#does this count as web weaving. its only two things. very small web

[davidtennantpussytulpa]

raw (2016) / “wolf” wikipedia page

#this post could be a mile long actually. imagine i have three body paragraphs and the next two are for domestication and rabies #honestly i might make another. bc this movie made me crazy. i love you animalgirls #raw 2016 #mine #does this count as web weaving. its only two things. very small web #raw

[giogio-gucci-gangstar]

Mudad Adventures: Spider-fest

summary: Giorno is terrified of spiders, Hol Horse is less than sympathetic

Giorno was not afraid of many things. How could he be, he lived in a mansion full of monsters (his father), freaks (Vanilla Ice), and idiots (Hol Horse). But all of them combined could not compare to the intense fear that struck him when he saw a spider. Being a nature boy at heart he knew that there were only a few spiders that could kill him, and that it was totally irrational for him to be frozen in fear whenever he saw so much as a brown house spider. 

He just couldn't help but envision them climbing into his neat little buns, or burrowing into his braid and building a nest there. The thought sent shivers down his spine, that wasn't even the worst part, once they nested in his curls they would surely launch a campaign into his ears. 

Giorno covered his ears instinctively, even though the spider in question was on the wall a good seven feet away. Once the spiders are in your ears it's all over. A few months ago he’d read an article in the newspaper about a woman who was killed by a scorpion in her ear and that was not a way he wanted to go. 

Giorno took a deep breath. He was a big five year old, and he lived in a mansion with a vampire. There was not much a spider could do to him that he hadn't already seen (other than make a nest in is hair and burrow into his-) 

He shook his head, no more time for those silly thoughts. He clenched his fists and steeled himself for an attack. Dio had always taught him that the best way to get rid of something you don't like is to kill it immediately and without mercy.

Giorno took a deep breath and slowly made his way to his bed, where he kept one of DIO’s shoes for emergencies like this. They were large and pointy enough to squish almost any bug, and he could throw them with more precision than a fly swatter. 

Giorno reared back and took aim at the brown spider on the wall, he flinched one last time and closed his eyes before he hurled the shoe at it! He carefully opened one eye at a time, but was shocked to see no spider splat mark on the wall… 

He carefully approached it, looking around for the wiley little beast, before he saw it. It was a few feet away from the bookshelf leaning against the wall. It was almost like it waited for Giorno to see it, before it ran behind the shelf. Surely to go tell its friends of the small pretty boy whose head would make a lovely nest. 

This was fine, Giorno told himself. There was only one spider and he knew exactly where it was. He took a deep breath in and held it for a few seconds before exhaling again. He’d just have to wait it out. 

A minute or so passed before Giorno saw the spider’s first taunt. It stuck out a spindly leg for him to see without exposing its body. It was a clever little beast, he’d give it that. But then, out it came trotting, this time with a friend. 

Giorno gasped in horror as it trapsed across his will, a large, hairy, orange spider. The little beast had brought out the Spider Queen to fight Giorno. The boy’s breaths became shallow and his face palled when he beheld the monstrosity. His secret weapon had already been flung and they were scuttling towards him, there was no way to escape!!! 

And then, the door opened. 

“Hey, Kiddo, time for dinner.” Hol Horse poked his head through the door. Giorno peeled his wide eyes from the wall, and turned towards Hol Horse without blinking.

“Is there something wrong kid?” Hol Horse noticeably tensed up, Giorno was a weird kid but staring at a wall looking like he was going to pass out was weird even for him. Hol felt Emperor appear in his hands while Giorno slowly gestured to the wall to his right with his eyes. 

Hol Horse slowly turned and aimed at: nothing. There was nothing on the wall. Giorno was shocked, a  little relieved honestly, but also terrified that the hairy orange spider queen had disappeared. 

“Girono, what's going on?” Hol Horse gave a little relieved sigh but was still holding on to Emperor. It wasn’t often that Giorno was frightened (if you could call that pale and unblinking face a fearful reaction and not something to be afraid of yourself). 

Giorno took a deep breath and let the words haphazardly fall out of his mouth, “THERE WAS A BIG SPIDER AND I HATE SPIDERS SO I THREW DADDYS SHOE AT IT BUT IT SURVIVED OR ESCAPED AND THEN RAN BEHIND THE BOOKSHELF BUT IT TURNED AT LOOKED AT ME AND THREATENED ME AND THEN IT CAME BACK OUT WITH THE SPIDER QUEEN AND SHES SO BIG AND ORANGE AND HAIRY SO I KNOW SHE HAS TO BE POISONOUS AND NOW SHE'S TRYING TO KILL ME BECAUSE I TRIED TO KILL THE OTHER SPIDER YOU HAVE TO SHOOT THEM NOW” 

Hol Horse paused for a few moments after that rambling mess, he needed some time to process what he’d just heard. 

“So it's just a spider?” 

“TWO VERY BIG SPIDERS” Giorno emphasized. Somehow the threat of the situation was not getting through to Hol Horse. Not only had the mansion been infiltrated by a large spider, an even bigger, harrier, and scarier spider had moved in too! Obviously this was the start to thier devious plan to torture Giorno. First it would be his room, then his hair, and then his brain! From there it would be all over. 

“Okay well I don't know what you want me to say but there are no spiders in this room so let's just go to dinner before your Dad tries to kill me again okay?” Giorno was very skeptical of the whole situation still, he didn't like leaving the battlefront without knowing where the enemy lurked, but he definitely did not want to be left alone in this room and Hol was already turning to leave. So he scampered after him. 

They made it a few doors down the hall before Giorno caught sight of them again. He violently tugged on Hol Horse’s sleeve and pointed to them. 

“What? These?” Hol Horse pointed to the spiders pretending to innocently weave a web. “These are just flies, Giorno. No spiders here.” 

Giorno had always feared that Hol Horse was stupid, but never before had he felt such utter dispair at the man’s lack of brains. His stupidity was going to kill them both if they didn't act soon.

“No they’re spiders Hol Horse! Look at the colors and the legs and the web they're in!” Giorno was doing his best to keep himself together. He absolutely refused to cry in front of such a man. 

“Look here kid,” Hol Horse pulled a thrashing Giorno up into his left arm, while using his right to swat at the spiders on the wall.

Hol opened his hand to show a trembling Giorno what looked like a mangled and somewhat exploded orange spider. 

“Giorno does this look like a spider to you?” The absurdity of the question threw him for a loop. 

“It looks like a smashed spider!” He managed to stutter out. 

“It's not a spider kid.” Hol Horse brought it a little closer to Giorno, who flinched, and tried to get a better look. 

“I can only count four legs. If this is a spider how come there aren't eight eyes and eight legs?” Hol Horse smugly retorted. 

Girono could not speak. It was like his tongue forgot how to make words and he kept opening and closing his mouth. How could he answer such a nonsensical question?

#mudad adventures #mudad #giorno #dio #hol horse #spiderfest #my nonsense

[cali-holland]

Golden Bullets, Ch. 6: The Spy Who Loves Me

Harrison Osterfield X Reader, James Bond!AU

Harrison Osterfield, Agent 007, was once the best MI6 agent around with the astounding reputation as a womanizer. Between illegal gold smuggling and black market trading of weapons, he finds himself deeper in his latest mission than intended, weaving himself into a web of the criminal organization, S.P.E.C.T.R.E.. At the center of it all is the one woman who’s never fallen for his charms- you, Agent 006, the best MI6 agent, the new assistant director of the program, and his new partner.

Word Count: 4100

Gif is not mine

Golden Bullets Masterlist

Masterlist   Harrison Osterfield Masterlist

Let me know if you want to be added to the series tag list

Warnings: violence (character death, punching, kicking, brass knuckles, guns, explosions, choking- just everything), swearing, sexual themes

Featured Song: Nobody Does It Better Carly Simon from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

 ~ “But like heaven above me, the spy who loved me is keepin’ all my secrets safe tonight, and nobody does it better, though sometimes I wish someone could, nobody does it quite the way you do, why’d you have to be so good?”

This was also for @spideygirl2003​ ‘s 800 follower writing challenge with the prompt “It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay.” (I forgot to add this in the original haha)

~~~

“Kentucky.” You heard Q call out as you stepped out of the hotel bathroom.

“What about Kentucky?” You asked, running a towel over your hair in an attempt to dry it faster. Just an hour ago, Q picked you up from near the river; you two grabbed the flash drive and got a small hotel room for the time being- at a different hotel, of course. After a warm and much needed shower, your body was beginning to feel normal again, and it definitely helped that your arm and wrist were both patched up now.

“That’s where they took 007.” Tom replied as his fingers continued to type away on the laptop before he showed it to you. A GPS satellite image showed a map of the U.S. with a blinking red dot right in Kentucky; zooming in, the satellite shifted to display a farm outside of Louisville. “Turns out Goldfinger’s family owned a stud farm. It’s retired now, but it must be a good location to smuggle gold bullions and super spies.”

“And the flash drive?” You opened your suitcase, taking inventory on your guns, itching to leave and shoot something in Kentucky.

“Almost done. Contrary to what you field agents believe, hacking is a lot of work.” He said, and you looked over at him. Glaring, you cocked one of your guns as if to say “test me”. He held up his hands defensively and you refocused on packing. The room was silent for a moment, before Tom spoke up again, “He’ll be alright. 007’s a tough one to break.”

“I’m not worried about him. I want to kill the bitch that keeps attacking me.” You muttered.

“For a spy, you’re shit at lying.” His words made you freeze, and he continued with a laugh, “I know that look in your eye; you’re worried about him, even if you try to hide it as revenge on Galore. You and Harrison- you’re both independent and badass, but you’re both into each other and are just too much of wimps to say anything about it.”

“I killed a dozen men tonight already. I hardly think I classify as a ‘wimp’.” You used air quotes around his descriptive word choice.

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” Before you could reply, his laptop beeped, signaling he was into the flash drive. “Holy shit.”

“What is it?” You asked, coming to sit beside him to look at the screen. Tom’s eyes trailed over the laptop, taking in the information as he continued to scroll through the files.

“Goldfinger’s planning on blowing up Fort Knox. He’s got the schematics for it and everything right here.”

“How does this connect to S.P.E.C.T.R.E.? And Sciarra? And Le Chiffre?” You questioned, and he began researching more of the files. 

“These are-” Tom started.

“Bank records. This is Le Chiffre’s system.” You explained, recognizing it from your time spent tailing him. “Le Chiffre wasn’t his competition, he was an investor in Goldfinger’s plot- that’s why Goldfinger killed him off.” You got up, hurrying to grab your laptop and opening one of the electronic files M had sent. You sat your laptop down next to his on the table.

“Look.” You pointed to the screen. “M sent me a comprehensive list of all the sniper’s targets this morning.” You and Tom looked between the two lists, spotting how every single one of the targets had their bank account on this flash drive. 

“Goldfinger was scamming them to become the leader of S.P.E.C.T.R.E. and bombing Fort Knox would make him the sole supplier of gold, too. It’s like a sick, get-rich-quick scheme.” He shook his head in disbelief.

“We need to stop him from getting to Fort Knox.” You paused, “But Silva isn’t on this list. How was he involved?”

“Tiago Rodriuez is, though.” Tom stated, and you looked at him confused. “Tiago Rodriguez is Raoul Silva’s given name. I bet he found out what they were doing and created this flash drive as protection.”

“There needs to be something else on it. Something that Goldfinger and Galore were terrified of losing.”

“I’ll keep looking, but we need to get going. M got us a private jet, and we have a flight to Kentucky to catch.” He had barely finished his sentence and you were already on your feet, gathering your bags. He looked at you for a moment, a humorous smile on his face.

“Are you just going to sit there or are you coming with me?” You asked.

“You’re so into Harrison.” Tom chuckled in amusement, and you scoffed, rolling your eyes at him.

“I will leave you behind if you say one more word.” You threatened, picking up your bags, and he shut off his laptop.

“If it wasn’t for me, you’d have no idea where 007 is.” He reminded you as he put away his things.

“You act like I wouldn’t hunt down Galore with or without you here.” You stated, opening the hotel room door.

“Trust me, I know you would.”

~~~

Everything was a blur. Harrison blinked repeatedly in an attempt to clear his vision. He heard a voice announce that he was awake, and he was quickly reminded of his last memory: getting drugged by Galore in the Montenegro hotel room. He was sitting rather uncomfortably in a wooden chair, his ankles bound to the chair’s feet and his wrists bound together behind his back. And his mouth was covered by what felt like duct tape, leaving his lips feeling dry. His vision finally cleared up, and he took in his surroundings: three metal doors on three of the dark gray walls and a window behind him on the fourth. There were four armed guards in the room as well as Oddjob and a man in a crisp white suit with gold detailing- Goldfinger, no doubt.

���Oh, how lovely of you to join us, 007.” He said, ripping the duct tape from Harrison’s mouth, but leaving it to tauntingly dangle from his cheek.

“How lovely to meet you, Goldfinger.” Harrison replied, sarcastically. Goldfinger stepped closer as Oddjob came up beside the chair, adjusting the cap on his before tugging a brass knuckle onto his hand.

“You and Agent 006 have certainly been a nuisance.” Goldfinger started, and Harrison cut him off.

“Why, you’re welcome.” The air was swiftly knocked out of him as Oddjob threw a painful punch straight into Harrison’s gut. He held onto the back of the chair with one hand to keep it steady. “You couldn’t have started without the brass knuckle.”

“You stole a very valuable flash drive from Sciarra, who stole it from me. Where is it?” He questioned.

“If it’s so valuable, how did Sciarra end up with it?” Harrison let out another groan, hit with another hard punch.

“Where’s the flash drive?”

“I don’t have it.” He shut his eyes, ready for the next blow, but it never came. Instead, Goldfinger just glared at him, narrowing his eyes in anger and frustration. Harrison noted how stressed he looked, raising his eyebrows at Goldfinger, “What’s on that flash drive? You and I both know you’ll kill me in here, so there’s no need for the secrets. Give me the long-winded villain backstory, I’m itching to hear it.”

That time, he earned a punch from Oddjob. Harrison could already feel the bruises forming as his stomach repeatedly got abused, and he could definitely tell Oddjob had been pulling his first few punches.

“I believe you’re familiar with Raoul Silva? Before you killed him, he hacked his way through my system, froze my accounts, stole information. Now, that drive has the final piece to my masterplan, a neurotoxin so powerful that it can wipe out Fort Knox in its entirety.”

“Fort Knox?” Harrison asked, biting back the smirk on his face. “Steal from the U.S. gold supply, brilliant plan.”

“Not steal. Destroy.” Goldfinger stated, a devilish smile on his face. “Now, where the hell is my flash drive?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” A voice said, stepping into the room. Harrison didn’t even look to know it was Galore. “He doesn’t know where it is.”

As she stepped into the room with a small limp in her step, Harrison got a good look at her face. He could see the bruising on her neck, no doubt from his own chokehold on her during their last encounter, but, judging by the fingernail marks, you’d gotten your hands on her, literally. Her perfectly arched eyebrow was interrupted by a large gash over it, some medical bandages doing their best to cover the fresh wound. He also spotted some dried blood in her hair from a gash to the back of her head, and he felt a small wave of pride wash over him. There was only one person that he knew would have given Galore hell- you. He wasn’t surprised at the fact that you put up an impressive fight against her. That pride though was fleeting and was quickly replaced by worry because, if Galore was here, that meant either you were captured or dead, or you somehow managed to escape her clutches better than he had.

“Get into a cat fight, Pussy?” Harrison asked, a smirk finding its way onto his face. She crossed her arms, pursing her lips in annoyance.

“For Agent Y/L/N being MI6’s assistant director, I thought she would have put up a better fight.” She let out a small sigh, watching how Harrison’s jaw tightened involuntarily. “A pity really.”

“What did you do to her?” He questioned through gritted teeth. She laughed wickedly at his emotional response. Goldfinger and Oddjob stepped backward to let Galore come closer to Harrison. She trailed a 

“Harrison Osterfield, Agent 007- the famed womanizer falling for the maneater. Who would have thought indeed?” She clicked her tongue in sadistic amusement as her nails began to dig into his skin, making him squirm under her. “Oh, I’m sorry, do you not like me calling her that? Funny, she didn’t take a liking to me calling you womanizer either.”

