#katnip writes

[the-city-kitty]

This AU has me in a damn chokehold now. You can read the other two parts here and here. This is more of a little interlude, Maria and Shadow needed some time for a little breather.

Agent Margot had told her that the nearest town was to the west. So naturally the pair went east instead. Maria was glad for it when after about an hour of air skating through the woods (hopefully putting more and more distance between them and the agents) she started to see the outskirts of society spring up. Pasture land, barns, farm houses. Few and far between as expected for out in the country but notable signs nonetheless. But she could tell they were really getting close when she finally caught sight of a gas station, one with an attached convenience store. 

Around the back of the building the bathroom door was wide open. It was easy enough to creep their way in while keeping out of sight of the couple of cars getting gas out front.

Maria shut and locked the door behind them. She barely stifled a gag as she took in the tiny space, dimly lit from above by a single light bulb. The absolutely foul stench of mold growing somewhere in the room invaded her senses. She suspected it might be growing in the puddle of mystery liquid that was pooled in the center of the concrete floor, the sight of which really made her hate the fact that her bare feet were touching the ground right now. Shadow also eyed the puddle warily, scooting impossibly closer to her legs in the already cramped space. There was barely enough room for the two of them to stand.

The porcelain on both the sink and the toilet were scuffed and scratched all over, and the water in the toilet was a foggy yellow-brown that she quickly averted her eyes from. She did not want to think about it. The walls were covered in stickers and graffiti from ceiling to floor, so much so that Maria couldn’t have figured out what the original paint color was if she tried.

There was a mirror over the sink. Grimy and aged and covered in dust, but Maria could still make out her reflection in it.

Gingerly, she took a big step over the mystery puddle and hoisted herself up to sit on the edge of the sink where there was just enough room to set herself down. Shadow similarly hoisted himself to sit on the toilet’s tank, and Maria once again pointedly chose to not think about how close he was to falling into the toilet, especially when he had put his shoe onto the seat to get himself up. 

Maria put her feet into the sinks basin and leaned over awkwardly to study her reflection in the dirty mirror. 

In all her years of hopping from base to base with her Grandfather, Maria had inevitably spent way more time around adults than with other kids. At its worst it was incredibly lonely, never getting to spend time with anyone her own age. At its best it was mind numbingly boring, because the adults were all doing and talking about adult things, most of which were of very little interest to her. But that was the catch, most things she heard the adults talking about were beyond her interest, but not beyond her understanding. But adults have a marvelous tendency to believe those things are one and the same, and so they sometimes say something quite interesting or quite useful without meaning to. Now usually it’s something like which key cards will give her access to areas she’s definitely not allowed in, but in her play acting Agent Margot accidentally dropped a pretty useful tidbit: Maria looked like a runaway.

In the mirror she could see the smudges of dirt on her face, the dark circles under her eyes from barely sleeping, heck there were even bits of grass stuck in her hair that she hadn’t noticed until now. She started to pluck them out, and found her fingers catching on tangles and knots that she idly started to pull apart as well. 

Her night dress was covered in a mix of soot, dirt, and grass stains as well. The only clean article of clothing she wore were the jeans she had found on a conveniently placed clothesline before the ‘Diner Incident.’ And then of course there was the complete lack of shoes, her socks were long lost to the woods. That’s just her clothing, the cuts and bruises all over her arms and legs weren’t helping the situation either. Taken all together she very obviously looked like a homeless teenager, which she technically was now, she supposed.

She bit the inside of her cheek, thinking. Government agents aside, things were only going to continue being problematic like this. Sooner or later some well meaning good Samaritan was going to stop her on the street and probably take her to a police station, and the rest of the dominoes would fall from there.

She rolled up her pant legs as far as they would go and moved her feet out of the basin. She turned the tap, and to her surprise and relief the water that spluttered forth was clear. She tested the temperature with her palm, it was only lukewarm, but it was better than freezing so she’d take it. She set her feet back under the flow. She tried her luck with the soap dispenser on the wall. Liquid soap shot out into her palm. She pressed the button several more times until she had enough soap to build up a decent lather and she got work cleaning the cuts on her legs and the grime off her feet. The soap stung at her scrapes, but she hoped that meant it was working. The last thing she needed right now on top of everything else was to get sick from infection. 

When she finished her legs she moved up to her arms, and finally her face. From his seat on the back of the toilet, Shadow pulled as many paper towels from the dispenser as he could and held them out to her when she’d completed her pseudo-shower.

Now, if only slightly cleaner than she was, Maria observed her reflection again. Her clothes and shoes were a bit more of a solvable problem, those she could probably scrounge for in a church donation box (it’s Oklahoma, there’s probably churches everywhere, right?). But has she always been so… baby faced?

She can’t help but think it’d be a lot easier to go unnoticed if she could pass for older than she was. It’s nobody’s business if an eighteen year old wants to wander around wherever, but with the soft layer of baby fat still clinging to her features she could maybe pass for sixteen. Yeah, people were still going to look at her sideways trying to believe that. 

Maybe it’s all just in the attitude? She thought.

She sat up a little straighter, squared her shoulders, and tried to look down her nose in a way that said, I’m way more mature than you. 

… Yeah, no. Not working even a little bit. She slumped and started to idly work her fingers through her hair again to work out a few more knots.

Alright, she probably wouldn’t be able to pass for any older than fourteen, but the people looking for them knew what she looked like, soooo maybe she could put together some kind of disguise? She twirled a lock of hair between her fingers, considering her options.

“What do you think I’d look like with green hair?” she asked out of nowhere.

“What?”

“Green hair, as a disguise. What do you think?”

“Won’t that just make you stand out more?”

“Exactly, they’d probably expect me to dye it brown or something, so they’d never see green coming. Maybe I could cut it too, maybe that’d throw them off our trail….” 

“Speaking of our trail, we probably shouldn’t linger here for too much longer.” As he said it, he had one hand cupped over his nose, probably to block out the smell, Maria couldn’t help but agree. “We’re still not sure if they actually followed us or if they started tracking us west where they told you to go. We could be a couple hours ahead of them or as little as thirty minutes. And we only have so many hours of daylight, so if we want to find someplace to hide out for the night we should probably start moving again.”

Shadow had a point. 

“Alright, I can probably find a map inside the store, we can figure out where to go from there.”

“Do you need to borrow my shoes again?” he asked.

Maria shook her head.

“This’ll be a quick in and out, and maps are free, the clerk won’t have time to care if I’m wearing shoes or not.”

Shadow looked thoughtful for a moment.

“And… what about food? For you?”

“Just ate an hour ago- that turned out well.” she scoffed.

“I know, but who knows when you’re going to have another opportunity to eat again. There’s food in the store.”

“Same problem as before, no money.” she shrugged. “Hopefully this guy isn’t a secret agent too, but even if he’s not, this time if he catches me stealing it’s going to be an actual problem. He’ll call the police.”

“Hmm,” Shadow grunted, turning thoughtful again. “I’ll take care of the cashier, then you can grab what you need, good?”

It was as good a plan as any.

-*-*-*-

Maria positioned herself by the ice machine just outside the convenience store. She peered through the window from her hiding spot, waiting for Shadow’s ‘signal.’

The store clerk sat behind the counter, a pimply-faced young adult with a shaggy flop of brown hair atop his head and a scraggly attempt at a goatee growing on his face. He flipped through a magazine looking like he wanted to be literally anywhere else. Maria honestly started to wonder if they really needed to do anything elaborate at all, he looked like he’d barely notice if she robbed the store blind.

But he definitely did notice when the overhead lights flickered and the air crackled-

-fzzzzzzz pop!-

Shadow suddenly stood on the counter, hands raised above his head with his fingers curled like claws.

“GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!”

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!” 

The cashier promptly fell over, unconscious. Shadow looked over his shoulder toward Maria, he flashed her a thumbs up.

Maria burst through the door.

“That was your plan!?”

“It worked.” he deadpanned.

“Oh God,” Maria groaned. She leaned over the counter to make sure the poor guy really was just unconscious. He was breathing, but he’d probably wake up with a pretty bad headache.

“We probably only have a couple of minutes,” Shadow reminded her.

Well, it looked like they were doing this. They were robbing the convenience store.

Maria grabbed a novelty tote bag off a rack and started shoving things in. Map, first and foremost. Next went in water bottles from the fridge, next bags of trail mix, then corn nuts, then granola bars, a couple of bags of gummy bears. 

She paused her frantic movement to look back at Shadow, still on the counter.

“Do you want anything?” she asked. He seemed surprised at the question.

“I don’t need to eat like you do,” he said.

“I know that,” she replied. “You eat because you like to. So do you want anything?”

