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sukunasweetheart · 8 months

Text

to satiate, seduce, and to sin.

HEED THE WARNINGS; fem!reader, half human(?) and half snake sukuna, its highkey yandere, mentions of eating people, DUBCON elements, dacryphilia, degradation, HEAVY smut, breeding, cum inflation, use of threats, squeezing/constricting, brainwashing, manipulation, body modification, trueform sukuna (two dicks), mentions of pregnancy and lactation.

Word count: 5k+

sorry guys, i kind of went all out with this one...

you are a researcher, and you’re looking for a rare specimen that most have assumed has disappeared or simply never existed in the first place. but recently, a few traces of activity from one has arisen, and you’re on the case to try and find him before he vanishes without a trace again. unfortunately for you, you decided to embark on this journey during the heat of his mating season... which leads you to making an interesting deal with him.

snake hybrids are and always has been extremely rare as a species - you’ve only seen them in books and blurry images. the information obtained on them - diet, habitat, behaviour - are also mostly just speculations. how they reproduce is shrouded in mystery. despite being half snake, they are much, much biologically different from actual snakes. many believe they are just a fabricated species.

you however, are confident that they are real, and that they’re still around somewhere. pursuing your passion for them, you’ve started another one of your many solo expeditions in search of any clues, or hopefully, one of them in the flesh.

and in this current one, you’ve seemed to hit a jackpot. you’ve been following this enormous snake trail for hours now. you’re really close to finding him, you’re certain.

after another hour or so of walking, a large cave can be sighted a good distance away, to your excitement. you tread carefully through the dirt, dead leaves and tree bark on the ground, making your way towards it.

standing at the entrance to the cave, you hesitate for a moment, heart thumping wildly. you’re so close. this could be a groundbreaking discovery, or it could be another false lead. you’re unable to see the other end of the cave at all, due to how ominously pitch black it is inside. good thing you brought a flashlight with you.

you put your backpack onto the ground and take it out, turning it on and off a couple of times to make sure that it was working. good as new. putting your backpack on again, you take in a deep breath before beginning to carefully make your way inside.

it’s awfully quiet. that’s usually a bad sign.

and if it weren’t for your flashlight, you would’ve needed a lot of time to let your eyes adjust to this darkness, as there’s little to no light that reaches into this cave. your footsteps echo against the walls, the noise bouncing off and heading down further, catching the attention of something lurking within the deepest end of this cave.

“hello?” you say boldly, letting your voice ring out, reaching out to whatever might be sitting in the dark before you. no answer.

you continue your walk, pointing your light towards the walls occasionally, and then the path in front of you to make sure you didn’t trip over anything. with every step, you start to feel more afraid. what if there’s nothing here? what if this whole trip and the expenses and the time you spent was all for naught? the thought of going back empty handed makes your stomach sink.

you halt altogether when your light falls upon something on the ground. a small creature...? no... it looks like...

the end of a large snake’s tail.

in the blink of an eye, something wraps around your whole body tightly, rendering you completely immobile. your eyes widen and a frightened yelp escapes your throat, but you’re still holding on tight to your flashlight. a deep voice resounds in your ears, a voice that sounds so human.

“look at what’s wandered aimlessly into my den. a free meal. did you come in hopes to get devoured?”

you do your best to point your flashlight towards the source of the voice.

a man that has his arms crossed... looking closer, he has an extra pair that rests at his sides. a large mouth on his stomach. and from his waist down, he has the body of a snake. he stares down at you, amused. his giant tail coils tighter around you, noticeably more around the swell of your chest.

“...and a woman, no less. what do you want?”

your eyes continue to wander around his features, taking note of everything that stands out to you. glowing red eyes-- and just like his extra arms, he has extra eyes too! they’re a lot smaller than his main ones, however. oh, you’re so curious and ecstatic. so many extra features nobody had thought this hybrid would have.

“answer my question, vermin. who do you think you’re dealing with here? i’ll crush you until you’re choking on your own blood,” he spits harshly, wrapping around you tightly. you’ve come at a bad time.

he’s in a rather sensitive mood right now, being so...pent up.

“i-i apologise... i’m a researcher. i’ve come this way to look for you,” you begin to speak carefully. “i wanted to prove your existence to the world. and it’s been a long while... but i’m finally here.”

he lets out an exasperated sigh. what a pathetic, insignificant goal you have. humans really love treading into places where they don’t belong, following their foolish curiosity, like a dog being lead around by its nose.

“i wanted an opportunity to observe you, if i may. just write some notes down... and a couple of pictures. would that be alright? please? it won’t take long at all.”

your eyes begin to wander again, being out of your control as you instinctively end up doing so, as if to prove sukuna right about your kind.

the scales of his tail... they have a very unique pattern to them, being adorned with beautiful shades of red and black. similar patterns run down his face and upper body as well. you’re itching to give him a sketch in your notebook. without thinking, you wriggle your arm out from his grasp and run your hand along them.

“ah... so magnificent. it feels exactly the same as a normal snake’s. i want to know more,” you mumble to yourself, loving the texture that runs underneath your fingers and palms. it makes him give a slight jolt, giving you a startle as you instantly take your hands off of him.

“i’m sorry! did that hurt? or...”

he narrows his eyes at you, staring into your innocent gaze as you blink back at him. a pleasant idea rises in his mind. his expression shifts into a gentler one, all too suddenly, as his tail loosens around you.

“...very well, then. i’ll let you observe me,” he relents, looking down at you with mischievous eyes.

“in exchange,” he very obviously gazes upon your physique lustfully, “your body is mine to use.”

being a rare species, its been a while since he’d had someone to breed with in the recent years. especially during mating seasons- it’s been frustrating, to say the least. he never thought he’d become so desperate as to resort to use a human for satisfaction, but he’ll take what he can get.

“huh?? i- well-” you begin to say, flustered by the sudden demand. your thoughts start racing, wondering if you were misunderstanding him, by any chance.

“do you mean...”

“yes. i’m going to mate with you. although, humans can’t get pregnant from my seed. so there’s no need to be concerned about offspring.”

he says it so matter-of-factly that it startles you. you don’t want to know how he found out about that last bit of information... but you mentally jot down some notes about it anyway. so snake hybrids can’t crossbreed with humans despite being relatively similar in appearance... interesting...

you seem lost in thought again and sukuna grows impatient.

“so? what’ll it be?”

you shouldn’t agree to such an outrageous idea. it’s wrong, and... and researchers shouldn’t do such things with the subjects of their studies. and yet-

he notices you squeezing your thighs together, and grins. what an indecent woman. he’s never seen one so willing.

what can you do? you can’t afford to go back without any pieces of evidence. how would you prove your discovery? you fool yourself into thinking that you’re only doing this for the sake of your career.

“...alright. we have a deal,” you tell him meekly. you can also take this chance to find out more in depth information about... his reproductive system. what better way than to experience it yourself? ...you internally smack yourself in the face for that last part.

“where do you want to start?”

“i’d like to have a closer look at your upper body, please.”

his tail shifts to bring you closer to him. you make proper eye contact with him for the first time, and being so close to his face makes your heart thump faster. if you forget about the tail and all... he’s just a handsome looking man.

you grip onto your flashlight tightly. he has pretty eyes, too. you ask for his hand, and see that his nails are dark, and sharp. for someone who’s half-reptile, he feels oddly warm.

“i want to see your teeth next,” you tell him.

“don’t be surprised if i bite,” he responds, before opening up his mouth for you. you hope he’s only joking.

you inspect the inside closely, watching his snake tongue wriggle slightly, and his well-pronounced fangs that gleam as your light hits it.

“are you venomous?”

“i can be. it depends.”

you ask him a series of questions, pushing your limits to get as much information as possible from him.

“and the mouth on your stomach?”

he brings you down so you can have a look for yourself. this one is much bigger, but pretty much has the same basic features as the first one. fascinating. when you touch the lower lip, he suddenly encloses your hand with his larger mouth. shocked, you gasp and retract your hand quickly, to find out that it is still intact. he chuckles sinisterly above you.

“p-please put me down so i can grab my things.”

he lets you go and you immediately begin taking various items out of your bulky backpack. you place your flashlight down onto the ground facing up, so that the light hits the roof of the cave and illuminates your surroundings a bit. you start off by writing down a few pages of notes.

...was a little hostile during the first interaction...communicates sufficiently in human language... was found resting in a cave...four eyes, and four arms, including an extra mouth on the stomach...

it was pages and pages worth of description, anything off of the top of your head. you’d have to rewrite and tidy it up later. a thought suddenly comes to mind.

“do you have a name?” you ask him.

“a well-asked question. i’ll have you pleading with the name ‘sukuna’ later on, once you’re done with all that,” he tells you arrogantly, watching as you scribble into your little notebook.

...the specimen goes by the name of ‘sukuna’.

next, you grab your polaroid camera and aim its lens towards sukuna.

“there’s gonna be a small flash of light,” you warn him.

“yes, i already know what those things do.”

the last guy that tried to take his pictures without asking first, suffered some nasty consequences. it was all for naught though, because he didn’t taste very good at all.

you take as many pictures as you please, and he patiently remains still as he promised. you take a look at the results and once you’re happy enough, you neatly set them aside and shove everything back into your bag. truth be told, your heart could leap out of your mouth right now, from how intensely it was beating.

you had felt his eyes resting upon you from behind the whole time, feeling the way he was watching your body with his lecherous gaze, undressing you with it.

“all done?” he voices gently, voice dripping with sweet poison. nothing like the tone he’d used when you first arrived here.

“...yes. are- are we doing it straight away?” it was a stupid question to ask, but you felt the need to say something, anything.

"i might lose myself if i have to wait any longer,” sukuna confesses, slithering closer to you.

“wait! let me just- i’ll get myself undressed.”

you had a feeling that if he did it, he’d simply rip everything off your body. you need something to wear for the trip home. sukuna smirks at you.

“...go on, then. put on a show for me, will you?”

the phrasing flusters you immensely, but you work hard to make your trembling fingers work to unbutton yourself and unhook your bra yourself. your breasts bounce lightly with every movement, and sukuna watches with incredible restraint.

“nothing like watching a meal prepare itself in front of your eyes... it’s a shame you’re only here to satisfy my lust and not my hunger too.”

the thought of it sends a shiver down your spine.

you swallow on nothing as you avoid his eyes, taking your last bit of underwear off. you’re scared, but in a strangely arousing way. have you always been this perverted?

“i-i’m done...” you say with a small voice, instinctively attempting to cover yourself up to maintain some form of decency.

“wonderful. let’s start with a little taste, shall we?”

sukuna picks you up effortlessly with his arms, and without any stalling, your pussy is pushed up directly against the mouth on his stomach, his hands placed on your ass to support you while you wrap your legs around his waist.

“i’ll need to get your holes nice and loose for me. better it be pleasure than pain, right?”

something wet and warm slithers out and rubs up on your sex.

you nod with gratitude, watching the large tongue in anticipation. your arms loop around the back of his neck, and you’re looking down as he laps at your clit, making you quiver against his strong grip that holds your hips in place.

you timidly moan, immersing yourself in the feeling of this once-in-a-lifetime cunnilingus, of this strange snake’s tongue that rubs up against your sensitive cunt without holding back. it slowly slips its way inside you, making your hips jump in surprise.

“you’re sopping wet. i don’t think i even need to do much for this one,” sukuna comments, enjoying your little reactions. you continue to only stare at the tongue going in and out of your hole. he cocks his head slightly to the side.

“why won’t you face me up here? afraid to meet my eyes?” he voices rather sulkily, lifting your head up by your chin. once you see his lustful expression, something in you throbs without control.

“hah! your hole’s clenching around me so lewdly. it’s being honest, unlike you.”

the focus seeps out from your gaze, and you begin to enjoy yourself.

“yes... you needn’t be so shy. relent yourself to me.”

he pulls your face in closer to his, and kisses you in a feverish manner, shoving his forked tongue into your mouth. you moan pleasantly against his lips, and one of his spare hands claws at your breasts, groping them without mercy.

his bigger tongue slips out of your sopping cunt, and sinks itself into your ass instead. the saliva it secretes does a good job at being a lubricant for it.

your own tongue savours the strange shape and texture of sukuna’s one - lapping up at his lips desperately, like you would to a lover. he likes your eagerness. his own cocks are beginning to throb and unsheathe from the slit on his lower half, unbeknownst to you.

something about you... is quite intriguing. timid and coy as you seem, you’re not hesitating to unmask your true desires; your obsession with his body. even now, you’re sucking on both his tongues with such greed, it’s hard not to be captivated.

when he breaks the kiss, a thick string of saliva still connects the two of you.

“a harlot, you are,�� he tells you with a mean grin.

you look at him with teary, vulnerable eyes. the tongue that had been thrusting in and out of your ass slips out, leaving both of your holes twitching for more.

“i suppose you’re all set now,” sukuna tells you. he finally reveals his aching two cocks, twitching with the need for release.

so that’s where they come out from... they don’t look too different from a human’s, besides the ribbed tip-

“you like them? they’ll be sure to grant you a pleasure you’ll never feel from anyone else.”

you begin to brace yourself, your holes clenching around nothing. your chest rises and falls quicker, indicating your excitement.

he lines them up, and pushes them into you, at a steady pace. your body trembles, and sukuna has to keep you in place as you gasp and hold onto him for dear life. he stretches you so mercilessly. you feel him twitching inside you, as he forces his way against your clamping walls.

“haa...so tight. you fit me like a glove, sweetheart,” he pants, the term of endearment slipping out accidentally. perhaps he’s gone without mating for too long. he feels himself getting easily attached.

when he pushes the rest of himself in fully, reaching all the way, both of his cocks fit snugly inside and forms a bulge on your abdomen-- they press up against a certain spot within you and something seems to erupt in your mind. an unexpected orgasm rips through your body without warning.

you let a string of moans as you arch your back, your walls spasming around him as a result of this sudden climax.

if it were his normal self, he would’ve teased you harshly for reaching your high just from putting it in. but his current sensitivity causes him to also fall off the edge.

“f-fuck, if you keep squeezing me like that, i’ll-!”

sukuna grits his teeth, drool running down the side of his lips, as his cocks also begin to release-- giving him an intense orgasm for the first time in years. they pulse strongly inside of you, spilling spurt after spurt of his thick, hot cum, in large amounts.

he shudders against you, being lost in the pleasure, and begins to lift you up and down, using you like a fleshlight even while he’s still orgasming. the feeling of it bubbling up inside you is something obscene, like it should be forbidden to feel this good and drunk with lust, especially at the hands of a devil like this.

you lean forward to kiss him again, wanting to feel his groans against your lips, and needing a taste of his tongue again. he does exactly that for you, as if reading your mind. had you been one of his kind, he would’ve kept you as his permanent mate. he makes out with you for so long that you’re left gasping for air by the end of it.

“tch. i can’t believe i’ve stooped this low, cumming so quickly like a virgin,” he murmurs with half-lidded eyes.

“nngh...sukuna- i’m already so full,” you whine pitifully. you can feel his spend leak out of you, even though he still has your holes plugged up with his two dicks.

“that’s not good. i’ve still got much more to give,” sukuna teases, liking the way his name sounds on your lips.

“you’ll just have to withstand it.”

he begins to move in and out of you again.

lewd, wet slapping sounds echo throughout the cave as he fucks you in earnest, already mindlessly going after his next climax. you shiver in his arms, yelping each time the tip kisses your cervix. the double penetration doesn't help your case - as both of them rub up against each other within you, making your eyes roll back in ecstasy.

"i-i can't... it's all too much," you mumble, the bulge in your abdomen continuing to disappear and reappear with every thrust of his.

"you agreed to let me use you. no going back now," sukuna tells you with a grunt, brows furrowing when you tighten up around him again, threatening to milk him dry. it drives him mad.

