#reconfiguration

[illusion-of-death]

the way you walk that tightrope between humor and sincerity and sadness in the style in Reconfiguratuon sticks with me so much. this section just captures it so well:

Let’s… take a look at Saskia, shall we? Both of them. It’s been a while since we really checked in on her. 

(Oh, God. Do we want to?)

Aaaaaaaaa thank you so much!! :)

[crustaceansingles]

Yuuup.

[caeliflammae]

trying not to think about all the signs.... david foster wallace we're really in it now

[alicentsgf]

keep thinking about lottie saying "It never meant what you thought it meant" about the necklace. jackie saying "Now nothing can touch you" when she first gave it to shauna. because hasnt jackie kept that promise? hasnt the necklace protected shauna all along? didnt jackie and javi's deaths keep shauna fed? wasnt shauna wearing the necklace when she gave birth? wasnt nat wearing it when she kept the cabin fire burning to keep them warm? when she led them into a little golden age so prosperous they were wasting food and playing games? wont coach bens death ultimately lead to them being home and safe again? every time the necklace changes hands it coincides with an action that keeps shauna alive. lottie's right, shauna doesn't understand what the necklace means but maybe that makes sense. she never really understood jackie either. jackie loved her and yet shauna chose to see only bad intentions, just like she does with the necklace. when it comes down to it maybe there is no wilderness, no nature spirit or god. maybe it was always just jackie.

[flowerbarrel-art]

Bucket

(Later….)

Hey!

Get in the bucket!

[verishii]

I love how everyone has these sick ass powers and then there's Etho and Joel who can just. jump really high.

[the-meme-monarch]

lanino and elnina pretty clearly to me don’t work out romantically, like they fought and broke up over some honestly trivial shit like you Complimented one of their moves and the other got jealous. one of them gets with rouxls to get back at the other, and then when both dating him they realize they like each other better and want him out of their relationship. but honestly I doubt this is all it would take to ‘fix’ them. ☝️here’s how aro4aro lanino and elnina can still win

[ratwithhands]

Technically unfinished but it's complete enough.

For context in the AU, Kokushibo left because he felt Muzan made a poor deal. He had to spend so much time tending to him that he didn't have time to further develop his skills like he wanted. He would rather leave and risk death by slayers to have time to himself, so he did. He said he saw Yoriichi in town, and just left the day after.

Ofc he was proper and helpful to Muzan, since he considered it no different from working with other superiors in the past. The information and advice given to Muzan were professional obligations more than acts done out of genuine respect and devotion. In Muzan's eyes however, his skills and information were greater than any employee he'd previously had, so he assumed he was completely loyal based on how he was with him.

Also! Koku is not seeing a ghost, rather he has ideas of what Yoriichi thinks and acts like, which serve as a second opinion. He's mostly just visualizing what he imagines Yoriichi would do or tell him to do. Part of why he hunts down Yoriichi after running away is because he believes, even in some small insignificant way, that he will understand. If not, folly on his part, he will simply pass with the regrets when Yoriichi cuts him down. Luckily he does get to stay with him again, and the rest is history.

[redbuddi]

really want to start a page or maybe a curator group on steam for games that can be played with one hand for people like me that struggle with recurring wrist pain but i feel like if I start a group called "one-handed gaming" people will get the wrong idea

[ishgard]

Presenting: An Absurdly, Stupidly Long and Wordy Warrior of Light-based Questionnaire, or as my bestie dubbed it:

30 WoL Think Thonkers

Less an ask prompt, more of a daily prompt, (though you can use it as an ask prompt if you prefer!) Answer the questions however you want: straight-forward, with stories or screens, or a mix of all.

Get any of your little brainworms out. Wax poetic, ramble off into several digressions, challenge yourself to answer in the least amount of words possible, whatever you're vibing with! (If you want to tag them #wolthinkthonkers feel free!)

This is very Warrior of Light and MSQ based. It's set from a Post-Endwalker mindframe, so there are some minor/vaguely worded spoilers.

