#bed bugs control spring

[cycreekpest]

Expert Pest Control Services in Houston and Spring: Your Ultimate Guide

Battling Termites: Your First Line of Defense: Termites can be the culprits that cause havoc in your home without you even knowing it, resulting in extensive and expensive damage. In the case of Termite Control in Spring, services by Cycreek Pest Control provide a complete solution line of defense against the destructive pests trying to stake their claim on your property. Whether is it a prevention barrier before construction or a post-infestation control, our experienced technicians are skilled enough to provide maximum protection by safeguarding your home against termites.

Comprehensive Houston Termite Inspections: Knowledge is half the battle when it comes to termite elimination. With a Cycreek Pest Control Houston Termite Inspection, you can test for any risk and presence of termites – two fundamental factors to termite control and infestation prevention. With our highly equipped and experienced team, using advanced diagnostic tools, we will not only detect hidden infestations by giving you the good news of no problems or that there is a problem and then providing you with the right information to take the necessary action.

Pest Inspection Experts in Houston: Pests can vary widely, from the unseen termites to the all-too-visible rodents. With Pest Inspection Houston services, we identify and strategize the best approach to rid your home of pests. Our inspections are meticulous, covering every corner of your home to ensure no pest makes it through our watch.

Rodent Control: Protecting Houston Homes: Rodents are more than just a nuisance; they can pose serious health risks and cause structural damage to your home. Our Rodent Control Houston services are designed to effectively manage and eliminate rodent populations in your home, using safe, humane, and efficient methods. Whether dealing with mice or rats, Cycreek Pest Control is your go-to expert.

Specialized Houston Mouse Control: This can be real challenge as mice are very active by nature and you can barely keep them out. Our company is pleased to provide encrypted approaches to deal with mouse invasion, as well as, the prevention of such incidences. Our method is based on the sealing of the entry points and the setting of the traps that are strategically placed throughout the house, which guarantees that your house will remain mouse-free.

Fighting Bed Bugs in Houston: Continuous bed bugs are among the urban pests abiding in Houston and beyond. Our Houston Bed Bugs Control services are centered around eradicating bed bugs together with all-around treatment approaches that besides rid the pests, also keep out future infestations. Cycreek Pest Control will be your best choice to bring your home back to a safe, pest-free zone.

Expert Termite Inspections in Spring: The crucial action in the fight against termites in Spring starts with the Termite Inspection Spring, which is done by a professional. Our professionals are involved and precise during a walk-through, checking on every possible termite infestation to guarantee that you are termite-free as soon as tomorrow.

[sources-across]

Top Treatment Bed Bug Exterminator Palm Springs

We all employ a mix of confirmed procedures, including chemical substance remedies as well as heat remedies, to shed sleep pests by any means stages in their life cycle. Your goal is not only in order to do away with existing infestations nonetheless and then to reduce upcoming skin breakouts, ensuring long-term safeguards intended for both you and your family.

Bed Bug Heat Treatment in Palm SpringsEssentially the most efficient procedures many of us implement is actually heating treatment. Mattress pests are generally extremely prone to heating, as well as revealing these to higher temperature ranges may efficiently do away with infestations without resorting to damaging chemicals. Your state-of-the-art heating treatment method products assures thorough insurance coverage of your respective property, accomplishing perhaps by far the most inaccessible hiding spots.

In relation to pests regulate, excellent as well as excellence are generally non-negotiable. With this confirmed status achievement as well as dedication to customer support, we're also the most preferred choice for sleep irritate extermination throughout Palm Springs. Don't make it possible for sleep pests dominate your home every longer. Make contact with people today to plan a meeting as well as bring step one on the way to some sort of pest-free environment. With this enable, you may bid farewell to sleep pests for good as well as try a restful, soothing night's slumber the moment again.

Pest Control Bedbugs in Palm SpringsMattress pests are generally popular for their resilience as well as power to speedily pass on after a property. Making an attempt to shed all of them DIY procedures frequently establishes worthless, creating annoyance as well as wasted time. That'azines where by the experience can come in. We all focus on providing extensive pests regulate solutions tailored in order to your particular needs.

Bed Bug Exterminator Near Me in Palm SpringsWe all comprehend the urgency with handling some sort of sleep irritate infestation promptly. Thats the key reason why this site offers instant as well as trustworthy solutions by using a group with expert exterminators found appropriate throughout Palm Springs. Your specialists include the modern tools and techniques in order to do away with sleep pests rapidly as well as correctly, giving you reassurance and also a bug-free environment.

Bed Bug Extermination in Palm SpringsYour technique to bed irritate extermination is actually thorough as well as meticulous. We all start with a comprehensive check up of your respective property in order to appraise the degree from the infestation as well as discover every likely hiding spots. Once we've harvested all of the information you need, many of us develop a personalised treatment solution tailored in order to your unique situation.

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Open Your Home to the Common House Centipede

A common sight in homes throughout Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Australia the common house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) is a medium-sized species of centipede originally from the Mediterranean. In the wild, they prefer grasslands and deciduous forests where they can hide under rocks, logs, or leaf litter. These insects have also adapted well to urban development, and are frequently found in basements, bathrooms, and garages,  as well as gardens and compost piles.

Like other centipedes, the common house centipede has less than 100 legs; in fact, they only have 15 pairs, with the front pair used only for holding prey or fending off threats. All those legs let the common house centipede move up to 0.4 meters per second (1.3 ft/s) over a variety of surfaces, including walls and ceilings. The actual body of S. coleoptrata is only 25 to 35 mm (1.0 to 1.4 in) long, but the antennae are often as long as the body which can give this insect a much larger appearance. However, they can be hard to spot, especially in their natural environments; their tan and dark brown coloration allows them to blend in seamlessly to surrounding vegetation.

Though they pose little threat to humans, house centipedes are predatory. Their primary food source is other arthropods, including cockroaches, silverfish, bed bugs, ticks, ants, and insect larvae. S. coleoptrata is a nocturnal hunter, and uses its long antennae to track scents and tactile information. Their compound eyes, unusual for centipede species, can distinguish daylight and ultraviolet light but is generally used as a secondary sensory organ. When they do find prey, house centipedes inject a venom which can be lethal in smaller organisms, but is largely harmless to larger animals. This makes them important pest controllers. In the wild, house centipedes are the common prey of rodents, amphibians, birds, and other insects.

The mating season for S. coleoptrata begins in the spring, when males and females release pheromones that they can use to find each other. Once located, the male spins a silk pad in which he places his sperm for the female to collect. She then lays fertilized eggs in warm, moist soil in clutches of 60-150. These eggs incubate for about a month, and the young emerge with only four pairs of legs. Over the next three years, juvenile house centipedes molt 7 times, each time gaining new pairs of legs. After they grow their last pair of legs, immature house centipedes molt an additional 3 times, at which time they become sexually mature. If they can avoid predation, individuals can live up to 7 years in the wild.

Conservation status: The common house centipede has not been evaluated by the IUCN, as it is relatively common both in the wild and in urban areas. Although they have been introduced to areas outside their native range, no detrimental environmental effects have been associated with their spread.

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Photos

Joseph Berger

David Paul

Conrad Altman via iNaturalist

[justagalwhowrites]

Yearling - Ch. 5: Movement

Tommy asks Joel for a favor. A continuation of Yearling ch. 1-4 found on Tumblr here.

Pairing: Joel Miller x Female Reader

Warnings: None, but the whole fic is violent and eventually smutty. No use of Y/N. Minors DNI 18+ Only 

Length: 5.8k 

AO3 | Chapter One | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Spring, 1997 

Your parents couldn’t have planted a better way to catch you sneaking out of the house if they tried. 

Not that you snuck out much. Usually you just went down to the stables to hang out with your horse, Athena, when you couldn’t sleep. Or you went to clamber onto the roof over the front porch to lay out and look up at the stars. You’d always loved the constellations, memorizing the patterns and the stories that went with them. 

But there was one stupid floorboard just outside your parents’ bedroom that creaked when you stepped on it and you tried to dodge it, you really did, but it was dark and you misjudged just where you were in the hall. You stood, ball of your foot on the squeaky board like it was a landmine, lifting your weight slowly, hoping it minimized the sound. It didn’t make much difference. 

You waited, just beyond their door, to see if there was stirring inside but the only sound was your dad’s even snoring. The rest of the path to your brother’s room was easy. 

