#do leopards live in deserts

[shanastoryteller]

Do you think you'll tackle Serene and Endymion in your Greek Myths? They are gorgeous btw. ;)

Not all titans were subdued. Not all were lost, or chained, or changed.

Some simply endured, too large and distant to be concerned with matters of titles and thrones.

Helios raged. Even bound within Tartarus, his sun burned brighter and angrier with each day, feeding off the hatred of the cursed titan. Seas turned to deserts as water was baked out of the earth. Apollo scooped up Helios’s chariot, bringing the sun to bear and returning a normal rhythm to the days and nights. Helios’s rage burns him even still, but the chariot has at least accepted its new master.

Artemis becomes associated with the moon because she is her brother’s other half in all things. But she constructs her chariot herself and it is used for races and to transport huntresses and little else.

The moon’s first goddess has never left. She has dragged the moon across the sky in her chariot of starlight uninterrupted for over a millennia.

The titan Selene did not join the fight of the new gods and the titans. She did not defend her brother nor did she attempt to save him.

But neither has she acknowledged the new pantheon. Zeus rules the sky and has demanded an audience with her many times, but she has never granted it. Zeus chases her chariot, but even riding lightning he can’t catch it when she unhooks the moon and no longer has its weight slowing her down.

Poseidon shakes his head and says, “Leave her be. I am the master of the sea and yet if I suddenly had to push forward every inch of the tide myself, I wouldn’t be left with much power to do anything else. All you’re doing is causing problems for the rest of us. Leave Selene to her work.”

Artemis agrees. If even Poseidon thinks bothering the moon titan is a bad idea, then they should listen. Usually he can’t be bothered to have opinions about anyone outside of his own wife, and even that’s rare.

Zeus gives up. Time passes, as it does, and no matter how the sun bucks and fights against her brother’s grip, sometimes going too quick and then too slow, the moon continues at the same steady pace.

Artemis grows stronger beneath moonlight. This must be because of her worshippers, or perhaps her brother’s. She never answers any prayers for tides or from people lost in the darkness, refusing every attempt to give her a power not her own, but her silence doesn’t seem to discourage anyone. Under the night sky her chariot moves impossibly fast and moonlight seems to always find her through the trees, which makes hunting difficult, but she doesn’t dare complain.

She does not want to earn Selene’s ire.

But despite her best efforts, Artemis does not manage to avoid her attention.

She is separated from her huntresses, spending the third night in a row tracking down a leopard that Demeter claims she drove mad on accident. Artemis doesn’t believe her, but the truth is irrelevant. This creature stalks and kills with Demeter’s blessing upon it, taking down all manor of creature and person.

Her temples have been filled with those begging for her aid. She’s blessed many spears, but her blessing doesn’t seem to be able to outweigh Demeter’s.

That irritates her enough that she’s seeing to this personally. She’s going to skin that damn leopard and wear it’s pelt to the next meeting of the pantheon.

One moment she’s skulking beneath a canopy of leaves, following several drops of blood she’s convinced will lead her to her prey, and the next the hair of her arms is standing on end and her heart is beating fast enough to make her light headed.

She swings around, spear raised, convinced that the damn leopard has found her first.

It’s not the leopard.

“You are the one they are praying too,” says a woman, her body soft with roundness and with the palest skin Artemis has seen on a living person. The extra skin beneath her chin gives her a perfectly circular face and the pockmarks across her face and body are a perfect echo of the moon’s many craters.

Selene tucks her ink black hair behind her ear and looks at her with equally dark eyes.

Artemis was born long after the war with the titans and she’s never ventured into Tartarus. She had assumed their presence felt much the same as other gods, that perhaps it was similar to the feeling of getting caught up in Hera’s rage.

It’s nothing like that.

Selene’s power is like a physical weight, as if they’re suddenly underwater and it’s surrounding them everywhere. Artemis lets it push her to her knees, bowing her head and trying to force her heart to calm. “Titan Selene. I swear that I did nothing to encourage them. I have not claimed any of your power.”

She should have done more than ignore them. She should have toppled temples and killed dissenters. She should have redirected their prayers. Anything to prevent what’s happening now.

“Would you like to?”

Artemis risks raising her head. Selene doesn’t sound angry and she doesn’t look it either. “I don’t understand.”

Selene gestures to the sky. “The moon is different from the sun. The sun pushes forward on its own and must be restrained and goaded in equal measure. Untethered, it will still rise and set. The moon must be pulled. It wants nothing more than to rest and unprompted it will stay motionless. If I step from my chariot for even a moment, the moon halts. It is unmoving now, as we speak.”

Artemis looks up. The moon always looks still to her. She wonders if the tides have noticed the difference.

“I have not been able to walk among earth for more than a few moments since I forged my chariot, lest all that follow the moon also go still and silent. They call you a moon goddess.”

“Please don’t make me take your place,” she says, not above begging. If the goddess traps her on her chariot, Artemis won’t have a choice.

Selene smiles, amusement making her eyes sparkle like distant stars. “You are young. You could not survive the chill or the weight for long. But perhaps you could endure for an hour or two.”

“I don’t understand,” she repeats, but some of her fear is starting to recede. Selene is not speaking like she’s going to strike her or curse her.

“There is a man,” she says, then pauses.

“Oh,” Artemis blinks, then, “Um, that’s not really my area. I could ask my brother?”

Selene laughs. “No, that is not necessary. I just need time. Will you steer my chariot each night so that I may walk across the earth unworried? Then you shall be a moon goddess in more than name.”

A titan, offering to share power for so little a reward? There has to be a catch. “Aren’t you worried that I’ll take too much?”

“I am not a goddess as you are a goddess,” she says, her derision light enough that Artemis can choose not to take offense to it. “My power neither grows nor dwindles based on the opinions of mortals. If you gain more, I do not have less.”

It shouldn’t be that surprising. All gods have some level of innate power. But not like this, not something that could alter the course of a planet, not this large and this terrifying.

Artemis decides then that Selene must be the most powerful of the titans. Anything else is too much to think about.

“I accept,” she says.

Selene reaches out, wrapping her thick fingers around her wrist, and then Artemis is somewhere else and she’s freezing.

“You get used to the cold,” Selene says, nudging her to the front of her chariot. The starlight glitters beneath her, driving home how her own silver chariot is nothing more than a pale imitation, no matter how it shines. “I drive the chariot forward with own will.”

Artemis’s works similarly. She focuses, and the chariot lurches forward, but then it jerks backwards. She glances behind, seeing the massive moon attached to the chariot with pulsing, heavy black chains. She tries again, slower, but no matter how much power she puts behind it, the moon won’t move forward a single inch.

“It’s alright,” Selene says. “I’ll help. You’ll grow stronger.”

She leans forward and spits out into space. Her saliva splits into two and then grows, until two massive, pearly white great wolves are standing at attention. Selene summons more of that strange black chain, looping it around the wolves’ chest and forming a hook to pull it through the front of the chariot before handing the ends to Artemis.

They’re heavy enough that she can feel the weight dragging her arms down. “What do I–”

Selene whistles and then wolves bound forward. For a moment they just strain against their chains, but then Artemis adds her own power to push the chariot, and then slowly, painfully, the moon is dragged forward.

“Good,” Selene says, the word settling into Artemis’s bones. “Stop when you must, but not before. I will feel the moon’s stillness and return.”

Her disappearance leaves the air surrounding Artemis even colder, but she refuses to shiver and instead urges the wolves faster with a snap of the celestial chains.

~

Endymion spends most of his nights on the tallest mountain within walking distance of the city, tracking the stars’ movements so that his fellow astronomers can check their equations against the realities of the heavens.

It takes him much longer than his colleagues and he blames it on an unsteady hand.

The truth is that his hands are perfectly steady. He has a one tablet of star positions and several rolls of linens with paintings of the moon. He’s not a very good artist, but something about it compels him, and so he spends hours each night determined to capture ever crevice and angle.

“Why are you always looking at me?”

He startles, dropping his brush, and turns on his heel to see who on earth is up here with him.

It’s a woman, with long black hair and a large body. There’s a puckered line along her cheek and he resists the urge to press his fingers against it, to follow it’s path until his fingers reach her lips. The soft pink of her plush mouth is the only bit of color on her.

Her question catches up with him and he sputters, “I’ve never seen you before!”

He would remember.

“You are always looking,” she insists, walking towards him. “What do you see?”

“I really haven’t seen you before,” he says, but doesn’t move away when she comes right up next to him. This close, he can see some faint color in her cheeks. He wonders if there are any other parts of her that tinge from pale to pink.

He feels heat rush to his own face at the thought. The bright moonlight that lets him see her so clearly is the same moonlight that’s going to give away his indecent thoughts.

But she doesn’t call him on it, instead pointing down at the crumpled linen. “Why?”

“Oh,” he flushes even more. “I don’t know. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? That’s reason enough.”

Endymion waits for her derision, the same that he’s received every time he’s gotten caught, but instead she curls her hands into the material of his shirt and says, “I agree,” and then she’s yanking him down to press her lips into his.

He tries to convince her to follow him home, but instead she disrobes right there and he can’t argue with that.

“Be here again tomorrow night,” she orders when the sweat is cooling on their bodies.

She likes to order him around. He doesn’t mind. “Won’t you tell me your name?”

“I will not answer questions that you already know the answer to,” she says, and then kisses him again before he can argue.

He means to walk down with her, to escort her home at least, but the moment he turns his back on her, she’s gone.

It takes him seven more nights with her for him to work up the courage to call her Selene.

She smiles and bites his shoulder, the imprints of her teeth a perfect circle.

gods and monsters series, part xxxiii

read more of the gods and monsters series here

#gods and monsters series #selene #artemis #endymion #greek mythology #asks #BEING-ELSPETH

[sniffanimal]

HRT that turns you into a leopard gecko:

immediate results: start to feel colder all the time

2-4 weeks: skin itches a lot, vegetables start to churn your stomach, mucous membranes like your eyes and mouth feel drier

3-6 months: skin starts to flake off in noticeable dandruff-like patches all over your body. you should start using an oil based moisturizer since the water based ones just dont do the trick anymore. You should also start transitioning your diet to insectivore. your coccyx hurts when you sit for too long.

6-9 months: a nub of a cartilage tail starts to work it's way out of your lower back. the skin it creates is smooth and doesn't look like scarring at all. it even has some spots on it. you've started noticing freckles here and there. Your eyes are also looking different, rounder and muted color.

12 months: your doctor offers genetic testing to approximate what morph you will be, since human phenotypes aren't a 100% accurate at predicting it. You decline, you want to be surprised. You've reached a point where you can't hide it anymore if you wanted to. Your hair is falling out all over now. Your skin peels off in patches like a sunburn, and every new layer is yellow or orange and some have spots. Your teeth sit weird in your mouth and feel smaller. Your tail is about a foot long now, it has a long way to grow. You mostly cook with cricket flour or eat premixed meals since you're not fully on board with eating half your weight in straight up bugs yet, but you're relieved roaches don't freak you out anymore. They just make you hungry.

18 months: your eyes are visibly spaced further apart, and your nose is starting to flatten out. you know your face won't look 100% like you want it to, the hormones can only do so much, but you already look positively reptilian. you shaved your head to help the hair finish up, and are surprised you don't miss it. your fingers feel less nimble now, and you have to wear braces to get anything done during the day. your claws take nail polish just fine. You pick up a new space heater at the store even though it's only August.

2 years: Your skin has evened out and mostly sheds all at once now. You think you're a tangerine carrot tail, judging by how yellow and spotted your body is, but orange and white your tail is. You're comfortably at a point where people stop asking "so what are you? a lizard?" as soon as they see how fat your tail is. your dating profile pics have a little too much tongue in them.

6 years+: some surgery helped fix some of the last little snags, tucking all your bottom bits into a neat vent, and finishing the shaping on your face. You don't even scar from them either, a win-win. Your partner is now used to running you a steaming shower whenever they see you rubbing your back on the corner of a wall. They're also good at judging your diet a bit too closely thanks to your squishy fat tail. When your work got too busy for a month and you lived off tea and handfuls of grasshopper granola, they could tell you weren't yourself as your tail thinned and drooped. They scheduled some time off so the two of you could go to the desert. It's so warm, even at night, this time of year, and you can see all the stars. They didn't want to kiss you after you ate a scorpion off the floor, but it was all worth it because you felt recharged, refreshed, and at home in your gecko body again.

