#Fly Fishing Net: Choosing the Perfect One For You | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

relenaonice · 4 years

Text

Ready Player One

Chu Wanning didn’t exactly know how he got into VR games, let alone ASMR ones.

Just, one day, after a bad break up, he saw a VR headset through a shop window, thought he could do with an outlet to vent about his actually-very-shitty life, and he bought it.

He had never been an impulse buyer but he hadn’t thought of asking the clerk for advice either, so after browsing fruitlessly through the online store, he still had no idea about which game would suit him the best.

He yielded and decided on playing soothing videos for the time being, at least VR should make the experience much more immersive. He had trouble sleeping, so he had recently gotten into ASMR videos: some days it was cooking videos, others guqin music or someone whispering as they read a book. As long as they let him relieve stress and distracted him from unpleasant thoughts, everything went.

It was then that he saw the ad for “Sisheng Peak’s Novelties”, the ‘best ASMR VR game out there’, according to the reviews on the net.

It was a Chinese online platform with a xianxia setting. People could choose between different routes, e.g. they could start out as disciples and grow into full-fledged cultivators as they unlocked all kinds of achievements in a highly relaxing haven. Everything was reworked so that each task and adventure was so very therapeutic and recreational. Chu Wanning looked at lots of walkthrough videos for this game and found it was simply perfect. Everything was neat, organized and thought for maximum enjoyment.

You could cook in Mengpo Hall, meditate in Yanluo Hall, plant flowers in the Red Lotus Pavillion, do some body training in the Mountain of Dagger and Sea of Flames or be rewarded for your accomplishments in the Platform of Sin and Virtue. Everything was accompanied by background music: every player could choose among a vast catalog and organize the songs in a playlist.It could be ASMR music, nature sounds or whatever they wanted to listen to at the moment.

If he had one complaint it was for the naming sense of the developers. Like, the Aaaaaaaaah peak (which, why? But you could learn to fly there, so… he guessed it made sense) or how some of the names didn’t exactly evoke peacefulness. But well, as long as it didn’t impede enjoyment, he didn’t really care. He could get used to the eccentricity of meditating in a place called ‘Yanluo Hall’, and exercising in a Mountain of Dagger and Sea of Flames.

He bought from the online store the starting package and set an account. He could choose his avatar appearance and his own name of course, but an option to randomize this features also existed, so to produce minimum stress in the account. He thought about it for a while, as he browsed through the options available. There were human avatars at every stage of life, creatures and even animals, or he could use a scan of his own face to customize his outward appearance.

In the end he settled for human form, adult stage of life, not customized after him. He chose long silky hair and white clothes and as a name, Yuheng. It wasn’t what he looked like but it was a good rendition of himself and his aloof character. As a matter of fact it would have been a waste of good looks on him to choose a lovable appearance if he couldn’t match it with a lovable character. He drove away the negative thoughts about himself and hurried to start the game.

He decided early on to avoid the disciple route and to become one of the elders. In order to play that route, he had to create a routine that encompassed teaching some classes (he just had to choose some subjects and the system would make it a viable choice for those who were on the disciple route), training, meditating, eating and occasionally repairing the barrier in the Ghost Zone behind the Mountain that hosted Sisheng Peak.

This way he wouldn’t need to leave Sisheng Peak for missions at all: he’d have all the time to explore the area as he hunted for relax. This sounded perfect for him.

—

In time Chu Wanning found a passion for what passed in the game as “mechanics”: there were sets he could put together that didn’t quite work as puzzles, they were more like sequences he had memorized that he could exercise everyday without thinking too much about them and worked well as a stress-relieving activity.

He also loved the Red Lotus Pavillion so much that he cleared all the missions related to it and moved inside a house he unlocked there on a lotus lake. He would mute the background music and listen to the sounds the wind and the rain made against the water. It was quiet and there were no disturbances, no noises and no one to answer to.

Eventually he got addicted to making some dish he could find on the menu in Mengpo Hall, a sweet variation on wontons that had haitang flowers as a filling (which he was not sure was edible at all, but he liked the ending result enough not to question things). The wontons had a rosy pink tint on them and they looked lovely on the plates.

As a plus, if you headed to Mengpo hall early enough in the morning there was also this snack item you could find in limited numbers that had the shape of a flower and it tasted really good. Everyday it would give the player different goods and he liked the element of surprise.

Chu Wanning liked indulging in all these little things.

Then, on a Sunday morning, as Chu Wanning logged expectantly into his account, everything suddenly changed.

—

Something was very wrong with his line of vision.

All around him other players were running around and Chu Wanning had to distressingly raise his chin to look at their faces. Some people were messily shouting something through the voice chat filters, superimposing each other. What even—

“We were hacked!”

Chu Wanning paled. He opened the settings in a hurry and had a quick look. All his progress on the game was still there, but he now had the appearance of a child and he couldn’t reverse the change!

He quickly changed passwords and logged out.

Not knowing what to do, he logged in again and tried changing the settings again to no avail, so he wrote to support and included some screenshots of everything that was altered without his consent. In the meantime he opened the general chat and tried fishing for information, which wasn’t helpful at all but at least calmed him down.

When the support’s answer came in, it was an automated message with a short notice added in, which said that they were aware of the hack, that the team was working on it, that the platform was now safe but it would take time to reverse some of the changes, so they advised to have patience and ignore the issue in the meantime.

Chu Wanning took a look at ‘Xia Sini’, five years old, and choked.

—

So, Xia Sini, ‘scare to death’. Ahah, the hackers were so NOT funny. Since there was no real damage done to the platform, then someone just thought it would be fun to make a mess of a place with people in search of a safe haven. So messed up.

He needed to unwind and since the platform was still functioning, why not use it? Xia Sini could still serve his purpose, there was no reason to make a fuss. He was set on the disciple route, so this was his opportunity to try something new.

He headed for Mengpo Hall hoping to find his favorite item of the day; there he saw some dog sniffing around the pantry but he gave it no mind as he reached for the last snack item available.

Just to have the dog bite into the packet at the same time as him.

Please no. Just let me have this. Chu Wanning pulled firmly on his side of the packet hoping to snatch it from the beast, which in turn growled and shook it vehemently with his fangs.

“Leave it!”

The dog—a husky, snarled. Chu Wanning was tiny in this form and the dog was almost as tall as him. Nevertheless, he had no intention to give up. This was not a real dog, this was a person that had no qualms stealing from children.

He had to do something.

Chu Wanning liked to think of himself as a man of integrity, even his real life appearance being one to elicit dread and respect in those who surrounded him. But in this place he could do as he pleased, appearances be damned. What lay behind the disguise didn’t matter, whatever mistakes he made because of his pride to end up here, didn’t matter.

So Chu Wanning, 35 yo, burst into tears.

The dog froze, the packet still half into his mouth, while the child in front of him started wailing very very loudly. Big fat tears were sliding down his face endlessly, like a downpour.

Chu Wanning didn’t remember ever crying like that, not even when his parents died. Maybe it’s that he needed to, that he unconsciously regrets not doing so. Maybe he was hurt more than he liked by the whole break up thing and that’s why he ended up here, broken, but still willing to heal.

The husky let go of the packet and inched closer, all the while emitting a low whine. They rubbed their muzzle against his cheeks and licked at his tears.

Chu Wanning broke into hiccups and raised a hand to rub that soft head. That caused the dog to rise up their ears, rear up on their hind legs and lean their front paws on the child’s shoulders while wagging their tail madly and licking his face.

“Stay down, down!”

A low whine followed as the dog let go of Chu Wanning, turned, took the snack and left it at his feet.

Chu Wanning turned a little red but he still picked it up in the end.

“You want half?”

The husky barked excitedly, so Chu Wanning opened the snack item, tore it into half and gave it to the dog, who ate it from his little hand.

“You’re a player character right?”

Another enthusiastic bark. Oh my, he really made a fool of himself in front of a stranger. And he was actually licked by this same person, yay.

“You’re like that because of the hack.”

A loud bark followed by a whine. That was a mortified ‘yes’ if he ever knew one.

“So you can’t talk at all? You’re going to bark until they reverse the changes?”

A whine. Wow, they sure got it way worse than him.

“Did you try looking into the forums? Maybe there’s an option buried somewhere.”

The husky raised their ears and twirled in excitement while panting. Seems like they didn’t think to check.

“Okay, I’ll help you sort through them, give me a minute. You’re new to the platform?”

One single decisive woof. New, then.

“I’ve got you. Wait here.”

Chu Wanning’s entire line of reasoning rested on the basis that barking all the time must be too stressful to the player for there not to be a way to communicate freely if they ever needed to. As it turned out, he was pretty spot on: there’s an option but it might not be selectable after the hacking. There was no alternative other than to try.

When he came to, the husky was sitting obediently wagging their tail and by their side lay the item of the day. They pushed it towards Chu Wanning with their snout, as a sign of gratitude. It was a mechanical piece, to go with the pieces he had already collected.

“Can I really have this?”

As an answer, the giant dog licked his face again.

“Stop it!”, exclaimed, while cleaning the drool off his face with a sleeve, “I found you a way to be able to speak, but it uses some kind of filter, so I warn you, it’s not ideal.”

But the husky erupted into a howl and started jumping and twirling around. Okay, it doesn’t matter then, it seemed. Chu Wanning promptly told them what to do and then waited for the dog to exit their suspension status.

When the dog opened their eyes, a distorted male voice coughed through and said:

“—I swear those hackers are dead meat. Wait, do you hear me now?”

Then, before Chu Wanning could answer, the voice filter kicked in: “…woof, woof!”

An absurdly cartoonish ‘woof’ by all standards too. That was like a chihuahua barking.

The husky looked at him with sheer horror in his eyes. Long seconds of silence stretched on and Chu Wanning… He couldn’t help but cover his face with both his hands and try to suppress the laughters.

“THE FUCK WAS THAT??? Woof, woof.”

The mortified dog kept howling and whining, probably too embarrassed to speak again if every sentence had to be followed by a woof. Chu Wanning couldn’t help but laugh. It wasn’t graceful and he felt shame in that. But behind Xia Sini’s appearance he felt safe to do as he wanted, so he had let it all out and that felt… liberating.

“I heard you, loud and clear.”

An offended bark made its way back to him.

“As I was saying the voice filter is annoying but it can’t be removed. At least you can talk now.”

The husky opened his jaws and closed them a few times, before steeling himself and replying sorrowfully under his breath:

“At what price though, woof, woof.”

—

In the end they stuck together. Taxian-jun, which was what the dog was randomly renamed to after the hacking, agreed on showing him the disciple route, that he never got to play since he started.

“The best missions are the ones you can find down to the city. Also, it’s best to stock up on your XPs before heading out. Is that okay for you? Woof, woof.”