She let go of him, before pulling the duct tape back over his lips. She took a step back, her cold glare never faltering. Goldfinger shook his head, “I would’ve loved to meet Agent 006 and have my way with her.” Harrison couldn;t refrain from letting out an angry breath, his eyes narrowing at the thought of Goldfinger ‘having his way’ with you. He watched as the man in the suit turned back to Galore, “Where did you leave her again?”

“I left the bitch at the bottom of the river.” At her words, Harrison dropped his head down, and Galore let out another cynical laugh. She, along with Goldfinger and Oddjob, froze as they noticed Harrison’s shoulders start to shake. He threw his head back in laughter, the sounds muffled by the duct tape.

“What is he laughing at?” Goldfinger spat, growing suspicious of the agent in front of him.

Before any of them could react, a bullet went racing through the window and straight into one of the guard’s heads. Everyone ducked as another bullet flew into a second guard’s heart- well, Harrison did his best to duck in his chair.

“How did they find us?” Goldfinger questioned, and Galore and Oddjob drew their guns. Galore looked over at the amused Harrison. A third bullet came through, right into another guard, and immediately afterwards, the last guard was taken by another bullet.

“We need to go.” Galore pulled open the door to the left and escaped with Goldfinger. Just as Oddjob pointed his gun at Harrison, the door right in front of them blew off its hinges, sending Oddjob towards the door to the right, which he quickly got up to escape through. Harrison groaned from the sudden explosion, but as the smoke cleared, he saw your figure come through the doorway.

“Wait on the balcony, my ass.” You said immediately, pocketing your gun as you stepped into the room. You ripped off the duct tape from his mouth, giving him no time to prepare for the pain.

“Ow.” He muttered. “Watch the lips, I need those.”

“Oh, do you now?” You replied. You grabbed out a knife from your belt to cut his ankles free.

“Don’t act like you didn’t enjoy these lips.” Harrison teased with a smirk as you reached around him to free his wrists, your face just inches from his. The second his wrists were loose, he untangled himself from the ropes and grabbed your cheeks to kiss you. You couldn’t help the smile that formed on your face as your lips moved against his.

“Moneypenny owes me 50 pounds.” You pulled away from Harrison, hearing Tom’s voice in your ear comms. You sighed, reaching into your pocket to grab one out for Harrison before handing it to him. He quickly put it in his ear, and you handed him a couple guns.

“Do you have to be such a prick?” You asked Tom, moving away from Harrison as you looked out the window, knowing he was in the distance with his sniper.

“‘No, I’m most certainly not into Harrison.’” Tom replied in a ridiculously high pitched voice to mock you. “Are you going to keep standing there or are you going to go after Goldfinger?”

You looked at Harrison, and he cocked his gun, nodding to the door to the left. You slowly opened the door all the way, checking for anyone down the hall, and Harrison quietly spoke up, “When you said those lipsticks were tranq lipsticks, you were serious.”

“Really? That’s how she got you?” You asked with a small laugh as the two of you continued your way down the hall, guns at the ready.

“I was going to use it on her.” He replied. You couldn’t reply before you two turned a corner and saw three more of Goldfinger’s men down the hall, backs to you.

“I’ll get the two on the left.” You whispered.

“Why do you get two of them?” Harrison asked.

“Because I’m a better shot than you.” You said as if it was obvious.

“We both get one on the outside and then it’s whoever gets the middle one first after that.” He offered a compromise and you nodded. The men turned before you two could fire and instantly engaged in a fist fight. As much as you two had discussed who got the third, it wasn’t important anymore as the third guard ran off, most likely to inform Goldfinger of your whereabouts.

Harrison blocked the opposing man’s first punch, but the second hit him in just the right spot in his gut, sending him stumbling back for a moment. Regaining his footing, he gripped his gun and shot at the other man, hitting him in the shoulder. While he staggered in shock and pain, Harrison kicked up right into his face, knocking him backwards onto the ground.

Meanwhile, you dodged the second man’s punches, letting him strike right into the concrete wall. You grabbed his outstretched arm, kicking under his elbow hard enough to break the bone. Then, as he shouted in pain, you jumped down to sweep your feet under his to send him falling backwards. Before you could grab your gun and shoot him, Harrison shot him for you.

“That counts as mine.” You argued as you two continued your journey down the halls.

“But I killed him.”

“Are you two done competing yet? I’ve got a visual on Goldfinger.” Tom said from his perch outside, yards away from the scene.

“Where is he? Which way?” Harrison asked as you both came to a halt with a fork in the road.

“Goldfinger’s to the left.”

“And Galore?” You questioned.

“To the right, up the stairs.”

“I’m going after Galore.” You stated, starting to make your way to the right, but stopped when Harrison’s hand grabbed yours.

“Goldfinger’s the one we need to stop. Leave Galore.” He urged you.

“They’re both heading this entire thing. You get Goldfinger. I’ll get her.” You replied. Seeing the concerned look flash across his features, you smiled, “Look at her and look at me- I can take her.”

“Just kiss and run separate ways already.” Tom’s voice came through the comms and you rolled your eyes.

“I’ve got Galore.” You said, before running off to the right. Harrison looked at your disappearing figure for a moment before taking off to the left.

Once you were up to the second story of the building, you were met with a single long hallway and over a dozen doors. Gripping your gun tightly, you spoke quietly into your comms, “Q, where is she?”

“I can’t tell. My heat map is malfunctioning.” You could hear him messing about on his laptop, trying to get his sniper heat map to work. Slowly, you continued your way down the hallway.

“Here, kitty kitty.” You tauntingly called out. You kicked down the first few doors, checking them for any signs of her.

When you kicked open the fifth door, you heard something shuffle behind you. Before you could turn to take her, Galore used a belt to wrap around your neck. In shock, you dropped your gun, attempting to keep her from fully cutting off your airway. You threw yourself backwards, with her still tightly holding onto the belt behind you, hitting her into the wall. You gasped out, trying to regain your breath as you blindly rammed her into the wall again. On your third attempt, she loosened her grip, giving you the opportunity to grab the belt away from your neck. You kicked yourself up, using the wall in front of you for leverage to twist around and kick her in the head to knock her down.

“You know, I’ve always been more of a dog person.” You breathed out, still trying to regain your breath.

“Bitch.” She spat out, blood coming from her newly broken nose. She grabbed your gun from beside her, aiming it at you. Before she could shoot, you grabbed your second gun and shot her in the shoulder. She dropped your gun as her shoulder began to bleed.

“That’s for 009.” You said, using your foot to press your weight on her wound. You leaned down to grab your other gun, not easing up on the pressure. With her good hand, she tried to hit your foot off her, and you shot her in her other shoulder, stepping harder to the spot you were already on.

“That’s for 007.” You added.

“Let me guess, you’ll shoot me in the heart and that’s for you?” She muttered. You moved your foot to her throat, letting the small heel of your boot dig into her skin.

“Heart? No, head.” You raised an eyebrow at her, before shooting her right between the eyes. You watched as her body fell limp, and you quickly searched her for more guns- surprisingly, she had none, but maybe that’s why she’d been so keen on taking from you.

“Harrison, I’m coming your way.” You announced into your comms, leaving back the way you came.

In the meantime, Harrison had been stalled by more of Goldfinger’s men. At first, it was a game of duck and shoot, but then, as he ran out of bullets, it became a fist fight. He had his eye on the machine gun one of them carried, but he accidentally kicked it down the hall when getting it away from the man’s grip. Eventually, he picked up a gun from one of the men, but with six men coming at him, he didn’t really have to pause and aim properly. He didn’t even hear your call through the comms, too focused on not dying. He did his best- ducking in between two of them so they shot each other, ramming one into the wall, blindly shooting at one as he had the other in a chokehold.

He turned to fight the last man, kicking the gun out of the enemy’s hand but losing his own gun in the process. Harrison blocked the punches and sent some of his own into the man’s jaw and chest. Just as Harrison was about to kick him, the other man beat him to it, kicking him right where it hurt most.

“Fuck, that’s cruel.” Harrison groaned, falling involuntarily to his knees. He braced for a kick or a punch or something, but instead he heard a series of gunshots ring out and the man before him fell to the ground, dead.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing on the ground?” You questioned as you ran down the hallway to his side, abandoned machine gun in hand.

“Praying.” He sarcastically replied. You helped him up and he winced a little.

“Your dick really is your biggest weakness.” You teased.

“Trust me, darling, it’s not.” He stated, picking up a few guns. He noticed the red mark across your neck, clearly from a chokehold, “Where’s Galore?”

“Dead.” You smiled, proudly. “Now, come on, we’ve got to get Goldfinger.”

You and Harrison made your way through the facility in search of Goldfinger, under the watchful eye of Tom that directed you two where to go. When you both finally caught up to him, he was on the helipad, moments from taking off in his helicopter.

“Stop right there, Goldfinger.” Harrison warned, holding his gun up at the ready. Keeping your new machine gun up and your eyes trained on Goldfinger, you slowly stepped sideways, preparing to encircle him. Goldfinger drew his own golden gun, making both of you tense your trigger fingers.

“I think you’re going to let me leave.” He smirked, his eyes trained on Harrison, gun pointed at you.

“No way in hell.” You stated. You stepped forward, almost taunting him to pull the trigger. Before you could take another step, you heard Tom call through the comms.

“It’s a trap. Oddjob’s behind you.” He called out. You turned quickly, ducking behind a few boxes, as Oddjob fired his machine gun. Harrison dove towards you, finding cover beside you.

“Damn it, he’s getting away.” Harrison muttered, watching Goldfinger jump into the helicopter. Meanwhile, Oddjob hadn’t stopped firing at you two.

“Cover me.” You said, and he nodded. You popped up enough to aim your gun at the helicopter pilot, shooting in his direction repeatedly, while Harrison shot at Oddjob. Your shots hit the helicopter just right and you eyed it as it went crashing down on the other side of the building. At the sound and sight of the explosion, Oddjob ran, clutching onto his hat and gun as he disappeared from the helipad.

“We have to go after him.” You stood up from your spot, getting your gun ready for another round.

“You go, I’ll wait here.” Harrison replied, and you looked down at him, confused by his sudden tiredness. It was then that you noticed his hand pressed down on his hip. You crouched back down and slowly removed his hand to see it covered in blood. “Guess we got matching scars after all.”

“Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” You asked, a sudden worry overcoming your voice. You lifted his shirt to inspect the wound, a single golden bullet barely visible in the bloody hole. You removed your jacket, bunching it up to apply pressure to it.

“I didn’t want to worry you.” His voice trembled as his eyelids got heavier. With your free hand, you cupped his face.

“Hey, hey, stay with me. It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay.” You reassured him.

“What’s going on with you two?” Tom asked through the comms.

“Harrison’s been shot.” You said, looking down at the growing pool of blood on your jacket and the ground, “He’s losing a lot of blood.”

“I’ve got the ambulance on their way.” He replied.

Harrison reached a hand up to hold onto the wrist of your hand on his face, his thumb gently caressing your skin. “You need to go after Oddjob.”

“I’ll kill him later. I’m not leaving you.” You told him, not budging from your spot.

“You’re my weakness, Y/N.” Harrison said softly.