---

just in case I never get around to drawing this I wanted to at least write it lol

#badger rants #badgerwrites #? idk i dont post writing much anymore #but i cant stop thinking about hrt that turns you into a furry. sorry i think gradual #transitions aare compelling and cool as hell. im transgender what do you want from me

[wenella]

Zhu Yilong: The Longest Journey 朱一龙：最漫长的路

EN translation of Zhu Yilong's Shang Cheng Shi Dec 2023 Issue Feature Interview by wenella

The sun slowly sets and the evening glow over the Gobi Desert constantly changes colours from blue, purple, pink to yellow. The temperature drops gradually. The dim light casts silhouettes and Zhu Yilong, in the distance, is leading a camel across the undulating sand dunes. In recent years, Zhu Yilong has often visited the desert as part of his travels. But this time, he is here at sunset.

The boundless desert sparks contemplation about the fleeting years and the unpredictability of life. The vastness is rather overwhelming for urbanites, but the camel train walking alongside Zhu Yilong disrupts this immense sense of solitude. Soon, Zhu Yilong gains the trust of one of the camels. "We were strangers at first, but gradually became close; it’s just like making a new friend," he says. The camel lets down its guard after 15 minutes; it looks calm as Zhu Yilong leans against it. "I could feel that the camel is relaxed when I touched it," he remarks after returning with the camel caravan. Then, he leads the camel into the desert once again towards the focal point of the shoot. “I’m off!” he bids farewell to the staff before embarking on this brief "journey" with his new friend.

Earlier in the day, Zhu Yilong listened to musicians perform the ancient Chinese melody "Su Wu Mu Yang" on the xun (a Chinese wind instrument) in the Shikouzi Canyon. This melancholic melody, with its simple tune, sounds like a lament that is characterized by the deep, dignified, and steady tones of the xun. The rocky and deep canyon is only half a meter wide at its narrowest point and enhances the poignant and majestic atmosphere—both in the music and in the hearts of those present. Captivated by the music, Zhu Yilong  imagined the tragic life of Su Wu.

Noticing that Zhu Yilong was piqued by the music, the musician handed him a xun. Zhu Yilong, who can play the hulusi (a gourd flute), attempted to play the xun using the hulusi technique but couldn't produce any sound. The teacher offered him guidance and said, "Cover all the holes, place it (the blowhole) beneath your lips, don't use force, blow gently." Using the new approach, Zhu Yilong’s xun finally made a sound, and a new lament echoed through the narrow canyon.

We initially planned for Zhu Yilong to do a photoshoot with the sheepskin raft by the shore. However, driven by his curiosity about the life wisdom of ancients and his desire to seize the rare opportunity to try the sheepskin raft, Zhu Yilong jumped onto the raft voluntarily. As the raft drifted away from the shore, Zhu Yilong waved to everyone and once again, cheerfully said, “I'm off!'"

The crew is used to his uncontrollable impulse for fun. "I often have the urge to travel or try something fun.” However, Zhu Yilong hasn't had time to travel recently. Whenever he does, it’s usually for work. "It's a business trip." He recalls his recent trip to Africa with WWF to promote wildlife conservation efforts. He got up close to lions, leopards, and elephants in the Maasai Mara National Park. In a completely natural environment, mankind is in awe of everything.

Zhu Yilong chooses his travel destinations based on his mood. "If I feel like visiting a lively place, I'll pick a city to try different cuisines and observe different people. If I want to go somewhere quiet, I'll head to the mountains or the seaside. My decision is based on my mood at that moment."

It is rare for Zhu Yilong to travel for leisure these days. Often, he uses his travel to “experience life.”

Experiencing life is mandatory for actors. Zhu Yilong is adept at observation and at bridging the gap with strangers. He believes that observation begins by getting close to the other person. When portraying Mo Sanmei, he visited a funeral parlour to experience life. To play the role of Ma Zhe well, he spent 1.5 months experiencing life in a police station. His observations shaped his characters. Zhu Yilong formed his first impression of Mo Sanmei when he caught a glimpse of a guy in a funeral parlour parking lot, who sported a crew cut and was leaning on the steering wheel, listening to pop songs, smoking, and selling funeral supplies. Likewise, a photo of a serious-looking young Yu Hua helped him to shape Ma Zhe. Through refining the abstract, he combines different individuals to form one person.

When Zhu Yilong is filming, he makes it a habit to immerse himself entirely in his character. He will not resist any emotion or mental state. Perhaps by incorporating all the anger, ferocity and struggles into his characters, the Zhu Yilong who we see in real life always appears calm, gentle, and humble. "Think about it, there are so many 'scary' scenes in the drama. One might never encounter such situations in their entire life." He will fully commit himself to his character till the film wraps, and then he will separate himself from his character. "I always require myself to quickly separate from my character once I wrap. I want to let my character remain in that period and in those visual images." He separates himself from his character by changing his appearance. "It is a psychological reminder. Once you are removed from a certain environment and your appearance changes, you will separate yourself from the character naturally."

When he was younger and had fewer life experiences, Zhu Yilong would actively observe people to gain insights quickly even when he was relaxing. Now, he has started to restrain this innate urge to observe the world and instead, focuses more on the present moment, his immediate surroundings, and his feelings. "I am less purposeful now. I will not be in a hurry to conduct observations and apply what I see in my role. Instead, I try to find ways to integrate myself into the environment, to relax, and to feel the difference. I realised that the results are more specific and vivid this way. I no longer try to do this deliberately in my life or during my travels; I just want to try my best to experience and feel."

When one is less observant of the external world, they will become more aware of their inner self. People are always busy, and it is actually challenging for one to delve into their fleeting thoughts. Now, Zhu Yilong will deliberately pause and organize the thoughts in his mind sometimes. "These things can actually be applied to the characters," he says.

The self is the first and most profound subject for understanding the world. A person can only have a deeper understanding of others and the world if he understands himself well. Human nature is profound, and the self is ever-changing, complex, and elusive; this path of self-exploration is the longest journey.

In recent years, Zhu Yilong has become more acutely aware of the passage of time. On the day of our photoshoot, he said that he wished time could linger.

As a student, he felt that time was passing too slowly and eagerly awaited the school bell to ring every day. However, once he started to work—a job that he loved fortunately—every day seemed to pass too quickly. A film starts and wraps; an actor can finish 1 or 2 projects in a year. Belonging to a profession that quantifies time and results might intensify his anxiety. However, it may not be necessary to overcome this anxiety as his curiousity that has driven him has never diminished. Zhu Yilong remains curious about the world. He still yearns to explore and embark on adventures. "It won’t change in the next ten, twenty, thirty years," Zhu Yilong knows that this belief will stay with him.

#zhu yilong #zhuyilong #朱一龙 #朱一龍 #wenella

[chroniclingworlds]

Rexiidae

Stalking the plains and forests, these are the apex predators of the south. This is a diverse group, united by their razor-sharp tooth plates designed for tearing flesh and a hoof-and-claw arrangement on their feet.

Cleavers

Pictured: the leopard Cleaver, native to the forests of the west.

Found in the coastal forests and islands of the Southern Sea, these relatively small, agile predators are named for the cleaver-shaped crest on their head. Preying on animals such as Weavers, One-Claws, Heralds and small species of Snappers, they hunt in groups numbering around five and work cooperatively to take down prey. Cleavers that live on islands hibernate during the sunless winter, but mainland populations do not. Instead, they expand their range during the winter to search for food, although this makes them vulnerable to the larger predators of the woodlands and plains. Thus, they can be skittish and will often run from any animal larger than themselves, presenting a challenge to studying them.

Gorgons

Pictured: the black ghost, native to the far eastern woodlands.

Solitary and aggressive, Gorgons live in the forests and open woodlands. They are not particularly quick or agile, and thus tend to be ambush predators who lurk in the shadows until prey comes close enough to lunge at. With heavily padded feet, they can move through the woods in almost total silence. Hunting primarily at night, they have enlarged infrared receptors and thus have a strange-looking asymmetry in their eyes. In many of the societies around the Southern Sea, Gorgons are considered somewhat of a legendary forest monster, rarely seen or heard but always stalking the shadows just out of sight.

Fang-Mouths

Pictured: the white-striped Fang-Mouth, found across the semi-arid plains south of the Salt Desert.

On the plains and semi-arid regions, packs of Fang-Mouths lurk. With elongated extensions of their tooth plates, they resemble the aquatic Bidontae, and use these fangs to slash the tendons and muscles of their prey’s limbs. These are the fastest of the Rexiidae, chasing down fleet-footed creatures with bursts of speed up to 60 mph. They are also known to use their numbers to gain advantage over other predators, mobbing larger Rexiidae after they’ve made a kill and driving them away. Due to their size and chosen prey, they frequently come into competition with Xarakoids, and Fang-Mouths will often kill and eat young Xarakoids and vice versa.

Skullcrushers

Pictured: the redback Skullcrusher, found on the steppes of the Pinnacles.

Named for their method of taking down prey, the Skullcrushers have incredibly powerful jaws. Once they have run down an animal, they grasp the head or neck and crush the bones, killing their victim often with one bite. Hunting in pairs or trios, they frequently employ a complex strategy involving corralling a prey animal towards their hidden companion, who will leap out and latch onto the prey’s face or neck. This implies a certain level of communication and problem-solving not typically associated with the Rexiidae, implying this group may be more intelligent than previously thought.

Tyrants

Pictured: the lowland Tyrant, the largest species, which can be found in the valleys of the Eastern Rise.

These are the largest predators on Strix, specializing in big prey such as Magnipods and Orbiphants. Living on the plains, they are ambush predators who hunt at night like their distant cousins the Gorgons. They are solitary and very territorial, aggressively driving out any other Tyrants who stray into their domain. The Xaraka fear and respect these apex predators, and slaying a Tyrant in battle is considered the ultimate mark of a high hunter or warrior. Tyrant bones and skins are used in rituals in many Xaraka cultures, although these are often collected from already dead specimens.

#speculative biology #planet strix

[mcalhenwrites]

Do expect once Geckos, Automata is fully live (paperback is still pending and will be for a bit, it takes longer than the ebook that's already live now) for me to never shut up about it. I will be posting and reposting all about it, with links and blurbs, and I will not shut up. I'm too excited to sleep, no way am I going to be quiet! This took so long to finish! OVER THREE YEARS SINCE I FINISHED THE FIRST DRAFT I already messaged like 15 people on discord, I was so happy lmao

Those feet are drawn by me, and they are based on leopard gecko feet, not the atypical gecko feet. Leopard geckos are desert-dwelling geckos. Also, these are metal geckos, whose little toes get twisted and broken much easier than even leopard geckos (who can have bad sheds if they aren't given the right conditions in their terrariums and this results in that - never happened with my babies but I was so fearful of it).

#technically some parts of the story are older - from a recycled 2011 story

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Wandering with the  Warthog

Perhaps most famously known for their role in the US animated film The Lion King, the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) is a species of warthog endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Its sister species, the desert warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus) is limited to the Horn of Africa’s deserts. Both live in arid scrublands and woodlands; the common warthog also thrive in savannahs, and are the only pig to do so. Both species are also omnivorous, feeding on grass and shrubs, roots, insects, and carrion. They, in turn, are prey for lions, leopards, and cheetahs.

Members of the warthog genus are highly social. Females and their young live in groups called “sounders”, which travel around a home range guarded by a solitary male. Often females bond, raising their young together and sometimes mounting each other while in heat. These bonds can extend to protecting each other from predators and even potential male mates. Males can also form social bonds, although they tend to remain solitary outside the breeding season.

Rutting begins at the end of the rainy season, around June, and continues until the end of the dry season in November or December. During the rut, male boars will seek out female burrows and defend them against other boars. However, typically only the duller upper tusks are used for fighting; the sharper lower ones are saved for predators. Both males and females mate with multiple partners, and males provide no parental care, leaving soon after. Gestation lasts for about 5-6 months, after which females give birth in a  burrow separate from the rest of the group. Litters for the common warthog can be as large as 8 piglets, while desert warthogs give birth to only 2 or 3. However, mothers in both species have been observed “allosucking“, or allowing piglets other than their own children to suckle. Piglets take about 6 months to fully wean, although they stay close to their mother until they are fully grown at about 2 years old. Warthogs can live anywhere from 11 to 18 years old.

