#microchip implants

[unbfacts]

By 2021, around 6,000 Swedes had microchips implanted in their hands, allowing them to store data like emergency contacts, social media profiles, and e-tickets for events and rail travel.

[xalodaxa]

Tbh Brain didn't get far from his captors

[bonefall]

Forgor if I asked this. But a question about Millie's Radio Collar AU. Would something like an under the skin microchip be possible? Idk if they actually make those kind of tracking devices, but would a Clan cat notice something was in their scruff and have it taken out?

Microchips don't have GPS; they are a thing that is scanned when a cat is taken to a vet or shelter. You can't track an animal through an implant.

Or, certainly not in the 2000s when Millie was collared. I referenced the Sirtrack catalogue for the device she wears, the same product that was used for Meerkat Manor. It was absolutely top of the line at the time, that show couldn't have happened without the advancements put into that collar.

So... short answer is no. That's not how microchips work lmao

[blastzachilles]

IVE SENT CHALLENGERS EDITS TO MY SISTER WHO HAS NEVER SEEN IT BEFORES FYP. MY WORK IS DONE HERE.

[monkeyandelf]

The Current Is The Forbidden Past: Echoes of Ancient Ingenuity in Our Modern World

On https://www.monkeyandelf.com/the-current-is-the-forbidden-past-echoes-of-ancient-ingenuity-in-our-modern-world/

The Current Is The Forbidden Past: Echoes of Ancient Ingenuity in Our Modern World

In our relentless march towards progress, humanity often views its advancements as entirely novel, triumphs of contemporary intellect.

Yet, what if the very innovations we celebrate today are merely echoes of a forbidden past, forgotten knowledge resurfacing in a cyclical pattern of civilization’s rise and fall?

Beyond the Bat-Signal: The Real Batman and Ancient Deities

When we hear “Batman,” our minds conjure images of Gotham’s dark knight, a comic book icon. Yet, the concept of a bat-like vigilante predates DC Comics by decades, even millennia.

Around 1870, an Englishman named Bill Smith immigrated to New York City. Working in a butcher’s shop, Smith became increasingly aware of the dangers lurking in the city’s underbelly. Repeated shoplifter raids and attacks on passers-by spurred him to action. With courage as his cape, Bill began to protect the defenseless.

He was later joined by a younger associate named Robin. Four years into his vigilante career, Bill donned a legendary head mask, crafted to resemble a bat, to conceal his true identity. In this guise, he patrolled the nights, seeking out criminals. This real Batman, as he was known, operated long before his comic book counterpart, who first appeared in Detective Comics No. 27 in May 1939.

Even more astounding is the ancient lineage of the bat-god. In Mayan mythology, Camazotz (also spelled Kama-Zots, Soc, Zots) was a terrifying bat-god embodying night, death, and sacrifice. His name, derived from the K’iche words “kame” (death) and “sotz'” (bat), literally means “death-bat.” The Maya-Quiché epic Popol Vuh describes Camazotz as the overseer of one of Xibalba’s (the Mayan underworld) five “houses of trials” – the dreaded “House of the Bat.” A sculpture of Camazotz, now displayed at the Museo Popol Vuh, chillingly illustrates this ancient, powerful deity. The similarities between a modern fictional hero and an ancient, fearsome bat-god suggest a deeply ingrained archetype within the human psyche, transcending eras and cultures.

The Smile That Spans Millennia: Ancient Emoticons

The smiley face, a ubiquitous symbol of happiness in our digital age, feels inherently modern. Yet, its origins stretch back over 4,000 years, revealing a fascinating commonality in human expression across vast chronological divides.

In 2017, during excavations in southern Turkey, archaeologist Nicolo Marchetti from the University of Bologna unearthed a ceramic jug from the ancient Hittite civilization. This seemingly ordinary container, used for drinking sherbet, bore an extraordinary etching: a curved line for a smile and dotted eyes. Dated to approximately 1700 B.C., this artifact represents the world’s oldest smiley face, predating the modern icon by millennia. It’s a poignant testament to how universally human minds from different eras grasp the same fundamental associations – that two dots and a curved line convey a smile.

