#How To Increase 1 Inch Height In A

[larluce]

Arthur and Merlin travel back in time without knowing the other is from the future too AU

Tagging @aceauthorcatqueen , @fallenxjas , @smileytrinity ,@lucifertookmyshoe , @an-entity-i-think , @thecornerofbelu , @griffonskies , @odinjm , @cinnabon-sweetroll-tiramisu , @thelady-mary , @bennedict , @nightninjaboy , @st8-of-grace , @star-rie , @error-username-not-available , @dogberryrowan , @jamieweasley13 , @tansyuduri , @tercais , @robynnemrys , @evadne01 , @serasvictoria02 The tag list is increasing! I'm crying 🤧. Again thank you so much for all the love. I've been sick in bed, all depressed cause I couldn't speak or sing (I'm a musical theater student) and reading your comments cheer me up ^^.

LINKS TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS AU HERE: PART 1 , PART 2 , PART 3 , PART 4 , PART 5 , PART 6 , PART 7 , PART 8 , PART 9 , PART 10 , PART 11 , PART 12 , PART 13 , PART 14 (You're here) , PART 15

In "Remedy to Cure All Ills"

Arthur pacing around in his chambers after Morgana fell sick and he encountered Edwin.

Arthur: (thinking, trying to convince himself) She's evil, she's going to become evil, it's okay if she dies. She's evil, she's going to become evil, she must die. She's evil, she's going to- (Shouts and throws a lamp againts a wall, furious with himself)¡AAARRGH!(sinks in a couch an covers his face, thinking miserably) Why can't I let her die? I watched her take her last breath before my eyes before, damn it! This shouldn't hurt this much.

Merlin: (enters) Arthur?

Arthur: (sighs and takes his hands out of his face, exhausted) Don't you know how to knock?

Merlin: (with a comforting smile) You know I never do that. (gets close and puts himself infront of Arthur, bending down to be at his height) She's going to be alright, Arthur. She's strong. You'll see.

Arthur: (smiles back, but it doesn't reach his eyes) A man came to the castle this morning. He claims he can cure her. (thinking) Of course he can, he was the one who did this to her.

Merlin: (thinking, wary) Edwin... (says) How could he? Not even Gaius knows what's wrong with her.

Arthur: He says he has a remedy to cure all ills.

Merlin: That doesn't exist. It's impossible.

Arthur: I know that! But what other option do we have? Morgana is dying and we are farther from close to find a cure! We don't lose anything by trying (thinking) And we gain everything by doing it. Once he cures her I can kill him.

Merlin: (puts a comforting hand on his shoulder, hesitantly, but relaxes when Arthur doesn't reject the touch) You really love her a lot, don't you?

Arthur: (with unshed tears) We grow up together. She's like a sister to me. I can't let her die. (Thinking) Even when she doesn't share the same sentiment. I just can't.

Merlin: Wait till tomorrow. If she doesn't get better, you can fetch the man.

Arthur: I'm the prince, Merlin. You can't tell me what to do.

Merlin: But?

Arthur: It's too late the fetch the man now. I'll wait till tomorrow.

Merlin: (smiles) Wise as always, my lord.

Arthur: (caresses the hand on his shoulder, lovinly) Thank you, Merlin.

Merlin: (blushes, nervous) 😳 I... I didn't do anything.

Arthur: You did. (Looks at Merlin's eyes intendly) Thank you. (They stare a each other, faces inches from the other).

Merlin: (snaps out of it and moves away) I-I need to go 😅 (smiles nervously and walks backwards) Eh... Physician apprentice things to do- (collides whit the table and some things fall and he picks them up quickly) Sorry!

Arthur: (laughs softly) Don't stay awake late. Rest.

Merlin: Right... you too. I'll be back to dress you in a minute, so don't sleep until I get back! 😅 (Leaves, thinking) 'Don't sleep until I get back'? Really? 😳😖🤦‍♂️

Arthur: (Sighs, thinking) Sleep. If only I could.

It's rare the times Arthur has a good night of sleep. Nightmares or rather memories of the time Merlin was a tree always assault his mind. Specially the time Merlin was turned before his eyes and he couldn't do anything about it, too weak from his wound, too useless. It's better now that Merlin sleeps in the antechambers. He just has to open the door and watch him sleep there peacefully, human and alive, and his heart is at easy again. Now with Morgana at death's door there's no way he's going to catch any sleep at all.

Arthur: (whispers to himself) I still have time. Tomorrow. Just wait until tomorrow.

Time skip. For everyone's surprise, Morgana wakes in the morning all cured, like she has never been ill in the first place.

Uther: (happy and relieved) Morgana! (Goes to her) This is truly a miracle. I thought... I really thought...

Morgana: (smiles) Oh, you won't get rid of me that easily.

Arthur: We certainly won't. (Just as realived and happy, puts hand on her shoulder, unconsciously) I'm glad you're alright, Gana.

Morgana: (surprised he's showing affection to her again, but touched) Gana... You haven't called me like that since we were kids.

Arthur: (realising he put a hand on her shoulder and puts it away) Right. Sorry, I know you don't like it.

Morgana: (messing with him) Oh, you can call me like that if you want. If you let me call you... Art? Arthie?

Arthur: Don't you dare! (He threatens but then they both laugh and look at each other fondly)

Gaius: I still need to make a few tests to see if she is really out of danger, but for what I can see, she'll be fully recovered in no time, sire.

Uther: Of course. Thank you, Gaius.

Gaius: I don't consider this was exactly my doing (looks at Merlin significantly and Merlin makes himself small in his place). But I'm glad to be of service as always, your majesty. I'll prepare some concoctions to prevent any outbrake just in case. (Makes a bow and it's about to leave, but then turns to Merlin sternly) Merlin?

Merlin: (sighs) Coming (bows quickly and leaves with him)

Uther: (frowns, thinking) Is it my idea or did he vow in the direction of Arthur alone?

Arthur: (who saw all the exchange between mentor and ward) I'll go to inform everyone the good news. Morgana, father (smiles politely makes a bow to both of them and leaves too)

Morgana: (sighs, a little sad, thinking) And cold Arthur is back.

Time skip. In Gaius Tower. Gaius scolding Merlin.

Gaius: You used magic on the king's ward?! What were you thinking?!

Merlin: I was thinking that I didn't want her to die! She's my friend and she's very dear to Arthur-

Gaius: Arthur, Arthur. Is what all this is about isn't it? I know he's the prince and you care for him. But let me remind you, he's still the prince of a kingdom that bans magic. Do you have any idea of what would have happened to you if someone discovered you? if someone have seen you?

Merlin: (explodes) Yes I know! Of course I know! Every time a wake up, every time I breathe, I know I could be killed at any moment. I watch every pyre that is made fearing maybe I could be next. I watch every friendly face, knowing that if they knew, if they only knew, they'll see me like a monster. I have to look at Uther, the man that would have me executed, the murderer of all my kind, and I have to serve him and smile at him trying to no throw up every day. So yes I perfectly fucking know, Gaius!

Gaius: ...

Merlin: (with teary eyes and his voice breaks) But I can't stop doing it, I can't separate myself from it. And I tried, believe me I tried, but I can't. Magic is part of me, is who I am. So I'll use it however I see fit, whenever I can, because no one knows the risks of using magic in a kingdom that forbids my very existence better than I do!

Silence...

Gaius: You're right. I don't understand it. I will never understand it. Magic was never to me what it is to you. I'm sorry I didn't see it before.

Merlin: It's alright. I know you only worry about me.

Gaius: It's more than that. (puts both of his hands on Merlin's shoulders) Merlin, in this short time I've known you, you've become like a son to me. I can't bare to lose you.

Merlin: (smiles) You won't lose me. I'm sorry, I didn't want to upset you.

Gaius: Then for the sake of this old man, stop doing these things behind my back.

Merlin: Only of you promise to help me rather than forbid me of doing things. I still need guidance, I still need you.

Gaius: Alright (he hugs him close and then pulls away). Lets start with how you cured Lady Morgana. I don't recall giving you any healing magic classes.

Merlin: I didn't have to, I just had to call this little one out of her ear. (pulls out a beetle from his pocket) I think it was what was making her sick. Do you know what it is?

Gaius: (alarmed) Don't touch it! (picks a jar and opens it) Put it here. Now! (Merlin does it and Gaius closes the jar) It's an Elanthia Beetle. They can be enchanted to enter the brain, feed on it until they devour the person's very soul. Thank the gods you managed to pull it out.

Merlin: (who already knew all this, but still has to play ignorant) So Morgana was echanted? By who?

Gaius: There are many sorcerers who wish to cause harm to the crown, my boy. But, whoever it is, once they find out their plan failed, they are going to try again.

Time skip. Merlin leaves Gaius tower with Morgana's concoctions and almost jumps out of his skin, when he sees Arthur is there at the door.

Merlin: (scared, but trying to disimulate, closing the door behind him) Arthur! How long have you been there?

Arthur: (who heard the whole conversation, very affected) I... I just arrived.

Merlin: (relieved, but concerned for Arthur's state) Arthur, are you alright? What is it? (with growing panic) Are you ill? Did something happen to Lady Morgana? Arthur, answer me!

Arthur: (hugs Merlin suddenly)

Merlin: (too stuned to say anything) ...

Arthur: (Pulls Merlin closer to him, thinking) 10 years. You suffered my father's reign and then I made you still live in fear for 10 years.

Merlin: (red and still very concerned) Not that I'm not enjoying this gesture, sire. But, please, say something. I'm going to freak out.

Arthur: (pulls away gently) Nothing's wrong, Merlin. It just... seemed like you needed it.

Merlin: (confused) ... right. (Thinking) He must still be sensitive about Morgana. (coughs, trying to hide his red face) I have to... ehm... give Morgana her concoctions so...

Arthur: (playfully) Are you blushing?

Merlin: No.

Arthur: Your ears are red.

Merlin: They are not!😡

Arthur: Yes, they are. It's hard not to notice. They're as big as your face.

Merlin: Not as big as your fat ass!

Arthur: Have you been staring? 😏

Merlin: (even more red) I...😳 stop wasting my time, get out of my way!😡

Arthur: That's no way to talk to your prince, Merlin.

Merlin: Fine (with exaggerated courtesy). Your highness, my lord, sire, would you make me the enormous honor to remove your royal, pompous, supercilious presence out of my way?

Arthur: (laughs, but steps aside)

Merlin: Thank you, my lord. I'll be forever in debt with you. (Bows in mockery and leaves)

Arthur: (thinking, as he watches him leave) You chose to save Morgana with your magic this time. You shouldn't have risk it. But thank you. You won't have to suffer for so long this time. I'll create I world where you feel safe, you won't have to hide and be scared anymore. I promise.

