#also Us is there but that one is Naia's doing

[dragonologist-phd]

Naia and Shadowheart in their little bog cottage filled to the brim with all the animals Shadowheart adopted 🥹 including Buttons the wolf pup 😭

(how do they maintain so many animals on their own, you ask? Naia's skeleton army, of course. undead farmhands to help enable her animal-loving wife)

[thealtoduck]

Sweet Juice

Clark Kent x Male Reader

Content: Greek Mythology AU

Warnings: Smut, Bottom!Reader, Top!Clark, semi-public sex, anal sex, unprotected sex, drunken sex, skinny dipping, spit as lube, missionary position…

Summary: You’re a member of Dionysus following and during a feast you meet a demigod son of Zeus, Clark, also known as the man of steel…

——

You were a lesser deity in a world filled with powerful gods, monsters and heroes. You were the son of the now famous naiad, Daphne. Unfortunately though your mother was no longer with you as she had been turned in to a laurel tree as a form of mercy.

It was considered mercy because the only other option she had was to be violated by Apollo, who was under the spell of Eros after an argument between the two. Apollo feeling bad about the whole ordeal apologised by finding you a place in the retinue of Dionysus and Ariadne.

You didn’t mind this as your duties were pretty much drink, dance, fuck, drink more and generally just to have a good time. It was just constant partying and celebration.

One night when the party had yet to start a visitor came for Dionysus. You were sat close to the god’s throne, you were petting one of his pet leopards when a strange man appeared and entered the god’s camp. He walked slowly towards the olympian. You noted his handsome appearance as he stopped in front of Dionysus.

”Lord Dionysus, you sent for me” the man said in a deep tone. ”I did” Dionysus confirmed before standing up saying loudly ”Everyone! Let me introduce to you to Clark, you may know him as the man of steel!… And also one of my younger half brothers”.

Dionysus followers broke out in cheers for the hero, who seemed slightly confused by the big welcoming. ”I’ve called him here to save us all from the cyclops that has been attacking in the night” Dionysus declared and everyone once again cheered.

”What?! You never told me of any cyclops?!” Clark asked agitated. ”Actually I didn’t tell you anything but you showed up anyway” Dionysus teased him. ”Why don’t you save them yourself?” Clark questioned. However Dionysus only responded with a simple ”Where’s the fun in that?”.

Clark looked irretated at Dionysus and said ”I will not be tricked in to fighting someone else’s battle”. Making the on looking crowd let out disappointed murmurs. Dionysus walked up to the hero and put a hand on his shoulder.

”Come on Clark, do us this favour and we’ll give you the biggest celebration you’ll experince in a life time, with the finest wine and feast, our best music and dancers and if you want you can take to bed anyone you fancy, we don’t judge” Dionysus offered.

Clark took a moment looking around at the crowd surrounding him until his eyes landed on you for a swift moment. He then turned back to Dionysus and said ”Very well, i shall do you this favour”. Once again the crowd including you broke out in cheers and applause for the demigod.

The very next day gifted Clark with a sword, armour and food by Dionysus as he and his followers saw off the hero on his way to save them from the threat of the cyclops.

I didn’t take long for Clark to return as he was back at the camp by next day. He came back in the afternoon covered from head to toe in dirt, dust and a little cyclops blood. Throwing the red painted sword by Dionysus feet.

”Well done” Dionysus complimented looking at the blood drenched sword. Dionysus then turned towards you ”Y/n, take our hero somewhere he can wash off” he commanded. ”Yes, lord Dionysus” you said with a quick bow. He then turned back to Clark and said ”When you return, we feast”.

You went and collected a basket with a bottle of scented oil, a strigil (a tool they used in ancient greece to wash themselves) and a new chiton. ”This way, my lord” you said to Clark and started guiding him through the forest. ”Please, just Clark is fine” he said humbly following you.

You guided him to a secluded pond. ”Impressive, how did you find this place so quickly?” Clark complimented. ”My mother was a naiad, it’s an instinct” you explained putting down the basket next to the pond.

”Would you like me to bring you anything else?” you asked Clark as he started undressing out of the dented armour and dirty chiton. ”You’ve already done enough for me, thank you” he said gentlemanly. Clark was now naked, revealing his muscled body and impressive manhood, which you tried not to look at.

He stepped down in the pond, the water reaching up to his hips. ”Why don’t you join me?” he suggested gesturing towards the water. ”I’d love too, but i have to help the others prepare everything for tonight” you said. ”Come on, only for a short time” Clark tempted. ”Okay” you said with a smile, taking off your chiton and sandals.

Clark watched your naked form with interest as you stepped down in to the water. ”See, it’s nice” Clark said starting to wash himself off using the scented oil you brought for him. You tried not to stare at his oiled up chest but you were 90% sure he caught you looking but he didn’t say anything, he only smirked.

You relaxed in the cool water for a while until you remembered you needed to get back to the others. You climbed out of the pond and started putting on your clothing once again. ”Thanks for the company, hope i’ll see you tonight” Clark said. ”Hope, i’ll see you too” you said and started walking through the forest back towards camp.

That night the music rang loudly through the forest as you celebrated the death of cyclops and your new hero, Clark. You drank and danced wildly with your friends. Some others were already passed out from drinking, some were gambling and playing games and one couple were fucking against a tree.

You saw Clark sitting on a pillow next to Dionysus talking, goblet in hand. You made your way over to the olympian and the demigod. ”Y/n” Dionysus exclaimed happily as he noted your presence. He patted a pillow next to him saying ”Come sit down”.

You took the offer sitting down next to the god, he made your empty goblet instantly refill and put an arm around you. ”I was just telling Clark of my inner circle” Dionysus revealed and continued ”Y/n, here you’ve met, he is my and Ariandne’s favourite attendant and friend” he said sweetly.

”Also he has a body as if sculpted by Pygmalion, carved and smoothed to absolute perfection. You should hope to have a look upon it someday” Dionysus said taking another sip from his goblet.

”Actually i already have” Clark stated boldly making Dionysus spill some wine on himself. ”Y/n, joined me for a swim in the pond” Clark explained making your cheeks heat up slightly. ”Is that so?” Dionysus questioned looking towards you.

”Well, i’ve got to go find Ariadne” Dionysus said getting up leaving you and Clark. ”Are you and Dionysus-?” Clark started but you cut him off saying ”No, he and Ariadne just have a very open relationship”. ”How has your night been?” you then questioned the hero.

”Enjoyable but i’ve never been much of a party person” he said then taking a sip from his cup. ”I get it, before i came here i wasn’t either” you told him and then got an idea. ”Wanna go for a walk for some peace and quiet?” you asked. ”Sure, i’d love too” Clark said and the two of you stood up and walked off in to the forest behind you bringing your goblets with you.

You walked and talked for a while, drinking until your goblets were didn’t have a single drop left in them. Dionysus must’ve brought out the strong stuff because you and Clark were stumbling around and slurring your speech, you were laughing loudly at each others stories, sitting very close together.

Finally the two of you ended up behind some bushes close by to the party. You started to passionately make out, you laying on your back in the soft grass and Clark on top of you. Clark tore open your chiton and undressed you, leaving your naked form beneath him.

He then took off his own clothes revealing his muscular body and his hard cock. Clark took his hand and brought it to your mouth, you sucked on his fingers to get them wet, then he brought his moist fingers to your enterance and started pushing finger inside you.

You let out a small gasp as Clark started to finger you open, he added another fiinger and then another until you were ready to take him. Clark spit in to his hand and rubbed it over his erect manhood.

”It’s time i claim my reward” Clark said spreading your legs, he lined himself up with you and started pushing his hard cock in to your warmth. Clark loved the seeing the face you made as his cock slowly filled you up.

”Fuck your so big” you hissed as the demigod was fully sheated deep inside you. He then slowy started moving pushing himself in and out of you as a wave of pleasure started washing over you.

Your legs were wrapped around Clark as he thrusted in to you. ”I’m gonna fuck your little nymph hole full with my seed” Clark groaned in to your ear and placed kisses all along your neck. The demigod started speeding up his thrusts.

”Clark, fuck yeah! Take me” you said in ecstasy grabbing at his back as he fucked your hole. Both of your bodies had started gleaming from sweat as he mounted you under the moonlight, as his reward for defeating the cyclops.

Clark’s thrusts became rougher as he wanted to take you like a real demigod would, he loved how your walls clenched around his thick cock. He brutally fucked you with all the strength of his godly heritage to bring you to your release.

You let out breathy moans as Clark pounded your gaping hole, thrusting against your prostate. You felt yourself getting close to your orgasm. You dug your nails in to the grass below as Clark’s cock made you see Mount Olympus.

”Clark, i’m gonna cum” you said panting heavily making Clark thrust deeper as he wanted to push you over the edge. Then your cock started spraying cum all over your and Clark’s stomachs. Clark’s own release was getting close.

”I’m gonna plant my seed deep inside you” Clark moaned and his rough thrusts became uneven and sloppy. Clark delivered one last deep stroke in to you and he erupted inside you, he flooding your insides with his cum.

Both of you panted heavily and Clark rolled over and layed next to you in the grass. ”You were amazing” Clark praised while softly stroking your cheek. The two of you then used your torn clothes as blankets as you cuddled close together and you both fell asleep under the starry sky.

[atsumulogy]

WHEN YOUR CO-WORKER CALLS HIMSELF YOUR “WORK HUSBAND”

synopsis: how he reacts to your co-worker calling himself your “work husband”

featuring: miya atsumu, oikawa tooru, & iwaizumi hajime. fem!reader.

content warning(s): jealousy, possessive boys, weird co-worker, suggestive at iwa’s part 😵 sorry my hands slipped lmao. also grammar mistakes … have mercy i wrote this kinda half asleep + use of wife

naia’s footnote: yk that work wife thing? yeah, that but with a twist with the hq men 🤭 jealous scenarios are my guilty pleasure LOL i wrote this when i was supposed to be doing smth actually productive 😓‼️also i got carried away w atsumu’s haha

REQUESTS ARE OPEN! rb’s & likes are appreciated

#01 — WHEN COMING AS YOUR PLUS ONE IN YOUR OFFICE’S FANCY EVENT, MIYA ATSUMU didn’t want to admit it but he kind of expected to be fawned over by your female colleagues — not that he wanted them to! It’s just … expected, seeing how absolutely hot your husband is (the expensive suit and tie and all). What he did not expect was being introduced to your … what was it? Ahh, yes, “work husband”.

The absolute audacity and sheer nerve of this bastard to call himself that in front of him, the actual husband on the documents and in your heart.

Work husband. He scoffs silently, face scrunching up in irritation, poking his cheeks with his tongue instead of making a fuss in this exclusive event where lots of important people are present. As much as he cares for obliterating this man in front of him, he cares more about you and didn’t want to cause you any issues with your workplace.

(Though, if this ugly scrub touches your arm again and joke about Atsumu being the side chick, he wasn’t so sure that he wouldn’t cause a scene.)

Besides, the 24 karat gold necklace hanging around your neck with his initials attached to the chains and the elegant ring on your finger makes it painfully clear that your self-proclaimed work husband has no chance against the Miya Atsumu.

BONUS:

Atsumu may have acted mature about the situation while in the event, but behind closed doors he was whining and grumbling about that annoyin’ scrub.

“— like I still can’t believe he had the guts to say that in front of me!” He scoffs, face scrunching up again, his mouth forming a scowl. “Work husband… tsk, i’m yer only husband! hell, i’ll be yer work husband, house husband, and every other fuckin’ husband title there is!”

Instead of informing your husband that it doesn’t work like that, you nod to every word he said every time he looks at your eyes to back him up on his rant.

“Yes baby, I know. Now why don’t we get you a trophy with all those husband titles, hm?” You jokingly offered, patting his fluffy blonde hair.

Next week a package arrived carrying a shiny gold trophy with the words “Miya Y/n’s only house husband, work husband, and everything else in between” customized on the front <3

#02 — OIKAWA TOORU SCOFFED AFTER SOME IRRELEVANT, MEDIOCRE, UGLY MAN introduced himself as your “work husband”, somewhat offended because someone dared crown themselves a self-proclaimed title as your work husband — like that bastard is even worthy enough to be breathing the same air as you!

He recognizes this man to be the man you ranted to him about that was inappropriately acting like he’s close with you and many other women of your office.

Wanting to do you and the other women of your office a favor, he decided to humble him.

“Last time I checked, there was no side piece. And if there were to be a side piece — which will never happen by the way! — my wife would pick someone better looking than you. As you can see she has great taste, since she married me and only me. But you should know that by now, hm? Our wedding was even on the news!” showing the ring on his finger, wiggling it even to show emphasis, his tone and his (threatening) smile was friendly, but you all know that it was anything but that.

