#duck stamp contest!

[likeawildthing]

Very on brand for me, part duck, to be spending my last day of medical leave watching the federal duck duck stamp judging contest

[hometoursandotherstuff]

He's amazingly talented and creative.

[gabnaturalist]

Just started on planning my Federal Duck Stamp Contest entry! Back in the early 60s my grandpa was a finalist for the contest, but never won 1st. I hope to continue that legacy through my entry and future entry!

If you don't know what the Federal Duck Stamp Contest is, then visit this website to learn more! https://www.fws.gov/program/federal-duck-stamp

[bwabbitv3s]

Unveiling the Art of Conservation: 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Contest | DU Nation

Join DU Nation as we dive into the heart of wildlife art and conservation at Drake University for the 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Contest. Discover the passion and creativity of artists who contribute to preserving North America's wetlands through their stunning artwork. From the history of the Duck Stamp's billion-dollar impact on conservation to the intense judging process and personal journeys of the artists, this episode is a tribute to the legacy and future of wildlife protection. Watch as we explore the significance of this unique federally judged art competition and the dedicated community behind it. Don't miss this inspiring blend of art, history, and conservation—like, share, and subscribe to support wetlands preservation!

[justacomicsjinx]

I definitely didn't read this as "Feral Duck Swamp Art Contest"

[sithbian]

i feel like obi-wan would collect stamps

[songbirdhillfarms]

2023 Federal Duck Stamp Contest Entries | Flickr

[blogsyear11]

the motivation behind Bestducking Stamps com has been defeated. You can browse the world of art because the website is up and running. Do you adore stamps with ducks? Have you got any inquiries? positive feedback on this blog.

[rebeccathenaturalist]

To be honest, if one of the students in my Junior Duck Stamp classes ever turned in something like this, I would be elated.

(For a bit of background--a few years ago the Federal Duck Stamp contest rules were changed so that artists HAD to include some element of waterfowl hunting in their entries, whether they were comfortable with it or not. The above artwork may be my favorite example of malicious--or at least snarky--compliance.)

[sad-boys-anonymous]

Day 4: Hiding an Injury

Fandom: Genshin Impact

Character: Childe

Implied ship: Childe/Lumine

“Ready when you are,” Lumine said drawing her sword from its hilt. 

Childe stood opposite to her, tugging each arm across his chest in a wide stretch. He had already removed his gloves and scarf, tossed carelessly in a pile against the dark marble walls of the Golden House. 

This was Lumine’s dirty little secret: at least once every month, she would ensure that Paimon was preoccupied by other things, and she would slip out to Liyue. Childe’s Fatui connections ensured them a private room in the Golden House, in the same arena where they had their first duel.

For an hour, she allowed herself to put aside everything- past history, allegiances, and even her own values. For an hour she let herself dip into the same bloodlust that Childe seemed to bathe in every waking moment. All the frustration and bitterness that had built up inside her was given the opportunity to bubble to the surface and burst out like steam from a vent. In those moments, she understood the mania that flashed across Childe’s dark eyes when he fought. He was free. It was a level of indulgence and hedonism that Lumine scarcely ever reached. 

“Then let’s begin!” 

Childe lunged towards her, wielding his blades of water. Lumine shifted her balance to her other leg, dropping into a fighting stance. She was smaller than Childe, allowing her to nimbly dodge his initial strike. The Hydro energy rushing past a hair’s width from her body sent excited chills up her spine. A smile tore across her normally placid face as she maneuvered behind him, rearing back to strike. 

“Not fast enough, girlie!” Childe called over his shoulder, twisting around to face Lumine on a dime. 

Their blades clashed together in a shower of sparks and mist, the power behind Childe’s parry sending a shockwave that traveled through Lumine’s sword and up her arm. Lumine grit her teeth. In a contest of raw strength, Childe had the upper hand, so she had no interest in grappling with him. Mustering the power of Geo into her extremities, she stamped her foot, ushering a wave of crystals at Childe’s feet. 

Childe was forced to fall back, giving Lumine the opportunity to pull her sword free and create distance between them. Sweat glistened on Childe’s face as he got back his footing, back slightly arched. He was already panting. 

“What?” Lumine taunted, walking a careful arc around him, “Tired already? You’re not getting rusty on me, are you?” 

“As if!” Childe shot back, wiping the back of his hand across his face. His grin was back, the lapse in composure only evident in the remnants of sweat dampening his ginger hair. 

