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definitelynotafurinasimp · 1 year

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Good time of day. I would like to make a request about Navia and share an umbrella

Sharing an umbrella with Navia

Characters: Navia x gn!reader

warnings: none, just fluff

a/n: This post is part of my 1500 Follower event, if you want to read more or want to request a prompt yourself, you can find it here.

If I got some of her personality wrong, I'm sorry, I'm still trying to get a good feel for the Fontaine characters.

Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Navia

The moment you stepped outside of the Cafe, you were instantly greeted by the downpouring rain, strong enough for you to get completely drenched in but a moment's notice, the last thing separating you from the sky, the buildings canopy, a structure that you were glad existed.

You wished for nothing more than to just turn around and return to your comfortable seat in the cafe, yet you knew better than to keep your roommate waiting any longer. As while they loved to sarcastically joke about all the room they’d have for themselves once you were gone, they were the first to get worried about you, especially during such a storm.

However, just as you were about to step out of your cover, fully accepting your fate while praying that you wouldn’t fall sick in the next couple of days, a familiar voice called out to you, stopping you in your tracks. When you turned towards its source, you were greeted by the sight of Navia hurriedly running towards you, her umbrella protecting her from getting completely soaked, although there was only so much it could cover.

When she finally arrived in front of you, obviously out of breath from running while trying her best to cover her exhaustion with a smile, Navia struck a casual pose before finally speaking up. “Hey partner, looks like you forgot your umbrella. Want to share one?”

And while she didn’t have to ask you a second time, you agreeing almost immediately before taking your place under her umbrella, it didn’t take long for your conversation to die down, silence engulfing the both of you until the only sounds your ears processed were the sounds of the rain hitting the ground and your ever louder growing heartbeat.

Latter of which only grew louder when you felt Navia squeezing closer towards you, causing your head to snap in her direction, only to be greeted by her smile. “The Umbrella isn’t exactly big enough for two people, so we’ll have to stick a bit closer, nothing wrong with that right?” Her explanation made sense, although you couldn’t help but notice how she seemed to have more than enough space for herself already, neither of your shoulders wet in the slightest.

When Navia noticed you stare however, her smile turned a little more mischievous. “What’s wrong? Scared I’ll bite? And here I was thinking we knew each other long enough for you to trust me”, she joked, only for you to suddenly stop in your tracks, causing her to quickly follow suit before turning towards you.

“I was only joking, if you’re uncomfortable with me being so close, I can-”, Navia spoke in a hurry, only to cut herself off when she followed your gaze, suddenly realizing what you were worried about.

You had mentioned how the drain on your street needed to be repaired, but even then she hadn’t expected to see the water rise up to a point until it was high enough to go up to her ankles.

“Thanks for sharing your umbrella with me until now, I would have been completely soaked if it weren’t for you, but I can make this last stretch on my own”, you thanked her with the brightest smile you could muster, not wanting her clothes to get unnecessarily dirty, before once again looking at the entrance to your apartment and taking a deep breath in preparation for the dash you were about to make, only to once again be stopped by Navia in the last moment.

“I don’t mind getting dirty if it means I can help you, but considering I doubt I’d be able to convince you to let me accompany you, the least I can do is give you this”, the blonde spoke after letting out a sigh, handing you a second, folded, umbrella.

“You never mentioned you had two umbrellas with you”, you plainly stated, only for Navia to shrug her shoulders.

“You never asked. So I thought I might as well have a little fun”, she responded with a smile speaking up once more after seeing you open the umbrella.

“Oh, and no running. You have an umbrella so there’s no need to hurry. I don’t want to hear you slipped on the wet floor, understood?”

#1500 simps event #navia #navia x reader #navia x y/n #navia x you #genshin navia #genshin impact #genshin x reader

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dougdimmadodo · 8 months

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Black Heron (Egretta ardesiaca)

Family: Heron Family (Ardeidae)

Least Concern: Least Concern

A relatively small species of heron with dark grey feathers and distinctive bright yellow feet, the Black Heron is found across much of Sub-Saharan Africa (reportedly being most common in the east of the continent, including in parts of Madagascar) and is best known for its unique and extremely odd-looking method of catching prey; like other herons Black Herons are carnivorous and feed on fish, frogs and aquatic invertebrates, but instead of relying solely on their excellent eyesight and fast reflexes to catch their prey members of this species form "canopies" by spreading their wings around their bodies to form dome-like structures, luring prey into what seems like a shaded, sheltered hiding place before quickly snatching them out of the water using their long, powerful beaks. Typically found near shallow lakes or streams but also sometimes seen in coastal environments, Black Herons are often seen travelling and feeding in small groups, and generally build their nests (which are large, sturdy platform-like structures typically suspended above water to make them harder for predators to access) alongside not only other members of their species but also other species of herons, ibises and cormorants. Black Herons breed during periods of prolonged rainy weather (with the feet of males turning bright red when they are receptive to mating,) and shortly afterwards females produce clutches of 2-4 white or pale blue eggs. Each female will defend her eggs fiercely, and while members of this species will not actively defend other females' eggs nesting in groups is thought to increase every individual egg's likelihood of surviving in the event of a predator attacking, as large colonies of aggressive mother herons are likely to intimidate all but the largest of egg-eaters.

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Image Source: Here

#Black Heron #black heron #bird #birds #zoology #ornithology #animal #animals #wildlife #African wildlife #Pelecaniformes #herons #heron #water birds #water bird #nature

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slickchickchocolatier · 2 years

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Mermaids Tale - Chapter 1

Alright here we go. First chapter of Mermaids Tale, I think i already mentioned but this story deserves a better title, but we'll stick with it for the sake of ceasing any confusion.

As mentioned in my latest post, I'm adjusting the ML to post the whole storyline of MT, I must...its really quite good and when you read the buildup and the history of the characters, its good. For those of you that want just the good stuff, i'll post ONE chapter of the first smut encounter, just one. This story has alot of smut, among other genres. So there will the best of both worlds here.

Pairings: Heeseung and you

Warnings: Not a whole lot. Mentions of nudity but that's about it.

Summary: Noooooooooooooo....just know, that MT Heeseung is really...sexy. This storyline contains a cat and mouse chase type of thing going on. Lots of hunter and fleeing prey vibes.

Side note, i think they finally fixed my tumblr because posting is alot less of a pain. Seriously, the chapters i've posted so far for each series, some of the grammar errors and structure errors are bc this thing would not let me copy and paste, i had to like re-write each paragraph into the box as i was looking at the draft. So there may have been alot of typos and stupid mistakes in those, apologies.

The sound of the busy city buzzes in your ears as you monopolize through the crowds.

Passing by a line of shops and rows of canopy tents of casual eatery, you keep a hollow face as you remain hidden beneath the bill of your hat. You strut through, strategically making way towards the path of a shorter route leading to your home.

Your hair lays bundled up under your headpiece, eyes remain forward under the hovering cloth, and your body’s form, out of sight and beneath a large sweatshirt. The lengthy shape of your legs made out by the fitted jeans that cover them, and the slight exposure of soft skin on your forearms, revealed by slightly rolled sleeves, remain as your sole identifiable features that are seen.

Carrying out your habitual trend of hiding beneath cloth, and shadow when traveling hasn’t been the most pleasant routine.

However, throughout the course of events in earlier years, you’ve learned and been warned of, the dangers against you. For each time you leave shelter, you place yourself at risk of exposing yourself and suffering the unimaginable, putting an end to your bloodline.

The fate of your bloodline, as mentioned, solely relies on you. Carrying the task of preserving it comes with dire responsibilities and measures, something that you have been doing for many years, yet still haven’t grown entirely used to.

You turn around a corner leading into a marketplace alley. It’s a shortcut you normally take to get back home, saving you a half hour from walking among crowds, which never made you feel easy. Not after you learned of your secret.

The moment you projected the turn, the owner of one of the food tents accidently bumps into you, as he was making his way to customers bringing them hot jasmine tea.

His body was forced back from the impact, as was yours. The ceramic dishes that were neatly staged on the platter fall and shatter on the stone tile. The young man peeks up through recovered squinted eyes and sees that the contents of the teapot had sullied your entire sleeve.

Noticing the color of the material becoming darker from the splash, his face grew into great concern when he saw the skin on your arm glisten at the reflection of a nearby streetlight.

The vapors emerging from your arm are noticeable, as well as the blotches of the bright red shade that takes over the natural hue of your pigment, and the stunning glow you were born with.

He begins apologizing theatrically and calls out to the neighboring canopy owners.

A group of elderly shop owners come to attend to the wound on your arm, suppressing the discoloration with wet cloths and ice. One woman runs back inside her boutique to find a first aid kit, while the others remain in a frenzy as they place effort into treating the burn.

But there was no burn, at least in a somatosensory manner, not visually.

You reassure them that you’re fine, despite their urging in taking you to a hospital. You softly shake your head and thanked them for their care, you further your efforts in convincing them by smiling and waving, appearing as jovial as possible while you continue your way through the alley.

As a child, you didn’t realize that your inability to feel physical touch, vibration, or any sensation for that matter, was really something to be concerned of. Truth be told, you still don’t. In fact, you prefer it that way. Regardless of countless moments where teachers, friends, and family all grew concern over your “defect”, you personally found it convenient.

You would be lying to yourself if you deny ever being curious on what it is like, to feel temperature, roughness, pressure, tickle, itch, pain, pleasure, cloth, skin, and tingle. But you realize that whatever it was that you were missing, you couldn’t possibly be yearning for it if you’ve never experienced it. As depressing that may sound, your “defect” saved yourself the emotional traumas of pain and sadness, which is something you had no problems feeling.

It started when you were six, after your dog Lucy had passed away. You were sad because you missed her greeting you, the way she kept you company and played outside, and the sound of her adorable whines whenever she wanted a doggy treat. You developed a bond with her out of pure emotion because the times that she licked your face, when you pet and rubbed her ears or her belly, or when you held her in your arms, it wasn’t possible to develop any fondness out of the physical compassions of love for her. You never felt it. Which somehow, you believe, may have placed limitations on the strength of your bond with her. Since everything you felt was out of pure emotion, the number of traits that would cause your grief was limited, therefore you were able to accept her loss much faster.

