#need to refresh my insect knowledge

[darkwooddt]

Maybe this is just a bug account now.

[wardenwyrd]

Writeblr Introduction

Dotted in secret stars and whispered moons lies The Warden O' Wyrd; too bright smiles and sharp eyes linger on her skin, miasma orbiting their visage. When dusk's hands sweep fluttering eyes closed her shackles, in turn, loosen.

Greetings and welcome all, I am Wardenwyrd - connoisseur of messy queers, the freaky & occult, and all things speculative fiction! I am freshly new to Writeblr and am keen to dig my claws so fellow denizens of Writeblr interact if you enjoy my vibes < 3

Open to ask and tag games !

◈What I write ◈

Anything and absolutely everything speculative, weird horror, all shapes and forms of queerness, and a metric ton of worldbuilding.

Genres: Fantasy (Low, high, dark, fairy tale-esque, etc), Sci-Fi, Paranormal, Romance, Horror, Mystery

Fantastical, often ethereal and treacherous worlds flavoured with flowery prose

Queer, neurodivergent, and disabled characters and themes. All kinds of diversity really. Always looking to broaden and grow my noggin' with wisdom

Gender queer characters. An UNBELIEVABLE amount of dyed hair and pronounces.

Body horror: elegant body horror; gross, grimy body horror; wonderfully queer body horror 'til I burst at the seams; all sorts. Twisting of the body into something other than human as a form of beauty my beloved < 3 < 3

Characters who desperately need therapy (That would be my fault)

Rich settings and worlds. Give me intricate magic systems !!! give me ecology that could be shown in a nature documentary !!!

🌔About Me 🌒

Goblin in my (late) teens. I've been writing for a whiiiile but started really getting into it about half a decade ago. I will ravenously consume all forms of creative media.

⭐Likes ⭐

Favourite colour: Purple my beloved Favourite band: Mili (I'm so normal about them) Favourite genre/s: Gothic lit, Fantasy, Horror romance, whimsical fairies Fav insect: Moths/Butterflies

Stats:

Creative writing college student

Panromantic Ace | Queering my gender to the max

English (Regrettably)

Autism kreachure

Revolving door of hyperfixations on science-y stuff

Purple hair (Not beating the stereotype allegations)

WIPs

[Note: I am very bad at deciding on WIP names]

Prisma

My surreal fantasy WIP comprised of a collection of different stories linked by a unifying setting.

Colour-Coded to the max. Each central story focuses on a character assigned a colour, differing in tone, POV, and focus. Main three are purple, blue, and red.

Literal becomes figurative, and figurative literal

Charms and incantations of old swirl in from afar, weaving our hands together with something much deeper than flesh – a curious sentiment oozing from the recesses of Damsel’s cloak as the feeling of moss and stone wove through my veins; cold and refreshing.

◉

‘What absurdity’, The Arbiter would think to himself. After all, those carmine red eyes of his delve into the primaeval madness: in their muddy depths lies the shivering madness - Fear. From fear is the knowledge wrenched from uncertainty and bloodshot eyes. Dread is the light; tugging on world-weary watchers. 

Sort of portal fantasy, sort of not. The stories in this WIP span across many eras and places, yet often find themselves connecting and mingling. Incredibly queer.

Main characters:

MC of Red, Jack Pronouns: He/Him Bnuuy ass trans Victorian boy. Pasty and WILL combust in the sun. Autism creature. He gets a himbo bf and sick asf t-surgery scars as a treat &lt; 3 Character Playlist

MC of Blue, Hel Pronouns: Any/All seemingly innocent girl but remove the innocent and girl part. Kind of an eldritch horror after a character arc but like, that's the good ending. So old surnames weren't a thing in the era they're from. Character Playlist

MC of Purple, Dorothea Pronouns: She/They Gatekeep, Gaslight, Girlboss. Autistic adhd precocious mess who WILL make it your problem. Genuinely manipulative but has great hair so it's fine. Character Playlist

Other notable mentions

[Note: I will elaborate on all of these later]

Witch WIP

My beloved blorbos < 3 Once I figure out how to frame and present it in a more refined way I like I shall be posting about this.

Personal & Cultural struggle within a fantasy context | Disability & Identity as a main theme | Aroace protagonist and Queerplatonic relationship | Magic inspired by folklore and myth | Found family

Low Fantasy setting in a somewhat alternate earth

Sprawling magic system

Conventional fantasy groups but with a spin: revamping those vibes

Witches aren't just funny flying women but genuinely inhuman creatures with spicy shit going on

Demons and angels but: demon is the colloquial term for a class of magical beasts characterised by dense essence, not like hell demons. Angels are living algorithms born from patterns and don't have an actual association to any gods.

MC Playlists:

Branwen | Ingram

Five Steps From Hell

Biblically Accurate Angelic-Flavoured paranormal apocalypse

Autistic MC

More horror oriented than action

Lots of vibes.

MC becoming something not very human, but they're more worried that they aren't worried too much about it

I've got some dastardly plans for this one. Vibes and atmosphere whilst the world falls apart and neurodivergence is a great combo.

[fumikomiyasaki]

Sunset delight

Slowly but surely the sun set down... the sweet taste of red berries mixed with the warm soft bread he took a bite off looking around.. the HSA harvest fest was almost over as Beelby watched the simple joys... he knew he was the outcast... but compared to Aiden who usually is and could be the leader here, he is in a different way... how could many other understand the things he seen, the things he known. Yet he left from the place he belonged to understand mortals better... and he never looked back once... a sip of his drink brought him back to energy has his bug eyes shifted around the venue. He heard the happy sounds of a small ladybug calling him... whispering of a faint story... as if they were reading... curiousity picked him as he followed its voice... to find a lone girl... sitting down and reading a bug, the ladybug gently resting on her finger... no hostility... moreso that she welcomed the bug sitting there. He decided to intrude even if he knew he might be send away again. "May I take a seat next to you, Young lady?"

"Young lady?" She giggled softly... unexpected to him, those emerald eyes looked quite pretty in the red shimmer of the fainted sun... as through her glasses she focused directly on him. "Wait aren't you the one Lee talked about?"

"Oh an aquaintence of Leroy I see, we haven't been introduced yet." He gently pulled off the ladybug from her finger, lifted it onto his and put it on his shoulder before putting a hand to his chest. "My name is Beelby, but Beel is fine to me... and you are?"

"Carol...I think I heard about you, Mellow talked excited on how much you can commune with bugs, is that true."

"Yes... they are my dear friends actually. So I appreciate you watching out for this little one." Her eyes had a light shimmer in her eyes, curious and excited... he was surprised by it.. not someone who pushed him away for his audities... but one willing to listen. "Can you please tell me more about them? I was curious what they think." "Of course."

The Sun slowly faded into the horizon... passionately he told her a bit of stories he knew thanks to his insect buddies... but more and more he noticed how fascinated he was with this woman before him... A refreshing thirst of knowledge, a demeanor serious yet soft and sweet, her hair brown as hazelnuts... shining pretty among the light, eyes ever drawing him in to tell her more... and yet no speck of magic in her, however despite that he felt more and more enchanted and curious about her. "Its getting late... I probably need to head back to my school."

"Right.. I apoligize for keeping you, Carol. But if you may, can you greet Leroy for me?" "Of course I will. And who knows maybe thanks to him we will cross paths and be able to talk again a bit more." She slowly stepped forward tilting her head over her shoulder and smiled at him. Like a warm light, he noticed his wings on his neck go in unease... beautifull... was words he uttered by accident as she looked at him in confusion "Did you say something Beel?" "Nothing to worry about but... I would be happy if you keep this kindness towards my bug friends... mayhaps eventually I show you a little trick where we commune with their help easier." "I would be interested." And so she left... its been a while since a mortal fascinated him like that... last being when he still was doing his duties in hell... but he knew, he wanted to know more.

___ Just a small little story

[translations-by-aiimee]

Mistakenly Saving the Villain - Chapter 13

Original Title: 论救错反派的下场

Genres: Drama, Romance, Xianxia, Yaoi

This translation is the product of my limited knowledge of Chinese characters as I attempt to learn the language. If I have made any egregious mistakes, please let me know.

Chapter Index

Chapter 13 - Falling into Evil

"It's the marks left by acupuncture." Seeing that he misunderstood that he was injured, Song Qingshi hurriedly explained, "It's not from insect bites. I have delicate skin. When needles are inserted, they cause slight subcutaneous bleeding and often leave marks. Don't worry, it's painless. They'll go away in a few days."

Yue Wuhuan took a close look at those marks, then slowly loosened his head, bowed his head and said, "Master tested the needles for me and injured himself, but I was rude. . ."

"How can you study medicine without sticking needles into your own body?" Song Qingshi said indifferently. "In the future, you will have to prick yourself when you practice acupuncture. If necessary, you can use me as a practice dummy, before. . ." When he said this, he suddenly remembered some funny things. The first step in learning acupuncture is to prick yourself, and then prick each other. After you get used to it, using acupuncture for acne, weight loss, stomach discomfort, a cold, and before a final exam would all become the norm. He also learned a lot from his senior sister. For example, when he fell asleep while studying, he would stick a needle into the top of his scalp and it would instantly refresh the mind.

When the original body learned acupuncture, he first pricked himself with the needles, mainly to determine the feeling of the needles.

It was the first time he tried this acupuncture method, and he had to practice it on himself before he dared to do it to others.

Yue Wuhuan turned around sullenly as if he was not very happy about his injuries.

The shou protagonist is really a kind little angel.

Song Qingshi sighed internally after a while. He was afraid that he would mess things up again. He spent a lot of time talking about medical theory while giving needles and finally turned the beauty into a beautiful hedgehog. After determining each acupuncture point, he injected spiritual power to bring the local anesthesia to the minimum, and then took out the medicinal jar for the medicinal bath. He put the ingredients in the Six Meridian Rejuvenation Medicated Bath and adjusted the temperature skillfully so that Yue Wuhuan could enter.

This time, Yue Wuhuan groaned not long after entering the medicated bath.

The domineering medicine penetrated into all his meridians, rushing wildly. It felt like his body was being turned inside out.

Yue Wuhuan finally understood what Song Qingshi meant when he said it was painful. Even though acupuncture had reduced the pain a lot, he still held on to the rim of the bath in pain, his face turned red and his forehead covered in a cold sweat.

"The pain can't be completely eliminated," Song Qingshi injected his spiritual thoughts into his body to continuously monitor the situation, explaining, "There are many meridians in the human body, and after the medicine is injected, it's like a river rushing into a bank. You need to feel the pain of each blocked meridian being flushed open before I can determine if it has been completely opened. . . If it hurts, you can scream, as long as you persist for half an hour."

"Master doesn't need to worry," Yue Wuhuan panted, "You've already done so much for me, I can bear it."

After the clogged meridians were forcibly flushed open, the medicine could pass through unimpeded, and the pain was instantly relieved.

Song Qing Shi then took out the corresponding golden needles.

