#at least i know java now

[nintendont2502]

i walk into my lab. nearly start crying from frustration. get deadnamed by my tutor for the fifth time. leave. its dark outside. hate it here

[aspectpriority]

jeeez. no wonder baby Aspect bounced off of this so hard. it isn't *super* complicated? but its a lot of things i barely understand *now* all in one place, let alone 5 or 7 years ago. i think i can figure it out, but man. no wonder i hated this lmao

[acesammy]

ugh applying to jobs recently has felt like back when i was in college the first time applying to movie theater jobs and getting denied without an interview despite being 19 with 2 years of experience - including managerial experience

[myth0mani-art]

Man, all my friends do is drinking their brains away for fun, I'm boreddddddd.

[tinylongwing]

Top five small birds go

PICKING ONLY 5 is CRUEL but I don't have time for 10. Species names will have the links to photo sources where applicable.

Long-tailed Manakin. They take like 4-5 years for the males to learn their dances and each year they look a little more like adults to match their experience! They are little and yet have very long tails!! And cute little caps! Very elegant tiny birds.

(Photo by me, bird handled and released on site with permits as part of MoSI, a long-running collaborative research program).

2. Wrentit. Look past the plain gray exterior, let me teach you some BIRD FACTS because these guys are basically aliens. They live in a very small part of the west coast of North America in scrub/chaparral, and we still don't really know how they got there or where their nearest relatives are or what birds they're even related to, though recently they think maybe it's parrotbills, which are otherwise mostly found in SE Asia.

During the breeding season, most female birds develop a brood patch, a section of bare skin on the belly for aiding in heat transfer to the eggs, and most male birds develop a swollen cloaca to facilitate sperm transfer. In some species where males help incubate, they also get brood patches. This is fine. Male Wrentits get brood patches. A little weird but not too crazy. Female Wrentits, however, get a swollen cloaca? Why?? Nothing else in North America does this? I don't.... understand.

Also they're cute, they have a song that's like a bouncy ball going down stairs, and males and females have slightly different songs, so even though we can't determine the sex in the hand like with normal birds, at least if they sing you can tell. Normal birds don't sing when being handled. Wrentits definitely sometimes do. I don't get it. But I love them for it.

(Photo mine, bird banded and released on site with permits as part of MAPS, a long-term research program).

3. Calliope Hummingbird. Itty bitty tiny creature, would absolutely spear you to death with its face if it thought it could pull that off. Hummingbirds in general are territorial and aggressive and these guys are no exception. Also they're beautiful. Look at that starburst of a face!

(I have photos but don't want to go dig them up, I'm lazy)

4. Java Sparrow. Help, I'm hopelessly charmed by how adorable they are. Unfortunately, apparently everyone else is too, and these are now critically endangered in their home range of Java due to habitat loss and poaching for the pet trade. The good?? news is they're also super invasive in places like Hawaii, so they're not about to go globally extinct, so that's cool, I guess.

5. Micronesian Rufous Fantail, formerly just Rufous Fantail, aka chichirika na'abak because look I don't know proper indigenous names for everything but I do for my study birds and I support their use. Chichirika is CHamoru for "showoff" and na'abak is "the one who will lead you astray", after the local stories of kids trying to follow these delightful little low-flitting creatures through the jungles and getting hopelessly lost, leading to village search parties.

Anyway, look at that tail!! Go listen to their cute little squeaks! I'm absolutely in love. I've banded literal hundreds of these and they never ever get old. Every single one of them is a treasure to me.

(Photo by me, bird banded and released on site as part of my very most beloved own tropical forest bird research program in the Northern Mariana Islands).

[dancethroughthethunder]

Bobby From High School Chapter Six: Goodness, Gracious, Great Balls of Fire!

Pairing: Bob Floyd x Reader

Word Count: 5.0k

Previous Chapters: Chapter 1 Of All the Gin Joints, Chapter 2 Two Coffees, Chapter 3 It’s Not Prom, Chapter 4 If Life Were a Musical, Chapter 5 I've Got You

Summary: The very first Friday night back since the Uranium mission finds the Dagger Squad back at the Hard Deck, as expected. With everyone in a celebratory mood, you and the team spend the night drinking and having fun. In all of your fun, you can't stop to think how lucky you are to have been brought into this group, and to get to love Bobby.

Author’s Note: We did it! The final chapter of BFHS, my beloved old friends to new friends to lovers story. I think I say this about everything I write but BFHS really has a special place in my heart. I just really want a night out with the Daggers at the Hard Deck. It's a little over the top but that's just their dynamic tbh. That's it for Tiger and Bobby (for now at least). Thanks for everyone who has come along for the ride! xoxoxo

Divider credit: @/saradika

tw: mention of alcohol/being drunk

It's the first Friday night since the uranium mission, and the Dagger Squad has all agreed to meet at the Hard Deck. Nobody has said it outright but there’s a clear agreement that everyone’s ready to celebrate with plenty of alcohol. Everyone’s excited about the success of the mission, and to be back home safely. 

Bob is excited to see you. You met him at base when he first got back late Monday night, but he’s been so busy with after action reports, debriefs, and mandatory medical check-ins that you haven’t seen much of each other since. You should be there soon, having texted him that you were calling your uber a little while ago. 

Bob is trying to focus on watching his friends play pool instead of keeping his eyes on the door, eagerly awaiting your arrival. Shifting his attention from Hangman, across the pool table to Rooster, the light catches his glasses just right and he notices a smudge on his right lens. He lifts up a few inches from his seat to grab his glass cloth out of his back pocket and takes his glasses off to clean them. 

“Hi, I’m so sorry this sounds like such a cheap pick up line but do we know each other? You look so familiar.” 

Bob looks up from his glasses to find a beautiful woman with a drink in her hand, standing there talking to him. He doesn’t need his glasses to recognize her, he’d know her anywhere. He laughs and shakes his head while he finishes cleaning his glasses, sliding them back on his face before leaning up to meet you for a kiss.

“Holy shit, Bobby Floyd!” You say with a smile.

“You’re ridiculous.” Bob laughs. “Hi darlin’.” 

“Hi, Bobby.” You steal another kiss. “It was the perfect timing, I couldn’t resist.” You shrug, and Bob can’t help but think how lucky he was the first time you approached him like that, to have reconnected with you after all these years and now, getting to be your boyfriend. 

“Tiger!” Hangman greets you, equally excited by your arrival as he is by the shot he just sunk to defeat Rooster. Ever since your interaction at the hospital after the bird strike, you and Jake have continued to be close. It baffles and delights the rest of the team, who can’t understand (but appreciate) the way that your friendship seems to balance him out from time to time.

“Jake.” You nod and greet the rest of the team. When Rooster just gives you a halfhearted wave instead of a normal greeting, you bite back a laugh at the look of defeat on his face before looking back to the shit-eating grin from Hangman.

Before you can pull up a seat next to Bob, Phoenix comes over to steal you away to the bar to get drinks. Bob takes the time to check you out. You’re wearing the same little ribbon in your hair that you wore when the two of you went to get coffee at Java’s. That first time you wore it, Bob tried his hardest not to think about untying that ribbon as a metaphor for unwrapping you, getting to know what’s underneath your clothes. This time, as your boyfriend, he gets a little more leeway in checking you out. This time, he knows exactly what you look like under those denim shorts, knows that the flattering cut of your shirt doesn’t do justice to your silhouette, to the way you look in his bed. You’re leaning forward, elbows on the bar just chatting casually with Penny and Nat and it’s a testament to Bob’s strength that he doesn’t drop everything to take you home right now. 

He’s still a gentleman though, so he gives himself just one more second to stare before looking away, not wanting to leer at you in public.

