#Rhino Ready Dies

[craftystampin]

Coffee & Crafts: Rhino Ready Enjoy the Journey Card

Rhino Ready Card Join me for Coffee & Crafts as I create this fun African sunset card with the all-new Stamp Set Rhino Ready Stamp Set from the new Online Exclusive product line.  I paired this cute stamp set and matching die, Rhino Ready Dies with the Enjoy the Journey Designer Series Paper. Watch the video below and follow along as we make this cute card. Resources : See all my Downloads &…

[schmergo]

Today I learned a fact that kinda blew my mind, and I'm almost astonished I didn't know this before as someone whose chief interests include zoo animals, the U.S. Presidency, true crime, and D.C. history. What an opener, right? How could those topics possibly combine?

Well, buckle up and get ready to hear how negligent National Zoo leadership potentially could have killed a US President or started a local epidemic. Spoiler alert: They didn't. But only because luck was in their favor.

First, the part that I DID already know. In 2004, Lucy Spelman stepped down as the director of the National Zoo after a spate of controversial zoo incidents, including a string of unfortunate (and often preventable) animal deaths, misleading and missing zoo records, and other signs of negligence. The AZA even "tabled" renewing the National Zoo's accreditation for a year until they made some significant improvements. Spelman was also a vet and some of the cases she was accused of bungling happened at her own hands, not just under her supervision. It was a major disgrace for a zoo that was meant to represent the nation's capital.

I was in elementary school during these fraught years and I remember devouring articles about this in the newspaper, riveted with shock and dismay. Some of the deaths were just bad luck, but others were obviously negligent. The most infamous case was two red pandas killed by rat poison shallowly buried in their enclosures as a slapdash solution to the zoo's pest problem. A young zebra died of starvation and hypothermia after Spelman ordered the zebras' feed be cut in half, an orangutan was euthanized due to a recurrence of cancer that didn't exist (she actually had salmonella), a lion died after being administered over twice the usual amount of anesthetic, and more. I remember the names and details of these animals from when I first read these cases 20 years ago. But the one I'm talking about today is that of Nancy the elephant.

Nancy was a 46-year-old African elephant whose health had been steadily declining for several years. She suffered from a bone infection in her foot that seriously affected her mobility and quality of life. She had lost a lot of weight, she was fatigued, she even lay down at times. Nobody could be blamed for deciding to euthanize the obviously ill animal.

But they could be blamed for what was discovered in the necropsy after she was euthanized. While she did indeed have a diseased foot, the bone infection was only "moderate." Why, then, was she so obviously unwell? Her lungs had been destroyed by the effects of untreated tuberculosis. It was the tuberculosis, not the sore foot, that most contributed to her decline in health.

Here’s the scary part: nobody knows how long she'd had it because she hadn't been tested for tuberculosis, a known concern for zoo elephants, in TWO YEARS. All this despite the fact that it's MANDATORY for all zoo elephants to receive a tuberculosis test once per year-- and in fact, it was a National Zoo staff member who pushed for that reform in the first place. And the elephant was on Prednisone for her foot issues, which zoo staff noted in her records made her more vulnerable to illnesses like TB. In fact, none of the zoo's elephants had been tested recently, which meant any of them, including one who was pregnant, may have had tuberculosis, too.

There are documented cases of humans catching tuberculosis from elephants. Now, Nancy the elephant had bovine tuberculosis, which seems to be less contagious to humans and which elephants haven't so far spread to humans... BUT it has spread to humans from black rhinos, a fairly close relative, so it seems likely that elephants COULD spread it. It can also take a while for TB for incubate (and can also be latent without symptoms), especially for elephants, so the elephants OR keepers who were around Nancy were at serious risk for TB.

NOW HERE IS THE PART THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT UNTIL TODAY:

Spelman actively tried to COVER UP the situation, potentially putting many more people at risk. The elephant house was closed to zoo guests, but they were only told it was for "renovations." (The actual renovations, incidentally, were to improve ventilation so that illness would be less likely to spread.)

A BBC news crew that came to film the elephants was asked to keep a healthy distance from the elephants for their emotional health and the crew's safety-- the explanation given was that the elephants' group dynamics had been thrown off by Nancy's death. Spelman instructed zoo staff not to mention the TB situation to the BBC crew and, if asked why Nancy died, they were to respond that it was for multiple reasons and that the official test results weren't all back yet.

And here's the most shocking part of all, the part that made me GASP out loud. Spelman still personally gave some special VIP behind-the-scenes tours of the elephant house during the months that the elephant house was closed, a time when the remaining elephant inhabitants could potentially still develop active TB.

One VIP who received an elephant house tour was PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON and five family members!!!!

BILL. CLINTON. THE GOSHDARN PRESIDENT.

While zoo staff says that the tour was deliberately distanced and nobody got close to an elephant, there are photos of Bill Clinton's nephew about a foot away from an elephant's trunk. You know, their nose. The part they can spread disease with. So, uh, definitely in the danger zone there.

Hillary Clinton's brother, Tony Rodham, was on the tour and he said that nobody in the party was warned about TB risk or asked if they had any medical conditions that might (a. make them susceptible to communicable disease, or (b. be contagious to the elephants. This is especially egregious because according to zoo guidelines, all behind-the-scenes tour participants MUST be asked these questions-- not just when there's a very real possibility of a TB outbreak at the zoo.

Fortunately, none of the zoo's other elephants OR keepers ever tested positive for tuberculosis. But it was certainly a close call! And imagine what would have happened if a US President caught TB from a close encounter with an elephant thanks to poorly managed zoo staff.

Presidents meet a lot of people. In fact, this zoo visit happened only 2 weeks before the inauguration of President George W. Bush, which Clinton attended. He very well could have started a TB outbreak there. Heck, TWO US Presidents could have been infected!

Now THAT is something I will be thinking about for a long time!

[funnywildlife]

Please Support this #RhinoFriday Appeal by Rapid Response Veterinary Charity @savingthesurvivors with a small Donation. https://www.savingthesurvivors.org/donate/ “The mother of this little Black Rhino calf died unexpectedly in a reserve and he was left to fend for himself. Reserve staff acted immediately and he was sent to an orphanage for proper care and monitoring. He was treated as normal for a while but suddenly took a turn for the worse. He became very weak with a low blood glucose and low temperature. Together with the attending vet, Dr. N, it was decided to keep him warm with a space blanket and extra layers, while Dr. N expertly inserted an intravenous catheter in his ear veins to administer two drips, including the excellent Nutriflex that will supply him with much needed fats, electrolytes and proteins. We will update you in the coming days on his progress…… Remember it is your donations that make our work possible, could you make this the day that you help secure the future of our remaining Rhinos by donating to ensure that our teams are always ready to save the survivors and create hope from hurt? You can donate via the link or the button in our Bio. Monthly donations are our lifeblood, please give even a few dollars every month to ensure our teams are always ready to answer that call. @craghoppers #Rhino #savetherhino #savingthesurvivors #animallivesmatter #antipoachin #NotOnOurWatch #rhino #veterinarian  #wildlifevet #rhinoconservation #southafrica #africa #poaching #rhinohorn  #rhinovet #rhinosofinstagram #worldrhinoday #wildlifephotography #wildlifetourism #safari  #vets #veterinarymedicine #vetstudent #veterinarian #worldrhinoday2022🦏 (at South Africa) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjajo6VM6gI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[neptoons1998]

More than that

Summary: Okoye was recovering from giving birth. Attuma and Okoye are enjoying the new lives they created. Too bad a family member sees something else in the twins.