As more and more meridians were cleared, the pain became lighter and lighter.

Before taking the last needle out of his scalp, Song Qingshi took out a pill and ordered Yue Wuhuan: "Open your mouth."

Yue Wuhuan was in so much pain that his mind went blank. He opened his mouth obediently, only to find that Song Qingshi had stuffed a hot pill in. His cold fingertips accidentally touched his lips, and he subconsciously chased after them, licking the comforting coolness with his tongue, wanting to take it in his mouth and never let it go again.

The hot pill melted in his mouth and slipped into his stomach. Suddenly, an explosion-like pain came from his spiritual core, stirring up his internal organs.

He couldn't bear it anymore and let out a miserable scream. He grabbed at the person near him with all his strength and then fell down helplessly.

Song Qingshi took him into his arms, patted his back, and coaxed him softly: "This is the Nine Revolution Blood Lotus Pil. It'll work quickly, just hold on."

The Six Meridian Rejuvenation medicated bath opens up the meridians, and the Nine Revolution Blood Lotus Pill regenerates the spiritual core. Song Qingshi determined from research materials and experiments that the Nine Revolution Blood Lotus Pill could not alleviate the pain when taken, but the pain was short-lived. So he didn't explain it at the beginning, so as not to increase the psychological burden of the patient. Just like an injection, a quick fix was enough.

Yue Wuhuan's lips were already bleeding from being bitten. He couldn't hold on anymore, and finally let out a low growl like a wounded beast, hugging the person in his arms tightly, as if he wanted to be merged into his flesh and blood, and become one.

If it weren't for the high cultivation level of a Nascent Soul cultivator, his bones would have been shattered.

     Song Qingshi couldn't move. He was afraid that he would bite his lips in pain, so he suggested: "If you are in pain, you can bite something else. I'll give you a towel. . ."

Before he finished speaking, Yue Wuhuan ruthlessly bit down on the eyesore that was the dark red mark on his neck with such force that he almost wanted to bite off this piece of meat and swallow it into his stomach.

Song Qingshi knew that he had lost his mind, and was afraid of him hurting his teeth, so he immediately withdrew all his protective spiritual power, and didn't dare resist his poisonous power. The bite was so deep, there were bloodstains, and he was in so much pain that he almost burst into tears. He didn't dare cry out so others wouldn't worry, so he could only pretend that it didn't hurt, and gasped desperately.

He let him bite him, kneeling and pushing through it.

Song Qingshi persevered with tears in his eyes. . .

After about fifteen minutes, the pain in his spiritual core slowly disappeared, and tiny spiritual power slowly emerged, just like a tree that had withered for many years sprouting new shoots under the nourishment of the spring rain. Everything sprouted vibrantly and is body became comfortable and cozy. Yue Wuhuan's energy finally ran out. He loosened his jaw, lightly licked the blood from his bite, and slowly collapsed into a deep coma.

. . .

When Yue Wuhuan woke up, it was already dark.

He moved his body, and the spiritual power that had withered for many years began to circulate smoothly. His aptitude was much stronger than when he first entered the immortal world.

Suddenly, he realized there was someone next to him. He slowly turned his head to look and found that his hands were tightly holding onto Song Qingshi's sleeves. His fingers were stiff and numb from grasping for too long, and it took a lot of effort to untie them.

Song Qingshi was sleeping soundly next to him.

He originally wanted to wait for Yue Wuhuan to wake up and explain the treatment process, but he was so tired during this time that he fell asleep while waiting.

Yue Wuhuan stared blankly at this unsuspecting sleeping face, and there were many ripples in his heart that he didn't know what was going on. The seeds of desire were taking root and sprouting, and crazy emotions were boiling in his mind.

He quietly stretched out his hand and picked up a strand of soft and fine long hair. He put it on the tip of his nose, sniffing greedily the lingering medicinal fragrance then kissing it lightly.

The bite marks on his neck also gave him an indescribable sense of satisfaction, as if he had branded this person with his own mark.

Obviously, his body had been freed from the control of drugs, but he still had an unstoppable desire for the person in front of him.

Such a good person, but he wants his body, wants to get his soul, wants to see him fall into the sea of lust and be controlled.

What a despicable thought. . .

"Wuhuan, you are a demon born for desire."

Perhaps, this statement is right.

He has already degenerated into a demon, unworthy of being with purity.

Song Qingshi has done too much for him and his kindness was as heavy as a mountain. There was no way to repay him.

He knew he shouldn't, but he just can't bear to let go.

At least, he should stay away from him, hide his tail, don't show his true face, don't let evil thoughts dirty him. . .

Yue Wuhuan made up his mind, took a final breath, and reluctantly let go of the long hair in his hand.

[rhetoricandlogic]

Against All Gods by Miles Cameron review

Review

Epic Epic Epic awesomeness!!

Such a fun and epic start to a fantasy story. These are exactly the type of stories I look for when reading fantasy. A wrap tag group of people brought together by one insurmountable goal. The ultimate David vs Goliath underdog story. Humans against Gods!

The premise alone already enticed me since I’m a sucker for a story where Gods are used as a mechanic, even better that they’re the enemies. The Gods really didn’t disappoint, they felt equal parts powerful, petty, vain, and threatening for all the wrong reasons. I like that they’re seems to be a mystery behind them too. They obviously came from somewhere else 1000 years ago, possibly running from something. There is something going on with their true appearances, the fact that they’re these hideous insect like creatures (and one lion creature) masquerading as these perfect beautiful people. It’s fascinating and something you couldn’t really do if the is was just another Greeek mythology narrative. The politicking was engaging as well, I don’t normally care for politics but the scheming of the Black and Blue Goddesses and the Storm God kept me wondering what was going to happen next and trying to get a sense of they’re overall plans. I didn’t quiet understand why the Storm God didn’t just kill them if he even suspected them(or why he kept them alive in the first place if they’re the “Enemy”) There is history there and I can’t wait to find out what it is. Overall I’m excited to get more from them and see the Storm God get punched in the face by Zos. Thats’s going to be epic

Speaking of Zos, the human characters in this book were all great. Zos is the perfect aging hero I want to follow, Era is badass and capable, we need a women like her in the group, Pollon’s magic, Archery and general knowledge is that wild card we need and even Anat and his family were endearing and will do well to ground our heroes. Gamesh and the black smith were fun too. They all read like epic heroes being told throughout the ages and I know they’ll be even more powerful when they get their hands on these God weapons. I know it’s coming!

The magic was basic but I still liked the idea of Aura being used. I’m a sucker for magic weapons in fantasy and I want to see more of these in the vault in the next book.

The plot itself flowed at a fair pace that always kept me from getting bored. It does this thing I really like where it skips over the travel time or prep work to get to the next plot relevant point/place. So many books will decide what to do next for the plot then spend 30 pages talking about and preparing to do that thing. It’s tedious and I always catch myself thinking “All this could have been cut out”. So I’m so happy this book didn’t have that problem. I tend to like faster paced plot heavy stories though. It wasn’t a ton of action throughout but I didn’t mind since what we got was well done and I had fun seeing everyone get where they needed to be. I was super happy when all the POV characters got together fairly quickly. Freeing the slaves, killing some demons and Gods where all super fun to watch. The ending was epic and on par with anime scenes I’ve watched.

The worldbuilding was cool. I liked the Dry ones, The Jekers and the different cultures we caught a glimpses of. The location names themselves were a little confusing and did not really stick in my mind but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment. Overall the Bronze Age aesthetic was refreshing (I’m so tired of English medieval fantasy) I want to see more from this world and lore.

A couple negatives:

*For Whatever reason I never cared Pollon’s POV chapters/moments. I was always so bored during them. I like him as a character but I think he works better as a side character rather then a POV character

*The writing was a tad bit bland. It didn’t take away from my enjoyment but I do think it played a part in why it took me so long to read this relatively short book. Normally a book this size would take me 3-4 days but it ended up taking me about 7 days.

*I’ve seen a few review where people say the villains were just evil for the sake of being evil. I agree but it doesn’t really bother me but I thought I’d mention it

[maniacal-butterfly]

Thoughts on Sheogorath: 1) The other Daedra thought he would be harmless, being the antithesis of the most powerful Prince, but they failed to account for the fact that Jyggalag’s power was not purely a part of his sphere 2) The Aedra and the Daedra had an arrangement, where the Aedra would give the Daedra a piece of Lorkhan to use as a foundation for imprisoning Jyggalag, so long as they promised they would keep that piece of Lorkhan in check. Sheogorath was grown from that piece.

Hi anon! Thanks for the asks! I want to prelude this by saying, I'm not in any shape an expert in TES lore. Which is why, before I answer your ask about kalpas (I'm guessing it's from you as well?), I'll take a refresher dive into uesp.

Now about the Sheo thoughts. Hope you don't mind the resulting wall of text you're going to get.

I always thought Jiggy to be closer to madness than he'd admit to be honest. There's insanity in wanting the world to follow perfect order and he'd need a crazy amount of denial not to realise mortals will not follow whatever statistics he may have planned for. In a world where people can become gods and twist reality from thousand of years in the future, you're bound to go batty if you want things to follow order. I find there's a comical level of hubris to the other daedric princes when they decided to curse Jyggy with becoming what he "hated the most". As if madness and chaos didn't reach all minds and realms. It's just good fortune for them that Sheo seems to be happy with simply having a foothold everywhere and doesn't share Jiggy's expansionist plans.

While I know Sheogorath is said to be the "Sithis-shaped hole" who came to the world once Lorkhan's spark was removed, quite frankly, I have little knowledge about what that would mean. So your idea about the Lorkhan piece is as good as any other in my opinion. But then I have a question for you: have the Daedra failed their part of the bargain with the Aedra? Because, especially after getting rid of the Greymarch, Sheogorath isn't what I would call "kept in check".

Going to combine 3 and 6. I like the parasite/butterfly/mushroom theme you have going there. Got me thinking about the body snatcher wasps that lay eggs into caterpillars and other insects; the larvae turning their hosts into living cocoons as time goes by. Or the fungus that takes over ants; its spore first digging itself through the exoskeleton til it forces its victim to find a good spot to die and allow the fungus to grow to adulthood. It makes the Greymarches an attempt to eradicate the infestation but as we all know, "you cannot kill [mushrooms] in a way that matters". Even after the Isles are bleached white, there would remain a root, a spore, and from it the spread would start anew. Allowing Sheogorath to regrow from the husk of his realm. As for the screaming plants... they'd hold the key to a network of information if only you knew how to connect to it. Maybe they could talk if they wished to. They'd tell you what's the best route to follow. Go that way, or the other. We never said the information was truthful however.

