#microscope slide shopping

[gosciencecrazy]

Demystifying the Quest: A Guide to Shopping for Microscope Glass Slides

Microscope glass slides, those seemingly simple rectangles of glass, play a crucial role in the captivating world of microscopy. They serve as the stage for revealing the hidden details of specimens, from the intricate structures of cells to the captivating patterns of tiny minerals. Whether you're a seasoned scientist, a budding student, or simply someone curious about the microscopic world, choosing the right microscope glass slides is essential for obtaining accurate and insightful observations.

Understanding the Fundamentals: Types and Materials

Microscope slides come in two primary varieties: plain slides and pre-cleaned slides. Plain slides are ideal for users comfortable with the cleaning and preparation process, offering a cost-effective option. Pre-cleaned slides, as the name suggests, come ready for immediate use, saving valuable time and reducing the risk of contamination.

The material of a microscope slide is crucial. The most prevalent choice is borosilicate glass, also known as soda-lime glass. This type of glass offers superior qualities like:

Optical clarity: Allows for clear and unobstructed observation of specimens.

Chemical resistance: Withstands exposure to various chemicals used in slide preparation and staining techniques.

Durability: Can endure high temperatures and repeated use without compromising integrity.

While borosilicate glass remains the standard, other specialized materials exist for specific applications. For instance, polystyrene slides are ideal for disposable use and charged slides are utilized to adhere specific types of specimens.

Choosing the Right Size and Thickness

Microscope slides follow standardized dimensions for compatibility with most microscopes. The typical size is 75 millimeters (mm) long by 25 mm wide (3 inches by 1 inch). However, some specialized applications might require variations in size, such as petri dish slides used for cell cultures.

Thickness also plays a role in choosing the right slide. Standard thickness ranges from 0.9 mm to 1.2 mm (0.035 inches to 0.047 inches). Thicker slides offer increased stability and are preferred for handling delicate specimens, while thinner slides allow for better light transmission and may be advantageous for specific observation techniques.

Additional Features and Considerations: Frosted Ends and Cover Glasses

Certain slides come with frosted ends, providing a designated area for labeling with sample information. This labeling area ensures clear identification and prevents confusion when working with multiple slides.

Cover glasses are thin, rectangular pieces of glass placed on top of the specimen on the slide. They protect the specimen, improve image clarity, and facilitate the use of specific immersion oils for higher magnification observations.

When choosing cover glasses, ensure they are compatible with the size and thickness of your chosen slides.

Also Read:

Exploring the World of Lab Glassware: A Comprehensive Guide to Shopping Online

Exploring the World of Physics: A Guide to Shopping for Physics Equipment

The Burette: A Vital Tool in the Chemist’s Arsenal

Where to Shop for Microscope Glass Slides: Online Retailers and Scientific Suppliers

Several avenues are available for purchasing microscope slides. Online retailers offer a wide selection and competitive pricing, making them a convenient option. However, it's crucial to choose reputable vendors with established track records in supplying scientific equipment.

Scientific suppliers, often catering to laboratories and educational institutions, can provide expert advice and guarantee high-quality products. They might also offer bulk discounts for larger purchases.

Essential Tips for Making an Informed Purchase

Here are some key pointers to consider before buying microscope slides:

Identify your specific needs: Understand the type of specimens you'll be studying and choose slides suited for those applications.

Consider your budget: Compare prices from various vendors while prioritizing quality over solely focusing on the lowest cost.

Read reviews and compare brands: Look for information from other users and research the reputation of different brands before making a purchase.

By understanding the essential factors, exploring available options, and following these helpful tips, you can confidently navigate the world of microscope slide shopping and embark on your journey into the captivating realm of microscopic exploration.

Source: https://bit.ly/3vg9Ar5

[dreamgrlarchive]

current wardrobe shopping list 💻💕💵:

around this time of year i always like making clothing wishlists for the fall and winter, and my wardrobe naturally shifts for the spring and summer. i always seem to slightly tweak my personal look around this time of year to make sure my wardrobe is true to me! prissy girl 4 life! 💓🍰

tops:

lace bandeaus for layering, feather trimmed button down tops, knitted fuzzy fitted tops, fur trimmed half jackets and crop tops, rhinestone lettered shirts, victoria’s secret off shoulder sweaters, lace camis, off shoulder knitted tops in my color palette, satin button downs, sheer tops, lululemon strawberry milkshake define jacket, fur collar leather jacket, oversized sweaters in pink and black, basic neutral long sleeved cotton tops

bottoms:

microscopic boy shorts with cute details, leather mini skirt, tartan plaid mini skirt, fold over yoga pants, lace trimmed skirt, miss me embellished skinny jeans, denim pleated skirt, houndstooth mini skirt, leather flare pants, fur/feather skirt

dresses + etc.:

ribbed knit bodysuit, pink and black rompers for layering, cotton bodysuits in my color palette, rhinestone skims dresses, hidden cult distressed pink halter dress, skims slip dresses, knit bodysuits, i am gia tracksuits in black and pink, pink jacket and legging set, solid black leggings, gray leggings, pink body by tracy set, black and pink fine girl set, new pink workout set

accessories:

knitted knee high socks, sheer socks, fuzzy beret, baby phat belt, fur headbands, fuzzy leg warmers, lace tights, diamond hair clips

jewelry:

anklets, new pandora charms, body chains, bling nostril hoops, bow ring and necklace, tiara charm bracelet and necklace, diamond encrusted hoops, tiffany toggle choker, dainty tennis bracelets, new cute belly rings

purses:

medium ballerina telfar, hello kitty wallet, heaven sent leopard print wallet, tory burch ella tote, juicy couture wristlet, louis vuitton speedy 30, rhinestone encrusted purse, feather satchel, hello kitty purse, pink puffer tote, victoria’s secret glitter tote, burberry satchel, ruffled pink purse, juicy couture 2022 bowler bag

shoes:

fuzzy boots in pink and gray, black kitten heels, pink closed toe pumps, jelly platform sandals, white fur bearpaw boots, y.r.u. qrystal pink platforms, juicy couture fur slides, total temptress heels, sequin uggs, pink fur platform sandals, sherpa lined pink crocs, sparkly heels, strappy heels, mary janes

[desertdollranch]

My DIY WellieWishers Playhouse

A few weeks ago, I found this Our Generation brand beach house at a secondhand shop. A little doll playhouse has been on my wish list for a long time, specifically because I wanted to renovate it into a customized dream home for my five dear sweet Wellies!  

