#tree growth acceleration

[wachinyeya]

17 Apr 2025------

The tree growth acceleration technology - potentially boosting forest growth by 30 percent - has been developed by Funga PBC, and works by returning native fungal communities to tree roots before planting. These essential fungi were naturally present in forest soils but have vanished due to modern land management practices.

Scientists know that trees and fungi form a vital partnership in healthy forests because fungi create vast underground networks of microscopic threads called mycelium around tree roots. These fungal networks help trees absorb water and crucial nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen from the soil.

In return, trees share up to 30 percent of the sugars they make through photosynthesis with their fungal partners. This exchange has evolved over millions of years, creating what scientists call a “mycorrhizal network”. These networks connect trees of different species, allowing them to share resources. Older, larger trees often support younger saplings through these fungal connections.

The accelerated tree growth has significant implications for fighting climate change. According to Funga’s field trials, forests with restored fungal communities can capture up to 40 percent more carbon dioxide annually compared to conventional plantings.

“Funga’s method could create planet-shaping impact,” says Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation.

[reasonsforhope]

Masterpost: Reasons I firmly believe we will beat climate change

Posts are in reverse chronological order (by post date, not article date), mostly taken from my "climate change" tag, which I went through all the way back to the literal beginning of my blog. Will update periodically.

Especially big deal articles/posts are in bold.

Big picture:

Mature trees offer hope in world of rising emissions (x)

Spying from space: How satellites can help identify and rein in a potent climate pollutant (x)

Good news: Tiny urban green spaces can cool cities and save lives (x)

Conservation and economic development go hand in hand, more often than expected (x)

The exponential growth of solar power will change the world (x)

Sun Machines: Solar, an energy that gets cheaper and cheaper, is going to be huge (x)

Wealthy nations finally deliver promised climate aid, as calls for more equitable funding for poor countries grow (x)

For Earth Day 2024, experts are spreading optimism – not doom. Here's why. (x)

Opinion: I’m a Climate Scientist. I’m Not Screaming Into the Void Anymore. (x)

The World’s Forests Are Doing Much Better Than We Think (x)

‘Staggering’ green growth gives hope for 1.5C, says global energy chief (x)

Beyond Catastrophe: A New Climate Reality Is Coming Into View (x)

Young Forests Capture Carbon Quicker than Previously Thought (x)

Yes, climate change can be beaten by 2050. Here's how. (x)

Soil improvements could keep planet within 1.5C heating target, research shows (x)

The global treaty to save the ozone layer has also slowed Arctic ice melt (x)

The doomers are wrong about humanity’s future — and its past (x)

Scientists Find Methane is Actually Offsetting 30% of its Own Heating Effect on Planet (x)

Are debt-for-climate swaps finally taking off? (x)

High seas treaty: historic deal to protect international waters finally reached at UN (x)

How Could Positive ‘Tipping Points’ Accelerate Climate Action? (x)

Specific examples:

Environmental Campaigners Celebrate As Labour Ends Tory Ban On New Onshore Wind Projects (x)

Private firms are driving a revolution in solar power in Africa (x)

How the small Pacific island nation of Vanuatu drastically cut plastic pollution (x)

Rewilding sites have seen 400% increase in jobs since 2008, research finds [Scotland] (x)

The American Climate Corps take flight, with most jobs based in the West (x)

Waste Heat Generated from Electronics to Warm Finnish City in Winter Thanks to Groundbreaking Thermal Energy Project (x)

Climate protection is now a human right — and lawsuits will follow [European Union] (x)

A new EU ecocide law ‘marks the end of impunity for environmental criminals’ (x)

Solar hits a renewable energy milestone not seen since WWII [United States] (x)

These are the climate grannies. They’ll do whatever it takes to protect their grandchildren. [United States and Native American Nations] (x)

Century of Tree Planting Stalls the Warming Effects in the Eastern United States, Says Study (x)

Chart: Wind and solar are closing in on fossil fuels in the EU (x)

UK use of gas and coal for electricity at lowest since 1957, figures show (x)