Did Sheogorath sneeze or blinked when Cyrodiil went from being a Jungle to a fertile land? Or did that not count as an impossibility? What would count as impossible and is Sheo having a loose grasp on the concept why some things just make no sense in Tamriel? How much of a headache would Jiggy get during a Dragon Break? While we are talking about Aedras, there are two others I'd imagine Sheo would work with. Dibella and him both have artists and musicians in their "sphere". They may compete over the methods of inspiration but I can see them working together for more awe inspiring, revolutionary, projects. A more "obvious" one, so to speak, would be Kynareth. I was going with the simple path of her bringing rain and storms, both phenomenon giving a chance of calling onto Sheogorath while wishing for another deity. But, after some research, and I’m quoting uesp here, “She is associated with rain, a phenomenon that is said not to have occurred before the removal of Lorkhan's divine spark.” Here is that spark again. The one which disappearance brought the Madgod to the world. And sure it doesn't mean much, a simple coincidence probably, but I appreciate the idea of those two being close. There is a wildness to the elements and the wind after all.

Anon, why matcha? Sure it's toxic green but it's also extremely bitter. though it is usually balanced by the sweetest treats. Is that why you chose it? Sheo and Jiggy's relationship is bound to be an odd one. And you're right to say they are opposite spheres. Which makes me wonder. They are like two sides of the same coin, and the Shivering Isles is represented by a flat land. Could Jyggalag's realm simply be on the other side of that land? Not "beneath" it. Though as far as one is concerned, the other's realm is basically in their basement. None is upside down, there is no real up or down in Oblivion anyway, given what you see is how the daedric prince wants it to be. And well, I'd guess there's still a few spores on Jiggy and tiny sandlike shards of crystal on Sheo once they separated.

Sheo being Sheo and doing what feels like a good time to him despite of, and to spite, the other daedras is such a Mood. May he continue to do so over time.

Whether it's lore friendly or not, I do not know, but I tend to see Aedras and Daedras as neither good nor bad, rather as being closer to Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Some may be cruel and hate mortals, sure, but they also sometimes interact with mortals and just end up breaking them. For instance, the lady who got turned into instruments had a gruesome fate, but the intent wasn't evil. I'm not saying Daedras are all good, just pointing out that both Aedras and Daedras have used mortals as tools and taken sacrifices. I also wish we'd have more insight as to how the different cultures impact the way Daedras interact with mortals. For instance, the Reachmen have the "Spirits" a lot more integrated in their daily lives and, while mistakes can lead to dangerous outcomes, are not worse from wear from it. Would different races or cultures perceive daedric realms differently given their different beliefs?

Anyway. I don't know if you expected the length of the answer. I'm sorry if you weren't. Feel free to send me other thoughts on the topic (sorry if it takes a while to answer, I'm away from home often). I'll be answering the Kalpa one in the next few days.

[fishfilettoo]

i realize many of my friends know about mogimi but dont know about their dynamic specifically O_Y: warning they are crepes they are weird doughs ( kirimi especially . warning for a bit of violence ) /lh i am mostly going to talk about kirimi btw anemone if u want to add anything to this feel free ( autism stare

the au is basically the mo4 and mp100 universes merged together with mogami and kirimi as the main pair .

kirimi is ( like in canon ) one of the executives of mindy corporation ( or mdcr ) and is the head scientist and engineer ( he is also a doctor , but he does not actively work in that field . although he does posses vast medical knowledge . this will be important later ) . he is a rich egotistical man who sees people as disposable tools for his own gain . he is physically very weak so he hires bodyguards and assassins to work for him and do his dirty work , but he switches them out constantly because his paranoia grips at his throat like barbed wire . he will order to kill business rivals , competitors , threats , or people who know a little bit too much about him for his liking . he smokes , drinks , whatever impulsive behavior you can think of he has probably done it before . he is transmasc btw very important information

he has a strange obsession with charms , and he is the most impulsive buyer you will ever see . he has an office where he keeps most of his antiques , and a personal laboratory where he does experiments ( will also be important later ) which no one else but him is allowed to enter . he also has his own section of the facility , but that area is not off limits . it is deserted most of the time though . most people at mdcr find him eerie and creepy in a strange way , despite him being a very important figure in the company , and people looking up to him . there are rumors about him ( kirimi knows . he watches the security camera footage constantly ) and he finds it really amusing when people make bets over who is going to be hand delivering kirimis documents to his office next .

when kirimi hires mogami i think he is almost immediately able to tell that he is different . kirimi offers him a cigarette , mogami refuses . he offers him a drink , he refuses . he offers to bring him to parties , he refuses . kirimi is not used to this . he is used to his assassins being the lowest of the low , just like he is , except kirimi is the one holding the handle of that knife in those situations . it is refreshing to kirimi , in some twisted way . mogami seems to hate kirimis guts for obvious reasons , but he is still oblivious to the horrors . for now O_Y:

at some point kirimi starts getting a little bit too obsessed with him . he sees mogami as another possession of his , just like all his other tools , but he separates him from the others . kirimi calls him his most prized possession , his favorite doll . if mogami was an insect , kirimi would carefully pin him to a fancy golden frame and put him in a glass container , on display on his desk for everyone to see how beautiful he is and that he is his and his alone . kirimi thinks mogami should feel privileged to be in this position ( DELULU

i was gonna go insane about this other bit but i feel like maybe i should not be too descriptive /lh but basically kirimi asks mogami to kill people for him in front of him sometimes ( kirimi delulu about how mogami is doing it to protect him while kirimi is literally the one who asked him to . also mogami can see spirits and is sometimes plagued by the horrors because of kirimi ) . also he asks mogami to bring him people he needs to get information from and he tortures them in his lab until he gets what he needs and then leaves them to die ( this is where the . personal lab and medical knowledge i mentioned earlier ) ummmmm hes a weird dough !!!!!!! also kirimi has entire folders full of blackmail for everyone he knows boy who is paranoid as HELL !!!!!

mogami attempts to murder kirimi multiple times btw he hates him !!!!! kirimi flirting with the death everytime he pisses mogami off . kirimi who talks a little bit too much about how mogami belongs to him because he signed a contract and whatever or kirimi who talks a little bit too in detail about his torturing people in his lab hobby and mogami throttles him across the room AS HE SHOULD !!!!!! kirimi is 5'5 mogami is 6'6 he is very well capable of throwing him like a stuffed toy /lh

i love mogimi because theres these horrors but also they can and will go out to eat ice cream together . ALSO KIRIMI HAS A MASSIVE MANSION HOW COULD I FORGET . kirimi invites him over for the first time and mogami gets lost !!!!! and has to nervously ask one of the housemaids for directions man who is sweating BULLETS !!!!!!! kirimi who teases him a little bit for it because he finds it amusing but also mogami who has lived in poverty all his life and looks at kirimi spending three times the amount of his rent in the blink of an eye to buy things he will never need and he owns a MANSION !!!! A WHOLE MANSION . RAHHH INSANE

WHATEVE IM DONE FOR NOW I WOULD EXPLAIN THE ENTIRE PLOT BUT I THINK THIS IS ALREADY TOO LONG BAHWJAKSHAKFHKWHSA anemone if u want to talk about the mogami silliness ...... looks at u ..... if u want to explain his powers also O_Y:

[bethestaryouareradio]

Fall Flying: For the Birds

“This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and animals.” Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

This past year I downloaded a phenomenal app designed by Cornell Lab of Ornithology called Merlin. It is a sound identification app whereby I record the bird song, the app analyzes it and indicates what species is singing. The sounds can be saved, photos can be taken, and my knowledge of the avian world increases. Birds have always fascinated me.

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My grandmother was a birder and an animal handler. In addition to her dogs, horses, and barnyard critters, she had aviaries where she bred canaries, cockatiels, and raised parrots. As a child, I spent copious amounts of time with her taking care of her feathered and furred friends. When my husband and I purchased our first home, my grandfather built me an aviary and gifted me a pair of cockatiels. That aviary has traveled with me to three different homes and the male cockatiel is still the senior resident. Throughout the years, I’ve adopted a plethora of injured birds or those in need of a new home including pheasants, canaries, doves, finches, quail, pigeons, and parakeets. I love my birds.

Wild birds are my garden helpers and I enjoy watching their aerial antics, listening to their chatter, and observing their feeding frenzies. My landscape is a haven for orioles, finches, waxwings, bluebirds, warblers, sparrows, mockingbirds, bluejays, doves, hummingbirds, and a host of other species that I am just learning. Owls hoot from the trees at night, and the sky boasts hawks gliding on the currents. I plant my garden so that it provides food, shelter, water, and refreshing baths for the birds.

Fall is the flying season. Millions of birds are migrating. It’s perilous. Many make thousand-mile journeys twice a year: spring and autumn. They migrate because of the change in weather, availability of food, and breeding cycles. In North America, many birds migrate south to find a warmer climate, flying to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Warblers, orioles, and hummingbirds may migrate as far as South America.

Some birds migrate short distances, traveling from forests to wetlands, or the coast to your backyard! Whether flying long or short distances, birds need to stop, rest, and eat. And this is where gardeners can help keep them healthy and safe in their migration journey.

Food: Migratory birds rely on flowering plants, shrubs, and trees that produce seeds, berries, nectar, and insects. Birds pecking at your lawn are not eating it. They are dining on insects that could be harmful to your lawn. The birds are your friends indicating that your lawn has an invader. Does your garden provide this nutrition?

Water: Ponds, bird baths, fountains, and other water features offer a cool thirst-quencher and refreshing bath for migrating birds. Does your garden entice birds to stop by for a drink?

Shelter: Trees and bushes offer protection from predators and a place to rest. Does your garden provide a safe environment for avian visitors?

To attract and support our flying friends this fall, walk around your garden to ascertain if you are providing the elements they need. Plant native vegetation, keep your bird feeders full, and allow seedheads to develop on some perennials. Provide a clean and accessible water source such as a gurgling fountain or a pond with a recirculating water feature

By creating a bird-friendly landscape, you’ll not only be contributing to bird conservation, but you will enjoy their efforts to help your garden grow and glow. Love the earth, the sun, and the animals.

Cynthia Brian’s Gardening Guide for October

APPLY snail bait around plants susceptible to snail and slug damage.

TREAT for aphids as needed.

MAKE homemade fungal spray to ward off powdery mildew which weakens and can kill plants.      Mix four teaspoons of baking soda with one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid per gallon of water. Spray the entire plant, not just the leaves. Crape myrtles and viburnum are susceptible. This spray works well for black spot which afflicts roses.

COLLECT seeds from sunflowers to feed the birds as well as save to plant next season.

MONITOR the water needs of your plants as you wave goodbye to the summer sun.

FERTILIZE trees, shrubs, and ground covers as the weather cools.

BEAUTIFY your porch with pots of Calibrachoa, known as seaside petunia, or Butterfly Stonecrop, in full bloom now

.PICK your remaining peppers, tomatoes, tomatillos, and eggplant as needed. According to the USDA, there are over 25,000 varieties of tomatoes.

CONSIDER adding clover to your lawn. Clover is a legume that takes nitrogen from the air and transfers it to the soil, improving the soil quality. Clover maintains its green color and attracts beneficial insects while requiring less water and mowing.

STAND under a tree canopy to listen to the birdsong.