Oikawa Tooru is an intimidating opponent, both in and out of the court.

#03 — NEVER IN HIS 25 YEARS OF LIVING HAS IWAIZUMI HAJIME met a more annoying and repulsive person such as the man in front of him that cockily and casually called himself as your “work husband”.

You felt his beefy arms tighten around your waist, he leans in to you closely, his hot breath heating up your ears as he asked you with low voice, however still (purposely) loud enough for the guy in front of you two to hear. “Baby, do you even know him?”

You nodded, “He’s just some guy in the finance department who’s really weird, Hajime. I don’t even remember his name. Sato? Aoki?”

The man before you deflated, his cocky stance nowhere to be seen as he scoffs defensively, “It’s Nakamura —”

“— Yeah, sure, well my wife and I have somewhere else to be now. So goodbye Ishikawa-san.” He purposely used a different name — politely even, to mock him and push his buttons.

“It’s Nakamu —”

“Bye Sato-kun!” You played along with your husband’s petty antics, waving him off before locking your arms around Hajime’s before snuggling close to him as you two walked away. The both of you bursting out laughing once you guys think the guy was far away enough to not hear you two.

“Have you seen his face! He deserved that humbling experience!” You snorted, Hajime rolling his eyes as he remembers the guy.

“Okay but who even is he really? Is he always so flirtatious with you? What even is a work husband? Last time I checked, I’m the one who gave you that new last name of yours.” He grumbled, irritated at the thought of that bastard flirting with you at work when your husband wasn’t there.

“Aw, babe, you know that you’re the only one for me.” you patted his cheeks affectionately, smiling at him while giggling.

He does. He knows it, a bit too well at times. So he sighs and he lets it go. Because he knows that at the end of the day, he’s the one you come home to, he’s the one you cling onto while watching your favorite shows, he’s the one that rests his free hand on your thighs whenever you two go for a drive.

And tonight, he’s the one that will lay you down on the bed and touch you, talk to you, and feel you in ways that only he can do.

© ATSUMULOGY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ANY FORM OF PLAGIARISM OF ANY OF MY CONTENT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

[snakebites-and-ink]

Aquarius - Arrival

Characters are named and gendered but literally everything else is generic asjhfsd

Masterlist

CW: Conditioned whumpee, (temporarily) oblivious caretakers

Naia started heading back to base after getting out of a one-on-one meeting with a higher-up. Apparently one of the other branches in their organization had recently been shut down. It was a mess—but not her mess, thankfully. Most of the branches were fairly independent and separate, so hers could just do their own thing while the more central powers dealt with this.

However, they also had several people who’d been victims in this issue—people who might require a lot of care. The investigation into the full details was still ongoing, Naia’d been told, but the organization’s core wasn’t certain whether they alone could sufficiently care for all the victims’ issues while also dealing with the rest of the disastrous case. That was where she came in, and what the meeting was for. They were looking for teams that were willing and able to take in one of these people for the time being, at least until the worst of it had been sorted out. It was on a volunteer basis, so if she needed to Naia could refuse without any other consequences than a weight on her conscience.

She said she’d get back to them. If it were just her affected she’d have said yes right away, but she had other people to think about. Making changes without running them by the team wasn’t her style. She’d check with them, and agree if they were okay with it; they weren’t very busy currently and easily had the time and resources for one more person.

Now she had to talk to her team about it. She figured they’d all want to help; they were a good lot.

Naia called a team meeting the next day for that very purpose. She briefly explained the situation as she understood it. “I told them I had to consider it. It’s not required, so I’ll only accept if it’s okay with you guys. But if it is, I think we would be a good team to take one in.”

“What exactly are they victims of?” 

“I don't know. I've heard rumors of human experimentation and involuntary recruitment, but all I've had confirmed for certain is that they got shut down for ethics violations.”

“I’m down for it,” one team member said. Several other agreements sounded from around the room. No one was against it.

This was why Naia loved her team. They were good people. “Alright. I’ll tell them we’ll take one.”

They were expecting someone traumatized. Maybe someone who lashed out. Maybe someone who fell apart at the slightest issue. Maybe someone too terrified to function. 

They weren't expecting someone so…calm. 

The man they received from the organization seemed collected and unharmed, as far as a surface-level inspection could show. He seemed to respond normally to questions and directions, with a level-headedness that suggested the rumors of horrors in the terminated branch were unfounded. He was very polite, if a little withdrawn.

“Just one more thing, and then we’ll get you settled in your new living quarters.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Naia covered the last question she needed to, then called another team member over.

“Alright, let’s get you settled. Ariel, will you show him to his room?”

Ariel took their new guest to the quarters the team had gotten ready for him. They showed him around it, pointing out all the amenities they’d prepared for him to use so he wouldn’t have trouble finding anything he needed. They told him if he needed anything else he could just ask anyone, but ideally Naia since she was the one in charge. He was polite and attentive the whole time, and they never needed to repeat themself.

“Alright, is there anything else you need now?” When he answered in the negative, they responded, “’kay. Naia will probably check on you soon, go ahead and get settled in in the meantime. And see if you think of anything else you’ll need, we wouldn’t want you to go without.”

There seemed to be no problems, so they left him to settle in in private.

Once she was finished with the paperwork and official business regarding receiving him, Naia went to check on the new guest. She knocked and stepped inside the room. “Hey, you doing all right? Got settled in and everything?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Is there anything you need that we haven’t gotten for you yet?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Okay. If anything comes up, let me know. Or anyone else on the team if I’m not available.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Great.” In all the hustle and bustle of getting things arranged and doing the official work, Naia hadn’t gotten to know the newcomer at all or even learned his name. Time to rectify that. “What’s your name?”

“AHW-28515.”

“I mean your real name, not what the other branch designated you in their records.”

“I’m not sure what you mean, ma’am.”

Oh dear. There was a lot more at play than simple politeness. She double-checked to make sure she was interpreting this right. “You mean you don’t have a normal name, like a—human name?”

“No ma’am. I am 28515.”

This was not a good sign. She and the team were going to have to reassess some assumptions they’d made when they first brought him in. “Okay. Well is there anything else I can call you?” There was no way she was going to dehumanize him like that and call him a number.

“My call sign is Aquarius.”

“Aquarius? Why, are you a January birthday or something?”

“I don't understand the question, ma'am.”

Right. Of course those people who did this to him wouldn't celebrate his birthday. 

“Sorry. Nevermind that.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I like Aquarius.” She liked it better than a number, anyways. “Is it okay if I call you that instead?”

“You can call me whatever you like, ma'am.”

She worried he would say that even if he hated what she was calling him. It’s not like she had many options, though, she wasn’t a mind-reader. “Alright. I’ll call you Aquarius for now, but there’s something else you’d like to be called, tell me, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The “ma’am” hit differently now that Naia had a better idea of where the deference was coming from. Still, this much of a better idea might not be enough. She had to really know what she was dealing with if she was going to be able to help him well. “What, exactly, was your role in the group that had you before us?”

There was no hesitation or doubt in his answer. “I’m a weapon.”

[vivid-ink]

"To Know You Again" Chapter 3 - A Choice Already Made

Pairing: Neteyam x fem!Omatikaya OC

Summary: “Do you remember our last night here? The night before my family left?” The warm, rumbling timbre of Neteyam’s voice washed over her. “Yes,” Naia whispered. How could she forget?... She had replayed the memory of his lips over and over numerous times. One corner of Neteyam’s mouth lifted in a small smile as his eyes tracked over the delicate bridge of her nose and over her steadily flushing cheeks. His gaze stopped to rest on her lips, “You gave me something that night. I think it's time I returned it."

An exploration of what if Neteyam had to leave a girl he was close to behind when his family fled to the reefs to seek refuge. AU - Set 7 years after TWoW, exploring the many emotions and the eventual romantic reunion between Neteyam and his love.

Warnings: Adult content 18+, MDNI Content: Romance, drama, angst, fluff, sexual content, smut, soulmates, bonding. Word Count: 9.1k

Previous Chapter 2 - A Kiss Long Awaited

Neteyam blinked a few times, feeling the growing pressure as Tarsem sat waiting expectantly. The clan chief was no doubt awaiting what he assumed would be an affirmative answer.

The proposal was not something Neteyam had expected. His father had been forced to relinquish his leadership of the Omatikaya when they had left to seek refuge with the Metkayina. Tarsem had been appointed in Jake’s stead as a replacement. As Jake’s leadership had ended, so had Neteyam’s birth right to succeed him.

Neteyam had long ago given up on any aspirations of being olo’eyktan. When his family had first moved to Awa’atlu, he had gone from being the highly-respected son of the clan chief to being ridiculed and mocked for being a ‘freak’. The adjustment had been tough, but once his family became Metkayina, Neteyam buried his ambition and made peace with his new position in life.

“Well, son?” Tarsem prompted, raising a curious brow at Neteyam’s silence.

Swallowing the nervous build-up of saliva that had pooled in the hollows of his cheeks, Neteyam answered with queries of his own, “What’s happened to Tupou? Why is he unable to continue as your successor?”

“This is actually Tupou’s idea. He doesn’t wish to be successor.” The admission from Tarsem was a surprise, “He finds the role more a burden than an honour, and it impinges on his freedoms. My son wasn’t born with the responsibility of impending leadership. Unlike yourself, he wasn’t raised with the expectation or the preparation, which is perhaps why his manner is somewhat lacking for leadership. He’s a well-respected warrior and very skilled, but he’s also wilful and conceited. He is not the most suitable candidate.”

If this proposition had come to Neteyam several years ago, he may have accepted. If Naia was still tsakarem, he would definitely have accepted. However, she was not tsakarem anymore and his priority now was her. Naia was the biggest reason he had returned to the Omatikaya. Using the diplomacy he was raised with, Neteyam asked, “Is this proposition negotiable? Do I have a choice?”

Neteyam heard his mother sigh quietly beside him and his father looked somewhat uncomfortable. His grandmother, on the other hand, was smiling wryly at the awkward situation.

The incredulity was clear on Tarsem’s face, “You do not wish to accept this proposal?”

“With all due respect olo’eyktan, I’m honoured and I thank the council. However, I must decline.”

“Why?” Despite the frown that was forming a deep knit between the clan chief’s brows, Tarsem’s voice was calm. There was no indignation in his tone, just a genuine want to understand, “You’ve trained most of your life in your father’s footsteps. You were one of the youngest individuals to succeed at Iknimaya and one of the best warriors the Omatikaya have ever seen. The clan respects you and rejoices at your return. I thought this proposal would be an easy acceptance for you.”

If Tarsem wanted Neteyam to spell out his reasons then he would, “It would be the utmost honour to lead the Omatikaya one day, sir, but I won’t accept this position if it means I will be betrothed to Leylani.”

Tarsem looked even more astounded by Neteyam’s response and he let out a dubious bark of laughter, “First Manaia’s refusal to mate Tupou and now this? What is this madness? Look, I agree that Manaia and Tupou were ill-suited to each other. However, you and Leylani are both wise with good heads on your shoulders. It’s a robust partnership and she is a beautiful woman! I must say I don’t understand your reasoning. You’ve clearly been spending far too much time with Manaia and she has been a poor influence on you.”

Neteyam was about to defend Naia when his grandmother burst into hearty, guffawing laughter, startling everyone around her.

Mo’at’s amusement petered down to quiet chortling after a few moments and she mildly chastised Tarsem, “Perhaps next time you will listen to your tsahìk when she suggests that a proposition be relayed to someone in private. That way you might have avoided this uncomfortable exchange entirely.”

Tarsem scoffed and addressed Neteyam, “The council can’t force you to accept. However, this does leave the clan without a suitable successor. Your choice to decline and your reason has surprised me, Neteyam.”

Despite his annoyance at Tarsem’s slighting of Naia, Neteyam kept his tone carefully measured, “I’m sorry to disappoint, sir. May I be dismissed?” He did not want to suffer the awkward situation any longer or risk the chance of Tarsem trying to persuade him otherwise. He was resolute in his decision. He would not accept if it meant he would be mated to Leylani.

“Yes, you may. Dismissed.”

With a respectful bow of his head, Neteyam uncrossed his legs and rose to his feet. Bidding them all goodnight, he headed deeper into the shelter intent on bedding down for the night.

Still chuckling under her breath, Mo’at added towards Tarsem once Neteyam was out of earshot, “You may be a noble olo’eyktan, Tarsem, but sometimes you do not see what is right under your nose. You do not put two and two together to see the truth for what it is.”

