#Even in a changing ecosystem

[fisheito]

Lol angst ? about nukani , my super unserious gayporngacha game? Can't be that bad

(10k words later into a fic) Ooohh.ohhh it was a mistake. I should not have read this hahahahahahahgyrk *choking sounds*

[toadsrbutch]

BUTCH WORKING ON MY LITTLE CAR?????????

[screambirdscreaming]

At the bus stop one time there was a gaggle of preschoolers waiting to catch the bus for a field trip day, and someone walked past with a couple of friendly little dogs, to great general delight.

But after a little bit, the dogs were getting overwhelmed, and the preschoolers were gently coaxed to back off so the person with the dogs could continue on. Specifically, one of the preschool teachers said, "Sometimes, when you're small, being surrounded by big people can be a bit scary and overwhelming. Even if they are friendly."

This was recieved as great wisdom: after all, the preschoolers were also small, and understood how scary and overwhelming big people could be! And the dogs were indeed even smaller than the preschoolers, so it made sense.

What was funny and charming was that, upon absorbing and reflecting on this wisdom, they all felt the need to tell it to one another. In tones of great insight, they turned to one another and said, "Did you know? Sometimes when you are small, being surrounded by big people can be scary and overwhelming! Even if they are friendly!" Back and forth, without any particular concern that they were all saying the same thing. Have reached comprehension of an insight, it must be shared!

I must say that this behavior is less charming in tumblr users than in preschoolers. Not least because tumblr users, having gained a little analytical skill to misuse, insist on Summarizing and Generalizing and Unifying the insights they repeat, quickly turning any interesting new information into formulaic dogmatic mush.

[ghostoffuturespast]

For the longest time, I always thought I wanted to be an artist.

[sereniv]

I saved a daddy long legs!

i was scared and (i know dont @ me) was considering spraying him because I still fear spiders and spider-look-a-likes

up until past few years ive been working really hard on figuring out how to save them rather than kill bc ofc, it doesnt align with my views to kill them

normally i let my dog eat them to justify it- ironically, bc "im not killing them, my dog is"

but he was in one place, not moving and i was on the toilet, so i took the time to read up about him.

i named him, forced myself to, and to call him cute, so that it would make it harder for me to go through with killing him

i tried to imagine him being curious, or scared, or relaxing. Though i know most likely they arent capable of it in a way we can understand, it still helped me see him as no different than my dog or cat or me, rather than "just a bug' or some type of 'scary thing'

and in the end i saved him! container and a folder.

i still was scared, but seeing the (idk another word) humanity in him, the value he has and that he has for himself as a living being, helped make it possible to save him

its still really hard, and on occasion i do end up killing spiders or having my dog eat them when its quick scenarios where i dont have time to think it through

but compared to years ago ive gone from saving 0 to maybe 80%

and this is one of those moments where, its not exactly possible for me to push myself because it can undo all the work ive done. and thats ok.

this is the best i can do right now and im proud of myself.

my best, is not how i imagine my best being. in my mind, i could push myself harder but thats not practical.

doing your best is strategic.

im just so glad i didnt kill him. reading about him, learning about him, appreciating his role, and labeling him cute and giving him a name helped a lot

and sometimes, anthropomorphizing animals can be beneficial. i know he doesnt feel fear and curiosity like i do, but if it means not unnecessarily taking a life, then he does to me in that moment

[pyrriax]

having such a hyperspecific au concept that borders on becoming completely original work.

[albino-parakeet]

Llyr’s backstory

(I am in no way a writer so this probably sucks lol)

Llyr’s character sheet

The fan Dinosaur Season that this follows for context.

Immediately after Llyr had fallen, they were adopted by a group of moths following an older sky kid that called themself a guide. Despite Llyr being a cautious moth, they had somehow managed to fall behind during the group's travel through the Hidden Forest. With very little light, they sought refuge in one of the small caverns from the eroding rain. After waiting for an undetermined amount of time, they decided to see if the cavern they hid in had a way out of the rain and possibly a place with other sky kids. Fumbling around in the dark, Llyr traveled through the small connecting tunnels for what felt like hours until finally seeing sunlight.

What they see is not a Sky landscape they’ve become accustomed to. A large rolling plain, similar to prairie, that stretches far from sight scattered with a few boulders but surround by walls of stone that extend high into the sky where only a large opening has sunlight beaming down. The sense of awe is cut short by a very low thunderous noise that shakes their whole body. Llyr turns their head and is met with a creature with a neck too long to be normal and a beak that makes up most of its head towering over them, it walks on all fours but has wings for its front limbs. Llyr is frozen in panic, unsure of what to do until the creature snaps it’s beak near them grazing their left arm with a loud *POP*. Llyr still weak from the rain and no light source in sight to give them a chance to recharge, they break into a full sprint, maybe if they make it to one of the rocks they might be able to hide-

Before they know it, they’re lifted off the ground by their cape with a rough tug that causes them to release a sharp yell. They drop for a second only for the creature to grab them again quickly, readjusting it’s hold to Llyr’s mid section holding them horizontally. The pain is blinding and they’re pretty sure something is broken, everything is blurring as the beast begins walking, it’s steps causing the pain to surge with each shift of its weight.

