#one is still a pet and the other is living medical equipment

[percival-bluejay-atrocities]

There’s a really concerning number of people that believe that their dog/cat understands and believes human rules and morals. No they do not.

Dogs do not need to accompany people everywhere and any dog you take to a public area should be required to wear a leash. I don’t care that you think your dog is harmless or safe, it is still a dog with instincts

#they love to scream ‘oh my little dog would never hurt a fly’ #you look over and it’s a fucking terrier #or worse any poodle mix #also adding that ​if your ESA hasn’t been trained it’s still essentially a pet #I’m not calling it an ESA unless you’ve put it through training and it shouldn’t be given the same permissions as a medical alert animal #ESAs help majorly for some people but you will not die without your ESA by you #a disabled person very well might die without their alert animal #one is still a pet and the other is living medical equipment #legally speaking anyways

[hopepetal]

This story is set in @applestruda's boatem knights au!

Masterlist

AO3

Enjoy :)

Once upon a time, there lived a huntsman with a heart of gold. 

The huntsman was of the lonely sort, for the only company he kept was that of his horse and his dogs. Save for the occasional rare trip to a village, or a passerby stumbling upon his camp, the huntsman did not interact much with others of his kind. That was just fine with him, as he had long been content with conversing with the trees. They were much better listeners than any human would be, he found, as was the case with his animals. 

He had lived in the forest his whole life. He was a part of the forest's family, and respected her bounties and blessings with humble grace and thanks. He respected and protected the forest, and in return she did the same for him. During the warmer months, she'd provide him with good hunting in order to prepare him for the biting cold and sparsity of the later months. 

It was during one of the colder months– a particularly bitter winter, as the huntsman had been making his way further north during the summer. He had prepared well for this trip, as he didn't wish for his animals to suffer needlessly from the cold. He had spent quite a bit of time bartering and trading to get all the equipment, but it was worth the comfort of his closest companions. 

Clearly his dogs were fine, he thought to himself as they once again began chasing each other around in the snow, barking playfully and kicking up powder in his general direction. Shivering slightly and thanking the trees for breaking the wind, the huntsman led his horse carefully through the woods. His dogs ran ahead, as they usually did, and he followed their path. They were much better than actual compasses, and not because they were better at directions. The huntsman had a tendency to lose or damage the small devices, and besides, one couldn't pet a compass. 

It was only when a strange bark joined the chorus that the huntsman felt fear shoot through him. His dogs did sometimes run into others of their kind, those that still felt the song of the wild in their veins. Not wanting his dogs to be injured, the huntsman hurriedly made his way to where his dogs had stopped and were growling at a wolf far larger than the huntsman had ever seen. Its fur was the same bright shade of the snow, and intelligent eyes the same sharp blue as the sky. 

The huntsman called his dogs back, confused as to why the wolf wasn't attacking or running. In fact, it was quite calm for an animal of its species, laying calmly on the ground and watching the huntsman move. Taking a step forward, it became clear to him when he saw the contrast of red blood against the snow and its fur. The wolf had been caught in a trap, and had likely been stuck there for some time. It had resigned itself to its fate after struggling, and that broke the huntsman's heart. 

Slowly, he approached the wolf, being careful to not make any sudden movements. It was strangely calm, especially for a trapped animal. The huntsman knelt in the snow and reached out, stopping right before his hand brushed against the wolf’s fur. Murmuring words of comfort and safety, the huntsman allowed the wolf to sniff at his hand before continuing. He found the trap its leg was caught in, sighing in relief when he recognized the type of trap. He was quick to find the release mechanism and activate it, remaining tense just in case the wolf decided to pounce. To his surprise, it didn’t, although it may have been due to the injury.

Thinking quickly, the huntsman reached into his bag and began to search for medical supplies. He wasn’t able to find any before a warm breeze swept through the clearing, and all of his dogs went still as something changed. With the sudden warmth came the sweet scent of honey apple cinnamon springtime flowers–

Ah.

That–

Woah. Big lady. 

The huntsman scrambled back, eyes wide as the snow simply melted around the woman’s feet and flowers sprung from the earth. The woman wore a flowing blue dress that turned into flowers at the ends, and behind her fluttered golden wings like stained glass. Hair the colour of cherry blossoms flowed down her back, and twin antlers poked out from under her hair.

She was a fae, the huntsman did not doubt, though he had never seen nor heard of one like this. Fae didn’t usually just reveal themselves to humans, not unless they had done something wrong. The huntsman swallowed the lump in his throat and prayed to gods he wasn’t quite sure he believed in.

“Huntsman.” The fae’s voice washed over him like sunlight and warmth, and he found himself relaxing. “You have shown my youngest wolf a great kindness. I appreciate this.” With a swirling, sparkling magic, the wolf’s injury healed and the blood faded. It yipped in excitement and bounded over to the fae, pressing against her happily. 

The huntsman blinked, before nodding. “You… yeah. No biggie. Uh.”

The fae laughed, a charming sound, and knelt in the circle of flowers she had created so that their heights were more level. “May I have your name?” she asked with a cheeky grin, and the huntsman shook his head. “Oh, you are smart, as well as kind. Very well. What may I call you, then?”

The huntsman felt his cheeks heating up and took a shaky breath. “Well, uh, huntsman! Huntsman is fine! I quite like that, actually.”

His stumbling amused the fae greatly, and she laughed again. “Very well then. Huntsman, to repay you for your kindness in setting my wolf free, I will gift you with one made from magic and shadows.”

The huntsman had forgotten how much emphasis the fae put on equal trade and deals. “Th–” He cut himself off quickly. “...that’s very nice,” he got out, choosing each word with care. “But will a wolf get along well with my horse and my dogs?” he asked.

The fae smiled, nodding. “Of course, dear Huntsman. It is, after all, a repayment for the kindness you showed, as we will never meet again.” With that, she began to weave magic and shadow together with her hands, a mesmerizing process that the huntsman had never seen before. From that was born a mighty wolf with a pelt as dark as the shadows and eyes the piercing yellow of the sun. 

The huntsman watched in awe as the wolf let out a mighty bark before bounding over to him, sniffing and pressing against him like any of his dogs would. “Oh! Eeeeasy there… boy? Girl? Y’know what, doesn’t matter. Your name is Geraldine.” He looked up at the fae. “Tha– goodness, I’m not good at this. She’s perfect, thank you.”

The fae beamed. “She is in fact a she. And Geraldine is a lovely name, befitting of a mighty wolf.” She stood, her wolf at her side. “Now that your kindness has been repaid, I must be leaving. Goodbye, Huntsman, and may the wilds bless you.” She and the wolf disappeared with a warm breeze, similar to how she had appeared, leaving the huntsman stunned on the ground. 

“Woah,” the huntsman breathed, glancing around at his animals. “That was… wild.”

He knew one thing, and one thing only. 

He was going to find her again, somehow. He was too stubborn not to.

When Joel had said he’d find the fae again, he never thought it would be like this. 

Several months had passed since they first met– and, in the fae’s mind, the only time they would meet– and it was well into the spring that he found a village that claimed to know about the fae. Did he believe them? Not really. Did he want to? Absolutely. 

Which is why he found himself trekking through the nearby forest, searching for the lake they had claimed was frequented by the fae queen herself. Now, if anyone would know where he could find the fae he’d met back in the winter, it would be the fae queen, right?

The sound of water drew his attention, and Joel turned so that he would be heading in that direction. The trees began to thin out and finally, he found himself standing on the bank of a beautifully serene lake. 

To his surprise, the fae he had met so long ago was also there, sitting right by the water’s edge. She hadn’t noticed him, it seemed, and for a moment he just stood there and stared until he finally blurted out, “You’re the fae queen?”

The fae startled, letting out a high pitched squeak and throwing her hand up. Joel only realized his mistake as he was thrown face first into the lake by her magic, becoming completely submerged almost instantly. Luckily for him, the fae queen (if she even was the fae queen) pulled him out coughing and spluttering not a moment later.

“I am so sorry, I didn’t realize– Huntsman?” 

Joel waved at her from where he had been plopped on the ground, dripping wet. “Hey. Nice to see you again, too.”

Shocked, she took a step forward, flowers blooming at her feet like they had when he first met her. “You– how did you find me?”

Joel ran his hands through his hair, beginning the process of squeezing the water out. “Well, y’see, the locals in that village nearby said the fae queen came here a lot. So I came here to see if I could find her and ask where you are. But it turns out, you are her! Are you?” he asked after a moment, blinking up at her.

The fae laughed, though whether it was from shock or actual amusement was a mystery. “Yes, I am,” she confirmed, and waved her hand. A warm breeze washed over Joel, completely drying him off. “And you are a very lucky little human.” 

“It’s genetic,” Joel quipped, “I’m just like that.”

She laughed again, this time from genuine amusement. “Indeed you are. And brave, at that. Not many humans would attempt to seek out the fae like this. May I ask why you did?”

Joel hesitated. “Uhh… well, I never got your name,” he tried, and she raised an eyebrow.

“And I never got yours,” she countered. “Names are a powerful thing, Huntsman. Especially one like mine.”

He gave her a nervous grin. “Well, I’d hope so! You are a queen, mate.” 

She took a few more steps forward and settled in the grass by him, brushing out her dress. “So tell me, Huntsman, why you actually tried to find me.”

“Well,” Joel started, “for one, you’re pretty? And two, I like you? Also, I’m really stubborn and I wanted to see you again soooo…” As he spoke, he realized his cheeks were heating up once more, causing a light pink flush to appear across his face. “Oh, jeez.”

“Really?” the fae queen asked, a smile appearing on her face. “Well well well, Huntsman, that changes things.”

“Does it?” he squeaked out, the realization of what he had just said– to the highest ranking fae– starting to dawn on him. “Well, I, uh–”

“You may have my name,” she decided, “if I may have yours. The trade will be far from equal, so I also wish for your heart.”

Joel blinked. “I kinda can’t live without my heart,” he pointed out, “I need that thing.”

She laughed. “Oh, not your physical heart! Your love, companionship, that sort of thing. Being the queen is lonely, Huntsman. And you… there’s something special about you. I like that.” She looked over at him. “Your name, then?”

He cleared his throat, nodding. “Well. Joel. Joel Beans. That’s my name.”

The fae queen smiled, letting her eyes briefly flutter shut as she felt the magic of the name wash over her. Opening her eyes, she gazed directly into Joel’s. “I am Lizzie ShadowLady, queen of the fae.”

The power Lizzie’s name held washed over Joel like a tidal wave, causing his world to spin and tilt. He jolted slightly from the impact it had, though the shock was lessened by her kind smile and gentle hand that had reached out to hold his (when did that happen?). Finally, it was over, and Joel gasped. “That! Woah. Okay. Wasn’t expecting that!”

Lizzie giggled. “I didn’t think you would.”

Joel let the silence sit for a moment. “So… what now? Do you take me to the uh, fae land, whatever it is?”

Lizzie shook her head. “Fae realm. And no, the court would not be too pleased with that. And who would look after all your animals if you were in the fae realm? No, Joel, you’ll be staying in the mortal realm for now. But! You can call my name whenever you wish and I will come to you.”

“And what about me?” Joel asked. “Do you get to say my name and have me appear?”

“Nothing of the sort! But I will be visiting you whenever I please.”

Joel flushed a brighter pink. “Just… not while I’m bathing, please. Or in any state of undress, really.”

Lizzie smirked, leaning forward. “But what if I want to?” she cooed, and Joel’s face turned completely red. 

“Alright! Um! Okay! Well!” He jumped up, stumbling over his words as she laughed. “Lovely meeting you, Lizzie, but I should– uh, gotta– I– go check! On my dogs! Yeah.”

“I’ll let you go just this once!” Lizzie called after him as he fled, “but I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again very soon!”