A/N: I'm on a roll tonight. It pays to write and outline your ideas who knew.

It was a successful birth both for Okoye and the twins. She couldn’t wrap her mind that her body made two perfect beings. Well, she did have help from Attuma. The big blueberry was over the moon when the pair realized they were about to have children. 

“My sun gave me stars,” Attuma said one night as they cuddled in the bed. It was during the time Okoye was still reeling from the fact she was carrying two children instead of one/ but the easy part was over, now Attuma and Okoye are officially parents. For the pair, they were ready for it. The pair were back to their lovely home, that sat by the river. They chose this location when Okoye realized how serious Attuma was about her. The new mother was mentally preparing herself. To be bombarded with guests during their social call and giving the new parents more gits. She’ll deal with that tomorrow. 

“This one is Yunuen,” Attuma said as he cradled one of the newborns while Okoye handle the other babe. Okoye shook her head, “No, that Yaxkin. His birthmark is on his left foot.”

Attuma has been trying to tell the twins apart since they got home two days ago. Who knew having identical twins would be so hard? Attuma thought as he pulled Yaxin’s socks off to see the birthmark. 

Attuma got from the couch as he placed Yaxkin in bassinet. “I will be back as fast as I can.”

The warrior was needed for a meeting in Talokan that he could not miss. Attuma placed a soft kiss on Okoye’s lips. 

Attuma took to being a father like a rhino to grass. He might have worked on which twin is which, but his heart was in the right place. It was so sweet that it could give Okoye a toothache. Before she could express her love for attuma there was a knock at their door. Who was it? It cant be their friends they respected the pair wish until tomorrow. Okoye got up to open the door.

“Uncle M’Kathu?” Okoye was shocked seeing her uncle. The last time she saw him was during her wedding. To Okoye,she felt the reason why he was there at the ceremony was because everyone who belong to the upper class was there. “I thought I would see tomorrow.”

The man let himself into Okoye’s house. “No, why should I wait. I’m family afterall.”

Family was a stretch, Okoye grimance. She could recall her childhood, when her uncle took her in when her parents died. He was much colder than he was now.  Okoye would say her family dynamic with her uncle was always working hard to get at least one euraguring comment from the man. 

Uncle M’Kathu viewed Okoye as a tool, something he could use to move up the social ladder. Okoye knew in her gut he wasn’t here just for a social call. But who was she to deny her only blood-related family to see his grand-nephews. The man sighed as he sat on the couch, while rubbing one of his knees,

Okoye placed Yunuen in M’Kathu’s arms. “My he’s beautiful.”

“Thank you, Uncle, “ Okoye said. The young mother anxious wanting to take her baby back. 

“So do they have powers,” M’Kathu questioned.  There it was, Okoye thought. She knew the man wasn’t truly here to see his grand-nephews. 

Okoye shook her head, “Not yet. It’s too early to tell.”

“Ah,” He said as he continued to cradle the babe. “I guess would not matter. If they are big like their father, they will do great.

“What do you mean?” Okoye asked. This whole conversation . Her uncle looked at her as if she was same tool he used from before. 

“I swear your womanly emotions are preventing you to see the potential here,” Uncle M’Kathu said. The uncle gave her a her simple smile like she was still just a dumb little girl, “To join. To be a warriors.”

This was different when Aneka, Ayo or Attuma said it. It was mostly jest, but with M’Kathu she knew the man was dead serious. 

“Or they could be a paintr or a teacher,” Okoye supplied. Quickly taking her baby out of her uncle M’Kathu’s arms. He shook his head, “Okoye be serious.”

“I am not raising soldiers. I am raising kids, good kids; and when they grow up it will be up to them to decide what they do with the powers they were given,” Okoye said looking at her uncle. If she had her own way with her children they would never join. “Now kindly leave my home.”

M’Kathu could only smirk. Her stubbornness remind him of his brother. Always had see it his way, he thought.  The man got up from the couch walked to the door, “Okoye.”

Okoye’s eyes locked on his, “It’s going to be a lot worse for your family before it gets better.”

Okoye figured as much, her and Attuma, much less Shuri knows if the twins would have some mutin powers. Like Attuma told her one night while the twins were still in her stomach. They’ll figure it out as a family, that’s all Okoye need to hear. 

“Then we’ll be ready,” Okoye said as she heard the soft click of the front door.

[whosbex]

You ain't missing out now! 👏

❤- Favorite Tangled Character?

💔- Least favorite Tangled Character?

✨- Moonstone or Sundrop?

🎥- Favorite Season (½/3)?

📺- Another show you’d like to see have a cross over with Tangled?

😺- Number 1 animal companion?

💎- Favorite AU?

👗- Favorite character outfit?

👔- Least favorite character outfit?

🧠- Random Tangled Headcanon you have?

🌙- Favorite Moon Character? (E.g Cass, Varian, Eugene.)

📚- Favorite Tangled Fanfic?

⏰- When did you join the fandom?

💭- How did you learn about TTS?

🎶- Best Tangled Song?

🙉- Worst Tangled Song?

💞- Which character do you relate to the most?

💢- Which character do you not relate to the most?

💥- A big a opinion you have related to the Tangled movie/series?

We all know Cass is my gurl from now until forever! But I also love her smokin hot dad where she definitely got her looks from,Hector and her aunt Adira.😌

Nigel. He can go die in a hole for all I care.

Moonstone 1000%!!!! I have built SO MUCH lore around that opal.

Season 2. Gave us all a lot to work with when it comes to lore and it Twas sad that it Twas not touched on enough in the next season.

Probably HTTYD and the book series the Wingfeather saga. They are both heavily based on dragons so I’d put a WHOLE ASS BUNCH of Saponin lore in there.

I can’t pick one animal 😭😭😭. My number ones would have to be pascal,owl,little big guy,and Hector’s pets who I have named Raynan (rhino),Kinzey & Thanatos (bear cats)

Any next gen aus and anything involving the brotherhood!

Cassandra’s adventure suit and her armor in season two. And raps and Eugene’s outfits in season three. I also like the redesign outfits I’ve made for Cass and Andrew for my next gen au.

