#scud-hero

[scudhero-radio]

(scud-hero)

[insanityclause]

“We are the only love-gods”, declares Don Pedro to Claudio and Leonato — with some flourish — in this effervescent staging of Much Ado About Nothing. Correction, gentlemen. I think you’ll find Jamie Lloyd, who directed this glorious production of Shakespeare’s romcom, is the Cupid of the moment. From start to finish, the show is a joy: a love song to the exhilaration, pain and giddy nonsense of passion, with Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell absolutely acing it at the helm.

Lloyd unclips the play from its Italian setting and styles it as a kind of Nineties rave with its own lovestruck landscape (designed by Soutra Gilmour). Rosy confetti rains down on the performers, settling into sweet pink drifts across the stage; a giant inflatable heart rises above the action like a moon; the drama is punctuated by serious consumption of shots, delirious dancing to club hits and Mason Alexander Park singing soulful covers.

Gone is the war — here the men strut into the arena to the Beastie Boys’ “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)”. Gone, too, is the subplot involving the officious officer-of-the-law Dogberry, which makes for a rather abrupt resolution of the drama. We lose too the potential social commentary embedded in the tale. But the result is a fleet, focused and very funny production that, amid all the riotous partying, charts beautifully the play’s soaring highs and darker depths.

At its heart is the “merry war” between Beatrice and Benedick, the couple who protest their loathing of each other, all the while yearning for connection. Atwell and Hiddleston are superb, throwing some fabulous shapes and bringing pinpoint timing to their characters’ quicksilver wit, but also picking their way poignantly through the couple’s warring emotions.

Mara Huf as Hero and James Phoon as Claudio © Marc Brenner

Hiddleston’s Benedick is impishly charming, savouring his own waggishness, flirting with the audience — “Certain I am loved of all ladies”, he says, with a saucy wink at the stalls — and rolling beneath piles of confetti as he attempts to conceal himself to overhear the conspirators. But he’s also immensely touching in his astonishment that Beatrice may care for him — “Love me?” he whispers. “Why?” — and quietly sincere in his resolution to avenge Claudio’s wronging of Hero.

Atwell responds with a Beatrice of mercurial intelligence and emotional truth. In a brilliant move, she doesn’t hide to eavesdrop on her fate, but stands, motionless, her conflicting feelings scudding across her face. Tiny shifts in her voice and body language betray to us the hurt within and the way she projects insouciant wit to protect her heart.

The irony is that, beneath their prickly exteriors, these two care deeply for one another, whereas love’s young dream, in the shape of the impetuous Claudio (James Phoon) and eager Hero (Mara Huf), evaporates at the first hurdle. Claudio’s cruel jilting of Hero is a terrible moment, Shakespeare reminding you that, banter aside, mistrust between men and women can have devastating consequences. Lloyd manages the shift skilfully: there’s a sudden iciness and, for the first time, the confetti stops falling.

And there are many thorns among these roses: we notice Gerald Kyd’s Prince, drowning loneliness in drink, and Tim Steed as his “villainous” brother, playing up to the role expected. Heartbreak, hope, healing — it’s all here in this gorgeous, big-hearted production.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[resident-idiot-simp]

Sorry sorry I just had a premonition.

Boondock Saints crossover since the MacManus brothers are pretty much mercenaries.

Obviously we'd have to have Wade make a reference to Scud.

Wade and Logan doing a job and running into the twins and Wade is geeking the hell out. BECAUSE THESE BOYS ARE HEROS AND WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU NOT DOING IN BOSTON?!

Logan: Why the fuck do you have rope?

Murphy: THAS WHAT TE FUACK I'VE BEEN ASKIN!

Wade: so... Are you still working with the Green goblin??

Connor and Murphy:?????

Wade: Do you think your brother would recognize cocaine by the taste?

Murphy:..... Good question

FUCK IT I'M WRITING THIS FOR ST PATRICK'S DAY

IT'S DONE

[duckarchives]

The story of bo6 multiplayer.

Since Warzone was released, many extra stories have been told through multiplayer, usually the final or post-credits scenes are what open the doors to these stories.

At the end of the campaign, we managed to stop a plan by the Pantheon, but there are still members of them infiltrated within the CIA. With that, Livingstone calls on our team to be part of a secret team in an attempt to eliminate the remaining members of the Pantheon. Some of these events will take place in Avalon, since several operations are happening at the same time and there are strong indications that the Pantheon is behind these operations. In addition, we also see Jackson Caine in Livingstone's office messing with his computer, indicating that he is planning something without him knowing.

In this, two factions are divided in Avalon, the rogue black ops and the crimson one, the first being a team formed by former CIA agents who were recruited by Livingstone and the second the team formed by the Pantheon infiltrators within the CIA. Since the RBO is a clandestine team, all of their weapons and financing are done illegally, making them seen as criminals by the rest of the CIA.

But does anyone suspect anything? No, since the Pantheon infiltrators manipulated the other members into thinking they are criminals, and Livingstone couldn't help them directly because he would be putting a target on his own back.Now, unlike them, the CO is a team formed to hunt and kill the RBO, being financed by the CIA and treated as if they were heroes of the country. Caine and some members are part of the Pantheon, but others are just agents who have no idea of the truth.

Will I talk about the operators? Not yet, since it is possible that new operators will arrive or have their lore changed, I prefer to wait until the last season is released to see their lore complete than to see their lore being changed all the time. And yes, that was a dig at Gaz.

Now about the maps, each one represents a conflict that happened between the factions, and also has dates so you can know the timeline. By the way, I'll have to disregard Gala because it's a map that causes a plot hole in the campaign. The most accepted theory is that Treyarch got the dates wrong, but don't worry because it's the one with the least important story.

04/03/91: The Payback map takes place, where the CO ends up discovering the RBO base and tries to destroy the place, after which the RBO ends up escaping.

06/03/91・07/03/91: The maps that are part of Vorkuta take place, but this time there are more containers of that gas that Barkov uses in MW1, indicating that the CIA was searching for something in Vorkuta.

10/03/91: The Babylon and Vault maps take place, being just conflicts without much story.

03/18/91: Scud happens at the same time as Subsonic, both maps take place in Iraq, showing that the RBO was in Iraq for a while while fleeing the CO.

04/20/91: The Lowtown map happens, this is the moment when both factions arrive in Avalon and establish their bases.

05/14/91: The Derelict map happens, where a small conflict happens between the factions because both wanted to reach Liberty Falls, that's why the Liberty Falls map happens on 05/15. Now, why did Pantheon want to reach Liberty Falls? I don't know, either they'll explain this in the next seasons or it was just a crossover with zombies.

On 06/08/91 the Red Card map takes place, on 06/30 the Stakeout map takes place, on 08/23 the Skyline map takes place and on 09/10 the Protocol map takes place. All of these maps take place in Avalon and there are several conflicts that occur between the factions. But among them, Protocol is the most interesting since in it we invade an Advanced Technology and Applications base, in addition there is an intel that says that before ATAA, this base belonged to the Phoenix project, a reference to the Vanguard campaign.

But what about Nuketown and the other maps? To be honest, Nuketown has always been a meme map, so I don't think it will be important to mention it. But for those who want a summary, it is just a fake city that was built to be destroyed, it is impossible for there to be a Nuketown in the COD multiverse that will not be destroyed.

One last warning: the posts explaining the story of Liberty Falls and Terminus will take a while because my computer died after I downloaded COD 1 DLC, they may already be out of date when I post, but I'll try to fix my computer as soon as possible to post, bye.

[decimadeathing]

Which of the Snakes, if any, could defeat Walpurgisnacht?

How easy does Ocelot make it look in comparison?

Ooh, good question! It has been A While since I last touched Metal Gear, I still need to finish TPP lol - as a result, your answer might take a bit! I'm gonna assume our heroes can see Walpurgisnacht since it's boring to say "they all get blindsided and die the end"

I get the feeling that with BB being able to bench a fucking mech that one time in Peace Walker, at the very least he'd have the durability to just out-endure Walpurgis and beat her with brute force, if anybody - man might be a massive himbo but he gets results!

Considering Solid was able to defeat BB not once but twice (yes I know about the technicality there but Venom is pretty formidable too) I figure he might have a decently good shot of being able to beat Walpurgisnacht like BB, if he can figure out some sort of force multiplier!

Liquid is... well, Liquid. Man's got an IQ of like 170 just like Solid, but considering basic genetics is enough to defeat his brain somehow, and he lost to both V and Solid, I get the feeling Liquid alone is not gonna have a great time trying to save Mitakihara.

Solidus, it feels like it depends - On one hand, he lost to Raiden ultimately, on the other, he was the president at one point, but then the question would be if he's in office at the time of the Walpurgisnacht disaster so he can call in like, a nuke on the witch - From there the question becomes "will a nuke stop her?" and tbh, I actually don't know! (Before you say "well but what about those Scud looking thingies Homura used", those seem to be anti ship missiles used by the JSDF so they're likely an order of magnitude below a nuke)

Raiden is technically a snake too, and he's also a pretty interesting case because he displays similar durability to BB - in MGS4 at least he was able to stop a fucking boat with his cyborg powers after all not to mention the slicing a plane in half thing, so honestly he might be able to do it, especially with his katana from Revengeance!

Venom, again, I haven't completed his game (and especially considering I switched default V out for a girl because I interpret TPP as basically Deci Writes Dumb Fanfic: The Game, and a mostly-female Mother Base is basically my fantasy of being treated like a princess by a small army of lesbians) but like, he seems decently close to BB in terms of capabilities. I feel like he might have more trouble though, but like I haven't gotten to the Sahelanthropus fight so who knows! Maybe he can just caber-toss her into orbit or something!

Last but not least of our snake roster, we have The Boss! I know she's not technically a snake but she's my fave so I'm gonna include her! Obviously she'd win easily, since she is a girl and girls are magic, so being a Magical Girl in the first place is easy!* She's strong enough to beat Big Boss too, so if he could beat Walpurgis she could too by my reckoning!

Ocelot honestly strikes me as the kinda guy who would be smart enough to not get involved in the first place - his whole thing is trying to save BB after all, so a single city doesn't necessarily feel like something he'd be interested in saving in the first place unless it benefited him somehow. Since BB can probably defeat Walpurgisnacht, Ocelot would probably wind up just doing what he did in MGS3 where he supported Snake from the sidelines, in my opinion. On the other hand, if he had to save BB because he was incapacitated or something, we all know that six shots are more than enough to kill anything that moves, and Walpurgisnacht does move, so perhaps he'll find a way to ricochet his bullets for maximum damage!

All of this changes though, if you add in their allies - Liquid might be weak to suspicious heart attacks, but Liquid in REX becomes the same question of Solidus if he calls in a Minuteman III, but I think this answer is long and rambly enough already tbh

Thank you for the ask!

*(@ my fanfic mutuals, particularly degen, feel free to use this as inspiration lol)

[darkmaga-returns]

Greater Israel Is On The March

Paul Craig Roberts

Syria no longer exists. The Russian news service RT reports that Israel has launched the largest attack on Syria in history with Israeli warplanes hitting more than 250 military targets.  Other reports put the number at 300.  The Israeli Defense Force reports it has destroyed 80% of Syrian military capability. This is after Syria’s fall.  “Wave after wave of airstrikes carried out by IAF fighter jets and drones then hit Syrian airbases, weapon depots and weapon production sites in Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia and Palmyra, according to the military. Meanwhile, on Monday night, Israeli Navy missile boats destroyed 15 naval vessels belonging to the former regime at the Minet el-Beida bay and Latakia port on the Syrian coast.” Possibly the Syrian Army, paid to stand down, suffered more casualties from these attacks than they would have suffered in battle in defense of Syria. The money for the generals came at a high price for the soldiers.

The Israeli military said the airstrikes destroyed many long-range projectiles, Scud missiles, cruise missiles, coast-to-sea missiles, air defense missiles, fighter jets, helicopters, radars, tanks, hangars and more.

Israel explains its aggression as self-defense to prevent the weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists.  But the terrorists that Israel, Washington, and Turkey employed to overthrow Syria have been turned into “democratic forces that liberated Syria” and whose leader has declared friendship with Israel.  The real explanation for Israel’s aggression is that Israel now occupies part of Syria. If you will remember, recently Netanyahu held up a map of Greater Israel and it included Syria. Netanyahu, despite his criminal indictment in Israel for corruption, is likely to go down as the greatest of all Israeli heroes, as the leader who achieved the Zionist goal of Greater Israel.

You might remember that the American media and “fact checkers” denied there was any such thing as Greater Israel.  It was all misinformation by anti-semites. Apparently, the narrative controllers regarded Netanyahu’s map  of Greater Israel as part of the anti-semantic misinformation.  The Zionist neoconservatives showed their hand many years ago when they put in motion their plan to destroy seven countries in five years. It took longer than five years, but with Syria’s fall only two of the seven remain–Iran and Saudi Arabia.  The inability of the Muslim Middle East to unify has doomed it.

[unimother]

Algae Ecosystem Protein + Omega 3 Closed Looped Live Feed Production - Tubifex, Water Fleas, Mexican Scud Hyalella Azteca

n the ever-evolving realm of aquariums, the emergence of live feed is becoming increasingly appreciated for its critical role in enhancing the health and growth of aquatic organisms. Ranging from nutrient-rich delights like tubifex and water fleas to the adaptable Mexican scud, these live food sources are not just a feast for the fish; they are fundamental components of both ecosystems and aquaculture practices. With their remarkable protein and omega-3 content, live feeds also champion sustainable, closed-loop production methods, making them the superheroes of the aquatic fish diet. This article delves into the types, benefits, and production of live feed, illuminating its critical importance in nurturing vibrant aquatic environments.

What is Live feed?

Live feed, in all its glory, pertains to the clever use of live organisms, particularly aquatic invertebrates, to nourish fish and other aquatic creatures in aquaculture systems.

These little critters are not merely snacks; they’re vital players in the wild’s aquatic food chain, bolstering the overall health of the ecosystem and biodiversity. By serving as protein-packed feed sources, they significantly enhance fish nutrition and growth rates, thereby championing sustainable practices in aquaculture.

Through the marvels of closed-loop production systems, we can incorporate species such as Hyalella Azteca, tubifex, and water fleas, ensuring that nutrient cycling and resource management are as efficient as a well-oiled machine.

In essence, live feed has become a critical ingredient in the recipe for modern fish culture, where sustainability meets nutritional excellence.

The Importance of Live Feed in Aquariums

Live feed is nothing short of the unsung hero in aquariums and aquaponics, serving as a vital source of nutrients that fosters the growth and health of aquatic organisms, from fish to shrimp, across various aquaculture systems.

By embracing live feed, aquaculturists can not only enhance feed conversion ratios but also elevate color and meat quality, all while maintaining the delicate ecological balance and optimizing resource efficiency. This approach significantly reduces the environmental footprint typically associated with traditional feed sources like fishmeal.

Furthermore, the inclusion of live organisms, such as aquatic invertebrates, adds a delightful twist to dietary supplements and awakens hunting instinct, transforming fish keeping into a more natural ecosystem. This strategy not only bolsters the sustainability of farming practices but also champions aquatic biodiversity with a flair.

After all, who wouldn’t want to throw a little party for the fish while being kind to Mother Earth and all its inhabitants?

Benefits for Aquatic Organisms

The advantages of live feed for aquatic organisms are nothing short of impressive, providing a treasure trove of nutritional benefits that significantly boost natural behavior, growth rates, colors, health, and overall vitality. This is particularly true given the abundant omega-3 fatty acids found in delightful specimens like Mexican scud and water fleas which feed on various algae species—who knew dinner could be so nutritious?

Moreover, live feed serves as a powerful ally in developing robust immune systems while enhancing the metabolic performance of diverse aquatic species. High-protein options such as cyclops and brine shrimp elegantly complement this nutritional feast, ensuring younger fish transition smoothly from the simplicity of yolk sac nutrition to the complexities of a full-blown buffet.

This delicious menu offers essential components necessary for tissue regeneration and the physiological transformations that occur during critical growth stages. Consequently, embracing live feed in aquariums not only maximizes color potential but also cultivates resilient populations, ultimately championing the sustainability of aquatic-keeping practices and bolstering the environmental health of our beloved aquatic habitats.

Role in Ecosystems

Live feed is quite the unsung hero when it comes to upholding the integrity of aquatic ecosystems, gracefully contributing to biodiversity and ecosystem services. Acting as a cornerstone in the food web, live organisms like zooplankton and microalgae do their part to nourish various trophic levels, ensuring nutrient cycling and maintaining that delicate ecological balance within aquatic habitats.

The presence of diverse species not only enhances environmental resilience but also fosters better resource management and superior water quality—both of which are critical for the long-term sustainability of aquaculture practices.

The ecological significance of live feed transcends mere sustenance; it creates a lively environment where organisms can flourish, leading to an increase in genetic diversity and lively species interactions. This interconnectedness does more than just support healthier populations of fish and invertebrates; it bolsters the overall stability of the ecosystem.

By prioritizing sustainable practices that incorporate live feed, we can champion ecological integrity, paving the way for these systems to adapt to environmental shifts while continuing to deliver essential services like carbon sequestration and water filtration.

In the end, the meticulous management of live feed resources is paramount for nurturing ecosystems that thrive both sustainably and resiliently—because let’s face it, a healthy ecosystem is the ultimate goal, and live feed is the VIP pass to making it happen.

Types of Live feed

In the realm of aquaculture, a variety of live feed options are employed, each presenting unique advantages for fish and other aquatic organisms. Among these, tubifex and water fleas stand out as protein powerhouses, making them exceptional choices for bolstering fish nutrition and encouraging impressive growth rates and a healthy gut.

Furthermore, one cannot overlook the vital role of algae, a cornerstone of live feed that enhances nutrient density while filtering out toxic feces.

The rich diversity of live feed options not only ensures feeding efficiency but also contributes to ecological sustainability in aquarium practices—a veritable buffet for aquatic life, if you will.

Tubifex and Waterfleas

Tubifex and water fleas stand out as two exemplary live feeds in the world of aquaculture, boasting nutritional profiles that are nothing short of stellar for fostering robust growth and health in aquatic organisms. These charming little invertebrates serve as protein-packed delicacies, delivering essential nutrients that boost fish growth rates and enhance overall feed efficiency in controlled aquaculture settings.

Their significance in the aquatic food chain cannot be overstated; they not only nourish the fish but also play a pivotal role in maintaining the ecological balance and biodiversity of freshwater habitats. While tubifex moves dirt downwards deeper into the anaerobic zone of sand to turn it into fertilizer for the algae quicker, the water fleas consume all the swimming algae.

With their impressive lipid content and rich amino acid profiles, tubifex and water fleas are particularly prized for the larval stages of various fish species, making them the go-to choice for hatcheries eager to maximize survival rates.

These live feeds do more than just fill the bellies of aquatic organisms; they also stimulate natural foraging behaviors, providing a delightful blend of physical health and behavioral enrichment.

The ongoing life cycle of these invertebrates ensures that they elevate the diets of aquaculture species while simultaneously sustaining the productivity of aquatic ecosystems. They fulfill a vital role in nutrient cycling, supporting various trophic levels and reminding us that even the smallest creatures can make a grand impact on the environment.

Mexican Scud Hyalella Azteca

Hyalella Azteca affectionately dubbed the Mexican scud, is quite a versatile live-feed organism, flourishing in a variety of aquatic habitats. This little marvel is increasingly favored in aquaculture circles due to its impressive nutritional profile.

Not only is this diminutive invertebrate a protein powerhouse, but it also boasts an array of vitamins and minerals that promote robust health in fish and other aquatic dwellers. However, they only contain good nutritional value when they feed on algae. Their main feed is algae growing on substrate and glass with a wide range from hair algae to green algae. Its rapid reproductive capabilities in diverse environments ensure that fish farmers can maintain a steady supply, thereby reducing reliance on artificial feeds—talk about an eco-friendly alternative!

As a vital player in the aquatic food web, it contributes significantly to maintaining ecological balance within its habitats consuming dead algae, water plants, and fall leaves.

By nurturing the growth of Hyalella Azteca, aquarium and aquaculture operations can simultaneously bolster healthier ecosystems while serving up a natural behavior and enticing menu options for our beloved fish. Who knew that such a tiny creature could pack such a mighty punch in the world of aquaculture?

Algae

Algae holds its own as a superstar in the realm of aquaculture, celebrated for its impressive nutrient density and its vital role in nutrient cycling within aquatic ecosystems.

This extraordinary organism is not just a pretty face in the water; it’s the fundamental building block that provides an impressive array of 40 - 60% of its dry content as proteins, essential vitamins, and an assortment of micronutrients crucial for the optimal growth of aquatic species but also for vegans and vegetarians. By incorporating algae into their diets, farmers not only enhance the nutritional profiles of their farmed fish and shellfish but also contribute significantly to maintaining ecological balance.

Algae's role in nutrient cycling is nothing short of heroic, helping to regulate nutrient levels in combination with algae-eating species and combat issues like pesky algal blooms and hypoxia. In doing so, they bolster the resilience of aquatic ecosystems, creating a stable environment that benefits both cultivated and wild species alike.

Clearly, algae is not only a nutritional powerhouse but also a key player in the aquatic world’s delicate dance of life.

Benefits of Live Feed for Aquaculture

The advantages of live feed in aquaculture are nothing short of remarkable, influencing a range of factors from fish health to the economic sustainability of the industry.

With its exceptional nutritional profile, particularly in omega-3 fatty acids, live feed is akin to a gourmet meal for aquatic organisms, critical for their growth and development.

By incorporating live feed into their aquaculture systems, farmers can not only enhance feed efficiency and accelerate growth rates but also pave the way for more profitable and sustainable farming practices by obtaining 100% nutrient recycling.

This approach not only benefits the ecosystem but also boosts the economy producing omega 3 without the use of of external fish meal—a true win-win situation for all involved and the oceans as well!

Nutritional Value and Omega-3 Content

The nutritional value of live feed, particularly its omega-3 content, is critical for elevating the standards of fish nutrition and overall health in aquaculture. These dietary supplements not only enhance growth rates but also bolster immune function and disease resistance among fish, making them the quintessential ingredient in the recipe for sustainable aquaculture.

By offering live feed teeming with omega-3 fatty acids, aquaculturists can significantly elevate the quality of their fish products while also nurturing the health of aquatic ecosystems.

Omega-3 fatty acids are heralded for their anti-inflammatory properties, which can help mitigate stress levels in fish, thereby enhancing their overall well-being. This enhanced resilience translates to fish that not only showcase healthier growth patterns but also exhibit a notable decrease in susceptibility to common diseases.

The incorporation of live feed into aquaculture systems fosters the development of robust metabolic functions in fish, leading to superior feed conversion ratios.

The significance of omega-3 cannot be overstated; it plays a pivotal role in heart health and brain development, ensuring that fish are not merely surviving but thriving and reaching their full genetic potential. It's safe to say that with omega-3 on the menu, these fish are living their best lives.

Close Looped Production Methods

Closed-loop production methods in aquaculture represent a groundbreaking approach that elevates sustainability and resource management by cleverly recycling organic waste and maximizing nutrient availability.

By employing live feed, such as aquatic invertebrates, aquaculturists can craft self-sustaining systems that not only reduce environmental impact but also promote a delightful ecological balance. This innovative technique doesn't just support healthy fish growth; it also ensures that aquaculture practices adhere to the principles of the circular economy, all while paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future.

These systems work wonders by recycling unused feed and waste products, transforming them into nutrients for microalgae and other organisms that fish can happily munch on. This dynamic operation minimizes reliance on external resources and helps alleviate water pollution, showcasing a commendable commitment to ecological integrity.

As the industry grapples with increasing pressure to adapt to climate change and resource scarcity, closed-loop practices emerge as practical solutions that enhance resilience and efficiency.

By embracing aquaculture innovations rooted in environmental stewardship, stakeholders can play a vital role in a food production system that flourishes without placing undue strain on the planet's well-being.

How to Produce Live feed

Producing live feed demands a meticulous approach to the cultivation techniques employed for various aquatic organisms, from the intricacies of breeding to the nuances of harvest methods.

The secret to successful cultivation lies in a thorough understanding of each species' unique requirements, ensuring that conditions are as optimal as a five-star spa for growth and health.

By adhering to best practices in live feed production, aquaculturists can establish a dependable source of nutritious feed that not only boosts the sustainability of their systems but also enhances overall productivity.

After all, a well-fed aquatic organism is a happy aquatic organism, and who doesn’t want to keep their aquatic friends content?

Step-by-Step Guide

Creating live feed requires a systematic approach that involves a series of carefully calculated steps, all starting with the selection of the right aquatic organisms and culminating in effective culture techniques for breeding and harvesting.

To kick things off, aquaculturists must identify optimal species that not only thrive in their specific environments but are also consuming algae to become packed with nutritional value. After all, the goal is to ensure that the live feed produced meets the dietary whims of the fish they are raising.

This selection process often zeroes in on small, nutrient-rich organisms like Mexican skud, water fleas, shrimps, and guppies renowned for their remarkable ability to enhance the growth and health of feeding fish—talk about a culinary boost for aquatic youths!

Once the ideal species have been earmarked, the next pivotal step involves establishing a breeding environment that resembles a five-star resort for underwater inhabitants. To mimic their natural habitats you need sand for living space for tubifex, worms, and mexican skud and turning the feces into fertilizer and light for the algae to turn fertilizer into protein and omega 3, creating a veritable paradise for feeding.

Start by adding an air pump, sand, tubifex, fish dirt or dry leaves, and sunlight or sufficient artificial light, and let them grow. Once you see algae growing on the glass and other materials you can add the Mexican stud or guppies to consume the algae coatings. After a while there will be no algae coatings left and the algae start to cultivate the water, making ideal food for filter feeders like water fleas or ​​filter-feeding shrimp.

Following the beginning phase, the spotlight shifts to harvesting techniques, where timing and precision become paramount. Proper harvesting methods not only preserve the quality of the live feed but also champion sustainability within the culture system—an approach that ultimately benefits the entire aquaculture operation. Beware of population collapse when you don't harvest in regular intervals. To add nutrients you can either add fish feces or connect a water pump to use the aquarium water as fertilizer and the filtered overflow including some live feed flows back to the fish tank as feed. Depending on your setup size, water flow, feeder tank size, temperature, and sunlight the growth rate of your feeder tank changes. Probably every 2-3 days for new systems and almost every day for well-running systems. 

After all, a well-fed fish is a happy fish, and a happy fish is bound to waddle its way into the hearts of aquaculturists everywhere.

Learn how toxic the chemicals used in fish feed is.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are tubifex, water fleas, and Mexican scud Hyalella Azteca?

Tubifex, water fleas, and Mexican scud Hyalella azteca are all aquatic organisms commonly used as live feed in fish and shrimp farming. They are high in protein and omega-3, making them a nutritious food source for aquatic animals.

How are tubifex, water fleas, and Mexican scud Hyalella Azteca produced?

These organisms can be produced through close-looped live feed production. This means they are bred and raised in a controlled environment, ensuring a steady supply of nutritious live feed for aquariums and aquaculture.

What is the benefit of using tubifex, water fleas, and Mexican scud Hyalella Azteca as live feed?

Not only are these organisms rich in protein and omega-3, but they also help create a balanced ecosystem in aquaculture. They feed on algae, which helps control its growth, and in turn, the algae provides oxygen for the live feed to thrive.

How are tubifex, water fleas, and Mexican scud Hyalella Azteca connected to algae in a close-looped live feed production system?

In a close-looped live feed production system, the algae is an essential component as it serves as a food source for the live feed. The live feed, in turn, helps keep the algae growth in check, ensuring a healthy balance in the ecosystem.

What makes tubifex, water fleas, and Mexican scud Hyalella Azteca a sustainable choice for live feed?

Since they are produced in a controlled environment, there is no need for wild harvesting. This makes them a sustainable choice for live feed production, reducing the impact on natural ecosystems.

How can incorporating tubifex, water fleas, and Mexican scud Hyalella Azteca in aquaculture benefit the overall environment?

By using these organisms as live feed, aquaculture systems can reduce their dependence on wild-caught fishmeal, which depletes natural fish populations. This, in turn, can help maintain a balanced ecosystem and preserve the biodiversity of aquatic environments and the oceans.

[scud-hero]

Listen/purchase: Quiero ser santa by Scud Hero

[gust-jar-simulator]

I was writing practice drabbles and this one got away from me. Enjoy a vision of what could have been.

Prompt: Hyrule, Beautiful Delirium by Blackbriar

Characters: The Chain (Linked Universe)

~🌞⏳🍂⌛️🌞~

Death, perfect and whole in its victory, blanketed the cracked earth.

It would be one thing if there were corpses, or flies, or even a rancid breeze. But there were no leaves for a breeze to caress. No bones for the bloodless sun to bleach. No vultures, no keese scudding across the thin asphyxiated blue of the sky.

The Chain was half starved by the time they found the castle, ragged as scarecrows in a barren field. They’d stopped wasting breath on conversation miles ago, and the bloodless corpse of the capitol demanded silence like a tyrant did highway tax.

It was hard to imagine that this was Hyrule, once, that civilization had once built fat and flesh on the dusty skeletons of forgotten storefronts, dry fountains, and listless banners. On some of them, faintly, the crest of the royal family fluttered like a dying pulse.

There were no signs of war. There were no signs of anything. No monsters, no guards, no toys dropped in marketplace dirt. Just silence. Just dust, and air dry enough to leech the moisture from their lips.

It was so much worse, then, when the eight of them caught fae laughter in the shadows of the castle foyer, childish and bright.

Time, with the sharpest ear for it, heard the ripple of water under the echoes. “Just one voice, though,” and his brow furrowed.

“One’s enough for answers,” Legend muttered. “Let’s figure it the fuck out so we can go.”

Four hadn't stopped looking ill since the portal dropped them, but even he nodded. Twilight sneezed, too loud in the quiet, and booked it after Warriors’ suddenly determined march.

It would've been easier to split up. It also wasn't even in question.

And it was Warriors, in all of his determination, who found the throne room with its lone occupant first.

The high, skirling notes of a flute broke off with a curious hum, and an idle splash. “Guests? How strange. I suppose that’s what happens when you leave the door open.”

Warriors paled and tried to back up, but couldn't with the press of the other seven at his back. It was hard to explain the urge to hide them all, cover their eyes and shut their ears. It wasn't a Lost Woods sort of danger. Not entirely.

Just something wearing the shape of a boy in a castle turned mausoleum, with eyes the bloodless gold of a solar eclipse. It smiled, tilted its head, and the gutting wound across its throat smiled too.

“Can I help you? You seem…”

Their eyes caught on the pool of blood spreading from the foot of the throne, and the way calloused feet splashed in it. Thin shoulders dripped with haphazard finery, a too-big cloak on corpse-pale shoulders, blue veins starker than scars. Gold necklaces, a woman’s bracelets. For a brief, insane moment, he almost had tusks, grown so long they curled back into his brain.

But they blinked, and there was only a boy, or something pretending to be one on an abandoned throne.

“...tired,” he finished, eyes too gold in the gloom. Blood splashed around his ankles, a child in a puddle.

“This isn't a fairy fountain,” Time breathed.

Dust glittered in the light from the windows, glassless and hollow like sockets in a skull. Blackened nails and blue fingers spidered over the notes of his instrument when he smiled. “It is,” it answered, “as much as it isn't. But you should probably go, heroes- this isn't your story, not now.”

The sucking chill of a portal wrapped around their shoulders, their throats, hooked somewhere deep in their guts, as familiar and confusing as ever. Warriors took a step forward, away from the hungry maw of time at their backs, frowning. “What do you mean, not our story?”

“Wars,” someone hissed, but he didn't pay attention. He wanted to know. He always thought he wanted to know, did Wars.

The corpse-blue boy laid a delicate hand on his chest, and smiled like the bloodless sun.

“There’s nothing left for you to save. That’s all.”

Something brighter than gold gleamed in the back of his hand, embedded like diamonds in rock, and Warriors was left staring at the holy gleam of the Triforce before darkness ripped him back into eternity.

[scuddish]

Scud, my glorious hero of good taste. May I please direct your attention to The Bear and the stunning creature that is Jeremy Allen White? I think you may find him delectable.

bold of you to assume i don't foam at the mouth every time i see that man on a screen

[pl4ygrrrl]

☆ F/0 LiST !

🦷 NOT COMFORTABLE SHARING MAINS ! current moots okay ! 🦷

🐇 MAiNS ❕

☆ thomas hewitt (texas chainsaw massacre)

☆ jacob seed (far cry 5)

☆ sebastian (stardew valley)

☆ tomura shigaraki (my hero academia)

☆ manjiro sano (tokyo revengers)

☆ bucky barnes (marvel)

☆ toji fushiguro (jujutsu kaisen)

☆ jack mercer (four brothers)

☆ ian saunders (oc)

☆ farkas (skyrim)

☆ teldryn sero (skyrim)

☆ lucifer (obey me)

☆ belphegor (obey me)

☆ daryl dixon (the walking dead)

🐇 SEC0NDARY ❕

☆ simon riley (COD)

☆ könig (COD)

☆ keegan russ (COD)

☆ juuzou suzuya (tokyo ghoul)

☆ yennefer of vengerberg (the witcher)

☆ shane (stardew valley)

☆ leon kennedy (resident evil)

☆ rindou haitani (tokyo revengers)

☆ scud (blade 2)

🐇 PLAT0NiC ❕

☆ sharky boshaw (far cry 5)

☆ hurk drubman jr (far cry 5)

☆ jaskier (the witcher)

🐇 FAMiLiAL ❕

☆ tony stark (father | marvel)

☆ takemichi hanagaki (brother | tokyo revengers)

☆ nick rye (brother | far cry 5)

☆ eveline (daughter | resident evil 7)

☆ luke (son | obey me)

🐇 PETS ❕

☆ boomer (far cry 5)

☆ peaches (far cry 5)

☆ cheeseburger (far cry 5)

☆ timber (far cry new dawn)

☆ horatio (far cry new dawn)

☆ vaporeon (pokémon)

🐇 CRUSHES ❕

☆ shinichiro sano (tokyo revengers)

☆ haruchiyo sanzu (tokyo revengers)

☆ takeomi akashi (tokyo revengers)

[epicmilly]

ASDFGHKJLAFUYYEOYGIUHJADKLHOICYUHGHIOYGHJKASGLW-

finished cytonic this morning. (erm actually this has been in my drafts for awhile so like. saturday i think??) huge spoilers below as i yap about everything as well as i can organize my thoughts (it's messy)

SO LIKEEE i imagined there would be some whole funny "I am your father." scene with spensa and her icon but like OMGGG IT WAS SO MUCHU BETTER LIKE RIGHT AT 80% WHEN THE SANDERLANCHE STARTS

the pin was doomslug all along my babyyyy ❤ AND LIKE THE WHOLE SCENE!!

uh how do i do the liney thing lemme google I don't know all the formatting things on here yet LOL

I sent you home! I sent to her. You equal home, she sent back, picturing us together. Then she added something to the image-projected into my mind. A version of her in my arms, but now with eyes and a smiling mouth plastered on her front. They looked like they had been drawn on with marker. She didn't quite understand what eyes and a smile were for, in human terms, but she seemed to sense that this expression indicated contentment. Happiness. Home. She didn't live in a cave. She lived with me. Wherever I was.

THIS SCENE GOT ME OMGGGG!! I WAS LIKE "AWWWWWWW" AND CRYING IDK WHY BUT OH MY GOSH. I SCUDDING LOVE THIS SLUG. 😭😭😭

"Having the persission to stay had somehow given me the courage to leave."

what a good quoteee!! like WOW. powerful. uhh i cant remember my exact thoughts on it other than it was really cool so that's all imma say about that lol.

OUGHH AND THE TWIST WHERE CHET WAS A DELVER?? BUT LIKE THE DELVER THAT SPENSA CHANGEDDD!!! i was always iffy about him and like "oooh he's a creep. 100%. some evil creepy man. gonna betray spin and like try to kill her n stuff" and i mean that kinda happened but we'll get to that later lol.

"We two, we explore so well! Even exploring what I once was! Ha!"

goofy man I love him. i imagine chet to look kinda like hoid tbh. but like more muscular and broader shoulders and older features. so likeeee kinda hoid and kelsier merged?? at least the way i picture them lol

"Just so you all know," Chet said from behind my seat, "I'm secretly a monster from outside space and time." "Ah yes," Hesho said, "Deep inside, aren't we all monsters?" "No," Chet said. "I'm pretty sure you aren't."

I LOVE HOW CASUAL CHET WAS LOLL oh and also hesho isn't dead!!! saints and stars i'm so glad he's not dead. and i only just put it together like last night that the weird "fox samurai" as i called it plushie from the skyward box (that i don't have but i've seen pictures and my friend has the boxes) was hesho why didn't i put that together earlier, he's a literal fox gerbal dude. i love hesho thoughhhh!! i just wanna hug him and squish him and throw him at the wall. (hesho plushie coming soon if i can find a pattern and see if i have the right yarn lol)

i always love it when chapters end really dramatically!! chapter 39 got me laughing hard.

"Then I hit the overburn."

so dramatic lol. but the followed by the first sentence of chapter 40:

"I soon turned off the overburn."

and then followed up in chapter 41:

"Then I hit the overburn, and this time it felt entirely appropriate to go at full speed."

HEHE. no clue why this all made me laugh so much i just loved it. lots of quotes that you don't have to read but they're from the absolute climax and i yap a whole bunch after vvv

"All people must accept that we have the potential to do terrible things. It is part of seeing our place in the universe, our heritage, and our natures. But in that acceptance we gain strength, for potential can be refused. Any hero who could have been a monster is more heroic for the choices he or she made to walk another road."

"In the somewhere, all things change. Nothing ever stays the same. Not even, we learned, a being made of code."

Head still bowed, he took a deep breath. And then...his pain shifted. It didn't become weaker really. But it became softer, and was tempered with other things. Satisfaction, friendship, determination. Things I'd shown him. Things he'd learned by being alive. His experiences in here had transformed him into something that was learning to cope. "I can barely hold it," he said. "But...I think I can hold it. It hurts so bad...but I won't run." "You will get better," I said. "As you continue to persevere."

"Why go so far?" I asked. "You'd abandoned your memories. Why remove you personalities too?" "Because," Chet said, "the possibility of pain in the future remained. So long as change was possible. So long as we existed in the somewhere."

"THe end result was one last alteration," Chet said. "We rewrote ourself into something that would never change again. Something that hated the somewhere and belonged in the nowhere. Most importantly, we made it so we'd never be alone again."

"And not a one with any memory of the somewhere," Chet said. "We deleted all of that. We wanted to be away from everything, anything, anyone/ All that remained was a latent hatred of anything that threatened to change us, and anything that might remind us of what we'd been. Like other AIs." ...They rejected everything real I'd ever known. They embraced not just the lack of change-they rewrote their very souls to thrive in a place with no time, no distance...nothing at all except themselves. How could they reject love, growth, live itself?

"You can't force someone to be kind or accept growth."

"Pain and fear. But in the center of all that was courage. The courage I had given him."

He tried to show them. And they consumed him. They rejected the memories as they swirled around him, ripping at him. Locking him away again. "It's working, by Lovelace!" M-Bot said. "It... Oh. Oh no." I suspected he'd just heard Chet's cytonic screaming. It eas excruciating. I felt the moment they forced him to lock everything individual about him behind an infinite loop in his programming.

I was time. I brought time in here when I came. THings happened in a sequence to me, and while I was here they had to experience me in a linear way. They hated that. They hated that I created noise. Most of all, they hated that I knew what they were. So. Much. Hatred. It was exhausting. Numbing... They poked me like hunters with spears. They slashed me, attacked me, ripped at me... But one hesitated. One of them was different. It was very slight, but the sensation was familiar. It was my own emotion reflected at me. Courage. The courage to walk a difficult path and not take the offered escape. Courage to press forward, even when I didn't want to. I'd given this to the edelver. No amount of rewriting had been able to erase it. Chet was still in there. Now! I

i'm too lazy to keep typing up all those quotes. (the reason i gave up and didn't finish this post lol, the rest of this is written today i guess i just wanted to say how much i loved how the delvers feared change, and feared it to the point where they deleted everything about them that hurt, because feeling nothing is better than feeling pain. it's better to feel nothing... right? because pain hurts. it hurts so scudding much. and yet...

how can we learn and grow without pain? without sorrow? yeah, it hurts. yeah, it changes us. yeah, sometimes the pain is so bad you forget what happiness feels like.

but without the pain and sorrow, without change, how can we learn and grow? without the journey, how can we make it to the destination? ;)

anyways, i just loved that lol sanderson's too good of an author 😔

anyways finally finished evershore last night, no clue why it took me so long to read it, its only 210 pages long and yet it took me the same length as it took me to read cytonic. just wanted to post about how much i loved evershore but realized i still had to post this lol

HOW AND WHY DID THE PLANET SCUDDING TELEPORT- time to read evershore! (i already did but still lol)

reading skyward book three rn, BOY DOES IT FEEL GOOD TO BE 75% THROUGH AND NOT HAVE 300 PAGES LEFT

these books are so short i love it stormlight didn't have to be so long brando sando 😭

but going from the first two novellas with ALL the slugs to book three with no slugs.... can't wait to read the third novella i miss the taynix 💔

[viciogame]

🎮 Scud (Sega Saturn) Complete Gameplay: https://youtu.be/P7DprJw2jDQ #Viciogame #Scud #Saturn #Gameplay #セガサターン #Sega #ComicBook #Contra #Walkthrough #MetalSlug #TecToy #Robot #RunNGun #Playthrough #Saturno #GunstarHeroes #Longplay #Robots #Drywall #RunAndGun #株式会社セガ #SegaSaturn #LetsPlay

[trnsocial]

WIZARDS The Podcast Guide To Comics | Episode 60

WIZARDS The Podcast Guide To Comics | Episode 60

Adam is joined by comic book illustrator, Adam Riches to discuss Toy Biz merchandise, Scud: The Disposable Assassin, Marc Silvestri leaving Image, The Anti-Gravity Room on Sci-Fi channel, the Wizard Staff predicts the next 5 years of comic book news and so much more! LISTEN NOW

[otoso]

A proud history reblog

In a handwritten letter to himself, dated December 13, 1990, Specialist Alan Rogers, a twenty-three-year-old African-American chaplain’s assistant, grappled with the issue of fear as he prepared for his first combat tour.

Rogers was an unusually soft-spoken and cerebral enlistee—voted “most intellectual” in high-school class, Rogers went on to a distinguished military career. After earning two Kuwait Liberation medals with the 8th Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery, which provided Patriot-missile support against Saddam Hussein’s Soviet-made Scuds.

He returned home and on a R.O.T.C. scholarship at the University of Florida, earned his bachelor’s degree in Religion.

He pursued a second master’s in policy management at Georgetown, part of an élite Defense Department internship program offered to twenty captains across the services. It included an assignment to the Pentagon—in Rogers’s case, as a special assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Gordon England. [Then], he worked at the Pentagon as the lead biometrics officer in Army Intelligence — “the stuff that you see on ‘C.S.I.: Miami,’ ” as one of his friends put it.

After he began his third tour in Iraq, he took note of the weather in Baghdad, which wasn’t so different from Florida’s, and declared, “This is an ideal time to be here.”

Rogers was sitting in the right rear seat of an armored Humvee, in East Baghdad, on a routine morning patrol, as it passed a guardrail concealing an I.E.D. The force of the explosion blew straight through the vehicle, knocking an Iraqi interpreter, in the left seat, into the street. The interpreter and an American gunner who was standing beside Rogers in the Humvee were injured. Rogers died instantly. He was forty.

An obituary in the Gainesville Sun mentioned that Rogers was divorced and a Baptist minister - news to many of his friends at the Washington, D.C. chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) formerly Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Veterans of America. The minister claim was accurate — Rogers’s troops on Team Stiletto called him the Preacher, on account of his frequent sermon like pep talks, Before his burial at Arlington National Cemetery, a “homegoing service” was held for his casket at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Starke, Florida, where he was ordained in 1995. Governor Charlie Crist ordered the flags at the statehouse flown at half-mast for the occasion.

The mention of a divorce was not accurate; it may have been a story some acquaintances passed on to explain why Rogers did not have a wife or a girlfriend. “We made a statement that he was married to the Army,” one longtime friend told.

As word of Rogers’s death spread in the gay community, some began to wonder if he might not qualify as the first known gay casualty of the Iraq war. Opponents of the military’s policy, noting his impeccable résumé, and his work with the Deputy Secretary of Defense, saw in Rogers a transformative figure and began soliciting media coverage...

READ ARTICLE FOR THE FULL STORY

[magpie-to-the-morning]

Sundress Season

Rating: Explicit (18+ ONLY)

Pairing: Frankie Morales x Fem!Reader

Wordcount: 3.5k

Tags: Fluff, Domestic af, Hurt/Comfort, Nothing major the Reader got some scratches gardening and Frankie is Concerned, p in v sex, wrap it before you tap it, Size Kink, Sort Of, Exhibitionism, If You Squint, A little, Dirty Talk, mostly just tooth-rotting fluff (plus a little loving smut),Triple Frontier, Frankie “Catfish” Morales, Domestic, Gardening, Outdoor Sex, No Beta

Summary: You and Frankie have just moved into a farmhouse fixer upper and are enjoying the first warm day of spring. A lazy afternoon nap turns into something... more.

Read on Ao3

Leaning the shovel against the white picket fence, you stand back to take an appraising look at your handiwork, squinting against the midday sun. You’ve taken advantage of one of the first truly warm days of spring to plant some blackberry bushes along the boundary of your new home. Sweat slides down your spine and you can already feel a dull ache spreading through your calves and along your forearms, but you toss aside your leather work gloves with a grin, proud of your morning’s work. You brush your hair away from your face with the back of an arm, leaving a trace of dirt along your forehead. “Frankie, come look.”

“One sec.” His answer is muffled, even considering it’s coming from inside the old farmhouse the two of you have just moved into, and you realize he must still be working on the kitchen sink.

You enter the house, surprisingly cool and dim after the sunny warmth outside, and walk to the kitchen. Frankie’s legs jut out from beneath the sink, and all you can see of him are his work boots, khaki pants, and a glimpse of his soft stomach where the rusty red t-shirt he’s wearing has ridden up. You lean against a nearby counter, the smooth stone lip pressing into your lower back, and smile down fondly at him. “How’s the sink coming?”

The house is a dream come true for both of you, but it’s also needed a ton of work both inside and out. You’ve already sanded floors, patched up creaking stairs, painted most of the rooms, and ripped out overgrown hedges that had threatened to take over the yard. Once you’d cleared them out, the yard and gardens became an invitingly open canvas, just waiting for you to make your own.

The two of you had spent several late winter evenings curled up in front of the stone hearth, seed catalogs and plant nursery order slips laid out in front of you, arguing pleasantly over how to cram in every plant both of you want. You’re determined to line the yard with fruit trees and shrubs, while Frankie is surprisingly invested in the beds where he plans to cultivate tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and a variety of herbs. At least you both agreed to leave the large, well-established lilac trees bookending the house, and you’re currently waiting to see who will win the bet about what color the sprawling, thorn-covered rose bushes will be. You’re hoping for a buttery yellow to complement the lilacs, while Frankie is holding out hope that they’ll be the same pale pink as the roses he’d brought you for one of your first dates.

This morning, just when the two of you had made plans to tackle some of the new plantings, the kitchen drain had backed up. You’d decided that job would be better handled by Frankie and headed out to start the landscaping yourself. “Almost there, I just need to…” Frankie’s deep in concentration, and you swear you can almost see him sticking the tip of his tongue out as he focuses. There’s a final sound of metal scraping against metal, followed by a victorious “ha! Try it now.”

“You sure? I don’t want to soak you.”

A muted huff echoes from the space below the sink. “What, you don’t trust me?”

“Ok,” you shrug. “Just don’t blame me if you get a faceful of water.” You turn the tap on slowly and watch as the water spirals easily down the drain. “Hey, you did it!”

Frankie braces a hand along the top of the cabinet and pulls himself to his feet. “Don’t sound so surprised,” he teases. “Told you I could do it.”

“My hero,” you say lightly, crossing the floor to kiss his smiling cheek. His scruff scrapes lightly against your face, and you find yourself lingering, especially when he captures your lips for a proper kiss. “Now I can wash some of this dirt off- I feel like I brought half the yard in.” After the hours you spent planting various shrubs and a few small fruit trees, your arms are streaked with dry soil.

“Here, let me help you.”

Frankie steps behind you, his broad form leaning against yours as you stand at the newly repaired sink. His thighs press lightly against your own as his arms encircle your waist. He leans his chin on your shoulder and his messy curls brush against your ear while he begins to run soap over your forearms. You laugh, his efforts mostly just splashing dirty water around, but the cool water is a welcome relief. “Frankie! I can do it myself.”

You can feel him smiling against your neck. “I know, I just- oh.” His voice turns suddenly soft, with a note of worry.

“What is it?”

“Baby, you hurt yourself.” He steps alongside you, examining the delicate skin of your inner arm with a concerned frown. “What happened?”

“What?” You look down and see a few thin, angry red lines streaking the length of your forearms. “Oh, it’s nothing. The blackberry branches were thorny, that’s all.” You’d been wearing one of Frankie’s flannels for a little extra protection, but it had grown too hot and you’d stripped down to just your t-shirt. “It’s fine, they’ll heal fast.”

Despite your reassurance, Frankie ducks into the bathroom while you pat your arms dry with a clean dish towel and comes back holding some ointment. “They’ll heal better with this.” He flips open the cap and looks up, seeking permission.

You nod, unwilling to deny him anything, especially with that melting brown gaze trained on you. It’s not necessary, but you have to admit- you love that he takes such good care of you. Frankie takes his time, gently stroking a dab of ointment over each small scratch. His light touch quickly takes the sting out of your small hurts, and when he’s finished you catch his hands, bring them up to your lips for a grateful kiss. You adore his hands- so much bigger than your own, strong and capable but still so deft. He ducks his head and smiles and your heart clenches with love for this quiet, loving man.

------- After changing out of your dirt-streaked jeans and into a clean sundress (which, of course, Frankie also offered to help with), you head back to the kitchen to grab a drink from the fridge. The cold glass bottle begins beading almost at once, and you hold it against your slightly sunburnt neck. “I was going to go read in the yard for a bit, care to join me?”

“I’ve got a couple more things to finish up here, you go ahead.” Frankie drops a kiss to your temple as you pass, on your way to get a book and an old quilt to spread out on.

“Ok, see you in a bit.” The old screen door swings shut behind you, bouncing slightly before it catches the latch. A project for another day, you think. The two of you have already done plenty, and for now you just want to enjoy the rest of the sunny afternoon.

You spread your quilt out under a flowering magnolia tree which offers just the right amount of shade and lay down on your back. A light breeze stirs the green grass around you and sets the flowering tree branches swaying, a few pale pink petals raining down. Sunlight dapples your face as you relax, enjoying the surroundings of the garden you and Frankie are making together. The book is good, but you find yourself distracted, listening to nearby birdsong and watching billowing clouds scud across the bright blue sky. With the sun warm on your face, it’s not long before your eyelids are drooping.

-------

When you wake up, shadows are lengthening across the yard and Frankie is sprawled out next to you, having come out and dozed off at some point after you did. You lean into his shoulder, still warm from the heat of the sun, and smile against him. There’s a patch of skin just below his hairline and above his collar, and you lean in to kiss him just there. He tastes faintly of clean sweat and you press your tongue against him, seeking the slight taste of salt.

Frankie stirs and sleepily cracks one eye open. “Can I help you?” Try as he might to sound long-suffering, you suspect he enjoys your touch.

“Nope, I’m good.” You toss your book aside and drape yourself over his back, enjoying the slight movement below you as he shifts to accommodate you. It’s getting a little cooler now as the sun slips towards the horizon, but Frankie’s warm, solid presence grounds you. He tenses a little when you lean your head on his shoulder and you pull back at once. “Is your shoulder still bugging you?” He’d pulled it while you were moving and as hard as you try, you don’t always manage to wrest the heavier chores away from him, so it’s been a slow recovery process.

His answer rumbles quietly from below you. “A little. Working on the sink probably didn’t do it any favors.” You lean up at once, straddling his waist so you can massage his neck and shoulders. “Poor thing, you are tight here.”

He hums in agreement, though you can feel the tension begin to leak out of him as you knead his tense muscles. You work a stubborn knot, fingers digging into the meat of his shoulder, and as he sighs you can feel him relax further.

You lean down once more, careful to put your weight on your hands, braced against the ground,  and drag your mouth lazily over his neck. Your seeking licks turning to more intent kisses and when your teeth close over his pulse point, Frankie lets out a low groan and bucks his hips. You feel the movement all through him, especially where you’re seated against his ass.

“You want me to stop?” You ask teasingly, getting the expected shake of his head in response. You grind slightly against him before returning to nose at his neck. By the time you trace the shell of his ear with your tongue and nip gently at the cartilage, Frankie has had enough.

He rolls the two of you over with a smooth motion that ends with you flat on your back, and him smiling above you. “Oh, are we done fooling around?” You look up playfully. “I can show you the blackberry bushes before-”

He stops your mouth with a kiss, nipping at your lower lip before licking his way into your mouth. Delight shivers through you and you deepen the kiss, your tongues tangling languidly. You run your hand through his tangled curls, scraping your nails against his scalp. This pulls a soft noise from low in Frankie’s throat as he leans into your touch. His nose brushes yours and he nudges your cheek, trails kisses down your jaw.

Heat is pooling low in your belly and you spread your legs to invite him closer. Frankie takes the hint, canting his hips to drag the growing bulge in his pants against your core while you push back into him. “We should head inside,” you gasp as he moves lower, sucking at the delicate skin of your neck.

“We can if you want, but who’s gonna see?” His large hands cup your breasts and he dips his head to brush kisses over their swells. You arch your back, desperate for his touch even as you look around cautiously. He has a point; there’s no neighbor on this side of the house, just a patch of woods, and you’re well back from the road.

“Good point.” You reach down to tug at the hem of his shirt. Grinning, he sits up for a moment to help you. As soon as he’s shirtless he gets straight back to the task at hand. Frankie’s fingers make quick work of the buttons running the length of your sundress and he pulls the fabric aside, exposing the creamy lace of your bra. Your stomach flips at the sweet, eager look on his face. You’ve been together so many times, but he always makes you feel special, cherished. Despite being outside, potentially exposed, you feel completely at ease in his arms.  

With a quick glance up to check that you’re ok with it, Frankie unclasps your bra and helps you shrug out of it. The air is slightly cooler now, but his warm, broad palms encompass your breasts before the chill can even register. You sigh as his thumb brushes your nipple, and downright shudder when he wraps his plush lips around the stiffening peak. Your legs are writhing almost of their own accord now as you grow desperate for more. “Frankie,” you groan, tugging at his hair.

You feel his lips curve into a smile and his tongue darts out to flick against you. It glides along your swollen bud and your pussy aches for more so you hitch your leg over his hip. Frankie grabs your thigh to hold you close and rolls his hips sinfully against you, drawing a desperate noise from deep in your throat. “You like that, baby?”

You nod frantically. “You know I do. You know it drives me crazy when you put your mouth on me.”

Frankie chuckles and sucks your nipple into his mouth, pulling much of your breast along with it. The tugging sensation sends a bolt of desire straight to your cunt and you whine. You seize his jaw and glare, your eyes blown with lust. “If you don’t touch me soon Francisco I swear I will go inside without you and finish the job myself.”

You’re all talk and Frankie knows it. “I am touching you, sweetheart,” he says innocently.

You give an irritated huff and seize his hand, directing him where you want it. His composure slips when his fingers brush the crotch of your panties, already soaked with your need. His gaze flicks to yours, a lovestruck look in his eyes as he asks softly, “is this all for me?”

Biting your lip you nod. “Yes. I need you Frankie, please .”

“Shh, I’ve got you baby.” Frankie hooks a finger in the waistband of your panties and drags them over your legs. You kick them off, nearly sobbing in relief as he drags a single finger through your glistening folds.

Frankie closes his eyes reverently. “Shit honey, you weren’t kidding.” His finger comes away coated in your juices and he sucks it slowly before replacing the digit. He adds another finger, the pads slipping just inside your entrance to collect more of your slick before circling your clit. You tip your head back, grasping his shoulders as he gently fingers your slit. Just when you can’t take it, when you’re ready to beg for more, he pushes those fingers into you, stretching you out perfectly. Mewling, you buck your hips, chasing the feeling of him fucking you open.

“Mm, that feels so good. Don’t stop.”

“Never. Think you can take another?”

“Yeah.” Your answer comes as a breathless whine.

“Good girl.” Frankie adds a third finger and you swear it makes you see stars. He curls his fingers to stroke that spot deep inside and you find yourself skating the edge of your release. You’re so close, could so easily tip right over that edge, but it’s not until you hear Frankie murmur “come for me, beautiful” that you actually do. All that gorgeous tension he’s been winding up unspools in a rush of pleasure, your legs shaking and your hips bucking as he works you through it.

You’ve scarcely begun to come down before Frankie’s blazing a trail of kisses down your belly, his hands gently parting your thighs wider to settle between them, keen concentration suffusing his handsome face.

“Wait,” you breathe, catching his jaw with a deft hand.

Frankie draws back at once, concern creasing a furrow between his brows as he gazes up from between your legs. “Everything ok?”

You sit up, already nodding to reassure him as you draw him forward and kiss him deeply. “Everything’s perfect. I just want to come on your cock this time.”

Frankie looks down at you in amazement before pulling you into a crushing embrace. He tilts your chin up to give you a searing kiss, his arm wrapped around your waist. He leans his forehead against yours, his breath tickling your lips as he rasps “You’re perfect, you know that, right?”

You giggle, moved by the awestruck look on his face, and drop your hands to unbuckle his pants. He’s already barefoot, making it easier to push his pants down, followed by his boxers. You glance around again, reassuring yourself that the coast is clear. Clocking what you’re doing, Frankie chuckles. “Don’t worry, baby, we’re good.”

Smiling a little sheepishly, you nod. “I know. Just protecting your honor.”

Frankie begins to laugh softly but the sound is cut off by a hiss as you lick your palm and wrap it around his shaft. “F-fuck.” His eyes roll back in his head as you tighten your grip, working his cock. You brush your thumb over his weeping slit, collecting the pearly bead of precum glistening at the tip. “Now who’s being a t-tease?”

You look up at him innocently through your lashes. “I don’t know what you mean, Frankie.”

“Sure you don’t,” he huffs, his breathing already picking up. “C’mere, baby.” He pulls at your waist, encouraging you up into his lap.

You’re happy to oblige. With a few quick movements, you’re settled above him, his cock lined up with your entrance. Throwing your arms around his neck, you lower yourself slowly, taking him inch by inch. Frankie buries his face in the crook of your neck and meets you halfway, thrusting up to seat himself fully inside you. He always seems even bigger when you’re on top, and he gives you a moment to adjust to being so well-filled.

“You good?”

“You have no idea.”

He smiles at that, clearly pleased. “Then tell me,” he urges, kissing you just below your ear. “Tell me how much you like me stretching you out on this big dick.”

Your eyes flutter closed at this. He knows what dirty talk does to you, knows exactly when it will be the most devastating. “It feels so fucking good, baby,” you assure him. “You’re so thick and you hit so deep. I can’t get enough, want you even deeper. Please, Frankie.”

He sucks hard at your pulse point, his tongue laving your neck as he begins to thrust up into you. “Anything, baby. I will give you anything you ask for. You know that, right?”

Gasping, you nod quickly. “I know, love. I know.”

His fingers tangle in your hair, his strong arms bracing you as he fucks up into you. You match each thrust, grinding yourself on the base of his cock. The two of you find your rhythm and you lean back, allowing him to hit at an even deeper angle. Frankie leans forward, able to reach your breasts now. He sucks a nipple into his mouth, all wet heat and slick tongue moving against you. You whimper and arch your back, trusting him to support you.

He does.

Frankie’s eyes are screwed shut as he pounds into you, determined to take care of you before finding his own release. Your whimpering cries plateau and he can tell you’re not quite there yet. He rests his forehead against yours without missing a beat, opening his eyes to gaze into yours. “What do you need, baby?” He asks it softly, reverently, his large hands cradling your face as if you’re something holy. With him looking at you like this, you almost feel that way.

“Talk to me, Frankie,” you gasp. “Want to hear how much you like this.”

Your want pulls an answering moan from him. “God, you know I fucking love this. You’re so tight, and you take me so well, baby. I could pound this pretty pussy all day.” He snaps his hips, driving himself deeper inside you as if to prove his point.

Your breathing comes faster, your cunt clenching around him as his words drive you closer to your edge. “Fuck, yes, just like that. I’m so close, baby,” you whine.

Frankie cants his hips, hitting that devastating spot deep inside you. His voice is even huskier as he urges you onward. “You have no idea what hearing that does to me, sweet thing,” he pants, sweat dampening his hairline. He runs the back of his hand distractedly over his forehead. He’s not about to let go before you do and he leans in close, his warm breath ghosting against your ear. “ Come for me. I know you want to. I can feel you clenching around me so be my good girl and come for me, sweetheart . ”

And just like that, a wave of sweet pleasure rolls through you. You clutch his shoulders as the two of you ride it together, Frankie moaning against your lips as he finds his own release.

Your head drops to his shoulder, your limbs quivering as little aftershocks zip through them. Frankie holds your limp form easily, dropping lazy kisses over your face and hair while you drift back to the present. Finally, you draw back, a dazed smile tugging at your lips. You blow out a breath along with a tired, please laugh. “That was-”

Frankie chuckles, his eyes crinkling at the corners, pleased to have pleased you. “I know, baby.” His kisses are easy, unhurried, and still make you feel nearly drunk with happiness as the two of you linger lazily in your afterglow.

By now, the sun is truly setting, the horizon taking on a purple hue as the first evening stars begin to appear. Even in Frankie’s arms, you start to shiver as the breeze whispers over your rapidly cooling skin. In a deft move, he tugs at the edge of the old quilt, rolling the two of you into it, creating a cocoon of private warmth. As the sky darkens and more stars appear, the two of you stay wrapped up in each other, making plans for your future in the peaceful space you’re creating together.