“Damn, Bob. Look at Tiger. You’ve got a good one.” Fanboy slides up next to Bob, looking at you appreciatively. “Respectfully, I mean.” He adds after a second.

Bob turns to look at Fanboy, and chooses to be grateful that at least Fanboy is being polite about it, even if he was completely checking out your ass. Plus, he’s right, you are hot. In typical Bob fashion he blushes a little as he nods, and agrees with Fanboy, “the luckiest”. 

Mickey slaps him on the shoulder in a proud bro manner before changing the subject entirely. “So, what do you think about getting everyone together for a Star Trek marathon one weekend?”

While Mickey and Bob are discussing the potential for a team movie marathon, hopefully Star Trek, you’re leaning against the bar chatting with Penny and Natasha while Penny pours your drinks. 

“Alright, one rum and coke for you,” Penny says, sliding you your drink, “and an ale for you,” she says to Nat. “Let me grab your shots.” 

“Thanks, Pen.” 

Penny grabs two shot glasses and a bottle of tequila and fills them for you while you continue to chat. 

“Now whose tab do you want them on?” Penny reaches over to grab two lime slices to go with the shots she’s placing in front of you.

Before Nat can object, you slide your credit card over to Penny as fast as you can. “Mine. Can you start one for me please and thanks?” You had been ready to go, getting your credit card out of your wallet and in your hand while talking so you could beat Nat to the chase.

Penny laughs at your urgency, “you’ve got it.” She says, taking your credit card down to the register to start your tab for the night.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Nat looks exasperated, “but thank you. Next one’s on me though.” She smiles.

“It’s been a long week for y’all. Consider it a token of my appreciation for dealing with them, a welcome home present, and a thank you for being Bobby’s front-seater.” You start out light hearted but by the end of your sentence, you’re looking right into Nat’s eyes, conveying your sincere gratitude and care for her and the team. 

“That’s my job.” She says, kindly, pulling you in for a hug. “I’m so glad he has you.” You squeeze her a little tighter.

Pulling away, you turn towards the bar with a mischievous smile on your face. “Alright, you ready?” You pick up both shots of tequila, handing one to Nat.

“Let’s do this.” She laughs, knocking her glass into yours before you both toss them back. You make more of a face than Nat does as you simultaneously bite into your limes.

“One of these days I’m going to talk you into doing coconut rum shots with me instead.” You laugh, face still scrunched up.”

“But it’s so sweet!” Nat sticks her tongue out in mock disgust.

“Yes, and so much more palatable. I could knock that back like it’s nothing.” You sigh wistfully, trying not to laugh.

“Well, it’s still early. Maybe tonight’s the night.” Nat grabs her beer and you grab your cocktail and the two of you head back over towards the boys.

“Bobby told me he thinks everyone’s planning on getting pretty drunk tonight?”

“Oh without a doubt.” Nat confirms.

“I look forward to seeing what exactly that means for this group of hooligans.” You say, nodding in Hangman and Rooster’s direction. 

“Oh, you and me both.” Nat says. 

“I know, I’m just saying I think we can get everyone together, but I don’t know if we can get them to agree to watch them all at once.” Bob says to Mickey as you and Nat walk up.

“Watch what?” You ask.

“Mickey wants to get everyone together for a Star Trek marathon.” Bob says, sliding a hand around your waist.

“Oh. Hmm. You could start with the new ones? I feel like you can get the guys to agree to that. There’s something for everyone and it feels a little less dated.” You shrug.

“Bro, your girlfriend is a genius.” Mickey tells Bob before reaching over to give you a fist bump. “Thanks, Tiger!” He calls over his shoulder as he races over towards Javy and Reuben, already rambling about his idea for a movie night. 

“What a doofus.” You laugh.

After a few minutes of chatting with both of you, Nat looks over at the pool table. You try not to smirk while you watch her eyes linger on Rooster.

“I’m going to go see how badly Hangman is kicking Rooster’s ass.” She says, pointedly ignoring the look you’re giving her as she walks away.

“Oh I bet she is.” You murmur to Bob, turning to face him directly. When you lock eyes with him, you suddenly look more serious than you did watching Nat walk away. “I’m glad you’re home, by the way. I know I’ve said it, but I want to say it again.”

“Thank you, honey. I’m glad I am too.” Bob’s hand is still on your waist, and his grip tightens now that it’s just the two of you in your own world.

“I know it’s your job and you’re capable but I like it a lot better when you’re home safe with me.” 

You feel guilty saying it, but it’s true. It’s not like you’re asking him to give it up, or confessing a deep hatred, you’re just admitting that you prefer it when he’s here. Which he understands, he also likes being home safe with you. You both know it, in lieu of answering Bob just leans forward and presses a kiss to your forehead. Neither of you move for a moment, you just sit there leaning against him with Bobby’s lips pressed to your forehead. 

In the background, you hear Hangman cheer again, but your focus is fully on Bob. You’re just breathing him in, feeling him against you. You’re in the middle of a loud, crowded bar but as far as you’re concerned it’s just you and Bobby. 

Well, it is until you’re interrupted.

“Alright, lovebirds. Time for some shots!” Hangman claps a hand on each of your shoulders.

“Isn’t it a little early in the night?” Bob raises one eyebrow in Hangman’s direction. 

“Didn’t I just do one with Nat?” You ask at the same time.

“Exactly.” Jake nods. 

“I don’t even know what that means.” Rooster says as he walks up.

“That’s alright bird boy, you don’t have to understand. You just have to buy them.” Jake says with a wicked smile.

Coyote comes up behind them, and claps a hand on Rooster’s shoulder, ready to steer him up towards the bar. 

“It could be worse, you could owe everyone two rounds of shots?” You shrug.

“Oh, now Tiger, that’s more like it.” Jake whoops and you cringe, immediately, watching him take your words as an invitation.

“Two rounds of shots on Rooster!” Coyote says triumphantly while you cringe and mouth the word sorry to Bradley.

“Wow, what a man.” Nat teases. 

“Yeah, yeah. I hate you all.” Bradley groans. 

“I want to be offended, but I deserve that this time.” You lean over to Bob and Nat while Coyote and Jake practically manhandle Rooster in the direction of the bar. It’s entirely unnecessary given the lack of resistance Rooster puts up, but you’re pretty sure that it’s half the fun for them. 

The guys return a few minutes later, and true to their word have two trays filled with enough shots for each of you to have two. You’re pretty impressed that they’ve managed to make their way through the crowd in one piece, with all shots as full as they were when Penny poured them.

“Tequila time!” Fanboy announces, setting down his own tray that’s filled entirely with salt and limes.

“Oh my god, are we making an entire production of this?” You ask Nat.

“It’s like you’ve never met them before. Of course we’re making a production of this.” She replies. 

“Alright is it salt, shot, lime, salt, shot, lime?” Fanboy asks.

“No way dude, it’s salt, shot, shot then lime. Back to back, get them over with.” Payback insists while he passes shots out from his tray. 

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think Payback has a point. Get them both over with.” Bob says with a sigh. “After that first lime, you won’t want to do the second shot.”

“Atta boy, Bob.” Hangman cheers. 

Somehow it’s agreed. In quick succession you’re each going to take a bit of salt, then two shots of tequila, and then you’ll bite into your limes. 

“I was going to ask if you wanted to go to the Farmers Market tomorrow morning but now I’m thinking we’re going to want to spend the day in bed.” You tell Bob as you reach over to get your lime ready.

“What are we drinking to?” Coyote asks.

“How about to a successful mission and getting home safe?” You offer. “No? Too sentimental?” You read the faces around you and see slight smiles but nobody looks enthused by your idea. “How about to being the best of the best?” You try again. This time, everyone’s faces light up.

