#swift the hummingbird

[ubtendo]

People, are we vibing with the new fankids?

Also because why not, reworked the Tails doll for the AU so it's a surveillance and protection device for Symbol because she keeps getting in trouble

[thesafireartist]

@ubtendo I love her

[taxonomytournament]

Taxonomy Tournament: Birds

Strisores. This clade is made up of various small birds, such as swifts, hummingbirds, and nightjars.

Corvides. This sub-order is made up of corvids (jays, ravens, crows and magpies), as well as small meat-eating birds of the Old World, such as currawongs and butcherbirds

[threads-and-pages]

do all birds count when you are birding? like, do the BIG ones count? do penguins count?

like, does an emu count the same as a blue tit?

[xtracharm]

https://www.xtracharm.com

[supremebirdbracket]

Apodiformes Bracket Matchups

Now that the Shorebirds Bracket is over (congrats to the little auk!), I'll be setting up the Apodiformes bracket, created from your submissions! The first-round matchups will be:

Bumblebee hummingbird vs Bee hummingbird

Broad-tailed hummingbird vs Rufous hummingbird

Calliope hummingbird vs Vervain hummingbird

Costa’s hummingbird vs Anna’s hummingbird

Ruby-throated hummingbird vs Red-tailed comet

Black-tailed trainbearer vs Long-tailed sylph

Hispaniolan mango vs Black-throated mango

Horned sungem vs Purple-throated carib

White-booted racket-tail vs Sword-billed hummingbird

Glowing puffleg vs Rainbow starfrontlet

Violet sabrewing vs Crowned woodnymph

Red-billed streamertail vs Black-bellied hummingbird

Purple-throated mountaingem vs Fiery-throated hummingbird

Bohm’s spinetail vs Chestnut-collared swift

Common swift vs Chimney swift

Whiskered treeswift vs Crested treeswift

I'm not certain when I'll be finished making the visuals and fact blurbs, but I'll make an announcement when I am. In the meantime, I will be opening up the submissions form for our bracket after this, which will be a sort of sequel: non-Apodiformes Strisores birds, abbreviated to "Other Strisores." This includes nightjars, owlet-nightjars, oilbirds, potoos, and frogmouths.

Here is the link

[babydollslibrary]

LABYRINTH — JACK HUGHES

jack hughes x fem! reader

published: January 26th, 2023

summary: y/n goes through the 3 stages of falling in love with her best friend; realization, fear, and relief. based on the 3 “i’m falling in love” lines in Labyrinth by Taylor Swift.

gif not mine.

REALIZATION

i felt like my fingertips may freeze off. and the longer i sat in the glass seat in Prudential Center, the colder they got. i’d been to too many of Jack’s games to count, but it never failed that i always forget how cold it really was sitting directly by the ice.

“i’m freezing my tits off.” i looked over to Luke Hughes, who occupied the seat next to me.

“Luke, you don’t have tits to freeze off.”

“what are you talking about? mine are bigger than yours, eh?” he jokes. i let loose a mock gasp and hit his arm.

“how rude!”

with two minutes left in the third period, i was grateful the game would be over soon. i was less grateful, however, that it was looking like the Devils would be breaking their six game win streak tonight. they’re currently down by one, with the Panthers having four goals against the Devils three.

i had my eyes glued to the puck, mumbling to whatever higher entity would listen, praying for a last minute game tying goal. luck was on our side tonight because with ten seconds left on the clock, Dougie managed to slap shot the puck straight past the head of Bobrovsky and into the net. i shot to my feet, clutching onto Luke’s arm as he stood beside me, both of us with wide eyes and our jaws dropped open.

we settled back in our seats a few minutes later to watch the additional five minutes of overtime, both of us hunched closer to the glass, my hands fidgeting in anxiety. i watched as Jack, Nico, and Dougie skated to the center of the ice for puck drop. Dougie gains possession of the puck quickly, skating it into the Panthers zone before dropping it back to Nico, who tries for a one-shot, which is knocked away by Bobrovsky. Jack gains control of the rebound puck and makes quick work of snapping it into the goal.

Luke and i once again raise to our feet, cheering for his brother and my best friend. Jack skates around the glass bordering the ice, arms up in the air in celebration before skidding to a stop in front of us. our eyes lock and he lifts his hand against the glass. heart fluttering, i place my hand directly against the glass to match his and he mutters out two words.

“for you.”

a low simmering arises in my gut and i feel my heart skip a beat, or three, as he skates away to hug his teammates. what was that? am i having heart palpitations? should i be going to see a doctor?

i catch Jack’s eye once more as Nico taps his helmet and he flashes a smile my way. in return, my heart flips again. my mind whirls through thoughts faster than a hummingbirds wings before settling on the only real explanation.

uh oh, i’m falling in love.

now i meet Luke’s gaze and he wiggles his eyebrows suggestively, though his reason for it, i’m not too sure. i’ve been friends with all of the Hughes brothers since elementary school, it’s not as though he should suspect anything between Jack and i.

FEAR

it’s been 2 months since i came to the realization that i was falling in love with Jack, and now i’m leaned against the doorway leading into his bedroom, watching him pack for a roadie. the heart fluttering and stomach butterflies have long since vanished, leading me to believe that my traitorous heart got the memo that he and i will never be more than best friends.

“you’re sure you don’t wanna bring a friend out to the game? you can bring Luke if he can get away from UMich for a weekend.” Jack’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts and i give a slight shake of my head to clear my thoughts.

“i don’t know, i’ll let you know. i already talked to Luke but he said he has his own games this weekend. maybe i can find someone to come out with me, but you know i’ll be there regardless.”

“i would be sorely disappointed if you weren’t there. you know how happy it makes me to see you in the crowd.”

and as if a flip switched, the heart flutters were back.

“i’m your biggest fan Jacky, of course i’ll be there. no matter if i have to go alone or not.” i moved my way fully into the bedroom and picked up his messily packed bag, flipping it over and scattering the clothes on his bed before idly folding them and placing them right back into the duffel bag.

“you know you don’t don’t need to fold my clothes, right? i can do it myself.” Jack folds his arms and hits me with a half smile.

“obviously not, you still pack like a teenage boy. you’re gonna end up with wrinkles in all your shirts.” i roll my eyes and sit on the edge of the bed as i continue to fold.

