#though idk if it worked

[yupuffin]

Quay - Character Stories

A Modest Assistant Researcher (Part I) While the emerging fields of ecoacoustics and wutherology have garnered significant attention since the onset of the Lament, their intersection with previously established biological sciences necessitates large-scale collaborative efforts among researchers across Solaris-III. Quay, an expatriate from Rinascita, is one of countless moving parts in that global research machine -- the mechanism that enlightens academics on the current state of the world and allows them to predict future developments, be those declines in the population of an organism, or a disaster of a scale similar to that of the initial Lament.

However, Quay is not a prominent researcher by any definition -- his name is not one anybody would recognize from published literature or organization membership rosters. When addressed, he emphasizes his title of assistant field researcher, and has never mentioned ambitions to achieve a position higher than that. By all accounts, he seems far more passionate about studying marine life, even outside of his regular work hours, than about climbing societal ladders.

Indeed, the national stranding and response program Quay works for is not well-known in Jinzhou's public eye, despite its close cooperation with more conspicuous organizations like Huaxu Academy's Jinzhou branch -- nor is Quay's occupation of studying beached animal carcasses particularly charismatic or appropriate for everyday conversation. Quay, likewise, is not exactly a socialite. He leads a quiet and carefree life in Jinzhou city, evading the suspicions sometimes inflicted upon more noteworthy outsiders, especially in academic circles.

At Home At Sea (Part II) Though Jinzhou locals would not know him by name, tracking down Quay is not a difficult task; one merely needs to select a beach accessible from Jinzhou and consult the relevant tables for the next lowest tide. Quay is sighted reliably enough meandering the tidal flats beneath the city's Huaxu Academy building that it's easy to confuse him for one of the resident researchers, when in fact, he's merely interested in observing whatever marine organisms he can locate, however common or inconspicuous. His confidence in navigating all manner of rocky and slippery environs in search of his next specimen betrays his wealth of experience navigating countless shores, in part drawn from his previous residence in Rinascita.

Once he's on the clock, though, Quay's attention shifts from live animals to dead ones, with no noticeable decrease in enthusiasm. For how awkward he is around people, his conduct around animal remains in all stages of decay is all but fearless. He diligently logs the condition and location of each reported case, never complaining about difficulties such as weather or seclusion from accessible trails, or even the smell of particularly rotten specimens. Even more remarkable is Quay's memory for past stranding instances, almost rendering his meticulously-written observations redundant. Nevertheless, collating and analyzing data is a task reserved for the higher-ups; Quay is perfectly content simply to have such a practical excuse to spend so much time near the ocean. Thus, one would be hard-pressed to find an assistant researcher who performs their work with comparable optimism and efficiency.

Quay's easygoing mannerisms seem to suggest that little truly bothers him. However, combining his aversion to small talk with his tendency to spin nigh-incomprehensible tangents about the technicalities of his studies, anyone outside Huaxu Academy would find it difficult to reliably confirm this suspicion -- at least without earning a great deal of his trust first.

Fish Out of Water (Part III) With Quay's propensity for entering any available body of water regardless of climactic conditions, those with the elusive chance to learn of Quay's background would not be surprised to learn of his Rinascitan origins. Indeed, within a certain distance of the ocean, Quay invariably dedicates ample time to frolicking. His behavior might lead one to marvel that he is not tired of the beach already, given that he has indulged in the same habits for his entire life beforehand.

How, then, would a Ragunnesi end up employed in Jinzhou? The matter is even more puzzling when one considers the alleged strength of family ties among the residents of Rinascita. Under a cursory examination, Quay's living situation seems, for all intents and purposes, improbable.

The fortunately-timed opening of Rinascita's waterways to other nations played no small part in Quay's recent relocation to Huanglong. What better opportunity to facilitate intellectual and cultural exchange than to establish a livelihood in another region? With easy access to oceanic routes, Jinzhou was an ideal setting for the continuation of Quay's career in the biological sciences, both in terms of geographical location and occupational opportunities.

Indeed, for Quay, the primary hurdle in the process was a mental one. For all of the scholarly challenges he'd faced in his years of study, when it came to socializing and learning his way around, Quay's prospects were precarious at best. Moving to Jinzhou entailed leaving behind his life in Rinascita, with no promise of a suitable excuse to ever return. Still, he thought of it as departing on an adventure -- certainly preferable to stagnating at home, where his circumstances grew less favorable the longer he stayed.