Once you’d closed the door softly behind you, you dove onto his bed, hurtling your weight against his stomach and chest, making him groan. 

“What the fuck?” Richie mumbled, shoving you back. “The hell you doin’ in here, Bug? What time s’it?” 

“Almost four,” you tucked your legs below you, sitting back on your heels, moonlight shining off his skin. “I need your help.” 

“Whatever it is can wait an hour and a half ’til I’m up for the day,” he groaned, turning onto his stomach and burying his face in his pillow. “Fuck off.” 

“See, it can’t though,” you pushed on his arm and he turned his head. You could barely make out his glaring at you in the dark. “Has to be now, c’mon.” 

“Bug, I swear to God…” 

“Mama’ll kill you if she hears you taking the lord’s name in vain around me,” you said, smug. You could almost hear him roll his eyes. “Fine, you want to stay here? I’ll do it myself but you’re gonna get in trouble for lettin’ me.” 

That got his attention. 

“Lettin’ you do what?” He asked. “Not a damn soul can control you least of all me…” 

“Well I’m gonna go break Triton so you can either help and make sure I don’t snap my neck or you can stay here and face Daddy’s wrath…” 

“You’re what!” He yelped, sitting bolt upright. You shushed him, clasping your hand over his mouth, keeping it there until you were sure neither of your parents were about to come into his room to see what the commotion was. 

“Sorry,” you whispered when you released him. “Don’t be so dumb next time, Jesus…” 

“You ain’t bein’ serious,” he said, propping an arm on his knee as he rubbed the sleep from his face. You didn’t say anything, just looked at him. He sighed. “Dammit Bug. You’re my least favorite sister, you know that, right?” 

“I’m your only sister,” you said, smug. “Now c’mon, let’s go! Everyone will be working in like two hours…” 

“I’ll meet you at the stable in 10 minutes,” he sighed, rubbing his eyes again. “I’m just in boxers, not gettin’ outta bed with you here.” 

“Gross,” you said cheerfully, going for his door. 

“Don’t you dare even go in his stall ’til I’m there, you understand me?” He said, voice sharp. “I mean it, Bug, you’ll get fuckin’ trampled.” 

“I’m not an idiot,” you rolled your eyes and left, heading to the stables. 

It was so early that no one was at work yet and the ranch was still and quiet. You went into the stable and peered into Athena’s stall for a moment, your horse sleeping peacefully. You resisted the urge to go curl up next to her and went to collect the tack for Triton. 

You waited by his stall, the stallion just starting to stir. He got to his feet and shook his large head once, his mane bouncing with it as he ambled over to the door. He was big, one of the biggest horses on your father’s ranch. You’d ridden bigger horses than him but never one who wasn’t well broke. 

But you’d been watching your father and brothers and two other ranch hands struggle to get through to Triton for weeks. You perched on the fence post and watched as they got thrown and kicked, the horse often taking off to the other side of the paddock while totally out of control. They couldn’t get him past saddle broke, Triton willing to take tack but not a rider. He’d been a significant investment, intended to be used as a stud for some of the mares on the ranch as well as a horse to drive cattle, but he was useless if the men couldn’t get him to take commands. 

You’d sat and watched them fail and fail with him the day before, silent from your position on the fence, when Triton took off, doing a circuit of the paddock and coming to a stop near you. Your dad screamed at you to get back on the other side of the fence but you ignored him, slowly reaching your hand for the horse’s muzzle. His velvet nose sniffed you before he pressed into your palm and you petted him gently. He chuffed and moved closer and you looked in his eyes. He was just afraid. Afraid of the big men and their frustration and rage and the plans they had for his body that were going to shit because he wouldn’t bend to their will. 

“I understand you,” you said quietly. He chuffed again and twitched his ears. “It’s OK. I understand. I’ll help. I understand.” 

Kevin, one of the ranch hands, ran over and grabbed Triton’s reins, tugging him away from you, making his large hooves stomp into the dirt. 

“Can’t go messin’ with the princess of the ranch,” he muttered as the horse tossed his head and dragged his feet. 

You decided then that the men weren’t ever going to get this horse to where he needed to be. They couldn’t. But you could. You just needed a chance, just needed to connect with him and let him figure it out with you, that’s all. 

“You’re fuckin’ nuts, Bug,” Richie yawned, tugging his Levis up by the beltloops as he came over to you. “Triton’s gonna chew you up and spit you out.” 

“Well then you can watch and tell Brendan all about it,” you said, jerking your chin toward the bunk house where your oldest brother now lived. “But you’re wrong. I’m gonna get him there. He just needs someone to trust.” 

“Swear to shit you break somethin’…” 

“It’s on me,” you smiled. He sighed and waved you back as he put the bridle on Triton and brought him out of his stall. Richie got the horse saddled and you stood back and watched, Triton keeping his eyes on you the whole time. The three of you went into the paddock, the only light coming from the barn, the moon and the stars. You clambered onto the fence as Richie held the reins. 

“What do you wanna do?” He asked, watching you. “Since you want to be a ranch hand so damn bad.” 

You flipped him off before holding your hand out to Triton, letting him sniff you. It took him a moment before he pressed his soft, smooth muzzle into your palm, his breath hot on your skin. You took a deep breath. 

“You remember how to handle if he tries to buck you, right?” Richie asked, tone nervous. You nodded. “And I know you know how to try and fall and land when he throws you?” 

“I’m not a dumbass,” you rolled your eyes. He just nodded. 

“Alright, well…” He sighed, looking at Triton. “I’ll make sure you don’t get trampled, don’t do anything stupid.” 

You nodded and swallowed, putting your hand on Triton’s neck and stroking him gently, moving down his body until you reached his saddle. It was more nerve-racking than you anticipated, getting ready to climb on Triton. You knew what was about to happen was going to hurt, even if he didn’t throw you. And Triton was big. Bigger than Athena by a hand at least, closer to two. Controlling him would be harder even if he was well broke.

“You gotta get on ‘em quick,” Richie sounded nervous. 

“I ain’t stupid,” you muttered, putting your hands on the saddle. 

“Sure you ain’t,” Richie muttered back. 

You ignored him and all but jumped on Triton’s back, snapping your feet into the stirrups and Richie bolting back from the horse as he shot off away from the fence, totally outside your control. But you hung on, even as he started to buck below you. You tried to reach out, get a hand on him instead of just the saddle but your foot slipped from the stirrup and you flew, smacking into the dirt, the air knocked out of you. You heard Richie scrambling to get Triton under control as you rolled and got to your hands and knees, gasping for breath. 

“Alright, you tried,” Richie panted, Triton whinnying and stomping his feet in protest. “Let’s go in before you really get hurt.” 

“No,” you got up and brushed yourself off, feeling the grit under your palms. “I’m good, I want to go again.” 

“Bug,” Richie sighed. 

“I’ll do it without you.” 

He sighed again. 

“Catch your breath first,” he said. “Then we’ll go again.” 

Triton threw you three more times but you kept getting up and getting back on him, Richie sounding more and more frustrated each time. 

“Can’t keep doin’ this,” he said as you got ready to get back on Triton yet again. “You’re fixin’ to get yourself killed…” 

“One more,” you said, shaking your arms to loosen up more. “Let me do one more and if he throws me again I’ll go in.” 

“Fine,” he sighed. “One more, Bug. Then I’m puttin’ you over my shoulder and draggin’ you in, I don’t care if you scream the whole ranch down.” 

You just nodded, looking up at Triton for a moment, his nostrils flaring. You reached your hand out for his nose again and it took a moment before he pressed his muzzle into your palm. 

“It’s OK,” you said to him gently, looking him in the eye. “I’m tryin’ to help you, not tryin’ to hurt you. It’s OK.” 

“He can’t understand you,” Richie said. You glared at him. 

You jumped on Triton again and he took off but you were able to get seated properly this time, heels low in the stirrups, one hand on the reins the other on the saddle as he bucked and writhed. You could feel how he was moving this time, able to shift in tandem with him, like you were an extension of him and he of you. You could sense his anger and longing for control and almost rabid panic as you held on until, eventually, he started to calm below you. His movements slowed and eased, reduced to scratching his hooves at the earth and tossing his head as you held the reins. 

“Holy shit,” Richie breathed as you leaned forward slowly, cautiously, and stroked Triton’s neck. 

