#lesser blue crab

[coraniaid]

Have to hand it to you, staff. Lesser minds might have been put off by the constant chorus of people on here telling you that you didn't know what you're doing, that the changes you keep forcing through are deeply hostile to the site's existing culture and won't even work at attracting the new users you so desperately want. Weaker souls, indifferent to the needs of the shareholders, might have caved in and realized Tumblr Live was a terrible idea, rather than forcing it out on more and more people across the world. People with less bravery in their hearts might have had second thoughts about the fact that the new layout looks like dogshit. Not you though. You were resolute. You held firm.

You had the confidence to know that none of the people who actually use your site matter in the slightest. We're basically deadweight at best. How arrogant we are to think any different. What matters are the people who don't use Tumblr and never have, the people who have never even heard of Tumblr or who think it ceased to exist years ago, the people who might -- someday, somehow -- choose to make it profitable. If only you can find the right way to trick them into it. (They'll forgot to keep snoozing Tumblr Live eventually, I'm sure of it.)

And I must admit, the one thing that's always held me back from recommending Tumblr -- to friends and family and casual acquantances and total strangers I walk past in the street -- was the fact it didn't look like a shitty, off-brand Twitter clone. Now, at last, I can show them all the site with pride, basking in the warm glow of their indifferent "oh, is this the new X that Elon Musk is always talking about? It looks kind of bad, honestly -- I might try Threads instead."

And this latest experiment -- removing avatars from reblogged posts, on a site where most posts are reblogs, to make "more room for badges"? Another master stroke.

Personally I've always hated quickly and easily being able to tell which of my mutuals has reblogged something (almost as much as I hated having a purely chronological list of reblogs or being able to view previous tags -- thanks again for fixing those bugs!), but I love knowing how much money they've given you. Remember when people on here actually thought you were making fun of the idea of Twitter Blue, not earnestly co-opting it? Idiots, am I right? No wonder you have so much contempt for your userbase. We deserve it.

You don't need me to tell you to ignore the haters (and you wouldn't listen to me if I did), but I'll say it anyway. What do they know about Tumblr after all? They've only been here for a decade, most of them. What are they going to do if they don't like things, leave? Teach themselves programming to fix all the changes you've made? I'd like to see that. I really would.

But if I could make one modest proposal: why stop there? Get rid of gifs next, I say. Nobody on Tumblr really likes them. Nobody who matters, anyway. Get rid of asks. Get rid of text posts. (Pivot to video!) It's all just useless unprofitable clutter, isn't it? Think how much more space there'd be for badges and crabs on my dashboard if you got rid of it all.

#seriously if you've ever given staff money maybe stop? #it only encourages them

[theladyofbloodshed]

Chapter 14 It's got a bit of everything: trauma-bonding, reverse cowgirl, face-sitting, soft sleepy azriel

Would Azriel’s breath ever not catch in his lungs when he looked at Nesta? She was a jewel unlike any Azriel had ever encountered before. The steady confidence, the classic beauty. A queen from a tale, shrewd and devastating in equal measure. There wasn’t a part of her he hadn’t fallen in love with.

They had found a quiet restaurant perched on a hill in the Summer Court by the coast. They arrived just in time to watch the sun begin its descent towards the sea. The sky was awash with pinks and gold and waning light gleamed off the calm surface of the sea. Nesta gazed out on it in wistful longing. He’d heard her breath hitch again when they’d arrived, overwhelmed by the power of the ocean.

She looked at home in the Summer Court, Azriel had to admit, with her cascading blonde hair and soft, blue dress. Nesta could have been the personification of the sea herself. So much power lay within her, untouched and untapped, but Azriel wouldn’t push her to use it.

‘A little bit warmer than the north Illyrian coast,’ she mused, pouring them both a glass of water from the jug.

Despite the encroaching sunset, the temperature hadn’t dipped. The evening was warm enough that Nesta’s body didn’t ripple with goosebumps. Her wolf-grey eyes were roaming over his face. He could always feel them cataloguing every inch of him, committing him to memory.

‘See something you like?’

Nesta blinked down at her lap, almost with shyness. ‘You’re so handsome. When I was a little girl, in my stories of brave knights rescuing princesses, I always imagined him with black hair and hazel eyes. Quiet and stoic. A good person. I was always dreaming of you.’

Azriel squeezed her hand then brought it to his lips. ‘I didn’t know how much I needed you until you were mine.’

They dined on seafood – which Nesta needed promises from him to eat. It wasn’t a staple of Illyrian culture. That was seeped with lamb and goat, rich with spices. But from his mother’s village where they relied on fish for survival in the hard winters, Azriel had grown fond of it. Nesta could manage salmon or haddock easily, but presented with prawns where she had to crack the shells, she said that she was reconsidering her love of the sea. Azriel bit back his smile when she scrunched her eyes closed and swallowed an oyster like a shot of alcohol.

Another plate was brought to the table and Nesta’s eyes went wide.

‘Do you want to try crab?’

She stared in complete horror in a mute silence as Azriel took his knife to the shell then began prising out the meat. Nesta shook her head at all of his offers, and only once the table was cleared, did she say, ‘The pudding isn’t from the sea, is it?’

Nesta was relieved to see none of the desserts had eyes or claws or legs. She settled for fruit and sorbet, light and refreshing for the hot night. No shells to crack either.

It still struck Azriel how easy it was to be in Nesta’s company. Neither of them needed to fill up a silence with idle chatter. She ate her pudding and gazed out towards the horizon, a hand in his, with nothing but the noises of the restaurant surrounding them. It was nice to do this – to be a couple who didn’t need to skulk in the shadows. The Summer Court allowed free access through its borders to those who wished to visit; it was a rarity in Prythian to not need to announce one’s presence or seek invitation to a court. Azriel thought it foolish, but then again this was a court that had no secrets to hide. Tarquin ruled as an open book, treating high fae and lesser the same, offering opportunities in equal measure. And if it meant that Azriel could whisk Nesta away to the sea at the drop of a hat then perhaps it wasn’t foolish at all.  

Nesta had given him so much – and Azriel still wanted more.

On their stroll down the hill to walk off dinner and to take a moon lit walk along the sea front, Azriel took a moment to just be present and enjoy the moment. Nesta led him by the hand towards the sea. In the moonlight, she scoured the sand for shells. Every now and then, she paused to examine one. If it was a good one, she asked him to keep it in his pocket. Azriel had no idea what her criteria was, but Nesta seemed to be able to tell which shells were the good ones. He’d gladly fill his pockets with them for her.

Once Nesta had collected enough, they walked together, with his wing coming around her back. He bolstered his courage. It wouldn’t be an easy conversation, he knew, but Azriel had given Nesta every part of himself and she had seen it all. Seen it all and not reviled him. He wanted to see all of her too. Wanted her to know that she could show herself to him. That he loved her no matter what.

‘Nesta, can you tell me about your mother?’

Her body tensed in an instant as if frozen in a memory.

‘Why do you want to know about her?’ The defensive tone told Azriel enough, that there was nothing good to say – and yet it was a stone he could not leave unturned. They deserved to heal from their pasts together.

‘Because I want to know everything about you.’

‘She’s a worse version of me.’

Azriel would not let her tug her body from his. Wouldn’t let her try and march away to avoid the topic. She tried to pull out of his embrace, but he held her still.

‘Everybody pales in comparison to you. There is no other like you.’ Nesta’s face was stormy as he held it in his ruined hands. He shouldn’t be allowed to touch someone as lovely as her. ‘I shared my past. I’m asking for the same courtesy.’

‘You’ll feel differently about me,’ she whispered, voice giving way to her insecurities. And they had been guilty of judging her too soon, too unfairly.

They found a place to sit on flat rocks where the sea rolled close by. Azriel had offered to take her home to talk in private, but he had the sense that she preferred this conversation in the dim light of the moon with the waves rushing by – the sound giving her something else to focus on.

‘I don’t know what to say about her.’

‘What was she like?’

‘Not like yours,’ she said bitterly. ‘I don’t know. If you spoke to her peers, they would say she exemplified what it meant to be a high-ranking lady of society. Beautiful, beguiling. If you spoke to the servants, they would not have a kind word to say of her.’

‘You had servants?’

‘Lots. When my father was a merchant, we were very rich. My mother treated them how lesser fae are treated. Not worth her time. Barely human. She could be horrid to them. Dismissing them in the middle of winter when they had families to feed. If they begged to stay, they were too desperate. If they didn’t then they weren’t worth her coins.’

Azriel took a section of Nesta’s hair and sectioned it off into three parts. ‘And as a mother, what was she like?’

‘Cruel. Spiteful. Jealous. Calculating.’

It was easier for Nesta to speak if she did not have to look at him. Even if Azriel wanted her to, he had to give Nesta her allowances. He’d rather her words than silence. She spoke of a mother and father who had primed her to be the darling of society. Every hour of her childhood was spent studying books or learning instruments or how to dance. Nesta had not been a daughter to either of them but an investment to bolster their position in society. She would be the daughter to broker an alliance with a duke or a prince. Nesta had been taught to see a ballroom like a battleground, to think three steps ahead in a conversation to work it to her family’s advantage, to carve down any other girls who threatened her position. Elain was discounted; too soft and gentle to go through her mother’s flames, but doted on by the father for being that way. Elain would wed for love and Nesta would conquer. Feyre had been the forgotten child, unwanted and unloved by either parent.

‘She resents me because I spent so much time with our mother, but they were not hours she would want. I used to wish she’d dismiss me so I could escape her scrutiny. Then I’d crave her affection again once I’d been sent away. Pathetic. All I ever wanted was for her to tuck me into bed. Not chests of jewels and dresses to show me off to her friends, just a mother who loved me.’

And Nesta continued and spoke of a grandmother who beat her for missteps in her dancing while Azriel continued plaiting strands of her hair to keep his own hands busy. She spoke of a mother who would stand and watch with a grim expression or a sneer each time her daughter lost her footing or cried, rather than comforting her or protecting her. A mother who seemed to delight in Nesta’s misfortune as much as she hated her failure as if she both wanted and loathed a daughter who might rise higher in society than her. There was a mountain of pressure on Nesta’s shoulders to be perfect.

Then she spoke of her mother’s death with a voice devoid of any emotion at all as if it wasn’t her story she was telling. Nesta had locked those emotions away long ago and had lost the key. It was a complicated relationship. On one side of the coin, there was resentment and the other, that desperation to be loved by her still existed. After her mother’s death, Nesta grew to despise her father. She had lashed out at him for not doing more for his daughters – in fortune and loss. Nesta had lost her one avenue in life. Without a dowry, she had believed she was nothing. All of those years training her to be a perfect wife had gone to ruin. Their father had been too proud to seek work for another. Despite a ruined leg and worse reputation in society, Nesta believed he was too cowardly to seek work managing accounts or using the mind that had once earnt him his fortune.

‘He’s dead and I am still so angry with him. Angry that he won’t ever pay for his negligence. His death absolved him of any wrong doing. Then I hate myself for thinking such a thing about him.’ She brushed a hand across her face. Azriel was torn between stopping her from talking to ease the pain, or to letting Nesta go on so it could all be out in the open for the first time. ‘He brought armies to the war. Shouldn’t I be thankful? Armies that Tamlin’s money paid for. He only moved off of his backside once Tamlin exchanged Feyre for hordes of wealth and he could make himself richer. When the high lord sent her home, do you know what my father did? Him and Elain threw a ball to see which wealthy suitor might marry Feyre. I spent the whole night guarding her from males. Then when she returned to Prythian, my father didn’t even say goodbye to her. He’d locked himself in his office weighing rubies and diamonds. It’s not fair, Azriel. He has as much blame on his shoulders for Feyre hunting but nobody would ever say such a thing to his precious memory.’

Azriel could bear it no longer. He couldn’t hear Nesta’s voice cracking like glass and not reach for her. The pain of a ruined life bracketed her body, hunching her shoulders, curving her spine. His arms enveloped her. Azriel pressed his chest to her back and kept his arms around her front as she cried. His wings cocooned them.

Only the parts of Nesta that jutted above the surface had even been visible. The depths of her were finally in the open. Now, Azriel understood exactly why she was so guarded and fierce, why her anger smouldered in her veins. Because everybody who should have loved her had made it conditional, had forced her to earn their love. Feyre might have hunted for their family to keep them alive, but their father and Elain were never blamed for it, only Nesta. Nesta who endured a grandmother beating her, a mother withholding her meals if she made a mistake in her learning, who would have married whatever mortal male her parents told her to for the benefit of her family. In another life, it would be Nesta who the family relied on for survival. Would she hold it above their heads too? Remind them of it at any occasion? Azriel was furious on her behalf.

‘I know that wasn’t easy for you. Thank you for talking to me. I want your past as much as your future, Nesta.’

He’d made a mess of her hair with haphazard braids scattered through it, but as Nesta turned her face to his, Azriel knew he was looking at his wife. One day. He was sure of it. There was no other for him.

Nesta leaned forwards to kiss him. ‘My shadow singer.’

As if summoned by her, shadows blanketed both of their laps, curling around them in a thick, black swarm. Azriel hadn’t realised that his shadows were a non-negotiable part of him until Nesta had accepted them fully, let them curl around her own body or brush against her cheeks. They had never gone near other females before. They’d watched occasionally or a daring one might dart forwards, but never had they been so happy to engulf another like they did to him. The shadows had been with him since he was a child, but they seemed to love Nesta’s company now too.

‘I have always wanted to a mother,’ she confessed, eyes flicking back to the black sea. ‘I tell myself that she taught me everything not to be but then I’m afraid I will still become her. Or worse. Will I laugh when my daughter cries over a failed test because I excelled in it? Will I take away food from her and pinch her stomach?’

The same fears were reflected in Azriel’s heart. His mother had loved him – still loved him as if he were a small boy – and that was likely the only thing that kept him reaching for the light. There was always that doubt that he could be his father’s son, that maybe his temper would get the better of him and he’d strike his son or lock him into a room as punishment. It was a fear that broke him into a cold sweat.