Chu Wanning had never been outside Sisheng Peak. He emitted a low ‘mh’ while lost in thought. He was definitely interested, he really had wanted to try taking on a mission outside. Taxian-jun led him to the stairs and they started to go down by foot, since as a dog he couldn’t hold a sword and Xia Sini after a session of flying lessons on the Aaaaaaaaah peak decided it wasn’t for him.

“How do you replenish your XPs?”

“By eating, woof, woof.”

“We could have done that at Mengpo Hall.”

“There are better places. I have enough coins for two, let me treat you since this is a first for you, woof woof.”

Chu Wanning’s cheeks warmed up in embarrassment.

“Mh.”

The city was really lively. There were a lot of player characters but the background music had a soft and lively tone to it that ensured the crowding wouldn’t get too overwhelming. Taxian-jun dragged him to a food stall not far from the main square and there he ordered soup for two.

“Make it mild for me, I can’t stand spice.”

The husky’s gaze turned sharp for a moment, before saying so to the vendor. The soup was ready in a few minutes and it was really delicious, nothing to do with the austere version available for free at Mengpo Hall.

“It’s good.”

“Told you. Whoever came up with this game knew how to soothe even your taste buds, woof, woof.”

Taxian-jun had his own bowl placed on the ground and lapping at it, he made a mess of it. Chu Wanning turned up his nose at the sight and took a step back. Such a disgraceful way of eating, he hadn’t seen it in awhile. Some memories started flooding into his brain and he forcefully repressed them. It wasn’t the right timing to get depressed.

“Where are we getting our mission from?”

“In the main square there’s a board, you’ll see. There you can choose which one you like best and reserve it so that no one else can take it. There’s difficult and easy ones both, woof, woof.”

“Then I want to try one that’s difficult.”

The husky looked at him with disbelief.

“That depends on the amount of training you got done in Sisheng Peak, let me check, woof, woof.”

Taxian-jun put his muzzle against Chu Wanning’s raised palm and unlocked his stats.

“Wow, you mentioned that you were here much longer than me, woof, woof.”

The hackers had not erased the progress players had made in the game nor their stats but still his current height wasn’t ideal. He had no reach even with a weapon, so he could rely only on magic in case of emergency. He had a companion though: he had someone to watch his back, a giant dog at that, so yeah, that was nice.

On the board there were all kinds of missions, difficulty stated by the number of stars on the notice.

“What do you think about this one, woof woof.”

It was three stars out of five and they had to retrieve a magical flower from a cave. It was a good quest. But Chu Wanning snatched another one and showed it to the husky.

“This one.”

It had four stars and they had to search for a child. Her mother had lost sight of her in Butterfly Town and since then there had been no signs of her.

“You sure? For an ASMR VR game it’s pretty ruthless in how fast you can fail missions. Once failed it becomes available to other players and you have to spend some time training in Sisheng Peak before you can venture out again. Woof, woof.”

“I want to do it.”

After that Taxian-jun said nothing else. He reserved the mission and they were equipped by the system with all the necessary for the travel.

Luckily the town wasn’t as far away as he thought. In order to make the game realistic it could take a while to reach the outer regions but thankfully this wasn’t the case. Once there, they started asking around and unlocking achievements one after another, until they obtained a reliable info on where the lost girl could be. Apparently she was reported to be kidnapped by some forest spirits and locked up in the mountains. No one had been able to free her because the way up was riddled with traps.

They had been prepping for the hike when Taxian-jun stopped him.

“Are you okay? You’ve been kind of tense since you saw the notice for this mission, woof, woof.”

The husky was looking at him with a dark penetrating look, and Chu Wanning thought it was impressive how on the money his perceptions were. He knew of no one by his side that had ever been able to glean what’s under the surface. That’s how impassive he usually was.

Chu Wanning sighed. It was too late anyway to start on the next part of their quest; they had been gaming for the last several hours and it was time to stop. Tomorrow was a work day and he had to sleep at least a little. So he sat down and actually tried answering his question.

“It’s stupid, really. But if you want to know, my parents died when I was that girl’s age. I guess this tiny form is finally getting to me.”

“That’s tough, man. Is that why you’re playing this game? If I read you right, you’re not a gamer, you’re more the type that’s got a reason to be here, right? Woof, woof.”

“That’s not it.”

It came out bluntly, like a warning. Taxian-jun looked at him attentively, while staying a bit on the defense. He was sitting far away from him, watching his every move.

“You know, I asked because I’ve also got a reason to play this game. I just thought you were the same as me, woof, woof.”

Chu Wanning softened.

He really liked this person.

“Can you play tomorrow in the evening?”

“Yeah, I can make it. See you tomorrow then? Woof, woof”

“See you.”

Chu Wanning quickly disconnected the device and pulled his head out of the headset. He rested with his head on the chair looking at the ceiling for a long time, too many feelings in his chest to discern them all.

—

When Chu Wanning logged in again, Taxian-jun had already begun clearing the surrounding area of all the traps. Some of them must have got him and his fur was bloodied on his right side but that didn’t seem to deter him much.

“You should have waited for me”, reprimanded Chu Wanning, to which the dog replied under his breath: “Yeah, leave it all to the runt, what could go wrong, woof, woof.”

Annoyed, Chu Wanning whipped out Tianwen, his divine weapon, and got rid of some spirits about to ambush them.

“WHAT? Where the fuck did you find that now?! Woof, woof.”

“Some cultivators getting back to Sisheng Peak found it while on a mission but couldn’t get it to work. Apparently they didn’t have the right stats and the weapon deemed them unworthy.”

“You’ve got luck on your side, you know that, right? That’s rare. Woof, woof.”

“I know. There’s only another one like it, it’s red and no one has unearthed it yet.”

The husky grumbled something like “That you know”, before getting back to clear out the area once again.

By the end of the gaming session, they had fought their way up to the top of the mountain and found the caged girl. The story behind it was actually impressive: as it turned out she had not been kidnapped at all, she had been locking herself up in a cage in order to protect her adoptive mother, since she discovered she was only half human and feared cultivators would go after her mother in order to imprison her. So, the girl had been pretending to have vanished into thin air, leaving no trace of her existence; she couldn’t imagine her mother would get indebted in order to publish a notice on the city board and hire actual cultivators in order to find her. All the other players attempting this mission had actually been terminated by her.

Chu Wanning had been tearing up a little and Taxian-jun had noticed this. But Chu Wanning didn’t care, he was just glad this had a happy ending. After fighting her, since she was a spirit, she entered a contract with them, so that she wouldn’t have to worry anymore about cultivators seeking after her mother. She was a powerful weapon, so she definitely was worth the trip and all the difficulties they had encountered on the way.

“Let’s do it again.”

Taxian-jun, who was just a step away from dying of blood loss, looked at Xia Sini like he had betrayed him.

“You’ve got no right to say that, half of these injuries were me trying to protect your sorry ass! Woof, woof.”

“Oh? Were they?”, he said, while coyly looking at him through lowered lashes.

That reaction must have taken him by surprise, because Taxian-jun stared at him a beat longer than what was appropriate. Embarrassed, Chu Wanning lowered his gaze, pretending to have not noticed, when he heard the giant dog talk as if lost in thought.

“You… really remind me of someone. But at the same time you don’t. And it’s painful to me when you do, but when you do resemble them, I’m really happy too. Woof, woof.”

Chu Wanning knew those feelings well. They threatened to swallow him up if he wasn’t careful, if the lid on the box wasn’t properly sealed shut. He couldn’t sleep anymore because they were always lurking in the shadows, ready to clasp him and drown him. It hurt.

“You know, it’s really hard taking you seriously when everything you say is followed by a woof.”

This seemed enough to spite Taxian-jun out of his trance.

“Remind me, why do I even bother with you? Woof, woof.”

“Oh wait, wait, now I get it, you were talking about your master just now!”

“You deserve nothing, man, nothing! Woof, woof.”

He turned around and made to leave, when Chu Wanning called out to him once again.

“You know, I get how you feel. I get it. I was abandoned too, so that’s why I ended up here, you were right to assume that.”

“But even if it hurts, I’m still happy I came here. That I feel I can open up to someone, that I’m on the same page with them, that I don’t have to feel inferior, all that is new to me. But it’s thanks to you that I can feel this way. It’s all you.”

“So, please, let’s do it again, gege.”

Taxian-jun didn’t say anything for a very long time. Then, he just walked towards Chu Wanning, put his muzzle on his shoulder and whined until he felt better. In return Chu Wanning hugged that soft head and pet it, again and again.

—

The next day, Chu Wanning was actually looking forward to meet again with the husky. At work he botched some of his tasks and then called it a day a little early: it had been months since the last time he had felt so alive.

On the way home he looked at the notifications on his smartphone and although he usually felt a pang in his heart at how barren it was now, today it didn’t matter. Sure, people still wrote to him but that wasn’t really the point. Since the break-up he had found himself empty and useless, like something worn and thrown away.

Today though, it felt different. He had expectations. He hurried through the entrance door, undressed, found something comfortable to wear and turned on the headset. They had decided on taking on another quest, so they had to wait for one another at the city board. Chu Wanning had wanted to arrive a little early to have the time to peruse through all the notices, curious about what Taxian-jun had to say about them.

He wanted to know more about him. He had an easygoing attitude that Chu Wanning really liked about him. But at the same time, he wasn’t cool in the slightest, all mopey as he was about someone leaving him behind. He was just like Chu Wanning, human.

His ex wasn’t like that. His ex was beautiful and perfect, and not the type of person one would want to break up with. Chu Wanning had always orbited around him like a moth to a very bright light: it was always bound to end and it was a given that his ex would be the one to do it. But when it finally happened, Chu Wanning had felt betrayed. One part of him had always hoped they could work it out.

But they couldn’t and soon his ex had had enough.

Chu Wanning hadn’t even thought of asking him why. His head had been empty and the only thought swirling in his mind was: ‘you knew this day would come to pass’. So in the end he had just asked him to leave him alone.

The notices present on the board were all very varied and Chu Wanning really liked one set in the outer regions, the poorest and the most dangerous. This game was at its core an ASMR experience but it was also a video game, so if the players wanted an adventure, that they would get.

Taxian-jun finally joined him and Chu Wanning immediately showed him the mission that caught his eye. They were discussing the merits of it when a red banner invaded their sight with the words:

【 System notice: the effects of the hack have been reversed, please log out to allow for the recovery of the account 】

Chu Wanning pressed ‘OK’ and looked in the direction of Taxian-jun.

“Well, it seems like neither of us will have to suffer my barking anymore, woof, woof.”

“It suited you. It wasn’t that annoying.”

“Well, same, you know? I can’t imagine you like an adult. All this cuteness wasted, what a pity. Woof, woof.”