“See?” You said gently, voice soothing as you ran your fingers over him. “You’re OK. It’ll be OK, I’ll take care of you, not going to hurt you, you’re OK…” 

You let him walk the perimeter of the paddock, tossing his head and puffing, occasionally getting restless and trying to buck you again. You were ready for him though, hanging on when he thrashed and reaching forward to soothe him and praise him when he calmed. 

When the sun began to rise on the horizon, you had him responding to some basic commands. You were able to turn him right or left and pull him into a one-rein stop. You’d almost forgotten you were doing what you were doing without permission until you heard your father screaming your name as he ran for the fence. He jumped it like he was a man in his 20s not his 50s, hurtling for you. You tightened your grip on Triton’s reins and leaned forward on him, shushing him as he started to stomp impatiently. 

“You tryin’ to get yourself killed?” He panted, his eyes huge. “The hell were you thinking!” 

“Daddy,” you said, voice calm. “You’re gonna spook ‘em and I’ve been workin’ all mornin’ to get him here, appreciate it if you don’t ruin it for me.” 

“It’s true,” Richie said, his arms crossed as he leaned against a fence post. “She’s been at it for hours…” 

“And you let her?” Your father rounded on your brother. “She’s 13, she’s a kid but you’re 18, you’re an adult! I expect better outta you…” 

“You know as well as I do that nothin’s gonna stop her once she sets her mind to somethin’,” He replied. “Figured it’d be better if I were out here to help than if she did it on her own.” 

“You were scarin’ ‘em, Daddy,” you said, stroking Triton’s neck gently. He chuffed at it, turning his head enough to look back at you. You met his gaze and smiled softly, giving him a reassuring pat. “He just needed to know someone was lookin’ out for him. That’s all. Can’t just force ‘em, Daddy. Gotta help ‘em.” 

The ranch hands had started gathering around the fence, looking up at you from your perch on the back of the horse you’d brought to heel. He shifted his weight, wary, but calmed when you leaned over his neck, your hands on him. 

“Just gotta help ‘em.” 

*** 

Late April, 2026

“Hey, Joel,” Tommy jogged over to him as he walked back to his house. It was still outside, the air cool but with the promise of summer on the edges of it. The sun was setting, most people in town already home if they weren’t eating a late dinner at the mess hall or going to the Tipsy Bison for a drink. Joel found himself actually looking forward to the quiet evening alone before his brother came up, looking forward to the silence and the chance to relax into what his life was now. “Got a minute? Been meanin’ to talk to you about somethin’.” 

“Sure,” Joel shrugged, heading inside. “Not like I got anywhere to be.” 

He led the way into the house, Tommy lingering at his bookshelf like he was reading the titles of the books there. As if he hadn’t seen the room dozens of times before. 

“Get you a drink?” Joel called from the kitchen, getting himself a glass of water. 

“Nah,” Tommy said. “Won’t be here too long. Unless you wanted to do somethin’…” 

“What’d you need, Tommy.” 

He smiled a little, nodding and looking at the ground for a second before meeting his eyes again. 

“Just wonderin’ what you thought of Bambi and the job she’s doin’ here so far. Since you brought her into town and all…” 

Joel looked at him for a moment, taking a drink of water to buy himself time. 

He didn’t want to admit it but he’d been all but actively avoiding you since the incident at the stables in December. Not that he wasn’t perfectly polite when he saw you, always giving you an expected “how’s your day” when he came by to get a horse or return one. You weren’t exactly verbose in return, usually just shrugging or saying “fine” and handing him the reins or taking them back. He didn’t feel like he could get any closer to you than that. He was focused on trying to fix things with Ellie, still trying to remember what it was like to be a whole person with something to live for. And you seemed to want little to do with anyone at all, content to be on your own with the horses and sometimes the dogs. You didn’t trust people and he didn’t blame you. It wasn’t fair to you for him to try to insert himself into your life, to try to be your friend. 

In part because he wasn’t sure he could be just your friend.

He didn’t trust himself to try to keep a reasonable distance from you if he got closer. Every time your fingers brushed his when he passed his horse off to you after a patrol he wanted to take your hand and pull you against him. He wanted to breathe you in, feel you against him, soak up the vitality that clung to you like a second skin. He wanted to know you and understand you but he knew and understood himself enough to know that this wouldn’t be enough. You were beautiful and strong and so fucking alive he wanted to take in everything you would give him, everything. He wouldn’t be satisfied with just being friends, not with how he already saw you, how he was already drawn to you. He wanted to be your friend. He couldn’t stop at being your friend. 

So he kept his distance. 

But that didn’t mean he didn’t notice things. He noticed things. He noticed the fact that you stood up a little straighter now. He noticed that sometimes you wore your hair down now and you didn’t stare at the ground when he caught a glimpse of you going to the mess hall. He noticed that you always wore his coat, even as the weather grew warmer and he knew you had to be sweltering in it, especially as you worked in the stables. He’d never seen you in town without that coat.

“Doin’ good, all things considered,” he shrugged after a second. “Horses seem good, ‘specially  Samson. But you’d be better off askin’ one of her friends than me, don’t know her all that well.” 

“Well now, see, that’s the thing,” Tommy cupped the back of his neck and winced a bit. “She doesn’t exactly have a lot of those…” 

Joel frowned. He’d never seen you with people but he assumed that was because he usually saw you when you were working. You couldn’t just be alone here. Right?

“She must have a couple,” he said. “She’s been here months…” 

“Yeah, the council is worried about that, too,” Tommy nodded. “She’s got a big job here now and she’s doin’ that real well, got Samson to the point that we can take ‘em on patrol and shoot from his back and he don’t even flinch but they’re worried she’s not integrating here well otherwise.” 

“Can’t force her,” Joel shrugged as he took another drink of water. “She don’t want friends, can’t make her have friends, Tommy.” 

“We just can’t afford to have her want to leave,” he said. “So Maria asked me to talk with you. See if you could check in on her a bit, see how she’s doin’…” 

“Tommy,” Joel sighed, tensing his jaw. “Don’t think I’m the right person…” 

His brother cut him off. 

“Only person she is friends with is Ellie,” he said. 

“Ellie.” 

“Ellie. And I know you’d want to keep an eye on what Ellie’s up to, make sure she’s a good influence,” Tommy said. “Make sure if she does decide to take off she don’t take Ellie with her…” 

Joel sighed again. He knew what Tommy was doing. He wasn’t stupid. Joel could say no to his brother, he could say no to the council, he couldn’t say no to looking out for his daughter. He hadn’t even responded when Tommy smiled, like he knew what Joel was about to say. 

“About time we added her to the patrol rotation, anyway,” he said. “Thought you could make sure she knows how to shoot, show her the ropes. We’ll go out with her later this week, see how she does. She can pair up with you after that, assuming all goes well.” 

“Sure,” Joel said before he could do the smart thing and push back on it. “For a bit at least.” 

“Great,” Tommy smiled, clapping Joel on the shoulder. “Appreciate it!” 

Joel stood on his porch and watched his brother leave before he sighed and went back into his house. He sat on his couch and put his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands for a moment. He’d just need to keep it together for a few weeks. Get you up to speed and set up to go on patrol with someone else and make sure that you weren’t about to take off in the middle of the night while taking Ellie with you. He’d gotten himself to a life that was satisfying, even if it wasn’t necessarily happy. He had people he cared about, a community he liked being a part of, a home to come back to at the end of the day. He didn’t want to want more than this. You were dangerously close to longing, to wanting more than he had. 

But if you were friends with Ellie, he’d have to check in on you. 

He considered drinking before seeking you out. That’s what he wanted to do, anyway. Drink or sleep and put this off. But he decided to bite the bullet and walked to your house. He frowned when he got there, the lamp in the entry way on. Joel remembered you turning it off when you got home the last time he was here. He remembered everything you did when he’d walked you here that night four months ago. But it was after nine. He’d never seen you in the Tipsy Bison, never seen you stay at the mess hall for a meal - always taking your food and all but fleeing with it. Ellie’s had been dark when you left. Where the hell were you? 

He headed for the stable, not sure where else to check for you when a thought crossed his mind. What if you did have someone in town, someone Tommy hadn’t noticed? A place you’d be after dark when the day was done, someone who you didn’t ask to stop at the end of your walk, who got to run their fingers over your skin and feel how soft he knew you must be, who got to push his coat off your shoulders and undress you bit by bit. 