Both Phacochoerus species are about medium sized, between 63-85cm tall at the shoulder and weighing about 45-75 kilos, with males usually larger than females. Individuals can be coloured grey, brown, or black, and usually sport a coarse mane and brush-like tail that flares up as a warning to predators. Warthogs are also known for their distinctive tusks; both males and females have two pairs that protrude from the mouth and curl upwards. The lower pair is shorter than the upper pair and sharpens by rubbing against the upper pair every time the warthog moves its mouth. P. africanus can be distinguished from P. aethiopicus by their facial features; P. aethiopicus lacks insicors, has a larger snout, and the tips of their ears curl back.

Conservation status: Warthogs are considered Least Concern by the IUCN. Many areas of both species’ range is occupied by parks where they are protected. However, both habitat loss and poaching for ivory are common problems.

Photos

Charlie J. Sharp (via wikipedia)

Michel Gutierrez (via Flickr)

Bernard Dupont

Joel Sartore

#common warthog #desert warthog #Artiodactyla #Suidae #warthogs #pigs #swine #even-toed ungulates #ungulates #herbivores #mammals #grasslands #grassland mammals #scrubland #scrubland mammals #deserts #desert mammals #deciduous forests #deciduous forest mammals #savannah #savannah mammals #africa #sub-Saharan Africa #east africa #animal facts #zoology #biology #queer animals #queer fauna

[lpvncnt]

* ◟ : 〔 TAMINO , CIS-MALE + HE / HIM 〕 PHILIP GOFFIN-VINCENT , some say you’re a TWENTY-SEVEN YEAR OLD lost soul among the neon lights. known for being both DOGGED and DEPRAVED, one can’t help but think of STRUGGLIN' by TRICKY, MARTINA TOPLEY-BIRD when you walk by. are you still a CLEANER, ACTIVE ASSASSIN at THE BORDERLINE HOTEL, RED EYE even with your reputation as THE GARGOYLE? i think we’ll be seeing more of you and STUPID SHOW-PONY HIGH ROLLER, PATIENT LIKE THE HYENA WAITS, GET IN YOUR CAR AND RUN ME OVER INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR OTHERS TO DO IT FOR YOU, YOU LAZY FOOL, although we can’t help but think of JONATHAN CRANE (DC COMICS) + ERIC DRAVEN (THE CROW) + JASON DEAN (HEATHERS) + ANTON CHIGURH (NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN) whenever we see you down these rainy streets.

FILE: LIP VINCENT

STATUS: ACTIVE. HEIGHT: 6'2". SEXUALITY: PANSEXUAL, AROMANTIC. DATE OF BIRTH: 12/25/1995 HOMETOWN: MALMEDY, BELGIUM. RESIDING: BROOKLYN, NY. ROOMMATE WITH [TBD WANTED CONNECTION].

Instead of the usual biography, I felt like the following poem captured the energy of the past a bit better than I could ever express:

INSOMNIAC

THE night is only a sort of carbon paper,

Blueblack, with the much-poked periods of stars

Letting in the light, peephole after peephole --

A bonewhite light, like death, behind all things.

Under the eyes of the stars and the moon's rictus

He suffers his desert pillow, sleeplessness

Stretching its fine, irritating sand in all directions.

Over and over the old, granular movie

Exposes embarrassments--the mizzling days

Of childhood and adolescence, sticky with dreams,

Parental faces on tall stalks, alternately stern and tearful,

A garden of buggy rose that made him cry.

His forehead is bumpy as a sack of rocks.

Memories jostle each other for face-room like obsolete film stars.

He is immune to pills: red, purple, blue --

How they lit the tedium of the protracted evening!

Those sugary planets whose influence won for him

A life baptized in no-life for a while,

And the sweet, drugged waking of a forgetful baby.

Now the pills are worn-out and silly, like classical gods.

Their poppy-sleepy colors do him no good.

His head is a little interior of grey mirrors.

Each gesture flees immediately down an alley

Of diminishing perspectives, and its significance

Drains like water out the hole at the far end.

He lives without privacy in a lidless room,

The bald slots of his eyes stiffened wide-open

On the incessant heat-lightning flicker of situations.

Nightlong, in the granite yard, invisible cats

Have been howling like women, or damaged instruments.

Already he can feel daylight, his white disease,

Creeping up with her hatful of trivial repetitions.

The city is a map of cheerful twitters now,

And everywhere people, eyes mica-silver and blank,

Are riding to work in rows, as if recently brainwashed.

— Sylvia Plath

AESTHETICS

Repugnant amount of weed smoke filling a suspension-lacking 1966 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, that only a 100% masochist would drive in New York. You were not born to cry. Leopard print BB belts stacked on the waist. A soul, emptied. No pride, no pleasure, no desire. Life is just like a Wong Kar-Wai movie. You've got two fists comically full of metal, the weight shifts you off your feet when that punch is thrown, your poorly welded home-made 'rings' -- made from a chunk of all the old silver jewelry you've collected from the bodies over time, all these precious keepsakes melted onto a fork -- made to hurt -- should be illegal. Lots of little projects like that scatter what you call 'home'. An angel dies every time a shitty fuckboy like you flashes his mid-section in local Bodega for no reason. Recently adopted a Belgian Malinois, Osiris, who is still in training and needs a muzzle (an excuse for enabling bad behavior, could be symbolic). Egregiously loud mumble-rap. When stressed, likes watching ballroom dancing while chainsmoking cigarettes.

Hi, I'm Samuel, 24, PDT, a sweet little Californian baby boy who will do tricks for treats, gee whiz am I glad to be here. All of this is a bit vague but will be fleshed out with time -- if you've got any questions on specifics I'd be super happy to clarify. Huzzah !

#lawlessintro

[bangfantanfic]

Our Own World: 6

Warnings: Swearing, lowkey mating suggestions

Type: Hybrid/Yandere/Fluff/Angst

Authors Note:well, it’s been a hot minute but chapter 6 is here. I do apologise, I’ve been looking for new work and between jobs and housing atm so writing hasn’t rly been much of an option. If I’ve tagged you and you no longer want this pls just let me know!

Tags: @tinykpoponanime @childfmoonn   @tinykpoponanime @midnightsapphiclove 

There is one thing you hated more than animals and the loose hair that seemed to filter through the house, and that was summer. The heat often left you dizzy and nauseated. You hated sweating, and having to shower what felt like a million times.  

Five of the seven hybrids were playing by the pool, cooling off from the unrelenting heat. Yoongi has slinked back into the house, mumbling something about making a fruit platter, while Namjoon sat beside you with his tail wrapped in a towel. He hadn’t spoken to you, just flopped beside you, grinning before getting to work on drying his sogging tail. You were practically hanging over the outdoor sofas arm rest to avoid the water dripping from him. And you knew he noticed, he seemed to have shoved himself further away and clutched his tail a little closer.

Guilt seems to be a constant feeling for you lately. 

You knew Namjoon thought you were uncomfortable with his.. Extra  attachments? But in this case they were the least of your worries. You hated the smell of chlorine. And would much rather not have the smell lingering on you. Although you couldn’t say you’d be all too thrilled with his tail touching you, a wet tail at that. The thought was enough to make your stomach twist. 

Seokjin’s loud scolding broke your personal nightmare fuelled thoughts, your eyes snapping back to the huge pool to see the polar bear struggling to pull himself back onto the purple floating toy, and Jimin cackling as Taehyung quickly doggy paddled away from the screeching elder.

You couldn’t help the smile that pulled at your lips. 

The last week had been going through a heatwave, and the AC didn't seem to be providing any relief. Namjoon had suggested the pool, and at first he was met with glares and scoffs as if he had just suggested a trip to the desert would provide some cool relief. Eventually he coaxed everyone outside, and for the last hour or so they all seemed to be having the time of their lives. Even the hybrids that are traditionally frigid climate based. 

You had finally read through all the seven files you had ignored on your first day there, it only took you a month.. Or so. You had learnt everyone's hybrid breeds, and while maybe you hadn’t yet to memorize everything, you had made a dent in the never ending pile. 

Seokjin, as you already knew, was a polar bear. His file was also the longest, you dreaded the long read. 

Yoongi was a black panther, his file having leopard in brackets. It was a fairly easy file, but still one of the longer ones. 

Hoseok was a snow leopard, hence you're shock seeing him so happy to be in the awful heat. 

Namjoon was an Interior Alaskin Wolf. You knew he was a wolf, but your incredibly limited animal knowledge had left you clueless that there was actually different types of wolves? You had grouped it all as one thing. Incredibly dumb– you know. 

Jimin was an arctic fox. He was the reason you had read through any of the files, out of panic mostly. His hair was darkening from his normal white to a brown and you thought you had broken him and spent the night sobbing as you searched his file only to find out it was completely normal for his hair to change in the hotter seasons. 

Taehyung was a Black Capuchin monkey. You already knew that.. Sorta. 

And finally, Jeongguk. He was a King cobra and strangely, he was what scared you the most. Not the wild cats. Or the bear. Or even the wolf. Although his file promised he wasn’t aggressive, King cobras rarely were, it still set you on edge. 

Was he poisonous? 

Namjoon followed your line of vision, his eyes settling on the same view as you. Jeongguk sprawled out across the grass in nothing but black shorts letting the sun heat up his multi textured body. His body was patchy, some normal honey toned skin darkening with the more sun it soaked up. But the rest was dark scales. Nearly black, with a few even lines of a yellowish brown. The lower you went down his body the scalier it got. 

The wolf hybrid glanced back at you. You didn’t seem scared, maybe worried? Definitely curious. 

“We’re happy you have you here, even if not everyone shows it.” He finally spoke, your attention dragging away from the scaled boy snoozing on the damp grass. The smile you sent his way made his heart ache. “He’s just overly cautious.” 

You nodded, seeming to understand. Before sighing, making Namjoon worry perhaps he had said something wrong.

“He’s uncomfortable around me,” You said matter-of-factly, eyes back on the snake hybrid. “I understand how he feels. I may not understand his whole situation, but I know we’re both in one we would have avoided if it could be helped.” 

Ouch.

Namjoon nodded, hands fiddling with the fur of his tail. You’re still so uncomfortable. His grip tightened on his tail, no longer a self soothing stroke. He hated it. He wanted it gone. The first time he heard you hysterical on the phone had been a complete accident. 

Covid laws had been put in place and Jay was trapped in another country so, so far away and honestly Namjoon couldn’t say he was all that disappointed. Even if it hadn't been you here to watch over them, anyone could have been better.. You were sobbing, begging him to come back. Your door was creaked open and a towel wrapping around your hair. Your brothers voice floated through the room pleading you to calm down, take deep breaths. Namjoon had wanted to go in there, hold your hands, rub your back, hug you, promise you everything was going to be okay– he just wanted to do something to help you. And then you cut through your brothers soothing voice: 

“I’m so scared.” 

The naïve side of Namjoon’s brain swore she was talking about the virus outbreak. But he knew better. You were scared of them. He saw the way you spoke, the way you flinched and avoided any unnecessary contact with any single one of them. The way you scrubbed and cleaned anything they touched. 

You were scared of them. 

Of him. 

That was the first time Namjoon didn’t feel proud of who he was. The first time he doubted all the words of the people who made him. Was he really so amazing? So desirable? 

He wanted nothing more than to cut off the tail and ears that made him stand out so much. The body parts that so loudly told the world, “IM NOT LIKE YOU” 

He hasn’t felt proud since. 

He had noticed you warming up, and it made his heart think maybe there was a chance. He noticed the awkward head scratches you gave to Hobi and Jimin. The snacks you left out for Jeongguk. The new gardening gloves you got him, and the matching set for yourself. The art supplies you ordered for Taehyung, and the pretty sweater you had bought Jin. Even the new coffee mug you found for Yoongi.

You were warming up. But Namjoon was greedy, he wanted more. 

*ping*

Your eyes shot to your phone and a tiny smile tugged at your lips. Namjoon couldn’t help but try to catch a glimpse of who was making you smile so often. He had assumed it was the person you smelt like after your grocery trips. 