This time, Lumine made the first move, throwing a surge of Dendro energy with the swing of her sword. Childe blocked with his blades once again, but resulting shower of Bloom cores made him stumble. Lumine closed in for another attack, only for Childe to recover faster than she expected. Dropping his arms to his side, Childe raised his leg, kicking Lumine square in the ribs. 

Lumine gasped as the pain radiated from her side, the force behind the kick sending her airborne. She broke the fall with a swift roll, immediately rising back up into a crouch. Despite the shock, she had kept her grip on her sword, now raising it defensively. 

Strangely, Childe stayed on the other side of the room. Any other time, she would have expected Childe to pounce, especially in the few seconds she had been wide open. He was particularly quiet today, his brow furrowed in concentration. If Childe wasn’t going to advance, she was. 

Lumine closed the gap in a few graceful bounds, already swinging her sword in a wide arc. Their blades met, the resulting shockwave feeling more exhilarating than painful. She ducked away, letting Childe’s momentum carry him above her head. They were locked in a high stakes dance, clashing their blades together, only to pull apart, and then meet once again. 

This is was what Lumine craved, an equal in combat that understood how important the theatrics of it all was. Her and Childe were in perfect sync, two sides of the same coin. A laugh of pure delight broke from her lips as she repelled another swing of Childe’s Hydro Blades, this time being able to push him back with the force behind her sword. They broke apart at Childe’s move this time, the man once again trying to create distance between them. 

Anemo energy gathered at her fingertips as Lumine turned on the balls of her feet, not giving Childe a chance to catch his breath. She launched a wind blade at him, only realizing in the fraction of a second as it left her hands that Childe had dropped his weapon and was leaned over. 

The blast of wind hit him square in the chest, the raw power that Lumine had intended for him to parry instead knocking him off his feet and throwing him several feet in the opposite direction. He hit the floor like a rag doll, rolling over before finally coming to a stop with his back facing Lumine. 

“Ouch, that one looked like it hurt,” Lumine shouted, letting out a bemused whistle. She stepped forward, waiting for Childe to get back on his feet. 

He didn’t. 

Her glee turned into a sour feeling in her stomach as she rapidly realized something was wrong. Childe lay still on the floor, the only movement being the rapid rise and fall of his chest. 

“Hey, Childe, are you okay?” The kayfabe had been broken. Lumine rushed to Childe’s side, dropping to her knees to assess his condition. 

Her hands tenderly brushed across Childe’s torso, pushing him onto his back. She gasped when her fingers came back stained with blood. Red stains bled through the front of his ill-fitting shirt. 

Shit, I didn’t think I hit him that hard? Lumine thought, mind racing. She nearly jumped out of her skin when a weak hand wrapped around her wrist. 

“S’not your fault…” Childe mumbled, his face drenched in sweat. 

Lumine was already tearing open Childe’s shirt, revealing a thick wad of bandages wrapped around his stomach, wet with blood. 

“Childe, who did this to you?” There was an edge of something dangerous in her voice as she stared down at the blood-Childe’s blood- on her hands. 

Childe chuckled, easing himself into an almost sitting position. “I like that protective side of you. It’s cute.” 

“Answer the question.” 

The forced smile on his lips began to waver. “Let’s just call it a bit of a workplace dispute.” 

“A Fatui?” Lumine said, balling her fists, “Where? I- I-” 

“It’s alright, girlie. Just let it go. This is how we do things down in Snezhnaya. You fuck up, you face the consequences.” Childe’s eyes looked strikingly dull this close up, not helped by his voice lacking the usual playful energy. 

Lumine opened her mouth to argue, but felt her gaze drawn back towards the blood seeping through his bandages and the sickly pallor that had cast over his skin. “Just…let me clean you up.” 

Lumine grabbed her bag, shuffling through its contents until she found a fresh roll of bandages. She certainly wasn’t as talented of a healer as Barbara or Baizhu, but she was familiar enough with dressing her own wounds to do some basic first aid. Childe winced when she began the process of unwrapping the soiled bandages, the bloody cloth having almost become one with his torso. The skin underneath was wrinkled and damp, practically bone white. 

“How long have you had these bandages on?” 

Childe has already laid his head back on the floor, eyelids fluttering. “I dunno, four days? Give or take.” 

“Four days?” Lumine said incredulously, gawking at the man. “Have you even cleaned it?” 

“I took a bath with the bandages on, if that’s what you mean.” 