Countries That Generate 100% Renewable Energy Electricity (x)

Indigenous advocacy leads to largest dam removal project in US history [United States and Native American Nations] (x)

India’s clean energy transition is rapidly underway, benefiting the entire world (x)

China is set to shatter its wind and solar target five years early, new report finds (x)

‘Game changing’: spate of US lawsuits calls big oil to account for climate crisis (x)

Largest-ever data set collection shows how coral reefs can survive climate change (x)

The Biggest Climate Bill of Your Life - But What Does It DO? [United States] (x)

Good Climate News: Headline Roundup April 1st through April 15th, 2023 (x)

How agroforestry can restore degraded lands and provide income in the Amazon (x) [Brazil]

Loss of Climate-Crucial Mangrove Forests Has Slowed to Near-Negligable Amount Worldwide, Report Hails (x)

Agroecology schools help communities restore degraded land in Guatemala (x)

Climate adaptation:

Solar-powered generators pull clean drinking water 'from thin air,' aiding communities in need: 'It transforms lives' (x)

‘Sponge’ Cities Combat Urban Flooding by Letting Nature Do the Work [China] (x)

Indian Engineers Tackle Water Shortages with Star Wars Tech in Kerala (x)

A green roof or rooftop solar? You can combine them in a biosolar roof — boosting both biodiversity and power output (x)

Global death tolls from natural disasters have actually plummeted over the last century (x)

Los Angeles Just Proved How Spongy a City Can Be (x)

This city turns sewage into drinking water in 24 hours. The concept is catching on [Namibia] (x)

Plants teach their offspring how to adapt to climate change, scientists find (x)

Resurrecting Climate-Resilient Rice in India (x)

Edit 1/12/25: Yes, I know a bunch of the links disappeared. I'll try to fix that when I get the chance. In the meantime, read all the other stuff!!

Other Masterposts:

Going carbon negative and how we're going to fix global heating (x)

[readerforexiao]

𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐃: 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒏 | 𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ

⌗ Sung Jinwoo x Fem!Reader | romance, angst, fluff | childhood friends to lovers, denial + unspoken feelings + mutual pining, hurt / comfort, canon universe, emotional vulnerability and isolation, trauma ... tba

⌗ "I am human regardless of the power running through my veins. It lies within my heart, my human heart which feels ever so deeply and bounds me to feelings and emotions such as fear, hatred, greed, and love"

⌗ Word Count: 3.3k

⌗ Synopsis: Despite knowing that everything given demanded a price, and everything taken had a cost, Jinwoo would have done everything for you, relinquished all he had. But when granted power without end capable of continuous growth beyond that of limitation, he feared before he reasoned, and in his panic had he pushed you away. Still, you could love him no less even as his presence thinned into absence. Eventually, Jinwoo realized he could only run as far as you'd let him.

⌗ A/n: been working on this since feb. i am as hopeless with my writing as i am hopelessly in love with Jinwoo 💙

THEY MADE, AND IN THEIR MAKING, THEY UNMADE. And it became their legacy retold in history.

For the greatest of empires had they built upon the spine of the land, upon the hum of the earth’s uneven breaths and the shifting of its sands. But as they raised them into lofty castles of grandeur, into bridges that crossed ravines and forded gushing rivers, they had brought them to ruin by the thirst for more. Even the alliances forged by the blood of sacrifice— meant to be immortalised in legend— were cleaved apart with the blade of mistrust wedged deep between the scapula.

Once, when the fields of flowers had been kissed by the sun and caressed by the moon. When forests of old sheltered life beneath the canopy of their trees, and streams of pure birth coursed outward, nourishing all they touched. Light felt softer then. And time must have moved without urgency, too. For even the silence was sure to have been alive, full of meaning, full of breath. Until their petals were plucked and their rivers bloodied.

Trees were splintered. Wings clipped. Skin carved. And it had been such that nothing ever remained untouched. For the blame worthy were indeed beings of flesh— mortal… frail. Frail in what lies inside unspoken of. What mattered most.

