#ivys sapling ask

[sentientgolfball]

Mushy May: First time

Gonna be real I didn't have the braincell to write proper smut so here's a lot of build up to Mountain and Dew's first time together because these two are my secret weakness

Mountain’s breath hitches as he steps around the row of saplings housed within this part of the greenhouse. There on the old beat up mattress put here by earth ghouls far older than him lies Dewdrop. Naked. His eyes are closed, chest rising and falling slowly. Evenly. He smells strongly of the lake and his damp hair tells Mountain he just got back from a dip. 

But why come here instead of going back to his own bed? 

A thought that is quickly stolen away as his gaze continues to rake across his body. His scales shimmer in the sunlight, an iridescent quality to them. His fins are fanned out, putting their gorgeous blue gradient on full display. He looks radiant. Mountain suddenly understands why he was always told to avoid deep bodies of water in the Pits. He would have happily thrown himself in if saw a ghoul like Dewdrop nearby. 

His shoulders jump slightly as he sees Dew shift, hears a soft groan slip from his lips. His little trance is broken with him waking up. His eyes flutter open, adjusting to the brightness of the world. He slowly turns his head and when he sees Mountain standing over him, his half lidded gaze lights up. 

A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, “Hi.” His voice is soft. Smooth. Only a hint of roughness from his little cat nap. 

Mountain can feel his brain boot back up, every thought stolen by the beauty in front of him. It takes him a moment, but he eventually squeaks out a response, “Hello.” 

Dew huffs a laugh as he lets his eyes slip shut again, “Don't wanna get up yet.” 

“You don’t have to,” Mountain shakes his head, “you’re more than welcome to stay.” 

“And here I was thinking you came to kick me out.” 

“No. Never. I just…wasn’t expecting to find you here.” 

Dew hums noncommittally. Mountain scuffs his hooves in the dirt floor as the silence stretches longer and longer between them. He swallows thickly, “I guess I’ll. Leave you to it then.” 

He takes a single step backward before Dew calls out to him, “Don’t go. Stay with me?” 

Mountain swears his heart jumps to his throat. His face must show that because when Dew cracks an eye open at his lack of response, he laughs. “If it’s that big of an issue then I won’t keep you. I’m sure you’re very busy.” 

Oh but he is not. He finished all the tasks Biggs asked of him. That is why he was coming back here. He wanted to rest a bit before going back inside to practice with Ivy. He just did not expect the ghoul he has had his eye on since he crawled out of the ground to be lounging around. Naked. 

Mountain quickly shakes his head once he feels like he has control over his body again, “No I’m not. I just didn’t want to bother you.” 

“Oh Mounty, you’re not a bother. I don’t think you could be even if you tried,” Dew laughs a little before holding a hand out to him, “now come here.” 

Mountain practically jumps to follow his command. But right before he hits the mattress Dew clicks his tongue, “Ah before you do that. Clothes off.” 

He can feel his cheeks heat and his eyes widen, “What?” 

“You’re covered in dirt and I just got out of the lake.” 

Oh. Oh right that makes sense. Dew would not be asking for anything else. Not a gorgeous ghoul like him. He would not have the same eyes Mountain has for him. 

He quickly strips off his work clothes and tosses them off to the side. Dew watches him undress and he tries to will the heat he feels blooming to die down. But those brilliant blue eyes are locked onto his body with, dare he say, hunger. Though that is probably just him searching for what he wants to see. 

Now that Dew no longer deems him dirty, Mountain kneels to rest on the mattress with him. He does not quite lay down yet, too aware of how little space there is. Mountain cannot even fully stretch out on the old thing when is alone. 

Dew breathes an airy laugh, “You act like I’m gonna bite you.” 

“Sorry,” he ducks his head, “don’t want to crowd you.” 

“Mounty I wouldn’t have asked you to stay if I didn’t actually want you near.” As if to prove his point, Dew scoots closer. Close enough to press their bodies together. 

Mountain’s breathing stutters at the feel of his cool skin against his fur. His body moves faster than his mind as his hands instinctively come up to rest on bony hips. Dew smiles as he guides Mountain to properly lay back on the mattress. He falls like a tree in a storm under Dew’s touch. He does not get a moment to relax though as Dew crawls on top of him. 

Mountain nearly chokes as Dew presses their chests together, tucking his nose under his chin. He can feel his cock twitch with interest as a skinny thigh brushes over it. 

“Sorry,” Mountain croaks before he can decide whether it is best to acknowledge it or ignore it. 

Dew just laughs, warm puffs of air brushing over Mountain’s neck, “Don’t be. I think it’s cute.” 

“Cute?” Mountain cringes at how high pitched the word comes out. 

“Very,” Dew mutters before planting a tentative kiss on Mountain’s pulse point. He does not move a muscle as Dew trails his lips up his neck and across his jaw. When he pulls back, there is a devilish little grin on his face. They are close. Close enough that their noses almost touch. Mountain nearly goes cross eyed just to keep looking at his face. 

Dew presses their lips together and Mountain’s eyes flutter shut as the taste of petrichor and a fruity sweetness coat his tongue. It does not matter how many times they kiss, Mountain does not think there will ever be anything better. His lips are so soft and it always feels like he is being devoured each time he presses back in. 

Topside kissing has been fun, but doing it with Dew has altered something. Changed the way he feels and thinks each time anyone else brushes their lips with his. And it always leaves him wanting more. Needing more. Though instead of giving in when Mountain swipes his tongue over Dew’s bottom lip, he pulls back. 

His cheeks are a deep blue, blush spilling all the way down his throat, “I want you.” 

Mountain’s cock kicks as his words register in his brain. I want you. The most beautiful ghoul he has ever seen wants him. Mountain must be dreaming. He must have actually fallen asleep on the old mattress like he intended and his mind conjured up this scene for him. 

The corner of Dew’s lips tug up, “Well don’t look so eager.” 

Mountain gives his head a little shake, wiping the surprise off his face. He offers him a crooked grin, blush deepening, “Sorry. No. I mean yes! Yes to the sex. I’ve just never…”

“Never what?” Dew tilts his head and cocks an eyebrow. The way his eyes light up though tells Mountain he just wants to hear him say it. Say what they both know is hanging in the air. 

“I’ve never. I haven’t. Had sex Topside yet. I don’t know how these bodies work and you’re so beautiful and I just want to—“ Dew shuts him up with a deep kiss, licking into his mouth to steal a taste. 

“That’s okay,” their lips brush as he speaks, “I’ll take care of you.” 

Mountain nods so fast he is surprised his head does not come flying off his shoulders. Dew smiles and gives him a quick peck. “Oh you’re so cute,” Dew coos as a cool hand slips between their bodies. Mountain chokes when he feels a featherlight touch to the tip of his cock. 

“Yeah that’s it. Just lay there and tell me what feels good.” 

Oh Dew is going to have so much fun with him. 

[winxanity-ii]

⌜Cycles of You, Cycles of Me | Chapter 02 Chapter 02 | aeon's witness⌟

╰ ⌞🇨‌🇭‌🇦‌🇵‌🇹‌🇪‌🇷‌ 🇮‌🇳‌🇩‌🇪‌🇽‌⌝

❘ prev. chapter ❘༻✦༺❘ next chapter ❘

Time didn't touch you as it did mortals. Days turned to weeks, and yet you aged swiftly, your small body unfolding like a budding sapling.

What had once been a fragile, vine-wrapped form now took the shape of a toddler, no older than three or four in appearance.

Your limbs, once thin as new branches, became soft and round with the fullness of youth. Your skin still carried the warmth of autumn, its hues shifting ever so slightly in the light—bronzed like late summer, tinged with gold like the turning leaves.

Yet for all your growth, one thing remained the same: your silence.

You didn't cry; you didn't laugh. You simply watched.

The world moved around you, vibrant and full of life—nymphs dancing, rivers laughing, birds calling to one another in the trees—but you remained still, absorbing rather than participating.

It wasn't sadness. It wasn't detachment.

It was simply how you were.

.☆.       .✩.             .☆.

One afternoon, as the golden hues of autumn deepened, a group of nymphs gathered around you.

