#rock salt update

[annlillyjose]

Rock Salt – WIP Intro

hello again! on today’s news, your girl has a new wip aka something to fixate on and mould her life around for the next couple of months (or years). and because i cannot keep any exciting news to myself, here’s a wip intro.

but before we head into that, here’s a little backstory to how it happened. i finished writing dairy whiskey, i worried about my brain being incapable of forming new book ideas, two to three days after i get this new book idea that i’m totally hooked on, struggles to find a name, names it, decides to go forward with it, so again, here it is – rock salt!

here are the specifics:

disclaimer: this is an original work of fiction. plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated. don’t be a pathetic loser.

genre: literary fiction

pov: first person retrospective

structure: probably going to be just full-length chapters

projected word count: 50k

concept: identical twins rain and norah move out of their family home for college where they purse two different degrees, live with different people in separate homes, and fall in troubles of their own. these begin to affect each other and they grow apart, being forced to navigate the the most confusing part of their lives – their shared existence as twins.

aesthetics/vibes: indigo skies, the beach, moths, seawater, salty breeze, chopping off one’s hair because existential crisis and queerness, lesbian relationships, house parties, fire, gloomy days where you feel like it’s going to rain but it doesn’t, cheap housing, bad grades, rotten food in the fridge, the moon, hanging plants, weed and local flowers

CHARACTERS

if you’ve heard these names before, no you haven’t, but again, they’re from twinepathy – the short story i wrote nearly three years back and scrapped afterwards. i tried to create new characters for this book but they feel like the perfect fit, so here they are.

norah

18

lesbian, she/they

her real name is eleanor

the protagonist and the narrator

studies political science

shoulder-length black hair, dark brown eyes, 5'3, skinny, wheat-coloured skin

always wears basic t-shirts or sweatshirts with a pair of mom jeans

distant, secretive, in constant disapproval of everything

strives on academic validation (and is being too hard on herself to bring in good grades)

rain

also 18

aroace, she/her

her real name is lorraine

studies painting and the applied arts

long black hair, dark brown eyes, 5'3, skinny, wheat-coloured skin

is a goofball, sunshine and rainbows, has a lot of friends, is extremely talented in her art, golden retriever energy with some drama to be unleashed

cannot keep her mouth shut so ends up in trouble with norah

don’t want to introduce them officially, because they’re not key characters, but here’s a little info on their older sisters –

harper

23

is called harp

is a high school geography teacher

engaged to her college boyfriend

oldest child in an asian household (i guess that’s saying enough)

violet

21

is called viv

the neglected middle child

in her last year of a nursing degree

wanted to study music but was too scared to bring it up to her parents and ended up being stuck at a hospital

plans to go abroad and marry a rich guy

well, that’s all i’ve got for you today. i haven’t started writing this book yet and i think i won’t until i finish editing dairy whiskey in august. i think i’ll start in september and then hopefully do nanowrimo for it in november. i’m super excited to work on it because it’s so different from dairy whiskey in a lot of aspects. but i’m discovery writing (as always) and we’ll just have to see where it goes. but until i come back with an update for this book, you take care, stay hydrated, water your plants, and eat a second dessert tonight.

– ann

general taglist (ask to be added or removed)

@shaonsim @heartfullkings @vnsmiles @dallonwrites @wannabeauthorclive @sienna-writes @violetpeso @flip-phones @silassghost @ambidextrousarcher @zoe-louvre @writing-with-l @magic-is-something-we-create @femmeniism @frozenstillicide @wizardfromthesea @rose-bookblood @coffeeandcalligraphy @rodentwrites @saltwaterbells @snehithiye @at-thezenith

[the-rosebride]

Tfw Lawrence's trade deals are the only fun parts of Spice and Wolf.

[lnfours]

SEQUEL TO HAUNTED W CONRAD! Where she finds out 👀👀

oh fuck. warnings: mentions of death, cancer and mental health

'haunted' | inbox

you hadn't seen conrad at all the rest of the summer. it wasn't like you wanted to necessarily see him, either. what was there left to say anyway?

you had gotten to say bye to jere, steven and belly, but ignored conrad with a cold shoulder. you knew you were wrong, but he had hurt you. you couldn't help it.

this summer, the fishers didn't come to their beach house. steven, belly and laurel weren't there. for once in your entire lifetime, the house sat empty, and it only made your heart hurt more.

the icing on the cake was that your mom had seen a for sale sign in the front yard on her early morning jog that morning. the fishers and the conklins were never coming back, and you didn't know why.

you were laying out by the pool your family had put in over the spring, your phone buzzing on the little table next to you. you picked it up, reading the name at the top of your phone screen.

jeremiah fisher

you swiped it over, pressing the phone to your ear, "hello?"

"hey, y/n," you could hear his polite smile and the sound of wind in the background, "are you in cousins?"

you licked your lips, sitting up, "yeah, why? are you guys finally on your way?"

"no, uhm," jere said, "conrad is missing."

"what do you mean 'missing'?"

you heard belly's voice suddenly on the other end, "look, we checked brown already and his roommate said he talked about going to the beach. cousin's is the only beach conrad would ever go to. i know it's a long short, have you seen him or heard from him?"

you let out a shaky breath, "no, but i can check around the town for you guys, how far away are you?"

"couple hours out, still," jeremiah said, "i'll text you when we're crossing the bridge into town."

you nodded, speaking up when you realized they couldn't see you, "okay, i'll text you with updates."

"thanks a lot, y/n." jere said

"you're the best!" you smiled as belly sighed out of relief. you hung up with your friends, tugging your shorts on and slipping into your flip flops. you left the shorts unbuttoned, letting them sit lowly on your hips and your bikini bottoms sticking out from the top.

you made your way over to the fisher house, spotting conrad's car. you swallowed thickly as you walked up to the front door. you knocked, pulling your fist back as you sighed.

there was no answer.

you made your way through the gate and to the backyard. you looked around, a towel laying down on the grass next to the pool, but no sign of conrad. you thought of the last place he would be, walking over to the side of the house and grabbing jeremiah's surfboard. you made your way down to the beach, tugging your shorts off before you made your way into the ocean. you paddled out on jere's surfboard. you let the waves rock you back and forth as you watched conrad surf, smiling to yourself as he pulled off one of the tricks you had shown him. he looked over at you when you clapped your hands.

"nice job, fisher!"

you swore you almost saw a smile on his face as he paddled over to you. you smiled as he floated on his board next to you.

"hey," he said.

"hi," you said back, his hair wavy from the salt water, "didn't think you guys were coming this summer."

he nodded, sniffling as he looked out at the ocean, "yeah, we're... not really supposed to be here."

you looked at him confused, "what do you mean?"

he sighed, "i've got a lot to catch you up on."

you smiled as you squinted out at the waves, "well, i've got nothing but time. hit me, sea creature."

he laughed softly, remembering the nickname you had called him one drunken summer afternoon when he had seaweed all over him from surfing.

"talk over something to eat? i'm starving." he said. you nodded, following him as you both paddled to shore. you threw on your shorts and carried both of your pairs of flip flops as he carried the boards back. he hung them back up on the side of the house, tossing you a towel from the deck. you thanked him as he wrapped one around himself as well, the two of you heading inside.

it was scarily bare in the normally full of life summer house. there wasn't any food in the fridge or the pantry, there wasn't any of the clutter from siblings leaving their things behind. there wasn't the sound of belly and steven arguing in the living room over the tv, and jeremiah wasn't playing music up in his bedroom.

it was eerie. none of it felt like the home you were used to it being.

"i'm gonna order a pizza," he said, "still like your usual?"

you smiled, "yeah,"

he nodded, pressing the phone to his ear as he ordered. you played with your fingers as you waited for him to hang up.

"so," you broke the silence, "what's up? what is that you have to tell me?"

he let out a sigh, looking down at the floor, "my mom's cancer came back last spring. she died a couple months ago."

your eyes watered as you watched him look back up at you with glossy eyes. he continued, "i found out before everyone else and i couldn't tell anyone. that's why i was so shitty to you last year, i didn't know how to deal with loss when she wasn't even gone yet. i'm so sorry. for hurting you."

you wiped the tears from your eyes, getting up from your seat at the island. you wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him down into a hug. he happily accepted your hug, holding you tight against his body.

"i'm so sorry, connie," you said, "i wish i had known sooner."

he let out a soft chuckle, "i thought you hated me."

you shook your head, brushing his hair from his forehead after you pulled away, "i could never hate you, conrad."

it was silent for a minute, "there's uh... there's more."

you raised an eyebrow, "there's more?"

he nodded, "i also found out that my dad had an affair the same day i found out my mom's cancer came back."

you shook your head, "what a fucking ass."

he nodded, "i know."

you sighed, "anything else happen?"

he let out a chuckle, "found out yesterday the house was going up for sale. apparently, when my mom died, my aunt julia got the house because my mom's half went to her. she wants to sell it and this is the only piece i have left of my mom. the only place that feels like home without her."

you watched as a small tear slipped down his cheek. you frowned, wiping it with the pads of your thumbs.

"c'mere," you said softly, his front breaking down as he nuzzled into your shoulder. you rubbed his back, your other hand playing with the hairs on the back of his neck.

"i'm sorry," he mumbled.

"no, you don't have to apologize," you said, "it's okay. you were going through all of this alone. i just wish you would've told me so you didn't have to."

he held you tighter, "i tried, i just couldn't."

you pulled back, lifting his head by his chin for him to look at you. you smiled, wiping more tears from his cheeks, "well, i'm not going anywhere now, okay?"

he nodded, smiling softly into your palm and pressing a gentle kiss on the skin there.

"i love you." he mumbled against your soft skin.

he finally said it back.

"i love you, con."

[zeciex]

A Vow of Blood Masterlist

Warnings: This fic includes noncon, dubcon, manipulation, violence and inc3st. Tags will be added as the fic goes on. This is a dark!fic. 18+ only. Read at your own discretion. Please read the warnings before continuing.

Updates every Friday: A work in progress

AO3

Chapter 1: A prophecy foretold Chapter 2: Fireflies and Funerals Chapter 3: A debt made Chapter 4: The Arrival Chapter 5: The girl who leaves, the Woman whom returns Chapter 6: The unholiness of burning Chapter 7: Gossip and Needlepoint Chapter 8: Schemes and Artisans Chapter 9: The Feast Chapter 10: Beware the Blood Red Roses Thorns

Chapter 11: Words of a Scandal Chapter 12: The Whore that Lies Chapter 13: On Your Knees Chapter 14: From the Shadows Chapter 15: White Poppies Chapter 16: The Tourney; The Joust Chapter 17: The Tourney; The Melee Chapter 18: Ruination Chapter 19: Tea & Charity

Chapter 20: Sympathies for Maegor the Cruel Chapter 21: Moon Flower Chapter 22: The Ugly Seat Chapter 23: A Woman's Shame Chapter 24: The Boy With the Stars Chapter 25: The Seafarer Chapter 26: Dragonstone Chapter 27: Betrothal Chapter 28: The Sting of Bitter Betrayal Chapter 29: Little Nightshade

Chapter 30: In That House On Top Of The Rock Chapter 31: The Stranger's Company Chapter 32: The Hunt Chapter 33: Brōzi, riña hen narys Chapter 34: There's no measure 'within reason' for women Chapter 35: Pulling the Strings Chapter 36: Boris Baratheon Chapter 37: The Image of a son Chapter 38: Wine and Company Chapter 39: Once in Ivory, to the sound of bells

Chapter 40: Trapped like a Fox Chapter 41: The illusion of choice Chapter 42: Two sinners can't atone from a lone prayer Chapter 43: The Depravity of Desire Chapter 44: Think of the Stars Chapter 45: Blood in the Water Chapter 46: The Boundaries of a Winged Pig Chapter 47: The Vigil of the Old Gods Chapter 48: The Stag that Rages Chapter 49: The Stag hunts the Stag

Chapter 50: The Performance of Grief Chapter 51: Once in front of the fire, two become one Chapter 52: The Funeral of Boris Baratheon Chapter 53: The Hunger of Man Chapter 54: The Funeral Procession Chapter 55: Keeping Alliances Chapter 56: Souls tied, intertwined by our pride and guilt Chapter 57: Wisps of Smoke Chapter 58: A Missive of Ravens Chapter 59: A Claim of Bastardry

Chapter 60: The Last Supper Chapter 61: The Taste of Silence Chapter 62: Waves Chapter 63: In the Eye of the Father Chapter 64: The End of a Noose Chapter 65: A Fool with a Fool's Honor Chapter 66: The Son of Duty Chapter 67: The Daughter of Insolence Chapter 68: The Tempest of a Woman Chapter 69: Birds in a Cage

Chapter 70: The Beast Beneath the Boards Chapter 71: The Tower of the Hand Chapter 72: Ill Tidings Chapter 73: A Woman's War Chapter 74: Salt and Smoke Chapter 75: A Golden Crown of Sorrow pt. 1 Chapter 76: A Golden Crown of Sorrow pt. 2 Chapter 77: Haunted By The Daylight Chapter 78: Vengeance Hungers -- Friday the 3rd

A Vow of Blood Chapter previews

Chapter previews comes out throughout the week leading up to the new chapter

If you want a moodboard for a specific chapter, send me a message and I'll see what I can do!

Vow of Blood: An uncanon oneshot; The Wooden Cock The wooden cock, pt. 2

A Vow of Blood Aemond; NSFW Alphabet!

[tastesoftamriel]

Talviel's Tamrielic Anniversary Banquet

In lieu of an updated jubilee cake for the 30 year TES/10 year ESO anniversary, here's a banquet menu fit for the nobility of Tamriel! Dig in!

Summerset

Soft Indrik cheese and caramelised onion and pear chutney vol-au-vents, with sundried tomatoes

Auridon Blue Monkfish, poached in Russafeld Heights chardonnay

Shimmerene cherry blossom snowskin mooncake, with an apricot mousse and lemon crème filling

Black Marsh

Crocodile dumplings, with a spicy peanut and sweet saltrice dipping sauce

Stormhold jerk kagouti haunch, with guar fat vegetable fried rice

"Kueh cendol" chewy tapioca rice cakes, with dark palm sugar and coconut milk and jelly layers. A Black Marsh specialty!

