

Phlox was certain she could feel the pounding of his heartbeat, but surprisingly he wasn’t all that ashamed this time. Domino had a way of making him feel excited and calm all at once. It encouraged him to be bolder, braver, more accepting of his quirks. 

“I can tell you wanna ask me another question,” the girl teased. 

“I do,” Phlox admitted, his voice much softer and reserved, like the first time they met. “But it’s not part of the game.”

“C’mon, you caught me so you earned it,” Domino leaned back enough so she could look Phlox eye-to-eye. Her mouth curved up into a smile at how red his face was. “What?”

Be bold. He told himself. Be like her.

“Can I kiss you?”

Domino’s jaw dropped with a soft gasp. Of all the things he could’ve asked, this was the last thing she expected. Before these last two days, nobody even bothered looking her way. Now not only did she have the undivided attention of this dashing young man, but he wanted to kiss her? Phlox could easily have any girl he wanted, so why would he waste his time with somebody like her?

Well, she thought, probably because he doesn’t actually know me. If he did, he’d leave. 

It would be smart to say no. But when would she ever have this opportunity again? She’d be gone by tomorrow, having never kissed a boy. A beautiful, kind, lovely boy.

“…Yes.”

As soon as the word left her lips, Phlox took her face into his hands and kissed her. She was alarmed at how quickly his mouth was on hers considering how shy he’d been just a moment ago, but it was a welcome surprise. Her arms remained wrapped around his neck and she closed her eyes as she returned his kiss. 

Phlox sighed happily into her lips, his thumbs stroking her cheeks as he cupped her face. He’d never kissed anyone before, but from the moment he first laid eyes on this young lady it was all he could think about. She was so unique and adventurous and funny! Oh, how she made him laugh like he was a little kid again. He was generally in good-spirits most of the time, but he hadn’t felt happiness like this for a long while. Being in her company was like floating in the clouds. The kiss broke just briefly as his mouth subconsciously curved into a smile, but he did his best to force it down and match his lips to hers once more. 

One of Phlox’s hands gently combed down Domino’s long cyan quills and that burning hunger flared up in her lower belly once again. His lips were too lovely, his touch too wonderful. This was dangerous. 

Regrettably, Domino broke away and rested her forehead against his as they both attempted to catch their breath. “I’m not so good at multitasking… We should probably get outta the water now,” the lady hedgehog suggested. 

“Yeah, okay,” Phlox chuckled breathlessly. The two swam to the edge of the creek and Domino pulled a towel out from her backpack. She dried herself off as much as possible before tossing it to Phlox while she got dressed. He pulled on his pants and boots then laid in the grass next to the girl and quietly admired the clouds with a smile on his face. 

Domino was grateful for the silence, trying to make sense of all the weird thoughts and feelings swimming around her mind. She knew it was a bad idea to let somebody in like this. The closer Phlox got, the sooner he’d realize what a joke she was. She knew she would need to leave before that happened. So why, why did she feel this constant urge to let him in? She chewed on her lip but silently cursed to herself as she could still taste him. 

“Hey, so…” she started, despite her better judgment. Phlox turned his full attention to her. “I’m no chef, but… I make a pretty good stew. And you said you like chili, so, uh… I was wondering if you’d…” she clapped a hand over her face and sighed. “-If you’d let me make you something. You know, to pay you back for… everything.”

“Pay me back?” Phlox asked, his brows furrowed.

“For breakfast, and the grotto,” she threw her hands into the air, “and all the tactical combat lessons you just gave me!”

“Hey, I did those things because I wanted to. You don’t owe me anything,” he did his best to reassure the girl. He propped his head up with his hand and gave a mischievous smirk. “But if it’s a date you’re suggesting…”

“Chaos,” Domino muttered. Still, she couldn’t help but smile. 

“You have to ask me proper. I’m old-fashioned like that.”