He was repulsed by a future that might never come to be.

Azriel pressed Nesta’s hands over his heart. ‘Your heart is filled with love that is desperate to be given. You are a good person.’ He swallowed and hesitated on his words. ‘We are good people.’

***  

It was so easy to be with Azriel. The understanding that had grown between them was better than anything Nesta could have imagined. They remained in the Summer Court then when she had been ready to ask him to take them home, he did unannounced, as if he’d known those words were about to spill from her lips.

Compared to the warmth of Summer, her apartment made her shiver. Azriel would not have that. He covered her with her body, rubbing her bare arms before reaching for the blanket draped over the back of the couch. In silence, he wrapped it around her body. Nesta liked these silences where his face would grow pensive and serious. He’d purse his lips as the task consumed him. Shadows would skitter across his shoulders, curious to know what had rendered him so determined.

He had settled her into the chair while he set the kettle to boil over the fire that he was lighting. Sometimes, Azriel still reared back from the flames if they spat too harshly or diverted towards him. He touched it only the necessary amount to wake it, never to play with it like Feyre was fond of doing.

Once heat had been pumped into the room and Nesta had her bedtime cup of tea in hand, Azriel had her in his lap. His fingers worked through her hair to unravel all of the plaits he’d made by the sea. Nesta must really love him to let him fondle her hair. Even Elain wasn’t permitted access to it.

‘What was the criteria for a good shell?’

‘I could tell which shells wanted to come here and live with us.’

‘Oh, could you?’ He kissed below her ear. ‘Worth filling my pockets with sand then.’

‘Absolutely. Could you think of a better way to spend your evening?’

The sensation of his lips against the back of her neck was unparalleled. It had Nesta tipping her head back like a cat.

‘I have an idea.’ The low timbre of his voice sent shivers running down her spine. Nesta knew that tone. She’d always liked what followed. ‘Tonight, you can do whatever you want to me. I’m yours to command.’

It was a chance to explore – and more than that, it was a chance to tease. They were both excelling at that.

Shadows restrained Azriel onto the bed in a sitting position. If he was made uneasy by the arrangement, he didn’t show it. More than anything, he seemed intrigued about what Nesta might devise for them.

Nesta had selected black lingerie although he’d want to tear it off her soon enough.

‘What’s your first command?’

‘You get to watch,’ Nesta said brightly. She sat opposite him, tangling her legs with his as she spread them open.

Lazily, she circled over the lace fabric, already feeling her arousal seeping through. Azriel’s eyes tracked the movements.

Nesta pulled aside her underwear to display her sex to him. His cock jutted upwards, hard as a rock. Within the shadow manacles, his wrists strained. They were caught between pulling itself free or obeying her. She gave him a little, satisfied smile.

It was a performance more than anything. Each unhurried stroke wouldn’t bring her anywhere near climax – a fact Azriel well knew. He could make her come better. Harder. It was more fun to see him strain like an animal, fighting against his instincts to dominate and take charge.

‘Put your finger inside. Please.’

Nesta made a show of ignorance. ‘Like this?’

She pressed her finger in as deep as the second knuckle.

‘Should I move faster?’

‘Yes,’ he bit out, voice guttural.

Nesta spread herself with one hand and pulsed her finger in and out, observing Azriel throughout.

‘Two fingers.’

Nesta withdrew it. ‘That sounded like an order. It’s not your turn tonight.’

She let go of the underwear, let it cover her then closed her legs. Shadows bubbled up around him. Azriel was practically glowering, his desperation simmering beneath the surface.

‘Be quiet and watch.’

To torture him a little more, Nesta followed the same motions, moving teasingly slow as if it was the first time that she’d ever touched herself even if her heart was hammering at the control she was exhibiting – and at Azriel’s restraint.

Azriel let out a quiet noise of desperation when Nesta entered herself with two fingers. Pre-cum beaded on the head of his cock in response. What would win out – his stubbornness or his desire?

‘These are in the way,’ she murmured, crawling across his lap to get to the floor. Nesta removed her underwear as slowly as she could, ensuring Azriel’s view was impeccable. She bent over in front of him and allowed herself a moment of pride when she heard his groan.

‘What?’ She cooed. ‘What’s wrong?’

Nesta traced his soft lips with her finger. And she was surprised when Azriel’s tongue came around it, sucking the taste of her away.

Nesta caressed his face. ‘Should I let you go so that you can touch me? Would you like that?’

‘Yes,’ he begged, eyes pleading.

‘But I’m not ready to give up my power just yet,’ she said with a teasing pout. ‘You’ll just have to wait a little longer.’

She traced a finger along one of the thicker tendons running through the middle of his splayed wing. It caused his whole body to tremble. Azriel tipped his mouth to hers, lips parting.

‘No,’ Nesta chided. ‘No kissing there.’

It gave Nesta satisfaction to deny him of what he wanted, to see him tip his head towards the ceiling with eyes screwed shut. If he wanted to, Azriel could tell those shadows to release him. Nesta merely wanted to see how long he could last, how long could he give up control for.   

When she stood on the bed, legs either side of his body, his gaze snagged on the lace of her stockings half-way up her thighs. It had been his money that had paid for them. His choice in the store. And he wasn’t allowed to enjoy them the way he wanted.

Nerves butterflied in her stomach at this new position as Nesta lowered herself towards Azriel’s mouth, but she needn’t have worried. His tongue licked up her seam then circled her clit. He moaned as if it was the first food for a starving male.  

Despite the restraints holding him firmly to the bed, Azriel manoeuvred his face, brushing his nose and lips with abandon to generate friction. The flat of his tongue glided over her sex, pressing inside to taste her.

The shadow singer had fallen into a frenzy. Nesta’s legs quivered as she settled herself on his shoulders. Heat pooled in her core. Fingers threaded into Azriel’s thick hair as her climax built.

Briefly, Azriel prised his face away to throw her a conquering grin. His lips glistened with her arousal, plump from their pilgrimage, then he dived back in with renewed fervour until Nesta was quivering around his face.

As Nesta came, shadows drifted up to her back to support her. More snaked over her breasts as her chest rose with her gasping breaths.

On shaking legs, Nesta stood for moment, only to turn her body then sink down onto his cock. She was still breathing heavily from her orgasm, savouring the stretch that he elicited. Blood scorched in her cheeks, more from her daring than anything.

The searing heat of Azriel’s chest pressed into her back. His lips brushed against the back of her neck.

Shadows cooled her skin as Nesta rolled her hips in Azriel’s lap feeling every inch of him. She tilted forwards on the bed, offering Azriel a view she was still shy to display.

She had made him wait a long time. From the hiss of his breath through his teeth, it wouldn’t be long until he came too – much to Nesta’s delight.

He drove his hips upwards to meet her in a punishing rhythm so Nesta had to grip the bed sheets to keep her balance.

Shadows scattered away as he came, releasing his arms so that Azriel could heave Nesta against his body. The sharp press of his teeth met the flesh of her shoulder, and she heard the hard crack of his wings as the bone snapped together.

Nesta did not know how Azriel had been able to surrender his control until the last second, but it was worth it.

He was everything.

Hazy spring mornings were meant for quiet embraces beneath the covers, Nesta decided. Although work called to both of them, neither could find it in themselves to drag themselves out from the bed in a hurry.

‘The tavern we went to has another band playing tonight.’

‘Let’s go then.’

Azriel hadn’t even opened his eyes. Nesta doubted the words really registered. He seemed to catch up on the sleep he’d missed in his life in her presence. If she ever opened the curtains too early, his shadows would cover his eyes like a blindfold to keep him asleep or smother the window itself to not let any light in as if they wanted both of them to stay in bed as long as possible. They were mischievous things.

As she made breakfast for him, Nesta felt lighter than she had in a long time. She had not realised how heavy the baggage from her past was until she finally put it down. It was difficult to leave it behind when it had always been something she carried. It had been a drowning man that she’d tried to keep afloat even if it would have taken her down in the process.

Nesta was not her mother, just as Azriel was not his father. Their parents’ cruelty was not to be mirrored in their children. They would heal, they would learn, and they would grow.

And part of that growth included tackling her fears.

‘What do you say we pay a visit to my sisters today?’ Nesta asked as she settled a tray of breakfast on top of Azriel’s body.

He forced open an eye. ‘Did I hear you correctly?’

‘I can’t hide behind your skirts forever.’

‘My skirts?’

‘It’s a figure of speech,’ Nesta said, waving a hand. ‘You’re so tired today.’

Never did Nesta think she’d find a male half-asleep and yawning through every word so attractive. Then again, no male looked like Azriel in the mornings with shadows draped over his bare body like garlands and sticking-up black hair. All she had ever known him as was the mysterious, put-together shadow singer. Here, his eyelids were heavy, face still lined from sleep, but he was perfect.

‘A wicked female abused my generous offer last night.’

She pressed a slice of buttery toast into his hand. ‘I recall you saying to do what I wanted to you.’

‘And you did. And it was very unfair,’ he replied, wings twitching at the memory.

‘You can have your turn tonight. I’ll give you free reign over me then it’s fair. Eat your crusts.’

Obliging, Azriel pecked at the crusts that he liked to discard. ‘Are you sure about today, after what Elain said.’

‘Don’t make me doubt myself, Azriel. I’d rather stick pins in my eyes, but I will go. I’ll go and broach peace, but don’t think I won’t wage war if I must. I won’t be backed into a corner or convinced to accept a silly magic bond that means nothing to me. You are mine.’

In appreciation, a shadow drifted up and nuzzled against her cheek. ‘I can’t decide if I like you or the shadows more.’

More came to swamp her, slithering in from nothing, their touch cool against her skin. Azriel rolled his eyes at their blatant favouritism.

‘They’re not playing tonight,’ he groused. ‘I feel like a third wheel.’

#nesta vs the buffer #nesta archeron #azriel #nesta x azriel #nezriel

[thecorpselight]

The Nine Herbs Charm Remember, Mugwort, what you made known, What you arranged at the Great Proclamation. You were called Una, the oldest of herbs, You have power against three and against thirty, You have power against poison and against infection, You have power against the loathsome foe roving through the land. And you, Plantain, mother of herbs, Open from the east, mighty inside. Over you chariots creaked, over you queens rode, Over you brides cried out, over you bulls snorted. You withstood all of them, you dashed against them. May you likewise withstand poison and infection, And the loathsome foe roving through the land. 'Stune' is the name of this herb, it grew on a stone, It stands up against poison, it dashes against pain. Unyielding it is called, it dashes against poison, It drives out the hostile one, it casts out poison. This is the herb that fought against the snake, It has power against poison, it has power against infection, It has power against the loathsome foe roving through the land. Put to flight now, Venom-loather, the greater poisons, Though you are the lesser, you the mightier, Conquer the lesser poisons, until he is cured of both. Remember, Camomile, what you made known, What you accomplished at Alorford, That never a man should lose his life from infection, After Camomile was prepared for his food. This is the herb that is called 'Wergulu'. A seal sent it across the sea-ridge, A vexation to poison, a help to others. It stands against pain, it dashes against poison, It has power against three and against thirty, Against the hand of a fiend and against mighty devices, Against the spell of mean creatures. There the Apple accomplished it against poison That she (the loathsome serpent) would never dwell in the house. Chervil and Fennel, two very mighty ones. They were created by the wise Lord, Holy in heaven as He hung [on the cross]; He set and sent them to the seven worlds, To the wretched and the fortunate, as a help to all. These nine have power against nine poisons. A worm came crawling. It killed nothing. For Woden took nine glory-twigs, He smote then the adder that it flew apart into nine parts. Now these nine herbs have power against nine evil spirits, Against nine poisons and against nine infections: Against the red poison, against the foul poison, Against the white poison, against the purple poison, Against the brown poison, against the green poison, Against the black poison, against the blue poison, Against the brown poison, against the crimson poison. Against worm-blister, against water-blister, Against thorn-blister, against thistle-blister, Against ice-blister, against poison-blister. If any poison comes flying from the east, Or any from the north, [or any from the south], Or any from the west among the people. Christ stood over diseases of every kind. I alone know a running stream, And the nine adders beware of it. May all the weeds spring up from their roots, The seas slip apart, all salt water, When I blow this poison from you. Mugwort, plantain open from the east, lamb's cress, venom-loather, camomile, nettle, crab-apple, chervil and fennel, old soap; pound the herbs to a powder, mix them with the soap and the juice of the apple. Then prepare a paste of water and of ashes, take fennel, boil it with the paste and wash it with a beaten egg when you apply the salve, both before and after. Sing this charm three times on each of the herbs before you prepare them, and likewise on the apple. And sing the same charm into the mouth of the man and into both his ears, and on the wound, before you apply the salve. Anglo Saxon Magic. G. Storms.

#folklore #folk magic #healing magic #nine herbs charm #anglo saxon magic #healing charms #folk healing

[spkyscry-a]

@royalreef​ sent: It's not so hard to hide things in Miranda's RV. Even relatively special things, and even from those with eyes more prying than others. Even time, spent well together with excited conversations passed, space that grew nearer by the day — neither were fully immune to the tricks Miranda had up her sleeve to ensure her deliveries were private, that her hiding places remained undisturbed.

It's merely another one of Miranda's talents, sleight of hand tricks that have served her well all her life and may yet still keep her alive in the years to come, that when she shows up with the gift box for Polly and a bright "Happy birthday!!", it's the first time she would have seen it.

The wrapping is bright — holographic, reflecting back in the same vivid hues of purple and pink as the ribbon wrapped around it. Some odd trick to the thread has been used, because there are stripes within the ribbon that glow, producing soft and cool light that further still makes the wrapping flicker in a thousand colors. It was tricky, finding all the correct runework and hiding it away in tucked corners and stray edges, so that Polly would be able to pick it up and hold it in a more comfortable way to her, but Miranda wanted to make it as easy as possible. The thought was errant, but it was stubborn, and she hadn't paused until she was sure that Polly would be able to hold every part of her gift.