Taxian-jun hadn’t even finished talking that Chu Wanning had already drawn Tianwen out, ready to strike.

“I’m joking, what the hell! Let’s log out, all right? Woof, woof.”

Saying that, he entered suspension mode and then vanished. Chu Wanning sighed and did the same. When he logged in again, he found his line of vision was turned to normal. He checked his settings and yeah, everything was exactly like he left it: dark long hair, phoenix eyes and white dress, the Yuheng elder was back at it again.

He quickly resumed the game and found a man standing in Taxian-jun’s place. He turned and saw a youth in a high ponytail, blue robes and…

“Mo Ran?”

Chu Wanning couldn’t breathe.

It was his ex. Taxian-jun was his ex. He must have customized the avatar on his physical appearance, because he was a perfect carbon copy.

“How do you know…”

The man was confused for a moment, then it seemed like he connected the dots because his expression changed to one of desolation as he murmured: “Wanning.”

“Chu Wanning.”, he corrected him. ‘Why do you always do this’, he told himself.

So unnecessary.

Chu Wanning couldn’t stay there. No wonder he had liked Taxian-jun so much, how could he have been so blind? No, he knew exactly why: he had wanted Mo Ran back by his side so badly, that he had chosen to ignore the obvious. That, and the avatar the hackers randomized for him had a voice filter on, or he would have noticed.

“Wait, let’s talk—”

Chu Wanning logged out and took his head out of the headset.

He couldn’t do this. To think he had started looking forward to this, that this game was really working miracles for his anxiety and now he had not many options left beside stopping using it.

Chu Wanning lay against the backrest of his chair.

Mo Ran had his heart broken by someone he loved that had rejected him. This knowledge both angered and surprised him. When did it happen? Is that why Mo Ran left? He had been cheating on him? Or maybe it was after. This embittered him even more, so quick to fall in love with the right person.

He couldn’t imagine anyone rejecting Mo Ran, he was perfect. Even the way he had left him was fitting, given the way their relationship developed. They had jumped into it without too much of a care and it had ended the same way.

His smartphone started ringing. Wary, Chu Wanning reached for it and, yeah, it was Mo Ran. Chu Wanning panicked and didn’t answer.

Half an hour later, it rang a second time. Mo Ran, again. Chu Wanning didn’t know what to do. He didn’t want to talk about it, there was nothing to talk about! It was just an unfortunate coincidence, right? So in the end he answered.

“I am on the street outside your house.”

Chu Wanning threw himself against the windows and here he was. He was wearing such unflattering clothes, a stark contrast from the person he knew then. He must have rushed to take his car in order to be here so soon.

“I don’t… There’s nothing to talk about, just forget about it.”

He heard Mo Ran inhale sharply.

“So you weren’t talking about me in the game. I guess you can love and open up to anyone as long as that person isn’t me.”

Chu Wanning scoffed.

“What?”

“I didn’t even know your parents died!”

“What does that have to do with it? Why are you even talking about this now!”

“Wanning, who were you talking about in the game?”

He sounded angry.

“W-who were you talking about?”

“I was talking about you! Who else?!”

What?

“But you left me.”

Chu Wanning was dumbfounded.

“Hell yeah, I left you! You didn’t tell me anything, you were a wall and when I tried telling you I felt alone you even told me I was free to seek others!”

“I meant your friends! I thought you were asking me for some space! Also, I didn’t word it like that. I wasn’t asking you to break up!”

“Space? But we barely saw each other! What—Please, can we talk? Can you come down?”

Chu Wanning was frozen. Mo Ran was implying he loved him. This was absurd.

Mo Ran had really been talking about him all the while though.

“I… was talking about you too.”

Mo Ran let out a trembling breath.

“Wanning, you told me you felt you were inferior, that we weren’t on the same page. Is that true?”

“…”

“Wanning, please.”

“I’m coming down.”

“Good.”

Chu Wanning could feel the warmth in his voice. He liked that.

“You didn’t fall in love with someone else then.”

“How could I? Have you even seen yourself?”

Chu Wanning, that had just closed the entrance door and was heading down, tripped on his feet. At this pace, he wasn’t guaranteed to arrive safe and sound.

“But you’re beautiful.”

“So are you.”

“You’re easygoing.”

“Yes, but you’re kind.”

“…I’m going to miss you as a husky.”

Mo Ran laughed. What a nice sound.

“You tell me, Xia Sini was a cuteness overload. When you called me gege you nearly broke me.”

“I was supposed to be five.”

“You were not, though. And when you broke into tears after we fought for the snack, I was so agitated. To think you could cry like that. Unbelievable.”

“I’m human too.”

“Yeah, I noticed. You cried when we saved the girl too. You being so emotional while still reminding me so much of ‘you’ was painful but it gave me hope too. If you could open up to me, maybe it wasn’t me the reason the adult you couldn’t love me. That made me accept myself. It soothed me.”

Chu Wanning turned red. He hurt him so much. He was almost out in the street but he had no face to say as such to Mo Ran. He was afraid. Even if they got together again, all those months of pain and distrust would not be easy to overcome. His anxiety would project every sort of scenario where Mo Ran could leave him again and flare it up into blown-up terror and rejection.

Still, he liked him. He had loved him since the first time he had smiled at him. If Mo Ran came to hate him one day, he could always think back to this moment, when he thought he was hated but instead he was so loved.

He steeled his nerves and came out into the street.

“Wanning.”, he heard and for one moment he saw a very soft and good boy barreling into his arms. He was not so different from his furry companion, he thought. How did it miss that about Mo Ran? He was so much about a dog, so loyal, so hopelessly waiting for him to look and pet him. He wasn’t perfect at all.

Chu Wanning really really liked him.

—

“Cover me on that side!”

“There’s too many enemies, I can’t!”

“Don’t worry, just do it!”

Chu Wanning did as he was asked and saw Mo Ran summoning a new weapon.

It was a red Tianwen.

“Jiangui!” he called, and with a single lash he cleared his exposed side of all the enemies.

After the battle ended, Chu Wanning grabbed both Jiangui and Tianwen, freaked out of his mind about the unexpected development.

“How, when!”

Mo Ran was sheepishly scratching his head.

“I won it on a raffle when I first arrived. One chance in one thousand.”

What. He was gobsmacked.

“You were SO lucky.”

“Yeah, I was. But one chance in a thousand is still… roughly ten times the chance I had of running into you here. So, you see, I’m VERY lucky.”

Chu Wanning flushed red and lowered his lashes.

Smiling, Mo Ran took his face into his palms and kissed him silly, until he couldn’t take it anymore.

#source: relena #2ha #ranwan #modern au #gaming au #au #fic #prompt fic #crossposted to ao3

28 notes · View notes

the-toppat-king · 4 years

Text

Chapter Seven: Recovery

Everything hurts.

That was the first thought Henry had as he started waking up. Briefly, he tried collecting his memories. He'd escaped from the Wall, they'd called the Toppats, he'd been shot and fell...

He'd died.

Henry shot upright, regretting it instantly as intense pain shot through his body. He doubled over with a groan, gritting his teeth.

"Hey, take it easy." Someone said. He took a few deep breaths, looking up. A blonde woman had her hand on his shoulder, peering at him through rose-colored glasses. "You were gone for a bit, you're lucky I could bring you back."

He raised his hands to start signing. He had so many questions for her, so many things that needed answered.

He froze, staring at his left hand.

It was gone, replaced by a new, metal limb. His right hand dropped to his lap as he slowly turned his left one.

A blue light on his palm, and at a simple thought, it suddenly shifted, smoothly changing into a narrow, sharp blade. How did I-?

"You learn so quickly!" The doctor beamed, clasping her hands together. "Oh, where are my manners? My name is Dr. Vinschpinsilstien. You fell quite a distance, which was bad enough but you had the misfortune of hitting some very sharp, jagged rocks before you rolled into the water. I caught you in my fishing net." Her smile fell, and she crossed her arms. "I was not happy to catch a Toppat in my net instead of my next meal, however."

Henry looked back up, his hand turning back into...well, a hand. "Where am I?" He finally signed.

"On my boat, of course. Russian waters." She replied simply. "Now I want to hold you a few days to make sure you adjust alright and there are no further complications."

"What about the Toppats?"

"If you want to stay off my nerves, you'll do wise not to mention them too often, Suave." Dr. Vinschpinsilstien replied a bit sternly. "But they're fine. Reginald, Right and your other two friends have already been here to see you."

"That's not my name anymore."

She blinked. "What?"

"S-U-A-V-E," He signed back, spelling it out. "That's not my name, I had it changed. It's S-T-I-C-K-M-I-N now, doctor." His brow suddenly furrowed. "How do you know my name, though?"

"I was a Toppat under your father's reign." She replied, writing something down on a clipboard. "He was incompetent and an utter ass, so I left. But you were always quite the troublemaker," There was a flash of amusement on her face. "Quite memorable, in fact, I didn't need to know you personally to be able to recognize you."

Henry cringed a bit. He didn't really remember much from his father's reign, but he knew that people were often injured, killed or even captured in his raids. If Dr. Vinschpinsilstien was a doctor then, he could hardly blame her for leaving. He could easily imagine her tired of patients coming to her and dying before she even had a chance to ease their pains. "I'm sorry. I don't remember much, but I've heard of how many people were injured and killed because of his plans. It must have been hard."

She blinked a few times at him, then dipped her head. "There is nothing you could have done, Henry. Terrence was an idiot, nothing to be done about that. Sadly, you can't fix stupidity."

Henry laughed a bit. Even though there was clearly a lot of bitterness, at least she had some humor.

"In any case." She shook her head. "You also have a few new...features." The doctor reached back, pressing somewhere on his new spine. Henry jumped as a pair of jet wings shot from his back. He twisted to look at them, eyes wide.

"Where did those come from? How did they fit in there?" He signed, barely stopping himself from signing too quickly to understand. "I can fly now?"

"Normally I wouldn't add anything too fancy for a Toppat. But with your injuries, you may not be a Toppat for much longer."

Henry blinked a few times. "What?"

"Resuming leading the Toppat Clan is unwise. Your prosthetics are very fragile." She replied, frowning. "Single shot to your exposed spine and you will be dead in less than an hour as your failing cybernetics result in your body shutting down. The moment someone decides you are unfit to lead..."

Henry stared at her, looking away. He knew she was right, but leaving again? It felt wrong now, everything was finally coming together. "There's nothing else for me, though."

"You have friends, do you not?" She tilted her head. "Charles and Ellie. And just because you are not in the Clan does not mean you must say goodbye. You think your fathers will let you go without calling at least once a month? Family never truly says goodbye."