Leaving the Shoal (Part IV) Ragunnesi are known for their unshakable pride in their lineage. Hence, the misconception that their families would invariably cohabit for generations on end is, for outsiders, an easy one to make.

Considering his geographical origins, Quay might appear eccentric, if not hypocritical, for supplying only the vaguest information on his family background. However, a perceptive conversationalist might glean all the necessary detail from the observation that his sparse comments are exclusively presented in the past tense.

It's no wonder, then, that Quay seems reluctant to form close ties with any social groups in Jinzhou, for how could he risk losing all of the stability and prospects afforded by one's family a second time?

Indeed, social norms in Rinascita prescribe that one find a suitable life partner and thereby establish their own family unit -- one that, formed from the union of two lineages, is allegedly greater than the sum of its parts. Quay, however, never bore any interest in subscribing to norms such as these, preferring instead to strengthen his ties with the family he already had; he never relied too much on any one affiliation, lest its eventual collapse bring the rest of his social network down with it.

It was a cruel and unfortunate paradox, then, that Quay, as he entered adulthood, found himself suddenly with no domestic connections whatsoever -- every last one of his relatives had seceded their familial positions in favor of pursuing their own interpersonal relationships.

With his lineage essentially nullified, Quay lacked the support or foundations to continue his previous life in Rinascita. Thus, his relocation to Jinzhou was, in fact, executed largely out of necessity. Still, Quay never voices any regret about the situation, instead focusing on the wealth of exciting opportunities he's encountered since moving, whether those involve exploring new places or studying new varieties of wildlife. After all, steering the topic of conversation back to the ocean never fails to rekindle his vitality.

A Serendipitous Skill (Part V) Starting a new life meant pursuing new endeavors, including renewing Quay's hidden enthusiasm for baking.

Quay, after all, is a particularly food-motivated individual, with his overt preference for fish divulging his Ragunnesi origins. That said, he rarely refuses the opportunity to delight his palate with something sweet, provided said sweet is acceptable to his tastes. Hence, with the promise of a treat guaranteed, combined with the intellectual stimulation of executing a procedure, Quay finds baking, as an investigative process, nigh irresistible. And, thankfully, with his interest in the hobby peaking upon his departure from Rinascita, his excitement is untainted by any lingering ties to his blood family. Moreover, methodical similarities aside, the lack of connection between his pastime and his career serves as an ideal dynamic to stave off burnout.

Indeed, it was Quay's revitalized interest in this hobby that was perhaps just as useful as his academic background. While his studies introduced him to Jinzhou's Huaxu Academy branch, his willingness to share his home-baked goods played no small part in reinforcing his bonds with his new collaborators. As it turns out, distributing surplus desserts to one's acquaintances is an effective approach for facilitating interactions that further strengthen social connections -- even if this effect is entirely unintentional, and simply a consequence of Quay lamenting the possibility of any of his products going to waste. Still, it seems that, to Quay, delivering food to his colleagues is an acceptable pretense for some mild socializing, until he once again retreats to the solitude of the beach.

[icewindandboringhorror]

(also feel free in the tags to clarify Why you made the choice you made!! :0c)

[mishhe-kht]

my bbgirl and his husband

[idontmindifuforgetme]

friend wanted to see my tumblr, and when i told him i can’t show it to him bc it’s basically my personal diary he went “oh so I can’t see it but a bunch of strangers on tumblr can??” he literally does not get me. no one will get me like the people in my phone get me

[blvck-minou]

How could you think, darling, I'd scare so easily?

This was beamed into my brain when I read this tweet

[suja-janee]

I’ve been losing my mind over these guys recently

[salmonlyster]

...THEY CAME FROM OUTER JERSEY!