REFRIGERATE tulips, hyacinths, and crocus for four weeks before planting. Select your bulbs now.

DETER skunks, rats, and other rodents from your property. As the weather turns inclement, they will be looking for shelter.

MAKE applesauce or apple butter with the apples that fall from your trees. This year boasts a big crop of apples. You don’t need to peel the apples. Wash, slice away any brown spots, cut into chunks, and add to a pot filled with a small amount of boiling water. Squeeze fresh lemon juice on the apples. Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg for a delicious, healthy treat.

REPLACE your lawn with a gorgeous succulent sanctuary.

PREPARE for fires and emergency evacuations. Have a Go-Bag ready.

MAINTAIN your bird feeders as an invitation to refuel in your backyard. Hang feeders in trees, away from the house to deter rodents from establishing residence in your home

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing. Happy Fall Flying!

For more gardening advice for all seasons, check out Growing with the Goddess Gardenerat https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/books. Raised in the vineyards of Napa County, Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3. Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at www.StarStyleRadio.com. Her newest children’s picture book, Family Forever, from the series, Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures is available now at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store. Hire Cynthia for writing projects, garden consults, and inspirational lectures. 

Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com  

Read Digging Deep in Lamorinda Weekly: https://lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1716/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Fall-flying.html

and Press Pass

Listen to Cynthia Brian weekly on the Voice America Network, Empowerment Channel: http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2206/be-the-star-you-are

Photos and Text ©2023 Cynthia Brian, All Rights Reserved.

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[defdaily]

Arena Homme+ Magazine September 2021 issue featuring JAY B: Nature, Dreams and Music

Translated by defdaily.

That day, JAY B’s world was filled with grass that came up to his knees, sunset that briefly peeked through the dark clouds, and ghosts of the silent campsite. Insects flew about in the intimate conversation of creation, dreams, and the future. An interview with JAY B amidst the passing seasons.

So you are working on an album?

The album is almost finished. I couldn’t release it at the beginning of the year, so I’m releasing it now in the second half of the year. I’m thinking of preparing things early on for next time so [we] are preparing for the production of another album.

There was a big change this year, you moved from JYP Entertainment to H1GHR MUSIC, right? What did you expect before becoming a part of H1GHR MUSIC?

At first I was worried. and was concerned over what to do if I couldn’t adapt. My goal for this year was to adapt to the agency and its artists, but everyone has made me feel comfortable. I thought I would have to do a lot of adjusting to the new agency staff, but I was surprised by how understanding they were of the system I had experienced. The way there has been no problem in our communication has far exceeded my expectations. Things are flowing smoothly.

It must feel like a fresh start. You must be looking forward to getting to do what you couldn’t do previously, but on the other side you must also have hopes to learn more. Is there anyone that could provide you with blunt advice?

I’m not the demanding type. And I have never strongly demanded anything from the company either. But that doesn’t mean I accept anything the company makes and provides me. The difference is that my opinion is reflected in my work more than before. If I was going to lead everything at work, there would have been no need to join an agency. Joining the agency means communicating with their staff. I also think we should listen to other people's opinions a lot. And you have to give feedback too, of course. I am working well with the company. Be it a push or advice as help, I learnt a lot from my previous company. Since I have learnt a lot from there, I should trust myself a little more now. I try to relay what I know and learn about things I’m not knowledgeable of. I rely on Jay Bum hyung a lot. I contact him right away when there’s something I don’t know, and we have a lot of conversations.

Is it important that an artist is stubborn? Do you feel the need to emphasise your own music and personality?

Artists have different personalities, just as people have different preferences. I don't want to diss an artist who is stubborn, nor do I want to tell anyone who isn’t stubborn that they are not an artist. I acknowledge everyone. I, personally, want to express the way I live. I like making music. An artist should be clear about what they want to do. Whether it be to become a star, or to express themselves through music or to earn money, it has to be clear.

What is your clear stance as an artist?

Whether it’s fiction or reality, I want to make stories. I’m the type that wants to tell a story. It was like that too in my GOT7 days. I believe one should create and establish their own path in life. I think that's fun. It's hard, but it's worth it. It adds more meaning to my job and I think it becomes more valuable. If I didn't do it myself, I would feel less attached to it.

There’s nothing more fun than one’s own work. Showing your work and waiting for the response must also be thrilling.

Exactly. I love hearing that my music is good. I’m very shy so I cannot express it very well but I’m very thankful and proud too. And it reassures me that I’m not going down the wrong path.

It does feel like all the hard times disappear when you hear good feedback. But feedback isn’t always good. There are even people who avoid them because of fear of criticism.

To be honest, when it comes to unpleasant feedback, it kind of makes me feel… “ouch!” But I accept it because it is still an evaluation. It also gives me a boost. It’s fun.

You are a solo artist now. Do you feel a burden or pressure?

I don’t feel pressured, but I do feel the burden. I joined H1GHR MUSIC and I feel a sense of belonging. I gain something from this company, but I think this company should gain something from me, too. I have worries about things like whether I’ll be able to benefit the company or not. I feel slightly uneasy about possibly not meeting expectations too.

You feel a sense of responsibility.

There's always a reason and a purpose to start anything. Everyone starts music because they like it, and if they start, there must be music they want to make. So if there is criticism, one would feel down, but if the final product is good, the people that worked on it would feel good. That’s what I hope for.

You uploaded a bunch of your Def. songs onto your YouTube channel. There was quite a lot. Are you the prolific type?

I used to be but… I guess I’m still the type to make many songs. (Laughs). But compared to back then, my production has decreased a lot. My stamina can’t keep up. (Laughs). I used to be able to start and finish working on a song at dawn and when I felt like I could do more, I made more. Nowadays, even when I’m working on only one song, not only is it hard for my body, but I also feel drained so I can’t make many songs.

Isn’t it really fast to make even one song at dawn?

Ah, that’s true. I used to work like that three or four times a week, but now I work once or twice a week. Come to think of it, I don't think I'm the prolific type anymore.

Being able to make a lot of things means you have a lot of ideas.

Having run out of ideas is also a reason for having less work done. There are five mixtapes I’ve uploaded onto YouTube with four to five tracks each. At the time, I not only worked on those but music for GOT7 too. After hustling so hard, I feel like I’ve run out of material. I look around wondering where to find inspiration. When I finish making the melody and want to write lyrics, I feel lost.

In order to be prepared for those situations, creators keep a collection of material. How do you collect resources?

I often read or use my imagination. These days, I often put myself in others’ shoes. When watching a movie, one would empathize with the protagonist. It’s only natural since the plot revolves around them. But I would pay attention to the supporting roles or passerbys in the background and think about the story from their point of view. I would think about what I would do if I heard those words and if I were in that situation. I also pay close attention to any words that might be a good source of inspiration. In the past I would focus on how the plot developed, but now I look at the words that the author uses repeatedly. When I think of any useful words or ideas, I jot them down.

Observing the supporting roles instead of the central narrative is such a novel idea.

I suddenly thought of it while watching a movie at home. The protagonist had said some harsh and rude words to a supporting role. It was something like “Get out of my way.” I thought “How would it have felt to be the one moving out of their way? What would they feel?” These were the thoughts I had.

Has anyone told you that you have a unique perspective?

I’ve often heard that my personality is very unique.

People can say they don’t like something despite others saying they like it. That could come off as unique and fresh ideas come from an uncommon perspective too.

I think it’s 50/50. There are times when something might not feel like much for me while others like it, and times when everyone else seems quite indifferent while I like it. A song I recently liked the idea of is “Smile, Wait for the Flash” by Giriboy where he used the ‘kacha’ shutter sound as gunfire. Using ‘kacha’ like a gunfire as a metaphor for wrapping up your feelings after a breakup was a refreshing idea. It was great.

Do you also often use your instincts?

I try hard to. I don’t naturally use my instincts, but I try to look at things through a different lens. I tend to have random thoughts, and I had one today during the shoot too. This is a camping site, but there was no one camping. So I imagined how it would look when full of people moving about. Also during the shoot, there was a long blade of grass under my feet on a field of grass. I should have avoided it but I accidentally stepped on it. I felt sorry for the grass that got stepped on and out of instinct I said “sorry…”

Seems like you have keen sensibility.

I wish I could be sensible. I’m too cautious to say that I am sensible, though.

I think you would be considered a sensible person because you make music. But I noticed that the comments are disabled for Def.’s mixtapes on YouTube.

The songs that I make under “Def.” are 100% music that I personally wanted to make. I didn’t want to receive feedback, so I disabled the comments. If I release an album under “Def.” in the future, I probably won't be able to disable the comments. I don’t know. The reason I have disabled the comments is because I don’t want to see any praise nor criticism. I don’t look at the comments for my SoundCloud tracks either. Because they’re very personal projects, I’m worried I could be swayed by it so I don’t look at it on purpose. I don’t want to be swayed by anything when it comes to my personal projects. I guess that’s my way of being stubborn.

So it sounds like you’re saying the songs that are made under the name Def. are like a part of you. I can feel your sincerity towards your music.

I would pretend to be indifferent to evaluations, but I’m really scared of receiving negative comments. Not the criticism but I’m scared to look at comments that decide something as ‘not good.’ If they say that it’s not their style, then it’s just personal preference. There may not be songs that match their preference within my discography. But it’s difficult for me to hear people say ‘this is not good, bad, or meh.’ After all, those songs came from me and are like my children.

I remember many tracks with gentle melodies and discovered JAY B’s delicate side. Is this surprising to hear?

This is the first time I’ve been called delicate. I do have several sensitive/vibey songs. I want to try something like a pop, hip-hop, or smug and cocky vibe but I’m not good at that. I don’t think it’s my personality.

What is considered a good melody to you?

Something that feels good at the first listen. My music taste has been so diverse recently that even when I talk to my friends about music, the songs that we all like are different. It’s hard to reach a consensus. In the creator’s perspective, even if something doesn’t sound good to others but it does to the creator, I consider that to be a good melody. I used to stress over how to write a good melody, how to sing it, and if the company would like it. As I move on step by step, I found a standard where at least the melody should sound good enough to me to not abandon the song since everyone has different preferences.

Personal preferences are important but it must be an important job to cater to the general public too. No, I mean, a difficult job.

That’s right. I think I still lack the ability to create melodies that the general public would like. I will have to learn step by step. One thing I feel is that there must be a part that sticks. I can’t exactly describe what type of melody it would be, but to set a minimum standard, it would be ‘a melody that I’m satisfied with. If it’s one that I’m not satisfied with but the public likes, I should follow that.

Do you tend to use many tracks when making music? There’s lot of songs these days that use dozens of layers of tracks.

We used a lot of harmonies with GOT7. Because there were so many harmonies, there was a crazy number of tracks too. These days, I try to be minimal and reduce harmonies. I don’t layer many tracks. I usually have the main track with a few harmonies and some adlibs.

K-Pop in particular mixes many genres and harmonies to create complex music. They are very flashy. What do you think of this phenomenon as someone who prefers to be minimal?