“you love me.” he retorts, finally joining into the folding. my heart skips a beat once again, and i know that he doesn’t mean it in the way that i do, but my hopeless romantic side doesn’t seem to understand that.

**

after dropping Jack off at Prudential Center to catch the bus to the airport with the rest of his teammates, i’m laid in bed on the phone with my friend, Emma.

“the game is on Saturday, if you wanted to fly out with me. Jack is willing to pay for your flight so that i won’t be alone. but if not, that’s cool. i can go on my own.”

“yeah, i can go! although, i’ve gotta say; you’re really sure this guy is JUST your best friend? i mean, what “just friend” is willing to pay for someone to fly out to one of his games JUST so you won’t be alone?”

“that’s just the kind of person Jack is. he’s exceptionally sweet. and he has this protective nature. he doesn’t like the idea of me going to games alone because he knows how people can be. he’s so thoughtful and always prepared to help in any way he can.” i can feel the smile gracing my lips but no matter how much i try, i can’t will it away. i always get happy talking about my best friend.

“you’re in love with him.” Emma singsongs and i can hear her smirk through the phone. “i can tell by your voice. you get the same airy lilt that my sister gets when she talks about her husband. like you would do anything for him. like he hung the moon in the sky just for you.”

“he’s my best friend, Em. i’ve known him since i was an awkward little girl with lopsided pigtails and gap teeth. obviously i would do anything for him. just being his friend makes me immensely happy.”

“but you want to be MORE than friends. you can’t fool me. i’ve been where you are right now. you love him, but you don’t think he feels the same way. but i can tell you right now that any guy that would go through the lengths that he does to make sure you feel happy and safe, definitely loves you in more than a friend way.”

oh no, i’m falling in love again.

my sigh is loud and clear. rolling onto my side, i place my phone on speaker on-top of the pillow next to me.

“you need to tell him how you feel. or better yet, just kiss him.” Emma speaks again.

“it’s not necessarily just that i don’t think he feels the same way, although i do think that observation is wildly inaccurate. it’s the fact that it could ruin everything if i made a move and i was wrong. he’s my best friend and i can’t afford to lose him.”

RELIEF

the off season has officially arrived, and the thought of having Jack to myself for a few months has me more excited than i’d care to admit. we arrived at the Hughes lake house yesterday, meeting Luke who was already here, and Quinn and Trevor both arrived this morning.

We were all sat outside around a fire now, the guys all drinking beers and reminiscing on past summers spent here.

“oh, remember when Jack was dating that Stacey girl that was renting that house down the street a few summers ago? god she was awful.” Trevor’s voice was a few octaves higher than needed, due to the alcohol in his system, but it mattered little to the others because Quinn and Luke laughed along with him.

“oh c’mon you guys, she wasn’t that bad!” i could spot the red tinge to Jack’s cheeks from my spot beside him, the firelight sharing an orange glow to admire him in.

“uh dude, yeah she was! she was so jealous of y/n that she pushed her off the boat!” my eyes get wide and i start shaking my head at Trevor, dragging my hand in front of my neck in a stop motion, but he just kept talking. “and don’t you remember all those nasty things she said about her? girl was just plain awful!”

i look back up to Jack just in time to see the frown that takes place. he looks towards me with furrowed eyebrows.

“wait what? why did you never tell me any of this?”

“oh shit did you not know?” Quinn’s laughter cuts off and he looks genuinely concerned. “y/n, i thought you told him when you told us.”

i shake my head and avert my gaze down to my feet but Jack has other plans. grabbing ahold of my chin, he moves my head to look towards him again.

“i didn’t say anything because i didn’t wanna ruin your relationship or sound like a jealous bitch. and you guys eventually called it quits anyways, so what’s the big deal?”

“the big deal is that you didn’t tell me sooner, y/n. the big deal is that i would’ve tossed her to the curb immediately if you had told me she was acting that way. YOU wouldn’t’ve been the one ruining the relationship, SHE would’ve.” his voice is sharp and kind of daunting, contradicting his soft gaze pointed on me. i can see the worry in his eyes and know his next words before he says them. “are you okay?”

“i’m fine, Jack. it was a long time ago. can we please just forget about it?” i sigh and muster up a smile before turning back towards the fire. “do you guys remember the time we saran-wrapped Luke to his bed while he slept?”

“YOU WERE IN ON THAT?! I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY FRIEND!” Luke’s words make the other three guys all burst out in laughter.

“who’s idea did you think it was, Moosey?” Quinn is hunched over in laughter at the memory and i’ve slowly started scooting forward in my seat in preparation for what i know will come next.

“oh i’m gonna get you for that!” Luke shoots to his feet and that’s all it takes for me to set off like a race horse.

i can hear his footsteps not far behind me, chasing me into the house. i shut the back door behind me, in order to save me a few precious seconds and i run straight into the living room, leaping behind the couch and settling into a hiding spot between the sofa and the wall. i can hear Luke bound into the room before he moves onto the next room, but then i also hear the footfall of the other three coming in from outside as well. no longer than ten seconds pass before Jack’s head pops up above me, a large grin spread across his face.

“hello there.” the shock makes me jump and i laugh and poke his nose.

“shhh, don’t let him find me.” Jack pretends to think, nodding his head and tapping his chin with an index finger before-

“LUKE! SHE’S HIDING BEHIND THE SOFA!”

i let out an incredulous gasp and pop back up into a standing position, ready to run once more, but Jack wraps his arms around my midsection, keeping me planted in the spot.

“i thought you were my best friend! how could you betray me like this?! our friendship may never recover! i don’t think we can ever be friends again after this!” my mockery and jokes come to an abrupt pause when he takes a seat on the couch, pulling me down to fall into his lap. i can feel the blood rushing to my cheeks and i look away, hoping he can’t see my blush from this angle.

“you can’t get rid of me that easily. we’re soulmates, y/n, remember?” and cue the butterflies once more. “you said that when we were 10. i didn’t really understand it at the time, but now i think you might’ve been right.”

oh, i’m falling in love.

i can feel his breath fanning my ear, and i peek over my shoulder to look at his face. our eyes lock and i know my entire face must be red and spotted from my blushing, but the look in his eyes makes me feel like the most beautiful girl alive right now.

his eyes flicker down to my lips once. twice. and one final third time, before he starts to lean in. and with a mind of their own, my lips follow until they graze his. the kiss is light at first, nothing more than a peck, before he finally captures my lips with his. his arms loosen around my middle and his hands trail to settle onto my hips, turning me mid-kiss to fit better on his lap. i pull back, leaning my forehead against his, and a wide and breathtaking smile graces his lips.

