Dapper Cat
LightNews LightNews
banner
averydappercat.bsky.social
Dapper Cat
@averydappercat.bsky.social
100 followers 110 following 150 posts
Writer, reader, shark-enthusiast.
They/them or ey/em
🧡💛🤍🩵💙
Posts Replies Media Videos
averydappercat.bsky.social
Hermit crab switched shells at the touch tank of this marine science center I volunteer at and I finally got it on video!
He look so nakey without his shell
November 15, 2025 at 8:36 PM
averydappercat.bsky.social
💯!!
October 4, 2025 at 1:41 PM
averydappercat.bsky.social
My prelude to a fantasy story about two countries. Both with nobles and commoners, but only one country's nobles are bound by an ancient contract preventing them from abusing their powers.
White text on a black background: Nobles who use their power for bullying would then face the might of the ancient contract binding all Wrethans to the land and its people. The contract doesn’t discriminate based on age, either. Cut someone? You’re liable to need stitches in the next couple days. Push someone to the ground? Next, you’ll be thrown down the stairs by some unseen force. It is the inevitable blowback, the scaled reciprocity to a noble’s misdeeds. White text with on a black background with the word "pressure" highlighted: So, it made sense that no one wanted to be a bully. Shailendra didn’t either. Being a bully was a straight and narrow path. She’s seen what happens to kids who get even a little selfish, a little too comfortable with being demanding. The sheer force of adult authority and peer pressure squishes them back into the “good” category before too long.
September 9, 2025 at 11:16 AM
averydappercat.bsky.social
I'm late for International Whale Shark Day but I just learned that a group of whale sharks is called a constellation and this is now my new fav fun fact.
#whalesharks
#sharks
A photograph of 2 whale sharks swimming under a large school of fish
September 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM
averydappercat.bsky.social
An excerpt from my fantasy novel about 2 very different nations and what happens when they come together.
Black text on a white background with the word, "same" highlighted 3 times. Text reads: The deities are grand beings, so in a way it makes sense to create grand altars for them. But living and working in a small border town for the past six years has Henrietta accustomed to the small ways people worship. So, even though it is the same deity, same prayer, and same ritual, Henrietta takes her time going through the motions. She plucks the two incense sticks she needs from the box and tries for the second time this morning to set them in their holders on either side of the dark wood deity house. Incense finally lit, she links her hands together with only her pinkies steepled. “O, deity of the promises we keep, I am thine faithful servant who offers prayers to your name. I call on the boon thy so magnanimously bestowed upon me to carry my words through the day.” Silver blue magic pulses in her fingertips before settling in for the day, ready for her to call upon whenever a contract is required. It is one of the only things that makes Henrietta feel slightly more like herself. It’s been less than a week since she returned home which should have felt like putting on a comfortable old coat but instead felt too tight in the neck and all the way through the sleeves. Henrietta correctly deduced that part of that feeling was the all too familiar need to change seasons. The rest of her anxiety, however, is less easily solved. “Let my words be true and my will be earnest, lest thine righteous fury strike me down.” Henrietta finishes, untangling her fingers and letting them slowly fall to her sides. The daily prayer’s final words feel heavier on her tongue than ever before.
August 24, 2025 at 5:26 PM
averydappercat.bsky.social
#sharkweek fact no. 3
The トラフザメ(torafuzame), literally tiger pattern shark, is called the Zebra or Leopard shark (depending on the region) in English! It is also my favorite shark and currently the subject of the rewilding project by ReShark.
Photo of a zebra shark swimming through the water
July 26, 2025 at 10:43 PM
averydappercat.bsky.social
#sharkweek2025 fact no. 2
トラザメ(torazame) literally "tiger shark" in Japanese actually refers to the cloudy catshark, a small species of catshark that lives on reefs in the Pacific.
July 25, 2025 at 12:33 AM
averydappercat.bsky.social
#sharkweek2025 fact no. 1
Tiger sharks in Japanese are called イタチザメ (itachizame) or "weasel shark" named for their aggressive temperament.
A picture of a tiger shark starting to turn away in the water
July 22, 2025 at 9:58 PM
averydappercat.bsky.social
Today, July 14th, is Shark Awareness Day! 🦈
All 500+ shark species play a crucial role in our ocean environments as predators. They have been successful for over 400 million years and have been under threat for the past 50 years.
6 small gacha sharks of various species lined up on a fabric shark printed background. Above is text that reads: Happy Shark Awareness Day!
July 14, 2025 at 7:51 AM
averydappercat.bsky.social
July 6, 2025 at 2:18 AM
averydappercat.bsky.social
I meant to get a pen refill from Tsutaya and ended up with three manga instead because they didn't have the pen refill that I needed.
3 Japanese manga laid out on a table and special illustration card for Madan no Ichi laid above them. Titles from left to right: Madan no Ichi 3, Houseki no Kuni 13, Flying Witch 14
July 1, 2025 at 9:10 AM
averydappercat.bsky.social
@giantsquidstudios.com finally playing ABZU and I love it so much!
The little manatee squeaks and all the beautiful sharks make me so happy! I wish I could make the whale shark room my screen saver!