I love these little kiddos. They’re so cute and charming. I had originally only planned to get Emerson, but then I found Willa at a thrift store and couldn’t resist adding the rest after that. And I love making clothes for them, including these particular outfits. 

Ultimately I would have been thrilled to find the actual WellieWishers playhouse secondhand. 

But I’ve never seen it in any thrift store. And this is retired so it’s as expensive on the secondhand market as it was when it was available new from American Girl. 

I also noticed, when looking at other people’s photos of their dolls using this house, that it’s actually very small. It’s not meant to accomodate all the Wellies. 

So I started looking for an Our Generation brand house, since they make tons of larger-scale doll house playsets. They’re actually made for 18 inch dolls, but they fit 14 inch Wellies a bit better. The Seaside Beach House playset seemed like a good choice. Here’s how it originally looked:

When bought new, it comes with lots of small accessories, mostly food and dishes. The one I found and bought didn’t come with any of the accessories, which was fine. If there were any that I absolutely needed, I could make them. 

Once I acquired it, I got to work with the renovations.

Kendall helped me out, since she’s crafty and likes to make things. 

First I took out the plastic bench. It folds out into a bed that can fit one 18 inch doll or two 14 inch dolls. Then I moved the kitchen around so that the shelves fit under the window and open up the floor, making it all one room instead of two rooms.

This did unfortunately disconnect the power source for the overhead light and all the little kitchen and beach sound buttons. But I plan on replacing them with maybe something better.

Once everything was rearranged, I painted and wallpapered the walls. Then I added all the little accessories. 

With the kitchen moved, the little porthole window is above the sink, which looks nice. I added a roll of paper towels and some hand soap by the sink. 

The Wellies are only six years old and not allowed to have very hot things that can bun, so their stove and oven are for pretend play. 

The fridge is “real” and holds their snacks. To the left of that you can see the oven and underneath that, a second oven that I told the Wellies is actually a dishwasher. I took the handle off until I decide how to make it look like a dishwasher.

With the countertop underneath the row of windows, the plants can get some nice direct sun. To the left of the plants is the girls’ microscope. On the upper shelves are gardening supplies.

Emerson’s job is to water the potted herbs. 

The top shelf is for toys. I had a great time compiling all these mini toys for the girls: two little rabbits, a troll, real metal toy trains, a koosh ball, a slinky, and dinosaurs. The second shelf holds dishes. The bottom shelf has mini American Girl books and magazines, plus some microscope slides, a deck of cards, and a flower press.  

This little bench, and the stuffed lamb, were also recent thrift store finds. My aunt made the two stuffed chickens. I made the felt cactus. 

It’s kind of small and will only sit one Wellie or two smaller dolls, but it’s too cute to not use. 

I made the pom pom rug also. The carpet is a rectangle of soft velour fabric. I’m still undecided whether to use carpet or to make a faux wooden floor. 

The door has a screen in the window, and the window moves up and down to let in a breeze. Attached to the outside screen is a little plastic bug. 

On the right of the door are two seahorse-shaped hooks to hold jackets and hats.

The door locks, too!

There’s still room outside to put up the table and chairs I made for the Wellies last summer. 

And there’s room for younger siblings to come by and play. 

Behind the house is the wooden tree swing, a perfect place to enjoy the evening breeze.

[lqtraintracks]

Simple

Wrote a ficlet for the @drarrymicrofic prompt, simple.

480 words Rated: Mature for some sex Tags: coffee shop; post-war; getting together; falling in love; POV Draco Summary: He never would have called them simple. Everything was always complex between them. He’s unsure how they got here from there… Read on AO3 or below!

Draco’s unsure when it all changed. One day, he’d been embroiled in his hatred of Potter—which he’d always suspected might be a cover for his own self-loathing—and then…

Eyes meeting in a coffee shop. Potter giving him a small nod, that microscopic overture. Then, the chasm-crossing explosion that followed: “Hi.” Just Potter being quietly and strategically decimating.

It left Draco too stunned to speak, to nod, to anything. He’d ordered, got the wrong drink, didn’t care, couldn’t. Potter had walked through his life again, his departing back through the door, easy, the wool of his coat touching the ends of his hair which curled a bit at his collar.

Draco’s unsure when that changed too. When one word progressed to an exchange, the exchange to a conversation. Sitting together, talking, sipping tea and coffee and watching the day like it was something outside of them both, the two of them nonparticipants, observers of lives that weren’t connected to their own.

And yet theirs were connected to each other. This went unsaid. It was only a feeling.

Draco wasn’t sure how he could know Potter felt it too.

He’s unsure when mornings became evenings. When they traded coffee for cocktails. When they achieved the privacy of one another’s flats.

He doesn’t know who reached for whom. He only knows he feels like he’s been touching Potter forever, and starved of him at the same time.

Their love-making tends to be propulsive, forward-moving, goal-oriented. They like it hard, striving, wordless. And yet, as they pant in one another’s faces, their gazes meet. Hold. Stay. Draco remembers that first hello in the coffee shop every time. Remembers that first eye contact. Remembers Potter’s messy hair touching his collar, as Draco slides his hands into it while Potter pushes helplessly into his body.

He never would have called them simple. Everything was always complex between them. He’s unsure how they got here from there…

…to Draco seeing Potter’s reflection in the window glass, Potter seeing him see and smiling. Potter’s hand up Draco’s bare back, his arm wrapping around him and pulling their bodies close. Potter’s erection pressed against him from behind and yet neither of them in a hurry now. Both of them knowing it can wait. It will be there. This thing they have is steady, shockingly so.