“Oh,” You sighed, lips pouted. “It’s Jay.” 

You chewed on your cheeks as you read over the message, Jay clearly stating it was summer and stating that the four or the five boys will be entering their seasonal mating cycle any day now which could possibly trigger the boys that aren’t in season. Transport would be arriving in two nights to take everyone to the safe space and he suggests you pack for a while. 

When you read the message back to Namjoon he turned bright red, trying to stutter out a better explanation of what your brother meant, but between the attempt to fan away the redness and the sweat pooling down his forehead, the choking on his own spit and the tight grip an invisible force seemed to have on his throat, Namjoon just could spit out a single word. 

The second your laugh hit Namjoon, it seemed the air had been knocked back into him. 

“Namjoon,” You chuckled, hand gently resting on his bicep. “I already know all about it. I read through everything, and did some research of my own.” 

Namjoon wasn’t sure if he wanted to cry in relief or in horror.

“Taehyung watch it!” Namjoon hissed, the box in his hand slipping from his clumsy fingers and only just missing his bare toes. 

The monkey hybrid cackled as he hopped away from the elder male. He had a giant clear tub in his arms, and three hats on top of his wavy hair. 

“Damn monkey,” he growled, picking the box up from the gravel driveway. 

Your brother had contacted roughly 55 hours ago, a rushed and brief panicked text to you. Explaining the upcoming cycle, and the trip you all would be going on to keep everyone safe from each other during this period. 

The boys all seemed to know what to do, and kicking into gear. The boys all split up, running around chaotically, and yet with a sense of precision. It took little to no time for the boys to pack their necessities. 

Clothes, shoes, personal items and other trinkets were neatly packed into boxes and plastic tubs ready to go. A moving van was dropped off and the boys were instant; loading up all their boxes. 

The house then cleaned almost professionally, every and any trace that the hybrids had ever lived in the house was gone. 

You were impressed. 

Namjoon had finished his packing first, and had happily offered to lend you a hand. You were thankful for his sweet offer. You were well behind everyone somehow, despite how little you had. You weren’t entirely sure how much you needed. You didn’t even know how long you would be gone for! If there was one thing you hated most about your brother it was how vague he was. He was useless when it came to giving any kind of information.  In less than five hours someone was going to arrive and take you all away, and only you didn’t know where to, and you honestly felt like vomiting. You were a bit of a control freak. At least your parents believed you to be. You didn’t think it was so wrong to want to be prepared and know what the fuck was happening? You didn’t think so.  You had asked the boys but each of them were just as helpful as your brother. None of them knew where it was, all they could confidently confirm was the boat that would be taking everyone there.  The car ride was quick, no signs or giveaways or where you were heading, let alone where you were. It felt like a kidnapping. The boat ride wasn’t much better. The pitch black view around you had you in tears, Jimin holding your hand as you tried to convince him the boat was definitely going to hit something you sink, ending all of your lives.  By the time you arrived to land, the sun was already rising. You weren’t sure why you had to leave so early in the morning, the sun wasn’t anywhere near ready to rise. So when you arrived to the rising sun you were shocked, while it had felt like the longest boat ride of your life, you hadn’t thought it was that long.  You were greeted at the docks by staff, collecting baggage and helping everyone climb off. Ahead of you were five large hotels, the smallest being in the centre. 

“Y/N?” Hoseok called, pulling your attention away from the huge white buildings. When you finally settled your sights back on the boys you found them somewhat separated. “We have to go now, you’ll come see us in our buildings later, right?” 

Sunny’s Hybrid Haven. 

That what the pamphlet read as you stood in the foyer. An older man, the manager you learnt, was explaining the hotels function. 

“Hybrids aren’t all that common, but there's enough of them to keep this place running,”  He chuckled. “We opened sixty years ago, when the first wave of hybrids were released. At first we were just a regular hotel, a place for owners to come and bond over their new found interest.” He said wistfully, finally finding the key to your room.  “Of course, nothing is that simple. It all went out of control, and all those activists!” He huffed, shaking his head as he lead you toward the elevator. “They were made illegal to own, hence the late night transportation.” The soft music filled the silence for a moment before he continued. “Owners quickly realised their hybrid getting overly aggressive, and affectionate, very territorial too. It was put out it was the things going through heat, like their animal counter part would, and so, we changed things up. We couldn’t remain a hotel, but we could become a holding station-- as some have put, to leave acting out hybrids until the months pass and they're back to normal. Although, many owners take advantage and use it as a breeding facility, and who are we to say no? It increases business!”  He seemed so proud of the business, and you couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable with the whole situation. While it made sense, to a degree, to have somewhere safe for hybrids to left their cycle pass, the whole breeding situation didn’t sit well.  “You’re boys will enjoy their stay, they have every other year.” He grinned, a suggestive tone hanging over his words. 

#ot7 bts #bts #bts fanfiction #btsxreader #ot7btsxreader #hybrid btsx reader #hybrid bts #namjoonxreader #jhope x reader #jinxreader #taehyungxreader #yoongixreader #jiminxreader #jungkook x reader #our own world

[smurphyse]

Bombaconda | S.R.

Smurph's Masterlist | Series Masterlist

Chapter 3 of Operation: Sand Leopard

Warnings: explosions, late night talks, mentions of prison arc,

Summary: Spencer learns just why they call Balad Air Base "Bombaconda." Later, you and the unit grill him at breakfast.

The explosion nearly threw Spencer from his cot. 

The CHU rumbled loudly, the thin metal creaking and shaking in time with the ground. Spencer sat up sharply, his chest heaving as he looked about wildly in the dark room. 

The small window lit up with a flash as another roll erupted across the sky. Spencer could see the distant sand hills, hear a few shouts outside, so he flew out of bed. Quickly lacing up his boots, Spencer jumped up and dashed out the door to the corridor and out of the CHU.

He panted as he emerged from the thin door with a loud bang, staring at the sky with wide eyes. No other doors opened, though, and he found himself searching for someone to tell him what to do.

That was when he laid eyes on you, leaning against your own CHU, smoking a cigarette and smirking at him. He relaxed as he saw you, wearing cargo pants and a wife-beater,  your hair slung up in a messy ponytail.

You weren’t wearing a bra, and it made your tank top ride lower on your chest than you would probably have worn in front of the unit. It revealed the small firework shaped scar between your breasts, bright white against your suntanned skin.

“My eyes are up here, Doc,” you chuckled, then took another drag off the smoke. Spencer flinched as another smaller explosion echoed in the distance, hurrying over to you.

“What the hell is going on?” he asked sharply, because you looked far too calm for someone so close to such a thing.

“Mortaritaville, Doc,” you said simply, “way of life around here. Just gotta suck it up and drive on.”

Spencer sighed and swiped a hand down his face. Fuck this place.

“If it’s close enough to the FOB they’ll sound the alarm,” you offered, and you held out a pack of cigarettes his way. The 15 Year NA chip in his pocket weighed heavily at the thought, but he waved a hand at you. “Don’t worry yourself until you hear that alarm, okay?”

“Okay,” he nodded, coming up to stand next to you. He leaned against the metal wall, breathing in the smoke as it wafted over him. “Six minutes.”

“What?” you asked, flashing him a look. 

“Six minutes,” he said, louder this time. “Each cigarette you smoke takes six minutes off your life. I used to say it to my mom every time she’d light one up… six minutes she wouldn’t get to spend with me.”

“Huh,” you said, your gaze flicking down to the smoke. You flicked off the end of the bud and tossed it into the sand, snuffing it out with your boot. “What’s your mom think about you being here?”

Spencer stiffened, then clutched his hands tightly together and stared down at them. He shrugged like it was no big deal, “She probably doesn’t even realize that I left.”

“Alzheimer’s?” you asked quietly, and he nodded.

“And dementia,” he finished, deciding to leave out the fact that his mother had schizophrenia. He glanced over at you, “What about yours?”

You made a face, “Don’t have one.”

Spencer didn’t say anything, just looked off toward the desert. It was so dark, the blistering heat cooled from a heavy one hundred and ten degrees to a relatively cool eighty four. 

“This is the moment, Doc,” you whispered, waving your hands out toward the sand expanse and smiling. “Everything is dead quiet, still. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does you should enjoy it.” Spencer tried to see what you were seeing, but all that laid in front of him was desolate wartorn desert. So many lives had been ruined out here, so many soldiers broken beyond repair, so many innocent civilians lost to a war most people could never understand.

“You said you just made it to bed every night, but you’re not sleeping,” he whispered back.

You grinned, and it was sadder than he expected. 

“Like I said, all I have to do here is survive, make it to bed at night, but sometimes I still can’t even do that,” you told him. “When you’ve spent as long as I have fighting wars you didn’t start, it’s a lot harder to do something as simple as sleep.”

Spencer nodded, “That I can understand.”

After prison, going back to the BAU was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do. Everyone was constantly checking up on him, waiting for him to snap and freak out. And how he wanted to… he wanted to yell and scream and break glass… but he never did. Instead he went back to the grind, day in and day out, until one day he couldn’t anymore.

“Yeah,” you said, looking down at the dirt and kicking at it lightly with your boot. Spencer watched you do it, the swishing sound of it being thrown into a little pile somehow comforting. You clicked your teeth and glanced back up at him, “I should try to get some sleep.”

“Yeah,” Spencer agreed, but you didn’t move. Your gaze flicked up and down his frame for a few seconds before you pushed yourself off from the metal wall.

“It gets better,” you told him, nodding awkwardly and shoving your hands in your pockets. “You get used to all the noises, and when you go home you’ll find that’s when you can’t sleep. The city’s too quiet, the bed’s too soft, the food has too much flavor.

“Just… get sleep where you can, yeah?” you finished, watching him with those wide eyes of yours.

“Yeah,” he smiled, but it probably came out as more of a grimace. 

You tapped the container with your knuckle before heading back inside your CHU, and Spencer found himself staring at the empty space you’d occupied for far longer than he’d like to admit before heading back to his own.

He felt uneasy as he settled back onto the bed, staring once more at the top vent. The safety he’d felt when he laid eyes on you in the darkness vanished the second he was alone again. Though you were a hardass and didn’t trust him, you were soft when you needed to be, and it meant more to him than you probably knew.

A few more explosions rocketed in the distance, a constant stream of hollers and vehicles roaming around the base preventing him from truly resting. Spencer curled up on his side and pulled the blankets on top of him, hiding beneath them like a scared child in the dark.

He took a few steadying breaths and let himself relax into the roughness of the cot. At least it wasn’t backed by steel like his prison cot had been, and he could close his eyes and know he wouldn’t wake there in the morning.

-------------------

Spencer was waiting for you when you stepped out of your CHU the next day. Freshly showered and leaning against his CHU, he caught your eye as you stepped out of yours. 

As good as he looked in khaki cargos and a tight tee, you had to admit you missed his dumb little button up and wingtip shoes. Army garb didn't suit him quite like his purple shirt did. 

He waved awkwardly, making you scoff and shake your head. You felt a little bad for him, as the bags under his eyes told you just how little he'd slept. 

Even though you'd done four tours to Iraq and Afghanistan, with missions in between to various places, your first nights in Bombaconda had been hard to swallow. After about a year here on and off, you'd gotten used to life on such a difficult base, but you weren't so sure he'd be able to do the same. 

"You made it through the night, Doc!" you said cheerfully, and he made a face at you. 

You weren't great at being comforting.

"Uh, yeah," he shrugged, giving you a tight lipped smile. 

"Ready for the most exquisite fine dining experience of your life?" 

"More than ever."

Spencer barely held back his look of disgust as one of the Army cooks slapped a spoonful of mushy goop that was supposed to be oatmeal on his tray in the DFAC. 

"What's up his ass?" one of the cooks down the line, Emery, asked as you made your way down. 

"Oh he has yet to suffer your shit food, Em," you told him with a smile. 

"Ahh," he said knowingly, then called out to Spencer, "they save the good cooks for stateside bases, my dude. I'm the best cook here, and I ain't qualified to run a McDonald's."

Spencer just nodded and took one of the pisswater coffees you handed him. As you led him to a table you heard him mumble, "Reminds me of prison food."

"Yeah? You spend a lot of time eating prison food?"

