Tumgik
#generally colder spring
cat-soap-opera · 6 months
Text
i know development for CoRV is already super slow due to me being exhausted by irl stuff all the time nowadays, but my goal is to draw the entirety of act 1 before starting to post pages publically. i just wanna have a solid backlog bc i'll likely be either in school or work whenever i can get to illustrating the comic itself bhbh. not to mention i'd like to post the entire prologue and the first half of chapter 1 all at once when i begin posting, just so ppl have a lot to chew on n get interested in from day 1, u know.
9 notes · View notes
horrible-oracle · 1 year
Text
hhhhhhhh i just need to kinda rant or vent ignore this
1 note · View note
snowsinterlude · 4 months
Text
Remember The Time.
(coriolanus snow x reader)
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
summary: there was a time where that boy craved and wanted love more than power. and you remembered it better than he did.
c.w: songfic, young president snow, angst, wife!reader, mentions to academy times, mentions to sex, cheating, pregnancy
Tumblr media
back when you both were seventeen, back when he was poorer than the district people, who were rich when it comes to love, coriolanus had one person who was always there for him; you.
beautiful, dazzling, shining you. with your shining eyes, your perfume, your way of walking and talking and going as far as to making him fall in love with you. yes, the now president of panem, who was colder than the own snow, who always landed on top, who never looked up to anyone, was once a time ago, a boy. an innocent, craving love boy.
when we were young and innocent.
he got your hand tangled on his, his eyes gleaming and shining at the sight of your much smaller hand on his. he was so cute there. everything seemed to be sugar coated and honeyed up; the hand-made gifts, the flowers he handed you, the way he played with your hair and braided it oh so nicely.
everything was a memory now. nothing but something that you'd remember until you had something like amnesia or alzheimer when you were older.
"y/n!" he called, walking to your direction. athletically skinny, tall, blonde. the perfect depiction of a pretty boy.
he reached for you, his hand reaching for yours, his lips curling into a smile to you, his eyes couldn't seem to leave you, your eyes, your figure, everything in you was like a diamond for him.
carefully, he placed a daisy flower behind your ear, trying to get it right, trying to put it in the right position.
"coryo," you smiled at him, so sweetly that he thought he would lose his teeth. he thanked god he didn’t. "how have you been?"
"fine. better now. saw this flower yesterday, it reminded me of you." he said, fingers laced on yours.
he was too sweet when he was with you. sweet like white chocolate, one only you could taste, for when it comes to others he was as venomous as a snake.
🌼
rotting in your room, you heard the window; a rock being thrown in it. you opened the quicker you could- you just had to yell for that person to stop throwing rock at your window. they are expensive.
you were met with his eyes. looking at you as if you were a jewel. staring back at you as if there's nothing prettier than you in a nightdress or you on a general basis
you quickly forgot the face you were doing; the one that showed displeasure now showed love, something you had in stock for him.
"coryo." you said, seeing him climbing to your window. he leaned in it.
"is ir a bad timing?" he asked, and you couldn't have a better answer for it than a roll of your eyes.
"of course! gosh, it's snowing out there-"
"i'm a snow."
"you're an human being." you said, helping him in and closing the door to your room. your dad thought of coriolanus as the one who would lead you down the wrong path. he seemed to feel it in his bones, saying he looks poor or anything like it. "you should be at your house! what would i do if you get a cold?"
his hands travelled to your waist, a devious grin played on his lips as he kissed your shoulder.
"warm me up?" he proposed, making you chuckle, but then you were on his lap, kissing him in a way that would keep him warm for days and days, fucking him until his body was as hot as the summer, loving him until flowers blossomed and died.
you did, in fact, warmed him up. so many times that it would be a joke to say that he was cold- physically, at least.
with that being said, it was a surprise to you when he came back from district 12- he had changed. he had another girl's perfume on him.
then you remembered her. you met her once. lucy gray baird. of course, neither did you and neither did coriolanus told her you were engaged.
engaged. such a strong word- and at the same time, weak when it comes to flesh.
back in the spring.
"you cheated on me." you said, trying to keep yourself calm- you couldn't. your heart was too loud, your poor lungs didn't seem to be functioning anymore- everything seemed loud to you. "with her. with lucy- god, and she didn't even knew! where is she?!"
"i don't- y/n, listen, i-"
"-'i' what? you didn't cheat? you weren't with her? you were supposed to be at district 8! how come you were on 12?!"
he kept quiet. he didn’t had an answer other than 'i didn’t cheat', did he? of course not.
"i love you," he said. "i love you, y/n."
"you don't. you never did. you don't know what love feels like- you don't know how it is." he did. he did know how it was and felt. each thump of his heart was beating out of his ribcage with the despair of losing you.
with that being clear, it didn't took much time for him to be president.
soon enough, you both were married.
🌼
it's not like you forgave him. you didn't. your father married you off to him after he won the elections. did you love him? god, of course you did. but not like before. never like before. you still had hope that he would be there. that your lovely boy would still be there, bouquet in his hand, hands finding yours in the secrecy of the darkest places of the academy; but that boy wasn't anywhere to be found.
instead, there was a man, a ruthless, cruel, cold-hearted man who never looked up to anyone. who never looked directly into your eyes, but past them.
sitting by his side, cutting the steak on your plate, everything was just as silent as in a funeral until you spoke, finally.
"coriolanus." you called. "do you remember the time we fell in love?"
quiet.
you kept going. "we would be together all times, talking about how highbottom hated you. we would skip classes saying we were sick when we would actually hang out."
he kept quiet.
"you would come to my window at least three times per month, always promising things and handing me flowers." you said.
quiet, quiet, quiet. quiet. you decided to be more straightforward this time.
"then we would warm ourselves up. you would fuck me and ask for my hand in marriage and say you would make me the happiest woman alive." you said.
"what do you want?" he asked, finally.
"i'm pregnant." you hear his fork fall to his plate. "i know you don't love me and i am not going to beg for your love. but i want to raise this child with love. and if we'll have to pretend we like eachother and love eachother then i am okay with it."
he kept quiet, again. and you kept going, without knowing about the ache of his heart; both of happiness and mourn. mourn, because he knew you didn't love him anymore. he knew that if it wasn't for the baby forming on your body you would run away from him.
"i don't want this child to be depressed nor to have the knowledge of how we don't like eachother." you said. "i want this child to be happy."
he was almost gagging. your eyes were pooling up on tears you didn't want to cry, your voice cracking up.
"okay." he said. there was not a better answer for that than this.
when dinner was over, you both went separate ways; he would go to his office, you would go to your chambers.
no one would know about the heartbreak of the other.
no one would hear nor see the tears rolling down your faces; the redness, the runny nose, the sobs. they would never be heard.
and everything between both that was once a happy memory, was nothing but a photo in your memories. a happy painting portraying a couple that was yet to be separated.
841 notes · View notes
chocodile · 5 months
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Thought it would be fun to illustrate some Amaranthine cuisine from various regions (and time periods). Long writeups under the cut!
Western Kingdom Cuisine: Northern Upper Class
The cultural cuisine of the northern part of the Western Kingdom is shaped by the region's harsh, snowy climate. The cold meant that it was easier to keep food from spoiling, but hard to find it in the first place. During the warmer spring and summer months, food would be collected and then salted, dried, pickled, or otherwise preserved in order to last through the winter. Red meat is their primary dietary staple, and is served in a wide variety of ways, including raw and engastrated. Dairy is also common in all forms -- cheese, butter, milk, and as a component of common sauces and chowders (another cultural favorite, and great way to use up leftovers). Alcohol is also common, with a favorite cultural drink being a spiced, warmed fermented milk with a flavor similar to eggnog.
Northern dishes prioritize making use of all parts of the animal, especially nutrient-rich organ meats and fat. As a landlocked region with few rivers, fish is somewhat uncommon, but not unheard of, especially salted or pickled fish shipped in from the south. Also, as mentioned before, eating animals, including "one's own kind", is not taboo at all in this region. In such harsh climates, turning one's nose up at a filling meal is seen as ridiculous.
When good meat is available, though, presentation can get a little… creative. Or, as some might describe it, obscene. Feasts for nobles often involve whole roast hogs stuffed with turkeys stuffed with game birds stuffed with exotic, imported pickled fish, ground meat sculpted into strange and creative shapes, and other ostentatious displays. If a nobleman's chefs can do something artistic with the meat that his guests have never seen before, it's considered very impressive. Of course, to foreigners, a western kingdom noble's banquet can look rather nightmarish and grotesque. Such displays of excess are generally the realm of the wealthy, but most families will still celebrate with a "turducken" or similar engastrated roast once a year during winter feast.
Fresh fruits and vegetables make up only a small component of northern dishes. Berry preserves and pickled vegetables are prepared during the summer months, but the only "fresh" vegetables accessible during colder months are hardy root vegetables and tubers harvested from geothermal caves. Mushrooms, also harvested from the caves, are eaten in many forms.
Bread made in this region is typically very hard and dense. This "thickbread" is intended to be soaked in gravy, milk, or soup to soften it and make it more palatable. Attempting to eat the bread without softening it is a clear indicator that someone is a foreigner, or perhaps so poor that they can't afford a proper meal. Some "thinbread" is baked slightly softer and intended to be eaten in slices, but culturally, it's still expected that you put some sort of gravy or spread on it so that you don't look like a confused foreigner or destitute peasant.
For dessert, northerners often eat dessert breads soaked in sweetened, spiced cream and topped with berry preserves and candied mushrooms. Berry tarts are also made with preserves during colder months and fresh fruit during summer months, and are associated with spring, celebration, and hardship ending. These berry tarts are often eaten at celebratory dinners at the end of winter and given to students after finishing exams.
Many residents of other territories find traditional northerner food a little overwhelming due to how rich and dense it is. It can certainly take some getting used to. Eastern Kingdom residents tend to find northern cuisine especially nightmarishly grotesque and barbaric due to their cultural views around meat. However, with increased trade and travel over the last few decades, northerner food is beginning to look more like the food from the rest of the Western Kingdom, and some of the more offputting cultural practices like the ostentatious engastrated meatcraft and inedible-unless-softened bread are becoming somewhat less popular.
Eastern Kingdom Cuisine: Coastal Citydweller
The Eastern Kingdom's cuisine is similarly influenced by their climate. The desert that spans much of the region meant that, aside from its sparkling oasis cities and rim of fishing towns along the coast and major river, many residents traditionally lived a nomadic lifestyle. Additionally, unlike the Western Kingdom, they absolutely do view "eating your own kind" as tantamount to cannibalism, which meant that most red meat was only consumed during times of desperation or occasionally during holidays/rituals, though the latter is mostly seen as a weird unsavory rural thing.