She came to him again on a warm summer’s day, on one of his rare trips to the nearby village. If their very souls had not been so intricately connected, Joel wouldn’t have been able to recognize her. She’d used magic to change her form, clearly– before him stood a shorter woman with pink hair tied up in a bun, and human ears, and no antlers nor wings in sight. “Hello, Joel!”

Joel startled slightly, looking Lizzie up and down. “Oh– gosh, you look different. Lovely! It’s, you’re still, lovely! But different.”

Lizzie giggled, cheeks dusting a light pink as she did a little half twirl. The light green fabric of her dress shimmered in the light, and Joel noticed she had what seemed to be cherry blossoms sewn into the fabric. “Thank you!” She looked up at him with bright eyes, and smiled. “I want you to show me the mortal realm. As a human!”

Joel was slightly taken aback. “Well, I’m certainly not the best person to ask, but I’ll try. I’ll definitely try.” He held out his arm, laughing softly as Lizzie took it. “You’re lucky you caught me when I was near the village. I’m not usually around people.”

Lizzie gave him a quizzical look. “I thought humans were social creatures.”

Joel shrugged. “Not all of us, mate. I live out in the woods all alone mostly. Livin’ with my dogs and my horse.”

“And Geraldine,” Lizzie reminded him.

Joel nodded. “And Geraldine.”

The village was one of the larger ones Joel had seen, though it still wasn’t comparable to the cities he had visited. The market was bustling, with farmers and craftsmen and artisans having set up stalls to show off their wares. Lizzie was absolutely delighted, exclaiming gleefully over the variety and amount of things. 

“Have you never seen these things before?” Joel asked, with quite a bit of bemusement in his tone as he watched Lizzie coo over a hand sewn blue jacket. 

She shot him a look, rolling her eyes. “Of course! Of course I’ve seen these before! I’ve just never really interacted with these things, is all.” She carefully placed the jacket back before taking his arm again. “Hand-made things are so adorable! Fabulous, even! What do you mean, they just made that with no magic?”

Joel chuckled, shaking his head slightly as Lizzie took his arm once more. “It’s a skill they’ve likely spent years honing. It’s magic in its own way, if ya think about it.”

“True,” Lizzie agreed, continuing to gaze around the market. “Oh, what’s that?!” she asked, pointing toward a different stall. 

“Jewelry,” Joel answered. “Best stay away from that one. They probably have iron and such in their items. Dunno if that’s bad for you or not, but better safe than sorry.”

Lizzie hummed softly. “Good idea, good idea.”

Joel continued to lead her through the market, briefly stopping by a bakery and buying some warm bread for the both of them. Lizzie was very pleased with this and happily snacked on her bread before taking the last bit of Joel’s. “You love me,” she teased when he pretended to act offended. 

“I do,” he admitted, feeling his cheeks start to get a little more warm. He supposed getting flustered around the woman he liked was going to happen now and again, but gosh, it felt like he was blushing every five seconds! “And you love me. I’m a very sexy lad, you know.”

She giggled, reaching out to boop his nose. “Indeed I do.”

They spent the rest of the day wandering the village, before Joel brought her to a nearby lake to watch the sunset. It was there where she kissed him, before disappearing into the night’s shadows and leaving behind flowers where she had been standing.

Accidents happened.

Especially to those who lived far from the well lit paths, who roamed the forest freely, who forgot that as beautiful as the wilds were, they were just as dangerous. 

“Oh gosh–!” he stuttered out, firing another arrow at a zombie. “Geraldine!” he shouted, but the wolf was already ripping into the undead alongside his dogs. “Good girl!” He fired another arrow, this time at an approaching skeleton. “Oh no you don’t,” he muttered, nocking another arrow.

There was a sizzle behind him. Joel whipped around and stumbled back just in time for the creeper to explode, sending him backwards and straight into the path of the skeleton’s arrow. He let out a pained shout as it pierced through his back, pain flaring up his side as he fell. Twisting just before he hit the ground so that he wouldn’t land on the arrow, Joel landed with a thud, groaning in pain. “Blummin’–” He coughed, gasping for air. “Oh, gosh. Oh gosh.”

His ears were still ringing as he tried to push himself up from the ground– failed– and fell back with what might have been a sob. Everything ached, burned with pain built up throughout the fight. His dogs were still barking, growling, tearing into the mobs, but Joel…

Joel couldn’t get up.

…ah.

So that’s what death felt like, then.

The sound of a skeleton falling apart ended the battle, and Joel felt soft fur press against him. He looked up to see Geraldine whimpering softly, gazing down at him with her intelligent eyes. “Hey, Geraldine,” he whispered, weakly bringing up a hand to stroke her fur. “It’s… it’s not going well. I think… this might be it for me, girl.”

Geraldine let out a soft growl that turned into a whimper, nudging his side with her nose. He winced, hissing softly. “Ahh… yep, that– that hurts. Ahhh, gosh.” His hand fell to his side. “Sorry girl,” he mumbled. “You did– you did good. Yeah. You did good.”

Geraldine whimpered again, before turning her head toward the sky and howling, the rest of Joel’s dogs joining in with her cries. Joel choked back a sob, feeling his blood seep out from the wounds that covered his body, feeling the exhaustion begin to draw darkness over his eyes. “I don’t… wanna die,” he mumbled. “I wanted to… I needed… to see her again…”

The image of his beloved came to his mind as he lay there, dying. How she had looked on their date together, when they met by the lake, when he had first seen her… It comforted him, to know that if he died here, he would die with the image of Lizzie seared into his brain.

“Lizzie…”

A warm wind carrying the sweet floral scent of honey and apples was the last thing Joel experienced before everything went black.

Joel woke up in a world not his own, in a bed softer than anything he’d ever experienced, wearing clothes that were most certainly not his.

Oh, and he was alive. Cool!

Joel pushed himself up into a sitting position with a soft groan, looking around the brightly lit room. There was a large window… door? that led out to a balcony, letting in light from outside. The room was much bigger and fancier than anything Joel had ever seen, and he wondered just where he had ended up.

The door opened, and in walked Lizzie. She was “normal sized” once more– or maybe Joel was just big now. Their eyes met, and Joel awkwardly gave her a little smile and a wave. “Heya.”

Without saying a word, Lizzie ran to him and threw her arms around him. “Oh, you–!” she spluttered, hugging him close– “How could you?! Do you know how scared I was when you called for me and I found you just, lying there? Joel!” She pulled back, cupping his face. There were tears shining in her eyes as she gazed into his. “I was so scared you were going to die!” she scolded.

Joel let out a weak laugh. “I mean, I was too. I was really scared, for a bit. But hey! I’m okay now! I’m okay!” 

Lizzie pulled him into another hug. “Don’t do that again. Don’t scare me like that, Joel.”

He hugged her back, breathing in the sweet scent of flowers. “I won’t. I promise.” She pulled away again, and Joel settled back. “So… where am I?” he asked.

“When I found you in the woods and saw how injured you were, I decided to take you to the fae realm,” Lizzie explained. “You’re in the palace, in the room typically…” She flushed slightly. “...typically occupied by the fae king.”

Joel blinked. “Oh, goodness. Am I in another man’s room?”

Lizzie’s eyes widened. “No! No! Not at all, Joel! This is your room!” She paused. “Well. It will be, if you’d like.”

Joel raised an eyebrow. “Are you proposing to me? On my deathbed?”

Lizzie yelped. “Don’t say that! It’s not your deathbed, idiot!” Another pause. “...but yes, I suppose I am.”

“Well, Lizzie, I’d absolutely love that.” Joel smiled as he spoke, watching Lizzie’s face light up. “But maybe give me a bit before we get uh, married. And everything. Maybe show me around your realm a bit? Like I did with the human world.”

Lizzie grinned. “Deal.”

Joel sucked in a soft breath, eyes widening. “Wait, hold on, I didn’t– oh goodness.”

Lizzie giggled, shaking her head. “Don’t you worry, my love. I won’t harm you, nor will I let anyone else harm you. I’m the fae queen, and as such no one will lay a hand on you.”

“Okay, that’s good, because sometimes I can be a real blummin’ idiot,” Joel muttered.

“Maybe,” Lizzie agreed with a smile, “but you’re my idiot.”

As promised, Lizzie showed Joel around the fae realm.

There were many sorts of strange things there that Joel couldn’t even begin to wrap his head around (what do you mean those axolotls had wings?), but it was all beautiful. And yeah, sure, everything looks beautiful when you’re in love, blah blah blah, whatever. 

“Take my hand,” Lizzie instructed Joel, standing on the shore of a crystal clear lake. “And don’t let go, alright?”

Joel grinned and did as she asked. “I would never let go of you.”

Lizzie giggled, giving his hand a soft squeeze. “Oh, you sap. Now, remember what I told you!” And with that, she pulled him forward and onto the lake.

Not into.

On.

His hand in hers, Joel found himself walking on the surface of the lake, little waves rippling out from where he stepped. “Woah– Liz, this is insane! How are you doing that?”

Lizzie giggled, wings fluttering slightly behind her. “Oh, you know. Magic!” she chirped, continuing to lead him out onto the water.

Finally, the two stood in the middle of the most beautiful lake Joel had ever seen, and Lizzie turned around to take both of his hands in hers. Joel pulled her close, an arm around her waist, and laughed at her soft giggle. “You’re beautiful,” he breathed, and she smiled up at him.

“You’re not so hard on the eyes yourself,” she teased, gently brushing her hand against his cheek. 

“I do try my best,” Joel responded, giving her a smirk. “I’m glad you approve.”

Lizzie hummed softly, swaying slightly back and forth. Joel followed her lead, trying not to think too hard about the fact that they were literally standing on water. “I more than approve,” she told him. “I love it.” 

Joel raised an eyebrow. “Well, considering we’re getting married pretty soon–”

Lizzie smacked him with no real force, making an offended noise. “You shut up!” she scolded, before a smile brightened her face. “Dance with me.”

Joel’s eyes widened slightly, but he nodded. “I don’t really– I’ll do my best, mate, but no promises.”

“I’ll lead,” Lizzie promised. “Don’t you worry about a thing.” 

Joel had never really danced before, but he had always been a fast learner. Being a huntsman as well meant he was in tune with his body, and had quite the knack for swift, smooth footwork. Soon, the pair were dancing to a song no one else could hear, one shared between the two of them as their hearts beat for each other.

Joel twirled Lizzie before pulling her back in, and their steps fell in sync once more. They moved together as naturally as the wind moved through the trees, flowing like water in a stream. The lake rippled as they danced, footsteps disturbing the usually calm surface. 

“I thought you said you don’t dance,” Lizzie teased, her eyes shining as her wings fluttered behind her. 

“I don’t!” Joel insisted. “This is all you. I’d fall over the minute you asked me to do something more fancy.”

Lizzie giggled, shaking her head slightly. “You don’t give yourself enough credit.” 

“I give myself plenty of credit!” Joel protested, pretending to be offended. “I’m great! I just don’t dance.”

“You do now!” Lizzie sang, and the pair continued to dance.

The dance ended with Joel holding Lizzie close, the both of them silent as they simply held each other. The sky was beginning to paint itself in brilliant watercolours as the sun set. Content to just be near each other, the embrace lasted several moments before the two finally pulled apart. “That was lovely,” Lizzie breathed, her cheeks pink from the exertion and excitement. “Thank you, Joel.” Joel smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Anything for you.”

The moment was so incredibly romantic that, of course, something had to go wrong. That thing being Joel forgetting about Lizzie’s earlier instructions and letting go of her hand, just for a moment. But a moment was all that was needed, and the magic connection between them was broken, plunging Joel into the lake.

Once again he found himself sitting on the bank of a lake, sopping wet with Lizzie beside him. This time she was laughing at him instead of apologizing, and Joel let out a long groan. “Yes, yes, I know, that was stupid, I look like a wet dog, can you magic me dry now?”

