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crowttore · 5 months ago

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HSR characters as ways animals court and mate

Welcome to the (hopefully) weirdest biology lesson you'll ever have! Essentially a shitpost. I shouldn't be allowed near blorbos. There might be better suited animals, these are all my takes on the characters and animals picked from ones I knew.

Repost from my old blog so I added more characters as compensation.

Characters included: Sampo Koski, Veritas Ratio, Ruan Mei, Jing Yuan, Argenti, Sunday, Kafka, Caelus, Moze

Warnings: nsfw in the way a national geographic documentary is, there are no graphic details but proceed at your own discretion, breeding mention for Jing Yuan, Sampo's ridiculously large appendage, Caelus slander,

MINORS DO NOT INTERACT

Sampo Koski - Limax maximus (leopard slug)

Truly, few people are as slick as Mr. Koski. You might not even notice at first that you are being observed by a mysterious, handsome stranger. Sure, his methods may be a little on the unusual side, but he values being well-informed before acting. Once he does decide to act, you may find yourself in quite a few unfortunate situations, luckily, your good friend Sampo is there to help you out. He is quite well endowed in certain departments, but where others might feel shame or even outright fear for their partner's comfort, this ingenious entrepreneur prides himself on always having the right tools for the job. Rest assured, your comfort and pleasure is of the highest importance! Or, for the right price, he will gladly put himself on the receiving end to satisfy your desires. Limax maximus is somewhat unusual in its mating habits compared to other slugs. They also have a ridiculously large penises (largest observed being 92cm or 36 inches) - mind you, a snail's penis emerges from their gonopore which is located on the side of their head. The leopard slugs court by circling each other for hours before eventually climbing a tree, coiling around each other and producing a string of mucus to hang upside down from - letting gravity unfold their penises. Since these slugs are hermaphroditic, both receive a sperm package and goes on to lay eggs.

Veritas Ratio - Strix varia (barred owl)

While Veritas might not exactly be keen on grand gestures to express himself, your persistance in seeking him out and staying close does eventually lead to the realisation that his days wouldn't be the same without your presence. Though he prefers to save his words, there's never a shortage around you, always talking, asking, listening, engaging in conversation that only you can provide. The shift in behavior is endearing, Veritas becomes keen on inviting you home, cooking for and with you, bathing together (something that had been near unimaginable for him). His hands gravitate towards you as often as possible, either just resting there or rubbing tension from your muscles. He takes care of you and lets you take care of him. It's a beautiful everyday life, after all, why would he confine himself to expressing his love a few times a year, when he could do it every day in countless ways instead? Strix varia - as many owls - remains mostly monogamous, with the exception being in instances of younger, widowed birds. Their courtship usually involves the owl hen following around the male for a time before they both begin engaging in duets and mutual preening. Every year for a period of time before mating, the male will take up all hunting responsibilities and dote on his partner :3 These owls are also, compared to closely related species, known for disliking man-made nesting boxes (microbiome is inferior to a hollowed out tree trunk) and they're considered some of the most curious and polite predators.

Ruan Mei - Timema (genus of stick insects)

While you might be interested in Ruan Mei, chances are she won't be interested in the same sense. There is little time for such 'pleasantries' and even less willingness to make time for it. Whether she cannot, or doesn't want to, understand the concept of love, she recognises the value it holds in terms of reproduction and evolution. And even then, she has gone about creating life by herself just fine. So, perhaps she will let you into her bed for a night, but it's unlikely that she lets it lead to more. Members of the genus Timema primarily reproduce through the process of parthenogenesis (virgin birth), meaning they reproduce asexually and males are very few and far between. Sexual reproduction is incredibly rare and speculated to only be done by a few individuals to keep a diverse enough gene pool.

Jing Yuan - Panthera leo (lion)

It's no secret that Jing Yuan has had ample time and opportunity for sexual experiences. Nor is it any secret that he's attractive (which he's aware of), despite his long life, Jing Yuan appears to be in the prime of his life and health. All that experience doesn't make his time with you any less special, it simply means that your pleasure and desires are exceedingly important. Anything you could want to try he will indulge, of course, you'll have to tell him, use your words, even if the answer is written all over your face. The one thing he does often want to indulge for his own sake is finishing inside. Other than that, Jing Yuan is more than happy to lay back and watch as you pleasure yourself with him. If you ask, he's happy to help, he knows your body quite well by now - ah just don't ask him in the afternoon. He's napping. Male lions are - apart from on the rare occasions that they have to defend their territory - very relaxed individuals. The females hunt for him while he sleeps (and looks good). The mane serves as a 'sexual ornament' and shows off how 'healthy' a male is. A more pigmented mane means higher testosterone levels (Ignore the pigmentation part for Jing Yuan and just consider how healthy and well taken care of he looks). A few days before the female enters estrus, the male picks up on changes to her scent and starts following her around. Female lions are known for having incredible stamina during estrus, often to the point of tiring out the male to a point where he will try to stalk off and sleep. Also worth noting that lions have a barbed penis that scratches the vagina upon pulling out, this can cause the female to ovulate just like I would if Jing Yuan did me

Argenti - Panthera leo male x Panthera tigris female (Liger, hybrid)

A knigh of Beauty passing by, not exactly the smartest choice to throw your heart at, is it? Argenti is kind, chivalrous, perhaps a little odd, and beautiful. He sees in you a work of art, compliments you as though he has no choice but let the words flow. Unfortunately, he doesn't let anyone get close. Perhaps he will indulge you for a night, find pleasure in seeing you come undone while he remains clothed. There is no settling down for him, no family life, he swore an oath that he must keep. Ligers are incredibly rare and only found in captivity. As with other hybrids, ligers follow Haldane's rule meaning the heterogametic sex (in this case the male) is sterile. These hybrids are stunning creatures, highly social, and the biggest living cat. But there is no 'successful' mating for them. Reproductive behavior in females follow that of their parent species.

Sunday - Anthochaera phrygia (regent honeyeater)

Once Sunday becomes free to act for himself, it's not particularly hard to recognise his little displays of interest. They're sweet and awkward at best and downright embarrassing at worst. He tries his best - he truly does - by learning from those around him. Unfortunately, those people are now the Astral Express crew, and aeons above, some of them aren't great at flirting to begin with, but having Sunday attempt mimicry? Horrendous. Once he gets a little more confident (perhaps you should reassure him that you enjoy who he is) you can expect him to open up more. Expect his care and love to be presented with something akin to devotion. With time, perhaps he'll even sing for you? Unfortunately, regent honeyeaters are critically endangered. This is in part due to the loss of their unique song. During early life, birds spend months learning various calls that will be important for signalling. These are typically learned from the parents, but regent honeyeaters leave the nest before this happens and a loss of habitat meant fewer individuals to learn from. Males have begun copying other bird species, leading to significantly lower interest from females, accelerating their decline.

Kafka - Crocuta crocuta (spotted hyena)

So you're enamoured with Kafka? Difficult not to be, she truly just... has a certain appeal wouldn't you say? Approaching with care and submission rather than aggression will see your chances of success increase. Kafka is confident in herself and her abilities, knowing what path she walks and the destination. But that doesn't mean she won't indulge in a little fun from time to time, after all, the script she has doesn't dictate every single action. She's in control throughout it all, even in the occassion of you being allowed on top, there's still no doubt about the hierarchy. She would have every stellaron hunter ready to protect you if your safety is deemed worthwhile. The spotted hyena lives in highly complex social groups with females most often ranking higher than males. Anatomically, the spotted hyena females have developed a 'pseudo-penis' (very enlarged clitoris) complete with faux scrotum and testes that cover the vagina - making forced copulation by a male impossible. The female needs to retract the pseudo-penis which is also what the male will insert his into. Males that remain passive and subservient have higher chances of successful mating compared to aggressive ones.

Caelus - Ailuropoda melanoleuca (giant panda)

Teeny tiny penis. Caelus is very easily goaded into doing things, sometimes you don't even have to suggest a stupid idea before he's halfway done trying. Poor man has no idea what to do with himself the moment things turn spicy. Very cute, very sweet, probably good cuddles. But you're gonna need a toy. At around a whopping 3cm (~1 inch), the giant pandas aren't giant everywhere. Courtship can involve males doing a handstand against a tree and peeing as far up as possible to signal that he's near. Famously, giant pandas seemingly lose interest in mating when kept in captivity and there's been a lot of initiatives to figure out how to get the spark back (this includes showing them panda-porn and giving them an equivalent to viagra)

Moze - Canis lupus (grey wolf)

Though he may appear reserved (and a little scary even) once you get to know Moze, it quickly becomes clear that he just.. he has a certain way of showing his affection. It's almost like having gained a shadow with how he follows you around. At first, he may be more inclined to keep you away from any and all danger, but gradually warms up to the thought of being partners in every sense. His trust in you is absolute and nothing could sway his loyalty. Still, Moze does enjoy seeing you well taken care of (going so far as having Jiaoqiu give him lessons on your favourite foods). Once he loses himself in the pleasures of your body, it becomes near impossible for him to stop. All that careful control slips from his grasp until the moment you're both panting for breath and utterly exhausted. During those times, he wraps his arms securely around you, keeping you there for as long as he can justify. I think we all know how dogs mate, no? Mounting, knotting, all that. Wolves are monogamous and form tightly knit packs. Mated pairs are excellent at cooperating, both for hunting and raising pups. The male wolf hunts for the first couple of weeks after the female gives birth, making sure she can rest in the den and look after the young. Interestingly, the more newly bonded a pair is, the more frequently will the male scent mark their territory to dissuade any potential intruders.