The Eastern Kingdom's meat taboo generally does not extend to fish, shellfish, and insects. Fresh fish and shellfish are routinely consumed near the coast, often seared in olive oil and spices and served over a couscous-like grain base, and a salty paste made of fermented fish is smeared on bread in interior regions. Beetles coated in chopped nuts and chili powder and dried, and honeyed crickets are also popular snacks.
Eastern Kingdom cuisine also involves a lot of nuts, beans, and seeds as major dietary staples. These foods are long-lasting, spoilage-resistant, nutrient-rich, and grew easily along the banks of the kingdom's major waterway and oases even before cities settled there. These three food groups are found in nearly all of their cooking. Nuts and seeds are baked into bread and desserts but also mixed into stir fry-type dishes to add protein. A common dessert and trail snack consists of dried dates mixed with walnuts. Dates and figs are also made into jams and eaten spread over bread or as a component in sauces.
Vegetables and fruits, as well as olives, were grown in grand, sprawling, aqueduct-fed gardens in oasis cities and on riverbanks. Cacti, once cultivated extensively by ancient nomads, are served chopped and glazed with honey, another dietary staple.
Dairy, derived from pack animals used by nomads, is also somewhat common, though difficult to transport without spoilage. It is paradoxically seen as a practical, basic food by nomads and farmers, who can milk it directly from its source, something of a luxury by city-dwellers.
Additionally, the Eastern Kingdom's sprawling coastlines mean an extensive seafaring presence. As a result, they have brought back many novel plants from far afield to be cultivated in the Eastern Sultan's personal palace garden. Among these: cocoa beans, which are refined into a spicy energizing herbal drink similar to coffee. "Chocolate houses" serving this drink can be found throughout larger cites, sometimes mixing the cocoa drink with more familiar sweetened cactus juice to stretch the expensive cocoa powder further.
Post-Fall Cuisine: Ironfrost Middle Class
The society that eventually emerged after the fall of the Old Kingdoms was quite different from what came before. Though discovery of ironworking led to the rise of industrialization--processed food and automated canning, among other innovations-- the harsh, permanent winter that eventually consumed most of the continent meant that cuisine never reached the levels of decadence it had in the Old Kingdoms. This is especially true of the working class in Ironfrost, whose rather dreary cuisine is shown here.
Limited accessibility of fresh fruits and vegetables--grown in engineered greenhouses or shipped in from the far south over increasingly long distances as the cold spread southward--meant that nearly all vegetables are eaten canned. Many, especially those in rural northern towns that lacked greenhouses, may have never even seen a fresh tomato or head of lettuce before. (The City of the Sun produces fresh fruit and vegetables for the far north--including exotic apples in nigh-extinct Old Kingdom varieties--but cutting a trade deal with the reclusive city-state can be difficult due to the whims of its elusive cultish leader.)
The one exception? Mushrooms. Like the Western Kingdom northerners that lived there before them, Post-Fall societies came to rely heavily on harvesting edible mushrooms from the geothermal caves below the tundra. Mushrooms are a crucial dietary staple and can be roasted, pickled, fried, pureed, or even candied. Many of the more specialized cooking styles such as candying were passed down by survivors of the fallen Western Kingdom, thought the passage of time and changing availability of spices and other ingredients have rendered many recipes quite different from their ancestors.
Fresh meat is easier to access and easier to preserve with minimal loss of taste or texture thanks to the frigid weather providing easy "refrigeration" by way of outdoor iceboxes. However, a whole, freshly-cooked roast is still considered a rare treat for most, especially for the mine and factory workers living within the dense industrial labyrinths of Ironfrost. Canned and dried meats are popular due to being less sensitive to spoilage when kept indoors or transported across different climates.
Overall, the heavy reliance on dried and canned food means that most available ingredients are ugly, mushy, and lacking in natural taste due to the extensive preservation process. As a result, stews, loafs, and casseroles are common, as well as jellied aspic dishes. Any manner of preparation that can hide the appearance of limp, shriveled vegetables or disguise the taste of eating the same salted meat every day is useful. Creative meat presentation, such as sculpting ground meat into fun shapes, decorated meatloaf, and ornate aspic molds is another cultural holdover passed on by Western Kingdom survivors, though in the current day it's associated more with the middle or lower middle class rather than nobility. It is now more of a way to make the most out of poor circumstances than to impress fellow nobles at parties.
(Side note, not pictured: Modern day Ironfrost elite tend to favor very plain dishes made out of fresh food, garnished with sliced fruit--the mere fact that they can access such exotic fare makes their wealth self-evident! An aspiring elite with limited funds can choose to rent a bowl of Sun City apples or even an elusive pineapple to impress party guests instead.)
One of the few pieces of Eastern Kingdom food culture that survived to the present day is chocolate, though like Western Kingdom dishes, it is now quite different from its original form. These days, cocoa is blended with fat and sugar and eaten as a dessert: chocolate. This has caused its popularity to explode. Chocolate bars are incredibly popular for their delicious taste and portability, and cakes and cookies made with chocolate are coveted by the poor and wealthy alike. Of course, the cold climate means that cocoa beans can only be grown in specialized greenhouses, and the owners of these greenhouses are keen to charge a premium for access. Ironfrost and The City of the Sun are the two major cocoa producers and it's not unheard of for Ironfrost soldiers to bully smaller cocoa growers out of business to maintain their near-monopoly. Still, hidden cocoa grows scattered around the tundra ensure that a large supply of "bootleg" chocolate remains on the menu--just don't get caught with it in Ironfrost territory.
280 notes · View notes
mitsies · 1 year
Text
-;, SPRING SHIVERS ! ; michael kaiser > it's a lot colder than you would expect this spring. you are unprepared, kaiser is not.
Tumblr media
you really should not have forgone your coat.
it's cold out now, really, really cold. when you arrived at the party, it was a cheery spring day with the warm sun placing gentle kisses on the skin left exposed by your outfit. now, that sun was banished from the sky, replaced with an indigo fog and a blanket of stars that sent shivers down your spine with each gust of cold wind.
you didn't think you'd stay late enough for the weather to change this drastically, but your boyfriend had run into some old acquaintances who had been friendly enough to distract the both of you from leaving at a reasonable time. he was currently still saying his goodbyes, letting you escape to get a breath of fresh air early outside.
you crossed your arms over your chest as another whisper of wind froze the blood inside your skin, eliciting another huff from you. you were watching your breath dissipate into the night sky when a familiar voice sounds from behind you, accompanied by the opening of a door. you turn to see kaiser, jogging up behind you.
he's wearing baggy black jeans with a white button-down and a deep blue v-neck sweater layered over top. the collar is askew and as he approaches, you shake out your frozen fingers and pull it to its proper position. "hope i didn't keep you waiting too long, babe."
he's complacent when you flick him in the forehead, grinning at you as if you've just kissed him. "you did, actually," (it had only been a minute), "i should break up with you for this."
"whatever. you were just my sidepiece anyways." you shove him and he laughs, "i'm kidding."
you're about to bite back until another wave of wind hits you like a train and you position your arms over your frame again in a vain attempt to block out the wind. kaiser frowns as you curl your fingers into fists to prevent them from falling off.
"you should've brought your jacket."
"don't lecture me. i'm suffering enough already."
"i'm just saying. how is this a lecture?"
you scoff dramatically and start walking in the general direction of your apartment, about 5 minutes away, leaving your boyfriend to catch up. he meets your pace easily, falling into step beside you. "hold on."
stopping the both of you, kaiser slides the blue sweater off. it catches on the sleeves of his button-down, pulling it up and revealing a familiar stretch of ink embellishing the skin of his arm. he hands you the sweater, with a stupid wink and a cheesy pickup line and you fight down the urge to leave your lipstick stamps all over his dumb face.
"how chivalrous of you." sliding the sweater on, you're instantly alleviated from the biting winds of an early-spring night, feeling the warmth of both the knit piece and your boyfriend's act of affection.
"only the best for you," he replies with a little bow that makes you laugh. he smiles at you like you've just gone and hung all the stars in the sky. "are we going to your place?"
you nod, and are about to continue walking when you stop again. kaiser looks at you inquisitively, as you say, "i'm still cold, though."
he frowns. "we can stop for a warm drink on the way, but there's not much we can do until-"
you cut him off with a hefty, theatrical sigh and pull the sleeves of the sweater, far too long to fit you, up to expose your hands. "my hands are cold."
kaiser blinks, letting out an 'oh' before he grins at you like a fool, instantly moving to intertwine his fingers with yours. he pulls the top of your hand close, pressing a chaste kiss to the skin. "allow me to help, then, pretty."
"sure. maybe i won't break up with you."
he laughs again, the sound clear and loud and as genuine as it is full of unbridled affection, as it rings out in the emptiness of the night sky. "i'd appreciate that."
Tumblr media
876 notes · View notes
rynfiles · 4 months
Text
snowy days !
✎ᝰ — snowy days with the mha boys !