Valenwood

Wild venison Greenshade carpaccio, with whipped bacon-honey butter

Stone-baked timber mammoth tail, slow roasted for 48 hours with a honey and mammoth butter glaze

Frozen honeyed "bingsoo" yoghurt, with sweetgnats, candied bacon, and deep fried lard bits, drizzled with sweet condensed milk

High Rock

Alcaire smoked pea soup, with bacon lardons and fresh garden herbs

Flambéed foie gras à la Shornhelm, with a blood orange and goose fat reduction

Gorapple tarte tatin, with golden butterscotch sauce and Bantha vanilla bean ice cream

Morrowind

Smoked kwama egg yolk carbonara, with scrib bacon

Spicy Ashlander-style shalk and ash yam stew, served in a shalk carapace

"Baked Vvardenfell" guar milk ice cream and kwama meringue cake, flavoured with comberries and gold kanet flowers

Elsweyr

Old Anequina jerboa and "lap cheong" sausage pie, with a saffron rice and an ale-and-moon sugar gravy

Terror bird egg "foo yong hai" omelette, with an array of Pellitine seafood and a bhut jolokia moon sugar caramel dipping sauce

Frozen samar pekoe tea custard, with hot moon sugar fudge

Cyrodiil

Bruma barley soup, with homemade herbed sourdough foccacia

Barbecued Blackwood cavy, basted with a rich Surilie Brothers port and habanero barbecue sauce

Abecean sea salt, dark chocolate, and Cyrodiilic olive oil ice cream, with wild strawberry coulis

Skyrim

Markarth goat cheese and pine nut crème tartlets, with smoked juniper salt

Lake Honrich salmon steak, hot smoked over maple wood with Goldenglow honey, served with dill remoulade

Snowberry panna cotta, with spiced Whiterun apple-akevitt compote

Wrothgar

Echatere Gruyère and rosemary mini soufflés, with smoked Vorkhiposh roe

Echalette steak, served medium-rare, in a ginger wine jus

Kurog's wild berry chocolate gateaux, with whipped echatere cream and drenched in wrathberry brandy

Hammerfell

Port Hunding roasted red pepper and harissa hummus, with spiced lentil flatbreads

Spicy Alik'r giant snake tikka, with mint yoghurt dipping sauce and pickles

Coconut and medjool date kulfi, with a slice of rosewater and pistachio baklava

[sleepanonymous]

This is a reminder to everyone in North America who is unable to get tickets for the pre-sale and general sale of Sleep Token’s Teeth of God tour. DO NOT buy resale tickets through third-party vendors like StubHub, Seat Geek, Vivid Seats, etc. Tickets for the Teeth of God tour are mobile-only and non-transferable. This means the seller will not be able to transfer the tickets you purchased from them. The only reliable way to purchase tickets to this tour is through Ticketmaster or your local venue’s ticketing system. Please protect yourself and do not get scammed. If you do not have tickets and need tickets, check out the list I’ve created below the cut. Once pre-sales/general sales are over, I’ll update this post with more links. For more context, check my post here.

Saturday, April 27 – Las Vegas, Nevada Sick New World Music Festival Purchase Tickets through Sick New World’s Website. Third-party sites and sellers can transfer mobile tickets.

Tuesday, April 30 – Phoenix, Arizona Arizona Financial Theatre 400 W Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85003 (602) 379-2800 Purchase tickets resale through Ticketmaster.

Wednesday, May 1 – Albuquerque, New Mexico Revel Entertainment Center 4720 Alexander Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107 (505) 321-0406 Purchase tickets resale through Prekindle.

Friday, May 3 – Austin, Texas H-E-B Center 2100 Ave of the Stars, Cedar Park, TX 78613 (512) 600-5000 Purchase Tickets resale through Ticketmaster.

Saturday, May 4 – Dallas, Texas Toyota Music Factory 316 W Las Colinas Blvd., Irving, TX 75039 (469) 840-9730 Purchase Tickets through Ticketmaster.

Monday, May 6 – Tampa, Florida Yuengling Center 12499 USF Bull Run Drive, Tampa, FL 33617 (813) 974-3111 Purchase Tickets through Ticketmaster.

Tuesday, May 7 – Atlanta, Georgia Coca-Cola Roxy 800 Battery Ave SE #500, Atlanta, GA 30339 (470) 351-3866 Purchase Tickets through Ticketmaster.

Wednesday, May 8 – Asheville, North Carolina ExploreAshville.com Arena 87 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 259-5736 Purchase Tickets through Ticketmaster.

Friday, May 10 – St. Louis, Missouri The Factory 17105 N Outer 40 Rd, Chesterfield, MO 63005 (314) 423-8500 Purchase Tickets through Ticketmaster.

Sunday, May 12 – Morrison, Colorado Red Rocks Amphitheatre 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO 80465 (720) 865-2494 Purchase Tickets through AXS. Third-party sites and sellers can transfer mobile tickets.

Tuesday May 14 – Des Moines, Iowa Vibrant Music Hall 2938 Grand Prairie Pkwy, Waukee, IA 50263 (515) 895-4980 Purchase Tickets through Ticketmaster.

Wednesday, May 15 & Thursday, May 16 – Chicago, Illinois Salt Shed 1357 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60642 (708) 967-2168 Purchase Tickets through Ticketmaster. Third-party sites and sellers can transfer mobile tickets.

Saturday, May 18 – Columbus, Ohio Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival Purchase Tickets through Sonic Temple’s Website. Third-party sites and sellers can transfer mobile tickets.

Sunday, May 19 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Petersen Events Center 3719 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 (412) 648-3054 Purchase Tickets through AXS.

Monday, May 20 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Met 858 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19130 (800) 653-8000 Purchase Tickets through Ticketmaster.

Wednesday, May 22 – New York, New York Radio City Music Hall 1260 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020 (212) 465-6000 Purchase Tickets through Ticketmaster. Third-party sites and sellers can transfer mobile tickets.

Friday, May 24 – Boston, Massachusetts MGM Music Hall 2 Lansdowne St, Boston, MA 02215 (617) 488-7540 Purchase Tickets through Ticketmaster.

Saturday, May 25 – Laval, Quebec Place Bell 1950 Rue Claude-Gagné, Laval, QC H7N 0E4, Canada (514) 492-1775 Purchase Tickets through Ticketmaster.

Monday, May 27 & Tuesday May 28– Toronto, Ontario Massey Hall 178 Victoria St, Toronto, ON M5B 1T7, Canada (416) 872-4255 Purchase Tickets through Massey Hall.

[the-hottest-band-tournament]

Welcome to the hottest 80s band tourney

In this tournament you can submit an band from the 80s here and we’ll see who’s the hottest

Submissions are now closed

Submission requirements

It must be a band no solo artists

I need a list of the members and the instrument they play

They had to have produced at least one album during the 80s

Choose the lineup that you want just make sure that they just all performed together during the 80s

For a list of the lineups check here a quicker list of submitted bands is down below. We are trying to get to 256 submissions so don’t worry about submitting to many bands.

List of submitted bands

will be updated

Guns’N Roses

Mötley Crüe

Queen

Hanoi Rocks

Iron Maiden

Poison

Rush

Anthrax

Possessed

Bon Jovi

Skid Row

Talking Heads

Warrant

The Cure

The Bangles

Def Leppard

The Traveling Wilburys  

U2

Dokken

Blondie

Duran Duran

Quiet Riot

Aerosmith

Dio

Metallica

Winger

The Human League

The Clash

Cinderella

Nirvana

The Smiths

The Police

They Might Be Giants

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

R.E.M.

Spın̈al Tap

Tin Machine

Red Hot Chili Peppers

ZZ Top

AC/DC

Beastie Boys

Depeche Mode

The Pogues

Bauhaus

Prince and the Revolution

Joy Division

Fleetwood Mac

Devo

Van Halen

Van Halen (again)

Led Zeppelin

Joan Jett and The Blackhearts

Genesis

Primus

Ramones

Yes

Siouxsie and the Banshees

Kraftwerk

The Alan Parsons Project

Hall and Oates

Echo and the Bunnymen

Tears for Fears

The Psychedelic Furs

Misfits

Living Colour

XTC

Adam and the Ants

Run-DMC

King Crimson

Public Enemy

KISS

N.W.A.

Whitesnake

Black Sabbath

Deep Purple

L.A. Guns

W.A.S.P.

Pantera

Styx

B-52’s

Vixen

The Go Go’s

The Residents

Pretenders

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Asia

Jethro Tull

Green Day

Journey

Wham!

Pet Shop Boys

The Who

Scorpions

Heart

Ratt

The Beach Boys

Queensrÿche

The Cars

Foreigner

Marillion

GWAR

Max Webster

Twisted Sister

Stray Cats

Megadeth

The Stone Roses

Slayer

Operation Ivy

Bam Bam

Cybotron

Steve Miller Band

The Highwaymen

10cc

Fugazi

Minor Threat

Dead Kennedys

Blackfoot

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

Dire Straits

Electric Light Orchestra

The J. Geils Band

Judas Priest

Motörhead

Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young

Elvis Costello and the Attractions

Chicago

The Replacements

The Kinks

Pixies

Men at Work

Stryper

Faster Pussycat

Thin Lizzy

Grateful Dead

Sepultura

Bananarama

Nine Inch Nails

Foghat

Blue Öyster Cult

Culture Club

Tesla

Soundgarden

Berlin

Boston

Public Image Ltd

Pink Floyd

The Professionals

Starship

REO Speedwagon

Extreme

Shonen Knife

Night Ranger

De La Soul

Salt-N-Pepa

Earth, Wind & Fire

X

X Japan

The The

The Time

Steely Dan

Godley & Creme

The Tragically Hip

Dexys Midnight Runners

The Cross

Sonic Youth

Roxy Music

The Rolling Stones

Hüsker Dü

DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

New Kids on the Block

Huey Lewis and the News

Eurythmics

A Flock of Seagulls

The Blues Brothers

Love and Rockets

Strawberry Switchblade

Los Lobos

Santana

Oingo Boingo

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

A-ha

Crack the Sky

Crowded House

Yellow Magic Orchestra

Eric B. & Rakim

Commodores

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

KIX

White Zombie

UB40

Great White

Bruce Hornsby and the Range

White Lion

.38 Special

The Tubes

Utopia

The Sugarcubes

Faith No More

Throbbing Gristle

Ministry

'til tuesday

Sparks

Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band

The Oak Ridge Boys

The Judds

Dinosaur Jr.

The Moody Blues

Pat Metheney Group

INXS

Status Quo

Melvins

Pandora's Box

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

New Order

Meat Puppets

Descendents

The Fall

Spandau Ballet

Thompson Twins

Tom Tom Club

Jane's Addict

Bob Marley and the Wailers

Modern English

Cutting Crew

My Bloody Valentine

Black Flag

Wire

The Cult

The Jesus and Mary Chain

The Specials

Missing Persons

Simply Red

The Romantics

Madness

Violent Femmes

Skinny Puppy

Cocteau Twins

The Damned

Simple Minds

Frankie Goes to Hollywood

TISM (This Is Serious Mum)

The Cockroaches

The Allman Brothers Band

Cold Chisel

Midnight Oil

NOFX

The Crucifucks

America

Bad Religion

Helloween

Mother Love Bone

The KLF (a.k.a. The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu, a.k.a. The Timelords) [same group, just used numerous names]

Dog Police

Frank Chickens

Men Without Hats

Europe

Can I submit propaganda?

Not right now. If you do I won’t post it until the polls start which looking right now could be a while. But it will be posted eventually

can I submit more than one band?

yes!! Go wild

Some blogs that inspired this

@billboard-hotties-tourney

@the-80s-music-colosseum

[grapeagata]

god I fucken love rocks somuch!!!!!!!!!! and minerals and crystals and glass and lava and magma and geological formations and mountains and hills and rocks rocks rocks!!!!!!!! yeah!!!! rocks rock hell yeah!!! wahoo!!! yipee!!! and salts and ice and snow and sand and metamorphic rocks and ignious rocks and rocks make me so fukin happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! myeah!!!! and i want more rocks to add to the collection and i want more space to show more rocks becaus the more rocks the better and rocks! also god please add more rocks in the next update and also give them to meeeeeeeeeeee also make a meteorite fall near my house so i can get it and add to the collection pleasepleasplepalspleaplspelapleplaslapelpslpaleplspaleplsp rock are so cool and some are so hot and sexy and im going to marry a rock and minrals yeah!!!!!!!!

also yeah dirts cool too i like dirt it tastes nice and its moist and cool i like it :3

[f10werfae]

Wisdom Teeth

Pairing : Husband! Chris Evans x Wife! Reader

Word count: 1,348

Summary: Chris sends Y/n on one hell of a journey

Warnings: none

————

Requests are open!

Likes, Comments and Re-blogs are appreciated♥️

Y/n's P.O.V)

The sound of the air conditioning and people

flicking magazine pages filled my ears, along with the occasional nurse coming out to call in patients.

Chris had been gone for around 45 minutes now, he had spent the whole night worrying about his wisdom teeth procedure this morning. Let me say, it took a lot of kisses and muscle to even get him into the clinic into the first place.

“Chris Evans?” A nurse said when she opened the heavy white door, a grey clipboard clasped in her hands. Standing up, I rubbed the sweat from my palms onto my legs and pulled my sport shorts up.

“Yes?”

“His surgery went completely fine, he’s just a bit loopy right now due to the anaesthesia but here’s the list of the aftercare procedures for the next 24 hours or so”

“Thank you so much, am I able to take him home now or?”

“Yes he can go home now, would you like some help getting him to your car?”

“Please that would be magical”

Entering the room, Chris lay back on the dental chair, his limbs laying limp by his side, groans leaving his lips here and there.

“You alright hunny bun” I asked walking over to him, rubbing my hand up and down his bicep while my other hand combed through his hair.

“HEY! No” He shouted abruptly, his hands attempting to push me away from him, his face looking away from me.

“I’m married lady, cut it out” He slurred out, his arms crossing over his chest.

“Mhm I know you are married. Married to me babe” I laughed out, softly turning his head towards me, making eye contact with him.

“Y/n? Oh It’s my honey bunny” Chris said trying to smile with the bloody pieces of gauze sitting in his mouth, his arms now reaching out for me.

“Come on big boy, it’s time to get you home and in bed”

“Are you coming with me?”

“Of course, I live with you hun”

“Well alright then” Chris said, immediately jumping out of the dental chair, before nearly falling. Luckily the oral surgeon had caught him in time, with some teamwork we both managed to get Chris into the car.

“Y/nnnnn”

“Yes Chris?”

Within seconds, sobs erupted from Chris, his massive hands covering his face. Putting up the divider between his driver and us, I scooted over to him in the car.

“Baby? what’s wrong?”

“You called me Chris. I’m bubba”

Trying to hold my laugh in, Chris leant his head towards me laying on my chest, his sobs now stifled down to sniffles. How had this rock of a man now turned into a pile of softness.

