#Earthly Expedition

[kalira]

Earthly Expedition

Written for @domaystic! Day 11: volunteering

T; 1.6k Harlock/Yama, Tochiro (Arcadia)

With the Arcadia's greenhouse bay now well established, the plants growing there can be carefully diversified via an expedition down to the Earth's surface to collect new samples; Yama stepping forward as the one to do that, as a matter of course, brings up some unexpected revelations.

[j4gm]

SPOILERS!!! REFERENCES AND EASTER EGGS IN F&C ep. 8: JERRY

The last of four posts for today.

This episode has a very dark setting. This is the universe where The Lich wished for the extinction of all life. There is nothing here. This establishing shot features the Squirrel's apple cart, from a few episodes ago, but he is long dead and it is long abandoned.

We are introduced to a new cosmic entity, Orbo, who is Scarab's boss but is not to be mistaken for Prismo's boss, whose identity remains a mystery.

Simon name drops a whole bunch of magical items from the original Adventure Time series; the Armour of Zeldron from Blood Under the Skin, the Wand of Dispersement from Sons of Mars, the Porcelain Lamb from Beyond This Earthly Realm, and the magic beans from The Pods.

This episode suggests that the nature of Simon and Betty's relationship was initially quite unhealthy. He was one of her lecturers, and she had an infatuation with him from first sight.

This illustration features the ancient wizards who sealed Coconteppi beneath Wizard City in the Distant Lands episode of the same name.

Simon's expedition to find the Enchiridion was first mentioned in the newspaper clipping in I Remember You, and was mentioned again in Temple of Mars.

BMO apparently survived The Lich's wish because he isn't technically alive. I wonder where Neptr and the other MOs are. Cannibalised for batteries, perhaps. Also, that BRB note is very sad and is identical to the one Finn wrote in Blenanas.

There are various familiar items in the thawed out remains of the Ice Kingdom; ninja paraphernalia from The Chamber of Frozen Blades, Ice King's diary from The Empress Eyes, and of course the tape collection from Holly Jolly Secrets.

Here's a deep cut: That machine in the background to the right of Simon is the machine that held the lightning power that Finn went to steal in What is Life, so that he could power up Neptr. The Demonic Wishing Eye is also in this shot.

For a single frame, Ice King and Gunter can be seen reduced to skeletons. Presumably this was the exact moment that the Lich's wish took effect. Everyone died instantly, in less than a frame.

When I watched this episode for the first time I was confused about where Fionna got the working crown. But you can just about see it inside the drum in this shot, where Ice King mentioned he had put it in his tape.

This is the exact moment the photograph was taken for the newspaper clipping seen in I Remember You.

We first heard the story about how Simon met Betty after they tried to check out the same library book in Broke His Crown. It's cool to see it playing out for real.

Simon throws a pebble at the window and accidentally hits Babette in the face, exactly like Finn and Jake did to Kim Kil Whan in the episode Ocarina.

This is the second time Simon caused Betty to miss this research trip to Australia. She says in Temple of Mars that she never got the opportunity to go, and resolves that her life might not have been so messed up if she'd followed her own dreams instead of following Simon's.

The song in this scene, the motif of which has been heard throughout the series, is by Half Shy, who also wrote "Monster" for Obsidian.

BMO is buried with a paper flower because there are no real ones left alive. His death seemed pointlessly cruel.

THE LICH! He is in his half-disguised Billy form, confirming that this is his wish-altered reality. Like in his other appearances, the first line he speaks is a single word command. This time, the command is "Cease." But with nothing left to do he has become depressed, and he doesn't bother killing our protagonists.

And finally, we are left on this cliffhanger. Fionna and Cake have returned to their world. Scarab has convinced the boss that Simon must be destroyed. And GOLBetty is here to claim them both while the Lich watches on.

This episode's dream features a pair of Lich skulls either side an effigy of GOLB.

[mysticstronomy]

IS THE MILKY WAY MOVING??

Blog#351

Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023

Welcome back,

As we delve deeper into the cosmic dance of celestial bodies, the mind-boggling journey continues. Picture this: as Earth spins on its axis at approximately a thousand miles per hour, and hurtles through space in orbit around the Sun at a mind-bending 67,000 miles per hour, we find ourselves part of a much grander performance within the Milky Way.

The Milky Way, our spiral-shaped home in the universe, is not simply a static backdrop. No, it's a galactic city in motion. Together with the Sun and the entire solar system, we form a celestial cavalcade, orbiting the center of the Milky Way at a staggering 140 miles per second. It's a cosmic waltz, and despite the breakneck speed, a full orbit takes around 200 million years, emphasizing the sheer vastness of our stellar neighborhood.

But wait, there's more. The Milky Way, in all its splendor, is not stationary either. It's on the move through the cosmic seas of intergalactic space. Our galaxy is part of the Local Group, a gathering of galaxies on a journey toward the center of our cluster at a comparatively leisurely 25 miles per second.

If the sheer scale of our local cosmic voyage hasn't left you dizzy, brace yourself for the final leg of our astronomical adventure.

Not only are we spinning, orbiting, and cruising through the Milky Way, but we, along with our cosmic companions in the Local Group, are hurtling at a jaw-dropping 375 miles per second toward the Virgo Cluster. This colossal collection of galaxies, situated a mind-blowing 45 million light-years away, adds an astonishing layer to our celestial expedition.

In the grand tapestry of the cosmos, our earthly existence is a mesmerizing part of an intricate, ever-changing cosmic ballet. The speeds and scales involved defy our everyday perceptions, inviting us to contemplate the awe-inspiring wonders of the universe in which we reside.

Originally published on https://stardate.org

COMING UP!!

(Saturday, November 25th, 2023)

"WHAT IS THE BLOCK UNIVERSE THEORY??"

[big-nerd-boi]

A sneak peak of a part of my very own storyline/ au/ fanfic or something- I don’t know guys I’m just here for monkeys.

But I do have a name for it!

Kill the crown.

Pretty cool right? I think so-

Okay basic run down!

At the end of

“the journey to the west”

Which I have not read yet so bear with me on this canon divergence— Wukong goes to the jade emperor to have his crown removed. JE decides that no, Wukong is too unruly and dangerous to keep around; unfortunately killing him is out of his options because Wukong is effectively completely immortal now, so instead— JE recites a variation of the crown’s spell and effectively puts Wukong into a coma cannot wake himself up from.

From there, Wukong is thrown back onto flower fruit mountain ( the art is of Wukong in his coma) and left to rot. Neither his brothers nor master know where he is, so they wait… and wait- until they continue with their own lives.

Eventually heaven is taken over by someone else, the jade emperor destroyed by a creature only known by the veiled emperor.

No one knows their face, their real name, or the extend of their powers. Only that they’ve laid siege on the celestial realm, destroying anyone who stands in their way.