He looked down at his shoes for a moment before he cast his eyes around the store. He stopped at a specific counter.

“... Can you grab the coffee beans, please?”

Maria happily tossed the coffee station’s entire supply of coffee beans into her bag.

By the time the store clerk was groaning and sitting back up again, unsure of what the hell he just saw, the store was ransacked and the two were long gone.

[los-ninos-tortugas]

"Captain's Log...

"... Stardate... unknown. And for that matter I'll note that our current location is also undetermined. That being said, 'Toto, I have a feeling we're not in the Delta Quadrant anymore.'

We appear to have arrived in a trans-dimensional crossroads of sorts. A pocket dimension. Perhaps alarmingly, our arrival here is by no accident.

Sensor readings couldn't make heads or tails of this place, so Commanders Chakotay and Tuvok, as well as Ensign Kim, and Mr. Neelix were sent on an away mission to discreetly gather data. It would seem that during their exploration they discovered the being who claims to be responsible for all this. He calls himself, Masaccio, a humanoid-terrapin. The second we've ever seen since we met Donatello.

Unfortunately, Donatello doesn't recognize him in the slightest.

However, the away team also reports that in addition to this Masaccio character, there are also dozens of other humanoid-terrapins, some apparently equally confused as we are, and some who appear to be completely at ease with the situation.

To have this much power.... To be able to pull this many people from across dimensions into one space. I can't help but wonder if he is some errant Q, but he seems much more... juvenile than any of the Q continuum we've encountered before.

According to Chakotay, those who have been gathered here are meant to be contestants in some sort of competition, a friendly one at that. He suggested that we play along, that the path of least resistance will get us back on our journey Earth much more quickly. We're still severely lacking in data, but for now I'm inclined to agree. Though I have advised the crew to be cautious. Currently, I'm unsure if Masaccio is aware of Voyager's presence, or of just how many of us there are. I believe his interest is only in others like himself.

For now, we're keeping a low profile, and only select crew members are permitted to leave the ship. Among those is Donatello.

As I said before, there are dozens of people like him here, and there is a non-zero chance that his family might have been brought here as well. If there will be one good thing to come out of this unlikely situation, I would hope for that reunion.

...

I have to admit, I'll miss him. Of course, I made a promise to him to get him home, and I intend to keep that promise. Though, I would be lying if I said we haven't all grown fond of him. Perhaps no one more than Sam and Naomi. If it does happen, it will be a bittersweet farewell.

As of right now, Donatello is exploring. I sent Commander Tuvok and Ensign Wildman as his chaperones, but knowing Donatello I'm not sure how long that will last before he manages to give them the slip. I can hope. Even so, they've all been instructed to keep open comm links. I've also assigned Commander Chakotay, Neelix, Ensign Kim, and Seven of Nine on rotating shifts to gather further data and establish points of contact on the ground.

I will of course continue to provide supplemental log reports as the true nature of our situation becomes more evident. For now though, as they say, 'Let the games begin.'

Janeway, out."

-----------------------------------------------------

Soooooooo, "Set a Course for Home" is in the TMNT story comp! (polls are @tmntstorycomp :D) this is the first comp I've ever participated in so I'm super excited. So to celebrate here's a quick little propaganda blurb (is this how you do propaganda? oh well). I'm probably gonna try to have little propaganda updates like this mixed in with regular one-shot updates, though I'm still deciding whether or not to put the prop chapters up on ao3 at the same time as the regular ones.

But anyway :D

[parappaadventure2]

parappa advenuture 2 update (kinda, idk how to title this)

so if youve been on my tumblr you know ive been making parappa adventure 2, and i just wanna explain some stuff before i continue:

1: im on the hero story right now, so if @parokka 's characters' writing feels half baked or whatever, they'll be better in the dark story since you see them for more than 2 pages

2:i forgor that on page 1-8 there's an error in the names for kate katnip and ma-chan, and since i cant edit posts for whatever reason, just pretend they have the right names

3: holy dingus the creator of parokka saw this comic! your stuff is epic dude

[birb-boyo]

I can’t make everyone stories so you can all have this instead for a late Christmas thingy

@trippygalaxy TRIPPY🥰 not gonna lie…I forgot how we met. I think it was over some Time simp content, but I don’t remember. But knowing you has been awesome. You always make me smile or laugh and just genuinely happy. I also have no idea why you, an amazing and known artist and writer married, even if it is platonic, me, some random mediocre writer🤷‍♂️ my mom would disown me if I was you and we were married irl🤷‍♂️

@vio-starzz I don’t know if you’d rather Moss or Z or Buzzy but, ’m gonna be honest with you, I used to be scared of you. Your art and writing has always been amazing and then you were mutuals with other cool/scary people so then I thought you were also scary. And then I was dragged into the pall weople and really met you and found out that you were far more cooler than scary. Like with Trippy, why the hell did you marry me? Even if it is platonic, I’m a sopping wet mess of a person and blog so like…why? It confuses me that someone like you, a artist who’s art is damn near if not mesmerizing and a writer who’s writing can make people laugh or sob, is married to a sopping wet dog🤷‍♂️

@mushr0oms-and-m0ss MUSHROOM we’ve been beasties since January💀💀💀 CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?? ALMOST AN ENTIRE YEAR ALL BECAUSE OF A MAN ABOUT TO BITE THE DUST but seriously, you are literally the best sibling and you’re so cool and nice to talk to and your art be very yummy and I’m sorry if this sounds weird but I have trouble pitting my emotions into words😅

@cal-the-duende CAL you have no idea how amazing you are and how helpful too! It’s why I talk to you when I’m overwhelmed with my emotions. You make me feel very wanted here and thank you for talking to me, the weird socially awkward dumbass

@baileyboo2016 BAILEY I’m guessing we’re siblings or something? Me don’t know, but either way, you’re really a light out there! I mean, when I see you on the discord or in general, you’re making me laugh or just happy! With either your zing-a-dings or your random Lanayru pictures or just you screaming RULIE, it always makes me at least smile

@nancyheart11 NAN, I genuinely have no idea why you still talk to me💀💀 you are SO cool and VERY patient. I feel like I have to emphasize that patient part because you deal with everyone in the palls while being a functional adult. But anyway, I hope to write like you one day, maybe then people will actually like my writing💀 your writing is just-😌 and you are older sister material and I’ve adopted you as my older sibling btw😌

@fingerfuck-the-function KATNIP you are also my older sibling by a looooong shot…minus the flirting…but anyway, you are an amazing listener and you understand too and I really appreciate that and it makes me happy when people understand how I feel because I usually don’t understand- you make me very happy and I love talking to you, flirting and genuine talking alike

[catnipeaterz]

⚜️Intro!!!⚜️

Basic info:

Name:Kat/Katnip, Clay is also fine but Katnip is preferred if you really don’t know me.

I am Canadian, and I speak English mostly, but can read and write in French pretty well.

As of now I’ve been writing for about two years, and drawing/doing art for 7. I have always been big into fandom type shit and am excited to maybe get back into a lot of it after kind of being gone for a little while.

My interests:

Loki, Sherlock, Lotr, Trixie and Katya, Stranger Things, Potc, Twisted Wonderland, Genshin Impact, Batman, Iwtv, Bg3, and Silent Hill!!!

Hobbies(Relevant ones):

Writing, art and sometimes reading. And I listen to a WHOLEEE lotta music…

Favourite ships(Ones you’ll definitely see on here):

Johnlock, Lokius, Turrow, Rookvil, Kaebedo, Wriolette, Loustat, Steddie.

Where to find/contact me!!

If you want to give fanfic ideas, look at more of my art, read more of my writing, or just talk to me you can check me out here!!

Discord:Turrowing

Instagram:Turrowing

Twitter:Holmescore

Ao3:Holmescore

[lillyontheborder]

"Haha, yeah, I once made weed brownies for Hatter, but that was the only time I dabbled with such stuff. In Chishiya's cookies I never added anything of the sorts, they were literally normal cookies, but he acted like a cat on katnip! Here, I'll write it down for you." She takes a page from a random notebook laying on the table next the the bed and a pen and scribbles down onto it the recipe of cookies that she used for the blonde. "Here, see? It's all just natural and organic ingredients, with a touch of vanilla extract and strawberry essence."

“Ooooo!! Strawberry essence… that sounds fancy.” She smiled. “Thanks!” She giggled. “Cookies cookies cookies~” she sang. She couldn’t imagine seeing Chishiya, this calm and serious guy, munching on cookies like he was addicted. It was interesting to imagine.