[cosmica-galaxy]

you describing the dragons (in dragon form) being the size of small dogs to humans really put into perspective just how small the cookies are for me…

Well, cookies are only about the size of a human hand, if that.

Some cookies may be a little larger and others a little smaller. So I went off on what was shown in the cutscenes, especially during the opening cutscene for Kingdom. I also tried to put in perspective a scale of how Dragons compare to cookies. Though, there are discrepancies in the heights of Pitaya.

In this cutscene, Pitaya is shown to tower over the cookies, who are human hand in size, so this would probably be a better look at how big Pitaya is when concerning in-universe human sizes. If a cookie is a human hand in size, about an average of 7.3 (7.8 for men and 6.8 for women), that would confirm that the cookies are about 8.75 inches in height. With the image above being slightly exaggerated for dramatic purposes and the dragon not being on the same plane as the cookies, we can only roughly guess on how big Pitaya is. Seeing as princess cookie is alllmost around the height of Pitaya's crest, we can roughly estimate that to make it fully to the chest of Pitaya, we would need around two full princess cookies. That is 17.5 inches we would need to reach the chest of the dragon. I also take into account that princess cookie is the shortest cookie in the image, so she would need the full height of a cookie (8.75) to reach the crest. Let's multiply this by a rough estimate to reach the head. Let's increase this amount 5x. If it takes 2 PC to reach the crest, it will take 2 more to reach the lower half of the head and 1 more to reach the top of the horns. 8.75 x 5 = 43.75 inches. We are going for the body purely, so the wing height will not be counted. If we put 43.75 inches into a height chart...

We get this visual, which looks pretty accurate to the image of Pitaya, as his foot is about as big as PC is. However, there is one image that makes this theory a little altered.

This image shows Hollyberry and a much smaller sized Pitaya dueling.

This could be simply because Hollyberry is a larger cookie or that this was done during a point in time when both cookies in the image were younger, and therefore smaller. But, I'm done yapping. TLDR; humans are BIG AS FUCK. The end. :)

[elfgirlcraftworks]

The Anniversary Quilt

Part 1: planning

My parents' 50th anniversary is in mid March and I promised them a quilt. Well, I promised myom. My dad just shrugged and went along with her.

The design

I gave them the choice of double wedding ring (circles on the left) or some sort of lone star (right).

I made these a couple years ago as proofs of concept.

Anyway, she chose lone star. That's actually the easier of the two since it's all straight lines.

Now, there's a ton of variations. I eventually narrowed it down to this one...ish. I bought the pattern on Etsy just to see what math and measurements they used.

This one finishes to 90x90. I need 108 but I'd love 120. They use 5 rows of 2 inch diamonds and 10 inch squares. I wanted to increase that to 3 rows of 4 inch diamonds and 12 inch squares. And before I use up the final fabric I actually made a mockup (shocking for me and quilting)

Good thing I did! Apparently the 2 inches was the side measurement not the height so my diamond turned out to be 18 inches instead of 12.

Okay let's see what we did wrong...

I went back to the pattern and it turns out the 2 inches was on the edge, not the height of the diamond, the height's more like 1 1/4.

Okay. Let's measure and recalculate.

Oh wait, this actually works for the size I need! Woohoo!

Although...it's cutting it close with the fabric I have.

Get it? Cutting it close? ...fabric? Oh that was funny

Anywho

Now to decide on how to arrange the fabrics

The bottom one is the leading contender at the moment. Of course, adding additional prints is always an option (and an attractive one).

Next time: cutting and strip assembly.

[robesofpierre]

Just finished sewing this late 1780s/early 1790s frock coat for my upcoming french revolution film!!

I’ll add a rough tutorial below in case anyone wants to see how I made it for cheap using a coat I thrifted :)

1. What I started with

Here’s the before picture of the coat without any modifications. It was a bit big on me (I’m quite petite) and rather boxy. It was also giving really intense grandma vibes and not in a good way

2. Questionable Tailoring

The first thing I did was pull an inch or two of fabric in from each side of the coat toward the center seam in back. This was simply done so the coat would fit my small shoulders better and the collar would sit higher on my neck.

Why am I doing it this way, you ask? Easy. I am too lazy to rip open the seams and tailor it properly. I just learned how to sew recently exclusively by trial and error so everything I do here is a series of atrocious shortcuts that would make any seasoned sewist cringe. Take my actions with a very large grain of salt.

3. Actually I lied I did rip some seams

I increased the height of the slit/vent in the back to sit around the tailbone, and I added some pleats to mimic the additional fabric that late 18th century & early 19th century coats tended to have around the back vent. I chose not to sew these pleats down, I just pressed them later.

4. Changing the shape

Then, to get the curved shape, I removed the buttons and pinned the fabric inwards until it looked right. I ran a small stitch along the edge to secure it in place.

(Warning: because of the curve of the fabric, the coat now rumples a bit around the hem… maybe think about this and take this into account if you plan to follow this as a tutorial)

5. Cutting & Hemming

I cut away the excess fabric (this helped reduce some of the rumple— plus, I needed the extra fabric for buttons later) and pressed the seams to flatten them. I also stitched up and pressed the sleeves to have cuffs, and secured the seam down the middle of the collar to flatten it.

6. Button time

Here is where things go from “shitty sewing” to “5 minute crafts DIY.” If you are a normal person (and you want actual functional buttons), ignore this section and just buy a kit to make fabric covered buttons and sew them on.

However, this is not what I did. Patience is a virtue I do not possess, and thus, I could not stand waiting for a button kit to arrive from Amazon. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and make my own fabric covered buttons from the materials I already had. To make matters worse, I also do not own any buttons. After much pondering, I decided to create the button bases from blobs of hot glue.

I made them in two sizes: roughly 3cm and 2.5 cm in diameter (larger: just over 1 inch wide, smaller: size of a US quarter). I cut the excess fabric from earlier into a square with enough room to gather its edges and cinch it around the hot glue blob, which would then be sewn on. I used 9 big buttons down the front of the jacket, each 2.5 inches apart. Two smaller buttons were added to each sleeve cuff.

7. Button “holes”

Because this is a costume rather than a functional daily garment, I could not be bothered to add real button holes. (I also don’t own any button hole presser foot for my sewing machine, so I really didn’t have a choice in this matter.) To lazily fake this effect I just did two layers of zigzag stitching on top of each other. Each "button hole" was approximately 1.5 inches long, which I marked on the fabric in a water-soluble ink marker.

8. “Pockets”

These were quite simple to add-- I just cut rectangles from my remaining scraps of fabric and lining and stitched them onto the side/back of the coat. Despite my intense loathing for fake pockets, I won't make use of real pockets on set to avoid adding unnecessary bulk to the costumes. Also, you guessed it, I didn’t feel like taking the time to add real pockets. So these flaps will have to do for now.

And that's about it! I'll reblog this post with more detailed shots of the coat itself.

If you're interested in how this compares to actual historical garments, here are the coats I used as reference:

Unknown Coat, V&A Museum, Boilly's Portrait of Robespierre, the first coat pictured in this LACMA exibition

Also, for those wondering exactly how budget-friendly this was, it cost just over $7 (USD) in total, since the only thing I actually bought was the coat itself. It's 100% silk too!

[eilorow]

Family Bond - Part 1

Tyler was a 19 year-old teenager who lived alone with his dad in their small home. His mother had passed away in an accident a few years ago, so he and his father stuck close together. They would usually play board games or look at science magazines, spending entire weekend afternoons with quality family time.

However, Tyler was not a happy boy. Standing at 5’7, and very skinny, he attracted the attention of his school’s football team, who enjoyed making his life a living nightmare. As a puny sophomore, there is nothing much he could do to prevent them. What added insult to the injury is the fact that, deep down, Tyler had always wished he could be one of them. He was longing for popularity and friendship, two things he was never able to obtain.

One day, Tyler was walking home after a rough session of bullying. The football team had pushed him inside his locker and locked him in, meaning he had to bang on the door until the janitor went and fetched a metal cutter to set him free from the lock. He was feeling even more down than usual, so when he passed by the local sports supplies store, he couldn’t help but feel sour. He kept thinking “why couldn’t that be me?” As he was about to go past it, he got an idea. He went inside and bought a football; he had never tried before, so how else would he know if he had some kind of potential? Feeling a little ashamed of his spontaneous purchase, he continued walking towards his home.

“Dad, I’m home!” Tyler yelled, while stepping through the front door. No answer; his dad must be out getting errands done. He slumped his way to his room and dumped his bag and football on the floor. He then sat on his bed and held his head in his hands. Still thinking about his day at school, he pouted at the ball next to him; it was a stupid idea to even buy it in the first place, but he might as well do something with it. He decided to take it outside and try it out; he put on a red t-shirt, black sweatpants and his white and red running shoes.

As he was walking towards the back door, his attention was suddenly driven towards the garage. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly why, but he had a sudden urge to go there instead. In the back of the room, he saw his dad’s old workout furniture. There was a stationary bike and a bench with some free weights. Tyler had never wanted to use the weights, but felt like trying something new.

The teenager moved over to the bench, apprehensively, and dropped his football next to it. He then grabbed a couple of weights, got on his back, and started lifting. That was when he started growing. As he was bringing his arms up and down, they were getting slightly bigger, his biceps inflating until he had an easier time keeping the weights up, and his hands enlarging until he could comfortably wrap them around the dumbbells. His chest and pecs puffed up slightly as his shoulders started broadening, filling his once loose t-shirt until it fit him snugly. His back also broadened and stretched, making him grow from 5’7 to 5’9. Then, his legs bulked up slightly, tightening his sweatpants who lightened to a dark grey color.

After dropping the weights next to him, Tyler got up from the bench, not noticing his tighter clothes or increased height. As he headed towards the stationary bike, he grabbed his football from the floor. Once on the bike, he cranked the knob to make it a bit harder for himself. When he started pedaling, he went much faster than he normally would’ve. Then, as his legs were gaining speed, they started growing as well. His thighs and calves swelled bigger and bigger, until his sweatpants were tight enough to ride above his ankles, as they turned a medium shade of grey. His ass started plumping up, slightly raising his vantage point. His feet were twisting in his shoes, lengthening until they took up the whole space, hurting slightly from being constricted. His legs also stretched until he grew two extra inches, bringing him up to 5’11. Then, as if an old habit was coming back, he started throwing the ball up and catching it, while pedaling on the bike.