“i’m falling in love with you, y/n. i think i have been for the past eleven years.”

[belovaballerina]

Sanguine Bond

House of the Dragon: Jacaerys x twin!reader (mentions of Jace x Baela and Dalton Greyjoy x reader)

Rating: Explicit (Minors DNI) 

WC: 1.8 k 

Warnings: Targcest/twincest, possessive!Jace, rough sex, blood, spanking (belt), blow jobs, knifeplay, mild humiliation

Summary: There are bonds others wouldn’t understand; the one between you and Jace runs deep

As you gripped the reigns tighter, your heart thrummed in your chest, like a hummingbird fluttering their wings in desperation. Gaelithox’s jade wings flapped hard, navigating through a slender opening between two cliffs, guiding your passage to Dragonstone. Blistering dragonfire exploded behind you, the heat singing your back and the end of your braid. You swallowed the fear before you barked the order,

“Aderī, Gaelithox!”

Your slender, swift dragon picked up speed, crossing the threshold that Aemond wouldn’t dare enter. You didn’t risk looking behind you when you heard Vhagar’s angry roar billow through the sky, which vibrated intensely through your bones. You hadn’t realized you had been holding your breath since giving the command until your throat spasmed and lips parted, allowing you to draw in a ragged gasp of air. Gaelithox parted her massive jaw and gave a screech of triumph as she lowered herself toward the lip of the Dragonmount.

Fear dissipated as a smug feeling of victory flooded through you as you dismounted and removed your moleskin gloves, walking toward the entrance of Dragonstone. You had secured the allegiance of Lord Dalton Greyjoy. The Red Kraken had been impressed with your command of Gaelithox and your bold tongue, and you didn’t see the harm in allowing him to believe he could have your hand in marriage once your mother’s throne was secure. He was bloodthirsty and a bit deranged, but if you had to follow through, so be it. There were worse matches.

You made straight for your mother’s quarters, and she embraced you once your presence was announced. Your twin, Jacaerys, and cousin, Baela, occupied the seats surrounding you, and you could feel your brother’s intense gaze lingering on you. From the corner of your eye, you saw Baela’s grip tighten around his hand.

“Was a pact agreed upon?” Rhaenyra asked, drawing your hands into her own, smoothing her thumbs across your knuckles.

“Indeed, it was. When all the dust settles, and you have your throne, I may have to wed Lord Greyjoy, but I’ll do so willingly, Mother,” you smiled, and she tilted her head.

“Only if you wish otherwise, I will not allow it,” she assured you, drawing you tightly into her arms.

“Well done, cousin,” Baela smiled, and you turned to face her and Jace, noting how tightly his jaw was set. Those dark eyes smoldered intensely, and you knew what the night held for you. A bit of guilt gnawed in your stomach. Baela was his intended, and you should not betray her in such a way, but you knew Jace would never be your husband. What was a harmless tryst? It would end once they were properly wed.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to bathe and change. Aemond gave me quite the chase,” you said.

Jace’s dark eyes widened, and your mother frowned.

“I should not have sent you alone,” Rhaenyra sighed.

“I did not anticipate that Aemond would be on his way to secure an alliance; he was most vexed,” you smirked. “He turned tail once I reached Dragonstone, so nothing to fret over.”

Baela laughed at your flippancy, nodding her approval while a thin line set across Jace’s mouth, his fingers digging into the thick fabric of his trousers and his knuckles turning white. Rhaenyra reached out to stroke your cheek.

“Do not be so careless, my heart. Aemond is a worthy foe, and you should not let your guard down around him,” she lectured.

You nodded, giving her your best sheepish look. “Apologies, Mother, I won’t be so foolish again.”

She nodded, giving you a soft smile. “Go and recover from your eventful day.”

You felt Jace’s eyes burning into your back as you escaped to the privacy of your chambers. Two of your ladies helped you undress from your riding clothes as the others prepared a steaming bath with jasmine oil. You removed the dagger from your boot, running your thumb over the sharp blade. It also resembled the one Jace had, both gifted daggers on your eight-and-ten namedays. The dagger's hilt resembled a curved dragon’s head, with two rubies glistening in the eye sockets. A crimson bead of blood blossomed against the calloused pad of your thumb as a memory came rushing forward.

“Blood of my blood,” you whispered, pressing your bleeding finger to Jace’s mouth.

“Flesh of my flesh,” he replied, his blood as sharp against your tongue as the two of you shared a private moment on the beach of Dragonstone under the glistening silver moon.

His flesh melded against yours, mouth hot and hungry, like a starving beast longing to be satiated. Your nails clawed the smooth, pale skin of his back, bringing more blood forth as a beast awakened from deep inside you. Your dragon roaring, fervid, and tumultuous, consuming your being. Fire and blood. 

You were left in peace, dagger placed on the table, soaking in the balmy water as you closed your eyes, allowing the warmth to carry you away. You were startled awake a few minutes later, water sloshing over the tub's sides as Jace’s fingers tangled in your hair. You stared into his brown eyes; the warmth usually filling them was gone.

“Jace, what are you doing?” you demanded, his grip tightening in your hair, and out of your peripheral vision, you spotted the secret entrance next to your cupboard open—the sneaky shit. 

His jaw flexed with his displeasure, making your stomach twist as your pearl throbbed with desire. You loved it when this side of him came out, and it’s how you justified the dalliance. You embraced the darker side, the side only a twin could understand, while Baela got the best of him.

“You were foolish,” he spat, glowering.

“You’re jealous,” you teased, squealing when he let go of your hair and thrust his hands under your arms, tugging you out of the warm water. You shivered, dripping and bare before him.

“And what would I be jealous of?” he asked darkly as you wrapped your arms around your exposed chest to provide modesty and warmth.

“That I could secure an alliance without you and that I might marry Lord Greyjoy,” you stated, towing a dangerous line. His temper lingered deep beneath the finely crafted facade, and the dragonfire would burn you when it exploded. But you welcomed it. You did not wish to be treated like a dainty princess and craved things that would set your teeth on edge: blood and fire.

“You need to be taught a lesson,” Jace hissed.

“Then give me one,” you purred before crashing your lips against his.