Fifty earthly years pass, parts of China are now controlled by the veiled emperor as well- and said power is creeping along, covering more and more kingdoms.

Humans and demons alike of course fight back, warring against the celestial realm.

One free kingdom is The Kingdom of the Eastern Sun. Ruled by a demonic king, and his empress… the stone ape, the long armed gibbon, Min-Yáng. Together she and Bojing ( her husband ) have four children.

The main of which is the second oldest, Ming-Yue/ Yue for short. Over the years, there have been rumors of Monkey King’s staff being hidden among the earth- and she was fascinated by it.

She was even more intrigued when a general spoke about finding what they thought to be said staff, requesting her parents for an expedition group.

Heng, Min-Yáng’s sworn brother and the stone baboon, offered to join this party. Yue snuck out, hiding away to join the crew. No one was any wiser until it was too late to bring her back.

Finding the staff is the catalyst, even more so when Yue plucks it from the crater it had formed when falling from heaven.

From then on, she and her uncle Heng are hunted by misguided ( if not outright forced ) celestial soldiers, even other demons! All of them wanting the staff to give to the new emperor.

There is only one person still on the mortal plane that can help, the legendary monkey king. But only one of equal power and strength can awaken him from the crown’s curse.

Someone that had been dead for decades, the last monkey born from stone… the six eared macaque: Luhan.

And that’s a quick summary of Kill The Crown so far!

Of course there’s so many more characters and details I’m skipping over like Yue’s siblings, Guanyin’s role, and so much more!! But dang I’m so excited to share this story with everybody! Of course, soon to come is art of everybody once I format it all to Tumblr. But if you’re too impatient- my insta has quite a bit of kill the crown art!

[blueiskewl]

A 2100-Year-Old Medallion of Goddess Aphrodite and a Warrior Tomb Found in Russia

Archaeologists have unearthed a silver medallion depicting the Greek goddess Aphrodite (Roma Venüs) in a 2100-year-old grave of a priestess on the northeast coast of the Black Sea.

The unique medallion depicts ten rather than the known twelve signs of the zodiac and provides insight into religious practices at the time of its creation.

The discovery, in the opinion of archaeologists, raises the possibility that the buried woman was an Aphrodite priestess, the goddess of beauty and love. The rings, silver earrings, and other grave goods that were dedicated to the goddess led to these conclusions.

The grave is among a number of striking finds unearthed this summer at a site near the shore of the Taman Peninsula in southern Russia, east of the Crimean Peninsula and between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

According to the Oleg Deripaska Volnoe Delo Foundation’s spokesman Ruben Bunyatyan, archaeologists Nikolay Sudarev and Mikhail Treister discovered the woman’s grave during the Phanagoria archaeological expedition’s 2022 summer season.

The large medallion is made of silver and shows the goddess Aphrodite in the center, surrounded by symbols portraying 10 signs of the zodiac. 

Greek historian, Hecataeus of Miletus, said that Phanagoria was founded in the sixth century B.C. by refugees from Teos, a Greek city on the coast of Anatolia now part of modern-day Turkey.

The Aphrodite medallion is surrounded by 10 embossed symbols that correspond to signs of the zodiac, including a lion for Leo, a bull for Taurus, and a scorpion for Scorpio. But the symbols for the zodiac signs Aquarius and Libra are missing, and the researchers don’t know why.

According to archaeologists, the inclusion of the zodiac indicates the medallion is a portrayal of “Aphrodite Urania” — the heavenly aspect of the goddess, as distinct from her Earthly aspect, “Aphrodite Pandemos.”

It also suggests a belief in astrology, the idea that the positions of celestial bodies can influence events on Earth, which was widespread throughout the ancient world.

The silver medallion found in the early first century B.C. grave shows the embossed head, shoulders, and hands of Aphrodite, based on other contemporary iconographic portrayals.

Such medallions were common in the territory of the Bosporan Kingdom as early as 2,300 years ago, said Maria Chashuk, senior research associate of the Phanagoria archaeological expedition.

The medallion is about 7 centimeters (2.75 inches) in diameter and 15 millimeters thick.

Medallions of the sort were used in many ways: as brooches, as headgear accessories, and as pendants.

Another intriguing find at the Black Sea site was a warrior’s tomb featuring a sword that had been made in early medieval Iran.

The large iron sword was found in the style of swords from the Sassanid, or the second Persian Empire, which ruled the areas of modern-day Iran, Iraq, Turkmenistan, and much of Afghanistan. The researchers think that the sword may have been a diplomatic gift or that it may have been taken as a military trophy.

According to the statement from the Volnoe Delo Foundation, “this massive, expensive and prestigious sword was part of the equipment of the horsemen of the era of the Great Migration,” a period when much of Europe and Western Asia was threatened by invasions of peoples from Central Asia, such as the Huns. The unique find not only reflects the tastes of the late antique warriors of the Taman Peninsula, but also suggests that in the middle of the first millennium Phanagoria had close political and cultural ties with the [Sassanid] Empire,”

The warrior’s tomb (first century B.C.) also contained fragments of a horse’s harness, buckles, belt tips, glass jugs, utensils, and wooden boxes, as well as a pottery jug, beads, a brass mirror, and a pair of iron scissors.

By Leman Altuntaş.

[lexsssu]

Song (Rhaegar Targaryen)

Flufftober Day 11

TAGS: Rhaegar/Dragoness!Reader, hijinks & shenanigans, fluff, pining, simping

Viserys loves his big sister.

She plays with him whenever she has time, tells him the most wonderful stories, and sings the sweetest songs. Songs so sweet that mother and big brother Rhaegar smile whenever they hear them.

The young prince has yet to understand the world, but all he knows for sure is that he loves his family and that he can’t wait to play with his future niece or nephew once they’re big enough to play with.

Maybe he should pick some flowers for you from the garden? He saw a small patch of pretty white daffodils earlier…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When word came of Lord Steffon’s successful journey to find a Valyrian bride for Crown Prince Rhaegar, Aerys cackled in maddened delight at the prospect of adding superior Valyrian stock to his line. A feast was haphazardly thrown to commemorate the welcome news.

Rhaegar honestly didn’t expect the expedition to bear fruit, but he didn’t doubt the Baratheon Lord’s word. Apparently, the maiden was of Aurion’s line, a descendant of the dragonlord who proclaimed himself as the first Valyrian emperor. The Targaryens who weren’t even a powerful family during the height of Valyria’s power were certainly below her pedigree.

The prince could only speculate why she would agree to this union when Lord Steffon also mentioned the people of Qohor worshiping her. Mutters about the ‘return of the dragons’ circulated from Qohor and to the rest of Essos, but Rhaegar assumed it was due to the knowledge of the dragonlord she descended from.

He supposes he will have his answers soon enough.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Presenting Her Eminence, Lucifiel of Ainz Ooal Gown, Empress of Valyria and Essos.”