Spencer made a face like he'd been caught, and his cheeks turned red, "Yeah… for work. In and out of them a lot for cases."

You plopped down on one of the benches and shoved a spoonful of mush into your mouth. Watching him as you chewed and he poked at his, you said, "Luke said you were catching serial killers and shit?"

Spencer nodded, but he still glared at his food like it might attack him, "Yeah, about seventeen years of it."

"That's a year unaccounted for," you replied, and his gaze shot to yours. "What did you do on your sabbatical?"

"Hmm, I did some teaching," he muttered, giving you a shrug. "Spent some time with my mom before she got too far gone to remember me."

"Why would you leave teaching to come here?"

Spencer dropped his spoon and rubbed his hands over his face. He took a big sigh and shook his head, "I really don't fucking know what I was thinking, to be honest. I guess I thought… maybe things could be different for once."

You looked on as some anguished gears turned in his head. Haunted years washed over his too young face and made him age in a second. When he swiped his palm over his face again he seemed to wipe it away, because he flashed you a bright smile.

"I'm gonna do whatever you need me to do, okay? Don't worry about me."

"I ain't worried," you said quietly, but not too soft that he got the wrong idea of who you were. You weren't soft. 

You watched one another in the hustle and bustle of a base in the morning. Guys were shouting, wrestling one another in lines, joking and generally being loudmouths, but not you and Spencer. You weren't like that, and neither was he. 

"Eyyy another day another shitshow!" Barretti hollered as he came up. He dropped down next to Spencer, making the entire metal picnic type table bounce. "How's it, Doc?"

"Living the dream, Barretti," Spencer said, giving him a small smile. "How about you?"

"Surrounded by strippers and nose candy," he chuckled, and he tapped his temple and gave Spencer a wink. 

Spencer made a face and nodded, but seemed to not want to know any more than that and took a bite of his food, only grimacing a little as he tried to swallow the thick paste. You tucked in as the rest of the team filtered in, grumbling and sipping coffee and only wincing a little. 

"Plan for today, boss?" Garrett asked after a bit, stifling a yawn and wiping a hand across his eyes. 

"We'll take a look at the FRAGO and see where we are then," you said.

"Fragmentary order," Morello muttered to Spencer, elbowing him lightly. "We get 'em almost every day, changes to the operation order for our mission."

"What kind of changes?" Spencer asked. 

"Anything from new targets to new tasks," Peanut told him with a smile, "Last week it was an addition to our area of responsibility. We had to go to Baghdad to help with cleanup."

"After aerial attacks or carpet bombs we go in and help clean up bodies for the locals," Garrett told him sternly, crossing his arms over his chest. "Can you handle that?"

"I've been around a lot of bodies," Spencer snapped, earning a raised brow from them all. "They don't bother me. You'd be surprised what a single man can do to someone, let alone a bomb."

You gave Garrett a smirk, and he nodded his approval. You liked Spencer's spunk. He didn't seem like much, but the things you were learning told you he was capable of a lot more than he let on. 

The team liked him enough to heckle him, and Garrett had given his seal of snark approval with just a look. Plus, if Alvez trusted him, you automatically did on some level. All that was needed was a chance to test his skills. 

"I want you to sit in on an interrogation later," you said after a moment, and Spencer lit up. 

Poor guy didn't know what he was getting into. He didn't know what this meant to you. 

"Yeah, it's what I'm good at," he said, obviously trying to hold back his excitement. 

You were sure he was ready to get back in the saddle and do work he was used to, but interrogations in war weren't the same as those concrete police stations he usually sat in. There was no two way mirror, no camera to watch what was happening. 

"Wear one of your button ups and those fancy ass shoes you had on yesterday," Garrett told him, and his face marred with confusion. "You're gonna sit back and observe, see what we don't while the boss asks questions."

"Okay," Spencer said slowly, unsure, but you didn't tell him anything else. 

It was better to throw him in the deep end and see what he could do before giving him the knowledge of what you were looking for. 

Sink or swim, Doc, you thought to yourself. Suck it up or drive on. 

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What do you think will happen in the interrogation??

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[awheelywheelygoodtime]

I spent two days writing this and I would like some recognition because I have no one else to share it with.

I would like to preface this by saying that the original film is my absolute favourite of all time. Surprisingly, I actually really liked the remake! It is not without it’s flaws, and I hope to rectify them because no one can fucking stop me and I have to do something to relax after my exam.

I always considered the franchise to be the closest thing that Disney has to true epic fantasy and the genre will serve as a source of inspiration for my amendments.

1. The Animation and Character Design:

I actually thought that the animation and character designs were brilliant. Lions are my favourite animal and I have been watching nature documentaries religiously since I was a child. The remake hit a perfect spot between realism and the aesthetics of the original characters. The landscape and such is a different matter, but I will get into that eventually.

My biggest gripe is one that is commonly shared by pretty much everyone that saw the film, the expressions or lack thereof. Real lions can squint, curl their lips, crease their brow and basically move their faces. You would be surprised by how expressive they can be.

Some people may say that it would anthropomorphise them too much and be unrealistic but we have a monarchy of talking lions, so who gives a fuck?

This is also a minor thing that only nature nuts would notice but the lions move wrong. They have this weird loping gait when they should run in what’s called a “rotary gallop” like real lions. The original film literally showed this in slow motion when Simba runs through the desert.

2. The Pridelands and Beyond:

The Pridelands need a lot of work. Everything is too beige and boring. It was as if they couldn’t decide between a golden arid savannah or a lush green one and just meshed the two into one boring mess.

Minas Tirith, Mordor and The Shire are all incredibly iconic and instantly recognisable. The same should be true for the Pridelands and the rest of the world.

Pride Rock should be an absolute monolith. A giant that looms in the background of every scene in the Pridelands and a believable capital for a kingdom (I’ll get more into this later). Not just tall but broad, a sprawling wild metropolis.

The Graveyard is an inhospitable hellhole. Always shrouded in shadow born from the ashes and noxious clouds spewed from geothermal activity. Thick clouds of mist and fog blanket the landscape, leaving bones and carcasses to loom out of the smog like giant teeth and claws.

The Gorge is a massive scar in the landscape. A Grand Canyon-esque pit that swallows light and just screams doom. The jungle that Simba winds up in needs to be more colourful and lively, a real paradise in the desert.

I think that a lot of the issues with the setting comes down to the fact that they acted as if they were on an actual set and not an animated world.

3. Ecology and Society

We need more wildlife.

More animals should have been at the presentation of Simba. Leopards and African Wild Dogs, Hippos and Crocodiles, even Gorillas and other jungle creatures should have been part of the montage of animals at the beginning. Migratory birds should have been present to bring the news back to their respective homelands (if Buckingham Palace can make international news then so can Pride Rock). Hyenas would also be part of the procession (this ties into something later).

Mufasa explaining the circle of life would include some scenes of various animals asking their king for counsel.

I would expand on the pride itself. It’s rare but some exceptionally large prides have subordinate males that can mate with the lionesses. This would avoid a lot of incestous connotations and make the pride more like a royal court (I have plans for Nala).

I would also change the wildebeest herd to a Cape buffalo herd. Cape buffalo are notorious lion killers and can live in herds up to a thousand strong. Shenzi and the gang send the calves first into the gorge and the rest of the herd would follow.

I would also pepper in references that Shenzi and her clan are mostly comprised of vagabonds, outcasts and exiles from other clans. The hyenas from the opening sequence would be some more positive examples. This may seem like “not all hyenas (tm)” but it’s better than them just being the Orcs of the savannah.

4. Characters and Characterisation

I’m not going to do everyone, just the characters that I have a firm grasp on what I would have done.

Scar: a vicious aristocrat. Really play up the gentlemanly aspects of his personality to contrast with an absolutely black heart. Like Palpatine his sole reason to live is the pursuit of power. All the brutality of Tywin Lannister with the underhanded slyness of Petyr Baelish. This makes him ambitious as hell but doesn’t translate to being a good ruler.

Shenzi: a calculated ruler that cares only for the betterment of her subjects. Queen of the Graveyard and willing to do anything to feed her clan of the lost and exiled. She and Scar were once genuine friends but now they are only using each other for their own gain.

Rafiki: kooky and mystic. They are basically Gandalf on mushrooms. Wielding a very subtle and ambiguous form of magic. I use gender neutral pronouns because I wouldn’t be opposed to making them female like in the broadway show.

Nala: a fierce huntress and the only hope for the pride during the reign of Scar. I would also make her a princess from another pride that has been betrothed to Simba. This gets rid of the incest questions and helps lay the groundwork for a sequel.

The Pride and the Subjects: I would place greater emphasis on the pride itself and the citizens of the Pridelands. Show the growing discord between the pride and the clan. The other animals are getting sick of Scar’s misrule and are either leaving or are in quiet revolt.

Mtumishi: a cape cobra and a new character. Zazu was major-domo for Mufasa, Shenzi serves the same role for Scar and Mtumishi serves his own royal. Mtumishi repeatedly visits the Pridelands under the orders of his queen, Zira. Zira rules Nala’s original pride and is a great figure of fear and conquest. She’s basically a family friendly lioness version of Vlad the Impaler.

I don’t really have anything of significance to say about everyone else. I would like to see more Sarabi but I’m happy with the other characters.

5. Plot and Story

I have already mentioned some additions that I would make in the previous sections but I’ll list a few more here. I would keep the same overall plot but with just some stuff added in.

We need to include the Hunt of the Lionesses from the broadway show. We don’t need to be too gory but I still think that it would be a brilliant addition to the film. It would give a greater emphasis to the lionesses and a short prayer after the hunt would reiterate the message of the Circle of Life.

I would expand on the meeting between Scar and the hyenas. Shenzi and her clan have just been humiliated by Mufasa. They have pushed their luck and now fear retaliation from the entire kingdom. Enter Scar with promises of food and security. He plays most of the clan like fiddles. Shenzi is wise to his schemes but doesn’t really have a choice. They have no idea no other allies and she is out options.

Scar would stop Zazu and the pride just before they got to the gorge. He would spin a few lies about no one needing to see the state of Mufasa and Simba. He would take care of everything and strongly encourage a heartbroken Sarabi to abdicate.

I would contrast Simba growing up in the jungle with Nala growing up in the Pridelands. Simba having fun with Timon and Pumbaa vs Nala cowering from a passing battalion of hyenas, Simba being desperately lonely as the only lion in the jungle vs Nala growing up in a tight knit community of older lionesses and other cubs, Simba battling leopards and other jungle hunters to protect Timon and Pumbaa vs Nala becoming a great huntress and protecting the smaller carnivores from competitive hyenas. Eventually, Sarabi and the rest of the pride scheme to send Nala to find help. The nearest pride belongs to Zira and that is a no-go. She must go further afield and eventually winds up in the jungle.

The conversation between Simba and Mufasa’s spirit is much more mystical. Rafiki leads Simba to the puddle in the thorns and his staring into the ripples of his reflection sucks him into an endless clearing beneath the night sky. He Lives in You starts crying as the stars come to land and form different animals. Not just African animals, but pretty much all of them. Bears, whales, jaguars, kangaroos, komodo Dragons, penguins and many more. This riot of life and light eventually leads to Mufasa himself. The vision ends with Simba back with Rafiki.

Mtumishi would be a reoccurring character relaying between the Pridelands and Zira. Scar’s growing madness and the disappearance of Nala bring his role to a climax when Scar sends him packing just before Simba returns. This is to help set up a possible sequel.

Everything else I would leave as-is or I need more time to figure it out.

What do you guys think?

#the lion king #tlk #disney #remakes #writing #film #first post #fuck you reddit and your karma system #worldbuilding #characterisation #this took a lot out of me #I’m going to be more proactive on here from now on

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

The Linen Loincloth

This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and buy yourself a linen loincloth and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.”

So I bought a loincloth as the LORD had instructed me, and I put it around my waist.

Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time: “Take the loincloth that you bought and are wearing, and go at once to Perath and hide it there in a crevice of the rocks.”

So I went and hid it at Perath, as the LORD had commanded me.

Many days later the LORD said to me, “Arise, go to Perath, and get the loincloth that I commanded you to hide there.” So I went to Perath and dug up the loincloth, and I took it from the place where I had hidden it. But now it was ruined—of no use at all.