Lizzie giggled, her wings fluttering behind her. “A wet wolf,” she corrected, waving her hand to summon a magic breeze. “You’re still very intimidating, I promise.”

Joel grumbled, drawing his knees up to his chest. “Well now you’re just being– you’re being very rude, Liz.”

Lizzie settled down next to him on the grass. “Aww, did someone get their feelings hurt?” she cooed. “What ever shall we do about that?”

Joel rolled his eyes, trying his hardest not to smile. “You could apologize,” he pointed out. “How ‘bout a kiss?”

Lizzie beamed. “Gladly.” She gently cupped Joel’s face with her hands and leaned in to kiss him. It was tender, loving, everything it could’ve been and more. After she pulled away, she turned to gaze up at the first stars to decorate the darkening sky. “We have stories about the stars,” she told Joel, who turned to gaze up at them himself. “Some of them are thousands of years old. Other stories are so old even the wisest among us can’t remember a time when they weren’t told.”

Joel nodded, letting out a soft hum. “We have those, too. Stories, I mean. Mum told me that stars represent souls.” He shrugged. “Dunno how true that is, though. Lots of stuff was just made up a long time ago.” He leaned against Lizzie. “What are your stories about?”

Lizzie smiled softly. “There’s one in particular I’ve been wanting to share. It’s been passed down the line of fae royalty for as long as there’s been a line to pass it down. I think that if any of our stories are going to be true, it would be this one.”

Joel turned to look at Lizzie, eyes shining with curiosity. “Well, I’m all ears, if you want to tell me.”

Lizzie nodded, taking a deep breath.

Our story starts with the void and the stars. For there would be no story to tell, had they not written the beginning. 

They were lonely, you see. Eternity, even when shared, is an incredible burden. One day, the void approached the stars with an idea. A simple concept, something that had been no more than a passing thought. 

Creation.

The stars grew quiet so she could better listen to the void speak. Hesitantly, the void explained, growing more and more certain as they continued. With their combined power, they would be able to shape the forms of four other gods and their domains. 

The first god was very similar to the stars. His domain was that of the sun, and he woke as the new star blazed into life. He was warm, compared to the cold void and the distant stars, and shone brightly. 

The second god was made with the light of the sun, for her duty was to shine when he could not. Her domain was that of the moon. There was a dim glow around her as she reflected the sun’s light, the only source of warmth.

The third god was molded carefully into life. His domain was the earth, and his duty was to be a home for those who wished to live there. The void and stars took care to place his domain perfectly. Being too close to the other gods would end in disaster, as would being too far.

Finally, the last god was made. The void wished for a god who could move freely, requiring no outside energy to act. The void herself was a vast source of great power, but could not act on their own– something always had to be given in order for them to act. And so the oceans were created, the fourth god set to gently drift in the waters.

Life flourished on the earth. Mortals were warmed by the sun, guided by the moon, nourished by the earth, and traveled by the sea. And the void and the stars watched over them all, no longer lonely. 

Lizzie’s last words rang out over the lake, Joel letting out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. There seemed to be some sort of magic in the air, as if the whole world– no, the whole universe– had stopped to listen to the story. 

“I like that,” Joel decided, “it’s a pretty story.”

Lizzie smiled, nodding. “It is very pretty. I like to imagine the gods when I’m looking at the stars, or walking through a forest, or gazing out at the sea. I wonder what they’re like. If they’re real, I mean.”

Joel let out a soft huff through his nose. “They’re probably super old. I mean, can you imagine?” He paused. “...well actually yeah, you probably can, but–”

Lizzie began to laugh, shaking her head. “You’re so silly,” she told him.

The rest of the night was spent under the stars, laughing and sharing stories.

“And what do you think you’re doing, heading out all on your own?”

Scar looked up from where he was fitting the last few things into his horse’s saddlebags. Grian was standing a few feet away from him, arms crossed and eyebrows raised in question. Scar had to laugh at that. “I was invited somewhere!” he explained. “Some friends of mine are gettin’ married.”

“Friends?” Grian tilted his head slightly. “I didn’t know you had friends.”

Mumbo looked over from where he was sitting, working on some sort of flower crown. “Mate, I’m pretty sure he just told us about them the other day. Joel and Lizzie, right?” 

Scar nodded, and Grian let out an annoyed trill. “Well, you didn’t tell me!” he insisted, feathers ruffling. After a moment of thought, he frowned. “Wait. Actually, I might be wrong. Must've slipped my memory… haven't been getting much sleep lately.”

“What’s this? Griba admitting he was wrong about something?” Pearl made her way over, using Grian as an armrest. “Impossible. Who are you and what have you done with my brother?”

“Get off–!” Grian ducked away, flaring out his wings to smack Pearl lightly. “I hate you. I hate you so much,” he grumbled, trying to bite back a smile. 

All the commotion drew Impulse over, and he joined the other knights by the stables. “What’s going on, guys?”

“I’m going to go marry my friends,” Scar explained again, which had Grian looking slightly confused.

“You’re ordained?” the avian asked, folding his wings behind him. 

Scar nodded. “Yep! Normal and horse ordained!”

Grian blinked. “Scar, you can’t marry horses.”

Scar laughed as he mounted his horse, looking down at the knights. “Those are the words of a quitter right there!”

“Well, have fun,” Impulse called over Grian’s squawking. “Be safe.” 

“Don’t make any more deals with the fae!” Pearl added on, which seemed to cause Grian more panic. 

“He’s going to the fae realm-?!” 

With that, Scar bid the knights goodbye and left for the fae realm.

The wedding was every bit as grand as it should’ve been for a queen. Grand, fancy, and yet somehow Joel wasn’t uncomfortable in the slightest. Unlike that time he had tried on a suit in the mortal realm, nothing felt forced or too stifling– it was all perfect. How could it not be? He was marrying the most amazing, beautiful woman in the world.

Flowers bloomed anywhere and everywhere they could, letting their sweet scent perfume the air. Lights shimmered in the grand willow trees, which bordered the venue perfectly. Everything about it was magical, in both a figurative and literal sense. 

So many people had come to witness the wedding. Fae, welcomed mortals, and even animals had gathered in the forest. Joel's eyes caught sight of Geraldine and the rest of his dogs, and he couldn't stop himself from smiling. His beloved horse was nearby as well, and of course Scar was there to officiate the whole thing.

“You look great!” Scar had told him, giving Joel a thumbs up. Which… wasn't very reassuring, but by then it was far too late to get cold feet. 

The music began, soft and beautiful. The idle chatter from the guests immediately died down, and the whole gathering collectively held their breath as they waited. 

Joel was not ashamed to admit he cried when he saw Lizzie in her wedding gown. All the love he had for her swelled up and filled him with so much joy that he simply hadn't been able to hold it in. She had joined him at the altar, and Joel had barely been able to concentrate on the proceedings. She was just so beautiful.

Finally, it was time to exchange vows. As sacred to the fae as they were, Lizzie and Joel shared their vows to each other and only each other through a magical connection. With closed eyes and loving hearts, they whispered sweet promises to each other. The weight of their vows settled comfortingly around their hearts, and then they kissed. 

Once upon a time, there lived a huntsman with a heart of gold. 

This is his happily ever after.

#my writing #boatem knights au #joel smallishbeans #ldshadowlady #uh. #jizzie #shadowbeans #i guess #scar #pearl #grian #mumbo #impulse #not maintagging bc like. they arent too big here #grian i cant help hes a loser with one name #anyway yay

[thesandsofelsweyr]

THE FINAL TESTAMENT OF JASON PETER TODD

《 READ ON AO3 》

Now it all made sense. The bath, the haircut, the script, the suit, the camera… Joker was going to send a video to Batman, and Batman was gonna know that Robin was a traitor, that Bruce was justified when he picked a new kid for the job instead of rescuing the old one.

《RATING》 Teen 《WORDS》 1,544

《CHARACTERS》 Jason Todd/Robin, Joker, Bruce Wayne (mentioned)

《TROPES》 Heavy Angst

《WARNINGS》 Implied/Referenced Torture, Self-Loathing, Swearing

《SERIES》 Part 5 of My Arkhamverse, Part 5 of Ruined

《TAGLIST》 @aaliyah-wayne @ladytauria @betty-1880 @deans-spinster-witch @hlg8 @plantixst

《NOTES》

This is the final flashback scene from Jason's POV.

This is actually the prologue to an upcoming fic, but I felt like it worked better as a standalone (when you see the tags for the upcoming fic you’ll understand 🤡)

Shoutout to @1dragon-mustard1 for beta-ing this for me 🥰

If you enjoy the read please kudos, comment, and reblog 💚

《 READ ON AO3 》 (excerpt below the cut)

He was back in the suit.

Sure, it was nice to be dressed in something more than a pair of ragged boxer briefs, but why couldn’t it have been anything other than this goddamned suit. The Clown had had the suit for days/weeks/months now; the least he could’ve done was wash it. But no, dried blood still stained the chestpiece a darker shade of red, the green undersuit still reeked of an amalgam of bodily fluids.

He’d lost so much weight in this shithole that the suit barely fit him now. But in truth, had this suit ever really fit him? He was nothing but a thug, a loser, a corner boy from the streets of Crime Alley; a wannabe gangster, like his deadbeat dad, the bastard he’d helped send to an early grave. Robin doesn’t sell his own blood to the mob. Robin doesn’t sneak off to murder a man. Robin doesn’t get his dumbass captured by that very same man. He should never have donned this suit. It was meant for a better man than he ever was, a better man than he could ever dream of being.

He’d had a sackful of cash that day, had thrown the cops. He should’ve kept walking, should’ve minded his own business as usual. Instead he’d decided to play the hero for some damn reason. If he hadn’t dragged Batman to safety, he might’ve moved from the corner to a crew, or maybe he’d wound up in a ditch with his head blown off. Either way, he wouldn’t be here suffering every day of his life, wouldn’t have been reduced to a psycho’s sniveling pet.

I wish I’d never met Bruce Wayne…

Sweat was pouring off him as he sat simmering under the heat of the two spotlights Joker had his goons wheel in. He was parked in a new storage room. All the junk had been hauled out—wheelchairs, gurneys, screens, metal tables, assorted medical equipment—everything except the spotlights, his wooden chair from the torture chamber, a single flickering candle at his feet, and a video camera atop a tripod. An attempt to disguise his location, he presumed. A waste of time. No one was looking for him. No one cared if he lived or died.

The Clown was behind the camera, muttering about wires and other shit Jason couldn’t care less about. He sat as straight as his ruined shoulders would allow (which was to say, hunched over like an old man) and stared down at the cracked black-and-white tiles while he waited for the camera to start rolling. He’d rehearsed this scene with Joker many times, always with a cattle prod on hand to make certain he didn’t forget his lines. He tried to ignore the panic rising inside him, tried concentrating on his breathing instead. This video was certain to end up in Batman’s hands. He had no intention of showing Bruce who he truly was: a terrified little coward, the Clown’s despicable creature.

Soon would be the moment of truth. “His name. Tell me.” Each time they rehearsed Joker would shock him with the prod before he could answer. But it was showtime now. Would he betray his former partner to the Clown? The man who’d scooped him up off the street, who’d given him a home, a family, a chance at a better life? The man who’d adopted him, who’d actually believed in him? Bullshit. He never believed in you. You were a stopgap. A charity case, that’s all you ever were to the man. Another PR stunt for Gotham’s sweetheart Bruce Wayne.

“Man alive, you gotta be crazy to figure these newfangled gadgets out, am I right?” Joker’s nasally voice cut through his thoughts, which was good. He needed to be ready to perform at his best. If he fucked this up, there’d be more pain waiting for him. He just wanted to get this over with so he could crawl back into his photo-covered corner and maybe, if he was lucky, snatch an hour or two of restless sleep before it all began again.