Probably Rapunzel’s coronation gown. It just doesn’t feel like her with the big poofy skirt. And Eugene’s outfit for rap’s coronation

I have WAAAAAAAYY too many 😭😭😭. Here are some of them: Hector has ADHD,Cass is near sighted and also has ADHD but she’s medicated (idk if they had that but let’s just say they do),varian and Edmund are both autistic,Stan and Cass are cousins (the cap being Stan’s uncle),Quirin is the oldest of the brotherhood,Edmund is the second oldest after him is Adira and Hector is the youngest. Hector is a Capricorn and is born on Christmas eve (is there a specific reason y I headcanon that? No) Hector and Eugene’s mom are half siblings,Cap had a wife when he adopted Cass but they got divorced,and then Cass’s “mom” died when Cass was 16. Willow has ADHD,and her and the Cap used to be a thing. I also headcanon that the Cap’s name is Caleb. Adira and Eugene’s mom used to date,earlier in high school. Hector stole his rhino from a circus that was passing through the DK,and he found the bear cats in the woods. Cass found Owl as a bb chick that fell out of his nest and was hurt and this happened not too long after her mom died so Owl just became her emotional support animal as well as her fighting bird. Andrew is dyslexic,oh and Quirin is color blind.

Idk ig Cass but I don’t like how they wrote it in the series. But my second would have to be Varian cuz ngl that would also make sense. But yet again I’m also interested with the moon!Eugene au.

I need to read more but so far Blood of my brother by AMax76✨😌✨

2018,when season one just ended. I did watch the short film when it came out but,then I just kinda forgot abt it😅. So yah I officially joined in 2018

Saw the teaser on Disney channel.

My top three should be, 1) ready as I’ll ever be 2)waiting in the wings 3)nothing left to lose

Through it all and living the dream.

At the beginning:raps. By the end? Cass,Eugene and Varian.

Fred.

Again I have too many😅. But I’ll try to keep this one shorter. IMO we should’ve had more lore on the DK and especially Saporia. I really would’ve liked to see them really dive into the motives of why they wanted to take Corona back. I also think that Ready as I’ll ever be should’ve gotten a reprise ont eh finale I stead of us getting through it all,cuz let’s be real that song was not it.

[amivitale]

Photo by @amivitale. March 19, 2023, marks the fifth anniversary of the death of Sudan, the last known male northern white rhino on the planet. Here, JoJo Wachira gives his last goodbye to Sudan before he died at @OlPejeta Conservancy in northern Kenya. It was silent, except for the rain falling, a single bird scolding, and the muffled sorrow of Sudan’s caretakers. Watching a creature die—one that is the last of its kind—is something I hope never to experience again. It felt like watching our own demise. With Sudan’s death, the northern white rhino is functionally extinct, but remarkably, all hope is not lost. Thanks to an international consortium of scientists known as the @BioRescue_Project, there are now 24 northern white rhino embryos that are ready to be transferred into surrogate southern white rhino females in the near future. This will have profound implications for the other species of rhino that are also critically endangered—as well as the more than 42,000 animals threatened with extinction on Earth today, as well as the more than 16,000 endangered animals on Earth today. I have just launched the new short film “Remembering Sudan,” documenting the heartbreaking crisis facing the northern white rhinos, the incredible efforts to save them, and the work of keepers like Zacharia Mutai of Ol Pejeta Conservancy, who sacrifice so much to protect them. I hope that you will take time to watch it. All the proceeds will support the important conservation work of Ol Pejeta Conservancy, which cares for Najin and Fatu, the last two northern white rhinos. Visit rememberingsudan.org or click on the link in my profile to watch today. #rememberingsudan #northernwhiterhinos #amivitale #dontletthemdisappear #documentaryphotography https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp5nfNMPlYR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[spookykoalaphilosopher]

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[skylarstark4826]

It was a successful birth both for Okoye and the twins. She couldn’t wrap her mind that her body made two perfect beings. Well, she did have help from Attuma. The big blueberry was over the moon when the pair realized they were about to have children. 

“My sun gave me stars,” Attuma said one night as they cuddled in the bed. It was during the time Okoye was still reeling from the fact she was carrying two children instead of one/ but the easy part was over, now Attuma and Okoye are officially parents. For the pair, they were ready for it. The pair were back to their lovely home, that sat by the river. They chose this location when Okoye realized how serious Attuma was about her. The new mother was mentally preparing herself. To be bombarded with guests during their social call and giving the new parents more gits. She’ll deal with that tomorrow. 

“This one is Yunuen,” Attuma said as he cradled one of the newborns while Okoye handle the other babe. Okoye shook her head, “No, that Yaxkin. His birthmark is on his left foot.”

Attuma has been trying to tell the twins apart since they got home two days ago. Who knew having identical twins would be so hard? Attuma thought as he pulled Yaxin’s socks off to see the birthmark. 

Attuma got from the couch as he placed Yaxkin in the bassinet. “I will be back as fast as I can.”

The warrior was needed for a meeting in Talokan that he could not miss. Attuma placed a soft kiss on Okoye’s lips. 

Attuma took to being a father like a rhino to grass. He might have worked on which twin is which, but his heart was in the right place. It was so sweet that it could give Okoye a toothache. Before she could express her love for Attuma there was a knock at their door. Who was it? It can't be their friends they respected the pair's wish until tomorrow. Okoye got up to open the door.

“Uncle M’Kathu?” Okoye was shocked to see her uncle. The last time she saw him was during her wedding. To Okoye, she felt the reason why he was there at the ceremony was that everyone who belonged to the upper class was there. “I thought I would see you tomorrow.”

The man let himself into Okoye’s house. “No, why should I wait? I’m family after all.”

Family was a stretch, Okoye grimaced. She could recall her childhood when her uncle took her in when her parents died. He was much colder than he was now.  Okoye would say her family dynamic with her uncle was always working hard to get at least one nurturing comment from the man. 

Uncle M’Kathu viewed Okoye as a tool, something he could use to move up the social ladder. Okoye knew in her gut he wasn’t here just for a social call. But who was she to deny her only blood-related family to see his grand-nephews? The man sighed as he sat on the couch while rubbing one of his knees,

Okoye placed Yunuen in M’Kathu’s arms. “My he’s beautiful.”

“Thank you, Uncle, “ Okoye said. The young mother is anxious wanting to take her baby back. 

“So do they have powers,” M’Kathu questioned.  There it was, Okoye thought. She knew the man wasn’t truly here to see his grand-nephews. 

Okoye shook her head, “Not yet. It’s too early to tell.”

“Ah,” He said as he continued to cradle the babe. “I guess would not matter. If they are big like their father, they will do great.

“What do you mean?” Okoye asked. This whole conversation. Her uncle looked at her as if she was the same tool he used before. 

“I swear your womanly emotions are preventing you to see the potential here,” Uncle M’Kathu said. The uncle gave her a simple smile like she was still just a dumb little girl, “To join. To be warriors.”

