#coral reef rescue

[vrepitsorrynotsorry]

Seems relevant to share this here.

#vox article #benji jones #jason spadaro #crabs #cool science #coral reef rescue

[zurich-snows]

LISTEN • 1:18

#rescued coral from Miami spawn #miami #coral #the environment #bleaching reefs #florida keys

[ausetkmt]

In a First, Nonprofit Buys Insurance for Hawaii’s Threatened Coral Reefs

Nov. 21, 2022Updated 6:02 p.m. ET

Climate Forward  There’s an ongoing crisis — and tons of news. Our newsletter keeps you up to date.

As climate change makes coastal storms more destructive, an environmental group is trying a new approach to protecting Hawaii’s coral reefs. It could become a model for defending natural structures around the country — if it works.

The plan involves an urgent sequence of actions that, in theory, will unfold like this:

Step 1: The Nature Conservancy, a large environmental nonprofit, takes out an insurance policy for the coral reefs surrounding the islands of Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui and Hawaii, despite not owning those reefs, which are on public land.

Step 2: If Hawaii experiences a storm strong enough to damage the reefs, the Nature Conservancy will get a payout from the insurance company within about two weeks. (Compared with most insurance policies, that is the approximate equivalent of light speed.)

Step 3: The Nature Conservancy will ask the state of Hawaii, which owns the reefs, for a permit to repair the storm damage. While permission isn’t guaranteed, the odds seem good considering Hawaii doesn’t have the money to do the work itself.

Step 4: If state officials say yes, the conservancy will use the insurance money to pay teams of divers to start repairing the damage. This stage most closely resembles a race: They have about six weeks, starting from the storm. After that, the broken coral dies, further shrinking Hawaii’s best protection against future storms.

On Monday, the Nature Conservancy, which is based near Washington, D.C., completed the first step and bought a $2 million insurance policy on Hawaii’s coral reefs. It is the first insurance policy in the United States for a natural structure, according to the group, following similar efforts in Latin America. The conservancy says that if the experiment is successful, it will look at expanding the model to other states and include other natural features that shield against storms, such as mangroves, wetlands or coastal dunes.

“We think we can help our Hawaii state government put this into place as a pilot project,” said Makale’a Ane, who leads community engagement and partnerships in Hawaii for the Nature Conservancy. “It’s not simple.”

As governments struggle, insurers see an opening

The Hawaii test sits at the intersection of two trends that demonstrate the difficulty of adapting to climate change. First, the effects of warming are increasingly overwhelming the ability of governments to respond, even in wealthy areas. The problem isn’t just money, but also an inability to adjust quickly enough to overlapping and evolving threats.

Coral reefs highlight that challenge. They act much like sea walls, blunting the destructive force of waves hurtling toward the shore, protecting the people, land and structures behind them. But reef repair isn’t eligible for money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, even though the work to repair sea walls is. And Hawaii’s Division of Aquatic Resources doesn’t have the budget to restore reefs damaged by storms.

“We cannot do everything,” Ryan Okano, the division’s program manager for ecosystem protection, said.

That leads to the second trend in climate adaptation: insurance companies presenting themselves as a solution, offering a suite of products that promise payouts for all sorts of calamities.

Cities and states have bought policies against hurricanes; the federal government has bought insurance against unexpectedly large flood insurance claims; wealthy countries have offered to help less developed nations buy insurance against disasters. The new insurance policy in Hawaii represents the next step in that evolution by applying insurance to a natural structure.

The Nature Conservancy can send out crews to repair the reef faster than the state can, Mr. Okano said. He added that the conservancy can raise private funds to pay for that insurance, while the state cannot.

Focusing on wind speeds

Still, it won’t be easy.

The money needs to be available quickly in order to be effective, but assessing damage to coral reefs takes time. It can take a week or more after a hurricane for waters to calm down enough for divers to even access reefs safely.

So instead of depending on a damage assessment, the insurance policy depends on the force of the winds generated by the storm, which is measured in close to real time. Under that approach, known as parametric insurance, a storm with winds of 50 knots (57 miles per hour) or greater leads to a payout.

Wind speeds reflect the force of a storm; the more forceful the storm is, the more likely it is that damage will be done to the reefs. At 50 knots, storm winds are strong enough to cause damage to the reefs, generating large waves that break off pieces of coral or knocking tree limbs and other debris into the water that do further damage.

One of the most recent storms to have winds reach that speed is Hurricane Douglas, which passed close to Oahu in July 2020, said Eric Roberts, the senior manager for climate risk and resilience at the Nature Conservancy.

A storm with lower wind speeds could still damage the reefs. But starting insurance coverage at less than 50 knots would have increased the cost of coverage. “The policy that we selected was reasonably priced,” Ms. Ane said.

While healthy coral reefs can usually bounce back after storms, today’s weakened reefs need intervention, said Robert H. Richmond, a research professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa who was not involved with the insurance effort.

In Hawaii and around the world, coral reefs have been damaged by a cascade of chronic afflictions. Overfishing reduces fish species needed to keep the ecosystem in balance. Sediment enters the water when people do things like clear land, smothering corals. Sewage causes destructive algae blooms. Most existentially, climate change threatens to make the oceans too warm and acidic for corals to survive.

Those stressors mean the reefs need help to recover after storms, Dr. Richmond said. At the same time, repairs will never be enough because they don’t address the underlying problem.

“If the reason why corals died in the first place hasn’t been fixed,” he said, “it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to stick stuff back in the water.”

A 2018 report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association found that on a scale from “very good” condition to “critical” condition, Hawaii’s coral reefs were “fair,” placing them in the middle of the scale.

‘I’d rather try something and fail’

The importance of coral reefs to Hawaiians cannot be overstated, said Ekolu Lindsey, a co-founder of Polanui Hiu, a group that works to monitor and restore a reef off the coast of Maui called Nā Papalimu O Pi‘ilani.

“It’s really that foundation of life,” he said, noting that the coral polyp is the first form of life to emerge in the Kumulipo, a Hawaiian creation chant.

When the Nature Conservancy proposed the idea of reef insurance against high winds to Mr. Lindsey, he was intrigued but skeptical.

“I find it difficult to comprehend that the reef gets all busted up and you’re going to send a bunch of scuba divers down there to glue everything back,” Mr. Lindsey said.

If it did work, he wondered, what about tsunamis or swells that tumble coral reefs without high winds? Still, he didn’t see a downside.

“If we need to pilot this thing in the United States,” he said, “I’d rather try something and fail at it than not try at all.”

The Nature Conservancy has tried a similar model in other countries. In the summer of 2019, the group helped arrange insurance for a coral reef off the coast of Puerto Morelos on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Two years later, the group helped arrange a reef insurance policy for the Turneffe Atoll off the coast of Belize.

The results of those experiments were mixed. The Mexico policy generated a payout in 2020 after Hurricanes Delta struck the coast. The insurance company quickly paid the money.

But it took about a year before local officials, who were in charge of deciding how that money should be spent, released that funding, said Claudia Padilla, a researcher at the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Institute in Mexico who was involved in repairing the reefs.

“They need to be more efficient,” Ms. Padilla said.

This month, the model got another chance. After Hurricane Lisa struck Belize on Nov. 2, it took just 12 days for the insurance money to reach the MAR Fund, a group that was created to protect the Mesoamerican Reef and is the policyholder for that insurance.

Three days later, divers were in the water starting repairs, said Claudia Ruiz, the coordinator of the fund’s Reef Rescue Initiative.

When asked if she had any advice for the project in Hawaii, Ms. Ruiz said, “Be ready in advance.”

#Hawaii #save the coral reefs #The Nature Conservancy Buys Insurance to Protect Hawaii’s Coral Reefs #Mesoamerican Reef #Reef Rescue Initiative #The Nature Conservancy

[mkrspaceship]

Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)

Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)

Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953) Most interesting for its Technicolor Cinemascope underwater sequences and resplendent Key West sunsets, thanks to cinematographer Edward Cronjager. The quasi-documentary aspects of Greek fishermen, their dances and the church blessings over their diving for sponges, were clearly ripped off from Visconti’s “La Terra Trema.”  Beefcake Robert Wagner was showcased in…

View On WordPress

#coral reefs #Florida Coral Rescue Center #michaelkarlritchie #poem

[noaasanctuaries]

BREAKING NEWS

Thousands of corals, including some of the last known genotypes on the Florida Reef, have been relocated in a pair of rescue events organized by NOAA in response to record-breaking ocean temperatures in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

🎥: Coral Restoration Foundation

#EarthIsBlue #MarineHeatwaves #ClimateChange #Ocean #CoralBleaching #FloridaKeys #Florida #Coral #conservation #national marine sanctuary #science #nature #diving

[exactlycleverpirate]

Trying to Make Sense of Rafayel's Timeline

This has been updated here.