They trample and are trampled by what lies beyond their control. And they break and are broken by the hands of those they love, envy… fear.

When the gates appeared and hunters rose from among the panic with powers beyond their grandest desires, disaster had been mistaken for salvation. Hunter Guilds were established to combat the monsters. But beneath their banners, division grew. Subtle at first, then swift, accelerating the downfall of what was already fraying at the seams.

In a cruel game where the strong preyed upon the weak, the greedy devoured the humble, and the wicked turned their blades to the innocent. Sins were repeated, not repented. For the power that descended upon them, disastrous in their hands, would be their undoing.

And so it was to be, as if writ by fate’s hand— humanity were forever doomed to become the ruin of every story. A final chapter none could ever rewrite.

❝𝙷𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚜 𝚒𝚝𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏. 𝙼𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜❞

❝𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎.��� - 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚜

— 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄

THE SUN TOOK LEAVE OF THE WORLD, bequeathing to the veil of shadow. The traffic lights turned green, engines stirred, and wheels began rolling. Uproar hurled through the streets as a motorbike wove between the blurred cars, its growl reverberating down the asphalt vein.

In the merging of headlights, you had seen his eyes; the speckle of blue within the grey that surfaced when caught in the gleam of luminosity. Those eyes sought you out, flicking from face to face with urgency, like a caged bird who mourned for the sky. He moved through the world shaped by his tragedies and misfortune, brave yet labelled weak and mocked as a coward.

Life altered him more times than one could count, wearing him down in the most horrid ways. He was the boy who knew pain too intimately, considered it a companion even if it had never been a desired one.

His smile had always held too much apology, stretched over a face that had forgotten genuinity. His shoulders drew taut and his spine locked in rigidness beneath a jacket worn and torn by responsibility and fight; the posture of someone taught by repetition to brace for the worst and never expect anything better, for the clothes on his back and a growing stack of unpaid bills were all he had.

Like a shadow, he carried himself, bowing his head as if he might offend the light. And though he had tried to stay small, to slip by unnoticed, mockery found him like a breath upon his neck all the same, as if daring him to think he deserved even that.

Their words cut deeper than any beast ever did. The sharpness of their laughter and ridicule hollowed him out, but he did what he had to do, even if it made him fold into himself and apologise for being weak and a pathetic stain on the world.

Your hand, cold against the heat of skin, held your neck where the phantom ache of his name still echoed alive.

You remembered the night the call came. When the hospital’s number flashed across your screen and how it hadn’t startled you at first because he had been in and out of emergency rooms enough times for it to feel like a routine. Bruises, fractures, and the occasional concussion, but he never stayed long. He had always walked out alive in the end. But that night had been different when Jinah’s voice, strangled by apprehension, threaded through the call.

The memory became one impossible to shake, for you had leaned close to his motionless body and inhaled the scent of ash and iron until it could not be forgotten. The image of him, every inch of exposed skin buried under gauze and wrapped so thickly it seemed he might disappear beneath it, burned into your mind.

"You idiot... stupid… stupid…" You hadn’t meant to say it in anger, but the words slipped from your quivering lips anyway, too heavy to hold back because so foolish, he was. Always so stubborn and persistent to a fault.

You couldn’t call it strength— what he did. Could not deem such reckless behaviour noble, even if he had done it all to provide for her, to ensure she had what she needed. To carry a burden that should not have been his alone. There was nothing noble about the way his body lay there, broken and unrecognisable beneath the bandages. Nothing admirable in the way he hadn’t stirred for days, no sign that the man you knew was still fighting to come back while his sister, whom he had done it all for, was left with nothing but the unbearable routine of waiting.

She had spent her days running back and forth between the hospital and home despite your protests. Nights were lonely, though she had grown accustomed to it. She always had her phone nearby as she waited for you to call with any change or any sign he would wake. She didn’t have the luxury of giving up. Not while her brother lay there, just like her mother. Not while he had made sure she wouldn’t have to.

Neither of them deserved this. And yet, here they were.