This was different when Aneka, Ayo, or Attuma said it. It was mostly jest, but with M’Kathu she knew the man was dead serious. 

“Or they could be a painter or a teacher,” Okoye supplied. Quickly taking her baby out of her uncle M’Kathu’s arms. He shook his head, “Okoye be serious.”

“I am not raising soldiers. I am raising kids, good kids; and when they grow up it will be up to them to decide what they do with the powers they were given,” Okoye said looking at her uncle. If she had her own way with her children they would never join. “Now kindly leave my home.”

M’Kathu could only smirk. Her stubbornness reminds him of his brother. Always had seen it his way, he thought.  The man got up from the couch and walked to the door, “Okoye.”

Okoye’s eyes locked on his, “It’s going to be a lot worse for your family before it gets better.”

Okoye figured as much, her and Attuma, much less Shuri knows if the twins would have some mutant powers. Like Attuma told her one night while the twins were still in her stomach. They’ll figure it out as a family, that’s all Okoye needs to hear. 

“Then we’ll be ready,” Okoye said as she heard the soft click of the front door.

[dankgentlysholisticstoneragency]

The Girl with Golden Hair: Chapter 3

The Warriors of Kyoshi

Word Count: 1859

Warnings:

Masterlist

          Zuko and I were in his room meditating, apparently it’s supposed to help with my firebending by controlling the candles sitting in front of us, he had four and I had one to focus on. The cabin door opened, revealing Iroh, “The only reason you should be interrupting me, is if you have news about the Avatar,” Zuko said evenly. I had stopped my meditating, to look at Iroh, Zuko peeked and nudged me to continue, I rolled my eyes and continued with focusing on my candle. 

          “Well, there is news, Prince Zuko, but you might not like it. Don’t get too upset,” Iroh treaded lightly.

          Zuko stayed level headed, maintain the candles’ pulse, “Uncle, you taught me that keeping a level head is the sign of a great leader. Now, whatever you have to say, I’m sure I can take it.” I let out a small laugh, earning me a glare, which made me laugh louder.

          Iroh tugged on his beard, “Okay then. We have no idea where he is.” 

          The candles in front of Zuko roared brushing up against the ceiling and melting my candle, “Hey!”

          “What?” Zuko got to his face, his eyebrows scrunched and a scowl painted on his face. 

          “You should really open a window in here,” Iroh mentioned.

          “I told you,” I butted in.

          Zuko rolled his eyes, “Give me the map!” Zuko tore the map out of his uncle’s hands.

          “Well, there have been multiple sightings of the Avatar, but he is impossible to tack down.” 

          “How am I going to find him, Uncle? He is clearly a master of evasive maneuvering.”

          “He’s just a kid, I don’t think he’s the master of anything, except for maybe fun,” I stated.

          “He’s over a hundred years old!” Zuko barked back annoyed.

         “Did he look over a hundred years old? Maybe he got frozen and that light was him defrosting or something. I really don’t think he the master much except for like airbending and fun."

          "That's ridiculous," Zuko dusted off my reasoning.

          I threw my hands ups, "I'm serious, back in my world people would freeze themselves when they died so that in the future if we ever got the technology we could bring them back to life or clone them."

          "You're lying." 

          "And you're thick headed!" I left the room quickly. God he was so annoying! And he has the nerve to call me annoying? The nerve! What does he know? 

          I sat in my room until dinner was ready. I reluctantly sat at the table, only because Iroh asked me to. I was eating my roast duck and chatting with Iroh and sharing things from our worlds, and I did my best to ignore the glare coming my way by Zuko. I thought he said he didn't hate me! Why do boys suck? A server gave Zuko some cooked fish and said something that I wasn't paying attention to until, "The Avatar's on Kyoshi?" He stood and made his demands on his way out the door, "Uncle ready the rhino's he's not getting away from me this time." 

          "Are you gonna finish that?" Iroh called to Zuko.

          "I was gonna save it for later!" Zuko grabbed the plate from Iroh and took off. 

          "Wow, what a peachy family dinner." I scowled eating more duck. 

          "Don't let my nephew's temper deter you, he is more thoughtful than you think."

          "I guess I'll take your word for it Iroh. I know he can be kind, but it doesn't seem like he knows how to in most situations."

          "Trust me, I'm aware Ayaka. He'll come around someday" Iroh smiled, and I smiled back. 

❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀☯❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀

The ship’s walkway lowered onto shore, and three Kmodo Rhinos, at least that what Zuko told me, were lead of the ship by three men that mounted them. Zuko led the group naturally, I however decided to take a passive stance this time I walk behind them and eventually split off and entered the village on my own, as to not associate with Zuko. My mission was to take care of the collateral damage Zuko would surely cause. I needed to take care of civilians and make sure everyone was okay. I was between houses waiting for Zuko to start on his usual, “I want the Avatar alive.” The dirt street was deserted, not a single person was out, “Come out Avatar! You can’t hide from me forever!” He taunted, then he turned to his men, “Find him.”

And with that the battle was on, not long after some girl warriors were defending their home. I took the distraction as my time to get everyone out of their homes and into a larger structure, that appeared to be a dojo, I had found that was furthest from the battle. I had done my job by the time the battle heightened by the arrival of the Avatar and the houses along the main street were on fire, “Oh no.” I said to myself. There wasn’t any convenient water source and I wasn’t sure how to put the fire out with my firebending, I only knew how to create. Looking at the damage, I saw the Avatar’s bison over head and I heard Zuko command his men to head back to the ship, I sighed and jogged back too, not wanting to get left behind. 

          “Why the long face?” Iroh asked me when I sat down across from him at the Pai Shao table, I could see the town still burning. 

          “Those people just about lost all they had Iroh, their homes and livelihoods, all so that Zuko could capture a twelve-year-old boy, who we didn’t even catch.It’s just sad.” 

          “What is he doing?” I heard Zuko say, watching the flying bison through a telescope. I look to see Aang falling to the sea. He disappeared for a few moments until reemerging on the back of a giant black eel. The eel reared back and as Aang tugged on it’s whiskers it shot a jet of water onto the village, putting out the fires. I cheered for a second only for Zuko to give me a weird look, and I stopped and quietly sat down. 

          “Good always finds a way Ayaka,” Iroh said and we started a game of Pai Sho, I spared a glance at Zuko who I swear I saw a glint of guilt in his eye.

          Later that night, I thought about Iroh’s words. Maybe that’s what gives him hope that Zuko will choose to be good. I couldn’t sleep I kept tossing and turning, and eventually I couldn’t take it. I got up and went to the deck with my mp3 player in hand. The chilled air made me shiver a bit, but hopefully it will do some good in making me tired. I read somewhere that the cold does that. On deck was Zuko overlooking the water, I decided to take a seat beside him, “Hey.”

          “Hey,” Zuko replied in monotone.

