#common black hawk

[jbbartram-illu]

Time for a brief break from posting ceramic animals to post some flesh & blood ones (see alt text for species!)!

My partner's mom & stepdad took us to Costa Rica (near Tamarindo) for his 40th birthday & I was in bird/creature heaven! The nearest rainforest was a bit too far from where we were staying, but I got to experience some wonderful dry tropical forest & estuary/river ecosystems, plus got some good hangout time with the Pacific ocean <3

My partner gave me the good DSLR for the nature tours we went on & it was a joy being able to take pretty OK photos instead of sad zoomed-in cheapest-iPhone ones (obviously I still have a lot to learn, but these are exciting as a beginning!!):

Since our two nature tours were boat-based (one on the Palo Verde River, one on an estuary in Las Baulas park), most of my decent bird photos are herons, as they're larger, generally lower-down, & also move more slowly than goddamn passerines/parrots/smaller birds.

I did get an ok-ish shot of a common black hawk, tho!! LOOK at that eagle-y beak!

& finally, the reptiles!! There were green iguanas & black spiny-tailed iguanas absolutely everywhere...

...AND WE SAW AMERICAN CROCODILES!!

On the Palo Verde river tour we saw some BIG guys (smallest maybe 6', biggest must have been 10'-12')!

& on the estuary tour we saw a few young ones. Two were less than 3' long, and this guy was maybe 4' and let us get super close b/c it was tucked away in the mangrove roots!

I had a wonderful time on this trip and am already looking forward to coming back for a rainforest-focused adventure next time!!

Also, Tamarindo has two really good coffee shops run by the loveliest people (Nordico Coffee & Derecho Sagrado) so if you're ever there, pls check them out!

FIN!

[fullfrontalbirds]

Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus)

© Don Brode

[birdblues]

Common Black Hawk

[lonelywretchjervistetch]

The State Bird Initiative: Massachusetts (#6) - Results

Hope everybody had or is having a good holiday! It's been an interesting week, especially because the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) has just been selected by President Biden as the National Bird of the United States! Wow! I honestly did forget that the Bald Eagle had previously been a National Emblem, rather than an actual National Bird! So, hey great timing for this, and proof that there is some legislative attention given to state and national symbols after all! Very cool! I'll actually rvisit this choice at the very end of this poll series, whenever I end up finishing. But for now, let's proceed!

After the difficulty with choosing a bird for Massachusetts, we've got our results! And in the picks for this poll and state, we'll have an interesting line-up, and a number of surprises to fill out our normal roster! With that, who did Tumblr choose as the State Bird of the Bay State?

Now that is a surprise!

SBI Elected State Bird of Massachusetts: Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)

The Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) has won the position of the State Bird of Massachusetts, in a LANDSLIDE upset as compared to the Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)! And to be honest, I have no objections, especially because 2024's monitoring of Piping Plover populations has just been released, and for the second year in a row, the population is booming! It's fully plausible that, if the Piping Plover is finally taken off of the Endangered Species list (where it is listed as threatened), it'll be because of Massachusetts! And yes, its role as one of the iconic conservation stories of Massachusetts, and the USA in general, makes this an excellent candidate for State Bird!

That said...I am a bit sad for the Black-capped Chickadee. After all, not only is it an incredibly iconic bird for the area, but it's also a pretty important part of state symbology. It's on the Welcome signs on the highway, it's...uh...OK, that's all I can think of right now, but it is known! Still, that means we can free up BCCH for another state, so this might prove interesting down the line! With that, we're going to choose the rest of the birds in the SBI lineup, so feel free to read on to see the Game Bird, Raptor, Big Fifty Pick, and Conservation Focus of Massachusetts. Otherwise, see you in the next state, Maryland!

Now, last time, in the poll post, I said I would explain why there were no good candidates for State Game Bird or State Raptor proposed in that post. And that's because, frankly, any choices wouldn't be the best choice for State Bird, meaning their candidacy for the overall poll would take away from the overall choices. So, that makes these choices fully my opinion as the writer of this blog. If you've got any personal choices you think would fit better, let me know! But with that said, let's get to our first choice: State Game Bird.

State Game Bird of Massachusetts (SBI): Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

...OK, now, hear me out. I recognize that we've already elected the Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) as a State Bird, specifically of Pennsylvania. And I stand by that choice. However, repeats between categories are acceptable, just not within a category, at least in my opinion. Secondly, the Wild Turkey is actually already the State Game Bird of Massachusetts. Yeah, forgot to mention that one. However, it's also the State Game Bird for Alabama, Oklahoma, and South Carolina (kinda). So why am I just giving it to Massachusetts? It's not the best state for hunting them, it's not a major bastion for breeding, and turkeys aren't in any way a species of conservation concern here. So, why the Wild Turkey, other than the fact it's already got the job?

Because Massachusetts saved the Wild Turkey. Almost. Not really.

To address this, we need to go back to 1851, when Massachusetts had no turkeys left. After centuries of hunting and habitat loss, the species was extirpated in Massachusetts. Yeah - no turkeys anywhere in Massachusetts. To be fair, this was not the first state the turkey had disappeared from; however, it was the LAST one. By 1851, New York. Vermont, and Connecticut had also lost their turkeys, meaning that New England was almost out of the birds. In the 1860s, the turkey became a symbol by way of Thanksgiving, thanks to Abraham Lincoln, but some states had a mild issue with that because...well, there were no turkeys. So, reintroduction efforts began...in 1911. These efforts failed. They failed 9 times.

Then, in the 1970s, 37 turkeys from New York (where reintroduction WAS successful) were released into western Massachusetts (in the Berkshires). This was HYPER successful, and by 1978, the population bloomed and spread to over 1,000 birds in 2 counties! After that, 561 more turkeys were released throughout the state, and now we have about 35,000 turkeys all over the state...for good and for bad. Not really bad, but take it from me, the Massachusetts turkeys are a lot to handle. They're notorious in some areas near Boston for their iconic nature, AND their territoriality. I has on the Harvard campus last fall, for, like, the second time ever, and a couple of males ("toms") were hanging out on the lawn when a random businessman walked past them, and they chased that dude for, like, 2 blocks. They're aggressive, but they do tend to pose for pictures!

