#titanium surface

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Time-resolved photoluminescence unlocks nanoscale insights into surface-modified metal oxide semiconductors

In the quest for next-generation energy, sensing, and pigment technologies, semiconducting metal oxides like titanium dioxide (TiO₂) have emerged as essential materials due to their abundance, stability, and intriguing photophysical properties. But there's a catch: Their surfaces—where most chemical interactions occur—often behave unpredictably, limiting their performance in applications ranging from photocatalysis to solar energy harvesting. To optimize these surfaces, researchers have turned to coating strategies—applying ultra-thin inorganic layers that tailor surface behavior without compromising the underlying semiconducting properties. However, one big question remains: How do we see what these coatings are doing at the nanoscale—especially in real-time and with high sensitivity?

Read more.

[othersidepiercing]

NAPE, internally threaded Titanium surface bar with white opals

[colitco]

Terra Metals Delivers Strong March 2025 Quarterly Report with High-Grade Multi-Commodity Breakthroughs

Terra Metals (ASX:TM1) has capped off a dynamic March quarter at its flagship Dante Project in WA’s Jameson Intrusion, advancing toward polymetallic development with standout metallurgical results, key resource expansion, and strategic growth.

Quarterly Highlights:

⚙️ Metallurgical Breakthroughs

Cu-Au-PGM sulphide concentrate: 28% Cu, 17g/t Au, 21.4g/t PGMs

Recoveries: 95.8% Cu, 75.8% Au, 74.4% PGMs

Titanium-ilmenite concentrate: 40% TiO₂ (magnetic separation)

Vanadium-magnetite concentrate: 1.81% V₂O₅, 90.9% recovery

⛏️ Drilling Success

Reef 1 North extended by 1.2km (now 4.2km strike)

Infill drilling confirms surface continuity of high-grade Ti-Cu-Au-PGM-V mineralisation

Best hits:

25m @ 11% TiO₂, incl. 5m @ 19.5% TiO₂, 0.7g/t PGMs, 0.79% V₂O₅

15m @ 12.9% TiO₂ incl. 4m @ 21.4% TiO₂, 1.15g/t Au+PGMs

6m @ 19.2% TiO₂, 0.92% V₂O₅

5m @ 20.3% TiO₂, 0.96g/t PGMs

Strategic Momentum: 🗺️ Maiden Resource Estimate for Dante Reefs initiated ⚗️ Phase 2 metallurgy optimisation underway 📈 Secured 12-month exclusive option to acquire 618km² of adjacent tenure 🌍 Expanding footprint in Bushveld-style layered intrusion setting

Cash & Outlook: 💰 $1.22M cash as at 31 Mar 2025 ✅ Focused on value-driven exploration with controlled spending 📊 Funding strategies under review

Investor's Outlook: With a last traded price of $0.029, Terra Metals (ASX:TM1) presents a compelling case for investors seeking exposure to high-grade polymetallic exploration. Its simplified metallurgy, strategic land expansion, and strong drill results underpin growing potential in an emerging Tier-1 geological setting.

Why Terra Metals Is One to Watch: From high-value concentrates to scalable resource potential and strategic land acquisition – Terra is advancing rapidly toward establishing a major multi-commodity hub in WA’s underexplored north.

Polymetallic grades. Simple metallurgy. Tier-1 setting. Terra is building momentum.

🔗 Full report here: https://colitco.com/terra-metals-march-quarter-dante-project-update/

⚠️ This is not investment advice. Please do your own research before making any investment decisions.

[bunjywunjy]

Is spider silk being as strong as steel another lie from childhood? Bc you're able to break it pretty easily on accident. Genuinely asking.

spider silk IS actually significantly stronger pound-for-pound than the same amount of steel, but only in one direction! and coincidentally, it's the same exact direction that got a bunch of people killed in a submersible last month.

see, when people talk about the "strength" of spider silk versus steel, they're specifically talking about tensile strength:

which is specifically the measure of the strength of a material when two forces are pulling at it from the ends, like when a steel cable is holding up a bridge support, or crane cargo:

or like when a strand of silk is supporting the entire spider.

that's tensile strength, baby!

but there's another type of strength that's very important to take into consideration when you're actually building things like bridges and submersibles, and spider silk and similar materials like carbon fiber are absolutely garbage at it! and that's compressive strength.

this is basically the inverse of tensile strength, where instead of being yanked at from both ends, the forces are crushing inwards at the material from both directions instead.

you can expect to see these kinds of forces involved in road surfaces, vehicle engines, and again, submersibles.

now steel and its more competent cousin titanium are fucking GREAT at compressive strength! the harder the outside forces are compressing them, the stronger the metals get.

NOT TODAY, FUCKERS

but strand-based materials like spider silk and, again, carbon fiber, are fucking garbage at this. they can take a certain amount of pressure, but each round with compressive forces snaps some of the strands that makes up the material! and those don't grow back, so basically you're just gradually reducing your poor overstressed carbon-fiber hull into a completely useless shell of shattered thread fragments over time as the strands of fiber that actually give it strength die off one by one.

and eventually, something's gotta give! and then people die about it.

this is why, even though spider silk IS stronger than steel in one specific way, we're never going to stop using steel in industrial applications and switch over to spider silk or carbon fiber full time. these materials all have their areas of use, and steel just covers a wider base of applications.

and don't even get me started on shear strength. we'll be here all damn day.

[mavlabajuri]

What is Beskar? - A Breakdown

Beskar, also called Mandalorian iron, is a rare metal found only on Mandalore and its moon, Concordia. For Mandalorians, it's not just valued for its strength. Beskar is considered sacred, a holy material bound to identity, ancestry, and creed. The act of forging it is not merely a craft but a rite, performed by Mandalorian Armorers to bond warriors to their people through armor. Beskar is more than a metal: it represents resilience, heritage, culture, and soul.

Physical & Chemical Traits

Heat Resistance

What we know: Beskar can take direct hits from blasters and withstand lightsaber strikes without melting or deforming.