There were other times too, like the moments where your friends would experience a broken heart or betrayal at the discretion of a loved one. Events such as this is what made you the most grateful. After witnessing the times when a dear friend would come to you for comfort, shattered by the hands of a man who used and abandoned her, you came to understand that the degree of her sadness and heartbreak was enhanced due to her physical relation with that man. Thankfully for you, you could only imagine, not that you would.

You found it very disturbing that regardless of how many times your friend had experienced the ruthless abandonment of her lover, all conducted after a session of sexual intimacy. No matter how many times he left her, she would always welcome him back with open arms, enabling him to do it all over again. Whenever you had asked her why she would even permit herself to let him in again, her response was the sealant of any curious thought you had in the sense of touch.

“I know he’s going to leave, and I wasn’t going to. But then he kissed and hugged me, and I just couldn’t help it, I needed to feel him again. Have you ever gone without sex for weeks Y/N? Its brutal! I got desperate.”

Her words drifted through your brain. What would she have said if you had divulged the fact that, regardless of you being 109 years old, you never had sex. You heard from friends you made along the way of their experiences, and quite frankly, it never appealed to you. It may just be one of those moments where the coined term “you had to have been there” applies heavily to it, which of course, wouldn’t matter for you. The loss of the sense wasn’t just limited to your skin, it was internal as well. You recall the time when you nearly had a close call in exposing your secret.

It was while you were with a group of co-workers, the lot of you all deciding to have lunch at a sushi bar. A moment of carelessness resulted in everyone being confused when the waiter brought out the tea and poured it into each of your cups. You were the first to drink, and upon noticing you sipping from your cup, a fellow co-worker across follows suit and takes a sip.

The sound of the cutlery clashing, the blood curling scream, and smaller dishes shattering on the floor, overfilled the entire restaurant as she jumped up and covered her mouth. The tears streamed down her face as she shouts for ice and water, the remaining group stood off to the side with puzzling looks.

“Too hot! My mouth is burning!”

She panicked as her mouth begin to blister and her lips turned red.

“Why didn’t you let it cool down?”

“I thought it was already cooled down! I saw Y/N drink from her cup, so I thought it was okay!”

The poor girl exhausting her sobbing words as she popped ice cubes in her mouth, desperately trying to relieve herself from the burn.

The group looked your way, they also noticed your lips were bright red, and now that you think about it, you may have had blisters in your mouth as well, but how were you to know?

You played off that whole experience by telling them that you had a damaged nerve syndrome. That’s been your go-to excuse for as long as you could remember, there was no other way other logic that you could use for moments like that one.

You finally make it to your apartment.

Looking down at your arm, you noticed the redness was beginning to swell a bit, ironic that you couldn’t feel the pain from injuries such as this, yet you were susceptible to the damage it would cause. Everything has its ups and downs you suppose.

Migrating to your bedroom, you glanced over to the all the vintage photos of your mother, father, and your siblings.

Managing life by changing your name every decade, relocating, and cutting off ties with friendly relations after a certain amount of time had passed, it wasn’t easy for you to succumb to emotional moments of loneliness. Your life was always moving, nothing was constant or stable, at least not for too long. The only time when you would feel saddened was whenever you looked at the photos of your family, who have all been passed away for years already. The remaining relatives you had from your brother and his wife, your cousins, nieces, and nephews fully remain unaware of your existence, there was no way you could explain that, while they were significantly younger, your appearance had remained unchanged since the year you turned 22. The moment you blossomed into a young woman, no longer having the pre-mature attributes of a girl, you were at your true feminine form and had remained as such. Just like your mother.

A flashback drives past your mind for a moment, you remembered it so vividly.

“Y/n, do you want to join us? We’re doing game night.”

Your younger brother implores you to join, and normally you would, but tonight was different.

“No thanks Matthew, I want to go out for a night walk on the beach. Tell mom and dad I’ll be back after a bit.”

“Are you sure? Do you want me to come with? I don’t think mom likes it when you go out by yourself, remember? She said that a 15-year-old girl should never be out on her own in an unfamiliar place.”

“I’ll be fine, this is private property, and the beach is just right across from the house. I’ll be back in an hour.”

At that, you left the old beach rental your family reserved for the trip to Greece. It was your first time there and it became your favorite place in the world. There was something about the land and the Aegean Sea that surrounded it. It gave you a feeling of familiarity, the same sense someone would get when they go home for the first time in many years. It was nostalgic. Yet, that wasn’t the only thing that made you feel sentimental.

You didn’t know why, but up until that year you pondered the puzzling fact that, while your defect inhibited you to feel physically, there was something about the ocean that contradicted that.

You had found out about it initially when you were 7-years old, your family took a trip to a beach nearby home. The hot sand was too much for your family, and they knew it wouldn’t affect you since the family doctor was the one that initially told your parents of your “nerve damage”.

Despite hearing their calls to you, bidding you to stay put with them, you ignored their yells and ran to the shallow waters. It was the first time you had ever seen the ocean, and you were attracted to its appeal the way magnets attract iron.

With your feet stepping into the water, you were shocked to realize that there was something transpiring. There was a sensation that you’ve never experienced before, and you didn’t know what to call it. Looking back, you know now that it was the temperature of the water. Yes, the temperature. Not only that, but the swirling whirlpool swishing around your ankles, the wet sand riding in between your toes, the jagged tips and points of rocks and seashells, and the feel of the gravitational pull as the water receded, only to return at your feet once more when another rolling wave had hit.

For the first time, you had felt the powerful sense of touch.

You never mentioned the experience to your family, there wasn’t any particular reason, you just felt content that you were able to experience the sensation for once. But you quickly realized that your ability to feel only occurred when you were in the water. The ocean waters.

You exit through the back kitchen door, skipping towards the shallow waves. The rental was just far enough from the water, a single person such as yourself walking amongst the wet sands couldn’t be seen easily at night. But you weren’t concerned at all, there was absolutely no one in sight and that’s how you preferred it, because now you’ll be able to freely express your joy once you reach the shallow waves.

The moment the water rushed over your skin; you rediscover the sense of touch once more.

Of all things in this earth for you to feel, you were eternally grateful that it was the ocean. You felt as equally grateful as you breached the waters belonging to the beautiful Aegean Sea. It was the first time you get to experience water that was foreign, exotic, and mystical, much different than the local beaches back home.

Before placing our feet in, you took a second to watch the bubbles of the sea foam riding the waves. It was so pretty to look at. The foam resembled white clouds as the bubbles looked like crystals, reflecting twinkles of glistening light reflected by the moon. Assorted pastel color prisms coated each bubble as you watched them roll back into the sea for the next wave.

You walk along the shallow end, kicking your feet to create small splashes as you twirl in your summer dress. Apart from the sense of touch, nothing ever changed your experience in the water, up until a feeling hit you. It was a sensation you didn’t recall feeling in the water before, but it stung with a vengeance. You couldn’t put your finger on what was happening, but you knew based off your recollections of witnessing similar reactions with other people, the sensation you felt was the first in your life.

Pain.

The overwhelming reaction of having to feel pain for the first time caused you to collapse, the stinging sensation grew worse. You panicked. Unable to fathom what was going on, your mind tried to process at the sensation you were succumbing to. Drowning with confusion and fear, you realized that, unlike the waters back home, there was something about the waters belonging to the Aegean Sea, and your body was reacting to it.

Fear and shock took over your emotional senses, covering the unpleasant sense of physical pain as legs grew weak, too weak.

The stinging hit every inch of your legs from the hip down, and for a moment you wondered if you had been stung by jellyfish or perhaps bitten by a poisonous sea snake.

To your horror, you screamed as you looked down at your legs, finding that you no longer had them. Not anymore.

Instead, they were replaced with a long, graceful tail and fin. You shuttered in fear, noting that the lower half of your body was now covered with fish scales.

You couldn’t move from the sandy spot you were laying in. Your panic heightened as you attempt to use your upper body strength to crawl away from the water, but the pull of the waves as the tides rolled in enabled the receding sand to sink you down, practically gluing you stuck and your lower half remaining in the water.

As the currents grew stronger, and no one in sight to hear or see you, your body was slowly but surely getting pulled in deeper into the water.

Each wave dragged you in deeper, your whole body was nearly entrenched in the shallow water, yet it was becoming easier to move, so long as you were going in the direction of the deep end. You felt exhausted from fighting against the waves, so you laid there in defeat. Your wet hair was plastered all over your face, the transformation of your lower extremities caused the ruffle lining of your dress to shred.

Noticing that the stinging pain was no longer present, you closed your eyes and found comfort in feeling the soothing sensation of the water showering your entire body. The feeling that you normally enjoyed.

You closed your eyes and laid your cheek down on the wet sand before you, not sure if you just needed a break or if you had entirely given up and assumed you were going to die in that spot. Within seconds after closing your eyes, another wave rolls in, covering you entirely. As it pulls back, revealing every shell and rock that laid thickly underneath the sand, the raging current drags you one final time, fully submerging you in the water.

The feeling, opposed to what you felt moments earlier, was beyond amazing. Even though the temperature of the water was cooler, you felt warm and secured. The swooshing of the current wraps around you and glides against your skin.

Your whole body felt the touch of everything around you. The pale silver scales glowed contrasted against the shadowed depth around you. Considering how dark it was underneath the surface, your view was as clear as glass. Everything you laid your eyes on, you were able to see its finer details, no matter how small or large it was.

You could hear the echo calling of whales, even though they were meters from where you were at. It appeared that not only did you gain the sense of touch by being in the water, but your other senses remain unimpaired. They actually seemed enhanced under water.

As tempted as it was to savor the environment you were in, you started to get worried that your mother would come look for you, especially since your time outside was breaching the final moments of the hour. Though you weren’t entirely sure how you would go see her in the state you were in.

You swam back to the shoreline, although it didn’t feel like swimming, more like gliding. You found it was so easy to move in the water, and you were moving in a speed that you’ve never was faster than any moving car you rode in.

Beaching yourself as you reached the shoreline, you turn to admire the pale-silver color of your tail.