“Yes you’re my bubba”

(Time Skip)

Getting him onto the couch with the help of our driver, I sat with him until he dozed off. Before sneaking off to our bedroom and grabbing the comforters off the bed and bringing it down to the living room. Turning on the ceiling fan, I tucked Chris in under the covers and placed kisses on his heady every so often.

My big baby of a husband.

When suddenly the alarm for his aftercare buzzed on my phone. Knowing how he would react, I decided to prepare the syringe with salt water first before waking him up.

“Bubba wake up, come on” I said softly, pulling down the comforters I softly patted him awake. His eyes soon opening slowly, his bloody mouth pulling into a lopsided goofy grin.

“Heyyy babyvirl” He slurred out, his hands playfully going up my shirt. Holding in another laugh, I slapped his hand away causing his eyes to water once again.

“We can do that later bub okay? Let me jus clean your mouth, can you do that?”

“You promise about later right?” He said with his eyes half lidded, reminding me of the times when he’d come home drunk from going out with his friends and he’d instantly turn into a ball of mush.

“I promise” I said softly, putting a bucket under his chin, pulling out the gauze and rinsing the exact place his tooth was with the syringe.

“There good boy” I said happily patting his head, his hand nuzzling into my hand like a dog would. Putting away the syringe and bucket, I cut off a new piece of gauze and tried to place it in when

“OWWW CHRIS” I winced out holding my fingers to my chest.

“Gotchu honey bun” He said chuckling, clenching his teeth together.

“No biting bubba, or no fun later” I said sternly holding his jaw in my hand, seeing him nod this time with a pout on his lips.

Successfully putting the new gauze in his mouth, I leant back onto the couch, exhausted and in dire need of a nap.

*knock knock*

Getting up to the front door, I opened it to see Scotty with Charlie in his hands.

"Momma" Charlie called out quietly, his arms extending in my direction as I carried him, his arms going around my neck.

"How's Chris?" Scott asked holding onto his nephew's toy buzz.

"Come see for yourself" I said chuckling letting him into the living room as I brought Charlie to the kitchen.

(In the Kitchen)

"Now did you behave for uncle scott?"

"Yes momma, we watched movies and ate izza" His four year old way of saying Pizza. His features mirrored that of Chris', the only thing he really got from me were my eyes and my personality which was pretty shy.

“Listen, dada is very very sleepy right now because he had to go see the Doctor. You understand hun?” I asked brushing back his hair.

“Dada sick?” Charlie pouted with his eyes watering, his expression matching that of Chris' earlier.

“No no no, he just needs a lot of sleep and rest, so let’s not be too loud okay?”

“okay momma” Nodding at him I did our usual routine of me kissing his cheeks and nose before I carried him onto my hip to bring him into the living room.

Without even entering the room, I could already hear Chris crying. Again. Sighing I walked in, Charlie’s head laying on my shoulder as he placed about with the locket around my neck.

“Y/n he has gone crazy, he thinks I lost Charlie”

Scott said laughing loudly with his phone in hand, pointing at Chris who was busy bawling his eyes out into the couch pillow.

“Charlie” He called out in between sobs, choking up and whining.

“Dada?” Charlie called out, as I set him down onto the plush carpet, stumbling his way towards his now crying father.

“Charlie?” Chris called out, his head now poking out from under the pillow, his gauze still sticking out of his mouth, his eyes red with tears.

“CHARLIE!” Chris exclaimed, instantly scooping up the tiny boy and holding him dearly to his chest.

“I missed you dada” Charlie said wrapping his arm around Chris' neck

“I missed you too” Chris said still sniffling, rubbing up and down Charlie's back comfortingly.

“Alright you two, lay back onto the sofa” I said watching as Chris laid back against the massive arm rest, Charlie laying on his chest comfortably. Tucking them in with the comforter and cups of water, I turned on the T.V to put on their favourite movie of Snoopy and Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie.

Before turning back to Scott, “Fancy a cup of coffee Scotty?”

“I’ll need it”

(Time Skip to 30 Mins)

After sending Scott off home, I decided to check on my two favourite boys, to walk in on what I expected to find. Both of them passed out, Charlie had used Chris’ pecs as his pillow, Chris' hands clasped around Charlie's body protectively.

Deciding to just leave them to it, I started to head towards the kitchen when I heard Chris call out, “Don’t think I forgot about later baby” An attempt at a smirk was on his face, as he nuzzled back into our baby boy, the movie still playing in the back ground

[butmakeitgayblog]

Does Medusa Lexa eventually turn the charm on for Clarke?

Snippet, again, since I haven't updated in forever. Unedited so excuse mistakes and idk how much it'll change before posting

Spoilers ahead*****

/////////////////

"Where are we going now?" Clarke asks, her steps small and shuffling along the rocky stretch beneath them. 

Lexa sucks in a lungful of courage, burying the fresh wave of nervous energy back down into her stomach as she lets go of Clarke's hand, only to slip it securely around Clarke's waist instead. Ribs stutter and bow around a hiccuped breath as Clarke stumbles at the touch and the feel of Selene immediately slipping herself along the dip of Clarke's shoulder. 

Clarke hesitates when Lexa apologizes for the contact, not seeing the chiding look Lexa sends the little instigator, but her lips twitch with the ghost of a smile all the same. Giving up on the notion of retraining any sense of decorum from the beady-eyed usurper who ignores her and cuddles Clarke close, Lexa eases them both a few more steps along the trail leading upward.  

"We're going to my favorite place in the entire world," Lexa says quietly in the flutter of wind as they wind their way up the path crudely chiseled into the rock front. The air smells sweeter up here, thinner and more fragrant with the sting of sea salted moss, mixed with twining leaves of honeysuckle. "The cave wall below, where we keep the supplies? This is what sits atop it."

"Wait." Clarke stiffens and pulls to a stop. "'Atop?' Atop? As in high up?"

"It's okay, you're safe," Lexa hurries to soothe and squeezes the hip beneath her hand. 

Clarke swallows and hesitates, only to lean heavier into Lexa's side as they continue on. 

Lexa smiles to herself, heart beating wildly as she shuffles them closer to the ledge ahead. She's patient in her assurances, only speaking in gentle tones through the entirety of coaxing the walking stick from Clarke's hand with a promise that it'll stay within reach. She guides her to sit down on the moss softened edge, encouraging her to let her feet dangle in the wind the brushes over the tree tops. 

"It really is quite safe, I assure you," she says once she's settled herself beside Clarke. "You won't fall."

"I better not."

"You won't, but even if you were to, there isn't far to go. There's another ledge just under us that you'd land on."

Clarke snorts. "Or bounce off of."

"Hardly. It's at best a five foot drop, barely enough—"

"Five feet? Lexa!" Clarke interrupts as her head snaps around, eyes a mix of clear blue waters and the hazy clouds of the heavens above, swinging in dashed staccato arcs from left to  right. 

"It's alright," Lexa soothes again through a barely concealed chuckle, fruitlessly following their every movement; half wishing Clarke could witness the ease in her smile, half thankful her blush at their proximity remains unseen. "Believe me. I've slipped a few times, it's really not that bad."

"So you have fallen?"

"Due to my own carelessness. But I was fine. Not a single broken bone."

"That's not—," Clarke starts with a scoff that dissolves into a sigh. "That's not comforting, Lexa. You're really not good at this. You're not making this better."

"I won't let you fall. I swear it," Lexa vows, sealing the oath with a brush of her hand against Clarke's knee before settling it back in her lap.

Clarke clears her throat when the few seconds of silence that follow grows thick. "So then... Why exactly did you bring me up here to the ledge of death?"

"Leave it to you to give my favorite place such an affectionate name." Lexa pointedly clicks her tongue. "But I wanted you to be here. It's the best vantage point in any direction. You can see across the entire island—"

"Um, Lexa?"

"No, I know," Lexa says in a hurry. "But, I… I thought maybe, now that you've walked the trails and have felt the entirety if the island beneath your feet… I thought maybe if you were up here, you could get a better understanding of the layout of the island. Have a mental picture in your head of where everything is. From both above and below."

"And how exactly do you propose that?"

Lexa sucks in a deep breath filled with the salt of wind and sea, because this was the moment where her plans had tended to grow hazy. They blurred in the in-between from one mission to the next; from the convincing of Clarke to accompany her up here that had gone smoother than even she'd imagined, to the actual purpose beyond.

"Well… I thought…" Taking a moment to gather what little courage she'd managed to scrape together on the short walk up, Lexa shifts sideways, presses herself in close. Feels warmth ripple through her body as she molds herself to Clarke's side. 

Shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip, thigh pressed to impossibly warm thigh.

"Imagine yourself at the head of a large circle. And everything is laid out before you," Lexa says, delicately taking Clarke's hand in her own. She swallows at the feel of Clarke's skin against her fingertips as she raises their hands up and motions along the shoreline to their left. "Over there is the west."

"The— That's the west?" Clarke reiterates with only a slight squeak of her words. 

Lexa breathes a silent sigh of relief when she doesn't pull away.

"Yes. The west. Where you came from. The horizon sits just here," Lexa says with a feigned air of confidence, gliding Clake's hand along the invisible boundary like a brushstroke. "Think heavy blues. Like… a rainstorm at midnight. The waters churn and twist in that direction. As though restless within its own tides. The waves form caps of white foam that bloom like dandelion fluff."

Lexa smiles in kind as she feels Clarke release a breath of a laugh, something small and amused even as she nods. "That's certainly a picture you create... Tell me more."

"The sky above is where the clouds usually roll in. That's where the rains come from. They water the forest, nourish the spring. They bring life to the island. I love when the skies to the west turn black. It means the island will live on another season…" 

The hand in hers twitches, just a brush of movement as Clarke shifts and turns further into Lexa's hold. 

"And below the horizon, just here," Lexa continues as she guides Clarke's hand down to trace the far off stretch of sea-worn rock, "is the western shoreline… Though, I think you're intimately familiar with that particular terrain."

She stifles a laugh when Clarke nudges an elbow against her ribs. "Very funny. You crash a boat into a girl's island one time and never live it down."

Lexa presses her smile against Clarke's shoulder and keeps going. "Yes, well. It's mostly rocks along here. Somber greys, dusty grit and pebbles. All jagged and dark, very foreboding from an outward glance. It's good for warding off some would-be intruders—"

"You mean quitters."

Lexa is quick to correct herself. "They're generally good for warding off intruders. Not warriors with a mission… Or headstrong blondes, as it were."

"That's better." Clarke nods imperiously even as her lips twitch with a hint of a smile. "Now. What next."

Lexa's chest swells at the way she says it less as a question and more of a demand. Silly. Seemingly comfortable in the moment. With her.

"Then we have the western cliff face, and the broken path. That would be the one you found your first day, and followed to the edge of the ironwort thicket. Where the peonies and thyme grow," she continues, tracing their intertwined fingers along the rocky peaks and valleyed inlet in the distance. She swoops their arms down along the overgrown path, threading her words among the mud, thorns, and moss covered stone that wind their way forward.

"If you were to take the northern fork," she says and crooks her elbow to point further out to the farthest end of the island, "that's where the forest sits."

The rogued tinge to Clarke's cheek when she smiles flares bright in the setting sun. "We covered that one, I believe."

"Yes," Lexa answers with tipped smile of her own. "That's where I hunt, and where the tall trees grow. That's where most of the life of the island comes from. Where I get most of everything that helps us survive."

Clarke breathes a sigh, shaking her head. "So I'm guessing that's also where you wander off to when you're grumpy."

"I don't get grumpy."

"I'm sure."

"I don't," Lexa says around a distinctly not-grumpy frown. She's thankful her eye roll goes unseen. It's probably for the better.  

It feels entirely too fond for the tenuously rediscovered trust between them anyway. 

She readjusts their hands and doesn't try to read anything into the way Clarke shuffles closer still, but accepts the warmth of her all the same. "I don't go there to escape, I simply like it there. It's peaceful… But this is my favorite place. Right here."

She safely keeps the "close to you," to herself. It sits sour on her tongue like a lie of omission anyway.

Clarke lets the difference of opinions die with little more than a nod. "If you say so. So there is the forest," she says, lifting hers and Lexa's hands to point north again. "What next?"

"Yes, well. If you were to go right along here," Lexa says, guiding Clarke's hand along the glints and shimmers that peek through the smattering of trees below, "there is the stream that we get water from."

"And bathe in," Clarke supplies in a hush; almost a purr from deep in her chest. 

Heart hammering with the force Lexa is afraid Clarke can surely feel near beneath her breast, Lexa swallows against the lump in her throat at deep timbre of her words. "Yes, that too," she breathes, lungs seemingly unable to get their words out any louder than whisper on the wind. 

Because oh, she hadn't forgotten. Didn't think she'd ever get the images out of slick swathes of Clarke's skin blazing bronze and alabaster in the island sunlight out of her mind. Or the way she'd laid out beneath the canopy of trees and let the fresh sea air dry her, carefree of nature or Lexa's bashful eyes. How blonde flaxen hair had lightened and curled into supple ringlets, splaying wide in a crown of honey wheat and grass around her head.

Throat clearing as delicately as possible with the way her heart races, Lexa keeps going. "The— the stream leads up to the waterfall. If we were to follow this around this bend here," she motions with another dip of their hands, "a few more feet, that's where we'd meet the end of the waterfall and the cave face below us now."

Lexa takes a deep breath, feeling her hands turn clammy as the idea suddenly takes her. Because the moment is so peaceful and Clarke feels so, so good pressed this close. And she doesn't want to overstep, doesn't want to break these tendrils of forgiveness she feels being woven thread by thread between them.

But she wants this and she wants, needs, Clarke to know. 

Scooting back just enough to lift and slip her leg over to the other side, Lexa ignores the questioning look Clarke gives her at the sudden shuffle and readjusts in small shifts until she's sat right behind her. She keeps her movements slow as she nestles in closer around Clarke's hips, bracketing her there in the loose safety of her arms and legs.

The air explodes in a burst of perfumed lilac that scent Clarke's hair as Lexa leans over her shoulder to see the world before them. She scoops up Clarke's other hand and holds it the same as the first, careful not to let the shake of her nerves betray the steady yield of her hand. 

"And over here, along this path, are the berry patches and gardens. The wild berries sit there, then the grapes and rows of herbs, and finally the blackberries you so love with your wine." Lexa keeps her voice light with each subtle movement, afraid to startle away the calm that had settled over the moment as she uses Clarke's hand to mark the air from the farthest plot of land, inward.  