What that implies: It likely has an extraordinarily high melting point, higher even than tungsten (~3400°C). This places beskar among exotic, refractory metals or even unique energy-stabilized alloys. Canon also shows beskar resisting thermal shock (e.g., explosions) without shattering or fragmenting.

Durability & Toughness

“It’s beskar. It doesn’t dent.” - Medrit Vasur

What we know: It’s practically indestructible. Armor made of beskar resists slashes, blasterfire, lightsabers, crushing blows, and kinetic impacts. Even micronized forms can shatter bone.

What that implies: Beskar has immense toughness and impact dispersion. It doesn’t deflect energy like a shield; it spreads the impact across its surface. Think of it as a hybrid between metallic glass, Kevlar, and high-energy damping alloys. It doesn’t break, but the force still transfers to the wearer.

Malleability

“Mandalorians jealously guard their beskar-working skills and refuse to sell the formulas for any price.” - Imperial commentary on Mandalorian forging

What we know: Mandalorian smiths shape beskar into armor plates, wire, mesh, transparent film, foam, and even micronized particles.

What that implies: Beskar is incredibly workable when properly forged. Canon describes repeated folding (like Damascus steel), suggesting that its structural strength is enhanced through expert lamination and layering, a craft only mastered by Mandalorians.

Density & Weight

“Jaina examined her beskad; a blade forty-five centimeters long, maybe five or six centimeters wide, with a single cutting edge curving to a point—and much heavier than it looked, perhaps more than two kilos.” — Legacy of the Force: Invincible

What we know: “Full-density beskar” is heavier; alloyed forms with carbon or other materials are lighter but less durable.

What that implies: Pure beskar is likely denser than steel, possibly approaching the density of uranium or osmium. Alloying reduces weight and slightly lowers protective capacity. Export variants (like downgraded starships) use lighter, less refined beskar composites.

Corrosion Resistance

What we know: Beskar doesn’t tarnish, rust, or degrade over time, there’s no mention of upkeep for oxidation or weathering, even after centuries of use.

What that implies: It’s likely extremely corrosion-resistant, maybe through a naturally passivating surface layer (like titanium or stainless steel). That’s important for armor that’s expected to last generations, even in combat, salt air, or deep space.

Sound Signature

“Beskar had a sound like no other metal, all heavy dull solidity, no high tinny frequencies like durasteel when hit.” - Republic Commando: True Colors

What we know: When struck, beskar gives off a heavy, dull sound, different from the “tinny” sound of durasteel.

What that implies: This suggests high mass and excellent vibration damping. Materials that sound dull when struck often have lower resonance and greater ability to absorb kinetic energy, another point in favor of beskar spreading out impact forces instead of rebounding them.

Alloying Elements

“Anyway, this is top-grade beskar—full density, two percent ciridium, no fancy lamination or carbon-alloy.” - Kal Skirata

Known additives:

Ciridium (2%): A canon example from Skirata’s armor; Possibly a heat stabilizer or strengthener, unique to the gffa.

Carbon: Might lighten the material, increase flexibility, or improve strength (like real-word carbon steel).

The Shapes of Beskar

Plates - Ship hulls, traditional Mandalorian armor (beskar’gam)

Laminates - Layered armor, combining flexibility and protection

Wire/Mesh - Lightweight undersuits or integrated systems

Beskar-impregnated fabric - Beskar armorweave

Foam - Padding that still retains durability

Micronized particles - Used in crushgaunts

Transparent film - Rare; possibly used for HUDs or specialized optics

What’s in a Color?

"Armor colors and markings can indicate many things, from the clan or family to more ephemeral concepts such as state of mind or a particular mission." - Karen Traviss

Mandalorians don't just wear armor, they live in it. Beskar’gam is handed down, reforged, or remade, and each new generation adds their own mark. Painting one's armor is a declaration of individuality, experience, and lineage.

Cultural Significance

Declaration of identity: Some Mandalorian clans use distinct colors and markings to signify allegiance or heritage, including clan symbols or cultural symbols.

History and Feats: In some traditions, marks of honor, like jaig eyes, were painted on helmets to signify acts of bravery​.

Expression and accomplishments: Sabine Wren, regularly painted and repainted her 500-year-old armor as both personal expression and symbolic evolution through her life’s stages and affiliations​.

For Mandalorians, armor isn’t just armor, it’s a second skin. It's a visible oath to one of the six tenets of the Resol’nare: wearing beskar'gam. Choosing to paint one’s armor (or not to) says something.

Practical purposes: protection, camouflage, and preservation

While beskar is incredibly durable, painting it serves practical roles too, especially for older, heirloom and alloyed armor:

Corrosion control

Durasteel components, often used in place of beskar or to supplement it, can be vulnerable to environmental wear. Paint protects these surfaces from oxidation and corrosion, especially on long campaigns or in hostile conditions.

Camouflage & visibility

Mandalorians often operate in diverse terrain, paint lets them both blend in or intentionally stand out.

For stealth missions or ambushes, darker or terrain-matching colors can make a life-or-death difference.

Battle damage

A warrior's beskar'gam can take a hit, but it remembers every blow. Paint can mask surface damage, hide vulnerabilities, or maybe even accentuate past battlescars.

“The battles, the history, the blood all live within it. And the same goes for every Mandalorian.” - Sabine Wren

Painting Mandalorian armor isn’t merely cosmetic, it’s an ambulatory cultural mural, a testimony of paint and pigment. Every color, symbol, and stroke tells a story, and in true Mando fashion, it’s often one they’re not afraid to let you see coming.

K'oyacyi! // Mavla

If you have any comments, feedback, corrections or speculations, they are as always warmly welcomed!

[agbpaints]

How to Paint: Glowing Heat Sink Effects

I already went over this briefly in text in the notes of the Awesome but I figured I should probably double this up and give it its own tutorial. Glowing effects are something that's extremely commonplace in a wargame like 40k but less seen in Battletech painting, despite being a great visual indicator of the effects of the game's heat mechanic. While it does take a little bit of work and some extra paints, adding these to your energy boats and pilot cooking clan mechs can be a great way to add a bit of visual flair to your forces.