“That is not what I mean!” Lumine tore off a strip of her dress, wetting it with a few drops of her Hydro abilities. She dabbed it across the surface of the wound, a long slash that ran along the bottom of his rib cage. Bits of black material were fed through the skin, squeezing the wound shut. “Are these supposed to be stitches?” 

Childe peeled open an eye, pouting. “Listen, it’s a lot harder than it looks, alright? I think I did pretty good, given I had about a half a bottle of whiskey in me.” 

“For fuck’s sake,” Lumine muttered, rubbing her forehead. She finished wrapping Childe’s torso with another layer of bandages, letting her hand linger on his chest. “I’m taking you to a doctor, so you can get actual medical treatment. His clinic is in Liyue Harbor, but I know him personally, and trust him to be discrete-” 

“Not like I can stop you,” Childe said, letting his thumb rub across her wrist. “But just let me rest a bit before you drag me to some doctor’s office. I feel like shit.” 

Childe froze as Lumine gently cupped his head and back, moving him into her lap. A childlike blush spread across his cheeks as he rested his face against her inner thigh, his shoulders loosening. Lumine brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes. 

“Very well. I guess we still have some time to kill.” 

--

Author's commentary: in my head, lumine and childe are like, in a weird sadomasochistic relationship that is all of teyvats problem. also childe is a bottom. this one was a drabble of a fic idea i came up with a while back, may circle back around to it eventually and do more with this concept

[coltonwbrown]

Montana artist Chuck Black wins 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest

Chuck Black Art

[legend-of-dorte]

Through Flame and Flood - Chapter 1 (Felix x Reader)

Fandom: Fire Emblem Three Houses

Pairing: Felix x Reader (Gender Neutral)

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death

Tags: #Angst and Hurt/Comfort #Blood and Injury #Canonical Character Death #Gender Neutral Reader #Enemies to Friends…Frenemies?

Chapters: 1/?

Words: 3178

Summary: Verdant Wind route, Great Tree Moon. Reader (Gender Neutral) is a member of the Golden Deer House by the start of Edelgard’s campaign. Felix was not recruited and thus follows Dimitri to Gronder to unleash vengeful fury upon Edelgard. Stationed between a hill and a hard place, you are unfortunate enough to get caught in the middle.

Notes: This fic will follow the events of Chapter 17 in the Golden Deer/Verdant Wind route, during the shitstorm of Gronder. Scenes of death and injury will be toned down where possible, but take caution all the same. Enjoy! -sir dorts

also available on ao3!

====================================================

You descended the field with practiced footfalls, making nary a sound as you closed in on a patch of trees dead ahead. Taking shelter in the wooded grove, you ducked low as the air above thundered with the wingbeats of wyverns and pegasi overhead - airborne soldiers in tight formation. Kingdom? Imperial? It hardly made a difference if they marked you an enemy.

The Battle of Gronder Field was nigh. The rest of your comrades were assembled north of the Airmid River, ready to march on Claude’s signal. You, however, were tasked with a different assignment.

Reaching for the bow strapped to your back, you recalled your Professor’s instructions.

“This concerns the Blaiddyd standard. I need you to keep eyes on whoever is flying it.”

Easy enough, right? Claude had made his position clear by uniting the Church of Seiros and the Leicester Alliance under a single banner. If Edelgard was determined to stamp out any remnants loyal to the Kingdom, it stood to reason that whoever was marching on behalf of House Blaiddyd would throw in their lot with the coalition.

Except that hasn’t happened. From this mysterious group, there were no overtures of an alliance. Even if Dimitri were somehow alive and leading this retinue, there was no way of knowing what designs he had on Gronder Field.

Your professor may as well have sent you behind enemy lines to chase ghosts. Ridiculous, you thought. And yet there was a knot of dread tightening in the pit of your stomach.

If they wanted to play nice with us and gang up against the Imperial Army, they would have said something by now. Sent a message. A hello, at the very least. All we’ve gotten from them is silence.

Silence that was somehow more ominous than Edelgard’s declaration of war five years ago.

Whoever they are, whatever they are planning, it’s obvious they’re not interested in coordinating.

You picked up the sound of faint explosions from the west, followed by the shouts of Imperial foot soldiers and the thunder of their march.

Shit. They’re ramping up already.

Taking position up behind a tree, you motioned for your companion to hurry up and do the same. Poor Marianne - a bishop’s habit was not constructed for stealthy movement through the overgrown field. You stared at her with equal parts pity and frustration as she hurried to your side.