"I suppose you're right." Henry ignored the fact that she called Right and Reginald his fathers. He supposed she wasn't wrong, they were certainly more of fathers to him than Terrence ever was.

"You don't need to retire, and if you do, you don't need to now." She looked back down to the clipboard. "But consider it."

____________________________________________

The next few days weren't easy.

There were a few issues with his new spine, mostly the issue of the skin around the implant not wanting to heal correctly, and overall being sore. At least he had visitors often, Charles and Ellie decided to stay on the boat and Right and Reginald visited at least once a day.

"Why are we doing this again?" Henry signed with a sigh. At the moment he lay on his stomach while Dr. Vinschpinsilstien tinkered with his spine. He yelped when he felt metal pinch the spin, jolting a bit.

"Stay still." She huffed. "I'm trying to smooth the edges closest to your skin so your movement won't damage the skin. I underestimated how much the spine moves. I'm also raising the spine itself so your wings don't scrape against your skin upon being unsheathed."

"Have you ever done this on a spine before?"

"Not at all, this was experimental even by my standards." She replied. "Part of the reason I charged on the lower end."

Henry looked up at her, brows furrowed. "How much was it?"

"One hundred fifty thousand."

"Holy fuck."

She laughed a bit. "That's not much for the Toppat Clan, and you should know that. Especially with both the Tunisian Diamond and Romanian Ruby in the vault."

"Excuse me the diamond is mine and remains in my room." Henry signed with a huff. "Do you know how hard stealing that thing was? I almost died."

"Oh? So the Toppats weren't the one to steal it?" She asked, seeming genuinely curious.

"No, I heard Reginald was pissed when they tried to steal it and it was already gone." Henry laughed a bit as Dr. Vinschpinsilstien worked on unscrewing something. He glanced back, seeing her remove what he assumed was the folded version of one of his wings.

The fact that those fit in his spine would never cease to surprise him.

"I think I need to make these thinner." She muttered. "They aren't very aerodynamic and there's no way to prevent overheating."

Henry tapped the table to catch her attention before signing again. "What about fans? You may need to sacrifice size, but a fan could be used to cool off the inside. You can also use up less fuel if you add a sort of membrane for gliding, like a bat's wing."

She paused, looking at him. "Elaborate a bit more, if you will."

"Well, most large bird hover by catching streams of air, right? Obviously metal feathers might not work, but if the wings were more flexible and possibly shaped like a glider. Bursts of fuel would be needed to get into the air but if they're light enough not as much would be necessary to stay in the air."

"That's...not a bad idea. While most of the wing would still need to be metal for internal mechanisms, not as much power would be needed. Not bad, Stickmin." She jotted down a few notes before resuming her work. "...you know, should you actually choose to leave the Toppat Clan, I always have use for an assistant."

Henry jolted a bit, looking up at her. "You hate the Toppat Clan."

"I hate them as a whole, I never said anything about individual members. Besides, you're bright and a fast learner." She shaved down a sharp edge, careful not to hurt Henry too much. "That is, if you want the position."

"I'll think about it." He signed before folding his arms and laying his head down. It wasn't like he would have anywhere else to go, and he did enjoy the good doctor's company. She had mentioned at one point that she specialized in military-grade augmentations, maybe she could even get him a pardon if he stayed.

Of course there was the plan to leave earth but...did he really even want that? Did he really want to leave earth altogether? It felt wrong, like even with the Clan it'd be a lonely life.

"Was it still home for me?"

"Of course! You were always welcome back here, Henry, you're a Toppat."

Am I really? It doesn't feel that way. The Toppat Clan...it didn't feel like his place anymore. It didn't feel like home, like where he was meant to be. Sven, Right, Reginald, Thomas, Geoffery, they were still his family. But what about the others? Am I just overthinking it? Is it because I was gone for so long? Or is my absence why it's not my home anymore?

It was confusing, and it hurt his head to consider for too long.

"Doctor V? Could we see Henry?" Henry opened his eyes at Charles's voice, smiling a bit.

"Конечно, I don't need to much focus for this." She looked up. "I think Henry's a bit tired of signing, but he could use the company."

Charles nodded, practically skipping over and taking a seat next to Henry, Ellie following a bit slower. "I've been talking to General Galeforce."

"Mhm?"

"He said he's willing to pardon Ellie and leave you guys alone a few days if you help us take down the Wall." He said cheerfully. Henry lifted his head in interest. That was perfect! In the days they were left alone, the Toppats could finish preparations and leave!

"Kinda risky to take your eyes off them, isn't it?" Dr. Vinschpinsilstien asked suspiciously.

"At this rate our concern over the Wall and what they do is more important, especially with the fact that the Toppat Clan has been laying low, and, well, we can't actually pin them on any crimes yet. Not enough evidence." He rubbed the back of his neck. "You see, most of the people there aren't actually guilty of a crime bad enough to warrant being stuck there. I mean, there's a baguette burglar, a...toilet wizard, even someone who isn't even a criminal, just in the wrong place at the wrong time. At even the slightest hint of sickness, you're put in a small, filled quarantine cell with people a lot sicker than you are. Bodies are just-"

"Thrown into the ocean with the rest of their trash, I know." Dr. Vinschpinsilstien sighed. "You think that's the first time I caught a body in my net?"

"Problem is, no one can get in long enough to gather evidence. I was supposed to steal some of their files to prove their wrongdoings, but I got caught." He deflated a bit, then looked at Henry. "I...I'm sorry. If it wasn't for me, you'd be alright. You wouldn't have a metal spine."

Henry shook his head, pulling out his hands to sign. "I don't blame you. I probably would have been caught anyway, besides. Dmitri shot me, you couldn't have done anything to prevent it."

"But I-"

"Dmitri will not get away with that, Charles." Ellie spoke up, putting a hand on Charles's shoulder. "And you can make it up to Henry by helping make sure he never sees the light of day again."

Charles nodded, suddenly looking very determined.

"I say..." Ellie straightened up. "When Henry heals, we lay a trap. I can be bait, he'll want to recapture any of us. I can lead him to a cliff and we can corner him there. Then he has one of two choices: Jump, or let himself be arrested for his cruelty."

"Not a bad plan." The doctor shrugged. "Alright, Henry, try turning. See if it feels any better."

Henry sat up, stretching before twisting a bit. Unlike the last time, the metal didn't dig into his skin uncomfortably or draw any new blood. "That feels a lot better, doctor!" He signed excitedly.

"I'll take a few more days to fix your wings and watch you heal, then you can go back to the Toppat Clan and figure out a plan." Dr. Vinschpinsilstien sat back. "But in case we don't have a chance to talk like this again: I wish you three the best of luck. And...be careful." ____________________ Translation Конечно - Sure

#Chapters #The Toppat King #Henry Stickmin #Dr. Vinschpinsilstien #Charles Calvin #Ellie Rose

6 notes · View notes

xvangoghssunflowerx · 5 years

Text

Anemone Estrella Profile

Credit for template: @hogwartsmysterystory

Identity

Name: Anemone Estrella (Nickname: Ann).

Gender: Female

Age: 18

Birthday: August 12, 1973

Species: Human/Siren

Blood Status: Half-blood (father is a Siren, mother was a pureblood witch. I am using the fish-like sirens of Greece, not the bird-like ones).

Sexuality: Pansexual

Alignment: Lawful Evil

Ethnicity: American

Myer Briggs Personality Type: INFP

The Mage

Wand:

Cedar Wood

Dragon Heartstring Core

10″

Quite Bendy Flexibility

“Whenever I meet one who carries a cedar wand, I find strength of character and unusual loyalty. My father, Gervaise Ollivander, used always to say, ‘you will never fool the cedar carrier,’ and I agree: the cedar wand finds its perfect home where there is perspicacity and perception. I would go further than my father, however, in saying that I have never yet met the owner of a cedar wand whom I would care to cross, especially if harm is done to those of whom they are fond. The witch or wizard who is well-matched with cedar carries the potential to be a frightening adversary, which often comes as a shock to those who have thoughtlessly challenged them.“

Animagus: None, but can grow fins and gills if near a body of water.

Misc Magical Abilities:

Pescatongue: She has the ability to speak to any fish or water mammal.

metamorphmagus: She can only change her hair color and turn into a Siren form. Though she rarely changes her hair color, unless she’s in a bad mood.

Bogart Form: Fishing nets and spears.

Riddikulus Form: The fishing nets turning into bubbles and the spears into fish.

Amortentia: She would smell like salt water and driftwood, the kind of smell after taking a nice long walk on the beach.

Amortentia: She would smell owls. And then she would smell flowers from herbology class.

Patronus: Siren (she doesn’t use her patronus as she hates being associated with them).

Mermaids/Sirens are known around the world as half human half fish creatures. Muggles know them only from folklore that can lead humans to their death through song (by distracting them), or by simply drowning them. But a mermaid patronus will only drown out the Dementors, luring them in by their sweet songs.

Patronus Memory: Playing with her father and mother at the beach.

Mirror of Erised: At age 10, she would see her mother braiding her long hair. At age 18, she would see her lover and her holding hands.

Specialized/Favourite Spells:

Singing: Her father taught her how to use singing as a weapon against humans for protection, not necessarily to kill them.

Caterwauling Charm: Learned to disarm opponents.

Nebulus: Used among sirens to trap sailors.

Ventus: Creats hurricane like winds.

Appearance

Faceclaims: None.

Game Appearance:

Height: 5′04″

Weight: 160lbs.

Physique: Chubby, pear-shaped.

Eye color: Brown

Hair: Blue and pink, thick long hair. She always has it down. Her fishtail is baby blue.

Skin tone: Light skinned.

Body Modifications: Ear piercings.

Inventory: Has a gold seashell pendant around her neck, and has her wand with her at all times.

Allegiances:

Hogwarts House: Slytherin

Affiliations/Organizations:

Slytherin

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Ministry of Magic

Order of the Phoenix

Professions:

Spy for Order of the Phoenix

Ministry of Magic

Auror

Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures: Merpeople and Siren Division (Not of her choosing).

Hogwarts Information

Class Proficiencies:

Astronomy:★★★★★★★★★★

Charms: ★★★★★★★★★★

DADA: ★★★★★★★★★★

Flying:★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Herbology: ★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆

History of Magic: ★★★★★★★★★★

Potions: ★★★★★★★★☆☆

Transfiguration: ★★★★★★★★★★

Electives:

Swimming: Though not actually an elective, Hogwarts allowed her to take it up in her spare time. (There’s an indoor pool somewhere in Hogwarts, I just know it! XD). She avoids the Selkie in the lake.

Quidditch:

Hates quidditch, would rather watch two people beat each other with sticks than play or watch.

Extra Curricular:

None.

Favourite Professors:

Minerva McGonagall: One of the only professors who knows about her father. She admires her and her strict approach in lessons.