Potter’s hand laying possessive claim to him, low on Draco’s belly where his joggers slip down.

“Hi,” Potter says against his ear.

“Hi,” Draco answers, turns his head enough for the kiss he knows Potter wants, that Draco wants to give.

He’s unsure when it happened, when they became these versions of themselves, when they exhaled with one another, when it all stopped and started again and became…

This.

Became everything he’d never known he was allowed to want. When they became each other and themselves entirely.

Became, finally, so very simple.

[silver138]

Perfectly Flawed - Chapter 10

word count - 866

warnings - none

Summary: Lina's made it to the end of her first week of work.

Friday morning arrives, overcast and a little cold. Stretching, I turn off my alarm and get out of bed. Yawning, I take my shower and get ready for work, thankful that I've figured out a quicker way of doing my hair. Leaving Val a note telling her to have fun this weekend, I finish getting dressed.

In what feels like no time at all, I'm walking briskly down the sidewalk to get to the station quickly. Making it with several minutes to spare until the Metro is due to arrive, I sit back and take a deep breath, then reach into my purse to grab my book.

After reading about a chapter, the Metro pulls in, and I put my book away and stand up, waiting till the vehicle comes to a stop. Stepping on, I scan the nearby rows, looking for Spencer.

Finding where he is, I make my way over, sitting in a seat near him. "Hey, Doc. How're you this morning?" I ask, turning sideways to face him. 

He gives me a shy smile, saying, "Oh, I'm good. Here's your coffee." and hands me a medium-sized cup. 

"Ah, so nice and warm, thank you, Spence," I say, giving him a soft smile. 

I take a sip, and remembering our plans for tomorrow, I give a small hum and ask him, "Oh, um, where would you want to go tomorrow? We could go to a Starbucks. I know there's, like, a million of them, but there's one right across the street from my stop, so we wouldn't have to go too far."

"I'm only suggesting that one because I know we both know where my stop is, but if you wanted to go to a Starbucks closer to you, or a different one altogether, we could," I say quickly. I look at Spencer as he takes a drink of his coffee, a slightly amused look on his face. 

I start to babble again. "Or-or we could go to a different coffee shop if you want. I don't really have a preference. If-if you still wanted to, that is.." 

His eyes widen and he rushes to say, "Y-yeah! I still want to. I'm just...I don't want to make any plans too solid, you know?" 

Feeling a bit crestfallen, I just murmur an, "Oh, okay..." while nodding dumbly and looking down. Noticing my demeanor, he quickly continues. 

"N-no, it's just that we could get called in for a case at any time. It's happened before. On my last birthday, we got called in, just as we were about to have the cake. So, um, th-that's why. B-but, if we do get called in, we can always h-hang out after we get back. If-if you'd like." he finishes, blushing slightly.

I look at him, a small smile blooming on my face and I nod in understanding. "Yeah. Yeah, I would like that, Spencer." I say quietly, taking a small sip of my coffee. He gives me a shy smile and looks out the window, then signals for the Metro to stop for us to make our exit.

As we walk and sip our coffees, we talk and laugh about what we expect to happen tonight. "So, what questions should I be expecting from our colleagues tonight, Doc?" I ask Spencer. 

He groans and replies with, "Oh, if you can think of it, they'll probably ask."

He gives me an apologetic look and continues. "I, uh, hope you don't mind your personal life being put under a microscope." 

I snort and say, "They're gonna be inspecting a blank slide." 

He raises his eyebrows and asks, "Oh? How so?" 

I chuckle lightly and say, "Before starting on Monday, the only people I would spend time with on even a semi-regular basis were my classmates, my professors, my roommate, and her boyfriend. I'm...kinda hoping working here gives me more people to be friends with. Like, actual friends, not just, like, co-worker friends, you know?"

He nods slowly, and I continue. "I mean, I've got hope. Everyone's been really nice, and I get along ridiculously well with you and Penny. I haven't interacted much with anyone else yet, but I'm sure that'll change as time goes on."

Spencer chuckles and says, "Well, you've got Morgan wracking his brain for a nickname you'll like, so that's a good sign. The only other people he's given nicknames to are me and Garcia, so take what you will from that."

Walking into the building, we take the elevator up to the offices. As we head into the bullpen, we're greeted by Derek, who says, "Hey, you two. Another coffee run, huh?" 

"Before you start," Spencer says, digging into his satchel and pulling a bag out, tossing it to Derek. "I got you something, so I don't want to hear it today, got it, Morgan?" he finishes with a smile. 

Derek catches it and looks inside, then breaks out into a million-watt grin and says, "Thanks, man!"

Spencer smiles, then turns to me and asks, "I'll see you for lunch, right?" 

I smile and reply with, "Yeah, of course. I'll see you then, Spence." Then turn and make my way to Penny and the computers.

Previous chapter

Next chapter

Story Masterlist

[joslincox]

Punk Rock 101

Preformed by: Chris Rock and Phil LaMarr

Phil: She works at hot topic

His heart microscopic

She thinks that its love but to him its sex

Chris: He listens to emo but fat mike's his hero

His bank account's zero

What comes next?

Same song different chorus

Both: It's stupid, contagious

To be broke and famous

Can someone please save us from punk rock 101

My Dickies your sweatbands

My spiked hair, your new vans

Let's throw up our rock hands for punk rock 101

Chris: She bought him a skateboard, a rail slide, his knee tore

He traded it for drums at the local pawn shop

Phil: She left him for staring at girls and not caring

When she cried because she thought Bon Jovi broke up

Same song second chorus

Both: It's stupid, contagious

To be broke and famous

Can someone please save us from punk rock 101

My Dickies your sweatbands

My spiked hair, your new vans

Let's throw up our rock hands for punk rock 101

Phil: Don't forget to delay...on the very last word

Seven years later he works as a waiter

Chris: She married a trucker and he's never there

The story never changes, just the names and faces

Phil: Like Tommy and Gina they're living on a prayer

Did you just say that?