The kiss was brutal, punishing, bruising. His teeth scraped against your lower lip, blood welling from the shallow splits as it spilled into his mouth. He pushed your wet, naked body over the chair and slipped his heavy leather belt free after removing the dagger and sword. It whistled through the air, leaving a sharp crack of pain against your vulnerable backside. A moan spilled from your mouth. Ten lashes left your skin searing and your cunt dripping.

“Get on your knees,” Jace growled, and you carefully moved, sinking before him with tear-stained cheeks.

You watched with eager eyes and a watering mouth as he freed his cock, dangling it in front of your face before slapping the leaking, ruddy tip against your lips. You parted your mouth, drawing his large cock as deep as it would go, more wetness spilling down your eyes.

“How pretty you look with my cock shoved in your mouth, sister. How quiet you are then,” he cooed, thrusting his hips to drive himself deeper.

You sputtered around him, taking what he gave you. You wondered if Dalton Greyjoy would understand this side of you, how you craved being taken in hand and humiliated, yet allowed you the freedom you also enjoyed. Once Jace’s cock was slick with your spit, he removed himself from your mouth and took you over the bed. There was a gentleness to him now, some of the fire simmering out. You tugged off his breeches, removing his vest and tunic until he was as naked as you were.

He laid beneath you, guiding you to mouth his enormous cock, trembling as he watched it split through your slick folds. You whined, tossing your head back as damp tendrils of hair clung to your shoulders until you were fully seated on him. You were a gifted dragon rider, after all. You felt stuffed, like you might split in two as you accommodated your twin’s girth and length. His large hands settled on your hips as you began to move, reaching down to lightly fondle a few of the dark curls falling in front of his hooded eyes.

“Blood of my blood, sister,” he whispered, hands sliding up to cup your breasts.

“Flesh of my flesh, brother,” you purred, riding him faster as the heat in your belly blossomed further through your body.

“I wish you could be mine,” he confessed.

“I know, but the stars are not aligned for us,” you whispered, tightening around him.

He lifted his top half, pressing into you, his arms circling your back as he filled you with his seed, and you crashed into euphoric bliss, holding tightly to him. The time would come when you had to separate, clinging to these memories. Ones only the two of you shared. He slipped free, tucking you under the covers as he petted your damp hair.

“I will carry you in my heart, always, sister.”

You smiled, kissing each pad of his rough fingertips. “Just as I will with you, brother.”

You padded over the table, dagger in hand. While straddling Jace’s waist, the two of you exchanged bloody lips and bloody fingers once again.

~~

The years faded, and one day, you found yourself curtseying before your brother and cousin as they now ruled as King and Queen of Westeros. You had married Dalton Greyjoy, enjoying his company a great deal, and learned to love the smell of the salty sea. It seemed your paths were destined to cross again as Jace’s gaze settled on you, that unmistakable look in his dark eyes.’

“We welcome you and Lord Greyjoy to court, sister. It is wonderful to see you again,” Jace said, his gaze lingering on your eldest son, with his dark curls and eyes. Traits easily passed off as your own. You wouldn’t make the same mistake your mother did.

He took you in the garden that night, the bloom of the roses filling your senses as the thorns nipped your skin. You gazed up into the inky sky as your fingers slipped through his silken curls, the blade pressed against your throat. The bond would never be broken, as you willed his seed to take once again.

[ubtendo]

Part two with the rest of the kids

Part 1.

[thesafireartist]

Ooooww Swift and Perci? Just kidding! (unless...👀)

Perci so obviously sucks and Swift is trying to be nice…

[taxonomytournament]

Taxonomy Tournament: Birds

Strisores. This clade is made up of various small birds, such as swifts, hummingbirds, and nightjars.

Pelecaniformes. This order of seabirds contains pelicans, herons, ibises and shoebills

[herpsandbirds]

So watching a science/biology youtuber yesterday (if i recall correctly he's an evolutionary biologist) I learned that one of the relatives of hummingbirds, (and this is exactly how the scientist describes them) look like muppets and many would think their photos are ai. So- your thoughts on birds that look like muppets?

Muppets - Hummingbird Relatives

So I'm not sure what the youtuber is talking about. The closest relatives of hummingbirds are Swifts and Treeswifts, but I suppose if you go up a level they are also a little more distantly related to nightjars, oildbirds, owlet nightjars, nightjars, potoos, and frogmouths.

family Trochilidae - order Apodiformes - (undefined clade) Strisores

Im not sure which relative looks like a muppet to this person, but i do agree that many members of the Strisores look like muppets.

I mean... I'm don for muppet ass lookin birds.

Spine-tailed Swift aka White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus), family Apodidae, order Apodiformes, Australia

Resident (year round) in the Himalyas

Breeding in East Asia

Wintering in Australia

photograph by British Trust for Ornithology

Whiskered Treeswift (Hemiprocne comata), parent sitting on egg, family Hemiprocnidae, order Apoformes, found in SE Asia

photograph by DM

Blyth’s Frogmouth (Batrachostomus affinis), family Podargidae, order Podargiformes, Perlis, Malaysia

The frogmouths used to be included in the Nightjar/Goatsucker order Caprimulgiformes, but as of 2019, are now in their own order. They are not as closely related to nightjars, as previously thought.

photograph by Junaidi Ismail 

Northern Potoo��(Nyctibius jamaicensis ), mother and chick, family Nyctibiidae, order Nyctybiiformes, Costa Rica

Potoos used to be in the same order as nightjars, but are now placed in their own order.

photograph by Alvaro Cubero

Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis), EAT UP A TASTY BUG!!!, family Caprimulgidae, order Caprimulgiformes, Salt River, AZ, USA

photograph by Deep Ujjawal

[archive-professional-jaywalker]

Avian Expectations

A small essay about the difference between the pop culture Bird and being a bird.

Being a bird is probably one of the most romanced identity. Being a bird means nothing, behavior wise, scientifically. Yet, being a bird portrays something very specific into people's mind.

Being a bird is freedom. It's effortless flight, belonging to the realm of air and never wanting to touch ground again. Being a bird is adventure, migration. A good half of movies about birds are about overcoming the thrilling dangers of going over entire continents in one year, the reward of seeing an exotic haven far from the cold. Sometimes, being a bird is being a strange endearing critter, voice mimicry, stealing shiny things, cuddling up and preening one's flock. Other times, being a bird is a sharp beak and sharper claws and being the Predator from Above, undefeated in the heights.