Maybe more prominent than, though, is Kevin. Kevin led a gang of similarly-named turkeys in Woburn, Massachusetts (one of the suburbs of Boston), and they're apparently pretty goddamn violent! The neighborhood has named the individuals, and they'll straight-up ATTACK people, trapping them in homes and cars. And this isn't the first time thi has happened, AND it's SPREADING! I'm telling you, one turkey saw that really shit animated movie Free Birds through a television window one time, and it sparked the flames of revolution here in MA. The Boston TurTea Party. So, an iconic bird with a complicated history in Massachusetts...and an even more complicated reputation. Then again, that sounds EXACTLY like Massachusetts, so this is honestly a perfect fit! And yes, that means all of the other states just got shafted out of the Wild Turkey as a Game Bird, so we'll see how that goes moving forward! What's next?

State Raptor of Massachusetts (SBI): Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)

This was, absolutely, the most difficult state to choose a raptor for this time around, because there are few raptors with a real significance in Massachusetts, from a breeding range standpoint or a cultural standpoint. Now, to be clear, there were a few good options. Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii) isn't a bad choice, necessarily, but it would fit with other states a bit better. Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) aren't a horrible fit, but they could fit anywhere, honestly, and I have another state in mind for them. And then there's the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), which has exploded in the state since its extirpation, but I've already got one extirpated species on the list, and there's a MUCH better place to put (or keep the Peregrine). In fact, there are two places, but that's a struggle yet-to-come. Osprey (Pandion halieetus) is in a similar situation.

So, uh...why the Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)? It's not an especially prolific breeder in Massachusetts, although no raptors really are. And there's no real cultural tie to any raptor, this one included. However, this is hawk is one of the smallest, without being the smallest in North America, it's a specialist in the forests of Massachusetts, especially in the western portion of the state, and most importantly, it's an extremely common fall migrant. It's so common, in fact, that's it's a bird of highlight during fall hawk migrations, which are a notable sight in the state. And the Broad-winged Hawk is by far the most common member of this group in those mass migrations. So, there are reasons. But with all of that said...this is a weaker choice, I admit it. I'm more than happy to bring this guy up again by the end of this project, but this is the answer to the Massachusetts State Raptor question...for now.

SBI's Big Fifty - Massachusetts: Black-capped Chickadee (Parus atricapillus)

“Hope” is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all - -Emily Dickinson, from Amherst, MA

...Ah, screw it. Look, to be honest, the plover was supposed to go in this place, because I really didn't expect the incumbent to lose this race! And to be fair, this is maybe the most common bird on the eastern seaboard, and its relatives are exceedingly common throughout North America. It won't even be the first time it's in this poll series! And nobody's ever actively gone out to hunt for this bird, if they're a serious birdwatcher. But to hell with it! I love chickadees! And they deserve to be remembered somewhere. And, considering that it's one of the most iconic North American songbirds, it deserves a place in the Big Fifty.

And are there other birds that could take this spot? Absolutely. The Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) was my choice for a while, because I associate my childhood in the state's forests with the bird (I didn't grow up here for the most part, but did live here for a short while as a teen). But, the Wood Thrush has other sites to be featured in, frankly. What about the Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus), whose massive Massachusetts breeding populations I, uh, sorta slept on in the nominee-choosing process? Valid choice, but Big Fifty worthy? And this is also a state full of crazy-ass visitors in recent years, like Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) this past year, American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) the year before, and Steller's Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) the year before that! But those are visitors, and unreliable for this state. But still, why the chickadee?

Because its name might actually have been invented by one of the most prominent American authors and famous Massachusetts resident, Henry David Thoreau. Yeah. Seriously.

OK, two things. One, yeah, this is the guy who wrote Walden. One of the creators of the environmentalist movement in literature, a transcendentalist extraordinaire! One of the most iconic authors from the state, and he invented the word "chickadee"? Two, yes, I know, WHY DIDN'T I BRING THIS UP BEFORE? 'Cause I literally just found out. But, yeah, damn, that's a compelling-ass argument for State Bird of Massachusetts.

But in my defense, he only maybe invented the word "chickadee", and it's somewhat doubtful. While he's quoted as an originator in the OED, and he used the word during its first recorded appearances, there are other recordings that use the word around the same time, and it's uncertain whether that was before or after Walden's writing. And, since the name comes from the song it makes, it's reasonable to say he may not have invented the word. But that's interesting, right? So, with that said...I think the chickadee deserves a spot. Plus, hey, everybody's gotta start somewhere on their birdwatching journey! Might as well give a freebie in this list of 50 birds! Oh, and if you're wondering why I didn't choose the Ipswich Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) here...well, it mostly breeds in Canada, and it's an unreliable bird to find in Massachusetts. But, if this offends you, feel free to use that as your Big Fifty entry instead. Moving on!

State Conservation Focus of Massachusetts (SBI): Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

Finally, another nominee who made it into the final list, and our last entry in this state's appointees! The Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) got its write-up in the original post, so feel free to check that out for more. But, really, unsurprisingly, the tern is meant to represent the shores of Massachusetts, and all of the birds who nest there. Throw in the Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus), which has one-third of its global population born in Massachusetts, as well as the various other shorebirds that breed here (and there are a LOT of them), and you've got a Conservation Focus! Plus, hey, what better bird for this category than one of the decline in the state, and the original and current symbol for Mass Audubon. It's the best choice, in my opinion!

And with that...yeah, those are our appointees. Please feel free to leave feedback on this one, since this was definitely a tougher one for a number of reasons. I may revisit some states in the future, so if you've got any opinions or ideas, feel free to contribute, either publicly or privately, your choice! Have an excellent day/night, and get ready for some Old Bay seasoning and some Smith Island Cake, we're headed to Maryland next!

See you next time, and happy birding!

Introduction to the State Birds Initiative

1. Delaware - Poll | Results 2. Pennsylvania - Poll | Results 3. New Jersey - Poll | Results 4. Georgia - Poll | Results 5. Connecticut - Poll | Results 6. Massachusetts - Poll | Results

[famoushindi]

Top 19 Different Types Of Falcons With Pictures

Click here to know about 19 different types of falcons found across the world! These are hands-down some of the prettiest falcon types. Even though all falcons  are birds of prey, there are many different kinds. Check out here Top 19 Different Types Of Falcons With Pictures. Falcons have a special way of living that makes them good at being top hunters. They are known for hunting quietly and…

[samueldelany]

A bold, clever, and sublimely sinister collection that dares to ask the question: "Are you ready to be un-settled?"

Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night. This belief takes many forms: for instance, Native Hawaiians believe it summons the Hukai'po, the spirits of ancient warriors, and Native Mexicans say it calls Lechuza, a witch that can transform into an owl. But what all these legends hold in common is the certainty that whistling at night can cause evil spirits to appear--and even follow you home.