“All right, I think I got it!” Joker exclaimed, and Jason’s heart crawled into his throat. “Just act natural, kid. You’re going to be my shining star! Now,

“three…

“two… 

“one…

“action!”

Read the rest on AO3→

#sands writes #my arkhamverse #series: ruined #jason todd #joker #robin #arkham asylum #arkham knight #arkhamverse #jason todd fanfiction #dcu #whump

[porkcracker]

could i request the reader spiking tfa ratchet? any formatting of writing is good, thank you <3

Oh, you sure as hell can, it's taken some time to reply to this, but I do love to write for the grumpy old man. I'm assuming by the way this is worded that this is for a Cybertronian reader and since it took me so long to answer you're getting a full one-shot. I really hope you enjoy this, and thank you for requesting.

TFA Ratchet x Cyb!GN!Reader

Ratchet's a grumpy old man, that's a fact almost everyone who knew him would agree on. And while it could be a little disheartening sometimes, knowing what he had lived through already usually made people back off and give him a break. Not that that was something you were interested in right this moment. Giving Ratchet a break, that is.

No, rather, were you focused on the way the older bot writhered under you. When the two off you had started, he had still complained that he was getting too old for interfacing outside a berth, but you had still managed to convince him to lean over the medical berth. After having made sure the door was locked securely, your attention had been fully on your older lover and the fact that even with all his grumbling he was leaning over the medical berth. A fact that made a smirk splay on your faceplate. Leisurely making your way over, you took the opportunity to gaze at your lover's backside before finally reaching your wanted position behind him.

As much as he had protested about the location in the lead up to this moment, he now was rather happy to reveal his interfacing equipment to you, and there was no hesitation before your digits made their way into his valve. Petting the soft lips of his valve, it is no hard burden to pet and stroke his entrance until it was wet enough to comfortably push in a digit and then two and after a short time a third. Pumping said digits and stretching the callipers of his valve until it easy to push them between the silken folds, and each pump is accompanied by a wet noise that made your medic's faceplate heat in an adorable way.

Ratchet was by far not innocent, but there was still something different to fragging around while still a student and being an old veteran slowly and languidly being spread open on a thick spike. It wasn't the first time the two of you were interfacing either, but still Ratchet found his faceplate warming again and again, this time no different.

A low groan left the old bot as you bottomed out with a relieved and pleased moan of your own, enjoying the tight heat around your spike a for a little until the surrounding frame started to shift and wriggle in an attempt to gain more stimulation. Seeing this as your cue, you pull back out slowly and thrust back in with a quick snap, repeating the process, each hard thrust pushed a moan out of the old medic. A symphony as your own keens and moans enter the air around both of you.

Increasing the pace and leaning over the bend frame, your derma close around the unbroken part of his chevron, glossa soft and determined. Increasing the pace, one of your servos catches your weight on the table, while the other one sneaked down to Ratchet's valve seeking out his anterior node with a clear goal in mind. Flicking and pinching the sensitive little nub, it is clear that Ratchet's overload is approaching alongside your own, as his valve ripples around your spike with each movement.

With a final pinch and twist to his node and another hard thrust while you bit done on his chevron, he is overloading with force, lubricant squeezing out besides your spike as you increase your thrust to frag him right through his overload and directly into your own. A whimper leaving the usually so composed older bot as hot transfluid filled his inside, a last pinch to his sensitive anterior node has both of you moan as his valve clamps down around your spike tightly and drags you into an overload of your own.

#request #transformers #transformers animated #tfa ratchet #gender neutral reader #cybertronian reader #tfa ratchet x reader #ratchet x reader #valveplug

[briarpatch-kids]

People are so weird about service dogs.

I get abled people tell me all the how great it would be for me to get a service dog. And I have to explain that a service dog can do barely a fraction of what I need help with and isn’t suitable for my disability.

But having a human carer isn’t as exciting as having a pet I can take everywhere which is all they think a service dog is rather than a disability aid that is essential for some disabled people and not suitable for others (like any other disability aid)

People who have service dogs have my full respect given the amount of BS they have to deal with.

Also like... how the hell are you going to care for a service dog? Thats one of my main reasons for not utilizing one, it's both medical equipment and also a living being that needs a lot of care and enrichment and the people who say "just" get a service dog either don't know how much work a dog is, or aren't giving it enough care. Any time I've talked to handler teams about it, that's their number one tip is to make sure you can actually care for a dog before you even start the process.

People forget they still need a lot of care, training, and maintenance and that only people in the very narrow range of of "highly skilled trainer" "still seriously disabled" and "physically capapable of caring for a dog" and that's why they're usually for things like minor mobility, psychiatric care, or conditions like seizures, cardiac care, and diabetes rather than like... high level paralysis or dystrophy or motor neuron disease.

#imagine a service dog trying to feed someone lunch #or like... help you put on a jacket #theyre better for picking stuff up off the floor or telling you to check your blood sugar

[prosperdemeter2]

Have a little something this Friday

As I recover from COVID. It's the elusive Daniel Lives!AU:

“Evan.” She scolded, her voice traveling expertly over the din of the emergency room and yet interrupting no one. That was a talent Eddie didn’t have yet. He wasn’t sure if he ever would. “Don’t tell me you’re here because you got hurt again.” 

Again. 

Eddie filed that away for later. Maybe they were close with Evan not because he was the bartender at their favorite restaurant but because he was a frequent flier. But he didn’t look like a patient. The pocket of his jeans even had a little visitor’s ID badge pinned to it, his name written in neat, slanted handwriting. “No.” Evan shook his head with a crooked smile, rubbed his thumb over the pink splotch above his eye when he caught sight of Eddie a mere step behind her. “I’m visiting Maddie for lunch.” 

Hen relaxed. Eddie didn’t think he knew her well enough to know the difference in how she carried herself and yet he recognized it all the same. The slump of her shoulders, the set of her hips. “Just Maddie today? Not Doctor Kendal?” She said the name like it didn’t taste good in her mouth and Evan caught it with an uneasy glance over his shoulder and a roll of his own eyes. 

“Just Maddie.” Evan coughed and shifted his feet. “My sister,” he provided for Eddie’s benefit. “Hi.” 

“Hi,” Eddie waved from by his hip. “Brother’s a doctor, sister is a…?” 

“Nurse.” 

“Nurse.” Eddie nodded in thanks. “Decided not to go into the family business?” 

“Could you imagine?” Evan laughed and ducked his head. “I’d be, like, the worst medical professional ever. No bedside manner.” 

“Don’t sell yourself short.” Hen scolded like it was second nature. “You’re a bar manager at twenty-seven. Most people don’t get there until they’re in their forties.” 

Evan shrugged off the praise. “I thought you guys didn’t go past the doors. Like that’s your rule.” 

Hen rolled her eyes at him. “It’s not a rule.” It sort of was a rule. It wasn’t enforced or anything, but a suggestion turned into a superstition from Bobby’s lips. Don’t go past the doors, he had told Eddie on his first call. Our job stops right here. And then they’d go on another call, do it all over again until it breathed of routine. But sometimes they ran out of equipment before they got back to the station and the hospitals kept extra supplies on hand for them to stock up whenever they needed it. “We need to stock up. Bobby’s outside if you want to say hey.” 

Evan shrugged but made no motion to leave, and the motion of his shoulders knocked his quarter-zip just slightly off center from where it sat on his frame, unveiling a small scar at the base of his neck and the corner of a tattoo. “I have to swing upstairs,” he explained for his reasoning of why he wasn’t leaving the hospital anytime soon. 

“Everything okay?” Eddie asked, frowning with his eyebrows. 

Most people didn’t choose to hang around at a hospital. Granted, most people didn’t also know firefighters by name and rank. Most people, he was beginning to suspect, weren’t Evan Buckley. “Dan works upstairs.” Evan provided with a small, blushing smile. 

It looked good on him. 

Maybe Eddie was biased, because he was pretty sure everything looked good on him. He was more than a little pathetic but, really, it wasn’t like he didn’t have eyes. Still, Evan’s answer didn’t exactly provide Eddie with anything other than a nervous suspicion on just who Dan was. A boyfriend? The brother? A pet dog? The codename of a deadly disease? Really, it could be anything. “Don’t let him hear you call him that.” Hen warned wryly. 

Evan rolled his eyes. “What’s he going to do? Whine about it?” 

“Loudly.” Hen agreed. “But, hey, it’s your ears he’s whining to. Not mine.” 

“Your brother doesn’t work in the ER too?” Eddie asked curiously, hoping for some context of the conversation within a conversation happening. 

“Fuck, no.” Evan scoffed and then flushed at the look from a passing nurse. “Sorry.” He mumbled and rubbed at the back of his neck. “Dan doesn’t have the stomach for that. He works upstairs in oncology.” 

“Cancer,” Eddie hummed. “That’s noble.” 

“Sure.” Evan said with a smile and a bounce on his heels. “He thinks so too.” He had a feeling that was a… sore topic. “How’s Chris doing?” 

Hen blinked. “Chris?” 

It was Eddie’s turn to flush pink. “Uhm,” he cleared his throat. “He’s good.” 

“Everything went okay at his doctor's appointment that earned him two prizes?” 

Hen was staring at the side of Eddie’s face in amazement. He was rapidly becoming aware that he never even told her Christopher’s name. “Yeah, it was just routine. He just had a vaccine he had to get.” Eddie shrugged. “That’s, uhm… I didn’t expect you to remember that.” 

“Why wouldn’t I remember it?” Evan tilted his head with a squint of his eyes. “You and your kid… make quite an impression, dad.” 

The reaction was visceral. Eddie’s stomach twisted, his face was quick to follow suit and Evan’s lips pursed to hide a laugh that tried to bubble out of his throat. “Never again.” Eddie told him with a point.

#buddie #teaser #911 fic #glass #Daniel!Lives

[totalelliot]

EYELESS JACK HEADCANONS

WARNING: Organs, kidneys

My au!

☆

Jack is Russian, but he was born in America and also studied there

He studied medicine

One of the residents who is difficult to hear and notice (unless someone introduces him to you, you won't even know he lives here)

He works for Skrol and the Operator, but his goal is to destroy them.

He doesn't like Lazari only because she wants to thwart his plans

Everyone call him EJ

The version of his past in my AU is the one where rituals are performed on him

His pet is Seed Ester, he adopted the animal when it was still small

EJ does not only eat kidneys, he also eats other organs and normal meals, but his body does not absorb the latter very well and usually ends with vomiting

He's gay

He rarely talks to anyone

He wears a mask all the time

His black "tears" no longer flow as often as at the beginning, now less frequently and less abundantly

If he didn't live in a mansion, he would live in some abandoned hospital because of the medical equipment

He is one of the tallest inhabitants of the house, over two meters (210cm/6'10")

He has very keen senses of hearing and smell

He usually sleeps during the day and functions normally at night.

I like the version with elf ears and a tail

Spends a lot of time with Toby (not ship)

He doesn't listen to loud music due to his acute hearing (he doesn't like loud sounds)

He practices witchcraft (because why not)

In his youth, his parents forced him to go to medical school

His parents died in a car accident

He likes cookies lol

Currently he would be 38 years old but in my AU (2013) he is 28

Some headcanons about Eyeless Jack in my universe ☆

#creepypasta #nostalgia #headcanon #artists on tumblr #slenderman #jeff the killer #my writing #eyeless jack #eyelesskiller #tw eyeless #ticci toby #toby rogers #creepypasta au #universum

[frenziedslashers]

I hope you get the switch issue sorted out and it just needs a new memory card or something :( I'd love HCs or a oneshot with Handsome Jack, maybe with a reader who's a medic who takes care of his scars and mask? SFW or NSFW or both, whatever you're feeling.