Professor Flitwick: She does find him a little annoying, but enjoys the spells that are taught.

Least Favourite Professors:

Professor Silvanus Kettleburn: She feels uncomfortable around him, and how he treats magical creatures. (Letting them escape, etc).

Relationships:

Father: Taras

Merfolk: Sub-category: Siren.

Height: 6′5″

Blue and pink hair long and thick. Ice blue eyes. Light skinned. He has a blue tail.

Was next in line to succeed his father as king, but was disowned for involving himself with a human witch.

He’s soft-hearted. Over protective of his daughter. He despises humans, except his deceased wife. He gave up living in the ocean to raise his daughter when she was 3. His feet are in constant pain from being on land for so long.

When Anemone went to Hogwarts, he went back to the ocean, returning only during the summer.

When he was younger, he was cold and kept to himself. Not letting others see how kind and considerate he was.

Mother: Valda Estrella

pureblood witch from America

Height: 5′6″

Blonde wavy hair and brown eyes. Tanned skinned.

She was sorted into Thunderbird whilst in Ilvermorny.

Patronus: Sting-ray

Fell for Taras at 18, just after graduating from Ilvermorny. She had decided to venture around the world in search of magical creatures. She was exploring near the ocean of Tsigrado for sea dwelling creatures when she came upon a beautiful voice. Losing herself in the voice she hadn’t noticed she was about to step off a cliff leading to a rocky ocean below. The song stopped before she could fall. She kept coming back to the spot, hoping to hear the voice again.

Taras was annoyed by this, as the spot was one of the least frequented by humans, so he confronted her with a self-made spear. To which Valda only smiled and said: “You’re beautiful.” Taras fled there after.

She still kept coming, over and over. This time venturing into the open waters (like the daring idiot she was), not knowing that the reason for there basically being no humans around, was because the water was treacherous. She almost drowned, but Taras, having been watching from underwater, saved her. Taras had yelled at her for being stupid, but she smiled again, “I found you.”

She fought in the first wizarding war in 1970. But stopped fighting when she got pregnant in 1972. In 1975, she wanted to go back and help, but Taras wouldn’t have it. Saying that humans should be left to their own demise. Pissed off, she left for a walk. She never came back. Her body was later found near the docks of a nearby village.

Love Interest: Talbott Winger

First met in their Second year, both wanting privacy. Talbott was annoyed to have her around, as was she. After a while, they both realized they just wanted to be away from large crowds of people. So they became friends.

Anemone tried her best to keep her siren form a secret. However, she saw Talbott transform into his Animagus form, he kept his distance from her there after. She confronted him one day, dragging him to the Black Lake. Once there, she dove head first into the water, not resurfacing for a good minute. Talbott panicked, until she peered her head out of the water. “Can you keep a secret?” Talbott could only nod. To which she raised her tail out of the water. Since then, the two became inseparable.

Talbott asked her out on a date in their fourth year. Then they went steady in their fifth year.

Taras, her father, was largely against it. Always glaring at Talbott when he came over in the summer of their fifth year going into sixth year. At one point telling him that he could kill him if he wanted to. Talbott wasn’t too afraid, as he shrugged it off as a father(beast) being overprotective of his child, and knowing full well how much merfolk hated humas.

They both became aurors and helped fight in the second wizarding war. After the war, they continued to work for the ministry and had twins (a boy and girl). Both gaining the ability to entrance with their singing and being able to turn into sirens, though for a limited time.

Best friends:

Andre Egwu

Tonks

Beatrice Haywood

Rival:

Penny Haywood: Annoyed by her. She feels a fakeness emanating from her persona.

Enemy:

Sirens of Tsigrado Kingdom

Voldemort

Death Eaters

Dormmates:

Liz Tuttle

Ismelda Murk

Merula Snyde

Pets:

Bottlenose Dolphin: Named Bluefin. Found her trapped in a resort, her and her father helped free her.

Sea turtle caretta-caretta: Named Viridescent. She helped rescue him when it was a baby from local muggle teens who were torturing it.

Closest Canon Friends:

Talbott Winger

Beatrice Haywood

Tonks

Background/History

Anemone was born and raised near Milos, Greece. Often visiting the Tsigrado beach. Her father and mother would take her to the beach as often as they could. Sometimes she would stay in the ocean with her father for days at a time, while her mother stayed in town. It was the happiest three years of her life.

She hated the muggles and witches/wizards in Milos because of how poorly they treated the animals and ocean. She would always find trash, plastics around the beaches. At age five, her and her father rescued a dolphin from an “aquarium”. Not so much an aquarium as a small pool, the size of a jacuzzi.

The following year, she almost sang a couple of muggle teens off a cliff to their death for torturing a turtle, before her father interfered.

That same year, she had befriended a wizard who could turn into an eagle. They never told each other their names, and he left the area after only a month. He was the only human that she found trustworthy, since he helped save some birds.

At Hogwarts, she kept to herself, and minded her own business. Only Dumbledore, McGonagall, and the ministry knew of her lineage, Which was kept secret for her safety.

She made friends with Talbott, in second year. She then realized it was her old friend from years ago, so she confided her secret to him.

Beatrice began to hang out with her, to spite her sister, to which Anemone protested, but at the same time, didn’t care. Beatrice found out about her siren self, when she followed her one day to Hogwart’s underground pool. She thought it was amazing and promised to never tell a soul.

Tonks became her friend in first year, loving that they were both metamorphmagus. Anemone accepted her being around, as it was easier to ignore her than to avoid her.

Personality

Introverted, when she needs to be. She would rather be lost in thought among the relaxing waves of the ocean than to be near humans.

She loves music. She hates to admit, but she loves lots of music made by muggles. (Favourite bands being: The Beatles, Abba and Queen).

Misc

Is half siren, half witch. Was being hunted by the Tsigrado Kingdom of Sirens, now they search for her as she is the only heir left, besides her father.

Her mother was pureblood, but was orphaned at age 12. She left her daughter a gold seashell necklace.

Her theme music is: Chiquitita by ABBA and How I Became the Sea by Owl City.

#hphm #Hogwarts mystery #oc #character profile #anemone estrella #harry potter hogwarts mystery #harry potter: hogwarts mystery

27 notes · View notes

weflyfishing · 4 years

Text

The Sage Fly Fishing Vest

The Sage Fly Fishing vest is a product that any avid fly fisher should be proud to own. If you’ve never used a flyfishing vest before, it is essential to consider that these items can give you a massive advantage out on the water. The Sage Fly Fishing Vest is perhaps one of the most versatile products in this category. It offers lightweight and sturdy construction, and it comes with an adjustable fit that can suit almost anyone.

The company:

Sage is a well-established manufacturer, and this is part of the reason why The Sage Fly Fishing Vest is built with such quality in mind. Based out of Bainbridge Island WA, Sage Fly Fishing started 35 years ago when an Olympian and a renowned flyfishing rod designer came together to create some of the most innovative flyfishing materials. Sage Fly Fishing has since become some of the best-known flyfishing products for their longevity. With over 175 employees found across the United States, Sage continues to revolutionize performance angling.

The Fly Fishing Vest: https://www.maxcatchfishing.com/Maxcatch_Vests_.html

The vest materials

The Sage Fly Fishing Vest in its latest format was launched in the year 2016 with a revolutionary new fabric mesh system. The goal of this fabric mesh was to make sure that anyone out on the water could remain cool with an ultralight flyfishing vest. Even though the mesh is one of the primary materials of this vest, it’s still one of the most durable on the market.

What is even more surprising is a large number of the mesh items across the vast are produced using recycled commercial fishing nets. The recycled netting adds to the strength of the vest while making sure that it’s extremely environmentally friendly to produce.

The backing area of The Sage Fly Fishing Vest is designed using an entirely mesh construction so that while you’re out on the water, you can make sure that you can better regulate your temperature. The side pockets and the padded shoulder straps also improve comfort and offer highly durable materials.

The padded shoulder straps come with foam that can be easily replaced by the website. A molded fly bench also is available alongside the vest from the company to improve your comfort out on the water.

The storage:

The vest has incredible storage spaces with the two main pockets on the side, ten additional zippered front pockets, and four inside pockets. The four interior pockets are perfect for carrying some of your personal items, whereas the outside pockets can carry full-sized fly boxes. The ten smaller pockets are the ideal way that you can bring along tools as well as separate some of the other items that you might need out on the water.

The easy access sizeable back pouch is one of the best ways that you can carry personal items and some larger items for your fishing along. This aspect of the vest works more like a backpack, but it keeps any of the things that you place inside this pouch tight to your body for easy casting.

The specialty tippet dispenser pocket makes for an easier time with tying your rigs and getting ready to cast. The dispenser pocket can free up your hands and make the process of getting your line ready, much more comfortable.

The features:

With the cool mesh design, recycled fabric materials, replaceable padding in the shoulder straps and incredible access to pockets, this is a vest that does not shy away from features. With its durable design and the many features on board, you can have a flexible loadout that can keep you comfortable fishing in a number of different conditions.

If you have never used a flyfishing vest or thought of getting one, here are some of the significant advantages that you can receive by choosing to wear a flyfishing vest during your next fishing trip:

The Comfort:

Most of the weight for a flyfishing vest is spread across your shoulders. Chest pack designs or mobile tackle boxes often lead to all of the weight being carried around your neck. A vest usually allows you to fish longer and have more balance when you are casting. The Sage Fly Fishing Vest delivers such a lightweight frame so that you can keep your balance even more easily.

Storage:

A good-quality vest like The Sage Fly Fishing Vest will make sure that you don’t have to go through a messy tackle box or run back to sure every few minutes to get the supplies that you need. You can enjoy having pockets for everything from spare line to pliers, to new flies and more.

It is fashionable:

Having a flyfishing vest can be a very stylish choice of the colors that have been chosen with The Sage Fly Fishing Vest are definitely of a neutral tone. These have been a prominent choice amongst anglers for many generations, and they offer a classic fashion look for any fisher.

Less inhibited:

A heavy bag will often inhibit your movement, and it can lead to problems with casts. A misplaced cast could lead to a broken rod tip or a dangerous snag. With The Sage Fly Fishing Vest, the pockets remain compact, and you can distribute your weight evenly so that you have more control over your flyfishing experience.

Conclusion:

If you are curious about picking up a flyfishing vest as a gift or for improving your own flyfishing experience, the Sage Fly Fishing Vest remains an excellent product that you can use for keeping organized with your fly fishing. The product is exceptionally durable, cool and lightweight, and it has a surprising amount of storage. Intuitive features like the Tippit dispensing pocket, roomy backpack, replaceable from seat and shoulders improve the longevity of this product too.