          I decided maybe we didn’t have to talk so I offered an earphone and he took it, and I clicked play. We sat there for a while listening to the songs coming on, every now and then Zuko inputting his opinion about a certain song, he liked Motley Crue, Joan Jett, and shockingly get this, Taylor Swift! That seems so out of place with his exterior but you know I kind of get it. “Do you think you’re good? Or at least on the good side of history by hunting the Avatar?”

           He looked at me quizzically, “I don’t know, and I don’t care. I just want my father to accept me back. I want my honor back,” He scowled at the water below us.

           “What if there was another way to regain your honor?”

           “Maybe there is but I need to be able to find m- You know what it’s not important for you to know.” 

           “Maybe it’s not my place, but I feel like it is to me Zuko. Please trust me, I showed up here for a reason, I have a destiny here, and I think it might be to help you Zuko.”

            “Why do you want to know so badly? What do you get out of helping me?”

          “Nothing, I don’t get anything out of this except for the satisfaction that helped you. I want to know because I can’t help you if I don’t know what it is you want to do.”

          He side-eyed me before sighing, “Fine I’ll tell you, but I’m only doing it so you stop annoying me. I don’t need your help. I need to find my other. She was banished the day Azulon passed away. You see, my father made Azulon very angry by suggesting that he should take Iroh’s place as Firelord since his only son, Lu Ten, died in the Siege of Ba Sing Se. He said that he had to feel the pain of losing a son,” Zuko stopped for a second, and I took his hand, “And my mother did what she could to protect me, like a mother turtle duck, and she was banished.” 

          “We’ll find her Zuko, I know you said you don’t need my help, but I want to give it.” 

          “I don’t understand.” 

          “Don’t understand what?”

          “Why are you so nice to me? I get it you said you don’t hate me, but that doesn’t mean you have to be nice to me,” He shifted a bit.

          I smiled and squeezed his hand, “You’re human, that’s why. I don’t agree with your means to an end but I get it, deep down I know things will work out for you and the world. I’ve seen you be kind before even if you don’t even realize it, and you deserve to be treated with such as well. We all have flaws that make us feel unworthy, and we have pasts that hunt us but it’s what we do with ourselves now that matters.” 

          “Thank you.”

          “Don’t mention it, I’m just helping a friend.” He smiled at me for a split second and I smiled back. We sat in silence, turning our attention back to the water and the music before I drifted off.

          I woke up at sunrise, enjoying the warmth on my head before I opened my eyes. Then I realized where I fell asleep, on the deck and that definitely wasn’t warm. I opened my eyes and saw my head was on Zuko who was sprawled on his back. I sat up quickly and cringed at my situation, God that’s so awkward. He wasn’t awake so maybe I could get away with it and not have to mention it. I looked around the deck and saw Iroh sipped his tea playing a tile game, we made eye contact and I shook my head trying to tell him not to say a word and he motioned his hands in front of his face like he didn’t see anything. Relieved, I woke up Zuko, “Hey Prince Dumby wake up.” 

          He groaned and sat up, “What was that about me deserving kindness?” 

          “I’m still gonna annoy you that’s different.” 

          “Whatever.” 

[stampwithtami]

CRAFT FOR A CAUSE WITH RHINO READY KITS & AUTISM SPEAKS

RHINO READY KIT & AUTISM FUNDRAISER Offer ends April 10. Discover unique and fun craft techniques while supporting Autism Speaks. Join our fundraiser by purchasing a Rhino Ready Stamps card kit featuring the Stampin' Up Rhino Ready bundle and Stampin' Blends markers. $10 of every sale will be donated to the organization and enters you into my special giveaway. Let your creativity flow while making adorable cards with our high-quality stamps. April 2 is World Autism Awareness day. I have 3 ways to participate join me in helping to raise $500 for Autism Speaks, chose the one that works best for you.    3 WAYS TO PARTICIPATE IN FUNDRAISER PURCHASE THE KIT - $1O Donation to Autism Speaks is made with each kit sale. - Entry into the special giveaways. PURCHASE KIT DONATE $35 DIRECTLY TO MY AUTISM SPEAKS FUNDRAISER - Online Class Free. - Entry into special giveaways. DONATE HERE 10% OF ALL ORDERS PLACED IN MY ONLINE STORE DONATED - 10% of all orders placed in my online Stampin' Up! Store April 1-10 will be donated. Must use host code N39PQZAB. SHOP ONLINE VIP CLUB MEMBER DISCOUNT - Receive an additional 10% off the kit. Be sure to use the special VIP form on the VIP site to receive your discount. - Kit purchase counts as April VIP purchase. - Not a VIP member yet? Learn more about getting your wish list on a budget with perks JOIN THE VIP CLUB This DIY card making kit is great for all levels of paper crafters from beginners to advanced. It will include a written pdf tutorial with photos of each step, an accompanying video tutorial and the supplies to make all of these projects. See the list below for what is included, and the basic supplies you’ll need to complete your kits. You may add on to the kit if you'd like additional products. ORDER KIT DOWNLOAD KIT FLYER DONATE TO AUTISM SPEAKS GIVEAWAYS Purchase the kit or donate directly (min. $35) and automatically be entered to win one of the special giveaways. ORDER KIT DONATE TO AUTISM SPEAKS ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES & ADD ONS SUPPLIES YOU'LL NEED TO COMPLETE THE KIT (OR EQUIVALENT) - Stampin' Seal - Price: $8.00 - http://msb.im/1qAR - Paper Trimmer - Price: $25.00 - http://msb.im/1qAS - Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad - Price: $6.00 - http://msb.im/1qAH - Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine - Price: $125.00 - http://msb.im/1qAP OPTIONAL ITEMS YOU DON'T NEED BUT MIGHT LIKEI used these items to complete the cards. You don't need them to complete the kit but may like them and can add them on. - Versamark Pad - Price: $9.50 - http://msb.im/1qAI - Heat Tool - Price: $30.00 - http://msb.im/1qAL - Basics Embossing Powders - Price: $18.00 - http://msb.im/1qAM - I used white embossing for some of the words but you can use the Memento black on white card stock instead if you don't have this. - Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack - Price: $9.00 - http://msb.im/1qAJ - Parakeet Party Stampin' Blends Combo Pack - Price: $9.00 - http://msb.im/1qAK - Radiating Stitches Dies - Price: $30.00 - http://msb.im/1qAO - Stampin' Dimensionals - Price: $4.25 - http://msb.im/1qAQ - Basics 3D Embossing Folders - Price: $30.00 - http://msb.im/1qAN   KIT ORDER FORM   Read the full article

[readingbooksinisrael]

January 2023 Read This Month

Rereads

Elatsoe/Darcie Little Badger, illustrated by Rovina Cai (ya indigenous fantasy)-Ellie can talk to the dead and mostly uses this to play with her ghost dog, but when her cousin dies in a car accident and manages to tell her that he was murdered she has to find out who did it and why.