Well, that would have to be a good thing, he thought to himself as his stomach twisted and his chest got tight. That would mean that you had ties to the community and he wouldn’t need to worry about checking in. He could keep his distance and try not to think about someone else touching you the way he wanted to touch you. Fuck, what if someone was touching you… 

He tried to ignore the relief that was so deep he felt it in his marrow when he found you at the stables. No one else was around, even on the road outside and he didn’t think you were expecting anyone. You were in a stall with one of the horses, running a brush over her, still wearing his coat even though it was plenty warm and you were singing. It wasn’t loud - he got the impression you were trying to keep it down, to keep from drawing any unwanted attention and not spook the horse - but it was powerful, your voice strong and clear. Without the music - especially the bass line - it took him half a second to place the song, but you were singing The Chain. It was slower, more lilting and less forceful than what he was used to but he liked it. He smiled at that. He couldn’t remember the last time he heard someone singing Fleetwood Mac. Especially not someone who was good. Damn good. And you were, you were really fucking good. 

If it had been before - before the outbreak, before he had the responsibility of being a father and he still had the dream of being a musician - and he heard you sing, he’d have approached you. Hoped to have latched onto your talent, your voice, hoped that you’d let him have anything to do with a sound like that. Now, he just listened to it, basked in it, let your voice seep into him as he tried to hold onto it, onto you. 

You came to the end of the song and you hadn’t noticed him there, your usual hyper-vigilance lessened when you were focused on something else, and you pressed your forehead against the side of the horse’s head, saying something quietly to it that he couldn’t quite hear. 

“You’re good,” Joel said. You jumped and spun, your eyes wide and doe-like, frantically looking for either a place to hide or a way to attack. He wasn’t sure which. He held up his hands as he pushed off the post he’d been leaning on. “S’OK, not going to hurt you, wasn’t tryin’ to scare you…” 

“Jesus fucking Christ!” Your body relaxed some and you picked up the brush that you’d dropped in your panic. “You can’t just sneak up on people like that!” 

“Wasn’t tryin’ to sneak up on you,” he said, stepping closer. You watched him and adjusted, sticking close to the horse. “Promise. Just hadn’t heard someone singing that song in a long time and didn’t want to interrupt. You really are damn good.” 

“Thanks,” you said, cautious and cagey as you moved to the other side of the horse. 

��You play?” Joel asked, moving to the wall of the stall you were in. He propped his arms on the top of it, keeping his hands visible, hoping that would help make you less nervous.

“Play what?” 

“Anything,” he laughed a little. “Just sound like you know what you’re doin’ with music so I was wonderin’ if you played.” 

You looked at the horse, starting to brush her side. 

“Yeah,” you said after a minute. “Yeah. It’s been a few years, but I play. Could play. Sure I could play again if I had the chance.” 

“What do you play?” He asked, watching you, the tension slowly leaving your body. 

“Guitar,” you said, focusing on the horse and not looking at him. “Piano, violin and fiddle, drums. Like a kit, don’t know much about full percussion, don’t want me on a marimba or something…” 

“So you really know music,” he smiled a little, picturing you with a guitar, your hair falling forward as you bent over the body of the instrument in your arms. 

“Somethin’ like that,” you stopped brushing and looked up at him. “Can I help you with anything or do you just like spying on people?” 

“I was hoping to talk with you actually,” he said. “If you have a minute.” 

“I’m just grooming Renaissance here,” you said, nodding to the mare. You kept the horse’s body between him and you. “Now’s a good a time as any.” 

“Why are you here so late?” Joel frowned. “You need more help in the stables? Because shouldn’t need to work all…” “I like being here,” you cut him off, defensive. “Renaissance came back covered in burrs today so I figured I’d give her a good once over. I don’t have to be here, I want to be here.” 

“OK,” he said gently.

“OK,” you said, a little calmer, looking back at the horse, brushing her again. “What did you want?” 

“Wanted to see how you’re doing is all,” he said. You looked at him with narrowed eyes over the back of the horse. “And talk to you about addin’ you to the patrol rotation.” 

You frowned at that. 

“Patrol?” You said. You had the doe eyes again. “Like… leave Jackson. Go lookin’ for trouble.” 

“Not lookin’ for trouble,” he smiled a little. “Just checkin’ in on what’s goin’ on nearby and intervening before there’s trouble. Think you’d be good at it.” 

“What would I need to do?” You asked. 

“We’d need to make sure you can shoot,” he said. “Already know you can ride just fine.” 

You snorted at that. 

“Pretty sure you can spot a threat from about a mile out,” he teased a little and your eyes met his, less big and scared this time. Instead they were sharp - in the clever way - and soft. 

“I can shoot,” you said. “And I’m good at watching for threats. Except when they’re you sneakin’ up on me at the stable, apparently.” 

Joel shrugged. 

“Maybe you just know I’m not a threat.” 

“Do I?” You asked, head cocked. 

“Still wearin’ my coat,” he said. “Don’t think you’d do that if you thought I was a threat.” 

Your eyes narrowed.

“I get cold.” 

“And I’m not a threat,” he said. “At least, not to you.” 

You finished brushing the horse and put your hand on her haunch as you came around back of her to the wall of the stall. You stood in front of him, the closest you’d ever been to him voluntarily. His breath hitched. 

“So how’s it work?” You asked, looking up at him. 

“How’s what work?” He’d damn near forgotten what he was talking with you about. 

You smiled a little. 

“Patrol. How’s it work?” 

“Right,” he said quickly. “Well, I’ll take you out sometime in the next few days here, test your shooting. Assuming you’re good with that, you’ll go out with me’n Tommy for a bit, make sure you’re OK with it, then we’ll work you into the regular rotation. You’ll go out every few weeks, usually with the same partner so you’ll get used to workin’ with someone.” 

You nodded slowly. 

“And I’d be armed, right?” You asked. “Assuming that’s why you’d need to know that I can shoot?”

“Yeah, Bambi,” he laughed a little. “Not gonna send you out there without a gun.” 

“OK,” you nodded slowly. “I can do that.” 

You opened the stall and put the brush away before getting a blanket, Joel watching you the whole time. 

You frowned. 

“Anything else?” 

“Figured I’d walk you home,” he said. “Assuming you’re done here…” 

You looked at him for a second, considering him. 

“OK.” 

You went back into the stall and put the blanket over the horse and gave her a quick scratch and whispered something to her before closing the stall behind her. You shoved your hands in your pockets and started off, Joel careful to be close but not so close that you tensed up and watched him, all vigilant caution. 

“So,” he said after you’d been walking for a minute. “You likin’ it OK? Jackson, I mean?” 

“I think so,” you frowned a little. “It’s hard to really know. Haven’t been around people like this in so long, feels a little like I’ve been dropped onto an alien planet and I’m still figurin’ it all out.” 

Joel nodded. 

“I was the same way, comin’ here,” he said. “‘Course I’d been in a QZ for the 15 or so years before but that was different, place was nothin’ like here. But I had Tommy’n Ellie when I got here… Still. It took adjusting.” 

“So you’re Ellie’s dad?” You looked up at him, your hands in the pockets of the coat, your brows drawn together. 

“No,” he sighed, though that felt like a lie to say. He felt like Ellie’s dad. He felt like Ellie’s dad more than he felt like he was anything else that mattered. “But I’m her guardian. We traveled here together, from Boston. She had family out this way, or we thought she did, anyway. Hired me to bring her out here since I was heading west, anyway, lookin’ for Tommy. Her people were gone before we got here and… Well, by then I didn’t want to leave ‘er anyway…” 

You nodded, a sense of understanding in your eyes before you looked at the ground. 

“So she’s your daughter in the ways that matter,” you said, looking back at him after a moment. 

“Yeah,” Joel nodded. 

“And you did something that pissed ‘er off good,” you said, smiling a little. 

“Yeah,” Joel said, laughing once at the simplification of it. “Somethin’ like that. Yeah. It was the right choice but I understand why she’s mad. Don’t expect her to forgive me for it, but… I hope she will. I hope she’ll understand, one day.” 

“Kids are hard,” you said, looking straight ahead. “But she’s a smart kid. She’ll understand it at some point, if it really was the right thing.” 

Joel nodded. He wasn’t sure Ellie would ever see it as the right thing. But that was OK. He knew it was. Anything that kept her alive was the right thing. That was all he needed. 