The idea was hardly yours. It was Claude trying to fill in the gaps in his strategy, insuring you and your comrades against all the unknowns.

“Sorry to spring this on you right before sortie, but I need you and Marianne to hold that position east of the hill. If you remember how we won the Battle of the Eagle and Lion five years ago, then you know the one. I’ll find a way to make us even, I promise.”

No problem, Claude, you thought irritably. But you owe me a week of night patrol duty if I manage to survive this.

Could you even? Aileil had been horrid enough, now here you were stuck between a heavily contested area and an unknown band of soldiers.

Marianne must have sensed your unease, for she wore a look of guilt.

“…My apologies,” she murmured. “If any harm were to befall you, the fault would surely be mine.”

“Nonsense. I wouldn’t trust any other partner for this task,” you chastised her. “Don’t worry about what might or might not go wrong. Let’s try to support our friends and stay alive.”

“Y-Yes, of course. You’re right,” your companion nodded, drawing in a sharp breath to steel her nerves. “I must focus on keeping everyone safe.”

“That’s right. Just like the last time we were here,” you encouraged her. “Remember how you hid in the foliage and healed our wounds from afar while we took the central hill? And the look on Hubert’s face when you cast Silence on him!”

The glorious Battle of the Eagle and Lion. You and the Golden Deer had won the day. No doubt Claude was banking on that same trick from five years ago, except this time you would provide cover fire and prevent any errant forces pinching the main force from the east. Imperial, Kingdom, or otherwise.

She blushed, ducking her head down lower. “Please don’t remind me. I’m not certain if I could pull it off again. And I don’t know how brave I could be if I were to face off against Hubert now.”

“If we’re lucky, you won’t have to,” you told her grimly, tightening the string on your bow. “Just keep your eyes on the hill and use your magicks on anyone coming from that direction. I’ll keep tabs on the east in case that renegade troop decides to show their faces.”

“The ones marching under the Kingdom’s banner…” Marianne bit her lip before daring to ask. “You don’t think it could be…?”

You patted yourself down, counting the throwing knives stored on your person and making sure they were well within reach. “Dimitri? Dedue? The rest of the Blue Lions? They could be dead in a ditch for all we know…”

“I suppose,” Marianne mused, frowning at your cold remark. She flexed her fingers to keep them from trembling. “But…There’s still a chance that some of them managed to flee the Kingdom. Like, for example…”

“…who?”

Where her gaze was usually timid, there was now a strange intensity as her eyes met yours.

“Like Felix.”

In that moment you fell silent, rapt by a sudden flash in your memory. The clash of a wooden blade. The sand of the practice arena flying from beneath your heels. Dark hair, piercing eyes, and a familiar voice taunting insults that you couldn’t remember but still boiled your blood all the same. Blue skies above and your bruised knees beneath you. Your battered pride. An outstretched hand, unexpected, clasping yours and lifting you onto your feet.

There was a sting in your chest that you knew all too well, though dulled over the passing of years. You shook your head to purge your thoughts.

“Felix?” you scoffed. “Why him, of all people?”

“Wasn’t he your friend?”

A friend who was all too happy to let you know how garbage you were at wielding a blade.

“…I sparred with him maybe once or twice,” You mumbled lowly. “We weren’t even in the same House. I wouldn’t exactly call him my friend.”

“A-are you sure?” Marianne asked, eyes wide with confusion. “But the two of you were always… Back then, it always looked as though-” She cut herself off. “Never mind… I probably got the wrong idea…”

The wrong idea? About what?

You wanted to press the subject further, but there was no time to reminisce about carefree days long gone. Not when the very field you stood upon was about to erupt into a battleground.

“It’s fine,” you breathed, feeling your nerves hitch. “It’s gonna be fine, we’ll be fine. Just follow Claude’s playbook. Break the blockade, rush the artillery station, use long-range fire to suppress the Imperials, cover the advance guard…”

Easy both said and done, right? But luck would have it otherwise.

“… Something’s wrong,” Marianne uttered, her stare intense.

You narrowed your gaze towards the east. “What, the Kingdom army? Are they here already? I don’t see anyone approaching…”

Marianne shook her head. “No. The hill. Something’s different. Did they do something to it?”

You glanced over your shoulder, frowning. Sure enough, there was the central hill, with the artillery station mounted at its apex. Someone was seated there, but you were unable to discern their features from this distance.