These wholly original and shiver-inducing tales introduce readers to ghosts, curses, hauntings, monstrous creatures, complex family legacies, desperate deeds, and chilling acts of revenge. Introduced and contextualized by bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones, these stories are a celebration of Indigenous peoples' survival and imagination, and a glorious reveling in all the things an ill-advised whistle might summon.

Featuring stories by: Norris Black - Amber Blaeser-Wardzala - Phoenix Boudreau - Cherie Dimaline - Carson Faust - Kelli Jo Ford - Kate Hart - Shane Hawk - Brandon Hobson - Darcie Little Badger - Conley Lyons - Nick Medina - Tiffany Morris - Tommy Orange - Mona Susan Power - Marcie R. Rendon - Waubgeshig Rice - Rebecca Roanhorse - Andrea L. Rogers - Morgan Talty - D.H. Trujillo - Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. - Richard Van Camp - David Heska Wanbli Weiden - Royce Young Wolf - Mathilda Zeller

[100jewels-between-teeth]

A semi-comprehensive list of every pre-established lore inaccuracy in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Please note, this isnt me saying you cannot enjoy the game for what it is. This is not me saying you shouldnt play the game. But as a long time Dragon Age fan (started with Origins, has consumed all extra media including books/shows/novellas/etc..) the way Veilguard has fumbled the lore is, to someone who cares, infuriating. I shall keep the list under a read more to avoid spoilers for Veilguard. This will also be added to with more points that are given for people who wish to add

But without further adieu;

Bioware Kind of Forgot...

Bioware kind of forgot...

That Solas, after you choose to drink from the Well of Mythal (whom in Veilguard is confirmed either a lover/mother figure) is fucking pissed

That Solas was not bringing down the Veil to move the Evenuris and put them somewhere else, but to establish the ancient elves once more

The fucking orbs

That the elves were currently, at the end of inquisition, beginning the elf uprising and following Solas

the Elvhen Language

Solas having an extensive spy network that never gets brought up

That most of the Elves would be on board with Solas's plan

Brialla and how she controls Eluvians too

That in Inquisition, it is stated that barely any working Eluvians exist and that the one in Skyhold and the one in the temple of Mythal are extremely rare

The Valaslin and how if all of what happened is common knowledge, that the elves arent currently freaking the fuck out that they are wearing slave markings

Solas does not abhor the use of Blood Magic

That the Evanuris were trapped/locked in the Black City specifically and not the fade in general, so Solas would have to open the Veil either at the doors of the Black City or travel. The gods would not be wandering around the Fade

Using the lore/logic confirmed in Veilguard, the ancient elves being spirits that, with the help of lyrium, were made into elven form, that Cole should technically be one of the most powerful creatures known to man since they gave themselves a human body without the assistance of Lyrium. Bioware kind of forgot...

Slavery in Tevinter (really now there are no slaves shown in Minrathous?)

Varric hates the deeproads/dwarves so why is he so okay with Harding's magic

Hawke in general

Varric is a world famous author so someone would have mentioned his death at some point?????

how the fucking Blight works (seriously the entire party is infected with the Blight)

How spirits work

Morrigan never wanted to become a vessel for Mythal and despises the thought

The Antivan crows bought/tortured child slaves and children from brothels, to be trained as crows, basically nullifying all of the trauma Zevran had gone through

Fenris freeing slaves, still

In the final battle they refer to the head of the Imperial chantry as the "Divine" when it should be the "Black Divine"

That Thedas has two moons

More shall be added with discovery

[bogleech]

Anyway while we're on the subject of public misconception towards living things (which is completely understandable because have you SEEN living things? There's like dozens of them!) here's a fresh rundown of some common mistakes about bugs!

Arachnids aren't just spiders! They're also scorpions, mites, ticks and some real weirdos out there

Insects with wings are always finished growing! Wings are the last new thing they ever develop! There can never be a "baby bee" that's just a smaller bee flying around.

That said, not all insects have larvae! Many older insect groups do look like little versions of adults....but the wings rule still applies.

Insects do have brains! Lobes and everything!

Only the Hymenoptera (bees, ants and wasps) have stingers like that.

Not all bees and wasps live in colonies with queens

The only non-hymenoptera with queens are termites, which is convergent evolution, because termites are a type of cockroach!

There are still other insects with colonial lifestyles to various degrees which can include special reproductive castes, just not the whole "queen" setup.

Even ants still deviate from that; there are multi-queen ant species, some species where the whole colony is just females who clone themselves and other outliers

There is no "hive mind;" social insects coordinate no differently from schools of fish, flocks of birds, or for that matter crowds of humans! They're just following the same signals together and communicating to each other!

Not all mosquito species carry disease, and not all of them bite people

Mosquitoes ARE ecologically very important and nobody in science ever actually said otherwise

The bite of a black widow is so rarely deadly that the United States doesn't bother stocking antivenin despite hundreds of reported bites per year. It just feels really really bad and they give you painkillers.

Recluse venom does damage skin, but only in the tiny area surrounding the bite. More serious cases are due to this dead skin inviting bacterial infection, and in fact our hospitals don't carry recluse antivenin either; they just prescribe powerful antibiotics, which has been fully effective at treating confirmed bites.

Bed bugs are real actual specific insects

"Cooties" basically are, too; it's old slang for lice

Crane flies aren't "mosquito hawks;" they actually don't eat at all!

Hobo spiders aren't really found to have a dangerous bite, leaving only widows and recluses as North America's "medically significant" spiders

Domestic honeybees actually kill far more people than hornets, including everywhere the giant "murder" hornet naturally occurs.

Wasps are only "less efficient" pollinators in that less pollen sticks to them per wasp. They are still absolutely critical pollinators and many flowers are pollinated by wasps exclusively.

Flies are also as important or more important to pollination than bees.

For "per insect" pollination efficiency it's now believed that moths also beat bees

Honeybees are non-native to most of the world and not great for the local ecosystem, they're just essential to us and our food industry

Getting a botfly is unpleasant and can become painful, but they aren't actually dangerous and they don't eat your flesh; they essentially push the flesh out of the way to create a chamber and they feed on fluids your immune system keeps making in response to the intrusion. They also keep this chamber free of bacterial infection because that would harm them too!

Botflies also exist in most parts of the world, but only one species specializes partially in humans (and primates in general, but can make do with a few other hosts)

"Kissing bugs" are a group of a couple unusual species of assassin bug. Only the kissing bugs evolved to feed on blood; other assassin bugs just eat other insects.