The first piece is the simplest. A plushie, made in the shape of an otter. Its fur is soft, dyed in some manner that's unique to Miranda's kingdom, and that holds true for the rest of it. Its stitching is tough, and its belly is gently weighted, though there is an artistic quality to the design as well. Vivid blues create stark patterns, gold and silver detailing here and there making its big button eyes, carved out of some type of shell, stick out all the more. There's more of that glowing thread, creating whorling designs around the limbs, and even around the tiny stuffed fangs, just long enough to poke out of the stitched mouth.

The second sits below the plush otter, wrapped in neon pink tissue paper, careful padding to ensure it doesn't break. The first thing Polly sees is ivory, washed over with a patina to make it appear aged, subtly browned around the etchings.

A box. Small, easy enough to hold in the arms, with carved designs across its every surface and edge. Spilling out from the top, over the sides, is the image of a beach, seen from the other side of the water. Crabs scuttle around the sandy bottom, fish dart in small, cloistered shoals, the sleek shape of a catshark hiding beneath a gnarl of driftwood. Every detail is carefully carved, hand-etched with meticulous care, giving subtle slope to the seafloor while the surface dances forever out of reach. All frozen in the image of dense bone, movement forever captured in time, lashes of seafoam still caught in a tide that will never cease. Even the feet along the bottom, supporting it, are carved snails, holding up the rest of the box.

That's not just it, though.

There's a golden lock on the front of it, stamped into the stylized shape of a manta ray. A key already sits inside, a remora molded into its handle. It unlocks easily, hinges on the back lifting up the top to reveal what's inside.

The music begins to play immediately. Against the top is a small mirror, set against velvet, and in front of it spins the figurine of a merfolk, positioned just so to appear as though they were swimming as they move. There is a mechanism to wind it sat against the side, and the bottom of the music box holds other, smaller compartments, to hold jewelry and to keep it safe. Miranda's worked hard on making sure it was just right. Picking which tune was one thing, but so too was making sure the design was perfect as she carved it. It had to be perfect, because Miranda wouldn't give anything lesser to Polly.

The final gift sits inside the music box. It's not a lot. Just a set of postcards, crisp and fresh, with bright, vivid colors that showcase the pictures in front with perfect detail.

One shows a floating city, drifting above the open ocean, peering down into its depths, dozens of spherical buildings hanging just below the surface. Another shows the complex whorls of architecture blended with a living reef, to the point where it is impossible to tell where one ends and another begins, vibrant and alive. Another sits above a vast chasm, pulsating with soft red light, framed by an ancient mountain range, kept hidden at the bottom of the ocean.

There is the inside of a bathhouse, riddled with holes and tunnels where cleaner wrasse and cleaner shrimp live. There are the great, looming shadows of whales seen from below. There are older buildings still, squat against rocky outcrops on the seafloor, decorated with charms of bone that whistle and banners of bright colors. There are carvings, statues made into walls and painted in explosions of color, murals that stretch impossibly far in buildings without stairs and covered in thousands of brilliant lights.

"I just thought—" Miranda begins, scratching one of her claws against the opposite arm, "that since we were already roadtripping... Well, we cannot visit my kingdom, but I thought you nonetheless might want to know what it looks like?"

Her birthday wasn’t something Polly brought up on many occasions. In fact, it was something that came up so sparingly, by her own accord, that it was always surprising when it was brought into the limelight by any measure when it arrived. Days blurred together despite her best efforts, so having a day specifically for her was.. strange. More-so when she’s looking at Miranda for a moment like she’s crazy, and then realizes what day it is- it IS her birthday, isn’t it? Even she’d forgotten, truthfully. 

“N’aww, boo, you’re too sweet. Ya didn’t have to get me anything, really.”

She’s already focusing so she can hold the present, so it took her by surprise when it fit so easily in her grasp. It was true she found it easier to be solid around Miranda, yes, but it wasn’t this easy... Perhaps she looked silly to most, taking the time to poke and prod the container itself in marveling, though it was.. refreshing, in a way, to just touch something; have it respond to you like it’s meant to without some herculean effort to be in the same wavelength as it.

It took her a good bit of ‘ooo’ing and ‘aah’ing at the box to remember, yes, she needs to open it to get at the actual present. She’s careful with it, taking the time to deftly unwrap it proper in order to open the box at last to get at the actual present. Truthfully, the box she could just hold onto would’ve sufficed as present enough in Polly’s book!

Of course, when she spots the plushie, all she can do is let out a bit of an excited squeak as she lifts it skywards to marvel once more. She tilted it this way and that to see all she could at it, grin spreading so wide on her face it threatened to split at the edges because she wasn’t thinking about it. She does catch it, though there is a maw of glassy sharp teeth and inky tongue in place of the ‘norm’ from her excitement. “Omigosh, hon, this is amaz-- there’s more?!”

Polly carefully set the otter aside, setting her sunglasses on its head and letting out an echoed giggle at the sight of it resting there before she turns her attention anew to the contents of her gift. It was certainly a lot more than she would’ve ever expected (granted, she hadn’t expected anything today), and it shows as glassy claws delicately pick up the box. One wouldn’t expect her to be as dexterous with them, though if anything she’s handling the box better than she would with the normal hands she’s so oft seen with. She marvels at the box, as perfectly beautiful as it is, eyes wide with surprise as she looks it over. It’s too much, she thinks, for someone as simple as her, but it’s appreciated so very much nonetheless. She’s going to open it now, before she looks startled beyond belief.

There.. she is. Music’s filling the air and all Polly’s doing is staring. It took her so wholly off-guard that it’s only thanks to Miranda’s work on ensuring Polly could hold all of this that it didn’t just fall right through her hands. It usually took so much effort to show up in reflections, pictures, and all of that lovely stuff all her friends took for granted. Yet.. there she was, looking back at herself from the mirror. A quiet “oh” of surprise as she blinks. Once, twice, and then finally manages to pry her gaze away to see the postcards.

Careful, those sharp little claws were, picking them up to examine in earnest. She’d never seen places like this, of course she hadn’t, and there’s a potential she never would. Yet... Miranda wanted to share it, even in a little way like this. Polly’s started crying, as much as she really can, little blots of spectral mass trailing down or floating away from edges of her eyes. The specter barely manages to catch what Miranda is saying.

“Oh, hon, this is... this is great, thank you so so much.”

She’s careful to return scraps of paper to the music box, shut it, and put it safely aside before going to embrace her dear friend against her. Polly’s so very warm, rippling gently with the solidity she’s taken on from the emotions racing through her. She’s started giggling, near uncontrollable, and there’s maybe a kiss or three being pressed to Miri’s face in her excitement.

“Love ya, girl.”

#Grim Grinning Ghosts ;; Polly #royalreef #Like A Lazy Ocean Hugs The Shore. Hold Me Close‚ Sway Me More. | Polly x Miranda { royalreef } #i made the ask banner just for this..... #she is very very happy she doesn't have proper words #this is the first time she's liked her birthday in.. well she won't say but since even before she died

[peanutsarebad4me]

Virtual Sketchbook 2, Daniel Mentzer

Journaling:

Unity and Variety- Unity is the combination and completion of elements in a work of art. An art piece with unity has the characteristic of oneness. A standard and finished Rubik's cube has unity as its structure is defined, and one color is represented around each panel. Variety offers a collaboration of different elements in a work of art. An unfinished Rubik's cube shows variety as colors are mixed upon one another, and its shape can become altered through rotation.

Balance - The distribution of visual alignment, position, or weight in a work of art. Art could have symmetrical or asymmetrical balance. A turtle is symmetrically proportional to oneself, whereas a fiddler crab is asymmetrical.

Emphasis and Subordination - Emphasis draws the focus of an audience to a particular area. Emphasis can be used to highlight areas of importance and draw the artist's purpose or message further across. Subordination is the area that is contrasted and diminished apart from the area of emphasis. Subordination is neutral or of lesser importance. Emphasis and subordination is used through camera work in film. Films often use focused lenses to to draw our attention towards the main character or a crucial scene.

Directional Forces - A piece of art might include implied directional forces. When a viewer looks at a piece of art, their eyes might be directed from one area to another. This path could be determined through lines that are imaginary, or are truly provided.

Repetition and Rhythm - Repetition in art is when visual elements are continuously recurred in a sequence or pattern. Rhythm is when elements of a sequence are followed through in repetition while containing variations. Rhythm creates a sense of movement or flow. Music can have elements of repetition and rhythm.

Scale and Proportion - Scale is the visual appearance of size in correspondence to a separate thing or object. Proportion is the sizes that correspond and make up one individual object of its own entirety. A human being is uniquely proportional to one's own self. However, an ant is significantly small in scale to the size of a human.

Writing and Looking: "Sauce Boat with Ladle," Eva Zeisel.

This art piece has unity, as both instruments have a defined structure, and appear to belong to one another while remaining as separate objects. They are both the same color and have implied directional forces. The "Sauce Boat" appears to be an open bowl at its base, while extending and opening up and outward. The "Ladle" is flat on surface, while its base is a defined spoon shape. The ladle is small in scale to the Sauce Boat. Both objects could have symmetry when viewed at a different position and angle.

Connecting Art to your World: Colors can affect mood and trigger emotional responses. I believe red can stimulate a sense of hunger. I know that I have driven past the red Chick-Fil-A or McDonalds sign and suddenly started to crave a meal when I previously was not hungry beforehand. If I were to choose a color scheme to represent myself, I would choose white and different variations of blue. The Tampa Bay Rays share the same color scheme, of which I am reminded of the times my father and I watched baseball games together. The first car I purchased on my own is blue. My first uniform at my first job was blue. My bedroom is also white and blue.

Art Project:

I can recall memories from when my siblings and I were little. My mother and father would tell us we were going on a road trip, but would not tell us where our destination was. One of my first memories was when I was 3 years old and my parents gifted me and my siblings a surprise visit to Disney World. I have always been fascinated with theme parks and have an interest with the history of Walt Disney World. The memories I have with my family is what I believe makes me who I am.

-Daniel Mentzer

Photo Design:

Group 1: Logos

McDonalds- Golden arches

Nike - Swoosh / checkmark

PlayStation - Letters "P" and "S" intertwined

Disney - Walt Disney's signature

Starbucks - A circle with green and white color scheme including a siren character

Apple - A bitten apple

Google Chrome - A circle with blue center, surrounded by a red, green, and yellow ring

Minecraft - Block of dirt as used in game

Target - 3 circles with 2 red and 1 white 

Android - Green robot character

Hyundai - An italicized letter "H" surrounded by an oval

Toyota - Three ovals that represent the shape of a steering wheel ; Each letter of "Toyota" is also hidden in the symbol (Did not realize this beforehand!) 

Logos are designed to be memorable and attract the attention of consumers. The way I know about these logos is most likely through advertisements such as commercials, billboards, or social media. 

I have made psychological connections that allow me to recognize the logos and retain memory of what the company or brand does, and how it makes me feel. Logos that have distinct and unique features make the viewer wonder what they are looking at and draw attention to the product or company. 

[little-things-collection]

This is a Valentine’s Day love letter.

This is a confession of love, sent to the life that I live. I am completely, helplessly in love with you.

I am enamored with your trees. Every now and then, when I can see clearly after forgetting my contacts for a while, I am struck dumb by the incredible detail of every leaf, rustling together and catching the sunlight. I never stop seeing new trees, and they’re always so lovely. I don’t think I will ever see them all, and it brings me so much joy.

I am awe struck by your stars. I see them mostly through the haze of light pollution. They are a special treat on walks that are just a little too dark to really be safe, something that feels intensely personal to look at, even as I know how many have gazed up at them just the same as me. And then, very rarely, I see them with a perfectly clear sky, where there’s no city for miles and miles and miles. And then all I can do is stare, and wish that I never had to stop staring to go to sleep.

I am delighted by your changes. The way that winter inevitably gives way to spring, the way that the sun rises and lights the sky on fire in pink and orange and blue to start the day. The way that something from a sheep can become something in my closet, and every stage of creating that exists in the middle. The way I can take flour, eggs, water, milk, and a pinch of salt, and make crepes from it, and make my friend’s bad day into a good one. The way that I am not who I was, and I am not who I will be.

I love your people most of all. I love the cheerful old priest who invited every single senior he knew for a dinner party on Valentine’s Day, and cooked an amazing meal for them and refused to let a single one of them help (although we offered many, many times). I love the girl who sat at the opposite end of the table from me and made a point to tell every person as they left something that she loved about them. I love the boy who ignored the priest telling him to sit down and eat, who served and took dishes and poured water and ignored every person who insisted they could do it themselves. I love the girl who asked me for a hug and a chat after getting bad scores on her MCAT, and let me talk her out of the spiral that followed. I love the boy in the climbing gym who helped me with a tough bouldering problem when I asked, even though he didn’t know me. I love the girl who went with me to two different craft stores for no particular reason, and then helped me fold oragami crabs so that I’ll be ready to pull a prank that’s a month and a half away.

I love them. More than words can say, I love them. How could I not? Look at all of the ways we have found to say, “I care about you.” “I want your life to be easier.” “I want your life to be happier.” “Let me give you comfort when you’re sad.” “Let me laugh with you. Cry with you. Walk with you.” “I think you’re funny.” “I think you’re kind.” “I love the way you do your hair.” “I love listening to you.” “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

I’ve seen every one of those expressions today, and not a single one in a romantic way. They are not lesser for that, not in the slightest.

I have heard so many times, “Love is what makes life worth living.” But what’s left then for the people who don’t want romance? Who don’t feel it? Who prefer to avoid relationships, or who want one desperately but can’t seem to find one?

This is the love that makes life worth living. There is more than this- much more, more than any words could ever hope to describe- but this is what it looks like: I’m glad you’re here (I love you). I saved you a cookie (I love you). Are you feeling better (I love you)? Tell me more (I love you).