I just said

Both: It's stupid, contagious (same song different chorus)

To be broke and famous (same song different chorus)

Can someone please save us from punk rock 101

My Dickies your sweatbands

My spiked hair, your new Vans

Let's shoplift some sweatbands for punk rock 101

[tacticalhimbo]

i knew u were gonna serve me gta LMAO so i am also doing the same for u 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

SAME BRAIN [send me a fandom] imma answer for 5 mostly bc i remember more about it than 4 but just know i have my thots and thoughts(tm) there too—

The first character I first fell in love with: oh man oh man.. it was davey. not even gonna lie. i was respectfully looking at the big three (michael, trev, franklin), but like. i dunno! i saw davey and was like yeah 😌💕 fdjasklfjaslfjsdf

The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: haines. i just. i wanna put him in a test tube and shake him and then pour him onto a slide and study him under a microscope. what is his deal. i must know. i hate everything he embodies and he gives me the ick but also... 👀

The character everyone else loves that I don’t: ... lazlow. i'm sorry i just. cannot. find it in me. JFLKAJDSFLASJF. i see the appeal!! he's just a guy!! pathetic man! hell i love his comments with mikey in the tattoo shop calling him papa bear (bc same, honestly) but i still get too much ick from him.

The character I love that everyone else hates: hmmm... ngl i don't see a lot of content for her so i can't say if people really hate her. but tracey. i love tracey. if tracey de santa has no fans i am dead. she's spoiled and rich and yada yada but man... her idle dialog makes me so sad she deserves the love and care she is clearly not getting from her family.

The character I used to love but don’t any longer: i can't think of an answer for this either! i still love brucie (again, he only shows up in online but whateverrrr) but not? as much? i'm actually normal about him. he's just a guy to me. so.

The character I would totally smooch: lamar... ☺️☺️☺️ i love him too okay he's the character ever. he has his problems but that is literally the entire cast. there is not one healthy motherfucker in the entirety of san andreas

The character I’d want to be like: hmmmmm... again, not one healthy motherfucker in the entirety of san andreas but if i had to pick one... gay tony. yea yea he only shows up in online whatever ok he is living his best life owning the pc's nightclub like he escaped everything from liberty city and is still in contact with his son (re: luis, who is not his actual son but may as well be) and spends his time browsing himplants enhancing surgery and fucking it up on the dance floor. as he should.

The character I’d slap: jimmy (affectionate). he's the younger brother i'm sorry as an older brother i am legally obligated. serious answer is dr. friedlander. fuck dr. friedlander all my homies hate dr. friedlander.

A pairing that I love: imma be real i don't look at many gta ships so i can't say i really love any of them if i don't know them. i see the appeal of trikey so i'll say that one-

A pairing that I despise: controversial take... michael and amanda. yes i know they are legally married. yes i know they "work things out" in the end bc they are both bad(tm) for one another. but my brother in christ if i were her and my husband threatened to kill me in front of my children during a therapy session... i'm sorry i'm going to our witsec contacts and telling them we need an OUT. i have so many gripes with friedlander in general (and yes yes i know satire; i will still complain about it as it's a big plot point in the central story) but letting that slide... OUGHHHHH.

[meadowmines]

OC-Tober Day 29: Change

[in which Aoyagi has second thoughts about some of his ink]

I'd recommend Kazabori-sensei, Nishitani-the-younger told Aoyagi earlier, the barest sliver of what had to be a full sleeve peeking out from under the cuff of his crisp white shirt and black jacket. From... extensive personal experience.

So, Kazabori-sensei it is. Nice clean shop, of course it would be. Little bigger than Utabori's. If the artwork on the wall is anything to go by, and if Nishitani has that much personal experience with the man's work, it should be fine.

"Can I help you?" the man himself asks.

Aoyagi swallows hard and spits it out before he can chicken out: "I need somethin' covered up."

---

Another point in Kazabori's favor: Aoyagi's explanation of why they kind of need some privacy to do this doesn't even faze him. On the other hand, a little background chatter or other such distraction would kind of be nice right now, because Aoyagi feels a little like he's on a slide under a microscope while he stands here with his haphazardly folded suit jacket hugged against his chest in a way that he knows damn well could not possibly look casual.

"Well," Kazabori says as he looks Aoyagi's back over. "It doesn't help that the part you want covered up is the part you've already had colored in." That's true. It's mostly outlines, at this point, except for one part. The part that, at the time, meant the most to him, that he insisted Utabori color in even before his own king cobra. "And I'd definitely recommend you let whatever you've got bandaged up heal before we do anything." he is, of course, referring to the patch of gauze marking where Aoyagi got fucking shot the other day. "What do you want there instead?

"I don't care," Aoyagi says. "I just want it gone."

"Mm." Kazabori doesn't say anything else for a while, and Aoyagi doesn't know if he's being expected to offer suggestions or what. "These are zinnias," he says, and Aoyagi flinches a little as he feels a fingertip tap one of the colorless blooms on his back. "For... loyalty, aren't they?"

Aoyagi doesn't say anything.

"It's not really the hannya you want to cover up." It's not a question.

Aoyagi doesn't need to answer it.

[mentaldetective]

I meant to post this here a few days ago, but here we go.

Below the cut is the second short for Mr. Harris, where he gets to watch his boyfriend work.

::Mr Harris Sees A Play::

Every time Harris went out to St Mary's cemetery the roads seemed more ragged. Not pothole-ridden so much as disintegrating with age. The cemetery itself was in only slightly better condition. The concrete walls holding the bank back from the narrow road into the cemetery had been recently repaired and parts of the road stripped for a future project.

Devon's little home and shop was tucked away at the end of a spur that ran along the front of the cemetery, to a copse of trees that surrounded and shaded the building. Harris pulled to a stop in front of the stone work, grabbing the small cooler that sat in the foot well next to him, and walked up to the door.