Fast forward to the 20th century. In 1963, Harvey Ball, director of marketing at State Mutual Assurance Company, was tasked with creating a morale-boosting symbol for employees. In just ten minutes, he sketched the now-famous smiling face within a bright yellow circle. He chose yellow for its “sunny look” and striking visibility. Despite its initial popularity, this yellow face remained unnamed until 1972. It was then that Frenchman Franklin Loufrani began using it to mark positive news in his newspaper, France Soir. Loufrani christened the symbol “Smiley” (from “smiley face”), successfully registered it as his trademark in over a hundred countries, and founded the Smiley Company, which began mass-producing merchandise.

The digital evolution of the smiley, the familiar 🙂 emoticon, also has a precise origin. On September 19, 1982, scientist and programmer Scott Fahlman from Carnegie Mellon University first used this textual symbol via the university messaging system. While today emoticons are synonymous with online communication, their initial popularity exploded in the late 1990s, particularly in Japan with the rise of SMS. The transition from physical badges to ubiquitous digital shorthand demonstrates a natural progression, yet the core expressive desire, as shown by the Hittite jug, has remained constant.

Fashion Forward or Ancient Echoes? The Horse in a Coat

Fashion trends are often perceived as fleeting products of specific cultural moments. But imagine a garment so ahead of its time that it exists in ancient artifacts.

Two intriguing figurines from the Tang Dynasty period (618-907 A.D.) in China reveal a peculiar fashion statement. Discovered in an ancient burial in Henan Province, one depicts a horse in a coat. It’s speculated that the deceased, born in the Year of the Horse, might have had this faience version accompany him to the afterlife.

This unique statuette is now part of the collection at the Eskenazi Gallery in London. Another figurine, a snake with traces of coloring, resides in the Art Institute in Minneapolis. The existence of a horse in a coat over a thousand years ago challenges our notions of sartorial innovation, suggesting that even seemingly modern concepts of animal attire have ancient roots.

Microchips in Ancient Skulls: The Unsettling Truth of Sac Actun

The idea of implantable microchips controlling human functions is a cutting-edge, often controversial, frontier of modern technology. Yet, archaeological findings suggest this concept might be far older than we dare to imagine.

In 2021, archaeologist Guillermo de Ande participated in an expedition to Sac Actun, the world’s largest underwater cave system. During a press conference, de Ande reported the recovery of over 150 skulls from the flooded cave. Among these, several specimens contained astonishing anomalies: microcircuits embedded within their bone tissue. Naturally, such a claim was met with immediate skepticism, with de Ande facing accusations of falsification. However, Jorge Sancho, the head of Mexican archaeologists, publicly defended de Ande, informing the global archaeological elite of the indisputable evidence. Dating revealed the finds to be approximately 9,500 years old, pushing the timeline of advanced technology in human physiology back by millennia.

This discovery resonates chillingly with contemporary developments. In May 2023, Elon Musk’s Neuralink received permission from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct clinical trials of brain-implanted chips in humans. While initial trials on monkeys demonstrated the technology’s functionality, regulators had previously expressed concerns about potential complications, particularly during chip removal. Neuralink’s ambitious goals include controlling electronics, restoring limb mobility, combating depression, regulating hormones, restoring hearing, and even enhancing brain efficiency. The startling parallels between Neuralink’s futuristic aspirations and the ancient microcircuits found in Sac Actun raise profound questions about the true history of technology and human potential.

Ancient Brain Surgery or Astute Metaphor? The Stone of Stupidity

Medical advancements are often seen as a clear indicator of linear progress. However, a popular subject in 15th-17th century Dutch paintings offers a humorous, yet insightful, look at ancient perceptions of mental ailment and “cure.”

“The Removal of the Stone of Stupidity” (also known as “Operation of Stupidity”) depicts a “surgeon” ostensibly curing a patient of foolishness by extracting a metaphorical “stone” from their head. Artists like Hieronymus Bosch, Jan van Hemessen, Lucas van Leyden, and even Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn explored this theme. In Dutch, the idiom “to carve a stone” means “to deceive,” suggesting that these paintings portray not genuine surgery, but rather charlatanism.

While modern medicine has evolved far beyond such literal interpretations of mental illness, the underlying concept of “extracting” a problem from the mind, or the societal perception of “folly” being a tangible entity, links us to our distant ancestors. These artworks, while satirical, reflect a human desire to understand and “cure” mental afflictions, even if the methods were symbolic or deceptive. The continuous effort to improve mental well-being, though vastly different in execution, forms a timeless thread connecting us to these historical depictions.