“Ugh,” she rolled her eyes before turning to face the boy who was all but wiggling with anticipation. “Phlox. May I make you dinner? As a date.”

“Yes.” He gave her a quick peck on the cheek before rolling over to grab his camera. His face was bright red, but his smile was confident as he removed the lens and adjusted the settings. “Now, to capture this little gem you found me!”

Domino packed up her bag before swinging it over her shoulder. “I’ll meet you at the inn you’re staying at, yeah?”

“Okay!” He snapped a few photos. “What’re you up to today?”

Oh, just buying a cheap jacket and a bunch of nonperishables so I don’t starve this winter. Impressive, right?

“More business meetings. I heard the mayor’s a big-time investor. I’m gonna see if he will fund the latest board game I’m developing.”

Phlox slowly lowered the viewfinder from his eyes. Why was she telling stories again? He thought after what just happened… Why couldn’t she just tell him the truth? He closed his eyes and sighed. Who was he to tell her what to do? Besides, it was like he told her: she didn’t owe him anything. All he could do was hope that she’d learn to trust him eventually. 

“Knock ‘em dead, Minnie. I believe in you.”

The girl gave him a playful salute before heading back into town, leaving the boy alone to his thoughts. 

Domino hadn’t even made it to the market before hearing a thunderous crash and the screams of several townspeople. People sprinted away from the townsquare in a panic. The old Domino might have followed their lead and scampered away as well. But over these last couple of days, she found herself evolving. Even more important than self-preservation, she felt a stronger urge growing in her heart: the need to protect. Without hesitation, she raced towards the sound of the commotion.

[Next: CHAPTER 3]

[A/N: I used the art of Nathan Fowkes as visual inspiration for many of the scenes in this chapter. If you aren't familiar with his work, I highly recommend checking it out!]

[instruth]

The Celestial Series continues with—

A PROCLAMATION—LOUD and CLEAR

(The Celestial Series—a spin off from and sequel to The Tears I Cried For You, started by J. P. Lee and Charlie AI, on 14 April 2025)

INTRODUCTION

A Short Introduction to my Poem, below—

A Proclamation—Loud And Clear.

A proclamation must be heard.

There will always be signs—prior to its announcement.

Visible to all—across the sky.

None can give any excuse they miss it.

It is a message for all—Night and Day,

Sun and Moon, Dawn and Twilight,

at Sunrise and at Sunset—-including

all in between - Handmaid, Usherette, Chaplain, Guardian and Guides.

Baby Angels with little wings, singing, blowing trumpets, playing the harps.

All are invited to the great Assembly

—-Wind and Storm, Rain and Rainstorm, and most of all: THUNDER & Lightning!

A PROCLAMATION—LOUD and CLEAR

A proclamation, loud and clear

Thunder & Lightning, from the heavens

—-especially for those who can’t hear (don’t hear), can’t see (don’t see).

No excuses will be entertained.

Sun & Moon, Night & Day, Sunrise & Sunset, including their allies & helpers

—they never complain, they accept Fate

They are ever trusting and obedient—-

but they always pray, wept only by grace.

The tears that they have cried!

Touches my heart, and mercies fly

O! The beloved Teardrops

Ever sweetly, in true bitterness

Sing out from their heartthrobs

Spare not my loneliness

An outpouring in my aloneness

Tenderly, as dewdrops tow

Gently, to the edge they flow

Precious tears of love set aglow

Ice melts into spring celebrities

Emptying out all gracious miseries

Scraps, inside the melting pot

Sacrifice, the fearful memories

Taste them all, in spices begot.

freely they had come

freely to go—not in fear

save our happy tears

I always knew, now you know

written songs in chronicles

©Johnny J P Lee

20 April 2025 (Easter Sunday)

MODIFIED HAIBUN:

Gogyoshiren25 + Tanka 5-7-5-7-7

Photos Credit, Unsplash Image (Lightning only), the rest by courtesy of J. P. Lee

Notes:

The Sequels so far—-from 1 to 8 …

1/ The Tears I Cried For You

2/ A Momentary Glimpse

3/ Where Twilight Waits

4/ O Glorious Dawn

5/ Why I Get Up Before Dawn

6/ At Sunset Into Twilight Time

7/ Clusters Of Stars

8/ Proclamation, Loud And Clear

[santoschristos]

Hecate as an “Evil” Goddess

Hecate was not always associated with darkness and witchcraft. Those associations developed later. In Hesiod, she is a goddess of success, justice, victory, fortune, and abundance:

…she holds, as the division was at the first from the beginning, privilege both in earth, and in heaven, and in sea. Also, because she is an only child, the goddess receives not less honour, but much more still, for Zeus honours her. Whom she will she greatly aids and advances: she sits by worshipful kings in judgement, and in the assembly whom she will is distinguished among the people. And when men arm themselves for the battle that destroys men, then the goddess is at hand to give victory and grant glory readily to whom she will. Good is she also when men contend at the games, for there too the goddess is with them and profits them: and he who by might and strength gets the victory wins the rich prize easily with joy, and brings glory to his parents. And she is good to stand by horsemen, whom she will: and to those whose business is in the grey discomfortable sea, and who pray to Hecate and the loud-crashing Earth-Shaker, easily the glorious goddess gives great catch, and easily she takes it away as soon as seen, if so she will. She is good in the byre with Hermes to increase the stock. The droves of kine and wide herds of goats and flocks of fleecy sheep, if she will, she increases from a few, or makes many to be less. So, then. albeit her mother’s only child, she is honoured amongst all the deathless gods. — Hesiod, Theogony

Overtime, she became a distinctly chthonic goddess and became more thoroughly associated with witchcraft, the night, and the dead, as well as being a goddess of the crossroads and of liminal spaces in general.

To be clear, no god or goddess is “evil.” That’s not really how this works. Gods and goddesses are all multifaceted, and encompass all of the good and bad aspects of whatever it is they rule over. Hecate is no different. Her myths show that she is often a gentle and compassionate goddess. But there are a number of texts that paint her in a much darker light.

I’ve already written about Hecate’s role in Ancient Greek magic. In magical texts like the Greek Magical Papyri, Hecate is given epithets like “serpent-girded,” “she who feeds on filth,” and “Black Bitch.” She’s called upon to send ghosts to torment enemies and potential lovers. One of her more common epithets in general is Brimo, which means “enraged” or “terrifying.”

Diodorus Siculus writes a naturalistic interpretation of her, describing her as an evil human queen who discovered the uses of poisonous plants by testing them on people, hunted humans for sport, and sacrificed humans to Artemis:

And Perses had a daughter Hekate, who surpassed her father in boldness and lawlessness; she was also fond of hunting, and when she had no luck she would turn her arrows upon human beings instead of the beasts. Being likewise ingenious in the mixing of deadly poisons she discovered the drug called aconite and tired out the strength of each poison by mixing it with food given to the strangers. And since she possessed great experience in such matters she first of all poisoned her father, and so succeeded to the throne, and then, founding a temple of Artemis and commanding that strangers who landed there should be sacrificed to the goddess, she became know far and wide for her cruelty. ��� Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica

Most interpretations of Hecate do not portray her as cruel or murderous, so this passage is a bit of an outlier, but she’s still very commonly associated with pharmakeia, the use of herbs and poisons in witchcraft. There’s loads of examples of mythological witches calling upon her for love spells and curses: [Medea speaking] “By the goddess I worship most of all, my chosen helper Hekate, who dwells in the inner chamber of my house, none of them shall pain my heart and smile at it! Bitter will I make their marriage, bitter Kreon’s marriage-alliance, and bitter my banishment from the land!” — Euripides, Medea

[Circe] sprinkled round about her evil drugs and poisonous essences, and out of Erebos and Chaos called Nox and the Gods of Night and poured a prayer with long-drawn wailing cries to Hecate. — Ovid, Metamorphoses

[Simaetha performing a love spell:] “So shine me fair, sweet Moon; for to thee, still Goddess, is my song, to thee and that Hecate infernal who makes even the dogs to shiver on her goings to and fro where these tombs be and the red blood lies. All hail to thee, dread and awful Hecate! I prithee so bear me company that this medicine of my making prove potent as any of Circe’s or Medea’s or Perimede’s of the golden hair. Wryneck, wryneck, draw him hither.” — Theocritus, Idylls.