No one answered when Harris knocked, but he could hear the radio blasting out old hard bass. 'Ah, a potion day.' He tried the doorknob, and it turned freely, so Harris stepped inside.

"Devon?" Harris called, and shut the door behind him. "Are you free? Or should I come back later?"

The music cut down to a more reasonable level, and Devon walked out of a curtained off area on the left side of the building. He was wearing safety goggles, a mask, and gloves, but just his usual apron over his clothes. "Harry!" He said, smiling. "You timed this well." Devon pulled off his goggles, apron, and mask, hanging them on a hook by the curtain and dropping the gloves in the trash. "I've got about an hour before I have to go check on those again. What can I do for you?"

Harris held up the cooler. "I ran into something strange on my last hunt. A kind of werewolf spider thing, or at least I think it was a werewolf."

"A what!?" Devon looked at him, mystified. "You're gonna have to give me a bit more than 'werewolf-spider', Har."

"Here," Harris dug out his camera, "I took photos after the fight."

"Ok?" Devon took the camera and flipped through the photos. The look on his face went from curious, to horrified, to astounded. "Did its head look more like a dog or a human? I really can't tell from just the remains of its lower jaw."

"Its head looked like a dog's, and it looked like a dog before it transformed. Some kind of lab mix, I think," Harris said.

"Hm..." Devon crossed his arms. "Weird for the kinds of wolves I've come across. Can I see the cooler?"

Harris handed over the cooler, and followed Devon back to a door on the right side of the building. It opened to a larger room that acted as a mini mortuary and forensics lab. Devon set the cooler on the lab table and opened it.

"You didn't bring me much to work with," Devon grumbled. He pulled a pair of gloves out of a box on the wall and put them on before pulling out the samples.

"I got knocked around too much to drag the whole thing back," Harris said. "These were all the sample containers I had with me at the time."

Devon shot him a look. "And you couldn't go back for it later?"

"Tried to," Harris insisted. "But it was gone before I got back. All of it."

"Great..." Devon sighed. "Poachers or wild animals?" He opened a sample of blood and poured a few drops onto a microscope slide.

"Neither, as far as I could tell," Harris said. He leaned up against the wall by the door. "My footprints from the night before were still there, as was the blood. Granted it was dark...either way, it's gone now."

"Interesting," Devon muttered. He was focused on the microscope, adjusting the lens slightly.

"What is it?"

"I'd have to run some tests to be sure," Devon pulled away from the microscope and snatched a sample of muscle tissue, "but this doesn't look like any form of lycanthropy. Its cell structure is all wrong."

"Really!" Harris walked over to the lab table. "Any idea what it is?"

"Not from this," Devon said. "I'll need to call Adrian, see if this compares to anything she's seen." He hummed in thought. "Oh! Harry, could you double check the time for me?"

Harris dug out his phone. "It's quarter after 7," he said, and froze. A chill ran down his neck.

"Hm?"

"Shit," Harris stuffed his phone back in his pocket. "I have to get going, call me when you have an answer?"

Devon stared at him blankly for a second, before, "Oh, right! His new show open tonight, doesn't it?"

"Yes," Harris couldn't hide the soft smile on his face. "Are you planning to go?"

"Well not tonight, obviously!" Devon waved a hand over the samples and out to the door. "But I should be free tomorrow."

"Then maybe I'll see you tomorrow," Harris said, nodding. "Bye, Dev." He walked out of the morgue.

"See you, Harry," Devon called out before the door shut.

***

From the outside, the theater looked to be a fairly plain building, only remarkable for it's location on Grandview Avenue. Sparsely decorated concrete walls broken by simple square columns and a set of double doors on either end of the building. The entryway had a lavish faux roman appearance, with crystal chandeliers and gold trim, all left over from the restaurant that used to own the site.

Harris walked up the short ramp to the lounge area. A bar and small dining area were tucked into the right side of the building, where a handful of people were milling about, waiting for the show to start. To the left was the ticket counter, partially obscured by a small queue of people making their way to the end of the line before breaking off for the bar or heading deeper into the building.

The queue moved swiftly, and within a few minutes Harris was standing at the counter.

"Oh hey, Mr. Harris!" The man behind the glass beamed at him. Alec? Or was it Avery?, Harris couldn't remember, one of the new hires that had apparently been around long enough to recognize him.

"Hi," Harris said.

"Here, I'm supposed to give this to you," Aaron (AJ?) said. He grabbed something from under his desk, and set a familiar blue pass on the counter. "You know the way up?"

"I do," Harris said, grabbing the pass. "Thanks."

As he squeezed his way out of the crowd and past the ticket counter he overheard someone shout, "Hey, what's this about 'taking your life force'?"

Further in, the theater carried the roman styling and paired it with victorian wrought iron to form the area around the main stage. Harris walked up a flight of fake marble stairs, his box was at the end of the hall, closest to the stage.

A few people had arrived before him, some of the casts' family, local organizers, and a pair of men in expensive looking suits. Harris found an empty seat and waited for the show to start.

Soon, the lights dimmed, and the band started their overture. A pair of actors stepped out onto the stage to give the usual safety reminders, and warnings against flash photography, before darting back behind the curtain.

The show properly opened on an angelic figure arguing with a booming voice from the sky. As the fight went on, the music grew tense, then sharp, before the angel's wings were broken and they were knocked down into a hole in the stage. The lights and music cut, then slowly built up to reveal the stage had been rearranged to resemble a factory.

The workers moved to the rhythm of the song, akin to a heartbeat, across scaffolding that stretched from the stage floor almost to the ceiling. Pouring and shaping liquid metal, or rather backlit colored water, into towering molds and machinery. They almost moved in sync, with one or another moving too far or too slowly compared to their neighbors, until one stumbled and fell to the floor.

The two closest to their fallen friend jumped down from the scaffolding to help them up. While the others on the line tried to keep the flow. But, before they could reach the ladder, another figure walked on stage. He was a burly character, taller than the workers on the line, and carrying a whip at his side. The overseer of the factory.