[brookston]

Holidays 6.11

Holidays

American Evacuation Day (Libya)

Cousteau Day

Davis Day (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada)

Dirty Book Day

Escape from Alcatraz Day

Evacuation Day (Libya)

Fandens Fodselsdag (Devil’s Birthday; Denmark)

Ferris Bueller's Day Off Day

Folding Chair Day

Honeysuckle Day (French Republic)

International Balloon Artist Day

International Day of Solidarity with Long Term Anarchist Prisoners

International KBG Syndrome Awareness Day

International Lynx Day

Jurassic Park Day

Just One Day

Kamehameha Day (Hawaii) [Unless a Weekend, then Friday before]

National Cancer Thriver Day

National Feed the Ducks Day

National Hot Rod Day

National Hug Holiday

National Impressionists Day

National Making Life Beautiful Day

National Olivia Day

Navy Day (Brazil)

Peace of Chaco Day (Bolivia, Paraguay)

Polyamory Pride Day

Queen Fabiola Day (Belgium)

Say Hi Day

Student Day (Honduras)

Umbrella Day (Japan)

William Davis Miners' Memorial Day (Nova Scotia, Canada)

Women Generals Day

World Agriculture Day

World Jaguar Day

World Prostate Cancer Day

Yarn Bombing Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Corn on the Cob Day

Cotton Candy Day

German Chocolate Cake Day

Pizza Margherita Day

Royal Hot Dog Day

2nd Sunday in June

Abused Women and Children’s Awareness Day [2nd Sunday]

Bunker Hill Day observed (Massachusetts) [Sunday before 17th]

Canadian Rivers Day (Canada) [2nd Sunday]

Father’s Day (Austria, Belgium) [2nd Sunday]

LEAF Open Farm Sunday (UK) [2nd Sunday]

Multicultural American Child Day [2nd Sunday]

National Career Nursing Assistants’ Day [2nd Sunday]

National Children's Day [2nd Sunday]

National Garden Day (Germany) [2nd Sunday]

National Puerto Rican Day [2nd Sunday]

Race Unity Day (a.k.a. Race Amity Day; Baha’i) [2nd Sunday]

Ride the Wind Day [2nd Sunday]

World Pet Memorial Day [2nd Sunday; also 2nd Tuesday]

World Swallowtail Day [2nd Sunday]

Write To Your Father Day [2nd Sunday]

Feast Days

Arrephoria (Ancient Greece)

Barnabas the Apostle (Christian; Saint) [Harvests]

Bartholomew the Apostle (Eastern Christianity)

Day of the One Hit Wonders (Church of the SubGenius)

Festival of Goibnui (Provider of the Ale of Immortality; Celtic)

Festival of Mater Matuta (Goddess of the Dawn; Ancient Rome)

Fish Day (Pastafarian)

Fortuna Virgo (Ancient Rome)

St. Francis Xavier (Positivist; Saint)

Gimley’s Boss (Muppetism)

Holiday of the Happy Gnomes (Pagan)

Ignatius Maloyan, Blessed (Armenian Catholic Church)

John Constable (Artology)

Loki’s Day (Pagan)

Matralia (Old Roman festival to goddess Mater Matuta)

Paula Frassinetti (Christian; Saint)

Riagail of Bangor (Christian; Saint)

Rites of Matralia (Honoring Mater Matua, Goddess of Dawn & Childbirth; Ancient Rome)

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Christian) [Sunday after Trinity Sunday]

Tochumra of Ireland (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [22 of 53]

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (Film; 1999)

The Caine Mutiny, by Herman Wouk (Novel; 1952)

E.T. the Extraterrestrial (Film; 1982)

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (Film; 1986)

Garfield (Film; 2004)

In the Heights (Film; 2021)

Jumpin’ Jive, by Joe Jackson (Album; 1981)

Jurassic Park (Film; 1993)

Karate Kid (Film; 2010)

Katnip Kollege (WB MM Cartoon; 1938)

Moonlight for Two (WB MM Cartoon; 1932)

Napoleon Dynamite (Film; 2004)

Nashville (Film; 1975)

The Negotiator, by Frederick Forsyth (Novel; 1989)

Papa Don’t Preach, by Madonna (Song; 1986)

A Passion For Excellence, by Tom Peters and Nancy Austin (Book; 1985)

Play That Funky Music, by Wild Cherry (Song; 1976)

Poor Papa (Disney Cartoon; 1928)

Primary Colors, by Anonymous (Novel; 1996)

Rabbit Rampage (WB LT Cartoon; 1955)

Teddy Bear, by Elvis Presley (Song; 1957)

True Grit (Film; 1969)

Winter’s Bone (Film; 2010)

Today’s Name Days

Alice, Barnabas, Paula (Austria)

Barnaba, Bogumil, Borna, Roza (Croatia)

Bruno (Czech Republic)

Barnabas (Denmark)

Imbi, Imme (Estonia)

Immi, Impi (Finland)

Barnabé (France)

Alice, Barnabas, Paula, Udo (Germany)

Varnavas, Vartholomaios (Greece)

Barnabás (Hungary)

Barnaba (Italy)

Ingus, Mairis, Sigrida, Svens, Vidvuds (Latvia)

Aluona, Barnarbas, Flora, Tvirmantas (Lithuania)

Bjørg, Bjørge, Borgar (Norway)

Anastazy, Barnaba, Feliks, Radomił, Teodozja (Poland)

Luca, Pavel, Petru, Vartolomeu (România)

Dobroslava (Slovakia)

Bernabé (Spain)

Berthold, Bertil (Sweden)

Bartholomew (Ukraine)

Barnabas, Barnaby, Barnett, Barney, Barret (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 162 of 2024; 203 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 23 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Huath (Hawthorn) [Day 28 of 28]

Chinese: Month 4 (Ding-Si), Day 24 (Geng-Zi)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 22 Sivan 5783

Islamic: 22 Dhu al-Qada 1444

J Cal: 12 Sol; Fiveday [12 of 30]

Julian: 29 May 2023

Moon: 40%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 22 St. Paul (6th Month) [St. Francis Xavier]

Runic Half Month: Dag (Day) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 83 of 92)

Zodiac: Gemini (Day 21 of 32)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 6.11

Holidays

American Evacuation Day (Libya)

Cousteau Day

Davis Day (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada)

Dirty Book Day

Escape from Alcatraz Day

Evacuation Day (Libya)

Fandens Fodselsdag (Devil’s Birthday; Denmark)

Ferris Bueller's Day Off Day

Folding Chair Day

Honeysuckle Day (French Republic)

International Balloon Artist Day

International Day of Solidarity with Long Term Anarchist Prisoners

International KBG Syndrome Awareness Day

International Lynx Day

Jurassic Park Day

Just One Day

Kamehameha Day (Hawaii) [Unless a Weekend, then Friday before]

National Cancer Thriver Day

National Feed the Ducks Day

National Hot Rod Day

National Hug Holiday

National Impressionists Day

National Making Life Beautiful Day

National Olivia Day

Navy Day (Brazil)

Peace of Chaco Day (Bolivia, Paraguay)

Polyamory Pride Day

Queen Fabiola Day (Belgium)

Say Hi Day

Student Day (Honduras)

Umbrella Day (Japan)

William Davis Miners' Memorial Day (Nova Scotia, Canada)

Women Generals Day

World Agriculture Day

World Jaguar Day

World Prostate Cancer Day

Yarn Bombing Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Corn on the Cob Day

Cotton Candy Day

German Chocolate Cake Day

Pizza Margherita Day

Royal Hot Dog Day

2nd Sunday in June

Abused Women and Children’s Awareness Day [2nd Sunday]

Bunker Hill Day observed (Massachusetts) [Sunday before 17th]

Canadian Rivers Day (Canada) [2nd Sunday]

Father’s Day (Austria, Belgium) [2nd Sunday]

LEAF Open Farm Sunday (UK) [2nd Sunday]

Multicultural American Child Day [2nd Sunday]

National Career Nursing Assistants’ Day [2nd Sunday]

National Children's Day [2nd Sunday]

National Garden Day (Germany) [2nd Sunday]

National Puerto Rican Day [2nd Sunday]

Race Unity Day (a.k.a. Race Amity Day; Baha’i) [2nd Sunday]

Ride the Wind Day [2nd Sunday]

World Pet Memorial Day [2nd Sunday; also 2nd Tuesday]

World Swallowtail Day [2nd Sunday]

Write To Your Father Day [2nd Sunday]

Feast Days

Arrephoria (Ancient Greece)

Barnabas the Apostle (Christian; Saint) [Harvests]

Bartholomew the Apostle (Eastern Christianity)

Day of the One Hit Wonders (Church of the SubGenius)