Although this is not the least expensive flyfishing vest on the market, it is a product that has been designed to last. If you are seeking tools that will be some of the best in the business for your fly fishing, this is a vest that can take you on many comfortable trips for flyfishing.

#mmaxcatch #fly fishing vest

1 note · View note

love-mark-wilson-blog · 5 years

Text

Which is the best beach in Miami?

From the world famous South Beach, the hidden gemstone nature reserves in Key Biscayne and the family sand lanes in Surf-side It's no secret that one of Miami's main attractions is the beach. Read our guide to the best beaches in Miami and choose the perfect place for you! So what are you waiting for hire an exotic car rental Miami and start your journey today.

1. South Beach

It's hard to think of Miami without a vision. South Beach is spinning in my head. This legendary stretch of beach stretches from the southern tip of the island to 23rd Street. Turquoise blue sea circles on a white sandy beach, Art Deco hotels are located along the coastline, and the beach itself is a patchwork with sun loungers and umbrellas. The husky heart of the beach extends from 5th to 15th Street along Ocean Drive and you will find a more muted, residential atmosphere in the north and south. Down on First Street on prestige exotics you will spy if conditions are suitable.

2. Haulover Beach

North of Bal Harbor, Haulover Beach Here is the only nudist beach in Miami. While topless sunbathing is common throughout Miami Beach, this is where to go if you want to bare everyone. Calm snow-white strand attracts other visitors. This is a great place for surfers, when the conditions are suitable due to the current in the Haulover Bay, and the adjacent park on the ocean is a popular place for families to fly kites and have picnics - there are tables and grills in the open air. There is also a marina full of fishing and diving charters facing the Intracoastal Waterway.

3. Matheson Hammock Park Beach

630 acres Matheson Hammock Park south of Coral Gables opened in 1930 as a gift to the county from conservationist William J. Matheson "to preserve the wilderness and natural beauty" of Miami. Want to know what a hammock is? In Miami, this refers to a unique ecosystem with dense plantations of broad-leaved trees, sprawling just a few centimeters above sea level, surrounded by tropical wetlands. In the park you can walk along paths through a hammock, rent kayaks and canoes on the beach and take a dip in the calm, sheltered waters of an artificial atoll surrounded by a sandy beach.

4. Sunny Isles Beach

This clean and non-crowded two-mile stretch of sand in the northernmost reaches of Miami Beach is lined with tall residential condominiums. Sunny Isles Beach is ideal for families who want to spend a day on the beach without noise. Park in the parking lot on 174th Street and head to the beach through Samson Park overlooking the ocean - next to the lifeguard tower and volleyball nets - this is a magnificent beach where you can enjoy with your partner. On 165th Street, Newport's fishing pier is 600 feet into the ocean, and it is a good place for a scenic walk or a bite to eat.

5. Crandon Park Beach

Crandon Park at Key Biscayne is the place to go to be active. Vendors offer lessons and rents for kite boarding, kayaking and kayaking, while there are trails through the mangrove promenade to the petrified coral reef, as well as nature-guided tours provided by the Nature Center. The beach itself is a sandy, calm stretch of two miles along the barrier island with the famous sandbank, which is constantly changing due to wind and tides. The beach has picnic tables, gazebos and volleyball nets, while the park has a marina, golf course and tennis center.

#exotic car rental miami #car rental in miami luxury #ferrari on rent #exotic car rentals miami beach #new jersey exotic car rental #lamborghini rentals miami

1 note · View note

fishinggearshop · 2 years

Text

Best Fishing Gear Shop and Equipment Online

The world of fishing is a tricky one, in more ways than one. The fish you’re looking for might be hiding somewhere that seems impossible to find – even if you know exactly where it is. Fishing requires an exceptional level of concentration and skill, as well as some solid equipment. Even if you think you know your way around the lake, it doesn’t hurt to double check with the experts at your local tackle shop to make sure you have everything you need before hitting the water again. If you’re new to the world of fishing or just want to buy some new gear and accessories, here are some great fishing gear shops to get started on your journey into this exciting hobby.

What is the best fishing gear shop?

A fishing gear shop is where you can find all the equipment you need to start fishing. This includes everything from fishing rods and reels to tackle boxes and drink holders. Most fishing gear shops have an online store that you can shop at as well. This gives you the option to shop at any time, which is great if you have a busy schedule. One such great fishing gear shop is the Fishermen Source.

Other shops are:

- Bass Pro Shops

This website is one of the most popular fishing gear shops online. They have an excellent selection of fishing tackle and accessories for all kinds of fishing. If you’re looking for a wide variety of fishing gear and equipment, plus helpful tips on how to use them, Bass Pro Shops is a great place to start.

- Cabela’s

Cabela’s is another great fishing gear shop that specializes in fishing gear. They have an excellent selection of fishing rods and reels along with a wide variety of lures and other fishing gear and accessories. If you’re in the market for some fishing equipment, this is a great place to start.

- Orvis

Orvis is another excellent fishing gear shop that you should definitely check out if you’re looking to buy new fishing equipment. They specialize in fly fishing, but they have a wide variety of tackle for all kinds of fishing. If you’re in the market for new fishing gear, this is a great fishing gear shop to start with.

The best fishing equipments

If you’re going to be fishing, you’re going to need a fishing rod. These rods are the mechanism that lets you reel your catch in once you’ve casted your line out. Fishing reels are similar to regular spools, but they are specially designed to reel in fish. The best fishing rods are usually made of graphite or fiberglass. Fishing reels, on the other hand, are usually either made of metal or plastic.

Fishing lures are tiny pieces of equipment that attract fish to your line. These come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny little thingamajigs to large pieces of metal that flash in the sunlight. When you’re fishing, you want to make sure to bring the right tackle for the job.

There are a lot of tackle shops out there, so finding the best tackle shops for your fishing trip might be a bit tricky. That’s why we’ve put together this list of some of the best tackle shops on the Internet. These fishing gear shops all have a wide variety of fishing equipment as well as helpful guides and tutorials on how to use them.

There are tons of other useful pieces of equipment that are important for fishing. These include everything from fishing nets to drink holders. You can find all of these items and more at your local tackle shop. If you’re just starting out with fishing, you can check out our list of the best fishing gear shops to find the perfect fishing gear shop for you.

Conclusion

The world of fishing is full of excitement and adventure, but you can’t go out on the water without the right equipment. Choosing the right fishing rods, reels, lures, and tackle boxes is crucial to making sure your fishing trip goes smoothly. That’s why it’s important to shop around and find the best fishing gear shops and equipment for your needs. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced angler, it’s a good idea to double check your gear before every fishing trip.

0 notes

genericpseudonyms · 6 years

Quote

I learned a lot at school. How to calculate the trajectory of an object in motion. The difference between existentialism and transcendentalism. That the slope of a line is rise over run. Energy is mass times the speed of light squared. I learned about the Federalist Papers and how you can trace the origins of World War II back to the Treaty of Versailles. I learned that your assets are the net total of your liabilities and equity. I learned how to soliloquize in front of a crowd. I got up on stage and asked a half-full theater, to be, or not to be? These are a lot of fancy words to hide all the things school never taught me. Like, how to stay kind in the face of immeasurable grief. How to mend a broken heart. How to come to peace with the dream of a childhood I will never have. How to find the will to live when you are a suicidal teenager-cum-suicidal young adult. How to cope with post traumatic stress disorder from rape and childhood abuse. How to cope with depression. How to get on medication, deal with the side effects, and still show up everyday to your 9-to-5 job. How to forgive my imperfect parents. How to love and forgive myself. What I’ve learned is that everyone is awkward. Everyone is struggling. Everyone is afraid. Emotions, as it turns out, give life its color but they can’t be controlled. And when you know that, it becomes easier to forgive. Adulthood is simply how bravely you meet uncomfortable situations. Honesty is hard. Being yourself in front of others is hard. If you choose to wear your grief openly, frankly, and plainly, people will shirk away from you. Not because they are cruel—but because it makes them uncomfortable. They don’t know what to say, they think you need them to say the perfect thing because characters in movies always know what to say. My own mother didn’t know how to tell me my father lies on his deathbed. She left a rambling five minute voicemail and ignored my followup messages. My stepmother couldn’t say anything over the phone. I spent 72 hours confused as to whether or not I should listen to my gut and fly to Korea. It made me angry. The kind thing would’ve been to tell me. Your father’s been given a week left to live. He’s on a ventilator and can’t breathe on his own. He’s having trouble recognizing faces. He is skeletal. His skin stretches taut like cracked leather over his bones. His hands, the ones that were once strong enough to squeeze your mother’s throat, are swollen and weak. He is dying in a green-tinted hospice room with two other nameless men and of his three surviving children, you are the only one he’s asking to see. He can’t tell night from day, New York from Korea, but he remembers your name. He wants to see you. He wants to see you, but whether or not you come is your choice. That would’ve been kindness. Kindness is traveling 20 hours from JFK to Incheon to a tiny rural island in the dead of night with relatives who don’t speak English. It’s forgetting how tired you are as soon as you get to the hospice and running up four flights of stairs in the middle of the night. It’s seeing your father, a complicated man who you cannot totally forgive, gasping for air like a landed fish. It’s listening to the death rattles of dying men around you, the wheezing in their chest and watching tears roll down their eyes at the pain of fluid filling their lungs, and being thankful that your father is spared. It’s crying, holding his frail hand in yours, yelling in his ear, hoping he can hear you, “I’m here. I came all this way. I made it here. You can let go now. You don’t have to suffer anymore.” Because forgiveness is instantaneous. It was midnight at the end of May and I held his hand. I kissed his cheek and told him all the ways I am succeeding. It is, frankly, more than he deserves. But love and kindness is not about what people deserve. It’s what you wish for them. And for my father, I wish an end to his lifetime of suffering.

LESSONS IN GRIEF AND KINDNESS, 06.01.2018

#spilled ink #spilled words #prose #memoir #excerpts from a book I'll never write #writing #my writing #quotes #death #forgiveness #diary

12 notes · View notes

thomasgmcelwain · 6 years

Text

Genesis 1:6-31

6 Said Ælohim, "Let be expanse

Of beaten metal in the dance

Between the waters to divide

The waters from waters’ advance.

7 Made Ælohim expanse to ride

Dividing waters that may glide

Beneath the expanse from those that

Stand there above. It came in pride.

8 Called Ælohim the expanse flat

The pair of skies where they are at.

Then evening came and morning vied

To make the second day beside.

The second day You spoke the firmament

Into existence, with Your word and scent,

Dividing thus the gate of waters there

Above the gates of earth and fire and air.

Yet when I look into the sky, behold,

There is no stretch of beaten metal cold

Against stupendous reaches into space.

I find no firmament in time or place.