“They may have done something with the ballista,” you reasoned, shifting your position to get a better look. “I mean, if they anticipate us coming up the hill, it would make sense to occupy it first-”

Something was making the soles of your boots stick to the ground, like you had stepped in glue. Except the smell of it made your nose burn.

“Why is the ground all sticky?” Marianne asked, lifting the hem of her skirts. There was a black stain that wasn’t there before.

Keeping one eye on the turret, you dared a few steps toward the hill. Quick and quiet, in spite of the strange liquid clinging to your soles. Crouching down, you rubbed your gloved fingers against the ground, catching grass and more of that sticky substance. Was the hill… dripping?

Then it clicked. Your nose stung with the scent of something dark and bitter, like tar. A hint of pine, but also something more noxious. In an instant, you recalled the explosive noises further afield. Your eyes lifted towards the hill and widened as you realized in horror the depth of Edelgard’s scheming.

The entire hillside was slick and glistening - with foul, putrid-smelling, volatile pitch.

Horrified, you turned a heel and darted back into the trees where Marianne was waiting fretfully.

“Get back! Away from the hill!” you hissed. “They’re going to burn it! We have to warn the others!”

You grabbed Marianne’s arm, pulling her along with you. Just as you were wondering, frantic, how to communicate Edelgard’s plan to Claude and the Professor, there was a sudden clamor from the treetops above.

A pegasus descended from the skies, landing on its hooves with an impact that made the ground tremble, majestic wings spread in a threatening stance.

As you fumbled for an arrow in your quiver, a lance was brandished in your direction. Adorning it was an elaborate spearhead that glowed like embers, set with a sigil you had seen before.

“In the name of his Highness, make way!” a familiar voice ordered. “Or die where you stand.”

Marianne’s eyes widened in shock, recognizing the rider before you did. “I-Ingrid?”

Flooded with disbelief, you struggled to make sense of the situation. The pegasus reared, threatening to charge. Instinctively, you shoved Marianne out of the way and darted to the side as Ingrid surged past. Nocking an arrow to your bow, you drew the string back, taking careful aim.

“Ingrid, stop! Or I’ll shoot!” You had no desire to open fire on your former schoolmate, but if she forced your hand…

Suddenly, you picked up movement from the corner of your eye, the sound of someone sprinting through the grass, charging in your direction. You whirled around and let the arrow fly towards your new assailant.

Felix uttered a noise of rage and let his blade fall early, cutting the arrow down mid-flight before it could make its mark. The split-second that followed was just enough time for you to dive towards the trees.

“Try that again and I’ll make you pay!” he snarled, angling his blade for another attack. You ducked behind a branch as he lunged. Steel struck wood instead of flesh, sending bits of bark flying.

Glancing over your shoulder, you caught a glimpse of his face. Where there was once a cold smugness, there was something different in his eyes. Anger, loathing, and bitter desperation.

You left him to contend with the fallen branch as you darted back the way you came, searching for Marianne. All the while you prayed, just prayed that he would let up-

The singing of metal filled your ears as something caught your shoulder, sinking into flesh and slicing across. Of course he wouldn’t.

Reaching for your belt, you detached a throwing knife and flung it at him. Felix ducked and brought his arm up. A shield flared with crackling energy, deflecting the knife into the grass.

You let out a cry of frustration. That’s so not fair.

As you braced yourself for another strike, the one that could end you, the temperature around you suddenly plunged. Felix must have sensed it too, for he halted in his tracks. His labored breath turned to mist in the icy air.

This time it was his turn to back away as flowers of frost formed at your feet, snapping the grass underfoot. The earth buckled and burst as massive spikes of ice jutted outwards, forming a treacherous barricade before you.

By your side stood Marianne, panting with exertion, outstretched palms awash in a blue glow. Pride surged in your chest. As Felix deliberated whether to risk impaling himself upon the ice or carve another path forward, your ears picked up the shriek of a pegasus descending from somewhere above.

You stepped in front of Marianne and nocked another arrow, this time aiming upwards. This forced Ingrid to veer away sharply instead of diving at you both. Her pegasus jerked violently in mid-air, coming short of crashing into the trees. Excellent. This gave you enough time to think and-

Something burst through the icy barricade, splitting it apart as though it were a gate dashed upon a battering ram. You brought your arm up to shield your eyes from the flying shards of glass. A towering figure forced its way through the ruined barrier, armed with a lance that glowed like Ingrid’s relic, but like none you had ever seen before.