Mark, the Match Boy/Horatio Alger, Jr. (Ragged Dick #3) (mg realistic fiction)-When a match boy faints in front of him Richard Hunter decides to take him in as his ward.

The Nine Lives of Christopher Chant/Diana Wynne Jones (Chrestomanci #1) (mg multiple world fantasy)-Christopher never thought to tell anyone about the worlds he visited in his sleep. He thought it was normal. But it turns out to not be normal at all, which makes him not normal at all, and very valuable to different groups of people.

4 stars

Rhinos at Recess/Mary Pope Osborne, illustrated by A.G. Ford (Magic Tree House #37) (children’s fantasy time travel)-Jack and Annie travel to a safari in South Africa where they have to save a rhino and her baby before the poachers kill them.

3.5 stars

Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality/Roshani Chokshi (Pandavas #5) (mg myth and religion based fantasy)-It’s the last book in the Pandava series but the Pandavas aren’t ready for the battle after everything that happened in the last book.They need to find a way to get ready and reach the nectar of immortality before the Sleeper does.

Fame and Fortune; or, the Progress of Richard Hunter/Horatio Alger, Jr. (Ragged Dick #2) (mg rags to riches)-Richard, or Dick, is rising steadily in the firm he now works in, but some people have it out for him and are doing their best to lay a trap.

Leave It to Beaver/Beverly Cleary (Leave It to Beaver #1) (mg based-on-the-tv-show realistic fiction)-Beaver really wants a et. He just has to learn how to take care of one in between pleasing great ants and fighting girls named Judy.

3 stars

Answers in the Pages/David Leviathan (mg realistic, romance and adventure fiction)- When Donovan left his copy of The Adventurers on the kitchen counter, he didn't think his mom would read it--much less have a problem with it. It's just an adventure novel about two characters trying to stop an evil genius...right? But soon the entire town is freaking out about whether the book's main characters are gay, Donovan's mom is trying to get the book removed from the school curriculum, and Donovan is caught in the middle.

2.5 stars

Moonrise/Erin Hunter (Warriors: The New Prophecy #2) (mg animal fantasy)-The cats are on their way back from Midnight to warn the Clan cats about the upcoming danger, but they will encounter deadly danger themselves before they get back. Meanwhile, in the Forest cats are dying from hunger.

2 stars

Short Stories: 1905-1906/L.M. Montgomery (adult short story collection)-Short stories, mostly romance.

על חיות מחמד ועל חיות אחרות/יהודה דניאלי (adult memoir)-From a snake kept as a rat-eating machine to accidentally spilling feed in the milkman’s pail this memoir follows animals in the author’s adult life.

[craftystampin]

Stampin Scoop Hello, Irresistible and More Online Exclusives Suite Episode 156

Stampin Scoop Hello, Irresistible and More Welcome back for part 2 of the Stampin’ Scoop show featuring the Stampin’ Up! Online Exclusives with lots of Hello, Irresistible Collection samples. Stampin’ Up’s just dropped a new line of “Online Exclusive” products. Tami and I shared a sampling of them in our pre-order haul last month but now we’re able to share them all! And in addition to the hot…

[biomic]

can’t believe all that shit happened in the judoon episode

[storiesofteyvat]

I hope I'm not late. Diluc, Childe annd Xiao With a Male!S/o who is a Element Crafter. And At first they don't under stand what He means, Untill during Battle, He Literally Starts Creating beasts from the elements around him. Like for example, during a Battle where they're outnumber S/o starts doing some weird avatar bending Movements, and Literally Creates a Rhino From Dirt and Rocks.

Elemental Crafter S/O

Pairing(s): Childe, Diluc, and Xiao x Male Reader

Warnings: A few profanities used but nothing drastic!

a/n; nah you’re not late! You’re actually my first request! :D I hope you enjoyed this and have a nice day! I decided to make the reader a geo catalyst user since I though it fit the request, hope you don’t mind!

The dude is seriously amazed by his boyfriend’s abilities, he’d end up praising the h/c-ed boy for his amazing work and may offer him to help out whenever Childe has some ‘business’ to attend to.

The moment he found out was during a commission y/n had decided to take up but the two of them ended up getting outnumbered by a group of mitachurls, and while the harbinger could easily take them on, he wanted to see what y/n could really do.

Childe was like a kid during Christmas, he was absolutely amazed with what his boyfriend could create in mere seconds. He’d show y/n off to anyone he comes in contact with, and often brags about him to his fellow Fatui members. (He talked about y/n so much that Scaramouche threatened to cut off his lips if he spoke about his ‘AmAzInG bOyFrIenD’ one more time.)

“Hold on, I got this.” y/n muttered to the harbinger as he brought out his catalyst. Before the enemies could get in another attack, they were instantly bombarded by what seemed to be rhinos made of rocks, causing them to die in mere seconds. Childe stared at his lover with wide eyes, trying to process what had happened until he let out a laugh and wrapped his arms around y/n.

“Wait a minute! So you could do this the whole time?!” The harbinger asked with stars in his eyes. “That’s amazing, babe! Show me what else you can do!”

He was shocked to say the least. Diluc had never seen y/n during a battle and just assumed that he didn’t even have a vision to begin with, but that all changed when the two of them came across three abyss mages.

Watching y/n skillfully create such beings just from rock was astonishing to him, and he was quite proud to be courting such a strong person.

“Diluc, watch out!” y/n shouted as he quickly took out his catalyst and ran behind the redhead, conjuring up an elephant made up of rocks to crush the abyss mage before it could harm him.

The battle was over in just a few minutes, and on the way back to the city Diluc couldn’t help but ask a few questions. “...I didn’t know you could do something like that.” He said, breaking the silence. y/n shrugged as he walked beside him. “It’s nothing much, I just picked it up a few years ago.”

“Well, I found it quite amazing. Perhaps you can show me a bit more later on.”

Xiao was baffled, amazed, yet confused as to why y/n would hold back such power. How could he such beautiful create things so easily? He personally wanted to see more, but would never express it.

He found out while the two of them were out on a walk, encountering two ruin guards on the way. And while he could easily take care of them, y/n had other plans.

“Wait, let me do it.” y/n said to the Adeptus, causing him to give y/n a look of both confusion and concern. Before Xiao could complain, his lover was already making his way to the ruin guards with his catalyst in hand.

The two machines looked over to the male and readied their missiles. But before they could attack, a stampede of what seemed to be buffalo shaped rocks ran towards them, destroying them in just a few minutes. “What were you thinking? If those..whatever they were, didn’t come? You could have died!” Xiao said harshly to the h/c-ed boy, a sharp look in his eyes. “That was a completely reckless move, Archons forbid if you get hurt like—” “I made them, actually..”

Xiao still reprimanded y/n for his ‘idiotic idea’, he did give him some praise for his attack method. “Next time, just show me your abilities without putting your life in danger...but I will admit, your methods are quite interesting.”

[canyouhearthelight]

The Miys, Ch. 160

Y’all. I am so excited for this chapter.