They twirled through the clearing, their laughter light as drifting petals, their bare feet rustling through the fallen leaves. They danced in a circle around your small form, their voices ringing like wind chimes, their arms sweeping through the air as they cast handfuls of crisp, red leaves into the sky.

The leaves swirled and spun, catching the sunlight, fluttering down like a rain of fire and gold.

Yet, even as the autumn colors rained around you, you didn't react.

You sat there, legs tucked beneath you, hands resting in your lap, watching.

The youngest of the nymphs, a girl with curls as wild as climbing ivy, pouted as she twirled closer. "Why won't you laugh?" she huffed, kneeling before you, her large, honey-colored eyes searching your face.

You simply blinked at her.

The other nymphs giggled behind their hands, whispering about how cute you were, how strange it was that you never reacted the way other spirits did.

The young nymph huffed again, more determined now. She reached out, her small hands gently squishing your round cheeks.

"Awww, look at him!" she cooed, squeezing lightly. "Such a cute little tree spirit!"

The others awed in agreement, watching as your chubby face scrunched slightly under her touch.

Still, you made no sound.

You didn't swat her hands away. You didn't frown. You didn't giggle.

You only tilted your head, your wide, knowing eyes locked onto hers.

A single leaf from your tree drifted down, settling softly onto your petal-crowned hair. Another fell, landing gently against your cheek, curling against the warmth of your skin.

The nymphs paused.

The young one, still kneeling before you, stared into your deep, unblinking gaze, her lips parting as if she finally noticed something different. Something unspoken in the way you watched rather than reacted.

Her voice softened, curiosity overtaking her playfulness.

"Why won't you smile?" she asked.

The wind stirred.

You simply kept staring, as if the answer lay in the space between falling leaves and fading seasons.

The moment stretched—until a voice, soft yet strong, called through the air.

"Little one," Demeter's voice carried through the grove, warm and rich as the earth itself.

Your head turned instantly.

Without hesitation, without question, you reached out.

Demeter approached, her golden robes trailing through the fallen leaves, her presence like the last embrace of summer before winter's arrival. She knelt, scooping you up into her arms with ease, holding you against her chest.

"You always find trouble, don't you?" she murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead.

You didn't respond.

But you did lean into her warmth.

The nymphs watched as she carried you away, their once-playful expressions now tinged with quiet wonder.

They didn't speak until Demeter and you had disappeared beyond the trees.

Then, the young nymph whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

"...He doesn't behave like a tree spirit."

The others, for once, had no response.

Something about you unsettled them. Not in fear, not in distrust—but in a way that made them hesitate. Tree spirits, though silent and strong, were meant to be lively, playful, full of light.

Yet you...

You simply watched.

And that, more than anything, made them wonder.

☆

☆

Demeter treated you with the same care as her other spirits—yet she never left you alone for too long, and it clung to her in the way she touched you, in the way her hands lingered just a second longer when she tucked your hair behind your ear.

She taught you everything. The sky, the rivers, the cycle of life, the meaning of the seasons.

She took your small hand in hers, guiding you through wheat fields and flowered meadows, showing you how the wind carried seeds, how the earth made space for growth and decay.

She pointed to the sky, explaining the constellations.

She told you how the sun chased the moon, how the stars whispered secrets, how the rivers ran endlessly to the sea.

You didn't ask many questions, not the way the other nature spirits did.

Instead, you observed.

You watched how the clouds moved with purpose across the sky.

You watched how the wheat bent beneath the wind, yet never broke.

You watched how the rivers carried fallen leaves, never returning them.

And the more you watched, the more you began to wonder.

But what gripped you most, what made you feel something deep in your chest, was watching things end.

It started with the leaves.

One day, as you sat beneath your tree, a gust of wind came, shaking the branches. A single, golden leaf broke free, spiraling toward the ground.

You tilted your head, watching as it drifted, slow and soundless, before settling into the earth.

Gone.

You reached out, small fingers brushing the fragile edges.

It didn't move. It didn't return to the branch.

You looked up, waiting, as if it might change.

But nothing happened.

The leaf didn't go back.

Your brows furrowed—not in frustration, not in sadness, but in deep, quiet thought.

That evening, as Demeter sat beside you, her hands weaving wildflowers into a garland, you finally spoke.

Your voice was soft, careful.

"The leaves always fall."

Demeter paused.

She turned to you, her golden eyes searching yours. "Yes," she murmured, twining another flower into the braid. "The trees must let go of their leaves when the seasons change."

You stared down at the leaf in your lap, its color already fading at the edges.

"...But why?"

Demeter exhaled, brushing a hand over your hair. "Because the trees must rest. And when spring comes, they will grow new leaves."

You thought about this for a long moment, your small fingers turning the leaf over.

"...But this one won't come back."

Demeter stilled.

The weight of your words settled into the space between you.

She reached out, taking the leaf gently from your grasp, rubbing it between her fingers before placing it on the earth. "No, ____," she admitted softly. "That one will not come back."

You blinked, staring at where it lay among countless others.

The wind blew again, carrying some away—gone forever.

Your hands curled slightly in your lap.

You didn't know why, but something about that made your chest feel strange.

Like a small, quiet ache you didn't yet understand.

[headmateelevator]

hello! could we ask for a koi fish mermaid headmate, perhaps? or a tubbo headmate of any variation, but preferrably with the role of caring for the body? thank you in advance! have a lovely day!!!

order up!

name(s) - Abyssal , Alkali , Allur , Bay , Brim , Brine , Brooks , Cecaelia , Cloud , Coastal , Coral/Coralie , Cordelia , Delilah , Dooriya , Flood , Gale , Irv , Jubilee , Lake , Mari / Maris / Marina / Marine , Maritime , Mere , Merrick , Misty , Oceana , Pollyanna , Riverine / Riviera , Seashore , Seaside , Seawater , Serena , Shore , Siren / Syren / Syrin , Storm , Summer , Sylph , Thalassa , Themis , Tide , Whirlwind , Windstorm, Aquamarine , aquatique , astraea , astro , athena , atolla , aura , aurelia , aurita , aurite , baia , bio , biolumine , blanche , blu , blue , bluette , bubble , capillata , caru , cassiopeia , cephea , chiro , chrysali , chrysao , cnidaria , coral , coralle , cordelie / cordelia , cosima , cosmo , crystal , crystalle , cyanea , cyanei , dentelle , divinity , dove.

pronouns - They / She / It / Blu / Blue / Blues / Cora / Coral / Corals / Cove / Coves / Coves / Drift / Drifts / Drifts / Ebb / Ebbs / Ebbs, Fi / Fin / Fins / Fo / Foam / Foams / Ke / Kelp / Kelps / Oce / Ocea / Ocean / Pe / Pearl / Pearls / Ree / Reef / Reefs / Sal / Sals / Sals / Se / Sea / Seas / Shel / Shell / Shells / So / Shore / Shores / Star / Fish / Starfishes / Ti / Tide / Tidal / Wa / Wave / Was / Blub / Bubble / Fish / Sing / Song / Splish / Splash / ⚡️/⚡️self / 🫧/🫧self / 🌊/🌊self.

gender(s) - agender fem , merfolk , mereic , mermaidcore , sirenish , merlikic , merblood/merfolkblood , sirenblood , mermonster , sirenmonster , autimeric/autimerfolkic , genderaqua , oceandream , sirekenic , creauterelle , thalassagender , seacreature , seaperilic , auramaric , seatix , autisirenic , merplayful , merpuplayful , merplaymate , mergender , phosirenial , merive , gendermerpup , merenvic.

orientations - sapphic , nmlnm , polyamorous.

role(s) - protector , soother , sister figure.

species - koi fish mermaid.

source(s) - brainmade

emoji(s) - 🐠 , 🐟 , 🧜 , 🧜‍♂️ , 🧜‍♀️ , 🎏 , 🦪 , 🐚 , 🌊 , 🪸.

faceclaims -

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name(s) - Tubbo , Ram , Beloved , Toby , Doe , Fox , Tango , Faren , Pan , Faun , Bee , Clay , Dawn , Loaf , Moth , Luna , Eclipse , Stella , Flora , Buzz , Bug , Spyder , Flora , Forge , Garnet , Granite , Grayson , Harper , Hazel , Hero , Holly , hopper , iris , ivy , jade , jett , juniper , lapis , laurel , lilac , lily , magnolia , maple , marigold , mason , meadow , miner , mira , moss , nova , oak , onyx , opal , pearl , pebble , poppy , prairie , pyre , quill , red , reed , river , rocky , rose , rowan.