“You’re friends with her,” he said. He’d meant to ask it but it hadn’t come out that way. 

“She decided we were friends,” you smiled a little. “But… I like her. She’s… she’s something else.” 

“Yeah, she’s definitely that,” Joel laughed. 

He stopped at the gate to your front walk and you stood in front of him, your hands in the pockets of the coat you’d kept, looking up at him and fuck he wanted to kiss you. He wanted to take your face in his hand and pull your mouth to his and kiss you. The moonlight caught on your hair and made your eyes shine and he wondered if you’d taste sweet, he felt like you would. 

“When is good to do the shooting stuff?” You asked. 

“Tomorrow work?” He asked, both hands firmly in the pockets of his jeans so he wouldn’t do something stupid. “Afternoon?” 

“Yeah,” you nodded after thinking for a second. “Shouldn’t have any patrols coming or going then, should be able to leave the stable for a few hours, be back in time for the evening feed.” 

You gave him a tight smile and opened the gate, closing it behind you, the signal clear: he stayed on that side of it. 

“Thanks,” you said. “For walkin’ me.” 

“Yeah,” he said. “Yeah, no problem.” 

He watched you head up your walk and, before he could stop himself, called out. 

“I have a guitar.” 

You stopped and turned, frowning. 

“What?”

“If you ever wanted to try playin’ again,” he said. “I have a guitar, you can come by… Borrow it. If you want.” 

Your face lit up at that. 

“Yeah?” 

“Yeah,” he said. “Anytime you want. Just… just come by.” 

You nodded.

“Thanks,” you smiled, a little wider that time. “I might do that. Night, Joel.” 

He took a long look at you.

“Night, Bambi.” 

Next Chapter

A/N: Joel just might have a bit of a crush here and Bambi might just be less freaked out by Joel than she is everyone else in town.

Hey, progress!

I do have a taglist but Tumblr is making it a mess so whether it works is questionable. HOWEVER I will add you if you ask in the comments below :) Whether it works or not is up to the Tumblr Gods.

Thank you so much for being here! I appreciate you taking the time to read this and for following along with Joel and Bambi's journey. It means the world. Love you!!

Taglist: @ashleymsnodgrass@planet-marz1@kalea-bane @juneswonderlust@ilovepedro @h-annahayy @starstruckmusiciansartghost@beccerjune@mumma-moonchild@netonetoneto@mellymbee@purplelye@n7cje@flugazi@evyiione@randomhoex@aliengirl99@orcasoul@reds-ramblings@pedropascalsbbg @fupoola @tinypotatothing @knopes-waffles @lilmizmoz

[remediesremedy]

one stays shackled

art by sarii.draws

astarion / gender neutral reader

summary: astarion had managed to escape cazador’s hell, but now with the offer of ascending himself on the line, he has to decide whether to save the spawn who kept him from shattering apart or to kill them to gain power.

astarion never thought he’d see the sun again. He briefly remembered that in his old life, he found it to be a marvel, that his skin had once been not as pale. In Cazador’s halls, it was nothing but cold, a temple of sorrow, a beacon of silence.

The sun. He wondered if he could step into daylight for just a second, to bathe in the warmth it bestowed, to allow him a moment of peace. But alas, the world wasn’t kind, ever since his apparent rescue, he had learnt that the world was entirely cruel. Evil had dug its way into his skull, snuffing out every trail of hope. When the wounds on his back burned, a twisted fantasy came to mind, it was just the sun, it was warm today.

when the halls were freezing, gusting with an icy breeze, he deluded himself into thinking that it was spring, just a cold day, that if he opened his eyes he would find a bed of flowers with their petals shifting from the wind’s weight. When he was sentenced to eating bugs, he tried his best, through teary eyes, to believe his belly was full and warm, that he was positively stuffed after a nourishing meal.

When all was lost, when all was nothing, you were there.

You had arrived last, the final spawn to join them. Astarion had not cared at the time, you would be a mere puppet soon, devoid of any emotion. He certainly didn’t want whatever defeat you would succumb to, to affect him. His thread of hope would not be cut, no matter how frayed it already was.

But you sought him out, after everything mind numbing order Cazador gave, your resolve was not squandered completely. Every night, Astarion would return to his so called room, a pile of rags on the floor, and he would find a myriad of vermin barely alive. You hunted leftover’s for him, despite how sickly they tasted, it gave astarion an ounce more energy to survive Cazador’s painful favouritism.

You would whisper to him, as the months went on and you both couldn’t sleep, you told him stories, some true, some fiction, your hushed voice was heard only by him. And he noticed, as the years went by, your apparent truthful and real stories became more jumbled, you were forgetting.

You were attentive to him, he was sure you would bow to his every whim if Cazador wasn’t able to completely overrule your decisions. His slither of hope expanded, all was not lost, it could be found again, with you. Every painful beating was met with your gentle touch, a squeeze to his hands, a kiss to his temple. He was almost sure you never slept, opting to watch over him whenever he tried to catch a wink of slumber.

in such a wretched place, he had never expected any sort of compassion or kindness to reach him.

And he despised that your nature was crafted that way, even after being displaced on a nautiloid and travelling with a group of adventurers for weeks, even after being able to gleefully enjoy the sun, to drink from tav, to finally feel his belly warm and satiated, even after drinking, having free will and sleeping with someone.

you faced him with no malice.

when he had arrived in baldur’s gate once again, now with a whole party on his hip, his only priority was killing Cazador.

but then Raphael.

Raphael’s admittance on what was scarred on his back, a pact in infernal language carved into his skin. An opportunity to be killed and forever used as a pawn for power, or an opportunity to kill and never be a pawn again.

he tried not to think of you, he let the fantasies of finally being free rule him. What would it be like? to never be controlled again? what would it be like, to control?

he was naive to think choosing to ascend would be so easy.

when he saw your face, all beaten and bruised, his resolve faltered. A stab to the gut, it was evident that in his absence, you had become the favourite victim. Perhaps even punished for letting your lover leave. You looked beyond malnourished, tired, and fragile. Your attempt at smiling at him was pitiful, puffy purple lips parting to reveal bloody teeth and bleeding gums.

he had been so sure, that he could kill you, that you would forgive him, it was in your nature.

but as his red eyes met your similar crimson, he felt rage boil in his veins, the overwhelming need to protect you. He was stronger now, a force to be reckoned with, a primal need to protect what he deemed was his filled his mind.

Shame bubbled behind his sockets, and he willed the tears not to well up and fall. You had done everything you could’ve possibly done to make him at peace in this hell, you had been his unfairly gifted angel.

You had been shackled to a wall for weeks, tortured and abused relentlessly. Astarion swallowed the bile in his throat, he knew if you had been able to escape, you would’ve made sure he would’ve done so too.

“i’m sorry my darling.” He had choked, tears streamline against his porcelain skin, “i have sinned against you in ways that are unforgivable.” he admitted, reaching forward to unclasp the too tight chains that held you down. Your wrists and ankles were a dark purple, inflamed bruises covered your whole body, and Astarion wanted nothing more than to beg, to beg for forgiveness.

no amount of begging would fix you.

you were different, he could see. You had lost your slither of hope, even the sight of him didn’t bring light to your eyes.

he had already killed you, by not coming back for you.

maybe it was best to end your suffering. his mouth itched for blood, he wondered if Cazador’s neck would be the first bared for him, or yours.

there might be a continuation of this, ending where you are spared and ending where you are killed. lmk what you guys think and if this was okay, love you pookies <33

[gt-jar]

Hi guys!

First of all, a huge thank you to those who have waited patiently.

Sorry for the delay, but my message tab showed up again in the night from wednesday to thursday, literally right before I went to bed. Futhermore, I probably live in a different time zone than you (assuming most of you live in north america), when the g/t community is the most active, I'm off to dreamland. And let's not forget... I'm an adult. I have a job. I didn't have the time nor energy to deal with this whole secret santa mess yesterday.

So now that I got this off my chest, let's get to the important stuff.

As you already know, my blog is back to normal. Hooray! Worst tumblr experience so far.

I still have no idea what the issue was. My message tab reappeared as suddenly as it disappeared. All issues that I have experienced are symptoms of a shadowban. You can read more about it here. (I could check off every box)

Those can happen to everyone for no reason at all. Mistakes like this just happen.