★ — deku, kirishima, bakugo, shoto, kaminari x gn!reader
★ — genre + warnings: fluff + no warnings
★ — a/n: an old post that was deleted and thought it was perfect for the winter season <3
Tumblr media
꒰ IZUKU MIDORIYA ꒱
ꔛ izuku already knew that it was gonna snow the day before. he was all too prepared with his scarf, winter costume pressed and clean, and even his uniform layered up
ꔛ deku even had your stuff prepared, after he rambled on about how you could get sick and cold if you’re not prepared
ꔛ when the sun came up that boy was wayyy more excited than finding out all might is teaching at u.a
ꔛ he called you to see if you were up and if not, he would give you more time to sleep since he didn’t wanna bother you. but if you are awake, then he’s walking to your dorm to share his thrill of seeing small fluffs of white falling down
ꔛ for the time being, you guys would draw small shapes on your dorm window, drink hot chocolate, and nap in each other’s warmth
꒰ EIJIROU KIRISHIMA ꒱
ꔛ WHEW! this boy is wayyyy too excited when he wakes up and sees snow outside his dorm. literally taking 2.5 minutes to get ready so he can grab you and enjoy the snow together. just as excited as he is, until you tell him that snow isn’t enjoyed in a shirt and shorts
ꔛ kirishima reassures you plenty of times that he will be fine but of course listens to you since it is the “manly” thing to do. now he is overdressed but at this point, you wave it off
ꔛ surprisingly, and unintentionally, you guys match in cute snow outfits and your beanies are the two of your favorite colors. kiri is wearing a f/c beanie and you with a red beanie! once you guys realize, you take pictures and kirishima is complimenting you every chance he gets
ꔛ you guys enjoy the snow with snowball fights, polaroid pictures, making snowmen, and snow angels
꒰ KATSUKI BAKUGO ꒱
ꔛ bakugo was mumbling and grumbling in his sleep when he found out that it was gonna snow. he’s really not too fond of snow due to his quirk but deals with it anyway cause you absolutely love it
ꔛ for himself, bakugo would rather stay inside and sleep all day since school is more than likely canceled for the day and training was definitely not the move for the day. but of course, he’ll go along with any plan you have for the day
ꔛ when he hears you at his door, he drags himself from his bed and opens it to see you doing your happy dance. now he can’t even say no to your invitation of s’mores and snowball fights because of your starry eyes and gleeful smile that had your cheeks poking
ꔛ not a surprise that bakugo turned the snowball fight into a competition and almost hit you too hard with one throw. he almost won if it wasn’t for someone distracting him and you getting your last hit
ꔛ he claims you cheated but bakugo knows good and well that you won, just won’t accept it. for now, snowballs thrown back and forth until a winner is declared
꒰ SHOTO TODOROKI ꒱
ꔛ shoto isn't really biased on what the weather is tbh, but he definitely leans on the winter and spring time. more so winter, ‘cause one, he can build onto his quirk, and two, the holidays + his birthday :)
ꔛ but he can’t deny that he DEF enjoys the snowy days. he enjoys the pure white flurries that race down to the ground and layer up as he walks to class or to practice. sometimes he hopes it snows too much so class he can spend the winter day with you <3
ꔛ also ‘cause of his quirk, he pretty much knows how to handle the snow and how to prepare for it. then again, he can make it snow in july if he wants to. during the summer, he’ll order hella snow coats, (sometimes for you and him if he’s feeling generous) beanies, gloves, etc.
ꔛ when he feels the breeze slightly colder than usual, he immediately text you that alert that it’s a snow day ! now, he won’t get ready until you are awake and getting ready yourself
ꔛ while you are getting ready, he is planning out the day for the two of you. he usually relies on the typical snow forts to build, a snowman, snow angels, and end the night with hot chocolate and holiday movies :)
꒰ DENKI KAMINARI ꒱
ꔛ kaminari, similarly to kirishima, is all too excited for the winter season. he may as well run in the snow with just shorts on…which he almost did (don’t ask)
ꔛ ngl, he was definitely checking the weather every single day for when it’s gonna snow. that’s his sign that the holiday season definitely started and two, it’s the white christmas that he’s been dreaming since halloween
ꔛ at first, he was quite nervous to step out cause of his quirk. who knows what could happen if electricity meets snow ? what if he creates a blackout ? well…won’t be the worst that happens but then again, shoto and momo will side eye him for cutting off the heater. now they have to create one for the entire dorm building
ꔛ but as some months pass and the snow becomes heavier, he’s careful but enjoys the fluffy ice in his hand and how the snowflakes tickle his face. his hair and face only, he’s not too fond of the snow touches his hands (again, don’t wanna mix electricity with snow)
ꔛ as he becomes more and more comfortable with the snow, he barges into your room and babbles about the pretty snow outside. he rambles on and on about how you HAVE to join him for the snowball fight that’s happening with the class. don’t trust him tho, he can get sneaky
Tumblr media
𖥻 my first winter post on this blog ;p ! hope you guys liked it and I haven’t wrote for mha in a while actually
𖥻 lemme know if you guys want more winter hcs or even winter scenarios with mha :)
𖥻 bye babes, drink your water and I love you MWAH 💕
𝐕𝐎𝐓𝐏 💗: 1 chronicles 16:10-11
Tumblr media
© 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟥 𝗋𝗒𝗇𝖿𝗂𝗅𝖾𝗌. 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗏𝖾𝖽
165 notes · View notes
dougdimmadodo · 5 months
Text
Tumblr media
Louisiana Pine Snake (Pituophis ruthveni)
Family: Colubrid Snake Family (Colubridae)
IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered
Among North America's rarest snakes, the Louisiana Pine Snake's small population size is the result of its highly specific habitat requirements and the resulting sensitivity to human-driven habitat changes that comes with them; members of this species feed primarily on Baird's Pocket Gophers (a specific species of burrowing rodent,) and almost always live in abandoned Baird's Pocket Gopher burrows (often after having eaten the burrows creator,) and as such in areas where Baird's Pocket Gophers are not present Lousiana Pine Snakes cannot survive. Native to western Lousiana and eastern Texas, members of this species do best in pine forests (particularly those dominated by a specific species of pine, Pinus palustris, forests of which are noted to generally support high levels of biodiversity as a result of the loose canopies they form which allow many smaller species of plants to coexist with them,) and spend most of their lives underground, rarely travelling far from their stolen burrows. They emerge from their burrows mainly during the mid-day to hunt (targeting rabbits, frogs and other rodents when Baird's Pocket Gophers are scarce,) but otherwise remain concealed underground in order to avoid predation and unusually high or low temperatures; during the winter, when the weather becomes colder and prey becomes scarcer, they travel deeper into a Baird's Pocket Gopher burrow and hibernate until the early spring.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Image Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/29041-Pituophis-ruthveni
182 notes · View notes
uncharismatic-fauna · 27 days
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Spare a Moment for the Asparagus Beetle
Crioceris asparagi, more often known as the common asparagus beetle, is a species native to Europe and Asia; is has also been introduced to North America. As the name implies, it is almost exclusively found on asparagus plants, making it a common sight in agricultural fields and grasslands with wild asparagus.
The common asparagus beetle is easy to spot, due to its distinctive markings. Both males and females are black, with a red thorax and a red ring around their wing casings (elytra). Each individual also has three large, white or cream spots on each of their elytra. But for all their flashy markings, C. asparagi are quite small, reaching only 7 mm (0.28 in) in length.
The bright markings of the asparagus beetle are thought to mimic those of another type of stinging beetle, as a way to deter predators. However, this defense is not very effective, as C. asparagi are a popular food for birds including ducks and chickens, as well as larger beetles and wasps. If its bright coloration fails to ward off threats, the beetle will flee to another plant or play dead. For its part, the asparagus beetle only feeds on one thing: asparagus.
Breeding for C. asparagi occurs in April or May and lasts throughout the spring. Males court females by riding on their abdomens and guarding them from other males; females in turn will often attempt to avoid male attention by moving away or kicking them. A female will often mate with several males, and only retains the sperm of the male she prefers. Following copulation, she lays 4-8 eggs on the underside of an asparagus leaf. The eggs can take anywhere from three to twelve days to hatch, and the larvae immediately begin feeding on their host plant. After several weeks, during which time the larvae go through for molting periods or instars, they pupate and emerge as adults. Several generations can occur in a single season. When the weather grows colder, the asparagus beetle burrows into the soil or leaf litter to hibernate through the winter. Most adults only live about a year or so.
Conservation status: The common asparagus beetle has a large, robust population and has not been evaluated by the IUCN. In both its native and introduced range, it is often considered a pest for asparagus farmers.
If you send me proof that you’ve made a donation to UNRWA or another organization benefiting Palestinians– including esim donations– I’ll make art of any animal of your choosing.
Photos
Tom Murray
David Gould
Phil Myers
96 notes · View notes
nova--spark · 6 months
Text
Earth 101: A Manual for the Visiting Cybertronian
Chapter Two : Earth Weather
Earth, with its vast biomes and diverse terrains, has a variety of weather patterns that can change drastically from day to day, and have particular seasons with which they are often divided.
This has also been the cause of …particular issues for the newcomer Cybertronian, as the climate can have adverse effects on our biomechanics.
As a gentle reminder, please be sure to thank your medic when leaving the med bay after repairs.A bottle or two of high-grade Energon also goes a long way.
Divided into the Northern and Southern hemispheres, Earth cycles through 4 seasons, each with their own type of weather.
The four seasons by which the planet goes through, as labeled as:
Spring : Temperate to warm weather, usually brings the thawing of winter and replenishing of flora and fauna alike.
Summer: The warmest of the seasons, the planting of crops and their growth occurs here, as well as many an activity in the sun
Fall or Autumn: Harvest season, known to be the beginning of a cooling in the weather and when most flora experience a change in color to prepare for the next season.
Winter: The coldest of the seasons, this season is also known as the ‘holiday season’ due to many Earth holidays occurring during the jours, or rather, Terran months it overlaps.
These seasons last roughly 3 months each, but due to changes in the Earth’s ozone layer in a phenomenon known as ‘global warming’, which has caused quite severe changes to the climate of Earth in some places.
Primus help them, we can only hope this does not continue with our presence here.
The Northern hemisphere is known to host generally colder climates, whilst the Southern hemisphere hosts warmer climates.
The planet’s equator is the centralized area of its warmest zone.
This said, interestingly enough, when it is summer in one hemisphere, it is often winter in the other, in a rather fascinating exchange!
They oppose each other, meaning that through the 3 months it is the opposite season in the other region.
The equator tends to average around the same weather all of the orbital cycle, known as a year, around the 
Truly intriguing, the various weather patterns of Earth.
Earth is known to have various forms of weather, ranging from sunny days, cloudy, foggy, rainy or even snow.
That said, Earth weather can also be quite dangerous.
Storms such as hurricanes, tsunamis, tropical storms, and blizzards can devastate entire sections of Earth, and even wipe entire cities off the map.
We have witnessed some of these devastating incidents. 
We only hope that humans can find peace after these tragedies.
With each type of weather of course, come certain rules and warnings about potential hazards that could occur.
For example, not even the greatest of the Autobots is immune to the icy roads of the northernmost parts of the world, as our beloved Prime informed us after he spun out due to a particularly vicious patch of black ice amidst a snow storm.
Luckily no harm was done, as he crashed into the snow on the roadside. All that was harmed was perhaps his dignity when he informed us about the incident in a kind reminder to not repeat his actions, so as to avoid harm to ourselves and to others on the road.
Ever so watchful is he.
The same cannot be said for …others within our ranks however. 
Incidents with wild weather reported for documentation within this field guide are as follows:
A scientist studying the weather patterns of Earth amidst a particularly wild storm learned what the function of the aptly named lightning rod was. By becoming one involuntarily. Thankfully, said patient now seeks shelter when such storms come to pass.
One of our scouts learned the hard way that driving through fog can be a disorienting and frightening experience. It is not for the faint of Spark. Proceed with caution
Hailstorms. Spheres of ice sometimes the size of Scraplets that falls from the skies. It is as terrifying as it sounds.