Hsr masterlist

#didn't want to add any of the amphoreus cast because I haven't played the quest to end and even then #it wouldn't be enough for me to be comfortable with picking an animal lmao #anyway sorry for the repost - i hope the three added characters can make up for it just a little #hsr x reader #honkai star rail x reader #sampo x reader #dr ratio x reader #ruan mei x reader #jing yuan x reader #argenti x reader #sunday x reader #kafka x reader #caelus x reader #moze x reader #hsr fanfic #crow with a pen

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bestanimal · 2 months ago

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Round 3 - Reptilia - Accipitriformes

(Sources - 1, 2, 3, 4)

Our next order of birds are the Accipitriformes, colloquially called “raptors” or “birds of prey”, though these paraphyletic terms are often used to include unrelated orders such as owls and falcons as well. Accipitriformes are comprised of the living families Cathartidae (“New World vultures”), Sagittariidae (“Secretarybird”), Pandionidae (“Osprey”), and Accipitridae (“hawks”, “eagles”, “kites”, and “Old World vultures”).

Accipitriformes typically have a sharply hooked beak with a soft cere housing the nostrils. Their wings are long and fairly broad, adapted for soaring flight. They have strong legs and feet with raptorial claws and opposable hind claws. Almost all Accipitriformes are carnivorous, hunting by sight during the day or at twilight. They are predominantly active predators and/or scavengers, and many are specialized for particular prey items.

Accipitriformes are generally monogamous over many years, though they will choose a new mate if their old mate dies. Females are usually larger than males, sometimes to a substantial degree. Courtship typically involves displays of flight, and presenting gifts of food. Most Accipitriformes build nests, and return to the same nest site each breeding season. Typically, both the male and female will build the nest, incubate the eggs, and raise the young. Many Accipitriformes are long-lived, and can take several years to reach sexual maturity.

Accipitriformes arose in the Eocene, around 50 million years ago. DNA sequence analyses suggest that divergences within the Accipitriformes began around the Eocene/Oligocene boundary, about 34 million years ago.

Propaganda under the cut:

The California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is often considered a conservation success story, having just barely escaped from the brink of extinction. In 1987, only 27 individuals remained. Conservationists at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and the Los Angeles Zoo rounded up all 27 remaining wild birds and began a captive breeding program. Beginning in 1991, captive bred California Condors were reintroduced into the wild. Today, around 561 California Condors live wild. The bird is still critically endangered, and its population is only kept stable by regular vet checks and frequent captive releases, with all wild California Condors being tagged and closely monitored. Like many North American Accipitriformes, the California Condor is threatened by lead poisoning. Lead shot is often used for hunting, and when it enters an animal, it explodes into tiny fragments. When hunters field dress an animal (ie. butcher it at the kill site and leave the inedible bits for scavengers) small fragments of lead shot often remain in the carcass. It can take a fragment of lead as small as a pea to kill a bird the size of an eagle.

The Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) and the King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa) (image 4) appear in a variety of Maya hieroglyphs in Mayan codices. While the Black Vulture is often depicted as a symbol of death or attacking humans, the King Vulture is sometimes portrayed as a god with a human body and a bird head. According to Mayan mythology, this god often carried messages between humans and the other gods.

The genus Cathartes locates carrion by detecting the scent of ethyl mercaptan, a gas produced by the bodies of decaying animals. The olfactory lobe of the brains in these species is particularly large compared to that of other animals, giving Cathartes vultures an incredible sense of smell.

The Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) (image 3) is a highly unique Accipitriform, sporting long legs and being mostly terrestrial. The tallest Accipitriform, it can grow to a height of as much as 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in). The Secretarybird eats small vertebrates and insects, which it flushes from the grass by stomping its long legs. It will then chase after its prey on foot and kill it by stomping. Only small prey items such as wasps and grasshoppers will the Secretarybird kill with its beak.

The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) (image 2) is the only living species of its family, and the most widespread Accipitriform, living almost worldwide wherever there is water. The Osprey's diet consists almost exclusively of fish. Their vision is well adapted to detecting underwater objects from the air. Prey is first sighted when the Osprey is 10–40 m (33–131 ft) above the water, after which the bird hovers momentarily and then plunges feet first into the water. They will often completely submerge underwater, only to immediately surface and take flight with their prey in tow.

The Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) is a uniquely omnivorous Accipitriform, with a diet consisting of 60% to 90% palm-fruit, as well as wild dates, oranges, other fruits, some grains, and acacia seeds.

Most vultures have flat feet adapted for walking, and lack the grip strength of their predatory cousins. But the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) has maintained strong feet, which it uses to carry and drop large bones in order to crack them open to more manageable pieces. The Bearded Vulture is the only known vertebrate whose diet consists of 70–90% bone.

The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is one of the few birds known to use tools. Egyptian Vultures will use a pebble as a hammer on large eggs they wish to eat, swinging the pebble down onto the egg repeatedly until it cracks. They will also use twigs to roll up wool, making it easily transported back to their nest.

The Bearded Vulture and the Egyptian Vulture are the only birds known to use cosmetics. They will bathe in iron-rich dust or mud, or rub it on their bodies, dying their feathers yellow, orange, or even red. Both sexes will dye their feathers, and it seems to serve no purpose other than to look good.

The Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis), Slender-billed Kite (Helicolestes hamatus), and Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus) are specialists in preying on snails, which usually constitute 50–95% of their diet.

Many accipitrids of almost all sizes have been recorded as capturing and then flying with prey of equal weight or even slightly heavier than themselves in their talons, a feat that requires great strength. Usually, the bird will leave prey at the kill site and return to feed repeatedly. Accipitrids such as the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) and Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus) have successfully hunted ungulates, such as deer and antelope, and other large animals (kangaroos and emus in the Wedge-tailed) weighing more than 30 kg (66 lb), 7–8 times their own mass.

Most accipitrids are solitary, or only share space with their mate, but the Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) is known for being a “pack hunter”. Flocks of Harris’s Hawks generally consist of a dominant female, her mate, and the young of previous years. The flock will hunt cooperatively, working together to hunt comparatively large prey such as hares, and sharing the meal after bringing it down.

Some harriers have evolved to become polygynous, with a single smaller male breeding with and then helping multiple females raise young.

The single largest known tree nest known for any animal belonged to a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and was found to be 6.1 m (20 ft) deep and 2.9 meters (9.5 ft) across, and to weigh 3 short tons (2.7 metric tons). Bald Eagles usually build onto their previous nest every year.

The Bald Eagle is considered a conservation success story. The Bald Eagle was severely affected in the mid-20th century by a variety of factors, among them the use of the pesticide DDT. While DDT was not lethal to the adult bird, it interfered with their calcium metabolism, making them either unable to lay eggs, or lay eggs which had thin, brittle shells which could not stand the weight of a brooding adult. By the 1950s there were only 412 nesting pairs in the 48 contiguous states of the USA. Other factors in Bald Eagle population reductions were a widespread loss of habitat, as well as both legal and illegal shooting. In Alaska alone, approximately 70,000 Bald Eagles were shot in a 12 year period. The Bald Eagle was declared an endangered species in the USA in 1967, and laws were put into place prohibiting killing of the birds. But the most significant protection occurred in 1972, when DDT was finally banned in the US, and in 1989 when it was banned in Canada. The Bald Eagle has significantly rebounded since then, and as of 2007, is classified as “least concern”, a testament of what regulation can do. However, today, the greatest threat to eagles in the US and Canada is the continued use of lead, with more than half of adult eagles across 38 US states already suffering from lead poisoning. Bald Eagles mainly eat fish and carrion. Lead poisoning comes from lead shot used by hunters, as well as lead sinkers used by fishermen and ingested by fish.

The White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) is critically endangered, with a global population of less than 6,000 individuals. Once numbering in the millions, the White-rumped Vulture was thought to be “the most abundant large bird of prey in the world”. Following the Indian Vulture Crisis (see below), the White-rumped Vulture has declined by 99%, the steepest decline in birds since North America’s Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius).