I've seen a lot of people question birds with that idea of a bird in mind. And, clearly, it can be true. One bird I know is migratory to her very core, the pull of Africa leading her to travel, irresistible. Another deeply intertwined with the drop of gravity as it's ultimate strength, entire biology built to master it.

But I cannot relate to people who go into questioning bird from the perspective of the Pop Culture Bird Homonculus, of this chimera of all the Cool Bird Traits. It seems like a fictional character to me, without all the little details that make being a bird real. Perhaps it is because I break all of these core traits.

I do not fly well, I glide when I must, and more often I run. I much prefer the ground. I am not migratory, and one part of being a roadrunner to me is Territory, and Surviving winter. I've never had the luxury of fleeing the cold, as much as i dislike it. I do not mimic all that much, I am solitary, I hunt by running along the grass. Barely bird, in the eye of the Being a Bird rules.

Rules say, then, i should not relate to being a bird. perhaps being a roadrunner for me would be akin to coyotes. Perhaps it would be akin to cats. But no, i do in fact relate to birds.

As it turns out, there is still a strong difference, for me, between the Being A Bird non-birds imagine and the actual one. I don't fly, i glide, i struggle to get to heights. A heavy sea eagle responded, saying how they felt flight as tool, from perch to perch, to scan for prey, too costly to waste in play.

I say that i hunt on foot, that i do not relate to the dive of the kestrel or the flight of the swift. A burrowing owl answer; saying they too prefer hunting grasshoppers from their height, sometimes perching but often just lurking around the grass.

I say i am alone, i do not have a flock, and a heron responds, why should you ? You are fine on your own.

I have met flightless cormorants, I have met penguins. On the contrary, I have met falcons, I have met corvids. The shapes of birdhood shift and change, but in the end, I tend to find someone for each things, be it bird like or not. Bird is a wide ground. Bird is a simplification, so that others can understand a flawed but easy view.

I am not A Bird, by pop culture definition. Yet i am very much a bird who relates to beings extremely far from me, behaviorally. honestly there's a point of no explanation. I share phantom feathers with them and beaks, but i couldn't be further from a hummingbird. It's a strange conundrum. So close yet so far, every species that talks about it. always slivers of Me-Truth, always things i just gloss over. a bird is not an animal, its a concept. i wish people would take that in account more before diving in it.

[arjudy224]

Chemical Valley

(The Intern x Red Hood)

After the unsettling reminder of her past, Y/N has been avoiding vigilantes for the last few months. However, Dr. Harris has requested backup in the form of Gotham's newest crime lord. What could go wrong?

The Intern Collection:

Prequel: Death of a family

The Intern: Day one

The Intern: The Laughing Fish

The Intern Field Trip

The Intern: Busy Work

The Intern: Outreach Gala

The Intern: Teachers Pet

The Intern: Visiting an old friend

The Intern: Chemical Valley

The Intern: Under New Management

The Intern: Small Talk with a Dead man

The Intern: Billionaire Boys Club

I'm getting real sick of risking my life for a minimum-wage job. Driving around with Dr. Harris is one thing, but since when did the job description list teaming up with crime lords? I mean it's the Red Hood for Christ's sake. Dr. Harris gives me a protective smile from the driver's seat.

"Don't worry about Red Hood. He knows what he's doing." He starts sensing my apprehension. "Besides, he owes me a favor."

I nod with a nervous smile. Red Hood is the only vigilante that I've never interacted with. He only recently appeared in Gotham. From what I've heard on the streets, he isn't on great terms with Batman.

"All due respect... hasn't he killed people? " I question glancing around the lonely alleyway.

Growing silent, Harris contemplates his response.

"Not recently." He says with what is supposed to be a comforting pat on the shoulder.

Trying to ignore the anxiety creating knots across my gut, I reply with more enthusiasm than I feel.

"Oh well... that's progress."

Harris laughs.

"It's Gotham dear. It's hard to find someone who hasn't committed murder. I wouldn't worry too much about the Hood though. If you can befriend Waylon, a little boy in a helmet is the least of your worries. "

I raise an eyebrow.

"You wanna elaborate?"

He smiles sweetly. I narrow my eyes.

"Don't ask questions that you don't want to know the answers to."

That shuts me up. We sit in silence for a few minutes while I contemplate what he just said. Dr. Harris isn't exactly wrong... Glancing at the time clock on the dashboard, I frown. I guess vigilantes aren't known for being punctual, but at least Nightwing was on time. Considering our history, maybe we were both eager to see each other again. I try to focus on the cool air dusting my face.

A swift knock causes me to jump. The infamous Red Hood almost cartoonishly waves at me from the outside the window. My nervous heart patters like a hummingbird. Eyeing his bike, I sigh. It was silent... Of course, it was silent. What kind of muffler does he have on that thing?

Harris rolls down the window.

"Good morning. Thank you for meeting us."

Leaning on the car door, Red Hood asks in a deep voice

"What do you have for me Dr.?"

"Routine inspection of Ace chemicals. Normally, I wouldn't worry about having a backup, but with an uptick in Joker sightings... I figured it would be better to be safe than sorry."

Hood nods, then glances in my direction.

"I'll keep an eye out."

"Y/N L/N," I say introducing myself, "But most people call me L/N."

"Weren't you the one who convinced the Riddler to let you go in exchange for inspecting his lair for asbestos?" Hood asks with a tone of pride.

I smile while shaking his hand. Word must get around quick.

"Yeah, that's me. He didn't even ask me any riddles. The poor man was terrified."

Dr. Harris whips his head around.

"Why haven't I heard about this?" He demands.

I flash him a shit-eating grin.

"Don't ask questions you don't want to know the answers to Dr. Maybe Metropolis hasn't made me so soft after all."

Before he can start lecturing me, I step out of the car to face my new bodyguard. Keeping my eyes trained on the ground, I sidestep the hulking mammoth of a man.

"Thank you for dropping me off Dr., but I'm sure "Little" Red and I can take it from here."

Harris watches me with a hint of pride.

"This is not the last time we will be discussing this."

"I look forward to the debrief," I remark as he pulls away.

The ACE chemicals manufacturing plant towers over the surrounding buildings. The smoke stacks excrete a dark sticky aerosol that trickles down from above. Its gothic structure makes it look like something out of a Tim Burton film. Taking a step near the external shutter, I drag my index finger across. My glove smears a damp power off revealing the old white paint. An uncomfortable sensation settles in my chest.