“Harrison,” You breathed out, a small smile on your face as you looked at your partner. You pressed a kiss to his forehead, “You’re mine too.”

~~~

General Tag List: @viagracex​​​ @theamazingtomholland​ @Hellomoveonby @heyitsshrez @harrisonosterfieldhazmyheart​ @joyleenl​ @t-o-m-holland​ @lonikje​ @sleepybesson​ @sunkisseddreamer​ @holandsamor @in-a-lot-of-fandoms-tbh​

Harrison Tag List: @Calhtlland @tomkindholland​ @where-art-thau-romeo​

Series Tag List: @quinjetboi @baby-haz @kickingn-ames @rougese7en @hollandsosterfield @nj01​ @it-is-rebel-owl-ma-dudes @spencerreidxoxo @duskholland

#harrison osterfield #harrison osterfield imagine #harrison osterfield x reader #harrison osterfield x you #harrison osterfield fic #harrison osterfield series #harrison osterfield x y/n #kritis800followerswc

[blankdblank]

Ridikulus Pt 31

With Regulus claiming the week for Em’s care in a sort of acclimation period for him and Lindir to see how their jobs would handle a child between them you were more than able to catch up on some sleep. Free periods at school before lunch you spent in your office focusing on the supplements you were sending off to Rohan to help with the condition so many seemed to suffer from including their Queen. Between shipments your eager owl carried off in enchanted pouches for each afflicted your eyes kept turning to the potion nearly ready for Thorin’s change.

Humming to yourself you were off to stop in at Erebor. Using the door attaching the mountain to Dale you entered and were on the verge of skipping lost in the tune mid snack on a chocolate orange resting in your palm. Weaving through the curious Dwarves you caught sight of Ori who grinned and hurried over halting momentarily from his path to state, “Thorin is in the meeting room just off the Throne Room.”

“Thank you,” you said offering him a slice he grinned in taking and hurried off with a soft thanks of his own while you turned towards the Throne Room. Peering all around at the marvel of a hall you crossed the rail-less bridge following the echoes of low voices to another walkway, at the end of which the guards outside the door opened them and your lips parted. “Oh, you-..”

Peering inside with a tinge of yellow at your roots you eyed the table with Thengel, the Durin men who all glanced up at you catching your brief wave when Thorin stated, “Miss Black, this is a surprise. Is anything wrong?”

Shaking your head you stepped inside stating, “No, um, I didn’t mean to intrude.”

Thorin shook his head, “Not at all. You are always welcome here.”

“Well, I won’t take long, just wanted to say your potion should be ready tomorrow. Around six after classes should do it if that’s good for you?”

His lips parted in a relieved chuckle, “That, would be perfect. Thank you again.”

You shook your head, “Not a problem at all.”

Thengel smirked asking, “Queen Jaqi is assisting you with potions as well? Surely I’d have lost my Queen and our little ones had she not offered us aid.”

Thorin chuckled again unable to keep from grinning, “The potion is to turn me into a Dam so I may carry heirs of my own.”

Thengel’s lips parted, “You are forgoing your throne?”

Dain answered for Thorin, “Our kin would never abandon him in his path to having bairns of his own.”

Thengel grinned at you stating, “Impressive feat discovering such a potion.” He turned his eyes back to Thorin, “Whenever you find the change successful we would be grateful to show our respects to your future heirs.”

Thorin nodded and looked to you, “I do hope this will not interfere with the planning for your celebration, if it would interfere-,”

You shook your head, “Thranduil is the one who settled on throwing the celebration all on his own and insists he has it all covered. This will not interfere with anything, just prepare yourself, it will be quite painful.”

Thorin rumbled back, “A tolerable pain for bairns. I will manage.”

You nodded and said, “I’ll leave you to it, I’ve been charged with taking Tuo out and then told to nap again,” When you looked to Thengel you said, “I hope your people take to the medicine quickly and find some relief.”

Thengel chuckled, “It has aided us greatly already. We thank you heartily and cannot wait to see our gift outshine that of Gondor’s.”

“I haven’t met anyone from Gondor yet,” making his brow arch up, “Tonks mentioned traveling there and Thranduil said something about a coat they might make me.”

Thengel, “Nothing compared to our gift.”

Making you smirk and say, “Well, if their men are as troublesome as Tonks described I may end up returning their gift for a few black eyes.” You nodded your head in his loud laugh echoed by his Men around him including his cousin Halmar greatly relieved taking your momentary grin his way as a sign you were off on a better footing from the first meeting when you had punched him. “Don’t go warning them. I want them honest.” Out again you strolled allowing the now antsy Dwarves just bursting to explode the news all through the mountain to conclude the meeting with the Dwarves to lay the groundwork for a rebirth of their former trade agreements by establishing a friendship and trust.

Back in the heart of the Throne Room you zapped back to the archway in Pumpernickel you used to head straight for Northern Greenwood. Ginny was on a late lunch with Haldir to hear about his day. While Taule claimed another evening with the boys, and Legolas through your duo focusing on your party plans leaving you to go and find Tuo. A long ride found you next eating as filling a dinner as you could muster before heading off to bed early hoping to have some time to get up early to prep some things for the big change the following day.

.

Giggles however woke you in the crawling of the silvery white curly haired twins crossing from the foot of your bed to your side with Estel behind you already leaned over your shoulder. His wavy brown hair pooling into your face in a peck on your cheek, “We picked berries, Naneth.”

Inhaling deeply your arms circled the trio you kissed the heads on and hummed out, “Berries are nice.” Behind them Legolas came into the doorway and you flashed him a sleepy grin, “Leg, did you pick berries too?” Over his shoulder you saw Thranduil and Glorfindel.

Legolas replied, “I just returned from my rounds and they were gone.”

Glancing at Estel you sighed out, “They are very tall you know,” he nodded, “I do hope you remember what it felt like to be this small when you reach their size.”

Elurin giggled saying, “We will.”

His brother nodded and you combed your fingers through his hair removing a brewing knot there, “We didn’t mean to scare them.”

You shook your head, “They’re still used to only having one little one around. It’ll calm down, they’ll adjust.” Up you slid and sat up in Estel’s path to Legolas who picked him up.

Glorfindel came closer to grab the twins asking, “Did you sleep well?”

You nodded brushing your hair out of your face changing its shade from a burnt orange to silvery blue again, “Have to check on my rainbow spear viper though, I think she laid her eggs.” Curling your legs up your shorts were revealed under your baggy quidditch jersey from your father’s school days.

When your doorway popped up Thranduil asked, “Is that a bad thing?”

Turning around still walking backwards you replied, “No, just have to make sure she’s got enough coal or she likes to spark up and that agitates the Lemurtelba in the habitat next to hers.” Smirking at the men you nodded your head to the side, “Come and see. They love to brag on their nests.”

Elured, “Are they birds?”

“No, snakes.” In his momentary flinch of fear in his eyes you stopped and moved closer to him stroking his cheek with a curled finger, “Snakes are not evil creatures, they speak a different language and are afraid of those who can’t understand them. All they have is their teeth and their bodies. I’ll show you if you like when you’re older, they are friendly and docile when treated with respect, like horses or Tuo and his herd. Their venom could kill or cure, if you know how to use them. My snakes won’t hurt you. They wouldn’t dare.” He nodded and you turned to show them through the Chamber of Secrets snake room parting their lips at the various habitats holding your snakes who all peered out at you hissing greetings to the children you translated for them.

A large pitch black habitat revealed to be a cave with a stepping stone path across a dark river was what the group stared into watching you reach the tree on the other side with a silver slithering snake that parted their lips. The head nearly two feet around on a body that filled the tree seemingly holding this cave up with its endless woven branches looked you over and melted into your palms as you greeted her. At the roots of the tree you pulled back a pile of black leaves revealing golden eggs lighting up you and the tree in your counting the eggs she had laid. Covering the eggs again you summoned a basket of mangoes for her accepting her thanks in her move to eat while you trotted across the river again.

Legolas asked, “How large was she when you found her?”

“Few feet shorter. Found her on one of the last missions I had before landing here. Some idiot from R thought they could use her venom as a weapon.”

Thranduil, “Is that not possible?”

“They are constrictors.” His brow inched up, “There are snakes that poison their prey and those that squeeze them with their bodies. She feeds on mountain goats twice a year and mangoes the rest of it.”

Glorfindel, “Snakes eat fruit?”

You nodded, “A great many things varying with each breed. The meat is for her clutches of eggs, the mangoes help her grow and helps her coat shimmer.”

Estel asked about while pointing at the rainbow colored snake slithering out of its habitat towards you that rose to rest on your shoulders to allow you to show the boys, “This is Dilby, he loves to meet people.” Moving closer you allowed them to reach out and stroke his sides making his coat shift colors stirring giggles from them that triggered his webbed ridges down his back rise. “Only thing you have to worry about with this guy is when he gets cranky in their mating season, they like to bite. Non venomous, but,” he opened his jaws at the stroke of your finger under his head parting their lips seeing the five rows of teeth and four large fold out fangs that extended dripping with blue droplets. “It is not comfortable, but their venom helps re-grow bones. Used it plenty of times myself.”

Glorfindel, “What reason would there possibly be to need to re-grow a bone?”

“You can only break a bone so many times. If it’s bad enough of a break it’s healthier to vanish the bone and grow another.”

Estel, “Does it hurt?”

“Yes, and the potion tastes, well, let’s hope you won’t need it. Certainly not pumpkin juice.” Making them giggle as he slithered down to head for the open pantry for a snack, “Don’t mind him, just off to find a cantaloupe.”

Thranduil, “Does Tulip eat melons?”

“She prefers vegetables. Can go through a whole cart of cabbages a week if you let her.”

Elured, “Who is Tulip?”

You smirked guiding them into her chamber saying, “That is my ancestor’s head,” answering their unspoken question of whose head they next saw Tulip slithering out of the mouth of.

Estel gasped, “I’ve seen her.”

“Yes you have, she is a Basilisk.” The boys awed at her large fangs nearly the size of their bodies and stole strokes on her scales. In her path out to head out to the gardens outside your home you walked into your office to peek in at the simmering cauldron, the boys stayed to inspect more while Glorfindel and Thranduil came up behind you curious what you were doing.

Wetting their lips they eyed your fingers trailing along an open page on a manual beside the small cauldron in the center of a counter Glorfindel peered into beside Thranduil as he asked, “Is that, fur?”

You nodded, “Yes, a lovely shade of puce, should be done in a couple hours now.”

Thranduil, “This is Thorin’s potion?”

“Yup.” A glance at the clock had their eyes follow yours.

Glorfindel, “We should feed you.”

“That would be lovely.” He smirked and leaned in claiming a kiss and turned to gather the twins while Thranduil’s arm circled your back and you leaned into his chest accepting his kiss.

Thranduil, “You did sleep well?”

You nodded, “Feeling better.”

Lowly he asked, “When is the change?”

“Told them six.”

He nodded, “I will clear my meetings for later.”

“You-,”

He shook his head leaning in to claim a second kiss, humming against your lips, “This is an incredible gift, we will be there to witness it, because you do understand our people would wish to use it as well. It would be easier to explain the process to possible couples.”

“It’s painful, not much of a process.” You said leading the way to join the others off to the breakfast prepared with the jam from the berries the boys had picked for you through the night.

.

Soft clicks and dings sounded in your typing up the copy of your practice OWL and NEWT exams while your students sat going through their monthly exams. You weren’t known for pulling punches, it was a more hands on and entertaining process for your students but the sheer volume of what you covered gave each of them ample topics and history in each lesson for them to fully absorb each. Countless extra tidbits were added to keep things interesting and fill in all the gaps in what the main textbooks covered.

200 pages would be witted down later to edit but sat in the box you had locked it into before the final class before your lunch. Back down in the Chamber you checked on the potion and turned to the selection of books you had pulled together listed for the usual pack given to patients. With Hedwig came a note from Hermione confirming the six o’clock meeting time with a warning that you would have an audience making you groan. “Of course..”

The rest of your classes also had tests leaving your classroom mostly silent, while you readied some more pregnancy supplements for Mrs Granger drawing the eyes of the class when the liquid turned to gel and each scoop you settled on the tray hardening into circles you added to a jar. When all the tests were completed you had finished filling a second jar and a girl asked, “Medicine for your store?”

“No, prenatal supplements. A few relatives are expecting.” A few moments later the clock chimed another hour and you said, “Alright, off to freedom.” Off they did go and turning to your desk you tied a bow around the top of the jar you slipped into a pouch you passed to your owl that flew off hearing who he was flying off to.

It was all planned a brief snack before the trip to Erebor, in the main garden where you found your cushioned stool open between Fred and George who raised their glasses, “Heard from Hermi, we’ve got an audience.”

Chuckling to yourself you took a sip of your tea and looked to Legolas in his asking, “Would an audience not aid in the process?”

Grinning at him you said, “Not much of a process. Just painful. Most don’t want one.”

Beside you Fred spoke as you eyed the trio of boys greeting you in their climb onto their seats claiming their helpings of the snacks, the puzzling gaze wondering how much of their lives they remembered past the burned in day they lost it all including their lives. “Usually it’s just the couple and the one administering the potion.”

George, “Some times the one taking it prefers to be alone with the one administering the potion. All personal preference really.”

A pulsing crystal appeared in front of you as you and the boys were snacking on more of the fruit slices you mumbled, “Mmm, Thorin.”

Glorfindel chuckled as Taule stated, “You go, I will watch the Princes.”

You nodded once on your feet, strolling around the table and crouched down kissing their stuffed cheeks that rose in creeping grins, then you rose and turned to lead your group through your doorway after sending the crystal to Hermione.

Around you the Chamber of Secrets grew and you led the pair back to your office where you collected a small stack of books and levitated the cauldron with the bright pink fur over the top waving as the mixture gurgled underneath. Along the way to the now changed doorway Fred collected a pack of tools from the desk and made for the door that closed and opened revealing the rushing Durins flooding into Thorin and Bilbo’s apartment.

Smiles grew on their faces as they all peered into the odd mixture in the cauldron in your path into Thorin’s bedroom. Anxiously Thorin was rubbing his palms together then met your eyes as you said, “You’ll want to remove your belt and boots if possible.”

He nodded and followed your suggestion as Fred and George popped up into their view helping to unroll the set of tools while you set the books on the table beside Thorin’s bed. Dis eyed the books asking, “You require manuals for this”

You shook your head, “No. These are for Thorin.” Your eyes locked with his, “One for basic anatomy, tips on proper hygiene and the final one is mainly for reproduction and sexual responses.”

Thorin timidly repeated, “Sexual, responses?”

You grinned at him claiming the first tool, a hook with a slotted spoon in your other hand. You peeled the top layer of fur back Fred eased with another hook into a jar then capped it before it started giving off a pink gas leaving the fur melting into a layer of shimmering slime as you raised an avocado looking ball and swapped the hook for a scalpel George handed you to slice around the middle of it. “Our anatomies are vastly different. I am not certain if you have manuals on sexual responses in your culture or if yours match ours, but if they do then that book would help you get better acquainted with your new body and its responses.” He wet his lips, “You being intimate with Bilbo in this body will be vastly different as a Dam, the way we feel things the way or bodies respond are different. Even when you’re alone, self pleasure is a bit different than your current grip and tug situation.”

A blush grew on his cheeks and Dis opened the final manual, “Thank you. It was getting a bit difficult to explain that subject to them.”

“Oh, I will warn you, they are Wizard books, so the illustrations might move.” As you said that Dis gasped at one of them and closed the book tilting it out of Fili and Kili’s sight. “I assure you it is all scientific, not lewd.” Her eyes moved to the cup George slid the top half of the kiwi appearing assumed fruit giving off a scent of pears into a small bowl as you took a small spoon to scoop out the apparent skinless grape then offered it to Thorin, “This will taste bitter, try to chew it ten times then swallow.”

He nodded following the order only to pucker almost instantly at the taste, chewing painfully slowly he got to ten then swallowed watching as you held out the lower half to add to the bowl from George that shifted to a liquid as well you offered to him, “Swish it around in your mouth then swallow.” He nodded and drew in a deep breath and raised the bowl to his lips and clamped his eyes shut emptying the bowl to begrudgingly swish the mixture around then swallow it in as large gulps as he could manage.

Wetting your lips you set the bowl in George’s palm then led Thorin to bed where you sat down and acted as his pillow folding your arms across his chest saying softly, “Just remember, deep breaths as often as you can manage and squeeze my hands and arms as hard as you need to.”

Around you Fred and George summoned the chairs from the other room to set on either side of the bed simply stating, “You’ll need them.”

Everyone settled into them as Bilbo sat beside the bed in the closest ones while Thorin mumbled, “My skin is tingling.”

You nodded, “That’s the first sign it’s working properly.”

He nodded and closed his eyes for a deep breath as he felt his chest tightening only to have his eyes shoot open with a groan at the loud crack of his breastbone cracking that made Bilbo flinch while the others couldn’t help but glance away. Instantly his hands gripped your forearms tightly as the cracks spread over his shoulders visibly contorting them under his shirt as you mentally whispered, “Muffliato,” silencing his pained sounds from the group with only the Twins, Thranduil and Glorfindel looking on still bearing pained expressions.

Each bone seemed to be breaking while his muscles tore then melded back together into their new shapes as Fred eyed Dain at his asking, “Does she feel that much pain when she shifts?”

Fred shook his head, “No. Morpher’s bones, well they shift to a near jelly and then harden into their new shapes.”

George, “For the rest of us there are a few options, all temporary but no less painful. The bones have to be broken, muscles reformed into the new shapes.” His hand settled on Bilbo’s shoulder to crouch down beside him peering up at you softly whispering to Thorin, “It only lasts a couple minutes. Well worth it.”

Bilbo’s teary eyes fell on his, “I, can’t-..”

George grinned at him patting his hands wringing on his lap, “Honestly first time Fred and I made a polyjuice potion we took it in turns. I nearly passed out seeing him shift and he threw up seeing me change. But we got used to it after the fifth time or so.” Bilbo sniffled as he smiled saying, “It hurts watching our loved ones in pain. Even more so when it could easily have been avoided.”

Fred joined him adding his hand to theirs, “You are going to have a baby. Possibly dozens. Trust me, this pain will fade the moment it’s confirmed he’s expecting.”

They turned again to see Thorin breathing steadily in your arms far more relaxed as the shift ended, and you whispered, “Another deep breath.” He inhaled, “Through the worst of it now.”

His hands released your arms now bearing red patches freeing you to ease them over his shoulders in testing squeezes down his arms while Thorin inspected his hands seeming a bit less meaty. Lowering your cone of silence you shifted out from behind him freeing Bilbo to sit behind him to cuddle with and kiss him and you to move between Thorin’s legs you raised up one at a time inspecting each of his joints noting his sturdier hips, knees and ankles. In a peek under the neck of his shirt he grinned then peered up at you as you felt the realignment of his hips bringing his attention to the shift below his waist, “Hmm.”

You giggled grinning up at him, “It’ll feel different for a while.” He nodded, “I think we’ll give you a week to relax to it before we start on the fertility potions, if you still want them.”

He nodded, “Yes.”

You wet your lips accepting his hands to test his movement in those as well, “Oh, I wanted to tell you. Those potions with our people do tend to drastically cut pregnancies down.”

His brow rose, “I don’t understand.”

“We normally carry nine months but with the potions the longest we’ve had was five months.”