I know I say that a lot, on nearly every chapter.. which is fair, because as I hone my writing skills, I get more and more excited for each new thing I think I do well.

But THIS?  This is a type of chapter that this story has only seen once - maybe twice.  Because I didn’t write this chapter...

@baelpenrose did. I just edited.

I am 1000% percent willing to field any questions, but brevity is the soul of wit, so here goes!

(Guest Author: Baelpenrose, Guest Perspective: Arthur Farro)

In movies, I’d have been giving a grand speech as the enemy approached. In films, that’s what you do before a battle to keep troops from freaking out. Maybe they’d have raised their weapons and given raucous cheers as I really got into it and the enemy would have been so kind as to delay their breach until right as the cheering died down.

Yeah, that’s not how life actually works. Not even a little.

Here’s how battles aboard a massive nautilus-shaped starship the size of a city getting invaded by alien slavers actually go: You find out where they’re going to hit about fifteen minutes in advance because you have a computer whiz and a really good navcomputer that figures out the vectors on their boarding shuttles so that all the defenders can be where the enemy are going to breach. You set up the natto barrels, the capsaicin arrows, the mermaid with the opera voice - and apparently another even more violent personality - the probably-a-warcrime-but-who-gives-a-shit-at-this-point hot oil sprayer that was supposed to be used for flash-frying veggies, and you get ready to slaughter the enemy faster than they can run forward.

Then, before you’re really all the way into position, they blow the fucking walls off the place, drop the pressure to what they can handle, burn through the wall with plasma torches. No Gandalf “You’re soldiers of Gondor!” crap, no “HOLD THE LINE” rallying. Just arrival, quick burn, breach, and then suddenly you’re eye deep in eye-wateringly revolting green shrimp-men, wooly berserker rhinos, and hentai horrors, the last of which are screaming in skull-shredding loud tones that make it impossible to think and you have to roar “ARCHERS! CAPSAICIN FIRST! JOKULL, NATTO BARREL! HOLD THE SPRAY FOR NOW!” and hope your team can hear you.

The screaming was horrific, but the clouds of capsaicin erupting in the midst of the breach were causing chaos among the enemy - the rhino-berserkers seemed to be reeling under it as I screamed again “Broadheads, switch to broadheads! Moonlight, start opera, see if you can disrupt whatever echo...FUCK!” 

The enemy were returning fire in some capacity and I found my legs snared with some sort of bolas, quickly dragging me. I hauled my sword and flailed at the cord as quickly as I could even as the tentacles grabbed at my arms, forcing me to abandon my efforts at slashing the rope to focus on the tentacles before the teeth extended enough to rip through the jacket I was wearing over my suit - hell I suspected the only reason it wasn’t through the suit already was the jacket.

I was looking at the ceiling, up at a group of shrimp-men, when Jokull’s roar - fuck that shrieking was still going and those tentacles were still everywhere - interrupted them. The axe Jokull carried swept through, just as the curved blades that Nixe’s violent persona, Moonlight, had strapped to her hands, began shearing through them. I was hauled to my feet with enough force to bruise my arms. “You alright, schoolteacher?”

“I’m fine, lumberjack.” I swept my sword around me in a tight pattern in an attempt to keep the tentacles away, slashing through one viciously as Coffey joined the melee with brutal overhand swings of - was that a rebar club or a hammer? Something had been made especially for him in the workshop, and he and Conor were joining in with absolute relish, hitting savagely against the carapaces of the shrimp-men and cracking the chitin with more force than human beings would have been capable of delivering before the hypergravity of the last few years. Ivan was joining in too, focusing on lower blows with a clear technique with a blacksmith’s hammer, cracking the chitin with brutal efficiency.  It was obvious who had thought to make weapons the two larger men could use while still recovering their sense of balance.

Fuck it. Say what you want about me. Say what you want about sociopathy. Say what you want about violence or human nature, but there was something maddeningly beautiful about this, too. The screeching ached. The clouds of capsaicin were a sensory assault. But I was fighting back to back with a former enemy, the lovers of my friends, and a mad mermaid against alien invaders. All while swinging weapons that had gone out of style centuries ago, in the midst of rank soybeans being used as a bioweapon.  I felt incredibly alive, and I will defy anyone to live through this and say there wasn’t something invigorating about it.

Wait. Right. The rhinos were still reeling, and we were being pressed by the shrimp-men because they were still, sort of, able to press.

Charly’s archers sent in another volley as we slammed ourselves against a bulkhead, even as Moonlight got grabbed by the tentacles and my sword sheared through another one, alien blood staining the ancient blade. “Come on, come on.” We weren’t quite back to the line yet, but they had the sprayer set up now. “DOWN!” 

A barrage of hot oil streaked past us, between us and into the swarm of shrimp-men, towards the nearest of the hentai horrors. We heard the tentacled monstrosity scream in a whole new way this time as they began getting not only flash blinded by the heat but seared and burned by the oil. Collapsing brought them no relief as they writhed on the ground and fell into the sizzling oil, where their wounded, with cracked carapaces, were cooking. 

“Another volley!” We had a moment while the oil sizzled between us, and another wave of capsaicin clouds erupted among the rhinos, limiting further fire exchange. There was a brief moment of calm before the hentai horrors screamed again and began surging over the oil, scalding themselves on it to try to get to us Their slime might have been protecting them or their skin was thicker than I thought - or they were dumber than I thought - but those tentacles were a whole lot closer than they had any business being and Moonlight was charging forward, her mother-of-pearl bodysuit flashing as she howled and began tearing at one of them. The tentacles ripped at her as I brandished my sword and Jokull rushed in with me at the other, savagely hacking at it. A tentacle closed around my calf and I felt the pressure of the teeth on the tentacle, but - 

I grinned underneath the bodysuit over my head, the fangs couldn’t pierce the motorcycle pants that I wore over the fucking body condom. I flicked my sword down to take the tentacle off. “Before they recover, archers, keep up a steady barrage now, keep your capsaicin shots spaced, communicate with each other! Melee fighters, push on the tentacle things! I want the rhinos kept off-balance for a minute!”

 I wanted them strung out so we could focus - fucking hell, where were all these tentacles coming from? There was an unfavorable oxygen-to-tentacle ratio in this fucking corridor right now. I was trying to keep the tentacles occupied and, thanks to the dropped gravity and the endurance training, that seemed doable for now. But it was like fighting six different opponents, all flailing, with no idea what they were doing - which actually made it worse, since it meant I had no idea what they were doing. Defensive windmill sword drills weren’t designed for fighting the humboldt squid or anything else with dreams of animated adult film stardom. 

Jokull was trying to attack one of them while I defended against the tentacles and Moonlight ripped into another one, screaming madly as she did so in a language that...had she fucking invented a language for the mermaid kingdom that existed in her head? I couldn’t be sure over that appalling screaming the squid were still doing, but I was pretty sure that wasn’t any language I had ever heard before. She tore at it with her knives, and the tone it was screaming in didn’t actually get any quieter but it took on a tone that I sincerely hope was actual pain or fear as I began seeing what seemed like fewer tentacles. 