Thank you, I appreciate your support man. It is so far downloading Borderlands: The Pre-sequel alright. So I am crossing my fingers that it at least works at redownloading that game since I was working on a rerun with it and would hate to have to wait until I could get a new memory card to replay it 😭 thank you for the request too, though! I am absolutely living off the fact that there are still people on here who read borderlands stuff. I have really missed this fandom tbh <3

This may be pretty ooc for Handsome Jack. I never write for him, but I was in a fluffy sort of mood so I hope you enjoy Anon :)

Taking Care of Handsome Jack:

He never really let anyone touch him, before or after he became Handsome Jack. The thought of getting too close to someone and having them slip through his fingers like everyone else in his life hurt him, it really did. He just chose not to let anyone know that. I mean, he was supposed to be a feared man, showing any sign of weakness would surely get him demoted to Pandoras most feared, to Pandoras Softest Villain.

But there you were, sitting next to him on the floor of his home, a first aid kit strewn out on the floor before the both of you. "You know, I could tend to these wounds a lot better if you let me take you to my station and clean these with proper equipment. Unless scars are today's form of tattoo, it almost seems like it." You fussed while working away at bandaging up his arm.

"And let someone see that I'm not made of steel and that I bleed? Yeah, fat chance, princess." You rolled your eyes at the pet name. "Why do you trust that I won't tell the world that the all-great and powerful Jack bleeds blood like the rest of us?" You asked him, peeking up at him through your lashes with a small smirk before looking back down to tend to his wounds. "Oh, I just know you won't" he hummed, his other hand moving to rest on your thigh. "I feel like you get cockier each time I come here," "Call it confidence, dolly." He cooed with a snicker, though that quickly faded when you pressed on one of his cuts just right. A hiss left the man's lips, glaring over at you as you tried to hide a smile. "Sorry. "

He watched you for a few more moments until you leaned back, declaring your work finished as you looked over the mans body one last time. At least from what you could see of it. "Like what you see?" He asked you, and you rolled your eyes for what felt like the fiftieth time tonight. "I'm just checking over to make sure you didn't get shot anywhere else. Remember last time?" "God, don't remind me." He groaned.

Last time you did have to take him to your place of work. He had gotten shot in the back, literally, and hardly noticed until his adrenaline wore off. If it weren't for your second inspection and you seeing the blood he would have been a dead man. He never even said thank you for it, either.

"Well?" He asked, and you nodded your head. Eyes moving back up to meet his. Smiling softly back at him. "Looks good, handsome." You teased with a smirk. "Well then come here, gorgeous," he sniggered, pulling you closer to him by your hips. Moving you to rest over his lap. "Has anyone ever told you how hard to get you are?" You sighed, leaning forward a bit, "humor me." This wasn't the first time the two of you had done something like this. It started to become a common occurrence each time he called you to come to his house and patch him up. Some days you wondered if he was putting himself in the line of fire just so he could see you. You didn't think that much into it, though. The last thing you needed was the thought of Handsome Jack actually liking you for more than just your body and easy help. He was ruthless and cared about no one. At least that's what you were always told and assumed.

He sighed back, leaning forward to rest his chin on your chest, staring up at you with a smug expression. It was an awkward angle to stare back down at him, but it made you smile nonetheless. "I think that's what I like about you most." He hummed, "That and the fact that you save me about once a week, and god damn do you fuck really well." He partially joked and you groaned. There he went ruining the moment that you were starting to think was actually really sweet.

"Is that all I am? A toy?" You truly didn't care what the answer would be from the man, you were more so just playing along. But something behind his eyes told you that it struck a chord with him. His brows furrowing together. "Why the hell would you say that?" Well, that wasn't entirely the response you were expecting. Jack leaned back so the both of you were able to look at one another properly.

"Well, you only ever contact me when your bloody and bruised, and then we screw around, and I leave. Sorry, I was just playing around." You confessed, and he shook his head. "Have you ever thought about the fact that a call works both ways? You never call me, I call you for help because it's the only time you'll come and see me. I asked you to come over on three other occasions and each time you said you were busy. You only ever come if I'm dying, I can't believe you think so little of me." He spat, pushing you away from him. This wasn't like him, the sudden emotional change made your heartache. You felt horrible for making him upset. Then again, a part of you expected him to start laughing and point out the look on your face.

He wasn't lying though, he had asked you to come over three other times. Two of those times you assumed was just for sex, but the third time, thinking back on it now with the way he worded it. He did really just want to see you, even if he was drunk and you could tell.

"Jack, I don't think little of you," you tried to reassure him, and he scolded you. "Oh, yet you thought I was just using you as a fuck toy? Yeah, I enjoy it, but that's not who I am. I'm a lot of things, and I've done a lot of sick, idiotic things, but I'm not a user," he frowned, his eyes still focused on you. You could tell he was pissed, betrayed, hurt. You didn't know what you could do to make it up to him, and that's when you saw it. The blood dripping down his mask that made your chest clench in panic.

"Jack, did you hit your head today?" You asked all while leaning forward. "Oh, now you think I hit my head because I'm showing emotions? I'm not a fucking lunatic," he hissed, and you ignored him. Reaching out to touch the face of his mask. Pulling it back to show him the blood on your fingers. "Why are you bleeding from your head, Jack?" You asked with a stern expression. A bit upset he was ignoring the fact that he was still hurt.

"Oh shit," he muttered. Reaching up to touch the blood himself. Slight panic setting into himself. The last thing he needed was a concussion, or something worse. His head did hurt a little, but he didn't think it was that bad. "How many fingers am I holding up?" You asked while holding three fingers up for him. He pouted a bit, "Jack," you stated sternly. "Fine, three." "Good," you hummed, reaching into your bag for a light. "I'm going to shine my light on your eyes to make sure your pupils dilate properly, is that okay?" "Whatever you have to do, doc."

You completed the tests that you had to to make sure he was alright. Though you did suggest he take a concussion test, you knew he wouldn't. He was too stubborn to admit that he had one. Lucky for him you were sure it wasn't too severe if he did have one. "You call me if you start feeling worse, okay Jack?" He sighed as you mothered him. Closing his eyes while you worked on checking the wound through his thick hair. Minus the wound itself, he liked the feeling of you taking care of him. It made him feel normal in a sense. Like you were his loving partner, taking care of him after he got hurt at work, but he knew now that wouldn't be a thing. Or at least he assumed. You seemed to have higher expectations, or at least ones that weren't named Handsome Jack.

"Is it bad?" You shrugged. "Sort of? I suggest taking a shower before I stitch it up." You told him, moving some of his hair that fell onto his forehead. "Can you join me?" You frowned a bit, "Come on, just make sure I don't fall and die. Because if I die, I'm leaving you Hyperion as payback." He quipped, and you let out a groan. He knew you hated working for the place, let alone the thought of owning it. You were a medic, not a business person.

You knew that Jack was playing his games again. The moment the both of you got into the bathroom for him to take a shower he asked if you could join him in it. "As in without any clothes?" "I mean unless you want to shower with clothes on, what are you, crazy?" Jack asked with furrowed brows as he worked at removing his shirt. Turning around so his back was to you to allow you to remove your own clothes. Which did shock you a little. It did give you the chance to look over his back wound though. It was healing up nicely, just as you presumed.

"Alright," You hummed, opening the door so he could step in, you following after. Shutting the door behind the both of you.

The whole shower was quiet, besides the water that echoed in your ears. A nonstop stream that was almost comforting. His eyes were either on your face or the wall behind you the whole time while you helped him clean his hair and body. Giving you the opportunity to make sure he had no other marks hiding from you.

"Thank you," you froze up. God, you were sure you were wrong and this man had the worse concussion you had ever seen before. First, he practically told you he had feelings for you, and now he was thanking you? After nearly eight months of you helping him out like this? "You're welcome." You didn't question it, it was nice having him thank you for your service for once. You did practically do all of it for free. It was the least he could do, even if he was technically your boss.

It wasn't long before the both of you were exiting the shower. Drying off and changing. Jack had a spare set of clothes for you. Most of the time it was the clothes that you left behind, but this time it was clothes you had never seen before. "Are they your size? I picked them out myself. It's an apology for ripping your shirt last time." He told you with a smug grin. He was still proud of that, but you didn't even have the time to be mad at him. They were your size, and the fabric was the type that you liked and that didn't bother your skin. "Yeah, these are great, thank you, Jack." You smiled back at him, and he nodded. Pulling his shirt back over his head after tugging his pants up his legs.

"See, I'm not so unthoughtful, am I?" He asked with a brow raised, sitting on the edge of his bed while watching you head back into the other room after getting changed. He knew you were just grabbing your supplies to bring them in there. He trusted you, after all.

When you did come back, he scooted back so he was leaned back against the head board. Waiting for you to come over and attend to what you both hoped was his final wound. "So," you started as you dug out the supplies to patch up his scalp. "If I'm not a toy, what am I? Or... What are we?" You asked, glancing at his eyes before working on his head.

He was quiet for a while. Long enough that it had you worried, but each time you looked down at his face he was staring at you like he was thinking. Thinking long and hard about his next words. Really, he was praying that you would know without him having to say anything. "Truthfully, I don't even know." He told you, and you frowned a bit. There it was, you got your hopes up just a bit and you were brought back down.

"Well, I know what I want," Jack told you, a small laugh leaving his chest. "I always know what I want, it's what I'm best at. I want you. I want you by my side when I take down the Vault Hunters and open the Vault on Pandora." You stopped your work, staring at him with wide eyes. He had to be joking, right?

"What do you mean, by your side? Like as your medic?" You stammered a bit, pulling your hands away and Jack took this as a chance to grab your hands, pulling them close to him. A crazy glint in his eyes that worried you a little. "Well, that too, but as my partner. My other half. I want you as mine, and I really thought I made that damn clear with you being the only person I ever screw around with. I mean, I let you leave hickeys on me, you think I'd let just anyone do that?" He laughed, and you felt your insides turning. You were scared he was going to start laughing at you if you said you wanted all of that too, I mean. It wasn't like you didn't like him. You liked him quite a bit, actually. You always just pushed those feeling away.

"Are you making fun of me? This is a joke isn't it?" He could see the worry on your face, and it frustrated him. "What part of I like you do you not fucking understand?" He snapped, squeezing your hands a little tighter, and that made you flinch, your eyes and jaw squeezing shut. He regretted his actions, wishing he didn't let his anger get the best of him, but it was just who he was.

He released the grip on your hands. Letting them go completely so he could reach up to cup the sides of your face. "Look at me," he wanted to see your eyes. "Hey, look at me, please?" He asked, rubbing your cheek bones as he waited for your eyes to open. When they did finally flutter open he smiled. A smile that seemed almost too genuine for Handsome Jack. It scared you a little, really.

"Look, I'm sorry I yelled. I just don't understand why you can't trust me. I've been nothing but good to you, haven't I? If I did anything wrong, tell me now." He spoke, and you shook your head. "You didn't do anything wrong." He nodded his head, "Then what is it?" You stared back at him for a second while you thought of what you wanted to say. You didn't want to confuse or frustrate him any more than he already was. "I just don't get it." He furrowed his brows, "Everyone told me you were some heartless bastard who didn't care about no one. So I always just assumed you were using me. I never told anyone about me coming over to help us, or the time that we shared, but the rumors that people spread about them. I believed a lot of them." "Why?" He asked, looking a little wounded. "I guess I just never expected you to like a nobody like me." He sighed, pulling you close to him so he could wrap his arms around you. "Yeah, well I guess I'm just full of surprises." You shrugged, resting your head on his shoulder. "You really are, Jack." No one would believe you if you told them you were sleeping with Handsome Jack anyways, but you were glad to know you were hopefully the only one. If you could even believe him.