The overseer bolted over. He grabbed the smallest of the three, who was still unconscious, and hurled them across the factory floor to the shriek of the brass and a crash of cymbals. Then turned and laid into the other two with his whip.

Up on the scaffolds, another worker grabbed one of the sledge hammers, and jumped. Smoke shot up from the edge of the stage and a loud crunching sound reverberated around the theater. The smoke slowly cleared and there in the center of it was Mei, holding up a stained sledge hammer.

Mei was gorgeous, his usually shifting appearance settled into something lean to fit the role. Harris was sure he was missing lines, he was so distracted.

From there the play continued into a stylized retelling of the revolt against the last king of Thedra. Mei, as the golden general, led the haphazard army, first to an alliance with the strays of the city, led by a prominent thief, and then to siege the local lord's castle. The thief, familiar with this lord's habits, made contact with friends on the inside, a gladiator and a dancer. Between them, they turned all but a few of the inhabitants of the castle against the lord.

With one city secured the rebellion spread, culminating in the fight outside the king's palace.

High above the stage, the key actors on both sides of the battle bounded between towering props with the help of wires and aerial silks. Mei, in gilded boots and a glimmering skirt, danced around the set, keeping pace with the king's general in deep blues at the heart of the battle. While below, the band climbed out of the pit, carrying all but the heaviest of their instruments to join the extras in battle.

The battle ended with the king's forces defeated and scattered, and with the golden general on his last breath. Before his passing, the general charged the thief and his friends with deposing the king.

The thief pressed their advantage, and within minutes, and a scene change, the trio reached the king's inner sanctum.

The angel turned from the window overlooking the battlefield and held up their sword as the thief, gladiator, and dancer fell upon them. They juggled and whirled the angel around the stage, music clashing and tense, before trapping them in the rubble of the battlefield. The dancer lunged at the angel, stabbing them through the chest and knocking them behind the prop. She leaned over his body and, after a wet snap, lifted up the angel's severed head for all to see.

The curtains closed, as cheers and applause drowned out the end of the song. The lights slowly brightened, and the curtains reopened for the actors to take a bow, and for the angel's actor to hold up their prop head.

Mei looked up and caught Harris' eye. He flicked his gaze over to stage right then back to Harris, raising an eyebrow. Harris smiled back at him, then stood and left the box, followed by the other cast's family members.

Stage right was closest to the green room, where the actors retired to after the final curtain call. Harris walked in to the actors and stagehands flopped down on chairs and couches, ducking into changing rooms, or chatting with family and guests.

Mei stepped out of one of the changing rooms, now in jeans and a tank top, with his more typical fluid features hanging around blond hair and brown skin. He brushed his long hair out of his face, and pinned it with a clip.

"Mei!" Harris squeezed his way out of the crowd to get to the incubus. Where he was immediately pulled off the ground, into a hug.

"Harry," Mei whispered and kissed him.

Harris wrapped his arms around Mei's neck and melted into the kiss. Only pulling back, eventually, for air.

"So," Mei asked, resting his forehead against Harris'. "What did you think?"

"Spectacular!" Harris cheered, grinning wide. "But you know I have to ask."

"No, I wasn't involved in this one," Mei said. He gently set Harris back on the floor and took hold of his hand. "This was centuries before I was born. But cultures can take a while to shift, especially when stubborn demons are involved."

"Hah," Harris grumbled bitterly. "So unfortunately true."

They made their way out of the greenroom, slowly working through the crowd. Mei hummed, and curled over Harris' side. He was practically vibrating.

"Sooooo, what did you think of my costume?" Mei asked.

"I'm impressed," Harris said. "You got it working the way you wanted in time."

"Yes!" Mei had a wide grin on his face. "I ended up needing Sherry's help wiring the power supply, but it worked! And it lasted the whole show!"

Harris chuckled. "You're pretty hyper. Was it a good meal?"

"Did you hear the way they gasped when General Karick died?" Mei grinned wide, showing off his fanged smile. "I could run on that moment alone for the next week!"

"And you've got a bunch more shows this month to drink it in," Harris said.

Mei sighed. "But then it's back to the grindstone," he said. "I think the next ones going to be a fairy tale."

They walked out through the lounge, where a surprisingly heated, but familiar, discussion had taken over. What did the lead actor look like? The loudest voice of tonight's discussion seemed to favor red hair and paint-gold skin, but another camp, equally vocal, insisted on black hair and sun bronzed skin.

Mei led Harris to the office tucked away in the front of the building, shutting the door behind them as the discussion picked up again. Mei slumped back against the door with a sigh.

"Ok," Mei walked over to the desk in the corner and pulled a stack of paper in front of him. "Just a few small things and then I'm done for the day."

"Ah, ordering day?" Harris pulled over a chair.

"Mhm." Mei nodded and flipped through a few pages, signing or writing notes as he went.

"You know," Harris said. "Now that you've got six plays to switch between, I doubt anyone would mind if you took your time on a new performance."

"Certainly the crowds would enjoy themselves, either way," Mei said. He was almost halfway through the stack of papers. "I'll try to take my time on my next project, but nothing feeds quite like awe."

"Not even me?"

Mei made a sound like a strangled crow, and his eyes bugged out. "Harry!" he sputtered.

Harris couldn't help laughing. "I'm joking, I'm joking," he said.

Mei snatched Harris around the waist and dragged him into his lap. "You!" He had a sharp look in his eyes, then pulled Harris into a searing kiss. Mei had a sultry look on his face when he eventually pulled away. "When we get home, I'll show you just how much I enjoy a meal from you."

"Hmm." Harris felt his face heat up, accompanied by a small flicker of warmth in his gut.

"Do you have any meetings you need to get to tonight?"

"None what so ever," Mei said. His tail swished playfully behind him.

"Then how about we get going?" Harris said.

Mei grinned wide, showing off his fangs. "Let's."

