DollopheadedMerlin

Walnut was born in a species-recovery breeding program in the 1980′s.  The program had crane chicks hand-raised by human volunteers, and at that time they did not fully understand the measures necessary make sure that the chicks do not imprint on humans and retain their identity as cranes.  

As a result, her keepers believe, Walnut does not recognize other cranes as members of her own species.  

It has not been proven that Walnut killed her previous suitors; however, there is a persistent rumor in the white-naped-crane-conservation community that she did.  

Because this species is highly endangered, and the gene pool of the captive population is small, it’s pretty important for the survival of her species that Walnut A) mate, and B) not kill a bunch of other cranes.  

The actual name of the keeper is Chris Crowe.

They both arrived at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in 2004.   

Walnut immediately began paying special attention to Chris--and ignoring the eligible male crane in a nearby enclosure.  

Walnut initiated their courtship, performing the opening moves of a mating dance.  

Chris realized that if he reciprocated the mating dance, it might be possible to artificially inseminate Walnut with her participation and consent.  (The process normally involves restraining the bird.)  

It worked!  

Chris and Walnut have had five children, who were raised by other crane couples at the facility--sometimes the biological dad and his mate--both because it’s unclear whether Walnut would accept the chicks as her own, and because Chris is not equipped to be a Crane Dad.  

However, the Institute provides her with artificial eggs to sit on, and Chris takes his turn looking after them.  (This would not work with real eggs because he can’t sit on them properly, but Walnut seems to feel that he is on the job if he just stands over them.)

she has not been PROVEN to have killed her exes, but there is a PERSISTENT RUMOR (really officers she's simply DEVASTATED, she sobs, wearing a new feather boa unfortunately resembling her most recent deceased husband)

His name is Chris CROWE. (Mrs. Walnut Crane-Crowe?)

the mental images of a whole human man learning and performing the crane mating dance, and "sitting" on artificial eggs so she thinks he's performing his duties as a husband and father (and apparently OBJECTS if he does not?)

"chris, buddy, you gotta marry the possibly-murderous crane lady for the GOOD OF THE SPECIES." (alternately: "chris, my man! good news! we found you a very interested lady! She's 36, she's very spirited and independent, she holds a very important and rare status in her society! ...Is there a downside? WELL...")

merlin, limping up, covered in blood, still holding a knife: “listen, if anyone asks, i need you to say that i was with you last ni-” 

gwaine: “we fucked last night until dawn, got it” 

“n-no, you can just say we w-” 

is Mystery Inc. a polycule? - based on every Scooby-Doo adaptation:

TV Shows

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! - Yes, absolutely. It’s the fucking ‘60s and they’re hippies who live in a van with their dog

The New Scooby-Doo Movies - Yes

The Scooby-Doo Show - They’re on-again off-again

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - No

The New Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Show - No

The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo - No

A Pup Named Scooby-Doo - No, not yet

What’s New, Scooby-Doo? - Yes, but they’re less hippie-dippie about it. more like a modern, Y2K polycule

Shaggy and Scooby-Doo Get a Clue! - No

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated - Yes, their bond after that finale is inseparable

Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! - No, not yet, but they’re on their way there

Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? - Yes

Velma - No

Movies

Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers - No

Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School - No

Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf - No

Scooby-Doo! in Arabian Knights - No

Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island - They previously drifted apart and are now in the awkward getting-back-together phase, but nonetheless Yes

Scooby-Doo! and the Witch’s Ghost - Yes, and the Hex Girls (they’re a polycule too btw) probably join every now and then

The Scooby-Doo Project - No, too dysfunctional

Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders - Yes

Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase - Yes

Scooby-Doo! and the Legend of the Vampire - Yes

Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico - Yes

Scooby-Doo! and the Loch Ness Monster - Yes

Aloha, Scooby-Doo! - Yes

Scooby-Doo! in Where’s My Mummy? - Yes

Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy! - Yes

Chill Out, Scooby-Doo! - Yes

Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King - Yes

Scooby-Doo! and the Samurai Sword - Yes

Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo - Yes

Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare - Yes

Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur - Yes

Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire - Yes, absolutely

Big Top Scooby-Doo! - Yes

Scooby-Doo! Mask of the Blue Falcon - Yes. Blue Falcon and Dyno-Mutt are allies

Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map - they’re on-again off-again, but mostly Yes

Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright - Yes

Scooby-Doo! Wrestlemania Mystery - Yes

Scooby-Doo! Frankencreepy - They’re on the rocks for a moment there but nonetheless Yes

Scooby-Doo! Moon Monster Madness - Yes

Scooby-Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery- Yes. Kiss are not allies

LEGO Scooby-Doo! Haunted Halloween - Yes

Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon - Yes

Scooby-Doo! Shaggy’s Showdown - Yes

LEGO Scooby-Doo! Blowout Beach Bash - Yes

Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and The Bold - Yes. Batman is an ally