Spoilers for basically everything below, except for the endings of he Myths, as I do not have those yet.

First, so notes:

See outline for three possible options for the timing of the pinky promise/rescue. 

As children, she rescued him when he was stranded on the beach and then Rafayel made a pinky promise with MC that “It's settled then. If you don't return I'll…I'll chase you to the ends of the Earth.” (Nightly Stroll and Main Story chapter 7)

Also 3 options for the slaughter of the Lemurians after Rafayel is deceived as a child.

As a boy, Rafayel sings the “Siren's Ballad” as an elegy for the slaughtered Lemurians as he sits on a coral reef alone surrounded by waves dyed red with their blood, watching ships sail away, carrying those who deceived him and slaughtered his people (Anecdote 3). (Could be that Rafayel trusted the wrong humans and revealed either the location of the Lemurians or that they were all vulnerable on Ebb Day) (Perhaps MC had an unwitting hand in this).

These two events may be back to back or occur at separate points in the timeline. Inclined to think the promise came first, then the deception, but could be that he was stranded because of the deception/slaughter, or these events occur separately.

Timeline:

On Earth, past life/lives:

First possible option for the pinky promise/rescue: Their first lives ever meeting each other, starting it all off. 

First possible option for the deception/slaughter: Immediately after their first encounter with each other.

Rafayel and MC are lovers.

MC cursed to be a Sea Witch in the Abyssal Rift and has forgotten Rafayel and being human. He gives up a scale, some of his blood, and his song in a shell to set her free. The potion she makes with these is a bitter scent reminiscent of fermented aquatic plants. She turns human and remembers him. He gets her to shore and then he turns into foam. (When she regains her memories, the voices that play are of current day Rafayel, from his date Your Fragrance. Possibly just because she is remembering this in a dream, rather than those being the actual memories she recovered at the time.) (Fragrant Dream)

Second option for pinky promise/rescue and/or deception/slaughter: Reunited in some reincarnation between the initial life and the current one.

Current life, on Earth:

2024 Rafayel born March 6th (or so he claims).

2026 MC born.

Rafayel was given a Whale Call by Lemurian adults when he was a child. He never had a chance to use it and buried it in a Lemurian city under the sea. (Was this in this life or a previous one?)

Third option for pinky promise/rescue and/or deception/slaughter: This timeline when they are children, likely before the Deepspace Tunnel and Chronorift Catastrophe in 2034

Rafayel's only living family on Earth is his Aunt Talia, also Lemurian. There are some other surviving Lemurians as well who are being hunted, tortured,  and harvested for their scales and blood. (Anecdote 3)

2034 Ruins of Lemuria were revealed near Linkon the same year that the Deepspace Tunnel appeared and the Chronorift Catastrophe occurred. MC (age 8) now has protocore shards in her heart, is adopted by Granny, and has little memory before this event (perhaps this is when she forgets Rafayel).

Rafayel is an Opera Singer in Verona going by the moniker “Mo”, hunting down and killing people, possibly as revenge for the destruction of Lemuria and slaughter of his people. He is in touch with Talia. He also recently attended a Seamoon Ceremony for another Lemurian, K, who dies and is returned to the sea (after having his scales and blood taken). It is suggested that Rafayel is trying to accomplish something to save the Lemurians, saying, “Not every Lemurian survivor can wait.” It appears the longer he takes to accomplish his goal, the more of the Lemurians die in the meanwhile. (Anecdote 3)

He is not painting. 

He is being investigated by a private detective named Louis.

Rafayel remembers the dying cries of his people.

Rafayel leaves Verona and moves to Linkon city. He has a picture of MC in his pocket. (Anecdote 3)

Rafayel uses a private investigator to find out MC is attending Linkon University. He takes a position as a special lecturer there. He sees MC again, talking to some of her classmates. He is confused that she doesn’t seem to know anything about Lemuria. (Anecdote 2)

Rafayel begins painting again.

Rafayel does not tolerate the PI getting too close to MC or taking pictures of her.

Describes his feelings for MC as akin to a spice, painful and addictive.

Indicates he is prepared to be with her for the rest of his life, but also wants to “settle the score”.

Rafayel believes she is being surrounded by dangerous entities, some of whom may possibly be trying to use her to trap him. This is part of why he doesn’t approach her at this time. He decides he can afford to take his time and make his moves carefully. 

Rafayel hires Thomas to be his agent. (Anecdote 1)

2048 MC (age 22) begins work as a Deepspace Hunter. MC and Rafayel are reunited, though MC does not remember Rafayel. Rafayel’s home is called Mo Art Studio.

Rafayel acquires a red Flamula from Lemuria the first time he reintroduces himself to MC. She gives it to him to take home.

When Rafayel attempts to abandon MC to drowning, there is a tail mark that appears above his heart, and he turns around and goes back to her. (Possibly an indication of the bond they forged when he saved her with his scale or made a vow with her).

Lemuria is described as being gone for thousands of years, yet Lemurians are still alive now. (Possibly they had gone into hiding and were revealed when Rafayel was deceived.) (Rafayel described himself as “a lost pearl that washed up on the beach” in Ebb and Flow.)

In “Nightly Stroll” date, Rafayel makes MC vow never to make him wait again, a vow that is blessed by a little blue fish, an Emissary of the Ocean.

In “Your Fragrance” date, Rafayel asks MC who gave her the catnip-like perfume (he says it smells familiar), suggesting she is working with someone, using underhanded methods to trap him. 

(This smell has a similar description to the perfume he gives her later that gives her the dream, as well as the smell of the potion that turns her human. “Bitter like fermented plants”.) 

“Are you trying to run away again? I'm not going anywhere. You're going to lock me up again. You're with them, I just know it. Don't think I'm unaware of what you're about to do. I won't fall for it again. Not this time.” 

(Order of events: Your Fragrance > Dangerously Close > Fragrant Dream)

In “Ebb and Flow” date, he reveals himself as a Lemurian to MC on Ebb Day. She promises to never hurt him.

This vulnerability suggests he has a remarkable amount of trust in MC, despite his bitterness at her forgetting him. 

Rafayel asks MC what she would do if this was all a trap he set up to kill her. This is what is happening in Rafayel’s myth story. Does Rafayel in this time period somehow know about that or is this just foreshadowing? 

In “Whalefall Lament” date, Rafayel takes MC to underwater ruins of Lemuria to dig up the Whale Call he buried there as a child. He describes his childhood as boring and closely guarded. He made many escape attempts when he was young, and was given the Whale Call as a means of protection, but he never had the opportunity to use it, as his escape attempts did not succeed again after this.

Philos (estimated 30,000 years after Earth’s destruction):

Myth takes place on Philos, likely sometime between Xavier and MC meeting for the first time (Xavier’s Anecdote 3) and Xavier's myth story. The oceans have been missing for 30,000 years (possibly because Earth was destroyed and Philos was made with a fake core holding separate tectonic plates together). 

Rafayel was bound to MC when the oceans still existed by giving her one of his scales (see Fragrant Dream for when this may have occurred). 

MC's heart keeps the people of Philos immortal (See Xavier’s Myth for the connection between MC’s heart, the people’s immortality, and Philos’ core) and she was “born from the depths of the earth”. MC remembers living on the Island of Songs in a hut by herself, surrounded by the ocean. (Was this in her first life or some subsequent life on Earth?)

Could Hat Island and the Island of Songs be the same place?

MC is gifted Rafayel when they are young and sets him free. Rafayel later implies he was only caught because he wanted to be.

Rafayel and MC are reunited as adults when she is attempting to escape the palace. They meet several times and grow close, though Rafayel is plotting with Amund.

Rafayel is mentioned as the second most important person to princess MC. The first visits her often. Who is this? Xavier? The King?

There are other Lemurians on Philos with Rafayel,  including Amund. They are killing human nobles, with the belief that by doing so, it will help restore The oceans and Lemurian.

Rafayel is referred to as the God of the Sea in the myth and it is implied that his heart has been stolen by MC. Possibly not literal.

Rafayel believes revenge is meaningless. Only wants to restore the oceans and Lemuria.

MC can use a Lemurian Beacon to summon Rafayel.

Rafayel and Amund take MC to the Island of Songs (now no longer an island), and she recognizes it. Rafayel has to decide whether to believe the legends and cut out MC’s heart in an effort to restore the oceans and Lemuria. Rafayel had previously indicated that the heart must be given willingly. (Don’t have the final 2 chapters of the Myth yet to know how this plays out).