“To being the best!” The team cheers unironically, some of you holding your first shot and some holding both up in the air. In practiced unison, everyone takes their first shot though everyone falls out of sync for the second. 

You have to admit, Bob and Reuben were right. It’s definitely much better to get through both shots and then have your lime instead of forcing yourself back to the tequila after the lime. Just like before, you screw up your face in reaction to the tequila going down your throat as you bite into your tequila. 

Looking over at Bob, he’s got a little bit of lime on his face. 

“Oh honey, you’ve got something right there.” You tell him.

“Oh, where?” He asks, bringing his hand up towards his face right as you lean in and press a messy, loud kiss to his lips. 

“Right there.” You giggle.

“Get it, Bob.” Someone cheers behind you.

“Alright you freaks, what’s next?” 

“Darts?” Coyote suggests, and you and Fanboy offer to bring the trays back to Penny and grab another round before meeting everyone back over by the dart boards. 

“So I’ve been thinking some more,” you say as you set the trays down on the bar and grab a cup of peanuts for Bob, “I think you get everyone to agree for a movie night at your house or Bob’s and then when they get there, just put Trek on. If you ask them in advance, they’re going to whine about it but once it’s on they’ll enjoy it. So don’t give them the option.” 

“Dude, you really are a genius.” Fanboy says appreciatively while the two of you balance everyone’s drinks.

“Someone’s gotta be the brains around here.” You joke, making your way back towards the team where everyone seems to be arguing about the teams for darts. Everyone, but Bob, that is. He’s claimed a seat off to the side and is just watching everyone with an amused smile on his face. Always ready for a rescue, Nat steps in to help you and Fanboy pass out drinks and soon you’re left with just yours and Bob’s.

“Do I even want to know?” You ask, sliding up to him as you hand him the cup of peanuts and a beer.

“I’ve been here the whole time and I’m not even sure I know.” He shakes his head, amused. 

“Well, they’re your team.” You shrug, taking a sip.

“Exactly, I got assigned to them. You chose this.” He says, as if choosing to be around this group is the craziest thing he’s ever heard.

“You got me there.” 

Bob holds out a shelled peanut at the exact second you go to reach for one out of his cup. Sometimes romance is fresh flowers at the market and sometimes it’s a shelled peanut at a Navy bar at the exact second you want it, and as long as it’s with Bob, you couldn’t ask for anything more. 

You hook your foot around the leg of Bob’s chair and in one swift movement, pull him closer to you. He’s clearly not expecting it and nearly topples into you, not ready to brace himself and laughing from the shock. But you were ready, so you just maneuver yourself even closer in a move that was somehow a lot smoother than it should have been.

“Hi, Bobby.” You smile up at him, laying your head on his shoulder.

“Hi, beautiful.” Bob smiles as you reach a hand up to brush aside a piece of hair that’s fallen onto his forehead. 

“Wanna know something?” You ask brightly.

“What’s that, darlin’?” His eyes scrunch just a little bit, trying to figure out what you’re going to say.

“I love you.” You say, like it’s your first time: smile wide, and face a little flushed.

“I love you, too.” Somehow your smile gets even wider before you kiss him again. 

For two people who aren’t the biggest proponents of PDA, the few kisses you’ve exchanged tonight are practically scandalous. Whether it’s fueled by the tequila in your system, the joy and adrenaline of being reunited post-mission, or the infectious energy the entire team is giving off, you’re not sure. Hell, it’s probably some combination of the three. 

Still, for most couples out on a Friday night, it’s tame. You’ve exchanged a grand total of five kisses all night (one to the forehead), and Bobby’s hand has a respectful grasp on your waist. You’re an affectionate drunk, and you’re both comfortable in your little corner by your friends. Besides, you’d be lying if you said you hadn’t seen Jake do much worse over the few months you’ve been coming to the bar with everyone. 

Eventually, the two of you turn your attention back towards the rest of the team, watching the game of darts. Bob tries to explain it to you, until Hangman notices you watching. Always one to put on a show for an audience, Hangman and Coyote start implementing all kinds of tricks to their throws while Phoenix and Rooster groan and boo them each time. 

Finally, you’re not quite sure why, maybe it’s the look of annoyance on Rooster’s face, maybe it’s the overexaggerated drawl that Hangman is using, but you eventually burst into laughter. And it’s loud. The type of laughter where trying to stop to explain what you think is so funny only makes you laugh harder. For a brief second, everyone looks at Bob expecting him to be able to clue them in. But when Bob just shrugs his shoulders, it sets off a ripple effect through the rest of the team. After you, Fanboy bursts into laughter, which prompts Payback and Coyote. This makes Bob laugh, which finally gets Natasha and despite their best efforts not to give in, soon Rooster and Hangman do too and the entire group is laughing without knowing why. 

Eventually the laughter dies down and you suddenly realize how badly you need to pee, which isn’t all that surprising given how many drinks you’ve had. You stand up from your seat next to Bob and wordlessly make your way over to Nat where you grab her hand and take off towards the bathroom. Nat seems to know exactly what’s on your mind as she silently follows you, hand in hand.

“Where are they going?” Fanboy asks.

“Who knows.” Hangman replies. 

Meanwhile, you and Nat are making your way through the crowd to the bathroom, her hand still tucked into yours while you weave through people. There’s a pretty large group in khaki who clearly preferred to come right to the bar instead of change, though you think that part of it might also be guys who want to fit in with the crowd in hopes of drawing the attention of a woman who loves a uniform. 

“Thank god there’s never a line here.” You tell Nat as you push the door open.

“One perk of being a woman in and around the Navy - no bathroom lines.” 

“To the patriarchy!” You say with a sarcastic salute. Nat snort laughs as you make your way into a stall. The second you sit down, you feel the world spin for just a second, just enough to realize exactly how much alcohol is coursing through your bloodstream. You’ve never understood the phenomenon of realizing how drunk you are in the bathroom, especially since you were recently sitting with Bobby so it’s not like your first time sitting. But as always it still applies to you. 

Meeting Nat back out by the sinks, you wobble for a second looking in the mirror, you two of you bursting out in laughter again. 

“Please tell me you’re as drunk as I am.” You giggle, washing your hands.

“Yes ma’am.” This time it’s Nat’s turn to salute jokingly, the movement so ingrained in her that despite her best effort, the form is still perfect. Watching her in the mirror, your jaw drops. 

“Nat. We have to take a mirror selfie.” You say, as though it’s the most important idea you’ve ever had.

“Oh my god, yes.” She replies, with the same amount of importance.

The two of you continue laughing, taking selfies together, just enjoying having a moment of girlhood - the experience of laughing with another woman, drunk in a bathroom. 

“Okay, okay, we should get the guys to take a picture with us, to commemorate or what the fuck ever.” You say, nodding along with your own idea. 

“You get to be the one to tell the boys.” 

If you didn’t already know you were drunk, your reaction now would make it clear. Instead of groaning at the prospect of trying to wrangle the team into one, nice photo, you light up, excited by the idea and grab Nat’s hand again as you practically run out of the bathroom and back to the team. As soon as you can be spotted through the crowd of people, Bob tilts his head curiously, seeing the excitement and speed with which you’re approaching. You’re so set on your mission that you don’t notice Fanboy walking a few steps behind you and Nat.

“Darlin?”  Bob asks, once you’re in hearing range. 

“We’ve had –” Nat bumps you with her hip, “– I’ve had the best idea. We’re taking a group photo.” You declare.

Unsurprisingly, you’re met with blank faces, and a lack of excitement.