Vultures are nature’s disease control. They are highly effective scavengers, and are able to digest and resist many diseases with their highly acidic stomach acid, stopping the spread when they scavenge a carcass.

Old World Vultures are the most imperiled group of birds on the planet, with around 70% of vulture species threatened with extinction. The extent to which we need vultures became incredibly apparent beginning in the 1980s in India, with an ongoing event now known as the “Indian Vulture Crisis”. Most of India’s vulture populations plummeted due to indirect poisoning from NSAID painkillers left in the bodies of deceased cattle. After vultures began to disappear, carcasses were left to rot, increasing the populations of less-effective scavengers such as rats and feral dogs. The feral dog population increased by the millions, also increasing the amount of rabies bite cases. Since the disappearance of vultures, India has seen a significant amount of rabies cases, causing more than 47,000 extra deaths. Animal carcasses left to rot have also contaminated the water supply in rural areas. It is estimated that the Indian Vulture Crisis has cost over $40 billion in economic impact.

Similarly, the African Vulture Crisis has only just begun. In Africa, vultures suffer from accidental and intentional poisonings, as many farmers leave poisoned carcasses out to keep predators away from their livestock. Poachers will also poison and kill vultures, as their presence can alert park rangers that the poachers have made a kill.

While New World Vulture populations seem to be doing fine (excluding the California Condor), and are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it is best to be wary should the Americas face their own vulture crisis. Like in Africa, American farmers may target vultures as perceived threats to their livestock, or poison predators resulting in the accidental poisoning of vultures. Vultures also suffer from many of the same threats as other birds of prey, including lead poisoning, rodenticide poisoning, and loss of habitat. Most South American vultures are also severely understudied, and their populations could be dropping without our knowledge.

#physically restraining myself from giving more Vulture Facts #I have a whole hour long PPT presentation on the vulture extinction crisis just sitting here #animal polls #round 3 #reptilia #Accipitriformes

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ilianasbruce · 6 days ago

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“An owl for your lover.” — I

word count: 6,230

summary: an owl was watching you at your hearth and he believed that you were much better in his nest rather than the bat’s.

warnings: spoilers for “Batman: Court of Owls” and pestering with non-consensual touching, darker thoughts.

notes: hello, hello!!! ♡ i hope you guys are very alright. i’ve come up with another idea after i re-read the “Court of Owls” and “Night of the Owls” and i said why not!!! so, this will be a two-part story about the young Bruce in his early years before he discovered the truth about the Court; this can include a bit of spoilers about the comics. i wanted to focus and create something from the very specific events of Batman that had the potential to include his lover. i hope you’d like this as much as i do and please, hit me with your thoughts on this!!! thank you so much for your support of my fiction and i love you!! kiss, kiss!!! ♡ ♡ ♡

Being Bruce's wife granted you many things, put you in situations you would never imagine or could achieve. Not only a name, but lots of chances at such a young age, too. You took this tremendous chance naturally and you turned into trying to learn as many things as you could. Such as chess or tennis (Bruce loved to see you in your little, white tennis skirt as you got ready to leave the house), maybe learning piano in the reading room of Manor by Bruce’s old tutors. The doors of any kind of event were open for you with no limit, yet as a tradition, you’d go to the ones that intrigued you the most. Such as the opera houses or theatres which you treasured to attend every week. As an outcome, your name and vision in Gotham’s highest society were slowly sculpted from the decisions you made.

Being one of the highest-ranked socialites in Gotham had its duality. But for you, as a young woman and wife, it was a nightmare. There was always a constant eye on you from everywhere, everyone. You were not an ordinary bride of someone, you were Bruce Wayne’s wife.

The Waynes’ last name curved next to your name was sufficient for your reputation. It both preceded you and him, creating a marvel and enigma around your name and characteristics, marking you as the one who stole the Prince of Gotham's heart. Elites and media were incessantly watching, engaging with you at any opportunity — even though you were trying to keep a low, steady profile.

In any place you went or attended, there was always someone who would approach you or catch sight of you. They would circle you around as vultures, always near for some meat. They were a completely different breed, too much for your kindness or character. You were too young and inexperienced to deal with them professionally, among the elite and media of Gotham. Bruce was always the keen and capable one to handle them; directing the steering wheel to the exact target to get them off you two every single time without creating any disagreement.

Maybe it was because he was focused. Maybe it was because he knew how to conceal himself as he did as Batman did conceal himself in the darkness. Or maybe, he was a man. The man that society treated as a phenomenon, while a woman was branded as a witch, specifically a woman whose roots weren't in the Gothamite high league. You never knew. But what you knew was that Gotham's highest community was interested in you in both flattering and cynical ways.

You were the face of the Waynes now. Since Bruce was busy, Alfred had suggested that you attend to represent Bruce’s name. Truthfully, the invitations were referred to Bruce’s name, so someone had to do something about them. The sole person who could replace him was you, his wife. The idea was approved by Bruce since he had no time for socializing and he wanted to show you off. How could he not when he had a precious treasure?

Alfred would accompany you to the places as your personal guardian and chauffeur. And it was the only time you felt alright, in the back of the car with no smoldering eyes on you until you were left alone for the whole night in the spotlight, to Alfred came back to take you to the Manor.

So, when on a random November night in Gotham, sitting in the private opera box, you were feeling at least secluded — away from the prying eyes. But since the beginning of the night, you were so sure that someone was lurking in the corner of the whole house, specifically watching you, instead of the performers on the stage. You were so sure, you had caught his glimpse when your eyes were wandering before ascending the grand, oak stairs to your box. You had an uncomfortable feeling inside you throughout the whole night after seeing him, but you were safe now. Or that you hoped.

The uneasy sense was swirling in your head but you were brushing it off to the side. Since your marriage, you have been in the spotlight — like a deer in the headlights. It had been a year now but you were still struggling in every way. The best action was relieve stress was to put it at the back of your head until it did not itch anymore, as you were starting to formulate it as a habit recently. And when the performance finished its first half, you were descending the stairs for a mere drink, such as water, when you were startled by his voice.

“Oh my, isn't this the young lady we have been hearing about?”

In the faint light of the opera house, your eyes found his form as he stood with a winning smile on his face. You had seen him a few times truthfully, so he was no stranger to you, but you preferred it was better with no familiarity between each other.

“May I?” he asked for your hand with a gleam in his green eyes.

Those serpent-like green eyes.

You reluctantly pressed your hand into his gloved palm as he watched your every momentum with great interest. He kissed your hand, keeping his lips on your soft skin for a few prolonged seconds more. You freed your hand willingly but in a polite way as much as you could (for not creating any hostility) from his hold while he fixed his posture.

“Mrs. Wayne, what a delight to see you.” he clicked his tongue, “you know I never got your name. Such a shame for not directing the actual name of a lovely girl like you.”

He was older than Bruce, one or two years. A widower — you had heard from the society of elites when they were compassionately conversing about him as he was giving his award-winning smiles to his business partner. He was a golden boy such as your husband among them but he was more in the sense of attention. He could be mattered as the definition of ‘handsome’, but to you, he was just a normal high-level Gothamite, just with the same privileges as your husband.

He could see your unwillingness, your quietness around him thus he gave you an easy smile. “I don’t bite.” he murmured as his eyes glinted with satisfaction.

But you had a feeling that he loved to bite. You gave him your name anyway, since it was impossible for any member of Gotham high society to be unheard of your name. And for someone like him — whom you had caught a glimpse of on many occasions you had been to, always lurking on the corner where you were (must be the coincidence, huh?), it was ridiculous to be unaware of your name. He repeated it with a murmur, as if gauging how the letters would roll on his tongue; as if he’d get used to calling you more.

“Will,” he exchanged his name in return. “Will Powers.”. You politely nodded your head, trying to make an attempt to retreat to your secluded seat. Your attempts were futile.

“Where is Bruce?” he asked. “It’d be a crime to leave a girl like yourself alone.”

You hated the way his eyes were gazing at you, every inch of your face as he was distracting you with his words. There was slyness in them, heavily blurred with years of practiced pleasantries, dissecting your beauty. A snake was a snake, no matter what — even if it looked like a serene water.

“He,” you uttered as an answer to him, “He is abroad for business.”. Your words did not entertain him. He tilted his head, giving you a dissatisfied look. “Oh yeah?” he muttered before raising a brow. “I just saw him a few days ago. Guess it is still the same Bruce with his fast life activities.”

“Pardon me, Mr. Powers. I need to return to my seat.”

Nor did you want to entertain him. “Will.” he said in the seconds, “call me Will, please.”

You, in the next seconds, easily bypassed him. Before you ascended the grand staircase of the 18th-century, Arkhams constructed opera house, his words made you hesitate in your escape a bit. “Will I see you around?” he muttered to your back. You gave him a confused but unkind glare from your shoulder which made him smirk. “..Mrs. Wayne,” he muttered, “please do tell your husband that I am expecting a reply from him. About business. Let him know my waiting.”