After stopping the bike and stepping off, the now fit young man went towards the bench again, still not noticing his changes, in spite of the fact he was slightly unbalanced due to his 4 new inches of height. However, after dropping his football next to it, he decided to do some push-ups instead. He walked a few steps over and positioned himself on the hard ground. He did one, two, three in a row, not even stopping to catch his breath in between each one, going up and down easier than ever before in his life. Suddenly, after a few more push-ups, he got a searing pain in his stomach, as if all his abs had cramped at once. He immediately dropped on the ground, writhing in pain all over, and started growing again. He felt as if he was being stretched from all over, groaning as all his muscles grew at the same time.

As the pain started to fade, Tyler felt his cock getting erect, pointing up its fully hard 4 inches. He propped his arms forwards, trying to stabilize himself into getting back up, but was distracted by the feeling of his neck thickening. He pushed out a deeper groan as his face started changing slowly, his nose and chin pushing forwards as his jaw hardened. His hair also lightened from dark brown to a lighter brown as his meager body hair receded back into his skin. He tried to get up again, only to watch his hands grow, his fingers stretching and thickening against the ground, his palms and knuckles broadening. The growth moved up to his forearms, biceps and shoulders, bulking and bulging until both sleeves ripped off of his t-shirt, leaving him in some kind of tank top exposing his muscly arms.

The exhausted and groaning Tyler finally managed to prop himself into a sitting position, only to feel a sharp pain mixed with pleasure coming from his crotch area. He looked down in bewilderment to see his dick poking out further, as it grew from 4 to 5 inches. He then felt a heaving at his chest as his shirt ripped to bloating pecs, broadening shoulders and an expanding torso. He looked down to see his abs chiseling, forming a bulky 6-pack above a muscly pelvis. He then put his buffed arms forwards again, using them to prop his legs up into a kind of push-up position, trying to stand up again. He was interrupted by the feeling of his legs growing again, looking between his arms to watch his thighs and calves bulking up into meaty legs while his ass was puffing out again, causing his pants to ride up to just under his knees, as they turned an even lighter shade of grey. He suddenly let out a moan, as he watched his dick start to grow again in girth and in length, reaching 6 inches, the pleasure causing him to buckle and fall on his knees. Feeling a sharp pain at his feet, he looked back to see them push out from the front of his shoes, until the soles eventually gave out. The destroyed shoes falling on the ground, he could see his white socks tightly stretched across his huge feet. He then felt another wave of pleasure, arching his back and moaning deeply as his dick grew girthier and longer, reaching 7 inches.

Out of breath, and finally feeling the transformation subside, he propped a leg up and stood up. He felt unsteady at first, thrown off due to him reaching 6’1 during his last growth spurt. Pre was leaking from his dick as he made his way back to the bench, wobbling slightly, only to fall forwards onto it, grabbing both sides to steady himself. As he was wincing in apprehension of the coming growth, a rich tan started spreading on his skin as his face changed again, his brows furrowing, forehead pushing forwards with his widening nose and hardening chin, his cheeks and jaw muscling up, his lips plumping up as his now blonde hair receded into his head, giving him a short buzz cut. As his neck started thickening, he pushed out a deepening groan as he started contorting. His hands grew and strengthened his grip on the bench, his arms bulked up, his torso stretched up and expanded, his back pumped up, his pecs and ass blew up, his thighs and calves bulged and stretched out, and his elongating feet arched upwards to support his new height. His pants rode up to his knees, became white and turned into some kind of stretchy material. Ultimately, he cried out a deep moan as his dick girthed up and stretched to an impressive 8 inches, making him cum on the spot.

Tyler remained there for a few seconds, his head down, a dumb, sweaty, panting, 6’3 buffed up jock in white stretchy pants that showed his muscly ass and thighs. After catching his breath for a bit and letting his dick soften up, the athlete lifted his head up, looking down below the bench, not noticing the new white and red wristbands he was wearing, and saw his football and a cap he recognized as his. He picked up the first and put the second on backwards, then leaned on the bench to cool down further. When he was done fully catching his breath, he got up and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

-----

Tyler is now a senior in college. At 21 years old, 6’3 and 240 pounds, the star player of the football team feared no intimidation or bullying. As for friends, he was the one choosing who to decline, as he was one of the most popular guys in school.

[wnbawag]

Don't Let Your Intrusive Thoughts Win Part 3

Pairing: Breanna Stewart x OC!Griffin

Summary: Griffin, the 9th 2024 WNBA draft pick, was an unusual case, coming out of the University of Kentucky. You see, Griffin was short. Not just WNBA short, like short short. Like Griffin was barely 5’2. The Liberty, the team she was drafted to, loved to call her the shortest player of all time, but Griffin loved to 1. Remind them that Shannon Bobbitt was also 5’2 and 2. That she was definitely taller than Shannon. So she was the second shortest WNBA player of all time. The Liberty would roll their eyes at her, basically as one. 

Warnings: Swearing

Word Count: 1.5k

Note: Not proofread, lemme know if y'all like the direction this is going in!

My Masterlist

Series Masterlist

Griffin knew that it was probably going to be a stupid idea when Sabrina came up with a mischievous smile and a proposition.

That was how Griffin found herself standing on a treadmill, Leonie on one beside her, both sporting nervous grins.

“Okay rookies, the rules are simple. Griffin beat all of us on the last speed drill, including you Leonie so spot laughing, so we’re going to go head to head on a treadmill to see if Griff’s little legs can keep up with our long ones,” Griffin scoffed at the ���little legs’ comment, but gave Sabrina a nod that she was ready. 

Sabrina, JJ, Sloot, and Nyara were all around the treadmills, excited to see which rookie would be faster.

Betnijah stood a little ways away, leaning on a nearby wall with her eyebrows raised. She didn’t have anything against seeing which rookie was faster, she just could see this getting out of hand quickly.

Sabrina turned both treadmills on and started both rookies at an easy run. Griffin already was taking almost two strides for every one of Leonie’s, the 14 inch height difference making itself apparent even at a slower pace. 

Sabrina slowly began to increase the pace, neither rookie seemed to be struggling with it. Griffin hadn’t even broken a sweat as they sped into a sprint.

Griffin knew she was at a disadvantage back in high school because of how short her legs were, this caused her to throw herself into track and cross country. She had been determined to match the other basketball players in speed and outmatch them in stamina.

This was playing in her favor as Sabrina had turned the treadmills so fast that she was sprinting almost as fast as she could. Griffin was honestly enjoying the little competition when Leonie hit the ‘stop’ button on her treadmill.

“Griff wins that round, I can’t go any faster,” The 6 '4 rookie exclaimed, rubbing her calf.

“My turn then!” Sabrina took Leonie’s place, matching the speed of Griffin’s treadmill.

This is when, as Betnijah had predicted, things got out of hand.

Sabrina and Griffin were running so fast they were past a sprint, both so competitive that they weren’t about to give in while the other was still running. 

Suddenly, Griffin felt her toe catch on the treadmill and just about saw her life flash before her eyes.

She tried to reach her hands out, anything to stop from face planting on the treadmill as she say the moving tread coming to meet her-

Strong hands caught her around the waist and lifted.

Griffin found herself in- aw fuck.

Breanna had, at some point, come in and saw their stupid little contest.

Even worse, she saw Griffin trip.

This is how Griffin found herself being held, bridal style, in Breanna’s arms, looking up at a very unimpressed veteran.

“Seriously, Sab?”

“I just wanted to see how fast she was!”

“You could’ve just raced!”

“Oh”

—

Being from Kentucky, New York was a … massive change in lifestyle. Griffin had lived in Lexington just about her entire life and hadn’t imagined ever leaving until she was drafted. Moving from basically just a small town to the Big Apple? Griffin was still wrapping her head around how different it all was.

One thing was for certain:

The subway terrified her.

Her first time, she got on the wrong train, somehow ended up in Manhattan, got her backpack literally pulled off her shoulders and stolen, and was followed by a creepy man until she gave up and called the most expensive Uber of her life. 

So … Griffin didn’t take the subway anymore.

No one had noticed yet, Griffin was determined to keep it that way because she was sure the other girls would make fun of her.

She had been lucky to find an apartment nearby, well, as nearby as you can be in New York. 

But it only took her about 30 minutes to walk from her apartment to Barclays. Griffin was content with that, although the knowledge that it would only be around a 5-10 minute subway ride did haunt her sometimes.

Anyways, practice ran late. Which was fine, Griffin could handle herself. She just preferred walking home in daylight, not in the dark. Her area wasn’t necessarily dangerous, she was just aware that she probably stuck out like a sore thumb, a walking “I’m from a small town” sign. 

Aka the perfect target to get her backpack stolen … again.

So Griffin was already not hyped about walking home in the dark, then she stepped outside Barclays and was greeted with the biggest storm she had ever seen hit New York. 

The street in front of her was already flooding slightly and she just knew she would be soaked by the time she got home.

This was going to suck.

“Enjoying the rain, rook?” Griffin jumped as Stewie materialized beside her.

“You have GOT to stop doing that! You’re so damn loud, how do you keep sneaking up on me?” Stewie barked out a laugh, thoroughly enjoying how annoyed Griffin was.

“You weren’t paying attention, not my fault rookie,” Stewie looked down the street to the subway entrance.

“You about to leave? We live near each other don’t we? Wanna make a run for the subway?” Griffin froze.

‘Shit, I’m caught’

“Uh, you go ahead Breanna! I’m actually, uh, I gotta, you know, do some stuff?” Griffin choked out, staring directly in front of her, hoping that didn’t sound weird.

…

It sounded weird.

Stewie clocked it, and sent Griffin a confused look.

“You never call me Breanna,” 

‘Well, shit’

“Yeah I do!”

“Rookie…”

“Fine I don’t”

Breanna leaned against the Barclays doors, clocking how uncomfortable Griffin seemed.

“Talk, what’s up rook?” Griffin let out a dramatic groan and turned to lean her forehead against Barclays wall, something that endlessly amused Stewie.

“So, the first time I took the subway I got my backpack stolen, couldn’t figure out the trains, and got followed. So I just, haven’t taken it since,”

Stewie’s eyebrows shot to her hairline.

“You-you got followed and didn’t tell me?”

“Why in the world would I tell you?”

‘Fair point’

“Okay fine, that’s besides the point. Do you have a subway card? You do? Okay then come on, you’re taking it with me. There is no way I’m letting you walk in the rain the entire way home.” Stewie noticed that Griffin was just in her practice shirt and shorts, no rain jacket to be seen.