Red lights blinked overhead and as the cars rolled to a stop, you stepped off the curb, swept into the tide of pedestrians, moving like rain dissolving into the ocean, loose, unbothered, flowing with the kind of ease that comes from having somewhere to go but no urgency to get there. But you moved differently, slipping between them, quicker, with purpose. A single note out of tune. Your pace outmatched theirs. You couldn’t walk slowly— not tonight.

Bit by bit, the press of bodies thinned and the noise of car horns and voices had fallen away like smoke in the wind. Eventually, only the quiet rhythm of your breath and your footsteps remained.

Your knuckles struck wood, once, twice, then once more, until after a pause, the door creaked open.

“You're late."

“Work ran overtime," the warm ambience of her home welcoming you as you entered.

"You don't have to lie, you know." She wiggled her brows, a knowing grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Jinwoo will be happy to see you"

“Dumbass” you muttered more to yourself than her, closing the door behind you.

Jinah went back to her show, drawing her knees up beneath her on the couch. The hum of the program filled the room but your attention drifted elsewhere, onto the shelf where dust clung faintly to the edges of picture frames, untouched for who knew how long. One in particular caught your eye. It was of Jinwoo and Jinah, years younger, caught mid-laughter, their faces bright and unburdened with a joy that no longer visited, a kind that did not belong to the present.

The second frame held a photo of Jinwoo and his mother. He couldn’t have been more than five, clinging to her with the easy trust of a child. His small chin rested against her shoulder as his feet dangled behind her, a supportive hand keeping him steady and sure, as if she’d always known exactly how to hold the weight of someone else’s world.

She was beautiful. Truly beautiful. Touched by the rare grace that only motherhood could shape. Time had aged her in each photo, but not unkindly for she wore her maturity well, like silk and aged wine, bearing those marks with pride. You saw a woman who lived, perhaps not perfectly, but wholly. A woman who had loved deeply, lost deeply, and still found a way to keep going.

When your eyes opened, the memory had receded. Still, her eyes sought yours in the familiar blur of your vision. But as your focus returned fully, you realised you had mistaken Jinah for her mother. Had come close enough to forget just how long it has been since.

You ruffled Jinah’s hair, like her mother had once done to you and she swatted your hand away, urging you to her brother’s room before you could do it again.

You made your way down the hallway, where the walls had been lined with so many memories, some of which you could only vaguely recall. Crayon drawings curled at the edges, left untouched since their mother fell ill. Neither of the siblings had the heart to take them down, despite how much they grew to hate them, for she loved those scrappy stick figures and food-stained paper. Above those childish doodles there hung a neat row of school certificates tucked into tarnished gold frames. Jin-ah’s name had stood out in bold across them, impossible to miss. Achievement after achievement. You loitered there in search of a name that never appeared and never would, and you moved on… what else could you do.

The door to Jinwoo’s room stood ajar. You peered inside. Livid greys and a gentle white light bled from the computer screen where he sat hunched over, his shoulders slouched and his spine curved in a way that suggested he’d been sitting there for hours staring at the monitor yet not really seeing it.

You didn’t knock. You hardly ever did. You offered the door a cursory nudge with your knuckles at most, but even that was rare. More often, you pressed it open the rest of the way and slipped inside if he hadn’t already been the one to draw you in first.

The creaking hinges might as well have been a greeting.

“Jinah was right…” you walked in, “You are brooding."

The mattress dipped beneath your weight with a muted groan, but still had he yet to acknowledge you. For a bated breath, nothing changed.

“What are you doing here?” He asked, swivelling his chair to face you. When his voice came to be, it came with the faintest brush of retraction and you were caught off guard by the low timbre.

Caught in a moment of process, you hadn’t replied, but your attention directed elsewhere, and Jinwoo followed your gaze to his desk where the clutter offered an unmistakable answer to his own question.

He understood immediately.

You wouldn’t have come all this way, at this hour by choice, not when he had made his distance so glaringly evident. He thought.