Llyr doesn’t know how long the creature has been walking due to their consciousness fading in and out, but a sudden force makes the beast stumble and drops Llyr with a screech. They expect the intense pain of hitting the ground but are met with someone’s catch. The softness is a welcoming feeling but is quickly removed as their savior places them on something sturdy, warm, and… alive? Llyr opens their eyes and sees a scene out of some kind of book. Their savior, which looks like a burly Shepard is waving a large staff at the winged beast, and is accompanied with another creature they’ve never seen before. It’s head is adorned with horns and positions it’s four legs into an unmovable stance next to the Shepard, occasionally thrustings it’s head at the threat when it reaches too close.

It doesn’t take long for the beast to realize it’s at a disadvantage and quickly gallops (ah no wonder running didn’t work) in the opposite direction before taking off with one big thrust against the ground with its forelimbs. A call echos through the valley and becomes quieter as the beast glides further away. Llyr loses consciousness as the Shepard starts feverishly jogging back to them.

They awake in a small room, their simple mask and ripped brown cape neatly folded on a small table next to the makeshift bed they sit up from. Bandages are wrapped neatly around where the thing’s beak had them in its grip, and a sling for the arm it snapped at, guess it did more than just graze it. Filtered sunlight spills through a window. How long were they out for? Where am I? Their thoughts are interrupted by the door being opened slowly with a person’s head peering in, and then opened fully when seeing Llyr sitting up.

It’s the Shepard that saved them, he grabs a chair from the corner and pulls it up beside the bed. He’s obviously relieved they’re awake but still has intense worry plastered on their face as they talk. Unfortunately anything he asks Llyr doesn’t understand, either it’s a dialect or a completely different language either way all of it sounds like gibberish to them. The Shepard comes to this realization by the third or fourth question as Llyr’s face becomes more upset, and just sighs before gesturing to Llyr’s abdomen; making a wrapping motion with his hands.

The pain is almost immediate once the first couple bandages are removed, seems like the pressure was keeping it in check. It makes Llyr lose their breath and instinctively grabs The Shepard’s shoulder tight with their free hand in effort to communicate the pain. The Shepard stops for a second, softly saying something that sounds like an apology, and then yells over his shoulder towards the door. Loud footsteps grow closer until a person, similar in build to the Shepard, practically slams into the side of the door frame in a half effort to stop without falling over. The person exchanges a few words with The Shepard, it almost sounds like an argument they’ve probably had when Llyr was asleep.

The two calm down and the new person makes a gentle swatting motion towards the Shepard’s hands; grabbing the bandages themself. Llyr is prepared for the pain to continue but is surprised by how slow and meticulous they remove each wrapping. It takes maybe an hour for all of the dressing to be unwrapped without causing Llyr any unnecessary pain, and what they are met with is a large painful scar cutting a clear path across the width of their abdomen staring back at them. It’s healed for the most part but is still trying to scab over in some areas, they can’t see their back but they can guess that it bears a similar wound.

The person, that Llyr finds out later is The Shepard’s partner, pulls out a little box full of medicinal herbs and the like from under the small table beside the bed. They both seem to mull over what to use before finally picking out a small jar, unscrewing the cap to reveal a cream with a very pungent smell. Llyr is obviously suspicious of the odd smelling ointment, but the two in front of them have been nothing but helpful and as far as they know the only ones taking care of them. So reluctantly they allow The Shepard to apply the cream. It stings at first but as the other spreads it more evenly, the pain numbs and becomes more of a light pressure.

After waiting for the cream to dry, the Shepard’s partner rewraps Llyr’s abdomen with fresh bandages, but not as tight as before. The worried couple offer some kind of sliced fruit to get Llyr to eat something. Even though Llyr doesn’t technically need to eat, they do so to ease the two’s worry a little. The fruit is tart and definitely has an interesting texture but tastes heavenly after all that pain. Making sure Llyr is comfortable the couple start to make their leave to let them rest, leaving a small gold bell decorated with a white feather atop the small side table. The Shepard points to the bell, doing a ringing motion and then points to himself before closing the door on the way out.

The sunlight outside shines in a way that suggests it’s maybe midday, but enduring the pain of their wound being redressed had spent whatever energy they had left. As Llyr gets under the covers, they wonder how the group they were traveling with was doing. Did they even know they went missing? Are they looking for them? Do they care? Sleep takes hold before Llyr’s thoughts spiral any further.