There is no way this amount of air pollution is legal.

After my second round of coughing, Red Hood offers me a disposable face mask. I gratefully take it. The neon green sign serves as a haunting reminder that somehow this has passed inspection. My eyebrows furrow. We passed several kids on the way here. What does that do to someone? No wonder Dr. Harris mentioned childhood asthma. I'm more concerned about the long-term exposure to industrial solvents.

Glancing at Red Hood, I state

"There is no way this is legal."

Hood stays quiet for a moment. Adjusting his helmet, he replies

"The law can be anything you want as long as you kill the inspectors who challenge you."

My mouth falls open. A thousand questions flood my mind.

"Somebody must have tried."

Hood tilts his head while glancing between us and the doors.

"Somebody did try."

Tossing me a key card over his shoulder, he continues, "You can visit them in Arkham if you want."

I flounder to catch the key card. It takes a few moments to register his words. Them as in more than one? Or is he concealing their identity? By the time my brain focuses, I stand in the alley alone staring up at a sign for a trading card company.

Isn't that where the Joker.... Oh hell no...

Stumbling through the stained doors, a bubbly man contrasts the bleak external welcome. As he rambles, I analyze the faded posters nailed to the wall. Dr. Harris briefly mentioned the factory's history of producing bioweapons during the Second World War. Hazardous feels like an understatement. I nodd along with the pleasant man, yet something in my gut tells me to keep my eyes and ears open.

Walking past a dust cloud, my lungs contract. Unable to steady myself, I sneak down a back hall to take my inhaler. The rambling man continues down the other hallway completely oblivious to my absence. I tear the disposable mask off my face. Searching my pockets for the familiar medication, my heart drops. Of course, I left it in the car.

I sink into a seated position once the dizziness sets in. Do. Not. Panic. We cannot do that again. No more emergency room trips. A pair of boots emerges from the shadows.

"Are you alright?"

I nodd while focusing on each labored breath.

"Sometimes, I really hate this city." I wheeze clutching my chest.

Red Hood lets out a dry laugh before taking a seat next to me.

"I have something that might help, but you have to trust me."

A small inhaler makes its way into my left hand. Squinting, a small Bat engraving stares up at me. I give him an incredulous glance. There is no fucking way that Batman has a pharmacy.

"It works. I promise."

Reluctantly, I take two puffs. We sit in silence for a few minutes. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. I relish the first full breath of air in days. My lungs expand completely taking in the dusty air around us. It is glorious.

"How did you manage to get Killer Croc to cooperate with you?"

The immense pain that weighs on my chest lessens slightly. I open my eyes to look at him. Spots litter my vision. The sticky residue has left grime all over his mask. I hesitate.

"Waylon has lost everything... Everyone really. All he really needed was a friend."

Hood stays silent weighing out my words. Slow in. Slow out.

"What factory did they make you in?" He questions.

I can almost hear a smile in his voice.

"The same one that kicked you out for defects." I retort gazing at the white paint peeling on the far left wall.

I really hope that's not lead paint.

"Touché, Ms. Friendship. Touché"

I give him a friendly shove.

"You know, you aren't as bad as your reputation suggests."

He laughs climbing to his feet.

"I wouldn't go that far. Usually, I'm a dick."

"Better a dick than a sociopath," I say dusting off the black power on my pants.

"Damn Metropolis. Who have you been talking to?"

I shrug.

"It's Gotham. "

After a few moments of comfortable silence, he asks

"You ready to find Mr. Optimistic?"

I nodd allowing him to pull me to my feet. Enjoying the comfortable silence, I open the door for him once we make it down the hall. To my surprise, Red Hood slams me against a wall before covering my mouth. Paralyzed in shock, I don't fight him. The Red Bat insignia stares at me. The soft aroma of his cologne catches me off guard. It's nice. Very musky. There's something so... familiar about it. I suddenly feel my face go red. There is no way I am evaluating how good a CRIMINAL smells. Get a grip girl.

Ignoring my mental crisis, Red Hood leads the two of us out the back door. Stumbling out the door behind him, I bend over holding my knees for stability. This is a lot of cardio for a regular inspection.

"What the hell was that about dude?" I hiss in between breaths.

Red Hood doesn't say anything.

"I know you are trying for the strong and silent type, but I think this partnership would benefit from open communication."

Standing up tall, a gunman aims a pistol directly at my temple.

Oh.. That's why.

Tag list: @nosyrobin, @jjsmeowthie, @epicy0n,@gaychaosgremlin, @rory-cakes, @luna-zendra-star

[naffeclipse]

Petal

Botanist!Reader x Naga!Eclipse

Commission Info

This little fic was such a delight to write and I'm so happy @bluemoon1331 commissioned me for some good ol' Blackwater Lure (naga) Eclipse. Toss in a botanist reader to pair with this handsome snake and you have quite the pairing and a little smooching in the jungle!

Content Warning for suggestive themes.

———

You swat a buzzing insect swirling around your ear before huffing. The humidity is thick like rain but not a drop falls from the blue-white sky in the middle of a bright, brilliant day. The green canopy overhead provides mottled shade. Despite this, a thin sheen of sweat glistens on your forehead. Swiping underneath the stiff brim of your boonie hat, you draw in another sweltering lungful before pressing down on the camera button to finish capturing a picture of a brilliant cluster of heliconia flowers. The picture is basic, but you only need one for reference in your study.

Common and brightly colored, the bracts of the flower form a beak-like shape which are often called lobster claws. You prefer the name heliconia. It’s far more fitting for the stunning, tropical blossom. 

The deep green stem stands tall and sprouts the flowers high, allowing you to stay standing on your feet as you sweep your camera aside and reach for your notebook. The pages are rimmed with your observations and small, simple sketches of each flora you have studied throughout your stay here in the jungle. Michael and Vanessa seem to appreciate your craft though don’t pursue the same interests. Their place here on the fridges of the wild, feral jungle is a fleeing mystery, but you hope they’re enjoying the beautiful, lush ecosystem as much as you are.

You lift your head at the sound of a steady hum whizzing through the air. A tiny creature floats, its wings blurring with the speed of its flight, and dips low to sip at the nectar of the heliconia. A smile spreads softly over your lips. 