Then the word of the LORD came to me: “This is what the LORD says: In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. These evil people, who refuse to listen to My words, who follow the stubbornness of their own hearts, and who go after other gods to serve and worship them, they will be like this loincloth—of no use at all.

For just as a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I have made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to Me, declares the LORD, so that they might be My people for My renown and praise and glory. But they did not listen.

Therefore you are to tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Every wineskin shall be filled with wine.’

And when they reply, ‘Don’t we surely know that every wineskin should be filled with wine?’ then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land—the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the people of Jerusalem. I will smash them against one another, fathers and sons alike, declares the LORD. I will allow no mercy or pity or compassion to keep Me from destroying them.’ ”

Listen and give heed. Do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken. Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You wait for light, but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness. But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.

Say to the king and to the queen mother: “Take a lowly seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.”

The cities of the Negev have been shut tight, and no one can open them. All Judah has been carried into exile, wholly taken captive. Lift up your eyes and see those coming from the north. Where is the flock entrusted to you, the sheep that were your pride?

What will you say when He sets over you close allies whom you yourself trained? Will not pangs of anguish grip you, as they do a woman in labor? And if you ask yourself, “Why has this happened to me?” It is because of the magnitude of your iniquity that your skirts have been stripped off and your body has been exposed. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Neither are you able to do good— you who are accustomed to doing evil.

“I will scatter you like chaff driven by the desert wind. This is your lot, the portion I have measured to you,”

“because you have forgotten Me and trusted in falsehood. So I will pull your skirts up over your face, that your shame may be seen. Your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution on the hills and in the fields— I have seen your detestable acts. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will you remain unclean?” — Jeremiah 13 | The Reader’s Bible (BRB) The Reader’s Bible © 2020 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. All rights Reserved. Cross References: Exodus 39:28; Exodus 39:42; Leviticus 26:19; Leviticus 26:33; Numbers 14:11; Deuteronomy 7:17; Deuteronomy 29:20; Joshua 7:19; 2 Chronicles 36:15-16; Psalm 60:3; Psalm 75:8; Proverbs 1:22; Proverbs 16:5; Proverbs 27:22; Isaiah 2:10; Jeremiah 1:15; Jeremiah 20:4; Jeremiah 32:44; Jeremiah 49:10; Jeremiah 51:63; Lamentations 1:8; Matthew 3:4; Matthew 24:8; Matthew 24:51; Luke 10:11; Luke 19:41-42; Acts 21:11; Romans 1:25

#linen loincloth #wineskins #captivity threatened #Jeremiah 13 #Book of Jeremiah #Old Testament #BRB #Berean Reader's Bible #Bible Hub #The Reader's Bible

[innepttia]

(Part one can be found here) AMAZING MAEVE ARTWORK BY @bomerpascal what a delight he was to work with! I think he captured Maeve perfectly and I’ll be crying about this for the rest of my life.

Y’all ready for part two of

Maeve Shepard

I really put my all my heart into these next 50 questions. (Thank you for the prompts @spookyvalentine​ )

TW: mentions of alcohol abuse

1. Where would your Shepard go back to play tourist? Are they going alone, or bringing someone(s)?

Maeve honestly doesn’t care, she just wants to go to any desert planet and drag Thane along with her. When I say this woman loves this silly lizard, I mean it’s twuuuueeee luuuvvvvv.

2. Your Shepard is making a sandwich. What’s going in it?

She’d be making a breakfast burrito with some chorizo and hot sauce and adobo eggs, let's be real.

3. What’s Shepard’s love language? What love languages do they respond best to?

Physical touch. Especially with Thane, it helps to keep her grounded. A good tether to reality.

Garrus figures this out eventually too and touches her shoulders and hands and fringe a lot. She doesn’t make him stop.

4. What were Shepard’s opinions of Cerberus before waking up on their table?

🚨Terrorists🚨Terrorists🚨Terrorists🚨Terrorists🚨

5. Is your Shepard politically active? Do they stay on top of galactic comings and going’s

No way, she had enough of that with her parents in the military. She’s way over it.

6. What would they be doing, if Shepard never joined the alliance?

She would be a chef. She loves to cook but never gets the chance to. Too busy saving the galaxy and all that.

7. What’s Shepard’s favorite way to let loose?

Both Maeve and I: *nervous laughter* “Let loose”? We don’t know her.

8. Does your Shepard like to be alone? Are they prone to isolate?

No. Contrary to almost everything pointing in the direction of severe depression in ME2 and ME3, being around people makes her brain stop thinking so loudly. She usually tries to hang out with at least one person on board at all times.

9. What does Shepard like to wear when they’re out of the armor?

In ME1 she was super stuffy and had all the Alliance SOPs drilled into her head so she would wear the Commander’s uniform, but after she died…

She started to wear what she really enjoyed, which is, AND I AM NOT JOKING, the whole Ellen Ripley outfit from Alien. Engineer jumpsuit, top rolled down and tied at her waist with a white top underneath and her hair up.

In ME3 when she has some dignitaries on board, the jumpsuit is buttoned up, but she WILL be comfortable! Except when they have official meetings in the conference room… then FINE, she’ll wear her uniform.

10. What does TIM think of Shepard at the start of me2? And at the end?

“This fucking bitch.”

“This fucking sexy bitch.”

11. What does Shepard think of TIM?

Hot daddy vibes (shut up). I have been informed I am the resident TIM fucker in our discord so… all related TIM questions are all very thirsty.

12. Who is Shepard’s favorite non-companion character?

Joker, for reasons I will explain further down the list.

13. What kind of roommate would Shepard be?

A great one! She’s lived on ships her whole life! The drinking could become a problem, so it depends on when in her life you catch her… but for the most part she’d be a great roomie.

14. It’s takeout potluck night with the gang! What’s Shepard ordering, and from where?

Maeve would probably just order a giant container of mashed potatoes and grumpily place it in the middle of the table because she wanted to cook something instead but was too busy.

(I gotta be honest, my husband and I don’t do a lot of take out so this was somehow the hardest question I’ve had to answer so far. So my tiny brain said PO-TAY-TOES.)

15. If Shepard could have an extremely dangerous and illegal pet, what would it be?

Really my kneejerk reaction was to say “none”, but in the interest of being more creative… A snow leopard. She wants to pet the ears and smoosh the face.

16.. What does Aria think of Shepard?

Hot daddy vibes (shut up).

17. Does your Shepard seek counseling/have a therapist?

No. While she knows she’s Definitely Not Fine, she doesn’t want help.

When she’s locked up though, the Alliance assigns her a court mandated therapist. It does not go well.

18. Obligatory gang beach episode! What’s Shepard doing?

She’s trying so hard to get Thane to take off all his clothes. No shame, girl, no shame. But also drinking a pina colada and reading a book and taking sneaky candid pictures of the gang.

19. What was Shepard’s first interaction with an alien?

Oohhhh what a good question. With being in the military, her first interaction with an alien was a turian and she said, “oh damn that is a sharp alien” to herself and that was about the extent of it.

20. List five songs your Shepard is currently listening to

Y E S!!!!! I hoped this would be here. I’m going to do a +1(+1) because I can never just do the required amount. So we doing the 5 +1(+1)trope but with songs 😂

Madness by Ruelle (this is the song that would be playing if she snapped and murdered someone… while not on the military’s dime) “Feel the fury closing in, all resistance wearing thing, nowhere to run from all this havoc.”

.44 by Tejon Street Corner Thieves “My mama told me that god ain’t happy, that I ain’t worthy of the love of the lord. I said, mama I don’t mind, mama I don’t need it. Cos I’m meeting the preacher man at the local liquor store.”

Cocaine and Abel by Amigo the Devil “I was born impatient and I was born unkind, but I refuse to believe I have to be the same person I was born when I die.”

Bath Salts by Highly Suspect “I feel like death is coming soon and, oh all I wanna do is fucking sleep.”

Witches’ Wrath by The Bridge City Sinners “I kick and scream but there’s no life left in these lungs.”

+1 Empty Crown by YAS “My body’s missing pieces, can’t pull it all back together, I wish I could remember.”

(+1) I’m Tired by Labrith & Zendaya “Now the tide is rolling in, I don’t wanna win, Let it take me, I’ll be on my way, How long can I stay in a place that can’t contain me?”

21. What companion quest did shepard enjoy the most? What was the most difficult one for them to do?

Most enjoy, Kasumi.

Most difficult, Zaeed.

Funny how it’s the two of them isn’t it? Kasumi was fun because Maeve was so excited to do a heist. Zaeed’s was most difficult because she brought Thane along and the two of them had so much beef the entire time and honestly Zaeed was being so fucking annoying.

22. Any guilty pleasures?

Yes, Thane. *evil laughter*

Okay but in all seriousness, playing the piano. She’s a natural at it, with only minimal practice, but she never has time to play so it never comes up. When there’s that piano in Anderson’s apartment, she gets so excited to play it, but alas, the world decides to end before she can.

*Guilty pleasure because any pleasure she feels during those last months are laced with guilt.

23. What does Shepard think of Conrad Verner? How do they handle him?

Uhhhh okay tbh I don’t remember this person lmfao so I assume Maeve also doesn’t remember him.

24. How does Shepard handle house arrest? How do they fill their time?

Badly. So, so badly. She’s not only going through DTs, but she’s mad. Like furious. Not at Vega, who she begrudgingly befriends, but at all of them. All the people she saved three times over now (ME1, ME2, Arrival DLC) and they had the nerve to lock her up for war crimes. (Her logic is not sound at this point in her life.)

25. How does Shepard react to meeting Javik, a real life prothean?

She said, “holy fucking shit, Liara are you seeing this?!” As Liara is standing next to her with her mouth hanging open and Javik is about to explode them both with his biotics. Garrus is the only one that can snap the two of them out of their stupefaction.

26. What is Shepard’s relationship with Joker?

*rubs hands together in anticipation* Hope you’re ready for a long reply.

Maeve never romanced anyone in ME1. She was holding out hopes for Joker. They had a work wife/work husband vibe going on. She’d always be in the cockpit talking to him and flirting and they’d banter and he could always make her laugh. But, she had “no fraternization” from the military so drilled into her skull that they never took it any further.

Then, she died.

And Joker mourned her, mourned a love they could now never have, and for two years he tried his best to get over her. But, it’s Commander Shepard. Who can get over her?

Then, ME2, they’re reunited and it’s big emotional. But that same night Joker went up to her cabin and had to set the record straight. He grieved her, he loved her, but he had moved on. Maeve accepted this, not wanting to push it any further or overstep any boundaries.

“In another life, without military ranks, we would have been good together,” Joker said with a small smile, sounding all the world like he regretted every word coming out of his mouth. Maeve had to drag her eyes from him to stare at the empty fish tank so he wouldn’t see her tears.

“I understand,” she replied softly.

They kept their flirting up, the two of them toeing the line between impropriety, but once more neither of them taking the leap.

Then Thane literally dropped into her life and EDI kicked down all the doors of reality for Joker.

Towards the end of ME3, Joker is fully prepared to mourn her again, and maybe - maybe - there’s a soft kiss pressed to her armored glove as she passes by his chair, quiet words passed between them; all the squadmates looking away from this private moment before she disembarks to blow up the fucking Reapers.

27. What does your Shepard take pictures of?

Her crewmates.

