#dogpaddle away!

[sspacegodd]

WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION

The park was filled with lots of guys who should have kept their shirts on. A barefoot blond dreadhead perpetually hopped from foot to foot whilst stroking and tapping a Pringles can like a Tibetan singing bowl. A bearded guy drummed on buckets. This really skinny kid did skateboard tricks while displaying a constant plumber’s butt. Don’t you have to be fat for that?

Food Not Bombs was all set up but not many partook. Feeding people is always better than blowing them up but no one seemed impressed. They would rather wait in line for a ten-dollar bowl of macaroni and cheese at Noodles.

All in all, it seems the general public will only accept food from earthy, nose-ringed, lime-haired leftist hippie punks if it’s inside a shiny co-op with sneeze guards.

A group of guys nearby were chatting entirely in Greek (at least that’s what it was to me) until they suddenly all started inexplicably singing (in English) Mad TV’s “Lowered Expecta-ations…”

There’s always a small group of youngsters, probably from a nearby unincorporated village, led by one guy all punked out with a mohawk, never-used leather cockrings around his wrist, and fresh razor slashes in his brand new jeans, swaggering around while the other incredibly normal keeping-the-status-quo kids follow behind at a respectful distance. I don’t really have a problem with poseurs. At least they’re trying.

And appearing as ubiquitously as always: the Cro-Magnon monkey lady in the dirty red Capri's and grey head scarf whose only activity seems to be purchasing cigarettes.

The same skinny black guy rode by three times: each time ON A DIFFERENT BIKE.

I looked around the smoke-free patio at all the people who probably wouldn’t have sex me and drank a warm half glass of beer that somebody had left. The guy sitting at the table next to me still hadn’t turned around or taken a break from his rapt attention on the single Pringle drum circle so I drank his beer, too.

The bucket drummer seemed to have come equipped with a bunch of the same song played at different speeds. It was okay but he had some really good musician sex faces.

Nobody in the small crowd seemed all that worked up, except the one guy who started looking around for his beer.

I made my way to the restroom and bought a whole bunch of novelty condoms. Just in case.

The dreaded hippie had just started the next version of the last song when I dove back into the sparkling hot city and dogpaddled away.

[giriduck]

When I played Skyward Sword, it was shocking to me how dangerous and creepy Skyloft was a night. How the full moon glowed like an ominous spotlight over the huge, looming Hylia statue was quite intimidating, and felt like a precursor to the later Blood Moons in BotW and TotK. Finding the streets crawling with monsters was also such a surprise.

As was getting chased by seemingly possessed remlits. I refused to fight them because they were too cute to hurt, but they were very intent on attacking me. One even chased me into the lake. I thought that it would give up on the shore’s edge and wander away, and then laughed so hard when I turned and found it and growling and snarling while it dogpaddled after me in the water. 😂

It is often these small and unexpected corner case details that the devs decided to implement that bring the most joy for me in gaming.

[strixa]

TBTP Headcanon #38,563

Charlie Strand’s first name is Cheryl. She’s named after her aunt.

(Personal fridge-horror-slash-headcanon after the jump.)

Or, she’s named Cheryl after her half-sister.

I’ve wondered since we met Shannon Scarletti in 302 if she was Charlie’s mom. It sounded like she’d never met Richard Strand, though she was the “watcher” to his father, Howard, while the elder Strand was working with Daivacorp.

 “I don’t have a father anymore,”  Charlie said.

Five days after she disappears with the man she's known of all her life as her father, she shows up at her step-grandparents’ door. And that’s what she says.

Five days and 21 years after a teenaged Richard Strand found a dead boy’s body near the Red River, five days he went into gods-know-where off a coast on the other side of the continent to find Coralee, and took his daughter with him, desperately trying to tap into a “family ability” he didn’t even believe in, if it meant he could keep the people he loved near him, could keep them safe.

And he either couldn’t...or, for reasons unknown, decided not to. He could only keep the people he loved safe by losing them, or by them losing him.

[roanniee]

Aces HCs

Headcannons? Yes. Yes.

THIS IS FOR ALL MY FILIPINO FAMS OUT THERE HAHAHA

The 3RD YEAR Aces + Sakusa and Meian being taught the "Filipino" way of washing clothes? Yes please.

Filipinos mostly wash clothes while outside, with a few deep, circular tubs, and a manual pump.

warning: chaos, crack and a bit of spicy content bc.... water soaked aces and meian? hello?

So for this hcs, S/o are at the least, a quarter Filipino. I usually tend to make it as general as possible but... hehehe for the sake of this one.

Thank you to @lovemeian @ushisrever and @saudade-mayari for their inputs HAHAHA

@slutbench helped too ig HAHAHA

Anyway, Enjoy!

ARAN OJIRO

Mans is very curious. He visited the Philippines with you, saw your aunt handwashing the clothes and has the need to help.

Such a gentleman I swear.

Let me help you, Aunty.

He would NOT let you help either.

Even if he doesn't know how to do it, he won't let you help him.

So you sit down a little ways away and tell him what to do.

hE IS SO RECEPTIVE AND ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDS WHEN YOU EXPLAIN IT.

So... I rub the cloth between my knuckles like this?

Yes, Aran. You're doing amazing.

He is so careful too, that no water splashes on his clothes.

good for you tbh. The baklas and the titas aren't staring.

but you know how them muscles flex so...

goodluck to you.

Asahi Azumane

Girl. Boy. Bakla. Tomboy.

Oh you poor dear.

He is such a baby in this

I am so sorry for you.

You ask him if he wants to help bc you see him watching you halfway through the coloured load.

He just shyly nods and goes over to you.

The moment he sits down...

Oh honey...

Like a baby trying to swim. Dogpaddles his way through the next load.

He's terrified that he's gonna rip the clothes with his strength so he uses minimal force

It barely cleans the shirt but you just sneakily redo it for him

mans is so proud of himself when he's done

pls praise him.

bc he'll give you kisses and will be more determined to help you.

Hajime Iwaizumi

Ah. The man of the hour.

the entire reason why this was thought of.

we all know that Iwa is half filipino hc right? Right.

Listen. mans already know what to do.

His Nanay had to handwash his clothes when he was young.

Batang kalye si Haji please

Asal kalye yan

BUNGISNGIS DIN YAN PUTA

I feel so sorry for Mama Iwaizumi please

but he matured

and he knows how to wash them clothes.

It's laundry day? He's already up, the clothes are piled and separated in their respective batya and he's pumping the poso like hell.

and he's gonna make you help.

y'know that pic of him with his sleeves all the way up his shoulders? yeah that's gonna be him.

but add in the wet shirt bc he's splashing the water everywhere

so you got the view.

also he uses tide bar with downy according to @saudade-mayari HAHAHA

Koutarou Bokuto

First of all. Don't let him help.

For your sanity, just don't.

He's a literal kid.

He's amazed by how you wash the clothes and he wants to help.

But what ends up happening?

You don't get the laundry done

till late at night bc of him

He's literally playing with the water and the clothes

and he's genuinely amazed at how a bar of detergent could lather so much

mans got you both soaking too

I am so sorry for you

but!

he made up for it

by hanging the clothes up for you when you're done

AND

cuddling you all night hehe

Wakatoshi Ushijima

Oh god.

Another clueless one

Just make him pump the poso.

please

bc if you make him wash it

he wouldn't know what to do

I am? Supposed to wash it by hand? How?

Just follow my lead, hon.

Unlike Asahi who was too scared to rip

Toshi doesn't know his strength.

Mans will rip the clothes and he wouldn't even notice it.

So unless you want the clothes to be all ripped like a poor recreation of ripped denim fashion

don't make him wash it please.

just make him get you water and lift the heavy loads lmao.

Kiyoomi Sakusa

You... are better off letting him do as he pleases.

LIKE DON'T EVEN ASK HIM.

You will not be able to convince this man to wash clothes the Filipino way.

I'm being serious.

He won't even touch the poso.

It's so rusty why would I even go there?

man will travel however long he needs to and will use mineral water as laundry water.

mans will also complain about everything.

Why does the detergent smell like that?

The water?? comes from underground??

What about the filtration system??

Oh and my personal favourite

YOU LET THE SUN AND THE MUSTY AIR DRY THE CLOTHES??

Yes, Kiyo. We do.

...I'm buying you and your family a washing machine and dryer set.

Kiyo no-

…Yeah no good luck lmao

Shuugo Meian

this one is for Lavi HAHAHA

Oh lawdddd

expect people drooling over this man

this 6'5.2, beefy man

like even the lolas are drooling lmao

why?

bc mans is gonna be washing them clothes shirtless.

arms out in display

abs glistening with soapy water

thighs flexing?

back sweating?

whooooo don't get distracted

focus on glaring at the people staring lmao

mans is so good at washing the clothes though like...wow

and he's very efficient and quick.

A job that would've taken you hours? done in an hour.

And he hangs them up so perfectly too.

mans is perfect. don't let him go

looking at you Lavi

©Roannie 2021 Please do not plagiarise or repost my works.

[andrea-lyn]

“You know, when I saw the pods and you told me that you three were mermaids, I guess I thought…”

“What, that we would know how to swim?”

Alex pinches the bridge of his nose, staring down into the water of the local community pool, where Michael is spluttering and trying desperately to breathe as he doggy-paddles towards them, ignoring his iridescent golden-brown mermaid’s tail.

“Michael!” Isobel shouts out to him. “You have a tail, moron! Use it!”

“How do you not know how to swim?” Alex adds his vocal disbelief.

Michael thrashes a little more as he drags in a desperate breath (despite the fact that he has gills on the sides of his neck that would do the trick if he let himself submerge). “We live in Roswell, New Mexico! It’s a desert! It’s a landlocked state and my group homes didn’t exactly take us on swimming trips!”

Alex shifts to sit on the edge of the pool, careful not to disturb his prosthetic. If you’d have told him, at seventeen, that he’d fallen in love with a boy who hatched from a pod and developed a mermaid’s tail when soaked with water, he wouldn’t have believed you. Now, staring at the way Michael’s tail refracts light in the most beautiful of ways, all he can think is that he’s never seen anything more beautiful in his life.

Beautiful – and stupid.

“Listen to Isobel, use your tail,” he coaxes.

At first, he doesn’t listen. Alex is going to have the mental image of Michael Guerin eagerly dogpaddling with only his arms in his head for a while, gulping at the water as his curls get soaked, but with a few experimental flicks and swishes of his tail, he seems to get it.

Within minutes, his trepidation fades, and he’s able to use the flukes of his tail to splash Alex with water as he finishes another lap.

Alex says nothing, just raises his brow to ask the unasked words.

“Fine,” Michael grumbles, as Isobel slides into the water, ready to help teach Michael the more complicated aspects of their fishier sides. “I guess swimming isn’t so bad.” He slides his webbed fingers up Alex’s pant legs, sliding up towards him in the water, his pupils golden and shimmering, as he’s changed. “Next time, you should come in the pool with me,” he murmurs.

He should protest.

There’s the prosthetic to think about. There’s the embarrassment of the stump, but one second’s thought of Michael’s tail wrapping around his waist and pulling him in gets him embarrassingly hard.

Speechlessly, he nods, and watches Michael swim away, powerful as he uses his tail to chase after Isobel in the pool, a micro school of fish playing with one another.

He doesn’t care what you say about there being plenty of fish in the sea.

Alex has found his and he’s not letting him go anytime soon, weird inability to swim or not.

[askcarlyle]

[A contribution (in conjunction with @askbarnum and @askbennett) to FanFicFeb on @theothersidediscord for Prompts #10 (Facing your fear), 18 (Children), and 19 (Ambition) and . Edited from the live version, which concluded on server yesterday.]

Carlyle

A new day brings with it the sounds of birdsong, the gentle lapping of water along the shore of the lake, and the deep rumbling snore of the newly adopted bear, with Barnum's only slightly less sonorous snore delivered in perfect counterpoint.

Mmmppphh... BT dammit, my face is not a cushion...

mumbles and bats irritably at the mass of fur only to start awake upon realizing it is attached to a much larger creature. Blinks blearily at their sleep pile, including the bear currently shoving a shaggy elbow into his chin

Right. Good morning to you, too.

Barnum

Mmm it's not morning yet Helen go back to sleep sweetheart.

Tugs the blanket over his head for a few minutes before groggily coming into consciousness

Oh...good morning.

Sits up and stretches out his arms before leaning into the bears large warm body. Glances at Phillip, lips twitching into a grin

You suit the ruffled unwashed look. Its rugged.

Carlyle

runs hand through hair, giving up after a few tries when it refuses to do anything but pop back up at odd angles

Rugged? That's a generous estimation. We've been stumbling through mud and bracken for two days, I feel like something Ellie dragged in from the sewers.

peers at Barnum in puzzlement

How did you manage to sprout that much facial hair in the course of a weekend, anyway? That's practically a full beard. It's like it spontaneously regenerates overnight if you don't shave.

shakes head and pulls off shirt, heading down to the water's edge

Might as well take advantage of the surroundings. You could use a wash, too. 

Barnum 

Gives his beard a rub and chuckles

That is generally quite normal for men. You just seem to grow hair slower than most. You are sporting a rather good beginning to a moustache there though.

Scratches behind Grylls ears before standing up too, unbuttoning his pants and removing his underwear before joining Phillip

Could be a bit more subtle about telling me I smell.

Gets to the waters edge and wades in until he is covered to his waist, then without hesitation dunks his head under, splashing Phil when he comes back up for air.

Mm the natural cologne of pond water. I feel cleaner already.

Carlyle 

wipes water out of eyes with studied indifference and rubs face clean with another scoop of water

This rather reminds me of when the girls "camp" in the tent when they visit. Making the blanket tent in the middle of the rings, roasting sausages over a small fire, the way they jump off the dock in the morning in lieu of a bath, trying to soak as many people with their splashes as possible.

ducks another wave of water while trying to scrub mud out of hair

You taught them that, didn't you? I can't imagine Charity performing a flying cannonball, somehow. 

Barnum 

You'd be surprised. Charity could out splash me any day. She also does incredible dolphin impressions.

gives his hair and chest a light scrub with his hands before allowing himself to float on the surface of the water, glancing at the clouds

They'd love it here. The outdoors and building your own shelters. Hunting for food. And they'd love Grylls. I wonder if they're worried about us.

Carlyle

gives up and dunks head in water, raking hair back into a somewhat acceptable configuration

They must have notified the authorities by now. We never showed up at the ball or anywhere after. There's a chance the horses made it home by now.

stands in the shallow water, watching Barnum float by

That looks like fun. Maybe we could have swimming lessons someday, when we are in a slightly less remote location? Or perhaps I should be asking Charity? 

Barnum 

Hey, she might be better at the cannonball but I can easily beat her in a race. I have had many more years of swimming practise than she has. Here.

Shifts back under the water and paddles over, standing next to Phillip in the shallows and holding out his arms

Lay on your front, I'll hold you up. Once you learn to not panic and how to move your arms and legs you'll be fine. Swimming is like riding a bicycle.

Carlyle

looks down at the water uncertainly, caught offguard by the sudden offer

Now?

glances back towards the shore, then seems to realize they have absolutely no schedule to follow, a nearly unheard of luxury. shrugs and flops forward, nearly sending Barnum toppling

Barnum 

Oof ...Alright first thing, stop being so tense. You're like a rock. Let your shoulders go loose, there we go.

Holds him near the surface of the water, ducking a little to let himself sink under a bit too.

Now all the power to keep yourself up comes from your legs, moving your arms is for steadying and direction. You wanna kick your legs like you're running, then when you feel steady, get your arms going too. One over one under, like you've seen me do.

Carlyle 

holds head above water and gives a few experimental kicks, flailing a little with arms as he sinks lower in the water

Bicycles don't drown you if you fall, you know.

Barnum 

You're not going to drown either, I am holding you up. Relax, you are going stiff again.

Leans slightly to press a kiss against the others soaked hair

I won't let go, kick harder. A mans body naturally floats unless you will it otherwise. Hard kicks, try moving your arms as if they are a pair of dolphins leaping in and out of the water. Big arches. No not at the same time, one after the other. You're doing great, still need to kick harder but we are moving.

Carlyle 

follows instructions as best as possible, pushing away fears and grounding self in the feeling of strong, capable hands steadying his somewhat halting progress

feels, for the first time, the water actually buoying him up rather than pushing down from all sides. As if stepping out of a smokey tent into the clear night air, something finally clicks and the last dragging chains of memories past are shed

Barnum

Chuckles with an overjoyed grin

You're doing it! You're swimming, Phil! I am still ready to catch you but I'm moving my hands away alright. Just keep going, don’t panic. I will put them right back if I think you need them. Stead- AGH

Feels something sink its teeth into his leg and yelps, slipping back in the wet river mud and splashing around to regain his balance. About to resume steadying Phillip he feels another set of sharp teeth sink into his rear and nearly jumps out of the water.

LeSsOn OvEr! Ack! Oww Back to land, don't put your feet down there’s something- ack!! 

Carlyle

shoots forward in the water as Barnum lets go, then promptly starts flailing when he realizes the training wheels have come off

"Something"?! What

splutter

constitutes

splash

"something"?

yelps as foot touches something fast and slimy when he tries to feel the lakebed with his feet

half dashes and half dogpaddles until finally able to run the rest of the way to shore

Barnum 

Flails for a few moments as he uses one hand to protect his unmentionables and the other to try to keep himself balanced in the water. Scrambling back towards the shore in a fit of yelps as he slips and slides on the muddy pond edge, noticing a nasty looking trout with its teeth still stuck in his thigh and slipping straight over into the mud in shock. Which thankfully prompts the creature to let go and slip back into the water.

Well on the bright side, I think you may have set a new world record for fastest dogpaddle swimming, and only minutes after your first lesson.

Attention is suddenly torn away by the bear as she casually plods forward into the water and returns moments later with the same hefty trout in her mouth, proudly bringing it back to the shore and dumping it on the ground near them before returning to find another.

Carlyle 

plods over to stare at the monstrous trout, soggy and still panting

Huh. Well. That happened.

gives Barnum a quick visual examination and, upon noting the bites are superficial, skewers the fish, perhaps a bit vengefully, with a nearby stick and heads back to camp

Breakfast will be ready in half an hour. 

Barnum

After an hour of drying off by the fire and finishing up their fish breakfast, they begin heading once again in the direction of the road. The blanket tied around his shoulders to keep his muddy bare torso from freezing, one arm scritching the bears ears as they walk.

The first thing I'm going to do when we get back home is have a bath. You forget the luxury it is to have clean warm water. Then I'm going to eat warm toast with jam and never take it for granted again.

Climbs over a large log and holds out a hand to steady Phil as he does so too

And shave. I'm not sure a beard suits me. However, you have a moustache coming through and it's rather charming. 

Carlyle 

scrunches nose and mouth experimentally

It's itchy. But I think the beard makes you look rather dashing in a roguish way.

clambers over log and pushes through some more undergrowth

Coffee. I miss coffee. Had even considered roasting some plant roots to attempt a substitute this morning.

Barnum 

Runs a hand through his hair and breaths out a sigh

Hm yes. The lack of caffeine is giving me headaches. A comfortable bed would be nice too. I'm so stiff I feel like an old man. The thought of living in the wilderness with you freely for the rest of my days was appealing until I noticed the only surface we would have available is the compacted rocky dirt. My back is too sore to spend any sort of pleasurable night this way.

Carlyle 

pats Grylls on one fluffy haunch

Luckily we had a soft pillow at least. Do you suppose she would let you ride her? If you're really that sore. You shouldn't strain your back.

Barnum

Good question.

Pauses and gives the bear a friendly pat on the side, when she pauses he vaults himself atop of her, settling comfortably against her fur as she pauses for a moment then keeps walking

...I think I have found my new show entrance. Care to join me?

Carlyle

shakes head and gives the bear an affectionate ear scratch

No thanks, don't want to strain her too much. This does open up a host of new performance possibilities, though.

Barnum 

Do you think she would be open to us dressing her in a tutu? She has some elegance in her gait. I think she could be taught ballet. Or perhaps she could ride a unicycle across the tightrope. Can you imagine the possibilities?

Carlyle 

She is one of the brightest animals I've met. We could give her the option and see if she likes it after she gets better. Caroline would love creating a routine for her.

stops and puts a hand on Gryll's neck to halt her

Did you hear something? I think those were carriage wheels.

Barnum 

Leans forwards as he squints to listen closely

....Those are carriage wheels!

Gives Grylls a gentle nudge with his foot to send her running in the direction of the sound, gesturing for Phil to follow

STOP! STOP! WAIT! HELP!

Carlyle 

They burst through the last stand of trees and onto the dirt road, muddied, grizzled, and partially clothed, with Barnum astride a large black bear wielding a sharpened stick. The carriage pulls to a halt several yards ahead of them.

Bennett 

Opens carriage door slowly and steps out to observe the scene with an expression of pure incredulity.

Mr. Carlyle. You have been gone for barely over two days. And yet, in that time, you seem to have forgotten all sense of decorum, and acquired, not one, but two bears.

Barnum 

Glances from Bennett to the carriage in utter bewilderment, slowly sliding off of the bear

Confusion slowly melts into delight and he chuckles incredulously, throwing his arms around Bennett before he can protest

I never thought I'd say this, but I am so happy to see you, Mr Bennett.

Carlyle 

Indeed. You are not the hero we were expecting, but you are our savior all the same.

glances down at disheveled state

We did end up having a few more difficulties in our travels than expected. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Bennett 

Endeavours to extricate himself from Barnum’s enthusiastic embrace.

Desperate measures including removing half of your clothing, and adopting a large furry carnivore as your steed? How did you even...actually, never mind. Just get in the carriage.

Barnum 

We owe you our lives. I thought we may be stuck out here for weeks.

Releases him after a few moments, dumping his sharpened branch spear at the edge of the road.

You don't mind if Grylls rides on the roof do you? I am sure she'll fi-

As if on cue, the bear rises to stand on two feet and snarls at Bennett, towering over them and lashing out with a huge paw. Barnum stepping in front protectively and ending up with a matching gash on his other shoulder, cursing under his breath

Hey! No attacking. Get up on there right now.

The bear, almost as if understanding, growls at them before climbing up on top of the carriage, scraping off the nice paintwork with her claws and denting the roof as she does so.

Good girl.

Hops up inside of the carriage

Will you drop us off at the Circus? I need to find a pen for her before we head home. I doubt she will fit in the town house comfortably.

Carlyle 

fade to black

finis

[susieq4522020]

While we waited at the oval for Jessie and Harry a gorgeous big floofy maremma cloud moved swiftly! The airedales arrived and it was on for young and old! Jessie and Jenny wore each other out while Harry moved around gracefully, checking out scents of who’d been before! Energy zapped for a brief time the dogs looked to Meredith for a treat or two! Jussi the French Bulldog arrived and demonstrated her terra firma dog paddle skills which calmed her itchy tummy! The dogs were intrigued at this but didn’t attempt it! Itch scratched she then enjoy a romp with the big dogs! She is grieving the loss of her doggy sibling who passed away a couple of weeks ago! She is gradually getting more settled with the company of J, J & H! Jessie and Harry said goodbye and Jenny and I walked around the oval with Jussi then headed home stopping near the rotunda in the hope of seeing Harriet and Co. I could hear GBB activity away in the distance! After breakfast at home Jenny and Toscanini ponder what mischief they can get up to! Have a good day/night all! #walkingthewhitewolf #jenny #canepastoremaremmanoabruzzese #canebianco #maremma #floofydog #iwanderedlonelyasacloud #floofycloud #février #mardi #airedaleterrier #jessie&harry #doggyplaydate #jussi #frenchbulldog #dogpaddle #scratchthatitch #treatsplease #thatswhatfriendsarefor #redfloweringgum #morninglight #toscaninithenaughtypuddytat #jelliclecats #besties #australianmagpie #musetta https://www.instagram.com/p/CZaRodvhYEF/?utm_medium=tumblr

[elvendara]

I would love to read about more wolf teens

I’mgoing to assume about the orphan werewolf kids? Time for another outing?

Somehow this ended up being more Yoosung than anything. I just love Yoosung and love having others love Yoosung. he is so amazing!

“Idon’t know how you always manage to rope me into these things. I don’t likekids, let alone werewolf ones!” Saeran complained for the millionth time.Yoosung patted his arm and gave him an encouraging smile. “I’m not transformingin front of them either Saeyoung, I don’t like the way those girls look at meas it is.”

“Iwouldn’t worry about that Saeran! I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to get naked infront of little girls.” Saeyoung rolled his eyes then stepped away to help MCwith her backpack.

Theyhad decided to bring the kids to the lake on their property. It was a nice andbig area, lots of sunshine, lots of running room, and the lake to swim in.Saeran had pulled a large wagon that had all the towels and drinks, plenty ofsunscreen as well. Saeyoung had one with their cooler in it, filled with food.

Thekids were already running around in their wolf forms, nipping at each other andhopping around. One of them had jumped in the lake and was dogpaddlingdelightedly.

Saeranglared at the kids.

“Saeran.Come on, it isn’t that bad! They’re just kids.” Yoosung tried to get him toloosen up. But all Saeran could think about was the last time they’d had thekids over at the pool and how they had disrespected his mate. He knew that ifYoosung knew what they had said about him he would be upset. So far, they hadbehaved themselves and Saeran hadn’t heard anything negative as they chatted onthe walk to the lake. He tried to relax, if only to keep Yoosung from worryingabout him, but it was difficult. One of the boys, a black wolf with eyes almostas dark grabbed his clothes in his mouth and disappeared into the woods. He walkedback, dressed, and put his shoes on. Without a word, he started to help Yoosungset up a couple of blankets and set out some food and drinks.

Theboy was scrawny, his shaggy black hair plastered to his face. His dark eyesdarted to Saeran repeatedly. Saeran kept eyeing him, ready to move if he did orsaid anything untoward to Yoosung.

“Hewon’t bite.” Yoosung threw out, laughing at his own joke.

Saeranhuffed, letting his chest rumble loud enough for the boy to hear. Efrom was hisname. Yoosung caught the boy’s eyes and rolled his. Efrom let out a shortlaugh, then clamped his lips shut when he saw Saeran’s glare. Yoosung reachedover and hit Saeran with the back of his hand.

“Whydon’t you go watch the ones in the lake! Saeyoung is taking two of the wolvesinto the forest to teach them how to hunt. Make yourself useful.” Saeran wasabout to argue but Yoosung’s eyes were dark and foreboding. Saeran swallowedand walked towards the lake. Damn it, he hated when Yoosung looked at him like that.It wasn’t as if he was being unreasonable! He scowled as he dropped to theground to watch the stupid wolves in the lake.

“H…howdid you do that?” Efrom asked.

“Dowhat?” Yoosung asked, smoothing out the blanket and placing rocks on thecorners to keep it down.

“Gethim to listen to you like that. I don’t think he wanted to leave.”

Yoosunggiggled and Efrom gave him a tentative smile. “Saeran seems gruff, but, he’s abig softy inside.”

“Deepinside maybe.” Yoosung laughed, with such abandon and joy, that Efrom couldn’thelp but join him.

“Iguess. But, what can you do, I love him.”

Efrom’ssmile dropped, his eyes lowered.

“Whatis it?” Yoosung asked.

Efromlooked up, not sure he should say anything, but, Yoosung was so nice, and kind.

“Atthe orphanage, they, they make us go to church.”

“Uhhuh. That doesn’t sound so bad. There’s nothing wrong with believing in somethinggreater than you.” Yoosung sat and motioned for Efrom to do the same.

“Yeah,I guess, but.” He sighed. “A lot of times they talk about sex, and, what’sright and what’s wrong.” He was whispering.

“Isee. So, do you think it’s wrong for me to love Saeran?”

“No!No! it’s not that, it’s just, I mean, ahh, never mind.” Efrom moved to get upbut Yoosung grasped his wrist, keeping him down.

“Efrom,is this about you?”

The boy’scheeks reddened and he nodded.

“What’sgoing on?” Yoosung asked gently.

Efromshrugged. “Saeyoung is Catholic, isn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“Andhe’s ok with his brother and you right?”

“Yes.”

“But,the church says it’s a sin, so, how…is it a sin or isn’t it?”

Yoosungsighed heavily. “Well, it’s hard to explain, maybe you could talk to Saeyoungabout it.”

“No,I…I want to talk to you. You, you seem so happy.”

“Iam. Look, Efrom, Religion is all well and good, but, the bible was written bymen. I mean, there are so many things in there that don’t make sense. I can’ttell you what to believe in, but I do know that love is love. And, you’re stillyoung, you have plenty of time to figure things out. I was 21 when I metSaeran, I’d never been attracted to guys before. I fell in love with who hewas, not his gender.”

“Whatabout his werewolf side?”

“Well,yeah, that was a shock. But, I still loved him. I still love him. He is myworld and the pack is my family. I hope someday you meet someone that can makeyou as happy as Saeran makes me.”

Efromstared at Saeran’s back for a good long time. He bit his lip and looked back atYoosung. “He’s really hot. You’re pretty lucky.” He grinned.

Yoosungbroke out into laughter, “Yes, I guess one of the good things about being a werewolf’smate is that they tend to be in excellent shape. But, what’s more important isthat Saeran is a good man.”

“Um,I’m really sorry about the last time.”

“Thelast time?” Yoosung asked, confused.

“Yeah,we were really stupid and said some nasty things about you. Saeyoung, he…he wasreally angry.”

“Isthat why you all apologized to me?” Yoosung’s eyebrows knit together.

Efromnodded. Suddenly he rose on his knees and hugged Yoosung. “Thank you for beingmy friend.” He said, then quickly broke away to run towards the lake, far fromSaeran. Yoosung was left speechless.

“Youok?” MC asked, sitting next to him.

“Oh,yeah, I guess, that was a weird conversation.”

“Whatabout?”

“Iprobably shouldn’t say. MC, what did Saeyoung say to them the last time theywere at the house?”

MC’seyes widened slightly, “Um, well, he basically told them that they were neverto disrespect you or Saeran, and, any more of it and he would send them back tothe orphanage packing and never take them out again. Plus, I think he told themthey should be thankful that Saeran was unable to decapitate them at the time.”

Theylaughed together.

“Cansomeone else watch the brats?” Saeran stood above them.

“I’llgo with you, come on.” Yoosung stood and grasped Saeran’s hand, walking himback towards the bank. Saeran groaned. “Oh stop it!”

Thechildren scrambled out of the water and shook their coats. They ran towards thecouple and knocked them down. Saeran pushed them away angrily, but Yoosunggiggled on the ground as they took turns licking his face and butting theirheads against him.

“Ewe!You guys stink. Get off! Saeran! Help me.” His smile was huge, so huge thatSaeran couldn’t help but smile at Yoosung. He sat back and watched as thechildren poured love all over his mate.

Werewolf AU

[sohannabarberaesque]

Moth Mondays with the Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera: Doggie Daddy from Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy

Talk about the most unlikely attempt at child abuse or endangerment on summer vacation--and Doggie Daddy's response to same vis-a-vis his ever-doting son of sons:

It's mostly fodder for the "weird news" columns, but then again ... you hear about instances of parents, in an overzealous desire to "build character" in their children in "a natural American manner", taking children of a certain age out to the middle of a lake somewhere up in northern Minnesota or Wisconsin while on vacation under the guise of a "boat ride," and expecting them to jump off the boat and swim back to their resort, unassisted. Not even with a flotation vest. Not even with water wings. And even as the boat speeds away, the poor, helpless kid gets "caught in the middle" and fears What Will Happen Next.

Such I was not determined to allow for my ever-loving Augie, my Son of Sons, and then some. Instead, the preferred approach was to go out in the middle of the lake and have him swim back, with the boat at a slow rate of speed--a pacesetter, if you will--so as not to expect too much of my ever-doting one. Which all happened on one muggy afternoon a couple years back up around the Otter Tail Lakes region, and I assume some of you know where that is....

And while it may have been seen discreetly by yours truly as a swimming lesson of the sort not even the Y could offer, I admit that Augie has had some swim time as part of the Physical Jerks at school. Never mind that nowadays, swim trunks are now the norm--mixed genders in the same class, you know, whereas in my own time, swimming naked WAS the rule. Yet my Son of Sons certainly enjoys taking on many a challenge, and not look like a fool for so doing.

So we arrived about mid-lake (which was close to the deepest section of same, don't you know, usually where these abuse-by-forced-swimming exercises seem to take place) and paused a moment when I noticed Augie putting on water wings, prompting me to ask in a rather startled manner, "AUGIE, SON OF SONS!!! Why exactly are you putting on those water wings?"

To which he replied, "Dear old Father of Fathers, I assume you want of me to swim back to our resort--"

"Augie," I interjected, "this isn't exactly the intent I had in mind ... and besides, I've heard of parents who got in Dutch for pulling off such a stunt with their children...."

"So what did you have in mind?" Augie asked almost dejectedly. I replied, "Son ... if you're willing to swim back to the resort, I'm going to basically pace you on this at a low and reasonable speed, so as much to make sure nothing happens as to keep things on the up-and-up! How's about it, son?"

Trying not to look anxious or unnerved, Augie fitted the water wings before diving in (and by his admission, the waters were rather refreshing indeed!) ... and on signal, we began the exercise, reminding Augie that if he felt cramped or tired out, just let me know. And how was I to know that I accelerated the outboard just a little too much early on, requiring my ever-doting son to play quite the game of catch-up? (Which, I will has you know, he did impressively.) And for the rest of the way back, I kept the outboard in a rather slow-speed mode to better accomodate my son Augie's youthful speed and avoid possible problems should other boaters notice what exactly may have been going on.

And what canine energy expenditure was there? Without even an energy drink beforehand (I myself eschew such for Augie, especially as such tend to be a joke anyway with the sugar, the caffeine and other unnecessary ingredients not worth a growing young boy in the vein of my Son of Sons), and keeping the outboard at a steady and rhythymic speed--not to mention a few puzzled looks from other boaters who noticed--it took all of eight minutes or so for Augie to dogpaddle it back to the shallows of the resort's water presence, and boy oh boy, Augie's stepping foot on the lake shallows felt so wonderful, even if the whole experience nearly, by his own admission, buckled his knees from all the action....

Later that evening, discussing the whole over the resort's nightly bonfire-and-sausage-roast for guests, Augie couldn't have felt rather amazed at the challenge ... at which he imagined another one: Snorkelling to the bottom of the lake, and seeing what it was like underwater.

"Hopefully at a reasonable depth, O Son of Sons!" responded I.

Which brought out a chuckle in Augie as much as a twinkle in his eyes coming from the moon's reflection in the lake’s waters....

"... and that's the story from The Moth"

(The preceding is an independent fanfic feature having no official connexion or association with The Moth. For more information, please to visit their website ... and tune in to The Moth Radio Hour weekends on your local public radio station; check your local radio listings for the day and time.)

[erinaree]

20 January 2018 We go to our normal beach for the first time today and I SO EXCITED a do a bit of a no listen and run away from my human. I know she not like it but I just couldn’t help it!! Lucky she forgive me and I calm down for the middle part of my walk and do some swimmies and chasies! #senõrfluffybutt #sharpei #sharpeirescue #rescuedog #dogsofmelbourne #dogsofinstagram #swimming #dogpaddle (at Aspendale Beach)