All sound within the throne room disappeared as the Maiden herself seems to have descended from the heavens to grace them with her beauty. It was as if she captured the very first snowfall within her hair as it shone so pure that it put even pure ivory to shame. Despite not having the violet-eyes normally associated with Valyrians, the deep molten gold within your gaze was more precious than any earthly Lannister gold which paled in comparison.

None of your steps made any sound as you leisurely walked towards the Iron Throne, head held high yet not to the point where it seemed like you were looking down upon them. You held yourself like someone who knew their worth, yet did not wield it to suppress or belittle your lessers.

When your gaze connects with his, Rhaegar was at a loss for words and for once in his life showed an expression of…uncertainty and was that…bashfulness?

If this wasn’t such an important setting, Arthur Dayne would have guffawed in amusement already at this rare moment. It wasn’t everyday one could so easily fluster the dragon prince himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Don’t look down. Don’t look down. Don’t look down. Don’t look down. Don’t look down.“

“Shit. Do they know I’m just faking it ‘til I make it?”

“...Why is this prince so…attractive? Weren’t medieval princes supposed to be deformed from all that inbreeding?”

“Oh fuck. He’s looking right at me. Be cool…!”

[ginormouscobe]

Spec-Ev Rant #1: Eyes

I've wanted a place to put this for a while, I guess this Tumblr is as good a place as any. Speculative evolution has gotten more popular recently, and while spec-ev can be a great educational tool it can also mislead people. One common theme I see in spec-ev is aliens with no eyes; you see it in Expedition, Phtanum B, and a myriad of smaller projects. Often this is excused with the organisms having other senses, like echolocation or infrared vision. While we do see organisms on Earth that use echolocation or heat vision (bats and snakes are the first that come to mind), virtually every motile organism on Earth has eyes or descended from an ancestor with eyes. Eyes have evolved independently several times on Earth, including both complex eyes and simple eyespots. Box jellyfish possess numerous eyes, as do scallops. For an entire planet to end up eyeless would require some exceptional conditions, such as a complete lack of light; even in deep sea environments organisms still retain eyes, though many cave dwelling creatures lose them. If there was a planet without any eyes, an organism would likely emerge with eyespots and quickly out compete its eyeless cousins. This isn't to say you can't make aliens that lack eyes, I think that Expedition and Phtanum B did this as an artistic liberty to make the organisms feel less relatable to earthly life and therefor more 'alien.'

[theroseandthebeast]

Yuletide Recs, Batch Three

16 recs for The Eagle, Earthsea, Emma., The Expanse, The Faculty, The Fall of the House of Usher, Fallen London, The Green Knight, The Handmaiden, Jane Eyre, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, and The Matrix

Between Two Rivers, Marcus Flavius Aquila & Esca Mac Cunoval

Two rivers. Two near kisses.

The White Ladies of the Ring, Penthe/Tenar

There was a sorcerer imprisoned in the Labyrinth, and Arha had told Kossil that she would kill him—but she did not want to. Perhaps she needed to ask someone for help...

My Queen Bee, George Knightley/Emma Woodhouse

Emma went on, brightly, “I have spoken with Harriet about it.” George blinked. He was fast losing his grip on this conversation. 

We aren't righteous (or: five times Amos did as Naomi asked, and one time he didn't.), Gen, Amos Burton & Naomi Nagata

For EdosianOrchids901 for Yuletide, who asked for Amos and Naomi and suggested something pre-canon, something about that dynamic where he sees her as an external moral compass, and how their friendship developed. This is mostly pre-canon, overlapping with canon in the last two parts. (Also it's been a while since I've seen this so apologies in advance if I've missed something in research and inadvertently contradicted canon on their immediate pre-canon backstories!)

Pyriscence, Gen, Amos Burton & Praxidike Meng

After the war with the Free Navy, Amos comes to see Prax.

What do you do when you survive a shape-shifting mind-controlling alien as a teen?, Stokely Mitchell/Stan Rosado

Twenty years later, Stokely and Stan arrive back in each other's lives.

the miraculous lustre of her eye, Madeline Usher/Verna

"If she wants Madeline fucking Usher, she's going to have to look me straight in the eyes."

a wild weird clime that lieth, sublime, Gen, Verna + Arthur Pym

Arthur Pym's first meeting with Verna.

The Margin, Gen, Verna + Arthur Pym

“We have to go back,” Arthur Pym said, teeth rattling in the wind. He clutched the ragged edges of his coat closer. “Ship can’t break through that ice. We’ll founder.” -- The first time Verna and Arthur met, on the Transglobe Expedition.

by such dreaming high, Gen, The Duchess + The Roseate Queen

It is summer, in a fallen city; and someone, somewhere, is doing something unwise...

The Half-Seen Door, Gen, Piranesi | Matthew Rose Sorensen + Sixteen | Sarah Raphael + Gawain

It’s a hard job, coming home.

leverage and its utility, Fujiwara + Original Female Character(s)

The three he smoked in the carriage ride here was nothing but a gamble. A roll of the die, a flip of a coin, a dealing of cards. Lucky for him, luck is in his favor.

lilacs out of the dead land, Jane Eyre/Edward Rochester

I had, within me, that rich world of imagination that I could always retreat to, and so I transformed myself.

All Earthly Happiness, Jane Eyre/Edward Rochester

Reader, I lied. Or, rather, I omitted. As the mother of daughters, who had openly declared their intentions of reading my autobiography, I was hesitant to paint a full picture of the course of my first engagement to my dear Edward. Although in many ways it did progress much as I described, discretion prevented absolute disclosure

When It's Worth It, Gen, Arthur + The Mage

The chilly air tasted of dust and lightning strikes and the faint iron tang of blood, and there were still all too many questions lingering unanswered.

dissolved girl, Neo/Trinity

What if Trinity came back wrong? A post-Matrix Resurrections fic about what happens if the body was rebuilt again, and again, and again, and in the remaking, became something new.

[sugaryapplepie]

❄️Winter Warmth❄️

Tags: SFW, Fluff, OC x Reader x Canon

Pairing: Chandrelle x Cassander x Astarion [Anthem of the Night] Tag List: @puppy-the-mask

Cassander had been looking forward to a cozy tent bundled up in their blankets...and instead what they saw was Astarion and Chandrelle setting down their own bedrolls beside his.

"Astarion, darling, all I am saying is that when you compare 5'9" to 6'5" you come up-" "Do not say short."

Cassander's face burst into blush. The two hottest people to grace the mortal plane are in his tent. Right now. And arranging their bedrolls. What is going on? Are they dreaming? Did something venomous sting them so now they're having a hallucination while in reality they lay dying by the side of the road? If so, may the gods not take him just yet.

As soon as the cold air hits the two, they turn. Chandrelle was first to speak. "Ah! There you are, Cassander. We wondered when you would return. Shut the flap, it is freezing out."