This magical invocation to Hecate describes her in outright monstrous terms:

Approach, you of the netherworld, of earth, of heaven, Bombo! You by the wayside, at the crossroads, light-bearer, night-wanderer, Enemy of light, friend and companion of night, Rejoicing in the howl of dogs and in crimson gore, Lurking among the corpses and the tombs of lifeless dust, Lusting for blood, bringing terror to mortals, Grim one, Ogress [Mormo], Moon — you of many forms, May you come gracious to our sacrificial rites!

It’s preserved in Refutation of All Heresies by Hippolytus of Rome, so in context, it’s held up as an example of an incantation that a charlatan uses to pretend he can do magic. Given that this is a Christian writing who is explicitly refuting heresies, it might be intended to make Hecate look bad. But I’ve read enough spells from the PGM, and it doesn’t sound too far off from the real deal. Also, most of those epithets appear in the PGM and other sources. (I actually really like this invocation, and would totally use it myself.)

One of the most interesting references to Hecate that I’ve seen recently comes from Characters by Theophrastus, which describes stereotypes of different kinds of people. Theophrastus’ stereotype of the “Superstitious Man” is afraid of Hecate. He purifies his house way too often, “alleging that Hecate has been brought into it by spells.” Also, if he sees people eating Hecate’s monthly offerings at the crossroads, “he will go away, pour water over his head, and, summoning the priestesses, bid them carry a squill or a puppy around him for purification.” Even just seeing someone eat the offerings of the dead makes him feel unclean. These superstitions suggest that Hecate is, in some contexts, interpreted as almost a personification of miasma (spiritual uncleanliness). Purification banishes her from a dwelling, and those epithets like “who feeds on filth” and “amid the graves/corpses” associate her with refuse and dead matter. All chthonic gods have miasmic associations to some extent (you’re not supposed to eat offerings to them), but not to this extent.

Hecate definitely has some ghoulish qualities, but that doesn’t make her evil. Just as bugs and fungi decompose waste and dead matter to provide nutrients for new life, Hecate can transmute “bad vibes” or any spiritual refuse into something productive. Hecate is also there to receive anything or anyone that is rejected or unwanted, like the restless dead, like Hecuba and Galinthas, like witches and marginalized people, like Demeter herself during her grief-stricken wandering. Things die and decompose, and that’s a fact. The dark and gross stuff is always going to exist whether you like it or not, so Hecate ensures that you acknowledge it and the important role it plays. Fail to acknowledge it, though, and Hecate may seem “evil” to you. Nyx Shadowhawk

Image: Faces of Hekate Mahaboka

[lastchancestardomm]

The Guard Dog.

Created by Pyanodon, the Guard Dog is an unofficial fanmade 10th player class. It was mentioned by Valve in a blog post, written as if it were a letter from Saxton Hale, on September 21st, 2009.

The Guard Dog resembles a German Shepherd in appearance, with a dark muzzle and ears, white underbelly, and fluffy tail. The Guard Dog has hazel-colored eyes. It wore an either red or blue shirt, with its class icon of a dog's head on the left side of its chest.

Personally, on the topic of its design, I would have given the Guard Dog a black collar, and have its class icon dangle from the collar like a dog tag.

The Guard Dog has 100HP, and 185HP when overhealed. The Guard Dog had three main weapons in its original concept.