"I always just assumed you would want someone like Moxxi," "And have my heart broken again? No way, baby. Plus, you take better care of me, and you let me spoil you without having to flaunt it to the world." You smiled a little, he did spoil you. A lot more than you liked, actually. You always felt like he owed you back each time he would buy you the new supplies you needed and wanted for work or just the little things you wanted for yourself. No matter how much he assured you, you always wanted to pay him back somehow.

Your silence made him a little antsy, giving your hip a light squeeze. "Does this mean you'll be mine, and just mine?" He asked with a grin, and you smiled a bit back yourself. "Yeah, only if you let me make earlier up to you." You stated, beginning to place all of your appliances back into your bag while Jack settled down onto the bed. "Baby, when have I ever denied you?"

#Handsome Jack x reader #Handsome Jack #borderlands

[orcinus-veterinarius]

do you genuinely support seaworld? because if you do, then that is genuinely disapointing to me as i loved your content. dolphins (esp bottlenoses) are incredibly intelligent creatures with their own languages and cultures, can experience emotion in the same ways we do, and display self awareness on nearly the same level as us. there's no situation in which they should be kept in and bred in captivity, and dolphins that cannot live in the wild deserve to go to sanctuaries that are able to provide actual proper living space, respect, and care for them. they are real, living creatures, with their own personalities and identities. they shouldnt be abused and exploited for profit. it's inherently cruel, even if you personally dont view them as their own people as some (like me) do.

I'm sorry that you're disappointed. I thought I had been clear about my opinions on here but yes, I do support SeaWorld, just like I support every other AZA-accredited zoo and aquarium. I support their veterinarians and veterinary staff, people I've actually met or who have worked closely with many of my colleagues and mentors. I support their rescue teams, which have responded to over 40,000 individual marine animals in distress, and are currently one of only half a dozen facilities equipped to handle the Florida manatee unusual mortality event. I support their husbandry and training staff, folks who've made a career out of caring for animals and, like the trainers I currently work with, tirelessly advocating for their needs. I support their contributions to marine research, both through the parks and the independent Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute. I support the connection to the marine world that they provide children (and adults) like myself years ago, gifting them with a lifelong love for the ocean and its life.

At the moment, I'm completing a residential internship program with the medical team at a small marine park (not SeaWorld, but similar in many ways) as a complement to my ongoing education as a DVM student. I see and work with dolphins every day. You’re right, they are extremely intelligent. Each one is an individual, with his or her own distinct personality, likes and dislikes, best friends (human and dolphin), and favorite activities. Perhaps they are “people” in their own way, although from a scientific perspective I can’t anthropomorphize them to that extent. Their trainers are more intimately familiar with the dolphins’ moods and needs than the vast majority of people are with their own pets (speaking as a 7-year veteran of general practice and emergency vet hospitals), and every second of their work day revolves around the animals, be it enrichment, training, husbandry, diet prep, habitat maintenance or, yes, public presentations. Each dolphin has a specialized care plan, made for them by their own full-time veterinarian, to ensure they are always in peak body condition. They receive a full routine medical work-up (complete with bloodwork, fecal, urine, gastric, and chuff cytology) multiple time a year, far beyond what any domestic animal receives. Their diet consists of a wide variety of human-grade seafood, with each individual fish (hundreds of pounds a day) hand-checked by a trainer to ensure it has no defects. They are never, ever forced to participate in a session and usually happily do so, because exercising their minds and bodies is enriching for them. If not, no big deal, they will still get all the food they need. 

About half of our dolphins are rescues, deemed non-releasable by the federal government (not the team who rehabbed them, or even the “higher ups” in aquarium/marine park management). These dolphins stranded when they were babies, too young to have learned what they needed from their mothers, or suffering from disabilites or chronic health conditions that would make survival in the wild impossible. Without “captivity,” they would be dead. Instead, I get to see them thrive every day, bonding with their trainers, playing with their dolphin friends, exploring their enrichment, and inspiring everyone who meets them. I’m sorry but no, I will never say these dolphins should be put to death or left to suffer an excrutiating fate in the wild. Not when I’ve seen the life they get to live instead.

An accredited “dolphin sanctaury” like you suggest, run by people with the proper training, resources, and (extensive) funding to care for these complex animals, does not exist. And if one did, it would be no different than any other accredited facility (many of which are “sea pen” habitats, which have their own pros and cons versus a traditional “tank” habitat) that is already open. There would still be training for husbandry, exercise, and enrichment. There would still be hand-fed diets. There would still be (nearly constant!) breeding behavior, just without any babies. And there would still be barriers keeping them from leaving although fun fact, the US Navy uses trained dolphins in open ocean missions and they always return to their human caregivers. The only thing missing would be the educational, inspirational experience aquariums give the public. 

But don’t take my word for it. Last year, the Cetacean Welfare Study was published, the result of years of work by 43 different AZA and/or AMMPA-accredited institutes. It’s a collection of studies, the first of their kind, surveying the factors affecting welfare in managed cetaceans (mainly bottlenose dolphins but also Pacific white-sided dolphins and beluga whales), and oftentimes, it’s not what the general public might think. Both SeaWorld and my park were part of it.

Thanks for hearing me out. I don’t expect you to suddenly agree with me, but I hope you’ll try to understand. If you want to hear more of what I’ve said on this topic, please look at my #seaworld and #cetaceans tag.

#I stand with seaworld #seaworld #aquarium #aquariums #marine parks #pro cap #dolphin #dolphins #bottlenose dolphin #animal training #dolphin training #animal rescue #zoos #support zoos and aquariums #aza #cetaceans #cetacean welfare study #marine mammals #vetblr #vet student #anonymous #answered asks

[marveltrumpshate]

Current Events

This year continued to be A Lot and we decided to ensure that there were charities that directly addressed current events. Folded into this post are groups that work for aid targeting every natural disaster as well as man-made ones, climate change, the ongoing pandemic of gun violence, and more. If you're looking for an organization that directly addresses any of those, this is your spotlight post. 

For more information on donation methods and accepted currencies, please refer to our list of organizations page.

ALA "Unite Against Book Bans" Campaign

This campaign run by the American Library Association is the best way to fight against the book bans happening in several U.S. states. This fight is more crucial than ever; in 2022, the ALA recorded the highest number of censorship attempts in the past 20 years. The initiative works to halt the spread of censorship in school and public libraries across the U.S., empower individuals to fight censorship in their communities, and preserve our right to choose what to read. 

Clean Air Task Force

As we've seen for a long time now but especially this year with constant natural disasters and alarming news from all over the world, climate change is real and we need to do something about it. Over the past 25 years, CATF, a group of climate and energy experts who think outside the box to solve the climate crisis, has pushed for technology innovations, legal advocacy, research, and policy changes. Their goal is to achieve a zero-emissions, high-energy planet at an affordable cost.

Direct Relief

Direct Relief provides humanitarian relief regardless of politics, religious or ethnic identities, or ability to pay and prepares the most vulnerable communities worldwide for more frequent, destructive emergencies. When disasters strike, they respond effectively and efficiently to provide requested medical equipment, medicine, and supplies to locally run healthcare facilities and projects.

Electronic Freedom Foundation

The leading nonprofit defending civil liberties in digital spaces, EFF champions user privacy, free expression, and innovation through impact litigation, policy analysis, grassroots activism, and technology development. They fight against online censorship and illegal surveillance, advocate for net neutrality and data protection, and more so that technology supports freedom, justice, and innovation for everyone. 

International Rescue Committee 

Founded in 1933, the IRC is a long-standing trusted partner in supporting those whose lives have been upended by sudden violence, political or natural. They are no stranger to areas of disaster and conflict throughout the world as they currently work in 40 countries. The IRC provides emergency aid and long-term assistance, including refugee settlement, and focuses on health, education, economic well-being, empowerment, and safety. 

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

Odds are you’ve heard of MSF, the global organization that sends trained medical professionals to the places they’re needed most. MSF has been working globally for over 50 years, providing medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare—no matter what. They’re guided by principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality to global political policies or movements. 

National Disaster Search Dog Foundation

This organization rescues, trains, and places abused or abandoned dogs with first responders at no cost to rescue humans in disasters. Search dogs are one of the best resources for locating survivors buried under wreckage, and this is a great solution for dogs whose personalities might make them unsuitable as family pets but ideal for search and rescue.  

Partners In Health

Founded by Paul Farmer when he was still in medical school, PIH is committed to bringing exceptional health care to every corner of the planet. PIH also works to provide access to food, transportation, housing, and other key components of healing to the most vulnerable. Their work started in Haiti but has expanded rapidly across the globe. 

RIP Medical Debt 

Over 100 million Americans (one in three) are struggling with paying off medical bills. COVID has only added to those numbers, putting people under significant financial burden and emotional distress. This organization buys up medical debt in order to forgive it with no tax consequences to donors or recipients. Donate just $1 and you wipe out $100 of someone's medical debt, $100 to get rid of $10,000 in debt, and so on—the ripple effect is real. Through their work, RIP Medical Help not only helps with financial relief but also brings attention to the need for a more compassionate, transparent, equitable, and affordable healthcare system.

Transgender Law Center

Transgender Law Center, the largest trans-specific and trans-led organization in the U.S., changes law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely and authentically and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression. Through its precedent-setting litigation victories and community-driven programs, TLC protects the rights of transgender and gender nonconforming people in areas spanning employment, prison conditions, education, immigration, healthcare, and more.

Violence Policy Center

Named "the most effective…anti-gun rabble-rouser in Washington” by none other than its opponent, the National Rifle Association (NRA), the Violence Policy Center has a long and proven record of policy successes on stopping gun violence. The VPC informs the public about the impact of gun violence, exposes the profit-driven marketing and lobbying activities of the firearms industry and gun lobby, offers expertise to policymakers, organizations, and advocates on the federal, state, and local levels, and more.

Waterkeeper Alliance

In 1966, this movement was started by a band of blue-collar fishermen pushing back against industrial polluters, and their tough spirit remains intact through the 300+ local community groups that make up the global Waterkeeper Alliance today. The Alliance works to ensure, preserve, and protect clean and abundant water for all people and creatures. Their programs are diverse, spanning from patrolling waterways against polluters to advocating for environmental laws in courtrooms and town halls and educating in classrooms.

World Central Kitchen

Started by Chef José Andrés, WCK makes sure that people are fed in the wake of natural disasters. Their programs advance human and environmental health, offer access to professional culinary training, create jobs, and improve food security. WCK also teaches food safety and cooking classes to native people who live where disasters have occurred, so they may open restaurants and support the local economy more permanently. You can follow where WCK is currently on the ground assisting and feeding people affected by natural and man-made crises here.

#marvel trumps hate #mth 2023 #charity spotlight

[montammil]

In the Darkest Hours - Part One

CW: Lab whump (a little), multiple whumpers, inhuman whumpee, rockslide, obsessive behavior, pet whump (hinted), briefly mentioned abuse

When Liam was little, he saw one of the last ever documented Winged's ever to exist. Her wings were flame-red.

She was in a circus, but even child-him chose to ignore the bruises on her body, how every part of her except her wings were well-kept. He, and the audience, were too stunned to really pay attention. Not like they would've cared, anyway. Many people had Winged's as pets, no one was required to respect them.

The numbers dwindled down over the decades, and soon Winged's were even being poached. Masters had to keep their Winged's in closed doors at all times, and eventually the government took the last ones away.

Liam became infatuated with wanting to find more. He was sure there had to be at least one more left, but he was sure there were more than that. He was sure if he just looked and studied hard enough, he'd find something to find more and become rich. He'd even get a Winged of his own, and he hoped it'd have bright red wings, just like hers.

He started working for a private research center, surrounded by the research of all creatures that aren't human. Laws were different, there were more equal rights for others like the Horned, Scaled, and Gilled, but since there were no Winged's out there... there were no laws protecting them.