And still I raise my eyes from earth to sky,

Between awareness and reality,

And look in awe, not on a firmament,

But on the bare, uncircumscribed ascent.

Nothing divides the heaven and earth in time

Except the tinkling hammers and their rhyme.

9 Said Ælohim, "Be gathered there

The waters under the skies’ share

To one place, and so let appear

The dry land." It was so and fair.

10 Called Ælohim dry land earth clear.

The gathering of the waters' here

He called seas. Ælohim then saw

That it was good and it was dear.

11 Said Ælohim, "Let earth updraw

Grass, herb seeding seed without flaw,

The fruit tree making fruit in kind,

Its seed in itself on earth’s maw.

And so it came to be outlined.

12 And earth sprouted the grass refined,

The herb seeding seed to its mate,

And tree making fruit to its kind.

Saw Ælohim it was good rate.

13 So evening and morn were not late

To bring the third day and instate,

To bring the third day and instate.

The gates of earth and water at Your word

Appeared before my heart and my soul stirred

At Your call, my Beloved, to enter in.

I try it with a toe instead of fin

And brace myself for some regeneration

Or at the least uplifting jubilation.

This miqwe is too cold I say aloud,

And try to hide myself amidst the crowd.

Ablutions, baptisms are for the mind

Or body, rather, literally inclined.

My spirit is a higher class and one

Imbued with spirituality hard won.

Dive in, I find this is no dunking pool,

But seas of love for every swimming fool.

I step upon the earth with dripping hair

And see it sprouting green leaves everywhere

At Your command, Beloved, and at Your ease.

It brings forth grass and herb and fruitful trees.

The gate of air I need at every breath.

I plunge into the water, that small death

Does not at all quench any of my fire.

But only when I step into the mire

And feel the scratch of prickle on my sole

Do I at last enter the chambered goal.

Instead of barren rocky shore and cloud

I find the luscious fruit and table bowed

And banquet set for One reality,

I join with You and You, Beloved, with Me.

14 Said Ælohim, “Let there be lights

In the expanse of heaven, from nights

Divide the day, and let them be

For signs, seasons, days and years’ heights.

15 And let them be for lights and free

In the expanse of sky to see,

In the expanse of heaven to set

Light on the earth bright in degree.”

16 Made Ælohim two great lights met:

The greater light to rule day yet,

The lesser light to dominate

Over the night, and stars in net.

17 Gave Ælohim them in the state

Of the expanse of skies by rate

To light the earth 18 and rule the day,

And manage the night too in freight,

And separate light from the sway

Of darkness, saw Ælohim play

For good. 19 Came evening and the ray

Of morning to make the fourth day.

Beloved, You give from day to day the lights

Upon the skies to rule the days and nights.

By night and day I look to see their signs

For good or ill, for what their glow divines.

I see them measure off my days and years,

Their regular ascents to calm my fears.

But fourth day of creation knows no feast,

No new moon nor a Sabbath at the least.

The only festival appointed must

Be that tryst secretly in wine and crust

I have with You, Belovèd, day by day,

As greater, lesser lights go on their way,

Appointments momentarily below

The hundred thousand stars that come and go.

20 Said Ælohim, “Let waters swarm

Abundance of living, not warm,

And let birds fly above the earth

Over skies' expanse without harm."

21 Created Ælohim for worth

Sea creatures and all that in berth

Of waters swarmed to their own kind,

And every bird in the sky’s girth

According to its wing designed.

Saw Ælohim good and refined.

22 And Ælohim blessed them, and said

"Be fruitful, multiply, and mind,

Fill waters in the seas, be led

Birds on earth to increase well-fed.”

23 So evening and the morning sped

To set forth the fifth day instead.

Out of the gathered waters of the deep,

The dyeing vat, miqwe, baptismal font,

Above the great wind's sighing and its sweep,

You conjure up, ethereal and gaunt,

The living nafs, the self, that fleeting fish

That turns from wraith to silver with one wish

And disappears, a droplet in the vast

And mobile sea. If I take fly and cast,

It may take all my three-score years and ten

To find and catch that silver fish again.

I shall not wait upon the shore, shall not!

I care not whether silver fish are caught.

Instead I plunge into that rising foam,

And quickly pass into eternal home.

24 Said Ælohim, "Let earth produce

The living creature to its use:

The cattle and the creeping thing,

Beast of the earth in its kind’s truce.”

25 Made Ælohim the beastly thing

According to its kind to sing,

The cattle in its sort and all

That creeps on earth in kind and ring.

Saw Ælohim the good in all.

26 Said Ælohim, "Let’s now install

Man in our image, by our plan,

And let them have the rule in call

Upon the fish of the sea’s span,

And over birds of heaven’s ban,

The cattle upon all the earth,

And creepers on earth to a man.”

27 Created Ælohim in berth

Of His image the man of worth,

Into the great image made him,

Male and female made them in girth.

28 Blessed them, did Ælohim in hymn,

And said Ælohim to them grim,

So multiply, fill the earth’s ring

And live throughout its breadth and rim,

Rule over fish that the seas fling,

Birds of the air and birds that sing,

And over every living beast

That moves on earth by foot or wing."

29 Said Ælohim "See, now increased

To you be every herb released

With seeds on face of all the ground,

And every tree with fruit at least,

For you it shall be your food found.

30 "To every earthly beast around,

To every bird of heaven, to each

Live creeping thing upon the ground,

I put green herbs within their reach.”

31 Saw Ælohim that all was peach

That He’d made. So eve and morn stay,

Establishing here the sixth day.

Beloved, You blessed the birds and fishes

And made them souls upon their wishes,

But when it came to creeping things

You seem to have some questionings.

At least You do not bless the cattle

Nor wild beasts going out to battle.

Since these are closer, bone and claw,

To humans, and they stand in awe

Of human powers, one might think

They too deserve, a missing link,

To enter in the books of those

You set apart, and marked and chose.

Treat me, Beloved, I truly wish,

Not like the cattle, but the fish.

Your image is a canvas vaster than

What sea and sky and earth forever can.

Yet Your self-portrait in perfection lies

Within the atom's small peripheries.

To each wrought figure either small or vast

You have his own dominion wisely cast.

Each mite within Your image has been crowned

And granted each its nourishment and bound.

Your sovereignty of sovereigns knows no press,

While I'm in Your creation, free to guess.

Though I myself am not Your image whole

As some would trust whose faith has greater goal,

I glory in the honour of the part

I have in Your creation's noble art.

The heavens in pairs and earth in slack

Begin no multiplying’s lack.

Formless and void, darkness on deep,

The fatal wind where waters leap,

Waters above and those below,

The light and dark, eve and morn’s glow,

The day and night, the sun and moon,

The fish and bird, and just as soon

The beast and humankind appear

In Ali and Fatimah’s fear,

Till yin-yang, ruh-nafs, hope and love

Join in the one all things above.

Beloved, the you and I remain

Forever Your treasure and gain.

Beloved, this is the first of Your commands,

A double statute that perhaps still stands.

Although You set the bounds of reproduction

As what the earth is able in construction

Of living space and eating, You impose

The duty first of all since men arose

And women too, to live and propagate.

One half of all required in every state

Remains to fill this first command, obey

The human urge to make, produce, and play.

Consumption and production are the whole

These words imply, to make and take the goal.

Belovèd, I fulfil Your will devoutly

By merely breathing inwardly and outly.

Beloved, I jump to no conclusions when

I hear You give dominion now to men

And women as the second of commands.

I do not think that makes us kings of lands

Or even animals. Dominion's but

The word you use when You would tell us what

We ought to eat, and what the others choose.

Dominion's nothing more, a right to lose,

Than eating seeds and such instead of greens.

The one that eats more than corn, squash and beans

Has lost dominion, eating leaf and root.

Dominion's not a sceptre, crown and suit.

Let me, Belovèd, crack the sacred nut,

Divide the grape and sit beneath Your hut.

#The Beloved and I

2 notes · View notes

flamingotransworldpvtltd · 4 years

Text

Adventure Sports to experience in Kochi, Kerala

Image Source: https://content.r9cdn.net

Kochi or sometimes also called as Cochin is said to be one of the best adventurous destinations in Kerala as this place is located on shorelines of the Arabian Sea and so it is also called the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’. This destination is a perfect amalgamation of the old historical charm and the modern day beauty. While booking a Kerala tour package, it is compulsory to add stay in Kochi.

Kochi is the industrial, financial & the commercial hub of Kerala. Before our country got independence, this port city was ruled by the Dutch, British and the Portuguese and so you can get the feel the atmosphere of theses cultures till day during your visit to Kochi. Kochi is also a famous port city because of its fantastic location with sharing the borders with the Arabian Sea and serves as the main trade hub for spices for many countries like China, Arab countries, Syria and few other Asiatic countries.

National Geographic Traveller Magazine rated Kochi with the title of ‘50 Greatest Places to Visit in your lifetime’. Till date Kochi reflects the old European architecture, plus you will still find the famous Chinese fishing nets at Fort Kochi, the lip smacking south Indian food and a place where you can enjoy and experience different festivals and traditions, and so Kochi is also known as a multicultural city and a must-visit place.

With many stay options, shopping malls, restaurants & nightlife, this place also boasts many adventure sports to offer, to make your stay more exciting and thrilled. So let’s check the below list for your Kerala tour to be an exciting one:

1. Kayaking Experience

2. Banana Boat Ride

3. Water skiing

4. Knee Boarding

5. Bhoothathankettu Trekking

6. Bumper Ride

1. Kayaking Experience:

Image Source: https://images.thrillophilia.com

How exciting does it sounds to ride your own boat? The single kayaking experience is one of that kind, one of the most exciting and thrilling water sports and slightly different from canoeing. This ride generally is conducted early in the morning with the sunrise or as decided by the booking agent. Firstly, your guide gives you the training of rowing the boat and then you are on your own. As you keep rowing the boat, you experience splashing of water on your face or getting stuck due to high waves, making the ride much more thrilling and unforgettable.

Note: Once you complete your booking, the exact location of this sports will be shared.

Timings: 6 am to 6 pm

Price: Starts from INR 1000

2. Banana Boat Ride:

Image Source: https://images.thrillophilia.com

This activity can be enjoyed in a group or also on individual basis. As the name goes, you need to sit on an inflated banana shaped body and this is connected to a speed boat, you really need to hold it tight as this is a high speed activity and the power of the speed boat will take you up and down and make it a more exciting one. Please make sure you follow all the tips given carefully, which will be given before the ride starts. Enjoy the stunning shore line of the Arabian Sea during the ride and if you want some pictures during the ride, just inform your instructor before the ride starts. You can enjoy this activity on the Cherai Beach or the Periyar Lake, depending on your local agent.