pronouns - he / ram / horn / headbutt / bzz / bee / book / write / explo / toxic / nuke / buzz / dawn / presi / civil / baa / fawn / flor / flower / petal / a / axe / adventurer / axe / birch / blaze / block / build / bun / cake / chest / clay / cobble / cow / craft / dark / dig / disc / end / eye / fight / flint / forge / fox / ghast / glow / goat / heal / hive / hx / hxm / hy / hym / ice / lava / love / mob / oak / ocean / ore / pearl / pick / pig / play / ram / sea / sapling / sheep / shx / hxr / shy / hyr / skele / skeleton / slime / smelt / smp / snow / stone / survivor / sword / teleport / thxy / thxm / thy / thym / tnt / tnt / tor / torch / tree / ve / vex / vwoop / warrior / water / wood / xp / xp. 

gender(s) - Boy(?) , UuuuuuuuhhhhMasc , SomethingMasc , Genderwhat , dimedowic , floraine , sheepcoric , sheeptransmasculine , starlemonic , tailic , fleecygender , maskgender , RAAAHHemotionic , Forestpicnicmulviboard , Beemoviescriptic , Cakehoneybeena , Sunnysummermulviboard , mossygoatgender , softpancakic , groggymorninggender , stargrapegender , arienfernian , hornjewelryaesic , goatgender , ramgender , goatplushic , starryapplegender.

orientations - bisexual , ambiamorous.

role(s) - caregiver , caretaker , soother , hygienist , body caretaker , taskdoer.

species - humany goaty thing.

source(s) - c!tubbo , DSMP.

emoji(s) - 🐝 , 🍯 , 🌻 , 🌼 , 🐐 , 🐏 , 🐑 , 🌿 , 🌱.

likes - bees and other bugs , friends , the color green , flowers , drawing , sourcemates , goats and sheep , animals and pets.

dislikes - being alone , people being hurt , rude people , fireworks , loudness.

front triggers - Sourcemates , friends , other source media, goats/rams , bees , explosives , fireworks , the system being threatened , being alone , the body needing care.

personality description - a rather hyperactive part , very energetic and interactive with friend and people bee likes to be around. he prefers to be near people rather than alone, and goes along with most things asked of him unless he outwardly has an issue with it. he enjoys making things like friendship bracelets from time to time.

faceclaims -

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[aalinaaaaaa]

An Ode to the Sacrifice

For Day One of Writecamp by the lovely @agirlandherquill !

For today's piece, I used this prompt:

A mossy castle

Below is a conversation between Namon and his father when he was 12, when they were hiking in the woods one day.

Word count: 547

—

A choir not for this solemn hymn. Hummed alone by a father on this trail.

Namon trudged an uphill climb on a path gnarled by gravel and roots. His father climbed ahead of him, his wiry figure obscured by the fog.

"Not too far more." His father had a grace to his footsteps, one with the path's uneven nature. Stones slipped beneath Namon's feet, a near acquaintance with the ground.

To his left, he veered under a stone arch blotted by ivy. Saplings sprouted from the ground, reaching towards a sky betraying hints of blue between the clouds. The four walls suffered degrees of crumbling, the remnants held by green, fluffy moss.

"Son," his father's voice echoed behind him. "Ah, you're there. Don't venture astray now."

"I won't." He went under one of the arches, taking a foothold on the narrow steps beside him. He latched onto the wall and pulled upwards, his steps careful and calculated.

The top of the stairs brought him to a withered wall. He breathed, gripping onto a larger stone.

On the other side, the brush of woodland descended into a veranda of fields and more forests far away. In the far distance, a few mountains provided the backdrop, the name of which he forgot. But his father's warnings, a stronger imprint, alleging the presence of an ancient Helindian court hated by Helinda itself. "Hey, Dad, come look at this for a view." He waved his father up, beckoning him.

The man smiled and shook his head. "I'm sure it is. It had to be, considering that ruin was once a watchtower. It's a blessing it's gone to waste."

Namon tilted his head in curiosity. "Why so?"

The man had a tendency towards philosophy, his musings a frequent subject matter.

He descended the steps, sitting on them, following his father's beckoning as he rejoined him at the foot of the old tower.

"Back in my youth, times were different. See that graveyard over there?" He pointed to the nearby plot of statues, stone visages of those long gone. "All those people and more devoted themselves to keeping Seldaika off our shores. For years there would be nary a day we would not have to watch our backs."

"Did they win?" Namon asked. People died there, at that exact spot. A tribute to a story he didn't know. The thought gave him chills, a cool silence hollowing his mind.

"They didn't lose." His father's face told a tale of its own, neutral in expression yet his brown eyes glassy and sombre, focused. "Violence bears no winners, everyone suffers from it. In part from their efforts, we don't have to speak Seldaikan."

"Do you think they'll come back? The Seldaikans, I mean."

An idle question, causing his father to flinch. The silence permeated through both of them, father and son, stood over an ode to the sacrifices made.

The look in his father's eyes made him wonder if he should've asked.

"If they ever do, consider it a dark day for us all — the entire continent." A breath, and a gesture, the latter which Namon repeated.

His father put a hand on his shoulder, firm but assuring, distilling determination in a squeeze. "Whatever you do, make sure the watchtowers never go back in use."

—

Tagging the General taglist for this (ask/comment/reblog etc if you'd like to be added or subtracted): @mr-orion @the-ellia-west @guessillcallitart-deactivated20 @thereadingfoz @glassstardust22124 @honeybewrites @ashirisu @drowsy-quill @oliolioxenfreewrites @seastarblue @gioiaalbanoart @rae-butter @corinneglass @oros-ash3s @rainbowsnowflake @fourwingedwriter @oddcryptidwrites @ark-inkweaving @bardic-tales @agirlandherquill @wyked-rebellion @unriding

(Also, I'll be trying to do these Writecamp prompts for as many days as I have the time, so if anyone wants to be tagged for those, let me know :D)

[adelha-mathilde]

Random thought for the entire "Obey Me!" fandom to enjoy.

Things change when Lucifer and Adelha become close friends. Namely, that Lucifer's study ends up with tons of various house plants in it. Up to half the room ends up with floral or green growing there. Including a couple of rare tea leaf saplings.

it starts as a simple gesture of good will. Adelha leaving a beautiful blue orchid in a simple pot on Lucifer's desk. He thinks it is a pleasant looking addition to his study. But then Simeon visits the next day. Only for the angel to go bug eyed upon seeing the blue orchid. Turns out it's one of the few blue orchid's that survived the house fire that claimed her parents lives all those years ago. Which has Lucifer drop the papers he was holding to look to the blue orchid like it's a priceless painting or crown jewel.

Lucifer insists on learning how to tend the plant properly so it is always in pristine condition. Going to Satan and Simeon on the matter for them to not mind helping. So when Adelha next visits, she sees Lucifer is checking over the blue orchid for watering without even noticing she entered the study. His sigh one of relief as he admits out loud he needs to ensure such a priceless treasure is maintained and valued. Which has Adelha hum for Lucifer to pause and then sigh as he realizes he's been caught.

Not all the plants and greenery in Lucifer's office are rare. But Lucifer treats them as such regardless. Mammon knows full well if he tries to steal or pawn off any of them, both Lucifer and Adelha will end him. So he has never once thought of selling them for his own gains. Instead, he tends to do random checks if the plants need watering or to have the tiny sun crystals that provide light need charging. After a while, Mammon ends up asking Adelha if she has any house plants that would suit his room and make it feel more like a lived in space and less like a show room for fancy things. So Adelha has him clean his room and organize things for her to set several pots of lunar ivy against the one wall. Various roses added to each pot for the lunar ivy to meld with and give off soft light when the room is dark. The trellis against that wall holding stained glass murals that Mammon and his pact human made together to accent his room.

[meichenxi]

Hi, how are you?

hi!!!

I got a few asks after I shouted into the void about some connection in langblr, and it's nice to meet you! what kind of things are you doing on here? why the hellsite?