“Come on, chop chop.” You say, undeterred by the silence. “Alright, all of you get together like you like each other. I want one nice one of the team first.” You say as you tug on Mickey’s sleeve to pull him closer to Bob. You’re flitting around, a woman on a mission, as you move and guide each aviator exactly where you want them, before taking a couple steps back and fishing your phone out of your pocket.

Everyone is together in a row, smiles on their faces and arms around each other. 

“Come on, put your arms around each other, it won’t kill ya.” You say, snapping photos all the while.

“What are you, our mom? Is this the first day of school?” Hangman jokes.

“You’ve got it, kiddo, now smile nice and pretty.” You retort, taking what ends up being one of your favorite photos of the night. The whole team is smiling and laughing together, arms around each other, except for the few hands that still have a beer in them. It’s a great photo, almost shockingly good, given how drunk you all are. 

“Alright,” you say, lowering the phone, “one more.”

“Oh come on, Tiger.” Hangman whines.

“Bob, can’t you stop her? She’s your girl.” Payback jokes.

“No way, I’m smarter than that. Just give her another minute.” Bob tells them while you grab the nearest person with both hands free. You give the girl your phone before darting into the group, determined to make it nice and quick. 

Unfortunately, the combination of speed and tequila-driven lack of balance doesn’t do you any favors. On any other night, it wouldn’t have been noticeable but with all eyes on you from the team, waiting for your presence to take a photo and get back with it, everyone’s eyes go wide as you stumble, losing your balance just enough. But Bob’s got you. Always on the lookout, always anticipating your needs, Bob reaches out to steady you before you can actually fall, and tugs you into his side for the photos. On the other end of the group, Hangman makes some characteristically snarky comment and once again you’re all laughing.

This one becomes your second favorite photo, in a few months you’ll end up printing and framing a copy for each aviator, ignoring the teasing comments about how sappy you are. It’s clear how much you all mean to each other. Even more so than the team photo earlier, everyone is laughing and smiling at each other, the joy shining clearly in your faces. But your favorite one is the one taken seconds before, where everything is the same except you and Bobby are turned to look at each other, smiles wide, in the aftermath of your near-fall. 

But for now, you all smile while the stranger you grabbed takes one last photo before you tell the guys they’re free. While they make overexaggerated comments about the horror you put them through for a photo, you thank the girl and take your phone back, not even bothering to check the photos out before sliding it in your pocket. 

You all go back to standing around, telling stories and swapping jokes until a familiar song starts playing on the jukebox. It’s the same Shania Twain ballad that you and Bobby danced to the night before your first date.

Immediately, you turn to look over at Rooster who shrugs. 

“This one wasn’t me, Tiger.” 

Before you can interrogate the rest of the team, Bob’s hand moves from around your waist to hold your hand. 

“Whaddya say darlin’, wanna dance?” This time, Bob doesn’t need the encouragement from the team to get him to ask you.

“As if I’d ever say no to you.” You say sweetly, following your boyfriend to the dance floor. Like last time, Bob pulls you into him and you rest your head on his chest. This time, Bob’s grip is a little bit lower, and a little bit tighter around your waist. Over your head, Bob shoots Nat a wink and mouths a thank you to Mickey for having gone to queue the song for him right before you and Nat got back from the bathroom. The two of you spend the rest of the ballad swaying together before, exactly like before, Bob spins you into a dip again. You’re still giggling when you right yourself and lean up to press a sweet kiss to his lips. Your giggles are contagious and it makes an almost sickeningly sweet image, the two of you in the middle of the dance floor, drunkenly giggling through your kiss. 

Shockingly, Nat manages to hold the rest of the team back just long enough for you to pull away from the kiss before they all swarm you.

“Piano time!” Coyote announces.

“Piano time?” You ask.

“Oh, Tiger, I hate to admit it but you’re really in for a treat.” Hangman says, with a nod towards the piano where you see Rooster taking a seat. Rooster makes a show of sitting up nice and straight before nodding at Payback who unplugs the jukebox. You expect an outrage, and while there’s some definite confusion, most everyone turns their attention right to the piano. Clearly, this isn’t the first time this has happened, you think.

“C’mon darlin’.” Bob says, as he and Nat lead you through everyone else in the bar to circle Rooster with the rest of the team. 

You’re all definitely causing a scene the way you hoot and holler along to the opening notes of the familiar song. It might be your first time witnessing this, but you fit in perfectly, squeezed in between Bob and Nat, cheering Rooster on. You spend the rest of the song dancing, more high energy than you might expect as you all sing exaggeratedly to one another. 

On the first kiss me baby you lean in and kiss Bob, as expected. You’re still aware that this is more PDA than the team has probably ever seen from you, but you’re all drunk enough and you and Bob are sweet enough about it that nobody seems to mind. Plus, the song practically demands it. The second time the lyrics come around, you shock everyone by pressing a kiss right to Nat’s cheek before she delivers an incredibly dramatic ooh that feels good that has you laughing so hard you have to lean your weight on Bob so as to not fall over.

It’s entirely possible you’ve never had a night exactly like this one, nor have you ever known anyone like this group. You don’t think you could be full of more love or joy if you tried. Not that you go out often, but when you do, you’re always a loving, cuddly drunk. So while Rooster plays, you look around at this team, and then at Bob, feeling so lucky. 

You’ve been lucky to know this man as long as you have, and by god are you lucky to get to love him the way you do. You’re so glad everyone is home safe from their mission, and while you’re likely to be exhausted tomorrow, you’re having the time of your life dancing and laughing with your friends. With one final burst of energy, you all yell out the last line of the song, goodness gracious, great balls of fire! You make quite the picture, the way you’re all centered around Rooster, this ridiculously handsome group of people that has turned into a family, and right behind the piano bench, are you and Bobby, arms around each other and big smiles, just the way it’s always been meant to be.

[phantomrose96]

Hey not to go all "tumblr is a professional networking site" on you, but how did you get to work for Microsoft??? I'm a recent grad and I'm being eviscerated out here trying to apply for industry jobs & your liveblogging about your job sounds so much less evil than Data Entry IT Job #43461

This place is basically LinkedIn to me.

I'm gonna start by saying I am so so very sorry you're a recent grad in the year 2024... Tech job market is complete ass right now and it is not just you. I started fulltime in 2018, and for 2018-2022 it was completely normal to see a yearly outflow of people hopping to new jobs and a yearly inflow of new hires. Then sometime around late-spring/early-summer of 2022 Wallstreet sneezed the word "recession" and every tech company simultaneously shit themselves.

Tons of layoffs happened, meaning you're competing not just with new grads but with thousands of experienced workers who got shafted by their company. My org squeaked by with a small amount of layoffs (3 people among ~100), but it also means we have not hired anyone new since mid-2022. And where I used to see maybe 4-8 people yearly leave in order to hop to a new job, I think I've seen 1 person do that in the whole last year and a half.

All this to say it's rough and I can't just say "send applications and believe in yourself :)".

I have done interviews though. (I'm not involved in resume screening though, just the interviews of candidates who made it past the screening phase.) So I have at least some relevant advice, as well as second-hand knowledge from other people I know who've had to hop jobs or get hired recently.

If you have friends already in industry who you feel comfortable asking, reach out to them. Most companies have a recommendation process where a current employee fills out a little form that says "yeah I'd recommend such-and-such for this job." These do seem to carry weight, since it's coming from a trusted internal person and isn't just one of the hundreds of cold-call applications they've received.

A lot of tech companies--whether for truly well-intentioned reasons or to just check a checkbox--are on the lookout for increasing employee diversity. If you happen to have anything like, for example, "member of my college Latino society", it's worth including on your resume among your technical skills and technical projects.

I would add "you're probably gonna have to send a lot of applications" as a bullet point but I'm sure you're already doing that. But here it is as a bullet point anyway.