The bard quickly crawled into the tent, tying shut the flap with shaking fingers. When he moved to turn he jumped back, almost shrieking. Astarion was a few inches away, ruby eyes squinting as his cool hand touched Cassand's face. He clicks his tongue. "Just as we thought, Chandrelle. Look at him! Face pink, frost hanging off of his eyebrows. It seems we'll have to execute at once."

"Execute-?!" Cassander managed, but Astarion was already pulling him over to the bedrolls.

"Oh don't be silly, Elias, we're not going to kill you. You know I never bite without permission." Astarion looked Cassander up and down, a bit of a smirk coming to his handsome features. "Of course you could change that at any time once you're better."

Chandrelle pulled back the blankets as Astarion laid the human down. Both elves then slipped under the covers themselves, trapped Cassander between two halves of a cozy sandwich. "Our plan, you see, was that you must be awfully freezing after your hunting expedition. Humans are not exactly the most hardy of creatures, and so Star an I had a wonderful idea: that being to offer you heat ourselves."

Cassander couldn't help but ask, "Isn't Astarion...y'know...dead?"

Astarion huffed and rolled his eyes. "Thank you, Elias, I'd almost forgotten. Chandrelle was kind enough to keep me fed, so for the time being I can offer you some warmth." The spawn scooched closer, putting his chin on Cassander's head. "Now not another word, darling. The night is frigid and the winds are strong, and I need my beauty sleep."

Chandrelle sat up a bit and leaned over to kiss Astarion's cheek. "As if my darling Star needs any assistance in being the most beautiful creature to walk the world."

Astarion, flattered by this, gave a chuckle. "Not all of this happens on its own, Ellie. Even I need to trance."

Cassander was currently even more red-faced, as the leaning over meant he got a face full of F cups. He managed to supress and strangled sounds of sheer flusterment, but he still let out a squeak when Chandrelle was laid back down and guiding his head to rest on said boobs. "There we are, much more comfortable. We cannot have your head being unsupported."

This was heaven, right? It had to be. But if it was, what earthly act could ever be worthy of such a blessing? Cassander couldn't help but nuzzle a bit into the comfy cushions. Then things got ten times better. He could feel Astarion lifting up the back of his shirt before he began dragging his claws gently up and down his back. He let out a loud sigh of contentment.

"There we are." Astarion continued to move his claws in a slow pace, being sure to cover the whole of the back, the back of Cassander's neck, and even his shoulders. "Doesn't that feel nice?"

"M-mhm..." Cassander was sorely tempted to hide his face in Chandrelle's chest to hide his blush. Astarion then moved his chin to Cassander's shoulder, pressing his closed eyes against his neck. Chandrelle, meanwhile, began using her own long nails to graze his scalp, going all the way from the front of his head to the nape of his neck. This made Cassander shudder. He couldn't deny it- it was working. He was being absolutely spoiled right now.

After a few minutes, Cassander could feel himself slipping into a warm, comfy sleep. He'd definitely encourage more of these in the future (which unbeknownst to him, was exactly Astarion and Chandrelle's plan).

[fatehbaz]

In September 1986, sixty scientists and policy makers convened for the “National Forum on BioDiversity” in Washington, DC. The conference, organized under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Academies of Science, included some of the biggest names in the U.S. science and conservation communities [...]. [T]he conference organizers coined the term biodiversity, which quickly became the rallying cry [...]. As the forum was telecast and participants interviewed by news agencies nationwide, it even became a household word. [...] Significantly, Wilson and the other participants cast tropical diversity not only as threatened nature but also as a natural resource. The uncatalogued species of the world, the vast majority of which lay in the tropics, figured as humanity’s most irreplaceable and untapped asset. [...] With biologists’ expertise, the diversity of life could be recognized and valued as “a source of economic wealth,” [...].

The suddenness with which biodiversity landed on the lips of policymakers and “Save the Rainforest” appeared on bumper stickers belies a deeper intellectual and political history. Consciousness of tropical biodiversity exploded onto the scene in the mid-1980s, but it was not a new concept to biologists. U.S. scientists’ engagement with life in the tropics already stretched back a century. During this time, scientists had struggled with questions of the biological differences of the tropics -- especially its richness in species -- and at the same time entangled themselves in U.S. corporate and government efforts to exploit tropical resources. [...] From the era of the Spanish-­American War and the construction of the Panama Canal through the revolutionary 1960s and 1970s, U.S. biologists sought ongoing access to research sites in the tropics. [...] [T]he ideas, attitudes, and institutions forged at field sites in the colonies and neocolonies of the circum-­Caribbean are crucial for understanding the emergence of this new paradigm in biology and conservation at the end of the century. Long before the 1986 BioDiversity Forum extended such ideas to the globe, U.S. biologists had begun both to articulate fundamental biological questions raised by the diversity of tropical life and to argue for its potential as a resource. [...]

---

From the European voyages of exploration of the sixteenth century to the overland expeditions of nineteenth-­century naturalists [...]. [T]he equatorial regions have figured as an earthly paradise or a green hell. This discourse [...] has pictured the tropics as an exotic Other -- [...] a realm of unbounded abundance and riotous growth [...]. Like Orientalist discourses, this exoticized imaginary geography of the equatorial regions has functioned to justify the [...] exploitation of its people and environments. [...] In popular imaginings, the tropics were -- and largely remain -- a region of untapped potential. [...] The geography of ecological research in the tropics continues to reflect colonial legacies [...]. Especially at first, they tended to work within British colonies, such as Jamaica or Guiana [...]. Increasingly, however, U.S. biologists accessed land and funding through the growing avenues of their own country’s economic, political, and military hegemony. In 1898 Spain ceded Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam to the United States, and the United States annexed Hawaii. Following the U.S.-­backed secession of Panama from Colombia in 1903, the Panama Canal Zone was created [...]. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the United States had thus acquired an “archipelago” of tropical colonies. In the decades that followed, American agribusinesses -- most notoriously the United Fruit Company -- became major tropical landholders, exerting influence on economies, politics, and landscapes well beyond the borders of these outright colonies. U.S. biologists could make inroads into tropical environments through these neocolonies [...].

---

In fact, this emphasis [on “basic” fields like ecology, rather than agricultural science] is intended to better illuminate the historical evolution of connections between basic biology and efforts to colonize and develop natural resources in the circum-Caribbean. The links between U.S. science and colonial and neocolonial ventures are certainly more obvious in the realm of tropical medicine and agriculture. The large numbers of entomologists, engineers, and medical doctors who worked to control disease-­bearing mosquitoes in Cuba and the Panama Canal Zone provided the foundations of U.S. territorial control, as well as humanitarian justifications for invasion. Scientific agriculture, chemistry, economic botany, and entomology also played key roles in enabling vast banana, sugar, and rubber monocultures, mitigating the effects of pests and disease that threatened the profits of corporations throughout the region. Such examples of science, medicine, and agriculture working in the service of empire are relatively well known [...].