"and i'll be sure to use this slutty body to my heart's content."

his previous loads makes for an even better sensation, making you nice and slippery for him. creamy, white rings are already starting to foam up at the base of both his dicks.

"it feels too good- too big- too big-" you babble, fresh tears piling up in your eyes as he continues to pummel into you, fingers digging into the flesh of your ass.

when the tears begin to roll down your cheeks, sukuna darts out his tongue and gets a taste.

"sweet..." he mumbles.

the urge to cum spills over, and he's releasing inside of you again. his seed repaints the walls of your womb and ass as he groans against the shell of your ear, making you dizzy with arousal.

"oh- my god-" you manage to let out, as you feel yourself getting filled up again.

"you're taking me better than anyone else has before...like a good little whore," sukuna compliments breathlessly, continuing to pump you full with his seed. he's never felt better. his head feels all fuzzy and the edges of his vision is a little blurred, as he focuses only on your sweet little face, lost in a state of euphoria. he leans into the crook of your neck, and darts his tongue out to taste your skin, desperately resisting the urge to sink his fangs into you.

as fast as he empties himself, his cocks fill up again even faster.

"sukuna...i feel... like i might burst," you pant, referring to your poor abdomen.

"...is that so?" he tells you, carefully sliding both of this cocks out of you. you feel a little relieved from the fullness, but also a bit empty simultaneously.

you gasp and jerk your hips when his large hand suddenly applies a bit of pressure to your stomach. everything that he'd stuffed inside you comes dripping out in large globs, falling into a little puddle on the ground.

"there we go," sukuna grins maliciously, watching as you tremble in his arms, enjoying this sensation of his cum oozing out of you... like the freak that you are.

"such a waste. i'll just have to stuff you full, over and over..." he whispers against your ear.

"nngh- sukuna... sukuna..." you chant, hips shaking as he re-inserts himself into you - both of his veiny cocks throbbing once again, aroused by witnessing you indulge in your pleasure.

he sighs erotically, as your plush walls welcomes him back inside, allowing him to slip inside so easily from the amount of slick you're producing.

you might actually go insane.

...sukuna uses you like a fleshlight for god knows how long. by the end of it, you're surprisingly still conscious, despite being ruined irreparably. fucking with such a sinful snake should've dragged you to the deepest pits of hell-- yet, being with him felt so heavenly.

"you ended up being more durable than i thought, love. i'm pleasantly surprised," he praises you, embracing your limp body closely.

"...might be worth trying on you..." he seems to speak to himself.

whatever it is that he's talking about, you're in no state to be pondering. you breathe heavily, eyes half-closed, trying to calm yourself after being so overstimulated for a period of time.

"rest easy. i'll keep you warm throughout the night."

his words hit you like magic, and the fatigue seeps into your consciousness, making you fall asleep in his arms.

your pillow...feels a little too firm. and- scaley? it's warm, though. and this texture is addictive.

when you open your eyes, you find yourself laying in a tangled pile of sukuna's long tail - your bare body covered with the clothes that you'd taken off before...

"you're awake. did you enjoy groping my tail in your sleep?" sukuna asks, recalling to the moments where you nuzzled against him with a perverted smile on multiple occasions.

flustered, you immediately want to voice your denial but your dry throat prevents you from doing so. you hold onto your own neck, coughing. he looks at you with a raised eyebrow.

eventually, you're able to point at your backpack that's still sitting towards the side of his cave, which he grabs for you. you rummage your bag for your bottle of water that you'd stashed carefully, and you take a big gulp from it.

"sorry. throat was parched," you tell him, your voice still a little hoarse.

"right. forgot how sensitive you humans were," sukuna says nonchalantly.

"but still, you sufficed better than i expected," he adds on, with a smirk. he reaches out and brushes the back of his fingers against your cheek.

the praise makes your heart race, and you recall your memories from yesterday. it feels like a fever dream. this will be a secret you'll tell no one.

and that brings you back to reality. you remember that you need to get back home. there's a mountain of things you need to do! but... somehow, the thought of leaving made you feel a bit melancholic. will you ever see him again?

"you know... i originally intended to eat you after using you for sex."

the sudden phrase makes your blood run cold.

"...but i changed my mind. that would be such a waste of potential."

potential? potential for what?

"...look into my eyes, sweetheart."

"sukuna, i... i need to return home," you bring up carefully.

his tail tenses up, making you feel even more nervous. it coils around you tighter, and lifts you up to him. he gently grabs your face, lifting your chin up.

you can't help but do as he says - like taking his orders had been ingrained into your muscle memory - and once your pupils meet his, escape becomes infinitely more impossible.

"you don't wish to leave. you want to stay here," sukuna coaxes you, eyes gleaming red. your mind becomes... clouded. his voice rings in your head. it hurts a little, but you can't look away.

"but...home..." you protest for the final time, eyes turning blank. the words leave your lips like the last spark of a dying light.

"this is your home, my love. i am your home."

he takes you in his arms and nuzzles against your neck. a tongue darts out and licks a stripe against your skin, making you shiver. your arms snake around him, like you can't get enough.

"tell me again, sweetheart. where is your home?" he whispers darkly against your ear.

"...my home...my home is..." you drone on, still having some urge to fight back against his manipulation. he embraces you tighter, and possessively lets his teeth nibble on your earlobe.

"my home is you..."

the phrase gives way for a gleeful smirk to form on his face.

"wonderful. i'm glad you feel the same way," sukuna emphasises, withdrawing his face from your neck.

"now, let your tongue out for me."

you do it without question, and he leans forward to capture it with his mouth, initiating an intimate kiss. tongues roll around against each other, and you feel yourself sink deeper into him. when he pulls away, you're left breathless, a string of saliva still hanging off between. he takes it with him, by giving a soft lick to your lower lip.

"how amusing...this ability of mine isn't even that potent. had your determination to go home been stronger, it wouldn't have worked. makes me feel pleased, knowing that you had a strong desire to stay with me."

"sukuna..." you cling to him lovingly, making his heart give a tug. it makes him want to mess you up. but your fragile human body couldn't possibly handle that. which is why...

"i'm going to grant you a snake's tail. to make you completely mine," he suddenly confesses.

"is that... possible?" you still ask questions, even in a state of hypnosis.

"for me, it is. i didn't bother correcting you when you mistook me as one of those common hybrids, but i'll let you know now. i'm something more akin to a god."

he doesn't elaborate further. the new piece of information shrouds his species with even more mystery. perhaps it should stay that way.

it's a risky process, and you might end up losing your life. but he believes you can endure it.

"i'll be honest. it'll hurt a lot, love. but my venom will soothe you. i'll numb the pain."

within the next few seconds, his fangs sink into the side of your neck.

some additional dot points and what happens after;

so you do survive the ordeal, and you wake up a week later after being essentially modified to become a snake hybrid yourself

memories are hazy, but youre still sound of mind and you eventually get used to this new body with sukuna's help

he did tell you that humans can't carry his seed, but now that you're also a half-snake, you can...

now he has a permanent mate that he can use whenever mating season comes around

he doesnt have to lift you up when he wants to fuck you anymore, it can be done in a missionary way, where both of his dicks can fit into your snake cooch at the same time (its still a bit of a stretch tho, hes so big)

whenever he mates with you, both of yours and his tails coil around each other's, like how real snakes do (itd be cute if a heart would be made with the tips at the very end)

there are still some human aftereffects on your body, like when you get pregnant, you start lactating... he has the privilege to drink it all up himself when they get sore and full, since his young won't be needing any of it anyway

at first, you intensely miss your human life, weeping pitifully in the darkness of the cave,,

he gets you curled up against him, licking your tears away, and then kisses your forehead, promising you that he'll protect and love you forever, since youre his one and only mate...

"convincing" you that there is nothing to miss about being human.

Masterlist

#sukuna x reader #jjk x reader #ryomen sukuna x reader #jujutsu kaisen x reader #sukuna smut #sukuna x you #sukuna #ryomen sukuna #tw dubcon

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rebeccathenaturalist · 7 months

Text

Unsurprisingly, a lot of the commentary I'm seeing about this has been of the "But--but--I would do the same thing because I don't want anything bad to happen to the deer!"

Look. I love wildlife, and I love getting to see deer, coyotes, and even the occasional black bear in my neighborhood. But they are here because there is good habitat nearby with lots of natural food sources, not because I deliberately put out food for them to eat. I respect them as wild animals with whom my relationship is very different compared to the domesticated animals I take care of every day. A deer is not a sheep or a horse; a coyote is not a dog.

People who do things like try to tame deer or, worse yet, try to raise a fawn or other young wildlife like pets are robbing those wild animals of their natural existences. We've already wrought our own preferences on the landscape to a severe degree, tearing the wildness out of it to create lawns and farms and subdivisions and strip malls. When we then dismiss the wildness of these animals and impress our own desire for connection on our terms on them, we are harming them.

I've already written elsewhere about the difference between "tame" and "domesticated". No matter how docile that deer seems, it is never going to be as (relatively) safe and tractable as a domesticated sheep or goat. It will always be more unpredictable, and more likely to lash out suddenly at a person due to fear, or hormones, or protection of young.

These animals need their wild instincts to be intact if they are going to survive without being dependent on us. They need those instincts in order to find mates and keep the gene pool stirred up. Their instincts keep them safe from danger, including humans. And their instincts never totally go away, no matter how much we may try to tame them otherwise.

This is why a good wildlife rehab is going to minimize handling of the wild animals they care for, especially those that are going to be able to be released back into the wild. The less comfortable these animals are with humans, the better their chances of surviving in the wild and having fulfilling, natural lives. Wildlife that retain their wariness of humans are less likely to end up falling prey to hunting, or being killed as nuisance animals when they get too aggressive in seeking food or otherwise coming into conflict with people.

The person who painted "pet" on a fully grown white-tailed buck and put a collar around his neck may have felt like they were doing that deer a kindness, but they have likely robbed him of the chance to just live a natural life as his own, independent being out in the woods and fields. He might be out there, sure, but perhaps he won't mate because he imprinted on humans. Or maybe he will end up shot by a hunter in spite of the precautions because he's just too friendly and those antlers are worth taking the shot.

There will always be something missing from this deer's life because of the arrogance of someone who thought they could own and keep and control a wild-born animal for their own enjoyment, instead of allowing him to come and go as he pleased. Honestly, it reminds me of King Haggard from Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn, whose response to seeing something beautiful was to capture it and keep it rather than simply enjoying and remembering that magical moment:

"I like to watch them. They fill me with joy. The first I felt it I thought I was going to die. I said to the Red Bull I must have them, all of them, all there are. For nothing makes me happy but their shining and their grace. So the Red Bull caught them. Each time I see the unicorns, my unicorns, it is like that morning in the woods and I am truly young, in spite of myself."

That's how I feel about people who are willing to drastically alter a wild animal's behavior for their own selfish benefit, even if they think they're being kind. I know I'm fighting a bit of an uphill battle in this, but I'm rather stubborn that way.

#deer #wildlife #wild animals #nature #animal welfare #animal cruelty #hunting #white tailed deer #zoology #animal behavior #ecology #environment #conservation #wildlife conservation #feeding wildlife #pets #animals #The Last Unicorn

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wolvesandshine · 3 months

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Sirius had never really liked Barty. If he could he wouldn’t be here right now. But well, Barty was one of the few people who was close to Regulus, and in this case the only one who could help. Desperate times call for desperate measure and such.

Barty looks up from his work, and upon seeing Sirius he smirks. “Trying to see the big bad Slytherin in their natural habitat?”

Sirius rolls his eyes, not raising to the bait. “I need help.”

Barty simply raises an eyebrow. “And I would help you why?”

“How did you start dating Reggie?”

Barty stared at him for a moment, processing the words before he laughs. “I always knew you were mad but I didn’t realise you were into the whole Black family incest too.”

Sirius barely restrains himself from strangling the boy in front of him. “It’s not for me. It’s for -“ Sirius trails off unwilling to out his best friend.

Barty simply rolls his eyes. “It’s okay you can say Potters name.” At Sirius’s shocked expression Barty looks up and sighs. “You’re as bad as Reg. Congrats on being the second last person in the whole school to know that they’re in love with each other and idiots.”

Sirius splutters indignantly. “Excuse me for hoping that it would be a passing infatuation.”

Barty gives him a look and yeah, okay, fair. They were talking about James I already planned our wedding the moment I saw you Potter and Regulus I’d kill someone just to see you smile Black.

“Well why haven’t any of you done anything about it?”

“We tried. Clearly, it was less than successful.”

“Can’t you just tell James what you did to get with Reggie?”

Barty laughs derisively. “I did nothing. He was the one who walked up to me and asked if I wanted to fuck.”

Barty laughs at Sirius’s disgusted expression. “You asked Black.”

“I don’t even know why I came here.”

Barty shrugs. “Beats me. At the rate it’s going I’ll probably die before they get together.”

Sirius thinks back on the way James and Regulus have been dancing around each other for months and - Yeah, someone needed to pull their heads out of their asses. He swears he and Remus were nowhere near this bad.

It says something about the way his life is going that he’s agreeing with Crouch.

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barefoothighlander · 1 year

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spillways - panic

-simon 'ghost' riley x fem!reader

-warnings: mentions of ptsd, angst, bit ooc!ghost

-word count: 1.5k

-summary: after a year of working loosely alongside the 141, you are deployed on your first ground mission. trying to navigate having to work with a team and your lieutenant who seems set on getting a rise out of you.

next chapter fic masterlist

a/n: alright so I'm planning on making this a slow burn, we'll see how long that lasts, I'm trying so hard to be normal about ghost but at the same time I can't so, here you go. :)

I wonder to myself,

could life ever be sane again?

You thrust yourself awake, alarm bells ringing in your head, something was wrong, something felt off. Faced with the darkness of your bedroom you shift your weight to glance around, nothing out of place, no noises aside from the occasional car alarm, but the buzzing, the buzzing was loud. Your head filled with the buzzing that seemed to have no end and no beginning, turning over you see the time, 3:44 am, staring back at you with that obnoxious, bright red gleam, sighing to yourself 2 hours of sleep isn’t so bad.

Raising yourself from the bed you’re met with a cold breeze shit, the window was open, striding towards the wall to close it with a loud thud, you hated this apartment, it was old, nothing worked, and the floors creaked under any sort of movement, it didn’t feel like home. You manage the strength to walk to the kitchen and turn on a lamp, growing accustomed to residing in low light, rarely did you ever have your space fully illuminated. You pour yourself a cup of coffee and begin your day, you didn’t have much to do around the apartment considering the only thing on your agenda was to show up to base for deployment, but you still had 4 hours to kill. You occupied yourself with meaningless tasks, tidying the living space even though it had barely anything in it, you had bought the apartment 3 years ago but spent less than 9 months actually living there, it was simply a means of habitat between deployments. Truthfully you don’t know what to do with yourself if you aren’t off in some desert, or mountain range on a mission.

Finally, the clock read 7:15, you figured you had waited an adequate amount of time pacing around the apartment, so you got dressed in some casual clothes that were appropriate for any form of the tactical situation, grabbed your bag and left for the base. You made the drive often enough that it felt like your brain was on autopilot, muscle memory telling you where to turn and when. But you were right, something was off, the buzzing in your head was persistent, and your thoughts ran rampant, usually, you were halfway decent at getting your mind to quiet down, focusing it on whatever task you were assigned, but without some sort of obstacle, you found anxiety begin to bubble in your stomach. You weren’t nervous, not for a standard op, you had run through missions like this a handful of times, and you knew what to expect, what you needed to do, this was something else. Were you nervous to work directly with the 141? You had been assigned a posting with them for a little over a year now, but you never worked with them, only ever as the eye in the sky, providing aid only when deemed necessary, this time you would be on the ground with them, working with them, surviving with them.