The fin was large and fanned out, the skin that stretched over the frame was semi-transparent, and it glistened with a sheer blend of pastel colors, the same as the seafoam. Two spurs outlined the out corners of the fin as it branched out, they were long, and the tips of them were sharper than any knife you’ve seen.

The scales on your tale all looked like nacre, or simply known as Mother-of-Pearl, reflecting the wide hue of colors to bounce off the silver base. The amount of scales lessened just past your pelvic bone, revealing the skin you were familiar with. Had there been more time you would have removed your dress to see how much had changed with your upper body if it did change. Yet you became more focused on figuring a way to get out of the water, then coming up with an explanation for your appearance.

Moving was hard, compared to how it was in the water, now that you had laid ashore it felt nearly impossible. Finding yourself stuck yet again, the only manner to get farther away from the water was to crawl using your upper body. Digging your elbows into the murky sand, you struggled to find some level of stable foundation as you felt yourself sinking in.

Noticing the partial burial of large rocks all around, you reached for the exposed surfaces, grabbing on to the points and edges. Using the moment of your body to shift in the direction you needed to go, you exhausted every effort by using whatever means necessary to get further up, closer to your destination. The sense of touch begins to fade out, disappearing the further you move away from the water. A bittersweet exchange.

Finally, you reached the dry mounds of sand. Grabbing a handful, you watch as the spilling of dry granules seeps in between your fingers, feeling a sense of accomplishment. You moved upward just a tad bit more, ensuring no part of you, to include the tail, was touching water.

You come to a sudden halt as a familiar sensation hits you. Odd, since you were no longer touching the water, yet the stinging all throughout your lower half re-emerges, and you could feel it just as strongly as you had in the water. You turned over onto your back and saw all the dry granules of sand that coated the scales of your tail. Witnessing the metamorphosis happening before your own eyes, you watched as the beige hue of the sand and the rainbow explosion of color from the scales begin to transform. The merging of colors gradually fades into a hue that matches your skin, while the two long spurs at the corners of your fin begin to recede.

Beginning at the inner triangular tip in the center of your fin, the skin separates, and continues up along the center of your tail, regaining the shape and length of your legs.

Was that all it took? Dry land? Or just being out of the water…these waters.

You didn’t tell your parents what happened that night, you didn’t know how. For the longest time, you wondered if it had been a dream or some type of hallucination. Yet the memory of feeling the water, listening to the whales, and re-visualizing the clarity of your sight, you knew that it was neither.

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artthatgivesmefeelings · 1 year

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Charles-Nicolas Cochin (French, 1715-1790) Funeral for Marie-Thérèse of Spain, Dauphine of France, in the Church of Nôtre Dame, Paris, on November 24, 1746, ca. 1746 The Cleveland Museum of Art

As an official draftsman to the king, Charles-Nicolas Cochin was responsible for documenting royal events, festivities, and ceremonies. When the Spanish princess Marie-Thérèse, wife of Louis XV’s eldest son, died in childbirth, she was given two lavish funerals: one at the Church of Saint Denis, and another, represented in this drawing, at Notre Dame in Paris. Cochin’s drawing shows how the interior of the gothic cathedral was theatrically redecorated in the current rococo style. Beneath the majestic canopy in the center of the nave, an ornate arched structure, a baldequin, contains the princess’s coffin.

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sotcwcrp · 9 months

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SECRETS OF THE CLANS, JANUARY OPENING!

In celebration of our January 14th - January 28th opening, we're going to be highlighting each of the clans, to give you a better idea of what they're like / how different they are from the books!

Starting today, we have;

Shadowclan

ART CREDITS: carnationcarnivore on discord!

Stay low. Stay quiet. It’s the first thing our kits learn, cradled by thorn bushes and nursed by our whole Clan. Prick your ears, lower your stance until your belly-fur brushes the peaty soil, let the only movement be your tail-tip as you stalk your prey through grasping brambles. This is not the forest of your elders’ tales, little one.

To be your eyes into Shadowclan Territory, Seabreeze a Shadowclan Dayguard is here to interview some of her clanmates! Take it away Seabreeze!

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

“Alrighty, let’s get started then! How about you tell me a bit about ShadowClan’s territory? An overview would surely do, but feel free to go in detail!”

“It's quite the place! Very wet, full of plants, a textbook marsh you could say. A place you could really get lost in! There are other areas of course, the orchard and the glade, and a most definitely NOT haunted cabin!“ - Punchbuggy

From the lush sundew dotted fens to the shadowed highlands, Shadowclan’s territory is thick with plant life that creeps and ensnares those who pay no heed to the land. Flowers bloom within the gloom, thriving in spades along the shores of ponds, pools, and streams, which criss-cross the land and leave little fully dry. Tangled canopies and towering pines blot out the sky in quite a few places, creating the perfect conditions for a Nighhunter to track their prey in, shrouded by darkness (though one must account for any pools of water or muck, which the apprentices learn to traverse early). As for the Dayguards, who take a less furtive and more rough and tumble approach, the shining sun casts spaces such as the carrs and the abandoned Flood Camp in a golden glow. Aside from nature, Twoleg structures which have been long left to rot and be reclaimed by the ever crawling passage of time dot the landscape, providing both cover as well as intriguing spaces to explore. And hidden within one thicket, veiled by the dark on one half and dappled with light on the other, is Shadowclan’s camp. While it’s never quite as busy as the other Clans’, given opposing schedules of many Warriors, it’s still oft bustling with movement, music and dance, decorated with the art their Campminders create (both permanent and performance).

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

“Let’s dig a bit deeper, what do you think? How about your favourite spot in the territory? It could be because of an important life event or just because of its scenery, I just wanna know why!”

"Stargazer glade is my favorite place! The starlight dappling the clearing is breath-taking to witness. I feel closer to the stars there, too, and my patron. Even if I'm not a nighthunter anymore, I still enjoy staying up late to trace constellations and count the stars there." - Plovertumble

Once lost to time and to myth, the site of Stargazer Glade was rediscovered two cycles ago in the midst of a four Clan wide epidemic. Or rather, the purpose of it was rediscovered. The glade itself seems ordinary enough, an open clearing hidden away by thick shrubbery and pines with intermingled branches, walling the space away. The sky, however, remains unobscured above. The yawning abyss of sky can be intimidating during the day, particularly for those used to having their back to cover, but during the night the entire glade comes alive. It almost seems to glow, wildflowers and vines edged in silver, the grass soaked in light. The monument which stands at the far end of the field, alone and imposing, reflects it back into the center of the space. This is why it was named Stargazer Glade, by ancestors whose names have been reclaimed by the elements, but whose pawsteps the modern day Shadowclan walk into when they travel to this once nigh holy space. Cats often bring gifts of flowers or trinkets, words or performance, to offer to their patron or pantheon when they feel the need to commune with Starclan. It’s often a private thing, praying, though families typically share their preference in who to revere before Starclan as a whole.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

“In line with my last comment about memories, any favorites of those on the territory? Memories I mean!”

“I'm afraid this one's a bit trickier, I've got many good and bad ones, but a favorite? Oh dear... Maybe when I gave Chanterellefall his name? Most of my best memories take place with him, or Mimiclull, so it's a constant shifting battle over which is the favorite.” - Oleandersnare

The relationship between mentor and apprentice is one that is viewed as particularly important in both of their lives in Shadowclan, and one that will often last into adulthood once the apprentice graduates. This is in part due to the close-knit culture of the Clan; not only does the mentor impart new skills, but their own experiences. For those who join the Clan young rather than being born into it (which is certainly preferred, as those who join later in life are expected to prove themselves and their new loyalties), their mentors become a touchstone, and many even find themselves falling into a parental role. It's become a trend to cement this bond when an apprentice and mentor are first paired at a kit's graduation ceremony. Together, and typically with little planning, the pair will come up with an alternative to the nose-to-forehead gesture that is unique to them. This new gesture will go with them as they journey through life together, being performed in significant moments such as ceremonies as well as for comfort, if the need arises. Shadowclan's proclivity for theatrics has also lent a paw to this spur of the moment idea which has become ingrained into their culture.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

“I’m sure we both can say that we’re pretty misunderstood as a Clan. Anything you wanna say about ShadowClan’s culture that might not be known otherwise?”

“You've got us wrong. Whatever you think of us— you’re way off, guaranteed. We aren't cunning and sly as foxes who only come out at night. We aren't aggressive carrioneaters. We have law; we have culture. We have cats who patrol day and night, a sense of morality, festivities and drama brought on by our campminders. Most importantly, we're as tough as ever and work as one to get things done; we're like a family.” - Chanterellefall

Like a family is quite the apt description. ShadowClan, while frequently misconstrued as deceptive cats who prowl at night and nip the tails of passerby cats, are actually quite the vibrant band. From singing and dancing to plays and art, any form of creativity you can imagine is celebrated and appreciated. During the brightest hours of day and the darkest hours of night, the territory is silent, punctuated only by hushed murmurs and the soft snores of sleeping cats. Within ShadowClan, the song of nature takes the form of a lullaby. When the sun rises and falls, only then does the Clan come alive, every mealtime a festivity to remember. Each member is one part of the whole, loved like blood no matter the cat, with strength enough to move mountains.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

“Alrighty, here’s a question that might be more interesting. Everybody’s got different views, but I’m looking for your views on the council. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone!”

“Ahh, how forward of you - oh, it was only a joke. I've seen my team through times so dark that it seemed dawn would never come, and we've come out unscathed from it with a deeper understanding of one another, I believe, and of what it means to serve our Clan. In fact, most of us have continued on a tradition that goes back a few generations, of taking on the naming style of the Forgotten after Noctule's Wing's joining which has continued since he stepped down. Our Leader and Deputy? Ah, Russetstar and Warblercall, they've a passion for keeping Shadowclan safe and their heads held high. I can assure you of that.” - Vivid Skies

The council of ShadowClan wake during dawn and dusk, contrary to your standard Dayguard and Nighthunter. They oversee the Clan during its busiest times, taking on many the responsibility. ShadowClan healers are tasked with the health and safety of their clanmates, taking good care of the sick and injured. Rest assured, in the paws of even the apprentices, you will be tended to diligently. While there has been much hardship in recent moons, the protection of the council has kept the whole of ShadowClan safe. Warblercall, though strict and proud with a traditional view of the code, is a powerful and reliable figure among the ShadowClan higher ups, having recently brought forth a new rank, dubbed Gloamwatchers. Similarly traditional, Russetstar has proven her dedication through moons of leadership. Together, the council works like a well oiled machine, regardless of whatever trials and tribulations the Clan has faced— and will continue to do so through whatever is to come.