One too many Autobot and Con alike have tried to become what is known on Earth as 'storm chasers'. Medical Officer Ratchet implores that the next to attempt such, will only learn from being swirled within a tornado and that the damage from such an event is very tedious to repair.
Please do not attempt to drive through flooded areas after heavy rains. Your engine will become full of water and proceed to stall. It is not worth splashing each other to have this happen.
High winds can push even the largest of us off the road. And we do mean this literally. 
We advise parking indoors when choosing to remain in vehicle mode or keeping your heating on when in cold weather. Your vehicle mode can in fact be encased in ice entirely if not careful. It is as annoying and freezing as it sounds.
For those who are flight inclined, be they Decepticon, Autobot or neutral, be aware of snow, rain, lightning, hail, and more, as they can blind the pilot if particularly severe. Even the well known Starscream has been known to crash land due to hail and sleet causing less than optimal flying conditions.
Heatwaves [No we do not mean the Sigma-17 leader, Heatwave] can be cause for our biomechs to overheat and falter, requiring significant cooling, as there have in fact been cases of engines catching on fire or outright shutting down from the intense heat.
Beware of blizzards, as we do not wish anyone to freeze within the piles of snow known to loosen in this.
Earthquakes can cause catastrophic chains of events to occur. Please be aware that aftershocks may occur afterwards.
The rescue team known as Sigma-17 has told us of a good many weather incidents like those mentioned within this chapter. Their testimony was vital for this chapter, and we thank them for their duty in rescue operations of all manner.
Please be sure to contact an official, medic or rescue service in the event of an emergency or accident, no matter the severity.
This concludes our initial overview of Earth Weather and Climates. Direct appropriate queries to the proper channels for more information.
162 notes · View notes
folklore-girl · 4 months
Text
ek ladki bheegi bheegi bhaagi si — a short story
a/n: okok so i tried my best for you @androgynous-pavbhaji <3 since this is your secret santa gift? im so sorry for posting this so late, this was supposed to come out a long time ago.. but ig happy new year? hope you like this!
word count: 0.6k
warning(s): bad writing, cringe dialogues + a shitty asf story in general :( im so so sorry.
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
raindrops splattered on the sidewalk as i hurriedly made my way to the bus stop, my clothes drenched from the downpour. my hands held up my handbag to shield my head from the rain and to try and deflect some heavy raindrops, but all in vain. for the millionth time, i cursed my stupid self for not carrying an umbrella, even though we were deep in winter, and there was no way I could’ve predicted this. i still should have.
and, to top it all, i was horribly late to my bus.
when i reached the bus stop a thousand years later, my shoes were soaked and my head was in an overdrive. i noticed a guy—probably my age—waiting at the stop too and decided i should probably wipe the mess off my face.
so, i took out my napkin, just to drop it on the ground like an absolute idiot. and as i bent to pick it up, the guy on the right offered me his napkin, in spotless white.
i was scared. not of the guy, but of ruining his napkin by using it. he saw me hesitate and said, “arey, it’s fine. i have spare.”
“pakka?” i asked, uncertainly.
“yup,” he said and i thanked him, smiling.
he smiled back. and i thought, wow. i guess men aren’t all bad, then.
i took the napkin from him and dabbed my face with it gently, still scared to damage it. when i was giving it back, he said “it’s ok, you can keep it.”
“you sure?” i asked again.
“yes!!” he laughed, “it’s alright, you know. i don’t bite.”
“no, but, i’m not used to all this,” i gestured with my hands and his eyebrows rose in confusion. “kindess?” i finished lamely.
“well then, you will be soon,” he winked and i looked away because i was in a loss of words.
meeting a decent man made me feel like i was in some other dimension, some dream where kind strangers were real and not a thing to read in tumblr posts and fawn over.
by now, my heartbeat had slowed down and my breaths were much less frantic, so we talked about our buses.
“oh, me too,” he smiled, “we’re both going to mumbai.”
“that’s nice,” i smiled as the bus approached the stop, “i bet the ride is gonna be fun.”
he smiled, “hopefully.”
we hauled up our luggage and sat in the bus, me in the window seat with him by my side.
we talked for almost the entire ride there, exchanging our names and talking shit about distant relatives (my lord, we had the same type of humour). and when we grew bored of talking, we both decided to do something else. he plugged in his earphones and i found out that i couldn’t find mine anywhere.
i looked out of the window and i could tell it was going to be a long road.
he noticed and offered to share his wired ones. feeling utterly helpless, i gave in.
later, we discovered that our music tastes were very similar and i soon found myself scooting closer to him as we listened to his playlist together.
by the time shuffle lead us to ‘i guess i’m in love’, i knew the feeling burning up in my chest, threatening to spill over. it was beautiful and warm, like sunlight filtering in through the curtains. like the first day of spring, my heart was blooming and after a long time, i felt the butterflies.
but it couldn’t be, could it?
i woke up to the sound of mumma calling my name. i’d fallen asleep with my head in my arms, crossed on the windowsill while rain poured outside and my chai grew colder with each passing minute. right next to it, my phone had just finished playing the song “ek ladki bheegi bhagi si” on my wired earphones and suddenly the surreal scenario in my head made sense.
i guess it was a dream, after all.
Tumblr media
xoxo
90 notes · View notes
mikrotyalm13 · 2 months
Text
hehe.. hehehehhe... heheheheh. some info bout xiao
Tumblr media
hey there. 👁👁 where yo clothes at
Xiaolong/Xiao. about 200 years old/full height: 440 cm (14,4 ft), usual height: about 210 cm (6,8 ft)/naga/bisexual.
somewhat-normally-explained-background: Xiao most likely came from some respected family which he was extremely fed up with for a long time. neglectful family, strange formal events, lack of any personal life, all of that... so he stole a bunch of money from his father and ran away. he was forced to travel with humans, which is how he began to feel interest towards them. after that, he stopped in a nice, quiet little town, deciding to settle down in a local inn for a while. xiao quickly made friends with the owner of the place, an elderly woman, and soon started working there. old woman passed away, and he inherited the inn from her, which he runs to this day. basically, he wanted a quiet, calm and free life, which he achieved, even though now he's known as a seducer (this is marketing and he is just a really good host i swear).
xiao is very calm and laid-back, it's impossible to get him to argue (only in a playful or friendly way;)). even though he has employees, he still prefers to greet guests himself. but when colder times approach, he can often be seen napping behind the counter. curled up in his tail, in a chair or leaning against the counter itself. he usually wakes up to approaching footsteps faster than he is awakened. he may seem kinda lazy and unserious at first glance, but he's kind, gentle and caring.
- owns an inn with hot springs in a small town. the building itself is quite old, but he keeps it in good condition; - has a lot of piercings. to be exact: two in the bottom lip, ring in a left wing of his nose, four in his left ear, three in his right ear, and nipples. unfortunately, he can't get dick piercings bs his genitals are not out and about all the time; - takes pride in his absolutely gorgeous hair. it's not very thick, but very silky and soft. most of the time it's braided, and ends a little below his butt; - his only piece of real gold jewelry is his left, gold-plated fang; - the tail is heavy and strong, belly is yellow, the rest is black with flecks of pink and light yellow. has an almost pearly shimmering to his scales... very pretty and smooth...; - somewhat cold-blooded, does not experience brumation. but he'll never refuse some extra warmth, he loves hugs and any physical contact in general! if it's fall or winter and you're sleeping in one bed, he will wrap you in with his tail and will not let you go until afternoon; - even though he doesn't hibernate, with the onset of spring, the mating season affects him... well, quite noticeably. usually he will take a week off and lock himself in his room, but if he has a lover at the moment, he will avoid them with all his strength. because the process is long, he has two dicks, and if you'll really agree to everything, you both will be in his room for at least three days. you need to store some food and water for yourself, dear, bc you're not leaving.
59 notes · View notes
gimmethatagustd · 2 months
Text
venor (6) | kth + jjk
Tumblr media
The barista at the university’s café keeps telling Jungkook not to come back, but Jungkook is too busy daydreaming about kissing the beauty marks on his face to be paying attention to his warnings.
○ Pairing: Tiger!Taehyung x Bunny!Jungkook
○ Rating: Explicit/18+
○ Genre: Hybrids, predator/prey, college au, strangers to lovers, slow burn, fluff, light angst, eventual smut
○ Word Count: 3,727
○ Warnings: It's what the gworlies call self-lubrication aka slick, how delish
○ Notes: This one is dedicated to @remmykinsff cuz they realized i forgot to delete an old draft from my queue so i ended up posting the wrong fucking thing 😭 Also, I tried so hard not to write too much about the Amarna Period during the 18th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt 💀 It was hard to control myself tbh
○ Post Date: March 11, 2024
○ Masterlist | AO3 Cross-Post
○ What was Jai listening to? The series playlist
Series Masterlist
Tumblr media
“Are you sure you don’t want a jacket?” 
Taehyung’s question ends with his lips downturned. He leans against his car while he holds the door open for Jungkook and watches with narrow eyes as Jungkook scoots out of the passenger seat.
“I’m okay! We didn’t park that far from the entrance.” Jungkook’s attempt to look confident by crossing his arms against his chest makes him look even colder.
It’s relatively chilly outside, and despite Taehyung’s pestering, Jungkook hasn’t bothered to dress appropriately for the weather. He doesn’t miss the way Taehyung’s gaze drags over his body, taking inventory of his cropped sweater that stops just before the waistband of his tight, ripped jeans. When Jungkook turns around, he swears he sees Taehyung’s eyes drop to his fluffy white tail poking out of the little hole in his jeans. It almost excites him enough to wiggle, but he holds it in. He can’t possibly embarrass himself before their not -date has even begun.
It’s not really a date if they’re only going to the museum together for a school assignment, Yoongi had pointed out. Suyun said otherwise, but Jungkook isn’t sure if he should get his hopes up.
“Museums are always cold,” Taehyung finally points out before closing the car door behind Jungkook. “I have an extra one in the back.”
“I swear, I’m okay,” Jungkook rushes to shut Taehyung up. He grabs Taehyung’s wrist and tugs. “Let’s go!”
Surprisingly, Taehyung lets Jungkook drag him through the parking lot without fussing. By the time they slip through the museum’s front doors, Jungkook’s hand migrates down to Taehyung’s, their palms pressing together and fingers intertwining.
There aren’t many people lingering in the museum’s lobby, but the few around are mostly prey hybrids. One of them, a mouse hybrid, turns around so sharply to stare at Jungkook and Taehyung that it startles Jungkook into nearly tripping. She doesn’t speak when they walk past her toward the check-in desk, but her nose wiggles and pulls up into a deep scrunch. 