----------------------- WARM-UP QUESTIONS

I. Where is your Warrior of Light from? What was their home like growing up and what set them out on their journey?

2. What city-state did your WoL start in? How did they feel about it then, and how do they feel about it now? (ie, did their experiences sour their perception, or make them appreciate it more?)

3. How do they feel about being Hydaelyn's chosen? (Feel free to break it down from ARR's "Champion of Eorzea" all the way to "The Savior of Etheirys" as much as you like. Have those feelings changed, or just grown more complex?)

4. What do they do in their down time? Do they have any hobbies outside of Primal-slaying and world-saving? Are these lifelong hobbies or recent interests?

5. How do they feel now that "it's all over" (the story of Hydaelyn and Zodiark)? What do they plan to do next? Or is their story finished - and if you're retiring them, what does retirement look like for them? Do you have someone else taking the stage going forward?

6. Who was their Azem? What were they like, and were they different from your WoL? Who were their family, friends? Or, if you don't care for the Azem angle or went in your own direction for their past self, how so? How does your WoL feel about their Ancient identity?

----------------------- CHANGES

7. Have they gone through any physical changes? What scars have they collected, and how do they feel about them? Did they sprout horns or other features as a result of spells or pacts gone wrong? How did light corruption impact them? Or have they walked away miraculously unscathed? Are they more peculiar for how eerily unmarred they are?

8. What is one of their biggest regrets? Has it had an effect on how they act moving forward, for better or worse?

9. The Warrior of Light has been through quite a lot, but what is a moment, big or small, that bolstered and renewed their spirit? Was it a cup of hot cocoa or a lovingly crafted sandwich? Did someone give them a few words or a gesture at just the right time that meant the world to them? (Of course, this can be a canon event or headcanon!)

10. What does home look like for them now? Do they still return to the home where they started, and if so has it changed at all? Or have they found or forged a new home? Who do they live with, if anyone? What sort of things do they keep in their personal space?

11. Despite everything, is it still you? Has the core of who they are as a person remained true through everything, or have they been changed by what they've experienced and learned, for better or worse?

13. Is there a canon moment you've drastically (or not-so-drastically) rewritten? A character death, or something that just really did not fit your WoL's character. Or just some alterations and personal touches you've added? Has that had any long-term changes on the wider story?

----------------------- STORY

12. Which canon moments shaped your Warrior of Light and impacted them the most?

14. Do you have any headcanons for what happened post-Ultima Thule? What kind of injuries did they suffer, or did they walk it off like a boss? Did they take a lengthy vacation, did you shove a time skip in there before 6.1 hit? Or was it quickly off to the next adventure?

15. What were their thoughts and feelings on the events of Myths of the Realm? How did they regard the Twelve prior, and how did the revelations impact them? Was meeting their patron particularly special to them, or not really?

16. What were their thoughts and feelings delving into Pandaemonium? How did they feel working alongside Themis and Lahabrea, after all their history? What did they think about how things ended?

17. Taking a step away from "canon", do you have any wholly unique side quests and adventures your Warrior of Light has gotten caught up in? Did they chase down ghosts of their own past, get married, open a bakery, or fix an ancient blood curse on their family line? Have they reunited with loved ones or buried old hatchets? If there's some unique story behind your character, how does it show up and how did it play out?

----------------------- COMBAT & ABILITIES

18. How do they feel about the work they do? As the Warrior of Light they're tasked with quite a lot of violence, is it something that comes naturally to them or do they resist it? Are they merciless, do they try to spare as many lives as they can, or do they fall somewhere in between?

19. While many fights are dramatic or have high stakes, are there any especially memorable or difficult fights they encountered? Outside scripted battles, were there conflicts that you thought felt better if they were tweaked for narrative or lore-based reasons, ie their first time fighting a primal? Or perhaps a more meta "You the player had a hard time so it translated into headcanon for them".

20. Are there any unique abilities that they possess outside of what's in-game? Are they actually a dragon, or do they see visions of the future? Or, is there a special way that their Echo manifests?

21. Jobs! What job is your character and why is that the route they chose? Is your WoL a Jack-of-all-Trades, or just have one (or a few) specialties? Did they start with one job and change to another? Have you 'homebrewed' their job at all, adding any unique twists or details to it?