Holograms Through Time: Ancient Illusions and Modern Projections

Holography, the method of recording and reproducing three-dimensional images using wave interference, is widely credited to Hungarian physicist Dennis Gabor in 1947, with widespread use only emerging after the laser’s invention in the 1960s. Yet, evidence suggests the mastery of light and illusion might be an older art.

In 2021, Italian archaeologists discovered an amazing ring with a hologram effect in an unlooted 2nd-century tomb near Rome. The tomb contained two richly decorated marble sarcophagi, revealing the burials of a young man, Titus Carvilius (who died at 18), and his mother, Ebucia. To eternalize her son’s memory, Ebucia commissioned this extraordinary ring. The jeweler, though unknown, demonstrated immense skill and ingenuity.

Using only ancient techniques, the master created an effect of “presence” that profoundly amazed modern researchers, achieving an amazing ring with a hologram effect centuries before Gabor’s theoretical work. This find challenges our assumptions about the limitations of ancient technology and their understanding of light manipulation. It suggests that complex optical illusions, if not true holography, were certainly within the grasp of exceptionally skilled artisans, blurring the lines between ancient craft and modern science.

Stainless Steel: A Thousand-Year-Old Secret

The invention of stainless steel, a chromium-alloyed steel that resists corrosion, is largely attributed to early 20th-century metallurgy, building on 19th-century discoveries about chromium’s properties. It was considered a major technological breakthrough. However, recent archaeological findings demonstrate that this “modern” innovation was known a millennium ago.

In 11th-century Persia, the addition of the mineral chromite to crucible steel was no secret. The manuscript al-Jamahir fi Marifa al-Jawahir meticulously details this process. When archaeologists searched for the Chahak monument in southern Iran, a significant steel production center from the 12th to the 19th century, they found evidence of crucible steel making. Tests on the unearthed samples yielded astonishing results: the presence of 1-2% chromium steel. This means the production of chromium steel predates its “modern” invention by ten centuries. This incredible discovery forces us to reconsider the linearity of technological development and acknowledge the sophisticated metallurgical knowledge held by ancient civilizations.

The Cyclical Nature of Innovation

These examples – from ancient Batmen to prehistoric microchips, ancient smileys to thousand-year-old stainless steel – paint a compelling picture. They challenge the linear narrative of human progress, suggesting instead a cyclical pattern of invention, loss, and rediscovery.

Perhaps the “forbidden past” isn’t forbidden because it was actively suppressed, but because knowledge, like civilizations, rises, flourishes, and sometimes fades, only to re-emerge when humanity reaches a new stage of development or simply re-stumbles upon forgotten truths. The current moment is indeed a past re-emerging, a powerful reminder that while technology evolves, the human mind’s capacity for ingenuity and innovation is a timeless, recurring force.

[businessindustry]

Pet Identification (ID) Microchip Implant Market Research Analysis, Trends and Forecast 2024 - 2032

The Reports and Insights, a leading market research company, has recently releases report titled “Pet Identification (ID) Microchip Implant Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2024-2032.” The study provides a detailed analysis of the industry, including the global Pet Identification (ID) Microchip Implant Market share, size, trends, and growth forecasts. The report also includes competitor and regional analysis and highlights the latest advancements in the market.

Report Highlights:

How big is the Pet Identification (ID) Microchip Implant Market?

The global pet identification microchip implant market was valued at US$ 389.3 Mn in 2023, and is projected to be valued at US$ 663.3 Mn by 2032 end. Sales revenue is expected to increase at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period (2024-2032).

What are Pet Identification (ID) Microchip Implant?                                                                                                                                             

A pet identification (ID) microchip implant is a small electronic device placed under a pet's skin, typically between the shoulder blades. This tiny implant, similar in size to a grain of rice, contains a unique identification number that can be read with a compatible scanner. It serves as a permanent means of identifying pets, connecting them to their owners' contact details stored in a centralized database. Pet microchips are essential for reuniting lost pets with their owners and ensuring accurate identification during activities like shelter admissions or visits to veterinarians. The implantation procedure is quick and usually painless, offering a reliable method of pet identification that doesn't rely on external tags, which can be lost or removed.