Your thoughts occupied your time, and when you reached the base you felt like you had only been driving for 5 minutes. 7:47, enough time to sneak in, you weren’t close with the team, not like how they were with each other, they often invited you to the local pub after a successful mission but you always declined, giving them some excuse along the lines of you being too tired to stay out, most of the time they wouldn’t argue, but you could always feel a gaze staring daggers at the back of your head when you decided to not spend time with them. They meant well, you could tell, but you weren’t looking for another person to ask about your history, or why you joined the force, and you certainly weren’t looking for any sympathy, reducing yourself to a life of seclusion outside deployment.

You made your way to the briefing room, stunned to see that almost everyone was already there, everyone except one person, the only other person who found any sort of comfort in the shadows alongside you, the Ghost. Price waited another few minutes while the guys entertained themselves, recalling a few drunken stories they found amusing, Soap explaining to Gaz why he’s banned from 6 separate pubs in Manchester alone. At 7:56 you saw the door open, and the unmistakable mask breeze in, he was hard to miss, tall and broad, but quiet, always quiet. He found his place near the back of the room, settling himself to lean against a desk.

Turning your attention to Price, trying to focus on the information he was presenting, something about a cartel, and illegal weapons trading in Mexico. You couldn’t focus, not with the buzzing in your head, you tried your best, Ghost noticing the way you constantly adjusted your stance to try to hear Price better. Finally, the brief ended, and you could barely remember a thing the Captain had said aside from “meet at the heli deck 1600 hours.” Inching forward to grab a folder from the table so you could actually study what the assignment was, you felt a strong hand grab your elbow. Glancing up, Ghost was there, invading your space.

“You alright Sargeant?”

“Fine Leuitenent, why?”

“You seem agitated or something” He releases his grip on your elbow as he feels your muscles tense.

“Just tired, didn’t sleep well”

“I know the feeling, go rest, you have time” is all he says, and then he leaves.

You stop for a minute, fiddling with the edges of the folder in your hands, the buzzing is gone is all you can think, as you turn around to catch a glimpse of him, but he’s gone.

For the first time today, your thoughts are clear, no alarm bells, no buzzing, there’s clarity, and you don’t know why. You chalk it up to the difference in humidity, or atmosphere around the base. But even in the clarity, you can’t sleep, you tried, laying down on your cot for nearly an hour, trying to will your body to rest, but it was useless, it’s hard to rest when you’re always in survival mode. Instead, you decide to take your efforts to the gym on base, choosing to put your thoughts to some use and beat the hell out of a punching bag.

Your knuckles are sore, your legs are cramping up, and you can begin to taste iron in your mouth, but none of these stop you. You continue your assault on the oversized bag of sand, forcing every ounce of energy into your punches and kicks.

“Thought I told you to rest” You didn’t hear him come in, but now, standing directly behind you, he’s hard to miss.

You keep facing away from him, centring the bag in front of you. “Couldn’t, thought my time was better spent here”

“You defied a superior's orders then?”

“A suggestion and an order are different Leuitenent”

“You always talk back? Tsk, that’s bad manners love” he asks, raising his arm to settle the bag in front of you, almost commanding your attention.

You turn to face him, finding his body much closer than you thought, you crane your neck to look into his eyes, they’re shrouded in black paint, his face concealed by the skull.

“You don’t intimidate me, sir”

“Why not, every other bloke on this base is terrified of me,” he says leaning down a little, enough so that you can feel the warmth of his breath over your cheek.

You press your lips to his covered ear, making sure he hears you loud and clear.

“I see right through the mask,” you say, as you pull yourself back to stare into his dark eyes, and for a moment, you swear you see the telltale signs of a smile from the crinkles that form beside his eyes.

“I’ll see you on deck Sargeant” is all he says, striding away from you and down the hallway.

You stand there, breathless, you’ve never spoken to anyone that way, let alone a superior officer, but you won’t let him scare you, at the end of the day he’s just another man, made of flesh and bone, he bleeds the same colour as the rest of them.

You return to your shacks to rinse off whatever sweat you worked up. Stepping out and checking the time, 3:30, shit, how long was I in the shower for. Quickly gathering your necessary equipment for travel you make your way to the deck, only to be greeted by the loud whirring of helicopter blades, and the booming laughter of one Soap Mactavish.

“Ye ready for some fun lass?” Soap asks placing a firm hand on your shoulder.

Before you get the chance to respond Ghost once again appears out of nowhere.

“No time to waste, get packed in”

Soap glances at you but your eyes are set firm on the Leuitenent, while little feelings of anger begin to form in your chest. Removing his hand from your shoulder, Soap steps into the heli and seats himself next to some of the other guys. You situate yourself near the back of the carrier, far enough that no one would attempt to make conversation with you. To your dismay, Ghost plants himself directly next to you, close enough that your knees are forced to touch. You’re willing him to move, and he doesn’t spare a glance in your direction.

This is gonna be a long ride.

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bi-bard · 10 months

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How Did We Get So Good at Dismantling These Hearts? - Kaz Brekker Imagine [Shadow & Bone]

Title: How Did We Get So Good at Dismantling These Hearts?

Pairing: Kaz Brekker X Reader

Based On: Hourglass

Word Count: 1,219 words

Warning(s): mention of murder

Summary: Kaz gets word of a new job for the Crows. On the surface, it appeared to be nothing other than a normal job. However, when he tells the crew, (Y/n) has a reaction that immediately catches his attention. He just needs to find out why.

Author's Note: I changed this story because the original one was alarmingly similar to the May stories.

Part Two of "June" [Release Date: 7/5/2023]

Part Three of "June" [Release Date: 7/7/2023]

YEARBOOK - SLEEPING AT LAST WRITING CHALLENGE MASTERLIST

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

If any of the Crows had noticed me tense, then none of them spoke up about it.

Not at the time.

Kaz had gathered all of us together, telling us about a new job that he apparently couldn't turn away. Nothing felt strange about it. It all seemed normal... our version of normal, anyway.

Some plan for a heist, a good pay... it was exactly what our crew was meant to love.

And I did. I loved working with the Crows. The idea of having a new job made me grin a bit to myself.

And then, I heard my mother's name come out of Kaz's mouth.

My shoulders tensed a bit. I had to physically stop myself from drawing them up. I did my best to take a subtle deep breath, desperate to return to normal. Nothing would stop my heart from racing and my leg from bouncing.

I was watching Kaz as he spoke, but I couldn't hear him. My ears were filled with buzzing as my mind played back every memory that I had buried for all too long.

The first thing I heard was Kaz dismissing us for the day.

I was the first person to stand up and walk out. Maybe I had been a little too fast on my way out. Maybe I had pushed the chair away a little too hard. I don't know.

All that I could think of at the time was going home.

I didn't notice anyone paying any mind to me.

It wasn't until that night that I would even know that anyone had looked at me in some way other than normal.

I was pacing my small room, mind still racing when there was a knock on my door.

I took a breath before walking over. In my state of distractedness, I didn't think much before pulling the door open. I found Kaz standing on the other side of the door.

"All this time with the Crows and you still open your door with no attempt to check who could be on the other side," he said. There was the smallest hint of a grin on his face, letting me know that this wasn't him genuinely scolding me.

"Did you come here to inform me of your new passion for comedy," I asked.

"I'm here to talk about the job."

"Much less exciting," I replied.

Kaz didn't reply, merely raising an eyebrow at me and nodding toward the inside of my place. I took a deep breath and stepped to the side, letting him walk in.

It was strange to see Kaz in my home.

I had trouble associating him with something so... comfortable. There was something about Kaz being in a place meant for merely existing that made me pause. It felt like watching an animal exploring a new habitat. It made me wonder how many nights he had spent avoiding his room. How long had he been avoiding falling asleep in his bed? Or simply falling asleep at all?

I moved around him, putting myself between him and the rest of my home. "What did you need to talk about?"

"You have a personal connection to the job," he said. "I need to know what it is."

I scoffed, going to deny it.

He cut me off before I could, "No use denying it. You're not as subtle as you think you are."

There was a long pause.

"I need to know any potential risks that come with this job. Whatever you're hiding is a risk."

"The woman that you're robbing... she's my mother," I explained. "I... ran away... a long time ago."

"Why?"

"My uncle. He killed my brother... He didn't know that I had seen him until after it was over. I had... I had only seen the very end of it. If he had told me that he had just found him like that, then I would have believed him. And then, he told my mother that I did it."

"You were a child."

"He called it an accident," I shrugged. "He played the part well. That was when I knew that he had done it. My mother hated me. He threatened to kill her if I ever said anything... because killing me would be too easy. I had to run. Now, he is going to inherit everything that my mother has... and nothing is going to stop him."

There was a silence.

I watched as Kaz's eyes scanned me. I couldn't tell if he was trying to see if I was telling the truth or if was merely some kind of assessment of my current state. I blinked away any tears that had built up. I hadn't let myself think about it for years. I forgot how much it hurt.

"I can't have you on the job," Kaz finally said.

"What?"

"It's too dangerous-"

"I can keep my composure on the job, you know that-"

"That's not my concern," he stopped me. "Your uncle knows that you're the only one that knows that truth. Your mother thinks that you killed her son and then ran away. If either one of them sees you, then it will be more than just imprisonment. I am not going to willingly get you killed."

"We have gone on jobs where our lives are in danger," I argued. "Most of them do-"

"Not with such a clear target on our backs."

I took a deep breath. I hated how much I agreed with him. Mainly because I had never once seen him show himself this much care. I had watched him walk into dangerous situations with little to no concern for his own well-being. Part of him had to be aware of that.

"You're off the job."

"Fine," I muttered begrudgingly. "No mourners."

He nodded once. "No funerals."

Kaz turned around to walk back out. He made it to the door before I spoke up.

"Why did you come," I asked. "Why not just sent Inej down here to get information? Or Jesper, even?"

"Your desire for vengeance... it's one that I'm familiar with," he explained. "More than you know... and I will help you get it."

He went to turn away again. His words made me panic.

"Kaz," I stopped him again. "Don't get yourself killed for me."

He didn't respond. He merely looked back at me, waiting for some explanation or request or something.

"I'm not worth it," I said quietly.

He watched me for a few moments longer. I wish I knew what he was looking for. "You don't get to decide that."

He walked out before I could ever question him about that statement.

I furrowed my eyebrows as I stepped forward and locked my door.

I didn't want to make any assumptions or jump to any conclusions, but it was difficult for me to act like I had no desire to do so. Taking me off of the job, the way he spoke, the promise of vengeance in my name... it all gave me pause. Embarrassing pause.

I ran my hands over my face before shaking my head. Jumping to conclusions was foolish. I knew better. His rare empathy was not a sign of anything.

And all I had to do was continue reminding myself of that until I believed it.

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

Navigation Guide

What I Write For

Some Original Characters

#fanfiction #x reader #imagine #shadow and bone imagine #shadow and bone x reader #shadow and bone fanfiction #kaz brekker fanfiction #kaz brekker imagine #kaz brekker x reader

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justatypicalwizard · 1 year

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Rough and new | bakugo | part two

✦ Summary: You meet a new and interesting creature that seems to share your curiosity. Both of you have motives to your actions that turn out to be vastly different.

✦ Warnings: mer!Bakugo, fem!reader, adult reader, smut(ish) content due to the curcumstances of the story do not expect full smut, dubcon

Minors do not interact

Humans are specific, very weird in their actions and customs yet, like every other creature in the world, they deserve respect. Some mers know a lot about humans just as some humans know a lot about mers but on a daily basis the sea specimens don’t really care for the two-legged. They were always present in the world and that’s just it.

Due to that, humans were never really present in Bakugo’s mind. He never anticipated he would become so attached to one of them.

It was a peaceful day of hunting, guarding and all of the other shit he has to do for the colony. The dynamic of the group he’s in fluctuates easily. It’s a mixed group of mers, which in his mother’s opinion is healthier than living in a similarity-exclusive one. Because of that the mers living in this place are of all colours and shapes. Because of that he was also destined for a certain role. His mother taught him, from the very beginning, how to be a warrior, a tough and resistant one. At a very young age he picked his weapon- a sword.

Now he was sitting on a rock next to the main gate of his group habitat. It was hard to give a proper name for places like this. Mers mostly availed what the natural landscape gave them, building their homes from what they found. Bakugo’s home was situated in an underwater cave hideout. The undetermined and rough shape of its inside has been softened by decorations, lamps and various different signs of family life. Yeah, the whole group of mers was mostly like a big family. Smaller caves, often connected to others by winding tunnels and corridors, were occupied by single mers or families. Elders and adults spent their time educating the younger, pursuing the groups history by painting murals or telling stories or just simply scolding the youth for their dubious games and horrific lifestyle. The stronger ones went hunting or guarded the main, and a few smaller gates. Pup’s swam everywhere when it was not lesson time playing the, earlier mentioned, dubious games.

Bakugo rested his back on the stone grumbling to himself out of boredom. He was well aware of how important keeping guard was. Even though nothing happened to their hideout for years it didn’t mean they could underestimate what the sea hid beneath its dark waters. As important as the job is, it is also painfully boring. Sitting with his sword sheathed on his back he looked at Kiri situated on the other side of the gate. The redheaded mer swung a heavy war hammer in his hands, back and forth. Ditching the designated sitting spot for a guard, Bakugo swam to his friend.

‘’Whatcha doin’ Katsuki?’’ Kiri’s soft yet masculine voice rang through the silent, slightly too loud.

‘’You saw me for the last thirty minutes, what could I be doing?’’ Bakugo asked, slightly annoyed. He wasn’t irritated by his friend but more because of the overwhelming boredom.

‘’I don’t know, I’m gonna fall asleep any second now.’’ The redhead sighed, not losing the wide smile from his prominent face. He was so used to Bakugo’s causticity that he didn’t mind the snarky remarks.

‘’Better not, my old hag is gonna bring us food any minute now and she will kill you if she finds you asleep.’’ The blonde smirked at the thought of his mom giving Kiri, yet another, earful. She treated Kirishima like her own son which ment hard love and a lot of scolding.

‘’Thanks for reminding me that I’m hungry, now ‘m not only bored but also starving.’’ Kiri deflated on the stone he was sitting on.

‘’Worry none.’’ Another blonde mer swam their way making Kirishima perk up on the stone and Bakugo turn around with an always present frown. ‘’Here boys.’’ His mother handed them fish placed neatly on seaweed. It was chopped and decorated with some seasoning but still pretty much raw. ‘’And why exactly are you not sitting on that stone?’’ Bakugo’s mother pointed to her left with a scrutinising glance.

‘’To piss you off.’’ He spat before digging into his meal.

‘’Thank you for the food.’’ Kirishima tried to sooth the growing tension between the two explosive mers but his tries backfired instantly.

‘’Yes, thank you to Eijiro. Don’t you think using magic words would be nice brat, eh?’’ Bakugo’s mother swam closer to him, yet her son kept ignoring her, on purpose. ‘’Do you really think this is a fucking game between you and me?’’

In their pup’s years Bakugo always fought with his mother. Having no proper fatherly figure he was forced to rely on her. She never let him down but there was one certain problem. The two shared nearly identical tempers which turned out to be a minefield. From the very beginning Kiri remembered Bakugo always ranting about how stupid his mum is and how much she expects from him. Of course he didn’t really think like that, at least not about the first part. On the other hand the expectations… they were high.

Bakugo’s, Kirishima’s and a few other families had been the main guards and warriors of the whole colony for a long time now. Raising him a certain way was obvious and the blonde didn’t have a problem with it, at least with most parts. He loved being a warrior, training and fighting, bathing in the glory that no other speciality could encompass (at least that’s how he saw himself in his head). Unfortunately there was one thing that he never agreed to and always fought off.

The mating.

Kirishima was well aware that the same responsibility lay on his shoulders, but for his own peace his parents didn’t pressure him about it. The thought rooted in his head was enough for them to be calm about their son living up to the expectations. Bakugo on the other hand openly voiced out his total disagreement. His tossing around made a handful of elders disappointed in him which also took a toll on his mother's reputation. These old pricks were so dramatic.