Thorin let out a stunned breath as Bilbo said, “Well Dwarves are pregnant for up to four years, so if it cuts it in half then we’ll still have two years to prep.”

“I just wanted you to know. We aren’t certain with our own people so we prep quickly, usually before taking the potion, and with the differences in our races it would be best to do the same possibly.”

Thorin nodded then grinned again claiming your hand, “I can never thank you enough. We, never can. First our home, now this.” Wetting his lips he shifted his legs to the end of the bed where Dis, Diaa and Niro grinned nearing him claiming hugs stealing a feel of his hidden figure.

Diaa, “Now, we have to get you into better fitting clothes to show off the shift.” Thorin nodded then turned to claim a kiss from Bilbo then turned excitedly to redress with the females of his line in his closet as Thranduil chuckled offering Bilbo a wrapped packet matching the one Glorfindel handed him, bringing a curious grin to his face accepting and opening it.

Thranduil, “It is tradition with our people to give seeds in hopes of a fruitful union.”

Bilbo’s grin grew and he nodded his head eyeing the paintings of the flowers on each of the inner packets holding rare flowers, “Thank you. Our kin share that tradition.”

A few moments later as you sent your cauldron back to your office and within a few minutes all turned to see Thorin proudly exiting his closet. Fully crowned in better fitting pants and a deep blue golden edged shirt under a hugging vest with a sash around his waist accentuating his pronounced bust and wider hips then added his boots again offering his hand to Bilbo. “My Love, now we show off the results.”

Bilbo couldn’t help but grin at the seeming glistening dark hair and beard on his Love’s face that seemed a bit more slender but not that much changed. He hopped up accepting help into his fur vest from Frerin then folded his hand in Thorin’s as you eased off their bed to Thranduil and Glorfindel’s sides where they eyed the bruises starting to form on your arms in your walk after the Durins.

Atop an overlooking balcony you watched the Durins pass through the crowding Dwarves with an easy smile at the excited compliments on his successful change between eager glances up at you from couples wishing for the same aid. Blindly Fred opened the cylinder he pulled from his pocket he held in front of you, with two fingers you claimed a swipe and smoothed it over the bruises before he pocketed it again then joined George in popping off to check in on Dudley on the end his first shift with Ginny.

Glorfindel muttered, “That was-,”

“Painful. But he is going to have some very handsome babies.”

Thranduil grinned asking, “Durins have always been fruitful, that is not an unfair assumption.”

“Not an assumption.” The pair glanced at you and you said, “I can feel it, people’s family trees sort of, I can feel them expanding. He’ll be quick to carry, even without the fertility potions.”

Glorfindel, “That is good to hear your gift is quite extraordinary.”

“It has its moments.”

Thranduil’s hand smoothed across your back, “Come, back to the food then we can have our Healers ready a session for you. Your arms must be in pain with those bruises.”

Pt 32

#Thranduil x Reader OC #Glorfindel x Reader OC #HP Crossover #Bilbo x Thorin #Gender Potion

[hasmashdoneanythingwrong]

Fan servant: Foreigner Arachne

Based upon and inspired by a comment from @sugarzillakingofcanes, Foreigner Arachne is the Greek Woman Arachne summoned with aspects of the Jorōgumo youkai and empowered by the Great Old One Atlach-Nacha. Arachne is a foreigner who focuses on paralyzing and weakening foes with stun, poison, and Quick Crits, especially the Divine.

Class: Foreigner

Rarity: Gold (SR or SSR)

Attack: High for Rarity.

HP: About Average for Rarity.

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral (As a full human Arachne was a decent person, if boastful and full of hubris. However, the influences of Atlach-Nacha and the Jorōgumo have loosened her morals enough to be disqualified from a “good” alignment, however as she is not actively malevolent she isn’t counted as “evil”. Thus, Neutral.)

Attribute: Earth (Arachne originates from a Greek myth, the Jorōgumo is a youkai, and Atlach-Nacha is a Great Old One. All of these alone would be Earth, so together it’s definitely Earth.)

Deck Composition: QQQAB

Hit Counts: 5(Q)/3(A)/1(B)/6(E)

Star Absorption: 155 (Arachne is definitely a Crit Servant, with 3 Quick Cards and a Quick NP in Arachne’s Tapestry)

Star Generation: 26%

ATK NP Gen: 0.6%

DEF NP Gen: 3%

Instant Death Chance: 15% (Arachne’s myth and the very thing that grants her an affinity for spiders ends in her suicide and cursing. To wield the power of Atlach-Nacha doesn’t change this, hence the high for a Foreigner 15%)

Gender: Female

Traits: Servant, Humanoid, Threat to Humanity, Sky or Earth, Weak to Enuma Elish

Stats:

Strength: B

Endurance: B

Agility: A

Mana: E

Luck: D

NP: B+

Active Skills:

Phantasmal Silk A: The silk of the Jorōgumo and the silk of Atlach-Nacha both have fantastical properties. Arachne can pick and choose which to include or discard, creating all manner of silks that can benefit allies or hinder enemies. [Upon activating this skill, you are given the choice to apply this skill either to allies or to the selected enemy. Has a recharge of 5 turns at level 10]

If applied to allies: Apply a one turn invincibility, a three turn HP Regen (3000 HP at Level 10), and a three turn Def Up (30% at Level 10). However, applies a special 1 turn Stun (considered a buff for Debuff Resistance purposed.) Further reduces damage dealt by [Divine] trait enemies by another 20% (Number based on Level 10). [Arachne uses her nigh-indestructible silk to cocoon everyone (herself included) for protection. The silk is charged with the energies of the world of dreams from Atlach-Nacha’s silk, which Arachne uses to heal and soothe those in the cocoon. That said, even once the cocoon has loosened, the silk remains a little longer and helps strengthen armors. Arachne’s sheer hate of the gods that cursed her for daring to be talented gives the silk surprisingly potent anti-Divine properties.]

If applied to an enemy, applies a 2 turn stun that has a 50% chance of wearing off at the end of turn 1. As well, applies Poison (500 Damage per Turn at Level 10) for 3 turns. If the target has the [Divine] Trait, the stun is guaranteed to last two turns and has a 50% chance to wear off before turn 3, and will end after turn 3. Also, apply a Toxic/Poison Damage Up debuff for 3 turns to Divine targets that doubles the damage dealt by Poison. [The Jorōgumo can cast a net of its silk, and many spiders can launch envenomed silk at prey. Arachne combines both of these into a hyperlethal trap. Like her silk, her venom is also tainted with Arachne’s rage against the Gods.]

Irritant B: Apply a 3 turn Quick Resistance Down debuff (15% at Level 10) to a single enemy and grants the whole allied party Critical Damage Up (15% up at Level 10) and Star Generation Up (20% at Level 10) buffs against that enemy only for 3 turns. Against [Divine] trait enemies, also applies a 3 turn 10% Defense Down Debuff. 5 Turn Cooldown at Level 10. [As arguably one of the most famous Western myths involving the creation of the spider, Arachne has aspects of all variety of spiders and tarantulas at her disposal. Of note is that, like some tarantulas, Arachne has access to urticating hairs. These small hairs can be launched from the abdomen of Arachne’s spider half, though these urticating hairs grow back like human hair rather than with molting like a tarantula, and are relatively massive and can cause lacerations. Usually though, the victim will just feel immensely itchy and physically irritated, making it hard to keep their guard up and leaving their weak spots open to fast strikes and surprise attacks. As with everything Arachne has, this effect is worse for the Divine, actively weakening their defenses.]

Envenom B+: Gives Arachne’s regular attacks a chance to apply a three turn Poison debuff to the targeted enemy (65% base chance at Level 10, flat 100 Damage regardless of skill level) on each hit for 3 turns. Against enemies with the [Divine] trait, attacks will also apply another Poison debuff (this one doing 150 Damage per turn) but only if the first Poison debuff applied, as well as have a chance (45% chance) to apply a Stun on the first hit of a command card. 5 Turn Cooldown at Level 10. [Arachne’s spider half does have fangs, as does Arachne herself in her Outer Form. If an opening presents itself, Arachne can inject venom into a living thing with these fangs. Due to her spider half having access to traits from all species of spider and tarantula, Arachne’s venom is a potent cocktail of the most potent traits of different spiders, made even more potent by Atlach-Nacha’s power adding the venom of The Spiders of Leng. Arachne insists she has no control over the venom’s composition, and thus the inclusion of one of the more infamous effects of the Brazillian Wandering Spider’s venom was not her choice. She does, however, admit it will add a nice layer of irony to killing Zeus herself. He can be amorous in death too, she says.]

Passive Skills

Entity of the Outer Realm EX: Gain 2 Critical Stars every turn, Increase Debuff Resistance by 12%. [Arachne maintains a connection to Atlach-Nacha, who even influences her form come Outer Form (set of four small spider eyes under her now slitted human eyes, fangs, her spider half taking on the colors of a Spider of Leng, etc.)]

Presence Concealment (Hunter) EX: Increases own Quick Card Star Generation by 12%. [Arachne’s usage of Presence Concealment is strange to put it bluntly. She can only conceal herself when actively stalking prey or lying in wait for an enemy. However, if she’s doing these she is completely impossible to perceive by mundane means, and even magical means require extra effort.]

Independent Action B: Increases own Critical Damage by 8% [While she needs mana like any servant, she can sustain herself on her connection to Atlach-Nacha for a time.]

Noble Phantasm

Tapestry of Arachne

Behold, A Blasphemous Truth Of The Gods.

Rank: B+

Class: Anti-Divine

Type: Quick

Hit Count: 7

(All Numbers based on Level 5)

Deal massive damage to a single enemy. Apply a 1 Turn Stun debuff and a 3 turn Poison debuff (1000 Damage per turn). If used on a [Divine] Servant, however, the Poison debuff is instead a 5 Turn 5000 Damage per turn debuff that cannot be removed by any means before Turn 3, and seals NP and Skills for 2 turns as well. [Arachne calls upon the full power of her connection to Atlach-Nacha and ascends to her Outer Form if not already there. Using this power, she injects a special venom into her chosen target that forces them into a dream state, where they experience a horrid nightmare. In this nightmare, Arachne weaves a continuation of the Original Tapestry she wove in her contest with Athena around the target. Once the threads are in place, she pulls them all tight, imbedding the target’s dream self in the tapestry and revealing all the crimes of the Gods against mortals, from Zeus’s infidelity and forcing himself upon women, to even the crimes of foreign gods like Ishtar and her destruction against the people of Ur. Backed by the power of Atlach-Nacha, this information gains the same gravitas as info from the Book of Eibon or the Necronomicon, and especially devastates Divine Servants, who are forced to confront their crimes.]

Appearance

First Ascension: Fully human, brown hair and brown eyes. Clothing is a Greek peplos, though with a subtle (though not impossible to notice) spider web pattern over it and and Greek style sandals.

Second Ascension: Below Arachne’s stomach, about where the pelvic area would be, she now has a spiders body, with Arachne’s body coming off where the spider’s eyes would be on the cephalothorax. Though the body is reminiscent more of a tarantula’s (rounded back abdomen with hair), the colors and legs are directly that of the Jorō spider, the spider generally though of as that of the Jorōgumo. Arachne’s clothing now consists of a kimono, though with definite Ancient Greek designs on it (example: sleeves have the meander pattern going around them at the ends, colors reminiscent of ancient Greek pottery, etc ) Arachne’s hair is now a deep deep black, while her arms, hands, shoulders, and parts of her neck are now covered in a strange, black chitin like substance that leaves the ends of the fingers pointed. Her eyes are more akin to an Oni’s like Ibaraki’s or Archer of Inferno’s, but still brown.

3rd Ascension: Drinking deep from the well of Atlach-Nacha’s power, Arachne’s spider half now more closely resembles a Spider of Leng, being a deep purple color. Her kimono, a part of the Jorōgumo’s influence, remains, although it is partially torn and shredded to reveal the chitin from Arachne’s arms fully covers her torso in a manner reminiscent of Greek Hoplite armor, the “chitin” now a more metallic bronze color. Her hair is now stark white and reminiscent of spiders silk, while her eyes are now a reddish brown. Below her human eyes are now two sets of beady spider eyes. In her mouth, notable fangs.

My Room Lines

Zeus (probably coming LB5, he counts) (Second and Third Ascension): Zeus?! ZEUS?! You summoned the one god who represents the worst of their flaws?! ...Master, you’re lucky I trust you after you’ve shown me kindness even with this form, but let him know even you won’t be able to save him if he acts up.

Heracles (All Ascensions): Oh my goodness is that Heracles? The hero of such strength we use his name as an adjective? You have to let me speak with him, I’ve always loved his tales! ...Oh, he’s a Berserker? Then, this is likely him after... (Sigh) Yet more proof the gods are worse that they’d want us to believe.

Gilgamesh (Archer) (First and Second Ascensions): Hey, I don’t know who that blonde jerk is but he has some nerve! He dares to claim he is on humanity’s side while indulging in some of his worst, most base fantasies and treating his very much non-divine subjects like his property?! I call bull, he’s just as bad as the very gods he claims to be against! (Added after Third Ascension) Even if this form were to disqualify me as human, I’d still say I’ve never met a more hypocritical king.

#fate #fate grand order #fgo #Arachne #fanservant

[moonlit-nest]

I got our Wizard a gift

   So I play 5E with all of my school friends, right? Quick background of our party makeup: Our DM, of course, and then me, a Paladin (don’t worry, I’m not the “Lawful Stupid” Variety) Sorcerer multiclass named Sunn. Additionally, you’ve got Fib the Rogue, Kepesk the Bloodhunter, Lotë the Druid, Edgar the Fighter and Minthe the Wizard. 

    So, my character, Sunn, is a pretty nice guy. At least, he tries to be. He thinks about others and likes to handle party talking and social skills, due to Charisma being his primary stat. Not always, but usually. He’s kindhearted, charming, and passionate about the people he cares for.         Then you’ve got our Wizard, Minthe... complete 180. A Necromancer who tends to front a cold shoulder, and doesn’t seem to really care about other people. At least, not at first (there were backstory reasons as to why she acted the way she did at times, though that’s for another tale). She raises the dead despite the social stigma behind her specialized magic, and tends to take a no shit attitude, and an all or nothing approach. I guess in a way you could say she and Sunn both took the role of joint “Speakers” for the group, since Sunn was the lighthearted “let’s go, team!” Type of guy who rallies his comrades, and Minthe opposed this by keeping the group on track and focused, and was surprisingly level headed, even during times of crisis. You’d think they wouldn’t really get along, right?

   Well, as it turns out, they actually clicked, and surprisingly well! Maybe it was that they were both dedicated and experienced casters, maybe it was that Minthe found my strange character interesting (he’s a Furry, which is almost basically unheard of in our setting by the DM, unless you count established races like Lizardfolk or Arakockra under the furry umbrella term. Buy and large though, Sunn was pretty unique), but they grew to have a slightly antagonistic but genuine friendship the first chance our group got to chill and roleplay in an inn. To get an idea of what their relationship looks like overall, Minthe’s player and I often joke about situations the two could find themselves in, and how, generally speaking, Minthe and Sunn make jabs at the others expense frequently, but always in good fun, as they know each other well enough to not take it so far as to hurt one another’s feelings. In fact, when things get serious, they work surprisingly well together! Admittedly, that may be in part due to the fact that Minthe’s player and I (we’ll call her... Sam, for the sake of privacy 💛) have a pretty good relationship outside of D&D, and we both are very experienced D&D and role players, so we just mesh easily.    So, with that context in mind, we come to the story part. Our party had recently traveled underground (long story short, it was a more secret route into the castle of the city we were under, we were rescuing an innocent woman from execution). There was a puzzle we had to get past involving the guard of said underground path (Sam did a great job here, as she had to tell the guard a story that would entertain him in order to pass, and she rolled very high along with her very good roleplaying, which was more than enough to let us pass), and then we were in the stretch towards the underground criminal base that would allow us passage to the castle from the inside. As we make our way through the narrow cavern, which slowly filled with water, insuring we didn’t lag behind too much, we made our way to a... very... peculiar area.      The walls seemed to end, and all around us looked like a night sky, even below the semi-opaque stairway that seemed to slowly crawl downwards. We had outpaced the water in this point, so we were free to carefully observe our surroundings in this otherworldly zone... I’m not exactly sure what this was to be honest, but my current theory was, at some point, we failed to perceive a portal of some kind that connected us to this magical hallway, a limbo between the cavern to wherever the underground criminal zone was. Anyway, no point in delaying, we begin proceeding downwards into the abyss, dimly (and I do mean  dimly) lit by artificial star lights.   

   I should mention that, at this point, we concluded this session. A week passed us by, and we were hyped! Unfortunately, Sam was unable to proceed with this week’s session due to family business I believe, so we agreed to proceed with the session and edify her on the events immediately once the session concluded. As for Minthe, we felt it would be wrong to do her the disservice of just pretending she was there but not letting her do anything, so, despite our lack of a character sheet, we agreed to let someone use her character. I took that role, since I had the relative most experience with both 5E and Spellcasting out of the rest of the players at the time. 

   Now, resuming the in game events, we’re traveling through this odd realm of darkness, faint light, and downward stairs. Eventually, we begin to worry a little, so we all decide we’ll be making perception rolls to keep cautious. The dice were rolled, and every single one of our characters heard a strange series of noises as we listened... it sounded like... chittering...   

   Naturally, we’re unnerved. This was the first thing we had in this campaign that even felt reminiscent of horror themed, so we weren’t sure what the DM had planned... we get our vigil, and remained stalwart, proceeding further below. Eventually, we see the outline of a massive set of doubled doors, complete with large handles that were probably higher up than Lotë, who I wanna say was the shortest member of the party. However, the doors aren’t all we see.       Above, we see multiple lights flicker in the darkness. One, two, four, eight, sixteen, thirty... tens... hundreds. Blinking in quick succession. They were a slightly different color than the stars surrounding us.     These, as was obvious, were no stars.        From just above the door, an incredible and mortifying sight revealed itself - a monstrous, gargantuan, opalescent Spider, the starlight now reflecting off of its revealed form, its razor sharp fangs, needle pointed legs and gemstone-fortified body sparkling in all of its death-foretelling glory. Then, as if things couldn’t be worse, the seemingly infinite eyes of above closed down towards us - hundreds of smaller twinkling spiders, raining down upon us.

   Roll Initiative.       Our Bloodhunter Kepesk went first, activating his crimson rite on his weapon and charging for the spider. Then a small group of the swarm attacked everyone in a small enough zone, dealing minimal, but still noteworthy, piercing damage. Keep in mind that the fact that this battle takes place on a stairway limits our mobility, lest we risk falling off of said stairs into who knew where...   

   The orders continue, Sunn strengthening the party with his magic, Lotë hurling spells and supporting friends when needed, wisely using fire to help ward against the webs that the many abominations sometimes used to keep us in place, Edgar bravely defending his friends with his viscous morning star, Kepesk distracting the leader of the creatures and dealing significant damage with his ice-coated scythe, Fib narrowly dodging and weaving through attacks and cleverly using the darkness to pass checks (presumably for being able to disengage and hide) before returning to the fray with impressive sneak attack damage, and Minthe channeling her most powerful spells at her disposal to decimate the army of spiders.       Now, Kepesk, he’s a... cocky son of a bitch. Well, mayhaps not cocky, but I lack a better term. He’s absolutely chaotic, as is his player, though in the best way possible. He only does nonsense when he knows it can benefit the group, or at least himself and not harm the group, and it always makes for a good laugh! This boss fight would be no different, as he evades and disengages from the giant spider, and attempts to use her own weapons against her - by charming one of the spiders. Not, you know, magically charming them or commanding them. Just... you know, trying to tame it. In the middle of the fight. While also dodging the flurry of swipes and jabs from the boss.       It may sound ridiculous, but we just thought it was as hilarious as it was badass, and we were dying of laughter, even the DM was into it (despite the fact that she later described never in a million years anticipating it, so good on her for being awesome about improvising shit). Now, he did, admittedly, have to earn it. A check to learn more about the spiders, a check to calm the spider, and then a few other things to make sure it didn’t die, fall, etc etc, since we were trying to kill as many spiders as possible, and he was sandwiched between the horde and the boss. He definitely suffered some hits and had to earn his pet gem spider, but, he did!       Now, I see this, and I’m laughing while I think of a way to help. Maybe I have a spell that can make his checks easier, or buy him some time by getting the boss spider’s attention with a Divine Smite from Sunn, as I still had one last spell slot for him. But, I realized, Sunn rolled less than adequate on his initiative, and he was out for more than a few rounds, at least six or so. Minthe, however? She was next.   