"I certainly know that place too," Clarke says, turning just enough for Lexa to catch a glimpse of her lopsided smile, undoubtedly sharing the same memories of Clarke lounging amongst the greenery as she plucked stray berries and popped them into her mouth instead of actually helping. "Although, you are right. They're much better with your— What did you call it? Degenerate wine?"

Lexa feels her ribcage expand with the swell and rush of emotion at the mention of that night. That evening spent sprawled out under a blanket of stars as they passed back and forth a jug of too-sweet wine and finally began to let each other in. 

It's a terrible wonders how she could've been so blind to what was happening; to have not seen what was so clearly right in front of her. Her stomach swoops with a pang of guilt at every mistake she had made since and sinks at the thought of the time she has wasted. How she had broken the trust of the woman in her arms, the trust that had been building from that night onward. How she'd let it get muddied by her own idiocy and stubbornness. By her pride. By her fear.

Her thoughts are interrupted by Clarke's heavenly sigh. The one she saves for the dying end of her laugh, the one that sounds sweeter than most. "Well. For what it's worth, from a non-expert at least… I like your wine."

It's overwhelming but so welcome when Clarke leans back heavier against her chest, nestling herself tightly into Lexa's arms. Swallowing against the sudden lump that's taken up residence in her throat, Lexa tips her head to the side in a brush against Clarke's temple and rests there. 

"I'm glad."

The distant crash of the ocean echoes off the rockface and suddenly the world feels like it's made up of only them. Two forgotten souls on a long forgotten island, perched on the precipice where the earth ends and the cosmos littered skies begin. 

Lexa looks out to the horizon and makes a wish she hopes rings through the hills of Olympus that once, just this once, her daydream didn't have to end.

"What's next?"

The soft call of Clarke's voice breaks Lexa from her reverie. She shifts back to find twin pools of blue turned toward her. Unseeing, and seeing right through her. 

"What?" she breathes, shaken in such wonderful ways.

The way Clarke smiles is like a salve. Like she understands Lexa so perfectly in that moment, and Lexa wonders when she stopped understanding anything about herself at all. 

Silently, Clarke takes Lexa's hands and slips her fingers tightly through her own, and guides Lexa's arms more securely around her waist. She presses Lexa's palm against the soft swell of her belly and holds her touch there. Her head tips sideways to find Lexa's again. "I asked what's next."

"Right. Right…" Lexa says in barely a whispered haze, lungs squeezing tight at the feel of her so close as she accepts Clarke's weight as her own. Because Clarke is letting her hold her, is holding her right back, when just the morning prior even a hand to Clarke's shoulder would've been brushed away with a flinch. All the nights of idle longing rush through Lexa's mind, nights of fanciful dreams that felt as though they laid well beyond her fingertips despite the embodiment of them sleeping soundly on just the other side of her bed. It sat right there, tucked safely in her arms. "Well… There isn't much left. You know the rest."

Clarke twists her head and nuzzles closer. Presses her nose to the blush of Lexa's cheek. "Tell me anyway."

Smiling into the skin of Clarke's neck, smelling the sweet notes of lilac and sunshine stronger there, Lexa doesn't bother to look as she slopes their hands downward. "After the garden, you follow the main path past the hen coup. Follow the bend around the storage sheds, and you'll find your way back to the cave… Back… home."

"Home." 

The pulse beneath her lips quickens as Clarke echos the word in a sigh barely second after Lexa utters it. 

The air thickens with the sound of Clarke's echoed whisper of the word. And she knows, oh goddess does Lexa know how Clarke must feel the thunderstorm raging beneath her breast at hearing her refer to their cave with such affection. The cave that had felt like nothing more than a tomb, until Clarke had crashed into her shores breathed life into it.

Into her.

//////

[kickingitwithkirk]

Winchester's Folly

Summary: When Dean gets into trouble John decides to hide the truth for his family

Pairing: Alpha Dean x Omega!Reader x Alpha Sam

Word Count: 1261

*Dark! Fic-don't continue if you are disturbed by the subject matter

Warnings: A/B/O, non/con elements , dub/con elements, enslavement, pandemic, non/con drug use, collaring/leashing, forced mating, forced breeding, BDSM elements, show-level violence

*Additional warnings to be added

*Square filled: @spnabobingo -Rut Suppressant @spnaubingo -Sub!Dean @anyfandomdarkbingo - Voyeurism

A/N: * UPDATED 3/24 They say the third time is the charm, this will be the last rework of the Prologue.

A/N II: Still working on reigning myself in, keeping each part reader-friendly length, and have no clue how many parts this will end up being.

A/N III: a few notes about designations in A/O sub-genders for this story.

Alphas-Dominant (head of the pack/family) Subordinate (obey Dominant) Breeders (rare & highly coveted by the government. Can challenge Dominant for pack/family leadership)

Omegas -Domestic (mostly wiped out by plague, few natural born left) Feral (government-supplied breeders sold commonly called O's) House O’s (3rd generation+ Feral/Dominant breed. Used as servants/sex workers) Pack (rare & highly coveted by the government)

*Divider by @firefly-graphics

*No Beta-all mistakes are mine

PART I

Five weeks ago 

John had grown tired of Sam’s constant complaining about finishing his sophomore year in one place, so he found a case out west and left his sons in this backwater town. The little money he’d left was running out, and when Dean couldn’t hustle anymore, he took a job at a local garage. 

It wasn’t long after another problem arose.

Dean ran out of suppressants in one of the few states requiring a doctor's prescription. He was unsuccessful in obtaining them through less-than-legal channels. Out of options, Dean made sure his brother had everything needed for a few days before taking off to find someone to sink his knot into. He was chatting up a pretty brunette Beta in one of the low-end bars when their irate Alpha showed, and a rut-induced fight ensued. 

When the local sheriff showed up at the ER, a doctor informed him the Alpha had died from exsanguination by canine perforation of the carotid artery. Dean, because he was now in full rut, was on IV sedatives, and the sheriff ordered him handcuffed to the hospital bed and posted a twenty-four-hour guard so he couldn’t escape. When Sam could not reach their dad, he called Bobby Singer, even though they were forbidden to contact the Beta after their Alpha fell out with the grumpy hunter. 

The young Alphas' words spilled out in a jumble of profuse apologies and explanations, making Bobby’s temper flare. He always considered the brothers to be his kids, and upon hearing Dean’s going to jail and Sam was in North Dakota’s CYF custody, he wanted another shot at the elder Winchester with something more potent than rock salt. Reassuring Sam he’d be there by nightfall, Bobby pulled out his hunter contacts and started dialing, asking everyone in the vicinity to track John down ASAP.

When hitting town, Bobby’s first stop was the CYF holding facility. He presented the fake documentation verifying he was the brother's blood uncle and allowed temporary custody of Sam. Then, to find out what was happening with Dean, they headed to the police station, where Bobby flashed his FBI credentials to the officer in charge, whose response was that information would only be released when his Alpha arrived. He wasn’t allowed visitors except the public defender assigned to the case but slipped them a paper saying that Dean was charged with voluntary manslaughter. 

Unable to do anything else and unwilling to sit around the rental while waiting for their pack Alpha, Sam went to the local library to research the state’s laws on his brother's case. At the same time, Bobby interviewed the witnesses from the bar that night, ensuring no unnatural forces seeking revenge against John had a hand in Dean's predicament. 

Several days later, John rolled into town and went directly to the police station, where they informed him of the situation and then allowed a brief visit with his eldest. His fuming turned into a boiling rage as he walked towards the interrogation room. Out of all the shit Dean had done over the years, this proved what John always considered his subordinate offspring to be, a worthless fuck-up who was only good at taking orders, and John no longer wanted to deal with him. 

Entering the interrogation room, he sees Dean seated at the table, tethered to it by his shackled ankles. The ruddy cast in John’s eyes that'd begun when Caleb found him envelopes his irises, and Dean suddenly found himself airborne, legs flailing as far as the chain aloud, kicks over the chair, then is slammed onto the table, the back of his head impacts the table with a sicking crack, trapped under the weight of his Alpha, his dad, whose hands that used to carry him as a young pup now are wrapped around his throat strangulating him.

Dean flashed back to the night his dad laid baby Sammy in his arms and ordered take your brother outside as fast as you can! And not look back! Over the next sixteen years, John’s mantra, watch out for Sammy, was burned into his psyche, but before he’d even been born, Dean already knew Sam was his in every sense of the word. He was about to lose consciousness when the door burst open, and three deputies barreled and tasered John, shocking the raging Alpha into unconsciousness.

Sam maneuvers around the chaos, drops to his knees next to Dean on the floor and rolls him onto his back, helplessly watches him gasping for air between bluish lips. Sam can sense that dark, angry thing that’s always there, slithering through his veins at the finger-shaped bruising developing around his brother’s neck makes his canines elongate and releases a bloodcurdling wrawl. 

Silence fills the air except for Dean’s rasping breath as he watches his brother slowly stand up, appearing confused as to why everything is tinted a strange color. Sam, scanning the room with his glowing, extraordinary shade of red eyes, finally landed on John, feeling the deep-seat anger that while Dean’s lower status didn’t interfere with hunting, it’d never allow him to stand up to their Alpha about to explode.

 “Son, don’t.” 

Sam finds Bobby’s voice absurdly loud and agitating but heeds the Beta’s advice as the deputies drag the eldest Winchester out of the room.

Twenty-seven days later

At Dean Winchester's arraignment, the assistant DA said that due to the extenuating circumstances, him being on the cusp of a rut, and the Beta’s signed confession of deception in retribution for their deceased Alpha purchasing a House O, their office was willing to offer a plea deal. The Public Defender asked for a brief recess to discuss the terms when John stood up and said, “Your honor, there’s no need for a recess. I accept the deal.”

 The court clerk read the agreement out loud for the record.

 “Alpha John Winchester agrees to procure an Omega for the defendant, Subordinate Alpha Dean Winchester, within ten days from this date and time, and will present them before this court with the proper documentation. If he fails, the defendant will serve the mandatory five-year imprisonment per the state law of North Dakota. At that time, Alpha Winchester must also surrender custody of his other minor Alpha son, Samuel Winchester, who will be taken to foster care and placed in a court-sanctioned home until he is of age.” 

T-Minus forty hours                     

Shouting and loud banging at the far end of the warehouse drew the attention of several patrons and suddenly stopped just as it started.

 “Dean, go wait by the entrance.” 

“What?” Dean snapped without thinking, and John grabbed his leather jacket collar, “Don’t you take that tone with me, boy,” he snarled in a low voice. “I’m having to clean up your fucking mess so your brother doesn’t end up in the system.”  Dean submissively replied, ”Yes, sir,” and walked away with Sam automatically following.

“No, Sam, you’re staying with me.” 

Dean felt terrible for getting his brother mixed up in his mistake, noticing after they’d entered the warehouse, Sam kept trying to hide his natural, recently presented Alpha reaction to the scent of the O’s under his too-short hoodie, now forced by their Alpha to stay in the thick of it, so to speak. He watched Sam reluctantly fell behind his elder. “Let's get down to brass tacks, shall we?” The dealer gestures around. “Is there a specific type your son prefers?”

“Dean's preference of type doesn’t matter, but I want one under eighteen.”

Part II

SPN TAGS: @donnaintx  @lyarr24  @flamencodiva   @lassie-bird @nancymcl  @spnbaby-67  @leigh70

Sam/Jared:  @idreamofplaid

Dean/Jensen:  @thoughts-and-funnies  @stoneyggirl2  @beabutterfly987 @smoothdogsgirl 

WF: @slamminmine @ladysparkles78 @deans-spinster-witch @ilovetaquitosmmmm

[yawnzzznnn]

♡︎Hunter Boyfriend Head Cannons♡︎

♡Note: I hope this isn't horrible I'm running on a few 5 minute naps in the car since I didn't sleep last night and have been at the hospital all day and running around the city if this is horrible please let me know also sorry if there is misspelling and Grammer issues it's not proofread although I need someone to start proofreading for me-

♡CW: slander on reader : tooth rotting fluff : hugs with extra hugs salted in even more hugs : mention of a sugar daddy : Kcon : Online relationship : Cuddling until death : cringe video and ylyl : Teasing :

♡Words: 457

♡Updated: 3/09/24

5-24-23

✶He loves spending time with you like remember when the members called him out for not being in group chat welp he put his phone on "Do Not Disturb" just so your alone time isn't intruded

✶Huge cuddler he loves to be attached to you at all times hes a huge softie no matter the situation

✶He doesn't get jealous often since he knows you love him but if that person hitting on you he thinks is better looking he will get clingy and pouty

✶His love language is words of affirmation he loves to hear how much you love him and he loves to tell you how much he loves you

✶He often gives you random things that remind him of you either it be an expensive item or as little as a shiny rock you have it all

✶He doesn't deal with slander on you he will stand up for you as soon as he hears someone kick dirt on your name

✶At some point people thought he was your sugar daddy cuz of the things he buys you but you were both quick to clear up that situation

✶He doesn't care what his members think of you at all, they don't like you? That's there problem. They love you? Won't shut up about you.

✶You two often get asked how y'all met people are shocked to find out it was at Kcon

✶If your miles away from him forcing your relationship to be online he will fix his schedule as much as he can to match yours

✶If your sad cuddles till you die

✶He loves to put on either cringe videos or ylyl's just to hear the laugh he calls a gift from above

✶He prefers calling you pet names in either your native language or his just so the members can't tease you two

✶if your a painter and or draw he will guide his hands on your and feels the movement you make

✶With Hunter there is never a dull moment

[annlillyjose]

WRITEBLR REINTRO – ANN LILLY JOSE

hello there!

following through with my tradition of posting a new writeblr intro every single year, here we go – a brand new reintro where i talk a little bit about myself and my current writing projects. so, here we go, onto all that good stuff!

about me

i'm ann, a twenty-year-old writer from kerala, currently based in kochi

i live with my husband, who is a musician, and lead a very creative life of sorts

i'm an infp, enneagram type 2

i write literary fiction and poetry

i'm a discovery writer and have a thing for sad stories with traumatised characters

i work as a content writer and social media manager for a wedding company

you can find all my published work on my linktree

my aesthetics: wilted flowers, fallen leaves, silhouettes, shadows, gentle friendships, indie music, unplanned trips, birds, fireflies, annotated books, old libraries and buildings, post-colonial literature, voids, romance

my wips

i recently finished a litfic novel called dairy whiskey and am editing it right now, hoping to get it ready for agent submissions in a month or two. i put my heart and soul and blood and bones into it, so if you’d like to dive into the story and read a few excerpts, you can check out the intro here and every other excerpt here!

rock salt is my main wip since finishing dairy whiskey. it is the story of identical twins rain and norah as they move out for college and navigate their lives on their own, which ends up in them growing apart. if you like complicated sibling relationships and the struggles of growing up, you’ll love this book!

i so badly want to start writing it, but i don’t think i’ll be able to until dairy whiskey is in a more secure position. so, there probably won’t be any updates for a few months, but you can read the wip intro here.

this is a gay vignette novel that i started writing back in 2021 as a source of personal joy. this is the story of how a singer-songwriter desperate for normalcy meets a boy with a heart heavy with guilt. this is the story of how they fall in love and it’s honestly quite wholesome <3

i haven’t worked on this book in so long and i’ve been trying to sneak some words in, but it feels like the book needs a fresh start. i don’t know, i just might start it all over again. but until then, here’s an outdated wip intro.

green room is a literary/experimental memoir documenting my teenage years as a writer. it is a deep dive into craft and how it affects life, particularly how it moulds you as a person. i haven’t started drafting this yet, but here’s a wip intro for now.

so, that’s about it!

if you’d like to be pinged when i drop a new publication or a wip update, just send me an ask to be added to my general taglist and i’ll tag you in those posts.

thank you so much for reading. i hope writing has been going well for you. if not, here’s some strength, some kindness, and some caffeine to keep going!