As he grew older, he grew more bitter. His obsession started to dwindle down by the time he reached thirty, and he thought he moved on, accepting that if there are any more Winged's on this planet, the chances of him getting his hands on them would be low.

Until one night, that is.

...

Alden has gotten better at hiding his wings, even if it still hurts like hell. He's managed to tuck them by his sides, and though it looks strange and unnatural, people still seem to shrug it off, considering he's done this several times.

He's glad he lives in a remote and cold area, because it gives him an excuse to bundle up and hide his wings better, and go to less-populated markets.

"Hey, Al. Haven't seen you in a while."

"Oh, hey, Em. Sorry, I've been kind of busy."

She chuckles. "I can tell. If you spend all your time in those caves, you're going to get hurt, you know."

"I'm fine."

She raises a brow but leaves it at that with a casual goodbye once he pays for his things. It's a miracle he can afford it, barely scraping by. At least he never has to worry about his medical expenses, since there's no way he'd trust any doctor with his wings. He'd get turned in, no doubt.

Alden goes to drop off his things at his cabin, and then decides some mining wouldn't hurt. He hit it big about a month ago, at least bigger than what he normally finds there. 

Since no one's ever down in the caves or the river, he decides to throw one of his jackets off. Everyone else in the town thinks he just gets cold easily, which is somewhat true, but not totally true.

He hums quietly to himself as he makes his way down the steep rocks. It's also extremely conventional he lives so close to the mining site. He grabs his helmet with a cap light from his backpack, his pickaxe and chisel, and leaves the rest of the equipment outside the cave. 

He knows where everything is, and he likes keeping his surroundings clear so no one gets hurt. He takes one of the mining lamps and lights it up, walking in further until he gets to his first spot of interest.

He sees something shiny in a small crevice of the rocks, so he picks up his pickaxe and chisel and starts hacking away at the rocks, trying to get whatever it is out of the crack. 

He has no idea what it might be, but it has to be valuable or it wouldn't be so deep in the crevice.

It's difficult work, and by the end of the day he's covered in sweat and dirt, and near what looks like the back of the cave. He decides he'll try one more location before leaving.

Just as he gets back to the close entrance of the cave, he finds one more area. He only hacks at the spot four times when he feels the whole cave start to shake. 

His head snaps up and he tries to look at what he's doing, but it's too dark, even with the light on his helmet.

Before he can rush out of the cave, the whole thing caves in and everything goes black.

...

"Dr. Schultz, you won't believe what we just found!"

"I really don't care," Liam responds bitterly, not looking up from his paperwork. "Can you shut the door on your way out, Blake? That'd greatly be appreciated--"

"It's a Winged."

That causes Liam to abruptly stop writing. His ballpoint pen falls out of his hand and onto his desk. He looks up at his assistant with wide, disbelieving eyes. "You're kidding."

Blake smiles. "No joke."

Liam quickly stands up from his desk and looks at him. "Is this real? You're sure?"

He nods. "He was recently transported here. He might be asleep for a while. Poor thing was in a cave that had collapsed."

"Show me now."

They make their way to a certain room, and Blake opens the door to room 640, where the Winged is located. He moves to open the door for Liam, but Liam shoves past him and throws open the door himself. 

He runs over to the Winged, who is currently laying on a bed with all sorts of medical equipment hooked up to him. He immediately goes to examining his wings. "Good, they don't seem injured much..." He frowns deeper at the color. "Blue. I wanted red wings."

"He's likely the last Winged alive," Blake mumbles, out of annoyance of Liam's reaction, or lack thereof. He knows a little about the slightly younger man's obsession with Wingeds, but he really thought he'd have more of a reaction at the extremely rare find, regardless of the color of wings.

Liam doesn't acknowledge him. He seems to be focusing on the Winged, taking in every detail. "Do we have any kind of file for him yet?"

"Not that I know of."

Liam continues to stare at the Winged in silence for several minutes. "I think we need to do some tests first before we do anything with him. We'll have to bring in some other doctors. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Herman for me. I have a lot of work to do."

"Yes, sir."

"Oh, and when he wakes up, notify me immediately." He doesn't wait for Blake to respond before leaving. He simply walks out the door without a goodbye, as per usual.

As soon as he's gone, Blake looks back at the sleeping Winged. He thinks the blue looks nice, shiny and almost iridescent.

History has proven Winged's are more comparable to obedient dogs than birds, given they are loyal and compliant, even if they start off stubborn and short-tempered at first.

Liam can have the Winged as his patient, but Blake wants a loyal pet. He thinks he's found the perfect candidate.

#whump #oc whump #alden oc #liam oc #blake oc #winged is pronounced wing-ed #at least in my head it is lol #PLEASE send me stuff about these characters like questions and drabble requests #the names aren't creative but i decided to go for something really simple here

[briamichellewrites]

42

“Okay, now you’ve done it.”

While hanging out with Donna and Muto, Brad came over to see Bria. They were hanging out in the living room with the cats. He had been working, so he wanted to see how she was doing. Tiny made herself at home on his lap. She purred happily because he was her favorite human. He called her his girl, as he petted her. Donna and Muto laughed. Bria was in one of her silly moods, so they were enjoying it. She was happy to have them there with her. He jokingly asked her if she was going to kick his ass.

“I would like to but I can’t get out of this chair. Technology hasn’t advanced enough yet for a butt-kicking robot. It won’t even let me swear. You can just pretend that I did. The only thing I can do is run you over at maybe thirty miles an hour”, she joked.

They laughed. Mike secretly told his parents and brother about his plan to propose to Bria. He asked an attorney about the law since he was her conservator. It shouldn’t be a problem. His role as a conservator wouldn’t change unless she died or he appointed someone else to take his role. He had to routinely send in paperwork to the court to show how her money was being spent.

They thought that was wonderful news! They would love to have her as their daughter-in-law! Yes, he knew what he was getting into. He knew that someday, he would have to say goodbye. But, he had to do it. He would hate himself for walking away from her. He should have proposed to her a long time ago. She was the only woman he wanted to marry. Linkin Park encouraged him to do it! They were perfect together! He laughed and admitted they were.

Marriage meant taking care of her. They wouldn’t be able to have sex or children. Maybe in the future, he could adopt or hire a surrogate. He would have to be one hundred percent committed to her. That meant not running away from commitment or self-medicating with Phoenix or Chester. His parents didn’t know about that and they never would.

When he got home, he found his parents with Bria and Brad in her room. They were helping her explain how her medical equipment worked. She had a closet full of clothes, shoes, and handbags. It wasn’t as big as her closet upstairs but it still did its job. Every morning, she picked out something to wear and Mike helped her put it on. Then he or her nurse helped her put her pajamas on every night. She had a nurse? Yes, two. They worked twelve-hour shifts.

“The night nurse stays overnight with me. She leaves the next morning when the other nurse arrives. That way, one of them is always there in case of emergency.”

“What kind of emergency?”

“She has seizures about two times a week. They’re the result of her brain hemorrhage while in the hospital. She also had a bruised heart. Thankfully, she hasn’t had any major problems with that. We have the heart monitor just to keep an eye on it. Just in case something does happen”, Mike explained.

“How bad are her seizures? Does she have to go to the hospital?”

No, they usually lasted about five minutes. They were just stressful and frustrating for her and they wore her out. The last one she had was the day before. He asked if he could talk about that. Yes. What happened? They were at the grocery store and everything had gone well. She was in a goofy mood and was joking around with him.

He could tell she was getting a little tired because it was late afternoon. As they were getting ready to leave, she started shaking. Thankfully, there were paramedics there who helped out. They examined her and calmed her down, even making her laugh by letting her pet a stuffed animal. When it was over, they went home and had a quiet rest of the day. He showed them the sign hanging on her wheelchair. Did they know she was nonverbal?

“No, I had to tell them. She wouldn’t have been able to talk to them or answer their questions.”

“She could get a medical tattoo with her information on it. That way, if it happens again, they could see it”, Brad suggested.

“I’ll have to look into that. The only thing is that I don’t want her having a seizure during the tattoo appointment.”

“Talk to the artist. The professionals would have a better idea about seizures and whether she’s at risk or not.”

“What do you think, Bria”, Muto asked.

“Let’s do it”, her machine said.

Bria Michelle Lavigne

NONVERBAL

ADHD. Epilepsy. Undiagnosed ALS

History of open heart surgery, subarachnoid hemorrhage, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

That was the tattoo she got on her wrist. It looked pretty cool! The artist assured them that the tattoo would not cause an epileptic seizure. They worked with her on a design. Bria used her machine to communicate. She wanted the tattoo to make it easier for the paramedics to help her, especially since she was nonverbal. Could she make nonverbal in all caps? Yeah! Did she want a separate color for that? Red. Yeah, they could do that.

After the chair was cleaned, she was helped into it. The artist unpackaged the equipment in front of them to show them it was brand new and sterilized. She then cleaned her arm. Bria had happiness with a little bit of pain in her face. She had one tattoo already, so she remembered how much it hurt. It wasn’t too painful. She just had to get used to it.

Because she was unable to write, he filled out the paperwork for her. He had her wallet, so he could pay using her card. If they asked, he had his paperwork showing he had her permission. It had never been a problem before. It was better to be safe than sorry.

Mike had a surprise for her when they got home. They went into the living room where he sat down with her. He was nervous, which she picked up on. Michael, what are you doing? He laughed and then pulled out a small box. After opening it up, she looked at it. Inside was a beautiful antique ring. He didn’t have to even ask because she said yes immediately.

“Bria Michelle Lavigne, will you marry me?”

“Yes!”

He put the ring on her finger. She looked at it. It was beautiful! He took a picture of it before kissing her. This means you’re never getting rid of me! He was okay with that. Where did he get the ring? It was his mother’s engagement ring. The previous day while she was at home with his parents and Brad, he snuck over to a jewelry shop and had it cleaned and resized. She was honored to be wearing it.

She said yes! – Mike

He kissed her happily. Even if they had two years, he wanted to spend it with her. He would change her diapers or whatever else he needed to because he loved her so much. She made him want to be a better man. As corny and cliché as that was. He was willing to change who he was for her. His phone received congratulatory messages from his parents and Jason. They were extremely excited to have her in their family!

@zoeykaytesmom @feelingsofaithless @alina-dixon @fiickle-nia

[animalshelterawareness]

The benefits to adopting an older, or even "uglier animal"

Adopting an uglier looking animal can have many benefits. Firstly, it can help reduce the number of abandoned or neglected animals, as these animals are often overlooked in favor of more attractive breeds. According to a research article, “Why Did You Choose This Pet?” adopters tend to gravitate towards animal aesthetics, such as fur patterns, over the personality of the animal. However, choosing an animal with a compatible personality can increase the bond between one and its owner, making owning a pet a more exciting experience. Adopting a “less attractive” animal may encourage others to do the same, leading to more animals finding homes and reducing the need for euthanizing animals who can’t be adopted as easily. 

What about older animals? Typically, older animals are less energetic, and depending on medical issues, might be high maintenance. However, choosing an older animal might equip other people’s lifestyles better. Getting an older dog would mean fostering an animal that has already had plenty of experience and training. In addition, because an older dog wouldn’t need as much walking as a younger dog, they can be better for those with busy work schedules that can’t make time. These dogs still have plenty of love to give their owners, and their relaxed attitudes may also make them better with children. Cats are in a similar boat, with being less and less energetic as they get older, making them less likely to want to tear up a couch or pounce around your living room late into the night.

In conclusion, all animals are deserving of love, regardless of their backgrounds or appearance.

#animal shelter #animalrights #animals #activism #adoption #animal adop

[dementia123]

Dementia Care Rest Homes : How Are They Helpful?