[housecow]

seeing you outright mention you have death feedism tendencies is like a shotgun to the chest (positive)

i have a medical phobia that’s somehow twisted itself into death feedism ngl. also, evil feeders. 😳

someone hellbent on keeping me as fat as possible for as long as they can—knowing what cocktail of drugs keeps my heart pumping, dumbing me down and keeping me pliant with edibles hidden in my food, waking me up every few hours for feedings and funnel sessions instead of letting me sleep so the weight piles on faster than it should..

somewhere deep down i know it’s not good for me. maybe my feeder tells me about all the health problems i have while the feeding tube is in my mouth and i can barely think, but i can’t focus on what they’re saying without getting overwhelmed. if i don’t remember later, it doesn’t really matter, right?

maybe occasionally i’d “come to my senses,” during a lull in the feedings. when my feeder is busy and away for a while, after i’ve made my way through a small mountain of snacks and the mini fridge (full of shakes laced with THC to keep me docile) is just out of reach. maybe i’d try to get up, only to collapse back down because my knee problems finally caught up to me and fuck, it hurts to even try to walk. maybe then i’d finally take a look at where i am, how i’ve given up my life for someone’s (and my own, let’s be real) sick pleasure.

i’d have to deal with that realization for a while. maybe i’d start to cry, unable to handle the reality. eventually, though, my feeder would come back. they’d find me in this state and console me, getting the funnel ready because they can hear my stomach rumbling and it’s been too long since i’ve eaten. they’ll coo into my ear about how it’s all okay, how i asked for this and it’s what we both want.

they’d give my belly a shake, grasping the lowest roll in their hands and enjoying the way it makes my entire body wobble. they’d press a kiss onto the vast expanse of fat above my belly button, an area they were so excited to see expand under their care. they’d struggle a bit to lift one of my tits, eager to see how my breath hitches at the thought of their mouth on me. these are all distractions. they’ve mastered this game of manipulation and there’s no way i’d be able to find my way out of their control. their touch, the food they offer me, even those moments when i’m not high or in a haze of fullness and pleasure, were meant to further ensnare me and ensure i’m theirs for as long as i live.

my health, my life, is in my feeder’s hands. they know what’s best. as long as i keep eating, keep taking the pills they hand me, keep ignoring how hard it is to move and breathe, it will all be fine. or, that’s what i’d tell myself.

[fantasykiri5]

Day 3 of HADM: it’s Tango Tek! Of the Create series variety, since he doesn’t have a season skin and this one fits his base theme too well.

[leafyeyes417]

Finger of God

(Title is a reference to a movie. Can anyone guess?)

Danny had been feeling on edge all day. The air felt different, almost like it was charged. The wind was decently strong, making your eyes water if you faced one direction too long. The sky was filled with light grey clouds, though there wasn’t any rain forecasted by Lance Thunder.

It was during Lunch hour that it happened. Danny had begged Sam and Tucker to stick near him that morning because he couldn’t help but feel like something was going to happen. Danny hadn’t paid much attention to the growing background roar, trying to focus on finding what ghostly threat was raising his hackles. He only snapped to outward attention upon hearing the building whine of the sirens, barely allowing him to grab his friends by the waist and make them intangible.

Then it was just darkness and screaming wind as the school building was destroyed around them. It felt like hours but what was only five minutes later the trio stood shellshocked, huddled together in the ruins. Danny flew them up out of the remains to see that Amity Park… was gone. And to their southwest was the biggest tornado they had ever seen.

Danny had always thought it would be a ghost who destroyed the city but he wasn’t prepared for pure natural weather. Only their two years of heroism gave them the ability to shove their shock to the side and try to find survivors. It was Tucker who finally suggested the Justice League. “We… don’t have the resources to save anyone even if there is any survivors. The hospital is gone.”

Sam stood there blanked faced, but nodded. Danny grimaced but agreed. “Tell them only about the tornado. Whatever was preventing us from reaching them before should be gone now but it may be magic of some sort that reacts to intentions and talking about ghosts may be blocked.”

Tucker nodded. At least they all had ecto-modded phones. It meant they didn’t have service problems.

[geosaurus]

e a s t e r e g g d a e m o n

[nevenvc2]

i cant think of a caption so just take another neil drawing

[awaxagoras]

if u thought being fwb with yan phainon was difficult , wait until u trying ending things with him lmao ( ≖‿ ≖ )

he’s taking this way too seriously . he had assured you this would merely be a platonic mutually beneficial thing , but he’s certainly not acting like it . you chose to ignore the red flags at first [ can’t blame you for that , darling — he is good in bed ! (ᵕ—ᴗ—) ] but lately it’s been getting harder to turn a blind eye . the love confessions aren’t as quietly whispered anymore and he’s become a bit too clingy outside of the bedroom , too . you’ve gotta stop this before it escalates for both of your sakes .