On another note, I am now just sitting here thinking about how both Xavier and Rafayel have loved her for over 30,000 years. And Xavier has been alive through that whole time, possibly watching her die over and over again. *sobs*

Please let me know your thoughts, questions, corrections, insights, what have you. I'm sure i missed stuff or made mistakes. This will likely be updated when I can finish the myths.

#love and deepspace #zayne love and deepspace #rafayel love and deepspace #xavier love and deepspace

[jessamine-rose]

A deleted scene from my Yandere Mermaid AU for the Harbingers, ft. Shark! Capitano~

The last recorded message of a missing scuba diver. The rescue team is still searching for the individual’s body and camera.

“What is that little mermaid doing in the deeper part of the sea? Its species is usually found in coral reefs.”

“Oh no, a shark mermaid is approaching. I might as well photograph its hunting technique. Poor little mermaid.”

“…Is that shark mermaid performing a mating ritual? To a species which doesn’t even engage in symbiosis with sharks?!”

“Wtf this is incredible! This will certainly win a photo award!”

“WAIT HELP THE SHARK MERMAID SAW ME!! IT’S SWIMMING TOWARDS ME!! I THOUGHT SHARK VIOLENCE WAS A MISCONCEPTION SO WHY—”

*static noise*

#il capitano #capitano #capitano x reader #yandere capitano x reader #yandere capitano #yandere fatui harbingers #fatui x reader #genshin x reader #yandere genshin #tw: yandere #tw: violence #tw: death #g/n reader #jessamine's writing

[fatehbaz]

“He was the messenger of a great spirit,” says René Montaño, a Comcaac linguist. [...] Montaño is addressing the entire community at a cultural festival in the Comcaac territory in what is today northwestern Mexico. He talks about how their ancestors learned that xnois (Zostera marina), a type of seagrass also known as eelgrass, could feed their people.

“Zostera marina is paramount for us,” Montaño says. “There are other parts of the world where it barely exists, but here, in this channel, there’s plenty. [...]”

Comcaac [...] fishers learned that it was a food that would give them the necessary strength to survive long ways at sea, and the different ways it could be prepared were passed down from generation to generation. In the past few decades, this knowledge has been largely neglected. Today, the Comcaac people are breathing new life into it.

Comcaac environmentalists Alberto Mellado and Erika Barnett [...] have been developing a study since 2020 [...]. The Infiernillo Channel, located between the Sonora coast and Tiburón Island -- the largest island in Mexico and a sacred site for the Comcaac people -- is a Ramsar site, meaning it’s a wetland of key global importance. It features seagrass meadows, mangrove estuaries, and small patches of coral reefs where various marine species feed. [...] The channel is also home to 81 species of invertebrates endemic to the Gulf of California, and various threatened species, like totoabas (Totoaba macdonaldi) and sea turtles. [...]

In early 2022, as part of this initiative, the team created an event that brought together chefs and biologists from Sonora, the U.S. and Spain who were interested in the culinary uses of xnois and in the conservation of seagrass. There, the Comcaac cooks shared their knowledge about the ancestral ways of preparing xnois: ground by hand to make flour for tortillas or tostadas, or as a drink made with warm water combined with honey [...]. Newer ways of preparing xnois were also on show, such as in energy bars, hotcakes, and bread in combination with wheat flour. [...]

Today, it’s Comcaac [...] like Laura Molina working to promote the benefits of xnois [...]. In a workshop [...], she flattens small dough balls into tortillas and toasts them over a fire. She says the first time she heard about this ancestral food was from her grandmother. Years later, she asked her mother to teach her how to prepare it. [...]

Erika Barnett says her great-grandparents were probably the last ones in the family to harvest eelgrass for the seeds. She says the fact that her father, now 76, can once again eat food prepared with xnois represents a great success. “The last time he’d eaten it, he was 7 years old,” she says. “Most young people have never tasted it, so this effort is really rescuing our culture.” [...] “The guys and my colleagues didn’t know how to prepare xnois, but I’m happy because we’re teaching them and the kids and adults who want to learn,” Molina says. “This is thanks to our ancestors. [...] [T]hey opened the path that led us here.”

---

Headline, images, captions, and text as published by: Astrid Arellano. “Indigenous Comcaac serve up an oceanic grain to preserve seagrass meadows.” Mongabay. Translated by Maria Angeles Salazar. 3 March 2023. [Photos by Asstrid Arellano. This story was reported by Mongabay’s Latam team and first published on their Latam site on 6 June 2022. Some paragraph breaks added by me.]

#sonoran desert

[kirame90]

Caught pt 31

They're back to being sweethearts now that their little game of cat and mouse has ended. They both enjoyed themselves and from moans and pleas are back to quips and pet names. Also I just reeeeeeaaaalllly wanted to include that bit of Spy rescuing himself from his bounds. No knot is going to stop a professional spy, sorry Mick..!

The coloured & uncensored versions are located on my Patreon in case anyone’s interested. Please note that all of the pledges are going to non-profit charities as they always have.

The non-profit of February 2024 is Reef Life Foundation!

The Reef Life Foundation addresses habitat loss through the direct deployment of the ideal coral substrate and community engagement, restoring the critical balance between people and nature. Their approach provides substrate at scale, increasing the speed of coral outplanting and wild coral growth. Hiring local staff, they deploy Oceanite, a new kind of artificial reef that is engineered to mimic the chemistry, mineral composition, and texture of a natural reef for optimal growth of healthy reef species.

Read more about their projects here

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#tf2 #teamfortress2 #tf2 spy #tf2 sniper #sniperspy #sniper x spy #bloodysuit #knifeparty #comic #webcomic #charity #conservation #k90 #slash #pairing

[maesphantoms]

Sunset (Task Force 141 x Fem!Reader)

Warnings: Injuries, death, blood. Typical COD violence. Guns, knives, explosions.

Genre: Pure angst…like just so much pain

Word count: 2,445

This was partly inspired by a certain character’s death in Grey’s Anatomy, I won’t say who because I know there’s at least one person who hasn’t seen it and really wants to/is in the process of getting to that episode.

It all started after a particularly hard mission, a mission where you had to get wasted to even hope to get the images out of your mind to sleep. You randomly remembered that there are biodegradable urns that have tree seeds in them.

"And when I told my cousin, he goes 'Do they have walnut? That way, one day if my grandkids are eating them, someone can say they're eating Grandpa's nuts?' And it just made me die laughing."

"Do they?" Soap asked, eagerly. Gaz simply roared with laughter while Ghost and Price chuckled.

"No, sadly. I looked everywhere. But, I did find that you can become a coral reef."

"Is that what you'd want, a coral reef?" he asked, earnestly.

"No..." You paused, taking a swig of your drink. "No, I think... I think I'd want to be buried on a hill. A hill with a gorgeous view. Facing the west... So I can always watch the sunset."

That's about all you remember of that night, other than the drinking contest you quickly got into with Soap and Gaz. Price and Ghost simply sat back and watched, smoking their respective cigars and cigarettes. You certainly got everyone's minds off the horror you all had faced that day. Even Ghost no longer had the screams echoing in his mind as he sipped his bourbon. it was just one of the nights the men were grateful for your presence.

Something you'd never let them know is how terrified you were that they would have to utilize that information. You didn't want to put the burden of having to deal with your death and body on them. The day you would eventually die was coming, you know that. Your luck would eventually run out, everyone does. You've seen your fair share of soldiers KIA'd. The look on their squad's face as they hauled the limp body always filled you with dread. You just hoped that if you did die on the field, your body couldn't be found so that you would never imagine that picture of dread on your squad mates’ faces. Especially the image of Price feeling like he failed you.

This always ran through your mind as you prepared for missions. It wasn't until you were active in the field that your more soldier, focused mindset would take over. You did your best to hide the nerves, but it's hard to disguise your shaking when you got into the plane or helicopter or whatever your mode of transportation would be that day. It was worthless, you knew that, but just the mental picture of everyone’s despair as they covered your body in that damn cloth... No, you wouldn't let that happen.

“Okay, we’re nearly there. We’ll split into 2 teams. Each team goes to a separate floor, then once your floor is clear we meet and go to the basement. Ghost and Owl are top floor. Gaz and Soap, you're with me on the first. This is a hostage rescue so check fire. If you run into any cartel, well.. You know what to do.” Price stood by the door to the plane, holding onto the webbing. “Alejandro and his team are at the other compound, we all attack at the same time.”

Your heart was pounding out of your chest, you could feel your hands shaking as you gripped your rifle tighter. Closing your eyes, you mentally pictured the blueprints of the compound you all were looking at before you left. Alejandro informed you all about the village taken hostage to be forced to work for some cartel, clearly trying to become a notable rival for Valeria. Foolish. You were sure Valeria was keeping a close eye on today. No matter how this ends, she would be one foe down.