I'm doing well and very much enjoying the sun here in the UK. I've got my shorts on at a brisk 14 degrees C, which the mediterraneans might consider somewhat insane, but I LIVE for shorts season and will extend it as far as I can. I'm also enjoying sitting in the garden most mornings to drink my coffee and listening to the whisper of the birch leaves :)

I think that's what I'll tell you about. we've got a lot of activity this time of year: every week some plants seem to spring up and take control, only to disappear a week later. we had lesser celandine and white violets and primroses and

now the next problem is tackling the 2858948 sycamore saplings that have taken root over the winter. quite literally: they've got a very grimly tenacious tap root which I am not sure what to do about. I should have pulled them up when they were smaller!

I'm not a gardener, but this year is the first year in my adult life where I'm living in a house with a garden and I find myself recalling forbidden childhood knowledge (both my parents worked in gardening / ecology / conservation). the mayflys mating, a brief 4-day burst of life. the bees that love the ivy, though I don't know what kind they are. the huge bumblebees - the bumblers! - that went crazy for the violets. the soft tall grasses that have come up that I don't know the name for: a kind of wistful fog-purple head of downy seeds. the daffodils withering with drooped heads.

and we have a fox that comes and rests in our garden! it comes every day at about 11am-2pm for an hour or so, and just sleeps in the sun. our garden was abandoned for several years so has had a chance to grow gnarly brambles and thick ivy up the trees, so there are plenty of places for hedgehogs and foxes to hide in, cover for the birds, and the fence panels are rotting so there's a by-way for lots of different animals through our garden connecting to the ones next to us, by the looks of the tracks and the droppings.

I also have some fun life updates: I have a chinese-speaking job in an all chinese workplace! so I'm going to get a chance to practice my Bizniz terminology. my partner's phd got funding. and I just came back from a few weeks walking in scotland :D so all is well.

hope you can enjoy the sun too! feel free to reply to this, reblog, or send any other asks anyone~ I want to chat!

[selkiechild4998]

Dark Reflections

I'e wanted to write this for so long! I even have this published on AO3 if any of you prefer reading fics there!

Gene- Light Horror

Tw- mention of needle

Wordcount- 1,345 words

AO3 Link Here

The moon hung high over the grounds of the Ministry, the crisp autumn air chilling any surface it touched. Fall was here, and the Minsitry was busy preparing the needed rituals only possible when the veil between the living and dead was at its weakest. Normally, a certain Cardinal would be assisting with these rituals, but his attention was brought away by the former Papa he was following.

"Papa Primo," Copia began as he carried an old, silver-lined mirror in his arms, "Why exactly do you need this?" He asked while straining to hold the old mirror.

"You'll see," Primo answered, "You said Sister Imperator and Papa Nihil had chosen you as the next Papa?"

"Si," Copia nodded.

Primo nodded, leading Copia into his garden of death. Copia knew immediately how important this ritual must be for Primo to allow him into his precious garden. He looked at the plants around him, the bright crimson leaves of red sumac, twisting vines of poison oak and ivy wrapping around the trunk of a manchineel tree, even the clusters of Angel's Trumpet hung from the well-maintained potted plant that Primo needed to bring to his greenhouse.

Speaking of the greenhouse, Copia tensed, seeing Primo open the door into the large glass and iron structure. "Inside, before someone sees us," Primo instructed, and Copia knew better than to hesitate. Inside the heated greenhouse were even more poisonous plants. Blooming white, pink, and red foxglove mixed with oleanders. Wistaria hung from the support beams, brushing gently against the bushes of deadly nightshade. Copia swallowed hard, seeing the assortment of deadly plants, and jumped when Primo placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Just don't touch anything, and you'll be ok." And with that, Primo led the way to the small sunroom attached to the back wall of the greenhouse. The sunroom was cleaned beforehand; a broom and dustpan were still leaning against the wall by a full compost bin. The furniture had also been moved; the chairs that were normally around the iron tea table were stacked neatly to the side. "Set the mirror down here," Primo gestured to the table as he walked to a small cart filled with garden supplies.

Copia did as instructed, setting the old mirror down on the table, wincing as he stretched his aching fingers out. When he glanced over at Primo, he saw he had a small candle and lighter in his hand, placing them on the table.

"Breathe on the mirror, make sure it fogs."

'Huh,' Copia thought to himself, 'Odd request.' But the Cardinal did as he was told. Breathing on the mirror until he saw a small patch of fog form on the smooth surface. He then stepped back, watching Primo do the same, fogging the mirror with his breath. "Papa, what ritual is this exactly?" the Cardinal asked worriedly.

"The Dark Reflection," Primo answered, "I performed this ritual the night I was to become Papa, as well for Secondo and Terzo."

Copia listened with a slight frown. He had heard of this ritual, a game of cat and mouse with the fates in exchange for years of good luck. "Are you sure this is safe?" He asked, "This isn't exactly the best ritual to perform for good luck."

"It'll be ok," Primo assured as he lit the candle, "I have completed this ritual many times, and once it's complete come morning, you'll have the fates on your side." He stated with a smile before bringing the flickering flame to the mirror's surface, holding it there until it burnt the surface, a black mark scaring the surface.

"Once I break this mirror, you keep moving all night. Ok?"

"Yes, Papa."

Primo nodded, grabbing the small hammer he kept within his gardening cart for when he needed to drive stakes in to support his saplings. The sound of glass shattering broke the silence of the greenhouse. It only took one strike to break the glass, its shards scattering across the table. Once the mirror was destroyed, Primo nodded to Copia, letting the Cardinal scamper out of his greenhouse of death.

The eldest of the Emeritus brothers then got to work cleaning up the broken mirror. He was in no hurry, even though he knew the energy from it would linger. Quietly, he swept up the shards of glass into the dustpan. As he cleaned, he felt the suffocating energy around the glass shards slowly evaporate. He then dumped the glass shards into a nearby bin, setting the broom and dustpan down before walking from his greenhouse and locking the doors behind him.

Smiling, he breathed in the chilly autumn night air. He knew tonight he'd get no sleep. He planned on simply enjoying the night reading within the library, like when he would perform the ritual for his brothers. He was always safe there.

"Fratellone," A voice called to him, making Primo pause and look over, seeing his youngest brother. "Did you forget it's game night tonight? Secondo and I have been looking all over for you!" Terzo smiled as he approched Primo.

"Ah, right," Primo nodded, "Thank you for reminding me," he chuckled. When the two started walking down the hall, they talked, "So which game is it tonight?"

"Secondo insisted on uno," Terzo answered, "I don't know why; he's awful at it," he teased with a snicker that got Primo to chuckle as well. "I also have good news too," the younger man added.

"Oh?"

"Sister says we'll be returning to the road. Full regalia and all."

Primo was caught off guard by that, "Are you sure?"

"Si, she told me herself."

Primo had a hard time believing that, having seen the screaming matches Terzo would get into with Sister after he was dragged off-stage and his relationship with Omega was discovered. He didn't dwell on it long, perking up when they reached the brothers' game room. He wasn't expecting to see Special Ghoul standing at the doorway as a silent guard.

When he glanced at Terzo for an explanation, his brother frowned, stepping into the game room while grumbling, "Sister replaced my Omega with him." Which made Primo simply nod in acknowledgment.

"About time you two showed up," Secondo spoke from the table he was sitting at. "What took you so long?"

"The Cardinal and I needed to perform a ritual," Primo stated as he sat down.

"You actually performed that mirror ritual with him?" Terzo frowned, "He's not even part of the bloodline."

"Bloodline or not, he's still chosen to be the next Papa. I want to at least ensure luck is on his side," Primo explained before glancing around, "Where's Alpha? He's normally by your side."

"He's training Dewdrop for the next tour," Secondo answered, "Been pulling double to make sure he's ready."

"So, the Clergy approved the transition?" Primo frowned in worry as Terzo sat at the table next.

"Like hell they did! They aren't touching my water ghoul," He frowned while Secondo dealt out the cards.  

"So, he's grown on you, fratellino?" Primo smiled as he picked up his cards.

"Si, he's not my Mist ghoulette, but he's a perfect water ghoul," Terzo bragged.