Nevertheless, the rise of a self-­identified community of “pure” or “basic” tropical biologists was also deeply embedded in the expanding networks of U.S. corporate and government influence in the circum-­Caribbean.

Studies of butterfly mimicry, monkey behavior, or orchid taxonomy may seem rather esoteric, but they, too, depended on access to land, transportation, and patronage. Through much of the twentieth century, these came largely through government agencies and corporations -- organizations with strong interests in controlling lands and resources in the region. Proponents of basic research on the natural history and ecology of tropical species often struggled to gain support, but gradually they found a variety of ways to make the case for the relevance of basic tropical biology to regional colonial interests. [...]

[S]ignificant among these strategies was the development of the diversity-as-resource argument, which would become a key component of biodiversity discourse at the end of the century. [...]

---

The 1960s and 1970s saw a wave of highly influential publications on problems of [...] species diversity, which drew heavily on data from key tropical field sites. Yet, at this same moment U.S. scientists’ future in the tropics was thrown into question. Revolution swept Cuba and protests erupted in Panama against the U.S. occupation of the Canal Zone. U.S. tropical biologists [...] responded by realigning themselves, creating professional organizations, and taking new steps toward international collaboration. [...] Today, the institutions that are the most [...] heavily used by U.S. biologists [...] are located in independent republics: the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) in Costa Rica and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) [...] in Panama. Key players in the move to bring “biodiversity” to the public stage in the 1980s were tropical biologists who had deep connections to OTS and STRI during the previous two decades of transition. The emergence of the modern biodiversity discourse [...] is a direct product of the intellectual and political ferment of tropical biology during that revolutionary period. The significance of that moment, in turn, can be understood only in the context of the full twentieth century and its mixed legacies for tropical biology [...] and a long-­standing dependence on institutions supported by U.S. corporations and government agencies. Through the twentieth century, tropical biologists developed ways to cast problems of deforestation [...] and species loss as justifications for the support of basic research on tropical species and [...] the ecological relationships that sustain them. With the emergence of biodiversity, the problems of the tropics became the problems of the world.

---

All text above by: Megan Raby. “Introduction: From Tropicality to Biodiversity.” In: American Tropics: The Caribbean Roots of Biodiversity Science. 2017. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me.]

[thecrofttomb]

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Has Been Announced!

The classics are back, and they look better than ever! Relive—or experience for the very first time—the original adventures of our iconic Lara Croft lovingly remastered for a new generation.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered: Starring Lara Croft is a definitive collection of the trilogy started by Core Design over 27 years ago, which includes Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider II, Tomb Raider III, and all of their respective secret levels and expansions previously available on PC only. This game bundle has been carefully restored with upgraded graphics and many other enhancements by the skilled hands of developer Aspyr, who was responsible for bringing the classics to the Mac back in the day.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered lets long-time fans and newcomers alike step into the boots of the iconic hero in her first three adventures like never before. Experience the classic action and innovative gameplay that helped pioneer 3D gaming, spawned a beloved franchise which has sold more than 95 million copies worldwide since its debut in 1996, and made Lara Croft one of the most recognizable video game characters in the world. From the treacherous tombs of Peru in the original Tomb Raider to the awe-inspiring sights of Venice in Tomb Raider II and the mystical realm of India in Tomb Raider III, players will embark on a nostalgic journey filled with breathtaking landscapes and ingenious puzzles. Dust off your gear, sharpen your wits and prepare to step into Lara Croft's adventurous shoes once again as we accompany Lara on her original globe-trotting expeditions.

🦖 Tomb Raider (1996)

In the game that started it all, adventurer Lara Croft has been hired to recover the pieces of an ancient artefact known as the Scion. With her fearless acrobatic style, she runs, jumps, swims and climbs her way towards the truth of its origins and powers—leaving only a trail of empty tombs and gun cartridges in her wake.

Tomb Raider comes complete with the "Unfinished Business" (1998) expansion, which adds four new bonus levels spread into two extra chapters:

In Shadow of the Cat, several months after the events of Tomb Raider, Lara returns to the city of Khamoon, where she must investigate a hidden temple dedicated to the feline goddess Bastet.

In Unfinished Business, directly after the ending of the original game, Lara discovers a ruined segment in Atlantis, allegedly containing an alien hatchery. She must destroy the remnants of the Atlantean race before they infest the world.

🐉 Tomb Raider II: Starring Lara Croft (1997)

In the sequel, Lara travels around the globe on a quest to retrieve the legendary Dagger of Xian, fabled to grant the powers of a fire-breathing dragon to its holder. During her journey, she finds she's not the only one in search of danger! Warrior Monks and crazed cult members plot against her as she travels from the canals of Venice, to the bottom of the sea, and even to the remote mountain peaks of Tibet.

Tomb Raider II includes the "Golden Mask" (1999) expansion, which adds five new levels in a separate mini-adventure.

In Golden Mask, Lara explores an abandoned Soviet military base and mine shaft somewhere in Alaska and discovers a strange and hidden world within. Many surprises await as she uncovers its secrets.

In the bonus level Nightmare in Vegas, while on holiday, Lara is taken by surprise when the hotel she resides in is taken over by baddies. After receiving an ominous vision of her butler Winston, our heroine sets off to rescue him.

☄️ Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft (1998)

In the third and last game of the original trilogy, Lara Croft follows the clues to a mystery that defies any earthly explanation as she tries to lay hands on four powerful artefacts fashioned from the heart of an ancient meteorite. From the jungles of India to the icy wastes of Antarctica, across the rooftops of London and into the depths of Nevada's mysterious Area 51, Lara is ready for anything that comes her way.

Tomb Raider III includes "The Lost Artefact" (2000) expansion, which adds six new levels to explore.

In The Lost Artefact, after receiving a strange invitation to the Scottish Highlands, Lara now learns of the existence of a fifth artefact, the Hand of Rathmore. Lost for many years, this final piece will complete the set and unlock the secret of the ancient meteor's powers. A hazardous trail riddled with traps and enemies takes her from a Scottish castle's subterranean laboratory to the Parisian Catacombs.

As previously stated, in addition to a visual makeover, various enhancements were made to improve gameplay and performance. Along the three adventures, you'll be able to toggle between updated and original graphics and switch between modern and classic control schemes instantly. Furthermore, there are numerous quality-of-life improvements, including a camera lock-on and achievement/trophy support.

The game is now available to pre-order for 29,99€ with special savings opportunities for each platform:

Console players can pre-order with a 10% discount (some restrictions apply).

PC players can pre-order with a 20% loyalty discount if they currently own the original games on Steam or GOG.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered: Starring Lara Croft releases on February 14th, 2024, on Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam and GOG, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.