I am in love with the people. And I am in love with the change, and the stars, and the trees. I am in love with you, my darling life, and I am so glad that my Valentine’s Day was filled with you.

#valentine’s day #mine #2023 #people are good #life is beautiful #there’s probably enough here for someone I know to recognize me but. that’s okay. they can know I love them.

[docolives]

A LIL ABOUT ME…

What is your character’s full name?: Olivia Ann Hartman.

When were they born?: June 23, 1988 in Merrock, Maine.

What are their parent’s names?: Daniel and Marissa.

Do they have any brothers or sisters?: Olivia is the oldest of three children, with a younger sister, Miranda, and a younger brother, Charlie.

What kind of eyes do they have?: Livvy has large, expressive blue eyes that are slightly hooded, and has been told that she can very easily have ‘bedroom eyes’ if she tries.

What kind of hair do they have?: Thin, naturally straight blonde hair that she lets air dry into waves an either keeps shoulder length in a bob or a little longer when she feels adventurous.

What is their complexion like?: Naturally tan in the summer time, but pretty pale otherwise. She has freckles all year long, but they come out more in the sunshine.

What body type are they?: Very athletic.

What is listening to their voice like?: Livvy has a friendly voice, the kind that encourages people to let their guard down and open up, but she can also be quite stern and monotone when she is really in the moment.

What do they hate most about themselves?: Physically, she wishes that she could have a few more curves. But otherwise, she wishes that she could be more confident in general. 

Do they have a favorite quote?: “To ride on a horse is to fly without wings.”

What sort of music do they enjoy?: There’s not one any particular genre that she listens to more than others, but she likes a lot of female vocalists in the more acoustic, indie type of range.

Have/would they ever cheat(ed) on a partner?: Livvy has never cheated.

Have they been cheated on by a partner?: To her knowledge, she has never been cheated on, but she also hasn’t had many partners.

Have they ever lost someone close to them?: Yes. When she was with her ex-boyfriend in San Francisco, they experienced the loss of one of his children.

What is their favorite sound?: Soft, whuffing snorts of horses when they get excited as you approach.

Are they judgmental of others?: She tries not to be, but is human. Just really good at keeping it to herself, though.

Have they ever been drunk?: Of course. It’s not something she does a lot, but Livvy’s definitely been drunk before.

What are they like when they stay up all night?: A little bit cranky. Livvy’s naturally a morning person, but she likes to get her sleep. If she was up all night, she’s going to be a bit on the grumpy side, and absolutely have coffee attached to her at all times.

Have they ever been arrested?: Nope!

What evokes strong memories for them?: Horseback riding; it makes her remember how excited she was the first time that she got up onto a horse and went riding. And the friends she made along the way.

What do they do on rainy days?: Hang out at home with Mallow on the couch, watching movies. Or clean. If the house is dirty, she’ll do the cleaning first, and then the curling up on the couch.

What religion are they?: None in particular. She does like to think there’s someone up there watching over them, and prays for those she loves, but she isn’t a religious person in general.

What word do they overuse the most?: “Okay.”

What do they wear to bed?: One of the lesser known secrets about Livvy is that she has an addiction to buying cute pajama sets. In the summer, she tends to wear the silky smooth ones, and in the winter, the flannel plaid ones. With reindeers on them.

Do they have any tattoos or piercings?: No tattoos, but she has quite a few piercings in her ears.

What type of clothing are they most comfortable in?: Jeans and a t-shirt, of course, but... if she’s honest, Livvy really does love dressing up and feels comfortable in heels and something that makes her feel in control.

What is their most disliked food?: Livvy loves lobster and crab and fish, but isn’t fond of anything else that comes out of the ocean. She hates calamari, for example, and would probably never eat an octopus just based on sight alone.

Do they have any enemies?: Not anymore, but being the woman in a mostly male-dominated office was tough for a while.

What does their writing look like?: Neat and precise, even for someone in the medical field. It’s not overly girly, per se, but definitely has a feminine edge to it.

What disgusts them?: Mess. Livvy’s an incredibly organized person, whether it be her home, her office, her car... she hates the idea of anything being a mess, truth be told.

#merrockdevelopment #all about livvy

[mapabyphilippinewonders]

Transforming your outdoor space!

Here are the (12) twelve best things to do in Malapascua Island that you need to try!

1. Lapus Lapus Cliff Jumping

One of the best cliff jumping spots on the island. Lapus Lapus cliff features a range of different cliff jumps starting as low as 5 meters and the highest being 15 meters. Make sure to visit during high tide.

2. Hidden Beach

Hidden Beach isn’t the most "Hidden Beach" but it is indeed a worthy spot for a quick swim and a snorkel while you are adventuring around Malapascua Island.

3. Diving in Malapascua

Cebu as it’s home to a very fascinating underwater species, the Thresher Shark. This is the only place you can dive with Thresher Sharks in the Philippines and it’s said to be the only place in the world where they can be seen regularly.

4. Happy Hour at Hippocampus

Hippocampus Beach Resort plays host to arguably the best beach bar on the island and happy hours are between 4 pm and 6 pm, every day of the week!

5. Villa Sandra Reggae Bar

Villa Sandra is another epic bar and restaurant in Malapascua Cebu that is most popular for its colorful decor and reggae vibes!

6. Lighthouse Beach

Lighthouse Beach is a perfect spot on Malapascua Cebu to watch the sunset.

7. Spend a Day at Logon Beach

The crescent-shaped beach is popular for its lineup of classy beachfront hotels and restaurants. It's one of the best beaches in Malapascua for its idyllic atmosphere and calm waters.

8. Swim at Langub Beach

This beach is a fan favorite among tourists who want some peace and quiet. In fact, despite it being a public beach, the shores are mostly unspoiled.The azure waters, white sand, lesser crowds, and amazing sunset truly make it a beach paradise.

9. Drink Cocktails at Bounty Beach

If you want a fancy cocktail while watching the sunset, simply walk into one of the beachfront bars and get yourself a drink.

10. See the Underwater Caves in Gato Island

The underwater scene in Gato Island is filled with beautiful rock formations and corals. Inside the small underwater caves, you’ll find big whitetip reef sharks and sea snacks resting. You can also encounter big schools of fish during your dive.

11. Swim with Marine Life at Bugtong Bato

It is a famous spot to see some squid, lionfish, zebra crabs, seahorses, cuttlefish, blue ring octopus, and whip coral shrimp.

12. See the Mandarin Fish at Lighthouse Reef

Here you’ll find one of the world’s most beautiful and psychedelic fish: the Mandarin fish.

References:

Melon J. (2021). 11 Best Things To Do In Malapascua Island – Philippines. Jonny Melon (Main source)

Nataniel Luperte via Instagram

Sea Explorers Philippines via Instagram

freedivereve via Instagram

Muzones, G. (2022).Top Things to Do in Malapascua Island: Thresher Sharks Diving & Beaches. Travel Guide To The Philippines.

https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/what-to-experience/malapascua-island-tourist-spots

[imperiuswrecked]

What would an Ocean be without a Monster lurking in the Dark? It would be like a Sleep without Dreams. - Werner Herzog

Namor Week 2022 - Day 4 - Atlantean Biology Aesthetic + Headcanons

I’ve compiled most of my Atlantean Biology Headcanons for today’s prompt:

Atlantean Biology

Skin  - Atlanteans have varying shades of blue skin, dark to light, however blue skin is the identifier for Atlanteans. Hybrid Atlantean/Lemurian offspring will have either Blue or Green skin depending on the outcome of genes. - Skin is extremely tough and able to withstand deep ocean pressure. - As Atlanteans age, their skin toughens, young Atlanteans skin is still vulnerable to many things. - Skin dries out quickly and must be constantly hydrated when out of water.  - Most Atlanteans do not have scales but some do depending on Genes/Mutation. - Skin is highly susceptible to poisons/pollutions. - Scars form white and stand out on blue skin.

Ears   - Pointed ears can hear echolocation underwater. - Ears are very sensitive to sounds on land. - Atlanteans can hear lies; due to their heightened hearing they can detect minute changes that occur in a persons body when they lie. As such many Atlanteans are either truthful or extremely skilled liars. 

Mouth/Teeth  - Atlanteans have two sets of teeth, one for vegetation such as seaweed, kelp, etc. and one for meat such as fish, whale, shark, crabs, etc. The second set descends in front of the first set when needed. - It is a conscious effort to keep the sharper second set receded until needed. It may also be used as a weapon for defense or attack. - Atlantean’s second set forms when they are about ten years of age. - Atlantean diets consist of raw vegetation/fish. 

Eyes - Atlanteans have extremely good eyesight, they can see in little to no light in the dark ocean depths.  - Atlanteans have a second set of eyelids that are clear that come down over their eyes. When used it’s purpose is to show the water current movement trail of creatures in motion. Atlanteans can track using this for many miles. Atlanteans have learned to hide their water current trails so as to not be tracked by other Atlanteans by mimicking the trails of sharks, dolphins, etc. as a tracker can tell the difference between them and Atlantean movement.  - Eyes come in a variety of color, brown being the most dominant. Other colors include; red, purple, blue, gray, green, hazel, black, amber, gold, and more. - Atlanteans are sensitive to surface world light and so wear protective gear to not blind themselves. 

Gills/Respiratory  - Atlanteans filter oxygen from the water around them through their gills.  - They cannot live out of water for more than a few moments unless they have gill gear; water devices attached to their gills connected to water tanks they carry, a water helmet.  - Using either magic potions or science Atlanteans can breath out of water. The process converts their gills into being able to absorb oxygen without water. They do not have human like lungs.*  *See Namor for Hybrid Lungs/Gills

Hands/Feet/Body - Atlanteans nails are claw like and can tear through very tough surfaces. - Atlanteans are extremely strong and can lift ten times their own weight in the ocean and double that on land.  - Webbed Hands and Feet are a Lesser Mutation* *See Mutations

Mutations - Many Atlanteans have lesser and greater mutations; Lesser Mutation - Usually it is scales that appear on skin. Sometimes it is more fish like features, or a spinal dorsal fin, webbed hands and feet are lesser mutations and not uncommon, often based down through genes. - Telepathy; all Atlanteans have a slight form of telepathy. It is stronger in some than others, mostly used as a way to silently communicate with others by projecting thoughts aimed at an individual or group. Once the receipt “hears” the message they can then respond. Like a mental telephone. Practice can make this skill stronger. Greater Mutation - Usually involves a power set such as; hydro-telekinesis, water manipulation, commanding of creatures, water mimicry, camouflage, etc. This is different from the X-Gene as this is a skill that is there from birth and does not activate at a later date, so you are either born with it or not. 

Sex/Gender - Atlanteans are not so concerned with the labels of gender as surface people, and while there are male and female Atlanteans there are also other different genders however there is no discrimination against certain gender/sexual identities.  - Atlanteans do not lay eggs; they carry to term and birth like humans, the normal pregnancy length is twelve months. Atlanteans have children very rarely, only about one child every three to four years unless they are twins, etc. Infertility is in higher numbers than ever before due to toxins in the oceans from pollution. 

Lemurian Biology

Lemurian Biology is much the same as Atlantean Biology but the key difference is their skin is in varying shades of dark green to light green. Also their skin has snake like scales, or the scales of another reptile such as iguanas/lizards/ etc. 

Sirenas/Mermaids/Mermen/Selkies/Nerieds

Identified by their half human like/half fish/sea creature like forms they are neither Atlantean nor Lemurian. 

Many have extreme fish like features and swim by their tail. 

Sirenas/Mermaids/Merman; they cannot change into human form without the aid of great magic. Only Selkies and others creatures like them may pass freely from one form to another.

Nerieds are water spirits taken physical form, there are many different creatures from around the world not featured here that are mystical/magical/spiritual who create or inhabit a physical form.

Namor Specific Biology

As a Hybrid, Namor has both Lungs and Gills and can interchangeably switch between respiratory systems for as long as he needs depending on his location. 

Namor’s ankle wings are a Human X-Gene Mutation.

Namor’s strength is significantly more than other Atlanteans with very few Atlanteans able to match his level.

Namor’s skin is extremely tough and able to withstand deep ocean pressure, bullets, bombs, knifes, lasers, and any other weapon. His weaknesses are Neptune’s Trident, certain Atlantean metals mined from the ocean floor or Vibranium which can cut even the toughest skin.

Namor’s Greater Mutations are; - Limited Telepathic Control over Sea Creatures; he cannot speak to them, nor do they have thoughts like humans/atlanteans, but he can exert his will over them for a limited time. - Bioelectrical Manipulation; he can absorb electrical energy and redirect it or store it in his body. 

#namor #namor mckenzie #namor the sub mariner #atlanteans #namorweek #namor week 2022 #imp headcanons #impedit #character aesthetic #save tag #character references

[trinketprince]

All the Youkaimatsus so far

JExcept sets that have all of them as the same youkais (Nekomata, Tanuki and the various Kitsune sets from Tabimatsu)

Pinup Poster from the Osomatsu Character Book #6 (July 2016)

A classic. The very first iteration of Youkaimatsu. Kind of hard to find since it was a bonus poster from the character book, so unless you were actively looking for the book, you wouldn’t find this.

Osomatsu - Kitsune (unknown how many tails he has but is often depicted in fan artworks as 6 or 9, 9 meaning strongest/wisest a kitsune has been, Spirit Fox)

Karamatsu - Karasu-Tengu (pun on Kara, Bird Man)

Choromatsu - Dodomeki (usually a woman cursed with long arms littered with many bird eyes because of greed. Most popular one imo)

Ichimatsu + ESP Nyanko - Nekomata (Two-tailed cat, legend says that cats who live longer than a 100 years gain a second tail)

Jyushimatsu - Rokurobi (available in two flavors. Long Neck and Floating Head. He is the former. Theorized to not actually be a youkai but created for entertainment. Also used as a literary device for a wandering soul.)