#wcrp #sotcwcrp #discord wcrp #warrior cats #shadowclan #warrior cats rp #discord #server opening

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usafphantom2 · 6 months

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17 years after a USAF F-15 crashed due to cracks in the jet’s longeron the same issue appeared on 90 F-16 fighters across the entire service inventory

Cracks in canopy sill longeron appeared on 90 USAF F-16 fighters

The Colorado Air National Guard’s 140th Maintenance Group (MXG) at Buckley Air Force Base recently had two of their own F-16s grounded simultaneously due to cracked canopy sill longerons (CSLs).

As the airframe has aged, it required these airmen to incorporate new and innovative maintenance practices to remain at the forefront of discovering new means of increasing airpower efficiency to ensure the fighter jets remain mission capable and ready to defend the nation 24/7.

US Air Force (USAF) Staff Sgt. Danielle M. Morgan and Tech. Sgt. Taylar M. Reilly, led one of these new practices as they repaired canopy sill longerons. The CSLs run the full length of the cockpit and support the structure between the frame and skin of the aircraft, preventing tension and bending of the fuselage.

“The aircraft is immediately grounded when the canopies crack,” Reilly said to Staff Sgt. Luccario Lovato, 140th Wing Public Affairs, for the article Colorado Air National Guard Maintenance Group creates innovative solution to aging F-16. “A crack can spread, and if both sides break, the whole nose could fall off.”

17 years after a USAF F-15 crashed due to cracks in the jet's longeron the same issue appeared on 90 F-16 fighters across the entire service inventory

A US Air Force (USAF) F-16C Fighting Falcon, 120th Fighter Squadron (FS), 140th Fighter Wing (FW), Colorado Air National Guard (COANG).

Cracks in F-16 canopy sill longeron can become a fleet-wide issue

Canopy sill longeron cracking has already appeared in 90 aircraft across the USAF inventory of F-16s within the past year.

The F-16 can fly at twice the speed of sound, pulling up to 9-G turns (9 times the earth’s gravitational force) to accomplish air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, applying significant strain to an aging aircraft. While structural concerns are not new, structural maintenance is usually done at a depot facility.

“While this isn’t the first time we’ve done this specific task, this is the first time that we’ve had two aircraft with this issue at the same time,” Reilly said.

Reilly also explained that the structural integrity of the longeron is getting worse, and suspects it’ll become a fleet-wide issue.

Noteworthy, according to Alert 5, similar cracking issues plagued the USAF F-15 Eagle fleet in the past. In 2007 an F-15C suffered an in-flight break-up because of a defective longeron supplied by Boeing. The mishap, that took place during a training mission, resulted in a significant grounding event.

Similar cracking issues plagued the USAF F-15 Eagle fleet in the past

Wild Weasel F-16C print

This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. F-16CM Fighting Falcon – Wild Weasel 50th Anniversary, 2015

The Eagle destroyed in that incident was from the 131st Fighter Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard. On Nov. 2, 2007 the aircraft departed on a standard training sortie. The F-15C, flown by Maj. Stephen Stilwell, experienced a violent shudder in its forward fuselage approximately 20 minutes after departing from an airfield near St. Louis. Then the aircraft broke up at an altitude of 18,000 feet above the ground. Major Stilwell managed to eject safely (despite sustaining a dislocated left shoulder and a fractured left arm) just before the aircraft broke apart, scattering debris across the Missouri countryside.

As reported by The Seattle Times, investigators traced the cause of the accident to the jet’s longeron. The investigation revealed that the longeron in question exhibited a non-uniform thickness, failing to meet the 0.10-inch (0.25 centimeter) specification outlined in the Boeing contract. The measured thickness ranged between 0.039 and 0.073 inches, a significant deviation that compromised the structural integrity of the longeron.

A comprehensive inspection program for all F-15 A-D models in the USAF followed the investigation into the crash of the F-15C. As a result, all 441 of the F-15 fighter interceptors were temporarily sidelined. The inspections revealed that a concerning number, a total of 182 aircraft, had longerons that didn’t meet original manufacturing specifications.

After undergoing additional inspections as the investigation was completed, most of the grounded F-15s were cleared to return to flight by February 2008.

F-15 model

This model is available from AirModels – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS.

Photo credit: SMSGT JOHN P. ROHRER / U.S. Air Force

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

@TAGC17 via X

#f16 fighter jet #usaf

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shape · 25 days

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🇮🇱 NOVA Festival Tribute at Burning Man 🇺🇸

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🇮🇱 NOVA Festival Tribute at Burning Man 🇺🇸

At 6:29 a.m. this morning, a tribute was held at the annual Burning Man arts festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert for those who lost their lives at the Nova music festival, which Hamas terrorists began attacking at that same time on Oct. 7.

A group of producers and artists who were part of the Supernova festival created “a blend of healing journey and radical collective expression” called “Nova Heaven.”

The installation at Burning Man “replicates the iconic shade structure of the festival while embodying the event’s core values of friendship, love and freedom,” the group said.

There were also 405 wood-carved angels hanging from the canopy bearing the names of the 405 attendees of the Israeli festival who were killed on Oct. 7.

https://www.instagram.com/novaheaven_org/

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Song: Elohai Neshama by artist Alma Yehuda Becher (24) who was murderes by HAMAS was singing this song in has car a few days before he died there. https://www.timesofisrael.com/yehuda-becher-24-big-dreams-and-a-voice-that-touched-many/

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#burning man #burning man 2024 #nova festival survivors #nova festival #Instagram #Youtube

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kyleraynermybeloved · 10 months

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Blanket Fort 🎄-Day One

Pairing: Kyle Rayner x GN!Reader Summary: What's the best way to spend a cold and tiring day? Building a blanket fort of course!. Warnings: Christmas mention but not focused, fluff. Word Count: 1,153 A/N: The first fic of the 25 Holiday Event is here!!! 25 Day Holiday Event Masterlist | Masterlist

The sound of the small space heater filled the air as you sat curled up on the couch with a book, bundled in blankets to fight off the cold air.

The furnace had broken days earlier, a call to the H-VAC company told you they wouldn’t be able to get anyone out until the end of the weekend, they were having some maintenance problems that had them closed for the week. So you had Kyle purchase some electric space heaters that rotated around the home to keep most areas warm.

The two of you found the living room stayed the warmest and had nestled up there every night. It was a good thing Kyle had talked you into purchasing the more expensive couch because it was definitely worth the money spent.

The front door opened with a chilling breeze, grabbing your attention as you watched Kyle shut it quickly behind him, face rosy and hair disheveled from the cold wind. You felt your cheeks heat up as he spotted you from the doorway, instantly giving you a loving smile, one that you returned after a moment to take in his appearance.

“Was your day alright?” You asked, setting down your book which was long forgotten.

“Yeah, it would have been better if I had brought more layers. The studio was colder than outside, I don’t even know how that was possible.” He shrugged off his coat that was almost soaked through from the slushy snow. The idea of having to traverse outside made you inwardly cringe, you knew he had to be freezing and uncomfortable.

“Why don’t you take a warm shower and I’ll put on a movie for us when you get out.” You suggested.

He kicked off his shoes by the entrance and walked to you, leaning over the couch to give you a kiss. “That sounds like a great idea, I won’t be too long then.”

You hummed happily as he walked towards the bedroom. Hearing the bathroom door close and the water turn on, you came up with an idea that would help him relax. That idea required lots and lots of blankets and pillows, you knew your large blanket collection would come in handy one day.

You walked to where you had stashed your blanket hoard and grabbed everything you needed, setting them on the couch. You stood with your hands on your hips, glancing around to figure out where it would be best to start.

It would make sense if the large couch was the main structure but you wondered if it would be better to use the floor and have the couch serve as extra back support instead. After a few more moments of contemplating you decided on abandoning your thoughts and began on setting up the fort.

If you couldn’t choose between the two, why not just do both? That way you’d have more space to use when you would start feeling too cramped in one area.

You didn’t hear Kyle come back to the living room when you were halfway done, freshly showered and bundled up in warm pajamas.

“Woah! This is incredible!” Kyle expressed in wonder, his hands found their way around your waist pulling you in a hug. You turned in his arms so you were facing him, tightening your own hold.

“You weren’t supposed to be out yet, it’s not done.” You said with a pout. He laughed before giving a peck on your nose.

“You’ve already done an impressive job, it looks amazing. But now that I’m here I can help.” Kyle replied.

The floor was covered with thick blankets, each strategically placed to provide more cushion. The pillows were arranged as a makeshift border surrounding the area; larger and thinner blankets had been used as the fort’s canopy.

“The only thing left to do is to bring more space heaters and get the thicker blankets and we’re all set.” You said with a nod. “Would you mind doing that while I change into my pajamas? I don’t want to be left out of the comfy train, not while you’re leading it.”

You felt more than heard the deep hearty chuckle Kyle let out. “Yeah, of course. Go change party pooper.”

By the time you changed and came back Kyle had turned off all the lights, save for the ones on the Christmas tree, and had chosen a movie to put on.

It was honestly a breathtaking sight to see. Kyle had been laid out on the couch, one arm positioned behind his head in support while the other lay over his midsection. The dim glow of the lights on the tree had painted Kyle in a radiant light that you swore rivaled that of one of the wonders of the world, it made your heart beat faster seeing him like this.

“Don’t you look comfortable.” You cleared your throat.

“I will be once you’re curled up next to me.” He moved farther back into the couch to give you room in front of him. You rolled your eyes in mock annoyance, smiling to yourself.

You crouched down to walk into the blanket fort, settling into the spot next to him. Kyle pulled one of the many blankets over the both of you, wrapping his free arm around you, pressing play on the movie.