The duty was simple. As a warrior, mate in the best and most fertile years of your life. The later you’d start the lower the chances of breeding another great warrior. That’s something the colony could not suffer. Actively look for a mate or at least don’t brag about ditching your responsibilities (like a certain someone). The colony gave you the best meat, the best sleeping quarters, the best jewellery, all in thanks for your sacrifice, your hard training, your long hours of guard and your simple, natural duty of passing down your power with your blood.

This is why some looked at Bakugo with a mixture of emotions. He was great in everything he did, except for that one little thing. Why can’t he just obey?

Why? The answer is simple and one that the explosive blonde would never voice out to anyone. He was sacred. Mers mated for life so he had only one choice, for eternity. This made uneasiness bubble inside of his chest as if someone constantly reminded him that one mistake would doom him. He didn’t want a life of spite. For the one person in the whole sea who is supposed to be his soft spot and safe shore to be his collar.

Bakugo couldn’t believe how careless Kiri was about the topic. How little fear he felt. The redhead always said that he’ll just wait a bit more. Maybe the person isn’t from their colony, maybe he should visit some neighbour mer hideouts and look around there. He believes that when he meets the one he’ll know in an instant.

Oh yeah, Kiri was all ears for the elders' stories about how monogamy is rooted in mers DNA, how meeting the right person sparks something in you. It only takes the scent of the other person to recognise that you only have a half of your heart, the other piece is in their hands.

Bullshit.

Bakugo never believed in this shit. It was all a bluff to make them less hesitant about the mating for life. Nothing like that happened, at least not on a daily basis, not with everyone. The harsh truth was that he’d have to court someone he doesn’t even probably like and then bear with them for the rest of his life. And produce pups, oh for fuck’s sake, he’s so done with this. Nothing in the sea will make him end up like that. Not a chance.

Lately such thoughts clouded his mind every time he talked with his mother. Bakugo saw that behind her eyes, felt that in her angry tone. She was counting time for him, she was well aware of his statement, she hated it. Yet, she cared for him. If it wasn’t for the sheer fear of being kicked out of the colony which meant countless dangers for her son and a lifetime of loneliness, she wouldn’t pressure him as much.

Just bear with it, accept it and don’t be so hung up on the one small topic. You just have to make a few pups and move to a different pit. Later you can live your life how you want it to. Please…

Yet, she knew he wouldn’t listen to her begs. Softness and sweet words never laid in their dynamic. It was anger, frustration and ambition that pushed them, both of them, to the goal. She knew she had to do it like that, even if it wounded her heart.

‘’Not a chance.’’ Bakugo spat at his mother. ‘’Leave me.’’

She rolled her eyes knowing well, spotting it in his composure, that he didn’t mean the food she just brought, the long hours of guard he had to keep today or anything else. He was already deep down spiralling in his self-destructive thoughts.

She had to pressure him.

‘’Can you at least once in some time do what you’re asked and supposed to.’’ She growled at her son.

‘’And what the fuck do you mean by that?’’ His gaze was piercing but so was hers.

‘’You know damn well what I mean by that.’’ She pointed her finger straight into his muscular chest. He was bigger than her but their presence was identical, clashing, none of them able to take complete power over the other. ‘’What do you plan for mating Eiji?’’ Both of their blonde heads darted Kirishima’s way. The redhead prayed for this to stop before they smash him to the ground with their hateful gazes.

‘’I don't know yet…’’ He tried to wiggle out not hurting Bakugo but also not getting on his mum’s bad side.

‘’Don’t you lie to me.’’ That scrutinising finger pointed his way this time and he felt daggers shot at his chest in embarrassment. She read him like a book.

‘’I think I’ll visit some… other… colony…’’ Each word that rolled out of his mouth was more and more quiet until he was mumbling under his breath looking everywhere except for the two mers in front of him. If he’d stand up he'd be bigger than both of them but unfortunately he sat on that damn rock, looking small and not very serious afraid to move even an inch under Bakugo’s mother’s gaze.

‘’See? Is it that fucking hard to do anything?’’

Pretend, just pretend you’re doing something. You don’t need to settle down if you hate it that much. I don’t care if you breed another warrior, I just want you to be at peace finally.

She couldn’t tell him what she really thought. It would be wrong, not educational. She just prayed he would finally get to it on his own and pretend until people forget about this issue. He could say that he tried but never found anyone and they would believe, take care of him, saying how sorry they are that he didn’t find the one. And he would have lied to them for a bit and it would all be over.

‘’I’m not doing anything like that. Leave me.’’ Her son was unmovable, his feelings carved deep down into his soul. Stupidity and lack of cleverness too. Maybe also being truthful, he couldn't lie like that to himself or anyone else. What a disaster.

She left, huffing and puffing. He was also fuming for the rest of the guard with Kiri trying to lighten his humour, telling him that they can go together to search in other mer hideouts.

As his job for today neared its end Bakugo found his way back to their lair, having changed the guards. He was still angry, the intrusive thoughts never leaving his head. The blonde swam around pointlessly hissing at the pups that bounced off of his tail. He wasn’t able to find a place for himself. This feeling was familiar to him, as if the multiple layers of water above pressured him too much, crushing his form.

‘’Another fight for mating?’’ The blonde heard a familiar screeching voice.

Skula, one of the most elderly elders, swam up to him. Subconsciously he slowed down his pace for the crippling mer to catch up. She looked as if she was to fall apart any second. He honestly asked himself how old she was. Some said she forgot and came up with a random number every time someone asked about it. That way sometimes she was 98, other times 105, on better days 21.

One thing about Skula distinguished her from the majority of elders. She honestly liked Bakugo and believed in him without even a tint of dissapointment. Skula remembered the old days when the sea wasn’t as peaceful as it is now, maybe that’s why she had a soft spot for any warrior, or maybe she just recognised Bakugo’s distress.

Nevermind her motives, she held onto his fin, the one situated beneath his back. Usually that spot was reserved for more… intimate situations but Bakugo knew damn well that this old witch wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to entertain herself before she dies (and she looks like she’s ready to die anytime soon).

‘’Oh, you just swim too fast, I need some help.’’ She laughed at his eyes rolling.

‘’You just want a handful old hag.’’ Skula brushed off his remark.

‘’Another fight?’’ She pressured the youngster.

Bakugo only nodded. He never knew why but this woman always made him open up, even if it was just a tiny crack in his various defensive layers.

‘’Go clear your head before you bite any pup.’’ She patted his back a few times.

‘’No place for it here.’’

‘’You’re hot-tempered, angry and aggressive.’’ She began in a slightly lower tone, as if she didn’t want anyone else to hear her. Bakugo looked at her wrinkled face that held a mysterious tone in it. Was she about to start again with the stupid shells and rocks she’s been looking into all day long? Prophecies and shit? ‘’The ocean’s cold and calm, deep, dark and mysterious. You’re none like it. You shine my young Bakugo.’’ She circled soothing eights up and down his back. ‘’Don’t blame yourself for feeling out of place here when your heart’s not at peace.’’

‘’Do you really mean that I’m just a shity mer?’’

‘’No stupid, listen to me.’’ She huffed at his flat response. ‘’You need something else. I want you to see something. The waves told me about it.’’ There you go again. ‘’There’s something matching your temper that you need to see with your very own eyes. Something as hot…’’

If she’ll really tell me in a second that this hot thing is my butt then I’ll honestly kill…

‘’It’s up there.’’ Skula pointed her crippled finger upwards, following with her eyes. ‘’It’s big, hot and golden. It’s gonna speak to you, listen to all of your problems and tell you what to do.’’ She was mysterious yet enthusiastic.

Normally Bakugo didn’t follow Skula’s different prophecies and things she read out of scattered stones but this time…

‘’D’you mean above the water?’’

She nodded her head a little too fast, it looked like it could crack.

‘’You want me to swim to the surface and talk to… something big and fucking golden?’’

‘’Exactly.’’

This was stupid enough to entertain him. Beside there was one crucial thing that Bakugo was interested in. He never swam to the surface. It’s not forbidden but why should anyone do it? There was nothing interesting there for him. He heard stories that the surface felt hot, or extremely cold. It depended on something but he didn’t remember what it was called. Sometimes water poured from… something there. Ah shit, he didn’t know anything about the surface… and this only made him more interested.

‘’And when should I go, oh mighty oracle?’’ Bakugo asked Skula theatrically.

‘’Now.’’ She stated simply as if it was nothing.

‘’Now?’’

‘’I thought I was the deaf one.’’ She snickered.

‘’Don’t laugh at me old hag.’’

‘’Go, nothing’s gonna happen. Nothing bad my child.’’

‘’Mum will…’’

‘’I’ll tell her it’s my fault. What will she do? Shout at me, an elder?’’ Bakugo honestly loved this old witch and how she still fearlessly lived her life. Jokes will never leave her side.

So Bakugo went, up and up and up. With only his sword, frustration and the stupid little prophecy that a golden thing will cure his problems. It felt tiring, as if the water above was endless. He imagined what it would look like, the very top. Would it be a single, straight line or did the water disappear gradually? Swirling and turning he went up, climbing layers and layers of water. It started to feel warmer. Why?

After a long journey he neared what looked like a breaking point. The water looked weird here, like it was pierced by something light. He had to squint his red eyes, slowly nearing the edge. Anxiety flooded over his body, pumped by his racing brain. Was he scared? Yes he was but he’ll never recognise it. Clenching his fists he swam up, finally breaking the surface.

‘’Ah fuck!’’ The mer growled as the sun burned his eyes.

After what felt like an eternity of pain his eyes finally started to adjust to the new light source. It was so bright, so hot it fact. He felt it on his cheeks. Was this why the water here was so hot? Guarding his eyes with his hands he looked around. The surface was weird, not exactly flat but also not gradual. It moved constantly, splashing aggressively. He liked it. There were some elements in his field of vision that seemed to stand still. One of them was a big rock. At least that’s what the thing looked like, it was similar to boulders down in his hideout so he just assumed the obvious.

Bakugo swam up to the rock. It sank deep down, reaching the downhill seabed. Behind this one there were a few more on them. Then he remembered. Big, hot, golden thing. Groaning, he felt the need to do as Skula pleased. She was the one that gave him this idea and he had to admit, the surface was more than he imagined. He felt so good here, between his and this world. The blonde honestly started to like how that hot feeling falling from above him kissed his wet cheeks, whatever it was.

He looked around, not spotting anything in particular. Then, he looked up.

‘’Fucking shit my eyes!’’ Once again he was blinded.

Shielding his face with his palm he took a glance up. There was something big there, yellow or maybe orange… gold? A very warm colour at least. The warmth seemed to flow from that. Was it the thing that Skula talked about? Did her prophecy really come true? Then did every one of her prophecies mean something? (If yes then he had a problem because she often foretell for him various stupid things)

Should he really talk to that thing? It seems pretty static and… not doing anything. He hated feeling dumb and that’s exactly how he felt right now.

Suddenly something splashed into the water near him. Instantly he lowered himself, burying his head under the surface. From behind the sunken boulder he saw some commotion in the water. Something was there, something big in fact. Should he retreat? No, he’s not a coward.

The thing stopped moving after a few seconds and he waited. It seemed like an eternity of him, hiding behind the boulder observing the very same spot, waiting for the thing to make its next move. It never came, the water splashed above him like it did all the time, swaying him back and forth against the stone.

His turn. Bakugo swam up closer, slaloming between the few stones underwater. Finally, he reached the one that particularly interested him. Something above the surface moved there and then went still. He couldn’t make out the exact shape because of the waves. He had to swim closer.

Putting both of his hands on the stones surface she went up once again, nearing the strange thing. The closer he got the clearer the image. The thing started to look just like him… at least its upper part. It had a face, hair, a torso, hands that held it form as if it was scared and…

As if he’d been lightstruck something clicked in his brain. That smell, that faint tint. He felt intoxicated as if he could only breathe this for the rest of his life. What the fuck was that? Why did he never feel it? Where is the source?

The thing moved, and he saw a hand stretched his way. The palm, the fingers looked just like this, except for his membrane. It didn’t have a membrane… that’s a human. The first human Bakugo ever saw in his life.

The faint smell hit him again. The human put their hand under the surface and touched his hair. He didn’t have a clue why he allowed all of this. Some mere human roaming their hands all over his head… but he liked it. The small fingers grazed his forehead slightly, their touch soft and subtle. It moved lower. With its palm just under his nose he finally got what he was looking for. That sweet intoxicating smell came from this human.

Bakugo felt a million emotions rush at one time. He was hungry, desperate, interested, intoxicated and horny. Could it be? Is this his mate? Do they feel the same?

He grabbed the tiny wrist connected to the small arm (at least compared to his). The human jumped back and started to squirm but Bakugo didn’t care. He was too high on the new feeling springing inside his ever so cold body to acknowledge that the human didn’t look at bliss like him. He pushed himself more and more wanting to show off his body and inspect the mate, subconsciously knowing how to court.

Suddenly the human screamed. The primal sound tore him out of his clouded state and he dipped back into the water slightly. The human hugged their wrist, then looked at it and finally after some time showed it to the mer. He saw a bruise in the shape of his hand.

Did he just hurt his mate? Were they this delicate? Fuck, he should have known. This was definitely not very courtesy of him.

‘’Fuck.’’ He mumbled.

Looking up at the human’s face he saw that the earlier fear subsided to curiosity once more. Were they also interested? He had to check.

Emerging from the water he sat next to the thing. It was harder than he anticipated, slipping at the first try. Something pulled him down like it was crashing down from above him, he felt heavy here. It didn’t matter, the intoxicating smell was more important.

Bakugo followed the human’s eyes and spotted that they’re looking at his tail. The small hand of the creature neared his scales. He felt excited, deep down he wanted this touch, he wanted that human’s hands all over the place where his skin met with orange scales. He wanted to tangle the human, wrap around them, claiming all of their body. He was blind to the crucial differences between him and them. Yet, his mum raised him to be somehow a good boy, or at least to have some manners. This was too intimate for seeing each other for the first time so he slapped the human’s hand away, much to his own displeasure.

He was happy, no, he was in a state of complete bliss. The creature, his mate, wanted to be close to him, wanted to claim his body just as he wanted to take theirs, they just showed it. The eagerness, that look in their eyes. Do they also feel intoxicated by the scent of his body? Should he show off more? Should he unsheathe his sword and show combat skills? No, he could scare them just as he hurt them a moment ago. This creature’s very delicate.

Bakugo was honestly out of his mind right now, blinded by something written deep down in his DNA. He wanted to touch the human, subtly, let them know that he wants to take it slow, the right way, and court them like they deserve. They didn’t once talk to him so he also stayed silent a bit scared after what he did to the human’s wrist.

Bakugo dipped his hand into the human’s hair. It was soft, extremely soft and delicate. It felt like nothing he had ever touched in his life. He smeared his hands all around the weirs texture wanting to feel the most of it until he heard something pierce his ears.

It was the human’s sound. He had no clue what it meant, not understanding a single thing but he loved it. The tone, so much more melodic than how he and his species spoke. Or at least that’s what he thought. He wanted more of that sound so he continued to play with the human’s hair.

That smell, it was still all around him, dripping off of the creature’s body. He wanted to scoop closer. Bakugo held the human’s hair and exposed their neck for him. The smell was thick there so he buried his face into the crook of their neck. It made his insides twist out of hunger and need. He wanted to devour them, have all this sweetness to himself, bathe in it, let his own skin soak with it. But he’s gonna play it nice, just like they deserve.

What did your body look like? He wanted to know every inch, every important thing. Their teeth, were they sharp like his? Do they have pointy canines just like him? He dug his finger inside the human’s mouth searching for an answer. They started to squirm. Did he annoy them a bit? He liked the thought. Loved the feeling of their body moving under his. He could make the trash, he wanted to hear those primal sounds erupting from their throat just for him and because of him. But he’s gonna play it nice.