I see it as a good thing, because it means that the general public’s preference is expanding to a variety. It’s rather better. Of course, the basics are also important and I do feel the necessity to study them but we also need to agree with change. We should accept change. Who knows, I might grow old to be someone that can’t accept change and wonder, ‘what kind of music is this?’ But I feel that now is a time to open our eyes to change. When I find that a song is difficult to listen to, I will purposely listen to it repeatedly.

It’s been 10 years since you’ve debuted. How much have you changed over these 10 years?

In the past I was ambitious and had high expectations, but now I am more relaxed. With age, I think my sensitive side is becoming more and more dull. When I let go of some desires, I get to be accepting of more things. The scope of my activities also seems to have widened. I used to have a stubborn side to me in the past. Now I’m like ‘don’t expect too much, don’t anticipate too much,’ just do my job diligently!

There are many artists that use other creative hobbies to ease the burdens of their main job. What do you do to cope with your fuel for creativity?

My hobby is photography so I take many photos. I also learned how to draw at one point but nowadays, I don’t have time to draw since I’m busy. I also make records of things often. I write down my thoughts, even useless things. I also use an audio recorder to record my mood, thoughts, and things I’m currently doing. I also write letters to my future self. Things like ‘this is why I’m struggling, this is what would be good for me now but how it would be for my future self?’ Wondering what I will be thinking about and what I would look like. I write letters to myself about stuff like that. I put them in envelopes according to the year and on the envelope I write down the year the letter was written.

So It’s like an archive of your time. Writing, journaling, letters, photos, music, it’s interesting. A very organised way of saving your thoughts to not lose them. Having said that, is there anyone else you would like to show your records to besides your future self?

Ah! I can’t show this to people. They’ll cringe. (Laughs) It’s sort of embarrassing. I can show the photos to everyone but I want to keep voice messages to myself. I hope that when I am older, I can look at them as I laugh and reminisce about my life. They’re records for myself.

Do you also record everyday life in any way?

I record when I find it interesting the way I thought about something. Even looking at my journal from last year or the year before, my thoughts were different from now. I find it intriguing to see the way people can change like this. I think I tend to have many thoughts, so I record them every day.

From the position of a creator, I guess journaling can be seen as an activity to collect one’s senses and emotions to use them as material for inspiration.

That’s right. My brain isn’t good enough for me to remember everything. There are situations when I recall a memory and decide I could write this down.

What was the most fun thing you did lately?

It’s a bit dangerous, but it was when I rode around on my motorcycle with my friend. There was suddenly a heavy downpour. Since I needed to go home, I rode the motorcycle in the rain. I was completely soaked when I got home. The journey home was super difficult, but I was fortunate enough to not have suffered any injuries. It was a completely new experience so it was very fun. I don’t want to experience it again but it felt like an adventure.

Wearing the Burberry 2021 F/W collection in the pictorial today must also be a new experience. Slightly different from the refined and classic Burberry, the collection shows a lot of change. What were your usual thoughts on Burberry?

I thought of it as a clean and straightforward style. Ever since some time, I noticed their young and bold changes. Although today’s outfits contained many new attempts and changes, I felt that their style was still well refined. I felt that Burberry used their own unique perspective to cleanly interpret nature’s elements. Wearing the outfits, I felt like they had a lot of fun ideas.

Which outfit left the biggest impression on you?

Choosing just one is very difficult. There was one that gave off the feel of a medieval knight, and made me feel like a monarch. I’ve heard that in medieval times, people would also wear bearskin from hunting. I think that has some influence on the Burberry outfits that I wore today. Every time I put on an outfit, I always felt like a medieval knight or king. The fur on the clothes had a strong animalistic feel to it. The scenery, weather, and concept were all very harmonious with each other.

Going back to the topic of music, you said that you like to tell stories. Do you also create a universe with music?

Yes, I create a universe for each album. This album creates this universe, while that album creates another. The albums won’t connect to create one universe, though. Each album is its own world, nothing more. I can’t make them magnificently connect into a grand universe. I like to put my story into each album.

Can you use a keyword to describe the universe of the album you are about to release?

It would be “SOMO:FUME.” This is the first album that I made after joining H1GHR MUSIC. This album consists of my energy, feelings, and thoughts, so it contains the meaning of my hopes for people to consume (somo in Korean) this product and and my wishes for my emotions to smear on to you like perfume, which is why I combined [somo] with the [English word] perfume, and named [the album] SOMO:FUME.

In which direction will JAY B’s music flow from now onwards?

I’ve pondered about directionality for a long time, but I couldn’t come up with an answer. The important part is to participate enough for me to not have regrets and be careful. I may disappoint myself if I have too many expectations for the future. I need to work diligently to not be disappointed when I look back; so that in the future, I can see that I worked hard.

Translated by defdaily.

Please support JAY B’s 1st EP album [SOMO:FUME] coming out on August 26 at 6PM KST. jayb1stsoloep.carrd.co

[mrenvs3000]

The Next Chapter

I am so grateful for this journey that I have had over these last few months. This blog has allowed me to share the aspects of nature that I love, and to spread my knowledge on those passions. There are so many important roles that nature interpreters must fill, they are teachers, entertainers, and advocates for a better world.  I feel I have developed a better understanding of the nature interpreter that I want to be, however I am always looking to grow and learn. It is important for an interpreter to have their own personal ethics, to maintain their core beliefs and passions as they develop as a nature interpreter. A personal ethic is the moral principles that an individual believes in, to me it is similar to a mission statement or a goal. I want to be able to hold my moral compass close as I continue to grow and learn, I want to remember why I started this journey. My personal ethic is to create a learning environment that is inclusive, diverse, and educational. These traits what lays down the groundwork for my responsibilities as an interpreter because it is my responsibility to not lose sight of my ethics.

To maintain inclusivity, I would need to ensure that I consider my personal lifestyle and realize I have privileges that others do not have. To ensure that I do not become a restricted resource I want to share my knowledge as volunteer work or for non-profit organizations. Learning about the world we live in should not be a restricted resource, and to me, paying money to learn about the fundamentals of life is unethical. I believe that if more people, both children and adults, had knowledge on the environment or nature, then changes can be made. People want to protect what they know, so we need more people to know about nature! My hope is that I can help people see the value in creepy crawlies, bogs, native plants and so much more! Therefore, diversity is included in my personal ethics, there are so many topics of importance. By surrounding myself with diverse people and landscapes I hope to become more knowledgeable on different cultures, races, indigenous peoples, plants, birds, everything! I have noticed the importance of surrounding people with different focuses this year through my roommate. I have never lived with people in a program even remotely like mine, but after living with someone who studies birds, my knowledge on them has grown immensely! It is so refreshing to show her my interest in insects and have it returned with her interest in birds. I also think diversity is important because there are going to be times when I cannot do a topic justice. I cannot confidently describe the lives of indigenous communities or land; I want to help create a platform where people can speak for themselves about themselves. I believe that through nature interpretation we can help conserve our land and ecosystems. By allowing people to find their sense of place and meaning in nature, we are providing a bond and emotional attachment to wildlife that is needed to encourage conservation. As interpreters we have a responsibility to guide people in understanding their cultural and natural heritage.

To accomplish my goals as a nature interpreter I think I would like to begin in a career inspired by the military in Yellowstone and Yosemite. The military was used to protect Yellowstone and Yosemite, and with time their knowledge of botany and geology grew, and they were interpreting nature for the public. I hope to begin my career as a park ranger, so I can protect the environment while being surrounded by nature and continuing to observe and learn. Park rangers are also often asked questions and must have good interpersonal skills, allowing me to become more confident in my role as an interpreter.  

This gif accurately represents how I will look patrolling national parks.  

I encourage readers to gain as much knowledge as they can about their surrounding environment and landscape, and with time your knowledge can grow and spread as you expand and share what you know. Here is a video demonstrating the beauty in my home province of Ontario: 

Take a moment to explore your backyard or a park near you. Look in places you do not usually look, between blades of grass, under logs, in the holes of trees… everywhere! See what you find, and if you do not know what it is you found, do research! Learn! Expand your knowledge! There is nature everywhere, and through art, music, technology, and passion you can about how to protect and care for it.

This is a guide book on the nature found in my home province of Ontario, I encourage you to find one for your region and explore the nature that surrounds you!

Thank you for being such a remarkable audience.

Mary

Beck, L., Cable, T.T., & Knudson, D.M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage (First Edition). Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC.

[asgardian--angels]

4 Ways to Connect with Nature During COVID-19

Hi everyone! As someone who studies pollinators and conservation biology, I have found the last few weeks difficult, because I struggle when I cannot be outside in nature most of the time. Connecting with nature is known to be beneficial for our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health, and never has that been more important than right now. I thought I would compile a few of my favorite ideas that I can offer about ways you can still connect with nature while social distancing, or even if you cannot leave your home at all. Know that these are obviously not all the ways you can experience nature - just the ones I’m familiar and knowledgeable about. Most of my resources apply to the eastern United States, but these things are applicable worldwide. If you ever have questions, just message me!

1. Go Birdwatching! 

Whether you’re a pro already or someone who’s never even attempted to tell the difference between the ‘chip’ and the ‘cheep’ coming from your bushes, birdwatching is a fun hobby that can be done anytime, anywhere, by anyone. While human activities may have slowed or stopped around us, the natural world is always moving and changing. Birds are one of the easiest animals to observe and learn, and their boundless zeal for life can renew our hope and lift our spirits. Whether you live in the country or the city, there are more kinds of birds than you think to be found right outside your door. The springtime is an especially good time to see birds, because they are migrating to their breeding grounds, bringing a whole assortment of colorful and sometimes unusual species close to your home. 

It doesn’t take much to start birdwatching. Most of us have an old pair of binoculars up in the attic somewhere, and plenty decent pairs for beginners are available for under $30 online (I just bought my mother a pair of Bushnells for $15 that had very good reviews). There are countless resources online to find an overview or quick guide to birds in your area. If you live in the United States, the best all-around every-need bird resource is Cornell’s AllAboutBirds and eBird websites. Together these two resources cover almost every bird species in the entire world - let me briefly go through each individually. 

AllAboutBirds is a guide to every North American bird, with stunning photos, ecology, and identification help. But more than that, from here you can lose yourself in dozens of offshoots of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology - from their several live feeder and nest cams, to their hundreds of articles and interactive bird biology resources. One I recommend for those who want to do some basic yard-watching is the site for Project Feederwatch. This has ample information to get you started in recognizing the (North American) birds around your home. Here’s even a free download of common feeder birds! You should also check out Celebrate Urban Birds, which has ID help for city birds in the US, Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Panama! 

eBird is a global citizen science site where millions of birdwatchers from Nepal to New Mexico share their sightings to build the largest database of bird knowledge on the planet! I cannot begin to cover everything you can do and learn on this website. You can scope out new places to visit with their ‘Explore Hotspots’ tool, or see where any species on earth has been seen by other people. It will keep your statistics if you enter your sightings, making a convenient way to keep track of all the birds you see! They have a helpful article here about how to start birding near your home.