You did not. You did not utter a single word about your interaction with him to Bruce. It was mainly because you were uneasy about Powers, not even letting a thought of him come into your head after seeing his snake-like green eyes that night, alone and face to face. And you knew if you muttered any word of your uneasiness to him, Bruce would hunt him down. The last thing you wanted was to add a new issue to Batman while he was busy with the murder of a high-profile elite member of Gotham. There was an enigma around it and he was focused on that.

You encountered Will again and again after the opera. He was eccentric and keen in his moves around you, like orbiting you. You were courteous for your own good to the people who were into you and your husband, but there was a sense in the air that Will was more into you than your husband and business. You could feel the twitch of excitement when your eyes would meet as you gazed at the room or his inclination towards you with his words. He was bolder in the next encounters between you two and you were speechless in the tongue every single time.

What was more startling to you was that he had a wife until a few years before. Nevertheless, he was still thriving in his chivalry and player reputation, as a widower, too. Gotham elites adored him heavily, media adored him heavily, and you.. You were trying to escape from him as much as you could.

It was stupid really. You could’ve said it to Bruce, you really could’ve. But you did not, because you.. God, you thought that you could handle it just yourself. There was a thought in you back then, you were trying to overcome the burdens of being his young wife without bothering him. When the word of ‘burden’ came to your mind every time, it shamed you; you were in love with Bruce and you were ready to do anything for him just as he was ready for you, too. Yet it was a toll on you, since Gotham treated you and your love not just as something to be celebrated, but as something like an obligation. Thus, you were stubborn in handling your wifely duties (as you believed), endeavoring to be the one in charge, chirping your wings in the gusty weather.

There was no blame on you in truthfulness. They were the vultures, some of them owls, prying on the little bird of love. You were trying, but they were steps ahead of you. It required years of mastery to overcome them. And you were trying nonetheless.

“I really wonder when I’ll see him right next to you properly,” he muttered behind you, startling you in the process, as you were in some institution gathering on one day. You met his gaze as you turned to him, giving him creased brows. He simply gave you an unimpressed smile. “Must be boring, huh? Going to the places alone.”

“I am here for the lectures, Mr. Powers.” you retorted to him simply, trying to end the conversation as much as you could. He clicked his tongue at the word choice of yours. “Will.” he said, then he continued. “I have been seeing you for weeks, nearly at every gathering I attended and you are always alone.”

His green eyes were contemplative, explicitly admiring your features. “I mean, if I had you as my wife, I’d never let you out of my sight.”

“Pardon me, Mr. Powers, I-”

“Will.”

You two stared at each other for a few seconds in a dead silence. Your eyes were holding the raw flame at his boldness and he was irritated by your stubbornness to keep him at bay. You never knew why he thought he had the right to say whatever he wanted to you, as if his open flirtation with his eyes was not enough. Was it because he saw just you? You, without your beloved Bruce, in the amid of two-faced plotters with dignity and a small amount of experience? Or was he trying to prove something? You never knew. But one thing was clear that you had had enough of him and his motives.

“I’m just honest with you,” he said, his voice calm. “You don't deserve to be lonely.”

“What do you know about me?” you uttered irritated. He was silent for a few seconds, before answering you. “Just the observation.”

That riled you up more; his quiet slithering and the slight pridefulness in his eyes at your irritated beauty for his eyes. His view woke your restrained apprehension of being unable to fulfill your wifely duties (such as being unable to deal with them properly and letting yourself be lost in the process) unconsciously. Your warmed face was a sight for him and you knew it.

“I don't need your observation.” you said resentfully. “Just stay away from me, please.”

His expression did not alter a bit. “Or what?” he purred at your vision. “Bringing your husband next time?” he chuckled, tilting his head with the crinkle of his eyes. “You know we would finally see him after weeks of business.”

He was just knew to push you to the edge. You did say nothing at his mocking, staring at him in silence with a flame in your eyes. He sighed before adding, “What possibly could be occupying his time? Business, huh?” he leaned his face slightly toward yours with a murmur. “Or what? Is he crime-fighting or something for Gotham? Hm?”

His words were decorated with his merry tone after his laugh, but his eyes.. God, his eyes dared you. As if he were testing you, as if he knew what Bruce was up to. You did not know if your eyes gave away at his unfunny remark, but you tried to keep your composure. “You seem so interested in my husband.” you told him. That made an emotion flicker in his eyes. He answered your words after a few seconds of gazing into your eyes with a slightly irritated expression.

“Oh trust me, dollface, he is not even on my list. The only thing I am interested in is right in front of me.”

You took a step back away from him, ceasing the discourse between you. He gazed at every action of yours. “Good day, Mr. Powers.” you uttered vexed, and turned your back to leave. He did not make an attempt to farewell or any ridiculous sentence as your feet took you away.

The whole day passed with tension in your mind and body. You called Alfred early to pick you up, spending your whole day in your bedroom for a ‘noon nap’. But in fact, you were dishelved.

Alfred immediately picked up your tarnished mood as your head was pressed to the window of the back seat, your eyes watching the streets in dullness as he drove you home. He tried to ask what the reason was for your sadness but you just told him you were tired. Pennyworth was a master of examination and he knew you well enough to know something was bothering you heavily.

You straight went to your bedroom, hiding under the covers in the name of sleep. You did fall asleep though, with the thoughts swirling in your head, exhausted by the effort of weeks and his audacity in declaring his fondness for you. You did not know what was worse: creating a path for him to approach you (as you condemned yourself for it) or not telling Bruce.

You woke up to the warmth of Bruce’s palm on your cheek. He was softly brushing his thumb on your cheek as he looked at you with worry in his baby blue eyes. When your sleep-filled eyes blinked up at him in the pale light of your bed lamp, he smiled at you. “Hi,” he whispered as he leaned on to kiss your temple. He kept his lips on your skin for good extended moments before looking into your beautiful face.

“Hi.” you whispered to him. You had seen him this morning before he left for Wayne Enterprises to talk with Lucius and some few things. He was probably back after you and Alfred but it was afternoon already. He usually let you have your nap, never bothering you to be awake when he wanted your attention. But tonight it was obvious that Alfred had told him you were not well. You appreciated Alfred’s efforts later.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked you quietly, keeping his palm on your warm cheek. You nodded your head slightly, still pressed to your pillow. As he saw there was no movement in you to get out of the bed — you usually would happily pull him for cuddles or stretch out to leave the bed, he suggested something. He must have understood you were bed-rotten because of something vital to destroy your mood. “Why don’t we go to drink some tea? Alfred had made your favorite butter cookies.”

He was just so sweet as always; always searching to lift your mood when you were down. His hand went to your messy hair, threading his fingers between them. You felt terrible suddenly as your eyes started to get blurry from your tears. Bruce saw them immediately, his hand halting his action.

“Baby,” he murmured but your loveliest eyes were already ricocheting. You did not know why his sweetness was the motive of your weeping, maybe it was your inner insecurity about pushing yourself harder about the whole made-up wifely duties or maybe it was because you felt so guilty for not telling your husband about the man who was pursuing you for weeks. But you were dearest to Bruce and he couldn't allow his precious girl to be heartbroken over something he was unaware of at the moment.

He lay down next to you, gathering you into his arms as you cried. He showered soft kisses on your hair, murmuring ‘I got you, my love’. His and Alfred’s first guess was that someone had told you something to hurt you. Bruce could’ve demolished the whole life upside down of whoever dared to utter any malicious word to you. But it was deeper than that.

You wetted his white shirt with your tears as you wept in his arms, half aching with a headache in your post-waking-up, half filled with embarrassment. You cried for quite some time in his arms. In the next mintues of your pacifying, Bruce kissed your head for once again before asking you. “Talk to me, baby. What’s wrong?”

You were silent after his words, too. He did not push you more in those seconds and you were grateful. He knew well enough to know you’d come around to tell him. You always told him what was on your pretty head. “I feel so stupid.” you muttered to his shirt.

“I… I-”

Your gaze found his tense one. His hand went from your waist to your cheek, brushing the tear-stained skin. “Shh,” he whispered, “I’m just right there. Breathe.”

You did as he said and after regaining your breath, you spoke again. “There is someone,” you felt disgusted, even though you were not to be blamed, “Someone who is pestering me.”

His brows creased a bit as he heard your words, yet he did not mutter a word. “I,” you inhaled, “I should’ve told you sooner but, I.. I-”

Tears threatened to come again but he got you. “My love, tell me.” he pulled your face closer to his with intention in his blue eyes under his creased thick brows. You knew him not to prolong your words. “Will Powers.” you said to him, “H-he is just.. He was just pursuing me around for weeks.”

“Why did you not tell me that before?” his tone was not accusatory, he was just questioning quietly. “I wasn't fully sure if he really was and I thought I could handle him. Them.” you confessed as you looked into his eyes. “All of them.”