[ofgravitation-moved]

@riotmade​​ said: kaito was always careful of showing his kids' faces on the internet -- - keisuke and kaito's public instagrams never had their faces in them, at least ; just off angles. tiny hands holding theirs, the back of their heads. carefully scrutinized to be sure that they were out of the public eye as much as possible ( especially with how insane dynazero fans could get ). this included paparazzi, of course. part of being a hero was that you could always be caught unawares, and unfortunately, being married to the number three hero didn't make anything easier for the support tech CEO. it's for all of these reasons that kai leans down, adjusts the hood on the stroller that he's currently pushing the one year old akari in so that it's a bit lower than it really needed to be, before continuing on the walk that would take them to the coffee shop, falling in line with ochako once again as they make their way. " -- so, anyways. enough about me, how's your preparations for the hero gala going ? you excited ? i know kei has been going crazy trying to find us some matching outfits or something. " he shrugs.  

she had one too many things on her mind to begin with, the gala? was honestly the last thing on ochako’s mind. hazel eyes glance down at akari just as kaito adjusted the hood on the stroller, good. the paparazzi were coming out in droves lately as the countdown to the gala drew closer yet with each passing day. the eyes of the world were beginning to center around the heroes as the days got closer-- ochako hated this time of year. 

it was like living beneath a microscope. where each and every move you made publicly was watched and criticized. then judged again, not only by your peers, but also by the rest of the world. no matter how many people she’s saved or defended in the last year, the only thing uravity has been known for lately was being akari’s surrogate. and while that was a blessing and gift she could give to two of the people she cared very dearly about in this world, it’d done horrible for her career as a rescue hero. something, she was still trying to fix.  

her gaze shifts to kaito briefly, and the corners of her lips do turn up into a smile. to see kei and kaito in matching outfits would be a picture perfect moment, surely. but, even though the thought brings a smile to her face, ochako still shrugs a shoulder, stuffing her hands into her jacket’s pockets. “ my manager hasn’t shut up about the gala for weeks now. it’s bad enough i’m already doing so many engagements each day on top of patrols-- ” ochako looks out ahead of them again, eyes constantly darting around, just in case. you never could be too careful, anymore. 

sighing, ochako shakes her head, evenly. “ i mean.. i guess i’m excited? but i just hate all the glitz and glamor that goes along with it! i gave the agency so much publicity last year,  this year they’re going way over the top. ” she thinks back to last year when mina dropped everything to come and make sure a pregnant ochako was literally the belle of the ball. “ i think my agency even hired a makeup team, and i am wearing some crazy expensive dress by an international designer? i’m scared to see the heels they picked out.. they’ll probably cost more than my apartment.. ” wary eyes slide towards kaito, and they soften a fraction when they meet his. and she laughs, genuinely. 

“ but seeing you and kei all matchy-matchy? that’ll make my night for sure! ” if anything, at least once all the hero duties of the evening were out of the way, it’d be a night they could all enjoy together. something, that due to busy schedules, didn’t happen as much as they all would’ve liked. “ i know deku’s excited! ” 

[somedaynotsoon]

Super Small Stardust Saga, Chapter 1A

"Face to Toes with a Professional!"

Again, this is an Archive of Cohost content. Formatting might be a bit wonky.

This chapter contains: paws!

Yep, you're perfectly on time!

You buzz the door. You can do that remotely, which is good, because knocking on a door thousands of times your size sounds like an exercise in futility. For starters, you fit under the gap in the door. You can’t even reach that high.

A minute passes, then the door clicks and slides open. Looming above, Director Jynx stares down at you, her three eyes meeting the dot on her floor quickly. She blinks in recognition, then smiles at you. “Well, howdy, Miss Skylor. Please, come in. I’ll show you to my desk.” She reaches down, one of her front paws stretching out to surround you. Her front digits spread just enough to grab you, and you’re carried in the Director’s front pawtoes as she walks. It’s disorienting, but a lot softer and more yielding than the bus.

You’re dropped in the middle of the floor, and Jynx pulls a foot-high stool to her side, leaning against it as she speaks. You stare up at her, a monolith only a few inches ahead of you, but she feels like a mountain on the horizon.

It’s important to note that spacefaring species when meeting their fellow astronauts of different species for the first time experience attraction via the mere exposure effect. And, well, there was a LOT of the Director for you to look at. She was a Grey, so her species was one of the founding members of the Collective. They wound up in a lot of administrative and bureaucratic power seats. So, you tried your best not to blush or stammer as you addressed the lady who was essentially your mentor’s mentor’s mentor.

“Uh, I brought all my graduation paperwork, Director Jynx!” You held out the tinier-than-tiny paper with a little bow. You were bowing mostly to avoid eye contact.

Jynx chuckled and rested one of her…elbows, you suppose, on the stool. It was more of a table. Greys were “only” about a foot or so tall, so much of the office was low to the ground. It still loomed over you, though.

“That won’t be necessary, dear. I left my microscopes at home. I’ve got my own copy right here. I appreciate the courtesy, though, hun!” She lay a stack of papers down in front of you. Each layer of it was your height. It was like she’d just dropped a whole plateau in front of you. You didn’t even get a chance to think about how you could hollow out the stack of papers and fit a shopping mall in it before she plucked it up as effortlessly as she’d put it in front of you. “Try not to look so nervous, keheheheh.”

Shit. Now you were definitely blushing.

“I’m sure you’ve got a busy schedule, so I’ll keep this nice and brief. The Lieutenant downstairs has asked me to… ‘supervise’, as it were, your first voyage as Captain of that cruiser. Your situation isn’t exactly unprecedented, but it’s extremely uncommon, and taking the helm of a multi-member crew is quite difficult for anyone! Doubly so for someone as teeny-tiny as humans like you tend to be. I’m sure you’ll do great! But just in case, I’ll be there if you ever need to fall back on my expertise. Think of it like a driver’s test. You’re more than qualified in the social, engineering, navigational, and policy aspects necessary for a captain. But even the best of us can crack under pressure. And even I don’t know the exact nature of the mission you’re going on yet. It’s less of a job and more of an adventure!”