The crest that flared in mid-air before you, however, you recognized as that of Blaiddyd.

It couldn’t be, you thought, eyes wide. He should be dead.

Yet there he was in the flesh, though he reminded you more of a beast than human. Prince Dimitri of the former Kingdom of Faerghus. His massive shadow loomed as he peered down at you coldly with a single eye. The other was concealed behind a black patch.

At his side was Dedue, smashing down the remaining ice with his great-axe to clear a path for his lord. Felix emerged through the opening, as did Ingrid. All four of them moved to surround you both. Their eyes were filled with menace. But why? These were your schoolmates! Though from different classes, all of you had studied together. Trained together. Laughed and argued over meals in the dining hall. Spent the passing seasons together within the same walls. Why did they look upon you now as though you were an enemy? Scarcely a person, more an obstacle to be cut down?

“Run. Find Claude and the professor,” you ordered Marianne, shoving her away behind you before she could protest.

She tried anyway. “But-”

“GO! HURRY!” you snapped with a forcefulness that sent her running towards the Airmid, as fast as she could manage.

You pitted yourself between Marianne and the former Blue Lions, preventing them from giving chase. As they surrounded you with weapons at the ready, you immediately dropped your bow and raised both arms into the air. Your shoulder blade stung from the shallow cut Felix had inflicted earlier.

“Stand down!” you yelled, thinking fast. “We’re not Imperial soldiers! We’re part of the coalition between the Church and the Alliance! There’s no reason for us to fight!”

You felt the press of cold steel against your neck.

“Drop your knives,” Felix warned, adjusting the grip of his sword. “All of them. I won’t say it twice.”

Daintily, you reached down and plucked the knives attached to your belt one-by-one, dropping them into the grass. All the while you shot Felix a look of pure venom. Asshole.

“We’re wasting time,” Dimitri growled, brushing past without deigning to look at you. “Cut this one down and move. We take the hill.”

Your eyes went wide as you suddenly remembered.

“You can’t,” you warned, turning your head towards Dimitri as far as Felix’s blade would allow. “It’s rigged. Edelgard is going to set it on fire. You’ll never make it to the other side.”

Without meeting your eyes, Dimitri swung his lance at you, stopping short of slicing your chest open. “You claim to be no ally of the Empire, yet you are privy to Edelgard’s plans?”

He snarled her name with a baleful hatred that chilled you to the core. “Which is it?! I’ve no patience for lies!”

“I’m not lying!” you insisted, mustering courage as the spearhead pressed into your chest. “The entire hill is covered in pitch! You can check for yourself.”

You noticed Felix suddenly glancing down at his feet, the same way you had when you first discovered the ruse. Dimitri continued to stare dead ahead towards the hill, paying no heed. His lips curled into a sneer.

“It matters not. We’ll cut our way through the flames if we must. No matter how many stand in our path, Alliance or Imperial, we will crush them all the same. Edelgard will pay for her sins.”

His words left you numb with disbelief. This was Dimitri? The earnest and wholesome boy who treated everyone around him with the highest courtesy, never expecting the same in kind? Or was this the boar you heard Felix muttering about once in passing? Only now did you begin to understand what he had meant that day.

“That’s insane. Claude is not your enemy!” you insisted, too caught up in your emotions to realize that the blade against your neck was no longer there. “We should be coordinating our attacks, not fighting each other like this! Stop and think for a second!”

“Enough! You will be silent!” Dimitri roared, rearing back his lance to deliver the killing blow himself. You stared into the eyes of your would-be murderer and saw no humanity, only torment. Eyes filled with bloodthirst. A monster, depraved beyond all redemption, feasting upon pain and terror in the battlefield.

You wondered how in the world this could have happened. What made him into this thing. How could you have met your end at the hands those who could have once been your friends.

As you waited for death, Felix spoke up. “Hold it. I have a better idea.”

He shoved you viciously towards the hill, almost causing you to stumble. “Why don’t you take the lead? Might make a good shield.”

You sneered incredulously, but did not argue. How kind of Felix to convince Dimitri to spare you, only to march you into the flames. Better than instant decapitation, you supposed.

“At least let me grab my bow.”

Dimitri withdrew his lance and whirled, marching off in the western direction. He had ceased to care. Ingrid and Dedue followed obediently, the same deadpan stare in their eyes. Felix remained, his blade hovering inches above your head as you crouched down to retrieve your bow. Half your knives lay scattered upon the ground, but you dared not even look at them for fear of testing the swordsman’s generosity.