The Hanger, resembling the mini-sentry turrets, is mounted on the back of the Guard Dog, consisting of twin turrets either red or blue in color. These turrets extended out to either side of the Guard Dog. It has a fast fire rate and middling range. The Hanger has around 100 rounds of ammo before needing to be restocked. It has a similar model view as D.Va's mech (Overwatch) while playing.

The Helper is a light-colored wooden crate mounted on the back of the Guard Dog. While the Helper is equipped, the Guard Dog cannot attack or deal damage. The Helper allows the Guard Dog to pick up Medkits and ammo pickups, and pass them to its teammates. The Helper can also grab metal and pass it to teammate Engineers.

The Hater is a melee weapon, consisting of two red or blue boosters mounted on the back of the Guard Dog, boosting its running speed for a short burst. The Hater enables a melee attack known as Bite, where the Guard Dog lunges for an enemy and bites them, with a 90% chance to bleed.

Paired with the Hanger, Helper, and Hater, was the Guard Dog's ability "Track 'N' Down", wherein it could track down an enemy's ragdoll or weapon and highlight them when they respawn, even if they change class or are disguised.

There was also a partner taunt created for the Guard Dog in which it would dispense a jarate to a teammate Sniper.

Meet the Team video — Meet the Guard Dog

From This Point On Are Some Headcanons:

——————————————————————————

~ I am not related to or have connections with anyone associated with the Guard Dog. I will private this post if anyone from the Guard Dog team asks.

~ Some weeks after the team was assembled, still trying to get used to each other's presence, the dynamic was shuffled after a particularly jittery crate was rolled in by Miss Pauling.

~ Contained within the excitable crate was a bright, energetic, and yippie German Shepherd giddily jumping onto each Merc trying to get a good sniff of their scent and a slobbery lick on their face. The poor dog was running itself in circles trying to meet everyone!

~ Scout couldn't have been more excited to have a dog! He immediately jumped onto it, wrestling the furball to the ground with belly rubs and shameless exclamations of its cuteness. That didn't mean he was going to take part in any of the responsibilities, though, to the chagrin of Engineer. He was always down to play tug-of-war, fetch or wrestle with the pooch, though!

~ Soldier opposed the Guard Dog's addition, drilling into Miss Pauling for inviting a mutt into the base... for twelve seconds, until the mutt in question licked his face. From then on, it was a common sight to see Soldier and the Guard Dog together, with the militaryman calling it "Sergeant George Washington". He's also the pooch's provider of table scraps.

~ Pyro acts much like a child around the Guard Dog. He tends to pull on and fold its ears, as well as chase the poor thing around the base as it whines begging the masked blob behind it to stop chasing it. He loves the Guard Dog with all his heart, but the pooch finds him frightening.

~ Demoman was another merc who was quite excited for the addition of a dog. He and Soldier spoil it rotten, and he passes the Guard Dog treats that it's not supposed to have. When drunk, he sometimes will get teary-eyed while gushing about how awesome having the pup is. The Guard Dog can't admit it, because it is a dog, but it prefers Demo over Soldier.

~ Heavy doesn't have any particularly strong feelings about the Guard Dog. It reminds him of hunting dogs he had when he was young, and that gives him a bit of a sentimental attachment to the pooch, but nothing major. He will, if the pup begs, give it his sandvich, and perhaps he will let it curl up on his chest for a nap; because big Russians happen to make great beds.

~ Engineer doesn't have strong feelings about the Guard Dog, respecting it's place on the battlefield but overall indifferent. He's the canine's caregiver; taking it outside, giving it baths, giving it food and water, all the fun at the fair. The dog's penchant for getting into trouble (often assisted by other mercs) does dampen his appreciation for it. But he does admit that it is a good dog.

~ To put it plainly, Medic hates the Guard Dog. He shrugged off the pooch's attempts at affection, and hurried off to the medbay to secure his doves. He doesn't need a slobbery, mud-playing, stinky cretin jumping up and snapping at his precious doves. He finds the dog annoying and a constant threat to his birds.

