#AWS Migration Guide

[lucid-outsourcing-solutions]

Complete AWS Cloud Migration Strategy Guide: Step-By-Step Guide

Introduction

Migrating to the cloud is a complex process that requires careful planning, execution, and optimization. Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides a comprehensive suite of tools and services to facilitate cloud migration for businesses of all sizes. In this detailed technical guide, we’ll outline a step-by-step AWS cloud migration strategy, focusing on the key considerations, best practices, and tools to ensure a successful migration.

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[softweb-solutions]

Cloud migration guide: Your strategic path to AWS migration

Today’s business world is reverberating with the drumbeat of digital transformation. Organizations across industries sprint to keep pace with evolving customer demands, competition, and ever-shifting technological landscapes.

Adopting Amazon Web Services (AWS) has become a critical catalyst for success in this high-stakes race. IT infrastructure and applications in the cloud require a well-defined AWS cloud migration strategy, one that charts the path to maximizing the transformative power of this technology.

This blog serves as your compass, guiding you through the intricacies of AWS cloud migration and empowering you to start a successful course toward digital dominance.

Source: IBM

Cloud migration strategies and their importance

The decision to migrate to AWS is just the first step on your digital expedition. Choosing the right path is crucial, for it affects the pace, cost, and ultimately, the success of your cloud takeover.

But why migrate at all? Why abandon the familiar confines of your on-premises castle for the uncharted territory of the cloud? Consider these treasures that beckon from the cloud:

Agility: Adapt and scale your applications quickly, just like a cloud expert avoiding digital challenges.

Scalability: If you need more servers to manage high traffic, the cloud has plenty available, just a click away.

Cost-efficiency: Ditch the expensive upkeep of on-premises infrastructure. The cloud offers a pay-as-you-go model, like renting a cloud-powered dragon instead of buying your own stable.

Innovation: Embrace the latest cloud technologies and unlock new possibilities, like using a cloud-powered telescope to scan for future business opportunities.

With these riches within reach, who wouldn’t want to join the cloud migration craze? However, navigating the landscape of the seven Rs without understanding their strengths and limitations can lead to detours and missed opportunities. In the next section, we’ll delve deeper into each R, unpacking their individual characteristics and equipping you to chart the optimal course towards your cloud kingdom.

The seven R’s of cloud migration

The seven R’s represent distinct migration strategies with varying degrees of complexity, speed, and long-term impact on your application portfolio. Let’s explore each R in detail, highlighting its purpose, suitability, and potential limitations:

Source: AWS

1. Rehost (Lift and Shift): This rapid and cost-effective option involves directly migrating applications to the AWS cloud infrastructure without significant architectural changes. Think of it as simply relocating your servers to a cloud data center, leveraging its scalability and resilience. However, this approach may limit long-term agility and cloud-native optimization potential.

2. Relocate: If you seek specific AWS features or multi-cloud flexibility, relocating applications to a different cloud platform might be ideal. This approach requires careful planning and compatibility testing but opens doors to specialized services or cost optimization opportunities.

3. Replatform: When existing architecture impedes cloud optimization, replatforming applications allows you to fully utilize cloud-native principles. This approach involves significant reworking to unlock advanced scalability, elasticity, and resilience. However, it demands substantial resources, expertise, and planning.

4. Refactor: For applications where future-proof agility is crucial, refactoring involves building them completely from scratch, embracing serverless technologies and microservices architecture. This most comprehensive approach unlocks future potential but requires intensive resources and planning.

5. Repurchase: Instead of extensive replatforming, you can repurchase outdated applications for cost-effective cloud-native equivalents offering similar functionality. This approach streamlines maintenance, provides modern features, and leverages the inherent advantages of cloud architecture.

6. Retire: This AWS cloud migration strategy targets outdated, underutilized, or incompatible applications. Retiring these applications liberates resources and simplifies your IT infrastructure, while reducing maintenance costs and potential security vulnerabilities.

7. Retain: For stable and compliant applications, retaining them on-premises ensures operational continuity and minimizes disruption. This approach avoids unnecessary migration efforts and allows you to focus cloud resources on strategic priorities.

By understanding the strengths and limitations of each R, you can confidently choose the most appropriate migration strategy for each application in your portfolio. Remember, a hybrid approach is often optimal, tailoring specific R’s to different applications for successful cloud adoption.

Insights

Explore the best strategies to migrate to the AWS cloud

AWS migration refers to the process of moving an organization's IT infrastructure, applications and data to the cloud-based services offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS).

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When to use each migration model

Migration strategy: Retire

Use Case: Outdated, underutilized, or incompatible applications

Benefits:

Simplifies infrastructure

Reduces maintenance costs

Mitigates security vulnerabilities

Implementation: Analyze workload dependencies and plan sunsetting process

Migration strategy: Retain

Use Case: Stable and compliant applications needing operational continuity

Benefits:

Minimizes disruption

Avoids unnecessary migration effort

Focuses resources on strategic priorities

Implementation: Assess compliance requirements and optimize on-premises environment

Migration strategy: Rehost (Lift & Shift)

Use Case: Rapid and cost-effective migration with minimal architectural changes

Benefits:

Leverages cloud scalability

Resilience

Reduces data center complexity

Implementation: Refine infrastructure sizing and optimize resource utilization

Migration strategy: Relocate

Use Case: Specific cloud feature requirements or multi-cloud flexibility

Benefits:

Accesses specialized services

Optimizes costs across platforms

Enhances future flexibility

Implementation: Evaluate target platform compatibility and plan data migration strategy

Migration strategy: Repurchase

Use Case: Cost-effective cloud-native alternatives for outdated applications

Benefits:

Streamlines maintenance provides modern features

Unlocks cloud-native advantages

Implementation: Identify suitable SaaS or PaaS offerings and plan application integration

Migration strategy: Replatform

Use Case: Significant performance and agility gains, but with greater reworking

Benefits:

Unlocks advanced scalability

Resilience

Future-proofs architecture

Implementation: Invest in development resources and plan application modernization roadmap

Migration strategy: Refactor

Use Case: Complete rebuild for future-proof agility and cloud-native optimization

Benefits:

Enables microservices architecture

Unlocks serverless technologies

Maximizes cloud potential

Implementation: Secure dedicated resources and prioritize development expertise

AWS migration benefits

Beyond simply transitioning your infrastructure, migrating to AWS delivers tangible benefits that empower your business to thrive in the digital landscape. These advantages stem from several key areas:

1. Unmatched agility: Adapt and respond to market shifts with lightning speed. AWS enables rapid scaling up and down of resources, effortless deployment of new applications, and real-time adjustments to meet shifting demands. This agility allows you to capitalize on fleeting opportunities and outmaneuver competitors.

2. Infinite scalability: Break free from the constraints of on-premises limitations. AWS offers boundless scalability, seamlessly accommodating spikes in activity, resource-intensive projects, and future growth. Need more servers? They’re available with a click. Require advanced analytics capabilities? Specialized services readily await. Your ambitions are no longer confined to infrastructure.

3. Optimized cost management: Ditch the burden of upfront investments and unpredictable expenses. AWS embraces a pay-as-you-go model, where you only pay for the resources you consume. This granular control enables precise cost optimization, eliminating wasted capacity and over-provisioning. Invest intelligently in cloud resources that directly drive business value.

4. Innovation as a constant: Embrace the cutting edge and propel your digital transformation. AWS constantly introduces groundbreaking services and features, opening doors to previously unimaginable possibilities. From artificial intelligence and machine learning to serverless computing and data analytics, the cloud fuels disruptive ideas and propels you ahead of the curve.

5. Global reach and resilience: Extend your digital borders and connect with customers like never before. AWS boasts a global network of data centers, ensuring exceptional performance and unparalleled redundancy regardless of your users’ location. This global reach strengthens your brand, unlocks new markets, and bolsters your disaster recovery capabilities.

6. Unwavering security and compliance: Prioritize data security and safeguard your reputation. AWS prioritizes multi-layered security controls and adheres to the highest compliance standards. Sensitive data is protected with rigorous measures, building trust with customers and minimizing risk.

Conquering cloud migration challenges

With the seven Rs as your compass, it’s time to chart your course through the inevitable challenges that arise on any AWS migration journey. By anticipating these roadblocks and proactively addressing them, you can ensure a smoother and more successful transition to the cloud. Here are some key obstacles to keep in mind:

1. Complexity and skill gap: Navigating the vast and ever-evolving AWS ecosystem can be daunting, especially for organizations with limited cloud experience. This complexity, coupled with a potential skill gap in your team, can lead to inefficient resource utilization, suboptimal architecture choices, and delayed timelines.

Strategize: Address this challenge by investing in training and certifications for your IT staff, partnering with experienced AWS consultants, and leveraging readily available online resources and documentation. Prioritize understanding core AWS services and best practices to make informed decisions throughout your migration.

2. Security considerations: Migrating sensitive data and applications to the cloud requires meticulous attention to security protocols and compliance regulations. Failure to secure your assets can lead to data breaches, reputational damage, and hefty fines.

Fortify: Implement robust access controls, data encryption, and threat detection mechanisms. Choose security-focused AWS services and adhere to industry best practices. Partnering with AWS security experts can significantly mitigate risks and ensure compliance.

3. Vendor lock-in: While leveraging the full range of AWS services can offer significant benefits, over-reliance on proprietary solutions can create an unhealthy dependence on a single vendor. This can limit your future flexibility and potentially increase costs.

Diversify: Maintain a balance between utilizing valuable AWS services and keeping some workloads on-premises or considering multi-cloud strategies. This approach enhances flexibility and bargaining power in the long run.

4. Cost management: While AWS offers flexible pricing models and optimization tools, managing cloud costs effectively requires ongoing monitoring and proactive adjustments. Uncontrolled spending can quickly eat into your budget and undermine the cost-effectiveness of your migration.

Optimize: Implement strategies like reserved instances, cost tagging, and resource auto-scaling to control expenses. Regularly review your cloud bills and identify areas for optimization. Remember, continuous cost management is the key to maximizing the financial benefits of the cloud.

Beyond migration: Embracing the digital horizon with Softweb Solutions

By embracing this roadmap, you’ll propel your business forward with agility, efficiency, and innovation. The cloud isn’t just a destination; it’s a powerful platform for growth and transformation. Don’t let questions cloud your judgment. Let Softweb Solutions be your guide to sail you through.

Originally published at https://www.softwebsolutions.com on February 14, 2024.

[theonion]

Describing it as a truly awe-inspiring sight of natural beauty, tourists told reporters Wednesday about the incredible refugee-watching tour they recently enjoyed during their trip to the Mediterranean. “At first, the guide said we might not be able to see any refugees because they’re a bit skittish around people, but soon enough we saw one in the waves for a second and then it disappeared under the water,” said Gale Preston, a visitor from Florida who remarked that watching the migration of 700 refugees fleeing persecution in their home country was absolutely breathtaking and definitely worth the wait.

Full Story

[just-dreaming-marvel]

The Librarian & The Wolverine ~ The World ~ Part 1

THE LIBRARIAN & THE WOLVERINE MASTERLIST

< previous: The New Normal

Word Count: 5,845ish

Summary: You and Logan begin your world travels.

Warning(s): insecurities, time jumps, PTSD, dissociation, not all of the locations are logically placed because they just go anywhere they want at the time

Notes: I had to split this chapter into two parts because it was getting too long. I hope that's alright!

Logan went to Charles the next morning about your request. Charles immediately gave Logan access to whatever he needed to make it happen.

~~~ 

PERU - MACHU PICCHU 

The climb through the terraces of Machu Picchu had started with excitement buzzing through your limbs— your hands brushing the stone, your voice bright with facts and wonder as you pointed out Incan architecture, water channels, and other things you found noteworthy. 

But the altitude was cruel, the sun unrelenting, and somewhere along the winding stone stairs beneath the Temple of the Sun, your stepped started to slow. Logan noticed before you did. You tried to keep talking, to keep smiling, but your words shortened, and your weight leaned slightly towards him with every step. The sparkle in your eyes hadn’t gone out, but it flickered now.

“Hey,” he said quietly, catching your elbow. “When’s the last time you sat down?”

You tried to wave him off. “I’m okay. Just—“

He arched a brow. “Sweetheart.”

The word alone stopped you. You looked at him— breath shallow, vision swimming just a little. Still, you offered a stubborn smile. “I don’t want to stop yet.”

Logan didn’t argue. He just courted down, back turned towards you.

“What…?”

“Get on.”

“Logan—“

“Don’t argue with me.” He glanced over his shoulder with that dry smirk. “Or I’ll toss you over my shoulder like a sack of books.”

You laughed, weak but genuine, and gingerly climbed onto his back. His arms curled under your thighs with surprising ease. He rose, solid and warm, and you buried your face against the back of his neck, breathing in the scent of him.

The moment you relaxed against him, he spoke again— softer this time. “You don’t gotta prove anything to me. You already did the hard part.”

“What part’s that?” You mumbled.

“Decidin’ to keep goin’.”

You stayed like that for the rest of the walk, high above the ruins. Every so often, Logan would comment on the view— not to fill the silence, but to remind you he was still there, carrying you without complaint, with complete love in every step.

~~~

LONDON - THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

The museum buzzed with life. Children darted between exhibits. The domed ceiling echoes with excited chatter and the hum of tour guides. You stood at the base of a towering fossil, face lit by awe. Logan’s hand was in yours, a map tucked under your arm, and your eyes were alight with wonder.

“This,” you pointed up, “is diplodocus carnegii. The skeleton’s over a hundred years old. The actual bones were mostly replaced with plaster.”

Logan listened, patient and smiling, as you continued. You were halfway through an explanation about sauropod migration patterns when something flickered behind your eyes. He felt your grip loosen.

“Hey,” he said softly. “You okay?”

You blinked rapidly. “I—“

Then it hit hard. Your hand fell from his and your eyes glazed over. In the middle of the bustling museum, you simply stopped moving. 

“No, no, no—“ He caught you before you fell. One arm wrapped around your waist, the other cradled the back of your head. He tucked you against his chest. “I’ve got you, baby.”

A few tourists glanced over, confused.

“Just a medical thing,” Logan said. “We’re fine.”

He moved you into a quieter hallway, shielding you from the crowd.

“Wherever you went, baby, I need you to come back,” he begged quietly.

Long seconds later, you blinked and your eyes filled with tears. “Logan?” You whispered, terrified. 

“I’m here. I got ya.”

“I didn’t mean—“

“I know.”

“I— I— I think I pressed to hard for information.”

“Do you want to go?”

You shook your head. “Please.”

“Okay, okay. But… no more facts, okay? Or maybe just one per room.”

“Okay… keep me close?”

“Always.”

~~~

PARIS - THE RIVER SEINE

The boat was small but elegant— just the two of you, a candlelit table set in the center of the polished deck, the soft current of the Seine lapping gently at the hull. Warm lights shimmered off the water like scattered diamonds, and in the distance, the Eiffel Tower glowed with golden grandeur.

Logan looked impossibly handsome in the dark. A charcoal suit jacket over his black button-down— sleeves rolled up just the way you liked them. He didn’t dress up often, but when he did, it knocked the breath from your lungs. Not that you were any less stunning in the dress you were wearing.

As the tower began to sparkle, its light catching in your wine glass, you turned to him with that mischievous glint he knew all too well.

“I have an idea,” you said, leaning forward.

Logan narrowed his eyes, setting down his glass. “Uh huh.”

You tilted your head innocently. “Let’s go to Disneyland Paris tomorrow.”

“…what?”

“Come on.” You grinned. “It’s close. We’re here. You’ve already given me the most romantic night of my life, so now I want something chaotic. Ridiculous. Mouse ears and spinning teacups and candy that’ll make us both sick.”

“I don’t know if that’s really my—“

“Please? We can eat all the snacks and mock the mascots together. You don’t even have to ride anything. I’ll do all the screaming.”

He sighed like the weight of the world was on his shoulders— but the truth was, he’d do anything to keep that spark in your eyes.

You smirked. “You’re already caving.”

“Damn right I am.”

You let out a soft cheer and reached across the table to grab his hand. “And you’re wearing the ears.”

“Absolutely not.”

“You are.”

He gave you the look— the one that said he was too old, too tired, too him for something like this. But under that look, he was smiling.

~~~

DISNEYLAND PARIS

You were laughing. Really laughing— that rare, full-body kind of laugh that Logan always tried to steal from you. He was sitting beside you in the rollercoaster car, arms crossed tight over the safety bar, trying (and failing) not to smirk as the ride clicked higher.

“I still think we’re too old for this,” he muttered.

“You mean you’re too old for this,” you grinned, nudging his shoulder. “Old man.”

The ride jerked and then launched forward with a burst of speed. Wind tears past your face. Logan cursed. You screamed, not in fear but exhilaration, and clutched his hand tightly where it rested on the bar. The world blurred— fast, fun, and free.

It happened in an instant. Sound distorted and your mind warped. Your face fell and the laughter and screams stopped. Logan looked over and saw your expression.

“Hey— hey! Look at me!” He encouraged, reaching over to you and sliding you to his side. “STOP THE DAMN RIDE!”

The train rattled to a halt in the station minutes later and cast members stepped forward. Logan didn’t wait. He unlatched the bar and pulled you into his arms better. 

“Sir?” A cast member approached.

“I need space,” he snapped. “She’s sick.”

The cast members backed off quickly. Logan carried you over to a nearby bench. His forehead fell against yours as he rocked you.

“C’mon, sweetheart,” he mumbled. “Not now.” You hadn’t slipped since the museum weeks ago. “Come back.”

He waited and waited until, finally, after ten long minutes, your fingers twitched, your eyes fluttered, and you focused.

“Logan?” You rasped.

“There you are, baby,” he whispered.

“Sorry…”

“Don’t be.”

“I was having fun…”

“I know.”

After a few minutes, you wanted to get up. Logan walked slowly through the quieter part of the park, you wrapped tightly in his arms, your head resting against his chest. You were walking, but only just— your legs were shaky, your grip light around his middle.

“You should rest,” he commented. “Hotel’s five minutes away. I’ll carry you the whole damn way if needed.”

“I don’t want to you,” you say, voice hoarse but firm.

Logan stopped and looked at you. “You just slipped, darlin’. Bad.”

“I know.”

“I ment it— you checked out. That look in your eyes—“ He swallowed the words down, jaw tight. “Scared the hell outta me.”

You lifted you head just enough to look at the castle in the distance, lights starting to glow as dusk deepened. “They do fireworks soon.”

“You can watch ‘em from the hotel window.”

“I want to watch them from here. With you. Where I can feel it.” You pressed your palm over his heart. “Please.”

Logan stared at you for a long moment. His instinct says to turn around. But then he saw it— the way your lip trembled slightly, how your eyes were still glassy, how hard you were trying to hold on. He exhaled slowly and nodded.

“Alright,” he mumbled. “But you’re not movin’ an inch.”

He found a spot close to the castle that wasn’t too crowded. He shrugged off his flannel and laid it down like a blanket. He then sat with you between his legs, your back against his chest, and his arms around your waist.

“You alright?” He asked quietly.

You nodded, leaning into him. “Better now.”

Minutes pass and then, boom. The first firework erupted in the sky. You flinched, barely. Logan’s arms tightened around you. Then the second burst of color exploded overhead. You smiled. It was soft and tired, but real. 

Logan pressed a kiss to your temple. “There’s my girl.”

For twenty minutes, you both sat there— wrapped together, looking up— letting the sky burn with color. 

“Thanks for not making me go,” you whispered as the last firework faded.

Logan held you tighter. “You’re worth stayin’ for.”

~~~

HOTEL NEAR DISNEYLAND PARIS

The door closed behind you with a soft click. You were swaying slightly on your feet, exhaustion clinging to you like fog. Logan had an arm around you, keeping you steady.

“Alright,” he whispered. “You’re done for the night.”

You didn’t argue, just let him help. He moved with the kind of tenderness that surprised even himself sometimes. He started with your shoes, kneeling down in front of you to untie them, hands steady and patient. 

“Sit,” he murmured, guiding you to the edge of the bed.

You do. He wet a cloth with warm water from the bathroom and returned, crouching again in front of you. He knew that you were too tired to fully wash up tonight and you still had bits of the park on your skin— sweat, a smear of something sweet. He wiped it all gently awake. Your eyes drifted shut under his touch.

“You did good today,” he said softly. “Even after… y’know.”

You nodded faintly. “Still wanted to see the sky.”

“You always do.”

Logan brushed his thumb down your cheek. You leaned into it. Then he helped you change. You lifted your arms for him. You let him tug your day away piece by piece until you were in something soft and safe. He then pulled back the covers and tucked you in. He settled on the edge beside you.

Your eyes cracked open, barely. “You coming to bed?”

“In a minute,” he murmured. “Just watchin’ you breathe.”

A soft smile touched your lips, and your hand reached out blindly. He took it, interlacing your fingers.

“I love you,” you whispered, voice thick with sleep.

He leaned down and kissed your cheek. “I love you too.”

You were asleep before he sat back up.

~~~

THE VATICAN CITY

The morning sun glowed warm on the ancient stone. You walked beside Logan through Vatican City, your hand tucked into his and your steps light with curiosity. You were dressed simple, yet professional— a look of reverence for where you were going, though you don’t yet know where. 

Logan’s thumb brushed along the side of your hand. “You sure you’re up for a long day?”

You gave him a look— playful, but serious underneath. “When am I not?”

He chuckled and then gently tugged you through a small, heavily guarded side entrance. You blinked at the change in pace— security, murmured Latin, golden ceilings. 

You glanced at him, puzzled. “What is this?”

He stopped you in front of a large wooden door. He lifted a hand and nodded towards it.

Vatican Apostolic Library

Your breath caught. “I—“ You took a step back, almost stumbling. “You’re kidding. This is— This is restricted. This is like… you need clearance from a pope to get in here.”

Logan shrugged, trying to look causal. “Charles knew a guy.”

Your hands flew to your mouth. “Oh my God.”

Logan watched you vibrate with joy, a smile tugging at his lips. But there’s a flicker of worry in his eyes, just beneath the surface. This whole place could trigger you in a way he’s never seen. 

But then you burst forward and started rattling off facts, “Founded in the 15th century. Over 80,000 manuscripts. The Codex Vatican’s, original Virgil— Logan, the original Virgil— oh my—“

You were practically glowing as you continued. And Logan’s worry disappeared. He just watched you. Alive, brilliant, and lit from the inside out.

~~~

You didn’t slip. Not once the entire day. You poured over texts in Latin and Greek with bright eyes and reverent hands. You taught Logan things he didn’t know— about philosophy, about preserved medieval science, about banned books hidden in holy halls. You spoke faster than you had in weeks— months even. You laughed, loudly.

You leaned over one parchment, tracing the ink with your fingertip, and whispered to Logan like it was a secret, “I think Ive never been happier than right now.”

And he swore to himself, right there, that he would chase that look on your face to the ends of the earth.

~~~

The sunset being the Roman skyline. You were curled beside Logan on the balcony, your head on his shoulder, a rare ancient book replica in your lap— a gift from the librarian. 

“You didn’t slip today,” Logan muttered, almost in awe.

“I know,” replied.

“You didn’t even come close.”

You nodded. “I felt… anchored.”

He pressed a kiss to your temple. “Maybe this is the trick. You don’t need distance. You just need something worth holdin’ onto.”

You glanced up at him. “I have something worth holding onto.”

He smiled, capturing your lips in a kiss. “So do I.”

~~~

AMALFI COAST

The sun kissed the surface of the sea, turning it sapphire. You were already waist-deep in the water, laughing, arms spread wide as you leaned back into the gentle pull of the Mediterranean. The breeze was warm, the sky cloudless. The kind of day you would remember forever— should remember forever. Logan, meanwhile, sat on a sun-bleached rock along the shore, arms crossed with sunglasses hiding his eyes.

“I’m not gettin’ in,” he grumbled twenty minutes ago when you tried to drag him in. “You got enough energy for both of us.”

You had only splashed water at him in reply. Now, he watched you swim. He watched the calm and peace wash over you. You looked happy. Which is why the shift happened too fast. You were out just far enough— not too deep, but not easily within reach. Logan saw it first in your shoulders. The tension, a stiffening. You stopped kicking. Stopped smiling. You began to drift.

“Sweetheart!” He stood, suddenly alert. “You good?”

You didn’t answer. Your arms were no longer moving. The sea rocked you gently.

“Y/N! Baby!” 

Logan’s boots hit the sand hard. He tore his shirt over his head mid-run and ran into the water without a second thought. Cold water clawed at his skin as he rushed to you. When he reached you, your eyes were wide and unfocused. Your lips were just above water.

“No, no, no!” He wrapped an arm around your waist. “Don’t you dare disappear on me out here.”

He dragged you to shore. When he finally laid you back on the sand, he hovered above you, soaked and shaking.

“C’mon, sweetheart. Come back to me.”

No response.

He pressed his forehead to yours. “You’re with me. I’m here.”

Slowly, your fingers twitched against the sand. Your eyes fluttered. “Logan?”

Relief hit him like a wave. He didn’t speak. He just crushed you to his chest, still soaked and breathing too hard.

“Sorry,” you whispered after a moment.

His voice was rough. “Don’t be sorry. You just… you can’t scare me like that.”

“I didn’t know was coming.”

“I know.”

“I could have been too far out. I—“

“I will always get to you. Always.”

~~~

CLIFFSIDE RESTAURANT ON THE AMALFI COAST

The sea glowed silver beneath the moonlight. From the terrace of the cliffside restaurant, you could see the lights of the coastal town winding down for the night. You sat across from Logan at a white-linen table, the remains of a decadent dinner between you. You were in a dress while Logan was wearing a clean button-up.

“Thank you,” you said softly.

Logan raise a brow. “For what?”

“For this,” you gestured to your surroundings. “For all of it. For being here. For doing this with me.”

His eyes softened. “You don’t need to thank me for stayin’.”

“I do. Because you didn’t have to. I know I haven’t been easy to… to love. Especially since… well, all of it.”

Logan leaned forward slightly, arms braced on the table. “Darlin’, don’t—“

“I need to say this… please.”

He gave you a small nod.

“You give up so much. You watch over me like I’m about to vanish. You never complain, but I see it. I see you, Logan. And I just… I understand if this is too much.” You looked down at your hands in your lap.

Logan was quiet for a long beat. Then he leaned back in his chair, shaking his head, almost like he was disappointed— not in you, but the fact that you could even think that.

“Look at me,” he said softly.

You listened.

“I have lived through wars. Through loss and lifetimes of pain. I have carried more than any man should. That— That all was too much to bear. But you?” He reached over and took one of your hands. “You’re not too much. You’re the reason I’m still here. You’re the first thing that’s felt worth fighting for in a long damn time.”

“But when I slip—“

“I pull you back, every time. And I’ll keep doin’ it. Because you’re not a burden. You’re my girl.”

You stood, stepping around the table. He rose to meet you. His arms wrapped around your waist while yours looped around his shoulders.

“You know I love you, right?” You whispered agains this neck.

He pulled you closer. “Yeah… but say it again.”

“I love you.”

“Good. Because I ain’t goin’ anywhere.”

~~~

ABBEY LIBRARY OF SAINT GALL - SWITZERLAND 

Sunlight filtered through tall arched windows. The Abbey Library was still, serene. You stepped slowly over the creaking floor, your hand in Logan’s, your breathing catching in your throat as you looked around.

“It’s one of the oldest libraries in the world,” you whispered. “Since the 8th century. Over a thousand years of knowledge. Monastic scripts, illuminated manuscripts, ancient Greek commentaries— Logan, this place is a miracle.”

You were glowing with excitement, practically vibrating beside him. 

He chuckled, low and fond. “Don’t need to sell me on it, darlin’. I already got you in.”

“I just—“ You exhaled, awestruck. “I could live in here.”

Logan watched you carefully. He loved this part of you— the fire, the passion, the hunger for stories. But he stayed close, always close.

“Just go slow,” he said gently. “Okay?”

You nodded eagerly. “Promise.”

You stepped away from him, just a few paces, drawn towards a high shelf lined with worn leather-bound tomes. You lifted a hand towards one— a 12th century theological codex— fingers delicate, careful. You touched the spine, a whisper of contact. And then you were gone. Across the room, Logan noticed instantly. He reached you in three long strides. He gently peels your hand away from the book and caught you as your knees gave out.

“Shit, shit— come on, baby,” he whispered. “Not here. Not when you were just so happy.”

A librarian stepped forward in alarm, but Logan waved them off with a glare. He pulled you closer.

“Just listen to my voice, sweetheart. And come back.”

Finally, “Logan…”

“There she is.”

“I didn’t mean to—“

“I know. It’s okay. You’re alright.”

“I ruined it.”

“No. No, you didn’t. We take it slow. That’s the deal.”

You nodded, but your eyes were watery.

“We’re gonna sit down. You’re gonna drink some water. Then we decide if we stay or go. But you decide.”

~~~

You sat curled in a window alcove now. You have a facsimile manuscript open in front of you. Your eyes skimmed the page, but you weren’t lost in it. From across the room, Logan watched you with quiet intensity. He hadn’t moved far, never out of reach. He leaned against on of the carved wooden columns, arms folded. You smiled occasionally, but it’s not the same. There was a tension in your shoulders now, in your fingers as they hover over the page. You weren’t absorbing, you were tiptoeing. Like your mind had become a minefield. You shifted slightly, trying to focus again and then paused. Logan was at your side in an instant.

You glanced up and gave him a small smile, apologetic. “I’m okay. Really.”

“You sure?”

You nodded, but there’s a flicker of something in your eyes— fear. That what hit him hardest. Your joy was now tangled with caution. Your wonder dimmed by wariness.

He knelt beside you, one hand resting gently on your knee. “We can go, sweetheart. You say the word.”

You shake your head. “I don’t want to run every time I fall.”

His heart ached with how brave you were still trying to be.

“I just hate that it’s different now. That I’m different in here.”

“You’re still you. Still the same woman who lit up like a damn sunrise talkin’ about Virgil and illuminated manuscripts and ink formulas from the Middle Ages.”

You huffed a laugh, small but genuine.

“Don’t let this take that from you. Don’t let it rewrite the story.”

You leaned your head against his shoulder, eyes fluttering shut. “I’m trying.”

“I know.”

~~~

HIROSHIMA PEACE MEMORIAL PARK - JAPAN

The wind was soft as it drifted through the trees. You walked slowly, hand in hand with Logan, beneath the canopy of green lining the Peace Memorial Park. There was a hush here, more than silence— like the earth itself was still mourning. 

Your footsteps were light. You didn’t speak much, just take in the space. Logan’s grip on your hand tightened the deeper in you went. You glanced at him, his jaw was clenched. Not in anger, but in grief.

“Logan?” You whispered.

“I was here,” he said, voice low. “Not right here, but close. A prisoner underground.”

“I didn’t know.”

“I saved someone— one of my captors… The explosion shook the earth… I didn’t die. But I felt like I should have. I pulled me and the man out of the hole hours later. The whole place was ashes… And they were gone. Everyone.”

You let your fingers slip from his hand and laced your arms around his waist, resting your head against his chest. He folded into you like he had been needing it all day.

“I’ve seen a lot of death,” he murmured. “Most, I don’t remember. But that one… it never leaves.”

You nodded against him.

“Thank you for comin’ here with me.”

“Thank you for letting me.”

~~~

PRIVATE VILLA IN FIJI

The scent of the ocean salt and tropical flowers drifted in through the open walls of the villa. The waves were gentle outside— a rhythm that soothed the bones. Logan moved through he space barefoot, shirtless, and in a crazily bright colored pair of swim shorts that you bought for him. He checked everything like a man used to control— the temperature of the plunge pool, the privacy of the garden hedging, whether the fridge was stocked with your favorite things. Logan heard the bathroom door open behind him, but didn’t turn right away.

He was halfway through muttering something to himself, “Hope the bed’s the way you like it, and there’s that blackout curtain for when—“

Then he heard your voice, “well? What do you think?”

Logan turned and stopped. You were standing there in a new bikini— soft colors, tasteful but undeniably breathtaking— and the sheer wrap tied at your hips didn’t do much. You smiled like you knew exactly what you were doing to him. 

Logan’s mouth parted, closed, and parted again. Then he muttered, low and reverent, “holy shit.”

You tilted your head, suppressing a grin. “That bad, huh?”

He finally moved— crossing the room slowly, like if he wasn’t careful you might disappear into the sea air. “You…” he stopped in front of you, hands ghosting over your waist. “You look like the goddamn gun itself decided to become a person.”

You laughed. “You’re just saying that…”

“I’m sayin’ that because I’m lookin’ at you, baby. Ain’t nothin’ else in the world I could compare it to.” He let his hands settle gently at your hips, tugging you just slightly closer. “You doin’ this on purpose? Tryin’ to kill me?”

“Maybe just keeping you on your toes.”

He leaned in, nose brushing your cheek, lips a whisper away from you. “You don’t gotta do a damn thing to have me fall apart. But keep talkin’ like that, and I’ll forget we’re supposed to leave the villa today.”

You smiled against his mouth. “Maybe we don’t.”

Then he kissed you— slow, reverent, starved— the sound of the ocean outside fading to a memory. It was just you and him, in paradise.

~~~

The sun hung low and lazy over the horizon. The water was warm and still, the kind of perfect that almost felt fake. You were already ankle-deep. The sheer wrap was gone now, tossed over a chair, and your smile was bright with mischief.

“Come in,” you called over your shoulder.

Behind you, Logan stood on the sand like it was the edge of a cliff. He was shirtless, yes. Barefoot, yes. But he hadn’t moved. His arms were crossed and jaw set.

“I don’t swim,” he stated flatly. 

“I’m not asking you to do laps,” you replied with a laugh. “Just come in. Stand waist-deep and look at the stars with me.”

“I sink, darlin’.”

“You said you’ll do anything for me, but water is your line in the sand?”

Logan looked at you, looked at the water, then looked at the way your body glowed in the fading light. He huffed through his nose.

“You’re lookin’ at me like that,” he grumbled.

“Like what?”

“Like you already know I’m gonna give in.”

You grinned. “Am I wrong?”

He exhaled, muttering a string of curses as he began walking towards you. Slowly and painfully like he was walking into a trap. When he stepped into the surf beside you, you reached for his hand immediately, threading your fingers through his. HIs other hand hovered near your waist, protective, always.

“Just this deep,” he said. “No games.”

“No games,” you promised, stepping closer. The water lapped gently against both of you as the stars began to spark in the sky above. “You hate this, huh?”

“Not this.”

You looked at him.

“I hate the idea of you slippin’ in the water where I can’t reach you fast enough. Hate the idea of you… vanishing where I can’t pull you back.”

The tenderness in his voice nearly undid you. “I’m right here, Logan.”

“I know. Just… lemme hold you anyway.”

You wrapped your arms around his neck. His hands settled against your lower back beneath the water. You rested your forehead against his and swayed. Yes, Logan hated water, but he loved you more.

~~~

You were breathless as Logan carried you inside— arms beneath your thighs, lips on your neck. He laid you down gently not he bed, mouth trailing slow, reverent kisses along your collarbone.

“You sure?” He murmured, voice low and gravelly.

You cupped his face. “Always.”

Logan hands were careful but hungry. They were reverent like you were something ancient and divine— and maybe you were. He kissed you like a man who starved for something holy, and you gave it freely, finally letting yourself sink into the heat and weight and life of it.

Until everything flickered. Your back arched not in pleasure, but in panic. Your breath halted and your eyes went wide. And Logan knew before you were even gone.

“No,” he whispered, panicking. “No, no, no— stay with me.”

But you were slipping too fast. He caught you as you fell limp against the sheets. He cradled you, pressing his forehead to yours, rocking, murmuring. 

“C’mon, baby. You’re safe. I’m here.”

Minutes passed and you come to with a scream. You sat up, sobbing, breath ragged, voice cracking as the world caught up to you.

“No— No, no, I had it— I was with you— Logan, what can’t I just have this?! Why can’t we just— why can’t I stay?”

“Sweetheart, shh, it’s alright, you’re back—“

“No, it’s not!” You cried, shoving away from him. “It’s never alright! I just wanted one night— just one moment where I wasn’t broken, where we could just be!”

“Hey— hey, it’s okay, I’ve got you—“

You stumbled off the bed, shaking. You grabbed the robe off the door and clutched it around yourself. “Don’t— don’t look at me like that!”

“Like what? Like I love you?”

You sobbed harder, backpedaling. “I can’t— I can’t do this right now.”

You rushed into the bathroom and slammed the door shut behind you, locking it before he could follow. Logan moved to it, resting his forehead against the wood, fists clenched at his sides.

“Let me in,” he pled softly. “You don’t have to hide from me.”

You were crying hard on the other side, trying to muffle it, but he heard it all.

“Sweetheart, I know it hurts. I know this ain’t fair. But don’t shut me out. Not tonight.”

“I can’t keep hurting you like this,” your voice was muffled and raw.

“You’re not. You’re not hurting me. Not the way you think. The only thing that hurts is seeing’ you think you’re a burden when you’re the only thing in this world that keeps me here.”

You didn’t respond. Eventually, when your sobs quieted down, he sat against the door. Just so you knew he wasn’t going anywhere.

~~~

Logan hadn’t slept. Not a second. He sat outside the bathroom door all night, back pressed to the cool wood, eyes wide opened. Listening. Every so often, the sound of your breathing hitched. He didn’t call out or knock again. He just stayed. 

By morning, he had moved to the kitchen. He made coffee, tea, and put together a tray with fruit and toast that you probably wouldn’t touch. But he was trying. It was almost noon when the bathroom door finally creaked open. He looked up from the table, exhaustion carved deep into his face. He froze when he saw you dressed and packed.

“You’re leavin’?” He asked, voice hoarse.

You didn’t meet his eyes. “Logan…”

“No.” He was already moving towards you.

“I can’t—“

“No.”

“I can’t do this to you anymore. Last night— I ruined it. I ruin everything. Every time we’re okay, I fall apart again. Every time you start to smile, I drag you down. You’re not living, Logan. You’re waiting. For the next time I break.”

He shook his head. “You think this is you breaking me? You think I’m still here ‘cause I’m too stubborn to let go?”

“I think you’re here because you love me—“

“Damn right I do! And you think walkin’ away is gonna make that stop?”

You looked away, jaw trembling. “You deserve peace.”

“I had peace.” He stepped closer. “It was holdin’ you in the water. It was watchin’ you light up at the Vatican. It is every time you say my name and mean it.”

“Logan…”

He reached out and took your shaking hands in his. “You wanna leave because you think it’ll protect me. But baby, that ain’t protection. That’s punishment— for both of us.” 

Tears slipped down your cheeks.

He pressed his forehead to yours. “If you walk out that door, I’ll still find you. Not to drag you back— but because wherever you are, I’ll be close. I have to be.”

“You deserve better than this.”

“I don’t want better. I want you. All of you. Even the broken pieces. Especially those.”

You dropped the bag and collapsed into his chest. He caught you— arms wrapping around you like he’d never let go again. You sobbed into his shirt, and he just held you.

“You’r not too much,” he whispered like a vow. “You’re not too broken. You’re mine. Always.”

~~~

The rain had started falling softly— a warm, steady patter. You were curled against Logan on the bed, one leg tangled with his, face tucked against his chest. He arms hadn’t moved since he had to close up the open walls. He hadn’t said much since you dropped the bag. You were asleep now, finally, your breath soft and even. 

Logan didn’t dare move— until his phone buzzed quietly on the nightstand. He turned his head, teeth clenching. It was Charles. Carefully, he shifted you— laying you gently onto the pillow. You stirred, murmured something incoherent, and instinctively reached for him.

“I’m right here,” he whispered, brushing a kiss against your temple. “Just a second.”

You didn’t wake. Logan stood and stepped into the kitchen. 

“Yeah?” He answered.

Charles’ voice was low and gentle. “How is she?”

Logan exhaled. “Sleeping.”

“That’s something.”

“She tired to leave today. Said she was ruining my life.”

“And what did you say?”

Logan pinched the bridge of his nose. “Told her she is my life.”

Charles sighed quietly. “She’s holding more guilt than any one person should ever carry.”

“I know.” Logan leaned against the wall, looking out over the rain-slicked terrace. “But I don’t know how to take it from her.”

“You don’t. You show her— over and over again— that you’re still there. That there’s something solid to return to. And you’re doing that, Logan.”

There was silence for a moment the, “how many more times can she come back before she can’t?”

“I don’t know. But she’s still coming back. So we keep giving her reasons to.”

Logan nodded slowly. “Thanks for checkin’ in.”

“Of course. And Logan… rest. Even if it’s only for a few hours. You’ll need it.”

Logan ended the call without a word. He stood in the rain-washed quiet for another minute, letting the words sink in. Then he went back to the bedroom. You were still asleep— but your hand had reached for the place where he had been. He slid in beside you again, carefully pulling you close. You sighed against him in your sleep, tension easing just slightly. 

next: The World ~ Part 2 >

[bootheghoul]

In your Pokémon au, do the boys have to deal with instincts or anything like that? Like does the Pokémon they (represent?) have any effects on their habits or behaviors?

Yes! So, for this AU, everyone in the universe has certain habits and behaviors pertaining to the Pokémon they are. Ex: Bird Pokemon molt and preen and have the urge to migrate at a certain time of the year Ex: Scolipedes and Centiskorches have an innate rivalry with each other It’s not like their instincts completely take over their minds, but subtle things in how they act. The boys’ personalities are exactly the same just with some additional quirks. I'm basing how they act from dex entries/ in-game animations/ and other media! This is long so strap in!

Ingo

In Ingo’s case, Chandelure tends to spin A LOT. It’s a habit they all share whether to battle or emote. It’s just what they do.

Chandelure don’t get dizzy so they can do so without repercussion.

This behavior started when he evolved into a Lampent.

Ingo either spins on his toes when he’s happy or when he attacks. But his twirls are sharper and not as smooth and elegant as other Chandelure

Think of a pirouette but very stilted.

He spins on his heel pretty fast, too, and smacks Emmet every now and then.

He tends to point his toes like a ballerina while he floats.

He often sways on his feet or in the air like a pendulum if he’s idle or deep in thought.

This is kind of a bad thing because he might accidentally hypnotize a passerby by the combination of the motion and his flames.

Luckily, riding the train hides his swaying as it’s already a bumpy ride.

Although sometimes he has to snap the person out of his trance. He will profusely apologize afterward.

His flames aren't hot unless he wants them to but they feel warm

Another thing that creeps Emmet out a bit is that Ingo can see and talk to spirits. Not ghost Pokémon. Actual spirits.

Certain Pokémon have this ability and fewer are able to help these spirits. Ingo is one of them

Chandelure, in particular, act as a lure. haha

Emmet can kind of feel if a presence is there but he needs Ingo’s clarification. (it's that twin connection they share)

Unlike popular belief, Chandelure do not destroy a spirit with their flames. It may look like it but it's to help a lost soul move on.

While he is a conductor for trains, he doubles as a guide for lost spirits because he believes it's his duty. (Idea from this wonderful fic!)

Some aren't ready and he’ll respect their decision and leave them alone

What does bother him is that he can sense when someone is about to die and hates hospitals for this exact reason

It's awful because he feels it multiple times a day from passengers

He doesn't want to burden Emmet so he stays quiet

Emmet knows when Ingo's overwhelmed and will try to distract him the best he can

He's terrified to one day sense Emmet's death

Emmet

Emmet, as an Eelektross, has a bad chewing problem! I kind of showed it in this post already but he gnaws at any pen or pencil any chance he can get. If not he’ll chew on his nails.

He lets out small bursts of electricity from his teeth as he chews in thought

He has pockets full of hard candy to curb the issue though

Low on sugar? He can help!

It's also used to bribe the Joltik Quadruplets. (I'll show them later!)

He does bite Ingo if they get into an argument. It's always Ingo's tails too. But they rarely seriously fight anyway

Emmet has bit through their cutlery before...multiple times... but it's on him to replace it. (Ingo has his own set of utensils now)

He'll either thump or swish his tail when he's agitated.

He has the tendency to wrap around anything if he stays in the same place for a while. (A pole/his office chair/ furniture)

He mostly coils around people verrry tightly when he gives a hug, which is a habit he started as an Eelektrik.

You have to tell him to let go because he unconsciously constricts the air out of you.

He's stronger than he looks so please tell him because he doesn’t realize and never wants to hurt anyone.

Ingo is mostly the recipient of this but Elesa is a close second. The depot agents are third.

With any body of water, he starts to think how the water feels and has the urge to jump in. It doesn't matter if it's freshwater or seawater. He wants to dive in.

In the water, Emmet is a completely different guy. It's like a switch flips in his head. It’s freeing for him to be underwater as he can move how he wants to!

Beach trips to Undella Town or Humilau City are a frequent thing, and he will be cranky if he misses a day!

His favorite place is the Marine Tube because Ingo can be there too!

Ingo will walk through the tunnel as he watches Emmet have fun

Since Eelektross in canon are ambush hunters, Emmet subconsciously acts like one

Is the type to silently enter a room and sneak up on you

He likes to wait deep below the surface watching above him

It's like his version of cloud-watching

If there’s a shadow at the top, he has to find out what it is!

He has a habit of swimming at an alarming rate and abruptly popping out of the water to greet whoever is there. He doesn't mean to! He's just curious.

He only gives them a really bad scare and a heart attack

Ingo will join him on a floaty and act as a beacon because Emmet sometimes swims out too far.

Other marine pokemon point him in the right direction if he does get lost.

Other miscellaneous things:

It’s a common form of greeting between Electric types to shock each other. It’s their version of a handshake/hello.

Ingo’s built up a resistance to electricity thanks to Emmet, but sometimes it’s really shocking!

Emmet sometimes bumps into things because of his body.