Ghost lightly knocked his knee into yours. He knew your jitters would settle once you touched solid ground, but he always tried to pull you out of your mind. Now, he never knew exactly why you did this. Clearly, the preemptive guilt that was permeating from your pores didn't carry across your face, just the nervousness. You would gladly die to protect your small band of brothers.

And just like that, the plane settled and the tremors that wracked your system came to a stop. Ghost watched your face harden into the familiar look of focus and determination he was used to seeing on the field. With one last look, Price and his team ran to the compound. If it could even be called that. The blueprints were old, you knew that, but you didn't expect to see how in disrepair the building was. The walls that once surrounded it had crumbled away long ago, riddled with bullet holes. You could see that the building itself wasn't much better. Entire rooms had already collapsed. One such room provided the two of you with an easy route to the top floor rather than the original plan of running to the stairs inside.

With a tap on Ghost’s shoulder, you pointed to the rubble. He nodded and you both ran towards it. Your ears were helping scope out any noise other than the occasional scuffle of more of the building falling. You two had to be quick if any more of this gave way. In the back of your mind, you pictured their faces again, holding your lifeless body.

“Do you see anything, Gaz?” Price asked over comms.

“No, sir. They must all be upstairs.”

Ghost nodded at you before pulling himself up to the room above, you following suit. The sunlight was just enough to let you see that the room was the remains of a classroom. There were cubbies in the corner and smeared on the chalkboard was the alphabet. Your blood felt like ice. There were children here. At one point or another. Once again, you steadied yourself as you joined Ghost at the door.

He held up his fingers, 3, 2, 1. Slowly, you opened the door and held up your rifle. The door opened up into a hallway. You knew from the blueprints that either end of the hallway lead into another one. The U-shaped building seemed to have the same layout at least, even if it was decrepit. The classroom was closer to the right side, so Ghost pointed for you to take that side while he took the left. This wasn't unusual to you, it was faster to clear this way. Ghost could clear his side and meet you on yours as his legs were longer than yours, and his stride was quicker.

“Price, there's people in here.” Soap’s voice on comms made you jump in the eerily quiet hallway as you slowly headed towards the next door. Why were you so jumpy? Something on the edge of your mind told you you were in danger. Of course, you were in danger, look at where you were.

As you opened the door, you heard a faint scream then Soap’s voice, attempting to be soothing. Leading with your gun, you look around the room and only saw desks and turned-over chairs. Clear. You could see another room before the corner. Same procedure. Walk over, open door. This one was empty, the daylight shining off the dirty floors. It looked like there was dried blood on the floor. Clear. Going back into the hallway, you turned the corner and saw 3 more rooms.

The first room had a long conference table in it and every window was smashed. Clear. Second, a single chair and more dried blood. Clear. The downstairs team worked to get the hostages out of the building, Price calling backup as there were more than Alejandro predicted.

“Left side, clear. There were a few cartels up here. Owl?” Ghost grumbled.

“I'm opening the last door now. Everything’s been empty, so far. They must have hidden them all downstairs and left guards.” Your hand wrapped around the doorknob, “Wonder how Alejandro’s is.”

Taking one step into the room, you were greeted with a horrific sight. 10 children, all huddled together at the back of the room. A man stood in front of them with a sickening smile. He held a button in his hands. You raised your gun at him.

“Fuck, there's kids he-” You were cut off as he hit the button, and you were thrown back.

The explosion violently shook the building. The downstairs team had just walked out with their last hostage who whipped out a knife and stabbed a small woman as soon as he heard the boom. Gaz immediately shot him. Then hysteria burst out of everyone. The woman screamed then cut off into a gurgle before falling silent. The remaining men and women began screaming and crying. Price immediately began yelling for you and Ghost. Then the right side of the building shuddered with another explosion before collapsing.

“Bloody fucking hell! Owl! She's on that side!” Ghost yelled, coughing from the dust that engulfed the entire floor. Price felt a small wave of relief at his voice to be taken over with panic.

You felt heat. Heat and pain. Your head swam, trying to understand what was happening. Distantly, you heard yourself talking about urns and nuts. Then you heard Gaz’s voice.

“Who do you think would cry the most at your funeral?” He grinned.

“Hmm... Probably Ghost.” You pointed to the man who glared back. “I feel like he's a big softie. Deep down.”

“Very deep down.” He scowled before taking another drag of his cigarette, his mask pulled up to his nose.

“Exactly.” You laughed. “And I think Soap would be next, but he'd try to fight it. I mean look at him, all macho and Scottish.”

“What does that have to do with this?” He raised his hands, offended.

“No idea, just had to get a dig in.”

Smoke billowed out of the campfire and into your face. Your lungs burned. You couldn't feel your legs as the laughs fade. Then you could hear voices again. Distant, panic-stricken voices. There was massive pressure on your abdomen and legs. Fuck, everything hurt.

“Can you see her?”

“No..”

“Keep looking, we need to find her before it completely collapses, the fire is moving fast.”

Your eyes finally came back to you, but your vision blurred and spun. Then you could feel control come back to your arms. One was trapped under whatever pressed against you. As you finally broke free of the stupor, a blood-curdling scream was ripped from your throat. Pain was everywhere. Nothing was worse than your abdomen. Looking down, you could see why as blood began to fill your mouth. Fear took over.

“Owl, can you hear me?!”

“Ghost...” You could bring your voice to louder than a whisper. Looking around, all you could see was rubble and smoke. The crackle of flames was somewhere around you. The large slab of concrete on you kept you from moving. Tears began to fall down your face.

“Owl!” He yelled again before pressing the button on his chest again. “Price I can't find her, do you guys see anything?”

Price, Soap, and Gaz dug through the rubble on the ground floor. Smoke billowed out from the broken windows and holes in the building.

“More children... Keep looking.”

You brought your hand to your chest and pressed it, hoping they could hear you that way. “Help...” Was all you could whimper out. You couldn't think rationally past the fear and pain. You didn't want to die, of course not. You just wanted the pain to stop. Quiet sobs began to wrack your broken body, burning your lungs as you sucked more smoke in. All this did was bring more pain.

“Owl! Can you move?” Price demanded.

“No.” Your breath was coming in gasps.

“What can you see?” Gaz attempted to make his voice calm.

Looking around again, you tried to find something that would help them. There had to be something other than concrete. Your gun lay a couple of inches away from you, broken in half. Bringing your hand to your chest, you felt a flare still strapped to you. Turning your head to the right, you could faintly see sunlight through the smoke. An opening.

“Flare. I have..a flare. I can see...outside.”

“Good, use it. Tell us where you are.”

As you ignited and the red light surrounded you, you felt the concrete press further into you as the building shifted again. Another scream. Hopelessness.

Ghost could faintly see a red light through the black smoke. Your scream echoed around him. His heart was racing as he climbed down, slowly. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight. Your blood was staining the concrete around you. He couldn't see your legs, not that he'd want to anyway. You weren't making it out of here. He could tell.

“I found her.” He felt tears in his eyes.

The sight of Ghost gave you a small spark of hope that immediately fizzled out as he kneeled by you, tears in his eyes. He took the flare and threw it through the opening you could see. Dread. Guilt.

“We see the flare, hold on tight, Owl. How's she look?”

Ghost stared at you. You nodded. “Not good, Captain.” Your tears pick up speed, but your sobs stop.

“I'm sorry.” You needed to tell them, at least once. He shook his head, grabbing your hand. His hands held it so gently.

The end was near. The pain started to slip away.

“A hill.” You whispered. He nodded.

“Facing the west.” He finished.

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw a figure in the opening. The smoke started to dissipate as he was joined by two others. The sky behind them was a warm pink. Sunset.

“Lots of flowers.” You were leaving faster than you wanted to.

The other 3 joined you and Ghost. Their hands were on your other arm, trapped under the slab.

“I'm so sorry.” They all shook their heads at you,

“You have nothing to apologize for, Owl. We should've been more careful.” Price’s voice was thick with grief.

You smiled at them before looking at the sky, slowly turning a dark purple.

And so you took your last breath, your smile fading like the lights in your eyes.

They did what you wanted. A hill facing the west. You had the best view, surrounded by so many flowers. They came to visit all the time, always bringing a drink for you as they filled you in on what you missed or as they reminisced. Visiting you was always bittersweet. They missed you. They still miss you.