   Now, for whatever reason, my thoughts lingered on Sam. “Man”, I thought, “what would Sam think if she were in this situation with Minthe?”       Well, quickly, I had an answer. I smiled to myself, now giggling quietly.       “She’d want a pet of her own, right?” I thought to myself. I mean, I wasn’t sure if she had a familiar or not at the time, but I knew the idea was humored by Sam and our DM. Maybe, just maybe, I could actually pull it off! A check to figure out what these things are, how to tame them, just get Sunn or Edgar to protect her from some spiders and boom, should be easy, right? Yes, it was. Just... not as easy as I thought it would be.       “DM?” I ask, politely.       “Wassup?” She asks in return, awaiting my response.       “Minthe notices Kepesk not fighting with one of the spiders, and reasons that she’s away from most of the enemies... can she try to tame a spider as well?”       She thinks on it for a second, and asks me to explain my reasoning, which I do. Minthe was known for being a little strange, since she was a Necromancer and didn’t really give a damn what people thought about her, so it’s not like it was out of character. I also add that it would be a nice surprise for Sam, since she had thought about getting Minthe a familiar before, and maybe this would be a way to ease that desire until a real familiar could be obtained (she ended up getting a... raven, or maybe a crow, as her legit familiar. He’s hilarious and can communicate using telepathy, he’s surprisingly eloquent with common, if a bit snarky)! The DM rules that I can certainly try, and to roll an Arcana check to learn more about these creatures. Minthe, being a wizard, had a very high score, and I rolled decently, between 10 and 15, so I was safe, and learned all of the information Kepesk had. Then, I roll another Arcana check to try and tame it (the reason I rolled Arcana and not Animal Handling, as I recall, was that Minthe was using her knowledge and actual facts of how to tame the creatures as opposed to intuitive care for the animal). I pick up my D20, shake it with both hands, and mumble “pleeeeaaase work..” to myself. I let go, and a few clacks ring out. People were curious if I could do it.       Natural 20.       I was pumped for the rest of the night - not only was the spider okay with chilling with Minthe, it fell in love! With two new allies on our side, we defeated the rest of the pests and took down the Massive Spider herself! Victory was ours, and the session ended as we pushed open the heavy metal gates, greeted with the sight of relatively civilized society. It was full of crooks, but at least there was an inn, so we felt pretty damn good.       I eagerly texted Sam the report of the session that night once I was in my car on the way home (wasn’t driving, lol), and told her the tale of how she would have a viscous, dangerous little crystal spider to roleplay with as her character in the next session. To this day, both Minthe and Kepesk still have their spider kids and they honestly love them very, very much.       The End! 💛

#dnd #d&d #dnd storytime

[baker-street-irregulars-recs]

Vol. 5: January Recommendations

Aaaand, we’re back for another month of irregular recs! Click below for the list!

The Pure and Simple Truth by 221b_hound  | @221b-hound

Rating: Mature

Fandom: BBC Sherlock

Pairing: Eventual Sherlock/John

Summary: The truth wasn’t always beautiful, but it was theirs. The truth of Sherlock and John and Mary; the truth of siblings and the terrible things they did. It wasn’t pure or simple, but it was what it was.

Crickette’s Note: I know I’ve rec’d other stories by 221b_hound. I absolutely want to visit her Captain’s of Industry AU. I would have to say that her Lock and Key series is probably in my top 5 all time most favorite fan writing in this fandom.

This is a break from my usual rec a fic. I am rec’ing the series. I believe that like her other series 221b_hound will weave masterful storytelling and that after S4 this will be the very series a lot of us will want to glom on to. Her characterization of Holmes and Watson is in my opinion what is going on under the surface of the show. So give it a read, yeah? (Also read Lock and Key, Unkissed, Captains of Industry.) (Do it.) (Right now.)

The Liquid Measure of Your Steps by Mazarin221b | @mazarin221b 

Rating: Explicit

Fandom: BBC Sherlock

Pairing: Sherlock/John Watson

Summary: The murder of a young alpha dancer at a posh omega club gives John and Sherlock a peek into the shadier side of the entertainment industry, where young, unsuppressed alphas are left as vulnerable targets to any omega intent on using their own bond compulsion against them.

Crickette’s Note: So this story is from Alpha/Omega Universe. I adore this. None of the issues with consent. The banter between Sherlock and John is some of my favorite. It reads real. “Animate Cock!” I just wanted to say that. Anyway, I have read this story more than once. This story might be my go too when I read bad A/O and I need eyeball bleach. I wanted to rec this because I really enjoy the universe that she creates and would love to see more from it.

Where the Good Things Grow by Anchors

Rating: Mature

Fandom: BBC Sherlock

Pairing: Sherlock Holmes/ John Watson

Summary: "I have a magic garden."

As come-ons go, John's heard worse.

Crickette’s Note: Hands down this story is magical and lovely. The writer uses bright descriptions that make you visualize exactly where you are. Plus it’s magic tea. I love tea. Especially magic tea. The writing is very lyrical and I enjoyed it. I keep thinking. It was beautiful.. Sorry you’re going to have to read it to understand. I can’t quite capture it and that is a good thing in this case.

Fire and Ice by Laur | @notesoflore

Rating: Explicit

Fandom: BBC Sherlock

Pairing: Sherlock Holmes/ John Watson

Summary: They hadn’t seen each other since Autumn, when John’s power had been fading and Sherlock’s growing. Now that it was Spring, the balances were shifting again, and Sherlock drank in the signs of John’s increasing vitality. The Summer King’s hair, dulled silver during the cold Winter months, was beginning to sprout threads of gold again; the skin peeking out of his warm clothing, too pale still, was regaining its bronzed tones.

“It’s been a long Winter,” John accused, his words billowing into the air. Sherlock inhaled deeply, pulling that damp, Summer-sweet cloud into his lungs. “Your eyes are as icy as ever, but I swear,” he pulled a hand from his coat pocket and reached up, “every Spring, when I touch you…” His burning hot fingertips brushed Sherlock’s frozen cheek, and the Winter King gasped, a shudder rippling through his body as his gaze bore into John’s, “…they melt.”

Crickette’s Note: Lymphadei and I talk a lot about this list and we usually start the month off with.. Well this is what I’m thinking… and Oh yeah that’s a great fic, have you read this one? When I got the notification that this was posted (I subscribe to Laur and you should too!) I told myself to wait because I was working on something. But then Lymphadei linked me. So I took it as kismet and read it. As soon as I finished I sent her a message. I CALL DIBS IT'S MINE! I’M REC’ING IT!!! It’s all ok because I think she has a Laur story she is rec’ing this month too! The magical realm this is set in it just perfect. I love the idea of them as these fey creatures. I would love to see more from this universe. Especially if there is more Johnlock. It's hard to explain without giving total spoilers.

Like Relationship Counseling (But with Bruises) by PoppyAlexander | @fuckyeahfightlock

Rating: Mature

Fandom: BBC Sherlock

Pairing: Sherlock/John

Summary: "God, you filthy bugger."

Crickette’s Note: I actually told a friend that this story was so fucking hot that everyone should read it and cuddlefuck it. Yep. Cuddlefuck this. The banter is perfect, the back and forth between John and Sherlock is sexy as fuck. Oh and it's switchlock at its very best. So fun for everyone. I absolutely adore PoppyAlexander’s work.. I tend to try and savor her work, so I stop myself from binge reading each thing, its more like I find it when I find it and then remind myself not to go crazy. I do reread a lot of her stuff… One day I will have read it and I will be sorry. You can’t go back and read something for the first time all over again. But you? You should binge read everything she does. Its brilliant.

-

The Seafarer; or, A question of Time by DoubleNegative | @onethousandhurrahs

Rating: Explicit

Pairing: Sherlock/John

Fandom: BBC Sherlock

Summary: “Put two ships in the open sea, without wind or tide, and, at last, they will come together. Throw two planets into space, and they will fall one on the other. Place two enemies in the midst of a crowd, and they will inevitably meet; it is a fatality, a question of time, that is all.” - Jules Verne The Indian Ocean, 1880: John H. Watson, MD, meets Sherlock Holmes and is deduced.

Lymphadei’s note: Anything written by DoubleNegative is, in my opinion, a gift from the Johnlock gods. Throw in a bit of history and forbidden romance, and I am living! If the sexual tension is not enough to get your blood pumping, then a good villain and background sapphic romance should do the trick. The build-up is slow and pleasure is deferred, but the story is well worth the wait.

The OtherWorld by Laur | @notesoflore

Rating: Teen

Pairing: Sherlock/John

Fandom: BBC Sherlock

Summary: Dealing with a personal loss, the grieving Holmes family moves to the Pink Palace Apartments, out in the middle of nowhere. Sherlock hates it - the boring house, the weird neighbours and especially his newfound stalker John. But then he's lured through a secret passageway to a whole OtherWorld, where nothing is ever boring and everything is as it should be, and embarks on an adventure that could mean leaving the real world behind forever. A Coraline fusion.

Lymphadei’s note: Soooo, I love Coraline??? So when I saw this, I screamed? Like, is that even normal? Obviously, Laur’s works have become quite a favorite for Crickette and I. The writing is always beautiful and the plots, intriquing. The OtherWorld was no different. Laur simply took a brilliant movie and made it her own in a quite a clever and enjoyable way. The more I gush, the more I give away, but if you’ve seen Coraline, then you’ll have a basic idea of where the story goes. Just don’t get too comfortable.

W.A.T.S.O.N. by nondeducible | @nondeducible

Rating: Gen

Pairing: Sherlock/John

Fandom: BBC Sherlock

Summary: Sherlock has been called a cold, calculating and heartless machine throughout his adult life. It’s only fitting that he finds his first true friend in an Artificial Intelligence.

Lymphadei’s note: I can’t even begin to say how sweet I found this story… Okay, well obviously I can, but seriously! I love this story. Being a strongly empathetic person, sometimes to my detriment, fics like these just pull at my heartstrings. Sherlock was so alone and once again, as in every story of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, only one man (or machine) was capable of being his conductor of light. If you’ve nothing on, go read this right now. It’s a lovely AU that will leave you wanting more.

Miles to Go Before I Sleep by Cyphernaut

Rating: NR

Pairing: Sherlock/John, Greg/Mycroft

Fandom: BBC Sherlock

Summary: Sherlock charges Mycroft with John's safety while he's off tearing down Moriarty's web. Mycroft takes this a step further and brings John home with him, using what he knows of Sherlock and John's (non-sexual) ageplay relationship to create an impromptu "happy family" with Greg.

Lymphadei’s note: Look, I’d just finished rereading the Wee Doctor series by Americanjedi and I needed some daddy Sherlock. I was not disappointed. It’s mostly platonic save for a bit when John is “Big.” Then, I put my slash goggles on. I would say it’s up for interpretation. For the most part, we get to see a sweet side of both Greg and Mycroft, and a John that is too cute for words. Once again, it is proven that Sherlock is willing to do anything for John, so if you’re still reeling from TLD like me, this is a wonderful read.

Perpetual Motion by Fay (Orphaned account)

Rating: Explicit

Pairing: Sherlock/John

Fandom: BBC Sherlock

Summary: Everyone thinks that they're a couple, but Sherlock's self-sexual and John's straight, so they're never going to fall in love, are they? Even if neither of them can imagine life without the other. **** Sherlock hadn’t been in the least bit cold, but he felt warm through and through when John snuggled in beside him. He wondered idly if they could stay like this forever; cuddled up in front of the fire with nothing more complex to solve than the mystery of the box in John’s pocket. “You said that had a present for me,” he murmured with his lips almost touching John’s earlobe. “A small present,” cautioned John. He reached into his dressing gown and drew out a flat box wrapped in unadorned royal blue tissue paper. “Still it’s the thought that counts.” Sherlock arched an eyebrow. “And what thought was that?”

Lymphadei’s note: So, a majority of fics I’ve recced today are fairly innocuous. Yeeeeah, not this one. Here be lots of sex. Lots. We get a bit of interesting background on Sherlock as well as front row seats to witness the developing relationship between our Baker Street Boys. There’s no “bromance” to be found here, but pure, explicit gay sex and romance between men. If that doesn’t hook you in, I don’t know what else will.

-

That’s all for today, folks. See ya next month!

#toplock #bottomlock #switchlock #fanfiction #fanfic #fic rec #fic reccomendation #long fic #short fic #sherlock #john #johnlock #slash fic

[torixus]

Unveiling the Real Zombies

See what the Real Zombies Are

Different types of Zombies /torixus

Portraying Characters of Zombies have gain weight in popular entertainment setting, which features in many written Notes, Movies and Events, including the Halloween Season. Portraying the zombiism those it mean that they really Exist?. Zombie is define by many to be a walking Dead.. The Undead dead as many think of it. Torixus Media Navigate through the web to bring to you the actual cases of zombification The word zombie — originally spelled as zombi — first came into the English language in the 1800s, when poet Robert Southey mentioned it in his History of Brazil. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word comes from the Louisiana Creole or Haitian Creole word zonbi, and it is akin to the Kimbundu term nzúmbe, which means ghost. The word refers to creatures from Haitian folklore that, at its origin, was little more than the ghosts from Western folklore. The General conclusion of all this definition is that, Zombie refers to someone that is rendered mindless by a witch doctor, entering a death-like state while still animated, and thus becoming the witch doctor's slave. Many People in Nigerians, especially  Children Igbo use the word "Zombie" on someone they hate his/her character having labelled the person to be  Sluggish, ugly and not suppose to relate with Normal People. The Question being asked is if Zombies are actually existing here in earth, people want to know what zombies are really, what they represent and how can a being become one if they really exist. Torixus Media surf the Net and have a concluding categories of Zombie Natur Ranging from Ants to Human Kind of Zombie according to MedicalNewstoday 1. Zombie ants

Ophiocordyceps is a genus of fungi that has more than 200 species, and mycologists are still counting. Many species of fungi can be dangerous, often because they are toxic to animals, but there is one thing in particular that makes Ophiocordyceps especially frightening. Carpenter ants taken over by parasitic fungi give in to their attackers and 'lose their minds.' These species of fungus "target" and infect various insects through their spores. After infection takes place, the parasitic fungus takes control of the insect's mind, altering its behavior to make the propagation of fungal spores more likely. Ophiocordyceps "feed" on the insects they attach to, growing into and out of their bodies until the insects die. One of these species, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis sensu lato, specifically infects, controls, and kills carpenter ants (Camponotus castaneus), native to North America. When Ophiocordyceps unilateralis infect carpenter ants, they turn them into zombies. The ants become compelled to climb to the top of elevated vegetation, where they remain affixed and die. The high elevation allows the fungus to grow and later spread its spores widely. Researchers from Pennsylvania State (Penn State) University found that O. unilateralis take full control of the ants' muscle fibers, forcing them to move as it "wants" them to. "We found that a high percentage of the cells in a host were fungal cells," notes David Hughes, who is associate professor of entomology and biology at Penn State. "In essence, these manipulated animals were a fungus in ants' clothing." David Hughes Below, you can watch a video showing how the parasitic fungus infects its victims, leading them to their death. 2. Zombie spiders

Last year, zoologist Philippe Fernandez-Fournier — from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada — and colleagues made a chilling discovery in the Ecuadorian Amazon. A species of parasitic wasps takes full control of small, social spiders, driving them to their death. They found that a previously unknown species of the Zatypota wasp can manipulate spiders from the Anelosimus eximius species to an extent that researchers have never before witnessed in nature. A. eximius spiders are social animals that prefer to remain in groups, never straying too far from their colonies. But Fernandez-Fournier and team noticed that members of this species infected with Zatypota larva exhibited bizarre behavior, leaving their colony to weave tightly-spun, cocoon-like webs in remote locations. When the researchers opened these artificial "cocoons," they found Zatypota larvae growing inside. Further research presented a gruesome string of events. The Zatypota wasps lay eggs on the abdomen of A. eximius spiders. When the egg hatches and the wasp larva emerges, it starts feeding on the spider and begins to take control of its body. When the larva has gained full control of its host, it turns it into a zombie-like creature that is compelled to stray away from its mates and spin the cocoon-like nest that will allow the larva to grow into the adult wasp. Before entering its new "cocoon," though, the wasp larva first finishes its "job" by devouring its host. "Wasps manipulating the behavior of spiders has been observed before, but not at a level as complex as this," says Fernandez-Fournier. "[T]his behavior modification is so hardcore. The wasp completely hijacks the spider's behavior and brain and makes it do something it would never do, like leave its nest and spinning a completely different structure. That's very dangerous for these tiny spiders." Philippe Fernandez-Fournier 3. The reanimated virus

Reanimating humans, or, at least, human-like creatures, as in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or H. P. Lovecraft's "Herbert West: Reanimator," is a notion that has piqued the interest of writers, filmmakers and, of course, scientists, throughout the ages. A newly 'reanimated' giant virus from the Siberian permafrost offers a chilling warning of possible dangers to come. But while reviving dead humans may not be on the cards for our race just yet, reviving other organisms is. This can be particularly unsettling when we think that those organisms are... viruses. In 2014, researchers from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique at Aix–Marseille Université in France dug a fascinating organism out of the Siberian permafrost: a so-called giant virus, about 30,000 years old, which they named Pithovirus sibericum. Giant viruses are called this way because, though still tiny, they are easily visible under the microscope. But there is something else that makes P. sibericum stand apart. It is a DNA virus that contains a large number of genes — as many as 500, to be precise. This is in stark contrast with other DNA viruses, such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which only contains about 12 genes in all. The size of giant viruses, as well as the fact that they contain such a large amount of DNA, can make them particularly dangerous, explain the researchers who discovered P. sibericum since they can stick around for an extremely long time. "Among known viruses, the giant viruses tend to be very tough, almost impossible to break open," explain two of the virus's discoverers, Jean-Michel Claverie and Chantal Abergel, in an interview for National Geographic. "Special environments such as deep ocean sediments and permafrost are very good preservers of microbes [and viruses] because they are cold, anoxic [oxygen-free], and [...] dark," they add. When "reanimated, P. sibericum only infected amoebas — archaic unicellular organisms — but happily not humans or other animals. Yet Claverie and Abergel warn that there may be similar giant viruses buried inside the permafrost that could prove dangerous to humans. Though they have remained safely contained so far, global heating and human action could cause them to resurface and come back to life, which might bring about unknown threats to health. "Mining and drilling mean [...] digging through these ancient layers for the first time in millions of years. If 'viable' [viruses] are still there, this is a good recipe for disaster." Jean-Michel Claverie and Chantal Abergel 4. Zombie plants