June 28, 2025 at 8:18 AM
averydappercat.bsky.social
夏の歌は美しい〜
June 24, 2025 at 1:14 PM
averydappercat.bsky.social
A summons to start the story...
Black text on a white background. The word "read" is highlighted in yellow. Text: The letter inside simply reads: Dear William Baygrowth, Your presence is required for tea today at twice past noon bell. Vanessa Baygrowth “No,” William says, “it’s my Aunt Vanessa.” William catches Tomias’ slight flinch. Not an uncommon reaction at hearing Vanessa’s name. It shouldn’t alarm William as much as it does. He briefly entertains the idea of giving his aunt some choice words over the lack of propriety. She dares send a summons when he’s barely crossed the threshold of his own chamber doors? Of course, she dares. Vanessa can do whatever she pleases in regards to William.
June 20, 2025 at 4:35 AM
averydappercat.bsky.social
I was pretty sure I wouldn't find this word in any of my WIPs but here it is! A scene in my soft sci-fi novella that is currently on its 5th draft.
Black text on a white background. The word "team" is highlighted in yellow. Text: “Addie invited me too.” Zach said guiltily. He caught the skepticism in my eye and continued, “Look, I know it’s not easy to talk to her after all this time, but it won’t be as awkward if it’s all three of us. Also, they’ve got a free snack bar and Addie’s offered to cover our entry so it’s free free. Let’s kick ass like we used to.” He leaned in conspiratorially and added, “Let’s put a handicap on her and team up together. Won’t that be satisfying?” “What are you talking about?” I said, evading having to say yes or no to the invite. “We suck at grav ball.” “Hey, you don’t know that! Maybe I’ve been training in secret to prepare for this day to get my revenge. Complete with a training montage and everything!” Zach joked—it was obviously a joke—but I tensed up at the word ‘secret.’
June 17, 2025 at 12:19 AM
averydappercat.bsky.social
Because I can't help myself here's another excerpt from my current fantasy. #WIPSnips
Black text on white background with the word "hair" highlighted in yellow. Text: “Don’t speak, don’t stand too close to me, don’t stand too far, and don’t approach Lady Audovera under any circumstances. You will write the talismans, perform the blessings, and do exactly as I say.” Elyssa states the second they cross into Wrethan territory. “Understand? You and your mother are the worst blight upon the Baygrowth name. If you let slip the smallest hint of your lesser background to the other nobles, I will personally drain the grounds of that Podunk you so desperately try to protect.” William wants to tell Elyssa that her mother already made these threats and wasted less breath on them. She cuts much the same figure as her mother. She carries her inherited height with the same confidence and styles her hair the same way—three thin dark brown front braids then braided again to include finely crafted silver beads set with precious gems. He meets her sharp amber eyes for a moment before training himself to appear properly in his place. Though of the same height, he droops his shoulders and looks downward; never forward.
June 16, 2025 at 3:58 AM
averydappercat.bsky.social
Worked on my fantasy project this week where I struggled with describing a setting〜
#LGBTWriteAThon
Black words on white background with the word "color" highlighted in yellow. Text: The chambers are fine and bright. Much of the furniture is made of some wood he doesn’t recognize, lighter colored with a natural oil finish. The upholstery is rather plain greens and blues with minimal embroidery along the edges. There is no parlor room for receiving guests, only what can be called a desk space with a wardrobe and a decorative screen partitioning off a canopied bed. William is certain there must have been some mistake. By all accounts, the accommodation does not appear to be made up for a noble. When he runs a hand across the bedding, he feels cotton, not silk. Even the quarters set aside for him when visiting farmlands in Vule are of higher quality than this.
June 16, 2025 at 2:05 AM
averydappercat.bsky.social
I guess today is as good a time as any to show off just a fraction of my shark-y collection.
Consider donating to an ocean-based non-profit today! I'm particularly fond of Ocearch and the work they do for shark research. Sharks are so important to the health of our oceans!
#WorldOceanDay #sharks
A plastic tiny toy whale shark sits on an ocean-themed fabric background A plastic tiny toy white shark joins the whale shark. White shark says, "hi." Whale shark says "wut?" The plastic tiny toy white shark now has its mouth wide open and is saying "today is world ocean day" the whale shark says "oh shit! let's celebrate" and is joined by a tiny toy plastic blue-colored white shark and hammerhead by its side. Floating text above the three sharks says "Happy World Ocean Day!"
June 8, 2025 at 6:07 AM
averydappercat.bsky.social
Here's what I've read so far this year! Been letting myself read without any particular goal in mind. It's been nice just letting myself read whatever I feel like.
#booksky #2025reads
A collage of 14 book covers. (titles from top to bottom, left to right) The Picture of Dorian Gray, Howl's Moving Castle, Can't Spell Treason without Tea, Last Night at the Telegraph Club, The Poppy War, The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes, The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, We Could Be So Good, You Should Be So Lucky, The Dictionary of Lost Words, Foster, Someone You Can Build a Nest In, Loveless, and The Reckoning of Roku
June 7, 2025 at 6:28 AM