[paynomind-iamnotreal]

How do all of these fuck so hard

These are so fun to make

[lilhawkeye3]

“why do you keep bringing up racism when you talk about the Seam inhabitants, they’re Melungeon, they aren’t Black”

I’m going to hold your hand when I say this:

The Melungeon ONLY EXIST BECAUSE OF SYSTEMIC RACISM. That’s the ONLY REASON it’s even a term for us to use to identify this group with!

There used to be this fun thing called the one drop rule, or blood quantum laws. “One drop” of negro in your bloodline could see you lose any standing in polite white society, or at worst, see you enslaved! A great example of a common way people hid Black ancestry was by claiming indigenous ancestry— hard to trace, and more “noble” to claim (ever heard someone saying their greatx-grandma was a Cherokee princess? Yeah.)

The Melungeons are traced back to a group of families in 1800s Appalachia who were mixed-race. The term “Melungeon” is actually a slur for them, coming from the French word for “mixed” (mélange, thanks @midwesternfields for reminding me I left that out). They were part white, yes, but they claimed mixing with Native American tribes, Portguese, even the ancient Phoenicians (which… don’t get me started).

The thing is— they did DNA tests on the descendants in the past twenty years. The majority of these descendants were found to only have European and African ancestry, not Native American (one or two families were the exception). Being Black was so dangerous and shameful that they claimed a whole new ethnic term for themselves. And I’m not saying that’s bad. I understand why people would do that in that situation. And I agree that they have formed a regional culture of their own in the past 200 years.

The problem is y’all trying to pull the “I’ll accept the Seam people are brown but it’s because they’re Melungeon, not Black!”

Be so ffr. You’re continuing the same racist rhetoric that led to the whole reason they needed to create the term in the first place! You do not have one without the other.

Yes, the Seam population is not largely written as “Black” in the manner District 11 clearly evokes with dark-skinned kinky-haired farm laborers who work at gun point and with the threat of whippings, who have overseers and recognize Lou-Lou as theirs from a plantation hymn. But the commonality is there: Louella McCoy from the Seam had a near enough body double in the form of a Black girl from the fields of District 11 because Louella McCoy and enough of the Seam has African ancestry, because the regional population of Appalachia has it too, even if they still don’t like acknowledging it.

And then maybe you should consider why the easier group to think of as “Black” is the one compared to plantation slaves and field laborers, and not miners despite that history, too.

Anyways. Racism and colorism are a key point of the Hunger Games books and you don’t have one without the other.

this has been another tea time with hawk ☕️🦅

[theveryworstthing]

Pillyki redesigns~

i have granted them extra pinch abilities.

top pic is some common island breeds with their Piips (larvae). got a standard Lush, a Coral, a Berry, and a Mossy. bottom pic is life cycle from egg to cocoon.

fun facts:

when frightened a Piip's feathery fluff shifts into patches of black that make it resemble two large unblinking eyes when seen sideways.

they can shoot paralyzing venom from the sacks near their eyes. this venom is sometimes harvested for medical reasons but it must be watered down to be used safely.

wild Pillies spin their cocoons in pits lined with ashes from dead hawks. the glow of the cocoons make it look like a many eyed creature is staring out from the pit.

most Pillies resemble what we would consider roosters and it's very difficult to determine what sex a Pilly is. even if you think you're sure, your "buck" pilly might start laying eggs out of the blue one day. sequential hermaphrodites? mistaken identity? who knows.

[shyfoxsky]

Theriotype List

So, to start out, for context, I think we've all seen a skeptic comment about how all therians are only "cool" animals. I personally have always enjoyed keeping up with those with "rarer" theriotypes and even using them as examples when these kinds of arguments are brought up, so I've decided to do a little bit of a personal project, that being creating a huge list of the wide variety within the therian community. Below is the list I've created so far, sorted by general species, then adding in subspecies/breeds, all in alphabetical order.

Please keep in mind and understand that for now, I am only putting Earthen animals on this list, mainly so I and the post can keep up, because there's a LOT here already and I know there are hundreds more out there. This list does need more entries though. If you have a theriotype that you don't see on this list, please comment or reblog and let me know so I can add it! You can follow and find it with the tag "foxskys theriotype list".

