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cass-drawss · 13 days

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The Horrors Of Sweet Apple Acres (chapter four)

AWKWARD ENCOUNTER

Apple Jack trotted up Sugarcube Corner, the building seemingly looming over her. She looked around Pony Ville which was so barren it was basically a ghost town. The clouds looming over a usually sunny town. The Pegasus' not able to come out attend to the weather due to the fear of being taken. Apple Jack turned her attention towards the door holding up her hoof to knock, when the door opened to reveal a happy Pinkie Pie.

"Oh howdy Pinkie!" Greeted Apple Jack. " I was just comin' by to pick up Apple Bloom, to make sure she gets home safe and all." Apple jack walks into Sugarcube Corner and Pinkie shuts the door. They walk into the kitchen where Apple Bloom and Derpy Hooves sit eating an assortment of cupcakes, muffins and other pastries.

"Well, looks like yall really have been bakin' a lot!" Apple Jack exclaimed eyeing all of the dessert lined along the counter. Pinkie Pie walks around and picks up a platter of brownies iced with a gooey red frosting.

"Here! You should try some!" Pinkie says excitedly giving Apple Jack a eerily large smile. Apple Jack takes one of the brownies off the tray, some of the icing getting onto her hooves and dripping down her arm. The frosting remind Apple Jack of blood, its consistency and even its smell. She licks up the frosting off her hooves and arms, then finally biting into the brownie.

"I've got to hand it Pinkie, you always make the best baked goods!" Apple Jack says gobbling down the brownie as Pinkie hands her another one.

" Oh I couldn't take all the credit. " Pinkie says blushing " I had these two wonder ponies helping me!" Pinkie motions to Derpy and Apple Bloom who eyeing Apple Jack and giggling amongst themselves.

"Oh yes! Yes!" Derpy exclaims smiling. " I come here everyday to help Pinkie Pie! It's the most fun I've ever had!"

Apple Jack thinks of all the fun she's been having at the farm. "I don't think it could compare to mine." Apple Jack thinks to herself

"I wish I was allowed to come here everyday." Apple Bloom pouted, crossing her hooves.

" Now, now lil' sis'. " Apple Jack starts, wrapping her free hoof around her sister. " It's been mighty suspicious here in Pony Ville. It's for your own safety that your not out and about all by yourself." Apple Bloom continues to pout as Apple Jack is continuously offered various treats.

"If it would make you feel any better AJ, I could escort Apple Bloom from here to home or school. I really enjoy spending time with her, and after all," Pinkie smiles, " We are family." she says handing Apple Jack a red iced cupcake.

Apple Jack takes the cupcake in her hoof hesitantly. " Well I wouldn't wanna ask for too much, It could be dangerous out there for you too."

Pinkie Pie erupts in laughter. She falls to the floor holding her stomach. Her laughter bellows throughout the room, bouncing off the walls and into Apple Jacks ears.

" Oh Apple Jack!" Pinkie says in between giggles and breaths. " That's the funniest thing I've ever heard!" She exclaims through her laughter.

Apple Jack shifts her hooves, still holding the cupcake. The icing beginning to drip down off the top. Apple Jack can't help but feel uncomfortable as Pinkie continues to laugh on the floor gasping for air. She sees her sister and Derpy snickering as they share treats with each other. Apple Jack did not get what was so funny.

" I'm serious Pinkie. I don't want to lose you and my sister! I've come to take her home anyway...It's getting late and I have some special farm work in the morning." Apple Jack tries.

Pinkie continues to laugh manically in the floor for a few more seconds before she is just panting on the floor. Once she had caught her breath she stood up and placed an arm around Apple Jack.

"No worries my friend" Pinkie said smiling a toothy grin. " No one is as dangerous as I am!" she then flexed her arms in a superhero fashion.

Apple Jack chuckled. " If you say so Pinkie..."

"I do say so! That's why i said it!" She cocks her head with a smile. An unusually large smile from the ones she had previously made. Pinkie gazed at the cupcake in Apple Jack's hoof. " Aren't you gonna eat that?"

Apple Jack hesitates. " Uhm well I've had so many other treats I'm kinda full. I'm sure I've spoiled supper already!" She chuckles.

Pinkie Pie stares blankly at Apple Jack. " That's too bad" She sighs. "We really worked hard making all these treats and we don't have anyone to share them with. She trots over to Apple Bloom and Derpy and pulls them into a hug. They all look at Apple Jack with puppy-dog eyes.

" Well I spose' I wouldn't mind taking some for the road, but we've really gotta get goin' before it gets totally dark.." Apple Jack says eating the cupcake in hopes of Pinkie allowing her to leave.

" I suppose I'll see you later then, Apple Jack! " Pinkie smiles seemingly satisfied. " Stay safe girls!" She says pushing the sisters outside to an almost set sun. Slamming the door behind them.

" Awwh we didn't get any treats to take home." Apple Bloom pouted. " Do you think we could go back inside and get some?" She asked Apple jack

"No, no. It'll be ok, we need to head home now." She said pulling her sister with her. " I'm sure you can get more when you come back tomorrow"

"I can come back tomorrow?!" Apple Bloom asked excitedly, walking with her sister.

" Well Pinkie Pie seemed very adamant about you being able to come back, so I guess it's ok as long as somepony is with you to keep you safe." Apple Jack sighed.

Apple Bloom hopped up and down. " This is great! Thank you Apple Jack!" She hugged her sister and took off towards the farm.

"Wait for me, Apple Bloom!" Apple Jack shouted out running to catch up to her sister as they approached the farm.

#mlp gore #mlp #mlp creepypasta #mlp horror #gore #violence #applejack #apple bloom #horror #pinkie pie #derpy hooves #sugarcube corner

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sleepy-dreamers-inc · 3 years

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Being Exiled with Tommy Headcannons!|| 🥀

irl/ in-game

Genre| angst + comfort

h e a d c a n n o n s||

Sypnosis|

Both you and Tommy ended up getting exiled together.

Artist| OliverSonder on twitter!!

Warnings] mentions of manipulation, character death, spoilers for Tommy’s Exile Arc and the Season 2 finale!!

[can be seen as both platonic or romantic!!]

||gender neutral reader!!||

(also this was not grammar checked and im to lazy to watch through hours of footage so if anything in here is wrong blame it on the DSMP Wiki OKAY LETS GO-)

So i think its pretty established that if you end up getting exiled with Tommy your one of two things.

- Really sweet and loyal friend that will stick up for in-justice and be there when someone needs you the most

- A total fucking gremlin that will steal your kneecaps and toes and eat your shower curtains in the middle of the night.

There is no inbetween here you guys.

I did end up going for Reader A, though. But you guys tell me if you want headcannons for a gremlin!reader because i will gladly do that!!

But anyways just... enjoy exile!

Exile|

- It was about his third day in exile when Y/N appeared through the nether portal, bags, pouches, tools, armor, etc. on their person. Tommy thought they either were here to beat him up or got exiled themselves.

- Tommy was pleasantly surprised when he learned that Y/N was actually there on their own accord, helping him through exile and being his shoulder to lean on. The first few days we’re rough, fighting back mobs in the night and farming crops all day. His clothes we’re starting to get dirty and torn by the time Y/N got there.

- Y/N ended up making a little bunker about 30 blocks from where they’re tent was, where they hid all theirs and Tommy’s valuables, such as armor, diamonds & iron, and rations. Although Y/N never gave into Dream and gave him they’re stuff, Y/N simply refused, they wouldn’t be giving in that easily.

- Most of they’re days are spent in caves mining away, chatting and fighting off Creeper’s as they tried to keep the moral high, always keeping Tommy company. Y/N never let him go anywhere alone, they we’re always with him, like his own bodyguard of sorts.

- One time they both find a Mineshaft though and got lost, they ended up at the surface two dayd later with torn clothes, cuts and bruises and we’re in bad shape. Thankfully Y/N had a brewing stand at they’re camp though, so Healing Potions we’re semi-easy to make/get.

- After the duo end up going to the artic though... things got... weird.

- Techno was not expecting to open his door to find the heathen Tommy and sweetheart Y/N at his doorstep shivering and begging to come inside, bags thrown on they’re shoulders as they teeth chattered from the cold wind and snow.

- Whenever Dream comes to visit Y/N always has to hide with Tommy, reassuring him that its okay and they’ll always be there for him, and protect him at any cost, which he highly appreciates.

- The ‘gapple-eating’ thing Tommy did was a cute, yet depressing thing. Seeing him hasitly munching on golden-coated apples was funny and caused giggles, but the meaning behind it always left Y/N with a lump in their throat and a hole in their heart.

- Whenever Tommy is in danger and calls for Dream, Y/N always has to stop him and bring him back to reality, making Tommy realize Dream isnt his friend, and never was. Many nights have happened where the two talk about Tommy’s feelings with Dream, not only for Tommy to vent and let everything out, but also for Y/N to understand whats going on in his head.

- When going into the Nether Tommy always grips Y/N’s hand, as his fear of lava and heights consumes him whole in that firey dimension.

- When Tommy gets up close to Dream in the cabin? Y/N is scared spineless, if people could see them, they’d see the palest, most terrified and worried being on earth.

- Y/N having a heart attack when Ghostbur slips up

- Ghostbur is just a whole thing and just. Y/N needs a break, okay?

- Y/N begrudgingly helping Tommy build his cobblestone tower outside of Techno’s cabin.

- Y/N apologizing soon after to Techno only for him to laugh and ruffle Y/N’s hair, saying he knows how Tommy can get anyone to any situation.

- Very rarely does Y/N ever leave Tommy’s side, when they do its usually to get supplies or visit they’re friends. So when Y/N was walking back to the Nether portal to see Tommy, Techno and Dream all standing there, looking like they’re about to slit the others throat, well...

- Nobody has ever seen Y/N drop kick a person so fast.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Y/N yelled, they’re sword at Dream’s neck, as he laid on his back, his mask covering his shocked expression.

“Answer. Me.” Y/N gritted through their teeth, pushing their swordfurther against the masked mans throat. Techno soon chimed in, reassuring Y/N that nothing to terrible happened.

“It’s fine, Y/N. He didn’t do anything, why not we head back home? Wouldn’t want that homeless man to be to scared spineless, eh?” Techno said, hand on they’re shoulder as he looked Y/N in the eyes.

The 3 walked back to the Nether portal, purple mist engulfing Tommy and Techno as Y/N stood in front of the portal. Back turned towards Dream, Y/N shifted they’re head and glared at Dream with eyes that could kill.

“Don’t do anything you might regret, you megalomaniac.”

- When Tommy and Tubbo decide to go fight Dream, Y/N is both excited and scared. They hope Dream will finally be taken down, but they dont want Tommy (& Tubbo) to be taken down as well.

- So like any amazing best friend, Y/N brews up a bunch of potions of Strength, Healing + Regen, Invisibility and more. Even if Tommy thought he was going to be walking out of there alone, he wasn’t going to be. Y/N would make sure.

- Y/N watched from afar as Tommy got his disc out of the jukebox, laughing in success. All Y/N did was clap quietly, making sure they’re Invisibility didn’t wear off. They we’re making sure Tommy stayed safe, even if he didn’t realize it. Y/N loved him with they’re whole heart, and everyone knew that.

- At Dreams secret base, Y/N was just getting there as Tommy took Dreams first canon life.

“Tommy. Stop. Dont do anything you might regret.” Dream snarled, looking at the teenage boy, his blue eyes dull, yet full of passion and vigor.

All Tommy did was pursue forward, as everyone waited for what was to come. Tommy took one step to close though, because Dream had decided that he had enough.

Dream brought his arm into the air, hand curled into a fist, he was about to hurl his hand into Tommy’s face when Dream suddenly fell to the ground, arrow in his forehead.

Dream was shot by Y/N

Y/N stood there, enchanted bow in hand, infront of the nether portal that swirled with an eerie purple mist. Y/N lowered their bow, staring at the man who tortured Tommy for weeks now. Y/N simply stepped forward and towered over Dreams corpse before it disappeared in thin air.

Lets just say Dream wouldn’t be hurting the blonde heathen anytime soon.

a/n: howdy everyone how we doing? Decided to do Tommy x Reader for this post, although i am MAJORLY simping for Wilbur atm and i have brainrot so that’ll most likely be the next post (if i dont do a pt. 2 for this one but even so WILBUR).

Anyways i hope i did racooninnit justice, i have no idea how to do headcannons since half the time i ramble (its the adhd) so this was new for me. Definitely not my strong suit but like you live ya learn. Also, sorry if i left out quite a lot, i might make a fic about this and include more events, but this is really long for headcannons (because of my layout) so i didn’t include to much. I dont want people scrolling for like 20 seconds to go to another post (i write on mobile so undercut is not a thing for me RIP)

Anyways have a lovely day and dont let Tommy eat all your gapples!!

#tommyinnit x reader #tommyinnit imagine #tommyinnit fanfic #tommy x reader #tommy imagine #tommy fanfic #mcyt x reader #mcyt imagine #mcyt fanfiction #dream smp x reader #dream smp imagine #dream smp fanfiction #dreamer posts ♠️

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boxesandrings · 3 years

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Hello! First off, I simply adore your writing. Your characterizations simply feel so... natural! It's lovely! Second, could I request some fluffy Harvey/Elliott at either the Feast of the Winter Star or the Spirit's Eve festival? That would be grand. Thank you!

Teehee sorry this took so long! I had written a story about the two of them at the Feast of the Winter Star and then hated it so much I completely started over 🤪 So I hope you enjoy this now seasonally appropriate Spirit's Eve fluff!

Title: Meet me Halfway

Rating: G

Summary: Harvey is crushing on Elliott, but is more than okay with keeping things the way they are. When Elliott invites him into the maze at the Spirit's Eve festival though, the men get much closer than Harvey ever thought.

Characters: Elliott, Harvey, Sebastion, Marlon, Maru, F!Farmer

Words: 2841

Harvey had been standing by the refreshments table when Elliott passed behind him, his fingertips lightly grazing against the Doctor's shoulders. Harvey jumped, almost spilling his drink but managed to steady himself, cheeks flushed as Elliott laughed.

“A bit on edge, Doctor?” Harvey cleared his throat and set his cup down, his other hand reaching to the back of his neck.

“No! I mean, kinda. I have to say, I think this is probably my least favorite festival.” Elliott nodded. Harvey studied his face, trying to read the man next to him. Was there a slight blush in his face as well?

Even though they had lived in the same town for years now, only a few months ago had it struck Harvey how cute the man living on the beach was. They had talked a bit around town and at festivals, and of course Harvey was Elliott’s doctor. But since the community center had been restored Harvey had begun to spend more time there, reading articles that his colleagues from the city had sent him or using the craft room to work on his model planes. Elliott was there constantly as well, and the two men began to grow more familiar.

Harvey’s feelings surprised him. It wasn’t that he had never had feelings for another man before, but just how suddenly they had developed after getting to know Elliott was strange to him. Harvey had accepted who he was at this point in his life; he was rigid and methodical, overthinking most aspects of his life. But Elliott had somehow swept in and threw his life out of order— Harvey acted impulsively around him, and it scared him.

But what scared Harvey even more was that he couldn’t tell how Elliott felt about him. Elliott was definitely flirty with him, he couldn’t deny it. But Elliott flirted with everyone, or at least seemed to. Elliott was confident, outgoing, and rather touchy with almost everyone in town. There was no way Elliott felt the same way about him, introverted and anxious, but Harvey couldn’t help but feel the hard thumping in his chest everytime Elliott was around.

Beside him Elliott nodded, scooping some of the hot apple cider Gus was providing into his own cup.

“I can understand that. While I’m sure you’ve caught on that I tend to have a certain… flair for the dramatic,” Elliott regarded Harvey out of the corner of his eye, a coy smile on his lips, “this holiday quite honestly might be overdoing it.”

As if the universe was proving a point, a loud clanging noise rang out behind the men. Elliott’s eyes went wide with fear as he jumped, his body colliding with the Doctor’s as he moved away from the noise. Harvey dropped his drink as he steadied the man in front of him, not sure whether to be disappointed by the loss of his cider or elated by the touch. Once Elliott was no longer falling, Harvey turned to investigate the noise.

Behind him, one of the walking skeletons was at the edge of his cage, a bony arm outstretched and rattling against the bars. Sebastian had fallen back onto the ground and was trying to crawl away from the beast with wide eyes. Marlon stepped in quickly after the skeleton had made its move, pushing the monster further back in with a large stick. Once the skeleton was far enough back, Harvey watched as Marlon offered a hand to Sebastian and pulled the boy up, saying something stern but inaudible from this far away. Harvey turned back to Elliott, who was watching the scene with a grimace.

“You want to move somewhere else? Like, away from this?” Elliott’s gaze snapped back to Harvey, his unsettled look quickly turning into a smile.

“I’d like nothing more, my dear doctor.” Elliott linked his arm through Harvey’s and began to march off, Harvey blushing furiously as he stumbled along.

Elliott led them far away from the refreshments, until Harvey found them standing in front of the maze. Elliott looked toward the entrance, then turned to the Doctor.

“Do you want to go in? I’ve never actually tried the maze before, but with you I’m feeling a little bit more bold.” Elliott winked and Harvey coughed, scratching the back of his neck.

“I’m not sure how much of a help I’d be in there. Honestly, the one time I tried before I barely made it 20 feet.” Elliott laughed.

“Well, maybe with the two of us working together we’d go 30.” Harvey chuckled. Before he could agree, someone called out behind him.

“Hey, Doc! You going in?” Harvey and Elliott turned and saw Maru and the Farmer walking toward them, hand in hand.

“Yes! The two of us are going to try to make it an astonishing 30 feet in.” Elliott had answered before he had gotten the chance to, so Harvey nodded along. Had he really agreed to go in, though? Beside him, he saw Elliott tip an imaginary hat toward the Farmer. “Howdy, partner.”

The Farmer sighed, letting go of Maru’s hand to brush her hand through her hair. “El, just because I live on a farm doesn’t mean I’m a cowboy.” Elliott tilted his head to the side, smiling slightly.

“I mean, you sure ride that horse of yours almost everywhere.” Harvey bit his lip, using the moment to bring himself back to reality. Elliott wasn’t flirting with him, he was like this with everyone. The Farmer sighed again, grabbing Maru’s hand once again.

“Whatever.” She began to pull Maru toward the maze. “Later, losers. We’ve got a maze to finish.” Elliott laughed next to Harvey, and waved the two women off. Maru looked over her shoulder grinning at Harvey, mouthing ‘you got this’ in an animated manner until she disappeared behind the first hedge, trailing after her partner.

Harvey furiously blushed. Maru had figured out his crush weeks ago after the two of them had gone out for drinks after work, when Harvey had been so busy staring at Elliott that he had walked straight into a stool and fallen over it.

“Well, no time like the present, I suppose.” Harvey blinked back to reality. Elliott was standing in front of him, the two men eye to eye. Harvey swallowed.

“I guess.” He put on a weak smile, attempting to feign some kind of confidence. Elliott nodded.

“Then let’s away!” Elliott turned and began to walk toward the maze. Harvey sighed, and followed quickly after.

It wasn’t long until the pair came to the first challenge of the maze. As Elliott and Harvey walked side by side, making pleasant small talk, that green hands began to poke their way out of the ground. Elliott jumped, his body colliding with the Doctor’s.

“Oh, Yoba!” Harvey instinctually grabbed Elliott, pulling him close.

“Oh, no, nope! No. Come on.” Harvey let go of Elliott’s shoulder, his hand grabbing the man around the forearm. He took off down another branch, Elliott running behind him.

Once they no longer saw the hands coming out of the ground, men stopped, panting.

“Okay, I get why you didn’t like to go in here.” Elliott looked up at Harvey, still out of breath. Harvey, unsure of how to react, just began to laugh, dropping to the ground as he tried to regain his composure. Elliott sat beside him, brushing his hair back.

“Yeah! No duh.” Elliott began to laugh as well, the men giggling in the dark. Once composed, Elliott turned to face Harvey.

“You know, I quite like it when you’re more relaxed like this. Not that you’re always stiff, just… you seem like there’s a lot going on in your mind.” Harvey weakly smiled and stood up. He was getting too loose.

“Well, that’s being a doctor, I suppose. Especially being the only one for quite a distance.” He offered his hand to Elliott, who took it and pulled himself up.

“That makes sense. You’re always thinking of others.” Elliott smiled. The two men regarded each other. Harvey found himself getting closer, their bodies almost touching, until he noticed a hedge off in the distance reflecting light. He took a step away.

“Wait, what’s that?” Elliott turned around and tilted his head, searching for what Harvey was referencing. Once spotted, Elliott faced him again.

“I guess we know where to go next.” Harvey nodded, and the two moved toward the light source.

The pair came to a large TV, alternating with static and a series of strange images, weird whispers emanating from the speaker bar attached.

“I mean, it’s not as unsettling as the hands but… I’m not a fan of this either.” Elliott was scanning the TV, frowning.

“I know Lewis is trying to boost tourism, but this seems like a lot,” Harvey added, taking a step closer toward his companion. It was human nature to huddle when scared, right? Elliott surely wouldn’t notice. Harvey thought about how he had held the writer when the hands came out of the ground. As terrifying as that was, he almost wanted to do it again.

“I don’t think Lewis built it. I think the Wizard in the woods said he was doing this,” Elliott suggested. The pair heard a snort and both jumped back, trying to find the source.

Maru stepped out from behind the TV, a funny look on her face. “He’s not a wizard, he’s just some hermit in the woods who likes to play with grass.” Harvey’s shoulders relaxed. It wasn’t a monster, it was his nurse.

“I don’t know. Leah said she’s seen some weird things going on at his tower at night.” Maru snorted again and turned her attention back to the screen.

“He probably has some of those LED strips that change colors on the outside of his home.” Elliott nodded, but didn’t look too convinced.

“Maru, what are you doing just lurking out here? And where’s your girlfriend?” Harvey looked around, making sure the TV was the only horror nearby.

“I wanted to figure out how this is working. There’s no plugs out here, and when I opened the battery compartment it was empty. There has to be some other energy source in here.” Maru held up her pocket knife in one hand, a couple of screws in the other. “And she went on ahead to keep exploring so I could play with this. When I’m done I’ll meet her in the middle point of the maze, it’s just up ahead.” She returned her full attention back to the monitor, walking around it’s backside once again.

Harvey turned to Elliott, who shrugged. “Should we move on?” Harvey smiled.

“Lets.”

From where they were standing, Harvey could see the middle point that Maru had talked about. The pair headed toward the fountain, and paused to watch the water shoot high up into the air.

“Well, I’d venture to say we made it quite a bit farther than 30 feet.” Harvey chuckled as Elliott gently elbowed him.

“Quite a bit farther than I made it last time, for sure.” Harvey smiled at Elliott, then turned his gaze back to the fountain. “I’m surprised it’s already the halfway point. It doesn’t seem like we’ve gone too far.”

“I suppose what this maze lacks in physical size, it makes up for in psychological horror.”

As if on cue, the men heard a yell from beyond the midway, and Abigail ran back in toward them, a blur of purple.

“No way, nuh-uh, nope! I’m out.” She blinked out of her confusion, and looked up at Harvey and Elliott. “Dudes, I’m OUT of here.” Harvey stuck a hand out, trying to stop the teen from bolting past him.

“Woah! Abby, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” He scanned for any obvious signs of injury, his doctor instincts kicking into gear. Abigail was generally fearless, even in regards to her own safety. It took a lot to rattle her.

She looked up at the doctor, her eyes wide with fear. “Dude, I mean Doc, there’s some big spiders back there. Like, me-sized. I’m outta here.” She brushed past Harvey and Elliott, making her way toward the path that the men had just come from. “Good luck!”

Harvey looked toward Elliott, who had noticeably paled. Elliott swallowed, then met the doctor’s gaze. “I mean, making this far was a personal victory anyways? Why push it?”

Harvey stared at Elliott, mouth ajar, before bursting into loud laughter. He sat on the edge of the fountain, trying to take deep breaths to contain his joy.

“Oh thank Yoba, I did NOT want to go in there.” Elliott laughed and sat beside him, his fingertips resting only an inch away from Harvey’s own.

“I think we did very well, though! I mean, halfway is nothing to sneeze at.” Elliott looked toward Harvey and winked. “And you’ve been so brave! Why, the way you rescued me from those hands was quite impressive.” Harvey coughed and stood up, suddenly aware of how close he was to Elliott.

“Yes, well, of course.” Elliott looked up at him, his smile slowly falling. Finally, Elliott sighed.

“I don’t know how much more direct I can be, Harvey.” Elliott’s voice was low, and much more serious than Harvey had ever heard. He turned to Elliott.

“What?” Elliott stood up and crossed his arm over his stomach, nervously rubbing his forearm.

“I mean, I hoped you would have caught on by now, over the past few months, or maybe you have and are just trying to be nice? I don’t…” He trailed off, his gaze lowering toward the ground. “I guess I just like you, Harvey, and I was hoping that by inviting you into the maze with me something would happen, but you keep pulling away and I just… I don’t know.”

Harvey’s jaw dropped. Elliott was flirting with him. Him! And oh Yoba, he had blown it, overthinking each touch, every word, the tone of his voice. Elliott had liked him, and Harvey was too full of fear to do anything. Had Maru known? Is that why she wished him luck?

Harvey sputtered, trying to spit out something, to reassure Elliott. He likes me too. Elliott sighed, meeting Harvey’s eyes again, forcing a smile.

“I’m sorry, that was probably a lot at once. I don’t know why it all came out like that. We can head out if you want.” Elliott took a step back.

Harvey needed to act, to break through his fear. He likes me. Now was not the time to be frozen by indecision, to read far too much into every action. Elliott was there, in front of him now but moving away.

Without thinking, maybe for the first time ever, Harvey reached out and grabbed Elliott’s shoulders, pulling the man in closer to him. Their lips connected, and as Harvey kissed him he could feel his heart beating violently in his chest. Elliott had tensed momentarily when the Doctor had grabbed him, but Harvery could feel him smiling now, melting into the kiss as Elliott placed a hand on the side of his face.

When he pulled back, Harvey was breathless, his hand shaking as he brushed a piece of hair out of Elliott’s face. Elliott was smiling, his cheeks flushed red.

“I like you, a lot, Elliott. I just… I didn’t think you felt the same way.” Elliott laughed quietly, his thumb stroking Harvey’s cheek.

“For such a bright man, you can be awfully dense.” Harvey smiled.

“Yeah.” Harvey moved to kiss Elliott again when he heard something shuffle in the maze behind him.

The men looked toward the path, still holding each other, as the Farmer huffed out of the maze, holding a rather large pumpkin in her hands.

“It’s just a pumpkin! I had to make my way through all that for a pumpkin! And not even a special one like last year, it’s made of foam!” She looked up, her expression softening when she realized what she had walked into. “Oh, um.”

“Maru’s back at the TV still,” Elliot said, his hands not moving from Harvey’s face. The Farmer’s eyes flicked back and forth between the two men’s faces, trying to press her lips together to stop from smiling.

“Thanks. Uh… yeah.” The Farmer walked quickly toward the way back, passing the men with a poorly suppressed smile on her face. Harvey figured she’d break the news to Maru as soon as she saw her.

“Well, where were we?” Harvey turned his attention back toward Elliott, who was smiling warmly at him. Harvey bit his lip, smiling.

“Oh, yeah.” He kissed Elliott again, much calmer than before, enjoying the feeling of their lips touching. Harvey pulled back again. “Want to go back and get a drink? I spilled my cider earlier”

Elliott dropped his hands from Harvey’s face and laced his fingers between the Doctor’s. “I’d love nothing more.” The two men went back into the hedges, hands swinging between them as they made their way back through the maze.

#sdv requests #fic request #sdv elliott #sdv harvey #stardew harvey #stardew elliott #ao3fic #request #requests open #stardew maru #stardew farmer

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shuadotcom · 4 years

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Fall for You | MYG & JJK

▸ Summary: Fall was always your favorite time of year and now you get to add two additional things you love to the list of reasons why: Yoongi and Jungkook. ▸ Pairing: Yoongi x Female!Reader x Jungkook ▸ Genre: Farm AU, fluff ▸ Word Count: 1.8k ▸ Rating: G ▸ Warnings: None ▸ A/N: Written for Bangtan HQ’s Bangtan Rodeo. Thank you to the anon that requested the prompts: “yoonkook/reader + barn + dialogue 9″!

It was your favorite time of year again. The leaves on the farm were changing into beautiful oranges and yellows. The apples in the orchard were finally plump and ripe and ready to be picked. The air was getting colder, which meant long-sleeved shirts and jeans instead of shorts and tank tops. Your mother was running around like a madwoman trying to get ready for her annual fall party.

Every year since you were ten, your mother would invite all of your neighbors within a twenty-mile radius over on the first night of fall in celebration of the season. She’d clear the animals out of the barn and clean it up to make space for everyone. As you grew, you went from helping her wrangle the horses up to decorating when you were tall enough, then to baking the pies and preparing the snacks alongside her.

All your friends and their parents showed up, and even if your mother spent weeks beforehand stressing over it, and by extension making you stress, it always turned out to be a fun night for everyone. Last year you had even managed to get two boyfriends out of it, so you weren’t complaining that much.

“Well if it ain’t my favorite girl,” you heard his deep voice before you saw him, his thin arms wrapping around your waist and squeezing.

“Mornin’ Yoongi.” You turned your head to give him a quick kiss before redirecting your attention back to the fairy lights in your hand. You were doing your damndest to untangle them, but they were like Christmas lights.

“Need some help?” He offered, picking up the other end of the lights at your feet.

“Please. Mama just had to rush into town for more cake frosting. We have four cakes in the oven right now and only two jars.”

“She does know that the party is tomorrow night right? She still has plenty of time.”

You shushed him as if horses and goats didn’t only surround you. “Don’t say that so loud! She’ll sense that you’re not taking this seriously and make you work all night! Probably stick you in a tuxedo and make you serve cider, just to show you what’s what.”

Yoongi let out a laugh. “Your mama wouldn’t do that. She loves me, remember? I’m her favorite one of your boyfriends.” He wasn’t wrong. Your mother was surprisingly supportive of you dating two men, but Yoongi was the one you had grown up with so she favored him whether she wanted to admit it or not. She loved Jungkook as well, but as he had moved from the city only three years ago, at times he still wasn’t used to the country life, and you all could tell.

“Speaking of boyfriends, where is my other wonderful beau?”

“You called, little lady?” Both you and Yoongi turned at the sound Jungkook’s voice. You expected to see him bounding into the barn with his usual bright, bunny-toothed grin. Instead, Jungkook was seated atop his horse with a solemn expression. He wasn’t wearing his usual dark jeans and baggy t-shirt either. From head to toe, Jungkook looked like an old western cowboy, down to the chaps and spurs on his cowboy boots.

“Jungkook?” Yoongi asked first. You were still surprised to see your boyfriend decked out in the cliche’ attire.

“Well, howdy there, Yoongi. Y/n.” Jungkook stopped his horse just in front of you and jumped down. You noticed the bouquet of daisies in his hand. He picked one and presented it with a flourish to Yoongi, who accepted it with a broad smile and a bow. Jungkook turned to you next and got down on one knee, holding the rest of the bouquet out to you.

“Jungkook, what on Earth are you doing?” You giggled and took the flowers from him.

“Well, as you know, tomorrow is a special night on this here farm. I’d be mighty honored to escort ya to the hoedown, miss.” He held a straight face as he spoke with the old-timey Southern accent, which you couldn’t deny was incredibly cute.

“Koo, why are you talking like that? Besides, you do realize I’m going to the party with you and Yoongi anyway, right? Seeing how we’re dating and all. ”

He let out a frustrated sigh. “Come on, Y/n, don’t ruin the moment! I just wanted to court you,” he whined, a dramatic pout forming on his lips. You leaned down and kissed him until he was smiling.

“I’d be mighty pleased to accompany you to the hoedown tomorrow night, partner.” Jungkook let out an enthusiastic yeehaw in reply.

“You know, Koo, every day, I swear you do something that proves more and more that you’re from the city.” Yoongi laughed, tucking the daisy behind his ear.

“Yeah, but you still think I’m cute,” Jungkook said matter-of-factly. Before Yoongi could hit him with another snarky remark, Jungkook grabbed the front of his t-shirt and brought their lips together in a messy kiss. You saw Yoongi frown into the kiss, but you didn’t miss the way his hands latched onto Jungkook’s hips. You let them have their moment for a while longer before swatting at the two of them.

“Alright, that’s enough you lovebirds. Mama will be back soon, and I need y’all to work on these lights so I can go check on the cakes.” They separated with a final peck and Jungkook’s face lit up at the mention of cakes. “Cakes for tomorrow.” His pout was back, but you rolled your eyes at him this time, handing him the string of lights you had been working on.

You blew them both a kiss as you headed out of the barn, giving Jungkook’s horse a pat on the head on your way.

The next night, you couldn’t help but stand and admire you and your mother’s hard work. The red barn next to your house was full of your neighbors conversing and enjoying the food the two of you had prepared. The bright glowing of the fairy lights your boyfriends had strung up could surely be seen acres away. Music filled the air from the powerful sound system inside that you prided yourself on setting up on your own, even if Yoongi had insisted that he had needed to help you.

Jungkook and Yoongi were standing on either side of you, outfitted in their best party attire, which for Yoongi meant a pair of fitted jeans that didn’t have dirt smudges on them and a brand new flannel. Jungkook on the other hand, still a city boy at heart, opted for dark, ripped jeans and a black, long-sleeved shirt. You were thankful that both of them were casual men. They never made you feel pressured to make yourself look any particular way for them. Your outfit was a simple, knee-length white sundress and your favorite cowboy boots.

“So, are we just going to stand out here and gape at the barn, or are we going to enjoy the party?” Jungkook spoke up first, clearly itching to go inside. You let him take your hand while Yoongi took the other as he practically dragged you both towards the crowd of neighbors.

You gave your obligatory greetings to everyone, each person giving you various compliments on the decorations or the food. After getting roped into about four different conversations, eventually, Jungkook had managed to get the three of you to a less crowded corner of the barn. He was looking around nervously as if checking to see who was watching you.

“Koo, what’s wrong? You seem worried,” Yoongi asked, placing a hand over Jungkook’s that was gripping the end of his t-shirt restlessly.

“I...I just wanted all three of us to be together right now.” You saw his eyes dart over to the sound system, and you listened as the current song ended. The last note of the song tapered off, and almost immediately, the beginning tones of the next song rolled in. You immediately noticed how familiar it sounded. It was a slow, romantic ballad.

Jungkook’s gaze bounced between you and Yoongi as a gentle smile spread across his face. “Don’t you recognize it? It’s the song that played this time last year when I told you both that I liked you. It’s our first anniversary…” he trailed off as his shyness got the best of him, and his cheeks turned a light pink color.

In all honesty, you had gotten so absorbed in working to make sure tonight was perfect for the guests that it had slipped your mind that this was technically your one year anniversary with your boyfriends.

“Oh Jungkook,” you cooed, reaching out to him to sweep him into a hug. He practically melted as Yoongi hugged him from behind, effectively sandwiching him between you both. “I’m sorry, Koo. I was working so hard that it slipped my mind.”

“Yeah, and you know my memory is just plain terrible,” Yoongi admitted, earning a laugh from both you and Jungkook.

“Is that why you asked us to go with you tonight the way you did yesterday?”

Jungkook buried his face deeper into your neck. “Yes. I just wanted to do something funny and cute.” You and Yoongi both embraced him tighter, beginning to pepper his neck and the top of his head with kisses making the younger boy giggle.

You pulled back then and held your hand out to Jungkook. “I’d be mighty honored if you’d grant me the honor of dancing with you tonight, good sir.” Jungkook played along, bowing to you and delicately placing his hand in yours. Yoongi bowed to him as well and grasped Jungkook’s other hand.

The three of you went towards the middle of the barn where other couples held each other, swaying to the music. You and Yoongi surrounded Jungkook once again, both sets of arms holding him by the waist as his arms were draped around your neck. You all moved fluidly together to the slow beat of the song, enjoying being here with one another.

“Y/n, Yoongi,” Jungkook whispered, loud enough for you both to hear, but quiet enough that no one around you could. “I love you both. A lot.”

This was the first time any of you had said the ‘L-word.’ Your heartbeat sped up, and you could feel yourself grinning like an idiot. “I love you both too.”

“And I obviously love both you saps,” Yoongi said in a joking tone, but you could tell from the look on his face that he meant it. Jungkook pulled you in one at a time to place a kiss on both your lips before he turned in your hold so his arms were around Yoongi’s neck now.

You and Yoongi leaned over his head to share a kiss, lingering a little longer. “I love you. So much,” he murmured, barely pulling away.

“And I love you,” you hummed, eyes closing in bliss. You didn’t know how you had been so lucky to gain the love of two amazing men, but you were so thankful. Starting a new chapter of your life with them was another thing you could add to your list of favorite fall things; this taking the number one spot.

#bhqdrabbles #bangtanhq #btsnoonanet #bangtanarmynet #thebtswritersclub #ficswithluv #cypherwritersnet #btswritingcafe #yoongi x reader #jungkook x reader #yoonkook x reader #bts fanfic #bts fic

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nyotasaimiri · 4 years

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10/8: Festival

“I thought your people relied on hydroponic farming.” Nyota kept close, her long strides easily matching Marcy’s shorter steps. “Why do you have a harvest festival? Every season is harvest season.”

“Sure, we rely on them now,” Marcy said. “But we didn’t, for a very long time.” Her steps were taking an odd pattern, and Nyota nearly asked if she was dancing before realizing that her little companion was aiming for fallen leaves. Even more odd. Perhaps it was some sort of ritual.

Nyota nodded slowly, trying to process the information. It didn’t match anything she had been taught about humans back home. “So it is some sort of traditional celebration, then, like the Floran Hunts. How old is it?”

“As old as agriculture.” Marcy grinned as she crunched a particularly dry leaf. “So that would be… at least ten thousand years, probably older.”

Nyota stopped in shock as the sheer age hit her. Known apex history only stretched back about five hundred. She started walking again, slower. “Truly ancient…” Her voice was almost reverent.

“And pretty much global, too. Almost every culture I have read about has some kind of harvest celebration, even before humans began talking to each other from more than a few miles away.” Marcy stopped her odd dance and glanced up at Nyota. “You know, it’s not fair that you can walk that slow and I still have to hustle to keep up.”

Nyota chuckled. “The curse of short legs.”

She scanned the area. There were a few dozen other people wandering around, mostly humans and mostly children. She also spotted a few hylotl tourists, two avians in Protectorate uniform with a young chick hopping between them, a cluster of floran hiding in some sort of bundled produce stack. A second glance turned up a glitch in some odd straw-based costume and an old apex man handing out some kind of red-and-brown snack on a stick. But there was nothing new and spectacular yet. And no familiar amber glows.

“Any sign of him?” Marcy asked. Clearly she had the same idea. “You’ll have to do the looking. I’m too short for this.”

“Not yet.” Nyota spotted a human pair and got an idea.

“Whoa!” Marcy started to wiggle as Nyota casually picked her up. “Oh- you know, this would go better with a little warning, but I don’t mind the view.”

“Hold still up there. My neck isn’t a jungle gym,” Nyota said, holding her steady. “Do you see him now?”

“Not yet--oh! Hey!”

“Hold still! Ouch!” Nyota near-hooted in distress as Marcy started waving and tightened her grip on her friend’s legs.

“Well ain’t the pair of ye lively? Howdy, kids.” Isobu jogged up, feathers glinting in the afternoon sun. It still felt odd to see him without his heavy coat on, but he seemed to be far more comfortable showing his wings these days.

Marcy calmed down and started rubbing Nyota’s neck in apology, earning a grudging purr. “Hi, what took you so long? You said by the entrance.”

Isobu chuckled and tucked his wings back with a dry rustle. “I promise it’s a good one, but it’s gotta wait for the place proper. C’mon, old girl,” he said, offering his hand to Nyota. “It’s just past that pile o’ hay. Mind the floran, they don’t mean no harm but they got a funny sense of fun.”

Nyota translated that as they like to jump out at people, and was proven right a few moments later as the floran in question made a passing human scream. To her surprise, the human started laughing and patted the floran’s back.

“Another ritual,” she mused.

Isobu gave her a look. “The hey’s she on about?”

Marcy laughed and ruffled Nyota’s hair, reveling in her ability to actually reach it for once. “Don’t worry about it. Just Nyota being Nyota. Keep going!”

Nyota smiled at her pushy passenger and walked past the occupied floran. She stopped.

The hay pile archway led over a small hill. The valley was full rim to rim with booths, tables, laughter. Children sat around large pumpkins, carving faces into them. An avian and hylotl competed in an odd game that involved biting apples out of a tub. Several people waited in line to get their faces painted, and still others sat around campfires, roasting everything from marshmallows to pots of dried corn. Dozens of smells washed over her, most of them utterly new and all of them tugging some primal, joyful instinct. It wasn’t too busy yet. Marcy had been insistent on arriving early, before it could get busy, and Nyota was grateful. But she could tell that this place was meant to bring hundreds together at once. It felt… ripe, ripe with anticipation.

She was not afraid, here. It was so different from home. Home could not touch her here.

Isobu tugged at her sleeve and passed her something: the strange red snack on a stick. Up close, it was shaped like an apple. It smelled like butter and sugar. Nyota bit into it, and promptly got her fangs stuck. She didn’t care in the least. Bitter apple, rich caramel. Smells and sounds and laughter. Her eyes half-closed in bliss. She didn’t even notice Marcy climbing down off her back.

Marcy watched as Nyota carefully unstuck herself and slowly started tackling the candied apple again. The silence worried her a bit. “You doing okay there, Nyota?”

Isobu chuckled and passed Marcy her own apple. “She’s jus’ fine, lil’ missy. Just let her enjoy herself.”

#oc-tober #oc-tober 2020 #writing #starbound fanfiction #nyota saimiri #isobu luko #marcy #sidestory

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spiffyb · 6 years

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Annabelle’s Totem

Deep in the Ya Ha Tinda, forests filled with firs and aspen trees are punctuated with fields of wild horses, Mustangs running free in the wind which shakes the tall, coarse grass.

Annabelle gazed out the window of the cherry red pick-up truck, which was firmly closed to stop the dust getting in, as she drove along the dirt road to nowhere. Her GPS had cut out over a mile ago, and she wondered how she was going to find the ranch in the first place. Luckily, all the roads were in grid out West, which made things easier, and there was no traffic to speak of. But there were also no gas stations. The nearest one was in Sundre, so she just had to keep driving. She wasn’t lost yet.

Finally, the trees cleared and a log cabin on a hill and a sizeable red barn, bordered by a wooden post-and-rail fence, appeared in the distance. Annabelle turned the truck into the driveway, putting it into park and climbing out to clumsily open the gate with a hand-carved sign inscribed ‘Lucky Diamond Ranch’. Sounds like the name of a Casino. After closing the gate, she pulled up right by the cabin, and looked around for signs of human life. The air was rich with the smell of horse hair, horse dung and silage.

‘Howdy,’ a lean man wearing a Stetson, worn-looking leather cowboy boots, Wrangler jeans and a blue plaid shirt swung one leg and the other over a fence and jumped down like an agile cat. ‘I’m Lenny.’

Annabelle introduced herself, reluctantly shaking Lenny’s rather dirty outstretched hand. Lenny and his brother Bryn, who was really his half-brother, ran the ranch. Bryn happened to be a veterinarian, and was out on a farm call at the time. Something about a cow with a prolapsed uterus. Annabelle said she didn’t want to know.

‘You want anything? Coffee? Some Jack Daniels?’ Lenny offered. Annabelle had almost stepped in some horse apples.

‘Coffee, please.’ She followed Lenny inside the log cabin, which consisted mainly of one room, with paintings of country scenes and all manor of animal heads hanging on the walls. She took a mug of tar-like substance that smelled something like coffee in her hands, and thought better than to drink it. Lenny just smiled. He was handsome but, Annabelle thought, wasted on this solitary existence. What kind of man lives out in the boonies with his brother and other animals, anyway?

After exchanging few words, Lenny lead Annabelle out to the paddock. The horses stood around, their coats gleaming in the bright Alberta sunlight, swishing their tails back and forth. One, a buckskin gelding, nuzzled Annabelle’s palm. ‘He likes you,’ Lenny said, ‘That one’s Joey.’

Annabelle regarded the beast. He was around 15 hands high, probably a quarter horse and young, maybe three. ‘Is he broke?’

‘Yeah, he’s a fine animal,’ Lenny beamed, ‘Strong, though. Not suitable for beginner riders.’ He gestured to the gelding’s flank and powerful quarters.

Annabelle rolled her eyes. ‘Can I take him out?’

‘What, all by yourself?’

Annabelle said of course by herself. As a girl, she loved watching the show jumping at Spruce Meadows, and she had taken lessons in dressage as many years ago. Lenny shrugged and went to the barn to get a saddle. As he hoisted the leather saddle onto Joey’s gently curved back, fixing the girth in place, Annabelle noticed Lenny was smirking and shot him a questioning look.

‘Out here we call you folks “Coca-cola Cowboys”.’ Not funny. Annabelle found it about as amusing as she found the horn at the front of the saddle, and she unwillingly found herself imagining what sorts of injuries a person could sustain from that appendage. She said nothing while Lenny continued saddling her horse fluently. ‘Do you know how to neck-reign? No? Well, you can pony-reign if you need; most horses understand it.’ He gestured a neck-reign demonstration, which looked rather as though he were miming how to change gears in a stick-shift car. Annabelle drove automatic for a reason.

Having mounted the horse with some elegance, Annabelle gathered the smooth, brown leather reigns in her right hand and sat straight with feigned confidence. Lenny told her to go straight across the field to the west of the ranch, and head along the well-worn path through the forest towards the Blue Mountain, said the ride took about an hour there and back.

Commencing at a walk, Annabelle rode Joey through an open barb-wired gate into a lush green field, with hills and forests in the distance. She nudged him gently with her heels to guide him into a trot, but also squeezed him slightly with her legs, prompting Joey to burst into a gallop. His long, beige legs propelled them forwards with ease, as his hard, black hooves danced rhythmically across the field. He moved so smoothly, Annabelle felt like they were flying.

After a while, Annabelle left the city behind and relaxed her shoulders. This expedition felt like the most natural thing in the world. For the first time in weeks, Annabelle forgot about Eric. She could have gone to a spa or done yoga in a comfortable studio with a hardwood floor and a vast window overlooking the mountains. Eschewing luxury, she opted to get as far away as possible, which the Ya Ha Tinda promised. In reality, she found herself in the middle of nowhere: the antithesis of glamour. She thought of Lenny, about how ridiculous he must have found this yahoo with her designer handbag and brand-new Levi’s.

They came into a clearing in the forest, where a large elk stood wearing a crown of great antlers. Annabelle didn’t see the elk, and neither did the horse at first, so she was unprepared when her mount leapt sideways with all four feet in the air.

‘Whoa, boy!’ the command came forth instinctively. ‘Whoa! I said “whoa”!’ Surprise became panic, as the horse kicked his hind legs towards the sky, bucking like a bronco at a rodeo. The rider flew into the air, and fell onto the forest floor like a bird shot out of the sky. The elk had already dashed into the woods. Annabelle picked up a small, smooth stone and threw it at the horse, who whinnied and took off down the trail. ‘Stupid animal!’

Annabelle started to shiver slightly, and she looked up at the sky, blue streaked through with crimson, lilac, flame orange and pink, like a painting of meadow flowers: Indian paintbrushes, fireweed and pale pink Alberta roses. She pulled her denim jacket around herself. It was still Spring and the nights could get cold. Having shaken off the shock of her little misadventure, she scrambled to her feet and walked slowly to the edge of the clearing, hoping to find the trail. Appraising the ground, she couldn’t make out any hoof prints. Deer, elk, and coyote prints all mixed together. If a horse had walked there, Annabelle didn’t know. Tears sprang from her eyes, running down her cheeks like the Red Deer river which roared in the distance, too far away for her to hear.

Grasshoppers clicked their legs, chirping softly. A small bird, high in a Balsam tree sang chick-a-dee-dee-dee, chick-a-dee-dee-dee. Compared to the city, it was so quiet, but Annabelle hated the silence and every noise the forest made. When a coyote howled like a ghost, Annabelle thought it was a wolf, great and grey with menacing fangs. In the clearing, bushes decorated with bright red berries clustered around. Although her stomach growled, she dared not touch the berries for fear they were poisonous. What Annabelle didn’t know was that these fruits were named bearberries, and the grizzlies who feasted on them were somewhere in the mountains enclosing the Ya Ha Tinda’s Western perimeter. For a moment, Annabelle took her cell phone out of her pocket and laughed. That was useless out here. There was no way to call for help. If, in her panic, she cried out frantically for help, there’s no telling what creatures she would awaken. If she climbed up a tree, there’s no way she could get away from a mountain lion, with its sharp talons and unnatural speed.

Stick to the trails and be back before dark.

As the sun disappeared, the painted sky turned inky black, dusted with stars. Far from the city, you could see every star with clarity, and a group of stars gathered in the shape of a ladle. And at the tip of its handle was the North Star. And if Annabelle had known this, she could have found her way back through the thick forests, down the hill and across the grassy plain. But the forest was forbidding, a sea of trees standing still like totem poles.

Annabelle turned around. Something rustled in the bushes, heading towards her. Two brown eyes peered at her from the dark forest. Suddenly the beast burst into the clearing.

‘Joey!’ Annabelle cried, startled. Moonlight revealed the familiar outline of a horse. The animal had appeared like a spirit from the forest, a shadow of the history of the Stony tribe who once wandered these plains and mountains. The western wind moved through the trees, gently tousling Annabelle’s auburn mane like waves on the sea. Surrounded by this wonderful wilderness, she paused and hesitated mounting on the horse. She was lost in a dream. While her feet were planted firmly on the ground, she stood on a higher plane. While the wilderness was filled with mystic, it managed to simplify life. Before, Annabelle had only imagined that such places still existed, untouched by the urban sprawl. Joey lowered his head and strolled shamefully towards Annabelle, who hugged his neck, as he bent his neck towards her, hugging her back. Joey looked different somehow, Annabelle thought, almost human. His big brown eyes were filled with apology. ‘I’m sorry too, boy,’ Annabelle said, gently stroking his nose. Sliding one foot in the stirrup, Annabelle got back on her horse. For a moment, she remembered she was still lost with no idea how to get back to the house.

As they traversed the woodland in search of the trail, Annabelle breathed in the scent of lodgepole pines, listening to the call of a barn owl asking who-who-who? She couldn’t see a darn thing. The odd Alberta rosebush pricked her legs, and when Joey walked too close to a poplar she felt its corrugated bark against her calves. The young horse ambled along cautiously, until they eventually reached the edge of the forest. The night sky illuminated the field; its reflection played on the waters of a lake, so that it was impossible to differentiate the Earth from the atmosphere. Under the starlight, Joey galloped in the direction of an artificial light glowing in the distance.

‘Annabelle’s Totem’ by Barbara (Wilson) Drury (c)

#spiffybarbarella #short story #nature #prose #writeblr #poetryblr #by Barbara Drury

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folklore-and-fairytales · 4 years

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THE LITTLE LOST FOX By R. G. Anderson. Illustrations in colour By Dorothy Hope Smith. 16 Illustrated Bed-time Stories for Children

Marmaduke was sitting on the fence. He wasn't thinking of anything in particular, just looking around. Jehosophat called to him from the barnyard,--

"Come'n an' play 'I spy.'"

But Marmaduke only grumbled,--

"Don't want to."

"Well, let's play 'Cross Tag' then," Jehosophat suggested.

"Don't want to," repeated his brother again, not very politely.

Jehosophat thought for a moment, then he suggested something worth-while:

"I'll tell you what, let's play 'Duck-on-the-Rock.'"

Now as every boy in the world--at least in America--knows, that is a wonderful game, but Marmaduke only said very crossly,--

"I don't want to play any of your ol' games." Now when Marmaduke acted that way there must have been something the matter. Perhaps he had gobbled down his oatmeal too fast--in great big gulps--when he should have let the Thirty White Horses "champ, champ, champ," all those oats. They were cooked oats, but then the Thirty White Horses, unlike Teddy and Hal and ole Methusaleh, prefer cooked oats to raw.

Perhaps he had eaten a green apple. Sometimes he did that, and the tart juice puckered his mouth all up, and--what was worse--puckered his stomach all up, too.

Any way, he felt tired and out-of-sorts; tired of his toys, tired of all the games, even such nice ones as "Duck-on-the-rock" and "Red Rover."

There was nothing to do but sit on the fence.

Still, the world looked pretty nice from up there. It always looked more interesting from a high place, and sometimes it gave you an excited feeling. Of course, the big elm was a better perch, or the roof of the barn, and Marmaduke often wondered what it would be like to see the world from a big balloon, but the fence was good enough. It curved up over a little hill, and he could see lots of the world from there.

He looked over towards the West, where the Sun marched into his barn every night. Fatty Hamm declared that the Sun kept a garage behind that hill, but Marmaduke insisted it was a barn, for he liked horses best, and the Sun must drive horses. There was a real hill there, not little like the one where he sat on the fence, but a big one, 'most as big as a mountain, Marmaduke thought. Sometimes it was green, and sometimes grey or blue, and once or twice he had seen it almost as purple as a pansy.

But it was Fall now, and the hill had turned brown. Over it he could see little figures moving. He looked at them very carefully, with one eye shut to see them the better. Then he decided that the bigger ones were men on horses, the little ones dogs. They all looked tiny because they were so far away.

As they came nearer and the sun shone on them, he was pretty sure the men had red coats. Could they be soldiers?

Just then the Toyman came by, with coils of wire and clippers in his hand. He was on his way to mend the fence in the North Pasture.

"'Llo Toyman!" said Marmaduke. "Howdy, little fellow!" replied the Toyman, "what are you doing there? Settin' on the top of the world and enjoyin' yourself?"

"I was wondering what those men over there were doing." And the boy waved his hand towards the little black figures on the hill.

"Why, that's the hunt," explained the Toyman. "The rich folks, having nothing better to do, are killin' time."

Marmaduke was puzzled.

"Are they really hunting Time?" he asked. "I thought maybe they were hunting lions or tigers."

"No, not today," the Toyman responded, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but they're only after Reddy."

"Reddy Toms?" the little boy exclaimed. "Why, whatever did he do?"

Now Reddy Toms was a boy in his own class, and you could always tell him a long way off because his head was covered with red hair as thick as a thatched roof, and his face was spotted all over, like a snake's, with freckles.

However, the Toyman said it was all a mistake.

"No, not that tad," he explained, "it's Reddy Fox they're after."

"What!" exclaimed Marmaduke. "Does it take all those big men to hunt one little fox?"

"It seems so, son," the Toyman returned, "but that's the way of the world."

"Well, I think it's mean," insisted Marmaduke. "Those men are nothing' but--but--dumbbells!"

The Toyman threw back his head and laughed. That was a new expression to him, but it was a perfectly good one. You see, the big boys in school used it when they thought anyone was particularly stupid or mean. But the Toyman must have understood it anyway, for he went on,--

"That's my sentiments exactly. I don't suppose they mean to be cruel, but they don't give little Reddy half a chance--and he's so small! Now if it was lions or tigers, as you suggest, why, that would be different."

"You bet it would!" Marmaduke replied. "I just wish it was." Now, of course, he should have said "were," as the teacher in the Red Schoolhouse was forever telling him, but a little boy can't always remember correct English when a hunt is coming so close.

"Just set tight, boy, and you'll see their red coats soon."

And, waving his clippers, the Toyman went on his way to the North Pasture.

But Marmaduke didn't need any advice. He had spotted those red coats already. They were much nearer now, for they rode very fast. Already the horses were leaping the fence of the Miller Farm, and the dogs were crisscrossing over the field, making lots of letter W's as they ran--hundreds of them, Marmaduke was sure. And they followed something--something so small he could hardly see what it was. But he guessed it must be Reddy.

So many fences they leaped, and so many stone walls! Now they were near the Brook, and yes, he could see the red coats, very bright and plain now.

And then he spied Reddy. His coat wasn't as gay as those the men wore. Theirs were bright like cherries, and his was the color of chestnuts. It seemed such a shame to want his poor little coat when the men had such nice ones themselves. "Cracky!" he exclaimed. One of the "ole hunters" had fallen in the Brook. And Marmaduke hoped that red coat would get soaked and soaked and run like the stockings Mother had bought from the pedlar. And he hoped that "ole hunter" would get wet to the skin, and shiver and shiver, and have to call in the doctor who'd prescribe the very worst medicine there was in the world. It would serve that "ole hunter" right if he'd almost die. But Marmaduke hoped the poor horse wouldn't break his leg. It wasn't the horses' fault they were chasing Reddy.

Now the hunters were lost in Jake Miller's Woods. All he could see were patches of red, here and there, in the bushes, but he heard the deep voices of the dogs, all the time, calling and calling.

Then all-of-a-sudden something happened. And Marmaduke liked all-of-a-sudden things to happen--they were so exciting.

A little streak of fur, with tail flying behind like a long pretty hat brush, galloped across the Apgar field, then the very field where Marmaduke sat, perched on the fence.

The dogs were right after Reddy, running hard, too, but they were two fields farther back. Reddy, you see, had fooled them in that wood, and he had gotten a good headstart.

My, how Reddy was running!

Marmaduke stood up on the fence and shouted:

He shouted so hard, and waved his hands so excitedly that he tumbled off his perch, and lay still for a second. He was frightened, too, but he forgot all about the bump on his forehead, and picked himself up, and ran after Reddy across the field towards the barnyard, which, fortunately, was just on the other side.

"Ooooooohhhhh!"--a very deep "Oooooohhhh!" came from behind him from the throats of the dogs. They were only one field away now, and it sounded as if they were pretty mad.

But Reddy had reached the corner of the field where the blackberry bushes lined the fence. Now usually Reddy would have looked all around those bushes until he found an opening; then he would have stepped daintily through it. But he didn't do that today, oh no! You see his family has a great reputation for wisdom, and Reddy must have been just as wise as the man in Mother Goose, for he neither stopped nor stayed, but jumped right in those brambles and managed somehow to get through the rails of the fence to the other side. He left part of his pretty red coat in the briars. However, that was better than leaving it all to those dogs who were howling not far behind.

And now the Little Fox found himself near the barn and flew towards it so fast that his legs fairly twinkled as he ran.

The Foolish White Geese were taking their morning waddle, and Reddy ran plump into them. Now there was nothing that he liked better to eat than nice fat goose. Still, he didn't wait, but left them beating their wings and stretching their long necks to hiss, hiss, hiss, as they scattered in all directions. I guess Reddy wished his legs were as long as their necks.

Now in the old days when rich folks lived in castles and robber knights quarreled and fought every day of the week, there were always places of sanctuary, where any man could be safe from harm. That is just what Reddy saw in front of him, a place of sanctuary for himself.

It was funny, but it had been prepared by little Wienerwurst. And Wienerwurst was really Reddy's enemy, for all dogs like to chase foxes whenever they get the chance. It was a little hole, just the right size for Wienerwurst, just the right size for Reddy. The little yellow doggie wasn't there now. He had dug it that morning to catch the big rat hiding somewhere below the floor of the barn. He had started to build a tunnel under the wall, and had been a long time working at it when Mother Green came from the house. She carried a fine large bone, with lots of meat left on it, too. And, of course, when the little dog smelled that bone and meat, much as he liked rats, he just had to leave his work at the tunnel and run straight for the bone, leaving the hole waiting for Reddy.

Straight into it Reddy ran, just as Marmaduke and the big dogs reached the fence and the blackberry bushes, all at the same time. Now Marmaduke could have cried because the hunter dogs would reach the hole before he could get there and cover it up, and they would reach down into that hole and drag Reddy out by his pretty red coat and eat him all up.

But when he stuck his head through the rail he saw help coming. Jehosophat was there and he had heard those bad dogs and seen them, too, coming on with their big mouths open and their tongues hanging out as if they wanted to swallow Reddy down in one gulp. And Jehosophat could see the redcoats on the horses not far away. They had reached the big oak in the field and were coming on very fast.

He looked around. There was the very thing. A nice, broad cover of an egg-crate. It would fit exactly. So, quick as a wink, Jehosophat picked it up and clapped it over the hole. Then he looked around again. It wasn't quite safe yet. But there was the big rock which they used for "Duck-on-the-rock." The very thing! It was almost more than he could manage, that rock, but he pulled and he tugged, and he tugged and he pulled, 'til he had it safe on the crate-cover over the hole--and Reddy was saved!

It was just in time, too, for the dogs had come barking and yelping and bellowing, and now all they could do was to sniff, sniff, sniff around that hole.

Then over the fence into the barnyard jumped the horses; and Marmaduke came running up; and the Toyman rushed over from the field; and Father came out of the barn; and Mother flew out of the house; and Rover and Brownie and Wienerwurst raced from the pond, each one to see what all the hullabaloo was about.

What they did see was the two boys standing guard in front of the hole to protect little Reddy, and the big hunter dogs jumping up on them with their paws and growling most terribly. It was a wonder that the boys weren't frightened enough to run away, but they didn't. They just stood their ground. Still, they were glad enough to see Father and the Toyman close by.

And now one of the men in redcoats had dismounted from his horse, and Marmaduke called to him,--

"You shan't touch Reddy, you shan't!"

He was half crying, too, not for himself, but for Reddy.

The man was taking off his cap. He was very polite, and he bowed to Mother.

"We'll pay for all damages, Madam, but let us have the brush."

The boys thought that was funny, calling their mother "madam," when everybody in the neighborhood called her "Mis' Green." And what did he want a brush for? To brush his fine cap and red coat or his shiny boots? Or to wipe up Reddy out of his hole? However, the Toyman was whispering:

"He means Reddy's tail. That's what hunters call the brush."

When Marmaduke heard that, he grabbed tight hold of the Toyman's hand on one side and of his father's on the other, and shouted:

"Don't let them get Reddy!"

But Father was talking to the man. He called him "Mr. Seymour-Frelinghuysen," and both the boys wondered if all people with fine horses and shiny boots and red coats had to have long, funny-sounding names like that.

"It's all right about the damages, Mr. Seymour-Frelinghuysen," Father was saying, "but I guess we won't give up the fox today."

And Father smiled down at Marmaduke, and oh, wasn't that little boy relieved and happy, and his brother, too! As for the Toyman, he had a funny twinkle in his eyes.

Of course, there was a lot of grumbling on the part of the redcoats, and a lot of barking and growling from the big hunter dogs, but the men had to get on their horses and call off their dogs and ride away. "I guess they knew they were in the wrong," said Jehosophat, after they had tied up Rover and Brownie and Wienerwurst, and taken the stone and board away from Reddy's hole.

Then they looked in the hole-but no Reddy!

Meanwhile the Toyman had gone into the barn.

"Come here!" he shouted.

So they ran in, and there, in the corner, hidden under the hay was Reddy, all muddy from the brook and torn from the briars. His eyes looked very bright, but they looked pitiful too.

The Toyman put out his hand and stroked his fur. At first Reddy showed his teeth and snapped at the Toyman just like a baby wolf. But that hand came towards him so quietly, and the voice sounded so gentle, that Reddy lay still. You see, the Toyman somehow understood how to treat foxes and all kinds of animals just as well as he did boys, little or big.

"What doesn't that man know?" Mother had said once, and right she was, too.

It took some time to train Reddy, for, although he was very small, he was very wild. However, the Toyman managed to tame him. Perhaps it was because the Little Lost Fox was wounded and sore and hurt all over. Anyway, he seemed to appreciate what the Toyman did for him, for all he was a little wild child of the fields and the forests.

They built him a house, all for himself, and a fence of wire. It was great fun to see him poking his sharp nose through the holes and stepping around so daintily on his pretty little feet.

He always had such a wise look. In fact, he was too wise altogether, for one day he was gone, through some little hole he had dug under his fence.--And they never saw him again--at least, they haven't to this day.

At first the three children felt very sad about this, but when the Toyman explained it, they saw how everything was all right.

"You see," the Toyman said, "he's happier in the woods and fields than being cooped up here."

Marmaduke thought about that for a moment.

"Anyway," he began, "anyway,----"

"Yes?" said Mother, trying to help him out.

"Anyway, I'm glad we saved him from the ole redcoats," he finished.

And maybe Reddy will visit them again someday. Stranger things than that have happened. So, who knows…..? ============== From: HALF-PAST SEVEN STORIES by R. G. ANDERSON. Illustrations in colour By DOROTHY HOPE SMITH.

ISBN: 9788828315827

CLICK HERE to download this story - https://bit.ly/2UFbXPn =============== Keywords: fairy tales, folklore, myths, legends, children’s stories, children’s stories, bygone era, fairydom, fairy land, classic stories, children’s bedtime stories, happy place, happiness, top of the morning, little lost fox, big bobsled, jolly roger, pirate, blue croaker, bright agate, little gray mig, old woman, lives on the canal, two o' cat, fairy lamp, animals, birthday party, dr. philemon pipp, patient, medicine man, jehosophat, forgot, piece, ole man, pumpkin, Norway spruce, door, open, hole, ran, runs, to china, peppermint pagoda, took, take, city, Jehosophat, Marmaduke, and Hepzebiah, Green, old, uncles, aunts, White House, Green Blinds, Side of the Road, fishing, pond, swim, Toyman, Methusaleh, playmates, friends, feathers, fur, Monday morning, Thursday noon, Saturday night, lessons, lights, fireflies, twinkle, Father, Mother

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#Fairy_tales folklore myths legends childrens stories childrens_stories bygone_era fairydom fairy_land classic_stories childrens_bedtime_stor

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vacationsoup · 5 years

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New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/smoking-a-chicken-on-a-woodfired-smoker/

Smoking a Chicken on a Woodfired Smoker

It's easy and delicious!

Finished product - and they were delicious

Howdy folks - guest poster here. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Daniel Scurlock Jr, and grew up out on Scurlock Farms. I recently moved back to the farm with my wife, Sherry, after spending over 30 years in the Dallas/Plano area.

Funny how when you're growing up you want to move away, and after you've moved away you want to get back home. Good to be back!

Oklahoma Joe's Highland Smoker

One of the first things we did when we moved back was to pick up a wood smoker so we could smoke up chicken, pork, brisket and the like. We've had the smoker for a few months now, and it typically gets used at LEAST once a week. We picked up an Oklahoma Joe's Highland smoker from Lowe's for just under $300. It won't break the bank, and it does a fantastic job of cooking low and slow.

Today we smoked up a couple of chickens, and they turned out delicious!

Getting coals ready for the smoke

For these chickens we used a marinade (marinade recipe at bottom of post) that infused a flavor of citrus, garlic and ginger with a slight bit of heat.

We recently discovered the joys of spatchcocked chicken. This works wonderfully for smoking/grilling/baking chickens. Try it! The cooks are quicker, and the meat soaks up the flavor from marinades and rubs much more evenly.

First thing is to get your smoker up to temperature. Our favorite wood for chicken is pecan

We use a full chimney of lump mesquite charcoal to begin with, and add two logs and allow those two logs to burn for a few minutes before closing the box and heating up the chamber.

Spatchcocked chicken, marinaded overnight and ready to smoke!

A great tool to use when smoking meat is a dual wireless meat thermometer. This will allow you to monitor both the temperature of your cooker at grate level and the internal temperature of your meat. We use a ThermoPro TP20 unit and it's done a fantastic job for us.

You want to keep the meat moist while cooking. We use small foil pans located nearest the firebox and fill them with water. Keep an eye on them throughout the cook. When they get low put more water in. Once you've got your smoker up to 225 it's time to load it up!

I cook chickens at a temperature between 225 and 250 until the internal temperature in the middle of a breast reaches 160. The cook today took just under 5 hours for two 6 pound birds.

Let the smoking begin!

When the temperature drops below 225 add another log. Keep the firebox open for a couple of minutes until the log is burning well. You want to keep the fire burning, not smoldering. If you see a bunch of white billowing smoke coming out of your smokestack you want to open up the air intake on your firebox to allow the fire to burn clean. White billowing smoke is bad - the meat will take on an acrid flavor and the meat will take on a black, charred look.

"If you're looking, it ain't cooking"

You'll have a temptation to open up the smoker and take a peek at the delicious meat you're cooking up. Don't do it! Every time you open up the lid you allow heat to escape and you'll be adding time to your cook, along with not keeping a consistent temperature inside the smoker.

After the first hour, and every half hour after that I'll spritz the chicken with apple cider vinegar using a spray bottle, and if cooking two birds will swap out their locations so both birds are cooking evenly. There is a bit of a temperature difference inside the smoker based on the distance from the firebox and I've found this helps the birds to both be done at the same time.

1 Hour into smoke

I added a baffle plate to this smoker to help with the temperature difference between the firebox side of the smoker and the opposite side. Prior to the firebox there was nearly a 75 degree difference between the mid part of the grill and the side opposite the firebox. With the baffle installed it's much better, but still have a 25 degree or so range between mid part of the smoker and the side furthest from the firebox.

At this point sit back, relax and enjoy a tasty beverage or two while you wait for the internal temperature of the breast to reach 160. Keep an eye out on the fire and keep the temperature at the grate between 225 and 250. Before you know it you'll be done and ready to pull the birds out of the smoker.

Finished product - and they were delicious

Let it rest, let it rest, let it rest

You'll be tempted to cut into the chicken as soon as you bring it inside. Don't do it! The chicken is still cooking, and will rise another 5 degrees or so. If you cut into it as soon as you pull it you'll see lots of juices, and there goes your tender, moist chicken. You want those juices to flow back into the meat, making for a tender, juicy feast.

Use foil and loosely tent the birds for a half hour. Now it's time to cut into your chicken and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

If you're staying as a guest out here and would like to help out with a smoke or would like us to smoke up chicken, pork butt, ribs or a brisket let Sheron know. I would be happy to help!

Thanks for reading!

Daniel Scurlock Jr

Citrus/Garlic/Ginger Marinade for Chicken

1/2 Cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce

4 TBS Fresh Diced Garlic

4 TBS Fresh Diced Ginger

3 TBS Chopped Chipotle Peppers with Adobo Sauce

Zest and Juice of 3 Limes

Zest and Juice of 2 Oranges

DIRECTIONS: Easy peasy - mix it all together, place a whole spatchcocked chicken in a 1 gallon freezer bag and pour the marinade over the chicken. Place on a pan or large plate breast side down and put it in the fridge overnight. Pull chicken out of fridge 1 hour before placing on smoker

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