Paints I Used

This is what I had on deck for this mini- substitute for your preferred colors, brands, and availability as you like

Army Painter Matt White (titanium white/pure white)

Citadel Khorne Red (dark red)

Citadel Mephiston Red (medium red)

Citadel Evil Sunz Scarlet (bright red)

Citadel Troll Slayer Orange (bright orange)

Citadel Yriel Yellow (bright yellow)

Citadel Lahmian Medium (thinning medium)

Method

Before you begin working on the heat sinks you want to complete the rest of the area around the place you want to do the glow effect. Light is an active environmental effect on a surface so you'll want to complete most of the base layers, highlights, shading, and other environmental effects before we work on the glow. Today our subject is a Manticore Heavy Tank that I used a modified pink-grey version of my weathered drab armor recipe to paint.

Once we've identified the sinks we want to paint and finished the rest of the model around them, our first step is going to be to paint the sink area white. This will increase the saturation on future layers and make the heat sink appear brighter, as well as giving us a consistent color to work up from. Try to stay within the vent area itself and avoid paining the outer frame- we want that to retain the color of the model. Once the white is dry, paint over all of it with our dark red color. Use one or two thin coats to do this.

Once the dark red is dry, go and get your medium red color. Make sure not to overthin this as we want to work this onto a pretty particular part of the model. Using the side of a small or medium sized brush, carefully paint just the ridges of the vent fins, leaving the dark red color in between. Leave this to dry briefly and then we can work on the interior of the vents.

Get your bright orange paint and thin it pretty significantly- more than you would for a normal color. Then, take a very thin brush, load it with some paint, and carefully dab/drag it in between the vent fins. Capillary action should focus this thinned paint into feeding between the medium red fins and make the impression that the interior of the heat sink is glowing. Make sure to leave some of the dark red color at the tops and bottoms of the fins when doing this.

Once the medium red and orange are dry, repeat the same process with your bright red and yellow, but make sure to only apply the paint this time where you want the glow brightest. This might be a particular side of the heat sink but in this case it will be the middle for me, to follow the curve of the turret.

Finally, we will 'extend' the glow of the sink to the area around it slightly. You could do this by applying a quick and soft drybrush before you start using lighter colors on the sink itself, but I prefer to use a glaze for this as it produces smoother results. Once the entire sink is dry, take your darkest color (quick physics lesson: reflected light will always be less intense than the source) and some thinning medium. Mix the two together at a 1:1 ratio and then add some to a medium brush with a fine tip before wiping off the excess on your pallet. The brush should be just damp and produce a thin and regular line of color when dragged across your fingernail for the best results. Once you're happy, sketch the color onto the area around the glowing heat sink with little motions. You should be building up an even, translucent layer of color over top of your base paint job, making it look like the heat and light of the sink is radiating out into the area around it.

And now are heat sinks are done! I've painted these sinks with fairly high contrast hot tones to pop on the dull purple model but you can easily change the colors around to suit your needs. If you want darker, more desaturated glow, start with a dark brown instead of a dark red and have your brightest highlight colors be medium red and bright orange. If you want to go hotter, consider trading the red/orange/yellow pallet for blues and whites. More exotic forms of glow could be rendered with greens or purples. Get weird and have some fun with it!

[doumadono]

Warnings: smut w/o plot, fem!Reader, metal dick, oral (f & m receiving)

Synopsis: after a tough mission, you and Boothill have a drink in his room. Little do you know, this drink will lead you to uncovering all of his secrets

OTHER FANDOMS MASTERLIST

Boothill's cybernetic body is large and imposing, and you can't help but feel small and fragile in his presence. But despite his intimidating appearance, he has a certain charm that you find irresistible.

That night, as you're sharing a drink in Boothill's quarters after a tough mission, you can't help but stare at his metal-plated chest and powerful arms more than you ever allowed yourself to before.

Boothill notices your gaze and smirks, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I see you're checkin' me out, honey," he says, his voice deep and gravelly. "Would ya like to see more?"

You nod, your heart racing with excitement as you set your drink aside. You can't help but stare, your mouth slightly agape.

"You're pretty much obsessed with me, ain't ya?" Boothill chuckles and gets up from his seat, setting his glass down. He saunters towards you with a mischievous grin on his face. He knows exactly what he's doing as he slowly begins to unbuckle his thick leather belt.

His metallic fingers clink against the cold steel of the buckle, sending shivers down your spine as you bite your lower lip, sucking it in your mouth. With a flick of his wrist, the belt comes undone, and Boothill lets it drop to the floor with a thud. His pants are oh so tight, revealing the tantalizing curve of his metal pelvis. He takes his time, savoring the anticipation in your eyes as he hooks his thumbs into the waistband of his tight material pants. Inch by inch, he reveals the smooth, polished metal of his metallic hips. The muscles in his thighs ripple and flex with the movement, causing the intricate circuitry beneath his metallic skin to gleam in the dim light. The metallic dick springs up free. It has a polished steel surface. The shaft is smooth and thick, made of titanium, and there's a line of circuits running along the underside, imitating the prominent vein that would be present on a human penis. The mushroom-shaped head is plump. Boothill's testicles, too, are a marvel to behold. Made of the same sleek titanium as the rest of his manhood, they hang heavy and full. He steps out of his pants, his metal dick bobbing with each movement. Then Boothill chuckles, a deep rumble that seems to emanate from the very core of his being. "Like what ya see, honey?” he asks, his voice a low growl that sends shivers down your spine.

You can't help but reach out to touch his testicles. "Gosh," you gasp.

"I take it for yes," he says, his voice full of confidence.

You nod again, unable to speak.

He takes your hand and places it on his cock, encouraging you to touch him.

You wrap your fingers around his metallic shaft, feeling its coldness and hardness.

Boothill lets out a low moan, his hips thrusting forward as you begin to stroke him. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this," he says, his voice strained with pleasure. "I've been dreamin' of buryin' my cock deep inside your tiny cunt, makin' ya scream my name as I fill you with my seed."

Your heart races at the thought of Boothill's cock inside you. You're already wet with anticipation, your pussy aching to be filled.