Felix spoke in a low voice, unheard by all except you. “If you see a chance, take it and run.”

You said nothing and straightened your back, bow in hand.

His blade pressed into your spine. “Start walking. Move.”

You obeyed, keeping pace with your captors. Felix urged you faster, forcing you to take point and lead the climb up the hill. You tensed, ready to meet death by artillery fire or burning pitch - whichever came first. Yet despite whatever misgivings you felt in the moment, you had the sense that Felix liked these circumstances even less than you did.

[numanumenor]

I’ve been taking a break from finishing some old fanart and starting anything new because I’ve been working on entries for my state’s wildlife stamps contests. This was kind of insane because I just started colored pencil this February and have never drawn a duck or teal or pheasant before. But wanted to give it a try because back in the day I had an opportunity to enter the youth duck stamp contest and backed out because I was intimidated. It was fun but I look forward to not drawing any birds for a while.

[nebulousfishgills]

Random ask game: 26, 30, 38!

Thanks for the asks, Frank 🦇

26 - Have you ever won a contest?

Already answered but to sum up, yes! Naming a mascot for a children's area of the botanical gardens near me.

30 - Last song you listened to?

I'm listening to music right now, and currently it's "Light of the Seven" from Game of Thrones :)

38 - Do you collect anything?

Not super formally. I have a stupid amount of funko pops but I don't call myself a collector of those. I don't go out of my way to find whole sets of them, I just get characters I like. The one exception is that aside from a shiny edition/recolor or two and He Who Remains, I have every Loki Series funko:

And as you can see, I don't keep them in boxes, which kind of kills any "collector" vibe. I do have an extra Gator Loki and an extra Ragnarok Loki that are in boxes, but I don't have a reason to unbox them since they're duplicates... Alligator Loki could be worth something someday, though. I was adamant that I get all of them, or as many as I could, it was a lot of ordering from random sites or sending my mom to a Box Lunch store in a mall three counties away to find one (Classic Loki)... how she put up with this, I'll never know. Mobius actually came from Australia, and I accidentally ordered another one so he went to my best friend.

I do have some pops that are harder to find that I'm protective of, like Thomas Sharpe and Edith Cushing's bloody nightgown recolor (I also have her normal variant). And the two customs I've done. My first funko was Elsa and I turned her into Frigga a few years ago since Thor and Loki needed their momma. Then I took it a step further recently and specifically ordered two funko figures to make my Stranger Things OC, Emily... but look, now she has her (first) husband!

I also happen to have an extra 001/Henry funko since somehow my dad got two, but that one is a gift for someone else :)

But... no I don't really collect things formally. I have a clutter problem as it is, I don't need a copious amount of stamps or... rubber ducks (my brother).

[jacomo-madici]

A POSSIBLE ARRANGEMENT OF A PATHWAY OF 250 ROOMS OF 5.6X6X5, TO BE INTO WEIRD STUFF

Knitting sweaters for animals

Extreme pogo stick jumping

Collecting and cataloging different types of moss

Competing in synchronized swimming with rubber ducks

Sculpting miniature sculptures out of belly button lint

Organizing hamster fashion shows

Participating in professional snail racing

Decorating houses exclusively with neon-colored furniture

Collecting and arranging vintage toothpaste tubes

Hosting underground origami parties

Exploring abandoned amusement parks at night

Building sandcastles in unconventional shapes (e.g., pyramids, spaceships)

Mastering the art of underwater yodeling

Designing custom-made hats for garden gnomes

Creating abstract paintings using spaghetti and meatballs

Competing in extreme hula-hooping contests

Collecting unique and exotic belly button lint samples

Performing magic tricks with rubber chickens

Assembling intricate mazes for pet hamsters

Creating elaborate hairstyles using brightly colored pipe cleaners

Hosting finger puppet theater performances for adults

Collecting vintage chewing gum wrappers

Organizing synchronized shopping cart races

Creating intricate sculptures out of discarded chewing gum

Participating in extreme bubblegum blowing competitions

Building and maintaining elaborate ant farms

Collecting and categorizing bizarre-shaped potatoes

Performing stand-up comedy exclusively for houseplants

Designing and wearing elaborate costumes made of recycled materials

Participating in competitive moustache twirling

Collecting and cataloging unique-shaped clouds

Hosting underground "Pajama Olympics" for adults

Creating miniature landscapes using food ingredients

Participating in professional pillow fighting leagues

Collecting and arranging vintage soda bottle caps

Mastering the art of synchronized nap-taking

Creating intricate sculptures out of discarded bottle caps

Organizing snail speed-dating events

Hosting underwater tea parties for mermaid enthusiasts

Collecting and categorizing peculiar-shaped rocks

Competing in extreme tea bag tossing competitions

Designing and wearing clothing made entirely of feathers

Participating in competitive paper airplane races

Collecting and cataloging unique-shaped tree leaves

Creating elaborate sand art on beaches

Organizing underground bubble wrap popping parties

Hosting synchronized skateboard dance performances

Building and maintaining elaborate butterfly gardens

Collecting and arranging vintage button collections

Mastering the art of synchronized sneezing

Creating intricate sculptures out of discarded paper clips

Participating in competitive yo-yo championships

Collecting and categorizing peculiar-shaped pasta pieces

Designing and wearing clothing made entirely of recycled newspapers

Organizing extreme spoon balancing contests

Hosting synchronized pogo stick performances

Building and maintaining elaborate terrariums

Collecting and arranging vintage keychain collections

Mastering the art of synchronized bubble blowing

Creating intricate sculptures out of discarded coffee grounds

Participating in competitive balloon animal making

Collecting and categorizing peculiar-shaped cereal pieces

Designing and wearing clothing made entirely of candy wrappers

Organizing extreme jigsaw puzzle races

Hosting synchronized unicycling performances

Building and maintaining elaborate sand sculptures

Collecting and arranging vintage postage stamps

Mastering the art of synchronized water splashing

Creating intricate sculptures out of discarded wine corks

Participating in competitive rubber band shooting contests

Collecting and categorizing peculiar-shaped seashells

Designing and wearing clothing made entirely of playing cards

Organizing extreme hopscotch tournaments

Hosting synchronized kite flying performances

Building and maintaining elaborate bonsai gardens

Collecting and arranging vintage vinyl records

Mastering the art of synchronized bubble wrap popping

Creating intricate sculptures out of discarded candy wrappers

Participating in competitive juggling with unconventional objects

Collecting and categorizing peculiar-shaped vegetables

Designing and wearing clothing made entirely of recycled plastic bottles

Organizing extreme rock-paper-scissors championships

Hosting synchronized pogo stick basketball games

Building and maintaining elaborate sand mandalas

Collecting and arranging vintage matchbooks

Mastering the art of synchronized sneezing harmonies

Creating intricate sculptures out of discarded bread crusts

Participating in competitive spoon balancing on the nose

Collecting and categorizing peculiar-shaped ice cubes

Designing and wearing clothing made entirely of recycled aluminum cans

Organizing extreme hop-on-one-leg races

Hosting synchronized bubble gum bubble-blowing shows

Building and maintaining elaborate hedge mazes

Collecting and arranging vintage postcards

Mastering the art of synchronized finger snapping

Creating intricate sculptures out of discarded eggshells

Participating in competitive hacky sack tournaments

Collecting and categorizing peculiar-shaped fruit peels

Designing and wearing clothing made entirely of recycled cardboard

Organizing extreme musical chairs competitions

Hosting synchronized roller skating performances

Building and maintaining elaborate flower arrangements

Collecting and arranging vintage comic books

Mastering the art of synchronized hiccups

Creating intricate sculptures out of discarded bottle labels

Participating in competitive rubber duck races

Collecting and categorizing peculiar-shaped coffee beans

Designing and wearing clothing made entirely of recycled bottle caps

Organizing extreme bean bag tossing contests

Hosting synchronized scooter dance routines

Building and maintaining elaborate sand castles with intricate designs

Collecting and arranging vintage ticket stubs

Mastering the art of synchronized whistling

Creating intricate sculptures out of discarded paper napkins

Participating in competitive marble racing

Collecting and categorizing peculiar-shaped pasta shells

Designing and wearing clothing made entirely of recycled plastic bags

Organizing extreme kite fighting tournaments

Hosting synchronized hacky sack performances

Building and maintaining elaborate cactus gardens

Collecting and arranging vintage toy figurines

Mastering the art of synchronized finger puppetry

Creating intricate sculptures out of discarded banana peels

Participating in competitive yo-yo tricks and stunts

Collecting and categorizing peculiar-shaped bread slices

[wideopenspacesblog]

Minnesota Man Wins Duck Stamp Art Contest for a Record-Tying Sixth Time

https://www.wideopenspaces.com/