(This is kind of a guess, since it's part of the resume screening) but if you can dedicate some time to getting at least passingly familiar with popular tech/stacks for the positions you're looking into, try doing that in your free time so you can list it on your resume. Even better if you make a project you can point to. Like if you're aiming for webdev, get familiar with React and probably NodeJS. On top of being comfortable in one of the all-purpose languages like C(++) or Java or Python.

If you get to the interview phase - a company that is good to work for WILL care that you're someone who's good to work with. A tech-genius who's a coworker-hating egotistical snob is a nuisance at best and a liability at worst for companies with even a half-decent culture. When I do interviews, "Is this someone who's a good culture fit?" is as important as the technical skills. You'll want to show you'll be a perfectly pleasant, helpful, collaborative coworker. If the company DOESN'T care about that... bullet dodged.

For the technical questions, I care more about the thought process than I do the right answer, especially for entry-level. If you show a capacity for asking good, insightful clarifying questions, an ability to break down the problem, explain your thought process, and backtrack&alter your approach upon realizing something won't work, that's all more important than just being able to spit out a memorized leetcode answer. (I kinda hate leetcode for this reason, and therefore I only ask homebrewed questions, because I don't want the technical portion to hinge at all on whether someone managed to memorize the first 47 pages of leetcode problems). For a new hire, the most important impression you can give me is that you have a technical grasp and that you're capable of learning. Because a new hire isn't going to be an expert in anything, but they're someone who's capable of learning the ropes.

That's everything I have off the top of my head. Good luck anon. I'm very sorry you were born during a specific range of years that made you a new grad in 2024 and I hope it gets better.

[fraugwinska]

Giveaway 2nd Prize Winner Piece

Hello my loves! Our darling @lil-glum, who won myy 2nd prize in the 1k Follower giveaway, has graciously allowed me to share the finished piece with you all! It was a delight to work with her - and her ideas were so good that writing this felt less like work and all the more like a treat! <3 So much so that I, in fact, went a bit overboard with the word count! ;> As usual: Minors DNI or I'll curse you to always have moist socks!

Paint the Town Red

For weeks now, Alastor had stalked out that little human like a vulture, circling high above the oblivious prey and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Revisiting the living world should've been a glorious occasion, since summonings were becoming so rare nowadays, but that moron who dared to call on him hadn't been worth his while - but she was.

Luck and curse had it that he didn't have to return to hell right after the laughably one-sided deal was striked, leaving him time enough to put a little glamor on to stroll around town in his earthly disguise, freshly brewed coffee in hand, and see what humanity had been up to since his demise. The world had become frivolous, no class at all, and Alastor had felt at ease knowing that he had lived at the peak of culture and manners, never to be bettered.

And then she ran into him. Deeply immersed in a book - not those audacious electronic devices people put their nose in every waking hour - she'd rounded the corner while Alastor gawked around, lost to the world captured on the yellowed pages. A head full of red, silky locks had bumped into his chest and the book as well as his coffee dropped, the former to be saved by his quick reflexes. A simple flick of his wrist, and the book was back in her hand, while his cup of java laid spilled in a muddy puddle between their feet.

"Oh! Oh no - I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention!" she'd said, pushing her glasses back her nose as she smiled up to him apologetically, and when Alastor met her eyes, something shifted. And just like that, the hunt was on.

"No harm done, darling. The coffee was poorly done anyway."

Since time was running out, he turned up his charm to at least get the girl's name and maybe another meeting out of the encounter, already planning on ways to return. Thankfully, she'd given it all too gladly, and promised to invite him for coffee as an apology for the spilled one. He'd taken the sound of her name into his hands like the greatest treasure, repeating it over and over in his mind as he was being dragged back to the afterlife tasting each vowel and consonant. Hunting down an indebted incubus and acquiring its asmodean crystal had been as easy as working out how to use it. And oh - did he use it.

His absence from his duties in the hotel became more and more obvious, but Alastor couldn't stop himself. It wasn't even the thrill of the chase that kept him going. Every time he saw her, it was as if her mere presence called out to an unknown part of him, as if her voice was a siren's call, as if her scent was a drug created just for him. He couldn't stop himself from thinking about her: The delightful way she laughed at his quips. The elegant way she spoke about her interests. The way she brushed her fiery hair back over her shoulder when she was nervous…

Alastor wanted it all, and he wanted her.

"Alastor, are you listening at all?" she smiled at him, pulling him out of his raging thoughts.

"My apologies, dear, I was merely...distracted. Please do repeat yourself." he cleared his throat and gave her a wide grin. The abandoned park they walked in was tinted in oranges, greens and browns, little specks of autumn's palette so becoming to her complexion.

"I was saying that I don't really feel like going back home yet. How about we take a detour - explore a little?" she proposed, pointing down to a small trail that led away from the main road, lined with trees and shrubbery, "There's supposed to be a pond around there, and I think it would be nice to enjoy your company a little longer."

Alastors ears perked up and his smile widened, threatening to mirror the one he always wore down in hell. She wanted to be alone with him, far away from prying eyes - that wonderful, naive thing.

"That sounds delightful, my dearest - lead the way!"

His mind was running wild with possibilities as he followed her down the path, watching her red locks bounce as she hopped down the sloping ground. How much she trusted him was as endearing as it was thrilling, and the urge to reach out and take her by the arm to pull her into his own grew with every step he took, the demon in him aching for a taste of her. He wasn't one to rush good things, and he wanted to enjoy this, make it last as long as he could, savor every moment of the inevitable fall.

She was chattering away happily, unaware of the obsessive way he watched her. Her hips swayed hypnotically, the hem of her wool skirt grazing her thighs ever so slightly, and Alastor wondered if the flush of her cheeks from the cool autumn air would be found elsewhere on her delectable body, too. He knew he had to control himself, but with his desire burning hot like the flames of his true home, Alastor struggled.

Finally, they reached the small pond and she turned around to him, beaming with accomplishment. The sight of it, of her prideful smile and trusting eyes so enthrallingly focused on him was too much, and whatever she was about to say was swallowed by his lips crashing into hers. His gloved hands held her face firmly as he pushed her against a tree, the bark scratching into the back of her coat. He had wanted this for so long, the feeling of her soft lips moving against his, her hands clawing at his shoulders, indecisive on whether to pull him closer or push him away. She gasped into the kiss and Alastor took the chance to push his tongue inside, swallowing her moan as apparently made up her mind, tugging at his coat as he finally devoured her.

It was entirely, decidedly too much: The warmth of her, the taste, the touches, the sounds, he couldn't get enough of it, couldn't get close enough. With ferocity, he got rid of every offending layer of obstructive clothing, reveling in the way she breathed his name, pleading to the deity that couldn't care for mercy and to him to ruin her. And he gladly granted her wish, benevolent as he was, his lips trailing down her neck, teeth nipping at her collarbone, tongue laving over her exposed breasts as his hands stroked up her legs, fingers disappearing under her skirt to brush against her core.

"Please, Alastor - oh!" she whimpered when he pushed a finger inside her wet cunt, the tight heat making him growl in approval. He wanted her to beg, he wanted her to cry, wanted her to break down before him and ask him for salvation. His glamor flickered, struggling to hold against the loss of control.

"Look at you, my dear, so eager, so wanting," he crooned as he pushed another finger inside her, watching her back arch from the tree, her body seeking out his hands like a magnetic pull. Brown hair slowly turned red, antlers sprouting from its crown, his modest gray coat faded into his signature crimson pinstriped frock, and she gasped into his hungry mouth as he let the grip on his magic go and revealed himself completely as the demonic overlord that he was. Alastor, the Radio Demon, laughed, licking along her jaw as he slowly increased the pace of his claws, earning another sweet sound of shocked pleasure from his little, confused human.