Request for a sample copy with detail analysis: https://www.reportsandinsights.com/sample-request/2276

What are the growth prospects and trends in the Pet Identification (ID) Microchip Implant industry?

The market for pet identification (ID) microchip implants is experiencing steady growth, fueled by increasing awareness of pet safety and the growing global pet population. These small electronic devices are implanted under a pet's skin, typically between the shoulder blades, and contain a unique identification number that can be read using compatible scanners. They provide a reliable means to connect pets with their owners' contact information stored in centralized databases, facilitating quick reunification in cases of loss or separation. Key factors driving market expansion include stringent pet registration requirements, technological advancements improving scanning accuracy, and the expanding pet healthcare industry. North America and Europe are leading in market adoption, driven by strong pet ownership trends and initiatives promoting responsible pet care and safety measures. Hence, all these factors contribute to pet identification (ID) microchip implants market growth.

What is included in market segmentation?

The report has segmented the market into the following categories:

By Type of Microchip

Standard Identification Microchips

Advanced Technology Microchips (GPS-enabled, Health Monitoring)

By Pet Type

Dogs

Cats

Other Small Pets (e.g., Rabbits, Ferrets)

By End-User Application

Veterinary Clinics

Animal Shelters and Rescue Organizations

Pet Owners (Individual Consumers)

By Distribution Channel

Veterinary Clinics and Hospitals

Pet Specialty Stores

Online Retailers

North America

United States

Canada

Europe

Germany

United Kingdom

France

Italy

Spain

Russia

Poland

Benelux

Nordic

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

ASEAN

Australia & New Zealand

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Argentina

Middle East & Africa

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

United Arab Emirates

Israel

Rest of MEA

Who are the key players operating in the industry?

The report covers the major market players including:

Avid Identification Systems, Inc.

Bayer AG

Datamars SA

Trovan, Ltd.

Microchip Technology Inc.

Pethealth Inc.

Zoetis Inc.

PetLink Enterprises, LLC

HomeAgain (Merck & Co., Inc.)

Virbac Corporation

View Full Report: https://www.reportsandinsights.com/report/Pet Identification (ID) Microchip Implant-market

If you require any specific information that is not covered currently within the scope of the report, we will provide the same as a part of the customization.

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[orbesargentina]

Implantan microchips en los cuerpos de los empleados https://bit.ly/3Qqmnzb

[wilwheaton]

Despite their promise, mRNA vaccines have been plagued by misinformation. Some skeptics believe the vaccines affect fertility or cause birth defects, though research shows no link – and, in fact, studies show that the vaccines reduce these risks by preventing infections with Covid, which can be especially dangerous to pregnant people and newborns. Because mRNA sounds similar to DNA, some people mistakenly think it interferes with their genes. Conspiracy theorists also claim the vaccine causes people to die suddenly, or that the shots implant microchips or impart 5G connectivity.

US experts fear all vaccines at risk as Trump officials target mRNA jabs

[eternalratsuperhell]

bitches be posting on youtube called the most insane thing like “my new favourite song (NOT CLICKBAIT) (MY FAMILY IS PREPARED TO COMMIT VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER TO MAKE ME STOP) *emotional*

then the song they’re talking abt is

and we love it girlboss pussy slay queen purr yass they’re so perfect and real for it

[suiana]

(yandere! alien x gn! reader)

the human spirit is indomitable. that much was obvious, especially with how you were still fighting against him even though there was clearly no escape. or at least that's what he thought.

"why do you still fight against me..."

the alien mumbles, voice cracking as he tries to move under the rubble you trapped him under. shit, this was not ideal at all. he can't believe you actually manage to drug him and then trapped him under the broken ceiling you shattered when he was chasing after you.

he still didn't know how you did it. he was faster, stronger, smarter... you shouldn't have been able to trick him like this. yet, his overconfidence might've been a reason as to why you got a one-up over him.

"you know there's no escape right? my spaceship has yet to dock at a port and we are light years away from earth."

the otherworldly creature tries reasoning with you, staring at your shaking figure as you tug at the collar he made you wear. it was a pretty thing, made of the finest jewels he got from another planet he visited a few years back.

he thought it would look good on you, and it did. so his heart aches when you destroyed it, allowing the jewels to scatter all over his once pristine floors.

no matter, he can just fix it again.