‘Rookies … never prepared’

“Here, put this on,” Stewie shrugged off her own rain jacket. Before Griffin could protest, she grabbed the back strap of her backpack and lifted it off the shorter girl’s back. She replaced it with her rain jacket and helped Griffin get her arms through. As she put the backpack back on Griffin’s shoulders, she couldn’t help but smirk a little bit.

Why?

Cause Griffin, in all her fiery, sassy, and frankly sometimes scary self, looked like a little kid in Stewie’s rain jacket that just about fell to the smaller girl’s knees.

Not so scary now.

—

Stewie could tell Griffin was nervous.

She had been stiff, back straight as a board as they ran down the steps to the subway. She was constantly reaching back to feel her backpack and looked two minutes away from just taking it off and holding it.

Stewie personally wasn’t a fan of backpacks and kept anything she couldn’t fit in her pockets in her locker at Barclays.

But the girl was going to drive her nuts if she didn’t calm down.

Not acknowledging it, Stewie reached down and lifted the bag off Griffin’s shoulders, swinging it onto her own.

“Stew-”

“Griffin I am 6 ‘4 and have a resting bitch face, no one’s going to steal it from me. You on the other hand, have a ‘I’m scared of everyone here’ face,” Griffin mumbled her thanks and turned her attention back to the train tracks, waiting for the right train. 

Stewie was starting to notice why Griffin felt so uncomfortable, every man that walked near them seemed to leer at the girl. And several were starting to stand too close for Stewie’s comfort.

One walked right up to them and tried to strike up a conversation with Griffin, who went from nervous to terrified as she was trying to be polite to the man.

The correct train pulled up and Stewie decided she was not dealing with the weird man following them. She slung an arm around Griffin’s shoulders and wordlessly led her away from the man and onto the train. 

Luckily, the man made no move to follow them and Stewie relaxed, taking her arm off of Griffin and standing by one of the poles. Griffin, on the other hand, now felt extremely exposed and tried her best to scoot next to Stewie without making it … too obvious.

It was quite obvious.

As the subway began to move, Stewie reached one hand up to hold the pole. She reached the other out to grab Griffin’s shoulder and move her between Stewie’s body and the pole, effectively sandwiching her.

Griffin decided to not think about how safe she felt, being that close to Stewie, and settled for grabbing the pole as well.

“Thank you, Stewie,” She said in a quiet voice, looking up at the woman above her.

Stewie sent her a soft smile, one Griffin hadn’t ever seen her use before.

“Don’t mention it, rook,”

[astr0exe]

K9 [COD MEN (POLY??) X M!READER] CH1

Ch.1 , Ch.2 , Ch.3

CAS’ MASTERLIST !!

reader is transmac and autistic cause i said so :)

AO3 VERSION : K9

SUMMARY: The boys meet someone new. He seems cool but his dog seems to enjoy ripping people apart.// The boys meet the K9 trainer

(first time transferring my AO3 work to tumblr so)

(my writing is also quite shit but hey ho)

( i project so so bad with this character)

(pls give me feed back)

CHAPTER 1

Soap's POV :

The Captain dragged us into a meeting and we have no idea why. I was busy watching Princess And The Frog after working out for ages, I just wanted to relax after so many back-to-back missions.

"Thank you all for showing up I do appreciate it, I know we are all probably tired, however I thought this was important to discuss before you saw them around the base." Huh saw who around base? Is someone new joining? I glanced around the room and caught Gaz's confused eyes.

"See who sir?" I asked cautiously, "___ they are the K9 trainer and his callsign is K9 because of this. He has a fully-grown perfectly trained cane corso who is with ___ at all times. If any of you are scared of big dogs then I am sorry because Bucky is huge. There will be a meeting introducing you all do not worry but I thought I should give you a heads up. Dismissed." Answered Price.

Whilst walking next to Ghost in the hallway I couldn't help thinking about what Price said. I don't even know what a cane corso looks like. Oh well, when I get to my room I'll find out cause Google is my friend. "Hey, Lt. Do you know what a cane corso looks like?" I questioned, "I think I have an idea, pretty sure they grow up to 70 cm (27.5 inches) ish and weigh up to 50 kgs (110 pounds) They are massive dogs." Ghost murmured.

I could feel my eyes bulging out of my sockets at the thought of a dog that big.As I finally got to my room, I instantly looked up what a cane corso looked like and I think I shit myself. I have to meet one of those tomorrow.

Time skip : meeting K9 and Bucky

We all sat in the common room for our introductions. Me and Gaz were playing uno whilst Ghost was just watching us like a babysitter would with two children whilst we were waiting for Price and ___. Slowly we heard footsteps, they sounded heavy like platform boots, you could hear heavy breathing coming from Bucky and mumbling muffled talking from K9 and Price. The footsteps gradually increased in volume until Price walked in along with an awkward-looking guy. He wore large combat boots which had to add at least 3 inches to his height, and a large leather jacket with lots of patches on ranging from band patches to quotes. Oh and a trans flag. Nice. His belt was studded like he bought it in the 2000s with added chains which actually looked heavy, he had black eyeliner on and a face mask. If he wasn't like 5"7 with his boots on I'd say he was terrifying.

After I finally stopped staring at this Greek god of an emo boy and got my shit together I noticed his dog, Bucky, who was eyeing everyone wearily as if at any point we would attack him or ___. With how intimidating they both look I think they suit each other.

"Um hi I'm ___ or K9 and I'll be training dogs you take on missions and sometimes taking the dogs on the missions myself. Nice to meet you all. As you all know, this is Bucky, he won't hurt you." He giggled towards the end and oh my god it's like I heard heaven gates open and when I gazed around the room I knew everyone felt the same with all the wide eyes and stuttering introductions.

"Well these are my boys, Lt. Ghost Riley , Sergeant Soap Mactavish and Sergeant Gaz Garrick. Boys this is Sergeant K9 he will be working with you as he described he will also be living on base and training with you lads so I expect them to come back to me feeling welcomed into the Taskforce is that clear?" Demanded Price. "Yes Sir." We all responded in unison.

As I observe K9 and Bucky I cant help but smile at how at ease he seems with his dog. I think he is gonna fit in perfectly.

[pocket-lad]

CH 5- A Small Nudge (Gravity Falls g/t)

1 ● 2 ● 3 ● 4 ● 5

Evie watched from Ford’s desk as he cleaned around the basement. He didn’t know she was there yet, but it wouldn’t even matter if he did, given the argument they had not too long ago.

“You can’t just ignore me,” she said finally, and the way he froze for less than a second was the only indication he heard her. He continued about his business.

Evie sighed dramatically, then plopped down to a seat. He could just ignore her, but he couldn’t make her go away. She’d make him talk eventually…somehow.

***

Ford had lectured Stan up and down and backwards and forwards at this point, and everyone was sick of hearing it, especially Evie.

She piped up from her spot on the table. “If you’re mad at Stan, then you should be mad at me, too. I helped him build the portal.”

“You what ?”

Evie gulped. This new Ford was intense. Before she could defend herself, he continued. “I expect this kind of reckless behavior from Stanley, but you of all people should know better. You should know how dangerous that was!”

“I take offense to that,” Stan interjected.

“How should I know when you don’t tell me anything? Maybe if you didn’t push me away, I would have ‘known better’,” she said, throwing his own words back in his face. Her voice increased in volume as she spoke, and by the end of her sentence she was yelling.

“Well, it’s not as though I planned on being pushed through a portal.”

“Uh oh-” Stan said.

“What do you mean, 'pushed'?” Evie shouted, unable to stop the anger from steamrolling into her question, but she was more confused than anything.

Ford turned on Stan. “All this time, and you didn’t tell her that you pushed me through?”

“I was getting around to it-” A sharp glare from Ford cut him off. He shifted the glare to Evie, then stormed off.

Evie threw her arms in the air, exasperated. “Wait!” But there was nothing she could do that would stop a giant.

“Eh, he’ll cool off eventually…,” Stan said, waving Ford off. “...maybe…You know, now that I think about it…maybe not.”

Evie didn’t want to hear it. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Look, you were already so scared of me, I wasn’t gonna make it worse by-” As he spoke, he reached in to nudge her with a knuckle, his go-to move when things got too heavy.

“Don’t,” she recoiled.

"Come on!" Stan teased, and he nudged her anyway. Evie tried to push his finger away, and even though she knew it was in vain, she was still frustrated that she couldn't. She was frustrated that she just had to let it happen. She always had to roll with the punches, because at only a couple inches in height, what other choice was there?

Refusing to dignify that with a response, she didn't look back as she took off to go find Ford.

***

Ford spun in a circle, looking for that stack of papers he set down somewhere. He just finished emptying the filing cabinet of Stan’s various, unorganized documents. He located the papers on his desk, but unfortunately, someone was sitting on them.

He gave Evie a look that said, ‘move’, but she stayed put, crossing her arms and staring right back. If he wasn’t gonna ask, then he wasn’t gonna get a response.

Ford sighed, then grabbed the papers anyway. Evie tumbled backwards as he pulled them out from under her, head over heels, and landed sprawled out on the cold metal of the desk. “Hey!”

Ford rubbed his forehead, and in an obligatory tone, asked, “Are you alright?”

A number of sarcastic remarks nearly made it to Evie’s mouth, but she had his attention now. She didn’t want to lose it and push him away further. “Yeah…Are you?”

Ford hesitated for a long moment. Evie watched him debate with himself, and she honestly had no clue if he was going to answer. He was very different now, hardened from his time fighting his way through the multiverse. But, she supposed she was different too. A lot can change over thirty years. That didn’t mean she liked it.

“Yes,” he finally said.

Evie exhaled sharply. “Alright. You don’t have to forgive me, but can you at least talk to me?”

He turned to her, his eyebrows raised impatiently.

“Okay, fine. Answer me this, and I’ll leave you alone……If Stan or I went through the portal, would you have reopened it?”

“Of course not.”

Ouch.

Evie honestly did not expect that answer, and moreso, she didn’t expect it to come so quickly. But she also didn’t believe him. He experienced horrible atrocities in that portal, which shaped how he was looking at the whole situation. Deep down, Evie believed he would work just as hard, if not harder, for her or Stan. Especially Stan. Maybe it would take him a while to come around to it, but he had a heart buried somewhere in there. “Hmm.”

“No, I - that’s not a fair question. I don’t know. I don’t know what I would have done, but I know what happened. And it was reckless-”

“-reckless to open it, I know. But did you ever consider that we did it because we care about you? That we dedicated thirty years of our lives to getting you back because you mean something to us?”

Ford was speechless.

“Come here,” Evie said.

Ford awkwardly shuffled over and rested his hand a couple inches away from her. Refusing to feel intimidated, Evie jogged to him and rested her own hand on his index finger. It was covered in dozens of miniscule cuts and scars. There was no telling how old they were.