Joker sitting in the pilot's chair, looking over his shoulder at her, genuine smile on his face like he’s happy to see her. (ME1)

Garrus and Tali fighting over some dextro food rations in the mess hall. (ME1)

Kaidan and Ashley on the Citadel, chatting easily with each other. (ME1)

Maeve and Wrex trying to arm wrestle (Liara took the picture). (ME1)

Joker, sitting in the same pilot’s chair, arguing with EDI as a blue orb. (ME2)

Samara and Kasumi, sitting in front of the big observation window, talking to each other. (ME2)

Dr. Chakwas patching Maeve’s leg up with a hovering Miranda. (ME2)

A lot of (tasteful!!!) pictures of Thane in Maeve’s cabin. The most looked at ones are the ones where she managed to catch him smiling or laughing. (ME2)

A straight up selfie of poker night with the engineers, Garrus, Jack, Jacob, Zaeed, and Tali all trying to squeeze into the background. (ME2)

Mordin and Legion standing awkwardly, looking like they were trying to have a staring contest. (ME2)

Maeve hanging from Grunt’s arm as he waves her around wildly. Maeve is nothing but a blur in this picture and Grunt is laughing and presumably shouting “battle master” (Garrus took the picture, a talon can be seen in the corner of the picture where he accidentally covered part of the lens). (ME2)

Someone took a picture of Maeve drinking a very full glass of white wine with a cigarette in her hand (she does not smoke but she always tries things at least once), looking super stressed with her hair haphazardly pulled back (like the Mads Mikkelsen meme - I will be getting this one commissioned eventually so I’ll link once I get that done). (ME2)

Joker and EDI on the Citadel, Joker’s arm around her waist as they stare out at the scenery. (ME3)

A very special photo of Thane, on some desert planet, smiling up at the sun like a flower in bloom. (ME3)

Javik at his table in his quarters. (ME3)

Liara and Garrus on the battlefield, both concentrated on the enemies while Maeve is there taking pictures of them. (ME3)

Vega and Cortez in the shuttle bay, laughing about something. (ME3)

Of course the group photo at Anderson’s apartment. (ME3)

Tali, on her homeworld with the whole future ahead of her. (ME3)

A picture of a vase of white flowers in Life Support. (ME3)

*all of these, no, not all the (tasteful!!!!) photos of Thane (but most of them lmao), are released to the crew after her death and they all have a good cry

28. Who is your voicecast for Shepard? Is it Jennifer Hale/Mark Meer? Do they have an accent?

Straight up Jennnifer Hale. No changes - it’s perfection.

29. What is the perfect day for Shepard?

Suns Out, Buns Out (~500 words)

30. What did Shepard think of the thorian? How did they feel about killing it? What did they decide for Shiala?

ME1 Maeve was creeped out by the thorian (although ME3 Maeve would make a joke about how it could be potentially good inspiration for tentacle porn) and she wanted to save Shiala.

When she saw Shiala in ME2 she probably would have fallen for her and her new lovely shade of green if she hadn’t met a different green alien only moments later.

31. How did Shepard feel, seeing Legion wearing their old armor? Does that change?

Maeve thinks this is cool af. She kind of did that Leonardo DiCaprio gif of him pointing at the TV when she saw it and then went to interrogate Legion about how he got it and why.

32. Any vices?

🍺🍷🥃🍸🍹🍶🍑

(The last one should really be the Thane peach.)

33. Is Shepard free with affection, or more reserved?

Free with it. She really is emotionally constipated (as stated in the previous 50 questions) but she will tell her crew if they do a good job and how proud of them she is. She’ll hold Thane’s hand in public, she’ll clasp a squadmate on the shoulder, she’ll hug someone if they look like they need it.

If someone asks her how she’s feeling though?

“I’m fine,” Maeve replied, as she said every single time she’s asked. “Thanks for asking though.”

34. Are there any people out there that betrayed Shepard? How do they handle it?

Yeah there are plenty, but Maeve is a busy lady and she eventually just kind of shrugs and says “fuck it”.

35. Is your Shepard a biter? (Interpret this as you will)

Wow the whole time I thought this said “bitter” and I was like, I mean I guess she’s bitter but who wouldn’t be after the things she’s been put through- oohhhh this said BITER.

No, she’s not. She’s not a super fan of people that aren’t her found family being up close and personal in her face. And honestly, Thane has scales, so… no (but she might get a little nibbly around the frills).

36. What is their relationship with Wrex?

In good standing! Just buddies, friends, pals that would do anything for each other including die for each other.

37. Does Shepard have any friendships that surprise the rest of the crew?

Mess Sergeant Gardner. She just wants to cook, man!! So sometimes she goes down to the Mess Hall and just watches him with rapt attention and critiquing the way he holds his knife (which drives him crazy).

In ME3, she’s friends with a geth who she has private correspondence with via email. It is notably not Legion, but this geth just kinda slid into her DMs, ya know. Turns out they both love the Murderbot Diaries series, which should maybe raise some red flags for her that this geth likes that particular series but she thinks it’s hilarious instead.

38. If Shepard is dropped into the middle of the wilderness for a week, how do they handle it?

PROBABLY NOT WELL. If you dropped this woman into the middle of space on a broken down ship slowly losing power to its life support, she’d do better than in the middle of the wilderness. How find food? How find water? No electronics to fix? RIP Maeve.

39. Does Shepard have a will? What do they want done with their body after they’ve passed?

Yeah, she has a “DO NOT BRING BACK FROM THE DEAD A SECOND TIME GOD DAMN IT” type of will. Viking death please. Place her body in a boat, push it out to sea, and set that shit on fire. That way she’s really really really REALLY gone.

40. How does your Shepard react, when Liara tells them she’s the one that handed their body over to Cerberus?

Liara tells her and Maeve doesn’t say a word. Just opens up her Omni-tool, beginning to type something out. It’s awkward and silent between the two of them, but Liara is determined to wait this out. Maybe five minutes into this horrid standoff, Maeve sends a file to Liara and lowers her arm with her Omni-tool. She stares neutrally at Liara until the asari opens her messages and reads the email she got from Shepard.

It’s the will she just made that says, “Do not do this shit again I swear to god do NOT bring me back from the dead A SECOND TIME.”

Then they both move on. Maeve is very aware that every second is precious so she doesn’t spend a lot of time mad at her found family.

41. They’ve been caught in the rain! How does Shepard react?

Like a soggy wet blanket. You’d think for someone who never grew up experiencing rain, she’d like it more but instead, Maeve thinks it’s gross to just be… moist.

42. How does Shepard handle the reporters? What are they like in an interview

Since she grew up in the Alliance, she handles reporters with professional passive aggression. No punching off reporters here, she answers the question in monotone, standing at parade rest, with dead eyes, and moves on with her life.

43. What was the clone’s fate? Do you think Shepard and their clone could coexist?

The clone does not make it. Actually, Shepard wonders what screws are loose in TIM’s head to make a clone of her because she is such a disaster by ME3. She is suuuuper sus about if TIM has a relationship with the clone or not (I HAD to somehow fit timshep in there, okay, I have a problem) because of some choice phrases the clone tried to taunt her with.

44. What’s the perfect date to sweep Shepard off their feet?

Well… this is currently getting published in my indoctrination AU so I’m not sure I want to ruin it…

But there’s a lot of laughter and smiles.

I’ll update with a link here when I get around to posting that fic.

45. How many unread emails are in their inbox?

None. She reads them all and cherishes them all even if she doesn’t respond (though she responds to most of them).

46. What does your Shepard get competitive over?

Video games. Back when she had hobbies besides war crimes, she played online video games. (Referenced in the first 50 questions)

47. What museum is your Shepard going to? natural history, science, art… the zoo, aquarium?

Art! She didn’t get a whole lot of art growing up on spaceships. Seeing paintings of ships at sea, or sunsets is amazing to her.

48. What kind of a sleeper is Shepard? Sprawl out, hog the covers, octopus…. How many hours do they normally sleep?

Sleep? What’s sleep? Lmao well if she isn’t sleeping in some random place on the Normandy and she’s up with Thane in the cabin, she’s a big time cuddler. So I’d think she’d be curled up around Thane in some sort of fashion.

She’d rather fall asleep at the CIC on the galaxy map searching for resources than alone in her bed.

49. Do they have any morning or evening rituals?

Brush teeth ✅

Shower ✅

Brush hair (if she remembers)

The end 🙃

She read somewhere that if there’s only one thing you have the wherewithal to take care of it should be your teeth because those are expensive to fix.

50. What scents in particular draw Shepard in?

Okay I’m so lame when I say this but I’m obsessed with this idea so here we go.

Pre ME2 death: cloves, cinnamon, mulled spices. They remind her of her parents boiling the spices over a stovetop on whatever ship they were on during Christmas. It was really the only tradition they had (they didn’t do gifts because they didn’t have a lot of possessions with how much they jumped from ship to ship; only what could fit in a single standard issue Alliance duffel bag).

Post ME2 death: the ocean, the salty breeze that blows across the sea, the way rain smells when it pours over angry waves (she tries to put an Ocean Breeze febreze scent in her cabin only to stink up the whole thing so badly she couldn’t sleep in it for a month ((she slept in the co-pilot's chair in the cockpit that month with Joker just side eyeing her the entire time)) (((this was before she was in a relationship with Thane so she was really like, why the FUCK do I want to smell the ocean all the time))) ).

I really HC that Kalahira had a hand in bringing Shepard back from the dead.

Kalahira is like, to bring one life back to save the galaxy seems a fair trade

And Maeve is like, no the fuck it’s not

+1 what, to your Shepard, is a good death

You know, an independent journalist asked Maeve this once, while she was still working for Cerberus, almost immediately after she woke up barely stitched back together. It’s the only time she’s ever snapped at a report. You know what she said?

“Shut the fuck up about death already. She’s a bitch and won’t leave me alone.”

(The real answer is that she doesn’t know, by ME3 she just wants to go back to being dead and it doesn’t really matter how.)

#sare shouts into the void #OC: maeve shepard #Commander Shepard #Mass Effect stuff #Mass Effect #if you get all these references please let us be friends

[zeffrasphinx]

Do you remember Gar The Cat?

Updated ask ^_^

AND with BONUSES! =D (And probably confusion, lol XD)

Hope you like, @hypernovasmash ^_^

Also, I drew your Sonic OC from DeviantART. Hope you don't mind ^^;

The Snow Leopard's name is kept blank, because I'm not sure if Wisp2007 on DeviantART wants to reveal it.

But it's his Sona (or at least used to be).

Was gonna draw Gar from pure memory, but took a sneak peak and saw the new way Snakey is drawn, and decided to implement it.

As far as "Zeffra" and "Sphinx" goes... it's complicated. Both are my sonas... and both are called "Zeffra" XD

But where "Sphinx" (the feline) is my pure Sonic sona (made exclusively as a character that interacts with the Sonic Universe and lives in the desert and has healing powers),

"Zeffra" (the hybrid vixen) is my sona sona... no powers. My furry real-world representation, because I don't like drawing humans.

The vixen is modern.

The feline is the "past".

Both are part cat part fox =3

(Sphinx inherited the fluffy fox tail, while Zeffra inherited the oval feline head. Yes, both in my original style as well as in Sonic style).

Confused? =D

Good.

"____" the Snow Leopard, ZigZag, Gar Rainhardt and Snakey belongs to Wisp2007.

Hybernova the Hedgehog belongs to @hypernovasmash

Tailie Chemixter, Zeffra Sphinx and... vixen Zeff belongs to @zeffrasphinx

Art by @zeffrasphinx

By God's grace I was allowed to finish drawing this and showing it.

It took 8 DAYS to draw.

(Because I don't use AI)

#Gar Rainhardt the longtailed cat #answering asks #hypernovasmash #Zeffra Sphinx #Zeffra the Hybrid Vixen #hedgehog #Wisp2007 #the Snow Leopard #hybernova #Vixen Zeff

[rabbitcruiser]

International Snow Leopard Day

Snow Leopards are captivating and powerful animals. However, they are also vulnerable to loss of prey and poaching. These animals are distributed sparsely across 12 different countries in Central Asia. They tend to be found in rugged, high mountain landscapes, at elevations between 3,000 and 4,500m. The key to protecting this species is raising awareness. That’s what International Snow Leopard Day is all about.

History Of International Snow Leopard Day

The first International Snow Leopard Day occurred on the 23rd of October in 2014. The main purpose of this day is to show the importance of snow leopard conservation and raise awareness about this incredible animal. The day also emphasizes the importance of taking measures to stop poaching, as well as consolidating efforts in terms of an environmental organization in the countries of the snow leopard range.

The day was initiated by the countries that encompass the snow leopard’s range. They include Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia, Pakistan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, India, China, Bhutan, and Afganistan. On the 23rd of October, in 2013, these countries signed the Bishkek Declaration regarding the conservation of the snow leopard. This happened in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, at the very first Global Snow Leopard Forum.

Fascinating Facts About Snow Leopards

Snow leopards are able to prey on animals that are up to three times their own body weight.

They have massive, thick tails, which are able to help them maintain balance and shield them from harsh weather. Their tails are almost as long as their entire body.