"darling, you should stop resisting. you will just tire yourself out."

the alien sighs, not finding your actions amusing as he shakes his head.

he doesn't get humans at all. why do you try so hard even when there's clearly no intelligent way to win this? perhaps that's why your civilization is still heaps below others, like his.

that was, until, he saw you dig out the microchip tracker he implanted into your neck with your bare hands.

his eyes widen in horror, jaw going slack as he screams, body shaking as he desperately tries moving under the rubble only for you to step on his face and throw the chip at him.

"fucking alien... don't you know? adrenaline is one hell of a drug."

he hears your laughter resounding through the hallways, your footsteps growing softer and softer as he tries to recover from your painful stomp.

his eyes shake, his features in undeniable pain as he feels his body giving up on him.

no, no, no!

he tries wiggling more, but unfortunately, his species had not adapted to recover from situations like this. so all he could do as he laid in pain under the rubble was to shout at you, desperation in his tone as he sees you touching and entering something into the emergency escape pod he had on his spaceship.

"darling don't you dare leave!"

he screams, looking absolutely pathetic as his eyes widen in both fear and anger. no! you weren't supposed to leave! you were supposed to be just some human who would give up escape and love him! you were supposed to accept him as your mate the second he kidnapped you because of how obsessed he had become after observing you for weeks in his spaceship!

you weren't supposed to leave him under the rubble like this!

you're clearly weaker, more stupid... and definitely an inferior species! why couldn't you just love him?! why couldn't you just give up and accept his affections?!

"darling! i'm warning you! if you leave i will find you and i will be very angry!"

the alien tries threatening, wincing in pain as the effects of your face stomping still lingered. but of course, he knew you wouldn't listen to him. not when you so eagerly pointed your middle finger at him (a sign he came to see as disrespect in human customs) before leaving in the space shuttle.

he lets out a strangled scream, completely still under the rubble as his frustration and anger reaches it's peak. god damn it! now he has to wait for god knows how long until the drug wears off to finally be able to move and try to find you!

maybe he shouldn't have doubted humans so much. perhaps the rumors about the human spirit being indomitable were right. maybe the humans really were meant to conquer the stars.

[burdlaw]

nearly every scene with charlie is my favorite but this one. there's something about it. his exaggerated expressions. the way he mocks dennis. his spontaneous guttural screams. the utter shock and betrayal when dennis doesn't appreciate him trading all of his garbage pail kids. i want this video put into a microchip and then i want it implanted deep into my temporal lobe

[tikitakatia]

Under Watch — A. Putellas x Reader

"New Neighbour, New Problems "

WC: 1.8k

Summary: The threat against Alexia looms closer, but the management has the perfect solution.

You’re leaning against the hood of the car when she appears. Hair still damp from her post morning workout shower, hoodie slung over her shoulders, earbuds in. Alexia walks like someone who doesn’t expect to be bothered. Which is really ironic, considering that’s your entire job description.

She slows when she sees you. One eyebrow arches. "You’re driving me now? What is this, high school? Should I sit in the back and pretend I need some lunch money?"

You nod toward the driver’s side. "New protocol. Until further notice."

She groans audibly and mutters something in Catalan that you don’t catch, but the tone is universal. Disgust. Annoyance. A hint of ‘I’ll set this car on fire if it proves a point.’

And then she sees it.

The note.

You’d already bagged it, gloved and stored. But the outline where it sat on the windshield is still obvious.

She goes still.

"Another one?"

You nod. "Same handwriting. Slightly more aggressive."

"Of course it is. People get weird when their teams lose. Or win. Or breathe."

"We’re escalating precautions."

Alexia exhales sharply through her nose. "You mean panicking."

"They mean panicking," you correct.

"I mean adapting."

She gives you a long look. Not hostile. Just tired. Then gets into the passenger seat and slams the door with unnecessary force.

"Fine. But I’m choosing the music."

You don’t answer. She turns up the volume anyway.

They break the news right after practice. No warning, no soft lead-in.

“You’ll have a new neighbor starting today,” says the club security lead. “It’s part of our reinforced protection protocol.”