Birdwatching is an activity that you can put in as much or as little time as you want into it. You will always be rewarded with getting a new perspective on the world around you, discovering neighbors you never knew you had! It can be a refreshing escape from a human-centric world, and maybe spark a curiosity you weren’t expecting! Birds are a bundle of personality, and you will find yourself falling in love with them before you know it. Consider keeping a “life list,” or entering your sightings into eBird to advance bird conservation. Birdwatching can be solitary or you can go with others. When this is all over, maybe you’ll have the chance to meet up with local birders and make new friends! There are birding clubs EVERYWHERE.

2. Plant a pollinator or wildlife garden!

As spring approaches, now is the perfect time to start planning a garden. This is a great way to be outside often but not have any risk of contact with others. Maybe you’ve never gardened before, or maybe you have one but would like to replace some of those exotic flowers with beneficial native ones. No matter your living situation or location, there’s always something you can do to make your little patch of earth a better place for all living things.

Our world is dependent on plants, which make the sun’s light available to other creatures. They interact with the most ecologically important animals on earth - insects. Insects are food for almost all songbirds, as well as the majority of all terrestrial animals in one way or another. “Traditional” gardens try to deter insects with pesticides and non-native plants that insects cannot eat. But we should try to encourage insects, because they pass a plant’s energy up the food chain, as well as pollinate flowers, keep “pests” in check (if you like growing vegetables), and are critical decomposers. The biggest thing you can do to help the local ecosystem is ditch the hydrangeas and hostas, and especially some of that turfgrass. Insects will almost exclusively only eat native plants, and being the most biodiverse animals on the planet, there’s an insect for every plant out there! It’s been shown that yards with few native plants support low levels of insect abundance and diversity, and that means fewer birds and fewer everything else too. Plus, insects are AWESOME in their own right, and once you encourage them, you will discover some incredible, colorful, brilliant species right in your own yard! 

Native gardens are easier than you think. In fact, they’re way easier than what most of us are doing now - by definition, they’re plants that want to grow here! They require less maintenance, no mowing, and no pesticides. They may not be readily available at Home Depot or Wal-mart, but they are easy to find once you locate resources from your region. There are online nurseries to buy seeds or root stock from, like Prairie Moon in the eastern US. Many regions have resources that compile lists of local nurseries and hold native plant sales. To benefit insects and wildlife, figure out what the general conditions of your yard are - soil type, moisture, climate zone - and then choose some plants that will grow there. For pollinators, you should find out what the recommended flowers are for your area - universities and cooperative extensions often produce this kind of information (example here for the northeast), as well as the Xerces Society. This kind of info is becoming much more common in the last few years, due to the popularity of pollinator gardens! Try to plant a few things that bloom in each season, so bees will have food year-round! Native grasses will support the caterpillars of many butterflies and moths too. Pollinator gardens easily overlap with wildlife gardens, which seek to support other animals too, particularly birds. Choose plants that have flowers that turn into seeds or fruit eaten by birds (native dogwoods are one of my favorites!). Plant flowers, shrubs, and trees if you can fit it - this gives insects and birds all sorts of choices for food, and places to hide or nest. Your local Audubon can provide a ton of information about bird-friendly gardening and the best plants.

Another easy way to benefit animals is to be the ‘lazy gardener,’ whether you actually have a garden or not. This means simple steps like, don’t rake your leaf litter, leave logs and rocks, and make a slash pile when you cut branches or trim bushes. This creates habitat for everything from bees to salamanders! 

Don’t have a lot of space? Try an herb garden, or patio garden. Small herb or vegetable gardens will be loved by pollinators even if the plants are not all native, and they will allow you to grow some foods you can harvest, reducing your dependence on the grocery store. Native flowers can be grown in pots as well - goldfinches, for example, will land on any coneflowers you plant, and eat the seeds right in front of you! And if you have no land at all, you can still help out by putting up a bee hotel, and sharing your knowledge with others.

3. The power of the written word - READ!

Can’t go outside? Live in the most inner of inner cities? Feel like you don’t know enough to get out there and identify what you see or know what it means? Books are a naturalist’s best friend. Now is a perfect time to dive into the wealth of literature about the natural world, from stories to field guides. I am always gung-ho to recommend books for a budding naturalist, or anyone who wants to learn more about a new topic! 

Were you intrigued by the things I talked about above - native plants, insects, birds, and the relationship between all of them? I highly recommend Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy. It is the bible of native gardening, in my opinion. It’s an incredible and humbling book explaining in detail and with beautiful photos why we need native plants, just how important insects are, and what we can and should be doing to help. 

Want to learn about pollinators and plan your garden? There’s lots of books for that, and they’re so well made that both beginners and experts can use them. Try any of these:

The Bees In Your Backyard - Olivia Messenger Carril and Joseph Wilson

Pollinators of Native Plants (OR its companion book ‘Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide’) - Heather Holm

Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees - Thor Hanson (a narrative, not a field guide, excellent read)

Books about birds? Heck, I mean there’s hundreds of those. It’s a popular genre. I don’t have any on hand but if you want to know more about gardening for birds, check out Planting Native to Attract Birds to Your Yard by Sharen Sorenson. To learn birds, I recommend a Peterson or Kaufman field guide. 

Looking for books on nature in general? Not field guides, but non-fiction narratives? There are some absolutely stellar writers in our age that regularly move me to tears with their descriptions and connections to the natural world. My top author pick is Bernd Heinrich, an ornithologist and naturalist who has written over a dozen books on a variety of topics. I particularly recommend Summer World (and its companion Winter World), One Wild Bird At A Time, The Homing Instinct, and Life Everlasting: The Animal Way of Death. But they’re all really really good. There are SO MANY books of folks writing about their experiences with nature, from scientists in the jungles of Borneo to the average Joe exploring the concrete jungle. I have a small collection at home, but in my current locale, I can recommend The Secret Life of Bats by Merlin Tuttle, or Unseen City by Nathaniel Johnson. But there are, really, hundreds. All will change the way you view the world around you. You cannot read enough. 

Want to learn more about how important nature is to human beings? The biophilia hypothesis that states that we as a species need nature for our very souls, our physical development, our mental wellbeing? Please read Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. It’s humbling, enlightening, and sobering. 

4. Citizen Science, Volunteering, and everything else!

You may feel alone right now, but know that everywhere, there are millions of people waiting to share their love of the natural world with you. Anyone who has a second to spare and the interest to look out your window should consider becoming a part of a citizen science project. These sorts of projects vary widely in their commitment time and energy, but most are solitary activities that you have complete control over. Some are more organized than others - many just ask you to report a sighting of a certain kind of organism, and others have a data sheet and timetable to follow. All contribute valuable information to conservation, making you a part of something bigger even when you cannot leave your yard. They also give you the opportunity to learn a new skill - like photography, or data collection - and help you notice aspects of the natural world you may have never given a second thought about before. A lot of them are a community that you can interact with online. Below are just a few of the MANY MANY citizen science projects out there. Again, this is US biased, but it is easy enough to find ones in your own country or those that are international.

eBird - I mentioned this before, but eBird is quite likely the biggest citizen science project in the entire world. There are a googleplex of ways to interact with others, learn more about the birds in your area or anywhere else in the world, find out who local birders are, and keep track of your own sightings. The data you submit has been used in countless peer-reviewed scientific papers and has a direct, significant impact on bird conservation worldwide.

iNaturalist - a worldwide platform for sharing sightings of any species, anywhere. A great community of naturalists, amateurs, and experts, here to help you identify your creature and explore what others find.

Project Feederwatch, The Great Backyard Bird Count, Christmas Bird Counts, Global Big Day, etc - offshoots of eBird and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. These are specific events that ask backyard birders to keep track of what birds they see for a couple of weeks. This helps track migration patterns and population declines!

BugGuide - similar to iNaturalist, but for insects only and in North America only. I’ve been on this site for 12 years now, I’m a diehard! Experts will help you ID insects, and your data becomes part of a huge database to help scientists learn more about our native insects. Requires photos - a good chance to start two hobbies at once!

Bumble Bee Watch - submit photos of any bumblebee you find in North America. Bumblebees are declining and scientists need regular people to help track populations of these pollinators. 

Guys, there’s so many more. A few more quickies: iMapInvasives (for spotting invasive species), National Phenology Network (for tracking when things change - when flowers bloom, when animals nest, great if you see the same things reliably every day!), The Great Sunflower Project (plant a sunflower, monitor what bees visit it), Zooniverse (a compilation of different digital projects that need eyes and ears to help sort through data - like trail cam photos for instance! You’d be helping real researchers, often grad students at universities, but sometimes big ticket names too!). 

These are large-scale projects. But there are always smaller, local community projects that need your help. Become more aware of what’s coming up, even for after this pandemic when you can get outside and volunteer at something like a BioBlitz, a cleanup, or a tree planting. You would not believe how many volunteers we always need to make conservation possible. People like you are the backbone of what we do. Check your local and regional Audubon, your universities, your cooperative extension. They have resources, things that can give you information you need or ways to afford things you want to do. I’m sure there’s plenty I’ve forgotten to mention, since I don’t have all my things with me here. But never feel isolated. The natural world is always around you, and you are never alone! Every creature big and small is a lifetime of stories to tell. Pick one and get going!

[menkhu]

@otomefandomevents @december-snow your midsummer gift exchange gift! it was a lot of fun getting to know su-jin. i hope you like it! fic under the cut, 1.4k words

The garden hummed, a symphony of insects celebrating the warmth and sunlight of the gorgeous day. The sweep of a light breeze fanned over Su-Jin's skin, and though she rarely sought time outdoors, she had to admit being there was refreshing. It would almost have been relaxing if she didn't have Zarad by her side smiling at her gently. The tenderness of the scene threatened to ruin her.

"I must say, I never would have expected you of all people to bring me out here," Su-Jin said.

Zarad grinned playfully. "No? I'd say this place suits me well. After all, these flowers are beautiful, just like me."

"Ah, so your ego enjoys playing in the sunlight and fresh air." As Zarad opened his mouth to respond, Su-Jin added, "Much like a dog."

"Well! Here I was prepared to tell you that I and my ego had that in common."

Su-Jin nodded seriously. "But now the comparison is so obvious it doesn't need to be explicated."

Zarad tossed his head back and laughed, the sound more invigorating than the sunlight or the insects or the brightly colored flowers waving at them. She observed with satisfaction the way the light fell over his features, the joy that was entirely her doing.

Su-Jin blinked, trying to clear some of the admiration from her expression. She could practically feel her face glowing. She rarely had a chance to see Zarad's true feelings, and she didn't need to be at an even greater disadvantage in their relationship than she already was, but he had a way of drawing all her vulnerabilities to the surface.

"Tell me: if I don't seem like the sort to enjoy gardens, where would you expect me to take you?"

"Are you making this a game, then?" Su-Jin's mind raced. If it was a game, she would win. "I recall you being fond of dancing, fond enough to dance even when there wasn't any music and every eye in the room was on you."