“You need help with anything?” she offered. He almost tugged his hand away. She could feel the impulsive twitch just underneath the skin, but he didn’t follow through. She bit her lip, awaiting his answer.

“No, no help is necessary.” Damn. She really thought she had him. “But,” he continued, “I’d enjoy some company.”

Evie couldn’t help the smile that lit up her face. She pushed on his finger, knowing full well she couldn’t budge it, but he played along, flipping his hand over for her. With only a brief hesitation, she climbed into his palm. It was rougher than before, it had plenty more wrinkles, but all six fingers were accounted for.

Ford immediately whisked her away, dumping her haphazardly on the top of the filing cabinet. Disoriented and a little nauseous, Evie chuckled. This was the Ford she knew. Quick and a little thoughtless, but eager to show her whatever he was working on.

She swung her legs over the edge and peered way down into the filing cabinet he was organizing. It was probably very methodical to him, but she sure couldn’t figure out the method. After a while, she fell into a sort of trance.

As the night wore on, they actually talked. Evie did her best to fill him in on the last thirty years, but she admitted he should probably ask Stan, Dipper, Mabel, or literally anyone else, since she spent every waking moment inside the shack. He explained that he appreciated her unique view on current events, not in spite of her limited information, but because of it. Something told her he thought it was amusing, but whatever kept him talking.

Ford didn’t say much about what happened over the years, but what little Evie was able to extract out of him sounded…weird. Some dimensions sounded downright terrifying, others physically impossible. Even the idea of dimension hopping still didn’t seem feasible, despite having worked on a literal portal for most of her life.

They steered clear of the ‘Stan’ topic, but it appeared as though they both had some forgiveness to dish out. Perhaps even some apologies.

And no matter how ‘reckless’ it was, or how much it ‘shouldn't have happened’, Ford had to admit he appreciated the company opening the portal provided. He found comfort in having his old friend back, and he was surprised she wanted anything to do with him based on how they parted ways. With the memory of that night now at the forefront of both their minds, the comfortable silence soon shifted to an anxious one.

It didn’t escape Evie’s notice that, for the first time since Ford returned, she was truly alone with him. No Stan. No kids. Nobody but her and Ford. Without a doubt, she trusted him. She did not trust this ‘monster’ that supposedly lived in his head. It had yet to make a reappearance, but Evie feared it was only a matter of time.

“Before you left…,” she started, but found she didn’t have an end to the sentence.

Ford picked up on her meaning. He suddenly went quiet and turned his attention toward something out of Evie’s eyeline, his back to her.

“Is it still here?” she whispered. She almost didn’t want to ask, afraid she might speak the being back into existence. Afraid Ford’s mind would snap again. She took note of her surroundings. The walls were very far away. He was very tall. The overwhelming, instinctual urge to hide made her feel itchy.

It was a long moment of contemplation. Ford did not want to talk about this, and even though he was unable to remember most of the night, brief images flashed through his mind. None of them were good. He cleared his throat, and he noticed the way Evie startled. “No, he’s not here.” The word ‘yet’ was on the tip of his tongue, but in a rare moment of clarity, he understood that that would be unhelpful. Whether Bill would return was scarily up in the air, but Evie did not need to know that at present.

He watched her body visibly relax. Ford, on the other hand, was still visibly tense, on edge at the notion that she’d pry further. She didn’t.

However, there was one thing he did need to know. “I’m afraid I don’t remember much. Did I hurt you?” The question came out of his mouth the same way everything did. Unemotional. Detached. A question asked purely in pursuit of knowledge. But he wasn’t so sure that was why he asked, actually.

“No, no, you…,” Evie swallowed. “... he ,” she corrected, looking to Ford to make sure she used the correct pronoun. He. Not it. The monster was a person, and it was not Ford. The monster was a person, and it was not Ford. The monster was a person, and it was not Ford . “He tried to. I didn’t let him, of course.” She smirked.

“In any case, whatever I did - it was not of my own will. This being is capable of unimaginable things, has unimaginable power. He had possession of my body when-”

“I know. I mean, I don’t know. But I knew it wasn’t you because you would never hurt me,” Evie shrugged. She came to terms with what happened a long time ago. With confirmation that the threat was gone, that the monster was gone, she could hardly be bothered by it now.

Ford felt his heart thaw for the first time in a long time. After all these years, after all that happened, after he gave her the cold shoulder for giving him his life back, Evie still trusted him. After his own two hands clawed through the walls to get at her, this miraculously small being trusted him . Without thinking much about it, he poked her lightly in the side. She looked up at him in surprise, and he gave her a small smile. He hoped she understood what it meant.

She did. A poke from a giant was always jarring, no matter how many times it happened. It was always stronger than they thought too, rocking her off balance. But when she saw his smile, all the confusion melted away. He was back. They were back.

[mythosidhesdollhouse]

Rainbow High Littles: Indigo Bailey, Pt. 1

All right y'all, I said we'd do this so let's go. I was originally going to make this all one entry, but I decided to break off the hair discussion as a separate post, since this one was already way too long before I even got to that point XD Will link Pt. 2 once it's published.

Krystal Jr.: What the heck are we doing all the way over here? Krystal Sr.: We need to collect a delivery to take back to Rainbow Heights--a sister! KJ: I thought I was your sister? KS: No, you're a younger version of me from an alternate point in our shared timeline. We just say you're my sister so it's less confusing for everyone else. KJ: If I'm you from the past and we're both in the same place, shouldn't that create some sort of temporal paradox where you cease to exist? KS: The normal laws of physics don't apply in the doll universe, dear. It's best not to think on it too much. KJ: Okaaaaaaaaaay. But this one is NOT us, right? KS: …Probably not? Indigo: ((Maybe stop talking and let me out, please?))

Sooooooooo yeah, Indigo. Where to begin? For starters, I think the vitriol that's being dumped on these poor Littles is completely out of proportion to what they actually are--tiny dolls meant for small hands to play with. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I can see how they would be less appealing to adult collectors used to a more sophisticated product from this brand, but I personally will do my best to judge her by her own merits.

First impressions: I think she's cute! I pulled a few of her braids back with a rubber band to make her face more visible, but otherwise straight out of the box she's good to go.

Krystal Jr.: Are we a family? Are we clones? Honestly folks, it's anyone's guess. Indigo: Is she always this snarky? Krystal Sr.: Don't worry sweetie, it's just her being a tween, we grow out of it eventually. I: We? KS: It's complicated.

More detailed discussion of clothes & accessories under the cut--

Let's talk about the dress and that reviled plastic bodice. Honestly? I don't mind it! I can't speak for the rest of the line, but in Indigo's case at least it's clear there was some effort put into her overall design. I was especially delighted by the skirt portion of her dress, which is made of a lovely little textured woven fabric featuring a butterfly design, with a coordinating tulle ruffle trim. There's even an underskirt made from a plasticy fine-weave fabric. Both the main skirt and underskirt are sewn (that's right, not glued--there are STITCHES) to the base of the plastic top portion of the dress.

Ok so, no one loves plastic doll clothes. I get it. Not a fan myself. But for what this is, considering it's all one piece, I'm impressed by the amount of detail, and how well it reads as 'normal' clothing. The midsection has a sculpted raised texture that closely mirrors the design of the skirt fabric. The collar section is painted a lighter contrasting shade of purple that compliments her shoes (all the adult collectors who whine about lack of painted detail on molded plastic pieces, here you go), and the ruffle around the armholes compliments the trim on the skirt. Everything is held together neatly at the back with a piece of velcro at the top of the skirt.

Given how difficult it can be to sew fabric doll clothing in this scale that actually looks good, I think the plastic top is a fair compromise to increase ease of use for smaller hands.

The shoes! I was pleasantly surprised by the level of detail on these. The butterfly motif from the dress is carried on here, with sculpted decoration all the way around the tops and even on the soles. This was absolutely unnecessary, but I'm so happy they did it.

Indigo's official height is listed as 5.5 inches, which lands her somewhere between an old school Kelly doll and the closest MGA equivalent in my collection, a Dream Ella Extra Iconic Mini. I believe Magic Mixies Pixlings are also of a similar size, but I don't have one to include in this comparison.

Indigo's pet is...a thing that exists. Her product description says it's a 'magical fox'. Sure.

Ok folks, that's it for pt. 1. We're going to take a closer look at those braids in pt.2

[tales-from-the-aether-ttrpg]

Tales from the Aether: Heritage

Mundane Heritage: Dragonkin

Dragonkin are the remnants of a civilization that fell long before the Dark Age. What little is known about their culture or how they came to be is mostly speculation based on the few ruins that have been unearthed. In the modern day, these behemoths either find their home in mountain peaks, wander the world in small tight knit communities, or have folded entirely into others with a strong presence in elven and human cities. 

Many Dragonkin cling desperately to the fragments of culture and history they have with entire communities dedicated to rediscovering and restoring their lost empire. Whatever calamity occurred that started the dark age has wiped almost all evidence of their long dead civilization from the world but that doesn’t discourage them from searching. 

Regardless of how Dragonkin came to be, their draconic blood cannot be denied. Many Dragonkin inherit immense strength or magical abilities from their dragon blood that make them valuable assets to any community. However, the hype around Dragonkin’s power is often overstated and many Dragonkin find themselves faced with unreasonable expectations they could not hope to meet. Many Dragonkin find comfort in their own kind as they can exist without constantly putting on a performance for others. 

Quirk: Hoarder. One thing Dragonkin did inherit is the Dragon’s desire for stuff. Choose one type of object be it buttons, butterflies, or gold. Your Dragonkin is obsessed with collecting this object and will go out of their way to add some to their collection. 

Appearance: Dragonkin are bipedal with a stature between 8 and 11 ft in height and weigh over 300 lbs. These hulking behemoths share the appearance of their Dragon kin with scales covering every inch of their body, large wings, talons, razor sharp canines, and a long tail. Their scales can range dramatically in color with every hue imaginable from dull reds to icy translucent whites to lustrous emerald.

Size: Large

Age: 300-400 years. A Dragonkin is generally considered an Adult when they reach 60 to 72 years in age. 

Movement: Speed 30 ft. Proficient – Walking and Flying. Inept – Climbing. (Cannot wear Heavy Armor while Flying unless Journeyman in Strength)

Skill: Increase the Rank of one of the following Skills: Primal, Mysticism, Alteration, Unconventional Fighting, Unarmed Defense, Stealth, or Luck.

Passive: You gain a +1 bonus to your Magic Score.

Night vision: You can see 30 ft in pitch black and 60 ft in dim light. 