Todomatsu - Yukki Onna (Also a joke on Todo being scared stiff. Yuki Onna pull tricks on humans that usually end on the person’s death via cold. Has a harsh and soft side)

Youkai Units from The Great Youkai War event from Hesokuri Wars (November 2016)

Most popular Youkaimatsu set, this baby could get milked for miles, but for some reason isn’t. Has a lot of variants (Awakened, Darkness, Snow, Sakura and Hyakki Yagyou) and connected to a lot of other sets: Denki Mystery, Colorless Overalls, Mononoke and a bunch of others. She is the top DOGG set.

Osomatsu - Shuten-Douji (Oni Leader with a penchance for Sake, literally carrying a big ass bottle of it on his back, since he is the leader of the sextuplets and the one seen drinking beer the most)

Karamatsu - Aoandon (Summoned after 100 supernatural stories are told. Originated from the blue (ao) paper lanterns (andon) that were sometimes used to give a chilling atmosphere)

Choromatsu - Daitengu (Great Tengu, Tengus were theorized to be ascended souls, but also has its origins in a Dog Beast that looked like a comet. For some reason Dog Beast turned into Bird Man. The bird man’s beak is often anthropomorphized into long noses. Tells humanity to behave by throwing invisible stones at them)

Ichimatsu - Nine-tailed Kitsune (So wise. So powerful)

Jyushimatsu - Inugami (Dog God that possesses people)

Todomatsu - Bake-Danuki (also known as tanuki, mischievous spirits, mostly known in pop culture for their BIG FAT NUTS)

Dayon is a miko, a shrine maiden. Hatabou is an Onmyoji, an exorcist, Dekapan is a kannushi, a shrine priest. Totoko and Iyami are regular civillians

Youkai Hyakki Yagyou merchandise from Animate Girls Festival (September 2017)

One of the lesser known sets, considering that it’s just designs for a line of merch but their designs are so good? Why don’t people use these designs more often.

Osomatsu - Karasu-Tengu

Karamatsu - Nine-tailed fox

Choromatsu - Shuten-Douji (A possible reference to Season 1 Episode 2 where he gets the most drunk?)

Ichimatsu - Mizuchi (Legendary Water Serpent/Dragon)

Jyushimatsu - Kamaitachi (Beast that rides on dust devils. Cuts people using it’s scythe-like nails. The wounds are sharp but painless)

Todomatsu - Ungaikyou (A haunted mirror that can be used to trap spirits. The spirits in the ungaikyou can manipulate the reflection shown on it’s reflection.)

Kitsune Servant Set from Tabimatsu (September 2017)

Ok I know I said I wouldn’t cover the Kitsune sets from Tabimatsu since there are like 5 different Kitsune sets, but this one is noteworthy cause they have secondary Youkai traits other than the regular kitsune traits.

Osomatsu - Oni’s horns

Karamatsu - Tengu’s wings

Choromatsu - Orochi around his neck

Ichimatsu - True Kitsune (Or Nekomata’s paw?)

Jyushimatsu - Wanyudo (Flaming Wheel)

Todomatsu - I don’t know, but there’s something around his neck?

Japanese Youkai set from Shimamatsu (January 2018)

Shimamatsu was such a good game, what a shame it ended so soon. The 3D models were so cute. Edit: The two designs are from before and after evolution!

Osomatsu - Enma-san (A wrathful god in charge of judging souls in the afterlife. Resides over hell)

Karamatsu - Yamato no Orochi (Eight headed and Eight-tailed serpent/dragon)

Choromatsu - Kamaitachi (wields an actual scythe)

Ichimatsu - Youkai Catman or a Bakaneko (Catboy, furry)

Jyushimatsu - Yobuko (lives in the mountains, repeats whatevers shouted into the mountain, explains the phenomemon of Echos)

Todomatsu - Yuki Otoko (Snowman, a Yuki Onna basically)

“Inn” Osoma and Choroe from Osomatsu Season 2 Episode 17

A BUNCH OF PEOPLE REMINDED ME AND HOW COULD I FORGET THE BEST YOUKAI EVER. Osoma baby,,,, I’m so sorry..... Srsly, this skit was so good, I hope they make more skits like this where they make entirely new characters out of the framework of the sextuplets.

Osoma - A Zashiki-warashi, child spirits who live in store rooms or extra rooms, they died buried in their homes. Pranksters but meeting one is said to bring good fortunes to families. Osoma gets crossovered a lot with the other Youkai sets in JP fanart. A popular pairing is Dodomeki Chorosuke (from Denki Mystery) and Osoma also Kitsune Osomatsu (from the poster) and Osoma.

Choroe - Not necessarily a youkai, in fact in the episode she’s presented as just a regular human. But is theorized often to be a Yama-uba. An old woman banished to the mountains. She provides shelter to weary travelers (in the myth it’s just a humble shelter but you know. an inn is also considered a shelter) before eating them. In one story she eats the recently birthed baby of a woman who had to give birth in the mountains. 

Mononoke from Hesokuri Wars (May 2019)

Technically they are all the same type of being, Mononoke, but they look different from each other. Mononoke can posses individuals and cause suffereing and even death. And technically they aren’t Youkais but Onryos, vengeful spirits. But Onryos can also be used to refer to youkais and truthfully I just wanna include this set cause their designs are so cool looking. This set’s attacks contain glimpses of units of other sets. 

Osomatsu - Bear themed

Karamatsu - Wolf themed

Choromatsu - Rooster/Chicken themed

Ichimatsu - Spider

Jyushimatsu - Boar

Todomatsu - Bull or Ox

Edo Rock The Great Youkai Harvest Festival from Tabimatsu (October 2019)

This set is interesting cause rather than youkai alone, they are also musicians. This set also has another set like Hesokuri called The Great Youkai NEET which is basically the awakened versions, properly showcasing more of the youkai traits.

Osomatsu - Shuten-Douji (Again, we need to stage an intervention for you damn)

Karamatsu - Karasu-Tengu (Again)

Choromatsu - Mizuchi (actually riding said serpent)

Ichimatsu - Black Kitsune (Hot Topic, Goth version)

Jyushimatsu - Frog. Just. Frog. (could be a reference to the legend of Jiraiya, the ninja who could shapeshift into a frog/ride big frogs. His mouth is cover just like a ninja is too.)

Todomatsu - Kamaitachi (could be a reference to season 1 where Todomatsu wields a scythe)

Iyami - Oni (not sure if he’s any particular oni but he does have the horns and metal club)

Atsushi - Ibaraki-Douji? (White hair and singular horn, most imporant servant of Shuten-Douji)

Promo Merch from Sega Cafe collab (September 2020)

Edit: Thank you @zenryokubatankyu for notifying me! Another set of promo youkais! You can get them by random by ordering a drink or meal at the now-defunct Sega x Osomatsu collab cafe. And the return of F6? Damn I haven’t seen you since Season 2!

Osomatsu - Oni

Karamatsu - I’m not exactly sure but he seems like a Mizuchi, a water serpent/dragon. He also could be another legendary serpent/dragon though.

Choromatsu - Kappa

Ichimatsu + ESP Nyanko - Karasu-Tengu

Jyushimatsu - I’m not sure, at first i thought it might be a crab youkai judging from the legs, but upon closer inspection he has spider webs on his robes, so they may be spider legs instead. Could be a Jorogumo, a youkai that wields fire breathing spiders with it’s spider legs

Todomatsu - Bakaneko (I think? The veil could be the napkin a bakaneko puts on it’s head)

Ayakashi Sextuplet’s Retro Halloween Cafe merch from Web Kuji (October 2020)

Thank you @gradelstuff​ for telling me about this! Ayakashi are Youkai that appear above nearby bodies of water. Although the youkais they’re dressed up as (or are?) aren’t really what you would call ayakashi? Although it’s cafe themed, it isn’t actually from a cafe collaboration. These designs are merchandise meant to be won through lottery. So if say you really love Kara and Choro’s designs (I do), then tough luck buddy!

Osomatsu - Oni

Karamatsu - Now you may think he’s Dodomeki since he’s covered with eyes, but turns out there are two other eye-relateed youkai! Mokumokuren is a youkai phenomenon where eyes appear from torn paper walls and tatami floors, initially i thought this was it given the checkered pattern he was wearing. But he might actually be a Hyakume, a youkai covered head to toe in yellow eyes specifically. Underneath those eyes is a body of flesh roughly in the shape of a man. This Youkai isn’t particularly malicious, only detaching one of it’s many eyes to follow you and survey you for criminal activiy. He might also be a BackBeard, a youkai allegedly from the US, err that would make him a cryptid I guess? A Backbeard is often characterized as a shadow with a Yellow eye with a red iris in the center. Note: Backbeard’s true origins are not known as there doesn’t seem to be any cryprid called a Backbeard, it first entered the Japanese public eye as an antogonist in the show Gegege no Kitaro. Although ever since then this “yokai�� has appeared in other media and games in Japan.

Choromatsu - He isn’t exactly dressed as it (only themed as it) but the youkai he represents is the one he’s holding, a Kasa-obake, One of my favorite youkais and it’s literally iconic. Thought to be a Tsukomogami, an object that gains a spirit after it turns 100 years old.

Ichimatsu - Edit: I’m not sure but he might be a Kuchisake-Onna. In the description attached to his teaser, it makes mention of specifically his wide smile, his dos dagger and his beautiful shirt. A kuchisake onna is a yokai that wanders in the street covering her face with a mask (skull mask for ichi) and a sharp object (his dos dagger). TW GORE DESCRIPTION: She asks you if you think she’s attractive and depending on your answer she muders you with her scissors, plunging it into you OR she takes off her mask showing her wide smile, her mouth slit at the corners to her ears and asks “how about now?” and depending on your reaction she cuts you in half with her sharp object OR she slits the corners of your mouth to look like hers. END DESCRIPTION. Ichi has the mask, sharp object, wide smile and “attractiveness”. Obviously it would be inappropriate to portray ichi in the same fashion as the kuchisake onna so he was probably given the internal organ tattoos to represent the gory yokai. (internal organs usually = gore in japan). This is speculah and he might be another youkai but this is all i can think of rn.

Jyushimatsu - sailor themed Jiangshi. Jiangshi are basically Zombies originally from Chinese culture. They hop around, and crave for life force. this little jyushimatsu has taken to tomato juice instead. (Bonus: the zombie that osomatsu is in the zombie set in hesokuri wars is also a Jiangshi)

Todomatsu - Kitsune (sly fox)

“The Night Path” Youkai from Osomatsu-san Season 3 Episode 6 (November 2020)

The latest and what sparked me to make this post tbh. This set reuses the Rokurobi design from the very first Youkaimatsu iteration! Full circle yo! I like to think of this set as an addition to the original youkaimatsu, since they’re both from the primary sources.

Jyushimatsu - Rokurobi (Again)

Totoko - Amabie (mermaid with three legs? prophesized about either good harvest or an epidemic, trivia: “Amabie” trended when Covid 19 hit the world)

Hatabou - Azukiarai (a youkai that originated from the sound of something like beans being washed near a river, anyone who comes near will fall into the river)

Dayon - Nopperabou (Faceless spirits that take the form of humans. They are harmless usually, they just scare humans)

Dekapan - Kappa (Mischievous River spirits)

That should be all of them! 

Recap: 

Osomatsu has been a Kitsune, Shuten-Douji (twice), Karasu-Tengu, Enma-san and an Oni

Karamatsu has been a Karasu-Tengu (twice), Aoandon, Kitsune, Yamato no Orochi and a Mizuchi (?)

Choromatsu has been a Dodomeki, Daitengu, Shuten-Douji, Kamaitachi, Mizuki and a Kappa (No repeats!)

Ichimatsu has been a Nekomata, Kitsune (twice), Mizuchi, Bakaneko and a Karasu-Tengu

Jyushimatsu has been a Rokurobi (twice-ish), Inugami, Kamaitachi, Yobuko, a Frog from Jiraiya and a Jorogumo (?)

Todomatsu has been a Yuki Onna (twice), Bake-danuki, Ungaikyou, Kamaitachi and a Bakaneko

You can definitely see a trend (lmao), I’m looking forward to more Youkaimatsus from Osomatsu-san!

bonus:

Osomatsu-san cameo from Yokai Watch!!!

#Osomatsu san #Youkaimatsu #Yokaimatsu #妖怪松 #Hesokuri Wars #Shimamatsu #Tabimatsu #I'm not tagging all the matsus lmao #long post

[howtodisassembleyourdeviant]

eleven questions for the mun!

01.  alias or name: Arsenic or ‘Seni’ for short

02.  birthday: March 13th

03.  zodiac sign: 🐓 🐠 

04.  height: 5′6″

05.  hobbies: RPing, drawing, crafting, coloring, and I always thought I would enjoy mushroom hunting, not for eating but to catalog them. I like how fungi looks. 

06.  favorite colour: blue, green, and everything inbetween. The more earth-toned, the better. 

07.  favorite book: For fiction, I’ve always liked ‘Unwind’ by Neal Shusterman. I never read the whole series as by the time it came out, I felt too busy to really delve into a book and enjoy it. It’s about a future where parents can send their children to be ‘unwound’ or essentially taken apart, for their body parts to be used for medical purposes. One of the main characters in that book is also named Connor. 

For Non-Fiction, I wouldn’t call it a favorite, but I found Hiroshima Diary to be informative and emotional. It was the diary of a doctor (Michihiko Hachiya) living in Hiroshima at the time of the bombing, giving details of the hell that the first ever nuclear bomb used in war had unleashed. Any book about the bombing is not for the faint of heart, but this one is a little more tame than other, such as To Hell and Back: The Last Train From Hiroshima (Which is a compiled account of the bombing, written by Charles Pellegrino, who believed it was important to put every gory detail from the survivor’s accounts to show why nuclear bombs should never be used again.)