In the still air of the museum and without the outside breeze to muddle smells, even hybrids with weak senses can pick up Taehyung’s scent mingling with Jungkook’s. They bring with them the smell of a warm spring rainstorm, earthy and floral, life-bearing. 
Taehyung doesn’t seem to notice the mouse hybrid’s reaction to them — or he pretends not to, choosing to keep his attention on the task at hand. He had been focused like this on the drive from Jungkook’s dorm to the museum, so quiet that Jungkook had assumed he might be angry with him over them scenting each other. It wasn’t until a Girls’ Generation song came on the radio that Jungkook sang along to that Taehyung’s hard edge melted. 
It was overwhelming to be in such a small space with Taehyung, surrounded by his petrichor scent and distracted by the flick of his tail, which rested on the center console. Jungkook had to stop himself from staring while Taehyung drove, just like he has to stop himself now. 
On the outside, Jungkook is calm as he waits in line to buy their tickets for the Egyptian art exhibit. Internally, he’s freaking out over just how big Taehyung’s hand is. He even lets himself sneak a peek and tries not to burn with shy embarrassment when his heart flutters at how his hand is engulfed by Taehyung’s.
“Bun,” Taehyung calls out, bumping his shoulder against Jungkook’s. The ticket line is moving, and Jungkook isn’t.
He needs to pull himself together.
But first, he needs to pull himself apart from Taehyung.
Letting go of Taehyung’s hand, Jungkook reaches into his back pocket for his wallet. However, he’s too slow, and all he can do is watch as Taehyung slides his credit card to the employee behind the desk in exchange for two rectangular strips of paper.
“You’ll take the elevators to the left up to the third floor. The exhibit will be on your immediate right,” the employee explains, but Jungkook isn’t listening.
“Why did you do that?” Jungkook hisses as Taehyung heads toward the elevators, not even bothering to glance at Jungkook.
“Do what?”
“Pay for both of us!”
“Because I wanted to?” Taehyung shoots his arm out to stop the elevator doors from closing and ushers Jungkook inside.
There isn’t a reasonable rebuttal, so Jungkook glares at him while the elevator beeps as they pass the second floor. They stand on opposite sides, leaning against each wall's handrail. Luckily, the elevator doesn’t stop for anyone else to get on. 
“So pouty,” Taehyung smirks but keeps his eyes on the changing number above the elevator’s doors. “Don’t prey like to be taken care of?”
“No.” 
Jungkook’s answer comes too quickly, and his tone is too petulant. It makes Taehyung laugh, finally bringing his bright gaze to rest on Jungkook’s face.
“Not even little domesticated bunnies like you?” Taehyung teases.
“You’re domesticated, too!”
“Are tigers domesticated?” Taehyung’s boxy grin widens.
At a loss for words, Jungkook follows Taehyung out of the elevator.
As the museum employee said, the entrance to the exhibit Jungkook and Taehyung are looking for is directly to the right of the elevator lobby. Another employee in uniform stands at a small podium in front of the large glass doors to check guests’ tickets. He’s young, likely a college student working a part-time job, with black and orange striped ears poking out of straight black hair.
“Good afternoon,” the tiger hybrid greets lowly. He pauses to look over Taehyung before gazing over Jungkook’s form.
It’s intimidating, standing between two large predators. Jungkook never feels weak, but he feels meek, knowing he is the weakest one here. As usual, this doesn’t deter him. He stands with his head held high and his eyes locked on the employee.
“Have you visited before?” the employee asks Taehyung, who shakes his head. The employee explains the setup of the exhibit and then hands Taehyung a pamphlet about the artwork and a museum map in case they need it.
It shouldn’t bother Jungkook that the employee never speaks to him, but he feels irritation prickle his skin as he walks away. His mood must sour his scent or muddle his expression because Taehyung bumps shoulders with him again once they’re inside the exhibit.
“What’s up, bun? Already tired of being here?” Taehyung folds the pamphlet and map to stick them in the back pocket of his jeans. It’s obvious that he’s been to this museum before; he has only listened to the employees explain everything to be polite.
“That guy didn’t even talk to me. He only talked to you.”
“Oh, yeah.”
Jungkook pouts at Taehyung’s dismissive response. He doesn’t seem to be paying attention to what Jungkook says; instead, he is scrolling on his phone.
“Taehyung.”
“What, did you want him to talk to you?” Looking over, Taehyung gives Jungkook a boxy grin. “Did you think he was cute?”
“No!” Jungkook whispers harshly, peeking around to see if they’ve disturbed anyone with their talking.
Unconcerned about their surroundings, Taehyung advances on Jungkook, forcing him to shuffle further into the exhibit.
“Do you have a thing for tigers, Jungkook?”
Jungkook’s floppy ears hug tight to the side of his face, hiding him from Taehyung’s sparkling amber eyes. Mortified, he turns on his heel and walks past the large signage welcoming guests to learn more about Amarna art, the art style of the Amarna Period during the Eighteenth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. 
The exhibit comprises open rooms connected by long, wide hallways. Each room is organized by art medium, with the first devoted to sarcophagi. Taehyung follows Jungkook into the first room, laughing under his breath about Jungkook being “skittish.”
Jungkook pretends not to hear him.
“Starting off with the mummies is an interesting choice,” Taehyung mutters as he strolls through the massive glass display cases. Some of the sarcophagi are empty, and most are closed, but a few mummies are on display near the back of the room.
“Why do you say that?” Jungkook asks, his natural curiosity and infatuation with Taehyung winning over his desire to be pouty.
“Mummies are all people care about. Shouldn’t they make us work for it by putting them at the end?”
Jungkook shrugs.
“I’m sure people don’t only come for the mummies. If they’re paying money, they might as well see the whole exhibit.”
Taehyung gives Jungkook a look that tells him he’s being naive, but Jungkook doesn’t care. He wants to believe people aren’t so simple-minded, even if Taehyung is the one going to school to study this stuff.
Despite appreciating art and considering himself an artist, if only to an extent, Jungkook has spent little time in art museums. His parents never celebrated the value of the arts. It seems silly to think about since he’s an adult now and can visit museums whenever he wants. Perhaps having the chance to appreciate art at his own pace is part of why it feels nice to meander through the different rooms with Taehyung.
Jungkook is also self-aware enough to know that he’s enjoying himself because half of his energy goes into watching Taehyung examine the art. Every once in a while, they’ll run into other museum guests discussing the displays in hushed voices, and they even come across a small group tour, but for most of the visit, they’re on their own.
The solitude allows Jungkook to see Taehyung in what appears to be his element. Taehyung occasionally hums to himself as he squints at the pieces, though Jungkook most enjoys it when he frowns. When it seems like he really likes a piece of artwork, his tail skirts the floor, flicking up to curl around his calf like he’s giving himself a little hug. It makes Jungkook wonder what Taehyung is thinking about — if his thoughts are purely about the Art History assignment they’re working on or if there’s more to his analysis.
Jungkook quickly concludes that Taehyung is simply a giant nerd when he peeks over his shoulder to find Taehyung skimming an article on his phone about the statue he’s standing in front of.
“What made you want to study art?”
Taehyung slips his phone into his pocket and frowns at Jungkook’s question – his face stuck in art examination mode.
“I’m good at it. Making it, critiquing it, researching it,” Taehyung begins, his hands finding the pockets of his jean jacket. “But mostly because it’s rather magical, right? How is it possible for art to trigger our emotions? How can a painting or song make people cry? Or for sculptures to make us nostalgic for a world we didn’t come from?” Taehyung gestures to the wooden toy horse amongst other treasures found in a child’s tomb.
From what Jungkook has learned about Taehyung over the semester, he is more of an observer than a participant in conversations. Still, when Taehyung has something to say, he never fails to leave Jungkook speechless — for better or worse. 
They’re silent for the rest of their time in the exhibit, only stopping to exchange quiet words when they need to take pictures or write notes about certain art pieces. They take their time admiring the busts and sunken reliefs of the ancient pharaoh Akhenaten and his wife, Nefertiti.
Jungkook gets easily caught up in the transformative magic of art history, losing track of time and place as he examines canopic jars in glass cases on raised pedestals and takes too long reading the information placards next to every item.
Just over an hour passes before Jungkook and Taehyung reach the end of the exhibit. Jungkook feels like hardly any time has passed at all.
“Wait,” Taehyung pinches the sleeve of Jungkook’s sweater as he’s about to push through the exit doors to return to the main hallway. “We have to take a picture as evidence.”
“Professor Jung is so silly for that. Who is going to lie about going to the art museum?” Jungkook says with a laugh.
Taehyung gives him another skeptical look. “You are too trusting.”
Jungkook lets Taehyung pull him into his side to take a selfie in front of the exhibit signage. Taehyung’s arm is a heavy weight around Jungkook’s waist. He tries not to be obvious when he breathes in deeply to cherish their brief closeness as Taehyung takes the photo before stepping away.
Not once does Jungkook question spending alone time with a predator or letting one get so close to him. Maybe he is too trusting.
“Do you want to leave now?” Jungkook asks once they’re out in the hallway.
He pulls at the sleeves of his sweater, giving himself sweater paws and avoiding Taehyung to look down the hall where the elevators are instead. He doesn’t want to leave because leaving means Taehyung will take him home, and Jungkook wants to spend more time with him. He’s just afraid to say that out loud.
“Want to go back to my place?” Taehyung asks like it’s the easiest question in the world.
Feeling hot in the face, Jungkook hides behind his ears when he mumbles a shakey, “Sure.”
“Cool, cool,” Taehyung nods, tail flicking as he leads Jungkook through the winding hallways to get back to the elevator lobby. “We can get food and work on our project.”
It takes everything in Jungkook not to launch himself into a hyperactive fit of wiggles, even with such a strong urge to jump at Taehyung, to throw his arms around his neck and latch on for dear life. It’s just too much excitement all bottled up in the young bunny’s body. He tries to focus on getting back to the elevators and keeping his heart beating at a normal rate, so much so that he doesn’t realize he’s leading the way rather than Taehyung. 
Jungkook has definitely taken them down the wrong hallway because they end up in the Renaissance era rather than the elevator lobby. He’s so hyped up on excitable energy verging on panic that he forgets to ask Taehyung to check the museum map. 
“Bun, look at this portrait.”
Noticing that Taehyung is no longer behind him, Jungkook backtracks down the long, wide hallway. Whichever painting has caught Taehyung’s eye must be unique; he seems picky about art.