Hummingbirds are drawn to the sweet taste of this flowering plant. The small fowl’s feathers shine with an iridescent blue and green. Another flit by. This one pauses just long enough for you to spy its ruby throat. You lower your book for just a moment. Sometimes you get lost in your botany—unable to see the flowers for the petals—but now and then a creature who loves the plants as you do gives a gentle reminder to admire the brilliant red and deep green colors for a moment. 

Another hummingbird with a wonderfully rare purple sheen and gray body buzzes over to a nest. You jot down a gentle note of what the flower attracts as well as its pollinators. The ink needs a moment to try and stick to the thick paper. Your book is about to overflow, with a few pages left spared but not for too long. There are still giant lily pads you wish to observe upon the water and passion flowers high up in the canopy that you must find a way to climb up to. 

You lower your notebook and pause for a moment. It’s strange. You’ve been here for the better half of the morning and haven’t had any interruptions. This is the most research you’ve done in a good while. 

Taking the blessing for what it is, you bow your head and scribble more, noting the bright color and how it thrives upon the jungle soil. There is nothing richer on earth but this Amazonian floor. The most abundant resources of natural, green goods are right before you and you get to observe each flora up close.

You lift your head again. The heliconia is abundant and red, a few tipped in yellow and a rare, stray stem has a tinge of blue to their edges. Beautiful. You step closer, wondering what genetics carried this special trait into this patch of bright reds. Was it cross-pollinated or did a seed get laid here from another stretch of open, flowering land?

The silence settles over you after a moment. Sweeping over the heliconia, you realize the hummingbirds scattered, silent, and swift, leaving you in a heavy quiet. Even distant birds calling and chirping have calmed. The unnatural hush of an otherwise thriving jungle touches you with a warning. 

Your heart stops in your chest.

Your poor notebook drops from your hands, pages, and pen falling. Pointing your feet away from the patch of heliconia, you fail to take a single step before a soft hiss cuts through the air. You cry out as a strike of a lithe, long arms seizes you from behind and a powerful tail sweeps around your legs. A sharp gasp rips from your throat. In a moment of your world spinning, you’re pulled forcibly into a constricting embrace. 

It takes mere seconds. A tail of green scales, dotted with black, quickly twists you into its coils before a soft hum echoes. You fight the urge to squirm as the thick, corded muscle climbs up your legs, locking them together before winding around your waist. Orange-yellow striping on either side of his long, serpentine form cages you within his grasp. Your arms are, unfortunately, caught in the naga’s constriction. You tug on them experimentally but only receive an answering squeeze in return, your ribs tested for a mere moment. A breath slips away from you.

“Happy day, petal.”

You lift your eyes from your trapped body to face the one enforcing your precarious position. Eclipse. The naga hovers over you, balancing on his tail while keeping you in place. The length of his body is utterly incredible. Ropes of thick, powerful muscle spread across the jungle floor and neatly spiral around you, all while leaving enough to support his humanoid torso. 

You try to shift, to find a little more breathing room, but the naga decides to recline you back instead, setting you into an unsettling position where he can creep up his coils to admire you up close. His fangs flash in a ravenous grin. His venom glistens on the razor-sharp tips before he swipes them away with his dark, slender tongue.

“H-hi, Eclipse,” you answer in a rattle. Yet, a smile manages to work its way onto your lips. “Did you have to startle me?”

“I thought you would know it’s me saying hello. Who else would catch you like this?” he rumbles low and deep and the sound vibrates through your own body. You clench your teeth just to keep them from chattering.

He tilts his head as if he finds you adorable—or appetizing. The frills decorating him are as bright as any jungle flower, orange-yellow, and almost hypnotic in the gradient hues. Slitted pupils observe you in the way you might have just been studying the heliconia, interest keen and desirous.

A nervous sound leaves you, somewhere between amusement and fear. “You can say hello without catching me next time,” you offer. “It would be less… frightening.”

His coils shift around you slowly as if tempted by the thought of squeezing until your lungs can’t expand anymore. You glance briefly down to see what his tail may do next.

“Are you frightened right now, petal?” A clawed hand hooks your chin. Eclipse lifts your face to hold your gaze. You swallow back a few mouthfuls of apprehension. A pulse in your arm presses back against the thick serpentine body. You hope he can’t feel it.

You know he does.

“No,” you answer, then truthfully, “not anymore.”

He hums thoughtfully. The sound echoes with a hissing undertone and gradually softens. His eyes survey you with slitted pupils, one a midnight blue, the other deep emerald, even darker than his scales.

“I agree. I’ve held many prey in my coils but you don’t struggle like them. They bite and claw and cry out,” he answers, drawing it out with a slithering sound that spills heat into your core. “But you; you resist little. You’re as soft as fruit in my palms. You’re deliciously small.”

He lifts out his other hand and slowly tilts your hat up and up until it falls away, stumbling down his coils to lie flat by your notebook and pen. The very breath within you catches as he turns his hand and runs the back of his crooked finger down your cheek, admiring you closely. You lean away on instinct but the snare of his scales gives you little room to escape. Softly, he reaches up and strokes your head. His claws comb down your hair. His tongue flicks out so close to your nose, you wonder if he intends to lick you.

“Although there is one aspect you carry with the rest of my prey,” he simpers. He leans close enough that his fangs glisten in the mottled sunlight. “You look good enough to eat.”

The tempo of your heart rate becomes a beating drum within you. 

“What do you eat?” you ask breathlessly, as if you could stall his hunger.

“Oh, whatever trots my way,” he slips a claw over the shell of your ear, causing you to shiver, much to his delight. His coils cinch around you tighter in what you suspect is a desire to feel every shuddering muscle within you. Your cheeks burn.

“Like?” you prod, trying to regain control of your racing pulse but failing miserably. 

He flashes a sinister smile and a drop of venom slips into his saliva before he licks it away.

“Monkeys are fine for a meal. Jaguars are a delicacy that I’ll indulge in when I have the chance. If I’m in the mood to work up my appetite, I’ll hunt black caiman. Otherwise, I’ll dine on a giant otter.” He watches you closer as you comprehend the strength of his ability to target other predators. Truly, nothing can stop him if he so desires. 

You’ve learned much about Eclipse in the short time you’ve encountered him—or rather, he’s stalked and caught you. He is the apex predator of this ecosystem. He glides between the trees and turns into mottled shadows under the dense canopy and possesses a head as brilliant as any blossom. You do not know the animal kingdom as well as your flora, but you know he is the king within this jungle.