Also, in 2014, researchers from the John Innes Centre in Norwich, United Kingdom, found that certain bacteria, known as "phytoplasma," turn some plants into "zombies." Plants such as goldenrods can succumb to the control of manipulative bacteria. The bacteria — which insects disseminate — infect plants such as goldenrods, which have yellow flowers. The infection causes the goldenrods to put out leaf-like extensions instead of their usual blooms. These leaf-like growths attract more insects, which allows the bacteria to "travel" widely and infect other plants. While the transformation does not cause the plant to die, researchers are fascinated by how phytoplasma can bend this host's "will" to make it grow the elements they require to spread and thrive. "The insects transmit bacteria, so-called phytoplasmas, which destroy the life cycle of the plants," says Prof. Günter Theißen from Friedrich Schiller University Jena in Germany, one of the researchers who have closely studied the activity of phytoplasma. "These plants become the living dead. Eventually, they only serve the spread of the bacteria." Prof. Günter Theißen 5. Human zombies?

Photo of a Human zombies

But can humans turn into zombies, too? In the 1990s, Dr. Chavannes Douyon and Prof. Roland Littlewood decided to investigate whether Haitian zombies — reanimated, but mindless humans — were a real possibility. People with Cotard's syndrome are convinced that they are dead. In 1997, the two published a study paper in The LancetTrusted Source in which they analyzed the cases of three individuals from Haiti whose communities had identified as zombies. One was a 30-year-old woman who had, allegedly, quickly died after having fallen ill. Her family recognized her walking about as a "zombie" 3 years after this event. Another was a young man who had "died" at 18, and reemerged after another 18 years at a cockfight. The final case study concerned another woman who had "died" at 18 but was spotted again as a zombie 13 years after this event. Dr. Douyon and Prof. Littlewood examined the three "zombies," and found that they had not been the victims of an evil spell. Instead, medical reasons could explain their zombification. The first "zombie" had catatonic schizophrenia, a rare condition that makes the person act as though they are walking in a stupor. The second person had experienced brain damage, and also had epilepsy, while the third appeared merely to have a learning disability. "People with a chronic schizophrenic illness, brain damage, or learning disability are not uncommonly met with wandering in Haiti, and they would be particularly likely to be identified as lacking volition and memory which are characteristics of a zombi," the researchers write in their paper. But there is also a specific psychiatric disorder called Cotard's syndrome that can cause people to act like zombies. This is because they are under the delusion that they are dead or decomposing. It remains unclear just how prevalent this condition is, but research suggests that it is a rare occurrence. Documented cases of people with Cotard's syndrome are unsettling, nevertheless. One case studyTrusted Source reports the situation of a 53-year-old woman who "was complaining that she was dead, smelled like rotting flesh, and wanted to be taken to a morgue so that she could be with dead people." AnotherTrusted Source speaks of a 65-year-old man who had developed a belief that his organs — including his brain — had stopped working, and that even the house in which he lived was slowly but steadily falling apart. At some point, the man attempted to take his own life. Researchers report that "[h]is suicide note revealed that he wanted to kill himself as he feared spreading a deadly infection to the villagers who resultantly might suffer from cancer." Do such cases mean that zombies are real in some way, or, just as our fascination with the figure of the zombie in folklore and popular culture, do they merely reflect our uneasy relationship with death? We leave it to you to decide. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); via Blogger https://ift.tt/33qXE2J

#Lifestyle #NEWS

[airsoftmilitarynews-blog]

Welcome, to the part one of the ALPINE series of reviews. In this instalment, we’ll be taking a look at an insulating jacket, made by one of our favourite manufacturers, CARINTHIA. It’s the G-LOFT REVERSIBLE JACKET. The jacket itself was provided by SPEQ-SE, a veteran owned company from the republic of Ireland. They want to offer only the best to their customers, that is why they decided to stock CARINTHIA products as well.

In this authors opinion, every person has their own definition of comfort. So when thinking about a new insulating jacket, one must always know, what environment they’ll be in. For me, that usually means carrying an extra half of a kilogram. You know, just to be safe when temperatures drop.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

When you get the jacket, it comes packed in its own hook and loop closure display bag. The first thing ta popped to mind was “wow, now this is how you display your product”. It’s perfect for physical stores and a nice addition, when purchasing the item online.

#gallery-0-22 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-22 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-22 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-22 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Upon trying out the jacket, i immediately put my hands in the pockets. In the right pocket, i felt a lump and quickly investigated what it was. I grab it and pull it out, only to find out that it was a compression/storage bag. I was not expecting this, as the product description online does not give out that information. A very, VERY nice feature and a welcome surprise. The jacket weighs 700 grams and can be packet tight with the rest of the gear.

#gallery-0-23 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-23 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-23 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-23 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Featuring two sets of zippered pockets, one pair on each side, this looks like to be a simple yet effective insulating garment.

Compared to some other jackets in the same size, first it felt a tad big. But after thinking about it’s usage, i quickly came to a conclusion that the sizing is perfect for layering, which is the actual meant application of this jacket. It’s cut is a bit longer, something like a parka length, which allows for some serious insulation. Sleeve length is perfect, as the cuffs stay secured around the wrist, regardless of the position you place your arms.

After a brief “getting to know it” phase, i was eager to take it out in some serious cold and see if the immediate warmth is also felt where it counts the most.

MATERIALS USED

Now let’s talk about what the jacket is really made of. The folks at CARINTHIA pride themselves with all European made products. That is why they manufacture all of their materials within Europe.

Their manufacturing facilities are located at their headquarters in Austria and in their factories in Slovakia and Moldova.

Only in this way it is possible to provide the highest manufacturing and quality standards and to ensure the according quality controlling mechanisms.

This is what brings me to the filling material. The jacket goes under the category SYNTHETIC. There are some major differences between down and synthetic filling which are all specified on many web sites, so we won’t go into the details. The thing that puts synthetic over down though (at least for me) is the difference of performance when wet/damp. CARINTHIA therefore only uses trusty Seeboden developed and produced synthetic fibre insulation G-LOFT®. Like it’s competitors, it is warm, light and breathable.

These are all facts that are quickly shown to be true. But the difference is supposed to be in the fact that you can do this to the product over and over and over again. The highly compressible Bi-component fibres quickly re-take their shape and volume, filling the “clusters” with air. It’s supposed to mimic high-end down materials, without the downsides after some moisture has been introduced.

Repeated compression over a longer period of time or prolonged compressed storage usually means a decline in the fillings performance. Not in this case (at least not yet), as the jacket performs as well as the first day, when it was going through it’s “getting to know it” phase. And it was used quite extensively in the mean time.

The filling used in this jacket is G-Loft ISO+ with the weight of 145g/m². Quite a hefty one, but the manufacturer states a -15°C comfort level. The actual feel only benefits that statement.

This being a reversible jacket, the inner and outer materials are the same. It’s 100% Polyamide, with a small rip-stop square weave. Like mentioned, it feels smooth and soft. A bit cold on the first touch, but it quickly warms up, when you wear the thing.

The jacket also features a double sided YKK zipper, which runs down the full length of the jacket. The small blank zipper pull is perfect for layering, as it stows away and is un-noticeable. If you find fiddling with it on a regular basis, just add some gutted paracord and make use with gloves easier.

Pocket closures feature a similar zipper with different pulls. 2cm long metal tab neatly hides away under the cover flap, but is right at hand when needed. Easy operation even with gloves or cold hands.

Last but not least, on the bottom and the top of the jacket, we have some polymer bits for ensuring a tight fit around all openings. The sleeve cuffs have elastic sewn in them, but the collar and the hem feature their own closure systems. 2mm thick shock cord is lined in the edges and regulated with some two-hole cord locks and small cord pulls. One set is located behind the users head and two on the bottom, one on each side. These bits are not marked but they seem nicely moulded and of high quality.

#gallery-0-24 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-24 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-24 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-24 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

CRAFTMANSHIP

Even though this jacket features a simple design, it’s still built to the highest standards. Being reversible, all the construction stitching is hidden inside with the filling and is made as light as possible. Mostly all the stitches are perfect. However I did encounter a slight hick-up with the main zipper flap. Specifically, with one of its hook and loop closures.

The stitch of the loop part of the closure, managed to get undone by the hook part after extended and hard use. It started to separate from the jacket but did not tear off. This is nothing uncommon around these types of closures and does not present a catastrophic failure of the product. Also since this only happened on one strip, we can safely assume this is not a re-occurring problem. And to be completely honest, this was only noticed during the final examination of the product, not during use.

#gallery-0-25 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-25 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-25 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-25 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

All of the other details regarding construction are neat and tidy. Thread reinforcements on the shock cord holes are a nice touch, since this part really gets exposed to some rubbing when using the jacket a lot. No fraying of the thread was visible when the testing period concluded. All other stress points are secured with at least a double stitch. The filling feels securely in place and does not give that “empty” feel. It lines the whole surface of the jacket, including the collar.

PRACTICAL USE

In actual life, none of the written information matters. Only thing that matters is the actual product quality. And i’m happy to say, this is what CARINTHIA is known for.

In our tests, we covered a lot of insulating jackets. But all of them had a filling density of up to 80 g/m². So like mentioned, i was itching to see how this one would perform. I decided to take it for a short trip into the mountains. With cold temperatures, wind and snow it was a perfect ambient.

We started at 600 m, climbed to 1550 m and stayed for the night. Next day we climbed for roughly 300 m and ended up on 1800 m above sea level. The jacket was used during these tryouts mostly as a top layer, except during the night. Under the jacket were just two layers of clothing, three during the night.

Every user has their own level physical fitness, warm/cold sensitivity and overall health, which all play an important role in what COLD really means. Hunger and dehydration also play a role in this as well as several other factors like activities, altitude, duration of stay, etc. So when a company specifies an exact “comfort temperature level” i look at it a bit sideways.

During our tests, the jacket performed exceptionally. At one point it was so comfy, i wanted to crawl behind a rock and have a nap, just because it felt so warm. Not stuffy, not too warm but that morning bed warmth when everything is perfect. It is wind resistant, but it also allows for perspiration to escape and does not absorb humidity.

Even during a tough ascend in deep snow, a 20 kg backpack, with only one pole left, i did not feel the need to take it off. Every time we headed up a very steep slope, i just unzipped the thing to some 3/4 and cooling was dealt with.

All the perspiration has been taken away from the body and released on the outer shell to dry out. As a matter of fact, the only place where some actual perspiration was visible, was where the backpack came in contact with the body.

The best thing about this jacket is that even if damp, it still retains its full insulating capabilities. What looked like a completely soaked back on the outside, actually felt like any other part of the jacket on the inside.

And we all know that feeling when cold winds blow over your back when you come to a stop and rest. No such troubles were noticed, since the filling does it’s job flawlessly and absorbs no moisture. The sweat dried on top of the mountain in about 45 minutes. During that time it did it’s job, just like if it was dry.

Immediately after putting on the jacket, you can feel that this is a quality product. Usually faults in workmanship expose themselves when handling the items with haste. Like you need to get the stuff on your body and out the door as son as possible – haste. In this jackets case, no faults were detected.

Quickly stuffing your arms through the sleeves usually exposes faults in the lining and sleeve cuffs. This is also where any loose stitching is exposed, as i have put my finger through a poorly assembled seam on a competitors product on the second fitting. The cuffs are lined with elastic and make a tight fit around the wrist. No wind can enter, but they still stretch to the sleeve size. This allows dressing and undressing of the jacket easier even with gloves. Users that wear big/fat watches will also appreciate this.

#gallery-0-26 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-26 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-26 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-26 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Operating the zippers is also a breeze, as you can open and close each of them in a swift single motion. 9/10 times the zipper did not catch any other material thanks to its orientation and the jackets protection flaps. Even if it does catch anything, the problem is solved in a second. Either by roughing it on and dealing with that later or just reversing the zipper for a few centimetres. The pulls and the business ends of the zippers can take quite a beating.

The cord lock closure systems are also made up to the highest standards. The lock features it’s own attachment point, through which it’s fixed to the jacket. This enables single hand use and adjustment. The plastic cord pull only makes this easier. The locks work like they should and did not seem to show any signs of cold defects like hampered operation or even breakage.

#gallery-0-27 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-27 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-27 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-27 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Only time when the jacket was used as an insulating layer was over-night. With temperatures of -around 15°C it was fine until bed time. Even the leisure-pace of preparing a shelter and food was enough for the jacket to do its thing.

The collar ends with a nice loop of the wind flap to hide and provide padding to the zipper when fully closed. After a couple of hours of sleep, it became quite nippy. I threw over a British military DPM gore-tex jacket, closed the Be-X poncho liner and all was good till 0600 next morning. A full bladder and approaching daylight did their thing too and soon it was time to pack.

While sleeping, i did not feel any pressure points from the stitches and zippers. Everything is tucked away neatly and never gets in the way. Even the sewing pattern is cut in such a manner, that all the seams are placed away from areas exposed to higher loads, like on top of the shoulders.

Two hang tabs can be found near the top of the jacket. One on each side. A single fold of the material and double stitch make this an indispensable addition. There are a number of serious garment manufacturers that leave out this detail. Folks at CARINTHIA know what the user needs.

To finish up this section, let’s also take a look at the compression bag. While it’s not mentioned anywhere, my best guess would be that these are a standard. Why else would you not mention such a great addition. With this bag, you can compress the jacket into a 12×18 cm big package.

The bag itself is made out of a tougher material than the jacket and is highly water resistant. Its shape resembles a sleeping bag case and features similar compression straps.

These straps surround the bag all the way around along the long side. This means that the compression system is a s tough as the webbing and its buckles. You can really tighten them hard, without fear of breaking anything.

The opening features a round piece of fabric, that serves as a cover when the bag is filled. A standard single hole cord lock and 60 cm of gutted paracord are lined along the edge for secure closure.

#gallery-0-28 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-28 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-28 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-28 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Just below this opening another piece of webbing is sewn to completely surround the bag along the short side. This one is not there for compression, but rather for the stability of the compression straps and overall strength. It also creates two clip-in points at the top, so you can attach the bag to other gear. Many manufacturers only provide a single attachment point and that on the bottom. With this bag, you can have it clipped in upright and use it for carrying other gear when the jacket is in use.

When it comes to products like these, it’s really hard to find faults in them. So to get really nit-picky, there’s only one thing, i’d like to mention. While the jacket is reversible, i honestly don’t see a point to that. As specified in the product description on the official web-site, the fabric colours are Olive and Sand. The first image shows the actual shade of “Olive”, as the last is what i was expecting, when i read “Olive”. My point is, there is little to no need to have a two tone reversible jacket, if the two colours are so similar. Since CARINTHIA products are used widely throughout the military, it might have something to do with uniform specifications though. In that case, i have no more arguments.

CONCLUSION

To conclude this article, i must say that i was very pleased with the overall performance of this garment. It’s noticeable that CARINTHIA specialises in cold weather garments and sleeping bags for professionals. The jacket delivers everything it promises and more. It’s filling is very compressible so the jacket can be packed to a very small size. Superb moisture management and noticeable warmth as a standard, this jacket is sure to replace at least three items that were previously on my pack list. I would strongly recommend this jacket to anyone who likes or has to spend time out in the cold. Thanks to it’s simple design it serves multiple roles and can be combined with any piece of clothing.

As stated, CARINTHIA is one of my favourite companies, when it comes to thermal regulation. After trying out this jacket, my affection for the company expanded even further. Be sure to check out the rest of their program, as they take care of everything that is cold weather related.

CARINTHIA web-site

You can order the gear directly or from authorised dealers like our friends at SPEQ-SE.

SPEQ-SE has been established to offer individual professionals a wide range of Tier 1 garments and equipment. We are very proud to represent some of the world’s top brands like Carinthia, Claw Gear, Glock, Lowa, Magnum, Magpul, Mechanix, NFM, Schmidt & Bender and new brands like Sprinter Custom Ghillie and HPRC”

Be sure to stop by their web-site, where they also offer wholesale and dealer discounts.

Get in touch with SPEQ-SE

SPEQ-SE Web-site SPEQ-SE on Facebook

  REVIEW // CARINTHIA G-LOFT REVERSIBLE JACKET Welcome, to the part one of the ALPINE series of reviews. In this instalment, we'll be taking a look at an insulating jacket, made by one of our favourite manufacturers, …

#Carinthia #cold #gear #insulating #jacket #weather

[cali-holland]

Golden Bullets, Ch. 3: All The Time in the World

Harrison Osterfield X Reader, James Bond!AU

Harrison Osterfield, Agent 007, was once the best MI6 agent around with the astounding reputation as a womanizer. Between illegal gold smuggling and black market trading of weapons, he finds himself deeper in his latest mission than intended, weaving himself into a web of the criminal organization, S.P.E.C.T.R.E.. At the center of it all is the one woman who’s never fallen for his charms- you, Agent 006, the best MI6 agent, the new assistant director of the program, and his new partner.

Word Count: 3000

Gif is not mine

Golden Bullets Masterlist

Masterlist   Harrison Osterfield Masterlist

Let me know if you want to be added to the series tag list

Warnings: violence (using toiletries as weapons bc why not), death, swearing, involuntary drug usage, drinking, vomiting (self-inflicted)

Featured Song: We Have All the Time in the World by Louis Armstrong from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

 ~ “We have all the time in the world, time enough for life to unfold all the precious things love has in store”