"Especially when every eye in the room is on me," Zarad said with a wink. "Having a woman in your arms is the perfect way to sweep her off her feet."

Su-Jin continued, "For you, much of the appeal of that dance was the spontaneity. You might enjoy an evening of music and dancing, but it's not your ideal event.

"It wouldn't be a meal, either; you'd want to run your mouth the entire time, which is somewhat more difficult while your mouth is full with food. You do enjoy being around people, but I expect you'd prefer to attend gatherings on your own so that you can more easily socialize with whoever you please." Su-Jin liked the way Zarad looked at her then, almost wistful. The pieces of the puzzle that was Zarad were coming together cleanly in her mind, and his face said she was approaching the correct solution.

"You would take someone for a walk," Su-Jin concluded. "It strikes the right balance between activity and conversation, offers some solitude, and you'd have plenty of opportunities to use cheesy lines to woo your companion."

"Like that, your logic leads us right to where we are now. It seems like strolling through a garden isn't such an unusual choice for me after all."

"It would be by the lake at sunset." She'd get sand over her feet and she'd grimace about it and he'd laugh and tell her it was all part of the charm and somehow, inexplicably, the grit between her toes would become charming. They'd stop walking when the sky started turning red so that they could watch the colors reflected in the water. With the vast empty space before them, they could pretend they were the only souls  in the whole world and that the sun was painting its scene of ever-shifting beauty just for the two of them to enjoy, and Zarad would say something to her that would, for a moment, let her truly believe it. It would be colder in the dark. She would have to press close to him.

"It's less manicured. It suits you better." Su-Jin cleared her throat. She hadn’t meant to talk so much. "If your date goes poorly, you can use the darkness as an excuse to end it, and if not you could watch the stars. Having an escape plan would be suitable for a scoundrel such as yourself."

"Untamed," Zarad mused, holding out his hand to skim it over the top of a carefully pruned bush as they walked by. She wasn't sure he had even heard the scoundrel jab. Then, mirth returned to his eyes. "Why, Lady Su-Jin, you've taken such care in planning my perfect evening. Are you asking me to walk by the lake with you at sunset?"

Su-Jin stared at him blankly. He stared back with a lazy smile.

"It does sound lovely, but there's one factor you've forgotten," Zarad said. "Women enjoy the atmosphere here, and I enjoy their enjoyment."

"You don't have much interest in the garden yourself, then?" Su-Jin asked. She had almost seen something genuine from him, so even though he denied her conclusion, she considered herself the victor of their game.

"I'll have you know that I can name every flower in this garden."

"Interesting. This I have to see." Su-Jin crouched before a flower just off the path, white but run through with red streaks, its wide petals clustered into a cup shape. "Which are these?"

"Let's see. They're closed off, but their beauty is still apparent from all angles. I'll name this one Lady Su-Jin's Smile."

"So that's what you meant when you said you could name them."

"I'm familiar with a fair number of plants, though my knowledge doesn't extend to each and every flower. I am, however, as capable of naming them as those who first assigned them names."

"This one?" Su-Jin pointed to a bed of flowers next to the first-- smaller pale blue flowers clustered together, each with a mane of thin petals.

"The Stars Reflected In Lady Su-Jin's Eyes." He tossed the name out too easily.

"You're quite the romantic," Su-Jin said, although she was inclined to doubt the sincerity of every sweet word from his mouth after he spent so much time casually explaining how he charmed other women.

"I can step away from these gentle names, if you'd prefer. This one is The Shameful Thoughts Lady Su-Jin Has About Prince Zarad Late At Night. Have I ever mentioned how much I adore the way you blush?"

Su-Jin's face flushed an even deeper red. She wondered if she'd ever get to see Zarad blush, if he was even capable. She flitted toward a bush of small white flowers, "These flowers are rather plain, some might even say insipid. I name them Prince Zarad's Flirting."

"Ah, but these--" Zarad swept an arm at a patch of vibrant pink roses-- "are Lady Su-Jin's Face Betraying The Way She Enjoys It."

Between the two of them, they manage to fill the entire garden and the afternoon with playful insults, dancing between each bed and bush and neatly ordered row.

"I did doubt you at first, but it looks like you've managed to live up to your boasting."

"Only with your help. It seems we make quite the pair." He smiled at her, the same smile that had been stretched across his face for all the time they had spent together.

Su-Jin cocked her head at him and searched his face for something sincere, though his expression remained as carefree as ever. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"You like being part of a pair." Su-Jin observed.

"I do hope I've been sufficiently transparent on that matter."

"You like considering us a pair."

At that, Su-Jin got the blush she had been waiting for all day.

--

Su-Jin spent an unfortunate amount of time with Zarad on her mind the rest of the day, falling asleep with the image of the sunlight shining in his hair on the back of her eyelids.

She took some comfort in knowing that Zarad must have faced the same preoccupation. She woke to a small bouquet of Lady Su-Jin's Face Betraying The Way She Enjoys It next to her bed with a letter inviting her to walk by the lake that evening tucked beneath it.

[crystallinecrimsonmoth]

Chapter 31

Read on Ao3 and donate to my Ko-fi if you can :3

Michonne and Carl wandered through the gardens at Hilltop in silence for what felt like forever, nothing but the sound of buzzing insects and the conversations of a few adults invading the air. The surrounding flowers were in bloom now, much like the ones back at the Sanctuary, and the entire garden smelled of that sharp, sweet scent that was always present at the start of Spring.

Carl ran his fingers along a few of the fresh flower petals, thinking about everything he wanted to rant about and feeling like the only thing he really needed was a good scream. His adoptive mother walked beside him in the silence, one hand on his shoulder as they passed by multiple Hilltop citizens, all of whom Carl glared at with the signature blend of Negan’s darkness and Rick’s psychotic genes burning in his eye. He didn’t like this settlement anymore, he couldn’t trust anybody there other than Michonne, and in a tough spot, he knew even she would turn against him to protect the place she and Rick called home.

He was the enemy in this community, with only his men a hundred feet away that could protect him. Suddenly, as they approached more Hilltop residents and they all glared back at him, Carl really wished Negan was there to hold his hand.

But he tried to focus on Michonne, turning to her when she squeezed his shoulder and owning up to what had been eating him alive since Negan started teaching the Sanctuary kids about gardening and coming to bed with far too many stories about the little people being cute.

‘I don’t know that I want to raise a kid, and I think Negan does.’ He admitted under his breath, watching Michonne’s reaction with confusion when all she did was nod and squeeze around his shoulders as they walked, rubbing up and down his arm to comfort him.

‘You don’t want to raise a kid because of what happened to Judith, right?’

Carl took a moment before he managed to nod, leaning his head on her shoulder when she offered it to him. A million thoughts ran through his head, all about whether he could handle raising a kid, whether Negan would love the kid more than he loved him, and if everything they had built as King and Queen of the Sanctuary would fall if they became parents and over-stressed about every little thing. He didn’t want to become complacent because of a child, and he didn’t want to lose the leadership style they had just because Negan was too afraid to spill blood in front of their baby.

He liked their life the way it was now, not the way it would be with a child involved.

‘I just don’t want our lives to change for a baby. We’re safe the way we are now, we’re happy, and what if he loves it more than me? What if he sacrifices my life before the baby’s? I don’t know what to do with that idea, Michonne. If we have a kid, he’ll just drop me in the dust and take care of it all on his own if I’m not supportive.’ He sighed, sitting down on the bench she gestured to and leaning back against it.

‘Negan is not going to drop you for a child, Carl. He loves you, he married you, he named you his Queen. I’ve seen the way he looks at you when you’re both here, there’s no way that man will leave you in the dirt for a child.’ Michonne reassured him, stroking the hair away from his eye as they sat and talked it out.

Carl’s eyebrows furrowed at her reply, his mind still irrationally thinking about how much less attention he would get from Negan if they had a baby. The man was so smitten with Judith when he first met her that Carl barely got any attention. Granted, he didn’t want any at that time in their relationship, but still, he was abandoned for a cute baby. Find Negan his own baby and god knows how little of his attention he would receive. He might lose sex completely if they became parents.

‘I just don’t want our lives to change.’ He murmured in response to the woman beside him, picking at his nail beds like he had become accustomed to doing when he was nervous about shit.

The King had noticed the nervous tick a few weeks previously, pointing it out and smacking Carl’s wrists whenever he did it. At least he wasn’t getting smacked at Hilltop.

‘Ow!’

Scratch that, he was getting smacked at Hilltop.

‘You’re hurting yourself, stop it!’ Michonne scolded, making him huff like the teenager he was and cross his arms, looking off into the distance at the rest of the community who milled about around them, doing whatever their duties were while a few of them helped Heather and Oliver put things in the truck.

Carl was grateful for the help, regretting bringing Heather already after she had informed him of her pregnancy with Rory. She shouldn't have come, he knew that and she knew it too, but she had insisted that she wasn’t pregnant enough to be unable to work yet so he should let her work until she couldn’t. The teen couldn’t argue with that.

Her pregnancy had only made him feel worse about the baby situation, reminding him of what happened to his mother all those years ago in the prison. He didn’t want to lose Heather like that; he didn’t want a nutrient-sucking demon making her bleed to death and killing his friend. He knew that Doc had more than satisfactory medical supplies to help her in a situation like that, but it didn’t make him any less anxious.

When Negan had found out about Heather and Rory, it was even worse. He looked so happy but so sad at the same time. He’d whispered to Carl in the dark later that night and asked him if he wanted to try to find an orphan to raise, and it was all Carl could do to stay still and act like he was sleeping. He hadn’t wanted to face that conversation, he never wanted to face that conversation. The idea of his little sister being ripped apart gave him enough nightmares without having to worry about his own child too, so he pretended that he hadn’t heard the question the next morning, acting as if he really had been asleep when Negan asked it, and the man never brought it up again.

That was a week ago, and now he still didn’t know what to do.

‘You don’t have to want kids, Carl, they’re not a necessary part of life, especially not in our world, but if you find a child to take in or someone at the Sanctuary dies in childbirth, it won’t be a burden on your life. You know you’re safe there. Hell, you have that gigantic ass wall up around it now. You have the capacity for so much compassion, and so does Negan. It doesn’t just have to be spent on each other.’ Michonne explained, stroking his cheek and gesturing to the eyeliner on his face.

‘I like this, it suits you.’

Carl smiled, a slight red haze appearing on his cheeks at the casual compliment.

‘Negan suggested it. He thinks it makes my eye brighter, makes up for the gape in my face, apparently.’ He rolled his eye at the comment of his husband, rubbing his cheek in an attempt at getting the blush to go away.

Michonne laughed at his attempts to hide his embarrassment, batting away his hand and squishing his cheek between her fingers to embarrass him even more.

‘I think it looks very pretty, such a cute little boy.’

‘Shut up!’ The teen whined, turning his head away from her as they both laughed.