Adder - European Agouti Alligator - American Alpaca Ankylosaurus Anteater Argentavis Armadillo - Three-banded Arthropleura Axolotl Badger - American - European - Honey - Japanese - Sunda Stink Baryonyx Bat - Evening - Flying Fox - Vampire Bear - Black - Brown - Polar Bee - Bumble - Honey Beetle - Dor - Stag Binturong Bison - American Bonobo Butterfly - Buckeye Caiman Caracal Cat, Domestic - Bombay - Himalayan - Japanese Bobtail - Lykoi - Maine Coon - Norwegian Forest - Oriental - Ragdoll - Shorthair - Turkish Van Centipede - Amazonian Giant - House - Japanese Giant - Red-headed Cheetah Chickadee Chimpanzee Chipmunk - Eastern Cicada - White Ghost Coatimundi - White-nosed Cockroach Coot - European Cow - Holstein Friesian Coyote Coywolf Crocodile - Nile - Saltwater - Siamese Crow - American - Hooded Cryodrakon Damselfly - Blue-tailed Deer - Axis - Caribou - Hog - Marsh - Red - White-tailed Deinonychus Dilophosaurus Dingo Dog, Domestic - Alaskan Malamute - Australian Shepherd - Beagle - Belgian Malinois - Bernese Mountain - Blue Bay Shepherd - Border Collie - Borzoi - Carpathian Shepherd - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Czechoslovakian Wolfdog - Dalmatian - Doberman - German Shepherd - Golden Retriever - Greyhound - Husky - Irish Wolfhound - Karst Shepherd - Nova Scotia Duck-tolling Retriever - Saluki - Samoyed - Sighthound - Silken Windhound - Wolfdog - Yorkie Dolphin - Amazon River - Common Donkey Dove Duck - Mallard Eagle - Bald - Golden Elk - American - Irish Eusmlius Fish - Arowana - Barbel - Betta - Bichir - Bristlenose Pleco - Carp - Hag - Koi - Pike - Salmon - Zander Fly - Blue Bottle - House Fossa Fox - Arctic - Bat-eared - Blanford's - Corsac - Crab-eating - Gray - Red, American - Red, European - Swift Gecko - Day Goat Golden Cat - Asiatic Goose - Canada Gorilla Grackle Grebe - Pied-billed Guinea Pig Hamster Hare - Brown - European Hawk - Red-tailed Hawk-Eagle - Changeable - Wallace's Hedgehog Homotherium Hornbill Hornet - Bald-faced - European Horse - Akhal-Teke - Clydesdale - Drum - Mustang Hyena - Aardwolf - Brown - Spotted - Striped Ichthyovenator Iguana Isopod Jackal - Black-Backed Jaguar Jay - Blue - Florida Scrub Jellyfish - Moon - White Spotted Jerboa Kangaroo Kaprosuchus Katydid Kestrel - Eurasian Ladybug Lemur - Black-and-white Ruffed - Red-bellied - Red-ruffed Leopard - African - Clouded - Snow Lion - African - American - Mountain Lynx - Bobcat - Canadian - European - Iberian Macaw - Blue-and-Yellow - Hyacinth - Scarlet - Spix’s Magpie - American - Eurasian - Yellow-billed Margay Marten - American Pine - European Pine - Japanese - Yellow-throated Microraptor Millipede - Crested Mink - American - Sea Monkey - Capuchin Moth - Cecropia - Cinnabar - Common Domestic Silk - Gold - Luna - Rosy Maple - Satin Mouse - Harvest - Hazel Dormouse Muskrat Nautilus Newt - Marbled Octopus - Mimic Opossum Orangutan Osprey Otter - Giant - River - Sea Oviraptor Owl - Barn - Burrowing - Snowy - Tawny Panda - Giant - Red Pangolin - Black-bellied - Tree Parpsauropholus Parrot - Kea Peacock/fowl Pigeon Pitohiu - Hooded Plateosaurus Possum Pterosaur Pufferfish Python - Ball Rabbit - Lionhead - Lop-Eared Raccoon Raven - Common Ray - Sting Rhamphorhynchus Sable Scorpion Sea Lion Sea Slug Seagull - Greater Black-backed Seal - Harbor - Weddell Serval Shark - Chain Catshark - Nurse - Oceanic Blacktip - Sicklefern Lemon Sheep - Bighorn - Domestic - Hebridean - Herdwick - Mouflon Sinosauripteryx Skink - Blue-tailed Snake - Banded Sea Sparrow - Common House Spider - Black Widow - Orb Weaver Spinosaurus Squid Squirrel - Eastern Fox - Finlayson's - Gray - Red Stoat Stork - Shoebill Styracosaurus Tamarin - Golden Lion Terrorbird Tiger - Bengal - Siberian - Sumatran Toucan Tyrannosaur Uromastyx Vulture - Bearded - Black - Turkey Wasp - Potter Weasel Whale - Killer - Minke - Pilot - Right Whiptail - New Mexico Wolf - Alaskan - Arctic - Coastal - Eastern - European - Gray - Himalayan - Labrador - Mackenzie River - Maned - Mexican - Northern Rocky Mountain - Northwestern - Red - Tundra Wolfdog Wolverine Zebra - Grevey's - Mountain - Plains

[milkbobatyun]

foolish little dove

pairing: yandere!sunday x reader

genre: angstober, events, yandere

summary: the consequences of not listening to the head of the oak family

word count: 936

C O N T E N T W A R N I N G : yandere behaviour, manipulation, fear

a/n: this can be read as a continuation of my first yandere sunday piece 'my love, mine all mine'

the plush mattress of the bed dipped underneath you, the room furnished with an abundance of luxury—silk sheets, velvet drapes, golden accents, all shining in the glow of the candlelight. it was more than any common person could afford. yet, this was just a gilded cage, a dream disguised as a nightmare,

you were the dove, wings weighed down by invisible chains, helpless as you await for the fate your captor planned for you. the balcony teased you, thick, tempered glass doors teasing you, though it remained locked, the taste of freedom just out of reach.

oh how you prayed you could fly into the sky from the balcony, to feel the fresh air blow gently against your skin.

the vast room seemed to grow larger every day, the loneliness gnawed at your insides, making you yearn for company.

the sun rose and fell, night’s moonlight flooded the room. the repetitive ticking of the grandfather clock downstairs struck through throughout the room, the gramophone’s needle scratched out the same haunting tune, echoing around the bed chamber. 

you lost count of how many days you were locked up. the staff brought you your meals, took you to the bathroom to bath, their routine revolving around you like clockwork. your days began to blend into each other, making your mind a blurry haze.

today, a key jangled in the lock, the soft creak of the heavy oak door echoing in the still room.

sunday’s heavy boots thudded across the floor, muffled by the plush velvet carpet.

your blank gaze slid away from where your hands tangled each other, your hair hanging around your face like lifeless vines, towards the new figure in the room. when you catch sight of a white coat and not the mundane black uniform of the servants, your head snaps up, eyes lighting up with hope.

your eyes meet sunday’s steady gaze, lunging forwards, hands grasping at him, at his clothes, to prove to yourself he wasn’t a figment of imagination. those hallucinations happened more often now. 

sometimes, it was your family, screaming in agony, their bloody hands clawing at your exquisite clothing, cursing you to eternal suffering, their screams worming its way into your ears. other times, it was the trailblazer, haunting the dark corner of your room, a silent visitor who would stare blankly in your direction.

the smooth velvety fabric rippled cooling against your soft and warm skin. sunday’s mouth twitched into an amused smirk, as he closed the distance in a few long strides. for a fleeting second, you allowed yourself to believe that he was here, to free you from the cold shackles around your ankles. his cold hands, concealed by his pure white gloves, traced your face.

“my, my,” he purred, voice soothing. “how is my little dove?”

“please,” you pleaded, tears streaming down your face. “please, let me go… i beg of you” your voice trailed off, dying like the hope you held in your heart.

a hollow chuckle flooded the room, sunday’s face twisted in cruel humor.

“you still don’t get it, do you?” he hisses, voice taunting. “you’re mine now, little dove. even if i let you go, where would you go? home?” 

a twisted smirk adorned his face. 