~~~

“That can’t be her real name.”

“Tom, I’m being serious.” Harrison said, but even he couldn’t disguise the amused grin on his face when describing the intoxicatingly beautiful woman that was Pussy Galore to the quartermaster.

“Sounds like a horny teenage boy named her, right?” You joked, sitting beside Harrison on the hotel room couch. The laptop was propped up on the coffee table so that you and Harrison could both video chat with Tom, discussing the previous night.

“Is that your bullet wound?” He asked as he stepped closer to the camera, as if that’d help him see your bandaged arm better. Following last night’s events, it was difficult for you to really move your arm fluidly, so you had opted to wear a tank top on your day “off”. You leaned in, carefully taking off the bandage to show the damaged skin and stitches.

“Hurts like a bitch, but I’ll live.” You told him.

“Nice stitch work, 007. Practicing needlework in your spare time?” The quartermaster teased.

“Shove off.” Harrison rolled his eyes at his friend’s comment while you laughed, fixing the bandage, “Did you finish getting the specs on the flash drive?”

“I’m trying, but there seems to be an issue.” Tom stated, his eyes trailing over another computer screen. You looked down at the golden flash drive currently connected to the laptop. Sciarra was dead and all you had from last night was that one flash drive, you and Harrison both needed it to lead back to Goldfinger.

“You’re the greatest hacker of the century. What could possibly prevent you from getting past this flash drive’s security?” You asked.

“Thank you for the compliment, love, but I can’t hack it from here. It appears the security system on this drive is a replica of one I made, which should mean I can get into it from here, but it seems like I made it too sophisticated.” He paused, with a sigh, “I have a hunch about who could be behind this kind of security system.”

You looked between him and Harrison, both agents seemingly to wordlessly agree on who could be behind the drive. Knowing you’d want an answer, Harrison spoke up, “It’s Raoul Silva.”

“You mean the former agent turned cyberterrorist? I thought you killed him last year.” You said, and he gave you an odd look, “What? I told you I read your file, Osterfield.”

“I’m flattered you remember my cases.” He smirked, before Tom cleared his throat on the screen.

“As I was saying, I need to physically have the drive attached to my computer to get through its security and hopefully track Goldfinger. Silva was connected to numerous weapons dealers, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he helped Goldfinger set up security before he died.”

“So you can’t hack this?”

Tom looked at Harrison with furrowed eyebrows, questioning his friend. “Can’t hack this? Did you not listen to anything I just said? What exactly do you think my expertise is?”

“Sitting behind a computer screen.” He joked.

“Well, I'll hazard I can do more damage on my laptop sitting in my pajamas before my first cup of Earl Grey than you can do in a year in the field.” Tom said, and you laughed, nodding, fully aware of his skills, “Either way, I’ll meet you two in Montenegro to finish on the flash drive.”

“Montenegro?” You and Harrison both questioned.

“Right.” He laughed a little, realizing you two didn’t know about your next step of the mission, “M will call you two later tonight. I don’t know all the details, but I know you two are going to Montenegro, so I assume I’ll be meeting you there.”

“I’ve always wanted to go to Montenegro.” Harrison smiled fondly.

“I’ll let you two go. M should be calling soon.” Tom said before ending the call. You let out a small sigh, leaning back on the couch comfortably.

“Have you ever been to Montenegro?”

“Once, but not on a mission.” You replied, not really wanting to discuss your past trip. Unfortunately for you, your partner was observant and caught onto that- and he was also a bit of an asshole, so he pressed the topic.

“You know, I tried reading the Montenegro part of your file, but almost everything was redacted because the clearance of that file is only you and M.” He stated, watching you carefully as you shifted uncomfortably, tightening your jaw.

“What about it?”

“Who did you kill in Montenegro that is so private only you and M can know?” He questioned, and you glared over at him.

Before you could reply, the laptop began to ring, signaling an incoming call from M. You sat up on the couch, answering it.

“Agent 006, 007.” She greeted with the normal stern look on her face.

“M.” You and Harrison both nodded in reply to her.

“Q tells me you two found a flash drive, one suspected to be linked to Goldfinger.” She started, “And that Sciarra is dead.”

“The sniper got to him before we could get him in the DB10.” Harrison explained, and you swallowed a lump in your throat as M’s cold eyes trailed over the bandage on your arm.

“I also heard the sniper shot 006.” She said, “Tomorrow, you two will leave for Montenegro. Agent 009 has been tracking a private banker who funds terrorists, Le Chiffre. Le Chiffre seems to be Goldfinger’s competition at the moment. 009 reported multiple murders of Le Chiffre’s men with golden bullets through their skulls, all of which are sniper shots.”

“Forgive me, M, but if Agent 009 is on the case, then why are we going after Le Chiffre as well?” Harrison asked, voicing the question that was also floating around in your head. Why would MI6 need three agents on a private banker case?

“Because last we heard from 009 himself, he was being followed by Le Chiffre, and last night, local police found him tortured to death. His balls were so beaten, they could barely identify him as a man anymore- one of Le Chiffre’s signature torture methods.” At her words, Harrison squirmed uncomfortably beside you, subconsciously resting a hand over his crotch protectively. “Since Sciarra is a dead end until Q cracks that flash drive, Le Chiffre is our next best lead to Goldfinger.” 

“When do we leave tomorrow?” You spoke up.

“I am working with the Monaco police right now to acquire a private jet for the two of you. I will let you know in the morning. And, remember, this mission is not a personal one.” With that, she hung up the call and you shut off the laptop, getting up from the couch.

“What happened in Montenegro?” Harrison asked you, standing up from his spot on the couch. You didn’t reply as you pulled on a sweatshirt to hide your bandage. Wordlessly, you grabbed the ice bucket and left the hotel room.

You didn’t really need ice, but it wouldn’t hurt to ice your arm or tense muscles- besides, you needed to be away from your partner for a few minutes. Harrison was definitely getting more bearable, but you didn’t exactly want to tell him about Montenegro, not yet. When you came back from getting the bucket of ice, you saw a hotel room service busboy, standing outside of your door. Just before he knocked, you spoke up, “Is that for room 1964?”

“Yes.” The busboy replied almost nervously, holding up a bucket of champagne out to you.

“Thank you.” You smiled as you took the bucket from him, balancing it with your own ice bucket. He nodded, before disappearing down the hall. You laughed to yourself as you looked at the expensive bottle of champagne; leave it to Harrison to want to drink before leaving Monaco. Unlocking the hotel room door, you pushed it open, and Harrison looked up from his phone as he laid down on his bed.

“Champagne?” You offered, setting down the buckets on the coffee table.

“Why not celebrate Monaco?” He laughed. Both of you sat down on the couch, and he effortlessly popped open the champagne bottle. You held up two empty flute glasses for him to pour the champagne into.

“To Monaco.”

“To Monaco.” You clicked your glass against Harrison’s before both of you took sips of the smooth liquid.

“Does this taste odd to you?” Harrison asked, licking his lips from the very small amount of champagne that had actually made it in his mouth before he spit it back in.

“I’m not the person to ask. It’s been a while since I had nice champagne like this.” You laughed, taking another sip of the golden drink.

“It’s probably just too fancy for my tastebuds.” He chuckled, eyeing the glass.

“With all the martinis you drink, your tastebuds must be dead.” You teased, already starting to feel cloudy from the alcohol. You wondered how high the proof was, but that thought was gone as quickly as it came. “You drown yourself in martinis- shaken, not stirred.”

“Martinis are superior. You’d know that if you’d drown yourself in anything.” He quipped back.

“It’d take a while for me to drown in anything- I can hold my breath for six minutes.” You replied confidently, sipping some more of the champagne.

“I can only hold my breath for two. That’s impressive.” His eyes widened in surprise at the little fun fact.

“Most people can only hold them for two, but I was a swimmer growing up and I practiced holding my breath for long periods of time. I’ve got the best lungs on MI6.”

“And the best shot, too, the way I hear it.” Harrison laughed a little, before leaning in closer to you on the couch. Your face was close enough to his that you could feel his breath, and you felt yourself starting to, ironically, drown in his ocean blue eyes. With his voice low and just above a whisper, he asked, “How does someone get the reputation of a maneater?”

“How does someone get the reputation of a womanizer?” You replied, just as quietly. Pulling away from him, you took another long sip of your champagne, the once full glass now empty. The room fell silent before you solemnly spoke up, “I killed him.”

“Who?”

“My weakness.” You rolled up your tank top just enough to show the bullet wound scar on your hip. “I was in Montenegro on vacation with my last boyfriend. I spotted Le Chiffre at a casino, and I called M for permission to strike. When I returned to the hotel room, my boyfriend was there with Le Chiffre- he’d been working for him the whole time. I took a shot at him, but I missed, and he shot me. Then, I shot him again, but that time, I didn’t miss. The only reason Le Chiffre didn’t kill me was Agent 009. Le Chiffre ran, and 009 saved me.”