Vulnerability: +2 Psychic and +2 Lightning vulnerability. +5 Frost Resistance.

Talents (choose one): 

Dragon Breath: You inherited the Dragon’s ability to create and harness elemental energy with their breath. For 2 Stamina or 4 Arcana, you can use your Main Action to produce a 15 ft cone that deals 3 Dice of one of the following damage types: Fire, Frost, Lightning, Poison, Acid, Thunder, or Force. When you choose this Heritage, select one damage type for this ability. The damage dice is determined in the Spells section [page#].

Dragon Claws. Your unarmed attack deals 1d4 damage of one of the following damage types: Fire, Frost, Lightning, or Poison. When you choose this Heritage, select one damage type for this ability.

Dragon Bite. You can take a Bite attack as an Unconventional Attack that deals 1d6 damage of one of the following damage types: Fire, Frost, Lightning, Poison, Acid, Thunder, or Force. When you choose this Heritage, select one damage type for this ability.

Your spells known increases by 1.

[storyofmychoices]

The Reign of a Short King

[Mal Volari x Daenarya Masterlist] [Mal’s Orphanage]

Pairings: Mal Volari x Daenarya (F!OC) ; Tyril Starfury x Maiele* (*Maiele belongs to @lilyoffandoms) Book: Blades of Light and Shadow Word Count: ~750 Rating: Teen (just to be safe)

Synopsis: Mal is very insistent that a half inch makes all the difference.

A/N: This silly drabble was inspired by a comment by @dr-colossal-pita about Mal using his hair to increase his height, and my wanting to reconcile Mal being short even though in book 1 he is mentioned as "tall". Also, I know realistically they wouldn't use the US measuring system but this story works better when using 1/2 inches.

Mal and Daenarya stood near the garden wall in their backyard, a heated argument unfolding.

"You know, I'm 5 foot 8 and a half inches," Mal insisted, peering down at her. 

Mischief danced in her eyes as she chuckled, shaking her head. "You're dreaming, Mr. Magnificent. You're only feeling tall next to me,” Daenarya teased, nudging him gently.

"By the gods, I swear I am 5 foot 8 and a half!" Mal stood a little straighter to emphasize his point.

Her head tilted to the side in amusement, brushing back his beautiful mane. "I'll humor you, but just so you know, your hair doesn't count if that's where you're getting that extra half." 

Mal took a step back, feigning indignation. His fingers raked through his hair as he brushed his hair back methodically. "I would never count my hair." He shook his head, offended she'd even say such a thing. "I am 5 foot 8 and a half inches!"

"Okay," she nodded in agreement, her smile spreading across her face. She pressed a kiss on her cheek. "If you say so."

Mal puffed his chest and held his head as high as possible "I'm glad you've come to see my side of things." He offered his arm to her.

"If you say so," she repeated, accepting his gesture as they headed back to where their friends were gathered. 

"And if we were counting my hair, then, I'd be at least 5 foot 9 inches", maybe 5 foot 9 and a half!" He boasted proudly.

Daenarya chuckled, "Here we go again."

"Here we go again?" Maiele moved to join them. "What trouble are you two starting now?" 

"Did you know that Mal is 5 foot 8 and a half inches, but if you count his hair, he might even be 5 foot 9 and a half!" Sarcasm dripped in every word. 

"Huh," Maiele pondered thoughtfully, casually resting his arm on Mal's head. Despite Mal's attempts to squirm away, the elf’s tall and strong stature held him there. After another moment of consideration, a smirk spread on his lips. "You wish!"

A rumble of laughter rose in his throat as his hands tousled Mal's hair, messing up his perfect coiffure. With a playful wink to Daenarya, Maiele sauntered off back to Tyril, whose lip curled up ever so slightly despite his efforts to hide his amusement at Mal's despair. 

Flustered, Mal sputtered something in response, but his words were lost as Daenarya gently touched his face and gave him a light kiss.

"You're still my short king," she whispered. Her thumb caressed over his jaw, the coarse hair of his beard tickling her. 

Mal couldn't help but relax and smile at her touch. "You know, initially, you thought I was tall."

Daenarya couldn't help but remember that night so long ago. "What can I say? It was dark, and I had a few drinks before this handsome rogue barreled into me—"

"I barreled into you?" He interrupted.

"That's how I remember it," she continued, batting her eyelashes. "There I was minding my own business, when you, this smug adventure. bumped into me, this innocent country girl."

A smirk pulled on his lips, his brow arching. "You're many things, Kit, but innocent isn't one of them!" He shook his head in amusement. "How does that change my height?"

"As I was trying to explain," she smirked. She held her hand in front of her as if drawing his attention to an imaginary scene unfolding. "This beautiful adventurer with great hair bumps into me. It's a dark street; I was a little tipsy—"

"You're a little tipsy now? I thought you were innocent?" He chuckled in amusement, enjoying her embellished tale. "Besides, I've seen you drink; you weren't even a little tipsy."

Her face flushed. "Ugh, fine! I may or may not have been a little distracted by your chest hair... I mean who wears a V-neck while adventuring? Besides, you've seen what I had to work with in Riverbend. You were a welcomed step up. I was clearly preoccupied with other thoughts."

"And you want me to believe you were the innocent one?" His brow arched. "And, I repeat, how does that change my height?"

"Well, your head was up from there, so— tall...er?" Her smile widened, knowing her thoughts went far beyond his alluring chest. "Let's agree to agree. You agree that I was innocent the night we met, and I'll agree that you're 5 foot 8 inches...and a half!"

"I think I can support that agreement." He drew her into his arms, enveloping her completely. "Shall we seal it with a kiss?"

"Mmhmm," she hummed, "now you're talking." 

Mal closed the gap, guiding her into a deepening kiss. 

Daenarya smiled into his embrace, her fingers crossed behind his back. This certainly wouldn't be the last time she teased him about that half-inch.

A/N#2: Originally, I had Mal at 5'10" but somehow I kept lowering it and now we're at 5'8". I mean if Ironman can be 5'8", my short king can to!

Again, Maiele belongs to @lilyoffandoms and he is Daenayra's best friend (for any new readers)

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed this playful adventure.

[theradicalscrivener]

So how big did Felipe’s dick end up being seeing as you referred to it as a “huge hog”? And how did Caleb interact with it when they were having their fun (could he even reach it…)?

Felipe was very short starting out, and he had a modest piece. Not tiny, but definitely not huge by any means.

Felipe had only done 1 cock growth potion. Each subsequent growth was just additional effects from his prior dose reactiviating. So each time he took a potion, he gained (roughly) the same amount.

You know what they say... The difference between science and smut is writing it down. ...or something like that...

Felipe's starting stats:

Body: 5'4 (163cm)

Dick: 5" (13cm)

After the firs night, he gained a nice bonus of two inches which put his dick at 7" (18cm). A respectable piece to be sure.

Then fast forward to the camping trip where he briefly turned into a hyper hung macro titan. After he shrunk back down, not only did he have some added height, but his dick grew again!

Felipe's measurements:

Body: 5'7 (170cm)

Cock: 9" (23cm)

Thus begins the experimental phase. The first step in the experiment was to try the same thing again and compare the results. This meant taking another height potion to see what the results were. With both potions stacked, he grew twice as much as before.

Felipe's measurements

Body 6'1 (185cm)

Cock: 11" (28cm)

Realizing that his height spiked more than before, he decided to do an opposite potion to reverse the effects, but instead it only made his growth go down by one stage. (So it went +3" then +6" then back to +3")

Current measurements.

Body: 6'4 (193cm)

Hog: 13" (33cm)

Felipe decided to try and double dose the shrink element to see if it would make him shift two stages in the opposit direction. His theory was that this would make him go from +3" to -3". This did not work like that. His height stayed static. He wasn't sure if this meant that the potion was completely nullified by the double dosage or if it had still only counted as one dose.

Current stats:

Body: 6'4 (185cm)

Hog: 15" (38)

Second rule of research: When in doubt, do it again. He took ANOTHER double potency shrink potion. This resulted in him shrinking slightly.

Current size:

Body: 6'1 (185cm)

Hog: 17" (43cm)

At this point, he was relatively sure that doubling the amount of shrinking element in the potion did not actually change the effects. It was unclear whether this was a saturation issue or an absorption issue, but it seemed safe to assume that increasing the amount of the shrinking element would not change the effects, but of course, he may not add more, but he could add less. He tried again with half a dose

Body: 5'7 (170cm)

Third leg: 19" (48cm)

Felipe had been so focused on his height that he had forgotten to keep track of things below the belt, but now that his cock was longer than Caleb, he started to take note.

Truth be told, Caleb spotted the difference a while ago, but he chose to remain silent on the issue...

Still. The fact of the matter was that Felipe's cock now dangled to his shins and Caleb only came up to his knees. Caleb could have shared a spiderman kiss with Felipe's soft cock back when the behemoth was only 13 to 15 inches, but he chose to keep his mouth shut as long as possible to see how long it would take Felipe to notice.

It took A LOT of self-restraint to keep from blowing his cover (and his load) as Felipe's cock steadily grew and grew.

Upon realizing just how huge his hog had grown, Felipe immediately set to work crafting a cock shrink potion to counteract the effects of his previous growth, but Caleb managed to talk him into taking some time off from the R&D and focus instead on R&R. Felipe had been pulling so many late nights lately. He needed to rest a bit and clear his head (and empty his nuts).

That night, Caleb decided to show Felipe what he could do with a cock that size. Caleb licked and nuzzled the head of Felipe's fat cock - a head that was even larger than Caleb's own! Steadily, Felipe's fat cock swelled and grew until it stood straight up at attention. Felipe's spire loomed tall, his massive nuts filled the space between his spread legs. His sack the size of a beach ball. Caleb placed a leg on either thigh and straddled Felipe's colossal cojones.

Felipe's back arched and his body shuddered as he felt his little lover grinding against the sensitive underside of his towering cock. Caleb was so small and his dick so huge that the tip of his rigid rod was even taller than Caleb, and given that Caleb had to spread his legs to straddle Felipe's thighs, Caleb could only reach the lower ridge of Felipe's fat cock head. Caleb dug his face into into the soft flesh where the shaft met the head and lapped at the trickle of pre that dripped down Felipe's shaft.

Felipe was in heaven, but he wanted more. It was fun to have his dick played with, but he wanted to see Caleb while it happened!

Felip sat up and gripped at his own cock. He took a thick handful of foreskin in each hand and pulled back on the shaft. The enormous rod tilted steadily like a rocket being prepped for launch and then further still until Felipe was staring down the head of his own dick. The enormous shaft was so huge that the tip of it reached past his collar bone and poked at his chin. If he leaned in, he could actually kiss his own cock right on the lips!