You nod along, trying to keep your balance as Jynx jostles one of her hind legs restlessly.

“But, I digress! I’ve taken the liberty of mailing a ‘regular’ sized copy of your Captain’s Certification to the Lieutenant, so it should already be aboard the ship. But, that’s not as fun as having a badge you can flash at people. So, your primary copy is suited for human size. Here you are! Once you accept this from me, you’ll be a Starship Captain, 3rd class. The rest comes with experience! It’s a lot of responsibility for a little thing. You ready for it?”

You nod nervously. You realize with a brief shudder of horror that the paw she’s holding your badge in is the same hind paw that’s been hopping in place during her whole speech.

“Y-Yes Director! I-I’m ready!”

“Great! Come get it, then.” She cheers, her tone delightfully playful.

“O-of course! I’ll…” You step closer, and closer…walking for a minute or so, you realize that you’re not quite getting to her paw as fast as you’d like. In fact, after another minute of walking, Jynx stretches her hind paw out to you. It draws close enough to dwarf any human-scale building you’ve ever seen. The closer you walk, the more the curvature of her toes feels less like a wall and more like a ceiling. Your heart feels like it’s going to jump out of your chest as you approach the tip of one of her digits. Finally, your arms shaking, you reach out and nab the small silvery pin from betwixt the goliath toes of your superior. You quickly fasten it into your hat.

After a few seconds, you gulp anxiously when you notice Jynx isn’t retracting her toes. “U-uh, Director, I took my badge-!”

“Oh!! Sorry about that, Miss Skylor. I’m blocking your view with my foot, aren’t I! I was just messaging the Lieutenant to let him know we’ll be there in a few short minutes.”

“U-uh…W-we?”

“Of course! You didn’t think I was going to make you walk all the way down there? Or take a bus or taxi? No no no, I can just carry you, dear.”

“UH!! Are you sure that’s—eep!” You squeak, as the toes that had just held your badge leap forward to pinch your crumb of a body, and you quickly find yourself carried between the hind toes of the Director. The warmth and rustle of the surrounding fur makes you feel like you’re going to pass out from sheer humiliated embarrassment alone.

“Off we go! Hold on, Miss Skylor. I wouldn’t want to drop you~.”

Let's go Meet our New Coworker! {To Chapter 2}

[gosciencecrazy]

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[pocketsrestorations]

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[dssima]

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[everythingcounts2007remaster]

when I picked up a 90s scifi book with a majestic spaceship on it for a whole dollar from my local thrift shop I did not anticipate the protagonist jizzing onto microscope slides with his frenemy to compare sperms and then hatefucking in the ship's mortuary.

I never want this book to end.

[ambrosiafm]

come on, 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒃 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒂, and let the nectar flow! take a load off! — accepted! please familiarize yourself with the guidelines, plot, and lore. join the discord link from the pinned post or your roles will be reopened. welcome to 𝘬𝘦𝘧𝘪, 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘢, teddy da costa, phoenix bell, niklas reed, kyung-soo "tom" hyun. josh heuston, jenny boyd, tyler alvarez, taecyeon is now taken.

⧼    josh heuston,  demi man,  he/him and they/them,  twenty-nine.    ⧽  deep end by ruelle  +  smell of fresh ocean air and spices, a smile hiding tired eyes, and a photo frame permanently face down out of shame.  ☼  theodore ‘teddy’ da costa survived the second titan war, but just barely! nowadays they’re a chef and swimminginstructor  and are known to be charismatic & impulsive, makes sense given they’re a child of poseidon. word around town is that they’ve been here for eighteen months and have been having nightmares, is it true? it’s probably just gossip. whenever you see them around town they have their necklace with twice the amount of beads as it should have.  [    alix, twenty-six, est, she/they, none   ]   

⧼    jenny boyd,  cis woman,  she/her,  122. ⧽    little girl gone by chinchilla  +  a smile half charming & half feral, a face straight out of myths, the smell of a bonfire, staying up all night to see the sunrise just to make sure it comes up, sarcasm was always your best friend.  ☼  PHOENIX BELL survived the second titan war, but just barely! nowadays they’re a mechanic and are known to be compassionate & bitter, makes sense given they’re a CHILD OF HEPHAESTUS / FORMER HUNTER OF ARTEMIS. word around town is that they’ve been here for 6 years and SHE GAVE UP HER IMMORTALITY FOR A LOVE THAT DIDN'T LAST, is it true? it’s probably just gossip. whenever you see them around town they have their magical multitool from her father.    [    ali, 31, est, she/they, pedophilia & grooming    ]

⧼   tyler alvarez,  non-binary,  he/they,  21.    ⧽    toxic by britney spears  +  daddy’s credit card & shopping sprees, a half full swear/vulgar jar on the kitchen counter, the f word written on business notes.  ☼  niklas reed survived the second titan war, but just barely! nowadays they’re a college student and are known to be meticulous & sarcastic, makes sense given they’re a child of minerva, legacy of erebus (roman). word around town is that they’ve been here for three years and a disappointment to his mother and adopted parents, is it true? it’s probably just gossip. whenever you see them around town they have their silver emblemed cufflings.    [    kyle, 25+, hst, he/him, ||sa, suicide, gore||    ]

⧼   taecyeon,  cis man,  he/him,  122, physically 29.    ⧽    goodtimes together by cecilio & kapono  +  slides alongside notes by a microscope, friendly smiles with curious questions, accidental code switch slip ups.  ☼  kyung-soo "tom" hyun survived the second titan war, but just barely! nowadays they’re a scientist and are known to be curious & airy, makes sense given they’re a child of hebe, legacy of hecate. word around town is that they’ve been here for eleven years and was stuck in the lotus casino for 93 years for a quest, is it true? it’s probably just gossip. whenever you see them around town they have their chalice.    [    kyle, 25+, hst, he/him, ||sa, suicide, gore||    ]