Pursing his lips at Mo’at, Tarsem bristled a bit at her barb, “What am I not seeing, tsahìk? Please enlighten me. I don’t think my surprise at Neteyam’s refusal is unwarranted. He was the clan’s original successor until before the Long War, after all.”

“Yes, but who was his tsakarem back then?” Mo’at’s question was perceptive and she narrowed her eyes at the clan chief, willing him to work things out for himself. She could see the cogs turning in Tarsem’s mind, “A few moments ago you acknowledged that Neteyam and Manaia are close. Manaia refused to mate Tupou, and now Neteyam refuses to mate Leylani. Why do you think that might be?”

Several moments later, realisation spread across Tarsem’s features and his lips formed an ‘oh’ of understanding. He gave a slow shake of his head then and sniggered, “Ah Great Mother, what a mess. If only Manaia had remained tsakarem.”

The others joined him in soft chortling and Mo’at sighed, “The path that Eywa has planned for us rarely runs straight or smooth. This clan does need a strong successor though. It is not a matter to be taken lightly.”

“If I may ask,” Jake began, hesitant due to the fact that he knew what he was about to suggest was a deviation from ancient Na’vi tradition that dated back to the time of the First Songs, “Must the olo’eyktan be mated to the tsahìk? I mean, look at what we’ve done for the last two decades. Mo’at, you remained tsahìk when I was clan chief and even now still with Tarsem as olo’eyktan. I believe Neteyam would accept the proposal if he wasn’t obligated to mate Leylani.”

“My Jake, our divergence from tradition is a one-off and not ideal. One divergence is not reason to diverge for the rest of time.” Neytiri cautioned her husband, though she looked shamefaced at the subject. She knew and acknowledged that it had been her who had caused the divergence in the first place.

“Times may be changing. I have heard whispers of clans who no longer follow this tradition, maite (daughter). Some clans even have an olo’eykte (clan chieftainess).” Mo’at stated, “Above all, strong leadership and partnership is the most important in the leading pair. Jake may have a point worth exploring. I will speak to Leylani about this, though I can’t imagine her objecting to being free to choose her own mate.”

Tarsem fixed strong amber eyes on Mo’at and he nodded, “We will bring this to the clan council. A vote can be taken. Majority will rule.”

***~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***

Fear lanced through Naia as she ran towards the nearest clearing, her terror like shards of stabbing ice in her chest. She had been gathering various medicinal shrubs on the verdant forest floor below the mountains with some other women when a scout had arrived from High Camp to summon her home urgently. The warriors’ party had returned to camp early after an incident with a palulukan (thanator) and several warriors had been wounded.

Blood pounding in her ears, all Naia could think of was Neteyam. Great Mother, please let him be alright…

Reaching the clearing in the forest, she let out several shrill calls for her ikran who would not be far away. Sure enough, an answering skreich sounded overhead and it was only moments before Lortirea landed in front of Naia with a great flap of her wings. Leaping onto the creature’s back, she urged her winged familiar into a steep ascent, taking to the skies in a burst of speed, “Quickly, Lortirea! Fly! Fly for home!”

The short flight back to High Camp passed in a numb daze for Naia. She dismounted hastily upon reaching her destination, absently thanking Lortirea before weaving her way through the other tents and shelters bound for the tsahìk’s hut. The woven satchel she had been collecting her herbs and roots in was haphazardly slung across one of her shoulders, and Naia was sure a good portion of the medicinal florae had probably fallen out of it in her mad dash towards the forest clearing, but she could not care less currently.

Spearing through the flaps of the hut, she expected to be greeted by a grisly scene where chaos was running rampant, with the injured lying about on mats, groaning deliriously in their agony. However, the atmosphere was calm and the hut was mostly vacant apart from Mo’at who sat tending to a female warrior’s arm and Leylani who was patching up another young male warrior.

“Oh good, you’re back. Tupou’s wounds need tending to.” Mo’at called out, gesturing with a cock of her head to the corner of the hut nearest the entrance on Naia’s right, “The bleeding has slowed considerably, but the gashes will need to be carefully stitched closed to minimise scarring. My hands are no longer as steady as they once were and your stitching skills are stronger than Leylani’s are.”

Naia’s chest was heaving from her surge in adrenalin and in her panic she had not even seen Tupou lying to her right. Her wide eyes flicked hastily around the hut and she registered that Neteyam was not in there, which meant that he must not have been injured. She sagged in relief at the realisation and set her satchel down on the floor. Thank you, Eywa.

Moving to gather her healers’ pack and implements, Naia cleaned her hands in the washbowl nearby and returned to kneel by Tupou’s prone form. He was awake, but his lips were pressed into a tight line, clearly uncomfortable and in pain. Not that that stopped his condescension when he took in Naia’s unnerved state.

“By Eywa, you look like you’ve seen someone return from the dead. What’s got you all flustered?” Tupou sneered, and Naia thought to herself how amazing it was that he could still look haughty even while his face was contorted in pain. She wanted to pinch his nose and twist it off his stupid face.

Naia willed her professionalism and maturity to step up to the mark, biting back the urge to retort with a smart comment, “I was worried. When the scout found me and told me the hunting party had returned after a run-in with a palulukan, I assumed the worst.”

Peeling back the cloth that had been used to stem the bleeding, Naia grimaced at the three open gashes that marred Tupou’s chest, cutting across his torso from one shoulder down to his navel. He had been clawed by the creature.

As Naia prepared her needle and thread, Tupou took the opportunity to taunt her again, “Aww, worried for me were you? I’m touched.”

With a roll of her eyes at his mockery, Naia hissed quietly, “No, my worry was not for you.”

Tupou gave a soft and scathing chuckle, “Don’t worry, your pretty boy is just fine. Unlike him, I didn’t run when the palulukan showed up.”

Naia’s ears heated both from embarrassment and from ire at Tupou’s remark. Were her feelings for Neteyam that obvious? And how dare he mock Neteyam for choosing not to face down a palulukan! She swatted Tupou on his uninjured shoulder, snarling at him, “You’re supposed to run from palulukan! Not stand your ground!”

The female warrior Mo’at was tending to, Saeyla, jeered in agreement in the background, “Yeah, you skxawng ass! You tried to charge the beast and scare it off! You should know that palulukan does not fear anything! We lost one of our kills today, no thanks to you.”

Leaning down towards Tupou so her comment would be quiet enough that none of the others would hear, Naia murmured, “It’s not Neteyam’s fault that he has a brain and you don’t. One would think the only working head you have on your body is the one between your legs. Now you’ll wear three welts across your body for the rest of your life as a reminder of your foolishness.”

To Naia’s surprise, Tupou did not even seem offended. With a scornful lift of one of his brows, he pursed his lips and nodded as if in agreement. Maintaining the same quiet level of speech that Naia had used with him, Tupou threw back a barb of his own, “You know, it’s a pity your stitching skills are better than Leylani’s. The view would have been so much better on her side of the hut.”

It was a blatant jab at her appearance and while the comment stung, Naia did not show it. She had been witty with a sharp tongue all her life and she knew that if she wanted to dish sass out, that she would need to be tough enough to take it too when someone else gave her a taste of her own medicine. She had called Tupou dumb and he had called her plain. Fair game, they were even.

But, she had never been one to give up on having the last say.

Casting him a falsely saccharine smile that oozed mockery, Naia cautioned him, “Careful Tupou, I can stitch nicely or I can stitch poorly. Now, I’m sure the women wouldn’t want the view of your chest to be ruined, would they?”

Tupou scowled at her but said nothing. Smart choice, Naia thought.

Ready to begin her work, she reached for a small vessel of brown tubers in her pack. Uncapping it, she pulled a single rhizome from it and held the finger-length root to Tupou’s mouth, “Chew this, but don’t swallow it. It’ll help with the pain. And I want silence from now on or I’ll make sure to wiggle the needle extra hard with every stitch.”

“Yes ma’am.” Tupou smirked and snickered, grimacing straight after at the pain his movement caused his wound.

Naia soon found a rhythm with her work, a repetitive cycle of needle and thread, and dabbing and cleaning as she went along. The three gashes were not very deep, but they were wide enough that she needed to stitch slowly and evenly to bring Tupou’s skin back together. She prided herself on her work and all going well, he would still scar but the scars would be neat.

It was easy to drift away into her thoughts and as always, she thought of Neteyam. This past week had flown by in a blissful haze for Naia. She could hardly believe that he returned her affection. Every morning she thanked the Great Mother in her prayers and every night she got lost in the scent of him and the searing heat of his kisses.

That was not all they did, of course. They still spent some of their time meaningfully, talking and doing menial tasks like woodcarving, weaving and sewing in each other’s presence. But Naia greatly enjoyed exploring this new, red-blooded side of Neteyam. She felt a blush begin to creep its way across her cheeks and she consciously kept her expression cool.

Neteyam was ever the gentleman but he was very much a man still, with hands that liked to roam, leaving sizzling trails across her sensitised skin, and lips that loved to nibble and kiss elsewhere too apart from her own lips. Certainly never without her permission, but how could Naia deny those gentle eyes that gleamed mischievously in their depths with the promise of something hotter. She was not blameless in their mutual explorations. She also loved running her hands over him and she relished the way she too could make him breathless with desire.

A pained gasp from Tupou interrupted her daydreaming and Naia murmured an apology as she started on the last gash. This wound was the deepest and he was clearly in a lot of pain. Reaching for a larger bottle in her healers’ pack, she pulled the cork off and handed it to him, “It’s straight rumautnäk. Take a big gulp of the liquor, don’t choke.”

Someone was pushed through the flaps of the hut then and jovial laughs of protest filled the space. Naia looked up and her heart skipped a beat when she realised it was Neteyam.

“Tsahìk! Neteyam hasn’t been seen yet.” Another one of the male warriors pronounced, sticking his upper half into the hut but not stepping into it, “He’s being stubborn.”

“I’m OK! I’ve just got a few cuts and scrapes. It’s nothing to worry over.” Neteyam asserted, “Besides, everyone here is busy.”

“No, I’ve just finished dressing Untuk’s leg.” Leylani called kindly from across the hut, “You took the same tumble everyone else did. At least let me look you over and clean your cuts.”

Neteyam’s eyes dropped to meet Naia’s where she knelt tending to Tupou and sweet relief washed over her at the visual confirmation that he was, in fact, more or less unharmed. He smiled warmly at her and she grinned in return, flicking her head in Leylani’s direction, “Go on then, mighty warrior.”

With a shake of his head and a half-hearted eyeroll at Naia’s teasing comment, Neteyam ambled deeper into the space towards Leylani’s work station. Offering her a friendly greeting, she gestured for him to sit before her as she cleared away what she did not need and cleaned her hands.

“Untuk told me your quick thinking saved them all today.” Leylani’s voice was appreciative and she beamed at Neteyam, “Tupou might not be here if it wasn’t for you.”

A weary sigh escaped Neteyam at the memory of the morning’s harrowing encounter with the palulukan. Tupou had foolishly tried to charge the beast down and it had retaliated as expected. Tupou had fought fiercely, evading most of the creature’s attempts to end his life until an ill-timed lunge on his part had earned him a clawed swipe down his torso. The palulukan would have killed him then if Neteyam and the other warriors had not cut one of their kills loose and rolled it down the bank to distract the hungry predator. The beast had accepted the trade.

“Well, I figured you can’t fight palulukan and win, but you can bargain with it. It was hungry. The loss of one kill is a small price to pay for everyone’s safety.” Neteyam murmured, closing his eyes while Leylani patted gently with some cloth at a cut near his temple.

Leylani chortled, “Yes, I’m sure a fat talioang calf was a better deal than a scrawny Na’vi warrior in comparison. Good thinking.” She continued to inspect her patient. Neteyam was unscathed apart from small cuts and grazes here and there, which Leylani diligently cleaned and applied her medicinal salve to.

They sat in comfortable silence while Leylani worked. Like many others their own age, Neteyam had been a friend and childhood playmate of hers growing up. He had been well-respected as next-in-line to be olo’eyktan after his father, but not once had the mantle ever gone to his head. What Tupou lacked in humility and good judgement, Neteyam more than made up for. He truly was the successor the Omatikaya needed.

“Your grandmother told me about the condition you have put forward to the council regarding their proposition.” Leylani broke the silence, broaching the subject of him reclaiming his birthright, “I hope they find favour with your request. It would be a very progressive step forward.”

Neteyam stiffened at her words. His grandmother had approached him the morning after the awkward encounter with Tarsem at his family’s home, when the council’s proposition had first been relayed to him. Mo’at had asked if he would re-consider re-claiming his birthright if he was not obligated as olo’eyktan to be mated to the tsahìk. He had taken the day to think about it and had come to the conclusion that the only thing stopping him was indeed Naia.