You did not know if he understood what you meant by ‘them’, nonetheless he was aware of your struggle. Bruce had to kiss your fears and insecurities away too many times after you two came home from any event. He saw how the attention and words of them wounded you, both consciously and unconsciously, and to soothe you, he had to do something. Sometimes it showed itself with sex, sometimes it was holding you in his arms as you quietly fell asleep, or sometimes it was the kisses.

Yes, just kisses. He'd kiss your every inch, without any sexual motive (unless you wanted him to do so). He’d brush his lips on your cheeks, your eyelids, your lips, and after discarding your clothes, he’d kiss your bare skin under his fingertips. You’d play with his hair, your fingers between the thick, inky hair as he loved you. After kissing your favorite places, he’d usher you to sleep to leave you in the sheets and darkness for his dual life. You’d be adored by him in the warmth of your bed, your doubts blurred for the next time.

Thus, when you use the words of ‘them’ he realized that he had done damage to let you wander alone in every place he was supposed to be, just for both of you and his family name. You were inexperienced, even though you had been married for almost a year. Bruce himself struggled with ‘them’ back when he landed in Gotham at the age of twenty-five; even though he was the wealthy son with generational roots of aristocracy. He couldn't imagine your poor efforts to get them off you.

His brows eased with a sigh between his lips. “It was my fault.” he pressed his forehead against yours, letting you close your eyes. “I should've been with you.”

Before you said anything, he continued. “Tell me about everything.”

It was almost three weeks after the incident and you were at Manor one morning, in the kitchen. As you were skimming the weekly invitations for you and Bruce, you came across one of them with the golden owl waxed on the paper, addressed to the Waynes. It was an invitation to a masquerade ball in honor of Gotham’s historical architecture. You were staring into it, the curved letters of your name and Bruce’s, almost thoughtfully that you did not realize Bruce’s hands circled your shoulders, hands pressed on the table as he caged you behind. You were distracted by your thoughts as he pressed his lips to your temple as a morning kiss. “Morning,” you murmured to him but he just hummed before asking you.

“What is that, my love?”

His brows were furrowed due to his recognition of the golden owl wax but you couldn't see that. “An invitation.” you said as you handed it to him. When your eyes blinked up at him, he was already staring at the wax. You could tell from his quietness and keen eyes on the paper that something was odd; since he’d usually discard any invitation paper with no effort.

“It is thrown by Powers.” he muttered under his breath. He flipped the envelope to the other side but came back to the waxed part again. Alfred entered the kitchen with his empty tea tray, finding Bruce’s concentrated eyes on the envelope. “Oh, what do we owe the pleasure of your interest in invitations, Sir?”

“Looks like we are going to a ball, Alfred. Make sure to send an approval message, please.”

It was a rainy Saturday night and you were in the back of your vintage car with Bruce on the other side of yours. There was a silence in the car, as you were fiddling with his gloved fingers. He had specifically accepted this invitation, as he explained with briefness that it could be linked to the ‘murder’ (assassination in Alfred’s suggestion, but Bruce was denying it) of the man who had died a few weeks before. And besides, he should come as your knight to teach their places about some matters.

“May I ask what you are planning to find there, Master Bruce?”

“Something useful.”

“How would it be useful if the murder is not connected to the Court of Owls as you refused to acknowledge it? The coin you did find, Sir, was marked by their crest.”

The Court of Owls. A myth or a psalm for your Bruce but for Alfred, it was more than that. The waxed owl on the paper forced Alfred to be more alarmed while Bruce was nonchalant about the situation. He refused to believe any nonsense about the Court, insistent on the fact that he had made sure back in his youth about the non-existence of the Court.

“Guess we’ll be seeing tonight, Alfred.” Bruce muttered as for an end of conversation. He brought your ring-covered fingers to his lips and pressed a few kisses on your skin. When your gaze found his face which was scarcely glistened with the faint glow of street lamps as the car moved, he gave you a small smile. Then, turned his gaze to the raining Gotham.

One hour later, you found yourself quietly listening to Bruce’s voice about some business with an acquaintance. Your hand was on his arm as he kept you close to him, merely listening to his words with your clouded mind. Everyone was around you, including you two were masked (nevertheless, an acquaintance of Bruce recognized him by his voice). For some reason, it felt so good to be obscured. You could finally breathe as you did in your own home, relishing the sweetness of being unrecognized. You, now, understood what Bruce felt in his cowl as he dived through the nights.

After the end of Bruce’s dialogue, he pulled you for a drink. “Water?” he murmured to your skin. You nodded as he flashed you a smirk. He got you to a corner of the ballroom, handing you two glasses of water. You were thirsty and warm-faced, drinking the water contentedly as soon as the glass met your lips.

“If I had known you were thirsty, I would have pulled you to the corner as soon as possible.”

Bruce muttered as he put his glass on the table. “No, it’s okay.” you reassured him as your glass joined next to his. “We can get to the balcony, you know,” he said as his hand found your waist. “For some fresh air.”

You smiled at him when he pulled you closer to his face, his blue eyes gleaming behind his mask. “Some fresh air?” you murmured sweetly.

“Yeah,” he muttered back immediately. “Some fresh air.”

His hand came to your chin to tilt your face to his as he liked for a kiss before you two got interrupted. An eerie music started to play as the lights were dimmed to the point where every masked face was heavily blurred in the evening. You two caught a glimpse of the same confused elites as you. Bruce brushed his thumb over your bottom lip before reluctantly pulling away. He was already keen on his senses, you two were here for something that could help Batman but he just wanted to kiss his wife; it shouldn't be a crime.

“Dear Gothamites,” a thick, velvety voice of the night welcomed you. “We are greeting you for the night. Do enjoy your time here with no limitations until you’re full of what your heart desires. And please, do not forget to get yourself various amounts of partners as a ritual of the night. Happy hunting!”

There were the hushed voices of the crowd you were in, but it was replaced with applause. Bruce was probably searching for something in his head or maybe around, but it was too dark at the moment to see anything from far. He turned to you and tried to get you to walk with him when you were interrupted for the second time in the night.

“Oh my goodness, we are changing our partners?”

In the next few seconds, everyone was ecstatic about the whole partner exchange and Bruce was not having it. But when your hand was taken by some mysterious old man, he had to unwillingly let you go. Like, he couldn't yank and create a scene for not taking his wife from him, could he? You gave him a futile, small wave as you were hauled to the floor and he just watched you in those seconds. He saw it was fruitless to get you back in this, delirious gathering. So, he used this to his advantage and turned his attention to something else while trying to keep you in his peripheral vision in the eerie dusk-like room. But he lost you later since it was almost impossible to keep track of you in the middle of a disguised and thrilled crowd with dancing in the sombre ballroom. He chose to come after you until he found something linked to the murder.

You do not know how many minutes had passed, it could be twenty minutes or hell, maybe almost an hour since you saw Bruce. The whole surroundings of the ballroom were opaque and unclear, there were countless people of Gotham and you were in the middle of a polished waltz. You had danced with three people at least until you were in the arms of someone. It was not your dear Bruce, but you knew his posture from somewhere. He had a camouflage that resembled.. nothing, a whiteish sheen-coated mask covering half of his face. A curve appeared next to his mouth.

“Well, hello there.”

Oh, you know that hush of tone. That posture, that arrogance, and that gaze on you behind the disguise. He pulled you by your waist to himself more as soon as you were in his arms. You were still quiet, disheveled by the coincidence, as he leaned his masked face to yours. His serpent-like eyes were blurred by the haziness of your surroundings yet you were so sure that he was elated by his jewel — was that really a discovery aimlessly? As he guided you through the steps, he heard no word from you. “Something caught your tongue, dollface?”

He swirled you slightly with his deft hands, pulling you back to fit against him. His face was inches closer than before but you pulled back slightly to create some distance between you. “Are you still unaccompanied?” he muttered to you. “What a shame.”

He led you to the more obscured corner as you two waltzed as phantoms on the marble floor. He led you graciously through every move, twirling you in his arms like a doll. You could’ve broken free, left him immediately but his grip on you was sealed enough to make it complicated for you without creating a fuss. “I can accompany you, you know,” he suggested as he slithered the words into the dense air between you. “We can enjoy the night as the nocturnals.”

“I-”

You tried to unfasten his grip on your hand but you met with hopelessness, him regardlessly pressing you into the darkness. He was guiding you with masterful posture and motions, with no permission to you about the moves, painting a scene of two devotees — deceiving any eye from interruption and at the same time, letting them see how he was heedful about you, if anyone recognized you two from the disguises. He was deliberately pushing you to the point where it was unclear for the gazes; since you could see it with your timid eyes and your already apprehensive mind. You could see in his determined but cunning gaze, his luring you with his physical advantage. As if he were pulling you into his nest, to the place that you were supposed to belong.