A study from the WWF has recorded snow leopards living at 5,859 meters above sea level. This is the highest altitude that has ever been documented for big cats. This is about the same height as the highest mountain in Canada.

You may be surprised to learn that snow leopards are not able to roar. Instead, they mew, yowl, and growl. They also prusten, which is also known as chuffing. This is a non-threatening vocalization, which is made when they blow air through their nose.

The fur on the stomach of a snow leopard is almost five inches thick. This is so that they can survive in the harsh and cold mountain climates.

These animals are often referred to as ‘ghosts of the mountain’ because they spend most of their lives in solitude and they are rarely seen.

Snow leopards are the only big cats that call Asia’s cold deserts their home. These deserts are sometimes referred to as the third pole because they feature ice fields with the biggest reserves of freshwater outside of the southern and northern polar regions.

What Threats Do Snow Leopards Face?

The exact number of snow leopards is unknown. Experts believe that there is no more than 6,390 snow leopards around the world, yet the number could be as small as 3,920. There are a number of threats that this elusive cat faces, including poaching. Data is hard to come by in this respect because a lot of trades with snow leopard parts occur in the dark. Some research shows that one snow leopard has been killed and traded every day between 2008 and 2016. However, the true extent of the issue is thought to be even bigger.

No animal should be poached, and this is why the likes of International Snow Leopard Day are so important so that we can raise awareness about the issue. Poaching is also a problem because it takes away resources for the snow leopard. The main prey species for the snow leopard are wild goat and sheep. However, these species are also threatened by unsustainable or illegal hunting in a lot of the parts of the snow leopard range. So, if there is a decline in their populations, there is also going to be a decline in the population of the snow leopard.

Snow leopards face a number of other threats that a lot of people don’t consider. For example, their mountain ecosystem could be destroyed because of large-scale developments, including mining. Climate change also poses a number of challenges as well. Temperatures are increasing in the mountains across Central Asia. This has an impact on the entire ecosystem; from water supplies to vegetation. It is certainly worrying times for snow leopards, and a good way to spend International Snow Leopard Day is by educating yourself fully on the issues these animals face.

How To Observe International Snow Leopard Day

There are a number of different ways that you can support International Snow Leopard Day. So, here are some suggestions…

Learn and explore – One of the best ways to observe International Snow Leopard Day is to learn about this incredible creature. Spend some time reading up on the snow leopard. Find out about where the animal lives, what threats they face, and what steps we can take in order to help safeguard the future of this incredible animal.

Get creative – Another way to show your support is to get creative. There are some activities online involving the snow leopard. You can find a fun activity sheet via the WWF website.

Order a WWF Explore Badge – Another way to show your support for International Snow Leopard Day is to order a WWF Badge. This is something else that you can get on the WWF website.

Adopt a snow leopard – You can also support snow leopards by adopting one. This helps the WWF to monitor snow leopard movements, by giving local communities the support needed to do this, as well as reducing human snow leopard conflicts.

Fundraise – You may also decide to host a fundraising event. This is a great way to raise awareness about the problems that snow leopards face while also accumulating donations that can go towards helping them. There are so many different ways that you can fundraise. You may decide to host a fundraising event, such as a cook-off, bake sale, or fun run. Another option is to make products that you can sell and then you could donate the proceeds or a percentage of them to helping snow leopards.

Source

#International Snow Leopard Day #23 October #Bronx Zoo #New York City #USA #summer 2019 #original photography #InternationalSnowLeopardDay #outdoors #animal #flora #fauna #shy animal #tourist attraction #landmark #cityscape #nature #vacation #travel #world day #Zolli #Zoo Basel #Switzerland #Schweiz

[starscatteredsky]

Leopard gecko and or asp viper fashion tips/tips in general? /pos /nf

leopard gecko and asp tips

pt: leopard gecko and asp tips

hey! so, we’re camping this weekend so at the time of this being posted we’re away. we wanted to get something out for you before we left, but didn’t have the time or spoons to do the fashion board part!! we’ll be happy to do it when we get back, but you might want to send in an ask to remind us lmao we’re pretty distracted these days!! thanks and sorry for the inconvenience!

wear leopard print clothes!

use tattoo pens to draw scales on your legs arms

try having fun learning to climb to connect with your gecko self!

make/get tail gear!

get some vampire fangs to wear to feel like your venomous asp fangs!

eye contacts!!

sun bathe to warm yourself up! (do not forget sun protection!!)

make popcan tab scale gloves, and maybe paint them to look like one or both of your kintype’s scale patterns!

decorate your living space with desert/gecko/snake imagery (use trinkets, candles, pictures, drawings, music or sounds, essential oils, lighting and lamps, on theme pillows/blankets, or anything else you want to!!)

have fun with temperature activated colour changing things (fidgets, nail polish, clothes, etc), as they reflect a bit like how your kinself would see the world!

hope these are helpful, and again, sorry it’s only part of the request!! -🎉💊

Requests open!!!

[image description:

a DNI banner with the background being the promotional image for Little Nightmares 2. The writing reads:

"DNI: radqueers, proshippers, radfems/TERFs, antikin/antitherian, homophobic/ ableist/ anti ACAB/ transphobic/ rasist/ antisemitic/ xenophobic/ antitheist/ anti athiest/ bigoted in any fashion, NSFW/sh/ed/cringe centered blog, fakeclaimer

Before you interact: We are pro mspec gays/lesbians, anti endo/tulpa "systems", enjoy MCYT/DSMP, pro self diagnoses with extensive research, multiple alters are punks/ anarchists"

end description]

#mod🎉💊 #alterhuman #otherhearted #otherkin #otherkin community #otherkinity #nonhuman #alterhuman community #otherfolk #nonhuman alter #non human #animal alter #snakekin #reptilekin #lizardkin #geckokin #hybridkin #therianthrope #therian #snake therian #reptile therian #gecko therian #lizard therian #kintype #voidpunk

[lunitysmoon]

KNB ROYALTY AU

Kuroko no Basket Royalty AU sneak peeks to test the waters on this idea (I'm still going to write it no matter how this post turns out).

Remember the post about lumberjack Kagami? Yeah, this is that fic.

INTRODUCING THE KINGDOMS, EMPIRES, AND DYNASTIES:

L/N Y/N: Kitsu Kingdom. Known for being the upholder of peace and unity, their castle and town housing the kindest people to ever grace the continent. This includes, of course, their beloved Princess Y/N. But more than a princess, she was a knight. Her sword shall not bend nor break as long as her will stands. Enemies would be naive to believe kindness is akin to weakness, and it will cost them their pride and dignity. A warning for those who would dare attack Kitsu Kingdom and its' people, know that they will not go down and instead plant the seeds of destruction in your mind that will soon contaminate your voice, causing havoc on your own turf.

Landscape: Steppe. The castle is exposed on an open field surrounded by gardens of flowers that extend miles. (The castle regularly sends townsfolks in need of money but out of work to tend to the fields and flowers, providing free transportation as, again, the fields and flowers extend miles.) First-born daughter to the queen of Kitsu Kingdom, their kingdom is one of few matriarchies in the continent/on the map. Y/N is a princess knight. This kingdom has a unique tradition of inheriting the throne that explains why unlike most other clans, their last names do not match that of their kingdom. 

Kise Ryota: Kingdom of Kise. Rumors always spread like wildfire in the palace. If it weren't built with marble, it would've collapsed during Ryota's forebearers' time, ashes blown into the sea, floating atop the bubbly surface. Prince Ryota slept with his maid. Prince Ryota has been eyeing the muscly cook up and down as of late. His Highness can't keep his hands to himself. Prince Ryota! His Highness this! His Royal Highness that! This palace thrived on the ernergy of scandals. It wouldn't be the K Palace otherwise.

Landscape: Coastal. The palace overlooks the sea on a ledge a safe distance away, in case of tsunamis. The only one in the Generation of Miracles that lives in a palace; everyone else lives in castles.

Kuroko Tetsuya: Kuroko Kingdom. A small kingdom that's relatively peaceful, with no intention of being involved in conflict. Their people live quiet lives in the mountains, taking hot spring baths while watching the snow fall to soothe their aching joints and tired minds. Ruled by a kind and thoughtful majesty who constantly dotes on his son, Prince Tetsuya. Though no one has ever seen the young prince's face, they believe him to be of such a dazzling visage that they've been spared for the sheer power of his hearsay glowing fair skin, for no medicine on the snowy mountain would be able to cure blindness.

Landscape: Mountains. Everyone knows His Majesty has a son but has never seen him. Some lucky few have heard him before, but by the time they got to the place where the sound had sourced from, he was gone. They say his voice is light with the essence of air, delicate like a drop of water fading into the mass, and softer than a snow leopard's fur. Prince Tetsuya often visits the commonfolk squares in search of entertainment.

Kagami Taiga: A commonfolk who recently arrived at Kuroko Kingdom. His large build made him easily stand out from the mass, and his red hair contrasted the snow. The chief of the village was quick to collect the boy and offer him a job. It would be tough labor, but the pay is good, the chief said. So, Kagami Taiga became a lumberjack. Providing the village people with firewood to warm their homes, and a smile to warm their hearts.

A lumberjack commonfolk that Prince Tetsuya befriended in the village.

Aomine Daiki: Aomine Empire. An empire so out in the middle of nowhere, yet countless kings and emperors continue to send their knights, so innocently inexperienced with the harshness of the desert, in a trudge toward their demise due to personal loathing and despise for the emperor. Prince Daiki of the Aomine Empire cackled every time a guard informed him of the location of the enemies. He calls them weak, calls them names, and imagines the sand seeping into the knights' armor, unfit for the desert unlike the loose cotton and linen fabrics he embellished. One arm wrapped around a curvaceous woman's waist; he called the servants to fetch his warrior attire.

Landscape: Desert. Army: Strong and touch, each knigh is expendable in Emperor Aomine's mind (proudly proclaims so to the people as well). The largest army among the seven relevant kingdoms.

Midorima Shintaro: Midorima Dynasty. Never a dull moment for the servants who reside within the castle, because King Midorima's children are always bickering about who gets the throne once their sickly father passes. Each with their own ideologies they'd like to enact upon inheriting the throne, they've each accumulated a praiseworthy number of followers within the dynasty. Although only leading by a dozen or so, it's undeniable that the crown favorite is Prince Shintaro, the youngest son of His Majesty, whose seriousness, confidence, and reservedness could be quite charming and appealing in odd ways. His ideology is as follows: "Man proposes, God disposes."

Landscape: Forest. The castle is well-hidden inside a forest, sitting atop a body of land in the middle of a lake. Prince Shintaro has one older brother (25) and one older sister (22). Takao could possibly be the court jester (that Shintaro falls in love with).

Murasakibara Atsushi: Murasakibara Empire. A castle built with thick walls of stone and lined with iron sheets all throughout the interior. It is tall, intimidating, shrouded in dark green moss... and half of it is submerged in mud. Agreed upon by kingdoms-wide, the Murasakibara Empire is the most difficult castle to infiltrate on the continent. With little to no information on the inner layouts of the castle, those who sought revenge are doomed to stand by for all eternity; even if they dared to challenge the unknown, their spirits are quickly crushed at the sight of the colossal-sized knights who guarded every entrance, window, bridge, and tunnel. All this strength was made possible by ancestors of the Murasakibara clan, giants who mastered the art of concealing, all in waiting for the chosen one to be born. And at long last it arrived sixteen years ago, in the form of Crowned Prince Atsushi.

Landscape: Wetland.

Akashi Seijuro: The Akashi Dynasty. Led by their young king, Akashi Seijuro, who succeeded the throne following the mysterious death of his father. He is a ruthless leader, showing no mercy to those who break the law. The law that he personally revised the very day he sat on the throne, as his first order as king was made. A strong king who carefully calculates the type of guidance to craft for his people, in order to collect their undying loyalty.

Landscape: Cliff. On the coast.

#knb #kuroko no basuke #kuroko's basketball #kuroko no basket #kuroko tetsuya #kise ryota #midorima shintaro #akashi seijuro #murasakibara atsushi #aomine daiki #the basketball which kuroko plays #kise ryouta #midorima shintarou #gom #generation of miracles #knb au #lunitysfanfics