He was aware that his grandmother would have spoken to Leylani about it. After all, his condition did affect her path as future tsahìk too. However, unease simmered in Neteyam’s stomach now at her direct reference to the situation and he realised he did not want Leylani to take his request the wrong way.

“It’s not personal.” Neteyam remarked apprehensively, turning sincere eyes up at Leylani who stopped her dabbing to meet his gaze. He struggled with his words, wanting to convey his genuine feelings that it was not because of anything wrong with Leylani herself that he objected to being betrothed to her. “It’s not because I have any objections to you or that I find you unappealing. You’re very beautiful and incredibly compassionate; any man would be lucky to have you as a mate. I just-”

Leylani giggled then and silenced him by finishing his sentiment for him, “The heart wants what it wants?” Her eyes flicked briefly to Naia over his shoulder before she narrowed her eyes at him with a perceptive grin, “Don’t vex yourself, I know your reasons.”

Neteyam chuckled awkwardly, speaking in a hushed tone, “Yeah, I haven’t mentioned anything to Naia yet about the council’s proposition though.”

Leylani blinked surprised eyes at him, “Really? How come?”

“You know what she’s like. She’ll push for me to accept the position and lecture me from morning until night about why I’m even hesitating.”

“And she would be right to do so.” Leylani pressed in agreement, although her expression was still warm, “The clan needs you, Neteyam. There’s no one else more fitting to lead in future, even Tupou knows that. It’s one of the reasons why he wants to step down now that you’ve returned.”

Neteyam’s lips pressed into a determined line, his tail weaving purposefully at his back, “I didn’t come home to reclaim my birthright. I came home for Naia.”

The meaning behind his words did not need to be spelled out for Leylani to understand that if the clan council did not vote to allow a deviation from tradition, that Neteyam would be declining the proposition. His mind was made up, his choice was made.

Leylani thought wistfully to herself how special it must be to share such a profound bond with someone; to have known from a young age that the other was the twin to your own heart and soul. Time and distance had done nothing to change how Manaia felt for Neteyam, and clearly the emotion was returned on his part. Leylani was happy for her friends; to separate them now would be cruel.

Not wanting to dwell any longer on such serious matters, Leylani perked up with a bright smile, “Tell me about the ocean, brother! What’s it like and what are the sea people like?”

“It’s wet all the time.” Neteyam’s tone was deadpan and he maintained a straight expression at first before they both dissolved into hoots of laughter at his lame gag.

Naia watched out of the corner of her eye whilst Neteyam and Leylani engaged in good-humoured conversation. Neteyam’s arms were animated as he described something to her and Naia felt a small pang of jealousy when Leylani let out a peal of enchanting laughter. Leylani, with her hip-length braids and all her feminine grace and beauty…

Naia recognised the danger of her own insecurities though and the rational part of her brain chastised her for her doubt. It was not Leylani who Neteyam chose to spend intimate company with in the evenings… But still, it made her feel uncomfortable seeing another woman’s hands on his face and on his chest, even if Leylani was only doing a healer’s job.

“Alright, you’re all done.” Naia pronounced, gently cleaning Tupou’s chest and applying some salve to the now closed wound sites. “No hunting, sparring or strenuous activity for at least a week. Try not to stretch the skin too much or the stitches will burst and you’ll end up back here again.”

Tupou grunted as he eased himself into an upright position with some support from her, “Thanks for patching me up Manaia.”

Smirking at him, Naia teased, “Wow, is that sincerity I hear?” Her skin prickled when Tupou fixed her with a look that held a surprising amount of candour in its depths.

“I’m not so proud that I don’t recognise or show gratitude for the proficiencies of others, especially where I know my own skills are lacking.”

Naia had no smart retort to that.

***~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***

“Where are we going?” The question was almost a petulant whine from Naia, but the giggles that punctuated her words revealed her tongue-in-cheek mood.

Squeezing her hand as he led her along through the woodlands, Neteyam turned and wrinkled his nose at her, “It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you, would it?”

The flourishing forest shimmered with the bioluminescent beauty of the night and the air was crisp around them. Neteyam wanted tonight to be meaningful and the small leather pouch that bounced lightly against his hip as he walked reminded him of why. The clan council had yet to come to their decision on his request and they would take their final vote tomorrow night. However the outcome mattered little to him. There was only one thing, one woman he wanted no matter what.

The sound of water flowing, lapping gently as it travelled its way down the stream, filled Naia’s ears and she realised that Neteyam had led them down to the brook where the fisherfolk often came to fish and gather. The stream opened into a large grove with a serene body of water that was too big to be called a pond, and yet too small and too closed off to be considered a river.

Rocks of all sizes surrounded the grove, framing the edges of the pool and pretty paysyul (water lilies) with dainty flowers of violet and pink dotted the water’s surface. As with all of the Great Mother’s natural wonders, the pool was illumined with phosphorescence in hues of teal, lilac and magenta from the aquatic florae that thrived in the water’s depths. Pandora was never truly dark after eclipse.

Reaching the water’s edge, Neteyam sauntered into the pool up to his knees and suddenly found himself unable to go further. Naia’s arm was outstretched and she twisted her hand gently, pulling it out of Neteyam’s hold as he attempted to pull her in after him. She planted her feet firmly on the bank, her toes scrunching reluctantly as the cool water swirled around them in an enticing tickle.

“We’re going swimming?” Naia asked, the uncertainty clear in her voice.

Chuckling, Neteyam turned to face her and his handsome smile was most disarming, “We have to swim a bit to get to what I want to show you, yes.”

Blowing a hesitant breath out through her lips, Naia shook her head, “I don’t know, Neteyam. You might be half fish now, but I’m not. I’m very much a dry-land kind of person.” She could swim, but she had never been confident in the water and preferred to stay dry.

“It’s not far, I promise.”

“Where exactly is this place?”

Sensing her obstinacy would not relent without some coaxing on his part, Neteyam sloshed up the bank to stand beside her. Curling a warm hand around her waist, he pointed with his other hand out toward what appeared to be a colossal boulder sitting in the centre of the pool, “There.”

Naia blinked and a confused frown knitted her brows. The boulder was a tall dome and it stretched backward, connecting towards the rocky bank behind it. It just looked like a big rock to her… There was nothing special about it in particular. Turning perplexed eyes up at Neteyam, Naia drawled uninspiringly, “We flew and walked all this way to sit on a big rock?”

With a snort of laughter, Neteyam left her side again and waded further into the pool until the water swirled about his navel, “So little faith in me, Naia. It’s not a rock. It’s a cave system with an entrance under the water. We’re going to swim into it.”

A knot of nerves sat low in Naia’s belly and her apprehension must have shown on her face, for Neteyam stretched an arm out towards her, his open hand beckoning for the grasp of her own. His warm gaze encouraged her and she stepped slowly into the brook and took hold of his hand, wading in after him to stand at his side.

“Do you trust me?” Neteyam’s voice was tender as he posed his question, and he leaned down to press a kiss to Naia’s temple.

Naia’s reply came to her unbidden, “Always.” The answering beam of his smile was worth all of her nerves, Naia thought.

“We’re going to swim to where the mouth of that cave is. We’ll surface there and then it’s one big breath before we dive under and in.”

Nodding tautly, Naia agreed and followed. Taking a breath she immersed herself and she swam.

Marvelling at the lean lines of Neteyam’s body as he swam a little ahead of her, Naia supposed she should not have been surprised at the graceful strength that he possessed underwater. Even disregarding the many years he had spent in the reefs with the Metkayina, Neteyam had always excelled at anything athletic.

Naia continued to admire the musculature of him, determinedly keeping her eyes away from the floor of the riverbed which she was sure was getting deeper and deeper as they swam on. As they came upon the entrance of the cave system, she could see what Neteyam meant about surfacing for air one last time before going under again. The mouth of the cave was completely submerged and unlike the glowing bioluminescence that surrounded them now, the cave’s depths appeared very dark.

Surfacing for air, Naia’s breaths were short and shallow and she flicked her ears to get the water out of them. Neteyam surfaced immediately after her. He reached out beneath the water to take her hand again, “Alright Naia, big breath in on my count after three. Breathe in deep, let it expand down into your abdomen and hold it. It’s not far in, maybe ten paces or so. Ready?”

Naia looked doleful, her braided hair was wet and her ears were folded back uncertainly. Her breaths were slightly shuddery and Neteyam lifted her knuckles to his lips to hearten her, “I’ve got you, promise. I won’t let you go. One, two, three.”

On Neteyam’s count of three, she mimicked him and took a deep inhale through her lips. Holding her breath, she submerged herself again and felt Neteyam pulling her along as he swam. The sheer blackness of the cave entrance engulfed her next and she gripped tightly on to Neteyam’s hand, kicking her own legs, and reaching and pulling through the water with her free arm.

Naia hated the darkness; hated the obscurity of not being able to see what was around her or where she was going. She could feel dread worming its way through her and her heart began to beat faster and faster. Screwing her eyelids tight shut, she allowed Neteyam to continue pulling her along with him. The angle of his trajectory changed then and she felt herself being pulled upward, up and up until her face finally broke the surface. Her next breath of air rushed into her lungs in a spluttering gasp and she instinctively flung her arms out, scrabbling for purchase at whatever was nearest to her.

Coughing, Naia’s flailing arms met warm skin and sinew. She threw her arms around Neteyam’s neck and clung on, her legs hitching themselves up around his hips. She could feel his legs treading water beneath her and with eyes still scrunched shut, she proclaimed into his neck, “I hate the dark. Water and darkness are not my thing!”

Fleetingly, Naia wondered if her weight was too heavy as she clutched onto Neteyam. She did not want to drown them both, but they were not sinking…

A deep laugh rumbled through Neteyam’s torso and his lips whispered by her ear, “Open your eyes.”

Cracking open her eyelids, Naia expected the pitch black of darkness to greet her once more. However, she gasped at the sight. It was not dark at all; everything around her was glowing.

They had reached the inner dome and what had looked like a giant rock from the outside was in fact a cavern filled with bioluminescent flora. They were floating in a pool surrounded by the ledge of the cavern floor, which stretched back and all around in a ring of luminous moss in varying shades of teal. Overhead, the gravelly walls and ceiling of the cavern were bespeckled with twinkling fauna in a picturesque mimicry of a starry night sky.

Naia realised then that majority of the incandescence was not coming from above her but from beneath the water. Glancing downward, the splendour of the sight stole her breath. Lining all around the rocky sides of the pool and riverbed of the cave system were scores of river clams in the hundreds, their shells gleaming and flickering in a rippling array of bioluminescence as their shells opened and closed periodically.

“By Eywa, they’re so beautiful!” Naia avidly cried. Gingerly peeling herself away from Neteyam to tread water on her own, she immersed her face beneath the surface to get a better look and grinned to herself. The river clams almost looked like they were engaged in a chorus of silent speech as their shells opened and shut. Lifting her face to meet Neteyam, she exclaimed again, “There are so many of them!”

Feeling elated at Naia’s glee, Neteyam nodded, beaming at her in response, “Don’t tell the fisherfolk my secret, but this is how I managed to gather an entire sack full of clams in half the amount of time they normally would.” Turning to the ledge behind him, he placed his hands flat on the lip of the cavern floor and hauled himself out of the water to sit on it.

Joining him a moment later, Naia’s expression was remorseful as she glanced downward at the spectacle of clams below her, “I feel bad eating them now. Clams are one of my favourite things to eat. They’re so beautiful, but they also taste so good stewed in a savoury broth.”

“Good surprise?”

Naia pouted at him in mock disapproval, “Apart from having to swim through that dark cave entrance, yes. Very good surprise.” The moss on the ground was unexpectedly plush and Naia stippled her fingers through its pleasant softness. Deciding she wanted to have a bit more of an exploration, she lifted her legs from where they dangled in the water and rose to her feet.

Neteyam watched her as she padded further around the ledge, the flicking tuft of her tail a tell-tale sign of her curiosity as she explored. He could not stop his eyes as they trailed in a touchless caress up her lissom legs to her pert bottom. Desire fired low in his abdomen. Her hips swayed lightly as she walked and an image of his fingers gripping into the soft flesh there as he did unspeakable things to her flashed through the forefront of his mind.

The taste of her lips and the feel of her body against his was a new compulsion of Neteyam’s now. The past couple of weeks’ evenings had been spent getting to know each other again, and while each night had always ended in a meld of mouths and the sear of hot hands against skin, that was as far as they had gone. His fingers tingled now with the need to touch her and his arms yearned to hold her. So great was the compulsion that he barely even registered the fact that he had gotten to his feet to approach her from behind.