“Don’t let my true form deceive you, my darling - No matter what happens… I’ll make sure you see heaven.”

[wojenka]

i need more mutuals who are into coding and engineering!! more info under the cut!!

I planned to become an electrical engineer like my stepdad but then I decided to change my path to programming. I'm currently studying at technikum (<- wikipedia link so I don't have to explain the whole polish learning system), programmer major.

this year I have exams from web development (10th Jan - theory, 16th Jan - practical exams) and next year I have exams from App development (both mobile and desktop).

I know C family languages, Java, Python and those ones I am currently using. I also know a bit of Kotlin and I think I will continue learning it.

For web dev I know HTML and CSS ofc but also PHP and JS.

Planning on learning more languages I can use for App and operating system development as well as just to know them cause I want to after this year's exams!

my learning list:

Lua (I heard it's easy but I can't really get myself to read anything about this atm idk why)

Ruby

Assembly

Rust

As for electrical engineering I don't know much tbh but I would like to learn! I just used CAD programs for technical drawings (dad taught me some basic things when I was still thinking about going his path) helped my dad fix things on his Solar farm, houses of our neighbors and I made a few very simple circuits for fun a few years ago. Now I'm mostly focused on programming but since I learned most of the things I need for exams I have more time to do whatever I want now!

I'd like to get to know more people so I can share and mostly learn new things since even though I'm coding for years I consider myself a beginner and I am a total beginner when it comes to electrical engineering.

I'm willing to be friends or at least mutuals with anyone who codes or makes websites or is in STEM! no matter what your specialty/interest is exactly and no matter if you are a total beginner or a professional ^__^

I'd also like to have some mutuals who are into old web development and retro computing!!!!!!!!

edit: I forgot but I'm also interested in physics and quantum physics

[bullet-prooflove]

The Way All Cowboys Take Their Coffee: Travis Wheatley x Reader

Tagging: @kmc1989 @pear-1206 @keyweegirlie @nu1freakshow @trublu2u

Companion piece to Bronco & The Closest Thing To I Love You

It’s late when Travis wakes up the next morning, late by cowboy standards at least. The sun is just starting to rise, the orange light filtering through the slats of the blinds as his hand smooths over the empty sheets beside him. They’re still warm, you haven’t been gone long. He half expected it. He knows he’s the first man you’ve slept with since your marriage ended and last night…

Last night was intense and that isn’t including the conversation the two of you had about him courting you.

It takes him a minute to locate his jeans when he slips out from underneath the sheets. He has no idea where his ‘Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy’ t-shirt disappeared to, he can’t remember if he was wearing it when you made it to the bedroom or not.

He surprised to see you standing in the kitchen of the ranch he always rents when he’s in town. You’re wearing nothing but his missing t-shirt. He watches you for a moment,  standing in front of French press, pouring java into two mugs. Your unruly hair falls across your features as you add two sugars and then the creamer to your own, leaving his black.

It’s the way all cowboys take their coffee.

He wants this. Mornings with you, nights with you, a life with you, whatever that may look like. He steps into the room, picking up his hat from the dining table where he left it before he places on top of your head.

“Now my mornings perfect.” He tells you, tipping your chin up so he can look into your eyes. “Any regrets?”

“Only that we have to get up so early.” You tell him, your fingertips tracing over the stubble on his cheek. “Otherwise I would have liked to have spend the whole morning in bed with you.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” He tells you, his hands coming to rest on your hips as he backs you up against the counter. “Because I meant what I said last night, about coming back here every season, about being with you.”

“Travis.” You say quietly, your palms coming to rest upon his bare chest and he loves the way you say his name. “I’m not sure how much I can give you…”

“It doesn’t have to be anymore than this.” He tells you, his thumb chasing over the apple of your cheek. “You have your life, I have mine, sometimes we meet in the middle.”

You understand what he’s offering you, the chance to be with someone who cares about you, the space to work through your shit, to rebuilt your life the way you want it.

“You’re sure this is what you want?” You ask him as you look into his eyes. “That I’m what you want?”

He sees that doubt in you, that uncertainty and it breaks his fucking heart because you don’t know what it’s like to be loved, not really. You don’t understand that it doesn’t come with conditions, not if it’s true.

“Oh honey.” He murmurs, his lips brushing over yours as he kisses you for the first time that morning. “You are everything I could ever want and that ain’t gonna change anytime soon.”

Love Travis? Don’t miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.

Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

[goatgoesmbe]

Hi! Ex(? Haven’t really decided yet) Muslim here, just wanted to let you know that coming across your blog helped heal a bit of religious trauma I carry w me

I’ve always felt ostracised, now I found some place where I feel I can belong and relate to. So thank you so much for being you and creating what I consider my comfort blog!!

Hope you have an amazing day/night!! <33

Hellooooo ^O^)/ omg this is so cool- im like.. islamic wolfy (?) qkdjsjdhdjjxf

I'm so happy to hear that my blog could be a safe place for someone 🙂‍↕️ because it is also a safe place of mine ❤️

So I'm gonna make more porn

below this is not porn fkshdhh its me yapping..

I'm very religious myself, but i think I've said it before- I could understand anti-theist because i grew up with people that could make me hate any religion tbh. Not just islam. Whether it's people from school.. familly.. work.. etc

Which is why i put #cw: religion for people who wanted to filter my posts because for some the topic might be triggering

Even at lectures, which is supposed to be a safe place to learn, ain't safe either. Some often made it clear that they're anti LGBTQ+, being mysoginistic, etc. But idk how- i learned to filter out the bad and just take whatever useful

And from my experience. Finding a safe community, online or offline, is VERY FUCKING HARD. I've just been very fortunate to have at least 5 friends who are open to any beliefs, being religious, but also queer af

As of online.. i only have this blog as comfort space sksksksk. So once again, i want to thank everyone ❤️ for being so lovely

and when i said i've met people who made every religion looks bad.. i mean, every each of them XD

Ig Indonesia is so diverse that every possible extremist group existed. You go to the very west- there'd be al qatala. Java.. is the safest tbh but.. not really. You go to the east a bit, there'd be buddhist extrimist- i think they still ban hijab in some places (last time i heard, its not allowed at school/university, idk now tho, i heard that from a friend years ago in Bali)

Went to Maluku once for research and i was surprised that people are so.. separated by groups? Unlike java where everyone just mixed in one place. As in, each region is strictly for muslim, jews, christians.. and usually have beef.

I went to this village and got stopped coz they tought i was their neighborhood terrorist. For context, i was travelling so ofc i had a big ass bag. And i legit thought they were joking coz i couldn't believe this country has people like that, so i said YEAH ITS A BOMB :D (i got escorted to head of village and interrogated, stuff got searched, but turned out they realized im cool and we laughed it off)

..look, yall should know by now i'm a very unserious person

And then.. you go to the far east there would be what the gov called 'extrimist separatist group' of Christians. Some regions there also banned mosques to be built. (Tbf, Some places in Java also banned churches, so uh- ig everyone hates each other)

So.. yea.. I kind of had to re-learn religion by myself with no guidance. Just google, some scholars, and Faith ig.. somehow i got here and ig i'm quite happy with where i am rn..

And i found out some people use religion as a 'shield' to be an ass. Using it to justify them being an ass etc. When the teaching usually isn't abt allat..

So Whichever way of life/path you choose later, i hope you'd be happy with it either

I hope you have an amazing life anon 🙂‍↕️ ❤️

[edwardos]

For a spooky true story post, here's something that's been happening with me and Minecraft for the last >3 years.