I promise I’m not a bad kind of freak! I just explore dark themes a lot as both morbid fascination and to understand the human mind. 

08.  favorite food: I also enjoy sushi, particularly spider rolls, unagi, and the king crab crunch roll they serve at Sakura’s here (king crab, white tuna, and salmon, slightly fried and topped with spicy mayo and eel sauce). It’s the only time I willingly eat mayo. I also enjoy BBQ venison heart, which my old redneck stepdad introduced me to. Haven’t had it in years, nor do I hunt anymore. Still, it was a favorite when I was younger. 

09.  last film or show watched: Well, I usually have The Simpsons playing in the background since there are so many (I’ve actually gone through all the seasons several times now) and for the nostalgia. However, the last show I actually watched was Squid Game with my mother, which I greatly enjoyed. My favorite character is No. 001. 

10.  inspiration: I listen to music sometimes to find the right mood for Connor, or I might re-watch some scenes, particularly when I’m trying to focus on dictation and how he would phrase something (though I also listen to Hank’s phrasing as I’m certain Connor would pick up habits from him post-deviancy). Other than that, I try to put myself in his shoes. 

For my AUs, they’re a way I can explore different aspects of his personality without effecting the main verse. My human AU is for exploring his emotions and the trauma from Amanda (while she is far worse in this verse, I do believe Connor suffers from PTSD due to her and Cyberlife), along with neglecting oneself that, while android Connor does, is not nearly as visible because he does not require food, drink, or sleep. My Naga AU (and to a lesser extent Demon AU), is more or less exploring Ruthless/Machine Connor, who has no issue causing other’s pain and takes pride in knowing he is the best of the best. My Mer-Verse and Cow AU explore the cinnamon roll that he can be, and is probably fanon Connor, in all honesty. I could never write Canon Connor being so soft, fun-loving, and sweet, but I do enjoy indulging on that sugar high. 

11.  story behind url: Well, Connor does send deviant androids to be disassembled, and I had been watching a lot of ‘how-to’ videos at the time. I can sit here and pretend it’s something deep like I’m disassembling deviant Connor’s personality and learning about what makes him human, but I’d be lying. I was just doing a lot of wood painting and baking at the time, trying to survive at a failing restaurant, living on a farm with no electricity or running water. 

Tagged By: @spiritistanchi​ (Thank you!)

Tagging (Only if you want to!): @technxlogic​ @trepidaticn​ @deviate-exe​

#Munday Meme #On Friday #Dash Games #( ooc ) #long post tw

[mysticalmusicwhispers]

Sources:

Smithsonian Institute overview of ocean acidification: more detailed info than what’s in this post

Rate of ocean acidification, paper by IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change): the pdf is very long, but the statistics I pulled were from the executive summary portion.

Information on marine sulfur emissions and their impact on climate: (the original study is published on Nature but most of it is behind a paywall :|)

For whatever reason, I can’t find any detailed information on the experiment with sea butterfly shells besides what I’ve included here. The pictures of the shells are by David Liittschwager/National Geographic and can be found here and context for the experiment is here

Links for more information: NOAA article 1, article 2, Smithsonian article on sea butterflies and the different effects that ocean acidification may have on different species, and National Geographic articles

Notes:

I mentioned extra dissolved CO2 levels benefiting many* marine plants, who can use the extra carbon dioxide in photosynthesis to grow more. This is true; however many marine plants are facing other stressors like pollution that acidification/extra CO2 may not make up for.

*many: some algae (primitive plants) that use carbonate ions are projected to severely decline if ocean acidity increases due to the loss of carbonate. There are always exceptions of generalizations.

I also mentioned shelled creatures being negatively impacted. This is going to be the case for mollusks like oysters, mussels, clams, sea urchins, starfish (which use carbonate as well), and corals. HOWEVER, most** crustaceans (lobsters, crabs etc) are projected to benefit because their shells are constructed differently and they can do better in more acidic water.

most**: there is a study on injuries of Dungeness crab larvae due to slightly higher acidity in oceans, which found that they might have higher mortality due to wonky shell formation from raised acidity in the water. Caveat to the study: more research is needed to confirm the findings and find out if they will impact the population in any way.

Additionally, because everything in an ecosystem is interconnected, it’s really highly unlikely that some species will ONLY benefit from ocean acidification. 

For example: blue crabs (a crustacean) eat clams and mussels. Clams and mussel populations will decrease because of acidification. Although crabs may construct stronger shells in more acidic waters, if they don’t have any food to eat (less clams and mussels), the crabs won’t do well either.

If this wasn’t clear, ocean acidification should be mitigated the same way you would reduce climate change: by reducing CO2 emissions.

On an individual basis this means you try to: not waste energy (heat, electricity), use public transport when possible, eating local food, etc. all the things that you probably hear a lot regarding climate change.

HOWEVER MUCH OF THE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE BY INDUSTRIES, CORPORATIONS, AND LEGISLATION TO REDUCE CO2 EMISSIONS.

also education helps a lot. please spread the word about this; many people have heard of climate change, but very few have heard of ocean acidification and it threatens just as much of life on Earth.

Reblogs are greatly appreciated!!!

Earth Day post: 2/?

Transcript for images below:

One lesser known effect of high carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is ocean acidification, which has major impacts on both marine ecosystems and human livelihoods. 

CO2 from the atmosphere naturally dissolves into oceans and bodies of water. There, chemical reactions occur which release hydrogen ions (H+), increase ocean acidity, and decrease carbonate ions (CO2-3).

However, humans are producing too much CO2, far faster than the ocean can handle. Each year, oceans absorb 30% of extra, human produced CO2, so any increase in CO2 levels means a drastic increase in ocean acidity.

Over the last 200 years, ocean water has become 30% more acidic. This is the fastest change in ocean chemistry in at least the last 65 million years.  Source: The Ocean, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2014

Marine life cannot adapt to changes this quickly, and although decreasing acidity will affect species differently, most (if not all) species will struggle with the change.

So, what are the tangible effects?

More H+ ions make the ocean more acidic, which:

may increase the rate of atmospheric warming. 

Increasing acidity decreases the amount of sulfur the ocean emits.

Atmospheric sulfur can cause a cooling effect by reducing the solar energy that reaches Earth

Less carbonate ions negatively impact mollusks and shellfish.

Animals like oysters, other shellfish, and corals use carbonate ions to build and maintain their shells/skeletons. Less carbonate can disrupt the growth of these species and may decrease their numbers.

The ocean’s increasing acidity can also dissolve calcium carbonate shells and skeletons. Following are 4 pictures of a shell that looks similar to a snail shell; the shell is from a sea butterfly, a snail relative, and the pictures document the shell gradually dissolving over a period of 45 days after being placed in a solution that models acidity and carbonate levels projected for 2100. The first picture shows the shell at day 0; it is clear, uniformly transparent, and shiny. The second picture shows the shell at day 15; the shell is now opaque and milky white. It still has the same shape as it was in the beginning. The third picture shows the shell at day 30; it is more transparent, but some parts have begun to deform and the opacity of the shell is no longer uniform. The fourth picture shows the shell at day 45; it is more deformed, and some parts have begun to disappear.

In short, acidification results in:

Less tourism for certain areas (e.g. Great Barrier Reef) as corals suffer

Fishing industry losses, as shellfish species may grow more slowly, be smaller in size, and have higher mortality rates

Higher seafood prices

Large ecosystem shifts everywhere

One positive: increased CO2 levels will benefit most seaweeds, algae, and undersea plants, which use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. However, ocean acidification is negative overall. It’s often called the twin sister of climate change.

How to reduce acidification:

Decrease CO2 emissions 

This is not just a 1-person initiative. Industries and governments need to play their part.

Additionally, educate others about this issue! 

As more people become aware of ocean acidification, we can create greater change.

End transcript.

#earth day 2021 #earth day #awareness #environment #ocean #fish #sea #ocean aesthetic #blue #environment awareness #earth awareness #nature #ocean acidification #psa #earth #oceanic #shell #seaweed #crabs #mollusks #environmental #environmental awareness

[bookofjin]

Commentary on the Warer Classic: Kunlun

[We return again to Kunlun and its many marvels. Attempts by some authors to equate Kunlun with Anavatapta from Buddhist tradition are difficult to reconcile with Daoist supernatural geographies, which I suppose is not too surprising.

Dongfang Shuo was a historical person who lived in the times of Emperor Wu of Han. The Records of Ten Islands and Classic of Gods and Wonders, though attributed to him, are quite likely to be much later works though.

Mr. Shi's discussion: Fotutiao arranges Classic of Mountains and Seas to say: South of the Western Sea, adjacent to the Flowing Sands, behind of the Red River赤水 and before of the Black River黑水 there is a great mountain, named Kunlun崑崙.

He also says: Six hundred li west of Zhong Mountain鍾山 is Kunlun Mountain崑崙山 from where sets out five rivers, carrying on hence the Account of Fotutiao.

Also recently pushed forward and obtained Kang Tai's Account of Funan. The Account's Kunlun Mountain崑崙山 exactly combine with Tiao's. According to the Account, from Jiao province交州 you arrive at the near-most of Tianzhu天竺. Tai's Account likewise knows that Anavatapta Mountian阿耨達山 is Kunlun Mountain崑崙山.

Shi states: Depending perhaps on Tiao's Account, openly making explanations, and then circulating them as the Map of the Western Region, to then tell of [Zhu?] Faitai. Faitai uses the common to see the unusual. He speaks of various famous people from Han and onward [?], he does not respond to the He河 being several thousand li south of Dunhuang敦煌, and does not know where Kunlun崑崙 is.

Shi states: Then the book says: Relying on Transmittals on the Majestic Son of Heaven, King Mu at the sides of Kunlun崑崙 and upon the Jade Pool瑤池 toasted the Queen Mother of the West, and states the distance to Zongzhou宗周, the Chan瀍 and Jian 澗, eleven thousand, one hundred li, how might it not be like Tiao tells? When Sir now sees Tai's Account, it is not making previous people unknowledgeable. But from now and afterwards then knowing that Kunlun Mountain崑崙山 is without a Hot Hill熱丘, how then to state it is outside of the foreign states?

I have examined Mr. Shi's words, but not yet made satisfactory proof. The Majestic Son of Heaven, Bamboo Book, and the Classic of Mountains and Seas all were buried and concealed years long past, the bamboo slips and leather are scarce and broken off, the books and records in scattered order. It is difficult to sew and patch them together. Later people made use of combining, but often deviated from the distant ideas. Reaching the desire to inquire into the earth's veins and streams, they do not fit together with the Classic. Inspecting the journeys and measuring the paths, assuredly they have no meetings with themselves. Mr. Shi did not restore to the root the vast causes of their multitude returns, [but] displayed his unsparing interest [?], to separate their faults, and not what is settled.

Now according to the Classic of Mountains and Seas which says: The Kunlun Barrens崑崙墟 are in the north-west, they are the Deity's lower capital. The barrens of Kunlun崙崑 are eight hundred lisquare, and ten thousand ren tall. Upon them are wooden standing grain. On the sides there are nine wells with jade as the enclosure. On the sides there are nine gates, the gates have enlightened beasts defending them. It is the place where are the hundred gods.

Guo Pu says: Separate from them there is Lesser Kunlun小崑崙.

Also according to the Book of Huainan, upon Kunlun崑崙 there are wooden standing grain, gem trees, jade trees, and jadestone璇 trees. The unding trees are west of them. The sand crab apple trees and and malachite are east of them. The scarlet trees are south of them. The blue-green trees and chalcedony trees are north of them. There are four hundred and forty gates, between the gates are four hamlets, and between the hamlets are nine chun. A chun is a zhang and five chi. On the sides are nine wells, with jade horizontal supports on their north-western crooks. The northern gates open to admit the winds that do not circle [?].

The slanting palace, revolving chamber, suspended gardens, cool winds, and fenced paulownia are within of Kunlun's崑崙 opening and closing gate. This is its wide-apart park. The pool of the wide-apart park is irrigated with the Yellow River黃水. The Yellow River黃水 circles three times and returns to its source, it is spoken of as the Cinnabar River丹水. [Those who] drink from it do not die.

The He River河水 sets out from its north-eastern corner. The Red River赤水 sets out from its south-eastern corner. The Immense River洋水 sets out from its north-western corner. Altogether these four rivers are the divine springs of the Deity, which harmonizes the hundred herbs, and which moisten the ten thousand things.

The hills of Kunlun崑崙, some are multiple times above them, they are spoken of as the Mountains of Cool Winds涼風. Those who climb them do not die. Some are multiple times above them, they are spoken of as the Mountains of the Dark Garden玄圃. Those who climb them then become unearthly, and are able to make wind and rain. Some are multiple times above them, these then uphold High Heaven. Those who climb them then become divine. These are spoken of as the dwellings of the Grand Deity. Yu then used the comforting earth to fill in the vast flood, and used it as the name for a mountain, digging out the Kunlun Barrens崑崙虛 to use as its lower ground.

Gao You says: Some of the land was made into a pool. Hence conforming with Fotutiao's explanation. Anavatapta's阿耨達 six rivers are the boundaries of Congling 蔥嶺 and Yutian's于闐 two rivers. He and the classics, histories and various books fully are inconsistent and different.

Also according to the Records of Ten Continents, Kunlun Mountain崑崙山 is the xu戌 land of the Western Sea and the hai亥 land of the Northern Sea. The distance between the banks is a hundred and thirty thousand li. There is the Weak River弱水 that encircles and goes around the mountain. To the south-east it joins the Piled-up Rocks Garden積石圃. To the north-west it joins with the House of the Northern Door北戶之室. To the north-east it overlooks the Well of Great Width大闊之井. To the south-west it is near the Valley of Accepted Abyss承淵之谷.