The light bounce of the small pouch tied at his hip drew his attention to it. His soul-gift.

Neteyam would not push Naia or rush her into anything, but every fibre of his being very much wanted to make her his in every sense of the word, emotionally and physically. The memory of the council’s proposition flitted through his mind once more and he shrugged the thought off. It did not matter what the outcome was. He wanted to mate Naia and he was going to make his intention known tonight.

Naia giggled as the bright orange lizard on the wall in front of her poked its tongue out at her. It was no bigger than the length of her hand, but the creature seemed utterly unafraid of her. She stroked a gentle finger over the scales and ridged fins on its back. It cocked its head back and forth several times, before it stuck its tongue out at her one last time and scampered away. Cheeky thing.

The heat of a warm chest pressed against her back and strong arms encircled her from behind. Naia smiled and leant back against Neteyam, enjoying it as he peppered light kisses over one side of her face. She twisted in his hold to claim his lips with her own in a brief kiss, before murmuring against them, “Thank you for bringing me here. I always thank the Great Mother to be surrounded by such beautiful things.”

Anyone who did not know Naia would have thought nothing of her statement. However, knowing Naia as he did, Neteyam caught the slightly woeful inflection of her words. A soft sigh escaped him and he frowned at her, “Why do you say that as if you exclude yourself from the beautiful things you speak of?”

Naia gave a timid chuckle and shook her head, trying to worm her way out of the conversation, “I don’t know. I didn’t mean that.”

“Naia,” Neteyam called, tilting his head down to try and catch her downcast gaze, “Naia, look at me please.”

Diffidently, Naia’s golden orbs lifted to his and Neteyam caught her chin gently to keep her eyes on him, “Out of everything in this cave, out of everything in this world, you are the most beautiful thing in my eyes.”

If Neteyam thought she would have a smart comment waiting for him, he was wrong. Naia’s feet shuffled nervously and a deep blush stained its way across her cheeks, but she said nothing. Pressing a tender kiss to her cheek, Neteyam breathed softly, “I have something else for you.”

Naia blinked up at him in surprise, “You do?”

Neteyam inclined his head in response and though he was not nervous before, the beginnings of anxiety unfurled in his gut now at the significance of what he was about to do. Reaching down to undo the strings of the pouch at his hip, he fumbled with it for a moment before carefully extracting the delicate necklet from within it.

He had carved the pendant from the shell of a giant sea snail, its form twisting together into three vertical loops, ascending in size with the smallest hanging from the length of beast-hide that made up the tie. The pendant’s iridescent nacre held hues of deep blue and green, with flashes of pink and purple. Two white pearls sat on either side of the pendant followed by a purple bead at the ends, carved from some rare oceanic flint rock.

Naia gasped for what felt like the hundredth time that evening. The piece of jewellery that sat in Neteyam’s palm was stunning. The necklace was ornate and simply extraordinary. It was a gift for her? In her growing discomfiture, her politeness took over and she stammered, “Great Mother, it’s a beautiful b-but I can’t accept this, Neteyam.”

“I made this for you.” Neteyam’s tone was firm, and his eyes bore into hers, “If you won’t accept this necklace then it will never be worn. No other woman will ever wear this. It’s yours and only yours.”

“What’re you saying?” There was a tremble in Naia’s voice as she looked up at him. Her mouth had gone dry and her heart was galloping behind her ribs. What did he mean?

“I love you, Naia. I always have.”

Naia’s breath hitched in her chest and she felt her face contort into an expression that must have appeared like an amalgamation between a smile and a grimace. Moisture beaded in the corners of her eyes and her heart felt so full that she thought it might burst, “I love you too.”

For years Naia had dreamt of this; years she had spent believing it was a moment that would be forever confined to exist only in the realm of her dreams. But Neteyam was very real here and now, his strong jaw warm and firm beneath her palms as she rose onto the balls of her feet to kiss him again.

Neteyam returned her kiss with equal fervour, the sweet taste of her like a drug feeding into his system. He would have deepened the kiss and taken her to the ground then if not for his greater desire to actually place his soul-gift where it would lie forever against her chest.

Pulling away Neteyam raised the necklet and placed the loop of it over her Naia’s head. She turned around intuitively so he could fasten it behind her. Looking over her shoulder to check the placement of the pendant, Neteyam twisted the cord around his fingers and dead-knotted it, securing his soul-gift around the column of her neck. “Take this gift as a token of my love. I hope you will wear it with pride and may it serve as a reminder always of what you mean to me.”

Naia was still emotional when she faced him again, the fingers of one hand toying absently with the new pendant at her bosom, “Thank you. I don’t know what else to say.”

“Then say nothing at all.” His words were a mumble, his breath ghosting over her cheeks.

Eager to show her the depth of his feelings now that he had spoken them, Neteyam crushed Naia to him and his lips found hers again. Her frame was pliant and she moulded herself to him willingly, her hands clutching at his shoulders as the fervour of their kiss bent her backwards. Neteyam cupped the back of her head with one hand and his other arm wound tightly around her middle to support her as he lowered them to the ground.

The mossy ground cushioned Naia’s back and she arched up into the cage of Neteyam’s arms as he settled himself over her. While his lips paid tribute to her neck, she slid her arms around his back, digging her fingers into shoulder blades and marvelling at his strength. Neteyam was the epitome of masculine beauty. All over his body he was hot skin over powerful muscle. She continued to trace the lines of him, smoothing her hands down his ribs and over his taut abdomen, hearing his breath hitch and feeling his muscles tense where she touched him.

Naia’s own want was mounting now. Her skin burned and tingled all over and her nipples were peaked beneath the thin material of her leaf-laden chest covering. Neteyam’s hands roved down the dip of her waist, over the flat of her stomach and over the skin of her thighs, but she wanted them elsewhere. She wanted him to touch her in her most secret of places. She wanted to be naked against him.

Emboldened by her desire, Naia shifted to reach behind her for the ties of her chest covering and she pulled them loose. A heavy hand came to rest on her sternum, halting the complete removal of her top.

Neteyam’s eyes were cautious as he regarded her. His voice was husky when he uttered her name, in warning as well as in question at her actions, “Naia.”

Naia’s breaths were coming in shallow pants now. Her lips were parted and a desirous flush was creeping its way along her neck and chest. Grasping his wrist with one hand, she lifted it from her and with her other hand she tugged her top free of her torso, exposing herself to him. Neteyam’s next intake of breath was a harsh gasp and a muted curse at the sight of her bare breasts.

Still holding his wrist, Naia placed the flat of his hand over one breast and she gave a soft sigh of pleasure as her pebbled nipple grazed his palm, “I want you to touch me.”

The soft rounds of her breasts were tipped with delicately pointed nipples and the vision made Neteyam ache with his desire. It did not help that Naia was writhing gently beneath him, rubbing her centre against the thigh that he had nestled between her legs. Nuzzling the silky skin of one breast, he laved his tongue over her nipple and the breathy moan his action elicited from her went straight to his already stiff cock.

Closing his mouth around her nipple, he sucked, and Naia’s fingers flew to twine themselves in the cluster of braids on his head. Neteyam adored each breast in turn before pressing hot kisses over her soft belly and then shifted lower. Her thighs fell apart readily for him when he nibbled at the flesh of her inner thighs. Her loincloth was still in place and he slowly pushed the trailing material aside, watching Naia closely for any sign of protest. When all she did was watch him in return through half-lidded eyes, he trailed his thumb over her barely clothed centre and pressed down when he found the nub he was looking for.

Naia jumped at the pleasure that shot through her. She squirmed under his ministrations, her hips undulating at the delight she was feeling. His fingers continued their assault over the most secret part of her and the thin fabric that stood between his hand and her core was fast becoming a hindrance. With an impatient groan, she fumbled with the ties at her hip and Neteyam helped to support her as she lifted her bottom to undo the strap at her tail.

The garment came off her and she tossed it haphazardly to the side where her top also lay. Bare as the day she was born, Naia stilled when she saw Neteyam sit back on his haunches to look at her. There was an undiluted hunger in his eyes while he surveyed her form. He was panting slightly and he licked his lips to moisten them.

Growing self-conscious at his silence, Naia swallowed and squirmed, “Say something.”

Meeting her eyes, he stretched out on his side alongside her on one elbow, his other hand resting gently between her legs again. Leaning toward her, he stole a kiss from her parted lips and purred, “You don’t know what you do to me. Has anyone ever touched you like this?” His fingers stroked unhindered at her core, and they slipped easily through her folds with how aroused she was.

Mouth parted in gratification, Naia’s head lolled in a lazy shake of her head in response to his question. No one had ever touched her so intimately. He was the first and he would be the last.

An involuntary growl of male satisfaction rolled through Neteyam’s chest at the sentiment. Spurred on by her whimpers and moans, he gently speared a finger into the waiting heat of her, then added another when she whined. He alternated between stroking and thrusting his fingers and Naia writhed as he stoked her pleasure toward a cresting peak. Heat was coursing through her in a pleasurable scorch and it was not long before she keened and climaxed.

Neteyam felt the edges of his self-control fraying. Naia was stunning amid her ecstasy and he felt as if his own pleasure would burst at the feel of her core squeezing around his fingers. By Eywa, he had fantasised of seeing her come undone like this many times. He was not innocent in his knowledge of these matters; he had explored intimacy with a couple of other females back in the reefs. But none had ever stoked his heart and his desires like Naia did. He was not ashamed of his desires, but he had always felt guilty when all he ever saw in his mind, even while he was with the others, was Naia.

Naia trembled lightly as she recovered from her orgasm. She could feel Neteyam’s lips brushing at her hairline and his musky scent enveloped her. Though Neteyam had brought her to the edge of her pleasure and beyond, she still ached at her core. She wanted more of him. It did not escape her notice either that while she was naked, Neteyam was still clothed and part of her grouched at the fact. Great Mother, she wanted all of him tonight…

Reaching down, Naia caressed his clothed erection, which earned her a startled grunt from Neteyam. Smiling coyly at the pleasure-filled grimace on his face, she purred at him, “Take it off.”

With a strangled laugh, Neteyam ground out through clenched teeth, “Naia, you overestimate my self-control.”

“I don’t want you to be controlled.” A kiss against his chin and then a kiss against his chest. Naia brazenly reached for the tie of his loincloth and undid it, loosening the garment.

Neteyam’s self-control was rapidly disintegrating as he felt Naia reach tentatively behind fabric to fondle his burning flesh. Her fingers toyed curiously with the sensitive head and she encircled the swollen length of him afterward in a firm grasp. He vaguely registered himself freeing the fabric from his tail to remove it entirely, and her name left his lips in a whimper as she continued to stroke him.

Sensing his diminishing resolve, Naia seized the moment and murmured against his lips, “Take me, Neteyam.”

His restraint snapped at her words.

Neteyam surged over her and his lips met hers in a passionate clash. Naia’s thighs framed his hips and her tail curled around his thigh in a subconscious attempt to press him closer to her. She rocked her hips, feeling the heavy weight of his erection slipping against her where she wanted him most.

Breaking the kiss for air, Neteyam paused to rest his forehead against hers. The moment felt surreal to him. The woman he loved was lying beneath him, ready to let him into her body and Eywa, he did not want to ruin this by being impatient. He took a slow inhale through his nose and nosed at her cheek, “I love you so much.”

“And I, you.”

Relaxing under the secure weight of him, Naia felt Neteyam align their bodies. Then, with a slow and measured press of his hips, he pushed his hard flesh inside her and joined them as one. Naia’s mouth fell open in mild discomfort at the burning stretch of his intrusion, but the stinging sensation soon dissipated and gave way to a gratifying feeling of fullness.

A sensual groan of pleasure gurgled in Neteyam’s throat while he absorbed the wondrous sensation of her wet heat gripping his length and he buried his face into the braids at the side of her face. He would not move until she was ready.

Naia gave a tentative roll of her hips and was glad to find no pain, only pleasure as the length of him stroked inside her core. Repeating the motion more insistently, she urged him on and bliss overwhelmed her when Neteyam began to thrust in earnest. Pleasure consumed them both as they made love, their bodies continuing in a push and pull of hips; a dance of male and female.

When ecstasy did finally find them it was in a tangle of limbs and tails, and in cries of rapture. Breathing hard and with muscles aching slightly from exertion, Neteyam carefully rolled back onto his side so as not to crush Naia beneath him. She burrowed against him, spent, settling her head on his heaving chest and listening to the rapid beat of his heart.