[urgonnaneedabiggership]

Once again, GIF credits go to @meideixx

Namor (MCU) X Mexican!OC

Part I Here

Part III Here

MASTERLIST

Synopsis:

War photographer Sadie Medina is one day mysteriously whisked away on a mission that is suspiciously secret for a botanical expedition. A tragic twist of the events leads to her getting too close to something she should’ve never found, and too close to people who, by all odds, was never supposed to meet, be imprisoned by, and much less grow close to.

Word count: 2,250

Warnings:MCU typical violence, mentions of war, mentions of death and un-aliving people.

*Disclaimer: I’m by no means an expert on Mayan, but I did my best (by this I mean I looked for the best translator possible) and sorry for any mistakes. Handy little translations at the end, if needed.

Sadie could hear their voices like they were very far away, and for a moment, she wondered if she was dreaming. Some of the words were familiar.

Ta’akubae’

Chu’ukul

Sajakil

Familiar didn’t mean reassuring. There were two people. A man and a woman were arguing about her. By the time she had fully opened her eyes, she was surprised to still see some dim, greenish light surrounding her. Finding herself lying on a hammock, Sadie turned her head slowly to get a better look at her captors.

They looked like they had jumped out of the walls of one of the many ruins she had visited, out of the murals and carvings that covered them. And yet, there was something about them that didn’t look entirely…earthly. While Sadie couldn’t fully understand what they were saying, she comprehended fragments that gave her a notion of what had just happened.

They had gotten the entire team while she was inside the grotto and realized there was someone else inside when they saw the rope. After deciding to wait, they saw her emerge and “were ordered” to take her and find out what her purpose was “by any means necessary.” 

Her brain couldn’t even take one minute to think about those people. She knew it was vital for her own survival to act quickly. Her hand slowly crept up her opposite arm, sighing with relief when she found the small bulk of the vial. Sadie removed and carefully placed it between the folds of the hammock.

“Ma’k’a’abéet,” she spoke, cringing at her own pronunciation. To say she was rusty after so long was the understatement of the century. “Ma’in wojel mixba’al”

That immediately made them turn towards her and exchange quick glances. Sadie slowly sat up and tried to walk a little, feeling pain in every inch of her back. She made her way toward the cell and added, in the calmest voice she could.

“Láayli’ bey ma’ u páajtal in t’aan.” There. That’d buy her some time. If only she remembered how to say, “I want to know who is in charge.”

Apparently, it wouldn’t be necessary. The woman whispered something in her partner’s ear before leaving the room. Meanwhile, the man examined her. She was surprised to find more curiosity than hostility in his demeanor, like a child that had just trapped a spider under a glass, before turning his back to her with a disdainful huff.

“K’eeban,” she said, apologizing out of habit. “Tu’ux biin?” Sadie asked, to no avail. Sure, she didn’t even want to imagine how horrible her Mayan was, but she figured it was understandable. She repeated her question, but he kept ignoring her.

She muttered a curse under her breath as she headed to the back of her cell. Of course, he turned around so fast she thought he’d break his neck.

“Yeah, that you understood, didn’t you?” she shouted back without turning around. Fine, stupid move for a hostage, she had regretted it as soon as she did it but damn her stupid impulses. And yet, what she heard a moment later threw her off even more than if the huge guard had tried to pry her cell open.

“Mercedes Medina Alba”

Her name. Her actual name spoken by an unknown voice in a paused, arrogant tone that sounded more threatening with every word he emphasized.

“How do you…?” she asked, this time being her who violently turned around. Before she stood a man that held her ID card, analyzing it carefully, holding it by the corner as if it was toxic to him. He was dressed differently from the other two, with a pale turquoise shawl covering his shoulders, jade piercings on his ears and nose, and many necklaces.

“I assume you are in charge,” she stated, carefully approaching the bars.

“And you assume well. Now tell me, what were you and your people doing in this part of the ocean?”

Men with badges. Men with authority. She didn’t trust either of them one bit.

“But you see, I’m at a disadvantage here. I don’t know how I got here, where I am being held, or by whom. I don’t even know the name of the person I’m talking to. Can you at least give me that?”

“You’re not in a position to demand anything,” he coarsely asserted, “I ask something, and you give me an answer. That’s all.”

“It’s not a demand,” she insisted. “Please.”

He stared her down thoughtfully. The woman leaned in and whispered something to him.

“K’uk’ulkan, ma’ in wa’alike’ bixake’ ma’alo’ob tuukul.” 

“K’uk’ulkan? Is that your name?” Yet another familiar word.

“It is to them,” he quickly snapped at her authoritatively. “You may call me Namor. There’s your answer. Now I need mine,”

He spoke with urgency. Sadie knew he was desperate to know. Why did he care so much about what a group of people did in some underwater caves?

Unless there weren’t just caves. She remembered the bright light that emanated from the rocks. Perhaps they had found something they weren’t meant to. And Sadie knew very well what happened to that sort of person. But, unless he had seen the pictures, Namor could not know whether she had found anything. She had to keep it that way for her own sake, so she took her chances.

“I already told your people. I don’t know, and if I did, I wouldn’t tell everything to a complete stranger.”

That clearly wasn’t the answer he wanted. Namor inched closer to the cell, never prying his menacing eyes off her. She did her best to hold his glare until he was so close she had to tilt her head upwards to maintain eye contact.

“If you won’t talk, I have ways to make you.”

“You’re hardly the first one to try,” she retorted, leaving him standing there and going back to her hammock, sitting on it with her back towards them.

“But I will be the last. Trust me.” He uttered before leaving as quietly as he had arrived.

 

 

With no natural sunlight, it was hard to keep track of time there. 

The only thing that helped was finding a small bowl of fruit and fresh water outside her cell every now and then after sleeping. However, Sadie was sure it wasn’t constant because sometimes she’d be starving right before finding it, but when the next one arrived, she wasn’t hungry.

While she knew a guard was always standing nearby, nobody came to see her for the next four or five food bowls. 

Of course, the first thing she did when she felt alone enough was check every inch of her cell, searching for microphones or cameras. Once she found nothing, she tried finding a weak spot on the bars, or a gap in the wall, to no avail. 

She’d just given up right when her last bowl had been delivered. 

When Sadie reached out to grab it, another hand gripped the other side and held it firmly. She lifted her head to find a pair of familiar dark brown eyes. 

“You must owe them a lot if you insist on going through all this for them.” 

Sadie hummed with an indifferent shrug. She’d have to talk again. 

“I don’t. But I don’t owe you anything, either. And since I don’t know what either of you wants, what I might know is safer with me.” 

“You say you don’t owe me anything, but I could have had you killed instead of taking the risk of bringing you here.” 