You pushed your hand against his shoulder for a mere attempt, but at that time, he halted abruptly as the crowd in the name of dance he was leading you through. You saw his curve of a smile of thrill on his face by the slight glow of the dim candlelight that had been lit in the last minutes of the dance. So, you were correct — you were close to the ill-lit corner you’ve been hauled into. Before anything blazed between you two, a voice pulled your attention from him and your throbbing heart in your throat.

“May I take the honor?”

Your concealed pretty eyes behind your mask recognized Bruce immediately when they turned to him. You directly pressed your hand from Will’s shoulder to his gloved palm, indicating your eagerness to take you into his arms. Will reluctantly was forced to let you fly into your lover’s arms, your head nestled under Bruce’s chin and your hands on his broad shoulders like a frightened little bird.

You were sure that both of them were staring each other in the face, neither of them had shifted for a few seconds as Bruce held you tight. It was Will who let a disappointed smile on his lips next, both as his emotion and an acknowledgment of your Bruce.

“Bruce,” he greeted your husband as if they were friends for years instead of two almost rivals, while in fact they were mere acquaintances in the same highest community. “I was surprised that you showed up.” he muttered half-jokingly, half-truthfully. His eyes were sincere as his words, something flickering in them similarly.

“Well, I was here.”

Bruce was straightforward in his tone like his hand on your waist to hold you. He did not like to play passively when some jeopardy was directed to his territory — his city or his wife. He was not smiling, he was not there for entertainment, or a two-faced viper that immediately slithered back to his hole with a fraudulent pleasantry at the counterattack; specifically, under your Bruce’s keen and vexed eyes. He was in the middle of thoughts of breaking Will’s jaw right at the moment, but your frightened form in his arms was a deterrent. He knew better who could do the job.

Will clicked his tongue, clearly wasn't impressed by Bruce’s appearance, and irritation. He was too bold for his own good, acting like a saint who was about to be staked on the fire when in reality he was intending to pull you into some secluded corner for himself with darker thoughts (thankfully, the candles were lit on time for Bruce to find you in the minutes as he looked for you almost for twenty minutes). As if Bruce had no reason to be enraged; like he should be grinning at the man who was harassing his wife for weeks and now.

“If you ever dare to come near or touch her again, I will show you genuine show-up.”

Will tilted his head at a slight angle with impudence and fearlessness in his green eyes under the mask. They stared at each other before another classical rhythm started by the orchestra. Will exhaled quietly before his eyes shamelessly found your timid form in Bruce’s arms. He gave you a joyless smile before bowing his head slightly for a courtesy.

“It was such a pleasure to dance with you, Mrs. Wayne. Have a good evening.”

You and Bruce watched as he wandered through the crowd from the secluded corner of you were. For a few minutes, you were quiet and breathing against Bruce’s tuxedo, relishing the feeling of his safe arms. You felt his hand hold your cheek to tilt your face up at his.

“You okay?”

You could hear the extreme worry in his tone, his blue eyes holding apprehension in them. You slightly nodded your head with dizzy mind from fear but that was not enough for him. “Did he do something to you?” he asked more as his eyes were glowing with concern and irritation. You couldn't have time for a word with him since he pulled you gently.

“Come, we’re leaving.”

He led you through the waltzing crowd to the entryway, gathering your coats and letting you two escape the crowd into the rainstorm. He kept his coat over your head as you walked to your car, trying to protect you from the downpour.

“I’ll break his every fucking finger.” he muttered as he held you tight under his arms.

When you reached the car, you slipped inside first while Bruce met you from the other side in the backseat after you. He was soaked after five minutes of both searching for Alfred and the car. Alfred caught his vexed expression in the mirror as he started the engine. “Something useful, Sir?”

“Yeah,” he muttered as he took off the mask from your pretty face gently with great focus. Then, he pulled out his.

“Something very useful to Batman for a new technique.”

thank you so much for reading!!! ♡ ♡

#bruce wayne x reader #bruce wayne x you #bruce wayne x fem!reader #bruce wayne x batmom #bruce wayne #batman and batmom as newlyweds!!!#batman x fem!reader #batman x batmom #batman x you #batman x reader #batman #dc comics #bruce wayne x reader smut #batman x reader smut

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one-green-frog · 5 months ago

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Could I get a sanji x male reader pls? Also the reader having devil fruit powers that give him wings pls?

By Your Side, Always

Sanji x m!winged!Reader

The gentle sway of the Thousand Sunny was peaceful as the sun began its descent, painting the sky in hues of amber and rose. Sanji leaned against the railing of the ship, his ever-present cigarette hanging between his fingers. His thoughts, however, were far from any culinary ideas or flirtations. His eyes were trained on the figure perched atop the crow’s nest — (Y/N).

You had joined the crew only a few months ago, bringing with you the unique powers of your Devil Fruit. The “Tori Tori no Mi: Model barn owl” had granted you a pair of wings, magnificent and grand, each feather with an interesting new pattern when put together create the most beautiful wings.To Sanji, those wings were not just a testament to your abilities but a reflection of your spirit — free, untamed, and breathtakingly beautiful.

“Sanji, you okay there? You’ve been staring at (Y/N) for ages,” Nami teased as she walked by, a smirk tugging at her lips.

Sanji jolted, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. “I-I was just… making sure he’s not slacking off! Someone’s gotta keep an eye on him!”

Nami chuckled knowingly before leaving him to his thoughts. Sanji cursed under his breath, feeling exposed. He couldn’t deny it anymore — he was absolutely smitten with you. From the way your laughter echoed across the ship to the moments you swooped down with those magnificent wings, his heart raced every time.

Just then, you descended gracefully from the crow’s nest, landing on the deck with a soft thud. Your wings folded behind you, their sheer size spoke of their strength. Sanji quickly straightened, taking a deep drag of his cigarette to mask his flustered expression.

“Hey, Sanji,” you greeted, your voice carrying a warmth that made his chest tighten. “What’s for dinner tonight? I’m starving.”

“Something special,” Sanji replied, his usual suave tone kicking in despite his nerves. “You’ve been working hard today. I’ll make sure it’s worthy of a king.”

You chuckled, rubbing the back of your neck. “You’re too kind. But honestly, I think Zoro might collapse if he hears you pampering me again.”

“Let that mosshead collapse,” Sanji shot back, his tone playful. “You deserve the best.”

Your laughter filled the air, and Sanji felt his heart flutter. Before he could stop himself, his eyes drifted to your wings again. They caught the fading sunlight, each feather gleaming like it had been dipped in gold.

“Sanji?” you asked, tilting your head. “You’ve been staring at my wings a lot lately. Do they freak you out or something?”

Sanji’s eyes widened in alarm. “What? No! Not at all!” He stubbed out his cigarette hurriedly, trying to find the right words. “They’re… They’re incredible, (Y/N). Really. I’ve never seen anything like them.”

A soft smile spread across your face, and you stretched one wing out slightly. “You can touch them if you want.”

Sanji froze. “Are you serious?”

“Of course,” you said, stepping closer. “I don’t let just anyone touch them, but for you? It’s fine.”

Sanji’s breath hitched as you stood before him, your wings partially spread. Tentatively, he reached out, his fingers brushing against the soft feathers. They were warm and far softer than he had imagined. A strange sense of calm washed over him as he continued to trail his fingers along the edge.

“They’re… amazing,” he murmured, almost to himself. “Strong but soft. Like you.”

You blinked, surprised by his words. “Sanji…”

He pulled his hand back, suddenly aware of how intimate the moment had become. “Sorry! That was out of line—”

“No,” you interrupted, your voice gentle. “It wasn’t. I... that was very nice of you to say.. thank you."

Sanji looked up, his blue eyes meeting yours. For a moment, the world seemed to fall away, leaving just the two of you standing there, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun.

“I’ve always admired you,” Sanji admitted softly. “Not just your wings, but everything about you. You’re brave, kind, and you’ve brought so much life to this ship. I… I think I’m falling for you, (Y/N).”

Your eyes widened, and for a moment, Sanji feared he’d overstepped. But then, a smile broke across your face, and you stepped closer, your wings enveloping the two of you in a cocoon of warmth.

“You’re something else, Sanji,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper. “I think I’ve fallen for you too.”

Sanji’s breath caught in his throat as you leaned in, your lips brushing against his in a soft, tender kiss. His arms instinctively wrapped around your waist, pulling you closer as his heart threatened to burst from his chest.

When you finally pulled away, Sanji was left speechless, his cheeks flushed and his cigarette forgotten on the deck.

“So,” you said, your voice teasing, “about that dinner? I hope it’s as special as you promised.”

Sanji chuckled, his usual charm returning. “For you, my angel? It’ll be the best meal of your life.”