Alexia blinks. "Okay... What does that have to do with me?"

He shifts in his chair. "It’s your new bodyguard. She’s moving into the unit next to yours."

The silence is instant. Then loud.

“You cannot be serious.”

"Alexia, this isn’t just about notes anymore. Someone got inside the building. They knew your car."

"It’s a public parking lot. You let fans in there all the time."

"Not with access to your elevator."

She scoffs. "Maybe the security team should be better at their job then."

You don’t speak. Not yet. You're leaning against the back wall, arms folded, face neutral.

Alexia wheels toward you. "You knew about this?"

"I was informed this morning."

"Of course you were. And you just what? Packed up your little secret agent suitcase and showed up like it’s nothing?"

You shrug. "It’s part of the job."

"Well, I hate it."

"Duly noted."

She turns back to the security team. "This is ridiculous. I have a lock. I have an alarm system. What do you think is going to happen, someone crawls through the vents and I need Sombra next door to kick them in the face?"

"This isn’t a negotiation, Alexia. The club signed off on it. It’s a temporary assignment."

She mutters something under her breath that sounds like "temporary my ass" and stands, grabbing her bag.

“I’m not agreeing to this.”

“You don’t have to. It’s already done.”

A few hours later, you’re unlocking the door to your new apartment with a box under one arm. She’s standing in the hallway with a protein bar in hand, unwrapped but untouched.

“Let me guess,” she says. “You also have access to my building, and floor layout, my grocery list, and the microchip they implanted in my skull at birth.”

“Just your floor. And your training schedule.”

She stares. You unlock your door and step inside. She follows like an angry cat, keeping her distance but making sure you know she’s watching.

“This is overkill.”

You open the window. Sweep the place. First habit.

“You’re not that important.”

She bristles.

“That’s not what I meant,” she mutters, but you’re already plugging in your encrypted laptop.

She lingers in the doorway. "You’re not going to say anything else? No apology for completely violating my life?"

You look up. "I’m not here to violate. I’m here to protect."

She makes a face like that might be worse.

That evening, she stomps by as you’re bringing in another box.

“Are you going to be pacing the hallway all night like some sort of armed Roomba?"

“No. Just until I'm set up."

“Well, can you at least do it silently? Some of us are trying to pretend we have privacy."

You say nothing. She rolls her eyes and disappears into her apartment, slamming the door harder than necessary.

The next morning, she sees you in the hallway.

“I almost tripped over your boots,” she says. “Are you nesting in the hallway now, or should I just assume you live here more than I do?”

You nod toward the wall. “Your door has a new sensor now. Motion-triggered. You’ll hear it if someone lingers outside too long."

She freezes. Her mouth opens, then closes.

Then: "So now my door tattles on people. Great. Can’t wait for it to go off when I get home drunk."

You glance at her. "I'll disable the alarm if you're singing."

She glares. “You think you're funny, huh?”

You don't answer. That, in itself, is the punchline.

Dinner is loud, messy, and deeply therapeutic. Alexia’s on her second glass of wine, slumped into her chair like she’s aged a decade in one week. Patri’s already warned the waiter that the table might need extra bread, patience, and backup wine.

“She’s everywhere,” Alexia says, stabbing at her grilled vegetables and pretending they´re you.

“Like… omnipresent. A specter in a hoodie.”

"Sounds kind of hot," Marta says casually, sipping her sangria.

Alexia throws her a sharp look. "That’s not the point."

"But you’re not denying it," Irene hums.

"It’s irrelevant," Alexia snaps, then sighs.

"I open the door to take out my trash and she’s there. I go down to grab a delivery, she's already standing by the elevator like she’s predicting my thoughts. I swear it's like she has motion sensors or something."

"That’s… literally her job?" Patri says slowly, brows raised.

"Yeah, to protect you?" Irene adds. "Not to wait around until you're ready for a hug."

"Okay, but do bodyguards really need to be so silent all the time? It’s unsettling. She’s like a ninja. I dropped my keys in the hallway and she just... appeared. No footsteps. No sound. Just materialized out of nowhere like a ghost."

"A ghost in Nikes," Marta says, grinning.

"With great cheekbones," Irene adds.