“Wait,” Taehyung grabs Jungkook’s arm and pulls him to the side, positioning him for the perfect viewing experience. “Okay, now look.”
Following Taehyung’s gaze, Jungkook turns to look at the portrait — only to realize that the art hanging on the wall isn’t a painting, but a mirror. The sixteenth-century walnut frame is impressive, rectangular, and adorned with beautiful carvings and gold details painted around its curled edges. In the middle is an oval glass, clear as a teardrop.
“Beautiful, isn’t he?” Taehyung whispers, his eyes meeting Jungkook’s through the mirror from where he stands to the side. “Who knew such gorgeous bunnies existed in Renaissance Italy.”
Jungkook watches with shining eyes as his cheeks turn pink in the mirror. Taehyung’s praise floods his body with warmth even as Jungkook trembles when Taehyung takes a step closer.
“Stop teasing me,” Jungkook whispers, afraid his voice might echo through the empty hall.
“I’m serious,” Taehyung purrs against the curve of his ear. He curls his arms around Jungkook’s waist, pulling him close in a back hug and making Jungkook’s breath quicken.
“You’re just saying that.”
Taehyung maintains firm eye contact with Jungkook through the mirror as his tongue darts out to lick his bottom lip. He’s warm and solid against Jungkook’s body, securely holding him into place when he trembles.
“Are you nervous?”
Breathless, Jungkook nods.
“Because little bunnies should stay away from big, scary tigers like me?” Taehyung teases in a syrupy voice that’s darker than it is sweet.
Is that why Jungkook can’t calm himself down? He doesn’t know; he can’t think straight. He watches a slow smile build on Taehyung’s face, one that ends up sharp and, well, predatory.
“I…”
“Hmm?” 
Taehyung presses his palm against Jungkook’s lower stomach and rests his chin on Jungkook’s shoulder.
“I don’t know.”
Jungkook licks his lips like Taehyung had, leaving them slightly parted as he tries to slow his breathing. He feels Taehyung’s quiet chuckle rumble through his chest and against his back. It brings Jungkook’s attention to the rest of his body, and he nearly goes weak in the knees when he realizes his ass rests against Taehyung’s crotch.
“Can I kiss you, bun?” Taehyung whispers in Jungkook’s ear. 
Jungkook can hardly formulate a response, every coherent thought fizzling from his brain like water evaporating off a summer sidewalk. It’s embarrassing how badly he wants to feel Taehyung’s lips on his. Rarely has he let himself consider the possibility that it may happen, always too shy – perhaps even insecure – to let such a genuine thought grow inside him. 
But now Taehyung’s breath fans across Jungkook’s neck, and he wishes he’d let himself fantasize more about the predator who’s always on his mind. Maybe then he could have been confident and sexy rather than the goopy mess he’s turning into as Taehyung cups his chin to tilt his face up and to the side. 
“Am I embarrassing myself right now by reading this whole day wrong?” 
“Y-yes,” Jungkook stammers, cheeks flushing pink. “I mean, no, yes, you can kiss me. Please.”
Taehyung’s sharp mouth turns boxy, and a bit of his predatory allure falls back to reveal the boyish charm Jungkook only rarely gets a glimpse of. 
“Good,” Taehyung hums as he slides his hand along to grip the back of Jungkook’s neck. 
Jungkook’s breath gets caught in his throat when Taehyung squeezes his neck to hold him in place. His grip isn’t tight, but his hand is large, and his hold is firm. The odd sense of security it brings Jungkook makes him feel gooey inside. 
Despite his aggressive hold on Jungkook, Taehyung kisses him gently. It starts with a soft but sure press of Taehyung’s lips against Jungkook’s, close-mouthed and almost a test run, as if Taehyung thinks Jungkook might pull back if he dives in too deeply. 
When Jungkook doesn’t, Taehyung kisses him harder, running his tongue over the seam of Jungkook’s lips until they part with a small gasp. Emboldened, he sucks Jungkook’s bottom lip into his mouth, swiping his tongue and dragging his teeth over it before he lets it go with a wet sound far too loud for a museum’s hallway.
“I love that you smell like me,” Taehyung murmurs against Jungkook’s lips before capturing them again and slipping his hot tongue inside Jungkook’s mouth. 
Jungkook twists in Taehyung’s embrace so their fronts fully press together. Throwing one arm over Taehyung’s shoulder and using his free hand to grip the front of Taehyung’s shirt, Jungkook pulls him close so Taehyung can hold up his weight. There’s no way Jungkook can stand properly when Taehyung is sucking on his tongue and biting his bottom lip, coaxing out shameless whimpers from the bunny hybrid.
“You taste so good,” Taehyung murmurs against Jungkook’s lips when they finally pull back just enough to breathe. He slides his hands down Jungkook’s back to grab his ass, squeezing and kneading it in his large palms.
“Oh,” Jungkook gasps and tightens his arm around Taehyung’s neck. Heat floods his body as his floral scent sweetens and spikes so strongly that Taehyung audibly inhales. 
It’s Jungkook’s slick. He can feel it drip between his cheeks and soak his briefs. It’s embarrassing how his body pulses with desire, stronger than he has ever felt in his entire life.
“Fuck, Jungkook,” Taehyung growls as he surges forward to steal another kiss. The deep, gravelly sound makes Jungkook leak more slick. 
Taehyung squeezes Jungkook’s ass again, this time pulling him closer when he does and forcing their hips to grind together.
“Taehyung,” Jungkook tries to speak through his uncontrollable whimpers. They’re making out in the middle of a museum, and now, Jungkook is so wet that he’s sure he has soaked through his pants. “Taehyung, there are cameras.”
“I know.” Taehyung grins into the kiss, causing his teeth to press against Jungkook’s lips.
It isn’t until Taehyung’s fingers brush Jungkook’s fluffy tail that Jungkook finally jerks away.
“Tae,” Jungkook rasps, panting and flooded with embarrassment that leaves his body shaking. “I’m, I, um...” 
Flustered, Jungkook trails off. He tries to look away, but Taehyung squeezes his chin, thumb pressing his cheek to force him to look at Taehyung. 
“Hey, bun,” Taehyung speaks softly, “I’m sorry. I got carried away.”
“My pants,” is all Jungkook manages to say, his brain a fuzzy mess, the only coherent thought being Taehyung Taehyung Taehyung. 
“Shit, take my jacket.” Taehyung quickly removes his jean jacket and wraps it around Jungkook’s waist, tying it by the sleeves at the front so the rest of the jacket covers Jungkook’s butt where his slick has leaked through his pants. 
“Can anyone tell?” Jungkook whispers while checking over his shoulder to see if other museum guests are nearby. 
“You’re okay.” Taehyung chews his bottom lip, cheeks tinged pink and eyes heavy. “I can take you home.”
“No!” 
Taehyung raises his eyebrows, and Jungkook feels his face burn even hotter. 
“You don’t want me to take you home?” 
Jungkook plays with the sleeves of Taehyung’s jacket, and a different kind of warmth floods his body when he considers how well Taehyung is trying to take care of him. He knows he should go home, but he doesn’t want to leave Taehyung – especially not with his lips tingling from his kiss and his head spinning from how Taehyung had sounded, practically moaning his name. 
“I thought we were going to work on our projects together…”
Jungkook doesn’t mean to put on the charm; his sparkly doe eyes naturally react to how giddy and alive Taehyung makes him feel.
With a grin that makes Jungkook’s stomach flutter, Taehyung grabs the jacket sleeves tied around Jungkook’s waist and tugs, forcing Jungkook to stumble toward him. It’s impossible to deny how much Jungkook enjoys Taehyung taking control and how Taehyung looms over him when they’re standing flush against each other – especially when Jungkook starts leaking even more slick. 
“Let’s go.” Taehyung’s sharp canines glint in the fluorescent lighting, and Jungkook finds it difficult to swallow. 
What has Jungkook gotten himself into?
Tumblr media
Series Masterlist
Disclaimer: All my writing is fictional and for entertainment purposes only. None of these characters are meant to actually represent the real people mentioned in the stories. 
All rights reserved © @gimmethatagustd​ - Do not copy, repost, modify, or translate any of my writing. Do not use my writing for any AI purposes whatsoever. Do not use my fics for anything aside from reading and commenting on them. My fics will only be posted on this Tumblr and on AO3 (gimmethatagustd & daddytaehyungie). Request an AO3 account here.
57 notes · View notes
hwajin · 1 year
Text
#! — 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠
Tumblr media Tumblr media
boyfriend stuff during spring!! since it's finallyyyy getting warmer where i live hehe
genre: fluff
pairing: skz x gn!reader
warnings: mentions of food, veryyy soft in general tho <3
Tumblr media
ᴄʜᴀɴ
the australian in him longs for warm weather so when it finally starts getting sunnier and the remainings of snow melt away he's outside with you as much as he can! doing nothing in particular as well - he simply loves being out, even if that only means booking an outdoor seat at some café he's invited you to. loveslovesloves taking you on rides as well! he'd pick you up right before sunset, loving how set sun would set later and later with each day, enjoying ever added minute of daytime he can possibly get with you, and would drive around remote field paths or forest clearings to find a spot perfect for sunset watching. would have snacks and drinks prepared, a couple blankets and pillows to throw into the trunk to get comfortable in it.
ʟɪɴᴏ
bro takes you camping even if you hate it 😭. it'll either be a bet or another form of luring you into it, and you're so reluctant to go he has to console you all the way there. like argues that camping during spring especially is PERFECT because it's not too hot or cold, you have some alone time away from everyone, you'll be closer to nature, can enjoy a nice campfire by night and he's so enthusiastic about it all that you can't help but be infected slightly by it (though you obv wouldn't give into his words, arguing back and forth that you can all those things on a different type of vacation.) you'll end up enjoying it though, especially since it's him you're with — you won't have to do much cooking or prepping or bedmaking, even — he knows you're with him not out of full free will so he'll silently (without rlly admitting) takes over everything to make your stay a bit more pleasant. and admittedly, watching the sunset and the following sky if stars with him has a certain satisfaction to it.
ᴄʜᴀɴɢʙɪɴ
he's a romantic so the moment the weather hits anything above 15 degrees celcius he dragssss you outside for good old typical couple stuff. will plan picknicks even though the grass is still damp with condensation and will invite you for ice cream even though you're not yet craving it due to lack of actual warmth but he's just so excited the weather is getting warmer and you can finally do stuff aside from watching movies at home :((. will sulk for days on end when the weather suddenly gets super rainy or super cold again, which you'd have to take into your own hands to cheer him up again - cooking for him or inviting him out for dinner, or simply dragging him outside while it's pouring rain because he can't stop pouting over not being able to go outside - which is all but wrong, and as silly as it'd be you'd end up laughing about getting soaked and cheesily kissing in the rain.