Bakugo found his answer. The human’s canines were short and soft, just as he imagined. It was not perfect for raw fish but he didn’t care, the feeling of his mate being weaker and softer than him made him want to claim here and now. But he’s nice.

The blonde straightened his back moving away from his mate. He looked them up and down, pleased with what he had, excited for what he would do next, how their relationship would bloom and how he’d make them feel. He was still blind to the fact that your bodies were very… different.

PART ONE | PART THREE

SERIES MASTERLIST

#katsuki bakugo x reader #bakugou x you #bakugou fluff #mha bakugou #bakugou x y/n #katsuki bakugo mha #bnha bakugo katsuki #bnha bakugou #boku no hero x reader #boku no hero acadamia #my hero academia #mha bakugo x reader #bakugo smut #katsuki smut

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clanwarrior-tumbly · 1 year

Note

Hey clan was wondering if you could do a fic or hcs about reader finding out Larry is a missingno because they used to live in Kanto?

Yesssss I honestly love that Missingno!Larry theory to the moon and back

.....

Being born and raised in Kanto, you were caught up on the many myths and legends shared around the region. You've done a lot of research on the Pokémon associated with them, believing all the tales to be true.

But while most libraries and websites displayed stories of the legendary bird trio and the feline genetic experiments...there was one particular Pokémon seldom mentioned by even the oldest Kantonians.

One that was so bizarre and otherworldly that it could hardly be described as a Pokémon at all.

That was Missingno.

It piqued your interest, although it took a good while to find people who witnessed this creature...and even longer to find anyone willing to share what it looked like, as no photos of it existed anywhere.

But the responses weren't what you expected, as they claimed to have seen different forms of it.

One person said it resembled one of the ghosts seen in the Pokémon Tower, while a few theorized it was a haunted Aerodactyl or Kabutops skeleton seeking revenge against poachers.

The only thing these accounts had in common was the alleged location of Missingno: along the eastern coastline of Cinnabar Island.

And so you set off on a quest to find it, with your Lapras assisting you in the search as it surfed along the coast.

After some time, you finally encountered Missingno's true form.

It could only be described as incomprehensible--a clump of computerlike glitches forming the shape of a backwards "L".

You didn't even know how a thing like this could exist. But it was real, and you made sure your pokedex scanned it, revealing its number was "000" and some other unusual information about it. Such as it being a Normal/Bird type.

Not flying..but bird.

At the time you were too anxious to catch it, fearing that the stories of it corrupting people and Pokémon were true, and that it could wipe out all the progress you made on the dex. Even Lapras was terrified, as it nearly threw you off its back upon seeing the creature, so you sailed back to shore with the data entry secured.

That was all the evidence you needed.

You've helped the puzzled scientists with studies of this creature a great deal with what you've gathered, although they got ambitious about capturing it themselves and enlisted your aid in tracking it down, calling it "Project: Missingno".

You initially objected to that; they never confirmed it as being a Pokémon, so trying to catch and control something they didn't quite understand yet seemed like a terrible idea...

But to satiate your own curiosity, you led their expedition team to Cinnabar weeks later, following the exact same path that took you straight to Missingno's habitat.

Yet it was nowhere to be found, much to your confusion. Nothing but sand remained.

Maybe somebody else caught it.

Regardless, Project: Missingno was terminated right there and then, and the town's interest in it died down rather quickly. Even the scientists who once obsessed over finding it suddenly dismissed your evidence as "glitches", saying your pokedex was corrupted and needed a reboot.

They were sure quick to scorn you when yesterday they praised you for making a "historic" discovery.

But you knew for a fact Missingno was real. You believed in it.

If it truly was a Pokémon..then perhaps more of its kind were out there in the wild. They might be simply hidden away.

Yet even after you visiting a few other regions, they had extremely scarce information on it..oftentimes none at all.

You began to think it was only a legend meant to stay in Kanto.

Then you took a trip to Paldea to study the Treasures of Ruin and got the most surprising lead..

..............

"Where are you taking--?! Oh...y-you just wanted to eat here, huh?"

"Zarrr!" Licking her chops, your Cyclizar smiled as she stopped short in front of a nice restaurant within Medali City. It was labeled "Treasure Eatery".

"Fancy name." You mused, stepping off her back and walking up to the menu posted outside, reading over what this place had to offer. "I guess we afford some "fine-dining", huh girl?"

Smiling, you patted her head, and in turn she grinned and licked your cheek. "Hahaha, that tickles." You snickered. "C'mon. I think this is the place that can alter your tera type with a quick meal, too."

Surprisingly enough, you've become well-acquainted with Paldea's many customs and Pokémon--among them being the Cyclizar you found. She helped you get across the vast region and out of many sticky situations with the unusually aggressive Tauros herds.

You noticed that the flying taxi cabs carried by groups of Squawkabillies was the main source of transportation, but the idea of riding a motorcycle dragon-type seemed astronomically cooler.

In a way, it reminded you of the bikes you always rode in Kanto.

Once you both entered the Treasure Eatery, you patiently waited behind who appeared to be an academy student ordering something to eat.

But after the host hollered out their order to the chef-

A battle court unexpectedly appeared in the dining section.

You and Cyclizar jumped back in shock, becoming even more confused at what the host declared:

"Congratulations! You've passed the Gym Test! Are you ready to challenge the Exceptional Everyman himself, Gym Leader Larry?"

'Huh? A gym battle...is here??' You were bewildered.

Last time you checked, the gym building was back outside: a tall, bright, and white structure with the logo plastered on the front. But then you remembered that you're not in Kanto anymore, and Paldea probably had its own gym customs.

Ordering a "secret menu item", however, did seem quite odd for a gym test...

Shrugging, you headed further in, securing a spot where the court was in perfect view. You passed by Larry who, sure enough, looked much like any ordinary business man. He was rigid in his movements, and monotone in his voice, even as you overheard him praise the challenger for passing his test.

Everything about him was plain and simple.

Regardless, you were eager to see the battle. So you ordered Cyclizar a dish of grilled fish, while you ate your own meal and watched the fight go down

Larry first sent out a Komala, who was swiftly struck down by the challenger's fighting type, before he sent Dundunsparce out next.

Although it put up more of a fight than the last Pokémon, it went down just as quickly. Yet Larry didn't seem all that concerned with losing, even as the staff and patrons tried getting him riled up, demanding something more exciting.

However, you immediately noticed something quite...off about him that made you do a double-take.

When he tossed out his final Pokémon, a Staraptor, his throw seemed unusually aggressive this time around. And it may have just been your imagination...but you swore on your life you saw a familiar pattern of glitches flickering around him, and his head becoming entirely detached from his body for a split-second.

Only then did you see his emotionless expression briefly change to one of panic, almost physically recoiling at the pain. Though it was quickly masked as he made eye contact with you, before refocusing on the match and terastalizing Staraptor.

Nobody else seemed to notice, but you knew exactly what you saw, as your Cyclizar began hissing and snarling in distress...much like what your Lapras did that fateful day.

It's obvious that she realized the same thing as you..

That Larry's physical body had become unstable, as if he were a living glitch masquerading as something else...

Just like it did.

#clanask #pokemon x reader #pokemon scarlet x reader #pokemon violet x reader #pokemon larry x reader #pokemon larry #missingno #missingno larry #platonic

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csprslvt · 9 months

Text

you and i and her, pt.13

Chapter twelve

Summary: You journey to Hillcrest, and it gets messy. The other sides of Ellies fractured personality make you wonder what will be left of her when she realizes your association with Abby and all you left behind for her.

Warnings: Descriptions of violence, murder and foul language.

That night, when you slept it was in Ellie’s arms and the crippling loneliness you had once felt dissolved into the feeling of being loved. You were sure from the way Ellie looked into your eyes that she was in love with you. And it wasn't fair to her that you were unsure on where you stood, emotions as big as love scared you. Despite that, you kissed her back. You didn't have a lot of time as Abby got closer and closer. Eventually Ellie would realize how much of a fraud you were, but you were sure of one thing, you cared about Ellie so deeply and passionately. And that was enough for now.

In the morning, Ellie once again woke up first. She felt a weight on her chest, it was you laying on top of her, and arm around her waist while the other rested by your side. She reached up and stroked your hair, her mind filled only with thoughts of you. You woke up soon after looking up and Ellie and smiling, her heart fluttered.

“Hey Els.”

“Hi.” Ellie said, grinning like a total dork

You got up and stretched, Ellie watched you the way you cracked your knuckles and rolled your neck trying to relieve the pain from sleeping on a tiny old couch. Ellie sat up and yawned.

“So, Hillcrest”

“That's where we’re heading to next right?”

“Mhm” Ellie nodded.

“Do you think Tommy is out there too?”

“I think so, he wouldn't have stayed in Jackson, he was Joel’s brother. They were a team.”

“Yea, well we should find him before the last of the WLF comes for him.”

“I'm sure they're already looking after the stunt he pulled at the Hotel” Ellie responded, you cringed remembering the sights of those beaten up WLF members.

The two of you prepared, walking out of the theater with intertwined hands.

Hillcrest was a suburb. It was probably the ideal place to settle down before the Cordyceps took over. Now it was abandoned and overtaken by flora. You could hear gunshots, confirming that you were in the right place.

“That had to have been Tommy,” Ellie says.

“I hope he's okay.”

Ellie only nodded in response. She was in survival mode and you were following, right beside her, like always. You wandered into several stores and old buildings looking for clues or hints or Tommy himself. The air was so thick and sticky. Moss thrived in the moisture of such a habitat, it covered the walls. No infected in sight. At least not yet. However while you wandered, you heard the voice of a WLF soldier once again.

“This is dumb, we should be pushing in.” One spoke

“We hold the perimeter until we hear otherwise.” Scolded the other

Ellie looked through a crack in the boards of the building you were in, There were two people and a dog.

Shit, a fucking dog?

It immediately spotted Ellie, barking

“I got something!”

“Shit!” You and Ellie started to run

“Infected?”

“Let's get in there!”

You both hid in a room, closing the door watching through a window.

‘Okay girl, sniff him out” One soldier spoke.

This bitches dog is about to die if it gets any closer.

The dog started to follow the scent of Ellie, getting closer and closer.

“Smell something in there girl?”

Fuck I really dont wanna kill a dog.

You both rounded the corner, trying to lose the damn thing but it kept following. You knew the WLF dogs, you had patrolled and played and bonded with them. And Ellie would probably kill this one. You felt a twinge of guilt.

“ You think this guy is connected with the girl from the school?” one soldier questioned the other

That girl is right here.

“It'd be a hell of a coincidence if they werent.”

You were tense, but remained calm, following Ellie’s lead as she crept out the building into another.

“Fuck these WLF” she muttered hatefully, you said nothing, simply nodding along.

It was stressful, sneaking away trying to not be seen. You let go a breath you didn't realize you were holding when you finally had barricaded yourself into a safer place. Traveling up some stairs you stayed silent letting Ellie take the lead. This was her time, her thing, her plan, her revenge. You just wanted to be by her side.When moving a gate open a large dumpster rolled out making a loud banging sound.

“Shit Ellie”

“Fuck” she groaned.

“Anybody hear that?” you could make out from a distance.

Quickly evading the area, you'd both stepped into a store. The shelfs were empty. A shambler was nearby you could hear its deafening groaning sounds as it moved.

Ellie pulled the pin of an explosive and threw it at the shambler. Not the most subtle attack but it worked. You shot its face like flesh soon after until it fell to the ground, vibrating in its steps. There was really no point in going into that building but you didnt wanna aggravate Ellies focus by questioning her. There was an explosion in the area and you'd both had the bright idea of walking towards it. Dark,soot filled smoke rose in the air.

“Hope you did that Tommy” Ellie mumbled

Quite a few clickers walked around, hunched over. There wasn't time to deal with them.

Into another shed you went, Ellie conveniently found an entire bow. She nodded approvingly at it and you continued on.

The one thing you hadn't expected to find, was Jesse, he spotted the two of you in the midst of a fight with the WLF and joined in. It was comical, almost perfect how he happened to be there with the same purpose, he was the lone male traveler the WLF was searching for. The three of you hopped into a WLF car, Jesse stole the keys, and your heart was racing with the need to get out, to get somewhere safe.

“Jesse fucking drive!” Ellie screamed more infected and WLF coming your way. You didn't say a thing, too overstimulated to speak. You hopped into the back seat aiming your shotgun out of the rear window, shooting while Jesse struggled to start the car.

“Jesse please!” You groaned, more and more were crowding. He was suddenly nearly pulled out the side driver window when another WLF member attacked but Ellie shot him as if he wasn't even a person.

The car started. Jesse started driving chaotically while you held off people shooting at the tires, learning to pick them off one by one. They weren't human to you anymore, they didn't have lives or lovers or families. They were simply threatening Ellie and you would betray anyone to save her. And thank fucking god you knew how to swim because before you knew it the car was plunged into a reservoir. Ellie immediately grabbed your arm and pulled you up with her. Jesse followed quickly. Water filled your lungs and you had the bodily urge to open your mouth, it subsited when you made it to land. Hacking your lungs out, hurling up clear lake water. Breathless the trio of you all rested for a moment on the land.

“y/n you okay?”

“Im alright”

“I've never been better, thanks for asking” Jesse chimed in despite not being asked. Still managing to be sarcastic despite the pain in his lungs from inhaling liquid.

“I think we are in the clear” Ellie spoke, ignoring Jesse’s comment. You brushed your wet hair out of your eyes.

“C’mon Jesse here” You leant him a hand, helping him get up as he was the most affected by the sudden swim.

“Thanks y/n”

You let Jesse lean on you a bit as Ellie was busy leading you back to the theater which was an uncomfortable walk in wet cold clothing.

One thing you noticed about Ellie was her difference on the battlefield. She was quiet, her face as stern as stone, the emotions that once clouded her vision were completely cleared. She was a weapon, she was trained to be that way. Most likely from her surroundings. And as you settled down at the Movies, you wondered what her upbringing was like realizing that you genuinely had not spoken much about it. But you wouldn't shove with her. She was difficult to read sometimes, retracting into herself and pushing you away sometimes. But on the other hand she was so kind and soft and loving it was hard to see her go from one extreme to the other.

You wondered how heartbroken you would be when that caring side of her went away. You were truly awful at living in the moment. There was nothing more that you feared that seeing the love from her fade into resentment.

Then you would be alone.

#ellie x reader #gaming #eventual smut #fem reader #the last of us 2 #ellie williams #angst #abby x reader #abby anderson #ellie tlou2

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evolutionsvoid · 7 months

Text

When environments go bad, people typically think that the wildlife vanishes completely. If a pond gets polluted, or a bunch of the vegetation in a forest dies, then surely nothing is going to stick around! Indeed, it is true that upsets in ecosystems can cause numerous species to vanish from them. It is certainly a sign, and a bad one at that. Like amphibians disappearing from your local lake or marsh. When the frogs stop singing, something ain't right. However, there are also instances where new life entering the picture can be an equally bad sign. "But Chlora!" some of you may say "Isn't having new species come into an ecosystem a good thing? Isn't more life better?" To that I say: have you been reading these? Because if you are thinking that adding species to a habitat is always a plus, then I am about to launch an entire tome's worth of invasive species issues right into your face. Some creatures are simply not meant to be in places, be it lack of predators, lack of usual food source or other environmental factors. Some may be invasive, while others are simply in an area where they shouldn't be! Like, if you had a pond and suddenly saltwater fish started living in it. You would be like "hey, isn't this a fresh water body?" Well apparently not anymore! An extreme example, yes, but I am trying to convey something here. Not sure if I am doing a great job at it. Here's another example, using the star of this entry: the Doratabo!