Boothill must sense your desire because he suddenly picks you up and carries you to his little cot. He lays you down gently and begins to kiss you, his narrow lips hot and demanding.

You respond eagerly, your tongue exploring his mouth and sharp teeth as you taste the whiskey on his breath.

Boothill's metallic hand reaches out, caressing your cheek. "Ever been with a cyborg before?" he asks simply after making sure to leave a hickey on the side of your neck.

You shake your head, your heart pounding in your chest. "No, I haven't…"

Boothill's grin is wide and wild. "Well, then, darlin', it's about time you did." He pulls you closer, his lips crashing down on yours yet again. His tongue explores your mouth, tasting and teasing.

You can feel the coolness of his metal body against yours, and you moan into the kiss.

Meantime, Boothill's hands roam over your body, his touch setting you on fire. He cups your breasts with one strong palm, his fingers tweaking your nipples through your bra until they're hard and sensitive. Boothill's other hand slips down, directly inside your pants. His cold, metallic fingers find your clit, and he starts to rub slow circles around it through your panties, grinning as he feels the damp spot in the middle of the fabric. "Naughty."

You gasp, your hips bucking against his hand.

With a quick movement, he rips your shirt and bra, and opens your trousers, swiftly pulling them down, tugging them off your legs. He reaches your breasts and takes one of your nipples into his mouth, sucking and biting gently with his sharp, shark-like teeth.

You cry out, your back arching as he continues to pleasure you.

His hand travels down your body, his fingers finding your wet pussy. He strokes your clit, causing you to gasp with pleasure. "You're so wet for me," he says, his voice full of satisfaction. "I can't wait to taste you, and to feel you wrapped around my cock." He drops to his knees in front of the cot, pulling you to the edge. He spreads your legs wide, exposing your pussy to him. His tongue darts out, licking your clit.

"Oh, fuck," you moan, your hands going to his two-colour hair, holding him in place.

Boothill starts to lick and suck, his tongue delving deeper and deeper into your slick wetness. He eats your cunny out in earnest, flicking his tongue against your clitoris in a stuttering rhythm that gives you no time to catch your breath. From time to time, he makes sure to stick his tongue into your warm entrance, eagerly drinking all of juices that are dribbling out of you. Sometimes he gives kitten-like licks, while other times he licks in a single stripe, starting from your entrance, through your slit, and directly to your clitoris; his tongue flexing.

Soon, a cold, metallic finger prods your entrance too, quickly joined by a second as it slides in. The cyborg grinds the heel of his hand against your swollen clit as he works his fingers in and out of you.

"Don't stop," you beg, your hips moving in sync with his fingers.

And Boothill doesn't stop. He keeps going, his other hand slapping your clitoris lightly. He attached his mouth to the swollen bud yet again, sucking hardly. And then, with one final lick, you come, your moans filling the air as your runny juices cover his chin after you grind your pussy against his face a few times.

Eagerly and quickly, you drop to your knees, the wooden floorboards digging into your skin. You lick your lips, savoring the anticipation, and then lean in, pressing your mouth to his iron cock.

Boothill's fingers tangle in your hair as you begin to work the metal, your tongue gliding along its length. The taste is foreign, yet enticing, and you find yourself growing more and more aroused with each passing moment. Your own desire is pooling between your legs and thick juices are dribbling down your thighs as you suck the metallic dick.

The sounds of your moans and the wet slurping of your mouth on the iron fills the room.

You continue to lick and tease the plump head of his iron dick, your tongue tracing the intricate design of the metal.

Boothill's breathing grows heavier, and you can sense his growing need for release. You open your mouth and take the head of his cock between your lips. You slide further down the shaft, your lips tight around the steel as you deepthroat him.

Boothill groans, his hips bucking involuntarily as you work your magic. "Fuck, honey, just like that, you're doin' such a good job down there."

Your hands roam his body, exploring the hard, cold contours of his chest and abs as you keep on sucking his cock, looking up at him with your best doe eyes.

With a loud groan, he yanks your head off his cock and forces you back on the cot. He continues to stroke your clit as he positions himself at your entrance, his cock nudging against your slick pussy lips. He pushes in, slowly at first, but then with more force.

You moan as you sense him filling you up to the brim, your pussy stretching painfully to accommodate his thick girth. "Oh, fuck!"

Boothill pauses, giving you time to adjust to his size. "Fuuuuck. You feel amazing," he says, his voice strained with pleasure. "So tight and hot, warmin' my dick up." He begins to move, his hips thrusting forward as he fucks you. Boothill starts to thrust harder, his hips slapping against yours.

You wrap your legs around his waist, pulling him closer. You can feel another orgasm building up inside of you, and you know it's going to be huge.

Boothill's thrusts become more urgent, his cock hitting your G-spot with each stroke. The cyborg pounds into you so fast and deep you can hardly catch your breath.

Your eyes are glistening with unshed tears, your tits bounce with every thrust, and you’re still holding onto his strong forearms. The wet slap of Boothill's hips against your pussy, the obscene squelching from your dripping wet pussy as his cock pistons in and out of you make you arch your back and moan like a whore. Your pussy is clenching painfully around Boothill's cock as if trying to milk his cock right on the spot.

He must feel it too because he begins to thrust harder and faster, his balls slapping against your slit. "Come for me, sweetheart," he urges, his voice strained with pleasure. "I want to feel you cum all over my cock."

With a few more thrusts of his, you explode, your orgasm washing over you in waves of pleasure. The walls of your pussy clamp down on the cyborg's cock.

Boothill follows soon after, his cock twitching as he comes to his own orgasm inside of you, filling you with a thick seed. "Yee-haw! Fuuuuck, fuuuuuck! Yeees!" He gives a few last thrusts, pushing his cum deeper, fucking it into you so you’ll be dripping white for hours, and then he finally pulls out with a groan.

The slurping sound your cunt makes as his cock leaves your pussy is obscene, so is the cloudy trail of mixed white and clear fluid that connects your pussy and the mushroom-shaped tip of his metallic cock until he withdraws completely.