ʜʏᴜɴᴊɪɴ
another romantic candidate though he's less motivated himself if the weather is colder than expected. he loves, however, whenever the sun comes out, even for a little bit - will want to be outside, even if only sitting on a park bench, letting your faces sun bathe while thick coats still kept your bodies from shivering to death. he'd love walks so much too!! would love to explore all sorts of new places by walking around unknown city parts and areas, ocassionally sitting down in restaurants or cafés if they're accustomed to both your liking. you'd talk about everything and nothing, or would sometimes not talk at all - simply sit in silence while he'd unpack his notebook and pencil, doodling you and everything around him to memorize the day.
ᴊɪsᴜɴɢ
is a homebody even when warmer weather comes around so you'd have to be one dragging the man outside 😫. even convincing him for a walk is a task not easily handled, though he wouldn't be able to say to you on the long run if you'd nag at him for the remaining day until he'd actually agree to walk a round or two with you around the neighbourhood (you'd love to walk a bit more, though you'd decide to not let him suffer for much longer.) you'd spend a bunch of evenings outside simply watching the sunset together because you both love how late they are getting and how much longer you can stay up and still see that darkness hasn't yet occupied the night.
ғᴇʟɪx
starts buying SO many fruits you have to use half of them to bake something for them to not grow moldy omg. like he loves how seasonal fruits are finally cheaper and way more delicious, tasting all the more natural and fitting to spring. starts baking strawberry cakes like every other weekend because he loves bringing it to picknicks you'd plan whenever the weather is warm enough and loves that you love it just as much as the other stuff he bakes :(. would DRAG you to some lake or a public swimming pool the moment it gets a tad warmer because he loves to be in the water when the sun hits the earth in hotter temperatures (it's be way too cold still, but somehow none of you would mind much if it was the two of you together.)
sᴇᴜɴɢᴍɪɴ
he's a determined and hard working boy but i feel like he'd LOVEEE to lazy around in bed in the morning with you, listening to those morning birds that only ever start singing when spring comes around. in general gets so much lazier with you, like he loves basking in the sun when it's out and shining warmly, not thinking of possible assignments or duties — loves just enjoying the starts of spring and early summer with you. is so excited whenever you go to a lake or someplace similar, runs around teasing you, splashing water even though it's freezing still and you end up soaked and falling sick probably but you'd do it all again </3.
ᴊᴇᴏɴɢɪɴ
mall dates all day every day!! he looooves shopping for new clothes that he can wear in warmer weather, especially with you!! loves getting fashion advice from you and giving out some himself, enjoying the teasing you'd confine into. you'd play a game of picking out outfits for the other, purposefully chosing outrageous ones and laughing about it when the other stepped out of the changing room, taking pictures to remember how silly each of you looked. would end up buying a couple matching sets (those that look cool together and not all cringy) and would wear both fits to the next date, be it going out for ice cream or seeing a movie and enjoying how after stepping out of the theater the sun would still not be fully set.
Tumblr media
@leihey @happycandynoelle @hyvndee @cotccotc @etherealeeknow @linoskitty @unexceptional-h @rseanne @es-kay-zee @urcracksisx @jeyelleohe @yunkiwii @etheralsung @nyrasneedy @seochhj @spidercomics @chans-starlight @angelwonie @lix-ables @yvniek4ng @ppiri-bahng @sstarryreads @svintsandghosts @bokjaz @llunapastell @sensitiveandhungry @minniesvenus
325 notes · View notes
notthesomefather · 4 months
Text
Modern Heathenry 101
Hi folks! I've updated my blog to include a heathenry 101 tag. I also worked on summarizing how I view modern heathenry from a US-based, progressive perspective:
Who is allowed to practice heathenry?
Everyone!  Heathenry is not a closed practice.  Regardless of your gender, age, orientation, race, cultural background, physical or mental abilities, or any other factor–you are welcome, appreciated, and loved by the gods.
What is heathenry?
Heathenry is an animistic belief system where we honor our ancestors, gods within the Norse pantheon, and the elemental spirits all around us.  There is no one centralized heathen faith, and traditions will vary largely depending on community, region, and era.  There are no sacred texts, though many heathens read the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda to get an introduction to our gods (as they are depicted in myths and sagas).
Who do you worship?
Details vary based on the individual or community, but generally speaking heathens honor gods within the Norse pantheon. 
This pantheon includes: Odin, Frigg/Freyja, Freyr, Thor, Tyr, Njord, Loki, Hel, and many more.  Each of these figures is dynamic and cannot be boiled down to a simple “god of ___” label.  Some heathens exclusively worship patron deities to whom they feel a special connection and sense of dedication, while other heathens maintain relationships with numerous deities.
Ancestor work can be general or highly specific.  Heathens may offer prayers to the Disir, female spirits of the family who help carry traditions, memories, and connections alive throughout the generations.  Heathens may also opt to honor individual ancestors with whom they share a strong connection.  In any instance, it is love not blood which constitutes ancestry.  Many heathens feel drawn to honor “cultural” ancestors rather than blood-relatives (example: a heathen who is Black or LGBTQIA+ may feel drawn towards honoring a deceased activist or fellow community member).
What are some things which constitute a modern practice?
Many heathens practice group ritual while others are solitary.  Every group will follow different traditions but common ones include:
holiday rituals
symbels (opportunities to toast one another and our accomplishments)
blots (specialized rituals dedicated to a specific deity)
ceremonies (weddings, funerals, and things of that nature)
In their day-to-day lives heathens will often wear a Mjolnir pendant as a reminder of the gods’ most prized gift and the source of their protector’s strength (Thor’s hammer).
Heathens will typically have at least one altar space in their homes.  This can be used to honor deities, ancestors, or other figures.  Altars vary dramatically in terms of appearance–some are minimalist and simple while others are lavishly decorated.  This depends largely on personal preference, budget, availability of materials, and personal security (unfortunately, some heathens cannot safely set up an altar in their current living situation).  Another option is the use of a pocket-altar, sometimes called a travel-altar.
What holidays do you observe?
Holidays historically varied depending on location.  Typically these holidays relate to concepts of growth, gratitude, and reflection. There is not one set list of holidays which all heathens celebrate, but there do tend to be commonalities:
Holidays that take place in spring will tend to honor gods who represent youth, new beginnings, and hope. 
Holidays in summer tend to celebrate growth, hard work, and fertility. 
Holidays in the autumn are typically opportunities to celebrate the accomplishments we’ve made throughout the year as well as to prepare for the darker, colder times ahead. 
Holidays in the winter tend to relate to reflection and thinking about things we can shed or invite as the new year begins.
Holidays can be celebrated individually or as part of a group. Here are some of the holidays my group observes.
What are some common symbols or visuals related to heathenry?
Many heathens view Mjolnir (Thor’s hammer) as the main symbol signifying their faith.  This is typically worn as a necklace, though heathens may wear one in a myriad of different ways or not at all. 
Elder futhark runes are also common symbols associated with heathenry.  The futhark are representative of the sacred runes our god Odin learned during a journey of self-sacrifice and searching for spiritual wisdom.  Many heathens use these runes for divination purposes or to receive messages from our gods and ancestors, while others do not interact with the runes in a spiritual sense.
There are other symbols associated with heathenry that have been appropriated by white supremacists.  These include the runes Othala, Sowilo, and Elhaz; the Valknut; and sometimes even Mjolnir itself.  These images are not inherently harmful, and many heathens feel it is our duty to combat this appropriation by showing these symbols in their proper, progressive contexts.
What are some books I can read to learn more?
Here are a few books about the Norse myths I recommend:
The Poetic Edda by Jackson Crawford
The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson
The Wanderer’s Havamal by Jackson Crawford
The Havamal by The Asatru Community
Essential Asatru by Diana Paxson
Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland
The Viking Spirit by Daniel McCoy
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
And here are some books about runes I recommend:
The Way of Fire and Ice: the Living Tradition of Norse Paganism, by Ryan Smith
Rudiments of Runelore, by Stephen Pollington
North Sea Rune Poems, by N. Solheim-Davidson
Norwegian Runes and Runic Inscriptions, by Terje Spurkland
Taking Up the Runes, by Diana L. Paxson
78 notes · View notes
acourtofmenandthirst · 10 months
Text
DREAMS NOT NIGHTMARES
Tamlin x Reader - another redemption piece <3
Warnings: sad boy hour, I think that’s it
Word Count: 1.8K
The Spring nights were cold - they’d grown colder and colder each year that passed since the war. The High Lord was back, ruling with such vigor some thought he rivaled Beron. While the young Fae, just a few hundred years old - the generation that lost many young soldiers in the war - spoke of rumors and whispers that Tamlin had come back with a vengeance, preparing to reap reparations from the war, to strike revenge against the Night Court and the High Lady who embarrassed him.
Older Fae, your parents included, remembered a time where they knew only this iron fist, the harsh laws, and mandatory labor - a court ruled by Tamlin’s father. The High Lord who beat his sons, who encouraged the decimation of the lower class, and ruled by example: letting his sons beat each other to within an inch of their lives.
Both were wrong, though. While the wolfish male had a certain desperation to rebuild his court, to regain his seat at the High Lord’s table, he did not seek vengeance nor fame; he could not save his reputation by changing what happened in the past. The male was set on forgetting all that had occurred, letting the High Lady of the Night Court rule with her husband and child in peace. He hadn’t forgiven her for destroying his court from the inside out, hadn’t forgiven himself for what transpired with Amarantha; there was too much wrongdoing over the past century - it was time to heal.
And maybe he rubbed some Fae the wrong way in doing so. He was a gruff male, never one to have a way with words in front of crowds. A male who never thought he’d be High Lord - never wanted to be High Lord, in fact - had no business earning the trust of the court he handled so poorly and managed to let fall to pieces. But all he could do was try.
Perhaps it was the visit Rhysand paid to the male, in which he prepared him elk for dinner, that spurred Tamlin on; that had his gears turning enough to take that first step into recovery. Maybe it was saving Feyre and her mate for the umpteenth time, letting them live together with their happy little family, that had him itching to build that for himself.
First thing first, he needed to reestablish rule. Maybe the Fae had grown used to fending for themselves and slandering their leader. But the High Lord had emerged from the forest with soldiers and sentries flanking either side. It was a sight you hadn’t expected to see if your lifetime, not one you saw even as a younger Fae. You’d never seen the male before - not even at the Tithe; your parents had presented him with a sack of golden coins.