Jokull finally got an upper hand and brought his axe around in a terrifying blow that split the head of the one he’d been fighting. The tentacles spasmed, one of them finally flicking past my defenses and ripping a gash in the hardened leather of my jacket. It finally went still as that awful noise finally went down to manageable levels. “CONOR, COFFEY, IVAN! RUSH THE SHRIMP-MEN! LEAVE THE LAST SQUID TO MOONLIGHT!” 

We heard the mad mermaid laugh like the siren she very much was as she continued savaging the monstrosity she fought, the horrible creature finally going silent as we hit the formation of crustaceans that had recovered from the oil blast, arrows still firing into the midst of the rhinos. The poor things were starting to recover from the capsaicin amidst the stench of blood and natto, still wheezing from the blasts of spice. They had anticipated sound blasts but not chemical warfare, and the shrimps were fighting with some sort of baton-weapon and lobster claws. I found myself braced by one as I brought my sword down, the ancient blade planting between those creepy dead eyes, and wrenched it free and cracking the shell open. I lunged to another before finding my wrist grabbed by the claws that had been favored by evolution - on, apparently, more than one planet - and realized that my jacket wasn’t going to save me from my sword-wrist being crushed, until one of Charly’s arrows impacted an eyestalk. I got my arm back, getting the leverage to plant a kick in its center of mass and send it staggering into Coffey, who proceeded to smash the poor bastard into foul smelling goo.

Jokull must have decided to fuck with me right then, that’s the only way I can explain what happened next. Either that, or that particular class opted to curse me from beyond the grave. “NOTICE ME, SENPAI!” He made eye contact with me from across the battlefield right before he did it, and brought his axe around in a brutal scythe as he took a shrimp man’s head completely off its body and sent it flying off, leaving me howling with laughter as I lunged and cracked another one before heaving its lifeless corpse aside, holding my sword aloft and roaring with defiance.

The rhinos were starting to recover and bracing to charge as the shrimp-men finally started routing in the face of the mad onslaught - only for Charly to, with an almost evil glee in her voice, howl, “CASPACIN ARROWS, ANOTHER VOLLEY!” and send the poor things into another coughing fit. Another set of clouds burst among them and sent them heaving and collapsing yet again, their star shaped noses convulsing this time. 

“Sure, they’re great in melee, shame they’ll never get there…” I wondered, briefly, if it was possible they were going to have PTSD from a battle without ever getting to fight or actually get into the battle proper. 

Something new had come through the breach, though I couldn’t quite make out what it was. But whatever it was it had rallied the shrimp men and seemed to be passing out masks to the Rhinos, which I could not have. “Someone shoot that, whatever it is. Everyone else, get ready to charge…” 

It was wandering around on mechanical parts, and the shrimp-men began charging again before we met them. The newcomer was charging in with a massive wrench, and the Rhinos were starting to get their breath in the face of another barrage of arrows - even as we charged them and began hitting them low and hard with sword, axe, hammer, clubs, and everything else we could before they could get their balance back, hamstringing them with blows we could never have delivered before training in high gravity. We shattered bones, cleaving through muscles and severing arteries in an effort to knock them down as they swung massive, heavy limbs to send us sprawling back. 

No sooner had I found myself on my back, covered by arrow fire than I found myself having to parry a downward swung wrench by that fucking newcomer, who I had started to roll to my feet to slash at before I stopped as Charly and I both recognized what they were. 

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[hellyeahheroes]

Parallels of the relationships between the Spider-Men and the Darkhawks

Disclaimer: to stop any Peter bashing, I am just going to preemptively explain his behavior with it’s the 90s which was an era in comic books where Venom became a hero, Punisher thrived, and anti-heroes were the cool heroes.

So I was curious and bored and decided to look up the original Darkhawk comics. I discovered that Chris Powell also met a Spider-Man in his beginnings as a superhero just like Connor did. This is just me comparing their relationships.

Okay, Darkhawk was what I thought he was in that he is a darker take on Peter Parker. Peter was a bullied (Jewish) orphan nerd loser from Queens who was stuffed in lockers and didn’t get any girlfriends. Peter just lost his second father figure and was forced to take care of his elderly bedridden Aunt. He was an angry misanthropic kid with a chip on his soldier who felt the world owed him something. He grew out of that once Ditko took his pretentious objectivist nonsense to DC. Chris Powell, from what I gather, is an older brother of a gaggle of younger siblings being raised by a capable single mother. Chris had a girlfriend and he recently just lost his father and is a little peeved at that. In a way, Peter is seeing a reflection of himself when he meets Darkhawk except because of the 90s, he is seeing a murderous vigilante version of himself. Hence the moralizing.

Versus Miles and Connor’s first introduction to each other. I presume that Miles’ saw himself in Connor but because Connor isn’t exactly Punisher-lite and Miles isn’t as self-righteous as Peter, Miles opts to take a very different approach to Connor than Peter took with Chris.

Miles is a kid living in gentrified Brooklyn who intends a charter boarding school via winning an academy. Miles isn’t bullied in so far he feels out of place at his school and is removed from his community. Miles has friends and a growing social circle. He is well-liked at his school. Miles has such a decent upbringing because his father and uncle’s side of the family weren’t “good” people. Yet, one of Miles’ best relationships is with his Uncle Aaron, a career criminal. His father was strict and his mother was doting. When the eponymous spider bite happened, Miles’ world turned upside down. Becoming Spider-Man for Miles’ wasn’t an escape, but a burden. A responsibility that he wasn’t ready for. It turned his loving relationship with his Uncle antagonistic. His father’s strictness and hatred for superheroes waned on him. And now Spider-Man died and he somehow felt responsible because he was too timid and scared to reach out. Being Spider-Man took away the normal life, Miles was prepared for but also saved Miles from becoming just like his nihilistic Uncle.

Connor is raised by a single father in Yonkers. Connor had a promising future as a basketball star until he was diagnosed multiple sclerosis. Feeling his dreams and aspirations going down the drain, Connor attempted suicide and while leaving a parting video message to his father. Before he could complete the message, a rock from space hits a building nearby and by touching that rock, Connor became Darkhawk.

And again, Miles has a better social awareness than Peter so he can just reach out to Connor and recognize that he is troubled. Miles empathizes with a lot of characters. It’s why Rhino likes Miles in one issue of his comic, and wants to gore Peter in his ASM comic. I think that’s neat of Higgins to harken back to the original Darkhawk and make an interesting parallel with Spider-Man and Darkhawk. Higgins gets the characters and it’s neat to see Miles used in this way for Connor. Parallel story telling and Miles go hand in hand. And honestly, it’s nice to see Miles get another work husband.

@ubernegro