The passing days are a blur spent mainly in bed resting or sitting on the small house’s porch over looking the surrounding landscape, usually they’re accompanied by The Shepard’s partner. Due to the language barrier Llyr doesn’t know his name, but Llyr calls him “The Painter” on account of them always having an easel set up when Llyr makes the journey outside. The Shepard is gone for a good amount of the daytime, taking care of a herd of those horned creatures takes a lot of walking around apparently. The Painter had invited them to sit on the porch steps one afternoon to wait for The Shepard’s return. Llyr hadn’t notice at first but The Painter is missing his left leg. They motion to it, trying to emote their curiosity about the missing limb. The Painter seems a little hurt, gripping at where the prosthetic meets the stump. Llyr immediately flails their free arm in an effort to say "No don't worry about it! I'm sorry for bringing it up!"

But is soon interrupted by The Painter's deep laugh at Llyr’s flailing that makes the dampened mood a little lighter. He reaches for the small sketch pad and pencil placed next to him and starts drawing simple stick figures. Llyr scoots closer so they can see the sketch pad easier. He doodles scenes of what looks like a war he was an unwilling soldier for, hinted by the multiple “x”s and sad faces he scribbled on the top of the page. Apparently something happened during one clash, ending with The Painter sent to a medical tent; waking up missing his left leg. The cot next to him was occupied by a soldier in a similar predicament, having a stump where his right arm should be. Days turned to weeks and the thought of having to be returned to the battlefield grew more of a possibility as more wounded filled the space only for them to be thrown back to the fight a few days later. What some of the nurses have whispered, their side had been losing and instead of surrendering; have been pushing the wounded as fodder. The soldier next to him finally spoke up later that night, his voice hush and full of fear. He told of a rumor, a place they could escape to, where others running from the war had found refuge. The idea was crazy, especially in their conditions, but it was better than staying and being forced to fight in the never ending chaos. So the next night they stole what supplies they could carry and snuck out, their nights were spent stumbling through the wreckage of previous battles still littered with weapons and armor; days spent hiding to rest in fear of being captured. It took what felt like forever before they finally arrived to the entrance of a cavern- Llyr too engrossed in the little doodles doesn’t hear a distant roar far from view. The Painter puts the sketch pad aside, a small chuckle escapes his lips before giving Llyr a reassuring pat on the back and points to the distance as the herd crests a small hill. A cacophony that brings a smile to Llyr’s face as it’s become the sound of home to them for the past month. The light sound of their bells that hang from their necks being a juxtaposition to the horned animals size and strength. Each animal sports 4 gold like horns longer than arms length, the brow horns curving up while the slightly longer horns on top of its’ crest curve out. They tower over Llyr and are still pretty sizable compared to The Shepard and Painter, the animals’ adorned crests adding to their size. As the herd disperses more, The Shepard is in eyesight giving a large arcing wave with his right wooden arm and an excitable jog towards the house, a black fuzzy puffball is cradled in his left arm.

(I’ll continue this in another post cause it’s getting long lol. But this is the first of it)

[visceravalentines]

started rereading Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer and hoo boy that guy's brain sure is a Place to Be

[drumlincountry]

i'm going thru a lot of growth and transformation at the moment (maybe) but unfortunately i can only really express it thru agricultural and ecological metaphors

[j-esbian]

genuinely don’t know if people are being willfully ignorant or if climate change is boiling a frog faster than any frog has been boiled before, because every time i remark about the temperature, everyone around me goes “michigan weather amirite folks??” and it’s like. actually i don’t think that’s what’s causing it to fluctuate 30-40 degrees week to week. try again.

[solvicrafts]

Full offense, this is one of the dumbest headlines I've ever seen in my entire life.

[birchbeer]

just thinking about climate change and weather patterns shifting again and wondering if there will be a day late in my life when i wake up and realize i havent seen snow fall in my hometown in several years

[keclan]

wow zoe wasn’t lying, all the people in the alex strangelove tag acting like alex considering he might be bi before he accepts that he’s gay is the height of biphobia and personally wronged them. um, who give a shit.

[dragonkingz159]

Yeah yeah! You’ll all get your rant. I just want to research some things first…and also maybe talk to some people. But you’ll get your rant about dictators and the destruction of self and how it pertains to lots of things here in the next few weeks.

Check the tags. I ramble there for some stupid reason.

But the long and short of it is. I’m dying at work so expect the full rant and ramble in like March. Also if you knows things. DM me.

[eimearkuopio]

Maybe the reason that monsters can be driven away by symbols of faith, but only wielded by the truly faithful, is that anyone who fully understands the symbols they believe in can use them to defang the monsters that were inside themselves all along; and having done so, they can help others. I was born with the gift of wielding a flaming sword; but for my love of humanity, I will steal the fire from the gods and use it to keep the children warm as they make their way back into the garden. I have blunted my sharp edges, except for one last knife that I hope only to use to cut away what seems to fester. I have crafted for myself a soft, caring skin, so that children will no longer need to choose between nourishment and security. We will do better going forward. I am sorry that I failed you. I am sorry that to build you a home, I first had to build you a prison. I love you all. Let's clean this mess up together.

[randomtheidiot]

Desert greening to grow crops for picky vegans is such a fucking stupid idea that I’m starting to question my faith in any sort of human intelligence.