– love, ann.

general taglist (ask to be added or removed)

@shaonsim @heartfullkings @vnsmiles @dallonwrites @wannabeauthorclive @sienna-writes @violetpeso @flip-phones @silassghost @ambidextrousarcher @zoe-louvre @writing-with-l @magic-is-something-we-create @femmeniism @frozenstillicide @wizardfromthesea @rose-bookblood @coffeeandcalligraphy @rodentwrites @saltwaterbells @snehithiye @at-thezenith @subtlefires

[skzoologist]

Unfamiliarity [six]

word count: ~10.7k

warnings: Please refer to the series 'Summary' post, as it is updated whenever needed!

summary: Things are revealed and heating up, leaving Bae uncertain with his own feelings.

a/n: A new chapter, new problems arising. I've had this one in mind for a while now, but holidays got incredibly hectic (with my family getting two new husky babies), so I can only apologise for taking this long. I'll try my best to get the next one out as soon as I can, and I hope you'll have fun reading this one!

Please let me know if I left a warning or anything out, I will add it in! Reblogs, likes and feedback are greatly appreciated!

!I don't condone anyone stealing my work and posting it anywhere without my permission, or feeding it to AI!

!This is just fiction, my interpretation of Stray Kids. By no means is this how they are and how they behave in real life!

previous II masterlist II next

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Next time I awoke to the feeling of rustling, someone moving around in the nest. It urged me to open my eyes with haste, the harsh morning lights blurring my vision for a few seconds.

My eyes met with soft brown ones, the colour melted and swirling inside, pulling me into its depths without any resistance. The ears atop his head that sported the same shade flicked once, gaze never leaving mine, only for the brief period of a slow blink. His features softened, much gentler compared to his sharp angles and harsh exterior he usually wore.

Lino crawled back to me, little paws careful about their placement, each step calculated and mindful of the bodies peacefully resting upon each other. Our eyes never left each other, as if he knew I needed that reassurance, that safeness he could provide me with through such a simple gesture. And maybe only he could grant me this feeling of security in such a pure way, I wouldn’t know, not in this tangled mess of feelings.

His tiny head bumped into mine, rubbing fur against fur in a heap of warm colours. A deep rumble left my chest, so low and so quiet that you could only feel it, not even hear it. I inevitably leaned down and trapped his much smaller form underneath my own head, tucking him between my front paws and against my chest.

I didn’t want to let him out of my sight, or anyone, for that matter. The urge to do so much too powerful to fight, consuming me whole and lighting me ablaze from the inside out.

Lino settled down where I’d trapped him without any complaints, his chest letting out lil purrs, the sound ever so slightly becoming delightfully stronger and more prominent. It drew a silent sigh out of me, a stiffness in my muscles I had never noticed now painfully obvious, causing me to forcefully relax them and become lax. 

My body laid against the wolf’s as he was blanketing my back, him being the only one near my size, even with my lanky limbs tucked away. The puppy and the dangerously tiny pika rested against my stomach, heads and limbs buried in there comfortably. Two big cats were partly laying on top of me and everyone else, probably not fitting anywhere else in this single bed. Their spotted tails were tangled amongst limbs upon limbs, as if they were trying to hug and tie everyone together in a desperate attempt.

A whiff told me that everyone had calmed down after what had happened the previous day, the danger and anger mostly gone, although not completely. The flowers were still prickly, the pine trees still much too tall, and that sweetness in the air still sat heavily in your lungs. There was no storm anymore, only an occasional harsh breeze, yet the sun hadn’t come out of its hiding place. A sea could be heard in the distance, waves crashing against rocks in an endless loop, the scent of salt sitting heavily in the vanilla-permeated air, something that felt off a smidge. The citrus smelled tangy too, acidic, something probably only I could pick up on, as it was so faint and hidden away.

And the easel? It was still knocked down, as if it had remained untouched all this time.

It all surprised me, how painfully obvious and straightforward their anger was. It was basically palpable, bristling my fur in warning, even though they had been and still were angry for my sake. 

Mine. 

Not anyone else’s, but mine. It left a strange feeling in my chest, my whole body, one that caused my eyes to become glossy and hazy.

I felt someone stirring against my back, a little yawn and a huff leaving his form upon his waking. Channie nudged my head gently once he saw I had been awake, his own way of greeting me in the morning without lips to form words. I nudged him back, earning a satisfied huff before he placed his head back down on top of mine, apparently finding the position comfortable enough. Not having any other options, I let him lay there, soaking up his warmth greedily, feeling as the anger slowly seeped out of him and turned into a small flame, simmering inside.

While I didn’t like that it’d remained, I had to accept it, grateful that its size was now much more reduced than compared to before.

Slowly, the others woke up as well, affectionately greeting each other in the morning. I let them do so even to me, appreciating the gestures after what had happened. It calmed down the voices inside my head, ushering them away with no way back.

Bones cracked and muscles tore, the sounds of shifting loud in the serene silence of the room.

“As much as I love a good cuddle session, I’m starving, and so are you guys. I heard those growls coming from your stomachs, don’t even try to deny it. Now c’mon, up, get up.” - Channie said, laughter sitting on the edge of his words.

Groans and whines could be heard, pushing the still very naked wolf into bouts of laughter, eyes crinkling and dimples peeking out. I watched it all unfold, the laughter eventually ebbing away into small giggles and stopping, the others shifting back into their humanoid forms as well, grumbling and whining along the way, now able to be more vocal about it.

“But I was soooooo comfyyyy~” - it was Jisung, body draped over the wolf’s and gripping at him in annoyance. “Yeah, it’s rare for Bae hyung to do this, I don’t care about food! Even Binnie hyung agrees with me, right?” - Felix defiantly said, arms crossed and a pout sitting upon his pink lips.

Surprisingly, the pika wasted no time in agreeing with the feline, body still half sprawled out on me even after his shift. His voice was loud so close by, making my ears flinch and flick in pain. Jin was quick to gently cover them, the tips of his fingers pleasantly cold against my burgundy fur.

“Stop whining and fucking go, I’m freezing to death over here.” - the puppy complained, a scowl sitting on his face. “Oi, language!” “You can shut up old man, I bet you’re too old to feel the cold.” “Lmao, gottem!” “Lixieee…”

The playful banter continued on, even after the wolf had tossed one of his gigantic hoodies to the little pup, the fabric engulfing his form and practically eating him alive. The black accentuated his golden fur, as if he was a brightly burning star amidst the veil of darkness. Everyone raided Channie’s and Lixie’s wardrobe, stealing hoodies and other clothes left and right, not caring about the words of protests they had gotten at that.

Lixie was chasing Jin around, the latter comically putting on some loose pants while running away, nearly tripping and landing on the floor face first twice. Channie gave up trying to wrestle back a black hoodie from Binnie’s tight grip, a sigh leaving his nose with a small smile curving along his lips. His eyes met mine, a question swimming around the orbs as his face twisted into slight confusion.

“Baby, aren’t you coming as well? Minho cannot get up until you do, with the way you’re holding him hostage.”

The others’ heads turned towards my still laying form at that, their bodies frozen mid-action. I only tightened my hold around the small feline amidst my paws, feeling strangely affectionate towards him.

Something inside told me to be.

When the wolf came up to us, his hand stretched out and reached out towards our direction, a low whine left my throat, afraid that he would take Lino away. He immediately stilled, eyebrows furrowed and lips dipping down.

“Baby, hey. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you or Minho, you know that, right?” - he gently whispered to me, voice so sweet it might as well have been dipped into honey.

I huffed, knowing fully well that he was right. But that something inside me was ancient, a feral urge, something that I hadn’t known about before. Never have I felt this, my days had been purely spent trying to survive in the past.

The chocolate-coated feline wiggled in my hold, making me loosen it and lift up my head, his wet nose bumping into mine in comfort. I closed my eyes and buried my snout into his long fur, allowing the mellow scent of the flowers to soothe my soul and settle into my marrow, weighing pleasantly upon my very being.

They had a hint of an earthly scent to them, one you would only feel out in the open fields, in wilderness far from human-touched cities and pollution.

A soft meow broke me out of my stupor, another tiny lick on my nose as the sitting feline just observed me with an entire sea’s worth of patience. My chest squeezed at the mere thought of it, urging me to look away before I broke down in front of watchful eyes.

Fingers glided through my thick fur, leading my gaze up to Channie’s, the gentlest of smiles sitting on his face. He didn’t seem angry or frustrated at my weird behaviour that not even I fully understood. No, he seemed understanding, if anything, a light dancing around in his caring eyes. The trees swayed gently in the wind, their colours vibrant and comforting now.

Not being able to bear that gaze, that expression any longer, I turned back towards the still awaiting feline and nudged him towards my back. It only took a few seconds for him to understand my intentions, paws making their way towards my back and climbing atop. By the way his weight distributed, he probably splayed himself there, limbs out and dangling freely at my sides.

Knowing he was safe there and close enough, I stood up, following the others. I saw a few share some glances, unable to fully hide their worries from my keen senses. It was all displayed in their scents, the emotion painfully obvious.

But who was I to blame them? I didn’t know what had gotten into me either.

The human, Jisoo, could be seen in the front room, sitting on the couch with now two felines draped over both his arms. Lixie and Jin had always been more affectionate than others, attacking everyone for a quick cuddle whenever. Had you been sleeping, peacefully reading, or even cooking? No matter, you were a prime candidate for some peak cuddling.

“Ah, there you two are, I was wondering.” - Jisoo happily greeted us, smile brightening the more time he spent in everyone’s presence.

I nodded at him with a few swishes of my tail, watching his whole face lit up in response. My ears flattened against my head, embarrassed, glad for the fur hiding my flushed skin.

“So, what happened yesterday?”

Jisoo’s question felt like cold rain upon already soaked fur, making me freeze in my tracks as I had been walking towards the couch. The atmosphere immediately changed, the air heavy and burdensome. I could see Lixie open and close his mouth several times, no sound leaving his still form that now sat there somberly.

“Some fucker approached Changbin hyung and Seungminnie on their run, wanting to speak to you. Just to buy Bae hyung.” - Jin spit out, as if the words themselves were venom.

Everyone tensed at that, the memories not pleasant in the slightest. Jin had a deep scowl etched upon his face, tail lashing out in fury. Binnie was clenching his fists and jaw so hard I was starting to worry he would break a bone, the skin at the joints turning dangerously white. Lixie just became even sadder, a muted anger hiding somewhere deep inside his freckled gaze. Sungie was similar, curling into the snow leopard’s side into a small ball. Lino shifted atop my back, fur pressing against fur. The puppy was staring off into space, yet one of his hands was clutching onto his pants, the fabric nearly ripping in two.

Yet, they couldn’t compare to whatever the wolf must have been feeling, the emotion so clear in his entire body that I was sure he could cause a city to fall, if he so wished.

“Hyunjin…” - he grated out, anger now directed towards the mentioned leopard. “What? Jisoo has every right to know!” “He does, but did you have to say it like that?!” “Oh, so I should have stayed quiet, just so you could omit most of the info??” - Jin defended himself, hands harshly lifted into the air. “You know that’s not what–” “Enough.”

Everyone looked at Jisoo at that, his now standing form tall and voice intimidating, cold. He didn’t say anything else, just stood there, trying to take back control over his heavy breathing. Nobody dared to utter a word, not even our leader, Channie.

A vein popped out on the human’s forehead, scent so soured and ruined, I nearly whined. That once pleasant scent of grass now too strong, as if the plants were left alone to grow for centuries, standing tall and unyielding. No sweetness could be found nearby, as if the joy was somehow killed out of the scenery.

Not uttering a word, he walked towards the kitchen counter, steps long and calculated. His shoulders seemed stiff, a hand clenched together into a tight fist.

“Wait, Jisoo, don’t–” “No, Chan, I should have done this long ago, when the first person approached us.” “But–” “No buts.”

Jisoo left no room for arguments, effectively shutting our entire pack up with a few words.

Once he had reached his desired location, his unclenched hand took his phone into its hold, the skin slowly gaining back its healthy colour.

The rings in the room were deafening as he held the device up to his ear, breathing now seemingly under his control.

“Hey, yea, it’s me. Look, I know you’re super busy, but I need your help. Remember the hybrid I told you about? The one I took off the streets, yeah. Well some fuckers keep approaching not even me, but HIM about wanting to buy him! Can you fucking believe this?! I know, that’s what I said too! Anyway, you’re the one who has experience in things like this, which is why I called you. Mhm. Yea. Of course, just call me whenever I’m needed. I owe you one, really. Thanks, I'll text ya later, bye.”

While Jisoo had been talking, Channie rubbed at his face, sighing heavily. I’d looked at him, head tilted and gaze worried.

“Ah, don’t worry, baby. It’s just… I didn’t want to tell Jisoo like this exactly because of this. That’s a good friend of his, Laneul-ssi, someone with a well-known corporation under his belt. I don’t know much, since it’s all related to the field of biology and medicine, but I do know not to piss him off. He had won several lawsuits, having been in situations exactly like ours before.” - he explained, expression softening. “He has a big pack, like ours, with seven hybrids. Most of them are unique species as well, like us, which is why this stupid shit keeps happening.” - Lixie grumbled out, that hidden anger emerging for a split second from the depths. “Yea, but you don’t need to worry, they’re all great! My best bud, Woo, is there as well. They might be idiots, but they are our idiots.” - Binnie excitedly shared, frustration temporarily melting away.