“oh right,” he continued, tapping his finger on his chin in mock consideration. “you don't have one anymore! maybe because…they’re all dead!”

his eyes were alight with evil delirium, looking down upon you like a hawk would upon its prey. 

with one finger twirling a lock of your hair, sunday leaned close to your ear, lips brushing your ear like a lover’s promise, and whispered, “remember, my little dove, you’re mine now, always and forever.”

with a gentle, almost lover-like caress of your cheek, sunday placed a kiss on your forehead, before he turned on his heel, heading towards the door.

something within you snapped and you moved before you could think, hope shining in your eyes. you tried to run towards the opening. though your legs, weak with days of sitting around, failed you. sunday watched you with sadonic delight, gaze cold and emotionless as he observed you while you flailed about, like a newborn deer. 

throwing dignity to the wind, you dragged yourself towards the door, the comfort of the carpet burning against your skin. you watched as the shining sliver of freedom shut behind sunday. 

the door clicked shut with an echoing finality. hearing the snap of the lock, turning back into its place, you remained, clawing at the door. you were but a dove in a gilded cage, weighed down by invisible chains, freedom nothing but a cruel illusion, always out of reach.

taglist (open): @yeonjunsfox

∧,,,∧ ( ̳• · • ̳)  © curated with love by milkbobatyun 2024 / づ ♡

[bradleysass]

look - @into-the-jeggyverse - wc: 384

The Gryffindor common room was buzzing with post-Quidditch victory energy, red and gold banners draped across the walls, butterbeer bottles clinking, and the sound of jubilant laughter filling the space. James Potter, Gryffindor’s star Chaser, should have been reveling in the celebration. Instead, he was in agony.

“Bet you can’t do it,” Sirius had said, smirking like the menace he was. “Bet you can’t go the whole night without looking at my dear, darling little brother.”

James scoffed. “Please. I have self-control.”

Sirius just laughed. “Alright then, Potter. Prove it. If I catch you so much as glancing at Regulus, you have to do my Transfiguration homework for a month.”

And like an idiot, James had agreed.

Now, an hour into the party, James was realizing just how impossible this task was. Because, of course, Regulus Black was here, lounging in an armchair in the corner of the room, looking entirely out of place yet maddeningly perfect. He wasn’t even trying, but James knew—just knew—that if he dared to look over, he’d be caught in the depths of stormy grey eyes, the way Regulus’ fingers drummed absently against his glass, the way his lips curled ever so slightly when he was deep in thought.

Sirius was watching him like a hawk, gleeful and ready to pounce the moment James caved.

James clenched his jaw and threw back his drink. He could do this. He could absolutely do this. He turned to Marlene and started up a conversation about the match, feigning interest in her recounting of his best plays, but his mind was elsewhere. What was Regulus doing? Was he bored? Was he talking to someone else? Was he leaving?

His body moved on instinct, just the slightest tilt of his head to check—

“Caught you!” Sirius whooped, clapping him on the back. “Bloody hell, that didn’t even last an hour.”

James groaned, slamming his head against the table. “I hate you.”

“I know,” Sirius said smugly, before waggling his eyebrows. “But you know what’s worse than losing? You didn’t even get to enjoy the view.”

James grumbled under his breath, but Sirius wasn’t wrong. And as James snuck another glance—because the bet was lost anyway—he found Regulus looking right back at him, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

[vlrspace]

promise me, you belong to me

okkotsu yuuta x reader

contains. nsfw/mdni!!, implied yandere! yuuta, possessive! yuuta, unhealthy-ish relationship, petnames (angel, baby), yuuta and reader are in their fourth year, all characters are 18+, no actual smut but it’s heavily suggestive, this is short

notes. yandere! yuuta keeps taking over my mind, help 🫠

“did you have fun today with megumi?”

the question makes you drop your pen onto the table, spinning yourself towards yuuta with wide eyes. your boyfriend sits on the edge of your bed, legs spread as he leans back on his hands, dark blue eyes looking at you with adoration.

“jesus, when did you come in?” you’re a little startled as you ask the black haired male, a hand coming up to your chest, feeling your heart beating rapidly.

yuuta only chuckles before responding with a cheerful smile, though his eyes are far from that. “what, am i not allowed to see my girlfriend?” his tone is gentle, but there’s a slight layer of tension laced within his words.

“that’s not what i meant, you know that” you shake your head, the bottom of your glossy lips are jutting out a bit and your brows furrowing. your boyfriend’s smile disappears at your facial expression and you turn back to your table with a sigh, switching off the lamp near you before you slowly walk towards him.

you come to a stand between his spread legs, placing both hands on his shoulders, rubbing it tenderly while he gazes up at you. yuuta’s hands instinctively find their place on the back of your thighs, just below your ass cheeks and a grin stretches across his face. those blue eyes of his are unsettlingly darker than usual.

yet he still makes you feel safe, his touch on your bare skin is warm, fingers grazing your skin carefully, steadily making their way under your shorts. it shouldn’t have been a surprise when he grabbed a handful of your ass, but you couldn’t stop the breathy yelp leaving your lips. you’re glad you’re holding onto his shoulders, your knees are getting weaker as he looks at you so lovingly, in contrast to his harsh actions.

“you haven’t answered my question yet” yuuta reminds you lowly, eyes flickering with a sign of warning as his hands start rubbing your cheeks to soothe the ache he caused.

“we always train together and you always let me win. i wanted a little challenge to improve my skills” you answer quietly, fingers massaging his shoulders and you focus on the way his muscles tense under your hands. you can’t look at him any longer, not when he’s watching you like a hawk.

it’s better to not tell him that gojo asked you to pair up with someone else that wasn’t yuuta. gojo knows that yuuta’s abilities are excellent, he makes a good teacher, but yuuta wants to avoid you getting hurt and that won’t be handy during a fight where he’s not by your side.

you know that gojo is right, but you also knew that yuuta would get jealous and possessive of you the second he sees you, it happened before on many occasions.

you spent an afternoon with inumaki and itadori in the common room, while yuuta was away on a mission. he didn’t like seeing you sitting between the two boys, excitedly playing some game on the tv even if you were wearing his clothes. one of the hickeys he left on a visible spot on your neck took an awfully long while to fade.

you have to decline most missions with ino and nanami too because yuuta can take teenage boys hanging around you, but older men are a different level (not that he couldn’t beat them in a fight). yuuta made that clear by ruining you the night before your mission, leaving your muscles sore, throat dry and body covered in marks all over. it leads to you sleeping in (yuuta turns off your alarm) and you can barely function throughout the day, deemed useless to go on a mission.

“you can improve yourself with me too, i don’t see why you had to pair yourself up with megumi” yuuta speaks, words dripping with venom and you feel his hands leaving your ass and instead, he places them on your hips, thumbs slipping into the hem of your shorts. “look at me angel” it’s firm, the way he demands your attention on him and you oblige, not wanting to anger him.

yuuta’s gaze is predatory, it makes you bite your lips and you feel him slip your shorts down before pulling down onto his lap. one of his hands come up to your face, brushing his fingers against your skin and you instantly lean into his hold when he cups cheek. yuuta looks at you expectantly and you return his actions with both hands, leaning close to him.