You lay there, panting and spent, covered in a cold sweat as Boothill lays down beside you, his strong arm draped over your waist. "That was amazing, honey," he says, his voice soft and satisfied as he place small kisses to your bare shoulder.

You nod, still unable to speak. You've never experienced anything like this before, and you know that you'll never forget it. "I think I fell in love with your metal rod," you chuckle quietly, your cheeks going beet red.

special tags: @shonen-brainrot @crystalwolfblog @hornydynamight @doumaslotus @bakugoscunny

[wordspinning]

Ellie and Shimmer 🥺🥺🥺

I think I've watched episode 1 four times now and I keep finding new things to love with every rewatch. It was really hard to choose which shot I wanted to paint (I took 350 screenshots but I just loved the colors and composition of this one

I used a primary palette for this one: French ultramarine, cad red, and lemon yellow (and titanium white). Also used a new surface: watercolor canvas from Masters Touch, straight off the pad with no additional coats of gesso. Controversial opinion cause that paper is very very cheap but I actually loved it as a painting surface. Definitely had a finer texture than any of the canvas panels l've seen at my local craft store.

[aylinaliens]

kingdon continues to have me by the throat so i was hit by the sudden urge of mel and frank being best friends in college and painfully in love…it was unfortunate the right person but wrong time for them. so yup, seeing mel standing right there in front of him is a shock to the system…i have so many ideas for this au but this was all i managed to get out

++

Frank Langdon was miles away. Physically, he was leaning against the nurses station, palms flat on the surface so he could lean the majority of his body weight there, rather than the balls of his feet. Mentally, he was checked out. Not entirely, never entirely in a place like this, but his thoughts were circling around in a constant stream of consciousness that he had zero control over.

Robby was talking, but the words filtered in like static. He heard them but not heard them—in that weird juxtaposition way that he often did whenever fresh meat was thrown headfirst in the pit.

“Doctor Melissa King, fresh from the VA.”

He lifted his head up at the name, glancing back down at his hands with a furrow between his brow before he was yanked headfirst straight from the astral plane he was floating around in, eyes flickering back up to lock in on the tip of a braid, laying neatly between shoulders blades and a straight back.

Frank stood up a little straighter on reflex. Not quite completely pushing off the counter, though, he felt too off-balance to do anything like that. He focused his attention acutely on the side of a face that he swore was once burnt into his retina.

“Everyone calls me Mel.” she said, the curve of her mouth so genuine as she beamed brightly at everyone, hands nervously twisting together. “I’m so happy to be here.”

He couldn’t see her fully from where he stood but that didn’t stop his eyes was bouncing in all the parts he could see. He noticed how smooth her hair was, honey blonde strands woven together, and he noticed how the end of her braid was slightly frizzed out. It felt so familiar that Frank felt a phantom twitch in the distal phalanges of his ring and index finger. He knew the weight and texture of those strands, used to be the reason the ends of her hair were so frizzy in the first place, because he was a greedy man with a greedy fascination with playing with the ends as they laid on the couch together.

Frank’s throat went right. Something cinched in the center of his chest like a fist had curled around it and squeezed it tight.

Mel. Mel King.

God.

That was a name he hadn’t heard in a long damn time. It was a name he purposely forced his mind to never linger on because it wouldn’t do any good to think about how incapable she was at hiding what she was feelings. The truth was always laid bared in the path of her mouth to nose to warm brown eyes hidden behind thick frames.

She hadn’t changed—or maybe she had, of course she fucking did, but the changes were so minuscule that Frank felt this strange wash of wistfulness settle low in his stomach that took him straight back to that shitty green couch in the common area of Jordan Hall, where he liked to pretend he was focusing deeply on his anatomy textbook when in reality he was far more interested in studying the half-chewed pen cap pressed against a shiny pink mouth. He was too distant to count the freckles on the bridge like he used to like to do.

Mel was standing there looking at everyone beside him, body pratically vibrating out of her skin, and all Frank could think of was oh. Mel. Mel. Mel.

Melissa King. In the flesh. She had been the sun in his peripheral vision for years, but he’d never quite dared to look straight at her, but now he was looking at her. And then he was looking away, because having a staring problem at twenty-two was more socially acceptable than having a staring problem at thirty-three, especially with the cold press of a titanium band looped on his ring finger.

(He stared anyway.

Of course, he stared anyway. Like he had any control of not allowing himself the privilege of relearning the million and one pathways of expression on Mel’s face.)

[theambitiouswoman]

Skincare Routine and Product 101 🧖‍♀️🫧🧴💕

Morning Routine:

Cleanser: Gently cleanse your face with a mild cleanser to remove sweat and oil.

Toner: Apply a alcohol-free toner to balance your skin's pH levels.

Serum (Optional): Apply a serum with antioxidants or specific skin concerns (e.g., Vitamin C for brightening).

Moisturizer: Use a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer to hydrate your skin.

Sunscreen: Apply broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen to protect your skin from UV rays.

Evening Routine:

Makeup Removal: Use a gentle makeup remover or cleansing oil to remove makeup and sunscreen.

Cleanser: Cleanse your face again with a mild cleanser to remove impurities.

Exfoliating (1-2 times a week): Use a gentle exfoliant to remove dead skin cells and promote cell turnover.

Toner Apply toner to balance your skin after cleansing.

Serum: Apply a serum with ingredients like hyaluronic acid or retinol (if suitable for your skin type).

Eye Cream (Optional): Apply a lightweight eye cream to moisturize the delicate skin around your eyes.

Moisturizer: Use a slightly thicker night cream or moisturizer to deeply hydrate your skin.

Descriptions:

Cleanser:

Purpose: Removes dirt, oil, and impurities from the skin's surface.

Types: Gel cleansers, foaming cleansers, cream cleansers, oil cleansers.

Toner:

Purpose: Balances the skin's pH, preps for other products, and provides light hydration.

Types: Hydrating toners, exfoliating toners (with AHAs/BHAs).

Serum:

Purpose: Concentrated formulas targeting specific skin concerns (e.g., hydration, brightening, anti-aging).

Types: Hyaluronic acid serums, vitamin C serums, retinol serums.