But the support never messaged me back, like "Hey! Sorry for the mistake. The issue should be fixed now", so was I actually shadowbanned or was this just a temporary bug?

Why do I care you might ask?

Well there is a chance that this might happen again. There is the possibility that I was mistaken for a bot or was flagged by tumblr's anti-spam control, because I was sending several blogs a very similar dm ("Your giftee is @username") in a short span of time.

I don't know for sure, if that had anything to do with this whole mess, though. But I don't want to take any risks.

So... Any ideas how I can avoid this and still send all of you the name of your giftee?

Also!

I will make a new draw!

Some of you received a name while some didn't. And to make all of this less complicated for me, I'll draw a new name for everybody.

So if you did receive a name, forget it!

I going to do this either tonight or on early saturday day, depending on how fast I come up with a way to avoid that issue.

Forget the deadline. This is not a contest. As long as you don't post your gift in spring you're good.

[stupid-sloot-headcanons]

Shizuo has absolutely broken furniture and household items while trying (and failing) to hold back during sex

The first time you gave him oral he was afraid of hurting you and refused to put his hands on you, so he just gripped the arm of his sofa and wound up tearing into the cloth from how hard he was grasping it

One time he literally tossed you into bed so hard that you crash-landed and fucked up your bed springs and had to get a new mattress

He genuinely feels sick whenever he recovers from the post-nut haze and sees that he's bruised you and marked you in places from how hard he was grabbing you. He's had to phone Shinra for how to take care of those marks and help you recover faster, and he even asked his brother for how to use makeup to help hide bruises so you wouldn't have to answer any questions from your friends or coworkers who might have seen them.

The first time he ever fucked you while angry (he'd just ran into Izaya on the way home) and possessive was...rough. He kept accidentally edging the two of you because he'd start humping you in one position, then get fed up and move to another one while tearing your clothes off and muttering about how he was going to kill that fucking Flea one day or another. And thankfully you were plenty wet from him rubbing on you, because once he pushed your thighs up, he didn't even realize what he was doing until he got everything out of his system--he came, he took a few breaths and looked down to see you nearly unconscious from the repeated overstimulation and rough pace.

He panicked and immediately called Shinra for help, and he couldn't look at you for weeks afterwards. He'd lost control before, but never like that. Never to YOU. He'd hurt you and didn't even realize until it was too late. And he'd been so careful to try and keep himself from causing any harm to you, keeping you as far from people like Izaya who might use you to get to him, and here he was leaving you bedbound for an entire day.

Luckily Shinra was there to treat you, and he, Celty, and Tom were able to help reassure him (even if you said it was okay, you knew how he is, even that you liked it, he couldn't take just your words to heart) and give advice on how to avoid it happening again. Unfortunately...They're not the only ones who know.

See, Izaya has bugs in a lot of places due to his like of work. The ones he keeps in Shizuo's apartment and yours are more for fun, though. And when he has video of Shizuo absolutely ravaging you while you beg for him to stop, to slow down, ultimately ending with you passing out and barely able to stand? You can bet he's saving that for something special. See Shizu-chan, this is what happens when you try to pretend you're human and not a monster. It's a good thing he's seemingly picked a masochist to "play human" with though; how else could he explain why they'd stay with him after that? Or maybe they're afraid of leaving. All it took was one slip-up, and Shizuo's hurt someone he cared about.

[onenicebugperday]

@aroaceadaman​ submitted: the worlds leetlest guy!! some sorta blood drinker- didnt mind em drinking mine since ive got lots! pretty sure they had 6 little Perfect Legys

Hi, this lil dude is very tiny and very cute but I’m sorry to report it appears to be a bed bug nymph. So yes, it is a blood feeder, and there are likely more where it came from. Check bedding, mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and base boards near beds. They like to hide in cozy nooks and crannies during the day. If you don’t find any in/near your bed(s), it’s possible it was brought in from someone else, so check furniture visitors may have sat on, or luggage that was in hotels or at other people’s houses. There’s always the (slim) chance it could also be a bat bug brought in by a colony of bats living in the building, but bed bugs are more likely. Bed bugs and bat bugs look nearly identical as adults but honestly I’ve never seen a bat bug nymph so I’m not sure how they compare. I’ll assume similar. But anyway, I’d be careful about letting them feed from you, although they don’t spread disease, their bites can be very itchy and cause secondary infections from scratching. If it were me I’d catch one and put it in a container, then call pest control to have it properly IDed and then work on getting them treated.

Also reminder that bed bugs are not a sign of poor living conditions and can be found in even the cleanest environments, so it does not reflect poorly on you or your home.

[nomoreusername]

Bird Boy

Paring:Aris x female reader

Summary:After someone tries to use your special nickname for Aris you shut them down.

I'll admit it. Having a boy for the first time in the Spring made me nervous. The other girls felt the same way. A few of them actually tried to get him banished when he came up. Thankfully, most of us voted no, with me obviously being one of them.

After a few months everyone got over themselves. Now he's an official Icer with friends, a job, and everything else. There was only one thing that bugged me about him.

I ended up liking him. Like really liking him. Not as a friend either. It's still painful to even think about, but I definitely have a crush on him. This obviously has never happened before so I didn't have a clue what to do. I couldn't talk to anyone else about it. It was just getting so frustrating to trip over my words in front of him. There's no way he didn't notice because I used to be able to speak just fine without going red in the face.

I did figure out one thing that helped. The problem got worse every time I had to say his name. So when I saw a little blue bird that somehow made it to this place and survived where it shouldn't I figured out what to do. This little blue bird was a miracle, and as dramatic as it seems he was one too. So I started calling him bird boy whenever I had to talk to him. It worked wonders, but he was confused. I couldn't make myself tell him why so I left him with that mystery.

So bird boy became my affectionate nickname for him. Eventually, he stopped questioning it and accepted that this was all I would call him. Once again, it was something of affection with a lovely backstory. Unfortunately, someone apparently didn't get the memo.

"Hey bird boy. Move before I make you,"Beth snapped. I don't know why he was in the Builders space nor did I care. Because not only did she call him bird boy she said it with malice. That is not what it's supposed to be at all.

"Shut up Beth. Nobody has time for your attitude,"I said through gritted teeth.

"Why? You think I want to call this idiot his name? I'd rather not dirty up my mouth."

I looked at Aris who was shifting uncomfortably in his spot. I ignored that for now and turned my attention back to Beth.

"Don't you dare insult him, don't speak to him in that tone, and don't you ever call him that again. In fact, if you so much as look at him the wrong way I'll make you wish you were never born."

"Is that a threat?"She asked with an amused smirk. I quickly got a few inches away so only she could hear.

"No. It's a promise."

"What are you going to do? Are you going to fight me?"She asked loudly. "I don't need to fight to make you scared. Unlike you I'm not a pathetic bully who needs my fists. Just remember who's in charge of food here. I'll make sure every meal you get is a mere sliver, and I'll make it the worst table scraps that aren't even fit for a dog. Do you understand?"

For the first time here she looked genuinely scared. She knew I controlled the food, and she knew I would go through with my words.

"Whatever. Keep standing up for bir-Aris,"She corrected.

"Don't you worry. I'll make sure to do just that."

♡ - - - ♡

Almost everyone had gone to bed. I didn't care enough to see who hadn't as I leaned against a log. I purposely stayed further away from everyone else. Right now I just wanted to have some peace and quiet under the stars.

"Hey Y/N,"Aris greeted, taking a seat next to me. You know what? Screw my earlier statement.

"Hey. What are you doing over here?"I asked, but making sure my tone was as inviting as possible. "Everyone else is asleep, and you're not. So now I'm here,"He shrugged. There was something that seemed a bit different about the way he said it. I can't explain it, but he sounded like he had something he wanted to say.

"Earlier today. I don't think I've ever seen you that mad. Why?"

"Why what?"I asked.

"Why did that bother you so much? She's rude to everyone here. You barely react when she says something to you so why did you care so much then?"

"I didn't like how she was talking to you,"I mumbled. That was true, but there was another there. Judging by his expression he knew it.

"You never tell me, but I may as well ask again. How come you insist on calling me that? You don't give anyone else nicknames."

There was a lot I could say to that. I could also do what I always do and brush him off. Still, the fact that it was just us right now, and we were sitting side by side on a nice night seemed to make the question feel different.