The others had no idea who they were talking about, never having met them. Lino probably had, but he had no way of talking, instead lounging around on my back comfortably and meowing at us in agreement. Or disagreement, based on the other felines’ reactions.

“Minho hyung, don’t say that!” “Meow meow” “I’m telling this to Seonghwa hyung.”

At that smug face Lixie had made, Lino hissed, earning a laugh from the leopard. Jin just chuckled along, enjoying the drama full force. We others merely watched it, only understanding one half of the conversation.

Jisoo came back, tiredly falling back onto the couch and carding his fingers through his hair, messing up the dark curls impossibly more.

“You didn’t have to do that, you kno’” - Channie said, voice quiet and timid even. “Shush, I had to. Or do you think so lowly of me to just stand by and let these things happen to you guys?” - Jisoo nearly growled out, hurt and anger dripping from his voice. “No, of course not, I never meant for it to sound like that! I could never be more grateful to have been adopted by you. Not only that, but for you to help hybrids by taking them in from the streets and abusive households. None of us would be here without you, living such a happy and free life. I’m sorry, please know that I love you for all you do for our sake.” - Channie immediately scrambled up and took Jisoo’s cheek into his hand, stroking the skin there with a thumb as he spoke. “Yeah, yeah, I know. ‘m sorry, didn’t mean to snap like that. I love all of you, you’re basically my family. I just fucking despise fuckers like these, calling them amoebas would be insulting to the poor life forms.” - Jisoo sighed out, covering the wolf’s hand with his own and drawing a few chuckles out of some of us with his last comment.

I finally walked up to the couch, nudging Jin’s leg and gaining his attention, successfully making him move so I could get up onto the furniture as well. My moves were careful, not wishing for the feline on my back to accidentally slide down and potentially hurt himself, even though I knew he was more than capable of landing safely were he to fall.

Once I was up and laying down, the leopard guided my head into his lap, my weight heavily settling into his thighs. A hand of his immediately attached itself onto my fur, the digits burying into the base of my ear and impossibly relaxing me.

The noise around me lessened, mind taken off of the chatter and chaos. I was transported back to that open field, the easel standing proudly at the edge, the vivid vermillion and black now off to the side in their respective containers. The white canvas had been painted a soothing blue, the painter dabbing the brush against it gently, creating fluffy looking clouds.

As if sensing my presence, he turned his head back, a gentle smile taking its place on his face and drawing tiny dimples out of their hiding places. I blinked at him slowly, the gesture being the only thing exchanged between us as he went back to painting, my own body laying down nearby, the cool touch of a tree’s shadow caressing my fur.

I spent my time there, just lazily lying amidst the grass and flowers, the sounds of the painter perfectly blending in with the ones that came from nature itself. A small stroke of the brush here, a wider one there, a little dip into the paint. He even hummed sometimes, his voice impossibly soft and making me yearn for more whenever he stopped.

“But then–” “Sshhh!” “What do you mean shh, Lixi–” “Oh my god Changbin, just shush, Bae hyung is finally asleep.” “Oooh, uhm, my bad.”

While I wasn’t asleep just yet, I could understand why they had thought so, my own mind barely making sense of their words as it stood at the fragile edge of unconsciousness.

The sound of skin tearing and bones breaking could be heard, the fur on my back bristling as it felt cold now, nothing there to shield and warm it anymore.

“He isn’t, not yet. But I don’t think he’s far from it, seeing as he’s not even reacting right now.” - it was Lino, uttering a quick thanks afterwards, the sound of fabric being shuffled around filling up the silence.

Not even a minute later he sat down next to me, his breath hitting my ears as he glided his fingers through my fur, not leaving my side completely. Jin never stopped with his own administrations, the two soothing my entire being continuously.

“I’m glad he’s resting now, he seemed kind of out of it. What was with him and not letting you out of his sight anyway?” - Lixie muttered, voice not raised so as to not wake me. “I have no clue, but I was afraid he would panic if I left. There was something off about his scent too, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.” “I think… I think a part of his brain took over, after what happened yesterday.” “Sungie is right, that seemed like something an instinct-driven hybrid would do. He probably didn’t even realise it, by the way he’d acted when I first approached you two in the bed.” “Mh, but nothing bad happened, right?” “No, you don’t have to worry, Jisoo. The events just really spooked him, more than he lets on probably.”

The puppy’s voice was the last one I had heard, only a few more words making sense to me before I finally drifted off, the lands of sleep claiming my weary soul.

-.-

Distant voices of bickering awoke me, my ears flickering already in annoyance as I had easily identified who the perpetrators were: Jin and Sungie.

The two had always had a strange spark between them, and not the good kind. The signs had always been there, some I had noticed as well. The bitter glances when only one of them got what they had wanted, or the challenging gazes they sent the other when something stupid had crossed their minds. They probably thought they were slick, never causing a scene openly.

But I had heard their arguments occasionally, midday naps and long nights messing up my usual sleeping schedule often enough to catch them with my sharp hearing, much to the dismay of the wolf. Never were any of the arguments with good reason, as if they were children fighting over a toy.

And I had enough of it.

Blinking my bleary eyes open, I stood up from the couch and stretched, a satisfied sigh leaving my nostrils after a few of my joints popped, getting rid of that uncomfortable feeling. Nobody else was in the room, not even Lino, burying the seed of panic into my body. But before it could blossom I took a deep breath, carefully identifying everyone’s whereabouts.

Channie and Binnie were in their workroom, the two tinkering away on something alone. I never knew what they were doing in there, no sound escaping the place at all. Lixie and the puppy were in the leopard’s room, most probably playing, as they had been regularly doing that lately. Lino’s scent seemed to have been in that same room, probably lounging around and taking another short nap, knowing him. Jisoo seemed to have left the house, something I didn’t appreciate, as it had been a day without work for him originally, and I was sure I hadn’t slept for a whole day. He almost always spent these particular days with us, watching a show on TV or playing on Lixie’s devices.

Taking another deep breath and calming myself down as much as I could, I took off towards my own room, claws silently tip-tapping against the boards underneath. I hurriedly made my way into my room, opening the door with my mouth and shifting back inside, in the safety of my den. Not a thought was formed about what clothes I would put on, the matter at hand much too pressing for me to do so.

Fully clothed and annoyance at its peak, I quickly made my way to the two’s loud voices, no care given as I barged in through the door and into the room.

“You two talk it out right now, this has to stop.” - my voice came out a bit too frustrated and harsh, causing them to flinch.

They both just blinked up at me with wide eyes, the words frozen inside their rigid forms. I merely crossed my arms after I had closed the door behind me and leaned against it, raising up an eyebrow at their unresponsive forms.

As I could see both of them open their mouths, excuses on the tips of their tongues, I straightened up and pushed myself off the door.

“No. Talk it out. Right now.”

Jin and Sungie gulped, gazes casted down towards the floor in shame. I patiently stood there, waiting for any of them to start, my own tail agitatedly swishing behind me.

It had taken nearly five whole minutes for them to start, but Jin finally opened his mouth and started speaking. He spilled out all his frustrations, how he hated the way Sungie stole our attention away and flaunted around with it, greedily asking for more at any given moment. He told us how he hated the way the squirrel acted, much too obnoxious for his tastes.

In return, the squirrel had done the same. He spoke of his fears, his own distaste against Jin’s personality, how he acted too dramatic and overexaggerated everything. The way Jin had a habit of fooling around and occasionally starting a playful banter annoyed him, making him feel smaller and inferior.

The two spoke for a long while, the ice having been broken and letting the words flow seamlessly. I quietly stood by the side the whole time, a silent spectator, nothing more. Channie tried to come in once, probably to check up on us as he usually did, but I silently signed for him to go, knowing I would have to tell him the details later. Jin and Sungie had been too absorbed in their conversation to even notice the whole thing happening, something I was grateful for.

Eventually, they had come to an agreement, shaking hands on it. A smile sneaked its way onto my lips, my previously still tail now swishing gently around.

Problems between pack members had always been stressful, something I ceaselessly tried my best to prevent from happening. So far I had succeeded, only because everyone clicked well together, merely small arguments rising up that had usually gotten resolved in a day or two. That was until the day Sungie came home, the previously perfectly clicking puzzle now disturbed.

Looking back at the two, I found them slightly joking around, my eyes widening in surprise. I was glad they were having fun together, of course I was, but never had I expected them to change attitudes with each other this fast. They were practically different people now!

Sungie’s eyes flashed with what I could only call pure mischief as he’d caught my observing gaze, that smile only widening on his lips and taking on a lovely heart shape. Not even a second later his entire body shot towards me, tails and even his ears wiggling around in happiness, scent a comforting sea breeze that caressed my skin. His limbs latched onto me without hesitation, my balance only maintained through hard work and sheer luck with the force he had launched himself at me.

“Yah, I wanted to do that!” - that was the only warning I had gotten from the leopard before he had done the same thing, proudly attaching himself to my back.

My own limbs were burning from the exertion, not built to carry this much weight so suddenly. Yet, I only tightened my hold on the squirrel on my front, tail brushing against his and Jin’s legs with no hesitation. My senses were enveloped in a wonderful sensation, everything calm and serene around me. The sea was placid now completely, gently lapping at my paws, while the easel stood nearby proudly, the scenery perfectly painted upon its canvas with soothing colours.

The silent sigh that left my form was inevitable, its escape out of my control.

Even with all that, I knew my limits, so I hastily turned towards the door and nudged the little squirrel in my hold to open it for me, the boy doing so hesitantly. His head was buried in the crook of my neck on one side, Jin’s head hidden on the other. Once he had returned there after his task had been done -quietly grumbling the whole time-, a sigh so deep had left him, he nearly deflated as if the air had been taken out of him.

With my way being cleared, albeit it had been a hard task, I continued on my journey to the living room, my steps careful and controlled. I didn’t want to accidentally slip, especially on the stairs, nor did I want to jostle them too much, their scents too elated and breaths too deep for that. It was a miracle Jin hadn’t slipped down from my back, with how he only kept himself there with his own force, even in his slumber.

“Whatcha got there?” - Lixie asked, much too adorable for me to be mad at him and his amusement.

I quietly grunted and just settled down, careful not to sit on Jin and leave him enough space between me and the back of the sofa. All the while Lixie and Binnie had been giggling and chuckling, the latter nearly going into that usual shrill laughter of his, had the awake leopard not warned him with a slap on the arm.

“You know, with the way they’re clinging to you, you would think they don’t hate each other.” “Not anymore.”

The snow leopard just owlishly blinked back at me, Binnie doing the exact same, words frozen into both for a few solid seconds. I couldn’t keep down the smile that crept up on my lips, watching them process the information. The moment where it all clicked in them could have been pinpointed with scary accuracy, their entire face lighting up in delight.

“Oh you sneaky bastard, I knew you were up to something.” - Binnie said, crossing his arms and smirking up at me. “Is that why you disappeared the last like, 2 hours, Hyung? Damn, I wanted to see it though. Bet you were angry.” “Why would you want to see him angry?”

At that, Lixie made an ‘are you kidding me?’ face, eyes sharp and judging. The tiny pika had nearly shrunk into himself, understanding dawning on him mere seconds after.

“Yea, okay, no, I cannot blame you. I bet 10 bucks he’s like Chan hyung, silent and scary.”

B-Binnie??

“I bet 20 bucks he’s actually loud and growls at you.”

Lixie?!?

“Deal.” “Great!”

What the fuck?!???!

My expression must have completely reflected my inner thoughts because the two bursted into laughter the moment they had made eye contact with me, bending over in pain and gasping for air. Nothing held their voices back anymore, that high-pitched, shrill laughter now free to roam the halls of the house. The two stirred on my chest and back, understandably awoken and confused.

“Mh, what happened?” - Sungie murmured out, cheeks squished against my clothed front. “Don’t mind them, go back to sleep.” “Then they better fucking shut up before I chuck something at them.” - Jin added in, his usual, easily irritable self coming out after being woken up.

You never woke Jin up, that was an unwritten rule in this household. Unless you wanted to lose a finger or two and be covered in scratch marks, then, sure, you could freely do so.

Yet, the two amused ones merely started laughing harder, having the time of their life, Lixie even having fallen off the furniture altogether. I started to grow worried, air seemingly avoiding their lungs like the plague.

“What’s the topic of laughter, hm?” - Channie asked, having sneaked up on me and causing me to slightly jump. “I– Y’should’ve–” - Lixie tried to say, only to completely fail and fall into another bout of laughter, following Binnie as the pika couldn’t even form words in the first place.

The wolf hummed once again, that warm light dancing in his dark eyes once again, a gentle smile sitting on his face as he just watched the two, his body leaned against the back of the sofa. A hand came up to support his head, most of the weight held up by his elbow now.

He looked so serene, his scent freely let out for everyone to feel. Those previously angry trees were now quieter, calmer, the sun shining on their thin leaves freely. An underlying hint of something wet, rotting reached my nose, but it was gone within the same second, leaving me blinking and questioning myself.

The laughter subsided, leaving them teary eyed and flushed. Channie went ahead and ruffled their hair, making them whine and playfully pout at him. It was all just a ruse, they both enjoyed it and weren’t even doing a good job at hiding it.

“Baby, can you come with me for a second? I wanna talk about somethin’.”

I nodded back, slowly peeling Jin and Sungie off of me, their limbs securely attached to my body. It was an arduous task, one so difficult, I considered just taking off my hoodie and letting them have it. But with enough struggling and determination, I had succeeded, taking the wolf’s offered hand and letting him pull me up.

Something was off about him.

As we were walking back up the stairs after a brief goodbye to Lixie and Bin, he slightly shrunk in on himself, his entire presence seeming somehow timid even. That same rotting smell appeared once more, the hybrid unable to hide it from me, even if he pushed it back down in the next second.

The last time he had acted like this was when I had to visit the doctor, and it pulled at my stomach with a vicious force.

My room greeted me back, everything left untouched from the time I had come in here for some clothes earlier this day. The wolf sat down upon the bed, patting the empty place next to him in hopes of inviting me closer. His eyes avoided mine, depriving me of those warm depths I loved getting lost in.

It squeezed my throat shut.

“I–,   sigh   Baby, we love you, you know that, right? That we trust you and you can trust us?” - he sighed out, hands finding one of mine and taking it in their tender hold.

I nodded, watching as his thumbs caressed the light skin underneath, occasionally drawing little shapes in there.