In 2021 I suddenly had the inspiration to try hosting a tiny Minecraft Beta 1.7.3 unmodded server for me and online friends, which developed into something great and turned out to be a really prosperous move, even though ever since and from the beginning it's all been played by just me and one other person. But it's also where I started to discover that I have problems with Minecraft usage memory loss.

This isn't the kind of thing that I'd call supernatural or something like that, but it does creep me out, because these occurrences badly go against what I feel should be normal.

And though somebody could just make all this up, I can't make it up because it all actually happened, and I'm not going to lie here about what I think I do and don't remember, either. Everything that I say happened here, to the best of my knowledge, actually happened in Minecraft in conjunction with real life.

Starting with the original Monty Home - the name of this server at the time - in 2021, one day I started making tunnels in the ceiling of The Nether. They were narrow, cheap tunnels, and they had a practically-camouflaged stair entrance. So I didn't stumble upon them again for a long time.

I was attempting to find new interesting places in Beta terrain generation by making new portals Nether-side, yada yada yada, you know the drill.

I did come to a sense of normality with this one in the end, remembering that I had an old venture to bridge distant overworld chunks, but for a while, I was really stumped when I accidentally rediscovered these tunnels one day. I really did not remember that these strange tunnels were built by me. That day in which I found the tunnels again was in 2022. And here are the screenshots I took while I was doing that.

Records in my communication channels say that this scared me and it was a real "What the fuck?" moment. And that I killed a Zombie Pigman while I was in there, which I guess now I realize I didn't have to do because I could have just tunneled around him...

The picture further up in the grassland area is what I believe to be one of the tunnel destinations, taken before I forgot the tunnels that I carved existed. At least the memory came back into focus after a while, though.

Not all of my memories of developing on places I altered in Minecraft have come back.

While checking old places in my records to get information to write this, I was reminded of the time a diamond pickaxe I made in Monty Home went missing. Same Beta 1.7 world as above. I told my friend it went missing and that I definitely made one, and he was stumped. I always privately suspected that he was screwing with me, but not anymore. Now I think my ability to remember erased the pickaxe's location. He told me he found this to be weird and creepy. He wondered if maybe it was a server glitch, but I bet it wasn't. I still don't know what happened to my diamond pickaxe. Nobody allegedly remembers where it went.

After Monty Home, the server was modded and became Monty Cabin. There was also an era of Monty Cabin where I played Better Than Adventure with my friend, which was fun, but has no significant events in today's recollection that are supposed to be covered here.

Skipping ahead to 2023, I've somehow figured out how to mod Minecraft Beta 1.8 with the ModLoader API like a champ, in spite of having very little Java experience and a bunch of other odds. The mod goes online for a good long period and after some much-needed crash fixes, I create the world named Mt Creep. I also have a bad thyroid at this point and being in my brain is a nightmare.

So, my Minecraft mod is well under development in a version called Pre-Alpha 023, and it's September of 2023. I walk into a tunnel in the Beta 1.8 Nether that I do remember paving to, but I find an offshoot tunnel to it that I don't recognize and post these:

Fortunately I remembered what this location was and why I built it in the end, probably because it is now an integral part of a Mt Creep project I was chasing, the swamp base that is now connected to Mt Creep (the town) by minecart rail. People who have known my microblog for a while may have recently seen the video I posted of that railway. I visited the swamp again by going through that same portal in November that year. These days the swamp base is very well long-since built, and I hardly visit it now. Though at some point I'm supposed to add more vines and two kinds of moss stone.

Finally, we have the weirdest one I know about of them all. The flight of stairs in that same mod, in an older NBODE world, this year.

This staircase seems like something I would do, but I don't remember building it. I don't remember the tunneling or the crafting of stairs or even the cave below it, even though I went up and down these stairs and checked out the cave. I'm particularly curious to know why I built it. I can't figure out even now what the actual purpose I had in mind was. Later on I visited the stairs again while the server was being used by two players.

I believe my friend when he tells me that it's not there because of him, he thought of this staircase as being too much work to be him, and that his staircase would be not this tidy.

But I don't remember building it. It's a useful staircase, I like that it's there, and I'm not annoyed with it. But for all my ability to remember thousands of things, things in Minecraft new and old, things in real life that happened a long time ago, even if I never want to remember them again, hundreds of different traumas, things that fuel intrusive memory anger... I don't remember going here and spending several minutes carving virtual rock and building digital stairs.

[crackersandjuice]

PVPCIV IS BACK HOLY SHIT

(below this point are spoilers for the first episode of chapter/season 2! beware!)

i am,,,so happy that guard friend joined evbo to the bow civilization. guardbo fans we eating Good. and i guess the shields ARE in every civilization given the tunnel system. it does make me wonder why they're so out of place, but i guess that might be explained later? Evbo_ What Is Up With The Shields.

and seawatt!! he appears!! seawatt bow truthers you win (i cry because i wanted him to be a trident but it's Fine we Ball). his home got destroyed again this man cannot know peace. i also find it Very Interesting how he said something about the swords "destroying the world" (or something to that effect i don't remember). it's very much giving "the oppressor becomes the oppressed" which. can be tricky to pull off! but i have hope.

what else,,,oh right! the opening cutscene??? mans had a WHOLE opening like what!!! it was so cool!! and the end bit where he envisions tabi with him UGH. tabi redemption arc when. or evbo kills tabi arc either one works for me.

i'm so very curious about her relationship with clownpierce. why is he here? what's their end goal? and the fact they managed to wipe out almost all of bow civilization?? wowie. im gobsmacked. goobed, you could say.

and despite parrot once again not mentioning the swords during his talk with evbo, evbo says that there are FIVE eterenal weapons. not four. Five. which means that there's an eternal shield. Evbo Underscore What The Fuck Is Up With The Shield.

also rip to the theory that the swords are the only ones that can't change weapons. it makes more sense for them to be able to but now i REALLY want to know why the other civs hate them so much. afaik axes are the better weapon in minecraft (in java at least). the fuck did the swords do to deserve such vitriol?

(personally my theory is that they teamed up with the shields and that's why the shields are so spread out. sword & shield imagery For The Win.)

[zenia62]

Daendels and Freemason (Part 2)

Daendels was initiated as an apprentice on 27 October 1785 in the Freemason lodge Le Profond Silence in Kampen, which had been established in 1770. Later, he became a fellowcraft (gezell) in the same lodge. It is unclear whether Daendels maintained any relationship with Freemasonry later in his life.

Another thing for the record. Br. de Visser Smits says that Daendels himself was a Freemason, but did not have a good heart for Freemasonry. (...) This says that the reports about whether or not he was a Freemason contradict each other. Presumably he was.

The rule of G.G. Daendels - according to brother Dirk, who should know, he must have been a Freemason! - formed a fearful time for the Freemasons. Daendels must have suffered from certain complexes: and thought that there was a conspiracy in the Lodge against his rule. He had the movements of the Freemasons closely examined, confiscated their archives and dismissed and imprisoned several Freemasons with high positions in the government.

Daendels, although a freeman himself, was definitely not well-disposed towards the freeman. "He always maintained that there was an English party in Batavia, and that the Masons formed the core of it." (...)