“i’m sorry yuuta, i’ll choose you next time, every time” you whisper against his lips before pressing your lips together. “i’m only yours”your words are mashed between kisses, but yuuta gives you an approving hum, licking your bottom lip and you let him slip his tongue into your mouth eagerly.

yuuta’s hand move from your face to your neck, closing his fingers around your throat but he doesn’t squeeze it and continues to assault your mouth with his. you fist his black hair, pulling him closer to you and you moan into the kiss when you feel his other hand pinching your clit through your panties.

“you promise right, baby?” he mumbles against your lips, ducking his head lower to kiss, suck and bite the skin there. you already know you’ll be littered with love bites by tomorrow morning.

“yes, yes i promise yuu” you frantically nod and he leaves your neck and offers you a grin before laying you down on your bed. he kneels above you as he takes off his shirt and presses a quick peck on your lips. yuuta hovers over your panties, sucking your clit through the cloth, holding you down by your hips. it makes you trash and whine, lacing a hand with his.

“no one else gets to have your pussy, only me. fucking remember that” yuuta grumbles against the material, eyeing your reaction but ends up chuckling when you lift your hips up in a needy manner and he slides your underwear down.

yuuta knows he has nothing to worry about, you’re such an eager little thing, putty in his hands when he pushes the right buttons. but you’re also so delicate and beautiful, he knows that, sadly so does everyone else. yuuta fears someone might take you away from him because of that, yet when you’re so wanting and yearning for him to touch you where you need him the most, he remembers he has nothing to be afraid of. only yuuta knows how to please you and make you come undone just the way you like. it makes him love you so much more, you’ll always give yourself to him like this and let him do however he pleases.

why would you want anyone else, when he’s right here? you belong to him anyways.

@/vlrspace, 2024

[ladykailitha]

Shut Up and Drive Part 1

Hello and welcome to the little fic that been stewing in my mind off and on since I joined this fandom and have finally starting writing it.

This story was born out of the rogue thought of 'how did Eddie know Steve could drive the RV fast enough to get them the hell out of Dodge?' and the idea that bored rich kids in a small rural town absolutely would go out street racing on the weekends and you have this.

It's technically canon adjacent as you'll see as we lead up to the RV scene, still drifts (I'm punny ;) ) into AU territory later on.

Summary: Eddie does what he needs to to keep the lights on and that means dealing to stupid rich kids with more money than sense. He prefers parties because it's indoors and he's able to slip out the back. But from March until October is when he makes his best money. Because that's when bored, little rich kids race each other for money. And at the end of the season, pink slips. Eddie hates all the leaders of each of the three fractions, Cruise and her Pink Ladies, Titan and his Drift Dynasty, but the one that really grinds his gears is stupid pretty boy King and his even stupider named Asphalt Assassins.

Or in which Carol, Tommy, and Steve all head a street racer crew without the others knowing and no one knowing Steve=King. They're stupid kids, all right?

~

When you live in the middle Bumfuck Nowhere you have very limited options on what to do for fun on the weekends. There’s a movie at the Hawk, the arcade, or if you’re lucky some rich kid will throw a party and invite you.

Or if you’re among the sacred few, you go out street racing. A couple Saturdays a month during the warm months of the year, a group of kids with more money than sense will pick one of the many backroads and race.

Usually they play for money, make bets, that sort of thing. But the weekend before Halloween, they race for pink slips. For the car themselves.

Eddie is always kept in the know because he provides a service these rich kids need. Drugs. Weed is common as is Speed for obvious reasons. Someone else provides the booze, thank god, but Eddie does really well on these nights. He always comes home with enough to keep the lights on and get real food for a week.

He was at the first drag meet of year and after three years of this, he still didn’t know the real name of the “The King”. The best racer and MC. He was a vision in cropped tops and cut off jeans barely long enough to cover his ass. He wore a baseball cap and dark sunglasses, even at night.

The dude never raced the same car twice; having won so many his first year, they were forced to only have the finale race for pink slips.

He was also the biggest pain in the ass, according to Eddie. He never smoked weed, did any of the harder drugs, nor let anything other than water pass his lips. He had the biggest and deepest pockets but he never bought anything from Eddie. And that stinginess rubbed him the wrong way.

This was going to be the year he made the King fall from his Ivory tower to partake of his goods.

He pulled up to the spot behind the Hess Farm. There was talk that the old man was thinking of selling, so the Dragsters with their three factions, The Asphalt Assassins, The Pink Ladies, and The Drift Dynasty had decided to use it one last time before it was sold to someone with actual fucking hearing.

The King was already there with the rest of the Asphalt Assassins. They had all taken on their King’s disguise of cut off shorts, crop tops, sunglasses and baseball caps. Though their shorts weren’t nearly as short as their leader’s. The King was the only one who wore white, the rest wore black.

Suddenly there was a roar behind him and turned to see the second best team, The Pink Ladies, complete with their pink jackets, high heels, and bandannas over their faces. Their leader Cruise wore a pink tribly with a black band. She looked like Sandy at the end of “Grease” only all in pink.

Then the final faction roared up to the field. The Drift Dynasty. All the members were kids of racers who had raced back in the 50s. Even the two girls. These racers wore red hoodies and black sunglasses. For fuck’s sake they even had their handles printed on the back of the hoodies like sports jerseys. Their leader, Titan was a hard-nosed asshole and Eddie just might hate him more then the King.

Eddie took a brief moment to scan the horizon for cops and then he hopped out of the van. He walked past the other two racing teams as if they didn’t exist. Because as far as he was concerned they would hit him up at any time during the night and he would make bank off of them. No his attention was solely on King.

“Your majesty,” he said with an exaggerated bow. “I’ve come to peddle my wares.”

King snorted. He was currently leaning against metallic purple Dodge Charger, cooler than the frigid night air. Not that he looked like he felt it. He was in his signature Daisy Duke’s and crop top. Sure he had leather jacket on, but it was draped so that it was falling off his shoulders. It looked artful and God did it make Eddie’s blood boil.

“Just announcing my arrival,” he said, wagging his eyebrows. He opened the lunch box and presented it to King. “Anything that tantalizes your majesty?”

King shook his head. “Nothing you have will ever pass these lips, so you best take your ‘wares’ elsewhere, man.”

“I’ll find something that will,” Eddie murmured with a knowing smirk. “Just wait.”

“Keep dreamin’, you dork,” King said, shaking his head fondly. “Go on, your real customers are waiting.”

Eddie straightened up and turned to the crowd. “I’ll be at my van and you know the prices. Anything you want. Until I run out.” He lopped back to his van to watch the races.