Feminine satisfaction bloomed within Naia when she felt a seeping warmth trickling down the back of her thighs, evidence of Neteyam’s own pleasure. She wanted to lie here like this forever in the secrecy of this cavern they had spent the evening in, just the two of them without a care in the world. She remembered the daunting swim into the cavern then and she groaned aloud at the thought.

“What is it?” Neteyam asked and the deep timbre of his voice held a hint of post-coital drowsiness.

Naia chortled quietly, “I’m just thinking of having to swim back through the mouth of this cave again and dreading it.”

Neteyam laughed and his warm hand smoothed soothingly over the side of her head, tucking a stray braid back behind her ear, “I’ll be holding your hand the entire time like before. Just follow my lead.”

Naia realised then that she would be leaving all traces of her girlhood behind tonight. Tonight, she would leave this cavern a woman; led by a man she knew she would follow anywhere he went, to whom she had given her heart to many years ago.

Blessed warmth burst in the depths of Neteyam’s soul as he held Naia against him. Tomorrow, she would return to the clan with his soul-gift around her neck. The significance of it might perhaps be missed by the other members of the Omatikaya, but his family would know what the Metkayina tradition meant.  

Neteyam had been selfless and dutiful for most of his life, always putting his family’s needs and the clan’s needs before his own. However, his intention to mate Naia was set in stone now. If the clan council wanted him reinstated as successor then Naia would have to come with him as his intended.

For once, he would be selfish, because for Naia it would all be worth it.

***~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*** Author's Note:

I have to be honest, one of my reasons for wanting to write more and explore this story plot was to have an excuse to write more sexy scenes with Neteyam. :P 

Thanks for reading! I would love to hear what you are thinking and feeling! Reblogs and likes are so appreciated. &lt;3

Chapter 4 - The Great Mother's Blessing

[imslowlydisintegrating]

look both ways,

before you cross my mind.

! will be pretty inactive and won’t interact as much, sorry beloved mutuals 😞🙏

you can call me evvy, teo, dorian, ruth, or any variation of those names. i use they/he/she pronouns (in order of preference) and i am genderfluid, sapphic and maybe ace :)

‧͙⁺˚･༓☾　and i ran, i ran so far away, i just ran　☽༓･˚⁺‧͙

i do have some personal obsessions on this blog that you’ll find

music (as on record): abba grandes exitos vol. 2 (abba) ✦ the returner (allison russell) ✦ outside child (allison russell) ✦ aretha’s gold (aretha franklin) ✦ self-titled (carpenters) ✦ “awaken, my love!” (childish gambino) ✦ visions (grimes) ✦ self-titled (hozier) ✦ wasteland, baby! (hozier) ✦ grace (jeff buckley) ✦ self-titled (kc & the sunshine band) ✦ be the cowboy (mitski) ✦ bury me at makeout creek (mitski) ✦ greatest hits (queen) ✦ i am the dog (sir chloe) ✦ sawayama (rina sawayama)

tv/movies: bullet train ✦ arcane ✦ spider-verse trilogy ✦ knives out film series ✦ brooklyn 99 ✦ jurassic park ✦ the brothers sun

what’s the screen playing? [jujutsu kaisen.]

i spend my time writing, playing drums, pacing around my room, listening to music, and doing fuck-all with my life ❤️️

☂︎ oh, come on, angel, come on, come on, darling ☂︎

my silly little peoples you’ll find around this blog <3

my official unofficial bandmates: @literatureisdying ✦ @bassguitarinablackt-shirt ✦ @gently-decaying-flowers

mutual list:

@bassguitarinablackt-shirt — asher 🌊

@gently-decaying-flowers — goobie 🛸

@iwouldkickahorse — innocent sin’s no. 1 fan

@rapidlydecayingcorpse — decay 🪦

@takeutothemoon — sun li ☀️

@literatureisdying — attie 🎶

@catinasink — cat 🌸

@dumdumdumsalot — deedee 🧐

@browngirl-inthering — cool mutual ⁉️

@arcangelise — coco ⭐

@talesfromtheunknowable — noorie 🍄‍🟫

@eden-has-rotted — ed 🎸

@gayoticbeing — moth 🐌

@serendipititties — wren 🪶

@ringhoarder — cal 💍

@starryeyeddarlings — cristie ⚜️

@my-lady-macbeth — thea ⚔️

@blood-slushy — taz 👻

@waitingforthesunrise — ari 🪻

･༓☾ so if you need a hero, just look in the mirror ☽༓･

my tagging system:

#ruth speaks — answering asks/joining tag games

#dorian talks to the void — random (usually) text posts

#evvy still uses wired headphones — music related posts

#ruth engages in media consumption — posts about what i’m enjoying at the moment

#teo is typing — stuff about my writing projects

#innocent sin — band stuff

don’t go wasting your emotion, lay all your love on me

eventually i will have a sideblog for writing, but for right now just know that i have two WIPs, Made Of Our Own Storms (#mooos) and Way Down On The River (#wdotr).

mooos is about a group of teenagers doing their best to survive 100 years after the apocalypse while also struggling to balance their mental health and the burden that comes with being alive in the post-apocalypse. tags: (#mooos, #art o’cahan, #arun nidhi, #cy segal, #daya da silva iglesias, #azi tyali, #domi larieux morais, #naia zorita.)

wdotr is about a collection of serial killers that all manage to find themselves on the same riverboat, heading to the same destination. it only gets complicated when they set their sights on each other as their next victim. set in an almost-Earth, wdotr takes place in a steampunk-y world with parallels to earth, but it’s not exactly the same. tags: (#wdotr, #anastasia marie, #cheli malviya, #sam malviya, #zexi malviya, #the triplets, #akachi moriai, #moriai toyoko, #the brides, #ruhi arana, #don nekvasilová, #ash vanich.)

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

lyrics used in this post:

‘look both ways before you cross my mind’, george clinton featured on wesley’s theory by kendrick lamar.

‘and i ran, i ran so far away, i just ran’, i ran by a flock of seagulls.

‘oh, come on, angel, come on, come one, darling’, running up that hill (a deal with god) by kate bush.

‘so if you need a hero, just look in the mirror’, after the storm by kali uchis ft. tyler, the creator & bootsy collins.

‘don’t go wasting your emotion, lay all your love on me’, lay all your love on me by abba.

[vigilskeep]

Getting on the I love how you think about your OCs train with a question about Nennaia's traveling/quests choices: how did she decide where to go after the map opened up after Skyhold? What was her first choice and why? Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us and no worries if you don't feel like answering! <3

because i get very indecisive in my gaming when u can choose which quests and areas to do first, i use my arbitrary powers as puppeteer to decide that only one of the next main quests after arriving at skyhold makes sense to have a hard time limit: wicked eyes & wicked hearts, which is set at an event u do not control and would presumably in-world have a date u do not control. so i send my inquisitors to the exalted plains and the emerald graves first, rushing to gain a foothold in orlais and a position of power from which to be taken seriously at the winter palace, rather than essentially only being known for pretending to divine power, allying with the rebel mages, and falling back from haven

however on a more character-driven note, i think given the two options, nennaia would prioritise orlais over the wardens anyway, mostly because of the information you get during in hushed whispers. naia is very scared of the future she saw in that quest, a world in which the people she loves have no chance at all. the destruction of thedas is her duty alone to prevent. and while both of the main quests after skyhold are relevant to that future, you only find out where the demon army comes in after playing hide and seek with hawke and the warden across both crestwood and the western approach. so naia is much more aware from the start that the next step towards corypheus’ future is the empress’ assassination. (it’s why letting that assassination go ahead for the sake of putting briala in power was such a dangerous sacrifice in her mind, and is something she still worries over. was it worth making that gamble to improve the elves’ future, when for all she knows, by doing so she may have handed orlais to corypheus and robbed them of any future at all?)

she would also lean towards the plan that involved visiting the exalted plains and the emerald graves sooner. i doubt clan lavellan would have travelled so far south in her lifetime, and i’m sure she has spent decades hearing of the dales and longing to see them for herself one day. she experiences great wonder and grief there and her desire to safeguard those areas in whatever way she can is fierce

[a-dauntless-daffodil]

ok you've mentioned a sword lesbian getting sucked into a spider consciousness and i feel like i need the name of this series because that is a wild concept XD name drop, please?

MY TRAP CARRRRRRD!!!!

Tavra (sword lesbian) (tired) (middle sister) is a key main secondary character in the YA books spin off / au of The Dark Crystal: The Age of Resistance by J.M. Lee, of which there are 4

Shadows of the Dark Crystal (Naia POV) (Tavra has a bad day)

Song of the Dark Crystal (Kylan POV) (Tavra has a REALLY bad day)

Tides of the Dark Crystal (Amri POV) (Tavra has the most screen time but also depression. At least she's with her girlfriend again)

Flames of the Dark Crystal (Naia POV) (Tavra's bad day is mostly off screen but it starts and ends with her having happy moments with people she loves and that's allllll I care about)

she's the frowny grim slightly pathetic practical one who wants to believe in people, secretly dating the smiling yet somehow utterly scary cunning lady who's a bit more jaded about people's ability to change for the better than she is, but who also 100% believes that Tavra herself will always do that change without hesitation.

QUOTES TIME!!

Spider Tavra (hesitant): "My mother (the queen) will do the right thing."

Onica (her gf) (Sifa) (Far-Dreamer): "The right thing, eh? As she did when she found you were sneaking out to the wharfs to visit a Sifa Far-Dreamer?"

Spider Tavra (even more hesitant): "That was a long time ago."

Onica (sighing): "When your mother does the right thing, it will be what is right for the Vapra alone. She wears a heavy mantle in Skeksis colors, and it will not be easily changed for a suit of armor. Not everyone is like you, my love."

A Few Moments Later

Spider Tavra: "Brea (her little sister) is young, but she is not stupid. If she had reasons to doubt my mother, then so do we."

Tavra's also a bit too frank for a young insecure teen boy's ego to handle sometimes

Tavra: "I told you not to strike! If this had been a real battle, you'd be dead."

Amri: "Well, it's not. I thought I saw an opening, so I went for it. What's the point of practicing if you're not allowed to take risks?"

Tavra: "It wasn't a risk. It was a guaranteed failure."

Amri (has never used a sword before): "You don't know that."

Tavra (a soldier): "I did."

ONE BOOK EARLIER

Kylan (parents were killed when he was a kid): "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... do whatever I did. I just didn't want you to die. I hope you aren't angry with me."

Spider Tavra (ends up basically his new mom): "I'm not angry. My body will return to Thra. When my work is done, I will join it. Until then, I have no time to worry or complain."

(she will later find time to complain about not being able to hold her girlfriend anymore) (she and her gf will stick with Kylan at the end of the books, finally getting to have a life together like they always promised)

She's the second character we're introduced to (seen slogging miserably through a swamp) (a good set up for how life is mostly going to be going for her) and she kinda ends up as the foil / mentor for the three POV characters in the series

Knowing that her queen mother was both controlling AND distant explains a lot of her struggles expressing herself to the three teens suddenly dropped into her life, but also makes the fact that she tries so hard to keep them safe and learns to listen to them and cares so much about them VERY heartwarming

Tavra is the queen her people SHOULD have had....

... and also a gloomy sulker who sulks when she can't make herself understood

she's in the 1 season tv show of the same name too, where she is awesome and separated from her gf and the best sister ever and dies (probably)

[nyssasims]

hiya, can i ask what hair and strand highlight you use on your icon sim? thank you so much for sharing your wonderful content with us!

hey there anon! so glad you’re enjoying my blog 😊. here are the two highlights i use for my sim’s hair. they both relatively do the same thing so either is fine, but i do mainly use the @/its-adrienpastel one (they deleted the link to the cc so i made a new for you)

1. maddison hair acc 2. casey hairstyle acc

here are also some of my fav hairs these highlights work with:

1.rowan 2. jennie 3. sabrina 4. blair 5. delilah

6. casey 7. kiki 8. sally 9. dorothy 10. louise

11. amelia 12. clarice 13. juliette 14. nevy 15. maddison

16. rihannon 17. meredith 18. naia 19. violet v1 20. aurora

21. brooke 22. shelley 23. shelley v2 24. eth v2 25. eth v1

[didalexiabreakupwitholgayet]

hi. I just found you and your awesome and I love reading your commentary.

anyway while I was reading a few days ago you posted about the USL in America and idk if someone has messages you sense but. There are multiple levels are the USL. USLW is the semi-pro where most players are college level. Depending on your team but they could range from NAIA the lowest level of collegiate sports to D1 power schools- these are your university of North Carolina (notable alumni are Alessia Russo of the lionesses, a bunch of US national team players think you’re Tobin Heath generation) university of Michigan (couple of players on various professional and national teams, Stanford (notable alumni CP23 and pretty sure Naomi Girma). This is usually a summer legue used to keep those athletes in shape for there college season.