Felipe, however, was more interested in what Caleb was up to. With Felipe's cock now securely grounded like a felled redwood, Caleb was free to straddle it like a roadhouse mechanical bull. With his legs spread wide, Caleb rocked his hips and rolled his body. His own (proportionally) impressive dock grinding against the puffed up ridge of Felipe's log-sized hog as he did so.

Caleb road Felipe's cock like Slim Pickens in the finale for Dr. Strangelove until Felipe could hold it back no longer. What followed was a similarly massive explosion, but unlike the old movie, it was just Felipe's mind and load that were blown.

Felipe laid there gasping for breath as he tried to comprehend how amazing that last climax had felt. It was so hot, and watching his tiny lover tackle a cock that was bigger than he was was both endearing and hot as hell!

Felipe decided he'd keep his new cock size... for now, at least. At least, that's what he told himself. The next time he mixed potions, he tried to mix a body growth and cock shrink agent to try and negate the current effects he was dealing with, but the results were not what he intended.

Current size:

Body: 5'1 (130cm)

Redwood: 21" (53cm)

Again, multidosing messed things up. He didn't slow the shrinkage of his body nor did he stop the growth of his cock.

He opted to do only a dick shrink potion to stabilize his hog.

Current size:

Body: 4'7 (140cm)

Redwood: 21" (53cm)

His cock was even bigger than before. It now nearly hung to his ankles. But at least it was stabilized. He could work with that. The trick now was to get the height figured out.

[fairyminnie444]

If you talked about it before please link the post so I can read, but I'm 20 and 5'1 I hate my height so much so I wanna grow taller and be 5'8 but I already stopped growing and its not biologically possible that I can grow taller. But I don't seem to accept my height..how to stop this mindset and start manifesting regardless of biology and logic? Thank you so much :(

[ohwhatpiscese]

Statue of Aphrodite of Knidos, 2nd Century, Roman.

Statue of Meleager, 1st-2nd Century, Roman.

Woman in Tub, 1988, Jeff Koons.

All edited to reflect trans bodies for a project proposal assignment, if y'all wanna read the whole essay explaining why i thought this was a good idea it's beneath the 'more':

T4AIC: Trans for Art Institute of Chicago

The purpose of this project is to use gender queer clothing, chizels, and paint to recontextualize classic nude sculptures in the Art Institute of Chicago to reflect transgender bodies. Binary gender systems are tools of white supremacy that establish anything outside of traditional and idealized concepts of man and woman as dangerous or unnatural. They have resulted in a lack of representation in the Art Institute of Chicago of the massive diversity found within gender identities and presentations. Additionally, the vast majority of these sculptures are of naked women, created by men. The T4AIC project would vocalize queerness as inherent to all human populations; whereas binary gender social constraints that reject the existence of queer identities is both intentionally hierarchical and relatively novel in the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi land currently known as Chicago, Illinois. It draws inspiration from the Polychrome Reconstruction of the Prima Porta Statue of Augustus created by Vatican Conservators in 2004, and the Guerrilla Girls’ 1989 poster Do Women Have to Be Naked to Get Into the Met. Museum? which speaks to the lack of gender diversity in the art world. The Guerilla Girls reissued the print in 2005 and 2012, attesting to its continued resonance (The Met Museum, par. 1).

(image at bottom of text)

Do Women Have to be Naked to Get Into the Met. Museum?, Guerrilla Girls, 1989, Lithograph, 11 x 28 inches,

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

(image at bottom of text)

Polychrome reconstruction of the Prima Porta statue of Augustus, 2004. Painted plaster cast made after a prototype by P. Liverani, Vatican Museums, Rome, height 2.2 m. Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, Oxford.

This project would permanently damage multiple ancient artworks within the Art Institute of Chicago. The necessity of that disrespect is due to transgender existence being an inherently transgressive act; it tears a hole in the fabric of a phantasm when people exist outside of two dimensional constraints and are living happy, functional lives. I intend for cisgender viewers to feel threatened. I hope their ideas of societal gender and personal security in their gender feels attacked. My goal is not to give transgender bodies a seat at the metaphorical table-for-two as an awkward third wheel. It is to highlight how gender is used as a political tool, and that a binary gendered system is not inherent. With the recent confirmation of Trump’s second term as president, access to gender affirming care for transgender people is at risk. Evidence of gender affirming health care needs to be cemented in visual culture, in the event that it becomes illegal or otherwise difficult to access in the coming years.

The objects chosen for this project proposal are Greco-Roman marble sculptures and a modern work currently on view in the Contemporary Art section of the Art Institute of Chicago. The Roman Empire was racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse; spanning from the westmost point of Europe to modern day Azerbaijan in the east, from Northern Africa to England. Marble statues were made to imitate life, and fully painted to reflect the people they were modeled after. Bronze statues had gems inlaid in the eyes, and contrasting metals to accent bleeding wounds. In their original form, they were not modest or sleek. To maintain an unbroken connection to white western culture, and increase the collectability of marble statues some were intentionally scrubbed of paint, or the faded original pigment was ignored (Talbot, par. 23). The myth of colorless classical sculpture dates back to the Renaissance, but was solidified by Enlightenment art historian and Archeologist Johann Winckelmann who stated, "The whiter the body is, the more beautiful it is," and, "Color contributes to beauty, but it is not beauty,” (Hucal, par.9). The Enlightenment created our modern concepts of race, so it is unsurprising that Winckelmann preferred his sculptures white. White supremacist and alt-right groups are drawn to classical sculpture as emblematic of white exceptionalism, which is the genesis of the anti-trans rhetoric being seen in conservative political campaigns around the nation.

Flaws within this reasoning include the difference between current western concepts of race and the ones held in Ancient Rome. They would not have considered themselves white, and skin color was one of many physical characterizations considered when categorizing race in the ancient world (Lepinski, Peralta, par. 11). However flawed, the same rationale used to rob ancient works of their visual and cultural context is responsible for the recent attempts at banning transgender women from public women’s bathroom use and the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The connection between the white supremacist agenda of reproductive control and anti-trans ideology is put clearly by Florence Ashley and Blu Buchanon in their 2023 article ‘The Anti-Trans Panic is Rooted in White Supremacist Ideology’:

Transgender people pose a grave threat to this agenda, because they resist the idea that women are defined by an innate female essence rooted in reproductive biology, and that being mothers is, therefore, their nature and destiny. If someone born with ovaries and a uterus can escape the call of motherhood and if someone born without can be a woman, the white supremacist message falls apart. If gender is “just a feeling,” as some conservatives put it, then how can we say that women’s purpose is to bear and raise children? If people can “mess with” their reproductive organs, how can reproduction be the pinnacle of human life? Gender-affirming care poses a challenge to the reproductive imperative. It must be suppressed to sustain white supremacy, or, in the words of Conservative Political Action Conference speaker Michael Knowles: “For the good of society … transgenderism must be eradicated from public life entirely.”

When a recreation of the Emperor Augustus was shown at the Vatican Museum with accurate polychromy in 2008, Stanford art historian Fabio Barry responded by saying it looked “... like a cross-dresser trying to hail a taxi,” (Stewart, par.1). Altering the sculptures to have evidence of gender affirming care, queer clothing, and darker skin tones would invite the audience to reflect on their loyalty to the ‘clean’ white marble aesthetic, remember that gender variance existed in the ancient world as well as the modern one, and consider the policing of both gender and reproduction as an issue of race.

The T4AIC project can be replicated in any art institute, can be applied to modern works as well as classic pieces. Anywhere a human body is replicated and positioned in a place of viewing is political ground, the main difference between applying the project to modern works is the relationship to the original artist. Modern artists are more likely to resist additions to their works, on account of having a higher percent living compared to classical sculptors. The current gallery exposition of classical sculptures in its unintended whiteness already betrays the artists’ objective, as the intention was site-specific. The goal was for the sculpture to be so well suited to its environment that it fooled the viewer into thinking it was a real person; division between sculpture and reality was fluid and theatrical in Ancient Rome. As Mark Abbe, Associate Professor of Art History and Area Chair of Art History at the University of Georgia said of Roman sculpture, “The modern art gallery, you could say, kills these things—transforms them into something they’re not,” (Talbot, par. 36). With this in mind, changing the sculptures to be reflective of the lived reality surrounding them is a treatment more faithful to the original artists.

There are works in every art museum which embody cisgender male artists’ attempts at controlling, objectifying, and belittling female sexual and reproductive agency; and whiteness in classical sculpture is not the only aesthetic white supremacists and alt-right groups have adopted. Perpetuations of white supremacy can be seen in the cultural erasure and elevation of purity tied to American minimalist sculpture (Usackas, par. 1), as well as the discriminatory internal operations of museums. To challenge current installations of white supremacy in the art world, and turn museums into institutions reflecting the cultures that surround them instead of acting as keepers of cultural standards, current artworks and artists must also enter the conversation. Two digital representations of edited classical subjects are provided below, and a digitally edited version of Jeff Koons’ Woman in Tub.

Works Cited:

Ashley, Florence and Blue Buchanan. “The Anti-Trans Panic Is Rooted in White Supremacist Ideology.” Truthout, 19, May 2023.

“Do Women Have To Be Naked To Get Into the Met. Museum?” The Met, 2024.

Fiore, Julia. “These 5,000-Year-Old Sculptures Look Shockingly Similar to Modern Art.” Artsy, 30, Nov. 2018.

Guerilla Girls. “Do Women Have to be Naked to Get Into the Met. Museum?” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1989.

Hucal, Sarah. “How the myth of whiteness in classical sculpture was created.” Deutsche Welle, 24, Jan. 2023.

Koons, Jeff. “Woman in Tub.” The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, 1988.

Lepinski, Sarah and Dan-el Padilla Peralta. “Debunking the Myth of Whiteness.” The Met, 7, July, 2022.

Liverani, P. and Vatican Museum Conservators. “Polychrome reconstruction of the Prima Porta statue of Augustus.” Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, Oxford, 2004.

Naselli, Mara. “Beyond the Gaze: Reclaiming the Female Form After Nochlin.” Los Angeles Review of Books, 28, Jan. 2018.

Rodin, Auguste. “Adam.” The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Modeled 1881 cast 1924.

Roman. “Statue of Meleager.” The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, 1st-2nd Century.

Roman. “Statue of Aphrodite of Knidos.” The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, 2nd Century.

Stewart, Peter. “The Polychrome Reconstruction of the Prima Porta Statue.” Frieze, 1, Oct. 2017.