These four corners are great mountains, in truth the supporting buttresses of Kunlun崑崙. The Piled-up Rocks Garden積石圃 is the southern head. Formerly the Queen Mother of the West informed King Mu of Zhou, stating: The distance to Xianyang咸陽 is four hundred and sixty li, the mountain's hight above the level ground is thirty-six thousand li. Upon it there are three corners. Their faces are square, ten thousand li wide, and shaped like a resting pot, narrow below and wide above.

For that reason they say Kunlun Mountain崑崙山 has three corners. One of the corners is straight north, shielding the glow of the Morning Star [Mercury], its name is Wind-on-the-Fells Summit閬風巔. One the corners is straight west, its name is Dark Garden Terrace玄圃臺. One of its cornes is straight east, its name is Kunlun Palace崑崙宮. In that place there are piles of gold, it is the Heaven-Walled City天墉城. Its faces are a thousand li square. Upon the city are installed five gold terraces and twelve jade towers. Its Northern Door Mountain戶出山 and Accepted Abyss Mountain 承淵山 also have walled cities, with gold terraces and jade towers similar to the first one.

The watchtower of abyssal quintessence, the hall of brilliant blue-green stone, the chamber of carnelian splendour, the violet, bright blue, and cinnabar houses, the bright torches with sunshine, the vermilion-coloured clouds and nine lights, the place where the Queen Mother of the West governs, the place where the realized officials that are transcended and supernatural revere, the highest exchange with the whirling armillary, the primordial vapour flowing and spreading, the jade transverse's regular management, where to follow the Nine Heavens and attune yin and yang, the throng of things and crowd of living beings, where the rare, strange, and special sets out, all are here. The Heavenly people, manifold and multiple, cannot be drawn up and recorded. North of there, outside the seas, also there is Zhong Mountain鍾山. Upon it there are gold terraces and jade watchtowers, and it also enclosed by the primordial vapour, the place where the Heavenly Deity resides and governs.

Examining the words of Dongfang Shuo, and the Classic's text of fifty thousand li, they argue against Fotutiao and Kang Tai's Accounts. Within the Six Cardinal points, and what is concealed by rivers and marshes, what is large is not vast, what is small is not tiny, what exists is not become present, what is hidden is not absent. Among them [cases of] the same name but different regions, with claims and stories making chaos of each other, are also not few. Reaching the Eastern Sea's東海 Fangzhang方丈 [“Square Staff”?], it likewise has what is claimed about Kunlun崑崙. The Western Continent's西洲 Copper Pillar銅柱 also has the government of the Nine Offices.

Dongfang Shuo's Records of Ten Islands says: Fangzhang方丈 is at the exact centre of the Eastern Sea. From the eastern to western or southern to northern banks, the distance from each other is exactly the same. The sides of the Fangzhang are each five thousand li, upon it solely is the gathering place for the crowd of dragons. It has palaces of gold, jade, and glazed glass, which are the places governed by the Three Heavenly Ministers' instructions. Those among the crowd of transcendents who do not intend to climb to Heaven all come and go.

Zhang Hua's preface to Dongfang Shuo's Classic of Gods and Wonders says: Kunlun崑崙 has the Copper Pillar銅柱, its height enters into the Heavens, and it is spoken of as the Heavenly Pillar天柱. Its circumference is three thousand li, and it circles round [?] like a trimmer knife. Below there are rotating houses, the seat of the transcendents' Nine Offices. Above there is a great bird, named Xiyou [lit. “Rare Possession”]. Turning south, it extends its left wing to covered the Honoured King of the East, and its right wing the Queen Mother of the West. On its back there is a small spot without feathers, ten or nine thousand li, where the Queen Mother of the West yearly climbs on top of the wings, to go to the Honoured King of the East.

For that reason its pillar inscription says: “Its height enters into the Heavens, circling round like a trimmer knife, skin and body the finest quality. Its bird inscription says: “There is the Xiyou, green-red, glittering and glimmering, it does not cry and does not east. To the east it covers the Honoured King of the East, to the west it covers the Queen Mother of the West. The Queen Mother wished to go east, and climbed it to pass through herself. Yin and yang are necessary for each other, and indeed meet in beneficial labour.”

The Map of the Hidden Jia to Open Mountains says: For what the Five Dragons were teaching and traces from the Heavenly Augusts, look in Outside Nowhere's無外, Pillar Province柱州, on top Kunlun Mountian崑崙山.

Mr. Rong's Commentary states: The Five Dragons governed in the Five Regions, and were the gods of the Five Agents. The Five Dragons submitted to the Heaven August brothers, who where twelve people. They divided the Five Regions to become Twelve Sections, regulated the traces of the Five Dragons, and acted with nothingness to become transformed by it. Where Under Heaven the transcended sages govern is in Pillar Province柱州, on top Kunlun Mountian崑崙山. The mountain of Outside Nowhere's無外 is twelve thousand li south-east of Kunlun崑崙. The Five Dragons and Heavenly August all set out from within there, and become the twelve seasonal gods.

The Classic of Mountains and Seas says: The Hills of Kunlun崑崙 are truly indeed the Deity's lower capital. Their god Luwu is Minister of the Nine Sections of Heaven and the enclosed seasons of the Deity.

However within the Six Cardinal points, what they contain is far-distant. With the shrouded that causes to bring forth the marvellous, it is difficult to get to the root of the actual situation. With the ten thousand phenomena and distant pinnacles, thoughts cut across the fundamental search. [If] oneself does not climb a pair of dragons on the Cloud Carriage-Track, and gallops eight steeds on Tortoise Road, together with Xuanyuan question the Hundred Spirits, and side-by-side with Yu the Great assembles the gathered calculations, then the explanations of Ruists or Moists, who can tell them apart!

#shuijingzhu

[victorxproducer]

Well, forgive me, Victor. But I am a pilot. And meteorology is like one of our basics. 😌👩🏻‍✈️✈️

Now that we're talking about meteorology, here's my list of my top 15 favorite meteorology trivia that I learned in flight school! (Don’t know if I’ll be adding more, but thanks for reading!)

Lightning causes thunder. Aside from the theory that light travels faster than sound, lightning is actually the reason why there is thunder. Lightning is caused by ice pellets in the sky that "bumps" one another that causes electric current; and thunder is the sound that was caused by this "bumping" incidents.

Just because you’re from a country that does not experience snow, doesn’t mean that there is no possibility to encounter ice in your area (well, in higher altitudes, at least). As mentioned from the previous number, lightning is caused by ice pellets in the atmosphere. As altitude increases, temperature drops; hence, encounters with ice pellets in higher altitudes is not strange. This ice pellets are actually “freezing rain” that usually fall to the ground in water droplets already (again, due to the temperature change). Most of the time, you’ll be able to figure out that there are ice pellets by seeing towering cumulus or towering cumulonimbus clouds which also has flashes of lightning appearing since that’s where the most turbulent of weather is being formed.

Lightning is not actually the major reason planes crash these days. Planes do conduct electric current, hence lightning. But, planes now have a countermeasure for these flashes of light that gives way for the presence of static wicks on planes (either found on the wings and/or tail section); it is through these wicks that lightning/electricity exits after traveling through the airframe of an aircraft without completely damaging its skin, primary and secondary controls, and its avionic system. Though it leaves markings, but not much to cause primary concern. After all, 7,000 planes in the US alone are said to be hit by lightning every year.

Having said that, turbulence is also not actually the major reason why planes crash. Turbulence or air pocket (as they announced it on board as a euphemism of the real term) or the sudden updrafts and downdrafts in technical terms may put you at an unease. Believe me, even the most veteran ones are also edgy (well, my FI does when I have the controls and we came across some turbulence that he instantly had held on to the controls, too); but pilots in control can handle this (we get used to it in time as some body’s instinct). Turbulence cause a sudden change of altitude of decreasing or increasing a hundred of feet or more. But they are perfectly normal. But nothing to worry, turbulence hasn’t caused a plane crash in over 40 years. Most incidents nowadays are caused by human error. However, studies suggest global warming could cause it to be worse by 2050. And if you want to avoid experiencing turbulence, better fly in the morning!

Most of the weather exists on the troposphere so we fly higher, on the stratosphere, if our planes can handle such heights (and if ATC had accepted though). It is usually flight level 350 (35,000 feet) or more for commercial flights, not because they can and because it is cool to be above the clouds but there's lesser chances of encountering weather there! Most of our day-to-day weather phenomena occur in the troposphere.

Temperature and wind directions exists because of the Earth's unequal heating. There's a so-called actual lapse rate that states, for every 1,000 feet, temperature drops by 2°C from standard conditions. Standard temperature is at 15°C, hence the higher you go, the colder it gets. But it isn't always 15°C in sea level, just as pressure is not always 29.92" Hg. Resulting then for differences and deviations with the wind.

Clouds are formed due to the difference in temperature and dewpoint. No need to explain temperature because we probably all know it, but dewpoint is perhaps a new term. Dewpoint is the temperature at which water (water molecules in the air) begins or would begin to condense. Imagine them as bubbles floating in the air that as temperature rises, they expand. Due to this, clouds form; because they are not fluffy cottons hanging in the sky but area of turbulence (light to strong ones), thunderstorms (if they are thick and tall), and area of hail or ice pellets (for higher altitudes where these molecules could freeze up). So, by the time that temperature and dewpoint draws closer to one another, rain begins. Trick in finding the cloud’s base is by subtracting temperature and dewpoint, dividing it then to the 2.5°C/1000ft  . (Ex. 34/24 = 34°C - 24°C = 10°C / 2.5°C/ft  = 4; in short, 4,000 feet is the cloud’s base).

Thunderstorms have its stages and its own recipe. Not just the mere water cycle but something way much more than that. It has three stages known as: Cumulus Stage (defined as continuous updraft movements of the wind); Mature Stage (defined as when rain begins); and Dissipating Stage (defined by continuous downdraft movements). And, thunderstorms will not be formed without these three: unstable moist air, lifting action, and high moisture.

Rain at night means clear blue skies tomorrow morning (except if there's a cyclone). Proven and trusted. But the reason behind this is that if those dark and thick clouds will not result for rain to fall at night, there's a higher chance that they'll grew darker and thicker by morning due to the sun's heat. Previous numbers of these trivia had mentioned that the unequal heating of the Earth causes weather, so there's that to blame.

Weather conditions are defined either as Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) or Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). Because we don't always fly based on the instruments. To break the myth that we're all dependent of the computer systems, we actually begin most of our training and also fly the plane under the so-called Visual Flight Rules (VFR) with VMC; which means we depend on what our eyes can see outside and use the primary instruments as a cross-check to the situation. And yes, we can takeoff and land planes under VFR even during the night. Flying Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) due to IMC is a hassle because visibility for this is lesser than 500 meters.

Not all weather can be detected by the radar, in short, computer aircraft has its flaws, too. One major phenomena that can't be detected is clear air turbulence (CAT). They occur in cloudless air between altitudes of 6,000 and 15,000 meters (20,000 and 49,000 feet) and constitute a hazard to aircraft for its vertical and horizontal wind shear. They can be found right next to so-called phenomena known as “jet streams”. That's why we have other means of gathering constant information throughout the flight. They may be reports by other pilots known as PIREPs; frequency switch to ATIS; inquiries to the air traffic controller currently in our frequency; checking the METAR or the TAF. We check the outlook weather reports, and prepare for them at least an hour before the flight.

Jet streams can lessen travel time and cut fuel cost (and vice versa). Jet streams are fast flowing, narrow, meandering air currents in the atmosphere that are located near the altitude of the tropopause and are westerly winds (flowing west and east). Hence, travels to fly east can be decreased by about 30 minutes or over one-third of flight time if an airplane can fly with the jet stream, or increased by more than the amount if it must fly west against it. They are strong and farther south during winter, and are weaker and farther north during the summer.

Sunny days are a hassle. Not just because it is a sea breeze in the morning wherein water cools much faster than land, and we experience land breeze in the evening wherein land cools much faster than water; and not because a pilot gets an instant tanning session for being under the heat of the sun on the tarmac during pre-flight inspections. Sunny days are considered a hassle because too warm temperature decreases aircraft performance that then, in turn, cause delays of flights, too.

Crosswind landings test a pilot’s skill (sort of). Passengers do not determine hard or smooth landings; every pilot is trained to commence a “safe” landing. Better yet, a skilled pilot will be found during a crosswind landing. Crosswind landing, is at its name implies, is landing with winds blowing perpendicular to the landing runway (direct crosswind) or winds blowing from quarterly headings to the landing runway (quarterly headwind for those from right ahead; and quarterly tailwind from those behind). Even the most skilled airline pilots commence go-around due to how dangerous crosswind landings are especially strong direct crosswinds that involves the mastery of a specific technique called “crabbing” or a “side-slip”.

Some approaches are less stable due to wind shear. Wind shear is a phenomena that occurs over a very small distance, but can be associated with squall lines and cold fronts. It is commonly observed near microbursts and downbursts caused by thunderstorms, fronts, areas of locally higher low-level winds near mountains, radiation inversions that occur due to clear skies and calm winds, buildings, wind turbines, and sailboats. It resemble turbulences but unlike the latter, wind shears may occur regardless of altitude and direction.

For any clarifications and corrections, you can reach out to me. I don’t bite~

#mr love queen's choice #mr love dream date #mlqc #mlqc victor #mlqc li zeyan #mlcq zen #meteorology #nonsense trivia #perhaps???

[vosh-rakh]

meeting of the minds

Ku-vastei wearily steps inside from the rain, slamming the round metal door behind her. She begins to wring out her robes, swearing to every god and saint she knows under her breath.

A heavily-armored man draws his sword and points it towards her. “What are you doing here, slave?”

Too tired to speak, Ku simply glares at the cyrod as she continues to dry herself off.

“How did you get up here?” pursues the warrior, stepping closer. “These are Master Aryon’s private -”

Before he can take another step, a daedric spearpoint materializes in xanthous light at his throat, freezing him in place. “Come no closer, n’wah,” Ku declares, her tired voice deep and rumbling, “if you value your neck.” 