And he favors you, somehow. Though he has played with you like a cat with a mouse, he has never delivered a venomous bite with his wicked fangs or squeezed you until you couldn’t breathe anymore. You don’t know what to name this obsession he holds for you but it’s enough to spare your life. It’s enough to convince you that he cares for you. 

A nice theory you’ve come to consider is that you are in the safest place in the jungle right now, protected by the apex predator’s serpentine body. It’s enough to make your heart soften whenever he wraps you tight in his tail. After the initial shock has worn away, of course.

“I imagine they, ahem, taste fine,” you say, though your tongue is a bit dry.

“Such meals hold a very excellent taste, but I prefer a new flavor as of late,” a low rumble moves through him. 

You swallow roughly. His eyes catch the motion, dropping down to your throat where it bobs before his grin seems to sharpen. His fangs lie on full display.

He tilts your head back slightly, allowing sunlight to brighten your face. “Now I want to know more about what you’ve been up to, petal. What are you studying today?”

“Heliconia,” you answer. He captures you in his intense gaze. You nearly wish you could look away just to concentrate on forming words on your tongue. “The, ah, scientific name is heliconia latispatha, but it’s sometimes called lobsterclaw.”

“Say that again,” he commands.

You almost spit out ‘lobsterclaw’ but catch your mistake before you can simmer in embarrassment. In a steady voice, you repeat, “Heliconia latispatha.”

His eyes close briefly, sealing away the jewel-dark colors of his gaze. For a moment, you study him, fascinated by how he tilts his head as if turning an ear towards you.

“Beautiful,” he hisses softly. His eyes open, slitted pupils thinning in the brightness of the day before he nods. “Tell me more.”

You sputter once before continuing into details about their relationship with hummingbirds. Eclipse lets you spill into a monologue. His attention never lapses as you so often find in those who ask about your botany studies only to realize you are giving them an accurate answer, not a simple and inadequate one-note description. You can almost forget that you can’t move your limbs while falling into a ramble of your studies.

While you speak, his coils keep you cool. His smooth, sleek scales effortlessly ease your sweating while slowly shifting around you, occasionally squeezing as if grasping your hand to remind you that he is here, listening. His tongue flickers out once while he traces your jawline and even your lips when you tell of hoping to locate giant lily pads.

“I will take you to see them,” he says after you pause. Your eyes widen. He grins as his claws slip along your temple, trailing your hairline. 

“Really?” you breathe. You’ve been searching for them for so long—even Michael and Vanessa reported that they have stumbled upon many yet in their travels around the jungle.

“Of course.” Eclipse’s simper deepens while he lets his hand fall to cup your cheek. “Anything is yours. You must only say the word, my favorite flower.”

Your lips part but no sound falls out of your mouth. Eclipse’s eyes drink you in as you wriggle in the slightest, unable to contain your eagerness despite how tightly you are held. His tail moves in answer. Scales shift you towards him as Eclipse leans over you, closing the distance.

“Eclipse.” Your mouth finally moves. His name fills it. He stirs, his thin eyelids fluttering briefly as ripples of muscle fall down his tail.

“Say that again,” he commands.

Your throat bobs before you shift your shoulders. His hands fall to the neckline of your shirt, tugging on it slightly to expose your collarbone.

“Eclipse.” Your cheeks heat with a red as bright as the heliconia. 

“Petal,” he hisses gently, “You’re so sweet and precious. Like nectar. I want to taste you.”

Oh.

You want to say something, that you are not nectar but a very simple, boring human, but you aren’t sure if that’s the right thing to say in the face of a predator who lies inches away from your mouth. He draws his hand under your shirt and palms your shoulder, covering your shoulder blade. He tilts your head up. A soft gasp escapes you when he squeezes you softly, and then as if stealing your air, he captures your mouth. He pushes gently, tasting your lips and grazing them with his slick fangs. Quiet sounds escape you, your hands clenching and your knees rubbing together, unable to take his face in your hands and hold him in return. It’s almost maddening. Almost.

A low hiss breaks the kiss as he draws back. His gaze, despite his serpentine aspects, is soft and glowy. You spin slowly after the contact like you were on your feet one moment and lifted off them the next.

“Perhaps we might find a lily as pink as your cheeks,” he murmurs, much to your embarrassment. His smile is devilish but his tongue slowly traces your cheekbone, and you close your eyes.

You hope so, silently, for such a flower.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Word List: Of Monsters and Men

A List of Beautiful Words in Song Lyrics by Of Monsters and Men

Amends - compensation for a loss or injury

Creature - something created either animate or inanimate; such as: a lower animal, a human being, or a being of anomalous or uncertain aspect or nature

Crook - a person who engages in fraudulent or criminal practices

Discolor - to alter or change the hue or color of

Evaporate - to pass off in vapor or in minute particles; to pass off or away; disappear

Feral - of, relating to, or suggestive of a wild beast

Fractions - pieces broken off; fragments

Furrows - marked narrow depressions; grooves

Hummingbird - any of a family (Trochilidae) of tiny brightly colored nonpasserine American birds related to the swifts that have a very slender bill and an extensible tongue for sipping nectar and that usually hover rather than perch when feeding

Illuminate - to make luminous or shining

Indigo - a deep reddish blue

Lionheart - a lionhearted person (i.e., courageous, brave)

Odyssey - a long wandering or voyage usually marked by many changes of fortune

Pillars - supporting, integral, or upstanding members or parts

Puncture - a hole, wound, or perforation made by puncturing

Sheltered - to constitute or provide a shelter for; protected

Silhouettes - a likeness cut from dark material and mounted on a light ground or one sketched in outline and solidly colored in

Sleepers - one that sleeps; someone or something unpromising or unnoticed that suddenly attains prominence or value

Sloom - a light sleep; doze, slumber

Somber - so shaded as to be dark and gloomy; conveying gloomy suggestions or ideas

Soothsayer - a person who predicts the future by magical, intuitive, or more rational means; prognosticator

Temple - a building for religious practice

Uninviting - not appealing or attractive; not inviting

Vessel - a container for holding something; a person into whom some quality (such as grace) is infused

Wild-eyed - having a wild expression in the eyes; consisting of or favoring extreme or visionary ideas

More: Word Lists ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs