#the boat is a natural generating structure

[paterday]

Here’s some screenshots from the world that I thought were really pretty :)

[bratbarzal]

OK IF YOU'RE TAKING REQUESTS anything smutty with LIH Luke and Reader!!! I think you said you'd do HCs or NSFW alphabet so whatever you're comfortable with! I love you and I love them ❤️

so some of these I've had saved just as character notes for a while bc I think it's fun even if the smut isn't inherently written into the fic to have an idea of what the intimate part of their relationship would be like - I've tried to expand to bulk it out so it sort of goes on!! I took some inspo from the nsfw alphabet but I didn't use it because I repel structure!!!! It’s not even very very smutty it’s more so just describing intimate parts of their relationship

ALSO you don't have to have read either fic to read this, it's sort of general luke and how I conceptualise him as a character tbh!! Idk if I’ll ever write him beyond LIH so I think this is just Luke to me by now but I hope you enjoy regardless!!

word count: 4k+

general warnings: 18+ MDNI, unprotected p in v, coming inside, coming on, mutual masturbation, oral (m and f receiving), mentions of being tied up and blindfolded, mentions of period sex and I think that’s all

Luke just gives boy moaner vibes. Like he's loud, and he has no concept of just how loud he is because even when he's trying to bite back his noises or be lowkey about it, he's groaning and panting and grunting and you quickly give up trying to get him to shut up because he isn't capable of doing so. And you like hearing him moan as much as you like hearing him speak, which is a lot if you're being honest - you'll let him yap for hours sometimes while you just cuddle up to him or when you're straddling his lap and kissing at his neck and he's going on and on about something that happened in a game or training. Sometimes you think he's so in his head about whatever it is that he's talking about that he forgets you're literally sat on him but then his hands will grip at your hips and get you moving, and he'll slip out the occasional, “Right there,” or “Oh, fuck," when you grind straight against the obvious bulge in his sweatpants.

And he'll talk at you between kisses sometimes, like even your tongue in his mouth won't stop him when he's got something to rant about, but he still occasionally kisses back - lets it drag out a little before he carries on until he's finished - and you just let him because it's always better for him to just say what he clearly needs to say before he gives his full undivided attention.

And he’s bantery even when you’re fucking, even in his dirty talk that he considers foreplay, he’s teasing you - craving that back and forth that you love to give him, saying dorky jokes while he’s literally inside you and you think it’s the dorkiest and sexiest thing he could possibly do - make you belly laugh while he has you pinned down to the bed and your legs are up over his broad shoulders.

But back to the boy moans you don't know how you ever kept your situationship a secret that first summer with just how loud he is - he gives these big satisfied hums whenever you give him the slightest touch - like if you wrap your arms around his shoulders and your fingers tickle at the curls by the nape of his neck, or you're tucking yourself into his side when you all go out on the boat, or one of his brothers are driving and you're nestled up to him in the backseat. He's such a physical touch guy that he can't help the little noises he makes when you give him what he wants, even if it isn't entirely sexual in nature

But when it is, when you're sinking down onto your knees in front of him, and your neck is craned to look straight up and meet his eye while you lower his zipper, he'll literally whine as he watches you take him out of his briefs - watches you wrap your fingers around the base of his cock and shuffle forward a little to get a closer angle on him - his breath will stutter audibly the second your lips come within an inch of his length, the mere distance of you causing it to twitch a little as it hardens even more.

When your thumb swipes at the pre-cum leaking from his tip, and you bring it to your mouth as you look up at him, he’s letting out a heavy, blissed out sigh in pure anticipation of your next touch, and you do your best to tease him just to get as many sounds out as you can before he’s a moaning, gasping mess - and that comes when your lips are around his shaft, when his hips are jolting forward and his tip is hitting the back of your throat, and your nails are scratching at the thick muscle of his thighs in response. His groans then are broken and the pitch is a little higher, and sometimes you’ll take his hands and put them in your hair or on the back of your head, encouraging him to fuck into you a little when you can handle it, which isn’t that often because he’s big and you try to surprise him with it when you can

You’d like to think with stuff like that it’s your own version of having some sort of control over him, but in reality, he holds a quiet dominance over you at all times

It isn’t really forceful and it isn’t really loud, but he just always has the upper hand when it comes to being intimate, and you both like it that way.

Even when you’re on top, and your holding him to the bed by his wrists as you’re riding him, hips moving at your own pace, his cock filling you so deep that it’s almost mind numbing but all you can think to do is keep moving and keep holding him down, and it’s a while before you realise he doesn’t need his hands to control you - he rocks his hips at his own pace, filling you deeper than you were managing on your own, thrusting up into you when you bring yourself down and he lets you bask in the illusion of your own dominance, but he never fully submits, not when it comes to sex, because you can mouth off all you want to him - in public, in private - and people can have their own ideas of who takes the lead in your relationship, but as soon as those doors close, you’re his, and he’s the only one who’ll ever get you like this.

and oh my god, back to this - he’s such a physical touch guy!! he HAS to be touching you whatever way he can, fingers hooked through belt loops, hands laid flat in your back pockets when your facing him, or in your front pockets when your back is to his front, like you’re at a concert and you’re stood at the barrier and he’s just behind with his hands on your hips and keeps leaning down to speak right in your ear and his breath is on your neck. If he’s beside you, his arm is over your shoulder, your hips bumping, your legs touching if you’re sat down, and he loves when you lean into him, head on the side of his chest, or when you wrap your own arms around his middle.

Because when YOU touch HIM he sort of loses it - because love languages are sort of a projection right, of how you want to be loved back? So when you trace your fingers along the veins in his arm, or your hands seek him out when you’re laying out in the sun and it’s too hot to be on top of each other how you probably want (plus last time the two of you fell asleep all cuddled together and you had a distinct tan mark that was the shape of his hand on your ass) or you’re absentmindedly playing with his hair he has this big Cheshire Cat grin on his face all the time because he just loves the idea that you can’t keep your hands to yourself, either.

And he’s big into showing off his strength - because he can look sort of unassuming sometimes, but then he’s hauling you up over his shoulder and carrying you upstairs, hand landing firmly on your ass when no one else can see and you’re still squirming, and he’s wrestling you down into the sheets and burying his head between your legs until your kicks of defiance die into your knees flopping in their jelly-like blissed out state - his tongue lapping at your core and his lips closing around your clit over and over in sloppy kisses. Your hands are in his hair - perfect - and your hips are bucking like crazy, and he’s humming into your folds and you feel the buzz of him all the way up your spine. And when he’s done, when you’ve come apart with a pillow held over your face to muffle your screams, and your body is vibrating, and his chin is slick with your juices, he just looks up at you all proud and smug and you kick at his shoulder until he falls to the floor with a thud - and then you follow him down because why not? It would only make the headboard bang if you stayed on the bed.

He shows his strength in other ways, too. Lifts you to reach the top shelf instead of reaching it for you, hands at your hips and smiling big and bright when you turn around to thank him with a kiss. Piggy backs when you’ve spent all day out on the boat and you’re too tired to walk up the dock to the house, and your sticky front is pressed to his sticky back, and he smells like sunscreen and a little sweaty and you smush your face into the space between his neck and shoulder and breathe him all in.

And then you’re showering together and he’s washing your hair and you just about reach up to wash his, and he presses his head into your hands like a touch starved puppy because he’s sweet like that!!

And he doesn’t initiate anything because he knows you’re tired, but you lean up to kiss him under the spray of the shower, and you guide him to where you’re pressed against the wet tile, and you hook a leg around him until he gets the message, until he’s got hands splayed at the top of your thighs and he’s lifting you against the wall, and he slips in without any prep because you’ve spent all day watching him just walk around all broad chested with his freckled skin glistening under the sun and he’s yours and the mere fact of it makes you so wet, and he’s been watching you in your bikini, been helping apply sunscreen and slipping his fingers under the straps, been sneaking glances at you as the day has gone on - where your hair gets all sticky around the edges of your face, and your lips wrap around the cool rim of the beer bottle he handed you straight out the cooler, and he doesn’t think he’s managed to hide the effect you have on him from anyone but he’s beyond caring too.

Because now his grunts are masked by the shower spray, and he can hear your sweet little moans right in his ear, and neither of you really have to care about hiding anything, and he’s thrusting so deep inside you that you can barely hold on - scratches down his back that aggravate the slight sunburn he has there, and fingers so tightly gripped around the back of your thighs that they’ll probably bruise, and he’s practically begging you, “Can I come inside you?” And you’re practically pleading back, “God, yes!”

He gets sort of a complex after that, for holding you up while he’s fucking you - he has you against the door of your bedroom, thinks it’s really hot that he can’t wait a single second after you’re through the threshold to have you sometimes, and a few more times in the shower. When the two of you are back in Jersey, there isn’t a surface in your apartment you haven’t christened. The kitchen counters, the couch, the rug on the floor in your living room, the little dining table you have that only fits two chairs although that’s all you need. He likes your apartment - likes being able to have you anywhere, any time, and be however loud he likes - your neighbours be damned.

He likes coming home from a game and you’re in bed with a spot reserved for him, when he comes out of the bathroom after freshening up and you’re sleepily lifting the covers for him to join you, and you wrap your limbs around him like a monkey and the two of you just fall asleep with whispered I love you’s because he’ll tell you about his game in the morning.

And he loves having a routine with you - loves getting up and making you a coffee and a toasted bagel while you shower, and you drink and eat with him before you’re rushing out to get to class - and every day, without fail, you rush back inside for “one more kiss” that turns into at least four and he’s walking you backwards, smiling into your persistent mouth, until he can wave you off at the door - and the last thing you get to see every morning is Luke stood in your doorway, hands up against the jamb until the veins pop in his arms, boxers slung low on his hips and a very promising smile that tells you later - later I’ll satisfy that very obvious hunger in your eyes. And he always follows through on that promise. When he doesn’t have a game, you get to come home to game highlights on your tv, loud enough that they carry through to your little kitchen, where you more or less always find him trying to put together something that will “refuel you” enough for all the ways he’s about to ruin you.

And you like that, too - having someone at home who wants to be there when you are, who cares if you’re well fed after a long day at school, after a longer than necessary commute because you wanted to live closer to him, so close that he’s honestly living with you before either of you realise enough to freak out about it. He goes home to his and Jack’s apartment sometimes, but during the season he wants to be as close as he can as often as he can, especially when roadies are taken into account.

And when he’s on the road, and he has a room to himself or a little privacy, he can usually go a few stop before he’s desperate enough to get himself off. He tries to do it straight in the middle of a trip, give himself time to build up to it and then give himself time to build up to a reunion. He has pictures and videos he can use, and they usually do the trick - he’s conscious if he’s away that he’s behind you in times and you might be asleep, but sometimes he needs to talk to you because it isn’t half as fun when you’re not chirping him mid orgasm. He’ll send a cautious text - you awake? - and you’ll usually call him within a minute. “You horny fucker.” You say when you light up the screen, a wry smile - one of his shirts that you deny you ever where when he’s gone stretched across your torso, the neck hole so loose that it’s hanging around your shoulder, and he’s gripping at his base and squeezing a little as he takes you in. “Miss you,” he shrugs like it’s a reasonable response, and the roll of your eyes sends a twinge straight between his legs. “Tell me about your day,” he says, because he doesn’t even need you to talk him through it, and the two of you haven’t caught up yet today. He pumps himself slowly until you can’t really ignore his little grunts anymore, and you’re asking him to flip the camera and he does, trying to ignore the sight of his leaking cock in the little rectangle in the corner, watching your reaction to it instead as he fists the length of it, a subtle flick of your eyes up and down in line with his own movements. “Fuck, Luke,” you whine, “Miss you too.” And he’ll tell you all the things he misses specifically - misses your hand, misses your mouth, misses pressing his nose into your hair in the morning and breathing you in, misses the way you snuggle into him, climb on top of him, kiss at his skin all the way down to the waistline of his briefs and nuzzle against the bulge beneath them, kissing him through the fabric until it’s too much to bear.

And then you’re moaning, and he hasn’t even realise how far gone you look, that little concentrated furrow in your brow, your bottom lip between your teeth, and he’s telling you to flip the camera.

Your hand is wrist deep under your panties, and you’re doing your best to angle the camera and carry on your handiwork, two slender fingers curling into the heat Luke could wax lyrical about all day. Tight and warm, wet and welcoming, he can’t wait to get home and take the reins.

“Tell me how it feels,” he says - and it’s sort of new territory, because he’s never seen you touch yourself before. He’s usually quick enough to do it for you if he’s around, and he doesn’t think you’ve gone this far on a call.

“Good,” you breathe out, and he’s picturing you with your neck craned, your head thrown back in pleasure. “Not as good as you, but good.”

“Yeah,” he’ll breathe back, like a blissed out sigh, because that’s exactly how he feels. Good, but not good enough. “Take ‘em off, let me see,” and his chest lurches a little at how quick you are to follow his orders. You kick off your panties and perch your phone past your legs, so he can see between them and he can see your reaction to the touch, and he sees how your fingers disappear, can hear how wet you are, and his own hand is moving faster, turned on by how you can get yourself off just by the memory of him at this point, without having to watch what he’s doing anymore. He isn’t quite as strong willed. He times his movements with yours, and it isn’t long before you’re both coming, your pretty moans coming through the phone and his strangled and restrained, because for some reason it’s different when he’s on his own and there’s the risk of a teammate hearing through hotel walls.

“Show me,” you say, and he already knows, flipping the camera to his tense stomach, where he’s slick with his own spend. He comes on you more than in you, probably, and you both just sort of like it that way. You like it on your face, knelt in front of him, eyes screwed shut to avoid anything going in them when his cock is spurting out healthy amounts against your skin, and he likes it on your folds, pulling out with just enough time to aim it there, or on your stomach, or your lower back and ass if you’re already on your front. He likes to watch it drip, you like to feel it, and when you’re apart, he guesses you like to see it, too.

And then you’re both a panting mess when you’re done, and he’ll huff out a groan of “one more week” and you’ll have to correct him like, “two, I’ll be on my period when you get back,” and he’s chewing on his bottom lip all nervous cos you haven’t had the conversation yet, but he’ll be like that doesn’t bother me you know, if it doesn’t bother you - and it opens up a whole new world for the two of you when he gets back, and it’s a lot more shower sex, and a lot more dry humping and a lot more slow, sensual movements with him on top and a towel laid out beneath you on your bed and you couldn’t love him any more than you do when he’s taking care of you after - all attentive and sweet and careful.

And you don’t know why it surprised you in the first place because Luke is experimental - he’ll try anything once, as evidenced by the fuck-it list in the summer where you two tried whatever positions you could reasonably get into together at the lake house with others around. He doesn’t mind you tying him up, thinks it’s cute when you cuff him places thinking that his hands are what he needs to feel you, but he isn’t that big on tying you up - thinks his word is enough to get you into submission, but he likes a blindfold - likes teasing you when you can’t see, and driving you crazy with every little touch - likes it when you do the same to him. When all he can feel is your breath, or your hair when it falls into his lap and makes him shudder.

And you pretty much have similar levels of experience so everything that’s new to you is new to him and you’re discovering it all together which he likes - doesn’t like thinking about you figuring out what makes you tick with someone else even if that’s a dickish thought to have.

He likes that he’s the first guy you ever fucked in the back of a car, likes that he’s the only guy you’ve ever snuck around in public with, likes that he’s the only one who’s ever actually overstimulated you - gone round after round until you can barely string a sentence together, like if it’s a couple days without a game and he’s got pent up energy and you’re all stressed from school and he thinks you need an outlet. No one else has ever got him like you have, and no one’s ever got you like him.

And overall I feel like intimacy with Luke goes way beyond sex - he loves being around you, loves laying up and watching movies with you even if you’re more prone to falling asleep on him when you’re back in school after the summer and his season is underway - loves having a hand creeping up the back of your shirt, or the legs of your sleep shorts, and just holding you with big hands, absentmindedly stroking at your soft skin. Loves nights in the summer when your skin is all shimmery from body oil and your legs tangle with his in the sheets and he wakes up a little glittery from where you’ve rubbed all over him. Loves holding your hand, loves playing with your fingers, tickling at your palms, loves when you do it back, and your fingers are scratching from his wrist to the inside of his elbow and back.

He loves taking care of you, loves plonking his hat on your head when you’re looking a little pink in the sun, or drawing little shapes with sunscreen onto your back hoping he can get an L to tan itself into your skin, loves helping you onto the boat, sitting you on his lap, buckling up your life jacket and kissing your nose when it’s done. He loves carrying your groceries up the stairs to your apartment and actually doing your grocery shopping for you when he knows you’ve not got a lot of time on your hands, helping you put it all away and noticing all the snacks you buy for him considering he practically lives there anyway.

He loves texting you, too. Loves double and triple texting you his every thought like you need to be clued in on his inner monologue, and loves when you send the same sort of stuff back. He has personal beef with the guy who sits behind you in class for smacking his gum too loud - calls him Gum Loser because having all these insights into the part of your life that doesn’t involve him makes him feel good.

And you send each other dumb selfies all the time that end up as contact pictures and lock screens. Yours is a close up of his face from below, and he’s doing something stupid with his mouth like puffing the air up into his top lip until his nostrils flare and you like it cos his eyes look super pretty in whatever light he’s under, his lashes fan out and you think it’s cute he looks a little like a fish or something.

And his is you sat across from him, one of the times he tried to teach you chess, your chin is in your palm, your feet resting on the chair and your knees bent up to your chest and you’re so focused on making the right move that you never noticed him taking the picture - and he loves it because you asked him to teach you, and you sat there and listened and learned, and he has a million pictures by now of you in bikinis and pretty dresses and his shirts, or just random selfies you sent him or pictures you asked him to take for your Instagram but he likes catching you off guard the most.

Loves taking pictures of you asleep to tease you with, and you do the same to him. And you take pictures of him doing the most mundane things just because you can - stood with his hands in his pockets in the line at the bookstore, trying to figure out which avocado looks the most ripe and ready at the grocery store, mid argument with one of his friends while he’s playing video games on your couch. And when you get to go to games you’re always sneaking to watch him in warm ups and he’s always trying not to fall or stumble when you’re there because lord knows you’ll chirp him as much as any of the guys will about it.

But Luke can’t go a day anymore without seeing you or speaking to you, and you’re pretty much the same. However you can get him, you’ll take him.

[serpentface]

The polecat is the most common domesticated ratter and companion animal in the eastern Inner Seaway lands.

Their wild ancestors are less solitary than most mustelids, though do not have particularly complex social structures. Females (usually related) will accumulate in groups of 2-10 individuals (up to 30 in exceptional cases of high prey availability), sharing a territory and den site. Males form their own territories, which will overlap heavily with those of females.

The social hierarchy of these groups is mostly based upon age, with the eldest individuals claiming the best den sites and access to resources and mates. Their social behavior includes allogrooming, sharing of dens, and occasional sharing of prey. Their social bonds are not strongly reinforced, however. They provide no mutual care for young (and dominant females are known to kill the young of low ranking females when prey is scarce), and colonies will readily divide and disperse when their population wholly outstrips prey availability. They often move over open terrain in loose groups as means of defense against predators, but do not hunt cooperatively. Their favored prey is rodents, but they will take birds, small lizards and snakes, and the occasional large insect. They will occasionally coordinate group attacks against large threats (particularly snakes, which threaten their pups within dens).

It is not clear where or when they were domesticated. They likely domesticated themselves in conjunction with early farming practices, preying on the rodents that were attracted to grain stores and gradually being accommodated to and appreciated by human farmers. Wild polecats that could ostensibly be their ancestors can be found on both sides of the Mouth of the seaway, and evidence of domesticated polecats stretches back to prehistory on both sides as well. This would suggest either separate domestication events, or an unrecorded crossing of the Mouth by boats and possible human settlement event during the neolithic period (as most human settlement east of the Inner Seaway occurred in the paleolithic and was a long, slow, roundabout dispersal over land).

Domesticated polecats are frequently kept around as ratters. They are not as efficient as cats over open terrain, but are fairly effective with their ability to fit into confined spaces in pursuit of prey. The domestication process has rendered them more inclined towards close socialization than their wild ancestors, and they readily bond with their owners and with other unrelated polecats. Feral colonies are most distinct from wild colonies in that they form tighter social bonds and practice extensive alloparenting, with mothers often allowing unrelated young in the same colony to suckle, and sometimes even adopting orphans. Feral polecats have interbred with and/or displaced wild ones in many parts of their range, and true wild polecats are increasingly rare.

The Burri deity Tingari is the goddess of granaries, and she is often depicted as a polecat, or with one in each hand. Polecat figurines are placed in granaries to confer the goddess' protection from rodents, insects, rot and disease. This practice has been naturalized in many places formerly colonized by Imperial Bur, though often as a general ward against grain pestilence or integrated into native religious conventions rather than as representations of the Burri god.

[kots-kots]

I am on my knees because of the Monster High JJBA AU. Please tell us more about it…

OKAY!!! 🫡 I was thinking this au can be open to anybody’s interpretations/own concept of the characters and lore structure/the designs can be used in any context but here are my own personal interpretations of it!!

CHARACTER WISE honestly it’s up to interpretation but I was thinking it’s one of those aus were the jojos are brothers or cousins going to the same school and most of them generally live around the same neighborhood >_<

Giorno is an exception because he’s either gonna be Dio’s cousin or little brother, thinking he’s half vampire half fairy maybe??? Diego is in the same boat, he’s not related to the joestars but related to dio n giorno

Jonathan and dio r still adopted brothers in this au, dio very much dislikes Jonathan but he’s the only jojo he can generally tolerate or treat as a rival

Currently the families established are Joestars werewolves, Brandos vampires, Zeppelis sea monsters

POWER WISE it’s kinda like. the stand and the character fused??? so im trying to give them monster species that actually correspond with their stand power (such as avdol probably being a Phoenix, d’arby brothers being sphinxes bcuz they give riddles/games instead of actual fights; and hamon users like Lisa Lisa would probably be a dryad or some sort of nymph so she has a natural talent with manipulating life energy)

Hamon users are most primarily monsters/normies who have an innate skill for that kinda life energy thing and it’s still very much a learned skill. I was thinking it can also be like witchcraft or magic??? So for example Josuke can use ‘hamon’ or spells to heal people around him and whatnot

there’s also cliques or friend groups but they’re mostly consisting of their part (like duwang gang being their own clique; dio, vanilla, and terence being one; bucci gang being.. bucci gang; la squadra; etc) but there’s also variations like

villain house

the villains all low key have beef with each other but occasionally team up to take down their respective jojos (who are also a gang, that tend to be a bit more stable than the villains)

dio-kars-diavolo team up is called ‘team food chain’ bcuz im pretty sure that’s their Japanese nickname???

The pillar men trio (minus Santana he’s kinda weird) and dio’s mansion gang r like heathers vs mean girls

the pillar men usually hate dio but they fw vanilla LOL

Bucci squad and la squadra have beef with each other but they are united by their hate of diavolo so they also occasionally team up ^_^

UMMM the teachers I have currently are tonpetty, straizo, dire, baron zeppeli, wang chan, annnd not officially decided but probably aya tsuji, tonio, polpo, and um. that old guy that was with trish

BUT LIKE YA that’s all for now I think 😼

[deanorosphoto]

FROZEN SHORES OF LAKE SUPERIOR: A DOUBLE EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPH OF THUNDER BAY'S MAIN LIGHTHOUSE

Blanketed in snow, the waters of Lake Superior near the shore are locked in ice. Amid this frozen expanse, the Thunder Bay Main Lighthouse stands solitary and steadfast.

Built in 1937, this striking two-story structure serves as a beacon on the breakwater of Thunder Bay, Ontario, in the heart of Superior Country. Painted white with bold red accents, it rises 43 feet (13 meters) above the icy waters, its lantern room guiding vessels safely into the harbor. Though the breakwater remains disconnected from the mainland and inaccessible to the public, the lighthouse can be admired from the water by boat or from afar along the Thunder Bay Waterfront.

OWN IT

Frozen Shores of Lake Superior is available as a custom fine-art print in various sizes. Bring a piece of nature home—order yours today.

THE ART OF VIEWING PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography originated as an art form designed to be experienced in person, much like painting and sculpture. Yet, in today’s digital age, images are often AI-generated and fleeting, confined to the endless scroll of social media and backlit monitors. True nature photography—captured by a human behind the lens and meticulously crafted into tangible fine art prints—unveils depth, texture, and storytelling in a way digital screens simply cannot replicate.

New to collecting photography? I'll help you! I'm always happy to guide clients in making informed photography decisions. Please feel free to reach out.

SIDE NOTE: FAT BIKING IN WINTER

As I sip my morning latté and write this, I know I’ll soon be stepping into the crisp, icy air—last night’s temperatures dropped to -23℃ (-9.4℉).

Northern Ontario winters have a magic all their own, and today, that magic leads me to a fat biking trail adventure. Equipped with studded winter tires, it should be fun! Hmmm... to bring a camera or not? How do you enjoy winter?

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[galesdevoteewife]

Some thoughts on Act 3 cutscene, endings and the line “To know you love me for the man I am"

[ Gale romance spoiler all the way to the epilogue ]

In my vanilla playthrough, the particular act 3 cutscene dialogue which Gale wanted the crown caught me off guard. It was one of the rare bg3 moments that stirred complicated feelings within me. (to a point I was considering maybe I should romance Emperor lmao) The structure of his proposal felt thoroughly planned and scripted. Every question I raised was met with a well prepared answer.

Too ambitious? It's not for myself; it's for us, for the greater good. Too dangerous? What have we done that wasn't risky? We're up to the task! Power corrupts? Just a means to an end. I’ll still be me, just an improved version. Now I only need a kiss.

I viewed it from the perspective of him hard-selling the player a difficult decision, and the entire conversation felt strategic. Topping it off with the famous line, “With you, I forget my goddess. I love you.” Such a powerful, attention-grabbing statement delivered with utmost sincerity. It's likely that the player would remember only this line, also making it more difficult to reject him. While I don't doubt his love for them, his motives were a question to me.

One of the things that makes Gale's darker path unique is that everything looks beautiful—voyage through the galaxy, kissing lovers, his voice, so tender and sincere. There's no eerie light, no violence, no bloodshed.

Some thoughts on his true intention and how insecurity is the must-solve in Gale's romance arc

In my opinion Gale’s main emotional knot in relationship is the insecurities he harbors. He holds a logic that he is loved (or tolerated) because of his power. Gale Dekarios wanted to be seen and loved but he "holds a poor figure next to Gale of Waterdeep". While there are exceptions like Tara, his mother, and perhaps Elminster, who love him for who he is; it's not his default to believe that people would appreciate him without his power/achievement/service.

With that in mind and let's circle back to why he wants godhood.

If the player reject him in the boat scene, his instant reaction is: “But I could be so much more to you.” If they reject godGale: “I achieved everything we hoped I would, and still I'm not good enough for you?” –Not a word about the better world. I wasn’t convinced he wanted the godhood “for the betterment of all”.

Instead, what he truly wants is the player’s heart... and I think he believes that obtaining the crown and godhood can win them over. Awkwardly, he would need their help to get rid of the elder brain and he is trying hard to convince them.

Some argue that godGale quickly transforms into the type of passive deity he despised, but I hold my opinion on how deeply he cares about the world in the first place. True, he could sacrifice himself to save the day, but he always says "it's the right way/fate" with nothing empathetic for the general folks. I am suspicious that he says it to dismiss the player's concern.

A bit of addition to this theory. Seeking godhood is not a new ambition for him, according to Elminster's epilogue letter. In my canon, he desired it for Mystra if not for the player, attempting to draw closer to her as an equal.

Gale, the god of ambition

Ascending without resolving inner conflicts is like thrusting a dagger into redemption Durge's hands, potentially exacerbating the situation. The ascension path strengthens this twisted logic. Looking at the godGale romance ending cutscene, he gets to dress the player in matching outfits, hold them in his arms, in his realm, in his symbol. They are finally his, and he would believe it’s the power that made it happen.

However, this would lead down to a never ending thorny path with an insatiable hunger. As a god of ambition, it's in his nature to desire more, continually pursuing additional power because it's a viable all-purpose solution in his mind. He will work his way up to the god rank, might even consume a few, "bringing chaos that even trembles the heavens" —according to Raphael. And guess what? In the dnd universe, there are even superior beings above AO.

Nonetheless I hold hopes and optimism towards the godGale romance. I don’t see anything stopping the player from starting to make things better and nudging him into better use of his godhood. Ambition is not necessarily a bad thing. However, at the point where the game ends, this path is a dimmer one.

Some thoughts on the line: “To know you love me for the man I am, and not the magic I command... None have loved me so purely before.”

When I first saw this line and my tav reacted with a sad face I thought she was thinking “Huh? But i love you for your magic too??” xD

It just doesn’t make sense if he is drawing a conclusion that the player would love him for a 0 magic muggle Gale. He is a wizard. His alliance with the player was built on him contributing to their journey with his magical ability, and their romance was sparked by a shared moment through the weave.

My interpretation is that what he meant by “the magic I command” was referring to the mighty power he used to possess, and “the man I am” was everything he showed you—his love for magic, nerdy side, witty jokes, cooking… things that he thinks define who he truly is. In my canon, he probably went through a long period where his title/talent was all that mattered to people, for his portfolio was way too strong (if I read my dnd materials right, lorewise he could be a legendary character even. I will make a post once I put my findings together). The Chosen of Mystra (among the 22 known chosen in more than a thousand years, some of them are even Mystra’s daughters), the prodigy archmage with the gift to conduct the weave. He could have experienced hurt multiple times as people showed little interest in his personality, then he fell back to conceal Gale Dekarios behind the Gale of Waterdeep fortress. However, this consequently blocked him from building real friendships/relationships.

His circle is small, yet I suspect it's partly because he wouldn't let people come close enough to see Gale Dekarios. Even in Act 3, he still wants to keep it between the player and himself. At the beginning of the journey, he denied the player's attempts to know anything other than his profession. If the player is a wizard, he would even play authority and "apprentice" them. By the by, here's an interesting reading about how he might be masking.

Professor Dekarios of Illusory school

Lastly, my favorite path for Gale! Ugh, it just melts me to see him smile that wayyy (How can Tim and the team be so genius and make the expression distinctive???? I mean, he has been smiling all the time, but especially sweet in the epilogue???) He is content. He knows he doesn't need the mask, nor power, or godhood for the player and him to be each other's. From my point of view, it's an arc of self-acceptance and unknotting. He is convinced power isn't everything, and he chooses to teach illusory magic (gotta admit, destruction-force wise it’s almost a harmless school) for he is the one who wants magic for realizing imagination and the one who shed tears over burned roses.

The path in which Gale Dekarios believes that he is seen, understood, loved, and finds peace. Nothing I would like him to have more. I hold true love for this fictional 3D man *wipe away joyful tears*

Sidenote [1]: Some hate Gale for thinking he's only “pretending”. I personally think he is a well-layered character, for there are so many ways to explain him and plenty of room for ambiguity, making it fun to think about his thinking.

Sidenote [2]: I inevitably project some of myself onto him. The concept of “you don’t need to try so hard, pretending to be someone else to be accepted by the world. you only need to find the right band.” is a kind thought that’s so cozy to me.

[ohwolfling]

Waterdeep Style & Culture (part one)

I've been working on pinning down some aesthetics/cultures connected to Baldur's Gate 3 and the Forgotten Realms in general. Y'all voted that you'd like to see my ideas on Waterdeep FIRST so here ya go.

I (and many others) have spoken about Gale Dekarios being INCREDIBLY Greek coded, even before you find out the Dekarios bit. So in my mind, Waterdeep is deeply Greek coded. First, Chessenta does exist in Faerûn and is very openly Hellenistic/Greek inspired.

There will be pretty pictures & stuff, promise, but first let's talk about concepts of Greek myth & early society & how it relates to our Wizard of Waterdeep.

Themes/Ideals

Art and artistry served the gods and gods made people in their image and of course in Greek mythology gods and especially demigods loved to be a mess in, on, around, or about mere mortals. The parallels there are obvious… Gale speaks first of feeling the Weave, of composing with it. It’s art and artistry to HIM, regardless of any limitations, codes, or creeds Mystra or anyone else might try to put around it. Another parallel is the concept of Arete. Arete refers to the journey to personal excellence. It’s a belief that everyone is called to be the absolute best version of themself, with the acknowledgement that that is different for every living creature, and from person to person. Do we perhaps know a wizard who takes that perhaps too seriously and has been historically manipulated and controlled around that concept? Hmmmm.

Aesthetics

Greek Arts

Mosaics, Tiles, painted everything. Bold and natural. There’s a sharp contrast between the fine lines of Waterdeep’s architecture, the precision needed for its docks, its ships, and the boldness of its artistry, applied to all things. Art is meant to be seen, experienced. And all art there needs to survive winds and storms all kissed with the salt of the sea. 

My general idea of seafaring/fisherman communities and the specificity of Greek inspiration, especially mosaics, leads me to imagine a Waterdeep that utilizes clear motifs, themes, and symbols. You can already see from the photos I selected above that images reflect the natural surroundings but also lend themselves to myth. Even in busier, more detailed work, there are figures that STAND OUT! 

Clothing (symbols, structure, some talk of status, jewelry below)

Here’s an excerpt from a fic where I have Gale lay out a typical, representative Waterdeep dinner. Here, I utilized my ideas about folk/mythological symbolism and its use in even an artistry most of us don't event think about, dishware and such:

“Come and see,” Gale extends a hand, unnecessary for a walk through the foyer and kitchen and into the dining area but Tav takes it eagerly.  Tav gives a genuine sigh of awe at the table before her. This gladdens him. He meets her own sigh with one of his relief. She lets go of his hand to circle the table.  It was simple illusory magic but Gale took care in making a series of ethereal fish in blues and golds seemingly swimming just above the scene, a few of them circling playfully around the candelabra in the center of the table. The table itself Gale had lain with a gold runner with embroidered blue waves and copper boats along its length, a very old tapestry motif that had been popular in Waterdeep before Gale’s time. Still, it was handmade with care by his own grandfather. He resists the urge to tell Tav this in great detail, wanting instead to be present. He focuses on how charmed Tav seems by the space. On either side of the candelabra Gale had placed two wine goblets, bronze with inlaid seahorses the likes of which donned ships during Waterdeep’s parade seasons, which Tav had not yet experienced. A carafe sat on the corner of the table, covered in hand painted seahorses of a less stylized nature.

Clothing

symbols and structures

I think these symbols extend to clothing as well, perhaps less on the day to day (though I don’t think Waterdeep has a concept of being overdressed in so far as having prints, patterns, and embroidered details go). Embroidery is reminiscent of the mosaic and tile arts, taking turn with repetitive detail or focusing in on one figure or symbol. I won't get too much into jewelry for now but I do think small jewelry pieces might be used to signify rank and status in various arenas of Waterdeep life (and this is something that happens in a few magic school campaigns for Forgotten Realms), using specific coins or beads to communicate anything from authority to "first time caster, please be kind" and "this bard breaks suddenly to jam" to which district a person is representing. This is an especially impactful idea to me because I imagine that Gale may have given up all these other pieces, including signifiers of House Dekarios and his achievements at Blackstaff to solely represent Mystra once he became Chosen. I've also included some of Elia Fernandez's ASOIAF women art because of the specific way they use house sigils. Dynamic, colorful symbols.

I imagine summers are hot so you want clothes to have enough structure to SERVE and to have a base if you want to strip down OR add light linens for more protection from the sun. I want to combine the silhouettes we see from ancient Greece- cloaks and tunics and, yes, shapes similar to the Roman toga- with the flowing structure we see of the wizard robes we encounter in Baldur’s Gate 3. 

As a note, I think Waterdeep- partly by virtue of having so many places where people go to train as monks, bards, wizards, etc so having a huge uniformed student population, partly by virtue of having a canon drag scene- considers most pieces of fashion to be non-gendered. So any of the silhouettes included here, be they skirts, deep Vs, corsets, underbust details, etc, I'm assuming are flexible to and socially normal/accepted for any gender expression.

Lastly (for this round), here's a color palette for our Waterdeep aesthetics thus far.

I have a part two outlined that I hope I'll get to soon! It will be influenced by another island culture with a rich art/textile history and open us up to more fashion subcultures and how they reflect the working class and more physical studies of Waterdeep.

Feel free to let me know what else you might be interested in a series like this. Would you like more jewelry? Are you interested in interiors? any other specific elements of culture you'd like aesthetics for? Any time periods irl speak to you when you think of Waterdeep?

Thank you to those who voted to see this first and to anyone who reblogs or chit chats. If you'd like to support my sanity and so make it easier for me to do bigger fun things like this, I'm on ko-fi and Twitch and won't look a donation or support horse in the mouth.

[milliondollarnooboo]

Rules for my BACC

- currently, there’s not that many. I’ve very loosely referenced the approach of other BACCs around me for a sense of structure but then everything else is just me playing however I feel like.

Here’s the framework though:

1. Starting off with some kind of founder, and from which there must be a mayor figure. I started with 6 sims - one of each aspiration, because I figured it would be a good way to get a balanced mix of personalities in. I didn’t want to stick to just one founder because I honestly don’t have the energy for that.

2. Starting with only one community lot, with the rest to be earned as certain milestones are reached. I truthfully haven’t looked around much for rules on this and will likely be drawing inspo from The Redmond Flats approach. I really liked how @ennysimmer did it in their Neptune BACC - it seems the lots were being determined mostly by necessity along with the aspirations of their sims.

I built a deck/dock by the seaside to give the outside world access to the island. This will help me to explain the daily visits of NPCs like the paper boy and eventually, NPCs who will serve at other community lots. I actually got this idea while reading one of @ennysimmer 's BACC posts where they weaved into the story that the paper delivery person had to commute every day to deliver the paper. I loved that little detail.

My dock/deck (idk man, I'm from a landlocked country leave me aloooone lol) has a little 'office' where visitors and deliveries from Sim City are recorded. There's a few boats on the water because of regular visits from necessary NPCs. Unfortunately, Unsavory Charlatan thinks himself a necessary NPC, too.

Anyway I added a few community-activity items to give my sims somewhere to hangout when they're not at their houses. I tried to keep it simple and rely more on the natural traits of a beach lot (sunbathing, sandcastles, etc) to keep them busy.

3. Limited but still modern access to certain things. In most challenges I've seen they usually start out with minimal access to electricity, plumbing, and technology. In my hood though I am giving each of my adult sims cell phones because it's just more convenient that way and is generally a crucial part of my gameplay. I even weaved it into Natasha's character by making her a streamer with a following that she has to check in with often.

They'll still have to earn access to other more complicated instances of technology and the other things.

4. I can build or download my lots and modify them accordingly. Yes, I know that building your own lots is common practice in this challenge but sometimes I just can't be bothered and anyway I may prefer someone else's approach to building over mine. For instance, the house at the top was a starter home I downloaded off MTS (I would have linked it but I can't find the specific download :( ).

It also gives me time to enjoy gameplay more.

5. Whatever happens, happens. I will do my best not to interfere with the events that take place and will try to maintain continuity in the story even when something unexpected or undesired happens. For example, if a certain sim keeps getting pregnant despite having a million kids already, I will still have to let it happen even if it bothers me. It will all be dependent on their autonomy though because I'm not going to encourage it, lol.

6. I townify sims that I can’t be bothered to keep up with then I reintroduce them into the main story where necessary. Some may never be reincorporated and may be killed off if everyone else from their generation has passed. I know that part of what makes a BACC an actual challenge is the commitment to playing each sim but I get overwhelmed veeeery quickly so… yeah.

7. Birth control is allowed. I know rule 5 suggests otherwise but this is for the same reasons as rule 6. I wasn’t going to do this at first until the first baby was born and I immediately felt it would be too much for me if several of my sims became parents at once. So I toggle on and off with birth control depending on what makes sense for my story or the mood that day.

--

So far, this is it. It's still pretty early in my gameplay to have developed much. I want to allow myself to add things or take them away as I go along because at the end of the day, the priority is to have fun.

[fierysword]

Characteristics of Lady Wisdom according to Wisdom of Solomon

Below I compile characteristics I perceive as attributed to Lady Wisdom (also known as Sophia or Sapientia) in the Book of Wisdom.

Source through which all things were formed

Eternal

Unfading and more radiant than light

Easily accessible

Mother and leader of all good things

Traced out the heavens

Cares for all people and things

Active cause and fashioner of all that exists, both secret and manifest, including “the structure of the world and the activity of the elements [including fire, wind/air, and water], the beginning and end and middle of times, the alternations of the solstices and the changes of the seasons, the cycles of the year and the constellations of the stars, the natures of animals and the tempers of wild animals, the powers of spirits and the thoughts of human beings, the varieties of plants and the virtues of roots”

Unique and distinct

Subtle

Pure

Clear and unpolluted

Lover of good

Free from anxiety

Generous

Omniscient

Omnipresent (pervading and penetrating all things, especially people/spirits who are good)

Omnipotent

Renews all things

Conquers evil

Orders all things well

Rules with mercy

Author of beauty

Artisan (e.g. produces boats)

Healer

Kind

Patient

Actions: protected Adam, delivered him from transgressions, and gave strength to rule all things; saved humanity when it perished by flood, leading Noah by blessed wood; “recognized the righteous man and preserved him blameless before God and kept him strong in the face of his compassion for his child"; rescued the least unrighteous people from Sodom; guided a man who fled his brother's wrath, giving him knowledge and helping his labors bear fruit; protected the righteous from enemies; descended into the dungeon to be with a man who was sold and imprisoned, bringing him scepter and authority and debunking his accusers; delivered holy people from a land of oppressors; entered the soul of the righteous to withstand kings with wonders and signs; guided the Israelites out of Egypt, becoming a shelter by day and a starry flame by night, leading them through deep waters and drowning their enemies to protect them; aided people with disabilities and gave voices to people who didn't have any

Types of devotion: thinking of her, being vigilant on her account, desiring instruction, following her laws and prioritizing them over material gain, avoiding envy, prayer, sharing wisdom with others, doing good works, taking care of animals, using authority properly, singing hymns, praising her, calling upon her for help/support

Roles: mother, friend, wife, comforter, counselor in times of grief, encourager, companion, savioress

Domains: wisdom, justice, writing and communication, skills and crafts, righteousness, understanding of past, prediction of future, signs and wonders, diversity, seasons, cycles, beauty, work, life and death

Associations: light, gates, world, elements (e.g. fire, water, snow, ice, hail, lightning), time, stars, animals, spirits, thoughts, plants, the heavens, breath, emanations, joy, wonders and signs, boats, universe, the entirety of creation, darkness

Rewards: protection, hope, thrones and scepters and rulership in heaven, saving the world (as much as possible), honor, friendship with God, courage, self-control, prudence, learning, success in war, rest, joy, counsel, encouragement in times of grief, aid in work, recovering reputation, debunking accusers, defeating oppressors, improved communication, support with disabilities, "food of angels"

Italicized are characteristics attributed directly to God but there is considerable overlap between Wisdom/Sophia/Sapientia and God between this and other texts so I think they deserve inclusion in this list.

[katherinecrighton]

Nuts and Bolts: Thoughts on Plotting

(Reposting a 2013 post from the Anna Katherine co-tumblr)

Here, have some really straightforward, practical thoughts about plots and plotting. Of which I have way too many, btw.

(Previous nuts and bolts caveats apply, naturally. Assume I have so many thoughts about this stuff because I’ve fucked it up pretty often.)

::::

1. A short story is a single idea, examined or played out. (Movies are also short stories. This is why turning books into movies leads to tears.) Figure out what your “idea” is – or the goal of your story, or the point you’re trying to make, whichever terminology floats your boat – and aim toward that without wavering.

2. Your plot and your characters go hand in hand. They inform each other – if you have one, you have the other. It’s one of the ways that storytelling is the least like real life. The entire plot might as well be a metaphor for whatever issues are going on in the characters lives – but once you realize that, you can use that fact to reverse-engineer your characters or your plot if you’re stuck without one or the other.

3. Frequently problems with plots are just problems with structure. Go find your favorite book (or rather, your favorite book that is most like the kind of book that you’re trying to write) and break it down, section by section, until you’ve got something really basic like “meet-cute” and “things go bad” and shit like that. Then see if you can’t just drape your plot right on over that structure like a brand new Sunday suit.

4. It’s okay to borrow structures. It’s okay to borrow stories, for that matter. Plots can come from a lot of places. “Write what you know” clearly meant “steal every anecdote in England” to Chaucer, and he became the father of English literature, so. 

5. Middle sections of books are terrible. They just are. Everyone wants to give up. This is the number one reason to have an outline or at least a game plan, oh my god. You want to see some hope of a way out, because the middle of a book lasts twice as long as the end of infinity.

6. To that end, once I’ve got some characters and a vague idea of what I want to do with them, I like to put together a list of “adventures”. It’s just stuff I’d like them to do during the course of the story. Sex scenes, car chases, dress fittings, amusing adventures with food, anything like that. Just stuff that I think would be fun to write, and that I know I will need to fill the endless fucking wasteland of the middle of the book.

7. (Those adventures? Should reflect the issues of the characters. Because characters and plots are the same thing. See point 2.)

8. For short stories, have an end point to aim toward, along with a general emotional zone to wallow in. I had a short story whose working title was literally “and then somehow, making out,” which was indeed the end point I was aiming at. The emotional zone I wanted to stay in was fairly light with some emotional dips into heavy stuff for contrast. But mostly what it said on the tin.

9. For books, writing the last scene right at the start of your process is sometimes nice, because it gives you a sort of mark to aim for. (You can always rewrite it later.)

10. Try to capture some really vivid mental pictures of strong scenes. Add those to your “adventure” list, or, better, just write them down. It doesn’t have to be perfect – if you want, just bro it out like you’re describing your favorite badass robot move from Pacific Rim to someone who’s never seen it. At that point there are barely any characters, there’s just the broad sweeps of movement across the page.

+1. Remember: You are the god-king of the book. If worse comes to worst, have a plague of shrews suddenly appear and make your characters deal with it. You can do anything! If you don’t know what to do, do anything. It’s better than doing nothing, and frankly, if it doesn’t work, at least you’ll have written something. You can always delete it tomorrow.

+2. No, seriously, I was writing a book and I could tell there needed to be some kind of big turn in the narrative (because of structure!), and I couldn’t think of what, so I literally wrote down a list of random shit I could make happen to the characters. Just because I could. That list included:

set house on fire airplane explosion hunting accident heatstroke

I was willing to set a house on fire, possibly by having a plane explode on it, just to get my characters doing something for another twenty pages. And the best part was: All I had to do was write the consequences, and add some foreshadowing, and I’d get away scot-free. The perfect crime. GOD-KING, Y'ALL.

[cognitivejustice]

How solar power is changing life in Ecuador's Amazon basin

For more than 40 years, the local Indigenous people, the Achuar, have been advocating to stop oil development, which has ravaged large swaths of the Ecuadorian Amazon. But even as they fought against fossil fuels, gasoline was their only option to light their homes and power the boats tied to their livelihood. This area has the thinnest electric coverage in the country. But now a smattering of solar panels across 12 villages in a couple of Ecuador’s deeply forested eastern provinces are transforming life.

Solar power is shaping how they go about daily life in ways big and small, from how they get to work to how they negotiate their connections to the world beyond the Amazon.

Photo above: A solar-powered electric boat

For generations, young men farmed the land, built huts or left their village to find work outside the jungle. Now solar panels are opening up other options.

In the Kapawi Solar Center, an open structure overlooking the Pastaza River, 20 solar panels power a dozen outlets strapped to bamboo poles. There, technicians such as Óscar Mukucham can charge up and hold workshops on how to install panels.

As a boy, Mukucham, now 23, had visions of solar boats moving through the river. Now he teaches others how to maintain them in the Amazon humidity.

Solar power is also fueling eco-tourism. The Kapawi Ecolodge, a hotel managed by the community, boasts 64 panels that illuminate 10 cabins, the dining room and other hotel facilities for 24 hours a day.

The solar boats are so quiet, they make for ideal vessels for nature tours: They don’t scare away dolphins or birds.

For Canelos, the lamps and panels are enabling a bigger vision: powering the Amazon without scarring it with roads and poles. Solar energy connects them to the world beyond their home, while preserving the ancient traditions that have sprouted from its rich rainforest floor.

“We cannot talk about the fight against extractive activities if we are consuming fuel,” he said. “Just as the sun makes life possible on the planet, it also allows the Achuar to keep their culture alive.”

Source

[random-conspiracy]

Serious post:

Ok, I think I understand now what exactly is that makes me feel so uneasy about the current world situation, beyond the already tangible effects of post-capitalism and poverty.

And it's the Alice in Wonderland-esque nonsensical nature of our global structures!

Bear with me here: I was pondering why my generation seems so hopeless and things that should be "important" now feel so silly and absurd. Why do I feel getting my degree or finding love is stupid? What makes me think that nothing is worth it? Neither me, nor the world, nor getting out of bed.

I think, it's because we finally realize that nothing matters!

Powerful and rich people can just ignore every single structure in place with no consequences. The rules aren't real (unless you're poor and/or outside the status quo). Think about it, why get a degree when there are no jobs with fair pay? Or jobs at all? And even if you find a job, is it something valuable for you or your community or just another cog in the murder machine? Is it worth it?

The clothes you buy, are they made in sweetshops by slave hands? Your chocolate? Your phone? Your whole lifestyle? Whose bones are you walking on?

Why try at all when a white rich guy will always have the first chance? Why believing in justice when the whole system is nothing more but a circus and a bunch of people have a ton of GET-OUT-OF-JAIL cards under their sleeves? Is your faith in a religion true, or just (another) brainwashing institution?

I think this was the final nail in my generation's coffin: Pulling the curtains to reveal that every single thing is part of the wizard's trick. Who cares? Like, seriously, WHO CARES? Hahaha! Work harder? Trying to be a better person? Save money to buy a house? FOR WHAT? Go on, kill youself! Put the barrel in your mouth and kiss your ass bye-bye, even then you will only be benefiting the system!!

Do you feel it too, right? That all you do and try is wothless, and even if you played their game, they can always ruin your life without remorse.

Not a single thing is true. Not a single game is fair. That's what has been making me lose my mind all this time: It doesn't matter what you choose, you're still doomed ahhsahs, and all structures and institutions are just a facade that the rich and powerful use as they please.

Nothing fucking matters! Nothing is woth it anymore.

I want to believe that people are better than this and we will always find the way. And yet, maybe we're doomed for real this time! Hahshas. Maybe it's part of our human nature to be fucking stupid and evil and greedy and manipulable, and a few people will drive the boat right into the bottom of the ocean with a giant smile if they're the first ones to reach the lifeboats, no matter what.

That's it.

No more future to look forward.

.

And despite all this, we're still here. I wish Hope was a white dove, waiting for us at the end of the tunnel, but no. It's a cockoach.

[bumblebeeappletree]

We have deployed 2000 structures to patch up a reef in Indonesia and the results were immediate!

🪸 To support our work you can become a member here: https://mossy.earth

To build this project from the ground up we needed the stability of the constant support that our members give us. Nothing we do is possible without you. We hope you will consider joining us in creating more coral reefs!

🙌 And if you are already a member you can pay for an extra structure (or more!) to be deployed here: https://www.mossy.eart...

MOSSY EARTH MEMBERSHIP

===============================

The rewilding membership that restores nature across a wide range of ecosystems.

🌲 Support a diversity of ecosystems

🐺 Rewild habitats to bring back biodiversity

🦫 Fund neglected species & ecosystems

Learn more and become a member here: https://mossy.earth

⏱️TIMESTAMPS⏱️

===============================

0:00 Intro

1:00 Our project area

4:20 First deployment

9:08 Boat name

9:50 Zip ties!

12:10 Scaling up

🔎 ABOUT THIS PROJECT

===============================

Coral reefs are known as “the rainforests of the sea”. These vibrantly complex ecosystems harbour the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem globally. An estimated 25% of all marine species depend on reefs. They are also crucial for millions of people, providing food, livelihoods, resources and coastal protection.

Major threats, such as over-exploitation and climate change, are jeopardising the future of coral reefs. In the last few decades, sharp declines in reef cover have occurred worldwide. This is our first coral reef project to restore damaged reefs in the northern waters of Nusa Penida, Indonesia.

Our long-term goal is to improve resilience by enhancing connectivity of fragmented reefs whilst protecting and preserving endangered coral species. Led by our local team of expert divers and marine biologists passionate about the preservation of this marine ecosystem, we work with local people to promote positive community involvement in coral reef restoration.

Read more about this project here: https://www.mossy.eart...

CREDITS

===============================

This project is managed by Purnomo Yudhianto, Ellie Jackson-Smith

and Chansa Hilmira

Filming: Julie Schleiss-Andreassen, Duarte de Zoeten, Purnomo Yudhianto and Chansa Hilmira

Writing: Duarte de Zoeten

Editing: Duarte de Zoeten and Thomas Hikin

Scoring: Charlie Hernández

📄 REFERENCES

===============================

Bachman, S. D., Kleypas, J. A., Erdmann, M., & Setyawan, E. (2022). A global atlas of potential thermal refugia for coral reefs generated by internal gravity waves.

Boakes, Z., Hall, A. E., Ampou, E. E., et al. (2022). Coral reef conservation in Bali in light of international best practice: A literature review.

Bowden-Kerby, A. (2023). Coral-Focused Climate Change Adaptation and Restoration: The "Reefs of Hope" Paradigm.

Bruno, J. F., & Selig, E. R. (2007). Regional decline of coral cover in the Indo-Pacific: Timing, extent, and subregional comparisons.

Fox, H., Mous, P. J., Pet, J. S., et al. (2005). Experimental assessment of coral reef rehabilitation following blast fishing.

García-Baciero, A., García-Herrero, A., Horcajo-Berná, E., & Clements, G. R. (2024). The Art of Sticking: Attaching Methods Affect Direct Transplantation Success.

Islam, M. S., Islam, A. R. M. T., Ismail, Z., et al. (2023). Effects of microplastic and heavy metals on coral reefs: A new window for analytical research.

Lamont, T. A. C., Razak, T. B., Djohani, R., et al. (2022). Multi-dimensional approaches to scaling up coral reef restoration.

Lange, I. D., Razak, T. B., Perry, C. T., et al. (2024). Coral restoration can drive rapid reef carbonate budget recovery.

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[taanoir]

Chapter 3: Lethemyna's Shores, Pt 1

At first light they set off as agreed. The company traveled a short path that brought them to the edge of the town. Ryn and Iggy didn't realize how much ground they had crossed just trying to locate the cottage.

They had gone miles up the Llamavista, through the forest and then miles back down. They had made a huge circle. This route was a sliver of the time, but well hidden from anyone that didn't know what they were looking for. They made their way into town with Albrund in the lead.

The settlement rested on the banks of Lake Twilsea, a freshwater basin fed by the snow packs of the surrounding mountains and a natural spring. The top of the lake flowed out through a deep gorge to the Northern Sea. The bottom of the lake was the start of the Reedcaster River flowing all the way to Umbra.

Lethemyna's main town was made of small businesses, fisherman and a handful of merchants residing in the ruins of the once booming port. The buildings had seen better days. The damp air pushed by the crisp breeze slowly ate away at the structures. Waddle and daub walls patched countless times sat on crumbling stone bases, the town was slowly deteriorating.

In the distance there were larger farms and estates wrapping around the shoreline. They were inhabited by old families that had insisted on clinging to an increasingly forgotten past . The once luxurious manors sat in disrepair, the fortunes that built them long gone. They sat as reminders, ghosts, of a time this basin cradled the capital of the Spellcasters. The weather and access to shipping kept the town alive, the winds that taxed their homes sped ships laden with goods to points beyond. Spring saw the basin painted in shades of green. During the winter snow blanketed the village and froze the northern outlet.

The basin was rimmed in forests that supported a population of human herbalists who kept the townsfolk healthy. They created potions and elixirs who’s recipes were passed through generations, their origins as murky as the depths of Lake Twilsea.

The trio made their way through the winding streets towards the shore, Albrund guided them as they slipped through quiet alleys and backways. This time the locals took no notice, Albrund's presence soothed any trepidation the locals may have had . The boat was easily obtained. Albrund was friends with many of the townsfolk, including several of the boatmen. He also checked on his book order with Gilney, with no luck.

Albrund stocked up on nuit blanche for the trip, the middle of the lake was no place to be out of sun protection. Their last stop was at the general store for some other basics they may need, like ropes and a lantern. They planned to be back before nightfall but it was a better idea to be prepared for the unexpected.

Continued ...

Beginning / Previous / Next

[tallships-and-starlights]

Basics from the clan that most of my OC's hail from that most of you know nothing about

The Ju'dha-Vak'ra, or Vak'ra for short, are a unique Yautja clan deeply connected to the sea, embodying the spirit of Earth Mediterranean cultures in their family and community structures. Despite their fearsome reputation as hunters, the Vak'ra are known for their jovial and friendly demeanor, fostering strong bonds within their clan and with neighboring communities.

Clan Name and Meaning: Ju'dha-Vak'ra, meaning "water weavers," signifies their mastery of the sea and the intricate weaving of their lives with its rhythms.

Settlement Design:

The Vak'ra settlement is carved into a sheer cliffside overlooking the sea. Homes are constructed halfway between the sea level and the cliff's top, ensuring safety even during storms.

Interconnected by bridges and ladders, the homes form a tight-knit community where families thrive.

Below the cliff, a sandy beach provides a natural harbor for the clan's boats. Docks line the shore, bustling with activity as fishermen prepare for their journeys.

At the summit of the cliff, guild artisan buildings stand proudly, each dedicated to a specific craft such as boat building, weaving, and other traditional arts.

Beyond the settlement, farmer's fields sprawl out, where livestock graze and crops are cultivated. This sustains the clan's agricultural needs and reinforces their self-sufficiency.

The surrounding forests act as a protective barrier, shielding the clan from outside threats and providing a hunting ground for game.

Family and Community Structure:

The Vak'ra emphasize strong family ties and communal bonds. Extended families often reside together in the same home, fostering a sense of unity and support.

Clan gatherings and celebrations are frequent, with feasts and festivals celebrating the sea's bounty and the clan's achievements.

Elders hold revered positions within the clan, serving as guides and advisors, passing down traditions and wisdom to younger generations.

Each member of the clan contributes to its prosperity, whether through fishing, boat building, weaving, or other crafts. Cooperation and collaboration are fundamental values.

Cultural Practices:

Rituals honoring the sea and its creatures are central to Vak'ra culture. Offerings are made to appease sea spirits and ensure bountiful catches.

Traditional dances and music are passed down through generations, reflecting the rhythm of the waves and the spirit of the sea.

The Vak'ra hold a deep respect for nature, viewing themselves as stewards of the land and sea. Sustainable practices are employed in fishing, farming, and resource management.

Hospitality is a cornerstone of Vak'ra culture, with travelers welcomed warmly into their homes and feasted upon with generosity.

Relations with Other Clans:

Despite their amiable nature, the Vak'ra are fiercely protective of their territory and resources. They maintain diplomatic relations with neighboring clans but are prepared to defend their homeland if necessary.

Trade and alliances are forged with coastal and maritime clans, exchanging goods and knowledge to mutual benefit.

The Vak'ra's reputation as skilled fishermen and artisans earns them respect among other Yautja clans, enhancing their standing within the broader community.

Education and Training:

Young Vak'ra children begin their schooling at a young age, where they are taught the history of the clan, including its traditions, legends, and the pantheon of gods and deities they worship.

As they progress through their education, they are trained in essential skills such as combat, hunting (both on land and at sea), and weaving. These skills are crucial for survival and play integral roles in Vak'ra society.

Graduation from schooling requires mastery of these skills. Students must demonstrate proficiency in combat techniques, hunting strategies, and weaving techniques before they can proceed to the next stage of their lives.

Chiva - Rite of Passage:

Upon graduation, students are formed into groups of three, each member possessing a different set of skills learned during their schooling.

These groups are tasked with a significant challenge: to build a boat, weave a sail, and craft necessary weapons for their Chiva, or rite of passage.

The group isolates themselves on the beach, living in their own homes for a period of six to seven moon cycles (roughly six to seven months). During this time, they dedicate themselves entirely to their work, honing their skills and preparing for the ultimate test.

Once the boat is completed and the necessary equipment is crafted, the group sets sail to hunt a large sea serpent, believed to be the progeny of the sea god's mount.

Successfully defeating the sea serpent is a symbol of maturity and prowess. The entire serpent's body is brought back to the clan, where it is utilized in various ways, including consumption of its flesh and crafting of clothing, weapons, and trophies.

The group that felled the beast is now considered adults within the clan, earning them the right to participate in mating season and to build their own homes within the cliffside settlement.

Career Paths:

As adults, Vak'ra clan members have the freedom to choose their career paths, based on their skills, interests, and the needs of the clan.

Career options include weaving, boat building, smithing, farming, soldiering, fishing, or dedicating oneself to the role of healer, which involves serving in the clan's temple and providing spiritual and physical aid to fellow clan members.

God of the Sea:

The god of the sea is depicted as a powerful figure, with large tusked lower mandibles and a scaled cape, wielding a massive bone spear.

He rides atop a massive serpent, using it to traverse the depths of the sea and reach the horizon to meet his lover, the goddess of the moon.

The tale of the sea god's love for the moon goddess begins with his declaration of love. Despite his swimming prowess, he cannot reach the horizon to meet her.

The moon goddess sends down a serpent from the heavens, tasking the sea god with taming it to ride to the horizon. After days of relentless effort, he successfully tames the beast using a net woven from ocean plants.

Riding the serpent, the sea god reaches the horizon and weds the moon goddess, uniting the realms of sea and sky.

Goddess of the Moon:

The goddess of the moon is portrayed as ethereal, with a large crest adorned with a white mark symbolizing the cradle of the moon.

She calls to the sea god, inviting him to meet her on the horizon for their wedding. When he struggles to reach her, she sends him the serpent as a means of transportation.

The moon goddess's union with the sea god results in the birth of twin boys, who became the twin suns that illuminate the earth.

However, the playful nature of the sun's leads to them scalding the sea, revealing the land beneath. To console her husband, the moon goddess molds clouds into various animals, which she casts into the sea to amuse him.

Despite her efforts, the sea god grows lonely over time. In his loneliness, he swims to the edge of the sea and creates a daughter from the clay formed by the waves battering the rocky coast.

The daughter of the land becomes the steward of the earth, shaping its landscapes and populating it with flora and fauna. Her creation of life brings balance to the world and sustains both sea and land.

These myths, passed down through generations, serve to explain the origins of the natural world and reinforce the interconnectedness of the sea, the land, and the celestial realms in the eyes of the Vak'ra people.

God of the Sea: [God of the hunt and weaving]

Name: Thal'rok, meaning "Master of the Depths"

Goddess of the Moon: [Goddess of light, creation, fertility]

Sel'thara - Combining "Sel," referencing the moon, with "Thara," representing divinity

Twin Suns: [Gods of light, fire and mischief]

Names: Ra'kar and Ra'thar, signifying "Sunrise" and "Sunset" respectively

Daughter of the Land: [Goddess of art, fertility, earth and the hunt]

Drakara - Combining "Draka," meaning earth, with a suffix denoting femininity

If you actually read this whole thing than you are the coolest person ever thank you so much. Please feel free to ask me questions. I will be posting more art about this soon. Been drawing everything traditionally so...

[per-oceanum]

I.

Elio doesn’t talk about his mother often. His parents in general, really; it's a topic he tends to avoid. There are no portraits to remember what Francesca looked like, nor any of Gian Carlo. He still doesn’t know what happened of his cousin, of his aunt and uncle- if they had survived the slaughter, or if they, too, were amongst the rubble of the former island known as Isole Del Carrozze.

When he looks in the mirror, he sees them both. He got his father’s skin tone; rich honey paired with pale olive undertones that appear almost grey, depending on the season and how little sun he’d gotten. His mother’s bone structure- a sharp jawline, the delicate bridge of his nose before it’d been cut into, shattered by Whitebeard’s blade, paired with high cheekbones that speak of aristocracy in the Northern Blue. His eyes were from his father, gold in tone and nearly reptilian in nature. They were a beautiful couple; both tall, both smart, both complimentary. To his mother’s harsh edges, his father’s gentle curves soothed.

( In a way, he mirrored them both after the procedure. Barrel chested like his father, harsh edges like his mother, with scars upon his chest to remind him of what once was, and what would never be again. )

Muscle memory still exists in the recesses of his mind; notes of a pianoforte that had been destroyed beneath a Buster Call thirty-six years ago. Classical pieces that belonged in the marble theater that had once existed upon the island. The gentle strokes of a paintbrush that longs to touch canvas once more. She’d made sure he had been well trained in the arts. Francesca had been a singer, a voice like a bird, high and wavering and pretty, a natural born soprano. He’d been an alto, and then a tenor, and now- a baritone, if he were to sing.

He still does, on occasion. Murmuring the lyrics to himself as he works, a wavering baritone of a rumble. “O partigiano portami via, o bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao. O partigiano portami via, che mi sento di morir.” A folk song. Even now, he can see himself standing on that boat as the flames began to lick across the island, listening to the sounds of his people singing as they tried to fight against the World Government.

Sole survivor.