The new league is registered at the same level as the NWSL. This is the USLS (pretty sure). Sounds like a lot of your undrafted and drafted cuts from the NWSL will play for these teams. These will be mostly post college athletes who want to continue playing.

I know much more about the USLW because I interned for one of those teams over the summer.

sorry if this has all been explained. I didn’t really check if there were updates from the original post about 4-5 days ago. Also sorry is spelling of name is wrong

thanks for the helpful and detailed explanation, anon! 🫶 i'm all for growing the game and giving more opportunities for players to play professional. i do wonder what the salaries and media set-up will be for this new league. it's so interesting to see teams be created from scratch and seeing if they take off or not.

the nwsl has been getting so much more european talent these days and playing in america is back in vogue because of the media deals, exposure, and pay/benefits!

yeah, i certainly do appreciate her playing skill. but i also think europeans are still salty about that ballon d'or win in 2019 because she didn't play much for club. 😅 but she's definitely had a storied career!

[dragonologist-writings]

Title: Violent Delight Fandom: Baldur’s Gate 3 Rating: M Status: One-Shot Characters: Naia (F!Tav), Araj Oblodra Ships:Naia/Araj Additional Notes: Belligerent Sexual Tension, Blood, Background Naia/Shadowheart, Flirting but in an Evil Scientist way Word Count: 2.7k Summary: Araj makes a proposition. Against her better judgment, Naia accepts.

read below or here on ao3

It’s unnerving, how easily Naia can move through Moonrise Towers. Convenient, yes, of course- but unnerving, all the same.

She clutches her bag closely to her side, putting her utmost effort into appearing cool and confident as she sweeps out of Balthazar’s rooms, still half-expecting to be caught and questioned at any moment. The guards watch the gray-skinned tiefling as she goes, but it is with little interest; she has been verified as a True Soul. In their eyes, she belongs here.

The belief, she admits, is not even a particularly misguided one. Balthazar did send her here, did put her on the lead to understanding more of his research, and it would be a lie to claim that his teachings on the deeper levels of necromancy were received without a small, begrudging amount of admiration. That admiration gnaws at Naia’s stomach with an echo of guilt…but it does make it easier for her to play the part of a willing student in Ketheric’s loyal army.

Naia descends the long staircase and makes it halfway through the entrance hall without incident, and the tension within her begins to ease. It was wise to come here alone, she knows this. Ketheric’s guards may not prove so amenable to a large group attempting to navigate the fortress’s upper levels, but she is quick and capable enough on her own. And this way, she does not have to worry about her companions’ eyes upon her as she studiously unravels the undeniably impressive magic woven by Moonrise’s necromancer.

Yet she is also anxious to be done with this place and return to her friends waiting just outside the gates. Mostly, she is anxious to return to Shadowheart, who has sequestered herself within the locked rooms of Shar’s Gauntlet so as to better focus on her trials. This solitude is just one of many worrying tendencies Shadowheart has indulged in as of late, and Naia can only hope-

“You there.”

Naia winces at the voice, but it is too late to duck and run. With no small amount of reluctance, she turns to greet the drow woman sauntering across the hall with a self-satisfied smirk on her lips.

A look of such smugness upon the face of Araj Oblodra cannot be a good sign. Unfortunately, Naia dares not risk ignoring her outright; the drow is the only one in Moonrise who seems to realize Naia’s true loyalties. As of yet, she has not cared enough to announce this to anyone else, but recent events have left things tense between them, and her good grace is surely wearing thin.

Those same events have also thinned Naia’s patience, and despite her resolve to remain diplomatic, her voice is curt as Araj draws near. “If you’re here to ask me about Astarion again, the answer is still no.”

The woman’s red eyes flash with petulant anger, but her pointed smirk remains in place. “How adorably stubborn of you. But regarding my intentions, you are wrong- a feeling which I’m certain you are quite familiar with.”

Naia has no interest in granting this woman the benefit of doubt. “As I told you before,” she hisses, stepping closer so as to shield their conversation from passing soldiers, “he is not inclined to speak with you, let alone do anything else with you. A feeling which I’m certain you are quite familiar with.”

Araj tilts her head, that look finally slipping from her face. “Such a clever little tongue,” she says, a hint of dark amusement still lurking under her tone. “A pity it’s wasted on a creature with no spine.”

“If you’re not here to say anything useful-”

“I speak the truth,” Araj snaps, cutting through Naia’s words. “I’m not here for him. I’m here for you.”

The resulting look on Naia’s face must betray her emotions, for Araj releases a sharply delighted laugh. “Not for that, my darling. Some may find your demon’s nature enticing, but I am a lady of more acquired taste. What I require from you is for a purely scientific purpose, I assure you.”

Naia crosses her arms, her tail swishing angrily against the stone floor behind her. “You still haven’t told me what you actually want.”

“Is it not obvious, for a specimen such as yourself?” Araj asks, cloyingly sweet yet still somehow dripping condescension. “I am a sanguine alchemist. I want your blood.”

Naia stiffens, arms tightening around herself. “No.”

Her quick response earns a scoff from Araj. “You remain too easily offended. This is as much for your benefit as mine. Allow me to draw a sampling of your blood, and I shall distill a portion of it into a potion, which you may have and use however you see fit. A trade more than fair, considering I shall be doing all the work. All you have to do is bleed.”

The answer should, once again, be a quick and decisive no. Yet against her better judgment, Naia asks, “What will the potion do?”

Araj’s entire demeanor seems to brighten, her eyes sparkling at Naia’s reluctant interest. “I don’t know. Each one I make is unique, attuned to the blood of its source. And you…you are more unique than most, True Soul. Are you not curious as to what may come of it?” She licks at her lips; her gaze sharpens into something hungry. “I am.”

If only an honest denial could be made. But Naia is curious by nature, and her attentions are often most caught with subjects that others consider best left alone. The pages upon pages of necromancy research stowed away in her bag right now are testament enough to that fact.

Araj waits through Naia’s internal arguments, but finally rolls her eyes and gives an impatient toss of her hair. “Don’t give me that sour face, darling. It will only take but a moment of your time.”

“Fine,” Naia relents. These potions may be useful; if she observes carefully, she may even be able to reverse-engineer Araj’s formula and process. It is, overall, a pragmatic decision.

Araj lifts her chin in triumph, and Naia is quick to add, “But take one drop more than necessary and I shall rot the flesh from your bones.”

The answering laughter from Araj is almost fond. She turns on her heel and waves for Naia to follow as she sets off to her makeshift laboratory. Naia obliges, and she is relieved to see that the space is empty; if she’s going to do this, she’d rather do it without the Moonrise guards hanging over her head.

Once in the lab, Araj’s bearing shifts, if only slightly. She makes her way to a corner of the room and begins clearing her books and scrolls, her movements sharp and focused. Soon enough, she has assembled a collection of glass vials and alchemical ingredients, some of which even Naia cannot name. Each action she takes in this process is precise and intentional; her fingers are deft as she arranges the glass-encased chemicals, her eyes vibrant as she assembles the space exactly to her liking with gleeful anticipation.

Loathe as Naia is to admit it- and oh, she is loathe to admit it- there is something about the woman that makes her just as intriguing as she is infuriating. Such devotion to her craft can only be admired, and few others can claim to have reached her level of passion for this type of science. While her methods are hardly standard…well, Naia is once more reminded of the research in her bag, and the spells inscribed in her own grimoire. She is hardly one to judge.

Hells, Naia’s begrudging interest is perhaps a signal of danger all on its own. Gods know that her own tastes have always had a tendency towards the ill-advised.

Araj finally steps back from the table, apparently satisfied with its arrangement. She pulls a chair forward and looks to Naia, blood-red eyes gleaming. She must be proud of those eyes, seeing as how she decorates the skin around them with identical red shimmer, emphasizing the striking color. Araj’s smirk sharpens as she catches Naia’s watching gaze, and she waves a hand over the chair in exaggerated welcome.

“Please, darling- make yourself comfortable.”

That won’t be happening, so Naia settles for dropping herself stiffly in the offered seat. Araj circles her finger through the air in a get on with it motion, and with a deep breath through gritted teeth, Naia rolls up the sleeve of her robe and presents her bared arm.

This is the part she is looking forward to the least- but when Araj’s hands make contact, it’s not as bad as she was expecting. In fact, there’s something oddly comforting in the detached professionalism of the drow’s touch, in the precise press of her fingers as she searches for a vein. Her fingers are cold, and as she trails them down Naia’s arm, she leaves goosebumps in her wake.

Araj is silent as she locates her desired point of study, even as she picks up the scalpel and vial. It’s only when she presses the sharp blade into Naia’s skin that she releases a small sigh of contentment.

Naia herself barely reacts to the cut; this pinprick is nothing compared to other injuries she’s received these last few weeks. Her muscles barely quiver at all as she watches Araj stare at the trickling blood, bright red against pale ashen skin.

“I wasn’t sure you’d have any to give at all,” Araj murmurs as the blood slowly collects into the vial, which she keeps in place with a summoned Mage Hand. “You look half a corpse already.”

“With your proficiency for astounding scientific observations, you might have noticed I am a necromancer.”

“That’s hardly an excuse, darling. I know Balthazar considers himself a genius, but you needn’t go following his example. You’ll decay into a boring old husk and lose the pleasure of this.” The scalpel presses just a little harder, and Naia releases a sharp hiss of a gasp- more in irritation than anything else, she insists to herself.

“Isn’t it a beautiful thing?” Araj continues blithely, her voice sinking into that awful, sensual rhythm of hers. “The bite of the pain…the slow drip of the blood…the fragility of the connection as your lifeblood spills for the sake of another’s pleasure…have you truly never been tempted by the idea?”

“Hard as it may be for you to believe,” Naia bites out, “vampirism has never appealed to me.”

Araj’s dreamy expression shifts into a pout. “No…of course not. That’s not quite your type, is it? But what about that Sharran that used to cling to you? Does she not spill blood for her goddess? Is her devotion so different from my desire?” As she speaks, she studies Naia’s reaction, a single eyebrow raised as a taunting lilt enters her tone. “Where is she now, by the way?”

The mention of Shadowheart does more to affect Naia than Araj’s little blade ever could…but she’ll be damned if she lets Araj see that. “Nowhere that is any of your business.”

Araj sighs, a taunting, pitying sound. “Nor yours, I should think. Those Sharrans always did guard their shrine so jealously. Is that why you’re here alone? Has she gone and locked herself away from you, to better offer herself up to something grander?”

“Do you remember when I threatened to rot the flesh from your bones?” Magic flares in time with Naia's anger, and the air around them grows colder. But Araj hardly seems intimidated; in fact, she chuckles.

“How could I forget?” Her lips curl upwards in amusement at Naia’s answering silence. “Let the Sharrans have their hiding hole, I say. Their dark lady will never deliver on her promises, no matter how much they bleed on her behalf. That is where the gods and I differ. I could show you something truly worth your pain.”

Cold fingers curl over Naia’s arm, and Naia wants both to pull away from the touch and lean in closer. It’s a foolish notion, and more than that it is petty…but Naia must admit, not all of the anger she carries today is pointed towards Araj. Something in her chest does ache at the way Shadowheart has closed herself off in the walls and shadows of that temple.

So when she should withdraw and snap once more at Araj to back off, Naia instead locks her dark eyes on the drow’s face and allows herself to lean the smallest bit forward. “And just what does that mean, blood-witch?”

“Are you interested in finding out, necromancer?”

“…I might be.”

Araj hums, and she shifts ever closer to Naia. Her tongue darts out to lick at her lips, and her fingernails dig just a little deeper into Naia’s arm. Where once she’d been standing above the tiefling as she drew her blood, she’s now practically in her lap, and her leg slides slowly against the skirt of Naia’s robes.

“Isn’t that adorable…” Araj breathes. “All your bluster, and you wish to be the one at my mercy? Are you imagining my teeth at your neck, your blood on my lips?”

Naia wasn’t. But Gods, she is now.

She swears Araj must be able to read her mind, because her eyes gleam even more viciously. Those eyes roam over Naia’s body, taking her in with an air of greed. Silver hair has fallen from where it was tucked behind her ear, and Naia is struck with the inane urge to brush it from her face- yet she also finds herself frozen in place, unable to move even as Araj presses herself closer. Naia’s stomach twists in a heated combination of anxiety and anticipation.

And then Araj pulls away, twisting a stopper onto the vial which Naia had all but forgotten about. “Done.”