The tv light brightened up the blanket fort around you, creating a soft atmosphere that made you drowsy. It felt like the world had been cut off and the only thing that existed was this little bubble you created.

“Thank you for this, I really needed it.” Kyle whispered. You would have missed it if he wasn’t right next to you.

“For you, anything.” You replied sleepily, it was getting harder to keep your eyes open. If it were even possible he pulled you closer against his chest, lazily tracing shapes on your arm. “Plus it beats sleeping in the cold, it’s doing a good job at keeping us warm.”

He let out a yawn, slumber calling to him as well. “I really hope we get the furnace fixed soon, otherwise I might just have to take things into my own hands.”

That would not end well. Kyle is not the best guy for maintenance, last time he tried to fix something it had been the stove, and the place nearly went up in flames.

“Kyle, I love you but there is no way I’m letting you touch that thing.” You said through your own yawn. You did not have to look at him to know he rolled his eyes, you could practically feel him doing it.

“Go to sleep you big meany,” He huffed out. “And I love you too.”

The two of you stayed like that, making comments on the movie that was nearly forgotten, wrapped up in each other's presence that was amplified in the small fort. Whispering until eventually sleep took hold.

#kyleraynermybeloved #kyle rayner #kyle rayner x reader #kyle rayner x gn!reader #kyleraynermybeloved's 25 day holiday event #25 day holiday event #kyle rayner fluff #kyle rayner drabble #it's a little bit on the smaller side but I hope yall like it!!!

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heizlut · 3 months

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Blackwood Hollows

A place that is deep within a dense, ancient forest in the northeastern United States, surrounded by towering blackwood trees that blot out the sun.

Blackwood Hollows was founded in the early 1800s by a group of settlers seeking isolation from the rapidly industrializing world. They were drawn to the area by rumors of rich, fertile land and the seemingly endless supply of timber from the blackwood trees. However, the settlers soon discovered that the forest held dark secrets.

The town's founders built their homes and a small church in the heart of the forest. Unbeknownst to them, the land was cursed by an ancient Native American tribe that had once inhabited the area. The curse was a vengeance for the desecration of sacred land, and it condemned the settlers to a fate of perpetual darkness and horror.

In 1843, the entire population of Blackwood Hollows vanished without a trace. New settlers who arrived found the town eerily abandoned. Houses were left as if people had simply walked out moments before, meals rotting on tables, and tools left mid-task. The new settlers, desperate and having nowhere else to go, decided to stay and rebuild, ignoring the warnings from neighboring towns.

Today, Blackwood Hollows is a shadow of its former self. The population is sparse, and those who remain are either too poor to leave or too deeply entwined in the town's dark history. The few visitors who pass through often report feeling an overwhelming sense of dread and the sensation of being watched.

Blackwood Hollows is perpetually shrouded in mist, the air heavy with the scent of decay and the faint, ever-present sound of whispers from the forest. The town's architecture is a mix of crumbling 19th-century buildings and more modern but equally neglected structures. The blackwood trees loom over everything, their gnarled branches creating a canopy that almost completely blocks out the sun.

Local Legends:

The Whispering Woods: At night, the blackwood trees seem to whisper, luring people into the depths of the forest. Those who follow the whispers are rarely seen again, and those who return are often driven mad, speaking of shadowy figures and ancient rituals.

The Blackwood Beast: Legend speaks of a monstrous creature that prowls the forest, emerging only during the darkest nights. Descriptions vary, but all agree it is a horrifying amalgamation of man and beast, with glowing red eyes and an insatiable hunger for human flesh.

The Ghostly Children: On certain nights, the laughter of children can be heard echoing through the town. These ghostly apparitions are said to be the spirits of the original settlers' children, forever trapped between worlds. They appear to warn or sometimes lure townsfolk to their doom.

The Haunted Church: The old church, now in ruins, is a focal point for paranormal activity. It is said that it was the preacher, Ambrose Huxley, who led the settlers to perform dark rituals in a desperate attempt to lift the curse. His spirit, along with those of his congregation, are believed to haunt the church, reenacting their final, grisly rites.

Local Lore:

The Hollow’s Night: An annual event where the townsfolk lock themselves indoors from dusk till dawn, as it is believed that the spirits and creatures of the forest are at their most active during this time.

The Death Mark: Some residents bear a strange X-shaped scar that is said to be a sign of the curse’s grip on their lineage. Those marked often have shorter, more tragic lives. Those of the Blackwood family all have the cursed mark.

This story and setting are under copyright of heizlut/sophbrielle. Do NOT repost or copy claiming it as your own

#blackwood hollows lore #blackwood hollows

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tbkenvs3000w24 · 7 months

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The Amazing Resilience of Nature

One of the most amazing things about nature is the incredible examples of resilience seen within ecosystems. In a world that is constantly changing, nature can persist through even the harshest conditions to bounce back to its original form or make way for new life.

What is resilience? There are many different definitions of resilience used in ecology. Ecological resilience can be described as a natural system's ability to absorb the effects of a disturbance before the system changes states (Death, 2024). Engineering resilience is a natural system's ability to bounce back from disturbances to its previous state (Death, 2024; Thorogood et al., 2023). Overall, resilience is the ability of an ecosystem to maintain its structure or function with little change following a disturbance.

Here is a picture my mom took of tree roots that had been lifted from the ground after a downburst occurred at our cottage. After my dad cut the fallen trees, the roots and attached soil fell back over the rocks. The next year many of the trees survived and new trees and shrubs grew.

The disturbances ecosystems face can be naturally occurring events such as seasonal floods, storms, and wildfires. Humans create additional pressures such as climate change, urbanization, overexploitation of natural resources, pollution, the introduction of invasive species and more (Thorogood et al., 2023). It is the organism's and ecosystem's ability to prosper in the face of these events that makes a natural system resilient.

It may be hard to believe but wildfires can be good for an ecosystem. Forests in Canada have experienced periotic natural disturbances such as fires, insect infestations, diseases, and floods for thousands of years (Canada, 2023). These forests have adapted to these conditions to live through these events (Canada, 2023). These natural disturbances are a natural part of the life cycle of forests and even help renew life in these areas (Canada, 2023).

Here is a picture of a wildfire burning near the Pondosy Bay Wilderness Resort in B.C. (Laanela, 2018).

As a fire swipes across a forest, a door is opened to allow new life to grow. As the tree litter on the forest floor burns, nutrients that have been stored are released back into the soil. These nutrients allow soil to support the growth of new plant and tree life. Forest fires open the forest canopy supporting new life to grow as sunlight reaches the forest floor (Canada, 2023). Amazingly, some species of tree such as lodgepole and jack pine trees need forest fires to reproduce (Bushey et al.; Canada, 2023). The heat from forest fires allows the cones on these trees to open and release their seeds. Without forest fires, these tree species would not be able to reproduce (Bushey et al., 2023).

This is a picture of the cones on a lodgepole pine tree. Picture from Forestry England (n.d.).

Forest's ability to survive and create new life following wildfires is an incredible example of natural resilience. However, the increased frequency and intensity of wildfires in the wake of climate change can reduce forests' resilience to fires (Bushey et al., 2023).

This is a picture of the cones on Jack pine trees. Picture from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (2014).

Humans can disrupt the remarkable resilience of many ecosystems through anthropogenic activities. For example, when extreme forest fires or floods occur annually there is not enough time to allow even the most resilient animals and plants to bounce back. However, when humans support nature, the true resiliency of nature can be truly inspirational.

The reintroduction of Yellow Stone wolves is a story I am sure many of you have heard. Between 1872-1926 wolves were hunted and removed from Yellowstone. Following the eradication of gray wolves, elk populations doubled, and overgrazing caused many plants and trees to die off (Peglar, 2023). The entire ecosystem was disrupted.

Rodent and bird populations declined due to habitat loss (National Geographic, 2024). Grizzle bear populations declined due to the lack of berries needed to eat before hibernation. The riverbanks eroded due to overgrazing and caused sediment to affect the water quality (Peglar, 2023; National Geographic, 2024). The whole ecosystem changed because of the loss of the gray wolves.

youtube

On January 12, 1995, eight wolves from Jasper National Park in Alberta were introduced to Yellowstone. A total of 41 wolves were introduced. Following this, the elk population was reduced and helped prevent overgrazing. The wolves even created elk populations more resilient to drought due to the thinning out of weak and sick elk (Peglar, 2023).

The wolves prevented elk from overgrazing along the river. This allowed trees to grow along the riverbank, protecting the river from erosion (Peglar, 2023). This improved water quality and supported beavers and aquatic organisms to increase in numbers (National Geographic, 2024). The reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park with the help of humans promoted biodiversity and higher resilience to this ecosystem.

Nature is incredibly resilient to the ever-changing conditions of the environment. With conservation efforts seen in natural areas and everyday action taken to protect the environment, people can help support the resilience of nature. By maintaining resilient ecosystems, humans and nature can thrive in a constantly changing world.

References

Bushey, D., Osmer, M., Green, H., Garneau, D., & Lesser, M. (2023). Forest resilience and regeneration dynamics following wildfire disturbance. Ecosphere, 14(9). https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4655

Canada, N. R. (2023, June 22). Why forests need fires, insects and diseases. Natural Resources Canada. https://natural-resources.canada.ca/our-natural-resources/forests/insects-disturbances/why-forests-need-fires-insects-and-diseases/13081

Death, R. G. (2024). The resilience of Riverine Ecological Communities. Resilience and Riverine Landscapes, 23–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-91716-2.00016-9

Enel Group. (n.d.). Ecological resilience: How ecosystems adapt to change. Enel. https://www.enel.com/company/stories/articles/2023/03/ecological-resilience

National Geographic. (n.d.). Wolves of Yellowstone. Education. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/wolves-yellowstone/

Peglar, T. (2023, June 22). Yellowstone’s most controversial residents. Yellowstone National Park. https://www.yellowstonepark.com/park/conservation/yellowstone-wolves-reintroduction/

Thorogood, R., Mustonen, V., Aleixo, A., Aphalo, P. J., Asiegbu, F. O., Cabeza, M., Cairns, J., Candolin, U., Cardoso, P., Eronen, J. T., Hällfors, M., Hovatta, I., Juslén, A., Kovalchuk, A., Kulmuni, J., Kuula, L., Mäkipää, R., Ovaskainen, O., Pesonen, A.-K., … Vanhatalo, J. (2023). Understanding and applying biological resilience, from genes to ecosystems. Npj Biodiversity, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-023-00022-6

Picture Credits

Forestry England. (n.d.). Lodgepole Pine. Forestry England. https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/lodgepole-pine

Laanela , M. (2018, August 15). B.C. declares state of emergency as hundreds of wildfires burn across province | CBC News. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-declares-state-of-emergency-as-hundreds-of-wildfires-burn-across-province-1.4785983

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. (2014, July 18). Jack Pine. ontario.ca. https://www.ontario.ca/page/jack-pine

#nature interpretation #envs3000 #nature #resilience #Youtube

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mbenvs3000w24 · 7 months

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09. Teach me something!... Ecological Succession

Throughout our course we've attempted to understand ways in which we can engage an audience in their surrounding environment. As we near the end of the semester I am excited to present information I've learnt during my university career, that I find especially interesting in a way that showcases my ability to interpret and extend my knowledge successfully.