Talbot, Margaret. “The Myth of Whiteness in Classical Sculpture.” The New Yorker, 22, Nov. 2018.

Usackas, Jack. “Minimalism & Crime – An Exploration of Cultural Identity.” Design TO, 21, Jan. 2022.

[divinedomesticity]

Enhancing Your Organic Garden: The Joy and Benefits of Hanging Birdhouses

Creating a thriving organic garden is a rewarding endeavor that not only provides you with fresh, healthy produce but also contributes to a balanced ecosystem. One often-overlooked yet highly effective way to complement your organic gardening practices is by attracting birds. Birds are natural pest controllers, and inviting them into your garden can help manage harmful insect populations. One of the best ways to attract these feathered friends is by hanging birdhouses. Let’s explore the many benefits of hanging birdhouses and how they can transform your garden into a harmonious haven.

The Role of Birds in Organic Gardening

1. Natural Pest Control: Birds are excellent at keeping insect populations in check. Many species, such as bluebirds, chickadees, and wrens, have diets that primarily consist of insects. By inviting these birds into your garden, you’re enlisting natural pest control agents who will help reduce the number of harmful bugs, such as aphids, caterpillars, and beetles, that can damage your plants.

2. Pollination Partners: While birds are known for their pest control abilities, some, like hummingbirds, also play a role in pollination. They help transfer pollen from one flower to another, aiding in the reproduction of many plants and contributing to the overall health and diversity of your garden.

3. Soil Health: Birds contribute to soil health by breaking down organic matter and helping to cycle nutrients through their droppings. This natural fertilization process enriches the soil, promoting robust plant growth.

Attracting Birds with Birdhouses

Hanging birdhouses in your garden is a simple yet effective way to attract birds. Here are some tips to make your garden bird-friendly:

1. Choose the Right Birdhouse: Different bird species have different preferences when it comes to nesting sites. Research which birds are native to your area and select birdhouses that cater to their specific needs. For example, bluebirds prefer houses with a 1.5-inch entrance hole, while wrens prefer a smaller 1-inch hole.

2. Placement Matters: Place birdhouses in locations that mimic the natural habitats of your target bird species. Ensure they are safe from predators and positioned at the correct height. For example, bluebird houses should be mounted 4-6 feet off the ground in open areas, while wren houses can be placed 6-10 feet high in more sheltered spots.

3. Keep It Clean: Maintain your birdhouses by cleaning them out after each nesting season. This helps prevent the spread of disease and parasites, ensuring a healthy environment for the birds.

4. Provide Fresh Water: Birds need water for drinking and bathing. Installing a birdbath or a small water feature can make your garden even more attractive to birds.

The Benefits of Birdhouses in Your Garden

1. Enhanced Pest Control: With birds regularly visiting your garden, you’ll notice a significant reduction in the population of harmful insects. This natural pest control means fewer chemicals and pesticides are needed, keeping your garden truly organic.

2. Increased Biodiversity: Birds add to the biodiversity of your garden. Their presence creates a more balanced ecosystem, where natural checks and balances can thrive. This biodiversity is crucial for the resilience and health of your garden.

3. Educational Opportunities: Birdwatching can be a delightful and educational activity for the whole family. Observing birds up close provides opportunities to learn about different species, their behaviors, and their roles in the ecosystem.

4. Aesthetic and Auditory Delight: Birds bring beauty and joy to any garden. Their vibrant colors, songs, and playful behaviors enhance the garden’s atmosphere, making it a peaceful and enchanting place to spend time.

Bringing It Home

As homemakers and gardeners, we have the power to create beautiful, sustainable environments that nourish both our families and the planet. By incorporating birdhouses into your organic gardening practices, you’re not only inviting charming avian visitors into your garden but also harnessing their natural abilities to maintain a healthy and balanced ecosystem.

Hanging birdhouses is a simple yet impactful step toward a thriving organic garden. The benefits are numerous, from natural pest control to increased biodiversity and the sheer joy of birdwatching. So, take a moment to add a few birdhouses to your garden. You’ll be rewarded with a vibrant, pest-free garden and the delightful presence of your new feathered friends.

Happy gardening, and may your garden be filled with the sweet songs of birds!

With green thumbs and warm hearts,

Kimmi

[sebeth]

Who's Who In The DC Universe #1: The Atom I, The Atom II, The Atomic Knight, The Atomic Skull, Auron

The Atom I by Rick Hoberg & Romeo Tanghal

The “original 98-lb. weakling, Al Pratt bought dinner for a drunken vagabond who turned out to be Joe Morgan, a former boxing champ

Morgan put Pratt through an intensive training and exercise program

Pratt chose to become a costumed crime-fighter instead of pursuing a boxing career

Atom gained “atomic strength” from an encounter with Cyclotron in 1948

The Atom was a charter member of the Justice Society and later joined the All-Star Squadron

The Atom retired after the JSA’s breakup in the 1950s

He later became a professor of nuclear physics and married a woman named Mary

Al’s godson is Nuklon  (aka Atom-Smasher) of Infinity Inc

He remains mostly retired but will don the costume when duty calls

The Atom made frequent appearances in the various Justice Society series and in All-Star Squadron. Damage (Grant Emerson) was later revealed to be Al Pratt’s long-lost son. If I remember correctly, Atom died in the Zero Hour mini-series so he never encountered Grant. I am unsure of the explanation behind the disappearance of Al & Marys son or how Grant ended up in the bad guy’s custody.

The Atom II by Gi Kane

Ray Palmer was a graduate student trying to find a way to reduce matter in an effort to aid farmers in increasing their yield. Ray discovered white dwarf matter was needed to successfully reduce objects.

Palmer shrunk himself in order to free himself and others from a cave-in.

Ray became a professor at Ivy University and the hero known as the Atom.

Palmer married Jean Loring but the duo later divorced.

Ray and Jean told their story to author Norman Brawler, ending Ray’s secret identity.

Ray suffered adverse health effects due to years of exposure to white dwarf matter.

He currently lives with an alien culture located somewhere in South America, permanently remaining at his six-inch size. The aliens are around six inches in height.

I’ve always loved Ray – a likable, relatable genius. “The Sword of the Atom” was the mini-series/special where Ray moves to South America. He fell in love with one of the aliens (I can’t remember her name) but their love was doomed when loggers (I think) destroyed the alien civilization, causing her death.

Ray returned to America, solved his shrinking health-related issues, and resumed his heroic adventures.

The 2000s were not friendly to Ray. Jean, his ex-wife, decided to murder Sue Dibny, among others, for…reasons. Ray became a shrunken recluse allowing Ryan Choi to become the third atom. Donna Troy, Jason Todd, and Kyle Rayner searched the multiverse for Ray Palmer for…reasons. Jean Loring became Eclipso and a Black Lantern and murdered more people for…reasons. Ryan Choi, a delightful character, was murdered for…reasons causing Ray to resume the mantle of Atom.

Did DC have to murder Ryan? DC has dozens of speedsters, kryptonians and Bat Family members. I think the universe can handle two Atoms.

…reasons = bad storylines I can’t be bothered to remember the details of.

Ray has had multiple solo titles and is a long-standing member of the Justice League.

Ray has appeared in the Justice League Unlimited cartoon and made multiple appearances in CW’s Arrowverse, most notably the Legends of Tomorrow series.

The Atomic Knight by Murphy Anderson

Gardner Grayle was an army sergeant who was placed in a sensory deprivation tank and subjected to a series of simulations, studying his response to nuclear war and its aftermath

Grayle tapped into his latent telepathic abilities and took over the simulations and the staff

He fantasized beyond a nuclear war, instead conjuring up a fantasy where he and a group of others wore radiation-proof suits of armor. The Atomic Knights helped restore order to post World-War III America.

The fantasies expanded to include an appearance by the mythological Hercules

Grayle fell in love with Marene Herald, a psychiatrist attached to the project and included her in his fantasies

Superman discovered the project when Grayle’s fantasies began reshaping reality. Superman shut down the project and freed Grayle from the tank.

The sergeant had to re-adjust to life in the real world and Marlene’s real place in his life.

Grayle joined S.T.A.R. Labs and use his precognitive abilities to prevent catastrophes

Grayle occasionally dons a suit of armor, stolen from the army, and goes into action as the Atomic Knight

The only Atomic Knight(s) I’ve read was their appearance in the Convergence Legion Of Super-Heroes mini-series. I will say, if I was stuck in a sensory deprivation tank and subjected to a series of post-Nuclear War scenarios, I too would create my own fantasy world.

The Atomic Skull by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson

Albert Michaels was a director of S.T.A.R. who suffered from a rare nervous disorder that short-circuited the electrical impulses of his brain.

Michaels stole his own inventions from S.T.A.R. and turned them over to SKULL, where he quickly became the leader

Skull attempted to cure Michaels by implanting a neural pacemaker made of radium in his brain.

The implant malfunctioned, mutating Michaels’ brain waves into a new form of energy

The Atomic Skull is a C – D level Superman villain. He did make a few appearances in the Justice League Unlimited cartoon.

Auron

Kidnapped by the Psions, the Okaaran woman X-Hal was forced to take part in a genetic experiment and was mated with a Branx warrior. The mating produced two children, one who became the first Citadelian, the other the being called Lambien.

The Citadelian left Okaara when X’Hal went mad and destroyed three of Vega’s 25 planets in her fury.

Lambien was raised by X’Hal once the Warlords of Okaara found a way to harness the incredible power granted her by the Psions’ experiment.

Lambien received some of X’Hal’s powers and appointed himself the guardian of Okarra

Lambien later joined the Omega Men

His power continued to grow and though he feared he may become as insane as his mother, he retained his sanity

Lambien changed his name to Aurion

Aurion and the Omega Men destroyed a Gordian fleet of Citadel slavers on earth and then returned to Vega, where they helped end the Citadel tyranny.

If you are a fan of the Wolfman/Perez era of the Teen Titans, a few of these names should be familiar even if you’ve never read an issue of Omega Men. The Citadel and the Warlords of Okaara feature in the origin of Starfire. And Kori swears by “X’Hal” in almost every Titans issue. Marv Wolfman is the creator of the Omega Men and Starfire which is why he can interweave the story elements between the two series. Starfire debuted in late 1980 and the Omega Men in mid-1981.

I’ve never read the 1980s Omega Men series (it’s on my TBR list as I’ve heard it is excellent). I have read many of the other appearances of the Omega Men from the 1980s to present day – their Teen Titans appearances, the Invasion, the Adam Strange, Rann-Thanagar War, and Tom King mini-series and I can’t recall Auron featuring in any of them.

Love the Omega Men, they’re a fun group.