They both can see in the dark, but Emmet can see perfectly underwater.

They both have fallen asleep levitating before.

Ingo doesn't have a house key because he can just go through the front door or wall or anything really.

Because of this, he has a habit of not opening doors

Ingo is actually wary of water because he's afraid his fire will go out but he toughs it out for Emmet because he loves him so much.

He can swim but it's still the fear of going too deep.

There is battling in this AU! Ingo and Emmet still run the Battle Subway with their team, The Top Depot Agents! (I'll show them sometime!)

Also, if you have any ideas of your own, you can make your own post and tag me! What I say isn’t set in stone cause this is an idea for everyone to enjoy. I’d love to hear any new ideas!

[tedwardremus]

2024 Year In Review

This year I came back to fandom with a vengence I never knew was possible.

I published 336,619 words to AO3 in 2024 (This doesn't count my tumblr only fics/drabbles which is crazy to think about. )

I made Harry Potter Social Media AUs and moodboards

Had some fun with House Elf Hotties, ToadButter, and the @nenaandmeldetectiveagency

But most importantly this year has brought me new friends. I would tag you all and thank you for a wonderful year but I would be too embarssed and ashamed if I missed anyone. Please know that I love all of you and thank you for making this year fun.

In 2025 I look forward to finishing the Remadora Lighthouse AU, starting the sequel to Rage Against the Dying of the Light and continue my First War one shot series about the members of the Order of the Pheonix.

My 2024 fan fic review below the cut:

Rage Against The Dying Of The Light - In a universe where James and Lily Potter survive Voldemort’s attack on Halloween night. Most of wizarding society is enjoying newfound peace after a decade of war, except the young heroes who fought the war learn you can never really go back to the way things were before

Padfoot in Privet Drive - Sirius Black follows Harry to Privet Drive after the Triwizard Tournament.

Querencia - The time Lily, James, and Harry spent as a family in their little house in the West Country was far too brief, but it was overfilled with love, laughter, and, above all, life.

30 Times James Potter Thought He Was Going To Die and 1 Time He Did  - 31 microfics for Jilytober

It’s here. Now’s the time. I tell myself I’ll be fine -

It was a normal feeling to be nervous, a rite of passage for any mother or father. After all, eleven years old wasn’t that mature—children at that age were still so small, so dependent on their parents for guidance, comfort, and care.

Hope Lupin hugs her son goodbye before he boards the Hogwarts Express.

Interesting House Guests - (Or The time Sirius invited the lads to spend the week at Grimmauld Place)

Tipping The Scales - James helps Lily get back something that is hers from the Slytherin dorms.

Does Permanent Mean Forever? - It is James Potter’s seventeenth birthday, and to commemorate the occasion, he proposes to the gang that they go out and get tattooed.

Your Friend, James - It is the summer before their 7th year, and Lily and James spend the entire holiday writing letters to each other as their relationship slowly changes from friends to something more.

Rumor Has It  - Severus doesn’t believe the rumors that Lily finally agreed to go out with James Potter.

A Happy Thought - The 7th-year Defense Against the Dark Arts Class learns the Patronus Charm. James is shocked to learn what Lily’s Patronus is.

Awful Euphemisms- Lily and James exchange laughs while discovering a new level of intimacy.

An Academic Study of Dungeon Dwellers - It was common knowledge that when the weather turned warm, students were impossible to teach and used their precious free time to soak up the sun and enjoy the outdoors. Unless of course, you were the Girlfriendus Potterus, also known by her common name, Lily Evans, who—despite the migration of most students to the sun-drenched grounds—had yet to leave the castle’s confines.

The Office Party - Petunia hoped that staying in London for Christmas would make her seem important. She imagined her parents would talk about her endlessly, telling Lily all about her new, sophisticated life in the city. How big and important she’d become. She didn't imagine that she'd meet the love of her life while at the office Christmas party.

Three Lemons and a Dragon - Once upon a time there lived a Prince named James who had to save his father’s Kingdom by getting married. One day an older woman gifts him three lemons that will lead him to his true love.

Erasmus Lovegoods’s Guide to Brewing Love Potions -At the start of every school year, the Ministry of Magic distributed leaflets to all students taking potions classes regarding the regulations and legality of highly controlled potions.

I’ll Meet You After Dark - An Alternate Universe where the Statute of Secrecy hasn’t been enacted yet. Tensions between the magical and non-magical communities are high.

My dog said I can’t go out with you - Lily had been waiting patiently for James to ask her out for the first Hogsmeade weekend of the term. Sirius insists she turn James down so Sirius can hang out with her instead. (it’s all part of Sirius’ greater matchmaking plan)

Tranquil Solitude (Until You Came Along)- All Lily wanted to do was take a nice, quiet swim on a hot day. And then James Potter showed up. And Lily had already removed her clothes for the private swim.

Midnight Train To London - An escaped yeti causes a magical snow storm that leaves the Hogwarts Express stranded without any power. Head students Lily and James take charge and bring a little holiday cheer to the students trapped on the train.

Summer Fling Don’t Mean A Thing - Lily and James meet at a potions camp over the summer and have a fling. James promises to write to her when the summer is over, but he never does. Then Hogwarts hosts an academic competition inviting all the top students from around the country to attend, including students from Cockersand Coven Academy, the school that Lily happens to attend.

This Town Is Fake But You’re The Real Thing - Teen radio star Lily Evans works for a show on the wizarding wireless network called, The Marauders. The teen soap drama stars James Potter as an arrogant school jock and centers on the secret adventures of his friends in the forbidden forest as illegal animagus and a werewolf. The show’s antagonist, played by Severus Snape, left after a scandal, and now Lily has a romantic storyline with James in the final season of the show. Basically, her life is a disaster.

Field Study - Lily and James get left behind on a deserted island after A Care of Magical Creatures field trip.

These things that are pleasin’ you can hurt you somehow  - Lily is stuck in potions for a classroom disturbance she didn’t cause.

In walks James Potter who she had been avoiding all week.

White Winter Hymnals - Holiday themed jily snippets from age eleven to adulthood

Cuckoo (or the unwanted interloper baby in the nest)  - Sirius rescues Regulus from the cave and drops him off at the Potters house so he can clean up his brother’s mess. Regulus has an awful time…. until he doesn’t.

Katabasis- Snape gets hurt when he goes into the Shrieking Shack on the full moon. It is time for Remus to face the consequences.

Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter - Sirius is an Olympic athlete competing in the wizard pentathlon, James is a quidditch player, and Lily is a sports reporter. The three of them meet at the Olympic Village. And well, you know what happens at the Olympic Village…

Finding Your Magical Roots  - The Black Family welcomes the reality show Finding Your Magical Roots into their home to film a special episode.

101 Padfoots - An accident in potions class results in 101 Padfoots running around Hogwarts while Lily and James work together to round them all up

She Faced Danger, But Never Feared It  - Dorcas Meadowes is a healer at St. Mungo’s who specializes in emergency healing. A grandmother in her 60s who believes in caring for all members of the magical community. She is recruited by Albus Dumbledore to join the Order after she publishes and article in the Daily Prophet arguing that the rise of dark magic is a public health crisis.

When Death Would Not Come - Moody and the others will be here soon. Just endure for one more minute. Thirty more seconds. Five more seconds. As long as Neville was okay, she could endure anything.

Goodbyes and Surprise Greetings - Ginny’s brothers have abandoned her at the Burrow while they go to school or leave the country. But then she gets a surprise visitor.

The Past is a Bucket of Ash - Over burnt photographs, Harry had a late-night chat with Sirius about his family history.

Our Troubles Are Miles Away - “Would you like to unwrap your present?” she whispered into his ear, her voice low and teasing, yet so tender it made him ache.

He hesitated. He shouldn’t. He knew better.

(Remus and Tonks have a small Christmas celebration while everyone else is asleep at Grimmauld Place.)

To Guinevere - The New Year's Eve party at Grimmauld Place was a complete bore. But then Ginny walked into the room with a basket of homemade cards.

The Parting Glass - The last full moon, Moony and Padfoot spend together.

Retrouvaille (or the happiness of meeting someone you love after a long time)- The times Sirius and Harry reunited and the times they were forced to say goodbye.

Attinge - Harry shaves his head after the battle. Only Ginny understands why.

Secret Garden - Neville plants Hannah a secret garden on the roof of the Leaky Cauldron. She wants to show him how grateful she is for the gift.

Burnt Cookies - Hannah keeps burning cookies as she gets ready for the Leaky Cauldron’s Halloween party.

Luckily, Neville is there to comfort her.

Tinsel In Her Hair - Neville helps Hannah decorate the Leaky Cauldron for Christmas. He notices something shiny in her hair.

1994 Quidditch World Cup  - Harry wants only one thing for his fourteenth birthday: tickets to see the final match of the Quidditch World Cup. Well, two things if you count his sudden desire to kiss Ginny Weasley.

A Time To Mourn - Sirius Black, recently declared innocent by the Ministry of Magic, visits his godson on Halloween.

Feels Like Home To Me - Snippets inside the Potter family home

Werewolf Registration Act of 1947 - A history of magic essay helps Teddy understand his deceased father a littler bit better.

Tethered - Teddy and Vic discover the isolated and deserted Hogwarts boathouse to be the perfect place to be alone together.

It’s All About The Timing - James Sirius Potter has wanted to ask Ellie Longbottom out since he was twelve years old. Unfortunately, he can never get the timing right.

Know Your Roots- Albus Potter is unsure if helping Uncle Neville repot moonwort plants is part of detention or a lame attempt at godfather and godson bonding. It might be both.

Acting Professional - Teddy wants to see Victoire’s new office while at a work event.

Ginny’s Very Serious Investigation - When Luna casually mentions in the postscript of her latest letter that she got married, Ginny is not having it. Who the hell is Rolf Scamander, and why is Luna marrying him without any prior warning?

Snuffles & Son - Sirius raises Harry and opens a shop that specializes in repairing cursed artifacts and places protection wards on family heirlooms. One day, an Unspeakable from the Department of Mysteries walks in with a cursed artifact from his cousin’s confiscated Gringotts vault, requesting Sirius’s assistance.

Be Not Afraid Of Greatness - A collection of Frank Longbottom stories

Without A Trace - Babies don’t just disappear without a trace

The Lighthouse - There is an old fishing town off the jagged rocky coast covered in permanent fog and a broken lighthouse that is no longer able to bring ships safely to shore. Tonks travels to the forgotten place to record an episode of her popular podcast. Imagine Tonks' surprise when she arrives at the abandoned lighthouse and comes face to face with its kind yet lonely keeper—Remus.

[trashiejunkyard]

Black rovers are canine evolved to live in the void. These have awful eyesight but they have extraordinary sense due to their more developed sensors from their snout. Combine with good keen sense, they able to navigate through the void and find food. They often travel in pack and viciously guarding their food.

Phantom rays are descendent of flying lizards that once reside in the Ahms region. They glide through the void and outer void in search for food as insects that gather around the pile of food fallen from the surface.

Hollow hares are descendent of unknown species of hare that once reside in Ahms Region. Their extremely powerful legs and long ears that can be use as glider to allow them to safely traverse between landmasses in the void. They are prey animals for other predators that stalk the void.

Stag striders are elongated elk that often found traveling in pack where they use their long limbs to navigate through the void. The leader of the pack which are the male use the glows on his antlers to guide his pack. They migrate throughout the void to find the next food spot. During their migration, their young are vulnerable to the predators due to their size.

Void stalkers are strange predators that lurk the void. Their balloon-like upper body allow them to hover between landmass and use their harpoon limbs to cling onto land. Their hunting tactic is lurking on the under surface of the land mass and ambush their prey.