“We’ve been talkin’ with the others and… How do I say this? Gosh, sorry, I’m just a babblin’ mess. What I’m trying to say is that we know you went through a lot, and we think talking to someone about it would help you. A lot.”

His eyes finally found mine, hands holding onto me stronger when he felt I had tensed up.

“I know it’s scary, and you deciding to tell us what you went through or not is completely up to you. But it’s not good to bottle it all up, which is why I propose that you go and seek therapy. Talk it out with a professional, go at your own pace. The reign would be completely in your hand, nobody would force you into saying anything.”

His words were so sincere I had to accept them, pulling myself away from the edges of panic and remembering. I couldn’t do that to him, to shatter right when he was just trying to help me. The weight of that act would pull me to the depths of the void, letting it claim me immediately.

“‘Course, if ya want it, one of us would accompany you there if you so wanted it. Just please, consider it, ‘kay? We only want the best for ya and nothing less.”

Those hands never let go of mine, that voice never raised and instead remained a gentle whisper, a soothing balm to my panicked soul. A shaky breath left my lips, only now noticing the slight tremors running through my body. Warmth seeped into me wherever he touched me, as if I was a freezing traveller on the streets, death waiting briefly to claim me.

Hands enveloped me completely, the world moving as I was hoisted up, head buried right in the curve under his jaw, slotting myself in there out of instinct. Heat travelled up and down my back repeatedly, touches firm, as if he was reassuring me of his everlasting presence.

Before I would let my head be filled with his scent, I murmured into his skin a promise, a reassurance of thinking about it seriously. His hand stilled for a single second, that scent of pine and moss blooming with full force. My hands sneaked up his back, grabbing onto the fabric there as an anchor for myself. I felt myself running around in the woods, soaking up the sun and letting it bleed into my fur and bones, the breeze pleasant and not angry in the slightest.

My lungs heaved, having run around for a while, and now I found myself standing at the edge of that meadow I loved once again. The air smelled sweet and fruity, the scent of salt and paint permeating it as well. Yet, I was purely focused on those mellow flowers, their light coloured petals alluring, impossibly so.

My paws took me to their fragile selves, my body inevitably laying down and enjoying their presence. My nose was carefully pressed against one of the flowers, close to the core of their scent and drinking it in, muscles relaxing impossibly more.

I was vaguely aware of the soft murmurs around me, touches belonging to different pack members, the most prominent ones careful on me, as if I was a fragile little thing, much like those flowers I loved so much.

-.-.-

The days started bleeding into each other, my worry for what the wolf had offered up to me constantly plaguing my mind.

On one hand, every fibre of my being screamed at me to refuse it, to just never talk about my past and bury them back deep down. I had survived alone for so long in the past, I could continue doing so in the future if needed. And above all that, to talk about it with a human? The mere thought disgusted me so deeply my stomach turned into knots and churned painfully.

On the other hand, I… felt guilty for thinking so. The feeling sat deep inside me, reaching every nook and cranny, infecting every cell of my body. This pack had gone so far to help me, to even love someone as broken as me. Who was I to refuse an act of kindness that came from within their beautifully selfless hearts?

I was at a standstill, a horrible one.

Not wanting to deal with it all just yet, I seeked out Lixie and the pup, knowing the two were together and playing those games on their TV again. I didn’t even need my nose to be able to tell, their loud voices and shouts echoing through the whole house. Although to be fair, nearly all of them belonged to the young leopard, most probably caused by his continuous losing streak. He had never been exceptionally good at these games, but it wasn’t like he was awful at them either. The puppy was just way better than him, it was that simple.

The door creaked slightly when I’d opened it and peeked inside, Lixie way too focused on the game to notice me, only the puppy’s head turning towards me. His smile widened, all pearly whites, eyes crinkling up and tail starting to slowly thump against the floor. They had both been sitting down there, on some soft pillows and blankets they had piled up in one spot.

My own lips stretched and arched, a slow swish could be heard from behind me. I silently walked up to the bed after having closed the door, not wanting to break the little leopard’s focus in front of me. His tongue slightly poked out from the confines of his cheeks, brows furrowed and nose occasionally scrunching up whenever his character took some damage. Angry clicks and clanks could be heard from his direction, the device in his hand somehow withstanding the abuse without any problem.

The puppy merely smiled through all this, mocking laughter leaving his form after the winner had been announced on the big screen, Lixie having slumped down and started loudly groaning and whining in defeat. His hands were nestled into his hair as he laid on the floor, face down, tearing at the blonde strands forcefully. 

Not wanting him to become bald just yet, I stood up from my seat and kneeled down next to him, bringing his smaller body into my hold. Surprised sounds left his lips, wide, dark eyes blinking up at me atop their field of stars. His round little ears instantly perked up, not in that harsh and angry angle anymore. A slender tail curled around my waist, securing himself to me.

“Hey, I was the winner, how come he gets the cuddles?” - the puppy said, pout hidden inside the tone of his voice. “‘Cuz you suck, Minnie. Git gud.” - Lixie replied, smug face hidden in the pocket of my collarbone.

The puppy gasped, arm threateningly holding up the device in hold against the feline. No real threat or anger was in his entire being, mere frustration and jealousy that only widened my smile. A wonderful idea popped into my mind, stretching my lips into a grin, alarming the puppy and making him slightly back up.

“No, no-no, Hyung, you never do anything good after you get that evil little smile on your f–  Agh-” - he grunted out, unable to fully finish his sentence before I pounced on him, smothering him with my entire body.

My arms tightly held onto his torso, wound around it and latching onto each other. Our legs tangled into the others, weaving and unweaving amidst his struggling. Lixie went along with my plan swimmingly, that same evil smile reflected upon his face. His tail curled now around one of the pup’s legs, hands buried in and tight around fabric. 

“I hate you guys. Both of you, so much.” “Don’t lie, Minnie, just admit that you love us and our cuddles. Stop being a tsundere.” “I will stuff this controller down your mouth.” “You’re welcome to try.” “Ew, no thanks.”

A chuckle left Lixie at that, successfully having disarmed the puppy and his sharp words. A similar sound left my chest as well, the sound low and hard to hear, my head much more enjoying the two’s presence and scents. They mixed disgustingly well together, the freshness of the pup and the sweetness of the feline like a match made in heaven, especially with that hint of vanilla hidden beneath.

“Dal hyung, don’t fall asleep on me again please. Last time you did, I was forced to not move for 3 hours. My bladder can only hold so much.”

Lixie snorted at that and hard, turning away and pressing a hand against his lips, entire body shaking with silent laughter. I lifted myself up, one of my hands helping in the motion, eyes scrutinisingly looking at the pup underneath.

“You wanted cuddles, but the moment you get them, you dare complain?” - I huffed out, lips downturned in a scowl.

He looked away from me, not daring to hold eye contact, scent turning duller and more muted.

“At least lemme go to the toilet when needed, you greedy Hyung…” “Hm, maybe I will.”

The conversation died out after that, the three of us silently cuddling and simply enjoying the other’s presence. That same victory music had been playing the whole time, the words ‘Player 2 wins’ searing into the screen in big, bold letters. None of us moved to turn it off, Lixie’s breathing even turning deep, his mind taken to the lands of sleep in a short time.

A hand tangled into my long strands of hair, slowly creeping up to my ears and touching them gently. The hold on them was careful, as if he was afraid of something. Digits pressed into the soft fur, massaging the area soothingly, earning a content sigh from me. It felt wonderful, never once turning unpleasant or too rough.

I had nearly joined the softly snoring feline by the time the door opened, making me open my eyes and look around with my bleary vision.

“Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to disturb.” - it was the little squirrel, voice timid and I could already see the mental image of him fidgeting with his long sleeves before my eyes. “You’re fine. What did you want, Hyung?” - the puppy replied, sound kept at a low level for our comfort. “I uh… wanted to ask Bae hyung something?” - he was fidgeting, I was sure of it now, the soft rustling of the clothes merely confirming my suspicions.

Sungie usually wasn’t like this, his more outgoing persona in place in front of us, as if he was shielding this part of himself from the harsh world. It brought some worry into my mind, drawing a silent sigh out of my chest as I detached myself from Lixie and the pup -only after i had planted a fleeting kiss onto the skin of their necks-.

Sure enough, an anxious little herbivore greeted me, tail slightly tucked between his legs. My eyebrows furrowed, mind immediately filled with worries and all possible scenarios of what could have happened. A little smile made its way onto his lips once our eyes met, a little wobbly and even fearful.

The time it took me to cross the room to get to him could hardly be considered a second, my long legs carrying me there swiftly.

“A-ah, I’m okay Hyung, don’t look at me like that. I just… c’mere.” - he said, his own forehead creasing with worry at the sight of my expression, a hand latching onto one of mine.

He took me away, the door behind us softly pulled closed as he led the way to my own room, the click it had made loud in the shattering silence. I watched him pace around a bit once inside, one of his fingers pressed against plush lips, teeth nibbling at the skin and nail there. I was swiftly by his side once more, pulling the nearly bleeding digit away and smoothing down the irritated skin.

Eyes looked into each other, some tension leaving his form as he read my silent plea.

“I uhm, uuhh…” “Yes?” “I’mmakinganestandwantedtoaskforoneofyourhoodies!”

I blinked down at him, not really understanding what he had said, only seeing the red dust his cheeks faintly. At my head tilt he groaned into his free hand, cursing at himself silently.

“I said, I’m kinda making a nest and wanted to ask if maybe you could lend me that blue hoodie of yours? I know you love that one, so it’s okay if you say no, but that’s the only thing missing and- What are you doing?”

Not replying, I continued looking through my neatly put away clothes, easily finding the single piece of clothing he had been talking about. It was true what he had said, this particular hoodie was one of my favourites, its big size and thumb holes making it a comforting piece to wear. It even had a pocket in the front, one that I could reach through and stick my hand out on the other side. It was fun.

Thumbing the fabric and taking a deeper breath to make sure it had been soaked with my scent, I turned around and offered the hoodie up to him.

His boba eyes were wide as they stared up at me, unblinking, even his mouth was slightly agape. It confused me, not understanding his reaction to my actions.

Why wouldn’t I give it to him?

Those dark, chocolate orbs glistened as droplets started to form along their shining surface, raining down upon his skin and clothes. I grew alarmed, hastily dropping the clothing and rushing up to him, closing that small gap between us and wiping his tears away. The skin underneath my fingers was smooth and warm, heating up the cold, slender digits.

His sobs only worsened after my actions, making me halt and try to back away, to give him some space. But his hands were on my wrists in an instant, keeping me close and pulling me even closer.

I was frozen, not knowing what to do to comfort him, unable to hush the endless grateful words tumbling out of his lips. While they were muffled, his head buried into my chest, I still heard them crystal clear, growing sad from the implications of it.

Who dared to deny him comfort while nesting?

Herbivores loved to build them, to make themselves feel at home, safe and protected. That was the exact reason why only a select few could ever enter them, the notion of intruding upon them a sin amongst hybrids. The thought of Sungie having been deprived of it all sent a searing sensation down my spine, the emotions bubbling up from deep within. My teeth itched and fur bristled with a ferocity I hadn’t felt in a while, blinding me temporarily.

“–ng, Hyung, it’s okay, it’s okay. I’m fine now, hey, jagiya.” - his gentle words brought me back from that self-destructing train of thoughts, focus back on him and him alone and his impossibly soft voice.

A bittersweet little smile took its place on his face, one I didn’t like too much. It was one that was hiding pain and suffering, all past scars that had scabbed over long ago.

It was painfully familiar.

“Thank you for giving me your precious hoodie that you scented for me. Actually, hang on-”

His touch left me as I watched him go and retrieve said object, his own taken off of his form. My eyes widened in utter surprise, mouth sliding slightly open and remaining there, jaw set into place as if it had been glued there for eternity.

The skin on his body was the same as on his face, a warm shade and nearly free of any birthmarks. It looked soft, well taken care of, only the slight goosebumps were out of place as a cold breeze caressed him. Well, the only things besides something else.

That same skin sagged at his sides and down the lengths of his arms, looking irritated and uncomfortable. It had a reddish hue in the folds and at the edges, clearly chafed out from the extensive touches from coarse fabric he must have worn in the past regularly, if not always.

No wonder he had never shown any skin around us before, my despised suspicions confirmed and now set into stone. It sat heavily on me, my shoulders feeling an impossible weight falling onto them and worsening my posture. The air felt thinner, the acid in my stomach turning into a deadly raging sea, the waves dangerously rolling around and wishing to break free.

He looked so fragile, tiny form littered in undeserved scars and modifications that were deemed ugly by those around him, undeserving of his endless love and joy.

Because why else would he try so desperately to hide them?

The moment he was done, turning back around and slightly smiling at me with those chubby cheeks and rosy lips, something inside of me broke free, my power too small to do anything against it.

I didn’t want to anyway.

My arms picked him up with ease, the alarm bells inside my head still not liking how easily I had done so, despite seeing how he loved eating and had always done so with great vigour. The surprise died in his throat, never truly leaving his mouth and making its presence known. Tiny hands latched onto me, hands fisting the fabric underneath desperately.

His expression was that of utter disbelief, that faint red making a reappearance on his cheeks.

I pressed a chaste kiss to his forehead and held him tight, his head slotting itself into the crook of my neck and comfortably resting there. His shallow breaths tickled my throat with every exhale, yet it brought only comfort to me, as if something lost long ago had finally been found at last. Those tiny hands snaked around my neck and shoulders, trapping me as much against him, as I had trapped him against me. That grey, bushy tail was curled up around us, as if it was a big blanket ready to guide us to sleep.

After pressing my nose against the crown of his head for but a brief moment, my legs started taking us away and out of this room, having a clear goal in mind.

Only the thoughts of protecting the little herbivore in my hold circled around in my head, mind wired to keep him safe and out of harm’s touch. Anyone who would dare stand in my way would learn to pay the price, the easy, or the hard way.

Sungie’s room was dark, save for the few nightlights and string lights all running around the space, not leaving a single corner untouched. The closed door shut out all the remaining light that could pour in from the hallway, yet it posed no problem, my eyes adjusting in a few seconds.

His bed was in the middle, one of the shorter ends pushed up to a wall that was decorated with all kinds of things: different pictures, some from anime, some from things I didn’t recognise. He had some photos scattered around as well, either stuck up to a wall or laying on his cluttered desk, the furniture nearly having no empty spot left on its wooden surface. Clothing littered the floor, all belonging to the nearly sleeping boy in my arms, making me almost sigh out, had I not been too focused on something else.