Alexia makes a frustrated noise and drops her fork with a clatter. "This is not the support I expected."

"We’re just saying," Patri starts gently, "you’re not the same level of anonymous anymore. You’re… big. A worldwide football sensation. That means more weirdos, more creeps, more risk."

"And she’s good," Irene says. "Did you know she checked the entire restaurant while we were coming in? Didn’t even make a scene. Just a little loop like she was on her phone."

Alexia blinks. "Seriously?"

"Seriously," Marta nods. "Clocked it right away. Didn’t miss a beat. Kind of badass, honestly."

Alexia sinks a little in her seat. She hates that she hadn’t noticed. Hates that she kind of agrees.

"She even nodded at the hostess like she was confirming something," Patri adds. "Stoic, but polite."

"Oh my god," Alexia mutters. "She’s efficient. She’s polite. She’s a fucking Girl Scout with a security clearance."

Marta smirks. "And did we mention-"

"Yes, yes, she’s attractive, I’m not blind," Alexia grumbles into her glass. "But that’s not the point."

"Maybe not," Irene teases, "but it’s a nice bonus."

Alexia opens her mouth to argue, but her phone buzzes. She checks the new message.

[Sombrita]: Crowd is forming outside. Photos, videos. Suggest back exit. I’ll be waiting by the kitchen doors. Van is ready.

She groans. "She’s already planning our escape."

"That’s actually kind of hot," Patri says with a grin.

Alexia shakes her head, but there’s a reluctant tug at the corner of her mouth. "I just want her to be less… present."

The table goes quiet. Her friends exchange a look.

"Less present," Irene repeats softly.

"Not gone," Marta notes.

Alexia glares at her wine. "You’re all the worst."

Another buzz. 

[Sombrita]: Five minutes. Back exit. Let me know if anyone needs help getting out.

Alexia sighs again. She types back a terse: Got it.

As they gather their things and follow the waiter through the back, Irene leans in close.

"Hey, at least she makes you feel safe, right?"

Alexia doesn’t answer, but she doesn’t argue either.

It’s late when you hear the sensor alarm start its soft beeping. Silent, subtle, set to trigger if anyone stays in the hallway for more than two and a half minutes. You’re on your couch, sweats and tank top, a book open in your hand you haven’t really been reading. She's been standing there for a while.

You wait. Half a minute more. Then, for your own amusement more than anything, you switch it from silent mode to a single loud beep. Just one. Just enough.

"For fuck’s sake!" Alexia growls angrily from outside, voice muffled through the door.

You’re up in a second, unlocking her front door with a single tap of the card.

She’s startled when it opens.

"Have you been watching me this whole time?"

You don’t say anything. You just smirk.

Alexia narrows her eyes. She’s flushed, slightly tipsy from wine with her family, wrapped in a soft oversized coat, hair messy from the wind. She looks more tired than drunk, but the tipsiness makes her looser, sharper-tongued.

"Well? Are you going to let me in or are we going to stand here all night while you flex your creepy telepathic door-opening skills?"

"After you." You step aside and gesture smoothly.

She walks in haughtily, except her handbag catches on the door handle as she passes. The momentum jerks her back slightly, throwing her off balance.

You catch her instinctively. One hand on her elbow, the other lightly at her waist.

"Careful," you say.

Alexia steadies herself but doesn’t pull away immediately. Her gaze flicks up to yours. "Are the reflexes also part of the job description, or do you just enjoy being everywhere at once?"

You tilt your head. "Would it bother you less if I said I enjoy it?"

She scoffs, but there’s a small smirk threatening to betray her. "A little full of yourself, aren’t you?"

You release her gently, stepping back. "Just observant."

She walks into her apartment, still facing you, eyebrows raised.

"Yeah, well. Don't get used to catching me."

"Wouldn’t dream of it."

Alexia turns away fast enough that you don’t see her smile, but not fast enough to stop you from knowing it’s there.

She closes the door behind her, and for the second time that night, you return to your post.

Across the hall, light from under her door seeps into the hallway. You hear her footsteps pause.

Then nothing.

But a few seconds later, the peephole darkens for just a heartbeat.

She’s watching you too now.