His heart and mind felt so at ease when he talked to Michonne, totally contrasting with the short, sharp conversations he had with his dad once in a blue moon. She was like a best friend and a mother all wrapped up in one, much like every friend he had in his life, but with a knowledge of his life before the Sanctuary to help him understand his reactions to certain things. It was refreshing to talk to her when he came to Hilltop, and despite the evil shadow he cast on the rest of the community, he acted like a complete angel around the older woman.

‘My Queen, we’ve finished loading the truck.’ The sarcastic tone of Heather’s voice and her red leather boot tapping on the gravel of the path distracted Carl from his thoughts and he looked up to see her smirking, arms crossed over her chest.

Carl just mimicked her in a quiet voice before standing up, getting enveloped in one last hug by Michonne once he was upright. She squeezed him tight like he would disintegrate in her arms if she let go, the way she always hugged him when he came to visit, and the teen squeezed her back just as tightly.

‘I’ll be back in two weeks, don’t die while I’m gone.’

‘The same goes for you, kid. Remember to talk to Negan about your feelings, I doubt he’ll be angry if you say you don’t want to have kids. He’ll still have his teaching job, after all.’ Michonne reassured, kissing his cheek when she let go - a gesture which Carl returned before following Heather to the truck.

He was back in his Negan mindset by the time they were walking past Rick and Michonne’s house, and he sent a wave to his dad who was standing in the front doorway.

‘Bye, Ricky. Be good to your wife or I’ll kill you.’

The older Grimes said nothing, simply staring back at Carl and giving him the slightest wave as Michonne stood beside him again, wrapping her arm around his middle and whispering something to him to make his shoulders sag. His son watched with amusement as the woman placated him before he climbed up into the truck with Oliver in the driver’s seat this time.

He drank from his water bottle that sat in the cup holder on the dash as Oliver started backing out of the Hilltop gate, waving to Rick with a smirk as they disappeared from sight.

Tags (if you’d like to be added or removed from this list, please let me know): @carl-sweet-serial-killer @carlnegan

[talldarkandroguesome]

29th of Hearthfire, Tirdas

Tel was too gentle, even when they agreed to rougher activities, so much checking in. We agreed on a word to say to stop and an action on the chance I could not speak during the activity. Yet there was constant stopping and checking which took me out of the moment. I even suspect that Tel was not enjoying themself as much as they could have for all the interruptions.

I also told them to leave the marks, that I wanted them, but they healed the majority of them up. They they acted as though it was the first time I had ever been through such things. I will not say that I did not enjoy the soothing strokes to my hair. That feels good at any time. But Tel is quite aware that I have been making my living for a long time by using my body to acquire coin, rooms, meals, jewelry, or other fancies. 

In the morning Tel asked me if I had gotten what I was seeking the previous night. A sobering conversation for so early an hour. I simply replied that I should be grateful for all that I received and that it did not matter if I did or did not want for more, that was likely all I would be able to enjoy for the foreseeable future.

Tel gave me a kiss and said no more. That was almost worse than Tel wanting to speak more on the matter. And Tel said nothing more after that. I felt like a mer headed to the gallows.

So I got up and bathed and dressed and headed back to the Temple for morning offerings. Then I went home to wait. I wanted nothing more than to drown my nerves in brandy, but I knew Mother would have my head for that. So I simply tried to find activities around the house.

I had the servants meticulously dress me in the most formal finery I owned that was not intended for religious occasions. I had them do up my hair, weaving in a wig so that I could have long enough hair for the most appropriate of hair ornamentation. I even had them paint my face fully.

No word had arrived, but I knew that Mother was well aware of what the Council was like and would not have miscalculated how long it would take.

So I took a stroll through the gardens to check that everything was in order. I went to the stables and ensured the care of my guar and their calves. I had the stablemaster go ahead and begin to warm up my best mount and outfit her appropriately.

As I left the stable, I watched the batam guar eating ash hoppers and other insects that crawled through the cracks in the exterior garden wall and noted where I would need to have the mason come by and check the structural stability long-term.

The messenger arrived just after midday, two Ordinators right behind her. I did not even need to see the paper of the envelop to it was my summons.

Without wasting any time I had a servant pen a note to give Tel after my departure and took Luayl to go for my summoning, accompanied by the two Ordinators and three servants, as is prudent for these affairs. The prepared gift  carried in front of me and two servants carrying a lantern and incense behind me. I so often enjoy the pageantry of or traditional formalities, but knowing the grave nature of it soured what little pleasure I might have taken.

Upon arrival to the House Council chambers, my two servants went to announce my arrival and then we were led into one of the waiting saloons. The pale marble fountains, meant to invoke a sense of relaxation, always seem to invoke a sense that the placement of the relaxing sound is to lull you into a false sense of calm. They are well aware that most people do not receive the outcome they desire and therefor, they must help to relax you before the bad news is delivered, like a final meal before and execution.

Already it has been nearly an hour’s time slipped away to the sound of gently trickling water over imported stone. Even the refreshments seem a way to delay you as long as possible, to draw out your anxiety as though such feelings feed their power. I know it is part of the act. They make you wait to show that they can. You wait because they have the power to make the decisions you seek and in order to have any chance at obtaining what you desire, you must bow and scrape before them.

I am no different for my knowledge of this. Nor for Mother’s presence on this Council. Last I was here it was for my sentencing. Will the outcome on this visit be any better?

[dr-spencer-reids-queen]

Know-It-All

Characters: Spencer Reid x Reader

Word Count: 561 (yes, it’s a short one)

Warnings: fluff

Summary: Spencer proves he can be a know-it-all, and this unique summer date proves that.

Author’s Note: This is the July 31st fic “Butterflies” for the 30 Day Writing Challenge. This completes the 30-day writing challenge which I am so proud of myself that I got through! I didn’t think I would make it through it all, but I did! If you have any requests, please send them in! this is unbeta’d and every mistake is all on me.

Feedback the glue that holds my writing together

Tags at the bottom

“This is your idea of a summer date?” you asked as you walked into the garden as the thousands of butterflies roamed free inside the enclosed area.

“Do you not like it?” Spencer started to panic. “We can go somewhere else if you want to.”

“No, I’m sorry I gave off that impression. No, I actually find this refreshing. Most people go to the zoo, aquarium, picnic at the park, and other things like that. No one really thinks to come here,” you said as you two took a seat on the bench in the middle of the garden.

“You know, most people get thrown off by how much I know about butterflies.”

“Spencer, you know a lot about everything. I wouldn’t put it past you to know about them,” you smiled as you rested your head on his shoulder. Butterflies of all different kinds of colors flew past you, and only one stopped to rest on your knee. Grinning from ear to ear, you stayed perfectly still as to not disturb the insect.

“What beautiful creatures,” you whispered. Your knee spasmed which scared the fuck out of the butterfly so the tiny creature took off to join his friends in the tree above you.

“Did you know that a butterfly’s wings are actually transparent? A butterfly's wings are covered by thousands of tiny scales, and these scales reflect light in different colors. But underneath all of those scales, a butterfly wing is actually formed by layers of chitin, the same protein that makes up an insect's exoskeleton. These layers are so thin you can see right through them. As a butterfly ages, scales fall off the wings, leaving spots of transparency where the chitin layer is exposed.”

“I didn’t know that,” you chuckled as you intertwined your fingers with his. “Tell me more.”

“Butterflies have taste receptors on their feet to help them find their host plants and locate food. A female butterfly lands on different plants, drumming the leaves with her feet until the plant releases its juices. Spines on the back of her legs have chemoreceptors that detect the right match of plant chemicals. When she identified the right plant, she lays her eggs. A butterfly will also step on its food, using organs that sense dissolved sugars to taste food sources like fermenting fruit.

“Butterflies need an ideal body temperature of about 85ºF to fly. Since they're cold-blooded animals, they can't regulate their own body temperatures. The surrounding air temperature has a big impact on their ability to function. If the air temperature falls below 55ºF, butterflies are rendered immobile, unable to flee from predators or feed. When air temperatures range between 82º-100ºF, butterflies can fly with ease. Cooler days require a butterfly to warm up its flight muscles, either by shivering or basking in the sun. Even sun-loving butterflies can get overheated when temperatures soar above 100° F and may seek shade to cool down.”

As Spencer spit out fact after fact, you couldn’t help but smile at his unlimited amount of knowledge. It didn’t matter what the topic was, he always had something to say about it. It’s one of the reasons why you loved him so much. Amongst other things, Spencer was considered priceless for his brain while you considered him priceless because he’s him, and he’s all you could ever need in life.

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[eqqbyte]

shitty onenote doodles of all my deity OCs bc i need an excuse to talk abt them!

decided to do it under a cut bc of,, the SHEER amount of info dump imma aboutta unload

ok so from left to right and then top to bottom, the characters are Ri, Maria, Miku, Sitaare, Dunia.

Ri: God(dess?) of the sun, war, fire, and destruction. In previous lives went by Yang as well. The oldest of the five and the most violent. Created the Demon species, able to modify Hosts and Weyres but unable to modify Nymphs or Humans (without killing them, that is). 

Maria: Goddess of the sea, healing, love, and music. In every reincarnation, has been in a relationship with Miku. The second youngest of the group. Created the Nymph species, but able to modify Weyres, Hosts, and Demons. (Weyres modified by Maria are basically just mermaids)

Miku: Goddess of the sky, air, structure, and knowledge. A kind but structured soul. In the middle of the five age wise. Created the Host species, but able to modify Demons, Nymphs, and Weyres. Has a high influence over humans despite not being able to modify them. 

Sitaare: God of the stars, electricity, luck, light, and chaos. Known as the Prankster God, his behavior is unpredictable and has fewer large scale worshipers than the others. He is the youngest. Created the Weyre species as a prank against Dunia. Is able to modify all species except humans, although the creation of the Weyre species is his attempt to do so. 

Dunia: Goddess of the Earth, plants, life, and art. Also known as the Mother. The second oldest of the five and the most influential. Created the human species, and is the only one able to control said species. Has only ever tried to modify the Nymph species (and was successful), no interest in any others. 

More General Info: The Gods/Goddesses go through reincarnations every thousand years in order to “refresh” themselves. While typically they change appearance during this time, several features have followed them through all reincarnations. The tattoos appear at birth as smaller versions, and slowly grow out to the full version after every reincarnation. 

Species Info:

Demons are pretty self explanatory, (Rin and Jennie are Demons, Arya and Ten are modified Demons by Sitaare). Nymphs are self explanatory (Cael is a Nymph, Alek and Thia are modified Dunia Nymphs). Hosts are helper spirits that follow other species around and give advice, although powerful Hosts are able to possess humans and give them witch-like powers (Crys, Ophelia). Weyre refer to half _____ half human hybrids (like werewolf!), the half part can be animal, insect, plant, anything although their capabilities are limited and non-animal Weyre have a very short life span. (Weyre OCs are Ashlin and Casper) Humans are,, just humans (Santi, Maura. Pre-Host takeover Crys and Ophelia).