Moisturizer:

Purpose: Hydrates and seals moisture into the skin, creating a protective barrier.

Types: Gel moisturizers, cream moisturizers, oil-based moisturizers.

Sunscreen:

Purpose: Protects the skin from UV rays, preventing sun damage and premature aging.

Types: Physical sunscreens (with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide).

Exfoliant:

Purpose: Removes dead skin cells, unclogs pores, and promotes cell turnover.

Types: Physical exfoliants (scrubs), chemical exfoliants (AHAs, BHAs).

Mask:

Purpose: Provides a concentrated treatment for specific concerns (e.g., hydration, acne).

Types: Clay masks (absorb excess oil), sheet masks (hydrate and soothe), sleeping masks (overnight treatment).

Eye Cream:

Purpose: Hydrates and addresses specific concerns around the delicate eye area (e.g., dark circles, puffiness).

Spot Treatment:

Purpose: Targets individual pimples or blemishes with concentrated ingredients.

Makeup Remover:

Purpose: Effectively removes makeup, sunscreen, and impurities from the skin.

Cleansing Oil:

Purpose: Gently dissolves makeup and sunscreen, leaving skin clean and hydrated.

Micellar Water:

Purpose: Cleanses and removes makeup using micelle molecules, requires no rinsing.

Essence:

Purpose: A lightweight, hydrating step that prepares skin for subsequent products.

Ampoule:

Purpose: A highly concentrated serum for intense treatment of specific concerns.

Facial Oil:

Purpose: Nourishes and adds extra hydration to the skin, especially for dry or mature skin types.

Your skincare routine should be tailored to your individual skin type, concerns, and preferences. Start with the basics and gradually introduce new products to observe how your skin responds.

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Doubling down on metasurfaces: Bilayer device can control many forms of polarized light

Almost a decade ago, Harvard engineers unveiled the world's first visible-spectrum metasurfaces—ultra-thin, flat devices patterned with nanoscale structures that could precisely control the behavior of light. A powerful alternative to traditional, bulky optical components, metasurfaces today enable compact, lightweight, multifunctional applications ranging from imaging systems and augmented reality to spectroscopy and communications. Now, researchers in the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) are doubling down, literally, on metasurface technology by creating a bilayer metasurface, made of not one, but two stacked layers of titanium dioxide nanostructures. Under a microscope, the new device looks like a dense array of stepped skyscrapers.

Read more.

[othersidepiercing]

Nape, internally threaded Titanium

[dronebiscuitbat]

Oil is Thicker Then Blood (Part 114)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/57014356/chapters/164008846

N took a deep breath as he passed the molten planetary body, tail around the thruster control and slowly easing off the power, gently preparing the ship for entry into Titanium-28's green-tinted atmosphere

His girlfriend, his partner, his mate. Was standing beside him with a hand on his shoulder, controlling her breathing as the ship began to rumble, beginning to get pulled into the planets gravity.

“Let's hope the heat shielding holds up…” She gulped, tension barely hidden under the surface.

“If it doesn't… uh what happens?” N asked, sweat on the inside of his visor as the ship groaned as gravity pulled it down faster..

“We cook alive as the ship burns up in the atmosphere.” Uzi replied, squeezing his shoulder a little harder.

“Oh…” He gulped, turning his full attention back to the navigation.

“Dont think about it. I designed it… it'll hold.”

He nodded, forcing down the feeling of dread building up in his core.

…

Tera and Bishop were being watched by Delilah and Jason, her husband, being one of the only people Uzi trusted to watch her without fear of her little one being judged. Plus, she got to socialize.

Bishop cooed up at Delilah, who was in awe of his little tail, five extra eyes, and tiny teeth.

“Oooh, aren't you the cutest little thing. You look just like your dad, yes you do!” She booped his nose, and his visor flickered as he giggled.

Zoey played with her small freind group to the side. Two more young girls, pretending to be moms, or, for one, pretending to be the cool aunt because “babies are weird.”

Tera was not playing with dolls.

No. She was sitting perfectly still while Kiara prodded the fangs in her mouth with her fingers, curious on her differences but not afraid.

“Point-ie” She said softly, poking the sharp tooth and cocking her head. Tera vibrated, trying to wag a tail she didn't have.

“Uh-huh!” She replied, though muffled through the finger in her mouth, it isn't until Kiara pulling her hand away that she's able to speak. “Bitey.”

Kiara opened her own mouth to reveal her flat teeth.

“No Bitey.” Tera observed, poking Kiara's teeth now, making her giggle and kick her feet.

Tera smiled, her fangs on full, shameless display. She poked her again, this time on the cheek.

More giggles.

Poke.

A squeal of laughter

Tera was rearing up to poke her again when another young child tackled her from the side, making her squeak in surprise and alarm. Delilah immediately looked up from Bishop, handing him off to Jason before rushing over and assessing the situation.

A young boy with red eyelights and indigo colored hair was stand triumphantly where Tera was a moment ago, chest puffed out, the easy way he hot around implied he was at least two.

He smiled wide. “I saved you!” He declared, looking down at Kiara, who… looked way more concerned about her freind being shoved away and ignored him entirely.

“Ter! Ter!” She squeaked as she came over to her.

Tera shook her head as her vison flickered yellow, becoming fuzzy and confusing, she felt warmness fill her core, quickly getting hotter and hotter-

“Now, now kiddo, you can't just shove other people like that.” Delilah scolded. “Where on earth are your parents…?”

“Teeth!” He pointed out like it was a good point.

“We all have teeth buddy.” Delilah replied.

Tera growled, feeling static fill her head and body begin to feel slightly floaty, what was happening…?

In the next moment, her body moved without her input, pouncing on the boy with a feral sounding growl and claws poking out of her fingertips. He yelped as she landed on top of him, visor a yellow “X”

Her mouth was turned upward in a too-wide cheshire grin, drool dripped on the little boys visor, she pinned him, cocking her head unnaturally.

Delilah’s eyelights went hollow, thinking quickly, she grabbed the young solver kit by the back of her shirt like Uzi often did, and she fell limp like a kitten, visor flickering offline for a moment before purple reappeared.