Namor slowly sat down in front of the cell without taking his hand off the bowl. Sadie nodded in acknowledgment and followed him, mirroring his movements. 

“That would be a bad call. I know something you don’t, and it’s important. So, you need me alive.” 

He seemed to want to add something until Sadie interrupted him. 

“But I think you already made a mistake, didn’t you?” She hissed, bringing her face a bit closer to the bars. “You sent your people to kill the intruders, and by the time you realized they were there with an important purpose, it was too late. But by sheer luck, you found one still alive. Am I right?”

Namor didn’t reply. He remained completely silent, staring intently at her with such a bitter expression that Sadie feared she’d made a terrible mistake. Without saying one more word, the man harshly pushed the food towards her, stood up, and marched towards a tunnel away from her cell until the echo of his footsteps was imperceptible among the rocks. 

Now Sadie knew something else. She was right. And he was incredibly proud. 

~Disclaimer: the Mayan long dialogue has been translated for clarity.

 

“Can you believe it?” Namor huffed in annoyance, pacing back and forth across the room while Namora observed from her seat at the table. 

“Who does she think she is, speaking to me like that when she is the prisoner?” 

“She may be a prisoner, but she’s not wrong, my king,” she replied in a reprimanding tone, “She could know more than we had anticipated.”

“And yet, she refuses to speak. I don’t know if she’s incredibly loyal or incredibly stubborn.” 

“The girl has one point,” Namora noted thoughtfully, “She has absolutely no reason to trust us any more than she did the dwellers that came with her.”

“What do you suggest we do, then?” Namor asked, sitting down as well with a tired sigh. 

“Convince her that we’re not the enemy,” she replied, “Gain her trust little by little until we convince her that whatever she knows will be of better use in Talokanil hands. Once she complies… we’ll do what we must.”

“It’s a shame,” Namor spoke after a short pause. “She’s smart for a surface dweller. I wish they would stop looking for their own demise.” 

Both of them stood up. 

“Let me know when it’s time for her next ration. I’ll try and talk to her again.” 

Namora answered affirmatively and left the room after saluting K’uk’ulkan. 

Mercedes hadn’t heard her full name in a while. To listen to it for the first time in months with such a threatening tone affected her more than she cared to admit. 

Her favorite person to call her that had been dead for twenty years. Pa was wrong. In the end, it was Mercedes who had to leave for the mountains with the rest of the children and women, despite her pleas to stay and help like some male friends did.

She wasn’t the best shot, but at least she knew how to fire a revolver or wield a machete. 

Her father knew their weapons could do little against what the army would bring. Rumor had it they had received help from their neighboring country. 

They hadn’t said it explicitly, but every man who stayed behind knew that, despite having been told by their leaders that defending the campsite was the main objective, they were fighting to give their families enough time to reach the safety of the Sierra Madre. 

So much so that only a few women returned the following day to collect whatever belongings the soldiers had left behind and identify as many people as possible to give their families the bad news. 

This time they couldn’t stop Mercedes from tagging along. To that day, she wished they had.

The camp was completely empty, which was confusing until a terrible stench reached them. Then they saw the smoke coming from behind the huts, creating a horrifying realization. It wasn’t until then that someone grabbed the little girl from behind to prevent her from going further. No matter how much she screamed and kicked and eventually begged. 

Mercedes screamed so loudly that she woke herself up. She sat up on the hammock and fumbled with it in frustration, trying to free herself before finally falling to the floor, panting. 

She could feel tears welling up in her eyes until a soft sound made her look up. 

“What the fuck are you doing there?” Sadie asked, angrily wiping her eyes, “How long have you been standing there?”

Namor didn’t say anything. To her surprise, he looked puzzled. Almost uncomfortable, having surprised her in such a vulnerable moment. That only angered her more. 

“So? What do you want? Or are you just going to stand there like a creep? Is that what you’ll do now?” She yelled at him, pounding the bars once. He didn’t even flinch. It was until then that Sadie realized he had a small package in his hands, which he carefully placed on the floor in front of her cell. 

“I'll come back later." He announced before leaving. 

He had left new clothes for her. They consisted of an opaque white ankle-long skirt made out of soft, flowy fabric, decorated with colorful embroideries and tiny seashells; a matching shirt of the same color, except the seashells were substituted by brown-spotted feathers around the neck. She thought of rejecting them for a moment, but by then, she felt like the neoprene suit would become one with her skin. 

With a sigh, Sadie buried the ghosts of the past back where they belonged and relished in the feeling of soft fabric caressing her skin. 

The Translations:

Ta’akubae’: Hidden

Chu’ukul: Trapped

Sajakil: Fear

Ma’k’a’abéet Ma’in wojel mixba’al: It’s not necessary. I know nothing.

Láayli’ bey ma’ u páajtal in t’aan: Still, I can’t say anything.

K’eeban, tu’ux biin?: Sorry, where she go? (mistake intended to show Mercedes' lack of practice)

K’uk’ulkan, ma’ in wa’alike’ bixake’ ma’alo’ob tuukul: K’uk’ulkan, I don’t think it’s a good idea.

[firenati0n]

happy sleepover weekend roop! tell me about some lore for one or more of your fics that didn't make it in but you'd like people to know

omg i have no earthly idea how i missed this lee but I AM HERE TO ANSWER THIS FJADKSFJDLAS I AM SO SORRY

hmmmm lore...some lore that won't make it into my upcoming city of angels au...i visited a lot of places in london when i lived there that i wanted in the fic. some made it in, some didn't. the library alex frequents is in the fic bc i visited it and fell in love! but the neighborhood alex lives in isn't as fleshed out in the fic for space reasons. I did wander it and feel weirdly emotional about it all. the fic is about humanity and love and the things that make us deeply human and flawed and loved and doing my little fic expedition gave me a chance to experience the city i loved in a different and more mindful way. it was a really lovely day. wouldn't trade it for anything. <3

[stoicbreviary]

Sonnets from Marcus Aurelius 7

James Vila Blake 

7.  

Ὥσπερ εἴ τίς σοι θεῶν εἶπεν, ὅτι αὔριον τεθνήξῃ ἢ πάντως γε εἰς τρίτην, οὐκέτ̓ ἂν παρὰ μέγα ἐποιοῦ τὸ εἰς τρίτην μᾶλλον ἢ αὔριον, εἴ γε μὴ ἐσχάτως ἀγεννὴς εἶ: πόσον γάρ ἐστι τὸ μεταξύ; οὕτως καὶ τὸ εἰς πολλοστὸν ἔτος μᾶλλον ἢ αὔριον μηδὲν μέγα εἶναι νόμιζε. Suppose a god said to you, you shall die tomorrow, or anyway the day after. You would not further think it much matter whether it were tomorrow or the next day, unless you be very low-minded. For how little is the difference. In like manner deem it to be no great affair whether your time fall in the last of very many years, or rather tomorrow. 