~ Sniper, like Heavy, was pretty neutral in regards to the Guard Dog. He was overwhelmed by its excitable nature and insistence to cover his face in slobber, but the initial shock wore off and he's found himself playing fetch with the dog on the regular. He appreciates the dog's role and skills, and when no one is looking, he'll give it some bellyrubs. According to the Guard Dog, Sniper also apparently gives the best bellyrubs.

~ Spy shrieked when the Guard Dog tried to jump onto him and give him love. He is wary around the pooch, and constantly gets caught off guard when it comes barreling around the corner with Pyro in tow. He often feigns this fear as just disdain, but he is truly nervous around it because why must it have such sharp teeth? Why does it have to bark so loud? What if it mauled him??

~ Miss Pauling, as usual, was pretty neutral towards the Guard Dog. It is a pain when she visits and gets pounced on by its dirty paws and slobbery kisses, but that's just what she has to expect. It is kind of cute, though, she has to admit.

~ The Guard Dog is a melodramatic dog. To pull out finger guns on the dog will have it flop over playing dead, and to be denied pets because a mercenary has something more important to do will leave the pooch sulking and whining. Baths are a nightmare, too, for the pup will howl its canine lungs out until the bath is over.

~ The pooch has a particular distrust of Spies. Not the one on its team, that one's a part of the dog's perceived 'pack', however it will show no mercy to enemy Spies. Disguised Spies thinking to infiltrate the base beware, for the Guard Dog will tear thee into ribbons with its teeth!

~ It is actually quite protective of the base in general. Anything not of its team will be attacked or warded off; from enemy team members, to pest animals, and even to tumbleweeds that blow by "too close" to the base, will be mauled or barked at.

~ The canine is actually quite intelligent, almost alarmingly more so than a typical dog, as seen on the battlefield. But once the gunfire stops and The Administrator's voice booms out, the Guard Dog takes that as its signal to retire for the night. The pooch will not move for anyone, and even if it's taking up the whole couch, the dog will not move for its teammates. It has snapped at its teammates more than once for trying to move it from its inconvenient napping spot.

~ Additionally, these after-battle naps are a time for the Guard Dog to replenish its energy, before engaging in its nightly patrol around the base.

~ The Guard Dog is oddly gentle with the animals it shares the base with. The medbay's doves will regularly cuddle up to the pup, even land on its snout, and the pooch will sit stock-still as to not disturb the birds. The doves' owner does not enjoy this, though! He's seen what that dog does to the squirrels and rats that sneak in!

~ Adding onto that, Archimedes and the Guard Dog have a sort of friendship. Archimedes perches on the Guard Dog's muzzle, and gently picks out gore and food bits from the dog's mouth. The scene almost always gives Medic a great shock when he walks in on it.

~ The pup is also a comrade to Soldier's horde of raccoons, most likely because it is around him the most often and has been exposed to the raccoons much more. This means that the dog isn't afraid to roughhouse with the critters, and can often be seen playing with them when not with its human companion.

~ Much like how Demo and Engi have name shorthands, Guardie also has a name shorthand, because saying "the Guard Dog" is a mouthful.

~ Unlike the other mercs, who have had their hearts replaced with ambiguous large ape über-hearts, the Guard Dog was provided a dire wolf's heart for the procedure. While Medic does hold a disdain for the dog, he also has a deep fascination with what it does while übered.

~ Scout has gotten bitten by the Guard Dog more times than he would like to admit. Mainly by being provocative of the dog and pissing it off.

~ Guardie is a loving, sociable pup, and while it may act dramatic or sassy at times, it is loyal and protective to no end. It has a big personality, and tends to get into mischief for curiosity's sake (often with assistance from its human co-workers). It loves its teammates more than itself, and will use its smarts to keep them safe.