A shaky breath escapes Naia’s lips; blood trickles down her arm from the cut left unattended. Araj stows away the small glass vial and returns to Naia’s side in a flash; her thumb traces over the cut, and with a small surge of unexpected healing magic the skin stitches itself back together. The blood remains, and Araj’s touch is not quite gentle as she smears it with her thumb and runs her hand down Naia’s arm, leaving red fingerprints down to Naia’s wrist.

“You were a perfect specimen, darling. What a shame it is, then, that I prefer to be the one bitten,” Araj muses as she lifts Naia’s wrist to her mouth. Her lips press a kiss against Naia’s thudding pulse; her teeth graze and tease at the skin, but nothing more, and then she’s pulling away again with a violently victorious edge to her voice as she whispers, “Were I so inclined, I’m certain you would be delicious.”

She then turns back to her assembly of vials, and her professional demeanor settles into place even as Naia is left half-frozen in the chair. The tiefling swallows and shakes her head, and finally regains enough composure to ask, “What about…”

“Your potion?” Araj responds innocently, throwing a smirk over her shoulder. “It will take some time to prepare. You may return for it tomorrow.”

It’s a clear dismissal, one that leaves Naia’s head reeling, as if she’s just lost a round of lanceboard she hadn’t even realized she was playing. But she rises to her feet, ordering her legs not to shake as she does so, forcing herself back to the state of passive distaste she’d held before Araj sunk her scalpel in.

“Tomorrow, then, if you insist on dragging your feet. I would have thought someone who thinks so highly of themselves would be capable of a quicker delivery, but I suppose even that is too much to expect in a place like this.”

It’s a weak barb, but it’s enough to let Naia leave with some small semblance of pride still intact, and to let herself pretend she does not feel Araj’s smug, crimson gaze on her as she goes.

[non-dys-sys]

Shortened intros:

⛓️ Hello I’m Kage, I mostly just keep tabs on the scp subcollective. I’m a straight guy who is only into men, also I’m a woman. (Ze/he/she/it)

💀I’m Husk I really like Halloween and alternative aesthetics. I use he/she/it/hallow pronouns and I’m a nondysphoric transsexual (if you know my original name, no you don’t).

💖I’m Ange. I like frank iero, scenecore, emo music, and kissing men. I love men, men are the prettiest girls. (Women too sometimes, I’m gay but at this point gender is so fucky idrc)

🌀Hi I’m Fizz, I don’t front often but I’m a helluva boss introject. Don’t be weird about my source, I don’t really care about any vivziepop controversy.

🕳️I’m M or 4335. I am an “introject” from the scp foundation. It/it’s pronouns or he/him if you must.

❌Crimson. Sometimes I’m here, it/(he). Friends with Crat.

🥀I’m Damien, I don’t have anything else to say. He/it

🎹My name is Bo and I don’t think there’s a word for the kind of introject I am yet so I’ll just say I’m a factive. Your average straight white man.

🍬I’m Naia, I’m a hyperpop introject and bi lesbian. She/it/pop/sparkle

🎀 I’m Nifty I’m our system’s one and only cishet woman :). She/her + 🩷/🩷s

💥 Hi I’m Party Poison I’m around occasionally, I enjoy summery aesthetics and hopepunk. As for pronouns I don’t care what you call me but I’d prefer you make it funny.

👻 I’m Fun Ghoul, I usually just front with party. I do have my own blog tho @can-you-save-yourself-tonight

🐍 I’m Kobra Kid, he/him. Party and Ghoul are fuckin weirdos (/affectionate-ish). okay. bye

[melioramuses]

✧ BYF:: Rules // Muse List ✧

Info & Rules

This blog is a hub blog, not a multi-muse blog. This means that each muse has their own inbox, their own drafts, etc.

PLEASE send asks to the individual blog of the muse you wanna interact with, NOT the hub blog! E.g., if you wanna send something to All Might, send it to the ask box on @promisedpeace.

I don't have triggers, really, but I do tag triggers following the "{{ tw: trigger" format. E.g., "{{ tw: spiders".

I'm a very laidback/low pressure roleplayer. I don't do fancy formatting aside from some bolding and/or italics and making the font a bit smaller, and I'm not hella active. (I don't mind people who use heavy formatting, though.) I'm not going to hunt you down for a reply after two days or two months, and I don't care if you've been MIA for a year then come back and post a response. Shit happens and I'm fine with it!

I generally write a couple paragraphs, semi-literate to literate, and omniscient third-person. However, I'm fine with matching length for longer posts. I don't really care if people match my length, so long as you're not giving me, like, two sentences to my four paragraphs. lol

On memes: I reblog memes to the hub blog, and all memes are open to ANY muse unless the tags state otherwise.

On NSFW: I'm open to PG-13 or occasionally even R-rated threads in established ships with writing partners I'm comfortable with. They'll always be put under a read more and tagged appropriately, and are only an option on muses who are 18+. (Also I do not feel comfortable aging up characters for the purpose of smut.)

On shipping: I ship chemistry only. I do not write romantic ships for muses who are underage.

OC's: I fuckin' love them. My MC from my novel trilogy project is an OC I've had for well over a decade and I have a blog for her, too. If you wanna write your OC with my muse, let's go! I'm happy to ship with OC's, too.

My muse is MY muse. If you don't like my interpretation, please just unfollow and go find one that better suits how you view the character.

Muse List + My Other Blogs:

My art/personal blog - @rivenharlow

Toshinori Yagi/All Might (MHA) - @promisedpeace

Eijiro Kirishima/Red Riot (MHA) - @resoluteriot

Tenya Iida/Ingenium (MHA) - @ingeniuminherited

Mirio Togata/Lemillion (MHA) - @saveamillion

Tamaki Amajiki/Suneater (MHA) - @consumingchimera

Nejire Hado/Nejire Chan (MHA) - @wackywavelength

Sasuke Uchiha (Naruto) - @avengerascended

Rock Lee (Naruto) - @bloomtwice

Snotlout Jorgensen (HTTYD) - @strongestrider

Viggo Grimborn (HTTYD) - @grimgambit

Frieza (DBZ) - @gildedemperor

Trunks (DBZ) - @henotichope

Kouga (Inuyasha) - @youkaishowl

Nate River/Near (Death Note) - @thetruesuccessor

Loz (FFVII:AC) - @breakneckboor

Kijonaia "Naia" Remiel (OC) - @thebastardlady

About Me

Hey! I'm Riven. I'm turning 30 in two days as of this writing (June 21st, 2024). I'm an artist and writer with a small business. I'm married with two kiddos and way too many pets (2 large dogs, 6 cats, a rabbit, and a bearded dragon). I'm also genderfluid (they/them pronouns exclusively, though) and pagan. I've been roleplaying since my friggin' Neopets days when I was, like, 8 years old, but I've been on Tumblr for about a decade now. You can find my socials here

Thanks for reading! No password needed but do feel free to message me or toss me an ask if you wanna start a thread!

This post was made on June 21st of 2024 and will be updated as I think of anything to add.

[dragonologist-phd]

Oooh can you tell us a little about Witch of the Northern Moors? 👀

@big-cheesy-productions @camelliagwerm

ha this one was popular!! thank you everyone for asking!

This one is my backstory fic for Naia, my BG3 Tav! I've been writing some stuff for her that takes place during the game, and I've been wanting to do something for who she was before the game. The fic would go through her unhappy childhood in Baldur's Gate, her studies in necromancy, her eventual estrangement from her family, and her decision to move out of the city and basically become a witch/hermit out in the moors (earning her the titular nickname!)

i'm also considering extending the fic through the game to briefly show her character arc in parallel with her developing necromantic abilities, just because there were so many instances where quests and plot points lined up really well with my own headcanons for her character (she was my first Tav and i went in pretty blind, i cannot tell you how pleased i was at all the necromancer content in the game!)

The plans are still a bit rough and i don't have anything written yet, but i've become very fond of Naia it's got a solid spot on my to-do list!

WIP Game

[candychann]

one month stay documentation.

day 1 (Jan 17 2024): arrival from the NAIA 3 airport. we took a Grab going home for 1017 pesos (excluding skyway fee). Tito had his coffee with his shortbread biscuit. He got the chocolates out from his luggage and put it in the refrigerator. he also gave us mama's dress and papa's shirt. after that, he asked about our plans in life, how we are doing at school. he mentioned of aiming high ALWAYS. it seemed to me experience is not something they put priority but rather they want to be the best right away. really the definition of FAST-PACED, i guess. before dinner, tito and tita were in a facetime.

day 2 (Jan 18 2024): Tito had his coffee in the morning then we had our breakfast. he cleaned the filter of the washing machine and looked into the socket of water heater. he gave the kids books together with the deo. he asked us what our plans for the day, and i did not know what to say because we really did not have any whereas he will just have to take a rest from the jetlag. i gave him the 20k and he asked if we needed some grocery. he put the crucifix at the altar corner of the house. while having dinner time, he mentioned he had an encounter with a cockroach at his room last night hahaha. aftersometime, he opened the chocolate santa. it was delicious i swear. YUMMY!!! then after dinner, he setup the netflix account in the TV. it was successful because last year, it did not work. since i wanted to try the netflix before his eyes, i decided to play wednesday and see how it goes. he mentioned there was a filipino audio available but he did not recommend it because it does not sound good haha. while watching, i wanted to activate the eng sub since it was kind of noisy but i was shy lol i did not want him to get the idea that we do not understand the audio well (but it really is hahaha)

[anti-kin-cringe]

This is not intended to start arguments of any kind. I am merely expression my personal frustration.

I'm glad everyone is having a good time with this "catgirl hacks the TSA" thing. You do realize therianthropy will never be taken seriously now, and any progress we've made toward making otherkinity "acceptable" to the human public is obliterated. Therianthropy will forever be a meme or a joke because of this. Hell, one of the most popular posts about this calls otherkin furries and a lot of non-kin people were already confused about the difference. This is damage that can't be undone.

I'm just tired of my identity, the core of who I am, being treated like a quirky joke, and this did not help. I don't see how so many of us seem to be okay with this.

Anon, I think you need to stop. Look in a mirror and say this out loud. Realize how fundamentally fucking ridiculous and selfish you sound.

You are blaming a single cat therian for having gone and done what is fundamentally an incredibly important deed for revealing flaws and inherent bigotry in how the United States approaches anti-terrorism tactics in flights post-9/11, and for being publicly a therian while having done it. Are you holding all therians to this same standard, I wonder? Is any therian who is publicly alterhuman and does something to gain positive renown Problem Therian #1 to you? Should we all just hide our animality in our lives outside of Tumblr for your comfort and security? If we ever do something good, do we automatically neeed to start dedicating serious resources to being a Good Therian Role-modelTM?

If you feel that therianthropy is being misunderstood en masse, how about you get off your lazy tail and actually do something to assist the problem that you're so confidently whining about? You can spend the energy here telling us how much therianthropy will "never be taken seriously now," and you're bemoaning human acceptance. You're sitting here complaining about Maia, but what have you done in recent memory about this? You're desperately wanting for human respect here, but I don't exactly see you flaunting your resume of times you've rolled over, showed your belly, and played the part of a respectability politics beg. I don't see you making websites, creating videos, writing essays, or anything else, either. You've got energy to send us this ask, but not to show your face behind it or say the things that you've done yourself to actually help this issue that you boldly claim that Maia has created. That's some tucked tail. Show up or shut up, as the kids say.

Also, I hate to break it to you, but there's been a well-known, popularly referenced meme specifically mocking otherkin and therians since 2013. A meme that was specifically fabricated from a documentary on nonhuman identities with the intent to mock them, if what interviews say are true. If Naia Okami's "On All Levels Except Physical, I Am A Wolf" meme didn't tank the community even after her doing alterhuman-focused interviews that referenced it for almost ten years after the fact, I think we'll be fine with this. Hell, what we're talking about here isn't even negative attention, and it's not even attention directly focused on us as a community, it's just adjacent! Maybe I have a thicker pelt than you, but this is seriously nothing comparatively to some of the things that have happened and been connected to the therian community in the past.

Anon, I don't know why on Earth you thought sending this in wouldn't spur an argument considering what you're saying is frankly insulting on multiple levels: to anyone who's actually done groundwork in the therian community, to plenty of us who were there during periods of time where media was being connected to the community in actually harmful and negligent ways (Wolfie Blackheart, Naia, etc.), to people who are openly a therian online and in their day-to-day life but don't make it a priority to try and be the therian's therian or anything ridiculous like that, to anyone who is "okay with this" as you put it. You're claiming that a therian who's done a genuinely good deed has wronged the community by virtue of her just being a public therian. How do you not realize the plethora of shitty implications in what you're saying here?

~ Mod Halcyon