#modern warfare x reader #john price x reader #captain price x reader #captain price #captain john price #john price #simon riley x reader #simon ghost riley x reader #ghost x reader #simon ghost riley #simon riley #john soap mactavish x reader #john mactavish x reader #john soap mactavish #john mactavish #kyle gaz garrick x reader #kyle garrick x reader #gaz x reader #soap x reader #kyle gaz garrick #kyle garrick #maesphantoms

[mariacallous]

On March 2, she was gone. The Belize-flagged, British-owned bulk carrier Rubymar sank in the narrow water lane between the coasts of Yemen and Eritrea. The Rubymar was the first vessel that has been completely lost since the Houthis began their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea—and its demise, with 21,000 metric tons of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertilizer, spells ecological disaster. A similar substance—ammonium nitrate—caused the devastating explosion at the Port of Beirut in 2020. It had been stored there after being abandoned on a vessel and authorities intervened to prevent an environmental disaster.

Because the Houthis have no regard for the environment, there are likely to be more such disasters. Indeed, groups set on destruction could also decide to attack the carbon storage facilities now beginning to be built underneath the seabed.

For two weeks after being struck by a Houthi missile in the Red Sea, the Rubymar clung to life despite listing badly. The damage caused by the missile, though, was too severe. At 2:15 a.m. local time, the Rubymar disappeared into the depths of the Red Sea. The crew had already been rescued by another merchant vessel that had come to the Rubymar’s aid, but there was no way anyone could remove its toxic cargo.

The ship’s owner had tried to get it towed to the Port of Aden—where Yemen’s internationally recognized government is based—and to Djibouti and Saudi Arabia, but citing the environmental risk posed by the ammonium phosphate sulfate, all three nations refused to receive it.

Now enormous quantities of a hazardous substance are about to spread into the Red Sea. IGAD, a trade bloc comprising countries in the Nile Valley and the Horn of Africa, points out that the Rubymar’s fertilizer cargo and leaking fuel “could devastate marine life and destroy coral reefs, sea life and jeopardize hundreds of thousands of jobs in the fishing industry as well as cut littoral states off from supplies of food and fuel.”

Not even shipping’s option of last resort, salvage companies, seems available. “The salvage companies that normally recover vessels are reluctant to go in,” said Cormac Mc Garry, a maritime expert with intelligence firm Control Risks. That’s because salvage ships and crews, too, risk being targeted by Houthi missiles. “If a salvage company knows it’s likely to be targeted, it will hesitate to take on the task. It has a duty of care for its crew,” said Svein Ringbakken, the managing director of the Norway-based maritime insurance company DNK.

It was only a matter of time before a Houthi missile brought down one of the many tankers and bulk carriers that still traverse the Red Sea every day. (In the first two months of this year, traffic through the Red Sea was down by 50 percent compared to the same period last year.) “The Houthis have no regard for life and even less for the environment,” Ringbakken said. “They shoot missiles at ships even though they know that there are humans and hazardous cargo on them.”

For years, the Houthis allowed an oil supertanker ironically named Safer that was moored off the coast of Yemen to rust away even though she was holding more than 1 million barrels of crude oil. By the beginning of last year, the Safer was close to disintegration: an event that would have cost hundreds of thousands of Yemenis their livelihoods because it would have killed enormous quantities of fish. Indeed, had the Safer’s oil leaked, it would even have forced the Houthi-controlled ports of Hudaydah and Saleef to close, thus preventing ordinary Yemenis from receiving food and other necessities.

It would, of course, also have caused permanent damage to all manner of marine life, including coral reefs and mangroves, in the Red Sea. Then the United Nations pulled off an almost impossible feat: It got Yemen’s warring factions, international agencies, and companies to work together to transfer the oil off the Safer. Disaster was averted. “It was a massive undertaking,” Ringbakken noted. “But for years and years and years, the Houthis were adding impediments against this undertaking, even though the Safer was sitting just off the Yemeni coast.”

Indeed, maritime terrorism itself is not new. “Besides guerrillas and terrorists, attacks have been carried out by modern day pirates, ordinary criminals, fanatic environmentalists, mutinous crews, hostile workers, and foreign agents. The spectrum of actions is equally broad: ships hijacked, destroyed by mines and bombs, attacks with bazookas, sunk under mysterious circumstances; cargos removed; crews taken hostage; extortion plots against ocean liners and offshore platforms; raids on port facilities; attempts to board oil rigs; sabotage at shipyards and terminal facilities; even a plot to steal a nuclear submarine,” researchers at RAND summarized—in 1983.

Now, though, the Houthis have upped the nihilism, and unlike the guerrillas, terrorists, and pirates of the 1980s, they have the weaponry to cause an ocean-going vessel to sink. The joint U.S.-U.K. military operation against the Houthis has failed to deter the Iranian-backed militia’s attacks; indeed, not even air strikes by U.S. and U.K. forces have convinced the Houthis that it’s time to stop. On the contrary, they’re escalating their attacks. They do so because they’re completely unconcerned about loss of life within their ranks or harm to their own waters.

It’s giving them a global platform. That, in turn, is likely to encourage other militias to also attack ships carrying toxic substances—even if it ruins their own waters. The local population is hardly in a position to hold a militia accountable. Indeed, militias interested in maritime terrorism could decide that the world’s growing sea-based infrastructure is an attractive target. And there’s a new form of sea-based infrastructure they could decide to make a preferred target, not just because it’s set for explosive growth but because attacking it would guarantee a global platform: CO2 storage.

With the world having failed to reduce its carbon-dioxide emissions enough to halt climate change, CO2 storage has become an urgent priority. Through this technique, carbon dioxide can be captured and buried underground, typically underneath the ocean. Norway has, for example, begun auctioning out licenses for CO2 storage exploration on its continental shelf. So has Britain. The United States has 15 carbon-storage sites, and another 121 are being developed. Even Big Oil has discovered carbon storage. ExxonMobil is buying offshore blocks to use for carbon storage instead of oil drilling.

Carbon storage sites are, of course, designed to withstand both natural perils and man-made attacks, but that won’t prevent destructive groups—especially ones backed by a powerful state—from trying. And because groups like the Houthis are so unconcerned about all forms of life, it won’t matter to them that releasing concentrated CO2 would cause extreme harm to the planet—including themselves. Even a tiny carbon-storage leakage of 0.1 percent per year can lead to additional CO2 emissions of 25 giga-tonnes, researchers have established.

Until recently, sea-based infrastructure was only lightly guarded, because it was in everyone’s interest that it worked. The sabotage of Nord Stream and various other pipelines and undersea cables over the past two years have demonstrated that such peacefulness can no longer be taken for granted. The new CO2 sites will need not just AI-enhanced monitoring but regular patrolling to communicate to potential attackers that it’s not even worth attempting an attack.

And for now, attacking merchant vessels remains a promising and economical strategy for the Houthis and their ilk. It doesn’t seem to matter that ammonium phosphate sulfate will soon be poisoning Yemeni waters and thus depriving locals of their livelihoods. Indeed, other bulk carriers and tankers may soon join the Rubymar on the bottom of the sea, poisoning the future for even more Yemenis.

For the Houthis, what matters is not the outcome: It’s the attention. That’s what makes them such a vexing problem for the U.S. Navy and other navies, shipowners, maritime insurers, and especially for seafarers. But there is another group that should be just as worried about the rampant insecurity on the high seas: ocean conservationists.

There is, in fact, a woman with an unsurpassed green platform who could make the growing scourge of maritime terrorism her new cause. (Nearly) everyone would thank you, Greta.

[coralmorphologic]

A Tale of Two Corals (in the Anthropocene): The past summer’s record hot temperatures were devastating to South Florida’s reefs, wiping out a significant percentage of critically important staghorn corals (Acropora cervicornis aka ACER). Staghorn is a keystone species, and the primary coral grown by restoration practitioners in the Caribbean. They grow fast, but can die a lot faster. 

In 2009 we discovered a unique strain of staghorn coral that had naturally recruited to one of the breakwaters on nearby Fisher Island. Since 2020 we’ve been helping NOAA cultivate fragments of this urban ACER on an experimental nursery adjacent to the Camera. 

In conjunction with University of Miami’s Rescue a Reef program we’ve been using the CCC site to test the resilience of staghorn corals they grow offshore. Like other FL restoration orgs, Rescue a Reef saw many of their outplanted ACER die this past summer. Finding strains that can withstand future heat stress is critical for long term success in restoring our reefs. 

As seen in this 7 month timelapse, a fragment of urban ACER (we’ve dubbed the ‘Ventura’ strain) not only didn’t bleach, but grew at a significant rate. The 2nd staghorn, one of the offshore strains, began strong, but quickly bleached, died, and then was eroded away by parrotfish.  