Price: INR 500- INR 1000

3. Water skiing

Image Source: https://images.thrillophilia.com

Water Skiing is one of the greatest version of thrill which is a must to experience. Water skiing is a form of skiing only but on the water instead of snow and you get a feel of flying on the water. This is one of the unique experiences. The guides will give you some best tricks and tips to survive for a longer time with larger waves and high speed. And don’t worry at all, you will still be secured as a professional instructor will always be with your during your ride. It is advisable to book the activity in advance as per your timings and as you book you will come to know about the location of the activity.

Price: Starts from INR 2500

4. Knee Boarding:

Image Source: https://images.thrillophilia.com/

Sit comfortable on a surfing board and be ready to row the boat on your own for an adventure ride. This is 45 minutes ride, and your professional guide will give you the perfect instructions on how to enjoy fully during this activity. Only 1 individual can sit and row the board at a time, learn some important tips from your guide and book the activity in advance.

Price: Starts from INR 1500

5. Bhoothathankettu Trekking:

Image Source: https://english.mathrubhumi.com

Bhoothathankettu is popular as a tourist destination and known for boasting for the majestic views of the valleys, dams, migratory birds and wild animals. The main attraction of this place are adventure trekking, bird watching, and boat trips. This place is considered one of the historical place along with being a mythical one. It’s a fun activity of trekking in the forest with old huge trees & herbs, caves, chirping of birds, sounds of different animals and in addition you can also spot Koottickal from the top of the dam, if you wish to go there, you can go through the jungle by a quick walk or opt for a boat ride. This spot is famous because 3 main rivers meets here at this point. And lastly you can go for 10 km boat ride at Bhoothathankettu dam.

Location: This place is located at 50 km distance from Kochi

6. Bumper Ride

Image Source: https://images.thrillophilia.com

Being an important centre to enjoy some great water sport activities, you will be super thrilled when you choose to go for Bumper Ride. This ride can be enjoyed in a group or even individually. Enjoy the gliding on waves for 5-10 minutes with your family in this activity. Sit on a bumper with your life jackets on and tied up to a speed boat, taking you to a thrilling and adventure ride in the waters.

Price: Starts from INR 350

So what are you waiting for, have a glance at some of the best Kerala tour packages,and yes don’t forget to add Kochi in your itinerary for making your holiday an adventurous one. So a trip to Kerala doesn’t end only with scenic tea plantations or backwaters and houseboats but much beyond that.

#kerala tour packages

0 notes

mypubliclands · 7 years

Photo

Eagle Scout Project benefits Greater sage-grouse and partnerships

When it came time to choose his Eagle Scout Service Project last year, 16-year-old Kolton Dahl had a pretty good idea that he wanted to do something related to the Greater sage-grouse.

Now in his junior year at Burns High School, Dahl had worked closely with Andrew Shields - a wildlife biologist at the Roaring Springs Ranch and an Eagle Scout himself - on projects monitoring Greater sage-grouse that call the ranch and neighboring public lands home.

“With Andrew, I went out to the leks early in the morning and saw the habits of sage-grouse and was able to learn more about that, as well as the nesting habits after they leave the lek,” Dahl said, referring to the birds’ mating area.

“He actually got me started thinking about it when we went sage-grouse catching together,” Dahl explained. “That's where you go out at night and spotlight sage-grouse and then you go and catch them with a net, and place a radio collar on them.” Shields, who has a scientific collecting permit with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to conduct this work, “would then use the data he recorded to be able to study the habits of the sage-grouse and determine where their leks were, and learn more about how they affect the ecosystem,” Dahl said.

This hooked Dahl, he admits.

“On the ride out there and back in, we were talking about everything that the BLM was doing for the sage-grouse,” Dahl remembered, “and he knew I had an Eagle Scout project that I needed to do, coming up, and he suggested this one and I kind of just ran with it.”

With Shields’ guidance - and with the cooperation of Autumn Toelle, a rangeland management specialist with the BLM Burns District - Dahl focused his project on installing reflective markers on barbed-wire fences at the BLM’s South Steens Allotment, near the South Loop Road on the south end of Steens Mountain. As he learned, this work would improve wildlife habitat by helping Greater sage-grouse and other animals see and avoid the potentially deadly obstacles.

To low-flying birds like the greater sage-grouse, these fences present collision hazards - especially in the low light of dawn and dusk, and particularly near leks. Occasionally, a walk along a fenceline within a mile of a lek can turn up evidence of a recent sage-grouse strike, often a pile of feathers or even a dead bird.

At first glance, it is hard to imagine how fence markers - palm-sized rectangles of bright plastic, highlighted by a band of reflective tape - can help. They do make a difference, though. A recent study from the University of Idaho led by Bryan S. Stevens supports this, finding an approximate 83% reduction in collision rates at marked fences relative to unmarked fences in high-risk sage-grouse breeding habitats.

“Sage-grouse did not evolve with fences on the landscape, so they may not see the fence until it’s too late,” said Glenn Frederick, sage-grouse biologist for the BLM Oregon and Washington State Office. “Marking the fence is a relatively inexpensive, quick way to reduce sage-grouse mortality and grow the population. This is a great opportunity for public land users to help out,” he explained.

Dahl’s Eagle Scout project also served a broader, national partnership effort.

In 2015, following what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced as “an unprecedented conservation partnership across the western United States that has significantly reduced threats to the greater sage-grouse across 90 percent of the species’ breeding habitat,” the agency determined that protection for the species under the Endangered Species Act was no longer warranted, and they withdrew it from the list of candidate species.

One key element of sustaining this partnership success - and keeping the bird off the list - is an ongoing network of Candidate Conservation Agreements. Simply put, on public lands administered by the BLM, a CCA is an agreement with ranchers that identifies voluntary conservation measures that go above and beyond the BLM requirements for a livestock grazing permit and benefit Greater sage-grouse on livestock grazing allotments.

“This project also fit in the conservation measures of the ranch’s Candidate Conservation Agreement for sage-grouse,” wrote Toelle. Therefore, it helped both the ranch and the BLM meet their agreed-upon steps for sage-grouse conservation, contributing at the local level to a vast national effort.

Dahl’s project also met the requirements of the Boy Scouts of America. According to the BSA, the purpose of the Eagle Scout Service Project is to “plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community.”

The BSA further defines community to include the “community of the world,” so public lands - those lands owned by the American people and managed on their behalf by agencies such as the BLM - provide a model setting for Eagle Scout projects.

Dahl’s project was a perfect fit.

In conversation, Dahl can summarize his project as “hanging reflectors on barbed wire fences within two miles of sage-grouse leks on BLM land,” but he’s quick to note the significant preparation and behind-the-scenes work that was necessary to pull it off.

“It wasn’t just multiple sessions of one task,” Dahl explained. He invested dozens of hours in planning and coordination before he hung the first fence marker.

“Autumn Toelle at the Burns BLM office was my main point of contact,” Dahl said, and she helped him obtain the necessary maps and identify precisely where the fences should be marked.

She also provided the project’s key ingredient - more than 5,200 of the reflective fence markers.

“The BLM had reflectors on-hand that they donated to me so I could accomplish this project,” Dahl said, and a key task was preparing them for installation. To do so, he recruited a team of volunteers to organize and sort them. “We spent a lot of time counting the reflectors,” he remembered, “you know, dividing them out between which groups would go where.”

Along with marshalling equipment and volunteers, Dahl devoted many hours to visiting the range and walking fence lines with Shields. “We spent time going up and making sure where the fences were, ... and marking what sections needed to be marked,” he said. “We did that, I think, twice before we actually hung the reflectors.”

This pre-marking was an important step. In order to be most effective, the fence markers need to be carefully spaced to ensure maximum coverage and visibility - both horizontally and vertically.

It also gave them an up-close view of the need for a project like Dahl’s.

For the day of fence marker installation, Dahl mobilized additional volunteers, including members of local Boy Scout Troops 441 and 440.

“I had a lot more help than I anticipated,” Dahl said, “and so we were actually able to get the hanging part done in one day. We split off into three groups, because there were three different stretches of fences, and each group took their designated amount of reflectors and did their section of fence.”

Following Dahl’s earlier legwork, the groups installed 5,280 fence markers in a specific pattern over 3 miles of fence line. “We had 3 feet between each reflector, and they were in a W pattern on the top two wires of the barbed wire fence, so the sage-grouse could see them and fly over them, instead of running into the barbed wire fence,” Dahl said.

All together, Dahl estimates that he and his volunteers invested about 180 hours of time into the project. It was time well spent.

This summer, Dahl earned the rank of Eagle Scout at a special Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony. There, he recognized Shields with an Eagle Scout Mentor pin - a special token of recognition for Shields’ guidance and support with the project.

“Kolton’s a great young man and I was excited that he chose to give me the Mentor Pin,” Shields said. “I am glad I was able to be involved and help him achieve his Eagle award.”

Dahl continues to stay in touch with Shields, and is interested in following any successes his project may facilitate.

“Its tough to measure effectiveness,” said Shields. “I can say it has definitely made the fences more visible, which was the goal, and that the research out there has shown these markers to be effective in reducing collisions between sage-grouse and fences.”

Shields has also used Dahl’s project as an education and outreach tool. “I’ve had several people that have seen the markers on the fences ask what their purpose is,” he said, “and it has provided an opportunity to talk about sage-grouse conservation.”

In fact, Dahl’s work has resonated beyond Harney County - and even Oregon.

Stevens, the lead author of the seminal fence marker study at the University of Idaho, lauded Dahl’s get-up-and-go and emphasized the benefits of the hands-on nature of Dahl’s project.

“I think it’s fantastic, really,” Stevens said. “It shows this person’s initiative but it also allows him and the other people involved - the volunteers involved - to have a direct, tangible connection to the resource management, which a lot of people - just frankly, in today’s world - don’t have. So, I think it’s good on a whole number of levels,” Stevens added.

Although he may not have expected it, Dahl learned about more than the greater sage-grouse and resource management through this project. He also developed skills applicable to many life situations, he said, like “being able to delegate out certain tasks so I … wasn’t overwhelmed with how much I needed to do. I could find people I trusted and then allow them to do that task their own way and not micromanage it.”

He also experienced, first-hand, the value of working in partnership toward a common goal.

“That was probably the biggest skill I learned,” he said. “Seeing the cooperation between two large groups of people and seeing how it can turn out for the good.”

Before the project, Kolton admits, he “didn’t really have an opinion of public lands.” This project changed his perspective. Now, he says, “I think that when used correctly, they can sure be a benefit to both the environment and to the population.”

“It’s really good to work with good people on both sides of the equation,” he said.

Spoken like a true Eagle Scout.

Story by Greg Shine, BLM blogger. Photos courtesy of Kolton Dahl.

59 notes · View notes