“Turedas? What’s all this commotion about?” calls a silvery voice from upstairs. A dunmer descends the spiral staircase, hiking up his robe so he doesn’t trip. He spies Ku-vastei with her conjured weapon pressed against his bodyguard’s gorget and his face lights up. “Ah, Turedas, settle down. This is the guest I told you to expect.”

The cyrod carefully sheathes his weapon, and Ku follows suit, the spear dissipating into tiny flecks of yellow floating to the ceiling and beyond. “I did not expect you meant to meet with a slave, Councilor,” says Turedas, his eyes still carefully trained on Ku.

“She is no slave of mine or anyone else,” replies Master Aryon, patting the warrior on the back. Ku-vastei notices he lacks the coarse Vvardenfell accent. “She is like Smokeskin-killer, a free argonian. We do not keep slaves in Tel Vos.” He smiles at Ku-vastei. “My apologies for the confusion. My man here once worked at the slave market in Sadrith Mora. Despite his Cyrodiilic origins, his heart was hardened to the abuses there.”

Ku-vastei grunts and goes back to wringing out her robes. “No, no,” interjects Aryon, taking a careless step closer. “Here. Allow me. You’ll feel warmer for a moment.”

Ku narrows her eyes but allows him. With a wave of his hand, vaporous orange light encircles her, pulling the moisture from her clothing and suffusing her body with a pleasant warmth. Her tail pulls itself taut with a cozy shiver. “Thank you,” she offers in return.

“Think nothing of it, muthsera. Come upstairs with me, I was just about to sit down for dinner.” He waves her towards the stairs with a practiced bow and flourish of his hands. “Turedas, if you would, please mop up the entryway.”

Turedas groans but nods in deference to his master. Ku follows Aryon up the fungal stairs, her tail “accidentally” slapping Turedas on her way past. As they climb, she begs the question, “See, you know what stairs are. No levitation necessary to go from one floor to the other. Then why do you require it to access this tower at all?”

“It is a longstanding tradition of the Telvanni,” answers Master Aryon. “We are a House steeped in wizardry, of course. So to reach our finest, you must prove yourself capable of such an essential spell, or at least resourceful enough to buy or brew a potion. This way it is impossible for lesser men to waste our often valuable time.” He pauses, then adds, “...Or so the tradition goes.”

“So you hesitate before tradition?” Ku observes.

“In its most outdated forms, yes.”

“Yet you keep the common folk of Vos a mile away from you. Very faithful adherence.”

The magister turns to look at Ku-vastei for a moment, then smiles. “...Some traditions die harder than others. Some must be followed so that others may be changed. It is a sacrifice. You are very observant, Ku-vastei, and that shall do you well in House Telvanni.”

They arrive at the second floor of the fungiform tower, where a table ladened with food awaits. “Be my honored guest, muthsera, and have a seat,” Master Aryon proclaims, throwing his arms wide with entreaty.

As Ku-vastei sets aside her pack and cautiously tucks her tail to sit at the table, she admires with salivating tongue the grand feast laid out before her: gleaming slaughterfish sashimi with an inky dipping sauce; an entire leg of mudcrab, plump and stuffed with golden meat; perfectly molded saltrice balls, neatly tucked into hackle-lo leaves; a bowl of bright blue roasted dovah-flies; and a large cup of mulled shein, steaming with an intoxicating aroma. She lifts it to her nose with both hands, inhaling deeply. The weather must have clogged her sinuses, because the blast of spices clears them right back out, like a fire removing a colony of its congestive kwama.

“Feel free to help yourself,” Aryon says, taking his own seat and separating his corkbulb chopsticks. “I prepared enough for the both of us.”

Ku takes a mighty swig of the shein before setting it back down. She forgoes her own pair of chopsticks and begins popping dovah-flies into her mouth with gusto, each one carefully pinched between her claws. Aryon watches attentively as he slowly dips a piece of sashimi into the black sauce.

“You knew -” Ku says between bite-swallows, “- that I would be coming.”

Aryon ignores this observation, instead making one of his own. “You approach this meal with proud carelessness. Who is to say I haven’t poisoned the dovah-flies?”

Ku laughs, picking up the massive crab leg. “A man of your status should know we argonians are immune to the poisons of men and mer.”

“Yes,” Aryon replies with a chuckle of his own. “Of men and mer, yes. But I know of at least three brewed in the dark depths of your homeland that are immune to your immunity.”

The leg cracks open violently, mudcrab meat scattering across the table. 

“But you needn’t worry,” entreats Aryon. He moves his chopsticks in a single calculated motion to pick up a dovah-fly and pops it into his mouth, savoring the crunch before continuing. “Such poisons have no antidotes. We are here as allies, Ku-vastei. We serve the same purpose. In serving me, you serve yourself.” He pauses to fish a piece of misplaced crab meat out of the murky depths of the sauce. “My Mouth told me you were coming.” He taps on a lavender-stoned ring on his finger as he chews.

“...Telepathic ring?” Ku asks, her pupils dilating slightly as she examines it. She gently takes a saltrice ball and nibbles on it, a bit more cautiously now, despite Aryon’s assurances.

“Close,” Aryon says after swallowing. “Teleportation. I prefer to meet face to face. I had Galos take the long way back to Sadrith Mora.” He rolls the ring under his fingers across the table towards Ku-vastei. “This is yours now, as I’m making you my new Mouth.”

“I’m not standing around in Sadrith Mora all day.” Ku’s hunger gets the best of her, and she finishes off the ball quickly. But the words have an effect - she takes her own pair of chopsticks and awkwardly fiddles with them to pick up a piece of sashimi. She does not touch the ring just yet.

Aryon laughs. “No, no, I won’t expect that of you. Galos will still take care of the minor clerical duties of the position.” He watches Ku’s attempts with a frown. “Look. See how I hold them? Like this,” he says, rotating his hand towards Ku-vastei. He deftly picks up a dovah-fly and pops it into his mouth.

Ku adjusts her grip and tries to pick up a dovah-fly herself. She manages to lift it a few inches from the bowl before twisting it out of the sticks, sending it rolling off the table. “Xuth,” she exclaims under her breath.

“Much better. You’re a quick learner.” He sets down his chopsticks and leans back in his chair. “I suppose they didn’t teach you proper etiquette at the Savethi Plantation, did they?”

Ku-vastei’s nostrils flare slightly. “You’re very well researched,” she remarks, biding her temper.

“Yes,” Master Aryon says. “I’m well aware of your past prior to arriving on Vvardenfell. Your role in the Arnesian War is particularly impressive. You’re quite the impactful character, Ku-vastei.”

“What’s your point?” Ku lays down her own chopsticks.

“You know, unlike most of my fellows in the House, I’m quite sympathetic to your plight, and that of your people.”

Ku presses a palm firmly on the surface of the table. “You know nothing of ‘our plight,’ n’wah. You live just the same privileged life as the rest of you house-folk.”

Aryon clears his throat and leans in. “I may not have ever been a slave, Ku-vastei, but I am fond of progress. The business of slavery is an ancient tradition, and ancient traditions must be abolished for a new society to blossom. Are you familiar with the teachings of Vivec?”

“No,” Ku-vastei lies. She’s read some of his sermons, but admitting familiarity feels treacherous.

“Ah, nevermind then. But as I said, in order for our society to flourish, it must be destroyed and made anew. This goes especially for our Great House Telvanni. You will find me just as progressive as the staunchest abolitionist.”

He lifts his cup of shein to his nose, inhaling the aroma of the spices. “I’m aware how your name translates from Jel to Aldmeris. ‘Catalyst for necessary change.’ It served you well in rebellion, and I think it can serve us well here. Working with me, you can once again be that catalyst, and forever change the face of Great House Telvanni.” With his offer pitched, he leans back in his chair and takes a sip of the wine.

Ku-vastei mulls it over for a bit. In order to advance within the house, it seems she has little choice. And perhaps he truly will end up a valuable ally. She picks up the ring and inspects it briefly before sliding it onto her middle finger. The magical ring glows in reaction to its new wearer, expanding and tightening to fit comfortably. “One condition,” she says. “Build some damn stairs to this place.”

“Well,” Aryon interjects, “with the ring, you won’t need-”

“I don’t care. Build some stairs.”

Aryon narrows his eyes briefly but smiles. He extends his hand over the feast. “Deal.”

Ku takes his soft hand and shakes it firmly, saying nothing. 

-

After feasting further and conversing about House politics and magical theory, Ku-vastei makes ready to leave. On her way out she meets Turedas again. 

“Good evening, sera,” he says, hissing the honorific.

“I’m Master Aryon’s Mouth now, n’wah.”

The color falls from the cyrod’s face. “Yes, serjo. Of course.”

Ku-vastei turns swiftly towards the door, slapping Turedas with her tail again as she does, before quickly marching out into the clear night.

#title sucks but w/e #tes #tesblr #morrowind #vvardenfell #telvanni #master aryon #oc: ku-vastei #tel vos

[yijae]

hello!!! i’m chey and before i introduce you all to my boy yijae, i would first like to let it be known that the only form of animal crossing i have ever played is pocket camp </3 but i watch the hell out of island tours on yt so i was so excited to see this rp in the tags! you can find yijae’s profile here and his plots here and.... a mess under the cut but i’ll call it an intro

first of all:  no, his name is not actually yijae. it’s a play on his name because another romanization of the surname lee is yi, so it’s his surname + the second syllable of his given name. might refer to him as this in threads, might not, but it’s his main nickname that his friends prob use with him! he likes it a lot.

the youngest of three. was really young when he lost his parents, doesn’t have any solid memories of them so he kind of views his siblings as half-siblings, half-parents.

endured a lot of people telling him that he was lucky to have siblings to look after him and needed to behave well, show appreciation, not give them a hard time. most people who said that meant well, but it bothered him a lot bc that’s like telling a kid they can’t get upset Ever because they’re lucky someone is raising them.

anyway it resulted in him being an ass-kisser as a kid, didn’t want to give anyone (esp his siblings) a reason to view him as a nuisance / pest

developed really, really good people skills bc he was constantly looking for ways to make himself useful / valuable in some way, felt like he had to prove his worth. genuinely very social, likes people a lot so it’s whatever, really. he probably would’ve ended up developing good people skills regardless

he does have a rly bad temper tho...... beware

also has anxiety and a lot of his symptoms are the lesser understood ones (w/ the main one being irritability/anger), so mix that with his naturally short temper and he do b causing scenes and hurting feelings sometimes

literally always seen carrying some kind of bottle w/ water in it because once he starts getting overwhelmed, he starts getting Hot and it’s just.... handy to have water at his disposal whenever he needs it yk

most of the time, he’s pretty well-put together and very very smiley!!! considered the face of able siblings’ clothing shop bc he greets each and every customer with a smile. always available to answer questions, give recommendations, relay messages to his siblings or just chat! not really all that skilled when it comes to sewing or any other skills directly related to clothes (which is partially why customer service is his main duty) but if u’re in a rush, he’ll try really hard

pretty much the only thing that can make him lose his cool w/ customers is if you come in and start talkin shit about any of the items

values the store a lot, but also kind of feels like he carries more than his fair share of the weight. definitely not true LMAO but that belief makes him get annoyed w/ his siblings sometimes

if you ever come into the store at the wrong moment and find him throwing a fit / fighting with his sibling, no you didn’t <3

keeps a sketchbook full of clothing ideas. ofc he’ll never make any of ‘em because he’s not quite that crafty, but he shares them with his siblings / with other store employees to see if they’re up to the challenge. collects lots of different fashion magazines to keep up with trends or just to look at bc he thinks fashion’s neat

if he’s not @ the store, he’s probably riding his bike around either one of the islands. enjoys bike rides a ton, likes to feel the wind in his hair and nonchalantly see what’s going on outside of the shop (aka he’s nosy)

fun, but also kind of flaky??? like he’s the guy who will Definitely go to that party with you on short notice but will also call out of plans you made with him 6 months ago

sometimes he goes mia for a couple days, always has some really dumb explanation like “i was hunting for crabs and i lost track of time” or “i was attending a 4-day clown seminar” or “i was camping with my boy, bigfoot” but really he’s just been laying in his bed and trying to re-energize. it b that way sometimes

speaking of crabs... he likes them a lot! thinks they’re groovy lil’ things. ticket into his heart? crab-hunting with him!!!! he doesn’t disturb them too much, he just likes to dig them out of the sand and look at them for a minute, then let them go. he thinks they’re super funny-looking so sometimes he just... laughs his ass off as they scuttle away. some people who have witnessed this have nicknamed him The Crab Bully, but he doesn’t have any bad intentions. it’s just entertaining for him

wears glasses most of the time bc his sight is terrible. could wear contacts, yeah, but he has chronically dry eyes and artificial tears only go So Far! aka it’s more comfy to wear glasses even if they make his face look even rounder than it already is

has a slight lisp. very very slight. mainly when he has to pronounce s/th or l/r... skz stans you know what i’m talking about

fucks with his hair a lot. kind of a comfort thing, kind of a fashion thing. it’s dark blue atm, but it changes pretty frequently. he does it himself, too, so you already know his hair is fried to HELLLLLL

really social, but also might ghost you for three weeks and then resume the convo as if he never left. knows he looks like the pleading emoji (god knows he’s been told enough times) so he uses his cuteness to his advantage when he knows he’s been actin like a dirtbag. also might send funny animal vids to ease his way back into ur life

when i say he’s really social, i mean he’s really social. will talk to anyone and everyone. make eye contact with him for half a second On Accident and oh, no, here he goes. very interested in other people, wants to know everything you’re willing to share. depending on the person, this can either be really comforting or really overwhelming. u think u want him to shut up but then he shuts up and it’s like damn..... why isn’t yijae talking. that’s weird

idk... i feel like i’m leaving out some really important info but this is all i’ve got for now. feel free to ask me if there’s anything else you wanna know about him!

#would you believe me if i told you that this short compared to my usual intros