Void Phytoplanktons are larger organism compare to those in the ocean. It's unknown what cause them to evolve to this proportion or if they are relate to the phytoplankton of the ocean at all but they still serve the same role as their oceanic counterpart did in the void ecosystem.

Voiders are descendent of the sellans of Ahms region that fallen in the void and now force to adapt to the environment of the void. They are relatively same as their ancestor with only minor physical difference which are paler skins, taller, and skinnier body.

Voidborn wyrms are descendent of dragon that escape into the void where they evolve to become apex predator in the world below. Individual wyrms form large territory that they ferociously defend where they use it to hunt for food such as smaller creatures or large mass of phytoplankton. They are known for their aggression to the point intruding their territory is enough to provoke them. They are formidable in term of strength just like their ancestor despite the lost of many abilities that dragon once have. However to make up for it, they can consume gas from the outer void and store it inside their body where they can release from either the mouth for breath attack or their propulsion in their belly to allow them to traverse faster in the void.

[shadowdaddies]

Can I request Aelin x f!reader and Aelin is very possessive over her

I'm feeling festive right now so I wrote this as a Yulemas piece with Aelin just wanting to spend time with reader more than anything

All I Want for Yulemas

Aelin x Reader fluff

Warnings: suggestive

Leaning over the bathroom counter, you carefully applied the red to your lips, festive for the Yulemas celebrations today. You smiled as Aelin padded into the bathroom, blonde hair a mess as she stood behind you, wrapping her arms around your waist. With a groan, she dramatically buried her head in your neck, mumbling against your skin. 

“I don’t want to do this today,” she whined. Turqoise eyes flicked to yours through the mirror, an all too familiar smirk gracing her lips as Aelin brushed her nose up the side of your neck. Pausing in between words, Aelin kissed a trail down your neck and shoulder. “We could...stay here...just you and me...”

Regretfully pulling away from her soft touch, you turned to face Aelin. “We have to get through temple and the ball.” Her responding groan made you giggle, amending, “okay, we have to make an appearance at the ball, at least. Queenly duties.” Aelin made a gagging sound at the title, pressing one more kiss to your cheek before moving to get dressed for the day. 

You sat in the front of temple, diligently singing along to the songs, holding back your snickering when Aelin was sure to point out the pointlessness of temple when there were no gods anymore. “It’s tradition,” you hissed, pinching her arm playfully as the both of you struggled to maintain your stoic expressions.

After temple, the crowd migrated to the ballroom for the main celebration. You joined Aelin on the dais, your queen raising a toast to the night and the official commencement of the ball. The orchestra struck up a jovial song, encouraging people from all around to rush the dance floor and take part in the merriment. Aelin gently took your hand, giving a discreet nod towards the exit.

“Come with me,” she whispered, leading you out the side door towards a winding staircase. You trailed her down a couple floors until you reached a door to the outside, the heavy wood creaking loudly as Aelin shoved it open to lead you out into the dark snowy night.

“Aelin, where are we going?” you murmured, teeth chattering as she guided you towards the line of evergreen trees at the edge of the forest. Turning towards you, Aelin winked and took off in a run as she pulled you along into the forest. 

You reached a clearing among the trees where the snow had unnaturally melted away, candles scattered around a blanket and pillows on the ground. A joyous laugh escaped you, your excitement palpable as you ran over to the warm haven, laying down on the pillows. Aelin laid down next to you, holding your hand as you both enjoyed the view of the starry sky. 

“I have a surprise,” Aelin whispered, and you whipped your head to face her in shock.

With a slight laugh, you waved an arm in gesture to the scene around you. “This isn’t the surprise?”

The soft look in Aelin’s eyes, her bright smile when she looked at you nearly made your heart burst. Silver lined your eyes as you shook your head in awe of her. “Aelin, you are too good to me. How am I supposed to give you a gift that compares to what you do for me?”

Aelin flipped over, blonde hair hanging in a curtain around her face as she hovered over you. One hand came to brush your cheek, that loving look in her eyes that would bring you to your knees had you been standing. “All I want for Yulemas is to be with you, away from responsibilities. Just to love you,” she whispered, a reverence in her tone. 

“I think I can arrange that.” Reaching up, you threaded your fingers through her long hair and pulled her down into a heated kiss. Legs wrapping around her waist instinctively, you moaned into the kiss, desperate for more of her warm touch. 

Aelin pulled away, breathless as she laughed softly against your cheek. “I haven’t shown you the real surprise yet.” She pressed a quick peck to your cheek, taking your hands to help you sit up as she moved behind you, hands wrapping around your waist. With a wave of her hand, small twinkling lights illuminated the evergreens around you, revealing small figures on the ground. You walked over to one, picking it up to see it was a wooden carving of a Terrasen pine tree. Small carvings and offerings surrounded the circle of trees, each representing something special to you. 

You couldn’t stop the tears that fell, thinking of how much time must have been devoted to creating these gifts for you. Aelin kneeled next to you, placing an arm around your shoulders. “The Little Folk made all of these for you, recognizing how special you are to me.” 

Setting down the carvings, you pulled Aelin in for a hug, holding her in your arms as if she would disappear if you let go. “Thank you, thank you all,” you whispered, to Aelin and to any Little Folk who might be listening. 

Aelin pulled back, brushing the hair that had fallen in your eyes as she wiped your tears. “Come on,” she whispered, guiding you back to the nest of pillows and blankets in the clearing. There was a small wicker basket you hadn’t noticed before, Aelin opening it to pull out a bottle of wine and - of course - chocolate truffles. 

Laughing, you settled into the pillows next to her, curling into her side as you took turns drinking from the bottle and eating chocolates. After hours of talking, whispering sweet nothings and sneaking intimate touches, Aelin drifted off to sleep - her golden hair splayed across your stomach that she used as a pillow. You stroked her hair absentmindedly, deep contentment settling in your bones as you fell asleep under the stars with her.

[mcenvs3000w25]

Final Blog Post

A nature interpreter’s job is not just to impart knowledge about the natural world; it’s also to build relationships, encourage stewardship, and generate awe. We have discussed in this course how interpretation can support sustainability, promote environmental stewardship, and facilitate people’s reconnection with the natural world. As an emerging nature interpreter, my personal ethics are based on a strong conviction in the value of hands-on learning, a sense of obligation to the next generation, and a dedication to accessibility and inclusivity in environmental education.

One of the core beliefs I bring to this role is that people protect what they love, and love what they understand. This belief is deeply aligned with the thoughts of Enos and Mills, who emphasized that nature guiding should be more inspirational than informational. In addition to providing information about plants and animals, I want to help people understand how they fit into the greater ecological system. “The chief aim of interpretation is not instruction, but provocation,” as Freeman Tilden put it. It is my responsibility to provoke interest, foster greater appreciation, and leave a lasting emotional impression.

Furthermore, I think that everyone should be able to understand nature. As an interpreter, I have the chance to close the divide that has historically separated many groups from outdoor settings. Through culturally appropriate storytelling, accessible programming, or invoking kids from different backgrounds, I’m dedicated to making sure that everyone has the chance to cultivate a connection with nature.

It is my duty as a nature interpreter to help my audience develop a feeling of environmental stewardship. The analogy of trying to stop a rishing river with a teaspoon by Josh Rodenburg strikes a deep chord because although environmental issues often seem impossible to conquer, little, meaningful actions taken together can have a significant impact. I consider myself to have three responsibilities:

Providing Meaningful Experiences- interpretation should produce unforgettable, life-changing experiences rather than just conveying facts. Whether it’s through immersive treks, interactive exercises, or storytelling, my goal is to bring nature to life in ways that motivate action.

Encouraging Critical Thinking and Reflection- as Richard Louv explains in Last Child in the Woods, nature-deficit disorder affects a lot of individuals, particularly kids. It is my duty to assist people in appreciating nature and challenging the structure that keep them from it.

Advocate for Sustainability and Regeneration- conservation education is no longer sufficient. Ecosystems need to be actively regenerated rather than just maintained. This entails directing people toward actions that lessen waste, restore habitats, and slow down climate change.

Everybody interprets differently, and my method is based on conceptual communication, narrative and active participation. Effective interpretation should be Thematic, Organized, Relevant and Enjoyable, per Sam Ham’s TORE paradigm. My strategy is in line with these ideas. Since individuals can relate to stories more than facts, storytelling is a strong connection technique. I might describe a migrating bird’s journey and the difficulties it encounters rather than listing bird species. Deeper participation is encouraged by the emotional connection this approach helps to establish. Additionally, immersive, hands-on learning enhances understanding. Active participation leads to deeper learning, so rather than just talking about trees, I would encourage people to touch bark, smell leaves, and listen to the sounds of the forest. This is consistent with Mills and Tilden’s emphasis on appealing to the senses and imagination. Finally, it is important to make nature meaningful to the audience. People’s experiences should be connected to interpretation. I might associate nature with backyard biodiversity or city parks if I’m working with urban youth. This method is guided by Tilden’s first principle which states that interpretation must be connected to the visitor’s experience.

Interpreting nature is more than just a profession; it’s sometimes a calling. Since passion is contagious, I will continue to be curious and passionate to make sure that every day has purpose. I will inspire others if I continue to be enthusiastic about the natural world. I shall also keep learning and changing because I understand that just as nature is dynamic, so too is the area of interpretation. I’ll aim to keep improving, whether it’s by reading up-to-date studies, or paying attention to my audience. Lastly, realizing that sometimes the most important moments in nature occur in silence, I will make room for introspection and amazement. Some places, as Harold Ickes pointed out, just need to be experienced; they don’t require narration.

I consider the broader picture of my work as a nature interpreter as this semester draws to a close. It can be intimidating to consider how urgent climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation are. Beck and Cable (2011) remind us, however, that interpretation is a gift of hope. I aspire to create a future where people are inspired to preserve and repair the natural world by cultivating passion for it.

My ultimate objective is to change anything, no matter how small. I’m planting the seeds of awareness and concern, whether I’m taking a family on their first camping vacation, exposing a child to their first woodpecker, or assisting someone in appreciate the beauty of their neighbourhood park. According to Tilden, “You will be an interpreter of the first rank if you love the thing, you interpret and the people who come to enjoy it.” This will serve as my guiding principle going forward in my journey as a nature interpreter.

References

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing, Sagamore Venture.

[ashe-sv]

Seeleverse: Headcanons 1/9

• Bad Sanses Edition

◊ Nightmare

♦ 1m69, or 5,5 feet.

♦ About 580 y/o. At the end of Seeletale, he’s about 585 y/o. 

♦ Passive and corrupted Nightmare are the same person: they share identical memories and feelings, dating from before the destruction of the Tree of Feelings.

♦ His body is covered by corruption, but he still has a skeleton sheath under this ebony mantle. The left side of his skull is opened -like Horror’s one-, almost encroaching on his second orbit. Moreover, his clothes are physical: he spent many years before finding the right fabric, which resisted his corruption. So he kept his Guardian clothes during his research period. He threw them up, keeping only his crown. Where ? Good question. 

♦ He loves rainy days, especially when storms come. It reminds him of the day he helped Dream to calm down during a thunderstorm. Those small little hours when he could fulfill his role as big brother were very important for him. He also enjoys the lapping of the rain on windows. 

♦ He has never talked about his past to anyone. There are rumors about it, which he never denies or comments on. 

♦ Bad smell due to the scent of his corruption. People who have positive feelings find it heady or disgusting while people with negative feelings aren't bothered by it. Some of them find it soothing. 

♦ His soul is the accumulation of all the negative apples he swallowed. So it has the same color and perfume. He never shows it. 