In early August, UM transported fragments of the ‘Ventura’ strain offshore where the water was cooler for safekeeping. While the ‘Ventura’ strain has proven successful in the nearshore environment, it is important to see how it fares in deeper water before amplifying it for restoration purposes. We are pleased to hear from Rescue a Reef that it is thriving in its new environment! Preliminary analysis of the ‘Ventura’ strain shows it is hosting Durusdinium glynni zooxanthellae, a symbiont known to provide massive corals with thermal tolerance. However, its presence in Caribbean staghorn corals is previously undocumented. Could ACER ‘Ventura’ help restore Miami’s inshore and offshore reefs? Can it confer resilient genetics to future offspring by spawning it in a lab? These are some of the exciting questions we seek to answer in the future!

#coral city camera #miami #coral morphologic

[mcx7demonbros]

Shark Attack (Leviathan x GN!MC)

Ft. Leviathan x GN!MC

C/W. Shark attack; Reader being called “ugly”; Cursing.

N.B. I name some minor characters for easy writing.

No proofread

You should have stayed at home.

You didn’t want to join diving trip with Karen, Jason, and Max. However, Karen managed to convince you to join her and the others. You knew that Karen invited you not out of the goodness of her heart, but to have someone inferior with her so that she could feel she was above someone else. And who could be a more perfect target for her than you? Airhead, clumsy, very normal with a face clearly inferior to her. Initially, you didn’t want to suffer going on a trip with her and her two “servants”. But when she described the beauty of the ocean and the aquatic creatures, you lost it. Your boyfriend, the Grand Admiral of Hell Leviathan, has a deep connection with the ocean and creatures within it. Yet you never had the chance to look at any of them in real life, except in the case of Lotan. (Henry 2.0 doesn’t count because he’s a fishbowl-bound goldfish).

On the day of the trip, you four met a man named Constantine, whom Karen hired to guide the group. At first, the trip was pleasant and enjoyable. With Constantine’s guidance, you were able to put on a diving suit and gear. Then you got to look at various colored fishes at a beautiful coral reef. You were also able to take a lot of pictures of the fishes. The only annoying thing was probably Karen’s constant demand to have her face in every picture the others took.

However, everything changed when Karen heard Constantine talk about a more beautiful coral reef quite far from where you were. Karen demanded Constantine to take them there. He objected at first, saying that he heard that people saw big and dangerous sharks there. But when Karen offered more money, Constantine accepted and took the whole group there. You did voice your objection with Constantine, but Karen shouted at you, telling you to shut your ugly mouth.

Karen’s demand was the beginning of a disaster…and a tragedy. Your boat entered the shark area and encoutered an unusually big Great White Shark. It attacked your boat and overturned it after a few tries. You all fell into the water, it hunting territory. With your might and strength, all of you tried to swim away, to a large rock nearby.

You managed to reach the rock, and while trying to climb on it. You heard a woeful scream. You turned around and saw Constantine being devoured between the jaws of the shark, turning a whole area of sea water red with blood.

“What d-do we do now? That monster is going to e-eat us like it h-has done with the old guy.” Max couldn’t stop shaking in his voice.

“From what I have observed, the rock we are standing on will submerge under the water when high tide comes around sunset. We must do something and not waiting for death.” Jason reported to Karen.

Karen looked at the overturned boat afar and then at the large fin moving within the vicinity around the rock.

“Someone has to swim to the boat and get the phone or the signal gun.” Karen said.

“Who’s gonna do that?” Max asked before realizing whom Karen was hinting.

“MC.”

“What?” You didn’t hear the conversation as you were sitting, trying to comprehend what had happened. You would have died today had you been the last of the escape group, with the jaws of the beast wrapping around you and tear you apart with its sharp teeth, chewing you like some meat gum.

“MC, we need you to swim to the boat over-there and get us a phone or a signal gun so that we can ask for a rescue team.”

“I-I c-can’t do that. There’s literally a hungry shark out there. Do you want me dead?” You shouted at Karen, while her two lap dogs looked back at you with threatening eyes.

“C’mon, MC. High tide is coming and this rock will soon submerge under the water. We can’t just sit around and wait for death.”

Knowing that you couldn’t fight all three of them, you reluctantly agreed. Jason even patted your shoulder and told you not to worry, while you were swimming, they would flap on the water so it would attract the shark away from you.

After calming yourself down, you entered the dangerous water and swam towards the boat, while the others created flapping sound on the other side of the rock to lure the shark away from you.

You managed to reach the boat safely and dived down to find the things Karen asked for under the overturned boat. You found your D.D.D floating on the water. Thanks Father it could still working. You also grabbed the flare gun among the things in Constantine’s bag.

Time to return. I can’t wait too much time here.

You left the boat and swam back to the large rock, carrying with you the hopes of the group.

However, the shark soon realized that it was being deceived. It turned its attention on you and began to chase you down.

Seeing the shark swimming at you with high speed, you began to swim faster and harder. When you nearly reached the rock, the shark also open its mouth and…

.

.

.

Sea water turned red with your blood as the shark managed to bite your thigh. It then dragged you across water, far from the rock.

When Karen saw the scene, she thought you would be done for and intended to shout to you to throw your phone and signal gun to them, but then she had a better idea. Taking the chance, the three of them swam towards the boat, abandoning you. They managed to turn the boat back, climbed on it and left.

What they didn’t expect was that you managed to escape the shark’s jaws. You shot the signal gun at the shark’s eyes, blinding it as you escaped back to the rock.

When you saw Karen’s group leaving you behind, you couldn’t help but cursed them under your breath. “Go die and rot in hell.”

You turned back to look at your wound. It was quite deep and the bleeding was constant. You gritted your teeth and washed the wound with sea water.

“Argh. Fuck.” You couldn’t help but cursed again. You continued to bear the pain as you bandaged it with the clothes you tore.

After dealing with the wound, you dialed Levi on your D.D.D.

“I’m on my way.” Levi said with a murderous tone even though you hadn’t explained anything to him.

The moment the call was cut off, you noticed the pact mark on your injured leg began to shine with a dark orange light. Then you looked at it closely, you discovered that the shark had bitten you right on the mark, making it soaked with your blood. Levi must have felt it so he was already on his way when you called him.

A few minutes ago, at the House of Lamentation, Levi was playing his game like any other day. He was even swearing at his bad teammates in a team game. Such team games made the third born miss you. To him, you were the best teammate he could ask for.

MC, I miss you so much. What are you doing now?

Suddenly, he got a tingling sensation. And he could smell blood. A demon’s nature told him it was his master’s blood.

Someone or something is threatening MC.

After that realization, Levi’s console dropped to the ground. A dark orange aura wrapped around him as his growl turned into snake’s hiss. His pupils constricted until they became vertical like snake’s eyes. His skin disappeared to make room for hard purple snake scales. His fangs grew longer and became as good as sharp swords. But the thing to watch out for was the poison & acidic liquid oozing out of the fangs.

Return to you, the sky suddenly darkened even though it wasn’t sunset yet. The pact connects a demon with their master. So you could feel Levi was nearby. You look at the sea and you just wanted to shout “OMG, there’s a big shadow under the water.”

Even the Great White Shark knew the danger and turned around to escape. But it was too late as Levi summoned a water blade. The blade traveled in water with sound speed and cut the shark in half.

“MC” the giant sea serpent emerged its head out of the water and turned to you. “You are badly wounded.”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s go back.”

“No, I still have something I want do do.”

Meanwhile, Karen and her two lap dogs were struggling to find direction to return to shore. However, they were completely lost as the compass was left at the treacherous water. Jason and Max were so pissed off that they began to argue and shout at each other. If Karen didn’t stop them, they would have fought each other.

Suddenly, something smashed into the boat, made it shake.

“What was that?” Karen asked as Max looked at the ocean before shouting. “SHARKS! L-LOTS OF THEM!”

Karen and Jason also looked at the ocean and panic soon filled their faces. Sharks, sharks were everywhere in the vast sea they were.

“Look, what’s that?” Jason pointed as the huge shadow under the water, in the centre of the shiver of hundreds of sharks.

The shadow soon emerged from the water, revealing a gigantic purple snake-like creature with two large corals as its horns. And there was something…someone sitting in the middle of the two horns.

“M-MC! I thought you w-were-were” Karen shouted, realizing it was you.

“Dead.” You finished the sentence for the girl. “Yeah, consider me dead but now I have returned from Hell, along with a part of its Navy under my command, to take you disgusting horrible sinners to Hell.”

“W-wait, let’s talk.”

But you didn’t want to hear another word from their mouths. Leviathan opened his mouth, spatting the acidic liquid at the boat. The boat melted into sea foam before turning into nothingness and the trio fell into the water.

“They’re yours.” Levi coldly said to his shark underlings.