The boy got up and immediately ran to a younger man, who was on his phone and paid him no mind, even after he yelled “Yellow Eyes!” multiple times.

Tera blinked, slightly confused on why she couldn't remember the last couple minutes or why she was being held in the air.

She looked at Delilah and cocked her head, before giggling, smiling at her innocently.

She looked back at Jason. And then at Kiara, who was already reaching up towards her best freind and Tera reaching down.

…Jason hadn't noticed, he was chatting to another man while holding Bishop.

Delilah looked back at Tera, who was looking at her expectantly, there was nothing threatening about her now. Her claws sheathed and her fangs back to looking cute.

“Lila…?” She asked, wriggling slightly in her grasp. “Trouble…?” Her head slumped down and her shoulders fell, asking if he was in trouble even if she didn't quite remember what happened.

Delilah gently put the solver kit back down, Tera shaking like a damp puppy before resuming play…

Even though Tera was already slightly larger then her own daughter, she played gently, there was no sign of the aggression she'd just displayed…

The ship lurched suddenly, throwing anyone standing off balance and anyone sitting out of their seat.

N's voice echoed over the speakers. His voice slightly shaky. “We are decending onto Titanium-28, please find something to hold onto.”

“A-also our back landing gear is not deploying…it's gonna be a rough landing… watch for loose items and brace yourselves"

The speaker clicks to signify the message is over.

Everyone looms at each other before quickly gathering their things and heading to the sleeping pods to prepare for landing.

…

Fire caused by friction plumed under the ship, N reversing the thrusters and pulling up hard so the wings would catch without burning, he bit his lip, concentration on every feature. Uzi was in the co-pilot seat, watching the integrity of the hull like a hawk.

“Coming in a little hot…” She warned. “Just breathe and relax, you got this.” She assured. “We're slowing down.”

He nodded, focusing on slowing them down before they hit terminal velocity. He forced himself into calming breaths even as his core pounded.

Several heat shielding panels caught the wind and blew off, the ship groaned and rattled as it heaved, everyone inside held on to the inside of thier pods for dear life.

“Easy. You got it.” Uzi said again, hitting some buttons on the console. N felt the thrusters stall for a moment.

“Uzi.”

“It's fine, I'm giving you a little more power, this is a little heavier then a pod…” She explained, he felt the ship lurch again as he began to slow down faster.

Just in time to see a dark green colored canopy that seemed to cover the entire planet. Shielding the ground from the sun, but unfortunately making landing far more difficult.

“Just go slow, we're a big metal missle we can break some trees if we have to.” Uzi smiled, and down came the ship through the thick canopy…

The ship scraped loudly against thick branches and dense leaves, rumbling in protest as it carved a hole for itself, the drones inside the flying sardine can, became more and more worried.

…

Until it all all stopped with a loud bang, the ships having to grind across the ground to stop without the back landing gear… and it was over.

After a moment of silence, N's voice echoed over the speaker.

“Touchdown.”

And the screams that followed were joyous and wonderful…

…

The airlock opened with a hiss onto the Doorman family, Tera riding on her father's head while Bishop was held in his mother's arms. Warm, humid air brushed across thier silicone like a gentle greeting.

The canopy of the hundred foot tall trees was so thick, barely any sunlight made it to the the forest floor, which meant… even though it was during the day… The Doorman family was able to climb out of the ship and onto the ground.

The lack of sunlight was made up by the underbrush being bioluminesant, the ferns, bushes and flowers glowing in hues of blue, green and red, when Uzi brushed a plant with her hand, the red leaf burst with orange light before settling again.

Birds called from the canopy, thier beautiful melody echoed through the mighty trees, flashes of colorful wings and glowing yellow eyes peered down at them.

N jumped as something squeaked at him for nearly stepping on it. A slightly furry, yet amphibious looking creature with two tails and giant ears, and four brown beady eyes.

“Oh! H-hey buddy.” He greeted dumbly, having not seen an animal since he was a worker.

It squeaked at him again, having rows of sharp little needle teeth, before it scampered off on six legs.

Uzi chuckled. “Space Rat.”

N's eyes lit up. “Sprat!”

The rest of the worker drones slowly clambered out of the ships airlock in awe, enraptured by this strange and wonderful world…

V flew up and out of the ship immediately, scanning the landing site with each and every one of her eyes before she stood on top of the partly-crash-landed ship. Breathing in the thick jungle air.

“So… what now?” N asked his partner, being on the ground… in a new world, safe at last.

“We… find a place to rebuild.” Uzi smiled, looking relieved for the first time in… a long time. “We made it.”

N laughed, voice warbly like he was about to cry. “Yeah…”

Tera's entire body stiffed from atop N's head when she caught a glimpse of something tiny, fast, and shiny scurrying across the alien ground.

With a flicker if a purple “X" on her visor, she lept off N's head and chased after it on all fours, making both her parents yelp and call out after her.

Her tongue was hanging out the side of her head while she chased the shiny tiny thing, the wind whistling around her, claws digging into the dirt and flinging dried leaves up behind her in a trail. She didn't even notice her parents panicked yelling as she sprinted deeper into the jungle.

She passed odd creatures. A heard of deer- no, sheep? Both, the antlers and size of a deer but the build and woolen coat of a sheep. Yet she kept going.

She bounded through a stream teeming with small, colorful fish.

And beamed directly into a spider-web, which, as spiderwebs do. Got sucked right into her tiny mouth.

She skid to a stop, coughing and sputtering and rubbing her face to get off the unwanted substance.

“Bleh! Pleh! Mleh!” She spat, which was just enough time for Uzi, flying as fast as she could, to catch up with her.

“Tera! Don't run off that fast! We don't know what's here!” She scolded as she picked her up, helping her wipe the world's finest thread off her face. “There.”

Uzi looked around, before stopping to stare at something peculiar…

A shine of metal underneath an overgrowth of vines. She cocked her head and raised her hand to use the solver to remove the vines.

As the vines came away, a smile came onto her face.

It was an old pumpjack.