----------------------- RELATIONSHIPS & THE WORLD

22. What are their feelings on the Scions? Who are some of their closest allies and dearest friends? Are they more of a loner, or closer to people outside the Scions? Have they kindled any romances or partnerships?

23. How do they feel about getting pulled into politics? Are they adept at navigating political intricacies, or does it go over their head? Do they appreciate getting asked to do more than punch their enemies, or would they really rather just punch their enemies? Are there any areas they like to be particularly involved in?

24. How do they feel about Hydaelyn? What was their perception of the Mothercrystal in the beginning, and how did that change by the end, if at all?

25. Do they have any particular enemies that stand out to them? Someone who inspired a lasting grudge? Our beloved and beloathed antagonists give us plenty of reasons to despise them, but are there any that particularly rubbed your WoL the wrong way? On the other hand, are there villains they can't help but sympathize with, even if it's at odds with the narrative or their allies?

26. What are their thoughts on the Ancients, their way of life, and the world they lived in? Did they sympathize at all with the Ascians, or did learning the truth not influence them in that way?

27. How well known are they? Does everyone know their name as the Warrior of Light, or have they managed to maintain some level of anonymity? Do they prefer it that way, and do they have any struggles resulting from it? (Getting stopped on street corners VS awkwardly avoiding questions.)

----------------------- WHAT'S NEXT

28. What's something they look forward to? Exploring the stars, more of a place we've already been, or somewhere we haven't? Or do they look forward to retirement, starting a business with their craft of choice, or any other little old thing?

29. How do they feel heading into Dawntrail? Excited? Exhausted? What do they think of the promises of adventure to come, and their role to play? If you're using a new character, do you have any idea how they'll end up on this path, and where is their headspace starting out?

30. What are they going to be doing while waiting for the ship to Tural?

[rookflower]

minor wc graphic novel volume 2 spoilers

this book very intentionally frames cinderpelt training as a medicine cat as a decision she actively came to herself (changing fireheart's pitying ableism towards her into him explicitly offering to pick her training back up and her declining because she prefers med cat training) and to that i say thank goddd

[quibbs126]

I now have this mental image of TF One Megatron somehow gaining a flight alt mode (idk how, it just needs to be flight for the bit), but he doesn’t know how to use it or how to fly, so the SSS Trio decide the best way to teach him is to just throw him off a high ledge or airship for instinct to kick in

I know the context is spotty, but it’s just funny in my head. Particularly if all three of them genuinely believe this is the best way to go about it, there’s no ulterior motives; maybe this is just how they were taught. Megatron meanwhile does not want to be thrown, but they overpowered him

[bestanimal]

Round 3 - Chondrichthyes - Rhinopristiformes

(Sources - 1, 2, 3, 4)

Our third order of batoids (rays) are the Rhinopristiformes. This order contains the families Trygonorrhinidae (“fiddler rays” or “banjo rays”), Rhinobatidae (“guitarfish”), Rhinidae (“wedgefishes”), Glaucostegidae (“giant guitarfishes”), and Pristidae (“sawfish”).

Rhinopristiformes are characterized by a somewhat shark-like appearance, with flattened disc-like or diamond-shaped bodies, relatively small pectoral fins fused to the disc, and a long tail with two dorsal fins. Their finned tail helps the ray with propulsion and they swim in a more shark-like manner, rather than with their pectoral fins like stingrays and skates. However, as rays, rhinopristiform eyes and spiracles are on the dorsal side of their body while their gill slits, nostrils, and mouth are on the ventral side.

Rhinopristiformes give live birth, with embryos gaining nutrients via a yolk sac within the mother until they are born. Litter sizes are usually small. Most species exhibit slow growth, late maturity, and low fecundity. These features cause these animals to be susceptible to extinction.

Rhinopristiformes date back to the Late Jurassic.

Propaganda under the cut:

The large fins of Rhinopristiformes are considered a delicacy and are highly sought after, often the only parts of the animal kept and brought to market. High demand and overfishing has caused rapid declines in rhinopristiform populations worldwide, and most species are endangered.