As you laughed and walked away, your wings swaying gently with each step, Sanji couldn’t help but feel like the luckiest man alive. You were his angel, and he was determined to show you just how much you meant to him

#male reader #x male reader #one piece x reader #one piece #one piece x male reader #black leg sanji #vinsmoke sanji #sanji #sanji x reader #sanji x male reader #fluff

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vestaignis · 1 month ago

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Виргинский филин (Bubo virginianus) на Карнегии (лат. Carnegiea).

Виргинский филин распространён как в Северной, так и в Южной Америке. Эти пернатые хищники великолепно приспособлены к различным условиям среды. Их можно встретить в густых лесах, горных районах, пустынях и даже в городских парках. Второе своё название – большой рогатый филин – эта птица получила за хорошо развитые перьевые ушки.

Размерами виргинский филин уступает евразийскому. Средняя масса тела самок составляет 1,6 кг, а самцов 1,2 кг. Крылья виргинского филина небольшие, но широкие. Это придаёт хищнику высокую манёвренность. Его диета по подсчётам специалистов включает около 500 видов животных. Виргинские филины используют различные приёмы охоты в зависимости от обстоятельств. Они могут выслеживать добычу в полёте или сидя на засаде, иногда они охотятся вышагивая по земле. Этот сильный хищник способен справиться с добычей, значительно превосходящей его размерами. В зависимости от местообитания, гнёзда виргинских филинов могут располагаться в старых дуплистых деревьях, на кактусах, на уступах скал или в небольших пещерах и даже на земле. Нередко они используют старые гнёзда других птиц: канадских гусей, ворон, цапель, ястребов, и т.д.

Самка откладывает обычно 2–4 яйца и насиживает их в течение 26–35 дней. Виргинские филины чрезвычайно агрессивны при защите своего гнезда и будут продолжать атаковать, пока злоумышленник не будет убит или изгнан. В возрасте 6–7 недель птенцы покидают гнездо, но держатся неподалёку. До 9–10 недель, пока они не смогут хорошо летать, родители продолжают их кормить. Молодые птицы остаются на территории родителей до осени.

The Virginia eagle-owl (Bubo virginianus) on Saguaro Cactus (Latin Carnegiea).

The Virginia owl is widespread in both North and South America. These feathered predators are perfectly adapted to various environmental conditions. They can be found in dense forests, mountainous areas, deserts, and even in urban parks. This bird got its second name – the great horned owl – for its well-developed feathery ears.

The size of the Virginia owl is inferior to the Eurasian eagle owl. The average body weight of females is 1.6 kg, and males 1.2 kg. The wings of the Virginia owl are small but wide. This gives the predator high maneuverability. According to experts, his diet includes about 500 species of animals. Virgin owls use different hunting techniques depending on the circumstances. They can track prey in flight or sitting in ambush, sometimes they hunt by pacing on the ground. This powerful predator is able to cope with prey significantly larger than its size. Depending on the habitat, the nests of the Virgin owl can be located in old hollow trees, on cacti, on ledges of rocks or in small caves and even on the ground. They often use the old nests of other birds: Canada geese, crows, herons, hawks, etc.

The female usually lays 2-4 eggs and incubates them for 26-35 days. Virgin owls are extremely aggressive when defending their nest and will continue to attack until the intruder is killed or driven away. At the age of 6-7 weeks, the chicks leave the nest, but stay nearby. Up to 9-10 weeks, until they can fly well, their parents continue to feed them. Young birds stay in their parents' territory until autumn.

Источник://t.me/okgooglearth, /sonoranimages.wordpress.com /2022/06/04/great-horned-owls-my-dilemma/, //www.owlpages. com/owls/species.php?i=302, /onlineartfestival.com/wp-content /uploads/2023/07/Great-Horned-Owl-on-Top-of-Saguaro-Cactus-by-Byron-Nelsen-Photography.jpg, /www.darwinmuseum.ru/blog /virginskij-filin, //imagesarizona.com /wp-content/uploads/2022/07 /Great-Horned-Owls-in-North-Scottsdale-Isabel-Guerra-Clark.jpg.

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reasonsforhope · 10 months ago

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"Abby Allen has no problem with her neighbours peering over her luxuriant hedges to see what she is up to on her farm.

For years she has been carrying out ad hoc experiments with wildlife and farming techniques; in her lush Devon fields native cattle graze alongside 400-year-old hedgerows, with birds and butterflies enjoying the species-rich pasture.

Under the environmental land management scheme (ELMS), introduced by the government in 2021, those experiments were finally being funded. “We have a neighbour who has always been more of an intensive farmer,” she says, but he is now considering leaving fields unploughed to help the soil. “It genuinely is having such a huge impact in changing people’s mindsets who traditionally would never have thought about farming in this way.”

The new nature payments scheme followed the UK’s exit from the EU, when the government decided to scrap the common agricultural payments scheme, which gave a flat subsidy dependent on the number of acres a farmer managed. In its place came ELMS, which pays farmers for things such as planting hedges, sowing wildflowers for birds to feed on and leaving corners of their land wild for nature.

But these schemes are now at threat of defunding, as the Labour government has refused to commit to the £2.4bn a year spending pot put in place by the previous Conservative government. With spending tight and the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, cutting back on infrastructure and hinting at tax rises, a cut to the ELMS scheme may be on her list.

However, government data released last week found the schemes were working to tentatively bring nature back to England’s farmland. Butterflies, bees and bats are among the wildlife being boosted by ELMS, with birds among the chief beneficiaries, particularly ones that largely feed on invertebrates. An average of 25% more breeding birds were found in areas utilising the eco-friendly schemes.

...there are also farmers who welcome the schemes. Allen says the ELMS has helped her farm provide data and funds to expand and improve the good things they were doing for nature. “Some of the money available around things like soil testing and monitoring – instead of us going ‘we think these are the right things to do and providing these benefits,’ we can now measure it. The exciting thing now is there is money available to measure and monitor and kind of prove that you’re doing the right things. And so then you can find appropriate funding to do more of that.”

Allen, who is in the Nature Friendly Farming Network, manages a network of farms in England, most of which are using the ELMS. This includes chicken farms where the poultry spend their life outside rather than in sheds and other regenerative livestock businesses...

Mark Spencer was an environment minister until 2024 when he lost his seat, but now spends more time in the fields admiring the fruits of his and his family’s labour. He says that a few years of nature-friendly agriculture has restored lapwings and owls.

“On the farm, I haven’t seen lapwings in any number for what feels like a whole generation. You know, as a kid, when I was in my early teens, you’d see lapwings. We used to call them peewits. We’d see them all the time, and they sort of disappeared.

“But then, me and my neighbours changed the way we did cropping, left space in the fields for them to nest, and suddenly they returned. You need to have a piece of land where you’re not having mechanical machinery go over it on a regular basis, because otherwise you destroy the nest. We’ve also got baby owls in our owl box now for the first time in 15 years. They look mega, to be honest, these little owls, little balls of fluff. It is rewarding.”"

-via The Guardian, August 23, 2024

#rewilding #nature #sustainability #endangered species #birds #wildlife #england #uk #uk politics #farming #sustainable agriculture #good news #hope

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gotta-winwin · 4 months ago

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watching him fade away | yjh

⭐ starring: jeonghan

💌 genre: angst, a sprinkle of fluff

💬 preview: It’s been 497 days since Jeonghan had awoken, only to realize he was completely alone.

tw/cw: post apocalyptic, conscious AI!jeonghan, abstract character death, fluff, angst, wounds, based on the song: watching him fade away by mac deMarco

🪽fic rating: pg 🪽word count: 1.8k

☁️ masterlist & a/n: writing this has been quite the journey- and there is no better time to drop this than for the angst olympics! i gift this to @diamonddaze01 as a tentative (+loving) beginning to what i'm sure will be many angst fics to come. don't sue me for emotional damage xoxo

this is a part of the angst olympics -- support other authors here!

SYSTEMS LOADING ….

“How might you need my assistance?” His perfectly crafted eyes blinked open. “My name is J-E-O-N-G-H-A-N, your personal robot for everyday needs!”

The bird blinked back at him, ruffling its feathers and slowly waddling away.

“Do you need assistance?”

Silence.

Jeonghan didn’t really know what to make of it. Had someone purchased him from his creators? Where were they? Why was he sitting, legs spread and back leaning against the wall, in the middle of a giant warehouse?

“No assistance then.” The monotonous whirr of his system began clicking as he shut himself off once again.

SYSTEMS REBOOTING ….

It took Jeonghan approximately 4 days, 6 hours and 47 minutes to realize no one was coming for him.

Taking his first steps outside, he allowed his scanning mechanisms to take in his surroundings: the splintering hole in the roof, the overgrown walls, the barren landscape. It took him another 6 minutes to realize he was utterly alone.

And what was an assistant robot supposed to do with no one to assist? The question burned in his mind as his programming worked to figure it out. Who was he supposed to help?