The sea water was soon dyed red with blood, and the sound of waves were replaced by Karen and her lap dogs’ miserable screams. Soon the only thing left was a large pool of blood, but even it would dissipate in the vast ocean.

Nothing was left of this trip. No witness, no evidence, the only things remaining of the horrible trip were the photos of fishes and aquatic creatures you took. You took out your D.D.D and deleted all of them. You just wanted to forget this horrible memory.

“MC, I will take you to another ocean trip, to make wonderful memories, if you want.”

“Thank you, Levi. But I already had enough sea and ocean for today.”

“Including me?” Levi’s vertical orange pupils constricted further more, sadness in his eyes.

“No, not you, Levi. I’ll never be tired of you. Mmm, let’s go home.”

“Ok.”

With that, you and Levi, together with the Shark Squad of Hell’s Navy, disappeared from sight. A few days later, rescue teams were sent out to look for your companions, but to no avail. Nothing was found. Your companions’ disappearance became one of the most mysterious missing cases at sea.

#obey me #omswd #obey me leviathan #obey me fanfic #obey me x reader #obey me leviathan x reader #obey me shall we date #obey me one master to rule them all #leviathan x reader #leviathan x mc

[valeriianz]

Pirate AU, they've been rivals for a while, but when one of them almost gets hanged, the other rescues them and well, the ship is so small, guess we have to share my bunk 🤷‍♀️ one humble drabble suggestion from me.

“--Three shots to the wind, ya are. I can smell it on your breath.”

Hob is this close to just knocking Dream out with the butt of his gun, the man had been chatty and reluctant throughout this entire rescue.

“Yeah, well–” Hob peers left and right, crouched low in the orlop, finding ground after climbing the ladder and hauling them both onto the ship Hob helped crew. “Needed a bit of rum to convince myself to save your skinny ass.”

Dream scowls, but still manages to keep his voice low in the darkness. 

“I will not be spoken to this way.”

Hob turns around, shoving Dream against the wall and leaning in close, brushing his lips against the man’s ear. “You’re a pirate,” he snarls. “I’ll speak to you anyway I goddamn well please.”

He leans back, studying Dream’s agitated visage before taking him by the wrist and pulling him along once more. Hob can hear the crew above deck, shouting orders and readying the ship for sail. They had managed to sneak by as the ropes holding the ship to the dock were untethered and the sails lowered, obviously far enough away from the public execution where the crew were sure to not be caught… until all hell broke loose with Hob’s little escape mission.

With a great sigh of relief, Hob locates his cabin and shoves Dream inside first before closing and locking the door.

“I had it under control,” Dream growls, voice a tad louder in the privacy of Hob’s tiny setup. 

Hob huffs a breath of derision. “Oh, did you now?”

Dream had been scheduled to hang at the execution square in Thames. He seemed ready for it, his face impassive as his list of crimes went on and on, giving Hob plenty of time to stalk the crowd, finding an entrypoint and exit strategy. It was a spontaneous, rum infused decision to cause a distraction and shoot the rope that held Dream by the neck, snagging the other pirate and hauling ass back to Hob’s ship nearly on the other side of the island. 

He almost fought with Hob, face crumpling into something unsatisfactory, like biting into a lemon upon seeing his rescuer. Hob wasn’t sure why he was doing this either. Hob and Dream’s ship had met on the water once in the past year, cannon fire that turned into plunder missions where Hob had met Dream for the first time, high off the adrenaline of a proper attack, on the deck of his own ship.

They’re dueled with swords, well matched with a blade, amongst the chaos around them. Hob would be lying if he said he’d given it his all… mighty distracted by Dream’s pale skin and blue eyes, like the clear waters of a coral reef.

The fight had ended in a parley, their captains coming to an agreement, but promising one another that if they’d see each other again, there’d be no mercy.

And indeed, months later, Hob had run into Dream at a port, finding him in a dark corner of a pub, not engaging with his crewmates and holding onto a tankard without drinking it.

Hob had approached him, unsure what to make of the unexpected excitement in his belly, his chest, at seeing the pirate again. All he knew was the sea and booty and blood, so as he caught Dream’s attention, Hob drew his sword and challenged him to a fight.

It had been magnificent. Dueling Dream was like crossing blades with a nobleman. Dream was all fluidity and composure, while Hob was brute strength and honed skill. Years and years of learning how to fight by trial and error, no proper training, and with the scars to prove it.

Hob had lost that fight, falling to his knees in front of spectators jeering and throwing booze. He looked up at Dream, panting hard and pointing the tip of his blade at Hob’s jugular. 

“Any last words?” Dream had said, his voice low and cool, musical, like a siren out of water, come to test Hob’s resolve.

Hob cracked his most roguish smirk. 

“Give me a chance to fight again.” Hob licked his lips, utterly smitten. “Let me prove myself worthy of such artistry-- to lucubrate your mastery and that I may step with equal footing.”

Dream cocked one elegant brow, his blade lowering.

“Well spoken. Scallywag.”

Hob had seen Dream here and there, as the months went on, but found himself unable to fight him again. He’d gotten lucky, Hob knows, earning Dream’s mercy. But that didn’t make them friends. On the contrary, if Hob’s fellow crewmates caught him sneaking Dream aboard, they’d both be tossed into the sea.

“Why did you even bother?” Dream’s deep timbre interrupts Hob’s wandering thoughts. “Now that you’ve aligned yourself with me, we’re both doomed.”

“Shut it, I haven’t ‘aligned’ myself with nobody.”

Dream stands there, in the middle of the room, casting his eyes up and down Hob’s tattered clothes and sweat soaked skin. “Certainly seems like you have.” 

“Your crew left you for dead, mate,” Hob crosses the scant space between them, causing Dream to step back warily. “I don’t think I have an enemy anymore. You got nowhere else to go.”

Dream glared, but Hob could see the admission in his eyes, the truth. That he was truly alone now. What did it mean, to be captured– nay, saved by your adversary?

“And what do you plan to do with me now, Gadling?” Dream’s arms came out wide at his sides. “You’ve brought an enemy onto your ship. If the captain finds out–”

“He won't.”

Dream levels him with a look. 

“And even worse,” Dream continues like Hob said nothing. “Your crewmates will give me no quarter upon discovery. They would see me back at the gallows.”

“I should’ve left you to hang, ungrateful prick.”

“And now you’re hiding me,” Dream ignored the jab, his brows narrowed, suspicious. “Like some little boy who’s picked up a stray pet.”

“You said ‘pet.’” Hob grinned.

The room gave a sudden lurch and sway, indicating the ship was finally off. Dream tumbled back onto the small bed while Hob propped a hand on the wall, smiling down at the inelegant tangle of limbs Dream made on the mussed cot.

As the ship began to gentle in a rocking motion, Hob stepped up the Dream, who clambered up against the wall, long legs dangling over the edge, which Hob stood between now, leaning down and pressing his palms against either side of Dream’s head, caging him.

“I’ll admit I’m making this up as I go,” he said, privately pleased in the way Dream’s neck stretched back to look up at him, hatred burning in those crystal blue eyes. Hob wondered if he could make that fire burn for a whole different reason. Could soften those lines along Dream’s brow. Hob could almost imagine it, Dream with a darkened gaze, jaw slack, lips parted, body open and relaxed– for him. 

“But in the meantime, you’ll do as I say, and keep quiet,” Hob took Dream’s chin in his hand, fingers curling around his jaw, sharp as a blade, and definitely didn’t imagine the soft gasp that snuck through Dream’s lips. “Savvy?”

Dream swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing with it. 

“Aye.”

#dreamling #dream x hob #from a request i posted that has since been deleted #ahhh this was extremely fun to write #thank you for sending this in cara! #i forgot to get to them sharing the bunk whoops #next time... #my writing #pirate au

[blackgirlwhowrites2k23]

Can you write going on an aquarium date w alejandro balde and you just giggle at him most of the time bc of how childish he looks when he sees all the animals and stuff😭 sorry its kinda vague but i need the balde fics out here😣

Summary: Finals are coming up and your general marine biology class has got you all types of worried. Balde to the rescue! A trip to the aquarium never hurt nobody.

A/N: I know you want to beat my ass right now for how long this took, but I was having some personal issues so I had to be away for a bit. I should be all alright now though! You probably already got someone else to write this but I still felt like I owed you this at least. That aside, there really is a lack of fanfiction for some of my best boys. So here’s one for the bestest of the best boys: Balde himself. I took a little bit of a spin on this so I hope you don’t mind, Anon.  Also, shout out to women in STEM! (Also I don’t own any of these pics or video so credit to the original owners)

“I should be at home—studying,” you started to complain. It was futile to try to argue with him once he got so riled up about something, and as you stood at the start of the aquarium it was clear that it was a lost cause.