♦ “Mommy issues ?” Well… It’s just a joke made by those who desire to annoy him. NM only feels anger and bitterness when he thinks about his genitor. It’s been centuries since he forgot the sound of her voice or the warmth she exuded. As soon as he tried to delve into the past, he’s consumed by the same fires: loneliness, bullying, his sense of discomfort, his suicidal thoughts… This skeleton sickened him. He’ll never be this terrified child. Never again. 

♦ Sensitive to fire: his corruption is used as fuel in case of combustion -like gasoline-. As NM continually produces it, if he couldn’t avoid flames or stop them at the right time, he could burn until all the negative feelings of the Multiverse disappear -so he could just blaze for eternity-. He discovered that by himself, when he was fighting opponents in a random AU, next to the Core. A spray of lava touched his corruption and began to erode it. Panic-stricken, he ran to Undersea and spent hours in the ocean to interrupt the process. Since this day, he avoids anything that could cause a flame and hates the sea. 

♦ Able to navigate in nightmares and absorb negative feelings which are attached to. 

♦ During the period of the renovation of the future Bad Sanses manor, to avoid becoming completely mad because of loneliness and silence, NM started to talk to plants -especially daisies-. 

♦ His symbol is orchids, a flower which perishes if no one takes care of it. He uses it as his signature.

→ Why did he create the Bad Sanses ? 

=> After the destruction of the Tree of Feelings, Nightmare roved during decades in the Multiverse, guided by the negative feelings of other people. 

=> He still felt alone, nervous, depressed, imbued by remorse. He didn’t know what to do with his existence. 

=> He also discovered that he wasn’t the only one to have lived such awful moments. When everything happened, he was just a kid, focus on what he was feeling, without knowing anything about the Multiverse, the genocide route and the pacifist universes. 

=> 500 years later: Dream broke his stone jail and regained his freedom. He also discovered the Multiverse and encountered Ink.

=> NM felt the awakening of his twin and searched for the best place to avoid him. So he decided to return to Dreamtale, which was too teeming with negativity for the positive being he was. 

=> Due to NM actions, survivors of the attack migrated to distant regions, impacted by the lack of resources and the natural dark climate. Deserted and silent, it was the perfect place to settle for the negative. 

=> It took about 50 years to renovate an old manor, which was built at the edge of the village, and to kill the last survivors, who were devastated by the poisonous atmosphere. 

=> He received marginalized people, who knew of the existence of AU’s: those who accepted their condition and decided to embrace their choice. 

=> NM saw a lot of people who matched his expectations, but he decided to propose a deal to Killer first: his services against a place to live and a new playground. 

-> Why is he fighting Dream ?

=> NM aura = trigger and amplifier negative feelings. 

=> During his years of roaming, he caused many troubles on his way: increasing of criminality, return of wars, etc.

=> Sometimes, he gave advice to those who didn’t know what to do with their problems (as much incitement to suicide or to murder, as help in ending one's own life) and won a reputation as a troublemaker or a diabolic advisor. 

=> Particularly influence the “pivots”, the people who hesitated to concede to their urges. 

=> Sometimes, he murdered people who harassed or provoked him, or people he despised -bullies and abusers-.

=> His actions and influence destabilized many universes, including pacifist routes which became dystopian. 

=> Ink tried to find him to understand what he was doing and stop his activities.

=> Dream found out that his friend was very worried and the Protector explained the situation to the Guardian. The latter did his best to locate his twin, but as soon as NM saw him, Dream was paralyzed by the rage and the sadness of his brother. The corrupted hated the way his younger brother looked at him: with compassion, with tenderness, with pity… He refused to live again in his shadows, mired by the past.

=> The fighting began that way. NM faced Ink and Dream alone, then with Killer and the rest of the Bad Sanses, in cooperation with people who had interest in this mess, like Bill or Error.  

=> Meetings and agreements with people from different universes and Multiverses. 

Chronology:

-> Birth of the twins.

-> NM killed his bullies when he was 8 y/o.  

-> Spent about 500 yrs in the Multiverse.

-> Took care of his new home -the manor- and did research to find subordinates, for about 45 yrs.

-> He created officially the Bad Sanses with the arrival of Killer in Dreamtale, 15 yrs ago. 

-> Actual situation in Seeletale.  

Stats: LOVE: 20. HP: 99 ATK: 94. DEF: 97.

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

Nightmare belongs to @jokublog.

[lucid-outsourcing-solutions]

Cloud Migration Best Practices : A Comprehensive Guide

[cinnamonest]

I love your writing so much! I saw you mention that you played and enjoyed Hello Charlotte, would you ever consider writing anything for it? I think Vincent would make a great yandere. Thoughts?

VINCENT MY BELOVED

Let me first say that Hello Charlotte is not a game, it is a spiritual experience. Hello Charlotte watered my crops, nourished my skin, and extended my lifespan.

Every guy in that game had me swooning but Vincent was just so precious. Ugh I love them, and the best part is that yandere really feels natural/not far off from canon (probably even perfectly canonical for Aiden). I would love making more in the future as well but I have brief thoughts

(Also the third game + Heaven’s Gate kinda… complicates Vincent’s identity, and the third game gets so metafiction-esque [which is also good, but I like regular Vincent as he's originally portrayed too], so for this part I’m putting that aside in favor of HC 2 alone, also mentions of the “ascension”)

--

Vincent would be one of the most devastating to be targeted by though — he's so pleasant and genial and thus so easily misleads you. You don't expect anything bad from him. Behaviors that would normally set off alarm bells in your head, if it were anyone else, don't even register with you when it's him, and even if you recognize it, you tell yourself you're being ridiculous.

…But then there’s also this whole “I’m a god” thing. This faint delusion of grandeur, even if he himself doesn’t really believe it, per se. Presenting himself in such a way that inspires inherent awe (if you actually believe it), a bold sort of existence that’s firm in his claims and presence, but in such an amiable way that it doesn’t feel very arrogant, even if it really is, and may even circle around to seeming more realistically god-like. A demeanor that’s somehow both strong and firmly assertive, yet presented gently, without aggression or loudness.

He has this sort of odd degree of persuasiveness. Despite his gentleness, it feels like he can compel you to do anything. To follow him, both figuratively and literally, letting his words guide your actions, letting him take your hand and pull you forward to wherever he would have you go. To not challenge his assertions -- why would you? He says it with such confidence, surely you would never believe he's lying or misled.

His touches are so gentle, the way he cups your face in his hand, runs his fingers over your waist, rests his head in the crook of your neck. His lips are so soft when he kisses your forehead.

He’s patient, too. He pushes your boundaries further and further, little by little, day by day, week by week. The kisses move from your forehead to your cheek to your lips, the touches migrate from grasping your shoulders to your waist, gradually working their way under your clothes. How he starts off walking you home each day, stopping first in front of your home to hug you farewell for the day, then walks you all the way to your door, then one day the door doesn’t shut because he’s got his foot stuck to hold it open, that same soft smile on his face. And who are you to say no, when he’s been kind to you?

Even after you start letting him in, he stays longer and longer each day. Migrates from sitting on your couch to your bed, moves closer until your thighs touch, then to where he’s holding you... and soon enough, what do you know, you’re lying here panting and sweating, bare skin on bare skin, his arms wrapped around you and his cum drooling out of your body as he murmurs about how good you are.

Only natural, really, that a god would be drawn to such a perfect being. He waxes poetic about how maybe you were made just for him, that fate bestowed you onto him like some kind of disciple, something he can have all for himself, something he inherently deserves for being such a benevolent god.

In the end, eventually, he can convince you to do anything, even running away with him from the demented, false world, by any means necessary, to ensure you can stay only his forever...

[lovelylaced]

— when we meet again, in another life.

I am afraid of losing. Not in the shallow sense of misplaced belongings, but in the quiet, aching fear that one day, those I love will no longer be within reach. That one morning, a voice I hold dear will echo no more in the corridors of time, and I’ll be left with memory’s fragile silhouette. I am afraid of losing the warmth of a hand that once held mine, the laughter that danced in our shared silences, the look in the eyes that once mirrored my soul. Yet, I know—deep down, tucked in the quiet spaces of my heart—that parting is as certain as breath. That everything I hold will one day slip through the fingers of time, like sand returning to the sea. That death, too, is a gate—final yet not the end. For every goodbye bears within it a secret promise: of meeting again, somewhere, sometime, in a space untouched by pain or time. I live in that hope—that beyond the veil of farewell, there lies a new beginning, a reunion wrapped in light, a room where every soul finds its way back home.

I am afraid of losing. The fear does not shout—it whispers. It echoes in the stillness of midnight, in the rustling leaves, in the fading footsteps of someone walking away. It waits in the spaces between words, in the pauses of conversations that once flowed like rivers. It curls up in the softness of a smile that no longer reaches the eyes, in the way someone says your name for the last time without knowing it. I carry this fear like a stone in my pocket—worn, familiar, but heavy all the same. And yet, I walk with it, because I know that to love is to risk loss, to hold dear is to one day let go.

Still, I believe. I believe that goodbyes are not ends but thresholds. That behind the curtain of our sorrow, a new story begins. One not bound by gravity or time, where distance collapses into closeness, and silence becomes a language of light. I believe that when we part, we leave behind pieces of ourselves in the hearts of those we love. We become stars in their skies, invisible perhaps, but guiding. We become the gentle wind that stirs their curtains at dawn, the scent of jasmine that reminds them of an evening long gone, the warmth that inexplicably brushes their skin in a cold moment. We remain. Not always seen, but always there.

The fear of loss humbles me. It teaches me to hold softer, to speak gentler, to see clearer. It reminds me that time is fleeting, that every shared breath is a miracle. It urges me to listen fully, to laugh deeply, to cherish wildly. And in that way, fear becomes a gift—a quiet teacher reminding me to live in the now, to love without holding back, to write the names of my beloveds in the fabric of today.

I do not deny death. I do not run from the truth of endings. I know that even the brightest flame dims, that every song must meet its final note. But death is not darkness—it is transformation. It is a doorway, not a wall. It is not the erasure of presence but the migration of it. When someone I love disappears from this realm, I do not believe they are gone. I believe they have stepped into another room, a place my eyes cannot yet see, but my heart sometimes feels. A place where time is irrelevant, where pain no longer lingers, and where love gathers everything it has ever touched.

In that new space, I believe we will meet again. Not as we were, perhaps, but as we are meant to be. Freed from the burdens of this world, glowing with the truth of who we have always been beneath the surface. In that room, I will recognize you not by your face, but by the way my soul leaps when yours is near. We will not need names or words or explanations. Just presence. Just knowing. Just love, pure and unending.

So yes, I am afraid of losing. But I am also in awe of the promise woven into every parting. The sacred contract that says: this is not the end. There will be another sunrise. Another beginning. Another chance to love, to laugh, to remember. Maybe not in this world, but in the next. Maybe not in this form, but in one that knows no boundaries. And so I let the fear live in me, not to control me, but to sharpen my love, to deepen my gratitude, to remind me that every moment matters.

I walk forward with my heart open. I hold hands knowing I will one day let go. I say goodbye knowing it is not forever. I love knowing that love, once given, never dies—it changes shape, it finds new ways to reach across the stars. In my dreams, I often see rooms filled with light, with faces I thought I’d lost, with laughter that sounds like home. I wake with tears, yes—but also with a strange peace. Because I know: what we lose here, we find again there.

There is a space beyond sorrow. A quiet place where the ache is soothed, where the echoes of what was are transformed into the harmonies of what will be. In that space, I believe you and I will meet again. I will not ask where you’ve been. I will only smile, and you will only nod, and everything unsaid will be understood. And we will begin again—not from the start, but from the continuation of something never truly interrupted. That is what keeps me going when the nights stretch too long. The certainty, not just the hope, that no love is ever wasted, and no goodbye is ever final.