Conservation and restoration is a frequented topic as a landscape architecture major, and its something of an interest of mine. While we explore ways to influence and manage ecological functions to improve or maintain conditions we also recognize the sheer strength and power nature has to restore and regenerate itself, and in doing so we are often assisting natural processes as they progress.

A house fire can leave a home unsalvageable, impossible for restoration without extensive and laborious work. It would be incredible detrimental to the structure of the home and its inhabitants. A forest fire could be just as detrimental. Plants destroyed and animals displaced, yet a forest has one major advantage to a house, it can regenerate, albeit after a considerable amount of time, but if left alone and protected ecological succession will allow the landscape to heal from the disturbance.

Ecological Succession is the process by which natural communities succeed one another over time. While there are two types of ecological succession, primary and secondary, I'll be discussing secondary succession, being that its more common and what occurs when a forest fire or large-scale deforestation takes place. Secondary succession happens when a climax or intermediate community is impacted by a disturbance.

Following an event such as a fire, decomposing plant matter aids in soil formation and nutrients for larger plants to then germinate and spread. Eventually enough soil and nutrients is available in the landscape that it reaches a point known as a "climax community" which could be a mature oak forest or an established prairie which tend to remain in relative equilibrium until a disturbance restarts the succession process. This rehabilitation can happen almost completely without human influence, isn't that beautiful?!

As counterintuitive as it may sound forest fires are actually crucial to the health and long-term vitality of forests. These fire-dependent ecosystems are balanced by frequent and controlled fires which regulate organismal traits, population sizes, species interactions, community composition, carbon and nutrient cycling and ecosystem functions. Ecosystems also run the risk of catastrophic fires that leave lasting affects if they go too long without occasional necessary burns. Coniferous forests, for example, rely on forest fires to maintain tree species. The growth of many conifers that populate the woodlands of western North America are contingent on their exposure to sunlight during their early stages, however as saplings grow into towering adults they create a shade canopy that prevents new growth in the area. Forest fires clear old growth and rejuvenate the landscape to allow for new growth!

So from the death of an old ecosystem comes the birth of a new...

I really like that ecological succession is a perfectly packaged visualization of how nature is a constant cycle of death and rebirth that is able to rebalance itself. I think it also puts into perspective our place in nature and how both influential we can be yet inconsequential at the same time.

Thanks for listening!

References:

Schulz, J. (2016). Why certain naturally occurring wildfires are necessary. Ted-Ed-YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNVZEVq3KzY

Witynski, M. (2021). Ecological succession, explained. UChicago News. https://news.uchicago.edu/explainer/what-is-ecological-succession

#nature #landscape #envs3000 #nature interpretation

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anncanta · 1 year

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Arcadia

Fandom: Dracula (2020)

Characters: Count Dracula, Agatha Van Helsing

Relationship: Dracula/Agatha Van Helsing

Rating: Mature

@hopipollahorror @ravenathantum @dragatha @ladyhaley28

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The blue strip of surf stretched right and left, ending in humpbacked rocks overgrown with pines. Agatha waved to the owner of the fishing boat that had brought her and stood, watching the silhouette of a small vessel move away, dissolving on the verge of sky and water.

Pine trees hung over Agatha`s head, casting their shadows on the white sand. The thick scent of pine needles mingled with the scent of the acacia trees scattered up the slope. Walking forward, Agatha turned onto a narrow path that stretched from the beach.

She didn`t have a watch with her – going here, she left it at the hotel, like a smartphone with a navigator. She did not want to be discovered at the very end of the journey.

Is this the end, she thought, stepping out from under the canopy of pines and looking down at the blue-green sea, the heaps of shell rocks, and the terraced vineyards on the other side.

Agatha closed her eyes. More than six months later, she was still struggling. It was hard to get used to how much ... things there were in this world and how convenient at the same time it was arranged. Zoe was no help to her: after both of them realized that Agatha had returned, and neither of them was crazy, with a feeling of strange relief, the great-niece retired until her death, transferring the body, position – and mission to Agatha.

The mission was to her liking. It was not difficult to manage Harker`s center – Zoe`s memory and Agatha`s own curiosity and ability to absorb new knowledge at a frantic speed allowed her to feel like a duck to water in a new role in a month. But her new life overwhelmed her.

‘How do they eat it?’ she thought irritably, looking in the restaurant at a three-layered fish dish topped with a structure of either greenery or weightless cream. ‘Author`s roll,’ the menu announced succinctly. Complexity, brightness, and variegation seemed to be the calling card of the time. Wherever Agatha appeared, wherever she looked, everywhere she was met by spectacular colors, sharp combinations, and screaming comfort.

It must have been because she was a nun in a previous life, Agatha told herself as she nibbled on an author`s roll, crossed the street on an orange-and-white zebra strip, and circled the acid-lit nightclub.

She found that life is completely arranged – from morning to evening, allowing you to focus on the main thing, without being distracted by almost anything. She didn`t need to clean, she didn`t need to cook – there were services for everything. If desired, you could not even buy a car. Why, when there is a taxi?

Agatha learned everything about the work of the Harker Center, figured out and delved into every detail. She read Mina`s notes and appreciated the work that went into the foundation`s research. She was sincerely sorry for Zoe, but even stronger than pity for her great-niece, she was angry.

They missed him. After they found him and captured him, after holding him in their hands ... It was beyond her understanding. But there was also something else. Something frightening and unsettling, something that made it hard to believe that the events at the Harker Foundation, as Zoe had assured her, ‘didn`t matter.’

This was what made Agatha quit her job, put aside promising research, take her mind off the study of new viruses and focus on one thing.

Dracula gave Zoe his blood. He gave it himself. After that, he left the Harker Center and soon disappeared.

It took Agatha five months to find him. Using the old connections of ‘hers’ and other people`s acquaintances, the secret police departments of four countries, and the scientific reputation of Zoe Van Helsing, she was able to find his lair.

Two days after Zoe`s smartphone received a message – a screenshot of a satellite image with coordinates – Agatha was in place.

How did he end up in such an outback, she wondered as she climbed the slope. Knowing Dracula, Agatha could imagine several options for where he could go. She started with them. Again Romania, if not the old castle, then some of those that have been better preserved. America, North or South, Africa or Canada. In the end, if Europe, then Paris or Rome.

The Adriatic Coast was not even on the list. After receiving the data, Agatha double-checked it several times. But the information was correct – a lone dot on the map sandwiched between a grape terrace and pine groves.

The plateau that the path led to looked absolutely wild. No railings, no trash cans, no benches. There were probably no tourists here, but even the one who lived here did not seem to care about the minimum comfort. In a small gap between the pines and low bushes, a staircase was hidden, carved directly from the stone. The yellow shell rock was washed away by wind and rain. In some places, flexible stalks were breaking right out of the porous surface. Purple thyme blossoms swayed in the bright sun.

The house stood before her and loomed all at once. Two-storey, squat, with French windows, it seemed dormant in the haze of summer heat. There was no driveway, fence, or gate. Thickets of thyme, ending at the feet of Agatha, passed into a trampled area outlining a small courtyard.

She is safe during the day, Agatha told herself as she entered the terrace, which was enclosed by a yellow stone balustrade.

The armchair stood with its high back turned towards the terrace railing, the sun, and possible guests. Large even for its owner, it completely hid the seated person. However, the chair had neither a canopy nor a convertible top.

In the chair, tucking his right leg under him and leaning back on the wicker back, Dracula settled down.

He was wearing blue jeans torn at the knees, a white sweatshirt, and blue loafers. Sunglasses hid the upper part of the face. A windbreaker jacket was lying on the arm of the chair nearby. It had been cold in the morning, Agatha remembered absentmindedly.

He sat in an armchair and looked pleased, relaxed – as if not noticing that he was no longer alone. As soon as Agatha thought about it, Dracula moved and pushed his glasses down on his nose.

‘Agatha?’

For a moment she looked at him in confusion.

‘Why don`t you burn in the sun?’ she finally squeezed out.

‘I am burning,’ Dracula replied. ‘The heat is terrible today.’

He got up from his chair and took off his glasses.

‘Agatha Van Helsing.’

She frowned.

‘Are you sure I`m not Zoe?’

‘Zoe wouldn`t have come.’

It was true. In their last conversation, which took place between her and Zoe, the niece, whom Agatha called to go together in search of Dracula, flatly refused and died. Somehow she looked at her strangely, thought after Agatha. As if she was offered to participate in something that did not concern her, in something alien, moreover, intimate. But Agatha didn`t have time to think about it.

Silently, Agatha watched as Dracula tossed his glasses on the seat of his chair and approached her.

‘You don`t burn in the sun,’ she repeated.

‘Why should I burn – it`s hundreds of miles away,’ Dracula replied. ‘But you need a wide-brimmed hat. You have delicate skin.’

‘What the hell is going on here?!’

In the summer silence, her own voice seemed to Agatha both sonorous and fragile. Dracula looked at her for a long time. He said,

‘Let`s go to the house.’