—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.47 7.

Conceive a whisper certified thine ear,  Some deity above thy shoulder bending,  That thou must leave thine earthly summit here,  And all thy many matters put to ending;  And say to-morrow ’twere, or the next morrow, Appointed for thine expedition brave,  Thou begging the later day with cries and sorrow;  Wert not thou then indeed a sorry knave?  Then reason: For beauty’s sake be ’t not my song  To traverse years, but this day to live stoutly;  For beauty hangeth not upon how long  I look, but in what way and how devoutly.  Grandeur ’s not bulk, naught long that ends at all;  That now I live, this sole doth me appall.

[cymlea]

Bridging Horizons: A Transcendent Finale

As your exploration of Florida and New York reaches its zenith, consider the grandeur of the journey you've undertaken—the interplay of sunlit beaches, towering skyscrapers, and the myriad hues of cultural diversity. Your odyssey is more than a mere traversal between states; it's a testament to the interconnectedness of experiences, a tapestry woven with the threads of discovery.

Sunrise on the East Coast, Sunset on the West:

Embrace the symbolic transition from sunrise to sunset, a metaphor for your expedition from the east coast of Florida to the western landscapes of New York. Witness the celestial journey, a celestial ballet that mirrors your earthly adventure.

Capturing the Essence:

Capture the essence of each destination not just through photographs but through the sensations imprinted on your soul. The warm embrace of Florida's sun, the rhythmic lull of waves, the cosmopolitan heartbeat of New York—all are etchings in the gallery of your memories.

Reflecting by the Water's Edge:

Find reflective moments by the water's edge, whether it be the Atlantic's gentle caress along Florida's shores or the contemplative embrace of the Hudson River. Let the waters mirror the revelations and insights garnered throughout your sojourn.

A Melody of Urbanity and Nature:

Listen to the harmonious melody that emerges when the urban rhythms of Miami blend with the natural symphony of upstate New York. Recognize that even in the contrasts, there is a sublime melody of coexistence.

The Lure of Uncharted Avenues:

Feel the allure of uncharted avenues, beckoning you to explore beyond familiar horizons. In Florida's untamed wilderness and New York's urban alleys, discover the thrill of stepping into the unknown and the joy of unscripted moments.

Cultural Weavings:

Marvel at the intricate weavings of culture, history, and tradition. In Florida's storied past and New York's tapestry of immigrant narratives, find the common threads that unite diverse communities and enrich the narrative of the American experience.

A Journey Beyond Borders:

Acknowledge that your journey extends beyond geographical borders. It's a journey of self-discovery, cultural immersion, and the realization that every destination, no matter how distinct, contributes to a universal story of human exploration.

Crafting the Epilogue:

As your dual-state odyssey draws to a close, consider crafting the epilogue—a reflection on the transformative power of travel. Share your narrative, weaving together the landscapes, faces, and moments that have shaped your understanding of these two remarkable states.

A Heartfelt Adieu:

Bid a heartfelt adieu to the states that have opened their arms to your wanderlust. Whether it's the sun-drenched beaches of Miami or the city lights of Manhattan, express gratitude for the hospitality and beauty that have enriched your journey.

Carrying the Essence Forward:

Carry the essence of Florida and New York forward. Let the lessons learned and the memories made become guiding lights for future travels. Your dual-state odyssey isn't just a chapter; it's a compass pointing towards the next horizons waiting to be explored.

Final Words: A Journey Unbound

As you conclude this exceptional journey through the landscapes of Florida and New York, remember that the true beauty lies not just in the destinations but in the profound connections forged along the way. Your footsteps have left an indelible mark on the shores, streets, and hearts encountered.

May your future adventures be as boundless as the horizons you've glimpsed, and may the memories of Florida and New York continue to echo in your heart. As you step into the world beyond, know that the spirit of exploration is a perpetual flame, lighting the way for journeys yet to unfold.

Safe travels, intrepid explorer, as you continue to embrace the beauty of uncharted paths and the wonders that await beyond every bend in the road. The odyssey is yours, unbound and limitless.

[deadsquidstudios]

ATHF Headcanons: Alien Wildlife Special

All of the species found on Earth’s moon originated from Atari using time travel to dispose of a crapload of unsold video game cartridges. Because of this, they don’t really follow a proper organized body plan or phylogenetic tree or pretty much anything that makes sense in biology. There are also only 100 species of non-sapient animal life found on the Moon, and 101 species when you include the Mooninites themselves. Lunar lifeforms often resemble ungainly chimeras of various Earthly species, or are practically just creatures ripped from arcade-era video games.

I’m actually planning on drawing all 100 of the non-sapient creatures and making a sort of space bestiary at some point so stay tuned for that.

Meanwhile, life on Pluto began roughly around the same time as it did on Earth (somehow...let’s just say that God spilled some of the building blocks of life on Pluto whilst putting Earth together. Yeah, let’s go with that.) , but adapted to very, very different conditions. Because of this, it’s actually possible to tell what evolved from what when it comes to Plutonian lifeforms. Most, if not all, of the species found on the (dwarf) planet (Personally, I consider it a planet. I will die on this hill.) display bilateral symmetry and all are adapted for Pluto’s frigid low-gravity environment. They look more typically alien, a bit like something out of Wayne Barlowe’s Expedition, or Star Wars, or James Cameron’s Avatar, or Subnautica (because yes, in the universe of ATHF, Pluto has oceans. They’re covered in a layer of ice for the most part, save for a couple of volcanic regions where the volcanoes manage to melt through some of the ice.)

Plutonians also measure the passage of time by Earth-Years instead of Pluto-Years, because entire generations will pass over the course of a single orbit of Pluto around the sun. They’ve been doing this since before they discovered Earth was a planet and not just a tiny blue thing that orbited around the same star that they do. The reason why they decided to use Earth specifically has been forgotten about over time.

The Plutonians as a species also pride themselves on being one of only two* sapient species in the Solar System to inhabit a planet and not a moon. (*Nobody’s told them that Earth is also home to Appalachian Mud Squids, Snake-People, Jersey Devils, and probably a multitude of other sapient species that have yet to reveal themselves to the outside world). It’s probably for the best that they haven’t been told that the humans decided Pluto doesn’t count as a proper planet.

[The other sapient species in the Solar System are the Mooninites, the Titanians (from Saturn’s moon Titan), the Ionians, also known as the Jovians, or in their own native language they are called the Oronizkwywlk Tvyulolnyuk (don’t ask how it’s pronounced, even I don’t know.)(Which translates roughly to “People of the Shining Night” (from Jupiter’s moon Io, their native name comes from the fact that Jupiter reflects so much damn light that the nights on Io are often nearly indistinguishable from the day). All three of them are from moons rather than planets. The Frat Aliens’ species is from a planet orbiting Proxima Centauri B rather than Sol.]