Festival of Goibnui (Provider of the Ale of Immortality; Celtic)

Festival of Mater Matuta (Goddess of the Dawn; Ancient Rome)

Fish Day (Pastafarian)

Fortuna Virgo (Ancient Rome)

St. Francis Xavier (Positivist; Saint)

Gimley’s Boss (Muppetism)

Holiday of the Happy Gnomes (Pagan)

Ignatius Maloyan, Blessed (Armenian Catholic Church)

John Constable (Artology)

Loki’s Day (Pagan)

Matralia (Old Roman festival to goddess Mater Matuta)

Paula Frassinetti (Christian; Saint)

Riagail of Bangor (Christian; Saint)

Rites of Matralia (Honoring Mater Matua, Goddess of Dawn & Childbirth; Ancient Rome)

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Christian) [Sunday after Trinity Sunday]

Tochumra of Ireland (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [22 of 53]

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (Film; 1999)

The Caine Mutiny, by Herman Wouk (Novel; 1952)

E.T. the Extraterrestrial (Film; 1982)

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (Film; 1986)

Garfield (Film; 2004)

In the Heights (Film; 2021)

Jumpin’ Jive, by Joe Jackson (Album; 1981)

Jurassic Park (Film; 1993)

Karate Kid (Film; 2010)

Katnip Kollege (WB MM Cartoon; 1938)

Moonlight for Two (WB MM Cartoon; 1932)

Napoleon Dynamite (Film; 2004)

Nashville (Film; 1975)

The Negotiator, by Frederick Forsyth (Novel; 1989)

Papa Don’t Preach, by Madonna (Song; 1986)

A Passion For Excellence, by Tom Peters and Nancy Austin (Book; 1985)

Play That Funky Music, by Wild Cherry (Song; 1976)

Poor Papa (Disney Cartoon; 1928)

Primary Colors, by Anonymous (Novel; 1996)

Rabbit Rampage (WB LT Cartoon; 1955)

Teddy Bear, by Elvis Presley (Song; 1957)

True Grit (Film; 1969)

Winter’s Bone (Film; 2010)

Today’s Name Days

Alice, Barnabas, Paula (Austria)

Barnaba, Bogumil, Borna, Roza (Croatia)

Bruno (Czech Republic)

Barnabas (Denmark)

Imbi, Imme (Estonia)

Immi, Impi (Finland)

Barnabé (France)

Alice, Barnabas, Paula, Udo (Germany)

Varnavas, Vartholomaios (Greece)

Barnabás (Hungary)

Barnaba (Italy)

Ingus, Mairis, Sigrida, Svens, Vidvuds (Latvia)

Aluona, Barnarbas, Flora, Tvirmantas (Lithuania)

Bjørg, Bjørge, Borgar (Norway)

Anastazy, Barnaba, Feliks, Radomił, Teodozja (Poland)

Luca, Pavel, Petru, Vartolomeu (România)

Dobroslava (Slovakia)

Bernabé (Spain)

Berthold, Bertil (Sweden)

Bartholomew (Ukraine)

Barnabas, Barnaby, Barnett, Barney, Barret (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 162 of 2024; 203 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 23 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Huath (Hawthorn) [Day 28 of 28]

Chinese: Month 4 (Ding-Si), Day 24 (Geng-Zi)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 22 Sivan 5783

Islamic: 22 Dhu al-Qada 1444

J Cal: 12 Sol; Fiveday [12 of 30]

Julian: 29 May 2023

Moon: 40%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 22 St. Paul (6th Month) [St. Francis Xavier]

Runic Half Month: Dag (Day) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 83 of 92)

Zodiac: Gemini (Day 21 of 32)

[samsassinparvismagna]

Colin Zabel x Librarian!Reader!

Hey everyone,

Literally just belting this out after THAT shitshow. So from now on anything I post about my beloved Detective Husband is going to be an utterly delightfully wholesome AU because fuck everything.

So let's get on with whatever this is! (Might write this as a story sometime but for now have this. Also it's based on my own OC so I've had to tone her down a little so more people can feel immersed?) It's SFW and I tried to keep it GN but added a cut anyway, hope you enjoy!

-Mare and Colin visit the library to check up on a suspects alibi on being there

-that's when he meets youuuu

-afterwards he'd always be seeing you there, checking out book after book while asking you for recommendations

-is he reading the books? Of course! Whenever he gets time to anyway. Plus it gives him more things to say to you cos we all know he's an adorable awkward puppy

-eventually, he'll ask you out (after much peskering from Mare) and you say yes!!

-and then he's at the library even more than before! He loves seeing you in your element - arranging books, talking about them with such an enthusiasm he can't not want to read way more than he has time to! Also when he sees you interacting with kids his heart melts.

-its a shame nothing else melts in there though. The place is always freezing which gives him another excuse to see you, bringing you warm snuggly things like his sweaters, maybe a blanket and definitely a hot drink/food to help warm you up.

-once when you complained your feet were freezing he went out to his car and brought in some FUZZY!SOCKS!!! HE KEEPS SPARE SOCKS IN HIS CAAAR!!! His feet get cold too so he knowws

-he loves driving you to and from work when he can, he knows he can get really busy so enjoys spending whatever moments he can with you. Plus he likes to know you get there safely.

-he gets you cute book related gifts like cute bookmarks and signed!books!!

-he even tucks inside little love notes sometimes - another reason he loves to surprise you at work, especially on quiet days, is so he can hopefully see your reaction when you're reading and come across one of his little notes.

-your face immediately lights up and a huge squeel comes out, giving away his position and you immediately run up and kiss your wonderful boyfriend/soon to be husband

-cos this is forever y'all ❤️

BONUS:

if - or when - you have kids, he'll always be reading to them. He'd always hype up the library as a magical awesome place where mummy works and you can bet he'll always be telling them how he met you there (but throw in some dinosaurs and unicorns and spaceships cos murder is depressing)

I might add more to this but um yeah! Lemme know what you think! Hope it's not too awful! 🙈

Idk who to tag but I'll try @missdictatorme @misslongcep @samdrakeftw @thatspookyagent @americxn @demelzatheshipper @quicksilverownsmysoul @undeadcortez @spider-starry lemme know if you wanna or don't wanna be tagged in future stuff :)

[ships-and-saints]

“I can’t stay away.” [Part 4] [Nesta x Cassian]

a/n: i’m soOOoOooOory, not sure if anyone’s still around waiting, but i just finished writing and editing this today, and hopefully i’ll be writing more stuff in the future again~ hope you enjoy!

NOTE: MAJOR ACOWAR SPOILERS!! CW: Nightmares, PTSD FST: Moth’s Wings (stripped down) by Passion Pit Word Count: 2392

Parts: [ teaser ] [ part 1 ] [ part 2 ] [ part 3 ] [ part 4 ] [ part 5 ] Read it on: [ fanfiction.net ] [ archive of our own ]

------------------------------------------------

You're drifting like a fire Buried deep under the water Your resting on your laurels Is stepping on my toes

Whose side are you on? What side is this anyway? Put down your sword and crown Come lay with me on the ground. Come lay with me on the ground.

- Moth’s Wings (stripped down) by Passion Pit

------------------------------------------------

Nesta went into the bathroom to run hot water for the bath, and Cassian drifted over to stand in the doorway, watching her.

She was lifting small bottles to her face and sniffing delicately. After smelling several, she picked two and squeezed a couple of drops from both bottles into the pooling water.

Cassian's nose twitched as the soothing scents of lavender and chamomile filled the air.

"Maybe this will help you relax as well," she offered. He grinned back lazily. The floral scents and the warm steam from the tub were making him sleepy, though.

"Turn around." Nesta's eyes narrowed, but Cassian put his hands up complacently and obeyed, turning to face a wall, although she could not stop his thoughts.

He could hear the fabric sliding over her skin as her nightgown and undergarments dropped to the floor. She stepped into the bath, which was filled halfway and clouded with bubbles. "You can turn around now."

Cassian turned; Nesta's hair was tucked up into a bun and she sank down into the bubble bath, everything beneath her shoulders submerged. Her long, blonde eyelashes fluttered as she sighed quietly.

Cassian was trying his hardest not to let his mind dwell in the gutter for too long. He moved towards her, and she handed him a shampoo bottle and a wide-toothed comb.

Her eyes were wary, but she watched as he seated himself on a small stool next to the tub, which looked comically small in his presence, and began lathering up the shampoo in his large, scarred hands.

Cassian reached towards her with his hands, a question in his eyes, and Nesta shifted in the tub so that he was facing the back of her head.