***

What did she expect? Showy luxury? A replica of a Transylvanian castle she`s never been to? The originals of Dali and Picasso on the walls? Agatha didn`t know. Passing into the simply furnished living room, separated from the terrace by a stone arch, she sat down on a low sofa with light upholstery. Next to the sofa, last year`s fashion magazines were scattered on a rough stone coffee table.

After briefly disappearing into the next room, Dracula returned and placed a glass of orange juice on the table in front of Agatha. He sat down in the chair opposite.

Agatha looked at the glass. She took it, drank it – one sip, then another. She finished her drink and placed the empty glass on the table. She looked up at Dracula. He sat in an armchair with his legs stretched out and looked at her.

‘How long have you been living here?’ Agatha asked.

Dracula smiled.

‘About six months. Frank found this house for me at the end of October ... no, December.’

‘Why?’ Sicilian oranges, freshly squeezed juice, Agatha noted, licking her lips. He keeps human products, so he has guests.

‘I like it.’ Dracula`s smile became disarming. ‘You saw – it`s beautiful here.’

And besides, it`s secluded, calm and no one will hear the screams.

Judging by the expression on Dracula`s face, he guessed what she was thinking.

‘You haven`t changed at all, Agatha.’ Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees. A stretched tear in the right trouser leg revealed tanned skin. ‘You are still vigilant and stubborn.’

‘How did you manage to defeat the sunlight?’

She doesn`t have any weapons, Agatha thought. She didn`t take anything with her. No aspen stakes, no crucifix. Why didn`t she take a weapon?

‘I didn`t have to defeat it.’ Agatha flinched. He sat very close. He smelled of the sea and sun-warmed grass. After giving Agatha a quick glance, he got up and walked over to the fireplace.

‘I have always been fascinated by your love of questions,’ he said without turning around. Taking something out of a box on the mantelpiece, Dracula placed it in front of Agatha, leaning across the table.

Agatha lowered her eyes. On the coffee table next to an empty glass lay a small silver crucifix.

‘Francis Alexander Renfield, my lawyer,’ Dracula spoke again, ‘is a top-notch professional. I can recommend his services to anyone. Frank is quick, smart, and practically devoid of flaws. Except for one thing,’ he smiled at Agatha, who looked up at him, ‘which is terrible ignorance of everything that does not concern jurisprudence.’

Agatha blinked in confusion.

‘When we met,’ Dracula said, ‘Frank saw that I was being held in some strange cell and that the sunlight scared me. He didn`t know who I was, he didn`t know anything about vampires, let alone ancient legends, so he thought it was some kind of quirk, my personal phobia. And he turned out to be right.’

Without letting Agatha ask a question, he continued,

‘Because at the time when I was so ... kindly welcomed at the center, I had not yet settled in London, having rescued from your niece, Frank drove me straight to his house. The night went well,’ Dracula said thoughtfully. ‘But in the morning he wanted to please me and made a surprise.’

Agatha was frowningly silent.

‘He sent a maid to me with a sumptuous human breakfast. A goodly Spanish donna with a crucifix on her chest. At seven in the morning, she woke me up by opening the curtains. And when I screamed, she thought I was having a heart attack and tried to help.’

Taking an empty glass of juice, Agatha looked inside and put it back.

‘She`s fine,’ Dracula chuckled. ‘I gave her a vineyard in Seville.’ He looked at the sea through the archway. ‘I would have given more, but she would hardly have taken it. She said that she and her husband would name a new grape variety after me.’

Agatha got up.

‘You are no longer afraid of the crucifix and the sun.’

‘No, I`m not.’

‘And I understand that the invitation to enter the house –’

‘– is also not a problem for a long time.’

‘Then why are you here?’

‘In what sense?’

He spoke politely as if he really didn`t understand.

Agatha walked across the room. She looked back at the table, at the empty glass.

‘There are no barriers left for you in this world,’ she said, turning to Dracula. ‘You can move freely, you can enter anywhere. You could choose to live where and how you want –’

‘That`s it. How I want.’

Dracula interrupted her abruptly, though his tone remained calm and light.

‘Have you ever wondered,’ he said to Agatha, frozen in mid-sentence, ‘about what the life of a vampire is like?’

Agatha was silent.

‘Oh, of course not.’ Dracula smiled, and she recognized the smile – it was the way he looked at Zoe that day. Seeking look, prickly and passionate. ‘It didn`t even cross your mind.’

He turned around and sat down on the sofa.

‘I told you. I told you and Jonathan and Zoe, and many others. However, none of you heard. Blood is lives,’ said Dracula. ‘Lives, stories, and testimonies.’

The room became quiet.

‘You know ... remember,’ he looked up at her, ‘remember, I threatened you in the monastery? I said that you would become a part of me. That you will always be with me?’

Agatha nodded.

‘So, this is true. They all live in my blood. Everyone I`ve bitten, everyone whose story I`ve learned, everyone I`ve tasted …’ He chuckled, closing his eyes. ‘They are all here. With me.’

Agatha stared dumbfounded at Dracula.

‘I thought you –’ she began.

‘And you know, they all talk,’ said Dracula. ‘Most of the time they chat actively. Some are almost inaudible, others are heart-rendingly yelling. Someone happens to make a conversation. Even argue. It`s easy to control, but …’ He trailed off, lost in some thoughts of his own. Then he raised his head. ‘By the way, you were surprisingly gentle.’

‘You too,’ said Agatha, unexpectedly for herself.

Dracula raised his eyebrows.

She pointed to her neck. Shrugged.

Dracula smiled.

‘Well, I guess we have a lot to thank each other for.’ He got up. ‘Now, if you`ll excuse me, Agatha, I need to get back to my business.’

He turned and went to the terrace. After a moment`s hesitation, Agatha stepped after him.

‘Are you … are you serious?’ she asked the blue T-shirt faded on the back.

Having reached the edge of the terrace, Dracula stopped at the parapet. Only now did Agatha see that they had walked around the house. At this point, the platform protruded forward, forming a balcony, and hung over a slope that descended to the sea.

‘What do you mean ‘serious’?’

‘Do you think I`ll just … leave?’

‘Why not?’

‘And you are going back to killing?’

Dracula looked at her.

‘Agatha,’ he said, ‘were you listening to me?’

‘Every word you say.’

‘Then why,’ Dracula spoke distinctly and clearly as if addressing a child, ‘why did you decide that we were talking about killing?’

She got angry.

‘What else can you do?’

Dracula laughed. Happy loud. Agatha looked at him in amazement, and he stood with his head thrown back and laughed, laughed.

‘My God,’ he said laughing, ‘Agatha. You really didn`t listen. So read my lips: I`m tired. I have lived a huge, endless life. I have seen more than any person can imagine. I met kings, commoners, and monks, I knew composers, scientists, aristocrats, prelates, thieves. Events and epochs passed me by, replacing each other like some kind of bad carnival. I`m filled with them, Agatha.’

She looked at him without breathing.

‘Thanks to you, I woke up in a world that has everything. Absolutely. Food is delivered to your home. You can get to another continent in a day. A virtual museum lives in my plasma TV.’ Dracula smiled. ‘Do you really think that having ceased to be afraid of the crucifixion and stepped out into the sun, I would prefer someone else`s throats to all this?’

He fell silent. Agatha blinked.

‘You need to eat.’

‘Donors, donors, Agatha Van Helsing.’ Now he looked disappointed. But at the same moment, as if thinking about something, he smiled again. ‘How long have you been here? Six months? Eight? And all of them spent to find me? Oh, I`m flattered, but Agatha, trust me, there are more important things in this world.’

Agatha looked at him in amazement.

‘You are forty-two years old, as far as I know.’ Dracula tilted his head. ‘You grew up in the countryside, then moved to the city, where you lived for a year or two until a story happened that you do not like to remember. The monastery was your salvation – at the same time shelter and support. How did you say to Jonathan – marriage without love? But now, Agatha, you can go there,’ he waved towards the sea, ‘take a bus, a train, a ship. See Taipei and Paris and London. Go to the desert, to the mountains, to the rainforest. You can dance with young admirers and learn music online. You can live not one, but a thousand and one lives.’

He paused and smiled.

‘Go and live them. And let me stay here.’

Agatha bit her lip. She felt dizzy. Everything was confusing, mixed up inside. She worked so hard, it took her so long to get here. So much energy wasted. She wanted to protest, attack him, scream, all at once. She took a breath.

He`s lying, she told herself. He set everything up. He gave ... why did he give Zoe his blood?

‘I thought you wanted ... to bring me back,’ she said, bewildered. ‘I thought you wanted ... You want to continue the game.’

So silly. How naive and stupid.

‘I wanted to,’ Dracula smiled at her. ‘Believe me, I really wanted to. Poor Zoe,’ he rubbed his forehead with his fingers, ‘I pressed her. Literally, put the idea into her head. I made her obsessed with it.’

Dracula turned away from the green horizon and the blue sea below.

‘For the first three weeks – maybe more – after I was released from Harker Center, I waited for you almost every evening. I`ve been waiting for you to come. And then I stopped.’

He paused, smiling thoughtfully.

‘I knew that Zoe most likely wouldn`t stand the temptation and drink my blood. Which will most likely wake you up. Because your DNA will match. And then it suddenly occurred to me ... That if you really come back …’ He looked at Agatha, then at the landscape over his shoulder. He paused again and walked to the edge of the balcony.

‘Look, Agatha.’ He turned around. ‘I just bought this house then. I remember going up here and seeing how beautiful it all is. It was like I saw the world for the first time. I saw how bright, huge, detailed it is. In all my life as a vampire, I`d never been able to grasp it completely. And then I thought, I don`t want you to come.’

Agatha listened silently. Some birds were singing in the distance – or maybe insects. The smell of acacias mixed with pines and thyme was stupefying.

‘Why would you come?’ Dracula continued. ‘Who and what would you come to and what could you find here? Old walls and old books? An old vampire, tired of other people`s voices?’

‘I finally figured it out.’ Dracula smiled, as if not at her, but at something inside. ‘If I can get you back, then the best thing I can do for you is leave you alone. Go in peace, Agatha Van Helsing. And may the world give you everything it has.’