"There was a blue bird here one day. Somehow it did the impossible and was living a wonderful life trapped behind walls. It was a rare sight, maybe the only one of its kind here. Yet it still looked like it always belonged here. It just reminded me of you."

"Because I'm the only boy?"He inquired.

"No. Because you're special. You're both living proof that even the worst place can bring something you never knew you needed. Plus, the blue kind of matched your eyes."

"That wasn't what I expected,"He stated.

"Is that a bad thing?"I asked nervously.

"No. It's the nicest thing I've ever heard,"He assured me.

I hesitated before moving my hand to his. He didn't ask what I was doing. Instead, he seemed to have the same idea as he intertwined our fingers. We sat like that until sunrise. It seemed like that moment the world seemed to just be him and I. If I'm being honest I wouldn't mind that one bit.

[annabtg]

I said I'd come here to ask you questions about The Roe Deer and The Knight, so here I am!! *ahem*

First, thank you for taking time out of your undoubtedly busy schedule as a renowned writer to do this interview with me. I am sure that all of our readers at Wizards Writing Weekly are just as curious as I am to get the insight scoop on your latest story. So, that said, I must know...

How much of the story was directly taken from the fairytale that inspired it? How did you figure out how to make this story uniquely yours?

The ending is so original and gorgeous... How did you determine how you wanted to end it? What details were you more sure about, and which parts took more effort to sort out?

So, you've already said in your response to my comment on AO3 that it wasn't intentionally referring to the lake in DH... Which still astounds me, but I know you mentioned there was more to be told about what you actually were thinking regarding the setting of a lake?

Anything else you'd like to share with your readers?

Sincerely,

James U. Water, head journalist for Wizards Writing Weekly

My dear Mr Water, it is a pleasure to be doing this interview with you!

With your permission, cut for spoilers!

1. I used a fair amount of elements from my fairy tale (the people hunting the deer, the brave huntsman with his dog, the person in the lake, the curse that turned the man's hair golden, the fact that he had pure heart but a fatal flaw) but honestly I found the story a little too all over the place for my liking! So every time I ran into something I didn't like or I couldn't easily parallel, I'd skip it and go my own way! I'd say it's about half and half?

The original story is also not a love story - the man does marry a princess in the end but the lake person is a helper, not his love interest - and I didn't like that either; it's a Jilychallenge and I wanted the focus to be on James and Lily as the main characters of the story!

2. I felt that leaving it at "happily ever after" wouldn't do the story justice - it would be too abrupt, and frankly given how Jily didn't really have a happily ever after in HP, it felt like it wouldn't fit them. At the same time, I didn't want to torture them - so I thought a quick recap of a happy life and dying together would fit them nicely, coupled with a "to this day" ending that you often find in fairy tales and legends! It wasn't particularly hard to structure - I did consider whether they should have a kid, but I thought there was no grace in having them have a cursed child. And I tried a few things about whether James would die in the forest as a deer and she'd curl next to him, whether she'd have to carry him to a resting place etc. - until I settled on their underwater bed. It might be a bit of underwhelming description, I feel. I considered making the ending a little longer and splitting it in two paragraphs, but the second paragraph would start with "Great green lightning" and that looked a bit weird to me - plus the way it is now it's exactly 4 pages long and it would have bugged me so much to ruin it. XD

3. In the original story, the dog follows the deer's scent until they reach a lake, then a human arm reaches out and pulls the dog underwater, and then the man gets more men and they empty the lake with buckets and find Iron John in it, whom they then bind and take back to the castle. I decided that I didn't like this, because I wanted Lily to be more in control, so instead I had James dive into the lake, and find Lily there like some sort of queen. Also I thought the blurriness of seeing through water and James canonically needing glasses worked nicely together, so I leaned into it for the underwater atmosphere! And the crystal palace is inspired from a detail in the story about guarding a golden spring that was bright and clear as crystal.

4. I want to say that I loved reading fairy tales as a kid and I loved the opportunity to write one! I considered making it into a longer story, adding some more dialogue, more descriptions, but in the end I went with a shorter format because I was afraid it would get too tiring with that style of writing. I hope it was a good choice on my part and that y'all enjoyed reading!!

[cycreekpest]

Protect Your Home from Pests: Expert Solutions from Cycreek Pest

In the sprawling landscape of Texas, homeowners face a constant battle against various pests. From termites silently gnawing away at the very structure of your home to bees swarming around your property, the challenges can be daunting. However, with the right expertise and assistance, maintaining a pest-free environment is within reach. CyCreekPestControl.com stands as your reliable ally in safeguarding your home from these nuisances. Let’s explore how CyCreekPestControl.com tackles some of the most common pest issues in the Houston area.

Termite Control in Cypress: Termite infestations can cause extensive damage to your property if left unchecked. Cypress, nestled in the heart of Texas, is no stranger to these destructive pests. CyCreekPestControl.com offers comprehensive termite control solutions tailored to the unique needs of Cypress homeowners. From detection to eradication and preventive measures, their expert team ensures your home remains termite-free, protecting your investment and peace of mind.

Houston Bee Control: Bees play a crucial role in our ecosystem, but when they establish hives in residential areas, they can pose a threat to human safety. CyCreekPestControl.com understands the delicate balance between conservation and safety. Their bee control services in Houston prioritize the humane removal of bee colonies while safeguarding your family and property. With CyCreekPestControl.com, you can enjoy the presence of bees from a safe distance, without the worry of intrusions into your living spaces.

Houston Termite Control and Inspection: Termites are relentless in their pursuit of wood, making them a persistent threat to Houston homes. CyCreekPestControl.com offers proactive termite inspection services, utilizing advanced techniques to detect early signs of infestation. Timely intervention can prevent costly damage and ensure the longevity of your home. For existing infestations, their targeted treatments effectively eliminate termites, restoring the integrity of your property.

 Pest Control in Spring: Springtime brings forth new life, but it also heralds the resurgence of various pests. CyCreekPestControl.com is your trusted partner in maintaining a pest-free environment throughout the year. Their comprehensive pest control services in Spring address a wide range of intruders, from spiders to rodents. By employing environmentally friendly methods, they prioritize the safety of your family and pets while effectively managing pest populations.

Houston Spider Control: Arachnophobia is a common fear, especially when spiders find their way indoors. CyCreekPestControl.com offers targeted spider control solutions designed to rid your home of these unwelcome guests. Their team identifies spider habitats, implements strategic treatments, and provides recommendations for long-term prevention. With CyCreekPestControl.com by your side, you can reclaim your space and enjoy a spider-free environment.

In the battle against pests, proactive measures and professional assistance are key to success. CyCreekPestControl.com exemplifies expertise, reliability, and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Whether you're facing termite infestations in Cypress or spider intrusions in Houston, their tailored solutions ensure your home remains a sanctuary. Visit CyCreekPestControl.com today to learn more about their services and take the first step towards a pest-free future

[sources-across]

Top Treatment Bed Bug Exterminator Palm Springs

We all employ a mix of confirmed procedures, including chemical substance remedies as well as heat remedies, to shed sleep pests by any means stages in their life cycle. Your goal is not only in order to do away with existing infestations nonetheless and then to reduce upcoming skin breakouts, ensuring long-term safeguards intended for both you and your family.

Bed Bug Heat Treatment in Palm SpringsEssentially the most efficient procedures many of us implement is actually heating treatment. Mattress pests are generally extremely prone to heating, as well as revealing these to higher temperature ranges may efficiently do away with infestations without resorting to damaging chemicals. Your state-of-the-art heating treatment method products assures thorough insurance coverage of your respective property, accomplishing perhaps by far the most inaccessible hiding spots.

In relation to pests regulate, excellent as well as excellence are generally non-negotiable. With this confirmed status achievement as well as dedication to customer support, we're also the most preferred choice for sleep irritate extermination throughout Palm Springs. Don't make it possible for sleep pests dominate your home every longer. Make contact with people today to plan a meeting as well as bring step one on the way to some sort of pest-free environment. With this enable, you may bid farewell to sleep pests for good as well as try a restful, soothing night's slumber the moment again.

Pest Control Bedbugs in Palm SpringsMattress pests are generally popular for their resilience as well as power to speedily pass on after a property. Making an attempt to shed all of them DIY procedures frequently establishes worthless, creating annoyance as well as wasted time. That'azines where by the experience can come in. We all focus on providing extensive pests regulate solutions tailored in order to your particular needs.