Dementia is a degenerative brain condition that affects memory, and causes behavioral changes. It affects people of all ages, but it's most common in older adults.

For those with dementia, it can be difficult to remember daily activities and routines or be able to communicate effectively; they may also experience a decline in their ability to perform everyday tasks such as eating and bathing.

Dementia can often be difficult for family members to handle on their own as many require frequent care, supervision and assistance with day-to-day activities like bathing, dressing and eating meals.

If you have an elderly parent who has been diagnosed with this condition recently, then there are several steps you should take before considering other options like moving them into a home for the aged or assisted living facility because these dementia care rest homes in Auckland facilities offer better care services than most nursing homes (which aren't always equipped to provide high levels of personalized attention).

What is Dementia Care Facility?

A dementia care facility is a place to go for people who need help with the daily tasks of living. It's important to note that a nursing home and a dementia care facility are not the same thing, though they're often confused because of their similarities in terms of structure and function.

In fact, some nursing homes have special wings or floors dedicated specifically to patients with Alzheimer's disease or related cognitive disorders.

While these patients may still require physical assistance from time to time (such as bathing), many can do much more on their own than those suffering from severe cases of dementia who require around-the-clock monitoring.

Types of Dementia Care Facilities

There are several types of facilities that offer dementia care. They include:

Assisted living—a residential facility where the resident can live independently with basic assistance such as housekeeping and meal preparation, but may require increased supervision for activities such as medication management or personal hygiene tasks

Assisted living with dementia care—a residential facility that offers more intensive support services to residents with advanced dementia. Residents in this type of facility do not need any assistance when it comes to eating or dressing themselves (or other complex tasks) but may require assistance from staff members when preparing meals, taking prescribed medications, bathing or grooming themselves, managing finances and paying bills on time, remembering appointments/appointments made by family members/family members feel comfortable leaving the facility for short periods of time.

What services do Dementia Care Facilities Offer?

Dementia care facilities offer a range of services, including:

Medical care. This is the most obvious service offered by dementia care facilities. However, it's important to note that medical care for people with dementia should be different from general health services for others. Dementia-specific treatment focuses on preventing and managing symptoms like dehydration and infections, as well as providing support for the patient's caregiver(s).

Psychological services . Psychologists at dementia care facilities can work with patients who are experiencing depression or anxiety related to their condition—or they can provide counseling sessions with family members who need help coping with the disease's effects on themselves or their loved ones.

Social support . Some homes provide activities like music therapy or pet therapy (in which residents interact with animals) in order to stimulate the brain while reducing stress levels associated with living in an unfamiliar setting. They may also offer physical activities such as dancing lessons or cooking classes that allow residents to express themselves through movement while encouraging them to stay active despite limited mobility issues caused by dementia itself rather than arthritis or other physical limitations unrelated.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve found this article helpful. If you have any questions or concerns about dementia care rest homes Auckland facilities, we encourage you to comment us below.

Source Link :- Dementia Care Rest Homes : How Are They Helpful?

#dementia support auckland #dementia care rest homes auckland #dementia day care auckland #dementia care homes auckland #dementia care auckland

[helvaticacare]

FACTS AND MYTHS RELATING TO TRANSMISSION OF AIDS AND HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HIV, weakens and interferes with the immune system of the body. A person with HIV is highly susceptible to other, serious infections and diseases, such as cancer. The third and final stage of HIV infection is known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Long-term HIV neglect renders the compromised immune system ineffective, ultimately fatalizing the patient.

Over the years, numerous medical research and advancements have proved to be successful in treating HIV patients, helping them live a whole and healthy life. When administered effectively, new treatments and medications can reduce this virus’s levels in a way that becomes untransmittable.

A quick HIV fact: during the seroconversion period of the infection cycle (2-3 weeks after the infection), the patient’s body starts producing antibodies that can fight the disease and reduce the viral load. At this stage, HIV can be controlled so that it does not culminate into AIDS.

However, despite the developments in modern medicine, at a social level there are a lot of misconceptions and stigma about HIV and AIDS transmission and its treatment, one of the most common being the virus can be transmitted on encountering an HIV-infected person.

Helvetica Health Care (HHC) wants to dispel some persistent myths regarding this illness with this article. Our specialists dispel common myths and dispel prejudices regarding HIV transmission as advocates and providers of medical services and lab test items like premium seroconversion panels. We also clarify certain misguided medical research and therapy tenets.

Here are some myths regarding HIV and AIDS that have persisted for a long time.

HIV CAN BE TRANSMITTED BY TOUCHING.

The truth about HIV and AIDS is that it can be transmitted only when the bodily fluids from an infected person, such as blood, breast milk, fluid from the anus, semen and vaginal fluid, enter the bloodstream of another person.

HIV cannot be transmitted by

touching or hugging an infected person,

using the same toilets, bathroom facilities or swimming pools,

sharing food, utensils, and telephones with someone who has HIV,

insect bites or infected pets,

receiving blood from an infected person and

through contact with an HIV-infected person’s sweat, saliva or tears.

HIV IS FATAL, AND THERE IS NO WAY TO PREVENT IT.

HIV occurs in three stages. Though this viral infection is still incurable, early diagnosis and treatment can lower viral load to undetectable levels, preventing you from passing HIV on to others and helping people with HIV live longer and healthier lives. It can take up to six months for a person to become undetectable after starting therapy, so it’s critical to test and start treatment as soon as possible.

In terms of prevention, taking Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication and regular use of condoms can protect those who might be at high risk of getting the infection due to unprotected sex or injection drug use. For those who are sexually active in a non-monogamous way, it is recommended to test for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and HIV regularly. Birth control pills do not help in preventing HIV infection.

HIV DOES NOT AFFECT HETEROSEXUAL PERSONS.

HIV is transmissible from one partner to the other in any sexual relationship because it spreads by the body’s membranes coming in contact with body fluids in the mouth, penis, vagina and rectum. A person can contact HIV through

unprotected anal sex,

unprotected vaginal sex,

sharing of needles, syringes, and other drug equipment,

unsafe tissue transplantation and blood transfusions, and

through birth and breastfeeding.

HIV-positive patients cannot have children without transferring the disease prenatally.

For HIV-positive people, there is a risk that the virus is passed from mother to child. To prevent this, during pregnancy, the mother should begin with antiretroviral (ART) medication, ensure that the birth is by C-section, and not breastfeed the child after birth.

Couples with HIV positive do not need to protect themselves.

On the contrary, HIV+ couples need to protect each other and themselves by ensuring they receive the proper treatment at the right time. Since HIV occurs in stages and given that everyone is of a different constitution, the partners may be at various stages of the disease, and the type of HIV may be different, which could lead to cases of reinfection. Using contraception is advised, especially if both are HIV+.

It is easy to know if someone has HIV.

HIV is an elusive disease because its symptoms appear gradually and, in some cases, not at all. Therefore, getting tested for HIV after having unprotected sex is imperative. In the first stage, the person will likely experience flu-like symptoms like fatigue and fever after exposure to the virus. In the second stage, often, there are no symptoms, and it can last very long. In the third stage – AIDS, the symptoms are often confused with HIV symptoms, although an immune system compromised by AIDS may produce them.

Here are some common misdirected notions in treating HIV and AIDS that are worth considering in understanding the nature of this disease.

All HIV+ patients reach the 3rd stage (AIDS) at the same rate

Research shows that the average duration of HIV to develop into AIDS varies based on the cofactors related to different risk groups:

Mild haemophiliacs (persons who have a genetic bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly): 20 years

Transfusion severe haemophiliacs: 14 years

Old severe haemophiliacs and homosexual men: 10 years

Blood transfusion patients for all ages: 6 years

Organ Transplant patients: 2 years

Babies with perinatal infections: 6 months

Seroreversions do not occur following HIV infection

Seroreversions are relatively common after a patient is detected with HIV (10-20 per cent). Seroreversion is the absence of previously identified HIV antibodies. Impaired immunity may cause people with advanced HIV illness to lose detectable antibodies permanently or temporarily.

Antibodies can protect you against HIV infection

The production of antibodies during the seroconversion phase is essential but only diagnostic of HIV immune regulatory loss. There is some evidence that antibodies may even make an infection worse.

Retroviral therapies are the only solution to treat AIDS

AIDS can be prevented or delayed by non-retroviral therapy for HIV infection, such as safer sexual practices, abstinence from drugs, a high-nutrient diet, and restricted reexposure to HIV and its cofactors.

HIV is the only necessary cause of AIDS, as HIV and AIDS incidence is so closely connected.

Studies show that numerous immunosuppressive factors, such as drug use, having several infections at once, and being exposed to alloantigens, are as strongly associated with AIDS risk groups as HIV. These findings align more with a multifactorial or synergistic illness concept of AIDS than a single-factor concept.

For accurate HIV diagnosis at labs, HHC offers a wide range of high-quality SEROCONVERSION PANELS to detect asymptomatic donors infected with HIV, HCV, HBV and EBV, as well as SURVEILLANCE PANELS and LONGITUDINAL PANELS. In addition, our range of SEROLOGICAL CONTROLS, the SeraCon Run Controls, are intended for use in assessing the performance of immunoassay test procedures for the qualitative determination of HBsAg, anti-HIV and anti-HCV.

If you want to know we can help improve your lab’s performance and quality control, contact us now.

#hiv infection #treatment

[furrmeals]

4 Science-backed benefits of Fresh Food for dogs! | Fresh Dog Food | Furrmeals

 Science-backed benefits of Fresh Food for dogs!

 You are making the right move if you plan to change to fresh dog food. Here are some of the advantages you can expect from a natural, new diet like Furrmeals:

Help Preventing diseases | Furrmeals

Fresh Food is rich in immune-boosting antioxidants and high-quality protein that helps to ward off and control several diseases. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found a link in dogs between lower rates of urinary bladder carcinomas and eating green, leafy, and yellow-orange vegetables three times a week.

On the other hand, many commercial dog foods made through the process called extrusion (the majority of the nutrients are lost in this process) contain super-low-quality ingredients like meals and by-products that are considered unfit for human consumption. These foods have a huge amount of preservatives, chemicals, and artificial ingredients that, when consumed, can cause serious health issues in pets.

Increases your dog's life span:

A study found that dogs fed a fresh diet lived for 13.1 years, while those fed commercial dog food reached an average of 10.4 years. That's an extra two and a half years you and your dog could spend together! In the young years, your dog could tolerate the harmful effects of chemical-filled commercial Food. Still, as your pup ages, the body's tolerance will reduce, and the toxins accumulated in the body over these years will overpower.

Improves digestive system:

A new plant-based diet contains a good amount of fiber. Fiber promotes the growth of beneficial intestinal microbiota or good bacteria in the gut. Non-fermentable fiber promotes regular bowel movements and regulates fecal consistency. Fiber can help dogs with digestive issues, from loose tools to gas to constipation, while promoting their gastrointestinal health.

Makes your pup smarter:

A healthy diet can improve cognitive function in dogs. In one study in The Journal of Veterinary Medicine, old, cognitively impaired dogs fed an antioxidant-enriched diet had higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factors, which may slow cognitive decline. Plant-based foods are naturally rich in antioxidants, and the amount of antioxidants in fresh Food is relatively higher than in Food made using extrusion (which reduces the activity of antioxidants due to excessive heat).

We at Furrmeals use 100% plant-based and human-grade ingredients to power our complete and balanced Fresh dog food. Our meals are equipped with natural antioxidants and superfoods and contain no nasties like preservatives, harmful chemicals, by-products, and artificial colors & flavors.

#bestdietfordogs #bestdogfoodbrand #bestdogtoothpaste #furrmeals #freshdogfood

#freshdogfood #bestdietfordogs #bestdogfoodbrand #bestdogtoothpaste #furrmeals #furrmeals dog food