Gently, Cassian lathered the shampoo into the roots of her hair, massaging her scalp and coaxing the tension from her skin. As he continued washing her hair, some of the tension in her neck and shoulders released as well. Her long, golden-brown hair clung to her wet skin, and Cassian occasionally ran the comb through to brush out any knots or snags.

After thoroughly shampooing her hair, Cassian grabbed the wooden pail nearby and handed it to Nesta, who submerged it in the tub. She leaned forward and dumped the hot water over her head, rinsing out the shampoo. Bubbles and waves cascaded against the walls of the tub.

Next, she placed some sort of oil in her hair and twisted her long, wet hair into a bun atop her head. Although she was still partially submerged, she placed her hands on her hips. “I can do the rest myself.”

Cassian smirked at that. “Are you sure you don’t need help? I’m sure I can help with the hard to reach places.”

Nesta couldn’t decide whether to be more annoyed or amused.

Cassian put his hands up again. “Hey, I’m just a lowly bastard servant, after all. Your wish is my command, milady.”

Nesta raised an eyebrow in amusement at that.

“Fine, you may stay and help me wash my back,” she allowed, her chin up. “Don’t get any strange thoughts, though.”

Cassian was definitely feeling smug, but he tried not to show it. He nodded and waited until she had washed up, and then she sat on the edge of the tub and reluctantly handed him the lathered loofah.

They sat in silence as he carefully scrubbed every inch of her back. Although he couldn’t see Nesta’s face, he imagined she was satisfied as he could hear a soft sigh occasionally.

Afterwards, she rinsed off, and he handed her a towel before leaving her to get dressed.

He was seated at the desk with his head in his hands, lost in thought, when Nesta stepped out in her pale-blue nightgown, still drying her hair with a towel.

“Cassian.”

The sound made him jump slightly. “Oh, Nesta. I was wai… I just wanted to tell you goodnight before heading back to my place.”

Nesta watched him with her ice grey eyes for a moment, her expression unreadable.

Cassian tried not to fidget, his wings rustling slightly.

“You can stay here for tonight… If you’d like.”

She slid into her bed and looked at him, a question in her eyes.

Cassian just nodded, slightly stunned. Eventually he came back to his senses and cleared his throat.

“I’ll ahh.. I’ll also wash up then.” He hastily made his way to the bathroom and took a quick shower, brushing his teeth with a spare toothbrush he found in the cupboard.

Although he could not have taken more than 10 minutes, Cassian could already tell Nesta was sound asleep by the sound of her breathing by the time he stepped out of the bathroom. He smiled crookedly; he was not disappointed because it meant she was comfortable enough to fall asleep in his presence, albeit he had been showering at the time.

Hopefully, he could get into bed without disrupting her…

Cassian crept over to the empty side of the bed and while leaning on the bed, slowly slid one leg under the covers. As he lifted his other leg up, his shin collided with the side of the bed with a resounding thunk.

“Fuck!” he swore aloud and froze.

Nesta made a sound and shifted in her sleep but seemed not to wake. Cassian let out the breath he was holding and gingerly lifted his hurt leg into the bed.

Mother, that hurt… But at least Nesta didn’t wake up. Well then, I think should plan a date for us… But I can think about that tomorrow, I should try to sleep now.

Cassian laid awake staring at the ceiling for a while, but he did not feel as anxious as he usually did when trying to fall asleep. Maybe it was because he could hear Nesta’s every breath, which he counted until he got distracted and lost count, and then started over again once he remembered he had been counting…

Eventually, Cassian counted 244 breaths before he finally drifted off to sleep.

Cassian arranged for his date with Nesta to be in Rhys’s private garden, and two days later, he brought her to the exquisite and well-kept garden. The private garden was dedicated to Rhys’s mother, who had passed centuries ago, and it was well-maintained and well-loved, even by the groundskeepers and gardeners. Hedges lined the walkways of some of the more private areas, whereas other areas were surrounded by flower beds and open to public view.

There were so many flowers of various species, Elain would probably have believed she had gone to a place beyond Death.

“So… what do you think Nesta?” After some time walking in silence, Cassian cleared his throat and spoke up.

Truth be told, Nesta was pleasantly surprised by how beautiful the place was. She gave him a sidelong glance, and he thought she was not going to reply at first, but then she spoke. “It’s beautiful, of course. It seems wrong to speak here. How do you know about this place?”

Crow’s feet lines appeared by Cassian’s eyes as his mouth quirked up into a fond smile. “I grew up in this household, and the garden didn’t always look like this. It’s grown over the centuries. Rhys used to bring girls here.”

“And you?”

Cassian shot her a sly look. “Not me. Never had anyone I really wanted to bring, and I didn’t come here as much as Rhys did, anyway. I can barely tell two flowers apart.”

Nesta remained quiet, but she carefully examined and stored away every precious truth Cassian told her about himself. She was remembering yesterday morning, how they had both woken up after sharing the same bed, and how surprisingly comfortable she still was with his presence.

Although the last time Cassian had come here was some decades ago, he still remembered the history of the garden and the stories he’d been told by Rhys and his mother. Occasionally, he would point out rare, important flowers that would not naturally bloom in the garden otherwise.

“Some flowers are gifts from other Courts, and some require special magic to bloom properly if the atmosphere is not quite right,” he had explained.

“They’re all beautiful,” Nesta murmured, “I would love to come here with Elain someday… the public garden of course, not the private ones.

“I’m sure Rhys wouldn’t mind; you’re both Feyre’s sisters. He wouldn’t begrudge her anything.”

She shrugged. “All the same. Some spaces should remain… private. Sacred.”

Cassian kept himself from rolling his eyes, but he did remind her that Rhys used to bring girls here to impress them.

They continued to walk a little ways in silence after that, until they reached a crossroads with a large fountain in the middle, surrounded by hedges.

“Well, that’s the end of the public viewing. Now begins the private tour. This way, Nesta.” Cassian walked past the fountain towards one of the many unmarked paths and beckoned her.

Nesta followed along, curious as to where the path would lead.

“Are you sure you know where you’re going?” Nesta asked doubtfully as soon as they walked into what she discovered was a maze of hedges.

Cassian smirked. “Afraid you’ll get lost in here? Don’t worry, I’ve still got my wings.” He flexed them slightly.

“No, I’m just afraid you’ll embarrass yourself,” she replied derisively.

He winced but was still grinning. “Ouch. Don’t worry, it should only be a short walk from here.” True to his word, after walking around the winding path for five minutes, they reached what looked like a dead end.

Finally, we’ve reached the end of this ridiculous maze, Nesta thought. In front of her was an archway carved from a wide hedge, and strands of flower vines fell across the archway. Cassian brushed aside some of the vines, and Nesta was drawn forward. But it might have been worth it…

She deeply inhaled the fragrance of the flowers as she stepped beneath the archway and took in the surroundings.

They had ended up on the cliffside. Across from her was a stone wall and an ancient-appearing wooden bench, slightly overgrown with vines and flowers. Surrounding the clearing were trees and wildflowers, but there was a clear view of the deep blue skies, and Nesta could hear the waves crashing down below.

She slowly walked into the meadow like she was in a trance, and Cassian just let her take it all in. To be honest, Cassian could not remember the last time he had been in this exact clearing, but it must have been when he was very young. He and Rhys had loved to play hide-and-seek and chase each other around in the hedges. It was Rhys who had reminded him of the private clearing and recommended he take Nesta to it when Cassian had casually mentioned his date idea yesterday, and he was glad he had followed Rhys’s advice.

A stone wall with vines intertwined separated them from the edge of the craggy cliff. She wandered to the wall and peered over, where she stared directly down into a large pile of sharp, slick rocks. Stepping back, her eyes flickered over the circular enclosure, big enough for maybe eight people to stretch out comfortably, the walls comprised of trees, hedges, and flowers. The grass before them was dotted with patches of lovely wildflowers in varying hues.

Cassian had whipped out a thick blanket from the basket he was carrying and was now sitting on it, leaning back on his hands watching her.

"Do you like it?"

Her eyes flickered to a bright red bird swooping overhead. "What is there not to like?"

Cassian laughed, and Nesta could sense his relief. Smiling, he patted the spot next to him, the picnic basket on his other side. "Hungry?"

She drifted over and sank down onto the blanket, both legs to one side.

"Can anyone see or… hear us?" Nesta whispered, feeling like if she spoke too loudly… she was disrupting something special, something sacred. Cassian's mouth twitched.

"Not unless you count the birds and bees." She smacked his shoulder lightly and he could not help but let out a chuckle.

She savored the sound, trying not to smile too much. She had been so close to never hearing that sound again, never hearing his voice or seeing his beautiful and irritating face… She didn't know how much it would bother her until right before the Cauldron had struck and she had screamed in fear for him.

Cassian idly observed as a pale green moth fluttered through the grasses, with feathery wings and dull colors, although it was exquisitely patterned. His eyes drifted to an iridescent, blue butterfly sucking nectar from a flower nearby, the edges of its wings thinly lined in black. He noticed Nesta looking towards the same one.

"Beautiful," she breathed, her eyes drinking in the beauty of undisturbed nature. Funny, he was thinking the same about her.

The waves of the sea ceaselessly struck the shore, sighing against the sand as the tide pulled the wave's wandering fingers back. Birds occasionally chirped and cawed to their mates and their offspring while insects buzzed and chirruped in the grass and bushes.

They feasted on the delicious picnic lunch prepared for them by Nualla and Ceridwen, with the help of Elain. Cassian refilled both of their glasses with sparkling lemonade.

Nesta seemed content to just sit and stare out into the sparkling sea, forever, with her long hair blowing in the wind. Cassian tried not to be too obvious as he watched her.

She finally turned to him and smiled, and Cassian felt his heart swell. He squeezed her hand and lightly pressed it to his lips.

“Thank you… for today. It was exactly what I needed,” Nesta said.

Cassian was at a loss for words. “No, of course, that’s what… You know, that’s what mates are for, right?”

She laughed lightly. “I think mates are more trouble than they’re worth.”

He pouted slightly at that, and she laughed again, a wondrous, tinkling sound that Cassian wished he could record and replay over and over, again.

“I’ll always be here for you,” Cassian said suddenly.

Nesta turned to look at him, her blue eyes steely, seemingly unsurprised by his sudden proclamation. “And I, you. Wherever we go, we go together.”

“Always?”

“Always.”

[troiastar]

Yes I do think you guys should read about Pussy Katnip

[the-city-kitty]

More Maria Lives AU content! It's essentially the prequel to this and where the story properly starts.

It had been a perfect evening.

Grandpa had surprised them by actually sitting down to dinner with them, usually he didn’t have the time in the evenings. He took his work long into the night. But tonight they sat down as a family for a dinner of brisket, mashed potatoes, and green beans. They had apple pie for dessert. She and Shadow even got an extra slice each.

Afterwards, they tucked themselves into the blanket fort. Maria brought her guitar. She tuned it, plucking on each of the strings until they sounded correct. She demonstrated a few chords for Shadow, explaining to him how the different combinations of notes made them sound more ‘happy’ or ‘sad.’ They both fell into a small laughing fit when she tried to get Shadow to mimic her hand position on the guitar’s neck, but his gloves got in the way. She was just about to start a rendition of Hey Jude when the doors burst open. Grandpa stood there, shaken and wide eyed.

“Kids, we have to go. Now.”

It had been a perfect evening.

It was difficult to run across the smooth floors in just her socks, but Shadow’s firm grip on her hand kept her steady. There was a disconcerting cacophony of sounds all around. The blaring alarms. Distantly (and frighteningly) there was gunfire. They rattled together inside her head. Poor Shadow couldn’t be faring much better, since his hearing is significantly more sensitive than hers, but he didn’t show it.

Grandpa tugged them along through the hallways, away from the noise. She recognized the route they were taking. It led to the elevator that would take them to the hilltop. 

“What’s happening?” she managed to ask between ragged breaths. At first, she wasn’t sure Grandpa had even heard her over the alarms.

“They want to take Shadow away from us Maria!” he hastily explained, also out of breath.

‘They? Who is ‘they?’ Has the base been invaded?’ she wanted to ask. But there was no time. There was shouting behind them. They were being followed. 

The next few seconds were as if time slowed down.

There was a shout. 

A flash of light.

 Glass cracked.

She gasped.

Grandpa’s white lab coat.

White everywhere.

Then it was dark.

Ringing.

Her ears were ringing. She coughed, dizzy and disoriented. Her arms hurt as she pushed herself back up to her knees. She had been blown back several feet. She was scraped and bruised. The air was hotter than it had been a moment ago. As she got her bearings back she realized now that parts of the room were on fire.

“Gran-! Sh-sha-!” She tried to call out, but ended up choking on the smoke that clogged the air.

“Maria!” Shadow called out to her. His quills were ruffled and out of place, covered in soot from the explosion. He stood over….

Maria ran to her grandfather’s side, falling to her knees. His eyes stared up at nothing. A trail of blood leaked from his nose.

“Grandpa?” she asked in a small voice. She shook his shoulder slightly. He didn’t react. “Grandpa… get up. Get up, please.”

“Maria.” Shadow’s quiet call startled her. His eyes flashed to the side, she followed his gaze to see a squadron of men in army fatigues approaching. She recognized the uniforms, their sleeves emblazoned with the American flag.

“Help!” she called out to them. “Please help! He’s not breathing, call a medic, please!”

To her shock, instead of any one of them reaching for their radio and making the call, they all raised their weapons.

“Down on the ground, now!” a soldier shouted.

Not comprehending, Maria cried again, “He needs a medic, please!”

Shadow inched closer to Maria. He watched the soldiers apprehensively. She continued to beg for assistance, but went ignored as Shadow’s movements only put them more on edge. The apparent leader trained his weapon on Shadow.

“Back away from the girl!”

Shadow didn’t back away, but he did stop his movements. He glanced down at the Professor’s body, then back at the squadron surrounding them. The energy in his quills started to quietly crackle.

From the back of the line another figure pushed his way forward, lieutenant Walters.

“Maria!” he called out. “Maria, just… just walk over here to me, no one is going to hurt you.” He held his hand out, beckoning. Maria just shook her head minutely. Her hand reached out to take Shadow’s.

“Walters, I don’t….” She didn’t even know how to finish that sentence. She couldn’t wrap her head around what was going on.

“I understand you’re scared, Maria. You’re a civilian, you shouldn’t have gotten wrapped up in this. But these men have their orders. So please come away from there and come over to me.” he beckons her again. 

Maria pulls Shadow closer. She wasn’t sure if the hairs on her arm were standing on end from the crackling energy he was emitting or because of the dread washing over her.

“What about Shadow?” she asked. Walters looked apologetic.

“He has to go with them, Maria,” he gestured to the squadron. “It’s going to be alright, please just… just walk away from Shadow and come over here.”

Maria stared at Walters, at the pleading look on his face. The men around him were stone-cold. Eyes hard, they looked through Maria and Shadow. She looked back at her grandpa. At his slack face, his eyes fixed at a distant point. With horrible clarity finally dawning on her she knew that they saw nothing.

“No…” it came out quietly at first, then she screamed, “No! You killed him! You killed him!” She pulled Shadow fully to her chest, curling around him protectively. He wrapped his arms around her in turn, the energy building up around him made her hair stand up and fizzled in her ears.

The squadron took aim in spite of Walters’ protests. Maria screwed her eyes shut, preparing-

She heard something like a fzzzzzzzz-pop!

And then she was falling.

Or more accurately, she was tumbling.

She grunted as she rolled over grass and flowers and dandelions. While Shadow was able to curl into a ball and had his quills to protect him, Maria rolled gracelessly down the hill. Her night dress became littered with grass stains and new scrapes and bruises were added to her arms and legs. When she finally came to a stop at the bottom she sprawled out like a starfish. The stars in the sky above her spun in a way that told her she wasn’t just watching the rotation of the Earth. She pushed herself to her feet in spite of the dizziness.

“Shadow?” she whipped around, looking for him. He unfurled himself not too far away. He clasped her hand in his, and once again they were running.

-*-*-*-

Shadow’s ears were upright and alert, listening for any signs of the military.

They had run until it became apparent that they couldn’t stay out in the open anymore. Soldiers had started combing the woods for them, both on foot and in search helicopters. So when they found a hole in the ground that seemed to go back a few feet and was just wide enough for two kids to climb into, that’s exactly what they did.

They’d practically held their breath for hours. They listened to the whir of helicopter blades as they flew past their little foxhole. They passed by each time. He supposed they were just lucky that they didn’t think to bring out search dogs, or else he suspected that they’d find their exit blocked by the barrel of a gun.

As night slowly bled into dawn, Shadow stayed alert, not satisfied that the search parties had truly passed until hours went by in silence. He didn’t need to sleep, but Maria was ragged.

She had nodded off a few times, only for a few minutes each. Every time she woke herself back up, probably from the anxiety of the situation, and the general discomfort of sitting in a dirt hole in the ground. But now there were circles under her eyes.

She sat with her knees drawn up to her chest. A small sniffle drew Shadow’s attention away from listening for soldiers. When he looked at her, her tired eyes were red rimmed. She swiped fruitlessly at the tears running down her cheeks.

“Maria,” he said, murmured, really.

He crawled over to her, sitting himself down in front of her bent knees. She sniffled again. Her eyes shined with tears. She put her hands on top of his head to pet the soft fur on his ears. It was something she did for him a lot, but she misunderstood, he wasn’t seeking comfort from her right now. He wasn’t the one who needed it. He took her hands in his and intertwined their fingers. She let him. He wasn't really sure what to do with them at that point so they just sat for a bit, holding each other’s hands between them.

After a little while though, he felt compelled to break the silence.

“I think they’ve moved on by now,” he started, still soft spoken.

“Okay.” Maria replied, equally quiet.

Shadow frowned, his ear flicked.

“I’m sorry,” he confessed. Maria shook her head.

“What do you have to be sorry for?” 

“I’m sorry,” he said more insistently. She wasn’t getting it. “None of this would’ve happened if it weren’t for me.” If he wasn’t so powerful, if he wasn’t so strange, if he didn’t make them so afraid.

“No,” the word came out sharp. He doesn’t think he’s ever heard her sound like that. “No, Shadow. Don’t say that.” Her eyes, still shining with tears and with something else now too- something he couldn’t name- bore into his. He looked away, his ears flattened on his head. He knew his next words would just upset her more.

He’d had all night to think about what happened at the base. When he’d teleported them out, it was more of an impulse than a rational decision. But seeing the professor on the ground like that, and with those men pointing their weapons at Maria, he couldn’t stand the thought that she would look like that too.

“... I think we should go back.”

She pulled her hands away from his. Cold seeped into his palms even through his gloves. 

“What?” she asked incredulously.

“We should go back to the base. Even if they cleared it out by now I’m sure they left a few officers patrolling in case we came back. Walters was right, they only wanted to take me, so I’ll let them. You’re a civilian, they’ll protect you.”

“Protect me from who? Them? They’re the ones who-” she choked on the words, “who… killed grandpa.”

“And if they killed him just to get to me what do you think they’d be willing to do to you if I don’t give myself up? Maria, I told you I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“And I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Her declaration hung heavy in the air. It stunned him into silence for a moment. Then;

“... You saw their weapons. And the explosion? It was all me. My chaos energy. It’s dangerous, I’m dangerous. I’m only going to get you hurt.”

“Hey,” she took his hand again, “I told you, you can do or be anything you want. Okay? You decide who you are, nobody else. Just because they took your power and turned it into a weapon doesn’t mean they get to make you into something that you’re not.”

She said it with such conviction, that for a moment, Shadow wanted to believe her words as much as she did, but it was hard to swallow down his fear past the tangled knot in his chest.

“We’re not going back,” she said. She held up her other hand, pinky extended outwards. She looked at him expectantly. “We’re not going back,” she repeated.

Trepidatiously, he lifted his hand and wrapped his pinky around hers.

*-*-*-

Forest litter crunched underfoot as they walked along somewhat aimlessly. While Maria had decided that going back was not an option, they didn’t really have a plan other than forward and thus further and further away from the base. But the base was purposely isolated from civilization, and they had found their hideaway by pure chance, they weren’t exactly keeping track of where they were going when they had been fleeing through the darkness. So when they had finally clambered out of their foxhole into the daylight, Maria had simply glanced around, picked a direction and started walking. Shadow followed suit.

And so that’s how it had been for the past couple hours. The sun moved along its trail in the sky, and they walked in uncharacteristic silence. Maybe not uncharacteristic for Shadow, he had always been more quiet and the most he talked was around Maria. But that was because she usually led the conversation. But she’d been tight lipped since they set off. She could of course still be angry with him for his earlier suggestion. Yet every time he stole a glance at her face he couldn’t seem to find any sign of anger. At least, he thought he didn’t. Really, it would have been a first for making Maria mad at him, so he had no frame of reference for what that actually looked like. He never would have expected her to pull the same grimace or snarl or look of disgust he would get from the scientists when he made them upset. Yet the look on her face now, mouth quirked as she chewed the inside of her cheek, and her eyes downturned as her brows pinched just slightly, he couldn’t quite bring himself to ascribe that to anger. 

But his last attempt at apologizing had gone so poorly, he was at a loss for how to even begin again this time. Luckily, he didn’t need to.

“I’ve been trying to wrap my head around it all,” Maria said, suddenly breaking the awkward silence.

“What do you mean?” Shadow prompted. So that was it. She’d been thinking this whole time.

“I mean,” she paused, both her words and her steps. She looked up as if the trees had the answers she was looking for. “I’m trying to make sense of it. Why go to all the trouble to raid your own base? Why bring armed men at all?” she asked no one in particular. 

“The Professor said they wanted to take me.” Shadow offered up anyway, he crossed his arms over his chest as soon as he said it. He was starting to get frustrated with how often he was repeating that one fact. It’s the only solid piece of information they currently have and it’s utterly useless. But if Maria shared that frustration she didn’t show it, she continued to think out loud;

“Alright but then why put up a fight about it? They could just as easily have ordered Grandpa to turn you over, so then why did they come already armed? Unless….” She turned her eyes back to the ground, her face once again pensive.

“Unless?”

“Unless they did order Grandpa, and they knew he was going to disobey.” 

“You think the Professor knew they were coming?”

Maria shrugged, crossing her own arms.

“Maybe.”

“And you think he was willing to disobey orders, for me?” 

Maria was quiet for a long moment.

“I think he already did.”

It was Shadow’s turn to become pensive. The idea that the Professor would risk everything, and lose his life for it, for him? Around them, the forest was filled with the sounds of life, cricket chirps, animal calls, and birdsong. His sensitive hearing picked up on all of it, but in his head it started to sound less like the symphony of nature and instead more like a cacophonous ringing of why?

Meanwhile Maria sighed. She ran a hand through her hair.

“Hey,” she broke Shadow from his spiral. She offered her hand out to him, and he accepted it. “You and me, we have each other, right?” She smiled, it didn’t quite reach her eyes, but something in Shadow felt lighter seeing that she still had the strength to smile even after everything.

“Right,” he agreed. They did have each other. And as long as they had that, they could get through.

[los-ninos-tortugas]

*showers you in birthday confetti* Rise Leo and 03 Leo swap bodies for the day with no warning. What happens? How do their families react? How many toasters perish before the Rise boys figure out to keep 03 Leo away from the kitchen?

(Ah! Paper viscera!) Hi, this was too good to just write a headcanon about it. (Nobody get too used to this. I'm not going to do this every time someone puts a prompt in my inbox, this one just particularly inspired me.)

Something is off, Leonardo notes almost absently as he slowly blinks into wakefulness. He can't quite pin it down though. He doesn't feel sick, no headache, no nausea, no congestion.

As he rubs the grit out of his eyes a flash of blue catches his attention. Huh, that's odd, he thinks as he inspects his hand. His nails are painted a bright blue that definitely wasn't there when he went to sleep. Was that what was bothering him? Did Mikey paint his nails while he was asleep or something? If he wasn't so annoyed at Michelangelo's latest idea of a prank he'd be more impressed at the stealth it would have taken to pull that off without waking him. Leo is a notoriously light sleeper after all.

Except no. That's not it. As much as the nail polish bugs him he can tell that's not all that's wrong. His hand is the wrong color. His scales have taken on a more lime green hue than the forest green he'd always been. He certainly doesn't feel sick but something must be wrong if his scales are so off color...

He sits up in bed, knocking the covers off himself so he can take better stock of himself and finally get to the bottom of what exactly is wrong. But now that he's upright he realizes that the vague feeling of something being off doesn't begin and end with his body. He looks around and realizes he has no idea where he is. He is certainly not in his room in the lair, that's for sure.

He recognizes that he's in a subway car that has been kitted out to be a bedroom. The bed he's sitting on is balanced on some seats. On the wall to his right are posters for things he doesn't recognize (some movie he's never heard of some kind of rock band). To his left are some shelves cluttered with various knicknacks and next to that is the door, currently shut. Behind him is what appears to be some sort of closet area.

So either Leonardo has been turtle-napped in the night and brought to some strange place or maybe he is sick and he's having some kind of weird fever dream/hallucination. Given his family's famous "turtle luck" he's more certain of the former than the latter. But that doesn't explain the oddities such as painting his nails or why his scales are off color or why he's in what looks like some other kid's room.

Leonardo quickly stands up and almost just as quickly falls back down onto the mattress as he's surprised by his center of gravity being completely off. He tries again, slower this time. He seriously needs to take stock of himself. He almost trips over his own feet as he heads over to the closet and it suddenly occurs to him that he's taller now too.

Luckily for him there's a full length mirror in the closet. Unluckily seeing his reflection does nothing to help his situation as the turtle staring back at him is not one he recognizes in the least. He experimentally waves his arm just to make sure it actually is his reflection and sure enough he sees the motion reflected back at him.

The image in the mirror is of a mutant turtle who is taller and more lanky than Leonardo is. All lean muscle as opposed to the more stout and stocky build Leonardo and his brothers all share. More than that, Leonardo is pretty sure that this turtle is a completely different species than he is. He and his brothers are all common box turtles but as he takes in the colorful scales on his arms, legs, and face (that he momentarily panicked over, thinking they might be scars) he determines that this is a red-eared slider. He turns and looks over his shoulder to get a better look at the shell. A dark blue-grey with oval patterns though, they've been slightly marred and made incongruous by healed over cracks in the carapace. Leonardo winces in sympathy.

There are other scars as well, he finds as he continues his investigation. All of various sizes, some more faded than others. Though the largest one he finds is one along the right knee. It's big but it's a clean cut as well, surgical perhaps. He notices now that the knee itself is starting to get more and more achy the longer he stands.

He thinks back to the time he and his brothers met their alternative selves from other dimensions. Maybe something similar is happening again right now, and this is another universe, and this is his alternate self. But why is he here in this way? Why has he swapped with his alternate suddenly? What was the catalyst? He needs to fix this quickly. Who knows what kind of damage to the multiverse this swap could be doing.

He finds his other self's gear quickly enough. Gloves and socks but strangely no elbow or knee pads. There is a knee brace though, which he slips on and is glad for the relief it provides (he can't help but wonder what had happened to this version of himself). It's comforting to tie the blue mask on even if it technically isn't his. He's just glad certain things stay consistent across the multiverse.

Speaking of which, if he's in another version of the lair then that must mean that there's a version of Master Splinter here. Even on the comparatively silly Earth-87 that Master Splinter had been just as kind and wise as Leonardo's own father. Maybe if he can talk to this version of Splinter he can help him understand what's going on and help him fix it.

With that sort-of plan in mind Leonardo finally heads out of the room to go find Splinter. But as he steps out two things quickly become apparent. 1) He has no idea what the layout of this version of the lair is. And 2) holy crap this place is huge. So apparently the subway car wasn't just an aesthetic choice, these guys just decided to set up shop in an abandoned train station . Okay so slight hiccup in his plan but he's not going to let it deter him.

His attention is drawn to the distant sound of voices echoing from somewhere else in the lair. That's probably as good a direction to start as any. He follows the sound until it becomes three distinct voices. It's when he's standing in the doorway of the kitchen does he realize he's made a grave mistake. Because there in front of him are this universe's versions of his brothers. Even if he couldn't tell who was who from the colors of their masks the distinctions are self evident because 1) What the hell are they feeding this universe's Raph? 2) Why aren't they feeding whatever it is to Mikey why is he so small?? And 3) What is up with Donny's shell, he's got on some sort of prosthetic? Did something happen to his carapace in this world?

It's all he can do to school his face into something neutral rather than giving away just how stupefied he is right now. He doesn't want to alarm these guys after all, best not to make them aware of what exactly is going on until he can talk to Master Splinter and they can explain it together. But he's also so busy trying to mentally get his shit together that he completely misses that Raphael said good morning to him.

"Uhh, Leo?" Raph waves a (huge) hand in front of Leonardo's face, effectively snapping him out of his trance.

"What? Oh-" is that his voice? Well, no, no, it's the other Leo's voice. He just wasn't expecting to sound like that. He clears his throat and tries again, "Sorry, still groggy I guess. Morning, Raphael."

Be cool, act natural, he tells himself.

Raph blinks at him, the tiniest frown on his face. Leo tries for a smile that he's pretty sure comes out looking more like a grimace and stupidly walks past Big Raph further into the kitchen.

What are you doing? Abort! Abort! They're clearly all sitting down to breakfast, so if he just turned around and left after staring at them like an idiot for a minute that would be much more suspicious.

"Morning, Donatello. Morning, Michelangelo," he greets, not noticing the looks of concern and confusion the three brothers throw each other behind his back as he beelines toward the fridge. He has no idea why that's where he decided to go but in for a penny in for a pound. Thankfully when he opens the freezer he finds some frozen waffles. He takes out two and heads for the toaster, grateful for the excuse to not have to look the others in the eye. He drops them into the toaster slots and unknowingly pushes the pedal down just a little too hard. Now that his meaningless task is done the silence in the kitchen is deafening. Still he avoids turning back around.

Leonardo leans his elbows on the counter and starts picking at the nail polish. He feels slightly bad about it since these aren't his hands and he really shouldn't be ruining something that belongs to his other self but it just feels weird to him to have it on and he needs something else to do with his hands right now.

"Hey Leo," a voice says from behind him. He forces himself to turn and acknowledge who turns out to be Little Mikey standing there with a look of gentle concern on his face. Little Mikey takes his hands in his, forcing Leo to stop his frantic picking at his nails. "You havin' a bad day?" he asks.

Which, yes, Leonardo very much is. He's in another universe in the body of his alternate self and he has no idea how or why. But they're not supposed to know that yet so instead he replies, "I just woke up, how could I be having a bad day already?"

That just made Little Mikey's face soften even more. (Neither of them notice the smoke starting to slowly rise from the toaster behind Leonardo's back)

"It's okay if you are, did you have another nightmare last night?" This Leo gets frequent nightmares? He mentally files that away. But he doesn't trust himself to answer verbally so he shakes his head no. He's really gone and put himself in a corner here. He was trying not to alarm the brothers but evidently his demeanor is so off from their Leo that he's done nothing but draw attention to himself. He should've just bailed.

"C'mon we talked about this, no more brushing things off. If you need to talk about it-" There's a loud popping sound behind him and the feeling of intense heat as the room suddenly erupts into chaos when the toaster on the counter spontaneously bursts into flames. Not that Leo sees all of it happen because even though he himself was only mildly caught off guard by the event, the body he's currently occupying has a much stronger reaction. He is suddenly in darkness as his head and limbs rapidly retract into his shell which then crashes to the floor, thoroughly disorienting him.

The smoke alarm beeps rapidly from somewhere above, Other Donny produces a fire extinguisher to put out the toaster, and someone (probably Big Raph) starts to pick him up off the floor.

If the sensation of retracting into his shell after going his whole life being unable to do that was already disorienting, being picked up while still inside said shell was a whole other level of that. As quick as he can he forces his limbs and head back out and extricates himself from Big Raph's hold. He tries to ignore the look of hurt that crosses Big Raph's face. He's made a mess of things already, it's time to get out of dodge while he still can.

"Sorryaboutthetoastergottatalktomastersplinterbye!" he says all in one breath as he races out of the kitchen and back into the lair. Wherever his other self is in the multiverse, Leonardo sure hopes he's having better luck than he is.

--------

(I'm going to finish this with Rise Leo's POV later but at the moment I don't have time to finish this, hope you liked it so far though. Thanks for the ask!)

[the-eldritch-it-gay]

mocha--writes replied to your post:how does Cassandra’s braid crown thing work. I...

There’s a slide in the Trespasser epilogue which shows her with the braid down and it… It really is a rat tail. I have seen the idea that she made herself a headband of her hair after cutting it short, and tend to prefer that.

katnip-karnivore replied to your post: how does Cassandra’s braid crown thing work. I...

Not to go on a rant but i literally think about this ALL THE TIME bc YES you would need a VERY long rat tail to have a braid go completely around her whole head. CASSANDRA IM MAD GIRL

God... I’m gonna choose to prefer the idea of a headband bcuz I don’t like the idea of her with a rat tail but also at the same time that’s fucking hardcore to grow out a rat tail purely to be able to put ur hair in a braid crown. The dedication to the aesthetic...

[birb-boyo]

https://youtu.be/4CP6GMJpqoE

Watch this!

I-

RHEHEVEHE

🎶Write it down🎶

THAT SCREAM TOO

AND LITERALLY EVERYTIME KUNIKIDA SHOWED UP-

THANK YOU KATNIP💙💙💙

[gayforces]

SURGERY TOMORROW AND LEXIMANCY TODAY??? YOU'RE A GODDAMN BLESSING U KNOW THAT? ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

SDJHFSJKD I really wanted to post Leximancy before surgery bc idk how long it’d take me to do it afterwards soooooooooooo yeah! Made it the last thing I did before surgery and now I can focus on relaxing and writing things for fun while I recover <3 <3 and start on chapter four once i’m off my pain meds hehehehe