Before we can get into it proper, we need to know what a Doratabo is. The Doratabo is a species of fish, though not exactly in the fish form you expect. They have a long body, a large head and, most noticeably, a pair of limbs. Where one would expect fins, the Doratabo has a rather simple pair of forearms. Though there are digits at the ends of these arms, don't think that this fish is scaling cliffs or picking up swords. These arms are rather thin in comparison to the rest of their body, and even their clawed fingers aren't that sharp or tough. The most these limbs do is dig through the mud or help drag themselves along the ground. This brings me to the next noticeable feature of this species, and its the fact that you often see them out of the water! While they are indeed fish, the Doratabo has a wet hide that allows it to absorb air, like an amphibian would! Even their throats have this lining that lets them swallow air and breath without using their gills! This is good for them, because it means they can spend time outside of a particular water body and not worry about suffocating. It also lets them traverse the shores or move to better pools instead of being trapped in one place! They use this air breathing so much, that they are commonly found on mudflats, river shores and places where the waters have receded. Though they don't need water to breath, they do need moisture for their skin to take in air, so they are still reliant on places that have plenty of water or dampness. Mud is their favorite, so much so that locals would say that they are born from it. Make a mud puddle on your property, and Doratabo will magically pop out of it! But more on that later!

The muddy shores and flats are where they like to hang out, and it is also where they hunt. Their big mouths are used for swallowing up insects, crabs, snails and smaller fish. They typically look for food that is struggling in the thick mud, giving them opportunity to slither towards them and gobble them up! Though they are large, there are plenty of other creatures that would happily dine on them! To avoid predation, Doratabo hide themselves in the mud, using their earthy coloration and wrinkled hide to blend in with the environment. To add to the look, they coat themselves in the wet mud. This has the double bonus of wetting their skin for breathing and building up their camouflage! Once they are covered, they look like they are one with their surroundings, vanishing into the soggy earth whenever predators come around. Even if a beast were to locate them and attack, they will find their claws and teeth slipping off the slick hide, making it difficult to grab hold of the wriggling fish! And if things get really dire, they will lash out with their clawed fingers or try to smother their attacker in the thick mud. The latter tactic has them using their bulk to knock foes over into the muck, then push them further in until they give up or suffocate.

To the people who live in the regions the Doratabo dwells, it isn't a huge threat to them. These fish prefer to be left alone and if threatened, they usually just burrow into the mud and hide, so attacks are rare. They aren't hunted that much either, because their meat is considered quite gross. Folks claim it is very muddy tasting and gritty, practically marinated in the muck they inhabit. Some people like it, but from the sounds of it it is a very acquired taste. So interactions between people and Doratabo are rather infrequent it would seem, until you hear the stories...

Despite their rather harmless nature and love for mud, it seems this fish has made it into quite a few tales. In fact, the people of the past labeled it as a spirit of vengeance. That seems a bit extreme, right? Well, here is where it gets interesting, and where my ramblings at the beginning finally make sense. The Doratabo was considered to be an entity that haunted forgotten rice fields, where vegetation had overgrown and mud had swallowed the crop. These muddy spirits would arise and torment the living with their howls and vile presence, until the owners of the land changed their ways and tended to their wasted fields. What on odd thing! Where on earth did they get that idea? Well I'll tell you!

I made mention before that Doratabo love mud and usually show up wherever it is in excess, right? Well, when rice fields get neglected and are left to the elements, the fields tend to get overgrown and muddy. Once this starts to happen, local Doratabo take notice, and they think these places would make lovely homes! So a few move in, trampling the vegetation and churning up the earth, making the field even more foul and mucky. As they do this, more Doratabo show up to take advantage of this new place, and eventually the whole field becomes a flat of mud and drowned rice plants. So if one neglects their rice fields, then these "men of mud" show up and start making it worse. This image is made possible through the large head and clawed arms of the Doratabo rising out of the mud, giving folks the impression of a humanoid clawing out of the muck. Their large colorful lump on their faces also makes people think of an eye, turning this angry spirit into an angry cyclops! But what of the howling? Well, when Doratabo gather in large numbers, things get heated during the mating season. Males will stand proud on the mud flats, with their colorful nose ornament on full display. They suck up air and then let it all out in long howl, which kind of sounds like a deep long burp. They make these noises to attract females and let other males know who is on top. If any challengers show up, it is some good old mud wrestling until one of them slinks off in defeat! While this is all about mating to them, folks mistake these calls for groans and moans of restless spirits.

While in the past, they once believed these fish to be upset spirits angered by the neglected rice fields, people now recognize them as both a simple species and an important environmental cue. When water levels change, and vegetation starts choking out a water body, the Doratabo will show up for the mud and their presence will speed up the process. The waterways will grow murky and stifled, and local vegetation will get trampled until the whole area is just a muddy field. Not the end of the world, but not good for species that used to live in these pristine waters! So now people know to keep an eye out for Doratabo moving into water bodies they aren't usually in, as it is a sign that something is wrong with the environment. So it turns out that they aren't restless spirits, but they do appear to be a modern day omen!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

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"Doratabo"

The season calls for some spirits or yokai! Could always stand to have a couple of those! Now lets shove it into a fish!

#fish #mudskipper #doratabo #yokai #monster #creature #art #drawing

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thelashjedi · 1 year

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you’re safe with me

Dramione | Completed | 4.7K words

Also available on AO3!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/43323165

As quietly as possibly, Hermione crept inside the library at Malfoy Manor. It was as good a place as any for to catch her metaphorical breath, before she’d need to plaster on a fake smile and rejoin the ball — to keep up appearances. Maybe she could find the book on the origins of arithmancy Draco mentioned the last time they were here? Hermione doubted she’d be back at the Manor any time soon, if ever. Not after this evening has gone exactly as she’d feared, To her great surprise, despite her fraught wartime history, the Manor had somehow become one of her favourite places in the world, with the exception of one permanently sealed drawing room. But alas, Malfoy Manor had once again become ground too dangerous for Hermione Granger to tread, though this time the reasons for it were vastly different.

Hermione idly fiddled with her beaded bag, wondering if the Malfoys would even notice if just one of their many books went missing for a bit. Probably not. She would return it later by owl, of course.

Making her way to her favourite spot in the back corner, Hermione was surprised to find Draco Malfoy collapsed in one of the wing-backed chairs, a hand wearily rubbing his eyes, the other gripped tightly around an empty glass, notes of firewhisky lingering in the air. He hadn’t noticed her.

Recovering as best she could in the circumstance, Hermione deliberately kept her voice light. “Malfoy? Why on Earth are you hiding in the library? This is your Engagement Ball. Shouldn’t you be out there accepting the fawning praise of the Sacred Twenty-Eight for doing your part to keep the Malfoy family tree as devoid of branches as possible?”

Her voice startled him, causing Draco to look momentarily panicked. Though he regained his customary smirk so quickly, perhaps it was only her imagination. Or a trick of the dim light.

“Ha, Granger. Very droll. As a point of clarification, this is my Betrothal Ball, nothing to do with an engagement. And secondly —“ Draco sighed deeply. “Fuck. I just need a break from it all, you know?”

Hermione blinked. She knew. After all, that’s precisely why she was here, but it was conveying to see Draco struggling when he ought to be celebrating the ostensibly happy news. “I do. And you’re safe with me, Auror Malfoy. As always.”

Her partner made a non-committal noise, as he put his empty glass on the side table. The reality of her presence caught up with him and his gaze sharpened. “Why are you here, Granger?”

Hermione laughed softly, hoping she didn’t sound as nervous as she felt. This was not a conversation she wanted to have with him, full stop and she especially did not want to have it now. “Well, Ron’s not accepting the end of our relationship as well as I’d hoped. He’s out their hitting the champagne pretty hard, whilst making eyes at me. Seemed like a good idea to hide out for a bit.”

Technically, everything she’d said was true, but only to a point. It was Hermione’s own inability to stop staring at the future bride’s left hand that prompted her to seek refuge somewhere else. If Ron had been her only issue, she could have drawn on a wealth of experience to simply endure it. But being forced to confront the reality of a future where she would never get what — who — she wanted? That proved to be too much.

Draco snorted. “Really, Grange — the library? It’s your natural habitat. If you wanted to hide almost anywhere else in the Manor would be better than — wait. Did you say the end of your relationship?”

Briefly wondering how much firewhisky he’d had, Hermione plastered that bloody fake smile back on, responding in a falsely bright tone. “Um, yes. Ron and I broke up.”

It was Draco’s turn to blink. He sat silently for a moment, his thinking face — the one he adopted when they were working on a case together — firmly in place. Then he rose from his chair, standing before her, his eyes boring into her own. “When?”

Hermione tried — and bloody failed — to sound breezy. “Oh, late last month.”

Malfoy Heir to wed Miss Astoria Greengrass.

The headline in the Daily Prophet, accompanied by a photo of Draco next to a smiling, beautiful, perfect pureblood witch screamed at Hermione from the front page. She felt as though all the air left her flat, leaving her underwater, unable to her breathe as her carefully crafted illusions about her own feelings disappeared into the ether the very instant she realised she was too late. It was only then Hermione registered just how deeply she was in denial over the extent of feelings for the pale wizard who was definitely not just her co-worker, no matter how many times she’d angrily shouted at otherwise at Ron.

Draco’s expression was inscrutable as he studied her face. “Before or after my betrothal was announced?”

The question was so prescient Hermione did not have her features schooled enough to prevent her jaw from dropping a fraction. She made a hasty correction, though Draco’s narrowed eyes told her she wasn’t quick enough, blast him. “What? That’s not — Malfoy. That has nothing to do —”

“Granger.” Her name was an interruption and a plea.

Unable to pretend any longer, Hermione sighed. “After.”

“Why?” Draco asked in a pained whisper.

“Ron and I were never right for each other — okay? Not really. But when my close friend and partner getting engaged sent me into an emotional tailspin, it really didn’t seem fair to Ron to keep pretending otherwise. Not after assuring him for years I only admired you as a colleague, because we got along so well and we had such a good working relationship.” Keeping her gaze on her shoes, Hermione blinked back tears. “To be fair, I didn’t realise I was lying to him until it was too late.”

Draco’s bitter laugh prompted her to look up and she took in the stunned disbelief in his grey eyes, as well as the undercurrent of anger. Her heart broke just a little bit more.

Hermione swallowed. “I don’t find this particularly funny, Draco. And I think I should just go home.”

“Oh no you don’t, Granger. “ Draco grabbed her wrist, pulling her close as he pressed her hand over his heart, his eyes blazing into hers. “I only agreed to this damned betrothal because you were still bafflingly with that unworthy tosser and I couldn’t bear to continually hope you’d eventually see that he wasn’t right for you. That you’d eventually see me.”

Hermione blinked back tears, unsuccessfully trying to pull away from Draco’s grip, overwhelmed by his intensity and nearness. “I always saw you, Draco. But I never thought you’d see me as anything more than what we already were.” Unable to look at him, she used her free hands to point in the direction of the ballroom, where his betrothed was currently holding court and Draco flinched, dropping her hand. Summoning her resolve, Hermione spoke again, the words like ash on her tongue. “Given our inability to effectively communicate,I will be requesting to be transferred out of Magical Law Enforcement. The Unspeakables still try to recruit me a couple of times a year — I’ll see if I can move there.”

“No.” He looked stricken, his voice pa whisper as he shook his head.

Hermione’s voice broke. “Draco, working with you the past three years has been hard enough. I’m sorry, but I can’t keep doing it now.”

“You think it’s been hard for you? I’ve watched the only witch I’ve ever loved be with someone who takes her for granted, does not appreciate her and has the unmitigated gall to incessantly complain about her to me whenever I’ve been forced to speak with him.”

“Ron was likely trying to convince you I wasn’t a very good girlfriend because he was jealous of us — of our working relationship, I mean. We fought about it constantly, Malfoy.”

“And his way of coping was to try to diminish you at every opportunity?”

“Oh lay off of him, Malfoy! He’s not the one who spent the entire time being in love with someone else.”

Draco’s mouth was on hers before the last syllable left her lips, quickly swallowing her startled gasp. One hand cradled her chin as the other pulled her hips flush against his and Hermione whimpered, losing herself in the feel of his tongue gliding against hers as her body pressed into him. Her blood sang as she grabbed fistfuls of his robe, desperate to pull him closer still — the years of unspoken, mutual longing becoming thoroughly unmasked with the worst fucking timing. She stiffened, as she recalled why she was at the Manor in the first place.

As if hit with the same realisation, Draco abruptly let her go. She instantly stepped back — keeping more than an arm’s width away as they stared at each other, panting.

Draco spoke first, his words full of quiet desperation. “I can get out of it, Granger. If you’ll have me.”

Hermione’s heart clenched. “I feel really bad about that for her sake, but not so bad I’m willing for us both to be perpetually miserable over it. I was having a hard enough time when I thought it was just me. How badly will your parents react?”

As far as Hermione was concerned, this was an open question. Over the past few years, she’d become far closer to the Malfoys than she would’ve ever dreamed possible. Narcissa was quite fond of her, frequently insisting they take tea together — just the two of them as Draco was deliberately not invited. She ate dinner with the family once or twice a month. While it took longer for Lucius to come around on her, he had reluctantly admitted she was just as talented and capable as his son, even though it clearly pained him to say the words aloud. Hermione harboured secret affection for the still somewhat vainglorious older man— particularly after l realising he was too much like his son for her to ever truly dislike. But the elder Malfoys acceptance of her was in her role as Draco’s partner at the DMLE — a role where she frequently saved his life. There was an enormous gulf between accepting Muggle-born Hermione Granger as their son’s colleague or even close friend, and accepting Muggle-born Hermione Granger permanently into their family, particularly when such acceptance would ultimately end the Malfoy family’s status as a purebloods.

It had not been lost on Hermione that outwardly both of Draco’s parents appeared delighted at the prospect of Astoria Greengrass becoming the future Lady Malfoy — something that hurt Hermione more than she’d expected, even when she has no right to that pain.

“I do not fucking care.” Draco’s voice was iron. “And for what it’s worth, this is a love match for Astoria either. It’s a business arrangement made by our respective families. I’m not saying she’ll be happy about it. But I won’t be breaking anyone’s heart.”

Oh. That was a relief. Hermione chewed her lip. “How long?”

“Tomorrow — by the end of day. I’d do it tonight, but that seems unnecessarily cruel.”

“Right.” Hermione thought quickly, her mind still reeling from the kiss and the fact she’d just admitted out loud she loved him. Although assuming she hadn’t misheard, Draco technically declared his love first. “I’m going home and I will stay there for the rest of the weekend. My floo will be closed to everyone who isn’t you. If I don’t hear from you by Sunday, I will put in my transfer request at the Ministry on Monday morning.”

“You will hear from me, Granger. You have my word. I intend to tell my parents tonight.”

“Tell her first.” Hermione blurted out the words before she could stop herself, apprehension working its way up her spine.

Draco was nonplussed. “Why? Honestly, Granger, as I said the entire thing was arranged by our parents anyway. They’ll have to be involved.”

“Tell her first and have someone else you trust — like Theo — with you when you tell your parents.”

“Hermione, I don’t —“

Her fears overtook her and she cut him off. “Every time your parents have invited me to dinner over the past six months, Lucius has been unsubtle in telling me he expects you to wed soon. Then at the office, you’ve been telling me about how much they were pressuring you into accepting a betrothal arrangement that you said you didn’t want. I’m not accusing him of anything, truly — but while I can most likely live with you deciding to proceed with your existing betrothal, not without some assurance it was your decision in truth.”

Draco’s eyes went wide as he grasped her meaning. “Point taken. I don’t think Father would do that, Granger. But I also don’t feel certain enough to say he’d never do it. So some precautions wouldn’t hurt. I’ll speak with Theo before he leaves tonight.” Draco tucked a curl behind her ear as he spoke, before leaning forward — clearly intent on kissing her again, stopping when he felt her hand pushing him back.

“Draco, I feel enough guilt over the earlier admittedly bloody amazing kiss, especially seeing how your Betrothal Ball is still on-going as we speak. To say nothing of how bad I feel about the emotional affair I didn’t quite realise I was having while still with Ron.”

Hermione had already been tempted to beg him to shag her against the bookshelves during visits to this part of the library. And that was while she was still trying to convince herself constantly thinking about the wizard before her was merely an idle fantasy that wasn’t hurting anyone. She had no confidence in her ability to resist sharing that desire if he kissed her like that again. “I’m going to leave now, before I do more things I regret. But I expect I to see you soon, Malfoy.”

“You will, Granger. I promise.”

Seized by hope and terror in equal measure, Hermione nodded, managing a small smile before apparating out of the Manor and into her tiny, darkened flat. Only then did she allow the floodgates to open, sliding to the floor as she wept, not even attempting to sort out which of her tangled emotions prompted the tears.

——————————————————————————————

When her floo roared to life the next evening, Hermione’s heart nearly beat out of her chest. Instinctively hiding her chewed nails, she frantically tamped down the blossoming surge of hope inside her before she has unambiguous confirmation from Draco. What if he was only coming over to let her know in person that he’d reconsidered?

So when Draco strode directly towards her from the fireplace and kissed as intensely as he had the night before, her soul cried out in relief. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck, frantically pulling him, needing him as close as possible.

After a long moment, he pulled back to look at her, palpable relief etched across Draco’s own features as he stroked her back. Seemed as though he’d also worried she might reconsider.

“It’s done. Everyone knows. The Greengrasses are not happy, but as it turns out, Astoria wasn’t particularly upset. Especially not after I insisted the settlement for breaking the betrothal go to her and not her parents. Seems like she prefers independence over a marriage to me in any event.”

Well there was an unexpected balm for her conscience, but Hermione didn’t really care about Astoria Greengrass, not that she relished the thought of the witch being hurt. But she didn’t know the witch.

Narcissa and Lucius were another story. They’d become dear to her and she was terrified about what their reactions might be. “And your parents?” she asked, unable to hid her nervousness.

So she was taken aback when Draco’s eyes lit up with joy. He coughed, attempting — poorly — to hide a smirk. “About that. I have a letter for you from my father.”

Her nerves were stil on high alert as she opened the sealed parchment with trembling hands, frowning as she took in Draco’s poorly concealed grin.

My dear Miss Granger,

You wound me. After my concerted effort to welcome you into my ancestral home and indeed into our lives, you truly believe me to be capable of acting against my son’s wishes in matters of the heart? For shame, Miss Granger. For shame.

Since my efforts on this front also managed to escape my son’s notice, I will spell it out plainly for you here, just as I had to for Draco in person. I told you I expected my son to wed soon for the very same reason I told him he must either make his own choice or accept a betrothal from his parents. Namely, so you foolish children would realise you are perfect for each other and act accordingly!

Do not misunderstand me. Astoria Greengrass is a fine witch and she has left Malfoy Manor with more galleons than her parents would have ever deigned to give her and my heartfelt felicitations. But Miss Granger had the match proceeded, she would have been a consolation prize to more than just Draco.

My dear, after seeing first-hand the lamentable consequences of attempts to force my choices on Draco, I want nothing more than for you to marry my son and make him happy, as I (ahem) was always aware that you are in fact, his choice. I have loved none but my dearest Narcissia, but that is only because the fates smiled on me when I did not deserve it. Draco, however, deserves the world. Seeing as you are his world, I was compelled to act to see him happily settled with you at his side, permanently.

(As an aside, I think it uncouth for me to point out that no one — such as yourself — worthy of a Malfoy ought to be saddled with a Weasley. Further, I fear it would also be uncouth for me to discuss how often I pondered why a witch happy in her ‘relationship’ would spend so much of her limited free time in the home of her ‘colleague’ dining with his parents — occasionally doing so even when my son was unavailable, and Narcissa and I were blessed to have you all to ourselves. One might forgive me for assuming it meant you enjoyed our company. But I digress and as I do not wish to be uncouth, I will say neither of those things.)

While I must confess that your doubt has caused me some genuine hurt, in truth it is only a small injury to my pride and this letter is perhaps more harsh than the injury itself justifies. Narcissa and I are overjoyed the pair of you have finally, as I understand Muggles say, “gotten your shite together” and I expect (and in truth demand) to see even more of you at the Manor than we have in the past. All of the denizens of Malfoy Manor have missed you terribly over the past month — with Bunny left especially bereft by your absence. (In time, I hope you can forgive yourself for hurting a house elf. If it helps, I do not believe she intends to hold a grudge.)

For the sake of moving forward as a family, I will admit that given my history, your caution to Draco that he ought to involve Theo when telling us of his intentions was wise. One might even go so far as to describe it as a cunning choice on your part. (You know my dear, despite how often you claim your hat-stall was between those abominable do-gooders and Ravenclaw, your evasiveness on questioning has led me to wonder if Slytherin actually had the next best claim on you. If you confess this to me, all will be forgiven and I will forget you ever suspected me capable of treachery when in truth I only had the very best of fatherly intentions towards you both.)

I expect to see you both at the Manor soon. We intend to proceed with wedding planning, far more joyously now the correct bride is in place. (Narcissa tells me it would not be appropriate to have a second betrothal ball and was not swayed in the slightest when I pointed out it would actually be the first ever Malfoy Engagement Ball. I do hope your heart wasn’t set on that my dear, as I have reluctantly acceded my wife’s better judgement in this regard.) I have instructed my son to ask you himself properly, in the Muggle fashion. The ring belonged to my mother, who would have adored you had she lived in a world where meeting you was possible. Do not fret about the heirloom, it suits you — just as you are.

By now, Miss Granger, I hope you realise you have stolen the hearts of all the Malfoys. Please take care with them — for though we have a well-earned reputation for ferocity in most matters, our hearts are unaccustomed to the fray and thus, more fragile than you might expect. If it helps, pretend we are similar to house elves and treat us accordingly. (Of course, except for the time you ignored Bunny for a month. None of us could withstand such cruelty from a loved one.)

Narcissa and I love our son very much, and while he is in no way deficient, I must confess we always longed for a daughter. We are waiting for you, my dear. And please be merciful with Draco — as the cleverest among us, he was the first to recognize your true worth and has therefore been waiting for you the longest.

With great love and affection,

Lucius Abraxas Malfoy

P.S., Turn around.

Feeling dazed, Hermione did as the letter bade. She was at turns bewildered, amused, mildly irritated and deeply touched by the words written by Lucius Malfoy. So utterly engrossed by the parchment in her hands, that Hermione hadn’t noticed Draco getting down on one knee.

He held out a ring — a simple one by Malfoy standards. A reasonably sized emerald, set with smaller diamonds on either side. Lucius was right, it did suit her — far better than the ridiculously enormous diamond which had graced Astoria’s finger the night before, a ring Hermione simultaneously loathed and deeply coveted.

Over the years, she had witnessed Draco in all manner of precarious situations. Their line of work was dangerous and as partners they had been frequently been in peril together. She was struck by how odd it was — to see fear on his face for first time since she’d acceded to Robards unenthusiastic plea for her to accept Draco as her partner, a request only made after the rest of the department had already refused. Strange to realized she could be the one provoke that fear, especially when she loved him so.

Draco exhaled before speaking, his voice clear as his eyes never left hers. “Hermione. If this feels too sudden, I’ll tell Father he can go hang and I will wait until you are ready. But you should know I’m not asking because he or Mother or anyone else wants me to. I want to, Granger — me. I want to know you are finally mine. In fact, I want the whole world to know you are mine. Because you — Hermione Jean Granger — you and no one else, are my choice. Now and always.”

Hermine bit her lip, nodding at him as tears slid freely down her cheeks — waiting.

Draco’s anxiety disappeared and his eyes filled with tears as well as the most beautiful smile she’d ever witnessed graced his face. “Hermione, will you marry me?”

“Yes. Of course I will, yes.”

She would have said more, but she was back in Draco’s embrace too quickly and her ability to speak was hindered for a long time thereafter — not that she was complaining. When they finally separated, clothing in disarray and ring on her finger, Hermione took a few minutes to respond to her future father-in-law. After she sent off her owl, Hermone dragged her fiancee into her bedroom without a word — not that he had any complaints either.

Once there, Draco set upon her like a man possessed, quickly divesting her of everything that wasn’t her engagement ring as he explained in detail exactly how he intended to fulfil every fantasy he had about her over the past three years. Seeing howthey were more or less the same fantasies Hermione had about him, she was more than happy to oblige.

Happy coincidence, that.

——————————————————————————————

Lucius Malfoy sat in his study at Malfoy Manor, immensely pleased with himself for finally getting his oblivious children on the right path. He was in the midst of his second self-congratulatory glass of firewhisky when an unfamiliar owl interrupted his reverie.Lucius’s curiosity already piqued and it only l grew on further inspection, when he discovered the letter was charmed so it could only be opened and read by himself. Quickly confirming there were no dark spells at play, Lucius opened the envelope and began to read.

My Dearest Lucius,

If you don’t irrevocably and unequivocally forgive me for my unintentional slight to you (as well as promise to never bring the matter up again in the future) I will convince Draco to elope with me within the month. Further, I will — with copious tears in my eyes — tell Narcissa that your letter is what pushed me to do so, thus laying the blame for depriving her of the opportunity to throw us a lavish wedding squarely at your feet.

However, should you graciously accept my terms without fuss (ahem), not only will I enthusiastically allow Narcissa to plan our wedding, I promise on the occasion of our tenth wedding anniversary I will tell you the unabridged version of my initial encounter with the sorting hat. Between us both, I do not think you will be disappointed by the tale.

Choose wisely.

Affectionately,

The Future Mrs. Hermione Granger-Malfoy

P.S.

I look forward to receiving your reply by the end of business on Friday; failing which, I will be forced to put my alternative plans in motion.

P.P.S.

Having said that, please do not feel like you have to rush your decision on my account. For the next few days at least, Draco and I expect to be quite preoccupied.

P.P.P.S.

I love you too.

The very instant Lucius read the last word, Miss Granger’s letter burst into flame, vanishing in a puff of smoke which destroyed all evidence of her affectionate threats. No one was present to witness it, but the brief light from the fire illuminated an actual grin on the face of Lord Malfoy, the likes of which was only rarely seen by his wife.

Lucius chuckled as he brought the firewhisky to his lips and took a hearty sip from the tumbler. Hermione Granger was going to fit in here beautifully.

He fervently hoped any future grandchildren would have curls.

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freddieslater · 2 years

Text

Rowing the Rarepair Rowboat: Audrey Rose x Uma (Descendants)

Requested by @bonniesdamons

Gentle waves lap at Audrey's legs on the shore. They're getting dangerously close to her dress; her gran would kill her if it got ruined. She tucks her knees up a little closer, and for some reason, she cries harder. Burying her face in her hands, she tries to push away the intruding thoughts, but they only grow louder, shrouding her in cold loneliness.

Nothing she does will ever be enough. She can't make Ben love her. She can't prove to her gran that she'll make a good queen because clearly, no one else thinks it's true! And after everything she's done to make herself perfect for them all.

She dyed her hair. She changed almost her whole less -- from pretty dresses of the most divine materials from her kingdom to cold leather that makes her feel constantly constricted. She tried to be less mean, then more mean, and softer and then not too soft. But it's not enough. She will never be able to compete with her.

Another cold wave laps at her leg, soaking her to her knees. Her skin prickles as it shies away again, leaving her with the feeling of being dragged with it. She moves her hands from her eyes -- she scrabbles to get away from the water, but the teal tentacle stays wrapped around her ankle.

There's only one thing for it: she screams. She tries to pry off the creature to no avail. Her whole body stills as the tide goes out and more tentacles emerge onto the shore. Her throat tightens around her voice as though also at the mercy of one of the limbs.

Finally, a head appears. Some of Audrey's fear ebbs away at the sight of the familiar face, but caution remains as Uma shakes her hair out of her face.

"Let go of me," Audrey demands, internally cursing the quiver in her own voice. Her grand and her mother would never allow themselves to present so weak and vulnerable.

Uma's lips curl into a wicked, open-mouthed smile. "Oh, what do we have here? A damsel in distress?"

"I am not a damsel," Audrey seethes, her built-up anger from the most recent events spilling out like nasty sewage. "And the only thing distressing me right now is you, and your... slimy suckers!"

"Well, that's not very nice," Uma says, pouting with false offence. Even so, she rolls her eyes and loosens her hold on Audrey's ankle, bringing her tentacle back to her side. "I only came out to see what all the wailing was about."

Audrey glares at her, tucking her legs up under the safety of her dress. Her hands smooth over the pale pink leather for a small comfort. She should probably be running back to the castle right now. Only, what then? No one would care. She could run in crying and screaming about Uma's return, and some attempt on her life, and still everyone would probably turn away from her.

She stays planted in the sand, hoping that Uma might simply leave her to wallow in her own misery. She watches her pull herself up onto a nearby rock jutting out of the water.

The last time Audrey saw her was Cotillion, so it's a little strange to see her in... well, her natural habitat, she supposes. The clamshells she wears over her chest are a similar shade to the dress she had on back then. Her seashell necklace still hangs from around her neck, only it's not glowing now.

"So, what happened?" Uma leans back on her hands and tilts her chin to look down at her with that same wicked smirk of a smile. "Mommy won't let you go to the ball? Prince Charming turn out to not be so Charming?"

She was about to hit back with some snarky reply, but upon hearing prince, her mind goes straight to Ben. Her eyes well up with furious tears once again.

"I hate them," she bites out. "Stupid Princes. And the Kings, too -- hell, all of them! They're all the same! And I have no idea how to be one of them, even though I've been royalty my entire life. So why does she get to just slide in so perfectly and claim my place when she knows nothing about any of it?!"

She wipes at her eyes roughly with the heel of her hand as the injustice of it overwhelms her all over again.

"Sorry, you lost me a bit there." Uma's brow furrows. "So... some other princess... took something from you?"

"She took everything from me," Audrey corrects. "My boyfriend. The crown that was meant to be mine. My grandmother's respect for me. I was supposed to be Queen of Auradon, and Ben was meant to be my husband, not hers! Mal doesn't deserve any of this! She doesn't even have to try, and people just fall head over heels for her! But I have been trying so hard my entire life and, somehow... I just keep getting it wrong!"

There's a groan from the rock and she looks at Uma.

"I am so sick of that girl getting her way every single time," Uma says darkly. "She takes and she takes, and there are no consequences. She just gets to... get away with ruining everyone else's lives, especially the ones that no one else seems to care about. Like us."

Audrey's heart stings but she can't deny it. Nobody cares about her. Maybe her gran does, somewhere deep down, and perhaps her parents, but it certainly doesn't feel like it most of the time. Chad just loves the attention. Ben... never really did. That much is obvious; he wouldn't have been so quick to dump her and forget she ever existed if any of his feelings were real.

Hurt and bitter, she watches Uma with growing curiosity. "You tried to get back at her... Mal, I mean. Last year, at Cotillion."

Uma shrugs and looks away, expression souring. "It was an idea. Didn't think it through too well, apparently. It's on me for not remembering that the "power of true love" always saves the day. Hooray."

The sarcasm drips from her voice like thick honey.

"Still," she continues, inspecting one of the suckers on a tentacle, picking off a stuck seashell, "the outcome has been worth it. Mostly. Exploring Auradon's oceans has been a lot of fun."

"But don't you still want revenge?" Audrey prompts. "Don't you think about what could've happened if you had defeated her on the ship? You could've been Queen."

Rolling her eyes, Uma says, "I never wanted to be Queen. I never wanted Ben, either. All I wanted was to be able to free everyone else on the Isle. It's all I've ever wanted."

Audrey continues to stare at her, thinking. "What if I could help you?"

Uma's eyes swivel around to meet hers sharply. "What?"

"Yeah. We could work together. I could get the crown and -- and I could get the wand, which I could then give to you! And you can free the whole Isle and do whatever you want to do."

Uma's smile is doubtful. "That's risky, Princess. Blindly trusting a sea witch. Making a deal with a sea witch. Don't they teach you history in that fancy school of yours?"

"You'll get what you want," Audrey insists. "Will you help me?"

#descendants #disney descendants #uma #uma descendants #audrey rose #audrey descendants #audrey x uma #uma x audrey #rowing the rarepair rowboat #rarepair rowboat #bonniesdamons #there is so much potential in this pairing #I like the idea of them reuniting and teaming up at the start of d3 after ben has proposed to mal #good for angst and villanious purposes

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turanga4 · 1 year

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Another morning on the picket line, outside my school. I learn a little more about the teachers I’m blessed to teach with, do some email advocacy for upcoming students. It is colder outside than any of us expected: my principal crosses the line to sell me a school hoodie.

A second grade teacher has a butterfly habitat in a little mesh frame, set outside the gate. Kids who have come to the line with their families take a look and she explains things, in English and Spanish. We discuss the upcoming School Board meeting…until the Board cancels the meeting. Then we discuss how we’re gonna show up anyway, gonna rally at the meeting site because it is simply unfathomable to have NOTHING there.

When morning picket’s over, we thank the neighbor for the blankets she leant us and I drive to the Peet’s parking lot, to get a coffee and charge my phone a little bit before my daily little shift at the Solidarity/Strike School.

And I’m scanning through my What’s App messages, sipping my vanilla latte, when a man sits down at the table next to me. Dispassionately, eyes on the floor, he begins reciting a story that he’s telling to himself, about how tonight, he'll commit suicide.

I look around me. There’s one man frozen at the counter, looking at the man who is speaking next to me. That man’s expression tells me, I’m hearing this right.

I’m sipping a latte and closing What’s App and messaging the strike school that I’ll be a bit late. My phone is up to 60% and I’m using it to text my friend from Berkeley Free Clinic and ask him what the fuck I should do next. Hello hello there is a suicidal person sitting next to me in Oakland who can I contact other than the police?

The man is detached and slow enough, I am well enough into crisis mode, that I’m able to have a whole-ass text and google search and email exchange under the table while I simultaneously hold down a conversation with him. It all tumbles out and I don’t remember all of it, but yes, he’s suicidal. “Inside my heart is a terrible place,” he tells me. “I have a demon inside of my soul.” He is lucid, and not. But the thing he says, again and again, is, “I don’t know who can help me, but I think I need help.” His eyes glaze a bit, he looks down at the floor again, and I go up to the man who is standing at the counter. He asks me, “are you calling 911?” I shake my head, because the friend that I’ve been texting with helped me LAST time when the cop thing wasn’t great.

The man stands, walks out of the cafe. I follow him; my friend’s got me directly connected now to a volunteer from Oakland’s MH First program. Behind the scenes, she activates a support thread: the man sees me, thanks me for listening, apologizes for bothering me. I tell him, “You said you think you need help. I am here because I think I may know people who can help you. I’m not going to leave until they come. They’re not cops.”

Message from dispatcher: ten minutes away.

The man sits and talks fragments about cops and people and hurting and helping, repeats the things about the demon, says again that he needs help. Says, “people haven’t helped me, before. You’re the first.” I think of the man who watched, frozen at the counter. I think of all the help my colleagues are fighting to get for all of our kids. I think, dammit, I don’t know if THESE people can help either, but at least they’re not a cop and at least I’ve done this much.

“You deserve to be helped. You deserve to be listened to. I’m here because I want you to have what you deserve. I’m one person. There are others. You don’t have to deal with the demons by yourself.”

Then I tell him, “I know what it’s like to need help. I’m not saying it’s the same, but I’ve needed help, myself.”

He fixes me with a stare more direct and intense than any of the looks that he’s given me so far. “You know, then, what the world is like?”

It takes me awhile to figure out how to answer that. “I think I know some of it. I know that the world is full of very hard things, but it has good things, too, and you deserve those things. I know that the world is a place that can get better.”

The fixed look again. “What if it doesn’t?”

And there—right there—is the thing that I’ve been fighting. All week, through this strike. All my life, in other ways.

Eye contact is a thing that I will never find easy, but I try.

“I can’t lie to you. I don’t know what happens then. All I know is, we’re not there yet.”

The van pulls up, and the man stays seated, passive, on the curb while I move back to talk to the unit. I introduce the man to my new friend, Keith, and step back to let them talk. As I move away, another member of the unit reaches out to shake my hand. Gestures to my union shirt, says, “I know why you are striking.”

I nod. I thank him. I tell him, “yeah. Pretty much for THIS.”

And then I cry in the hills above Dimond Park for ten minutes, before heading down to the picnic tables to help out at the strike school.

#real life #common good #broken world #we do what we can

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xenoblademisadventures · 5 months

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I'm bored, so Imma list more ecological shit that I'd headcanon would be different between Earth and Bionis. Also, no bullet list because Tumblr has acidic ass cheeks today and cummed all over my intended formatting.

Bionis has ether, Earth obviously doesn't. But I don't think Bionis has nearly the same depth of naturally occurring venoms & poisons as Earth does. Like, there's the venom in Bionis, evidenced by the poison status effect and the spears used by Faced Mechon, however, those weapons work by dissolving ether. I don't think stuff like neurotoxins or tetrodotoxins exist on Bionis. Mainly because those would be terrible gameplay mechanics if taken literally. But, something like a Komodo Dragon, which hunts by biting its prey once and letting the toxins take effect much later, I don't think that exists on Bionis.

I already mentioned how migratory species couldn't exist on Bionis due to there literally just being one landmass (and it would be bad for Zanza to have some species just fucking leave).

Likewise, I also mentioned the lack of saltwater species that could've existed. But I imagine freshwater species would also have to be quite limited. Like, almost all bodies of water on Bionis flow into a bottomless pit, whether that's the Makna Falls, various streams in Bionis Leg, or Eryth fucking Sea. So, a lot of river dwelling life would likely be quite limited, and a lot of staple species we (I) associate with rivers, namely salmon, couldn't exist here.

I imagine mutualism that doesn't directly benefit Zanza would be quite limited. So, parasitism would simply be gone. But also, it appears that there are basically no pets, but there are domesticated species. Nopon have domesticated Armu and Pterix, Hodes have domesticated Orluga, and Ignas have domesticated Volffs. Most of these don't really track logically. Like, Nopon realistically should be prey items to Pterixes, how did they even encounter Armu? Also herbivores are much worse animals to domesticate than carnivores. The relationship between Ignas and Volffs could probably mirror the relationship between humans and dogs, and I could see mutual benefit between Hodes and Orlugas. It's mostly the Nopon that don't make sense. But, the more interesting thing to consider is that I don't believe Homs would really understand the concept of pets. Which is really weird considering how much humans and domestication go hand in hand. Like, I'm not an evolutionary biologist, but holy shit have so many animals evolved based on their relationship to our species. And I can't help but think "hey, we probably have some evolved traits too that assist in our relationships with other animals," like, first thing that comes to mind is our posture. A lot of carnivorous animals won't see us as prey because we look nothing like their typical prey items. But Homs just don't have that history.

And another big mutualism thing that I imagine would be missing is parasitism. My main logic for their absence is that parasites are quite taboo or villainized to humans, Zanza is a human who clearly has no issue with overwriting nature without really caring to understand it. Like, I think it would thematically make sense, at the very least for his understanding of the world to be very self-centered, so he creates a world full of creatures based on aesthetic merit. Meanwhile Meyneth created most of the life on Mechonis with companionship in mind, meanwhile life on Earth is very heavily built around the concept of "survive long enough to reproduce." Humans don't like parasites because they're really some of the only animals that can regularly hurt us. Zanza is a human, so he didn't include parasites.

But, mutualism does exist on Bionis. It's already evidenced by domestication clearly being a thing. But also, everything's relationship with Zanza is technically mutualistic. Zanza provides habitats, the species provides energy upon death. That's mutualism.

I feel like bacteria wouldn't exist on Bionis. Which would make Zanza's "the homs are nothing more than bacteria clinging to my body!" line extra funny because the homs are just standing there going "wtf is a bacteria??" But the reason bacteria and viruses probably wouldn't exist on Bionis is the same reason I imagine parasites wouldn't exist on Bionis. Alongside the fact that these two things are able to evolve very quickly, which would make keeping them under control potentially harder. Like, I imagine if a species of bacteria evolved to consume ether, that would quickly become a global threat.

A lot of biomes simply do not exist. Basically all ocean biomes, gone. Arctic? Gone. Deserts? Gone. If I had to guess, Bionis is either a tropical or subtropical area. Evidence: no one wears any fucking clothes; the Valak Mountain lore is that it's cold as shit because of the lack of ether caused by an injury in the battle vs mechonis, so we know that the Bionis emits heat (plus Xenoblade 2 also says that ether is warm and having less ether causes titans to have colder climates); Makna Forest is the closest thing to an irl looking environment on Bionis, in fact, Makna Falls looks almost exactly like Iguazu Falls, which is located in the Amazon. So, I don't think stuff on Bionis is particularly evolved to deal with arid or cold environments.

I imagine animals that manipulate the environment are much scarcer and are also closely managed by Zanza. Like, the only species from Bionis that we know to be capable of construction would be the Homs, Nopon, High Entia, and Giants. The Giants were wiped out by Zanza; the Homs keep their constructions rather modest all things considered, the High Entia are super localized, and the Nopon are really just the outliers here. There's no real evidence of nesting behavior in the game. Or rather, I found two instances of "nest" related stuff checking the wiki. First, there's the Nest enemies, which appear biological in nature. More like an angry egg than an actual nest. Second is an item called Ivy Nest, which describes nesting behavior, but it is found in Mechonis Field. There's no real evidence of Tirkins or Ignas being able to manipulate the environment. And I imagine part of the reason Zanza annihilated the giants was because of how drastically they were able to manipulate the terrain.

I can only think of one instance of a structure that exists to fundamentally alter the nature of the surrounding terrain, and that would be the dam in Satorl Marsh, which is a High Entian construct. An abandoned one at that. I have a separate theory revolving around all that. I think there used to be High Entia in the lower regions of Bionis, but they were turned into Telethia. Which is how the High Entia have heard of the Fate of the High Entia. There's some evidence for this idea. The main one is Alvis's Sani Telethia. It is the only Telethia in the game with that model and it makes an appearance during the Unfinished Battle cutscene, so it predates the transformation. However, you can still get an item called a "High Entia Soul" from it using Riki's Yoink ability (it's got a rare chance, if I remember correctly, Dickson's Telethia also has this item). What's also interesting is that the Sani Telethia is the one that looks the closest to the depictions of the High Entian ancestors. So, yeah, very mysterious random enemy. Thanks Alvis.

Also, I have another headcanon about the Telethia in general. I think both the Telethia and Faced Mechon were derived from the Artifices. Artifice Siren in particular looks like a hybrid between a Faced Mechon and a Telethia. So, I imagine that Alvis can control Telethia in a very similar manner to how the Artifices could be controlled by the Trinity Processor.

But going back to the construction thing, stuff like Beavers would be a big no. But, also, how would dens work on Bionis? The only den we see in the game is the Antol Den in Valak Mountain, which isn't really a den. It looks more like a territory within a cave system than anything the antols actually constructed. Hives also don't appear to exist on Bionis. There are a few references to the concept in Xenoblades 2 and 3, but not 1. So, like, imagine Shulk in Future Redeemed sees a hornet's nest for the first time and is like "I should add that to my collectopaedia" only to engage the wrath of a million tiny insects.

Consider that the process of necrosis canonically works differently on Bionis to Earth. Like, on Bionis, corpses sort of just dissolve while their ether returns to the Bionis. Like, in Xenoblade 3, we see that by substituting Zanza with a different system, necrosis is still very different. So, that's gonna have some major impacts. Like, scavengers just wouldn't exist because corpses dissolve or turn into stone too quickly. Also, they'd be directly competing with Zanza for resources, which ain't gonna fly. Which is sort of a big deal considering how many animals rely on occasional scavenging to survive. Like, a lot of herbivores will occasionally bottoms up a dead body, which helps them get some important nutrients. Plus there are tons of small animals that call dead bodies home.

I don't think the Xenoblade games really feature much in the way of biological mimicry or ambush predators. Ambush predators being absent definitely makes sense given that they'd probably fit kinda awkwardly with the rpg mechanics. But still noteworthy.

For some reason dragonflies exist, and I think that's very funny. Like, those bastards predate the dinosaurs, so seeing a virtually unmodified variant of them right fucking here.

Truly they cannot be stopped. Like, that also means that dragonflies, in the lore of Xenoblade, are technically the longest-lived organism. Behold, the ultimate lifeform. It would be even funnier if, like, Zanza was not responsible for them showing up and they just tore apart the local ecosystems for a little while.

Anyways, I'mma list some irl animals that would probably tear apart Bionis's ecosystem. For funsies.

Mosquitos. Easily would cause issues. Consider: Mosquitos 1000% have a higher body count than Zanza. Like, googling real quick, about half of human deaths in history can be attributed to mosquitos, which vastly outnumbers our murder rate. Within the series, there is only one reference to mosquitos, that being a collectible in Xenoblade 2. So, they probably don't exist on Bionis, so the Homs probably haven't evolved around their existence. This would be made even more of an issue considering just how many Homs live either in or near environments that would be ideal for mosquitoes. Colony 9 is above a lake, meanwhile, the upper areas of Bionis Leg and Satorl Marsh would be great areas for mosquitoes to thrive. So, yeah, I imagine the mosquitoes would be a massive fucking issue for homs should they suddenly exist. And it probably wouldn't just be the homs. A lot of animals on Bionis don't really have shit to deal with mosquitoes. This is all assuming that mosquitoes would come packaged with blood parasites.

Cane Toads. Like I said, I imagine poison isn't super common on Bionis, so I sort of imagine Cane Toads would have a similar effect on Bionis as they did in Australia, where their predators just wouldn't be adapted to their existence and would die on mass trying to eat them, which would sort of just leave Cane Toads the freedom to overpopulate.

Cockroaches. Admittedly, I think they'd make themselves more of a problem in Mechonis than anything. But, like, imagine being a Machina but then a bunch of cockroaches start hanging out in your body. That would be horrifying. In fact, there are cockroach collectibles in Central Factory.

Komodo Dragon. I already mentioned them when talking about venom, but I think they'd do upsettingly well in Bionis due to their hunting style. I think the ether + rpg enemy nature of most animals in Bionis would result in the majority of irl apex predators just struggling, but I'd give the Komodo Dragon a good shot at being effective. Same goes for other venomous creatures.

Hippos. All things considered, I believe in the abilities of Hippos to brute force their way past everything I said about how big irl animals would probably fail to brute force Bionis's ecosystem. Hippos are just built different. I think they'd be especially effective on Bionis Leg.

Cape Buffalo. Another creature that would probably beat the shit out of the average rpg enemies. These guys have very flattering nicknames like "Black Death" and "Widowmaker." They're kinda just one of those animals that you don't fuck with. if you have no choice but to fuck with them, by whatever you wish to swear to, find another choice. Like, imagine a bulletproof truck with a vengeful nature and a basic understanding of ambush tactics.

Snow Leopards would probably do better on Valak Mountain than anything on Valak Mountain simply due to being actually adapted for that environment.

Just curious, if anyone else has any ideas for what other animals on earth would probably become issues if they were air dropped onto Bionis.

#like this is all just headcanons and speculation and stuff #xenoblade chronicles #xenoblade spoilers

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