"That's enough talk on that. What rules are we playing?" Secondo interjected, "Any bets?"

"You looking to lose again, Spooky Pitbull?" Terzo taunted with a smug smirk.

"No, I intend on winning my money back," Secondo stated before placing a green card on the table, "Your move."

Primo smiled as he watched his two little brothers compete against each other, the pile of discarded cards growing as the night stretched on. The game dragged on into the night as the brothers laughed and taunted each other. Blissfully unaware that the ghoul instructed to guard the room was given an additional order from his real master. The glint of the needle tucked away in his sleeve caught the light, shining in the moonlight before the ghoul stepped into the room. He paused for a moment, ensuring that no one was watching, and then silently slipped inside, closing the door behind him.

[rederiswrites]

If you're wondering what we ARE going to do about all that poison ivy, and the general absolute shittiness of our fields, and for that matter what the fuck two people with no farming background and like...more than full-time work already are going to do with like sixteen acres of field anyway....we don't know.

Don't get me wrong, we have a lot of ideas. Most of which we either can't currently afford or for some other reason can't achieve. But some of which are lovely.

Rotational grazing, especially the high-density, frequently moved version sometimes known as "mob grazing", would eventually fix a lot of what's wrong with those fields. But not without way more animals than we have or even intend to have. We don't even have a "mob" TO graze. The sheep will eat some poison ivy, though it's not their favorite. They'll eat the leaves off the brambles, which is a pretty effective way to deplete the plant's stores and stunt it. They won't eat the Virginia Creeper.

But in a way, it doesn't matter, because we've spent nearly the entire last year moving the ewes through the smaller of the two fields, and they're only just getting back to where they started. In order to make a serious impact, they'd need to be grazing the same spot maybe every two months, depending on weather conditions. Not once a year. As I showed in a previous video, everywhere they go, they do visibly leave nitrogen, and we can actually see a slight improvement everywhere they've passed through. But it's not fast. And getting and caring for the...I don't know, fifty or so? sheep that would speed the process would make moving and caring for those sheep a full-time job neither of us has the capacity for. It's just not even an intention of ours. We've never really discussed a "cap", but I'd say that a "someday when we have real fencing and I'm healthy" number of sheep would still be twenty or thirty at the most.

The conventional, and arguable still best, way to fix the big field and its extreme fuckery would be to till and reseed. It would, believe it or not, still not eliminate all of the problem weeds, especially not the Virginia Creeper and Canada Thistle (which loves to grow back from root fragments and is resistant to normal herbicides). But it would be a huge start. We'd seed with a pasture mix that's full of plants that can handle being grazed down, and then mow where the sheep don't get to. I don't even know what it would cost to hire out all that work or rent the tools, but it's more than we have. It's like asking what it would cost to replace the siding on your house. I don't know, but I know I aint got it.

So for now, Jacob is spending a lot of hours just mowing. Mowing doesn't do as much as grazing, notably it doesn't leave nitrogen, but it does ensure that light is hitting the soil so that seeds there can sprout, and it does give the advantage to plants adapted for grazing (mainly grasses).

Eventually, the plan is to reforest several acres of the big field, using government programs. That also comes with the need to control understory growth for years until the trees mature enough to shade things out, but actually, help with that is part of some of the programs. They typically plant with a mix of natives--oak, tulip poplar, redbud...the mix varies based on what the contracted companies grew that year, apparently, but it's not really something you get to pick and choose. They come, they calculate their grid, they plant. But I don't think anything's to stop you coming through afterwards and planting your own selections in spots where saplings inevitably die. Pawpaw, white oak, American persimmon, hybrid chestnut... I dream of a day where we have maybe ten acres of forest, where I can harvest mushrooms and chestnuts, paw paws and berries and ginseng. Where the boy can bag us a wild turkey for holiday dinner or supplement the freezer with deer that got fat on fall acorns.

In my wildest fantasies (and, to be fair, what I have now was once my wildest fantasies!), the "small" field is an intercropped quilt of coppiced willow and locust, berry bushes, broad stripes of sorghum, amaranth, corn, and wheat for people and animals, strips of wildflower meadow to make corridors for animals and beneficial insects, and large patches of medicinal herbs and dye plants. The "north" field, the one that is so especially troubled now, is part forest, part pasture, with permanent perimeter fences, a loose scattering of trees that provide shade and fodder, and sheep being guided through the larger perimeter with portable electric mesh fencing.

So that's what we (very sarcastically) refer to as the "five year plan" here. But I'm trying to learn not to hamstring us with doubt and disbelief, so....that's the plan.

[its-to-the-death]

Propaganda for "Mother Knows Best": the entire song is such a fucked up display of Gothel manipulating, undermining, and abusing Rapunzel while couching it in a facade of love. I'll break it down:

[MOTHER GOTHEL, spoken] You want to go outside? Why, Rapunzel...

Pretends to consider the request, then slams the window shut, closing off the outside world. Look at you, as fragile as a flower Still a little sapling, just a sprout

Infantilizes her by calling her fragile and tiny. Furthermore, likens her to a flower, tying into how she's important because she's a replacement for the Sundrop. Also note the condescending patting.

(sung) You know why we stay up in this tower

[RAPUNZEL, spoken] I know, but—

[MOTHER GOTHEL] That's right, to keep you safe and sound, dear

Cuts off Rapunzel, because she doesn't get a voice in this. Insists that keeping her isolated is for her safety, but is stroking her hair while singing the last line, reinforcing how she values Rapunzel only for her power.

Guess I always knew this day was coming Knew that soon you'd want to leave the nest

Paints herself as the victim, dramatically posing with the curtains and vocally emphasizing how distraught she is.

Soon, but not yet

[RAPUNZEL, spoken] But—

[MOTHER GOTHEL] Shh! Trust me, pet Mother knows best

Again positions herself as "reasonable"--oh, she'll let Rapunzel leave someday, she's just not ready yet! Again, Rapunzel is shushed and degraded--she's a "pet" who doesn't know better, and she should just shut up and listen to her mother.

Mother knows best, listen to your mother It's a scary world out there Mother knows best, one way or another Something will go wrong, I swear Ruffians, thugs, poison ivy, quicksand Cannibals and snakes The plague

[RAPUNZEL, spoken] No!

[MOTHER GOTHEL] Yes!

[RAPUNZEL, spoken] But—

[MOTHER GOTHEL] Also large bugs Men with pointy teeth, and Stop, no more, you'll just upset me

Intimidates Rapunzel by knocking out the lights, physically manhandling her (especially knocking her down), and filling her head with terrifying images of the outside world. She is preying on Rapunzel's naivete (which is the result of Gothel isolating her) to scare her into submission. She also continues to cut Rapunzel off every time she tries to speak and plays victim--she says "Stop, no more, you'll just upset me," but she's the one who's been listing these awful things and upsetting Rapunzel.

Mother's right here, Mother will protect you Darling, here's what I suggest Skip the drama, stay with mama Mother knows best

As she sings the first two lines, she offers herself up for a hug, then disappears and leaves a mannequin in her place when Rapunzel seeks comfort. Her protection and love are conditional--obey her or else. Also, "skip the drama" gaslights Rapunzel into thinking she's unreasonable for asking to leave the tower (and is quite ironic, since Gothel's dramatically singing this on a staircase lined with candles).

Mother knows best, take it from your mumsy On your own, you won't survive

Insists that Rapunzel is helpless and dependent on her, while undermining her attempts at independence by snuffing out the candles she lights.

Sloppy, underdressed, immature, clumsy Please, they'll eat you up alive Gullible, naïve, positively grubby Ditzy and a bit, well, hmm, vague Plus, I believe, gettin' kinda chubby I'm just saying 'cause I wuv you

Insults the shit out of her in an "affectionate" way to kill her self-confidence. Calls her "clumsy" while yanking her off her feet. Physically manhandles her again by rolling her up, spinning her around, and lifting her by the face. Again, paints Rapunzel as a helpless baby who can't make it in the harsh world and needs to stay isolated and dependent on her mother.

Mother understands, Mother's here to help you All I have is one request

Knocks out all the lights and then appears under a spotlight, portraying herself as the one and only refuge for Rapunzel. Rapunzel, who is extremely stressed by the previous events, rushes to the relief her mother offers--which, of course, is conditional.

(spoken) Rapunzel? [RAPUNZEL, spoken] Yes? [MOTHER GOTHEL, spoken] Don't ever ask to leave this tower again.

The facade slips as Gothel bluntly and sternly demands that Rapunzel never even ask to leave again. She's not just saying "no," she's removing Rapunzel's ability to choose and speak up for herself. Also note the contradiction with her previous claims: she said "Soon, but not yet" earlier, but now affirms that her rule is that Rapunzel never leaves the tower.

[MOTHER GOTHEL, spoken] I love you very much, dear

[RAPUNZEL, spoken] I love you more

[MOTHER GOTHEL, spoken] I love you most

Gothel, of course, has to get the last word in and reinforce herself as Rapunzel's better. Also, when she says "I love you most," she kisses Rapunzel's hair; she doesn't love Rapunzel most, she loves her hair and the restorative magic it holds. Rapunzel only matters to her insofar as she makes Gothel feel better about herself, whether that be by affirming that she's a loving mother or keeping her young and beautiful.

(sung) Don't forget it, you'll regret it Mother knows best

Uses a lighthearted, affectionate tone of voice, but uses it to threaten Rapunzel (imagine that statement said any other way). Also condescendingly pats her on the head again. Finishes by walking away while running Rapunzel's hair through her hands, denying Rapunzel comfort because she values the hair more.

TLDR; Gothel is a fucking atrocious parent and every second of this song is child abuse.

Ah, the gaslighting song.

[belle--ofthebrawl]

Earth Wife (Terra, Pebble, Ivy.) ficlet under the cut! Post-line up change. Terra discusses Ivy's new place in the band with Primo.

(this is developing a plot)

“She’s not going to last.” The First Emeritus had remarked, leaning back in his chair. Terra, adjacent on her own seat, chose to lean forward instead. Propping her elbows on her knees and blowing smoke out of the corner of her mouth as she watches the ghoulette in question.

“Why'd they fuckin’ pick her then.” Is her only response. Her tone is disgusted. She has every right to be. There's something else afoot here, she can smell it, sure as shit on a summer day. “The boy’s ready for his moment. He's better suited.”

“The boy” as she calls him is near double her height and a respectable four hundred years old but to Terra, he’ll always be a fawn-legged new summon, so green and wet behind the ears he might as well be one of new saplings Ivy picked out for the orchard. He's more than good, more than suitable for the job. But the higher ups had taken her suggestion and ignored it. Giving Pebble the unceremonious boot and yanking Ivy out by the roots.

“Someone wants my brother to fail.” Primo continued, cupping his hand to re-light to end of his cigarette. “Now, all due respect to the lady, but she's not exactly…fit for the lifestyle.”

Terra peers over the rim over her sunglasses, taking her eyes over the hunched figure of Ivy in the dirt. It's the happiest Terra's seen her since the news broke; examining the plants with her usual attention to detail, dirt up to her elbows and smeared on her face. The sunlight makes her glow, the fresh air helps her bloom. Terra thinks of long, stuffy bus rides and fluorescent lighting. Cramped, sterile hotel rooms and tap water tinged orange.

“She'll survive.” Is all Terra says. She loves her Papa but right now, the ground’s not steady. Ain't nobody better than sussing out shaky foundations than her. Someone could hear her, someone who shouldn't. Her Papa could say anything and be brushed off like dust on a windowsill. Terra is a servant. She might belong to him but insubordination is insubordination. She's toe-ing the line as it is.

“More to life than surviving.” Primo responds enigmatically. Then, just as bizarrely, “Do you think it's time for a transplant?”

Terra doesn't say anything. Just watches as Ivy stands up, brushes dirt off her legs and turns around to wave.

“There's a couple that might need it.” She responds, jerking her chin up in response to Ivy. She thinks about the work involved, about fragile roots and notoriously fussy blooms. “We’d have to get it done at the right moment though.”

“Can't do it before tour.” Primo continues. “Too much work and they’d pull you away in the middle of it. Have to be afterwards. Right when she comes back.”

“No time to rest?”

“Can rest when the work is done.”

“How very Puritan.”

Primo chuckles, soft and slow as a trickle of smoke snakes its way down his body. It doesn't dissipate, but crawls along the floor until the trail reaches Terra.

“The garden is always worth the work.” Primo says. “Wouldn't you agree?”

Her eyes are on Ivy as she approaches, her smile fading when she catches sight of their faces.

“What?” She asks, alarmed. “What's wrong.”

Terra glances at her Papa, who's settled comfortably into his role of an old man admiring a pretty young lady. He plays it too well for Terra’s comfort, but then she's never been any better herself.

“Just a pity you finished before that rain started.” The First says. “Now you’ll have to shower inside.”

“Oh, boo.” Ivy says, an understanding smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Sorry I’m denying an old man his peepshow.”

The First Emeritus taps his forefinger to his temple, on the side of his Lucifer eye and Ivy snickers, flicks dirt at him and Terra's heart breaks to see it. It took her so long to open up, to finally be comfortable and someone decided to take all her progress and destroy it. Her Papa is right, Ivy's not suited to the touring side of the Ministry's outreach.

Outreach in general, is not Ivy's strong suit. There's a reason Primo requests privacy in his gardens and it's not all the poisonous plants he keeps. Humans blundering in and bothering Ivy would cause problems no one wanted to deal with. She liked who she had and she liked where she worked. Deviation from her routine brought up fear and distress, the kind chamomile had no hope of calming.

She doesn't know why Ivy’s like that. Frankly she doesn't care. They're all a bit unusual at the end of the day. Terra’s just glad that after decades of careful flirting, Ivy finally clocked on. It's been good to see how being loved helped her blossom. She doesn't think Ivy would have taken as well to Mountain if that foundation hadn't been built first, but there's no use speculating. Terra's built her little family up as best she could, providing a stable frame for them to grow upon. S’what she does best.

Ivy’s still teasing Primo when Terra re-surfaces from her thoughts.

“Look, what did you do to her?” Ivy says, pointing a filthy, gloved hand at Terra. “She's up in space.’

“Nothing she didn't explicitly ask for, multiple times.” Primo says unashamedly and Ivy gasps.

“Oh, you beast.” She says, but her eyes are twinkling in a way Terra doesn't get to see too often these days. “Suppose I can't tell you to leave, no. You're both stuck in those chairs, too useless to move.”

“Stoned to high heaven.” Terra says, though they aren't and Ivy knows it. “Be a dear and check on the boy’s progress with Pebble? Make sure she hasn't tricked him into eating a magic mushroom, at least.”

“I'm sure he's fine.” Ivy says, but she looks to where the kitchen window is with a worried expression. “They were going over pastries today, I think.”

Sure enough, if Terra sniffs the air she can smell something fruity and delicious and Ivy's too sweaty to be the source. That's a different kind of delicious, one Terra wouldn't mind tasting if Ivy felt like sharing her pre-lunch shower.

“Pastries!” Primo booms, startling them both. “Ah, when I was a boy back in Sicily…nineteen twelve, I believe…there was another boy, the baker’s son.”

He gets up from his seat with surprising agility, crushing his cigarette in the nearby ashtray before offering an elbow to Ivy. She takes it, after removing her thick gardening gloves. Glances at her Papa with the fond smile of someone who's heard a similar story many, many times and looks to Terra, her hand outstretched. Terra leaves her own seat to accept it, sticking her cigarette in the corner of her mouth. She supposes they aren't the strangest threesome the Abbey's ever seen as they make their way to the kitchens but they probably come close. Already she can hear Pebble shouting, probably from a stool as she bullies the poor kitchen staff to her every whim.

“After you, my dear.” Primo says grandly, opening the door for them and ushering Ivy in. She murmurs her thanks and walks ahead as Terra waits for her Papa.

“We will talk more later, ah?” He says, patting her shoulder. “About the transplanting. I have an idea of where these plants of mine should take root, but I would like to hear your opinion on it.”

“Yes, Papa.” Terra says obediently. “I’ll do my best.”

“I know you will.” Primo says with a faint chuckle. “My most rocksteady ghoul, ha! That is what you are, yes.”

“Terrible old man.” Terra tells him with a smile. She spies Pebble with the boy, tugging him around by his apron strings as she directs who gets what plate as the Abbey trickles in for lunch. The little earth ghoul shoots Terra a questioning look, one she waves off with a mouthed later.

Ivy? Pebble mouths back, eyes darting around to catch their ever elusive blossom. Already gone through a secret passage, she’ll take lunch in her room. Not alone, if Terra and Pebble have anything to say about it.

Don't worry. She locks eyes with Pebble, giving her a quiet nod. She'll be ‘right. Pebble raises an eyebrow and Terra only jerks her head to their Papa, even now sliding easily into the role of harmless old man once more. To the average observer, retirement and age had softened him. Made him and the work he did easy to overlook. Terra knows just how far his roots stretch though. What hidden places in the Abbey they touch. And even she can't guess at the depth they reach.

Pebble hands her an extra plate, tells Mountain to get the dishes started after he's had food of his own. She'll meet him for practice afterwards. The boy nods, trying not to look morose at the prospect of dishwasher duty, but they all have to start somewhere. That new little water ghoul is in the kitchen too and Terra thinks they'll get along just fine.

“What's the word?” Pebble asks as they slip into a concealed passageway, accessed by pulling a sconce. Terra waits for the section of wall to slid back into place before she speaks.

“Nothing new.” She says, as the rats scatter away at their footsteps. “Talk of a big transplant, is all.”

[liviavanrouge]

Brother knows Best

Ace: Hey Huey!

Huey: *Flinches and looks over* Y-Yes?

Livia: Wanna go to the port with us?

Huey: *Stares his eyes lighting up* I-I have to ask my brother...

Deuece: We'll wait for you here then!

Huey: *Nods and runs off*

---

Joana(Twst Gothel): *Blinks in surprise at Huey's request* You want to go outside? Why, Huey look at you, as fragile as a flower

Huey(Twst hurt Incantation: Rapunzel): *Rubs his arm*

Joana: Still a little sapling, just a sprout, you know why I keep you by my side now

Huey: ...I know..

Joana: *Hugs Huey tight* That's right, to keep you safe and sound, dear

Huey: *Sighs*

Joana: *Moves away* Guess, I always knew this day was coming! Knew that soon you'd want to leave the nest!

Joana: Soon, but not yet!

Huey: But....

Joana: Shh! Trust me, pet

Joana: *Leans against the wall of Pomefiore* Brother knows best!

Huey: *Flinches as a sudden darkness surrounded him, his eyes widening*

Joana: Brother knows best, listen to your brother

Huey: *Flinches as Joana popped out the shadows at him and vanished*

Joana: It's a scary world out there! brother knows best, one way or another! Something will go wrong, I swear!!

Huey: *Looks around, moving his hair out of his face*

Joana: Ruffians and thugs! Poison ivy, quicksand! Cannibals and snakes

Huey: *Backs away*

Joana: The plague!

Huey: No!

Joana: Yes!

Huey: But-! *Stiffens as Joana vanished*

Joana: Also large bugs! Men with pointy teeth, and stop, no more, you'll just upset me! Brothers right here

Huey: *Grips his hair, trembling*

Joana: Brother will protect you! Darling, here's what I suggest!

Huey: *Turns as balls of light appeared*

Joana: *Smiles* Skip the drama! Stay with Brother! Brother knows best

Huey: *Flinches as the lights vanished*

Joana: Brother knows best, take it from your brozie! On your own, you won't survive~

Huey: *Looks around, then flinches finding a mirror floating there*

Joana: *Makes the mirror disappear, chuckling* Sloppy, under-dressed, Immature, clumsy!

Huey: *Yelps, falling over*

Joana: *Grins, standing over him* Huey, They'll eat you up alive~~!

Huey: *Blinks as Joana stood him up and spun him using a gust of wind*

Joana: Gullible, naive! Positively grubby! Ditzy and a bit, well, hmm...vague

Huey: *Shakes himself off*

Joana: *Chuckles and pats his brothers stomach* Plus, I believe, Huey, you gettin' kinda chubby

Huey: *Pats his stomach confused*

Joana: *Hugs Huey smiling* But I'm just saying cause I wuv you!

Huey: *Lifts his arms*

Joana: *Releases Huey before he could hug him and vanishes* Brother understands! Brother's here to help you!

Huey: *Feels around, feeling a panic attack start* J-Joana..!

Joana: *Removes the shadows, putting them back in Pomefiore's hallway* All I have is one request!

Huey: *Runs over and hugs him*

Joana: Huey...

Huey: Yeah, big brother...

Joana: You will never hang out with those ruffians that call themselves your friends...understood?

Joana: They. Are. Trouble.

Huey: Understood...

Joana: Huey...you're the only family I have left...I'm sorry

Huey: I know...I'm sorry

Joana: *Smiles softly* Don't forget it, you'll regret it~

Huey: *Looks up at him*

Joana: Big Brother knows best!

---

Vil: *Stands around the corner frowning*

Rook: Poor Roi Du Shyness!

Vil: That's another level of gaslighting right there

Golden: Should I step in?

Vil: Not yet...

Ekeko: ...Vil...

Vil: As much I would love to step in, Huey is gonna be on his guard around everyone but his elder brother...

Rozzie: So we let his fellow first years break through to him?

Vil: Exactly, Only they can do it...

[demonicintegrity]

I choose to believe that Ivy (my farmer in stardew) has a wagon they use to lug the dozens of seeds and few saplings they get from Pierre. Because how can you fit that in a backpack.

So that means sometimes they play school bus driver with Jas and Vincent if they ask and let them ride the wagon on the way to the museum or smth. Makes me giggle when they go over all the bumps in the stones

[charmed-redemption]

Witches Wonderland

Enkiel:

You went to the underworld. Why, Ricardo? Look at you, as fragile as a flower. Still a little sapling, just a sprout.

Ricardo:

I know, but

Enkiel:

Guess I always knew this day was coming. Knew that soon you'd want to leave the nest. Soon, but not yet. Father knows best. It's a scary world out there

Piper:

Christopher Perry Halliwell, Mother knows best, One way or another. Something will go wrong, I swear. Ruffians, thugs, Poison ivy, quicksand, Cannibals and snakes, the plague

Ricardo:

Really, the plague?

Enkiel:

Father's right here. Father will protect you. Darling, here's what I suggest... Skip the drama

Piper:

Mother's here to help you... On your own, you won't survive.. I just love you so much... Yet it seems you are not alone, Ricardo is at your side.

Enkiel:

Ricardo?

Ricardo:

Yes?

Enkiel:

Don't ever ask to leave Kemet again

Ricardo:

Yes, father

Chris:

I will orb you out in ten

[thelemonzone42]

Matilda Fluffywing

Jess Forrester was taking her best friend, Lily Hart, to a daisy patch. In the patch was a sparrow. Mr. Hart, Lily’s dad, came in with a shoebox and took him inside. Mrs. Hart, Lily’s mom, explained that the sparrow just had a sprained wing. It was for the best if it stayed in the aviary for a while. The whole thing reminded Jess of the time she sprained her ankle.

Just then, Goldie came in and took them to Friendship Forest. Once there, she explained that some of the animals need her help. They darted off past a few houses. Along the way they waved at The Slipperside family, who were enjoying some hazelnut cupcakes.

They arrived at Get Well Grove, the local hospital, where they were greeted by Mr.Cleverfeather’a second cousin twice removed, ‘Matilda Fluffywing’. She helps her parents, both medical doctors, deliver medicine to sickly animals around Friendship Forest. Inside her parents explained that one of Molly Twinkletail’s older sisters, ‘Callie’ has been sneezing uncontrollably. She didn’t have hay fever like Jess’s dad nor she was allergic to the rose necklace around her neck. They decided to go to The Kindness Tree for an answer.

They brought along Matilda for the occasion. When they got there, Matilda recalled cheering a sad Tipper Taptree with a chestnut cake. Behind them was Mr. Greybear, Lottie, Woody and Sophie, and Emily. They were all protecting The Heart Tree from Grizelda. However their happiness was cut short when Grizelda and her witch in training Ivy flew in and casted a tickling spell on them. To their horror, they watch Grizelda destroy the Kindness Tree and fly off evilly.

Everyone mourned the loss of The Kindness Tree, including Matilda. But Matilda had a few of its leaves on her hat and Lily tucked them into the hat so she wouldn't become rude. In a nearby strawberry patch, Ivy started knitting spiderwebs for her pet spider, ‘Sidney’s With little kindness he had left, Uncle Greybear told them a toristise named Pat Silvershell knew more about the trees than anyone. Matilda flew up to look for him, only to find smoke coming from The Nibblesqueak Bakery.

Down below everyone rushed to the bakery. The Nibble Squeaks got out safely. Mr. Cleverfeather tried to put it out with his  Flitter Flutter Spray, but brought his Color Spy by mistake. Fortunately, there was no fire, only smoke coming from the oven. The cake for Uncle Greybear’s surprise birthday party was ruined. After asking for the whereabouts of Pat Silvershell, Olivia explained that he went off to Gooseberry Green to pick some gooseberries.

They arrived at Gooseberry Green to find Pat Silvershell the tortoise. In his cabin he explained that they can’t fix the tree, but they can plant a new one. All they have to do is find a pink dappling of a kindness tree and do a kind deed.

Mr. Cleverfeather used his Color Spy to track do Kindness Tree saplings, only to find a rose-like flower. After Lily sniffed it she started to sneeze. Matilda immediately cured her with her Cool and Calm crocus. Goldie warned them that the flower they just found was a sneeze weed. Jess and Lily began to believe that Callie mistook sneezeweeds for roses. Because of this they finally found a way to cure Callie.

After finding the sapling, Jess figured out a way to make it photosynthesize. They arrived back at the bakery to fix up Uncle Greybear’s birthday cake. Olivia helped out as well. They cut off the burnt areas, Olivia made new frosting, stuck the perfect pieces together and Jess and Lily ate the burnt parts. And just like that the Kindness sapling started to grow. 

They rushed to the old tree and planted the new one in its place. All of the sudden, Ivy and Sidney popped up and started tossing freshly knitted spiderwebs at them. Sidney laughed so hard that he fell off and sprained one of his legs. This made Ivy devastated. Matilda agreed to help cure Sidney, only if Ivy frees her friends from the spiderwebs. After a little web-cleaning they took Sidney to Get Well Grove and he was cured with Daisy sprain cream. Sidney felt much better. It was there Ivy realized it is better to be kind and loving than to be mean and nasty. Grizelda came in all disappointed in Ivy. Before she could cast a spell, Dandelion, Nettle and Thistle came in and used good magic against Grizelda. The three of them also decided to become good witches. Outraged, Grizelda flew off, swearing revenge.

The moment they cured Callie with the calm and cool crocus, it was time to celebrate Uncle Greybear’s birthday. Afterwards it was time to go home. Before they could go Matilda gave them a few snacks and her Daisy sprain cream for the road.

Back in Brightley, they decided to use the Daisy sprain cream on the fallen sparrow.

The end

[eli-ashen]

The sky is empty

I walked through the gate of twined branches and ivy. I bowed to the birds guarding the gate in greeting, a jay and a sparrow, they let me pass without issue. Sprigs and bushels lined the path of loose pebbles, saplings tipped with ethereal blue light guiding my way. The hedges that surrounded the gardens were thick as solid walls, sealing away the world beyond. Dark greens and blues with spots of light here and there made for a wonderful sight. Whenever I passed an inhabitant, a jackdaw here, a great tit there, I would always bow and wish them a good day.

When I finally came upon the plaza, I stopped, hope lighting in my heart. The far end of the plaza opened to a cliffside, with nothing but the wide sky visible. Before the cliffside stood an elegant white wood gazebo, little white lights dangled from its supporting pillars. The plaza was full of birds, but my attention was on the few around the gazebo; a magpie, two siskins, a great woodpecker, a swallow, a northern lapwing, and a hooded crow. I approached, not forgetting to greet the birds on the way, and bowed low, hand on my heart, to greet the group. They looked at me with open curiosity, the siskins whispered to each other excitedly.

The hooded crow was the one to step forward, "Welcome, what has brought you here, little one?"

I looked out at the expanse over the cliff's edge, "I wished to greet my feathered friends. And there is something I wanted to ask."

It looked like some of the birds wanted to speak up, but left the talking to the crow, who seemed to be the elder here. "Then ask, words and wishes may fly freely here," the crow said, while appraising me with glinting black eyes.

I steadied myself, "I wish to fly, to have the freedom to soar the skies as you do."

The birds looked to each other, eyes unreadable. The crow closed its eyes and shook its head, a look of pity crossing its face, "You do not want that."

I felt small, but I couldn't give up like that, "But I do. It's what I've wanted most for all my life."

A few of the birds shuffled on their feet.

The crow sighed and went to the edge of the cliff, I followed behind. It looked out at the endless blue, "The sky is empty, its freedom hollow."

I was taken aback by the words.

"To lose everything that makes you, that is no wish, it is a surrender. Knowing this, do you still want to fly?" The crow looked at me without judgement.

"I… I don't know," I stumbled. I couldn't lie to myself, "No, I don't think so."

The crow straightened up, eyes bright, "Good, there is so much more for you to see here, with your feet on the ground and your heart open to being broken."

I clutched at my heart, suddenly unsure.

The crow laughed, a light cackling sound that was swallowed by the empty expanse before us. "Oh don't worry, it's all so much easier than you think."

[the-rejected-princess]

❀˖°𓍼˚ ༘♡ THE SAPLINGS IN THE AREA THE MAN LANDED IN passed along the news of a newcomer in the greenhouse. As the news got back to Ivy she sighed softly. Just wonderful, she'd hoped for a lazy rest of the night -- but of course that was to much to ask for. Sliding off the plant throne she made her way forward. Her saplings informed her that the intruder was someone new. They didn't know this person.

This made the nature woman confused and interested at the same time. Someone new, so it wasn't the bat or his boywonder -- was there a new hero in town that she wasn't aware of? In midstep she stopped and grinned. Why chase this newcomer? Why not let them come to her? "Leave them--" She told her saplings and informed them to let their sisters know.

A overly large flower bloomed behind Ivy as she sat back on it crossing on leg overtop the other. Her arms crossing under her swollen bust pushing them up -- causing her deep cleavage to be more pronoused. She could feel a hint of excitement bubbling inside her. It had been some time since she'd come across a new hero, the bat and his boywonder were starting to get a little boring if she was honest. Biting down on her bottom lip she grinned sooner or later they'd come face to face with them she could hardly wait.

"Clear a path for our guest--" She told her saplings to pass it along. With that she watched as her saplings started moving making a path for the guest in the direction they were in. In front of the intruder a path started to clear to lead them right to the nature beauty.

{Poison Ivy Starter- for @thewxnderer}

❀˖°𓍼˚ ༘♡ THE STREETS WERE WET FROM THE FRESHLY FALLEN RAIN, puddle after puddle litered the grimmy streets. The figure that was sticking to the shadows darted down the streets. As the light from the street lamp shined down the figure ran under one; now reveling the idenity of side figure none other than: Poison Ivy. Rounding a corner to let the shadows of the ally take her features over, she slowly backed deeper into the shadows. Red and blue lights darted past the alley illumiating Ivy's features for a quick flash. Just as quick as the light illumiated her body, they were gone and the shadows took her over once again. Once the nature beauty knew she'd lost the cops and started to move; still staying close to the shadows. Within a few minutes she was back at her current hideaway. Which she had turned the inside to a greenhouse; that should have been obvious by just her appearance. One of her many 'children' met her as she entered the hideout. The large vine like plant taking the many jewels she'd gotten away with; while another vine plant greeted her to take the many chemicals and drugs she'd gotten away with.

With a relaxing sigh she petted the vines, gushing them with attention for a minute or two. "Thank you babies--" She cooed. Soon the Nature Bombshell made her way to her rose throne like chair drapping her body lazily over the rose throne her long legs propped up across the throne. A lazy soft sigh slide from her lips "What a night--" She grinned she'd almost got caught by the cops once, she could feel the rush still running through her veins as she gently 'petted' a small vine like creature littered with small roses.