“Yeah… that'll work.”

…

The End.

[ninibeingdelulu]

His biggest fan ✧

Plot: You’re Michael’s girlfriend, cheering him at one of his games.

A/N: It’s so bad I hate it😓

The roar of thunderous cheers flooded the stadium as Michael unleashed another stupefying display of lethal precision and brute physicality that defied mortal comprehension.

You watched with breathless awe seated front row as that signature blue mohawk wove a hypnotic cyclone of calculated ferocity carving apart the helpless defense trailing hopelessly in his wake.

Each savage yet eerily choreographed burst from Michael's heavyweight strides reverberated across the pitch warping the boundaries of space and time itself directly proportional to his gravitational soccer supremacy.

Until the entire cosmos distilled into that infinite singularity split-second with just your striker boyfriend, the ball and the yawning maw of the goal awaiting its inevitable oblation.

You bit down hard stifling the visceral shudder trying to escape as Michael's rocket-powered thunderbolt smashed past the defenseless keeper and ignited the back of the net in a blaze of cosmic glory.

Celebrating with that bone-chilling sovereign roar staking his unchallengeable dominion once more before this mortal realm of sporting conquest still so far beneath his transcendent plane of greatness.

Even after the final whistle sounded you remained spellbound observing Michael bask in those rapturous post-coital moments savoring his ineffable feat.

Utterly transfixed upon the hyper-masculine sculpture of your man still slicked with the spoils of carnal supremacy while casting that chiseled nordic profile against the floodlit heavens he reigned sovereign over.

Until his peripheral laser focus abruptly snapped in your direction lancing directly through your aura with a telepathic tractor beam manifesting into actual physics-warping forces.

Almost like each molecule surrounding Michael compressed and bent inward before being shunted aside clearing his path towards you with terrifying inevitability.

You barely had a chance to brace yourself as the unstoppable tsunami slammed into your front row section without mercy or resistance.

The concussive shockwave blasting through your senses while those titanium bulwarks materialized around you scooping your diminutive frame against Michael's furnace-stoked musculature with crushing intensity.

"My sweet empress…I could only hear your voice back there. It motivated me, thank you.”

His rough-hewn bassline resonated against every nerve ending vibrating at some untapped primordial stratum while you strained to surface through the endless whitenoise overloading your synapses.

Only Michael's low gravitic pulses penetrating the oblivion flooding your faculties from that unholy cosmic union now peeling away every layer keeping you distinct individualities during submersion into this event horizon state of indistinguishable polarities collapsed together.

Until finally resurfacing from that singularity after an eternity compressed into nanoseconds - though still deliriously consumed by the aftershocks rippling across your intertwined vessels smoldering in the embers of rapturous conflagration yet still ravenous for more extreme escalations eternally rebirthing from the expended remains!

Only the roaring crescendos from those frenzied supporters still filling the stadium slowly penetrated the vacuous void reverberating between you both savoring that suspended infinitesimal post-orgasmic bliss together.

You felt Michael's stern facade gradually reassemble while withdrawing from your interiors just fractionally enough to restore individuation-yet sense his alpha dominion expanding throughout your reconstituted synaptic matrices cementing his reign over your fused polarities once more.

Then with a subtle shift his smokey granite stare cleaved directly through the veil drawing your reawakened senses under that spellbinding trance spellbinding instantly.

A hushed imperious rasp now caressing your essence from that primal domain where all worldly laws bent to his sovereign decrees:

"Why don’t I reward you tonight, huh, meine liebe ?”

Just experiencing the infinitesimal microcosm of his supreme essence bleeding into your rematerialized corporeal vessel already whiplashed your senses through multiple clinical deaths and resurrections beyond this plane's dimensional limits.

His seismic vibrational frequencies triggered endorphin avalanches detonating every neurotransmitter into frenzied paroxysms anticipating the ineffable escalations still awaiting together...

[sims2packrat]

Szabolon's CC

Their tumblr had been saved via wayback, and I couldn't for the life of me find reblogs of their posts so I'll make a list here instead.

Little set of women swimwear, some of it require modishkitten mesh (included) download

Small set of delicate eyeshadow: SFS

At this time I have to study for my final exams, so its the best time to play the sims! Maybe i will pass with some luck anyway :) I have for you lace underwear and separated top from it. Hope you like it.

lacetop: SFS | lace underwear: SFS

deco: SFS

Pastel Sombres of peggy shortened by charlotka and newsea titanium pulled back also shortened download newsea titanium | download peggy recolors (missing pictures)

@xwhitepolar kindly re-uploaded some dresses, many thanks!!

szabolon's maxi boho dresses: mediafire | sfs

These downloads below didn't have any pictures, so I took some very simple previews in simpe. The sfs-links have these images included, and also named so you know what file is what.

New mesh of sofa, rar contains pdf files for creators :)

DOWNLOAD + download sofa recs <- if you download this archive, there's an empty package file in there (RECszabolon_maxispetspainting.package)

sfs mirror (contains both mesh and recs)

2 new meshes : Table + pineapple

feel free to recolor :)

download / sfs mirror

two surface meshes for your garden with additional slots and few recolors. They are my older creation, but were supposed to be part of bigger set wich never came to live :P

download / sfs mirror

two lamp mesh and a hight endtable

DOWNLOAD / sfs mirror

--

Without pictures:

Hello Simmers! Today i would like to share with you set of tree new meshes with some random recolors. Flower, endtable and puff :)

hope you enyoy ! download / sfs mirror

--

(TS2) Pineapple Wallpaper set. DOWNLOAD / sfs mirror

--

hexagon floors: download / sfs mirror

--

swimsuit in various colors on modishkitten super mesh :)

DOWNLOAD / sfs mirror (mesh included)

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(TS4) Pineapple wallpapers, they appear in one object with different swatches. As you can see in the last picture, I made it a little more cartoonish than the sims2 version, to match this funny ts4 style.

download

^note this last download is only for ts4, I included it bc eh but packrat is still only for ts2.

--

Not sure if this is everything from Szabolon, but it was all I managed to grab via wayback from this and this tag.