The first race was always the most exciting. It was a three-way race between the leaders. The King didn’t always win, but Titan always lost. Rumor had that Titan was the son of the best racer in the game twenty years ago and was always throwing money at the best upgrades money could buy.

Not that it did Titan any good.

He had no instinct on when to use the tools available to him. He boost too early and burn out before the finish line or he would drift when he should slide. Shit like that. Unlike the King. Whose instinct was called a second sense. But Cruise was the one who could keep up with him. She had style and something to prove.

She had gone up to Titan asking for a chance to drive but he laughed in her face. He sure as hell wasn’t laughing every time she passed him.

Cruise leaned against her bright pink Camero, waiting for the men to decide to join her. Titan stepped out of his suped up black and grey Mustang and Eddie shook his head. The oversized hoodie looked ridiculous on the dude’s short frame.

The King strolled over to join them and the hunger in Titan and Cruise’s glances could not be covered by their sunglasses.

“You bet get in your ride, King,” Titan sneered. “Don’t want you freezing off those assets, now do we?”

“Like you could get my engine running, Titan,” King bitched back. “Pick a lane and stick to it, asshole.” He shook Cruise’s hand. “I look forward to racing you this year.”

“It’s always a pleasure, King,” Cruise purred. “Maybe this is the year I get you to step into my ride.”

King looked up and down and Eddie wanted to gag. Hetros are the worst.

“Maybe it will be,” King said with a smirk and then pulled her close to her ear and whispered something, Eddie couldn’t hear.

But when Cruise stepped back, her whole posture was awkward and embarrassed. Which really made him wonder what King told her.

King smirked and stepped back, too. He looked over at Titan. “You actually going to put your money where you mouth is this season or are you going to go crying back to Daddy, like you and the rest of the Dynasty do every year.”

Titan bristled and would have launched himself at King if a couple of his cronies hadn’t held him back.

King crossed his arms in front of his chest, popping one hip. “You want to bring it, Titan? Show me in your car, not your fists.”

Titan brushed his cronies off and straightened his clothes. “One day, King, you’ll lose your crown just like that loser Steve Harrington.”

Apparently that was the wrong thing to say as King grabbed Titan’s shirt and hauled him until their faces were close together. Eddie wasn’t even sure he saw King grab the other guy it was that fast.

“You can’t even insult me without bringing someone else into your shit,” King snarled. “Put up or shut up.” Then he pushed Titan away from him and turned on his heel, striding away from the crowd and to the car he would be racing.

Eddie licked his lips. He wasn’t a car guy, sure he knew his way around an engine but he couldn’t tell you the difference between a Mustang and a Camero. But the car King got into was a sleek black thing that light seemed to bend around. Fuck, Eddie wouldn’t mind taking that baby out for a little spin. It certainly got his engine running.

King rolled up to the starting line, Titan and Cruise pulling along side him. One of the Pink Ladies held a white handkerchief in the air as the rest of the Dragsters made bets on who would win the opening race.

The engines revved as the crowd cheered. The flag went down and they were off the line, muscling for rank.

There was a clear winner, as King edged out ahead and stayed there as Cruise and Titan fought hard for second place.

And in a move that had Eddie cackling so hard he fell out of his van, was Titan coming in second. Cruise got out of her car and cursing threw her hat on the ground, fists clenched in rage.

Whatever King had said to her before the race had gotten into her head and caused her to lose the race. It was glorious to watch. King liked to pull that shit. He’d whisper something in his opponent’s ear and he would get into their head. King always won those races.

The night continued as normal, Eddie doling out the drugs and charging two to three times his normal rates to really rake it in. When someone would complain, Eddie would call it the party tax. It wasn’t his fault they were too stupid to buy during the week, they got what they got and if they kept complaining he would stop selling at these little races and woo-boy wouldn’t that upset the masses.

They would pay the cost and then make sure to pre-buy during the week. Only if they were assholes and skinflints. There weren’t many, but there were a few. Titan was one of these. Eddie had figured out the names of the pre-buyers and their little personas so he could make sure and change them even more when they came crawling to him to get another hit when they blew through the stash they had.

But for Titan, or Tommy Hagan? He would quadruple his prices to at least put a dent in the money Daddy gave him for suping up his car. Because even though Titan never won against King, against almost anyone else, that decked out Mustang of his was not street legal in any sense of the phrase.

Finally he sold his last baggie of weed and forced to close up shop. He checked the crowd and counted numbers, satisfied that everyone was boozing and drugging it up, he stowed the cash in his hiding spot in his steering column and then grabbed a beer.

Eddie raised it to signal that he had closed shop and after this beer he was going home. It was a safety measure to make sure he didn’t get jumped for the cash. If everyone saw him leave then there would be no one to jump him.

He felt a prickling on the back of his neck like someone was watching him. He turned around, but the only person behind him was King sprawled out on the hood of his car and it was hard to tell where his eyes were with those ridiculous shades.

King must have caught him staring because he suddenly smirked and jumped to his feet. Eddie gulped as King made his way over.

“You enjoying the show, Munson?” King asked, licking the top row of his teeth slowly.

“Not much of sports fan of any stripe, Your Majesty,” Eddie said with a dramatic bow, “racing included. I’m here to make money and nothing else. I prefer parties because at least I don’t freeze my ass off, even if the music is better.”

King raised his eyebrow. “It’s too late for your ass, dude. It’s a lost cause.”

“Well not all of us are born your assets,” Eddie said with dimpled smile. “I would rather not lose the rest of mine.”

King burst out laughing. “You’re something else.” He shook his head and walked over to one of the Pink Ladies to flirt with her.

Eddie shook his head and drank his beer, suddenly in a hurry to leave. Because there was no way King was flirting with him, right?

Because there was no world in which any of these rich toffs where interested in him for anything that what he sold them.

Okay, so King never bought from him and as far as he knew, whoever the guy was during the week, didn’t either. So it was possible that whoever he was might be interested in a handjob or a blowjob in the back of his van.

King’s laugh, pulled him out of his thoughts and Eddie looked over. King was leading the girl back to his car. He shook his head. There was no way King was interested in that with him either.

Eddie got into his van and drove off, grateful that the races weren’t every weekend so he wouldn’t have to deal with King more than he had to.

But the fact that King had caught him looking and instead of beating the shit out of him for it, it really felt like he had been flirted with.

Which even if he was interested, there was no way that a have would mix with a have-not. It just didn’t happen outside of movies and books.

But that smirk followed Eddie all the way home.

~

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

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