Scooby-Doo! and the Gourmet Ghost - Yes. Bobby Flay is hesitant but slowly becomes an ally

Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost - They’ve sense reunited and warmed to one another, so Yes

Scooby-Doo! Return to Zombie Island - No

Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo! - Yes

Scooby-Doo! The Sword and the Scoob - Yes

Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog - Yes. Courage and Muriel are allies, Eustace is not

Trick or Treat, Scooby-Doo! - Yes

Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too! - Yes. Krypto and Superman are allies

SCOOB! - No, and Blue Falcon and Dyno-Mutt are definitely not allies

Scooby-Doo (live action 2002) - They break up but reconcile and get back together, so Yes

Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed - Yes

Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins - they’re on-again off-again

Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster - they’re on-again off-again

Daphne & Velma - No

The most amazing part is how the water droplet magnifies the Hornet's mouth parts, so you get to see them up-close!!!! It was FASCINATING to witness!

Here's some of my favorite still shots from that video:

- m/f ship between a nonblack man & a Black woman

- it's either canon (e.g. mel/jayce arcane, arthur/guinevere bbcmerlin) or entirely plausible (e.g. prism or coupé/robert dispatch)

- fanbase overwhelmingly pairs nb man off with another nb man and disengages from the Black woman character, shunting her into a background wise & sassy caretaker role (for which there is a name) or leaving her out of fanworks entirely

- fans who do this ^ claim it is an expression of love and admiration for the Black woman character, actually, bc the nb man (who may be her canonical partner) "can't handle all that" (he may be perfectly competent and engaged; she may be totally low maintenance; it has no bearing), she's just too wonderful (too much) and out of his league (lacking in flaws and interiority and fan appeal)

The first snow Merlin saw in exile fell soundlessly.

He woke to white gathered along the mouth of the cave and for one impossible moment, half-asleep and cold, he thought he was back in Camelot. Thought he would hear Arthur shouting for him to stop staring out windows and fetch hot water already.

Instead there was only the wind.

Merlin sat up slowly beneath his threadbare blanket. Every joint ached. The fire had gone out sometime in the night, leaving behind ash and the faint smell of smoke soaked into stone.

Three months.

Three months since he had left Camelot before dawn with nothing but a pack over his shoulder and magic trembling violently beneath his skin.

He pulled his scarf tighter and stepped outside.

The mountains stretched endlessly around him, pale with snow and morning frost. His breath fogged the air. Far below, a small village still slept beneath curling chimney smoke. No one here knew who he was. To them he was simply Emrys, the strange physician who lived too far into the woods and spoke to no one unless necessary.

He closed his eyes.

Even now, even after years, he could still remember that final night with perfect clarity.

Arthur had been drunk on celebration wine after his birthday. The castle had glowed gold with music and laughter.

Merlin had been trying to leave unnoticed when Arthur caught him alone in the corridor.

“You’re avoiding me,” Arthur had accused.

Merlin forced a grin. “Hardly. I’ve been serving at your birthday all day.”

Arthur leaned against the wall, crown crooked slightly from drink. “You’ve been strange for weeks.”

Weeks. As if Merlin had not spent years breaking himself apart quietly at Arthur’s feet.

“You should sleep,” Merlin had said softly.

Arthur had looked at him then.

And suddenly all the warmth drained from Merlin’s body because Arthur’s expression had gone unbearably tender.

“You’re unhappy,” Arthur said.

“No.”

“You are.”

“I’m fine.”

“Merlin—”

Then Arthur had reached for him.

Just a hand against his wrist.

Nothing more.

Except Merlin reacted like a starving man given bread.

Magic sparked instinctively beneath his skin. Gold flickered in his eyes. Arthur’s breath caught. And before Merlin could think better of it, before he could stop himself, he had kissed him.

One desperate terrible heartbeat.

Arthur had kissed him back.

Merlin remembered the feeling with horrifying precision even now — Arthur’s hand at the back of his neck, the sharp inhale against his mouth, the way years of restraint shattered all at once.

Then Arthur jerked away as if burned. The silence afterward had nearly killed him. Arthur looked stunned. Guilty.

Merlin had never hated anyone more than he hated himself in that moment.

“Arthur,” he whispered.

Arthur stepped back.

Arthur looked wrecked.

“Merlin…”

By morning he was gone.

A gust of icy wind snapped Merlin back to the present.

He exhaled shakily.

He should stop remembering. It served no purpose now.

Camelot was protected. Merlin made certain of that before he left. The spell surrounding the kingdom was woven from old magic older than kingdoms themselves. No Saxon army would breach it. No sorcerer could curse the land while Merlin still breathed.

Arthur was safe.

That had to be enough.