That’s the way the court was ruled, it’s how his father ruled, his father before him, and so on. You weren’t sure when the other courts abolished it - you were sure the Court of Nightmares had to have a similar system, or perhaps they were ruled by fear only. Beron surely used both methods.
Tamlin had announced the end of the Tithe. The Fae were expected to pick up where they left off, resow fields and build up the town. Lumber and stone to be used from his estate until the mills were operational and the Fae were able to produce goods. A few murmurs in the crowd erupted, clouding your ears. Not that you could hear much over your racing heartbeat, the blood pumping wildly in your veins muffled even the High Lord’s words as you stared up at him. You fisted handfuls of your skirt, the soft cotton grounding you in the only way you could find as you stood amongst the crowd.
The High Lord’s glowing eyes scanned the crowd. Perhaps he was taking count, how many young male and females were left; he might have been looking for familiar faces, his friends, Hart or Bron; but he was looking for the one who caused his breath to catch in his throat. Those emerald eyes fell to you, the Fae with the flushed face in the crowd of colorful skin, some sunburnt, others golden and tanned, shades of green and pink, some wood grained, some feline in nature. But it was you - the plain female Fae, no powers, no wolf form - that he locked eyes with and nearly doubled over at the pang in his chest.
Your heart rate picked up to match his, rib cage expanding with breath as you tried to calm yourself. “I think he’s staring at you,” your friend whispered, catching glimpse of the High Lord’s gaze.
You shrugged, turning away once the High Lord had disappeared with his army. “I think it was the female in front of me,” you relied, willing your voice to be as level as possible, nodding a head toward the cute young Fae. “Did you see the vines she braided in her hair? Must have done it special for him.”
Your friend laughed, missing the way you bit your lip to keep it from shaking and the hand you pressed to your sternum, palm digging into the cramp that had formed under your ribs.
You smiled to yourself, face pressed against your plush pillow, remembering that day - and how it had only taken him a few hours to find you in your parents garden after that. You pulled your blankets tighter around yourself, the evening cold biting at your skin through the open window, the one you left open every night in case he would come by.
He would not be welcomed through the front door, not with your parents sleeping so soundly in their bedroom down the hall. Despite you telling him multiple times that they’d probably bow to him and gladly send you off to his estate to live in the lap of luxury mated to the High Lord, Tamlin knew many Fae still hated him. He did not want to risk your reputation or safety.
“You should be sleeping,” came his low voice, huffing only slightly as he stepped through the narrow window opening. He untangled his legs from the flowing curtains, turning to promptly shut the window.
“I tried,” you confessed, sitting up in your bed, letting the covers pool around your waist. The cold air nipped at you, causing goosebumps to prickle over your arms. But Tamlin’s large hands found your biceps in greeting, thumbs brushing against your skin as he knelt beside the bed next to you. “How could I sleep knowing you’d come visit me?”
A smile pulled at the corner of his pink lips. “You’re too sweet for me.” At that, you scrunched your nose, knowing how the male was a secret hopeless romantic - he loved your sweet words, your soft praises, and sappy love quotes.
You grabbed a handful of blankets and opened them up, making a move to push yourself over in the bed, before Tamlin’s hand fell to yours and stopped you, instead tucking the blankets up over your hips again. “I shouldn’t stay,” he whispered, eyes still focused on the mismatch of fabric over your lap.
“You should stay,” you replied simply. “It’s been far too long since we spent an evening together here.” Secret rendezvous were saved for the nighttime, in which you’d sneak out to wander the forest with him or stay with him at the Spring Estate, rarely at your home. “Besides - ” his eyes flitted to yours once your soft hand crept up to his cheek. “I’m far too comfortable to leave my bed now.”
“You’re so close to falling back asleep,” he chucked as you tried (and failed) to suppress a small yawn.
“Come fall asleep with me.” Your soft voice was so difficult to say no to. “I’ll tell you about my dream earlier. You were in it.”
He kissed your open palm - the one that had been cradling his jaw, scratching the new scruff that had grown over night. Those emerald eyes glowed against the moonlight, shining with a sparkle of gold. His voice was gruff against your skin, but his words tickled no less. “They call that a nightmare, right?”
You frowned, and he couldn’t help but mirror the action. He wouldn’t have been able to stop the words forming from his lips even if he tried. “I’ve had plenty of nightmares over the past century,” you replied, failing to hide the bitterness in your tone - his pointed ears flinched behind his blond locks. “You were the subject of none of them.”
He nodded so faintly that if your hand wasn’t holding his face, you wouldn’t have been able to tell. He knew that even if you were telling the truth, if he wasn’t physically those wretched dreams, he was the cause: the war, the famine, the downfall of the Spring Court - all him.
And if he wasn’t careful in rebuilding, the cold that haunted the spring evenings would soon bring frost. The morning dew would turn to ice and the magic that would as woven into the lands of the Prythian Court would die, leaving nothing bust Dusk in its wake.
Though he knew you were not sharing the same thoughts at that very moment, you still felt the shiver run down your spine that earned a shutter from you. But Tamlin surrendered, standing abruptly, kicking off his boots and stripping to his undergarments. You smiled broadly, blissful sleep still lacing your features.
You quickly made room for him in your narrow bed, shoving off a few blankets - the male ran hot, even in his Fae form, he still radiated a lethal amount of heat. He slid in beside you, broad chest pressed firmly into your side. You hummed in satisfaction, the bond in your chest finally calming down as your body recognized your mate beside you. Tamlin bent his head downwards to press a kiss to the side of your head but was dissatisfied, opting to turn you in his arms until your front was firmly up against his, your face resting right over his heart, the top of your head falling perfectly into the crook of his neck.
He hummed in approval; you recognized his own heartbeat falling into sync with yours: fully at ease. Your hands traced lines across his chest, the thick muscled ridges carved into his torso. His fingers tangled in torn nightgown, bunching it up at the waist so he could feel the soft skin of your back and thighs against him. His hands lazily moved across your curves, as if each part of you would melt into him until you became one being.
Your hand moved up to trace the outer shell of his ear, a sensitive spot that turned the male into putty in your hands. You stroked his hair, splayed out behind him on your fluffy pillow. “Sweet dreams, my love,” you whispered against his skin,
His arms tightened around your waist, curling around your back in a tight embrace. A hug. A gesture which the male so desperately needed, that made him feel so safe, holding you in his arms. “I’ll dream only of you,” he promised, lips brushing the crown of your head. “You and those sweet words and sweet kisses.”
161 notes · View notes
visit-new-york · 1 year
Text
Bethesda Terrace
Tumblr media
Bethesda Terrace and surrounding areas:
Wedding and Engagement Photos: Bethesda Terrace is a popular spot for wedding and engagement photoshoots due to its romantic ambiance and picturesque setting. The elegant architecture and the angel-topped fountain make for stunning backdrops for these special occasions.
Four Seasons: Bethesda Terrace offers a different experience in each season. In the spring, the terrace is surrounded by blooming flowers, while in the fall, the changing leaves create a vibrant and colorful landscape. During the winter, the terrace can be especially enchanting when covered in snow, and the fountain is occasionally frozen.
Ice Skating: In the colder months, Central Park's Wollman Rink, located just a short walk from Bethesda Terrace, offers ice skating. Skating in this idyllic setting with the terrace in the background is a beloved winter activity for locals and visitors alike.
Central Park Conservatory Garden: Located to the north of Bethesda Terrace, the Central Park Conservatory Garden is a beautifully landscaped formal garden with various themed sections, including Italian, French, and English gardens. It's a tranquil oasis within the park and is worth exploring if you're in the area.
Bethesda Terrace in Popular Culture: Apart from its appearances in movies and music videos, Bethesda Terrace has been featured in various television shows and commercials. Its iconic status in popular culture has made it a recognizable symbol of Central Park worldwide.
Preservation Efforts: The preservation of Bethesda Terrace and other historic structures in Central Park is an ongoing effort. Conservationists work tirelessly to maintain the terrace's original character and ensure its longevity for future generations to enjoy.
Public Art and Events: The area surrounding Bethesda Terrace often hosts temporary public art installations and cultural events. These events add an extra layer of vibrancy and creativity to the terrace's atmosphere.
Central Park's Role in the Community: Bethesda Terrace, along with the rest of Central Park, plays a crucial role in the lives of New Yorkers. It serves as a space for relaxation, exercise, cultural events, and community gatherings, providing a respite from the bustling city streets.
Whether you're visiting Central Park for its natural beauty, historical significance, cultural events, or simply to take in the sights and sounds of the city, Bethesda Terrace remains a timeless and enchanting destination that captures the essence of this iconic urban park.
Angel of the Waters: The sculpture atop the Bethesda Fountain, known as the "Angel of the Waters," is not only a beautiful work of art but also carries symbolic significance. It represents the healing powers of water, which aligns with the terrace's proximity to the Central Park Lake and the Ramble.
Wedding Proposals: Due to its romantic setting and picturesque backdrop, Bethesda Terrace is a popular spot for marriage proposals. Many couples choose this location to pop the question, making it a memorable and sentimental place for them.
Central Park Zoo: Just a short walk from Bethesda Terrace is the Central Park Zoo. It's a family-friendly attraction that houses a variety of animals and offers educational programs for visitors of all ages. It's a great place to complement your visit to the terrace.
Artists and Street Performers: Bethesda Terrace often attracts artists and street performers who set up their easels, create artwork, or showcase their talents, adding to the artistic atmosphere of the area.
Boat Rentals: Nearby Loeb Boathouse offers rowboat and gondola rentals for a serene experience on the Central Park Lake. Paddling around the lake can be a relaxing and enjoyable way to spend time in the park.
Historical Significance: Bethesda Terrace is not only a beautiful architectural feature but also a piece of New York City history. It has been a gathering place for generations of New Yorkers and remains a symbol of the enduring allure of Central Park.
Views and Photography: The terrace offers some of the best views in Central Park, whether you're looking out over the lake or capturing the intricate architectural details of the terrace itself. It's a fantastic location for photography enthusiasts.
Restaurants and Dining: The Central Park Boathouse Restaurant, located adjacent to the terrace, offers both casual and fine dining experiences with a view of the lake. It's a great place to enjoy a meal while taking in the park's beauty.
In conclusion, Bethesda Terrace in Central Park is a multifaceted destination that appeals to a wide range of interests and activities. Whether you're seeking relaxation, cultural enrichment, natural beauty, or a touch of romance, this iconic spot within Central Park has something to offer everyone who visits.
Bethesda Terrace  Read more
281 notes · View notes