Cheep.

Jeonghan looked down. A spotted brown bird had bumped into his foot, its beak lightly chipping away at the metal. He bent down to scoop it up, scanning its features.

“Baby Wood Thrush.” He identified. “Do you need assistance?”

And so it began, the unlikely bond between robot and nature. Jeonghan found his purpose in assisting the only living things around him, building shelter for the antelope, finding fresh water for the birds, fixing the warehouse roof for the owls to nest in.

But Jeonghan quickly learned that the animals couldn’t speak, not in any language his programming could understand. It made Jeonghan feel incredibly lonely.

SYSTEMS ON ….

Jeonghan had discovered his great affinity for the ocean in his second week as a newly repurposed robot. He couldn’t get too close – the first time he had run in head first, damaging his systems and taking days to repair – but he could sit by the many rocks along the shoreline, moving the crabs and turtles away from the tide.

It made his chest ache as he trained his eyes on the horizon, wondering if there were people to help on the other side of the water. But maybe he was truly the only thing left of mankind, Jeonghan didn’t know.

But he did know he was different now. Water had fallen from his eye sockets last night, when he had turned on to find that a windstorm from last night had knocked over the bird nests, taking with it countless eggs he had been nursing. He couldn’t understand how it had happened, but it had. Jeonghan felt weirdly alive.

The multiple gadgets and cords that made up his physical state felt more like organs and veins, pumping blood through the vessel the creators had called JEONGHAN. Your friendly assistant robot for your everyday needs. But he was much more than that now.

SYSTEMS IN CHAOS ….

A girl.

Jeonghan’s mind short circuited as he walked back into the warehouse, arms ladened with fresh fruit and variously shaped sticks.

“Who-”

The girl turned to face him, and Jeonghan’s true purpose had never seemed so clear to him as it did now. He was meant to assist her.

“Do you need assistance?” He asked like he was programmed to, his keen eyes scanning her body for injury. “You’re hungry.” He commented, spilling his armful of things onto the table and picking out the ripest apple, handing it to her. “Eat.”

She looked at him warily.

“My name is J-E-O-N-G-H-A-N, your personal robot for everyday needs.”

She took the apple.

“My name is Y/N.” She introduced herself, and Jeonghan slotted her name into his database. “Have you seen other people pass through here?”

Jeonghan shook his head, instinctively passing her a second apple once she had finished the first. “It’s been 497 days since I became conscious. You’re the first human to pass through.”

Her lips parted. “497 days.” She repeated. “It feels like it’s been decades.”

Jeonghan opened his mouth to reply and promptly closed it. He had a million questions to ask her but he knew none of it was his place. It wasn’t his job to question — his job was to assist, to accompany, to take care of his employer.

“You’re hurt.” He observed once more, noticing the large gash on her right leg. “Let me help you.”

Maybe it was the calming nature of his voice or his pretty face, but she sat down without protest and extended her leg towards him.

His heart (or lack of one) warmed at the sudden show of trust — that despite the broken world they had found themselves in, there were still pockets of humanity waiting to be found.

SYSTEMS UP ….

In the next couple days, Jeonghan learned what the word banter truly meant.

The girl was fast with her wit, cheeky with her words and unforgiving with his heart. He was sure he had a heart now, for it beat thunderously and quickly for her.

Love was the one thing never programmed into him but he sure knew it now.

“Careful.” He reached a hand out instinctively to steady her, holding her as she regained her balance. “The sunset isn’t going anywhere.”

He followed behind her as they jumped across the lake, using the rocks as a step bridge.

“Quickly, Hannie.” She called, waving at him to quicken his pace. “I want to catch it when it’s still pink and purple.”

“Sunset is 9:00pm tonight.” He informed her, collecting the information from his database. “We have 8 minutes.”

“Still.” Her smile lit up their surroundings better than any ball of fire could.

Fuck the sun, he found himself thinking. She was the brightest thing in this barren land and he felt honored to bask in her rays of light.

“Hannie, look.” She pointed a finger up at the sky once they reached the cliffside. “It’s beautiful.”

Beautiful. Jeonghan hummed in agreement, silently scrolling through his system’s database to log in a new definition.

Note: beautiful directly translates to love, the look on a person’s face during the last legs of daylight. Her hair, blowing gently in the wind.

“How did you end up here?” She asked him, reaching out her hands to intertwine her fingers with his.

His lips curved into a smile, a natural reaction he couldn’t suppress each time she looked at him with her brightly lit eyes. His nonexistent heart beat - badum, badum, badum - in tandem with the swings of their connected arms.

Love was a defect, a sickness for a robot, but with her Jeonghan didn’t mind. He would override his code in order to love her as many times as he needed to.

SYSTEMS DOWN…

He could hear the sound of his depleting battery beeping over the gentle rise and fall of her breath.

Beep. Beep. Beebeebee-

He flips the warning sign off with a reluctant hand. Oh, how he longed to trade in his expensive metal wares for real flesh and blood. His superpowered technology was utterly useless when it came to obtaining the one thing Jeonghan found himself truly wanting – time. Time with her, with the sky, with the world he had found himself falling in love with. Falling in love with her.

“Do you love me?” She had asked him one night, as he held her in the rocking chair he had made out of a wilted tree.

“Of course.” He had replied, because the answer was as clear to him as a math question was.

“But you’re a robot.” She moved slightly away from him to cup her hands around his face. “A very real looking, very handsome robot, but a robot all the same.” A gentle knock against his chest showed that it was hollow. Empty. Void of anything that could ever produce love.

Jeonghan knew it didn’t make sense. “I don’t need a heart to know I love you.” He whispered, pressing her hand against his chest, on the area where his heart would’ve been if he were real. “I love you with my whole being, my whole existence. Not just my heart.”

She smiled, and Jeonghan silently thanked the universe for destroying humanity because it allowed him to meet her.

SYSTEMS STALLING…

“I’ll go out once the sun rises.” She was lacing up her boot, a defiant look on her face. “I’ll find a battery, a charging port– something. We’ve still got time.”

Jeonghan could only weakly nod from his spot on the wooden chair, his powerless legs limp and useless.

He could feel himself rotting from within, his nonexistent lungs rattling with each airless breath he took.

“My love.” He whispered, and she turned back around to face him, halfway out of the garage door.

“Don’t worry, Hannie.” A brave smile formed across her face, and god, did he love her for that. “I’ll find a way to keep you here with me.”

He nodded and watched her leave.

Yet Jeonghan could feel it in his systems, the way parts of him were slowly shutting down as all the energy went to conserve his database. His brain. Everything that made him him.

He was rotting.

He was fading away.

SYSTEMS FAILING…

Jeonghan knew that the end was near. Sitting propped up against the brick wall of the warehouse, he clutched her hand in his limp ones, eyes roaming her face, lips parted in an attempt to comfort her.

He was weakening and both of them knew it.

“We can find the battery you need.” She brought up the idea again, something he had already told her was impossible. “You can’t leave me.”

He wanted to tell her he didn’t want to leave her. Not like this. Not ever. He had a hundred thousand things to tell her.

Yet Jeonghan couldn’t speak.

“You can’t leave me.” She repeated, her eyes plainly showing the hurt she felt at his silence. “You can’t.” Tears tracked down her pretty face.

Jeonghan closed his eyes.

“No.” She protested, a warm hand reaching up to touch his cold cheek. “Open your eyes. Look at me.”

Jeonghan kept his eyes shut.

“Look at me, goddamnit!” She yelled, shaking him. Her voice raised and broke. “Jeonghan, please.”

He couldn’t. Jeonghan didn’t know when he had learned the art of selfishness, but somewhere along the way of loving her, he had become entirely selfish. He couldn’t bear the idea of her crying face being the last thing his database would ever recall seeing.

God, he was selfish. For he wanted the happy version of her all to himself.

“Please.” She begged again, her voice weaker this time around. “Look at me. Don’t leave me.”

His lips parted silently, releasing a breath that wasn’t his to breathe.

“Please.”

Beep. Beep. Bee-

. . .

SYSTEMS REBOOTING…

“How might you need my assistance?” His perfectly crafted eyes blinked open. “My name is J-E-O-N-G-H-A-N, your personal robot for everyday needs!”

“Jeonghan?”

A girl stepped into his line of vision, her eyes rubbed raw from crying.

“Do you need assistance?”

Silence.

“Jeonghan? It’s me.” The girl’s voice broke, and he couldn’t figure out why.

“I’m sorry,” He stood up, scanning her face and entering her into his database. “What is your name?”

#angstolympics #svthub #seventeen imagines #svt #svt imagines #seventeen #seventeen x reader #svt fluff #svt x reader #seventeen scenarios #seventeen fic #svt fic #svt scenarios #svt jeonghan #seventeen jeonghan #jeonghan x you #jeonghan x reader #jeonghan

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