He stopped. Agatha stood looking at the small pebbles of the shell rock resting on the toes of her shoes, feeling how the floor of the balcony heated to the core gives her warmth. The wind carried the breath of the sea.’

I waited and didn`t wait for you. In the dream I heard you coming, sitting on the edge of the bed, feeling your thigh pressing against mine. I was overwhelmed, washed over with a wave of anticipation. I knew that you would throw back the blanket, climb up to me, I could almost taste the moisture on your skin, your shivering shoulder blades, the vein on your neck, my hands on your shoulders.

I knew: that`s impossible, and yet I heard how you quietly step on the creaky floor, how you enter the rooms, how you recognize, study the layout of the house, how you rearrange things in the rooms, how you inhabit them. I loved you and confessed, searched and raved, imagined every rustle, your every breath, and every splash of the sheet.

I was here with you. I was with you. And now I`ll be alone.

Agatha woke up, looking at him. They stood opposite each other, and Dracula, slightly throwing his head back, gazed into her eyes. The sun showed wrinkles on his face.

‘You said it out loud.’

He twitched as if coming back. Like he was only just now noticing her.

She approached.

‘You have been alone for too long. I know how it is. You get used to speaking your thoughts because no one hears them anyway,’ she said. She put her hand on his neck.

There was no way to the rooms and no time to think about it. There was no time to wait. She was naked – a string on a lyre. A sunspot on the bed, pine trees on top of the mountain. She was inside a body that knew kisses and caresses, given to her by a person who could and knew how to love. And yet she was the first, and the first was the one who was now next to her.

…

‘Does it always smell of the sea here?’

‘Almost always.’

Agatha rolled onto her back.

‘Impossible.’ She laughed. ‘It just can`t be.’

Dracula looked at her in surprise. He moved closer, pulling her towards him.

‘This place. Pines and the sea. Acacias. Grape. And I kept thinking – how did you get here? You don`t remember.’ Seeing the puzzled look on his face, she smiled.

‘What should I –’

The understanding in his eyes was so obvious that Agatha laughed again.

‘A dream house,’ she muttered through her tears, ‘a gently stolen dream house.’

There was only one time when she came to her senses on the Demeter. Even before she understood what the glass in his hands meant, before she realized that pieces were disappearing somewhere, before she could figure out the essence of the game.

The brief moment when the cabin flashed before her, the sea in the porthole and the spread-out bed, was replaced by a picture: she is standing on the terrace, looking at the mountains, and light green waves are splashing somewhere below. The summer sun heats the shell of the balustrade and Dracula stands behind her, inhaling the scent of her hair.

‘Why is it stolen?’ Rising up, Dracula looked at her. His eyes were openly laughing. ‘I would say – the returned one.’

He leaned over. For a long time.

‘This is your house.’

The sun`s rays tinted copper to his tousled black strands.

‘No,’ said Agatha, shaking her head. ‘It is ours.’

#dracula bbc #dracula 2020 #bbc dracula #count dracula #agatha van helsing #dragatha #fanfic

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mwezina · 10 months

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Four of Wands & FE3H

The Four of Wands shows two people come together in union, typically appearing as marriage. This union requires teamwork in order to work towards creating something enduring the tests of time. We can see this enduring presence in the four wands holding up a canopy decorated with wreaths. A four point structure is the most stable, and this fact is celebrated with an exuberance of greenery. The people celebrating in the background and the castle in the distance also represent the founding family of future communities, showing that this union is the first of many unions creating a lasting community.

The event I connect to this card is the founding of Adrestia by Emperor Wilhelm Hresvelg and Saint Seiros. They worked together to achieve a new age of peace in Fòdlan and become the founding couple of a new and long-reigning dynasty.

I actually considered the union between Edelgard and Byleth for this card at first. However, I changed my mind because that union is less secure and is based around Edelgard’s ambitions alone, whereas Wilhelm and Seiros had a common cause. Saint Seiros wanted to avenge her mother and stop the violence occurring using the corpses of her people. Emperor Wilhelm wanted to end the violence in northern Fòdlan and wanted to rule all of Fòdlan. Not only that, but they created a successful and lasting country that remained stable for centuries while the cracks in the ending of Crimson Flower started to show after mere decades. All the imagery involving Saint Seiros and Emperor Wilhelm are golden and bright, while the only images involving Edelgard and Byleth happen in the darkness of night, symbolising the bleakness of their relationship.

But that’s just my read on the events. Feel free to chip in with your thoughts!

Previous: Three of Wands

Next: Five of Wands

#fe3h #fe16 #tarot cards #minor arcana #four of wands #saint seiros #emperor wilhelm Paul Hresvelg #adrestian empire

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loreleismusings99 · 1 year

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Chapter 3 Sneak-Peak 💫

Hi y'all, so the 3rd chapter is still underway, but I'm almost done with it, i just need to finish writing the last section and do a read through to make sure everything makes sense before I release it. Until then, enjoy this sneak-peak! ✨️

The field was already packed, and the field wasn't even open to visitors yet--and despite the slight cloud cover, the sun felt like it was beating incessantly on you while you tried to set up your booth’s tent on your own. There was a ring of tables populated with a smorgasbord of science demos lining the edges of the field the organizers put you all in. There was a booth being managed by a local bioengineering company to the left of your own with a wild mess of tubes transporting a bunch of red fluid--supposedly a replica of a human circulatory system. To your right, there’s a constructed functional model of one of da Vinci’s flying machines that some undergrad MechEs built for a design process lab project. Someone’s drone buzzed overhead, presumably just to test out the inevitable aerial shot they were going to use for marketing the event, but the wiring of the small quadcopter’s motors only added to your discomfort and irritation while trying to deal with the heavy and surprisingly fragile canopy.

After getting your hand pinched for the umpteenth time that morning and letting out a yelp and a string of colorful expletives that seemed to fluster one of the undergrads setting up next to you, you hear someone chuckle behind you and ask, “You need some help with that?”

You whip around and see Mark carrying a box of decorations in his arms. The surprise at seeing him causes you to lose focus while holding up the tent’s frame for a second too long, and the structure starts to fall with you standing under it. You let out a "SHIT!" as you try to handle the tent quite literally starting to crumble around you.

You hear a frantic "woah, woah, whoa!" as Mark rushes into the falling structure to help support it and stop it from folding you into it.

Mark lets out a grunt and pushes away a pane of polyester fabric to see your face. Once he locks eyes with you and sees your disgruntled expression he huffs out a "hey-" through a laugh and asks "You alright there?"

"Yeah, I think so…" you adjust the tarp above the two of you before continuing."What the blazes are you doing here?" You ask, letting an incredulous look twist your features, hopefully communicating your confusion.

"I'm a volunteer;" He nods towards the t-shirt he’s wearing which says in bold lettering SSF VOLUNTEER, which you grimaced at how obvious it now seemed. "I did my undergrad here, and I like to pay it forward when I can" Mark adds with a wink and a smirk, making you roll your eyes.

Trying your best to right the crumbling structure around you, you ask "Well, since you're 'paying it forward' today, would you be available to help me set this up? I'm here representing Adler." Mark responds with a cordial 'for sure' before taking the other side of the tent and helping you expand it fully, locking into place its folding joints. You let out a sigh and thank him before moving on to setting up the prize roulette table

Mark props his fists on his hips and says, "I'm guessing you'd like some help with that too?" Gesturing towards the collapsed gravity table frame in front of your tent.

You pop your head up from your place under the table while trying to get its legs to stay in place and say, "Yeah, if you don't have anything else to get to right now. Usually, we're sent out with at least one other person to make all this manageable, but I somehow got sent out alone." You say that last part with thinly veiled irritation as you finally get the table legs to straighten out. You stand and brush the grass and dirt off your dark-wash jeans before looking up to see how Mark's tackling the gravity table. You watch him organize the parts according to size and type and huff out a small laugh, causing him to look up at you from his seat on the grass. He looks like he's about to say something before he looks up at you and stops in his tracks; his expression morphs quickly from questioning and amused to the same ambiguous and hard-to-decipher look he gave you before leaving you at the front door of your building on trivia night. The sudden change lightly startles out and you ask, "What? Do I have something on my face?" You raise an eyebrow in an attempt to look at least a little unflustered while being scrutinized by Mark.

"No… uh, no, no you don't. Just spaced out…" There's a beat of silence between the two of you before Mark clears his throat and asks, "Does this look right? I think you guys had this set up last year, but it's been too long for me to remember how it was set up." He stands and awkwardly tries to brush blades of dead grass off the seat of his pants.

You look down and nod, "Yeah, that looks good. Just need to put the legs on and turn it right side up." You pick up two PVC pipe legs and hand another set to Mark, and the two of you finish constructing the frame. You take the elastic fabric that goes with the table and stretch it out over the frame, making sure one side of the ring doesn't have more fabric draping off it than the opposite side.

"Need any more help setting up?" Mark asks, causing you to look up from the fabric. If you didn't know any better, you'd say it looks like he has a hopeful glint in his eye, but of course that wouldn't make any sense. The two of you are becoming more friendly now, but that doesn't change the fact that he clearly hated your guts not even two weeks ago. Not to mention how much work needs to be done around other parts of the fair, there's no way he has the time to stand around here.

You give him a soft smile and say, "Nah, I think I've got it from here. Thanks, though…genuinely." You look down and run a hand through your hair. Your thoughts begins to spiral as you finish clipping the fabric to its PVC frame; Did that sound too soft? Too nice? God, why are my palms sweating so much???

"Alright; flag one of us down if you need any more help, I can't imagine running two different activities is, uh, easy." Mark picks back up his box of decorations and is back on his way to what you think is the Biology building.

You look up at him and cross your arms, sporting a smirk of your own. "You underestimate my ability to multitask," you call out to him and hear him let out a loud and singular 'HA!' as he turns his back to you.

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Hope you enjoyed that! Sorry it's short, but I don't want to give too much away before I post the whole chapter. I hope you're doing well and taking care of yourselves out there 💖

#mark watney #the martian #the martian(2015)#gn!reader #mark watney x gn!reader #mark watney x reader #self insert #andy weir #academic rivals #no use of y/n

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