Recent studies suggest that the Eastern Shovelnose Ray (Aptychotrema rostrata) may have trichromatic colour vision, like humans, due to the discovery of three spectrally distinct cone visual pigments in the retinae.

The oldest recorded Banded Guitarfish (Zapteryx exasperata) was estimated to be 22 years old.

The Guna people of the Caribbean coast of Panama and Colombia consider sawfish as protectors of mankind, who rescue drowning people and help fight off dangerous sea creatures.

In 1573, it was described how a ship almost sank during a storm in Italy. The sailors prayed that they would be saved and made it safely ashore. Once ashore, they discovered a sawfish that had "plugged" a hole in the ship with its saw, essentially sacrificing itself. A sawfish rostrum said to be from this miraculous event is kept in the sanctuary of Carmine Maggiore in Naples.

The Brazilian Guitarfish (Pseudobatos horkelii) is one of the most critically endangered Rhinopristiformes, and when it is caught as bycatch from trawling, beach seine, and gillnet fishing, is is usually pregnant females. It is estimated that this species may become extinct within about ten years.

One of the largest Rhinopristiformes is the Longcomb Sawfish (Pristis zijsron), which can reach up to 7.3 m (24 ft), but rarely more than 6 m (20 ft) today.

The 2.7 m (8.9 ft) long Bowmouth Guitarfish (Rhina ancylostoma) (see gif above) is known to be preyed on by the Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). But the ray is not completely helpless, and may protect itself by ramming potential threats with the thorns on its head and back.

In 2007, the Newport Aquarium in Kentucky initiated the world's first captive breeding program for the Bowmouth Guitarfish. In January 2014 one female, Sweet Pea, gave birth to seven pups. Unfortunately, all seven pups passed away by February. In January 2016 Sweet Pea gave birth again, this time to nine pups. Five of them thrived and begin eating on their own and were eventually moved to the aquarium’s coral reef exhibit. A historic achievement for these critically endangered rays, which can be hard to breed due to a lack of observational data in the wild, and one that contributed valuable data to future conservation efforts. Sweet Pea was also the first Bowmouth Guitarfish in the world to have been target trained, allowing her to participate in voluntary vet check-ups. She passed away at the ripe old age of 19 in December 2023.

The Giant Guitarfish (Rhynchobatus djiddensis) is a known predator of stingrays. One specimen was found with more than 20 stingray barbs stuck in its jaw, apparently unaffected by the stingray's venom.

Told by the Anindilyakwa people of Groote Eylandt, Australia, the ancestral sawfish Yugwurrirrindangwa led a school of many different stingrays through Groote Eylandt, carving a river through the land with his saw, thus creating Angurugu River and a place for all the rays who followed him to live.

Around the Volta Estuary in eastern Ghana, the Ewe people revered sawfishes as spiritually powerful entities, classed as tro, of a divinity between humans and God. The Ewe had formal sawfish propitiation rites to dispel the danger presented when a sawfish became entangled in a fishing net. The powerful spirit was appeased with offerings of corn meal, alcohol, and palm oil. If this ceremony was not performed, fishermen who caught sawfishes were believed to have bad luck: illness might strike them or one of their family members, or they might be involved in accidents.

Even where sawfish are protected, people are still caught illegally trying to sell sawfish parts, especially the rostrum (“saw”). In 2020, a Florida fisherman used first a hacksaw, then a power saw to remove a live, critically endangered Smalltooth Sawfish’s (Pristis pectinata) rostrum and then released the maimed ray to die. He received a $2,000 fine, 80 hours of community service, and 2 years of probation.

In an attempt to increase the knowledge of their plight, the first "Sawfish Day" was held on October 17, 2017.

In addition to the living Anoxypristis cuspidata (Narrow Sawfish), the genus Anoxypristis also includes a few extinct species that are only known from fossil remains.

[royaltea000]

Currently flipping thru the entire hesokuri wars wiki page and getting into the different aus

[flowerbarrel-art]

I MT eyebrows’d everybody.

And normal eyebrows for Dark and Cho.

[x-enocyon]

ah, the noble nightstalker…