[bestanimal]

Round 3 - Actinopterygii - Osteoglossiformes

(Sources - 1, 2, 3, 4)

Order: Osteoglossiformes

Common Name: no common name for the whole order

Families: 6 - Pantodontidae (“Freshwater Butterflyfish”), Osteoglossidae (“bonytongues” and “arowanas”), Arapaimidae (“arapaimas”), Notopteridae (“featherback knifefishes”), Gymnarchidae (“African Knifefish”), and Mormyridae (freshwater elephantfish”)

Anatomy: elongated body; toothed or bony tongues; long or absent dorsal and anal fins positioned near the caudal fin; large swim bladder enables them to breathe at the surface of the water; most are adapted for surface feeding

Diet: arthropods, fish, snails, frogs, lizards, snakes, mice, bats, and small birds

Habitat/Range: slightly acidic freshwater in South America, Africa, Australia, and Southern Asia

Evolved in: Late Jurassic

(source)

Propaganda under the cut:

Freshwater Butterflyfish (Pantodon buchholzi) (image 4) have very large pectoral fins. If enough speed is built up underwater, a butterflyfish can jump and glide a small distance above the surface to escape predators. It wiggles its pectoral fins as it glides, with the help of specialized, enlarged pectoral muscles.

Arowanas (genus Osteoglossum) can jump up to 2 m (6.6 ft) out of the water to pick their prey off of branches, tree trunks or foliage, which has earned them the local name "water monkeys". They are the largest fish in the world to catch most of their food out of water.

Male arowanas brood their young within their mouth, only fully releasing them when they are about 7 cm (2.8 in) long.

The endangered Asian Arowana (Scleropages formosus) (image 1) is also known as the “dragonfish”, due to its large metallic scales and long barbels giving it a resemblance to the Chinese dragon. The popularity of this beautiful, auspicious fish has had both positive and negative effects on their status as endangered species, as they are in high demand in the home aquarium trade. Legal pet Asian Arowanas must be bred in captivity on a fish farm for at least two generations, have a certificate of authenticity and a birth certificate, and an implanted microchip to identify the individual. There are over 150 CITES-registered Asian Arowana farms in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asia countries, producing Asian Arowana for commercial purposes. But the actual number of Asian Arowana farms in the world could be much higher than that, probably over 350, the majority of them unregistered.

The Arapaima (Arapaima gigas) (see gif above) is the largest truly freshwater fish, commonly measuring 200 cm (6.6 ft) with records of up to 450 cm (15 ft). Adults may weigh up to 200 kg (440 lb).

Arapaima parents have been observed using their mouths to dig holes in the substrate to create a nest for their eggs. The males will remain by the nest to protect their offspring for three to six months.

Arapaima are becoming increasingly rare in their native habitat of the Amazon and Tocantins-Araguaia river basins, but are invasive in Bolivia and Indonesia after purposeful and accidental releases.

A 13-million-year-old fossil of an Arapaima (or very similar species) has been found in Colombia, in the Villavieja Formation, which dates from the Miocene epoch.

The African Arowana (Heterotis niloticus) (actually a relative of arapaimas rather than arowanas) is the only Osteoglossiform to feed extensively on plankton.

Native to freshwater habitats in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Laos, Macau, Thailand, and Vietnam, the Clown Featherback (Chitala ornata) (image 2) is considered one of the world’s most invasive species, as it often outgrows home aquariums and is then released into the “wild” outside its native range.

The Giant Featherback (Chitala lopis) was declared to be extinct in 2020, but a small surviving population was rediscovered on Java, Indonesia in 2023.

The African Knifefish (Gymnarchus niloticus) and freshwater elephantfishes (family Mormyridae) (image 3) are able to produce a steady but weak electric field, used for finding their prey, usually small invertebrates buried in muddy substrates.

The African Knifefish can swim equally well forwards or backwards, relying on its electric senses to “see” behind it.

Freshwater elephantfish are known to have a large brain size and unusually high intelligence.

The Medjed (likely a fish in the genus Mormyrus) was a kind of elephantfish sacred in the city Oxyrhynchus, in ancient Egyptian religion, as the fish that ate the penis of Osiris. Archaeologists have found fishes depicted as bronze figurines, mural paintings, or wooden coffins in the shape of fishes with downturned snouts, with horned sun-disc crowns like those of the goddess Hathor.