“So, Montenegro is-”

“Where I became the maneater.” You said. Harrison reached a hand out to touch the scar, but you slapped his hand away, fixing your shirt.

“I’m sorry, Y/N.” He replied, his voice filled with pity. You could tell he wasn’t just apologizing for overstepping and trying to touch the scar- no, he was apologizing for ever thinking less of you based on your reputation and he pitied you for your story, for all you had to go through to get that name. It was then that you realized he hadn’t really had much to drink of the champagne.

“Why’d you order this if you weren’t going to drink it?” You asked, and Harrison furrowed his eyebrows at you.

“What are you talking about?”

“The champagne. You ordered it when I got ice?”

“I didn’t order this.” The room fell silent, save for the clattering of your champagne flute against the floor from you dropping it. 

“Neither of us ordered this?” You questioned, and he shook his head. Immediately, you got up and stumbled to the bathroom, only making Harrison more confused.

“What are you doing?” Harrison followed after you.

“I’m puking because I was just fucking drugged. No wonder I’m so goddamn talkative right now.” You stated, sitting down in front of the toilet. You looked over at him in the hallway, “Are you going to call Q and have him analyze the champagne or are you going to watch me vomit up whatever drug is in my body? You had less than me, so figure out what happened.”

“How the fuck did someone drug us?” He grumbled, closing the door and rushing back into the room. He pulled up the laptop and called the quartermaster.

“I was just about to call you.” Tom said with a laugh, but his smile dropped as he saw Harrison pouring some champagne into a testing vial.

“Find out what’s in this. We’ve been drugged.” He explained, placing the vile on one of Q’s special testing trays, equipped for analyzing substances through the computer. The computer couldn’t figure out exactly what the substance was, but Q, being the genius he is, could based on the computer’s analysis.

“How did two of Britain’s top agents get drugged with a bottle of champagne?” Q asked, typing away at his computer. Harrison grimaced, hearing the distinct sounds of you in the other room. “Is- Is Agent 006 vomiting?”

“Yes, she’s trying to clear out her system.”

“Shouldn’t you be doing that too?” He looked at his friend skeptically.

“I didn’t even have a full sip of the champagne and it’s been in my system long enough that it’s already effective. She drank an entire glass flute, so however potent this drug is, she had a lot of it.”

“Well, you two got lucky.” Tom breathed out, reviewing the results. “It was a harmless drug, it’s not poisonous or anything. It’s meant to disorient you, weaken your fighting, and make you more conversational. It’s used for interrogations.”

“So that means-“ Before Harrison could finish his thought process, there was a knock at the hotel room door. He quietly shut off the computer, ending the phone call swiftly, and grabbed the golden flash drive, pocketing the valuable object. Grabbing his gun and yours, he softly moved across the room to conceal himself behind the wall.

“Room service.” A voice behind the door called, and Harrison quietly cocked his gun while pocketing yours.

In less than a moment, the door burst, and he kept himself quiet against the wall, hoping the silence in the bathroom meant you knew what was happening out here. Based on the sound of feet, Harrison calculated there were three men in the room now. One stepped past the wall, gun raised as he surveyed the room. Harrison stepped forward, shooting the man dead immediately.

Meanwhile, your ears perked up as you heard multiple footsteps outside the door. Your head was spinning from the drug concoction and the fact that you forced yourself to throw up. It wasn’t until you heard the first gunshot that you knew it was bad.

“Harrison,” You mumbled, pulling yourself up from the floor. Looking around the bathroom, you cursed at the lack of sharp objects. Grabbing your tweezers from the counter, you supposed they’d have to do. You flung open the bathroom door, jabbing the tweezers into the neck of the man nearest you. You kicked the other man down, pressing onto his neck with your foot.

“You’re okay.” Harrison breathed out, coming to stand beside you after he shot the other man, the one with the tweezers in his neck, again.

“Still light headed.” You replied. The man below you moved and Harrison was quick to point his gun at him threateningly. You stepped back, allowing his steadier foot to replace yours. 

“Who sent you?” He questioned.

“G-Goldfinger.” The man wheezed out.

“And was it Goldfinger who made you drug us? How did you find us?”

The man just laughed in response, and you heard the sounds of the police sirens flooding down the street.

“They heard the shots. We gotta go.” You said, and Harrison nodded. You quickly loaded the bags as your partner kept a watchful eye on the enemy. Knowing there was no way you and Harrison could escape if the police got involved, you two left the other man there, alive but weak.

“Next time, no champagne.” Harrison stated once the two of you were seated in the DB10. You sent a quick message to Moneypenny, who would send the word onto M that you and Harrison were en route in the DB10, no private jet necessary tomorrow. Considering how long the drive was, you knew it’d be enough time for you two to meet with Q in Montenegro and catch Le Chiffre.

“You’re going to drive us to Montenegro in this car, and I’m going to forget I ever told you anything about that god awful place.” You groaned, leaning your head against the window. “What did they drug us with?”

“Q says it’s a harmless interrogation drug.” He replied, flicking his eyes over to you, a new softness to them, “Get some rest, you’ve had a rough go.”

You turned to face ahead, trying to get yourself comfortable, and the car was silent for a moment, the only sound coming from the DB10 moving against the road and the quiet Duran Duran song playing over the speakers. You looked over at Harrison, who had his eyes trained on the road, “Thank you.”

“For what?” He asked, genuinely curious about the sudden appreciation.

“For saving me yesterday and patching me up.” You said softly, studying his face for a moment, before shifting to look ahead once more. “I’d do the same for you.”

“Let’s hope you’ll never have to.”

~~~

General Tag List: @viagracex​ @theamazingtomholland​ @Hellomoveonby @heyitsshrez @harrisonosterfieldhazmyheart​ @joyleenl​ @t-o-m-holland​ @lonikje​ @sleepybesson​ @sunkisseddreamer​

Harrison Tag List: @Calhtlland @tomkindholland​ @where-art-thau-romeo​

Series Tag List: @quinjetboi @baby-haz @kickingn-ames @rougese7en @hollandsosterfield @nj01​ @it-is-rebel-owl-ma-dudes @spencerreidxoxo​

#harrison osterfield #harrison osterfield x you #harrison osterfield imagine #harrison osterfield series #harrison osterfield fic #harrison osterfield fanfic #harrison osterfield x reader #harrison osterfield x y/n

[torixus]

Unveiling the Real Zombies

See what the Real Zombies Are

Different types of Zombies /torixus

Portraying Characters of Zombies have gain weight in popular entertainment setting, which features in many written Notes, Movies and Events, including the Halloween Season. Portraying the zombiism those it mean that they really Exist?. Zombie is define by many to be a walking Dead.. The Undead dead as many think of it. Torixus Media Navigate through the web to bring to you the actual cases of zombification The word zombie — originally spelled as zombi — first came into the English language in the 1800s, when poet Robert Southey mentioned it in his History of Brazil. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word comes from the Louisiana Creole or Haitian Creole word zonbi, and it is akin to the Kimbundu term nzúmbe, which means ghost. The word refers to creatures from Haitian folklore that, at its origin, was little more than the ghosts from Western folklore. The General conclusion of all this definition is that, Zombie refers to someone that is rendered mindless by a witch doctor, entering a death-like state while still animated, and thus becoming the witch doctor's slave. Many People in Nigerians, especially  Children Igbo use the word "Zombie" on someone they hate his/her character having labelled the person to be  Sluggish, ugly and not suppose to relate with Normal People. The Question being asked is if Zombies are actually existing here in earth, people want to know what zombies are really, what they represent and how can a being become one if they really exist. Torixus Media surf the Net and have a concluding categories of Zombie Natur Ranging from Ants to Human Kind of Zombie according to MedicalNewstoday 1. Zombie ants

Ophiocordyceps is a genus of fungi that has more than 200 species, and mycologists are still counting. Many species of fungi can be dangerous, often because they are toxic to animals, but there is one thing in particular that makes Ophiocordyceps especially frightening. Carpenter ants taken over by parasitic fungi give in to their attackers and 'lose their minds.' These species of fungus "target" and infect various insects through their spores. After infection takes place, the parasitic fungus takes control of the insect's mind, altering its behavior to make the propagation of fungal spores more likely. Ophiocordyceps "feed" on the insects they attach to, growing into and out of their bodies until the insects die. One of these species, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis sensu lato, specifically infects, controls, and kills carpenter ants (Camponotus castaneus), native to North America. When Ophiocordyceps unilateralis infect carpenter ants, they turn them into zombies. The ants become compelled to climb to the top of elevated vegetation, where they remain affixed and die. The high elevation allows the fungus to grow and later spread its spores widely. Researchers from Pennsylvania State (Penn State) University found that O. unilateralis take full control of the ants' muscle fibers, forcing them to move as it "wants" them to. "We found that a high percentage of the cells in a host were fungal cells," notes David Hughes, who is associate professor of entomology and biology at Penn State. "In essence, these manipulated animals were a fungus in ants' clothing." David Hughes Below, you can watch a video showing how the parasitic fungus infects its victims, leading them to their death. 2. Zombie spiders

Last year, zoologist Philippe Fernandez-Fournier — from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada — and colleagues made a chilling discovery in the Ecuadorian Amazon. A species of parasitic wasps takes full control of small, social spiders, driving them to their death. They found that a previously unknown species of the Zatypota wasp can manipulate spiders from the Anelosimus eximius species to an extent that researchers have never before witnessed in nature. A. eximius spiders are social animals that prefer to remain in groups, never straying too far from their colonies. But Fernandez-Fournier and team noticed that members of this species infected with Zatypota larva exhibited bizarre behavior, leaving their colony to weave tightly-spun, cocoon-like webs in remote locations. When the researchers opened these artificial "cocoons," they found Zatypota larvae growing inside. Further research presented a gruesome string of events. The Zatypota wasps lay eggs on the abdomen of A. eximius spiders. When the egg hatches and the wasp larva emerges, it starts feeding on the spider and begins to take control of its body. When the larva has gained full control of its host, it turns it into a zombie-like creature that is compelled to stray away from its mates and spin the cocoon-like nest that will allow the larva to grow into the adult wasp. Before entering its new "cocoon," though, the wasp larva first finishes its "job" by devouring its host. "Wasps manipulating the behavior of spiders has been observed before, but not at a level as complex as this," says Fernandez-Fournier. "[T]his behavior modification is so hardcore. The wasp completely hijacks the spider's behavior and brain and makes it do something it would never do, like leave its nest and spinning a completely different structure. That's very dangerous for these tiny spiders." Philippe Fernandez-Fournier 3. The reanimated virus

Reanimating humans, or, at least, human-like creatures, as in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or H. P. Lovecraft's "Herbert West: Reanimator," is a notion that has piqued the interest of writers, filmmakers and, of course, scientists, throughout the ages. A newly 'reanimated' giant virus from the Siberian permafrost offers a chilling warning of possible dangers to come. But while reviving dead humans may not be on the cards for our race just yet, reviving other organisms is. This can be particularly unsettling when we think that those organisms are... viruses. In 2014, researchers from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique at Aix–Marseille Université in France dug a fascinating organism out of the Siberian permafrost: a so-called giant virus, about 30,000 years old, which they named Pithovirus sibericum. Giant viruses are called this way because, though still tiny, they are easily visible under the microscope. But there is something else that makes P. sibericum stand apart. It is a DNA virus that contains a large number of genes — as many as 500, to be precise. This is in stark contrast with other DNA viruses, such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which only contains about 12 genes in all. The size of giant viruses, as well as the fact that they contain such a large amount of DNA, can make them particularly dangerous, explain the researchers who discovered P. sibericum since they can stick around for an extremely long time. "Among known viruses, the giant viruses tend to be very tough, almost impossible to break open," explain two of the virus's discoverers, Jean-Michel Claverie and Chantal Abergel, in an interview for National Geographic. "Special environments such as deep ocean sediments and permafrost are very good preservers of microbes [and viruses] because they are cold, anoxic [oxygen-free], and [...] dark," they add. When "reanimated, P. sibericum only infected amoebas — archaic unicellular organisms — but happily not humans or other animals. Yet Claverie and Abergel warn that there may be similar giant viruses buried inside the permafrost that could prove dangerous to humans. Though they have remained safely contained so far, global heating and human action could cause them to resurface and come back to life, which might bring about unknown threats to health. "Mining and drilling mean [...] digging through these ancient layers for the first time in millions of years. If 'viable' [viruses] are still there, this is a good recipe for disaster." Jean-Michel Claverie and Chantal Abergel 4. Zombie plants

Also, in 2014, researchers from the John Innes Centre in Norwich, United Kingdom, found that certain bacteria, known as "phytoplasma," turn some plants into "zombies." Plants such as goldenrods can succumb to the control of manipulative bacteria. The bacteria — which insects disseminate — infect plants such as goldenrods, which have yellow flowers. The infection causes the goldenrods to put out leaf-like extensions instead of their usual blooms. These leaf-like growths attract more insects, which allows the bacteria to "travel" widely and infect other plants. While the transformation does not cause the plant to die, researchers are fascinated by how phytoplasma can bend this host's "will" to make it grow the elements they require to spread and thrive. "The insects transmit bacteria, so-called phytoplasmas, which destroy the life cycle of the plants," says Prof. Günter Theißen from Friedrich Schiller University Jena in Germany, one of the researchers who have closely studied the activity of phytoplasma. "These plants become the living dead. Eventually, they only serve the spread of the bacteria." Prof. Günter Theißen 5. Human zombies?

Photo of a Human zombies

But can humans turn into zombies, too? In the 1990s, Dr. Chavannes Douyon and Prof. Roland Littlewood decided to investigate whether Haitian zombies — reanimated, but mindless humans — were a real possibility. People with Cotard's syndrome are convinced that they are dead. In 1997, the two published a study paper in The LancetTrusted Source in which they analyzed the cases of three individuals from Haiti whose communities had identified as zombies. One was a 30-year-old woman who had, allegedly, quickly died after having fallen ill. Her family recognized her walking about as a "zombie" 3 years after this event. Another was a young man who had "died" at 18, and reemerged after another 18 years at a cockfight. The final case study concerned another woman who had "died" at 18 but was spotted again as a zombie 13 years after this event. Dr. Douyon and Prof. Littlewood examined the three "zombies," and found that they had not been the victims of an evil spell. Instead, medical reasons could explain their zombification. The first "zombie" had catatonic schizophrenia, a rare condition that makes the person act as though they are walking in a stupor. The second person had experienced brain damage, and also had epilepsy, while the third appeared merely to have a learning disability. "People with a chronic schizophrenic illness, brain damage, or learning disability are not uncommonly met with wandering in Haiti, and they would be particularly likely to be identified as lacking volition and memory which are characteristics of a zombi," the researchers write in their paper. But there is also a specific psychiatric disorder called Cotard's syndrome that can cause people to act like zombies. This is because they are under the delusion that they are dead or decomposing. It remains unclear just how prevalent this condition is, but research suggests that it is a rare occurrence. Documented cases of people with Cotard's syndrome are unsettling, nevertheless. One case studyTrusted Source reports the situation of a 53-year-old woman who "was complaining that she was dead, smelled like rotting flesh, and wanted to be taken to a morgue so that she could be with dead people." AnotherTrusted Source speaks of a 65-year-old man who had developed a belief that his organs — including his brain — had stopped working, and that even the house in which he lived was slowly but steadily falling apart. At some point, the man attempted to take his own life. Researchers report that "[h]is suicide note revealed that he wanted to kill himself as he feared spreading a deadly infection to the villagers who resultantly might suffer from cancer." Do such cases mean that zombies are real in some way, or, just as our fascination with the figure of the zombie in folklore and popular culture, do they merely reflect our uneasy relationship with death? We leave it to you to decide. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); via Blogger https://ift.tt/33qXE2J

#quotes life relationships feelings love quotes relatable quotes heartbreak heartbroken spil