Bed Bug Exterminator Near Me in Palm SpringsWe all comprehend the urgency with handling some sort of sleep irritate infestation promptly. Thats the key reason why this site offers instant as well as trustworthy solutions by using a group with expert exterminators found appropriate throughout Palm Springs. Your specialists include the modern tools and techniques in order to do away with sleep pests rapidly as well as correctly, giving you reassurance and also a bug-free environment.

Bed Bug Extermination in Palm SpringsYour technique to bed irritate extermination is actually thorough as well as meticulous. We all start with a comprehensive check up of your respective property in order to appraise the degree from the infestation as well as discover every likely hiding spots. Once we've harvested all of the information you need, many of us develop a personalised treatment solution tailored in order to your unique situation.

[bedbugtexas]

Effective Bed Bug Heater Treatment in Houston

Houston Bed Bug Heater specializes in bed bug heater treatments in Houston. Say goodbye to bed bug infestations with their cutting-edge technology. They guarantee effective and safe eradication, providing you with peace of mind. Visit their website to request an estimate.

[justagalwhowrites]

What? A teaser for the next chapter of Yearling?

OK!

Spring, 1997

The rest of the path to your brother’s room was easy.

Once you’d closed the door softly behind you, you dove onto his bed, hurtling your weight against his stomach and chest, making him groan.

“What the fuck?” Richie mumbled, shoving you back. “The hell you doin’ in here, Bug? What time s’it?”

“Almost four,” you tucked your legs below you, sitting back on your heels, moonlight shining off his skin. “I need your help.”

“Whatever it is can wait an hour and a half ’til I’m up for the day,” he groaned, turning onto his stomach and burying his face in his pillow. “Fuck off.”

“See, it can’t though,” you pushed on his arm and he turned his head. You could barely make out his glaring at you in the dark. “Has to be now, c’mon.”

“Bug, I swear to God…”

“Mama’ll kill you if she hears you taking the lord’s name in vein around me,” you said, smug. You could almost hear him roll his eyes. “Fine, you want to stay here? I’ll do it myself but you’re gonna get in trouble for lettin’ me.”

That got his attention.

“Lettin’ you do what?” He asked. “Not a damn soul can control you least of all me…”

“Well I’m gonna go break Triton so you can either help and make sure I don’t snap my neck or you can stay here and face Daddy’s wrath…”

“You’re what!” He yelped, sitting bolt upright. You shushed him, clasping your hand over his mouth, keeping it there until you were sure neither of your parents were about to come into his room to see what the commotion was.

“Sorry,” you whispered when you released him. “Don’t be so dumb next time, Jesus…”

“You ain’t bein’ serious,” he said, propping an arm on his knee as he rubbed the sleep from his face. You didn’t say anything, just looked at him. He sighed. “Dammit Bug. You’re my least favorite sister, you know that, right?”

“I’m your only sister,” you said, smug. “Now c’mon, let’s go! Everyone will be working in like two hours…”

[zee-thezebra1]

Pride Month Day 30

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Welp, the month is over but the time for celebration is not because supporting LGBTQ+ is for every day of the year :) be gay do crimes

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This is Kyoku, she's a lesbian librarian

She likes books, quiet, tea, cozy reading spots, her girlfriend Sun Dancer, soft blankets, winter

She hates loud ponies, ponies who don't respect personal space, ponies who don't return their books, sweating

This is Sun Dancer, she's a bisexual weather pony

She likes napping, flying, the beach, sunbathing, her girlfriend Kyoku, summer, dancing, her sister Summer Peach

She hates the cold, being sick, uncomfy beds, weather that can't be controlled, not being the best

This is Bubblegum, she's a pansexual bubblegum maker

She likes bubblegum, bubblegum flavored things, chewing gum, blowing bubbles, curly hair, long socks, her girlfriend Summer Peach, spring

She hates getting gum stuck in her hair, things not bubblegum flavored that really should be, socks that don't stay up, being told to "grow up"

This is Summer Peach, she's a neptunic surfer

She likes the ocean, ocean related things, studying sea creatures, surfing, her girlfriend Bubblegum, vacations to the beach, dolphins, pearls, fruit, her sister Sun Dancer

She hates when she's not at the beach, vegetables, when her surfboard breaks, being told to "get a real job"

This is Flutterina, she's a transfemme demisexual lepidopterist

She likes butterflies, moths, studying, water, getting high and looking at butterfly videos, her girlfriend Ruby Riddle, butterfly conservation efforts

She hates ponies who hate butterflies, running out of weed "fuel", ponies who act smart but are actually dumb

This is Ruby Riddle, she's a sun lesbian detective

She likes puzzles, riddles, clues, being fashionable, high society, solving crimes, her girlfriend Flutterina, receiving compliments

She hates puzzles she can't solve, cases going cold, wearing something tacky or out of season, things that are sticky, being insulted

This is Ayano, they're a nonbinary omnisexual astrologist

They like space, aliens, galaxy-inspired things, talking about space related stuff, the moon, their partner Kuro, cold weather with hot chocolate

They hate ponies who don't believe in aliens, not being able to fly to space themself, bugs

This is Kuro, he is a transmasc bisexual demiboy important wizard sorcerer

He likes studying magic, practicing magic, getting magic lessons from Sunburst, looking up to his heroes, his partner Ayano, his cape

They hate spells that are hard to perform, disappointing their heroes, itchy sweaters, not wearing their cape

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Happy Pride Month Everyone! <3

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[simslegacy5083]

NSB (Straud Legacy) Gen 8 Ep. 157: A Meeting of the Minds

One night shortly after Peachy’s performance at the lounge, the boys got Luigi to bed and invited Fabian, Ash, Don, and Thorne to dinner.

The six men settled around the table to discuss what they’d learned and how they could use it against the Landgraab matriarch.

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Fabian said he was close to his dream of immortality. He had learned the spell and had most of the rare ingredients needed to make the potion.

His strong arrest record and reputation at the precinct had led him to quickly match Peachy’s current rank of colonel, one step below chief and ready to step in as long-term protection against the precinct once again falling under the thumb of the Landgraab syndicate.

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Ash spoke up next. His conspiracy theorist friends had been able to provide him with a lot of interesting rumors across centuries that linked Nancy to both the StrangerVille fiasco and many other shady dealings but not a lot of hard evidence.

They had, however, provided him with a listening device and a few spy bugs like the one their old friend at the curio shop had used on the four of them way back when. His new daughter-in-law, the chief, often bragged about her “working dinners” at the Landgraab mansion. Ashley suspected that once Peachy was promoted to chief he too would be invited out to Oasis Springs and be able to plant a bug to get hard evidence of Nancy’s dirty dealings.

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Ash further produced a file folder of information he’d been able to obtain by planting a spy bug on his daughter-in-law. When Jack worried that the information he’d collected was likely to get buried by others in the division just as dirty as her Ash went on to say that Peachy’s boss was much more erratic than they knew. He’d had to come help Parker rescue her more than once when she got it in her head to do something crazy.

She’d been getting worse lately and he was sure it was only a matter of time until she showed her true colors at the office.

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Jack went next, saying he’d made sure to save off what data he could find in S.I.M.S. database about Nancy as well. The problem with it, as with all the dirt on her, was that the sims in power benefited from protecting her and could be remarkably blind to such evidence when it suited them.

Jack had made a point of befriending Geoffrey after that first run-in at the Winterfest party, and while his personality was vastly different than Nancy’s it was obvious he loved her dearly. He was able to reason with her when no-one else could and it seemed that for centuries he had been limiting the damage when her plans went awry and reining her in when she went too far.

Jack and Thorne both agreed that Geoffrey would be key to shutting down her criminal empire, if they could convince him she would be safer that way.

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Peachy thanked their friends for their help and wished them goodnight, telling them he hoped to put their plan into action very shortly.

Before settling down for the night, he and Jack discussed ways to get the old chief out of the picture and move to that final stage.

It was clear now that putting Nancy behind bars wasn’t an option. She was far to useful to those in power. However, if he was placed as chief, he thought that they stood a good chance of keeping enough leverage over her to bring her to heel the same way she had controlled Thorne.

Jack reminded Peachy that his number one priority should always be staying safe, but he couldn’t wait to see the villain behind his lost home and job brought down.

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Want To See More? View The Full Story of My Not So Berry Challenge Here