Soo since last week I've been invested in this entire thing 😶‍🌫️ Well at least know we know that Daendels has been in the Mason stuff when he was 23 y.o but don't know if he continues w them or no. Now I do have a theory regarding this, I believe he is but as time goes he sort of forgot or js leave but never officially did 🧐 so ppl still thinks that he's part of it. In the second point, the writer seemed to be not sure if Daendels is a freemason or no which make sense since we so far only knows it from the Kampen book in the first point. I tried to find the book online but haven't found it sadly 😮‍💨

I already talked abt this topic in an old post here (shout out to @jel-randombooth for the amazing analysis as well ^^) abt how Daendels treated the freemason in the Indies n possible reasons why he behaved like that. While investigating this topic, I found similar points from the previous post that I also want to share here;

A fearful time for the Masonry on Java was the reign of G. G. Daendels. Under his leadership the activities of the Masons were closely monitored, and once even a part of the Archives was requisitioned and confiscated on the pretext that there was a conspiracy in the Lodge against the government of G. G. Daendels. Some time later Nicolaus Engelhard, Van Riemsdijk, member of the Government, Morrees, Secretary of the Government and all members of the Council of Justice, among whom also many Masons, were captured, dismissed and taken to Tjandjoer, where they were placed under the guard of the Supervisor of the Government coffee warehouse, who was ordered to shoot the prisoners if they tried to escape. (...) Fortunately the arrival of G. G. Janssens put an end to this captivity. Nevertheless the Lodges remained closed until after the installations of the English interim administration.

An example of Daendels’ distrust is his order to hand over the texts of speeches given by Engelhard and the Worshipful Masters of the Batavian lodges at their extraordinary joint meeting on 16 May 1809. Daendels himself had been invited to this meeting as a fellow Mason, but he did not show up. Although nothing offensive was found in the confiscated speeches, the tone was set.

My biggest question is how does the freemason ppl know Daendels was a mason himself? Possible explanantion is probably he knows secret symbol or gestures that they did imo 🤨 Him not attending the invited meeting tells me that he doesn't seemed interested in it. Another thing; the freemason only returned when the British came to the Indies which kinda shows that they kinda have connection w them 😬 Bcs like Janssens seemed to pity them n even released the imprisoned members, why wouldn't they js return back to normal during those time? So I guess Daendels have the right to be sus abt them.

I tried to investigate aswell abt if Daendels still had some sort of connections w the freemason outside of his Indies years, so far I haven't found anything that indicate it but I do find this signature that Daendels did in a letter after he's from the Indies; (dw I will share the content of the letter later in another post)

I remembered seeing a post abt a napoleonic figure that are in a freemason do a three or two lines in their signature (?)😭 I lowkey forgot n I couldn't find the post so pls if anyone knows abt this, feel free to tell me :D Anyway back to the pic, I think a sus part was the two dots in between the H and W. I read abt the mason ppl often use a three dots resembling a triangle in their signature n I know that in the pic it's only two so it could be js a style that Daendels did outside of his official letters since so far I mostly saw his signature in official documents in the Indies so he could've decided smth simpler instead of writing "HW Daendels" This is why I need to see his letters outside official stuff ex like letter to his friends or wife etc 🫠

God damn this is long ass post I hope y'all can read it 💀 I'd love to see u guys theories regarding this haha ✨️ That's all for now, thank you n have a great day, stay safe 🌙

[john-egg-carton]

pinned post... 2!

hii!! this blog was originally started by john the titular, buuut he's since mostly retired from existence, and now i'm probably going to keep this blog up! hi, i'm evan! i also go by john but we all do, all different names for ease of ease, yunno.

send us asks! send us memes or suggestions or recommendations!! anything at all!! this blog has a bunch of minors on that though so keep that in mind, lol. everything's fair game though! we'll also post some random whatevers whenever it's thought about !!

here's a list of people you'll see around in order from most to least likely! this will Hopefully get updated as it changes, i know we've all had a lot going on the last year or so so the blog's been a bit dead lol.

evan (he/they) 🌀 mason (he/him) 🫙 leather (he/him) 🌘 noah (he/they) ☀ joshua (he/him) 💞 john (he/him) 💾 people you probably won't see, but are around:

jasper (he/him) 🙁 jay (he/they) 🙂 ivan (he/him) 🪁 caramel (he/him) 🍭 doe (he/they/neon/shine/sparkle) 🌈 jackson (he/it) ♠ diode (he/it/they/she) 🔌 java (he/him) ☕

[manusuchus]

World Tomistoma Day 2023

Although I find the concept of a "World Day of" generally stupid, I believe that on the matter of endangered species, it can be a very meaningful speaker.

Tomsen, a female T. schlegelii at BioParc Fuengirola (Spain)

Today, August 5th, an initiative of the Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG) together with the "Tomistoma Task Force" is trying to draw attention to this poorly known and misunderstood species.

For those of you who don't know this animal, Tomistoma schlegelii, commonly known as Malayan false gharial is a longirostrine crocodilian that inhabits forested freshwater lakes, slow-moving rivers and swamps of Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra and possibly Java, feeding on diverse prey (From invertebrates to monkeys, small deer, birds and reptiles, with fish constituting the bulk of its diet), and although it is not a particularly aggressive species, there are several records of attacks on humans, with at least one fatal confirmed.

Tomistoma schlegelii devouring a female proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus). Inspired by Galdikas et al. 1985 (Illustration made in 2022)

 It is characterized by a long narrow snout which blends gradually with the base of the head/skull. Two rows of very small, barely distinct post-occipital scutes. Nuchal scales continuous with dorsal scutes and are almost indistinguishable. They are generally brown in color, with dark bands, including blotches and bands on snout and jaws.

But what makes this species really interesting are two particularities : Its enormous size and its ínteresting taxonomic affinities:

a) Size: It is not uncommon for Tomistoma males to reach lengths of 4 m today, but skeletal remains (Mainly skulls) indicate that we could be (Although improbably) in the presence of one of the candidates for the largest crocodylian species in the world . 

In their 2008 study, R. & N. Whitaker noted that the longest skulls in the world belonged to Tomistoma (One at Munich Museum at 81.5 cm; another at the AMNH at 76.5 cm ...) with the British Museum specimen taking the lead with an incredible 84 cm (Leaving all other species behind).

However, observations made on Tomistomas in captivity at the Samut Prakarn Crocodile Farm (Bangkok) and on some wild specimens, determined that the HL:TL ratio was 1:6.4 for the species; and therefore, the British Museum specimen would have measured about 5.38 m in life, certainly a giant but far from the monstrous sizes of some salties (Crocodylus porosus). 

The British Museum specimen. George Craig © (In the second photo, you can compare the size with C. porosus and G. gangeticus large specimens)

b) Uncertain affinities: Tomistoma is the last survivor of an old lineage that originated about 40-50 mya ago. This has made many authors wonder: where does this species fit in the evolutionary tree of crocodylia? And well... it's complicated.

T. schlegelii has long been considered to be a member of the Crocodylidae ( Brochu 2003). Much of the analysis has focussed on skeletal attributes, often constrained that way to allow comparison with fossil material, but there is supporting evidence from soft anatomy as well (Frey et al. (1989) , Endo et al.(2002)...) 

But now begins the tricky part : Molecular analyses place Tomistoma as a Gavialid.

( White and Densmore 2001; Janke et al. 2005;McAliley et al. 2006, Roos et al. 2007; Man et al. 2011...) Although some of these studies have been criticized for their methodology, it is clear that it cannot be ignored that they all reach the same conclusion.

 Likewise, there are important discrepancies about the times and periods in which both families appear/diverge, so the debate is not yet definitely closed.

Tomistoma are considered vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, nonetheless, it remains possible that T. schlegelii may qualify as Endangered in the future due to ongoing habitat loss and degradation, particularly Malaysia, so this day is still important to spread the word about the species.

I have only been able to enjoy these animals live once, at the BioParc in Fuengirola, Málaga (Spain) where they keep a trio of three adult specimens: Two females (Montse and Tomsen) and a huge male (René, affectionately nicknamed "Pinocho"). This Zoo is the only one in Spain that houses Tomistomas and has achieved the titanic task of their reproduction in captivity.

René, the huge male at BioParc Fuengirola. Video by me.