“Why do that when you could be here, with me; your awesome boyfriend,” he wiggles his eyes in an obnoxious manner that only serves for you to scoff in fake annoyance.

College life was definitely not easy and while you're confident in your choice of major and your ability to succeed, it’s hard not to get nervous. Especially when it’s just the beginning and your general studies classes are already throwing you for a loop. 

You had initially planned to be cooped up in your house all day doing nothing but going over the material, reviewing, and then reviewing some more. Then, when that was done, take the longest nap of your life. 

That had been the plan. That was until you received a text at 9 in the morning that effectively threw those plans out the window.

————————

Baldie 👨🏾‍🦲💖

Be prepared in an hour. Wear something nice. I’m coming to help you study😼

You

Going to watch Spiderverse again

will NOT help me study.

Baldie👨🏾‍🦲💖

What?

Babe No…

Just be prepared☝🏾😼

————————

As you walk hand in hand through the entrance of the aquarium, an immediate sense of wonder lit up Alejandro’'s eyes; as the soft, pillowy blue cascaded across his features it was hard to decide what would occupy all your attention: looking at him or figure out what exhibit to look at first. 

He was like a kid in a candy store, or in this case a kid at an aquarium. His excitement was palpable, and you couldn't help but giggle at the way he bounced on his toes, his enthusiasm infectious.

The first exhibit you come across is a vibrant coral reef, a living breathing tapestry of colors and textures. Alejandro's gaze darts around, absorbing every detail.  

“Woooahh! That looks like a brain,” he points dramatically at the various Australophyllia wilsoni that you both had the pleasure of stumbling across. Balde, in his infinite wisdom, presses up as close to the glass as he can to imprint every detail in his mind’s eye. 

You were in just as much awe as he was, but you definitely went about it in a more formal way.  

“That’s actually the Australophyllia wilsoni, or a Wilson’s brain. Like all coral, these guys are super important for the environment with keeping the Ph and oxygen balance within the water.”

He turns to you with a grin, eyes wide, and asks you to continue on about the different types of corals and their natural habitats, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. You humor him. With a chuckle, you launch into an impromptu lecture, weaving scientific names and geographical locations together like a basket, and you the expert weaver. Alejandro's fascination only grows, and he listens intently, occasionally gasping as a particularly striking fish darts by.  It was clear that he was overcome with a sense of eagerness; he may not have understood every single thing you said but he would sagely nod and act like he did. 

The enormous tanks all appeared to be their own living, breathing universe, packed with colorful marine life. A complex tapestry of coral and other organisms. As you move from tank to tank, his excitement never ceases.

The jellyfish exhibit captures his attention next, and you find yourselves lost in a world of languid, mesmerizing movements and ethereal effervescent lights. Alejandro's laughter rings out as he playfully imitates the up, up, up movements of the jellyfish, almost like a dance meant to capture anyone who witnesses it. You can’t keep up your professional facade anymore and you go up, up,up, moving your arms like you were floating. You immediately feel the joy bubble up within you, making you light, and yeah, maybe you were floating.

You were glad that particular exhibit was empty though, because you both probably looked real crazy. 

You have to remind yourself to never talk about fish around Alejandro because once you got started–he never wanted you to stop. You could see why though. The aquarium fish were everything and more. Their colors danced in the ethereal blue light, casting mesmerizing reflections on the glass walls of their world. Behind the glass, they felt so close, yet sooo far away.

“You know I once caught that fish with my bare hands” he points to the nearest fish as it darts past you both and makes the gripping gesture with both of his hands out.

You follow the direction of his finger, see a suckermouth catfish, and playfully hit him on the arm.

“Boy, be so for real right now.” You have to immediately walk away though because, in your laughter, you had said that entirely too loud. 

“I’ve lived many lives, woman.”

The rays in the touch pool become the next unfortunate victim in his boundless energy as Alejandro all but races you over to the waters. He reaches out to touch the sleek backs of rays gliding through the water, his eyebrows going impossibly higher up on his face as he fails to contain his pure delight. You can’t help but snap a picture as he squeals, or manly show his appreciation as he would put it, the perfect embodiment of elation.

As you explore, you find yourselves in the tunnel under the massive shark tank. The world above you transforms into an aquatic ballet, with sharks and rays gliding gracefully overhead. Alejandro's grip on your hand tightens as he whispers in awe, comparing the canopy to a majestic underwater sky.

“Am I not like, the best boyfriend ever?” You look away from him for a moment and see a pair of sharks, presumably a couple if their size difference and proximity are any indicators, and hum thoughtfully.

“I don’t know. Lemme pass this test first and I’ll get back to you on that,” you stare into a different pool, his eyes this time, and immediately get pulled in. It’s hard to keep up your cheeky game when he’s that damn fine. 

“How bout I give you a kiss and we’ll go with yes,” you have to hold on to the railing of the enclosure to keep yourself from falling in.

“That’ll work too.”

#Spotify #no beta we die like men #alejandro balde headcanons #alejandro balde #alejandro balde fluff #alejandro balde x you #alejandro balde fanfic #alejandro balde x reader #football imagine #football fanfic #football one shot #football x reader #football #football instagram au #black reader #alejandro balde imagine #alejandro baldesocial media au #football x you #alejandro balde instagram au #football fluff #alejandro x reader #black writers #wrote this at like 1 in the morning and I wanted it to be longer but I'm tired and I also just want to get the idea out before I abandon it #imagine #fc barcelona #aquarium date #soccer #soccer fanfiction

[shuttershocky]

actually this is a good chance to get to know you a bit better. top 3 animals, top 3 colors, top 3 games

Top 3 Animals

1) Crocodiles — There used to be many saltwater crocodiles back in my mom's province. These are the largest reptiles in the world so just seeing them (from a very far, safe distance away) is pretty awe-inspiring. One of these was so gargantuan we put a replica of its skeleton on display in the national museum in Manila, hung over the lobby. We also have Philippine Crocodiles which are endemic to the country, but I've only seen juvenile ones at a zoo since they're endangered and all.

2) Turtles — There are very few experiences like being on the beach and seeing a sea turtle in the wild. One time we were on a fishing boat and someone screamed, I thought for sure it meant someone spotted a shark, but when I leaned over to look, there was a sea turtle poking its head out right above the coral reefs to watch us. There's not many perks to living in the tropics, but this is one of them.

3) Kulasisi — These are very tiny parrots (I think the smallest in the world even?) that aren't common, but can be found virtually anywhere. One of my favorite classes back in college was birdwatching, where one of our sessions found a couple nesting pairs right outside one of the buildings. It was because of that class that I realized it was a Kulasisi that was making the bird calls I would hear when getting up in the morning to go to class

Top 3 Colors

1) Purple — My grandmother's favorite color, and mine eventually. I used to be a blue person until I shifted to darker purple and violet as I got older

2) Blue — I still like it

3) Black — I really liked the Matrix

Top 3 Games

I'm a big gamer (enough that I went into gamedev for a living despite everything) so this is probably the most malleable list. I'm not difficult to please and generally like a lot of stuff, so a top 3 favorite games list could look very different each time, barring one game.

1) Dota 2 — I have over 5000 hours in my favorite game of all time. Picked it up in 2012, and then it was all over for me. I can go stretches of up to 6 months without touching the game, but when I reopen it, the hype comes flooding back.

2) Devil May Cry 5 — I continue to hold the opinion that DMC5 hit the platonic ideal of stylish action game design, V's lack of depth notwithstanding. The game has been out for 5 years and people are still uploading new runs, finding all these tricks and secrets in the game just as they did with DMC3 and 4 before it. If Dante only got wall running and Wild Stomp back from 3, it might be as close to perfect as you can get. Devil Trigger and Bury The Light are also among my favorite video game songs of all time, among the likes of Killer Instinct's or Metal Gear Rising's

3) Metal Gear Solid 4 — MGS3 is the better game, MGS1 and 2 are more iconic, but MGS4 rescued the PS3 from irrelevancy before Uncharted 2 made it big. Holy shit that game looked unbelievably good when it first came out. The way Snake would lie still and camouflage into the floor while bullets sprayed the ground right in front of him while mooing mechs and soldiers were mere feet away blew my mind.

Games like Resident Evil 4 three years earlier really popularized making cinematic cutscenes that were rendered in-game rather than pre-rendered, but I didn't realize the possibilities behind it until MGS4's Raiden vs Vamp. A complex action scene where Raiden and Vamp had a sword duel would always be cool, but what pushed it over the top was that you kept playing the whole time it was happening. MGS4 would split the screen, playing the cutscene in one half, while in the other you had to carry on with your mission, and goddamn that sure was a moment of thinking "Wow this really is next gen"