you knew it was going to be an awkward conversation . phainon’s expression shifting so quickly was not in your expectations , though . the way he’s looking at you with his pretty blue eyes all glassy reminds you of a puppy that’s just been scolded . you can practically see the drooping puppy ears on him (·•᷄‎ࡇ•᷅ )

immediately apologises [ though neither of you are quite sure why ] , reaching out to hold both of your hands in his [ . . is he shaking ? ] rooting you to your place in front of him [ you don’t know if that was intentional or not ] he asks what he did to upset you . whatever it is , just tell him and he’ll fix it . he won’t disappoint you again .

trying to explain that he didn’t do anything wrong [ well , he did but he doesn’t need to know that lol ] doesn’t do much to placate him . his hold on your hands hasn’t weakened in the slightest . despite his height , he’s leaning over to be closer to your face . his misty eyes haven’t dried up either .

he’s making you nervous . you’re hit with a pang of guilt far sharper than any you’ve experienced before . phainon is such a nice guy , isn’t he . . ? aside from your handful [ it was more than a handful ] of unsettling experiences with him , he’s never given you or anyone else reason to believe he isn’t the perfect chrysos heir okhema praises him to be .

speaking of . . he is amphoreus’ hero , isn’t he ? and you certainly don’t wanna be the one responsible for breaking his heart now , do you ? gods , just imagine how you’ll be depicted in future epics . . maybe it’s best if you drop this matter (´∀｀’) [ he knew you would , but you really did scare him , you know ! stop it ]

it’s kind of scary how quickly he recovers once you awkwardly take back your words with a quick apology and an unsure smile . just a moment ago he was the most pitiful thing you ever did see , and now he’s back to fondly beaming at you like his usual self . swiftly changes the topic but judging by the way he hasn’t let go of your hands , you have a feeling he’s not as unbothered as he appears [ don’t bother with that again , by the way . it will play out exactly the same . he doesn’t feel bad abt it either lol ♡ ]

[stars-obsession-pit]

Bruce Wayne had at one point been working on a device to guarantee Gotham would always have a protector. In the event of his death, the machine could grow a clone of him and implant a copy of his memories into them, creating a new Batman to succeed him.

He eventually gave up on the idea before it ever came to full fruition.

But even in its incomplete state, he had created just enough for Clockwork to hijack it.

Phantom’s soul was in a perilous state, unlikely to survive without being attached to a new body. And luckily, the device provided an ideal way to facilitate that. Plus, the Waynes would undoubtedly support his recovery too. Well, at least once they got over the panic at his existence they would.

[reasonsforhope]

100% have been perusing your climate change masterpost, and understand you're probably swamped so feel free to delete of course. But if you can find the time, is there any kind of hope to give in fighting climate change now? Can we save ourselves against the oncoming steamroll?

You hang in there too. Thanks for finding the hope among everything else. It feels so bad rn but I have to believe it can change. I hope it can.

Yeah actually I do think there is hope.

Things are going to get rough. Things are going to get worse before they get better, both for the climate and for people living in the US (and for people living in lots and lots of other countries that will be affected by the US election results/the ways the climate will worsen as aa result).

I haven't posted about this yet because I didn't want it to come to this, but now that it has, here's something that people have been quietly saying/research has been showing for months:

-via Reuters, November 6, 2024

Renewables, especially solar, are just too powerful to be stopped. They just too much cheaper and too much better, and that's only going to become more true, not less.

Also, I think (and hope) it's actually inevitable that at some point, we'll get to net negative carbon emissions. I think it's like solar: the technology, cost, and planet all make it feel like an inevitable technological trajectory, the same way solar tech is on an exponential trajectory. (IF WE WORK FOR IT, OBVIOUSLY, but also so, so many people ARE working for it, have dedicated their lives to working for it)

I sure fucking hope that's the case, anyway.

(You can find my masterpost on going net negative on what that actually means here)

It is gonna happen more slowly and shittily than I hoped, but I do think it's going to happen.

And if we can get to net negative emissions in time to save ourselves (which I think we will, the rates of advancement in many of these areas are very impressive), then we'll be able to slowly start to undo and heal lot of the damage.

[rnessfey]

spring came, and with it, so did the many sketches of kim