Life is a series of meetings and partings, like tides rolling in and out, like breath drawn and released. We are always arriving, always departing. And though I tremble at the thought of your absence, I take comfort in the rhythm of it all—the way the sun sets only to rise again, the way winter yields to spring. What is gone may not be lost. It may only be waiting. Waiting in a new form, in a new space, for us to find it again.

So I hold on. Not tightly, but faithfully. I love with the knowledge of loss, and I lose with the memory of love. And when I speak of you, whether in a whisper to the wind or a smile to the stars, I know you hear me. Because love like ours is not bound by death. It is not confined by time. It is infinite. It is eternal. And it will bring us home.

[scenvs3000w25]

The Power of Teamwork (Unit 9)

You see it everywhere: outside, on the sidewalk, tiny little ants walk in a line, carrying breadcrumbs back to their nest. Bees buzz around the flowers, intent on gathering nectar to take back to their hive. You even see it in the skyscrapers rising up into the clouds, the organized roads and streets that take you where you want to go, and the people you collaborate with every day to get things done. 

(Video: bees bustling around on a hive. Taken by Serena Causton)

(Photo: Toronto skyline as sunset against clouds. Taken by Sequoia Death)

The most amazing thing that nature has to offer is teamwork. Species of all shapes and sizes work together to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Humans create technology, spaceships, medicine, buildings, and more, together. Bees create hives they fill with honey. Ants create a network of tunnels to house the colony. Species everywhere create a system; a system that functions independently of the individuals that created it (Meadows, 2008). If one individual is lost, the system remains. 

Monarch butterflies even use transgenerational teamwork; one generation begins the migration south to find somewhere warm to overwinter. Then the next generation is born in the south, and makes the return journey north (US Forest Service, 2024). This journey is guided by instinctive genetic patterns. 

Unfortunately, it’s easy for humans to overlook the importance of these connections within a system when we get lost in the technology created by it (Beck et al., 2018; pg 468). Nicolas Carr (2014) warns that...

“the mounting evidence of an erosion of skills, a dulling of perceptions, and a slowing of reactions should give us all pause.”

Interspecies cooperation is everywhere in nature, from ants to bees to birds to dolphins to elephants; this quality, preserved through millions of years of evolution, is clearly essential. These skills that we are losing, the skills of empathy, connection, and agency, were cultivated in our species for a reason; throughout our evolutionary history, these skills have made us stronger, better, and better adapted to survival.

What happens to us if we lose these skills?

Are we devolving? We as a society need to take proactive, intentional measures to connect with each other and strengthen our bonds.

As nature interpreters, we can strengthen these skills in ourselves and in others through promoting and supporting nature connection. Through nature, we can inspire awe, and awe can inspire action (Beck et al., 2018; pg 472). By being in nature we can also reduce reliance and dependence on technology, which can reduce the distractions that prevent people from connecting with each other, nature, and themselves. 

Next time you go outside, whether in the city or in a forest, in a suburb or next to the ocean, think about everything you see around you. The birds you hear calling to each other from the trees. The squirrels running up and down the trunks, working hard to scavenge for acorns. The worms in the ground that filter soil and nutrients, turning chemicals into compounds that plants can eat. The plants that take up carbon dioxide and release oxygen for us to breathe. 

(Photo: Centennial Park at sunset in 2018. Taken by Serena Causton). In this photo, the moss was disrupted on the right hand side by a mother duck and her ducklings swimming across the pond.

If you’re in an urban environment, think about the number of people who worked hard to mix and pour cement for the sidewalk. The people who measured and remeasured and mixed and remixed ratios until they found the perfect combination to even make cement. Think about the architects that designed the buildings you see, the mathematicians and engineers that made it possible, the construction workers that operated the equipment and machinery to build it, the transport workers who travelled across the country with materials to build.

(Photo: A night market in Osaka, 2024. Taken by Serena Causton)

Think about all these things that contribute to the system that makes life possible, whether it be natural or human-made. What role do you play in the system? Do you like your role?

What do you want to do to contribute to the system? 

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing, Sagamore Venture.

Meadows, D. H. (2008). Thinking in systems (Illustrated edition). Chelsea Green Publishing.

U.S. FOREST SERVICE. (2024). Monarch Butterfly Migration and Overwintering. Www.fs.usda.gov.https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/Monarch_Butterfly/migration/index.shtml

[goscubadivemaui]

From Breaches to Baby Whales: An Intimate Maui Whale Watch Experience

If you're visiting the beautiful island of Maui during the winter months, there's one experience you absolutely can’t miss—Maui whale watch tours. From December through April, humpback whales migrate to the warm Hawaiian waters to breed, calve, and nurse their young. It’s one of nature’s most awe-inspiring spectacles, and there’s no better way to experience it than with Dive Maui / Whale Watching Maui, a family-owned business based in Lahaina.

Why Choose Dive Maui for Whale Watching? Dive Maui is more than just a tour provider—it’s a passionate, eco-conscious operation with a deep love for the ocean. Owned and operated by a family of marine enthusiasts, Dive Maui offers small-group tours that provide a more intimate and personal whale watching experience. Unlike large commercial boats, Dive Maui keeps group sizes small, allowing for better viewing opportunities, one-on-one interaction with expert guides, and minimal disturbance to the whales and marine environment.

Their tours depart from Lahaina, one of the best whale-watching spots in all of Hawaii. With calm, clear waters and frequent sightings, Lahaina provides an excellent launch point for unforgettable encounters with humpback whales.

What to Expect on a Maui Whale Watch Tour Dive Maui’s whale watching tours are designed for comfort, education, and excitement. The tours are typically two hours long and are led by seasoned marine naturalists who are passionate about marine life and conservation. As soon as the boat leaves the harbor, keep your eyes peeled—there’s a high chance you’ll spot a whale’s spout in the distance or even a full breach nearby.

Here are just a few things you might witness on a Maui whale watch tour:

Breaching – When a whale launches its body out of the water and splashes down with enormous force.

Spy-hopping – When whales pop their heads above the water to look around.

Tail-slapping and pectoral fin slaps – Behaviors used to communicate and establish dominance.

Mother and calf pairs – It’s common to see nurturing moments between mother whales and their newborns.

Every tour is different, and no two experiences are the same, which adds to the magic of watching whales in their natural habitat.

A Commitment to Ocean Conservation Dive Maui’s mission extends far beyond just giving you a great tour. The team is dedicated to sustainable tourism and protecting the marine ecosystem. All whale watching tours are conducted with respect for the animals, maintaining proper distances and following regulations set by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to ensure the safety and well-being of the whales.

In addition, Dive Maui actively participates in marine conservation efforts, beach cleanups, and educational outreach. By choosing Dive Maui, you're supporting a business that values the health of the ocean and strives to protect it for generations to come.

More Than Just Whale Watching While Dive Maui is widely praised for its Maui whale watch tours, the company also offers a range of ocean adventures:

Scuba Diving: Explore vibrant coral reefs and marine life with guided scuba tours. One of the most popular dives is at the Lanai Cathedrals—an otherworldly underwater lava formation teeming with sea life.

Snorkeling Tours: For those not certified to dive, snorkeling tours offer a great way to experience Maui’s underwater beauty.

PADI Certification Courses: Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced diver, Dive Maui offers comprehensive scuba diving courses certified by PADI, taught by friendly and knowledgeable instructors.

Why Winter is the Best Time for Whale Watching From December through April, thousands of North Pacific humpback whales make their way from Alaska to the waters around Maui. The warm, shallow waters provide a safe environment for birthing and raising calves. This period is known as the whale season, and it’s the prime time for Maui whale watch tours. January through March typically offers the highest concentration of whales, increasing your chances of seeing a variety of behaviors.

Tips for an Amazing Whale Watching Experience

Book in Advance: Whale season is a busy time on Maui, so reserve your spot early.

Bring Binoculars and a Camera: Although sightings are often close to the boat, binoculars help you see distant activity, and a camera ensures you capture the memories.

Wear Sunscreen and a Hat: You’ll be out on the water, so protection from the sun is essential.

Be Patient and Stay Alert: The ocean is vast, and whale activity can happen at any moment. Listen to your guide and keep your eyes on the horizon.

Respect the Wildlife: Always follow your guide’s instructions and remember these are wild animals—avoid sudden movements or loud noises.

Final Thoughts Dive Maui / Whale Watching Maui offers an unforgettable opportunity to connect with one of the ocean’s most majestic creatures. Whether you're a first-time visitor to Hawaii or a seasoned traveler, their Maui whale watch tours provide a meaningful and memorable experience rooted in respect for nature and a love of the sea. With small group sizes, expert guidance, and a commitment to conservation, Dive Maui stands out as one of the top choices for whale watching on the island.

Ready to witness the magic of humpback whales up close? Book your Maui whale watch tour with Dive Maui today and make your Hawaiian vacation truly extraordinary.

[premiumpenguintours]

Premium Penguin Tours Offers the Best Way to See Penguins in the Falkland Islands

When it comes to unforgettable wildlife experiences, few moments compare to seeing penguins in their natural habitat. If you're visiting the Falkland Islands on a cruise, Premium Penguin Tours offers the most enriching and memorable way to witness these charming creatures up close—while also diving into the unique cultural and historical landscape of the islands.

Why Choose Premium Penguin Tours?

At Premium Penguin Tours, we specialize in small-group, expertly guided tours designed for cruise visitors arriving at Port Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands. Our mission is to go beyond traditional sightseeing. We focus on meaningful wildlife encounters, responsible tourism, and authentic local insight.

Whether you're an avid birdwatcher, a wildlife photographer, or simply a curious traveler, our tours are curated to give you the best possible chance to see multiple penguin species including King, Gentoo, Magellanic, and Rockhopper penguins, depending on the time of year and location.

Close-Up Wildlife Encounters

The Falklands are home to over one million penguins, and there's no better place to see them in the wild. Premium Penguin Tours takes you to carefully selected penguin colonies that are accessible during cruise stopovers. Unlike overcrowded excursions, we keep our groups small and our experiences personal.

You’ll walk along scenic coastal paths, watch penguins interact in their natural environment, and learn fascinating facts about their behavior, breeding habits, and migration patterns. Our expert local guides ensure that every moment is informative, respectful of the environment, and, above all, unforgettable.

A Blend of Nature and Culture

What sets Premium Penguin Tours apart is our commitment to combining wildlife with heritage. In addition to penguin viewing, many of our tours include visits to historic sites such as battlefields, museums, and colonial landmarks that reveal the rich and often overlooked history of the Falklands.

You’ll hear stories from passionate locals who know the island's past firsthand—from early settlements to the 1982 conflict. This unique blend of wildlife and cultural tourism adds depth and context to your experience.

Eco-Friendly and Cruise-Timed

We understand the limited time cruise passengers have onshore, which is why our tours are custom-tailored to match cruise schedules and ensure a smooth return to your ship. We also practice eco-friendly touring, maintaining respectful distances from wildlife and working in partnership with local conservation efforts to protect the fragile ecosystems of the islands.

Book Your Falklands Adventure Today

If you're planning a cruise that stops at Port Stanley, don’t miss the chance to explore the island with a team that truly knows and loves it. Premium Penguin Tours is your trusted partner for responsible, educational, and awe-inspiring journeys into the heart of Falklands wildlife.

From close-up penguin encounters to local storytelling, we guarantee a tour that’s as enriching as it is unforgettable. Book your tour today and make the most of your time in one of the world’s most extraordinary destinations.