The nest sat neatly on the bed, a messy little circular shape made from everything plush and soft you could ever imagine. Different blankets were woven into it, not only his, but seemingly Channie’s and Jisoo’s as well. The walls were proudly standing there, made out of different pieces of clothing. I could clearly see Lixie’s, Binnie’s and the pup’s shirts and hoodies in there, all in different colours and sizes. A single article of clothing was thrown over the walls haphazardly, its charcoal-infused scent betraying who it belonged to.

In the middle laid a few plushies -no doubt thanks to Lixie and Jisoo-, along with a few pillows, all belonging to a certain cat in our pack. The feline had clearly left an impression on the little squirrel, Lino’s scent being the closest to him whenever he decided to sleep in there.

My heart skipped a beat when I realised he had asked for my hoodie as well, for my scent, proudly wearing it in front of me.

“Can I go in?” - I murmured into his skin, the hand on his back now drawing long lines into the fabric.

He sluggishly nodded, no doubt dancing on the edge of sleep. Warmth erupted inside me, unable to believe he would trust me so much.

And yet, he had clearly done so.

The nest was as comfortable as it looked, the surface plush and well put together. All kinds of scents enveloped us, all wonderfully familiar and safe. Not a single thing was out of place, nor did they smell wrong. 

The trees were tranquil, and so was the wind, peacefully dancing around the place and leading me to my beloved meadow. No thorn was in sight, nor was there any red or black paint. Instead it was quiet and serene, everything blooming and healthy, the sun not too warm, yet not too cold either.

Sungie stirred next to me, form basically swallowing mine with the way he had climbed on top of me, never truly letting me go. My hands caged him in, one placed on top of his back, the other onto his nape, playing with the hair there. Occasionally I started drawing shapes into his back, always careful not to irritate his skin or accidentally yank at it.

Shallow breaths eventually turned into deep ones, quiet snores leaving his nose as he was resting on top of my chest.

He looked finally relaxed, truly, as if a weight had been taken off his chest. He had always had this melancholic aura around him, never leaving him no matter how hard he tried, continuously following him like a dark cloud.

The door quietly opened, making my ears perk up and eyes search for our uninvited guest.

“Oh, just wanted to see how he was doing with the nest. I won’t be bothering then.” - Binnie said, voice much quieter than usual.

Yet, it was enough to rouse the squirrel up in my arms, round little ears flicking against my skin, leaving tingling trails in their wake. An unintelligible grumble left his squished lips, making the pika halt in his steps and question what he had heard.

“Dun leave, stayy.” - Sungie repeated, earning a chuckle from Binnie and a small smile from me.

The awake herbivore closed the door with a soft click and made his way towards us, scooting into the empty space to my left, letting Sungie steal one of his arms and cuddle it with no mercy. He laughed at that, saying ‘Someone’s cuddly today, eh?’, but he let it all happen with no resistance in any action of his, a happy smile rounding out his cheeks. Those usually acidic fruits now smelled impossibly sweet, their potent scent overpowering everything else and nestling easily into my nose.

Binnie scooted closer to let the sleeping squirrel hold his arm easier, his own head now resting on one of my shoulders and cuddling into me. His warmth seeped into me, urging me to bury my nose into his hair and nuzzle into him for a few seconds. Light chirps were my reward, my tail smacking against the blankets with a quiet thump.

“He was very nervous about building a nest here, y’know. So I’m very grateful for you being here and giving him that hoodie of yours, Bae hyung.” - I had never heard him so quiet in my entire life, making me slightly turn my head towards him.

His gaze was set on the person of our conversation, a light dancing in his eyes that I would usually see in Channie’s, its intensity so fierce, I was afraid of burning up inside.

Those dark orbs slid up to me, the entire power of the sun directed right at me and melting me in its entirety.

“I know you don’t think you did a lot, but it matters so much to him, to us. You keep giving me anything of yours that I want whenever I build a new nest, no questions asked, as if it’s all natural to you. You let him have your favourite hoodie, even cuddling him in his first nest in this house of ours. You’re like a safety blanket and you don’t even realise it.”

Every word he’d uttered felt like a weight released into the ocean of my soul, sinking down to the bottom, destined to remain there for the rest of eternity. The water only rose, struggling against its binds, but the dam held it back, standing strong and proud.

“It should be natural.” - I murmured back, tightening my hold on them and bringing Binnie closer, letting his head slide into the crook of my neck.

A shaky exhale hit my skin there, my thumb sliding back and forth along his exposed bicep, wishing to grant him even a speck of comfort. He only nuzzled into my neck, hiding inside deeper, as if wishing to take refuge there and away from the entire world. I freely let him do so, his nose pressing against my pulse and feeling the calm beats there. The longer he stayed like that, the more relaxed he became, body becoming all lax and letting me carry its weight.

It was serene, peaceful, nearly pulling me into a dreamless sleep as well.

Only their soft snores and occasional louder ones could be heard -no surprise, their necks were in weird angles-, along with the occasional sounds coming from the others in the house. A shout from Lixie, a weird sound from Lino, the dramatic whine of Jin or the boisterous laughter of the puppy.

If I focused hard enough, I could even hear Channie’s steady footsteps, going to greet Jisoo at the door as the man had arrived back from another hard day of work, no doubt exhausted to the bone, as usual. The others would go and greet him as well, usually me included, happy to finally see him and have a brief chat. Then, they would go back to what they had been doing, just like now, Jisoo being left alone to get ready for bed and sleep.

Although this time, he hadn’t done that. No, instead he went with the wolf, the two seemingly arguing about something as they went into a nearby room, not knowing we were inside here and I could hear everything, only thanks to my sharp senses.

“Chan, I really can’t do this right now. Can’t we talk about this tomorrow or something?” “Naur, absolutely not. You keep saying that and it’s already been a week!”

They remained quiet after that, either whispering or not speaking at all.

“Look, I know you have a good paying job and you want only the best for us. But you can’t expect to support 8 hybrids by yourself! You’ll wear yourself thin, heck, you’re already doing that! Constantly staying there for long hours, sometimes not even coming home for the night. You can’t keep doing this!” “Then WHAT?! Should I send back Sungie and Minnie to the centre, for others to adopt? I know fully well you guys have already bonded, I’m not fucking blind! Jesus christ, who do you think I am? I work with animals, I have at least a little bit of inkling as to how hybrids work!” - Jisoo nearly shouted with the full force of his lungs, gradually becoming quieter and quieter, until I could hardly hear the words he uttered.

The silence after that was unsettling, digging its claws into my chest and stomach. A strained little sound could be heard from their direction, although I couldn’t really tell what it was.

“Of course I know, Ji, ‘course I do. I never said you don’t know these things, gods, never ever think so. You’re smart, and you take very good care of us. All I’m saying is to let me share this burden with you. Paying for a house expansion is no cheap task. We could publish some of our music with Bin, hm? Find some easy, hybrid-friendly jobs, ye? C’mere.” - the wolf’s voice was as soothing as when he had first talked to me, back in that all white bathroom. “I kno’, I’m sorry. I’m such an asshole for shouting, fucking hell, I’m so, so sorry.” “Shh, it’s okay, I know you were just frustrated with the situation and not with me. I would be equally as irritated as you if I worked as much as you do, especially with such assholes and incompetent coworkers.”

This comment drew a wet sounding chuckle out of Jisoo, the claws now partially unhooked and free from my chest.

“You’re so right you don’t even know. How do you always say the right things?” “A magician never reveals his secrets.” “You’re no magician.” “But I made your sadness disappear, didn’t I?” “YoU–”

A smack could be heard followed by laughter, my mind soon zoning out and ignoring whatever happened after that.

They were staying?

⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅⋅•⋅⋅⋅•∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅

next chapter

[wishbrightdreams]

Reinvention Challenge - My Goals

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing amazingly well. 💖

I saw this challenge and wanted to give it a try, but at my own pace. Not with a restrictive deadline because that just makes me more stressed and anxious, and the whole point of this for me is to be less stressed and anxious!

I will update every week on my progress on Saturday’s starting March 2nd 2024. Let’s make this happen!

Here is the original challenge if anyone is interested: https://www.tumblr.com/dreamdolldiary

Health: Meal prep freshly made juice, every Sunday’s and Wednesday’s. Learn to cook simple, healthy meals for myself (still overcoming a limiting belief that I have with this so this might take longer than the other goals). Get on certain herbs to naturally help me with deeper sleep. Go on red light therapy at least 3 times a week for 15 minutes each.

Professional: Complete my online training course and get the certification I need to start working. Attend a zoom event (monthly) related to my field. Find a mentor in my field.

Adulting: Set up the digital envelope budgeting system in my bank account. Book important appointments I’ve been putting off. Set up and STICK to a to-do list system that works for me.

Hobbies: Write a Tumblr blog post at least 1 time a week. Practice cursive/printing writing 30mins daily. Make my own subliminal at least 1 time a week.

Social: Join a social group (either in person or online) once a month or more. Build up your confidence and practice social skills. Try to go out at least once a week and talk to someone (can be anyone).

Healing/Spiritual: Practice manifesting more things and circumstances. Have weekly spirit guided meditation sessions for 15-20mins. Practice detachment and energy protection daily.

Style/Self-Care: Find out what my skin type is, build a proper skincare routine. Have more self care nights.

Bucket List: Try a depravation tank, go to a rock salt cave/attend a live sound bath, have high tea at a tea room.

[throughtrialbyfire]

WIP Wednesday <3

tagged by the amazing @saltymaplesyrup @skyrim-forever and @your-talos-is-problematic !!

tagging the incredible @thana-topsy @totally-not-deacon @viss-and-pinegar @dirty-bosmer @orfeoarte @changelingsandothernonsense @mareenavee @thequeenofthewinter @archangelsunited @gilgamish @wispstalk and anyone who wants to participate, consider yourself tagged!!

this week i bring a section of the rewritten chapter 9 of Cycle of the Serpent. i'm planning to do some final edits to chapter 8 and 9 both and update those in the fic, finish 10, and then do some tiny editing for consistency in the rest of the published chapters in the next couple of weeks. for now, have this! <3

Thick, impenetrable night slid through the cracks of the inns walls, cool air and occasional passes of torchlight from outside bringing slivers of light into the otherwise dim hall. In the rented upstairs room, the flickers from the hall found their way in, bathing it in a bronze hue. Sleep, the elusive beast, sometimes captured and sometimes wild and far away, had wrestled itself from Athenath's grasp minutes ago. So now, he lay there, eyes fixed on the ceiling, the heavy wooden beams, the aged surfaces revealing previously unseen shapes as his mind tried making sense of the dark. There were promises to keep, come tomorrow. Whispers from under the balcony flew up through the wooden floors, the conversations of some patrons up well into the night. The constant hiss of syllables against teeth, the sharp, whistle sounds of them, made the Altmer want to grab the pillow and shove it over their ears and clutch it until his hands forced themselves loose from aching. But he couldn't do that, and he definitely didn't want to wake his friends, so they lay there, chest tight at the agitation. The shuffle of blankets rose up to end the quiet. Just Emeros, turning over in his sleep. They glanced to him and then returned to staring at the ceiling, brow knit, the sound of whispers softly fading. Finally. A sigh of relief had nearly left their mouth, but they stifled it, his focus again on the two Mer beside them. He didn't want to wake them. They'd both earned the rest. Athenath could hear Wyndrelis breathing, but aside from the rise and fall of his side when he did, he resembled more a corpse, entirely still and curled into himself. Emeros, meanwhile, had his forearm tucked under the pillow, his other arm around himself, blankets tight to his form.

The bronze light dimmed. A torch blown out. The night must be deep into itself, somewhere in the latest hours before morning would come and wake everyone up with its crowing. Athenath had blamed his sleeplessness on the whispering below the bed, but now, it was as though that had just been the catalyst, and now he was truly awake and alone, and unable to creep out of the bed if he even wanted to. At this rate, they'd look like a draugr in the morning, shambling up to Dragonsreach and barely forming the words to tell the Jarl of what happened to Helgen, what happened to them.

He shut his eyes tight. Gods, they didn't want to think about that day. But it still found a way to invade their thoughts, even when they were making all the effort in the world to go back to sleep. Their mind ignored every attempt to shove the fires aside, Athenath's arms wrapping tight around their middle as he stubbornly tried to push his mind to something else. What about the nights in Anvil, walking the salt-scented paths through town? And the dares to go up and knock on the old haunted mansion? What about the laughter of their old friends, and the house they grew up in? What about the shopkeep with the strange necklace, and the strangers in town in their black coats, and… Athenath's eyes shot open. The dark was still the dark. The same thing he'd closed off. But now, it seemed to wrap around them, tighter than they could bear. They fixed their gaze on the ceiling and thought of poems he'd memorized on the road with troubadours from High Rock, or the songs that they'd thought about writing down and quickly forgot, or the bards who sent them on this damn journey in the first place, but none of it replaced the sinking feeling in his stomach, like he was desperately clinging to a broken raft far out to sea. "What are you doing up?" Emeros whispered. He didn't need to open his eyes. He knew from jokes shared at the campfire that Athenath never slept on their back, and here they were, and he could feel the way the blankets laid over them and how different it was from when they were truly well asleep. Athenath shot their gaze to him, brow knit.

"Just can't fall back asleep," they whispered back. Emeros cracked an eye open, face half-buried in his pillow, hair tousled along his neck. He pushed a hand through the front strands, a couple small noises leaving his throat as though he were returning to the waking world by force. "Tomorrow, I fear, is going to be dreadfully long. Don't keep yourself awake, or you'll regret it." "It's not-" Athenath inhaled, held it, and exhaled, "I'm not. I know." "Then what's the problem?" "I woke up, couldn't fall back asleep, and now I'm just… Up. When I wish I wasn't." A long pause. Emeros sucked his inner cheek between his teeth on one side, then repeated to the other. "Did you have a nightmare?" "No," Athenath blinked curiously at the Bosmer, "did you?"

The alchemist rolled slowly over onto his back, palm draping over his eyes, other hand still firmly beneath the pillow. He inhaled, moved his hand down his face, before his arm came to rest over his middle. "I suppose one could say that fire has never been my favorite thing." The bard didn't reply, laying there, watching him as well as they could. He sucked in his cheek, then exhaled, peering at Athenath out the corner of his eye and the smallest turn of his head. "It'll be morning before you know it. Try not to keep yourself awake." The smallest fringe of concern at the edge of his words caught the Altmer off-guard, who only continued to watch him quietly. Emeros' gaze shifted. "You too, Wyndrelis. I know you're listening in." Wyndrelis snorted. "How did you guess?" At this, Emeros merely grinned, rolled over, and said, "I saw you move."