His eyes faltered on the cans of beer strewn across the surface, then moved to the one in his hand. A fleeting twitch of his fingers betrayed the desire to sweep them aside, out of your view, but he reined it in and tilted his head back, his throat working with practised ease as took a large gulp.

There had been no visible sign of intoxication on him, nothing in his posture to suggest the careless abandon of too much drink, and his movements, too, were steady and unshaken as he lowered it and settled it amongst the rest, making you pause because you knew something hadn't been quite right; you just couldn’t prove it beyond mere speculation.

“… You always had a bad sense of timing,” he said, blinking in short intervals until the distance in them fled, and he'd been something other than what was in front of him.

For some reason, discomfort slithered up your spine at the way he looked at you, the way he said that, as though a centipede had begun its crawl with a thousand legs prickling your nerves and seeking to burrow beneath your skin.

“I wasn’t planning on coming”, you confessed reluctantly, unable to voice what troubled you. Only that it had been marked in the fringe framing his eyes and in the finger tapping against the second-hand clock on his thigh.

“Then why did you?” he prodded.

“Because I gave you two weeks”

So you had known.

Part of him felt relieved, but the rest simmered with frustration. “So it’s not because Jinah called you?”

“She did, yes,” you admitted, “but I would have come around sooner or later”

All this time, Jinwoo believed he was successfully avoiding you when really you had only been allowing him that.

He stared at you.

You had always managed to complicate things for him and all along had he known your presence to be too much for him to resist, that a second in your company and he’d be bound to your every whim and tied to a mess of emotions he spent too long pretending he could move beyond. But in truth, he hadn’t because he knew he could not. Not really.

He lifted the can to his lips when your hand came upon his and stilled his movement. He smiled then, behind the metal. Though not with joy or relief or even bitterness, but because your touch aroused what he knew he was at present and perhaps for much of his life he would be undeserving of.

“You never ask,” He uttered in a breath almost missing, a breath nearly lost.

“Would you have answered?”

Fair enough.

He’d give you that.

Still… You never pried. Never pushed him into corners where he had to confront things he wasn’t ready to face, as if you perfected the balance of letting him come to you while at the same time knowing when to pull him by the ear and rein him in, and that frustrated him as it did attract him.

You took the can from him.

Although he hated it, he knew you were right. There was no use pretending anymore. No use keeping up the act. You had obviously caught on, and Jinwoo, astute and self-aware, knew better than to waste time on futility. He couldn’t push you away any further. And honestly, he no longer wanted to.

Annoying. His head fell against your stomach. Did you always have to be so... you?

“I would have answered,” he affirmed, “If only you had been the one to ask.”

Jinwoo’s hands encircled your wrists, his hold gentle and his touch almost pleading, like someone drowning alone for far too long. As if he had weathered shifting tides that pulled the shore from beneath him, endured squalls that reshaped the very landscape around him.

Like a man who clawed for the surface, desperate for the blaze of the sunlight in his eyes, for the agony of breath to tear through his lungs and burn the salt from his throat, he needed proof that he was still alive. That the scars and shattered bones, torn limbs and bloodied tears, all meant something.

Then again, it’s not like he gave you the chance to ask.

With your heart racing ahead of your breaths, your palm smoothed over his head. He hummed low in his throat, pressing closer to your abdomen. Close. Maybe too close. But not uncomfortable. Not awkward. You were still the same to him, in all the things that stirred his memories with fondness.

“I like the haircut, by the way,” you remarked, still threading gently through his hair, curling at the ends, scratching lightly at his scalp in a way you knew he liked.

“Don’t make fun of me,” he said flatly, leaning back.

“I’m not, you look good. Like you aged overnight in a cool, ‘I’m a reliable older brother who has his act together and is single-parenting his teenage sister while somehow managing not to emotionally combust’ kind of way.”

You tried to ruffle his hair, but he caught your wrist, slightly irked. “That was oddly specific and sounded much like an insult”

“I didn’t say it was a bad thing. You look the part of a mature young man, put together and all. Girls like that sort of thing.”

His grip tightened slightly in warning, not enough to hurt.

“Okay, okay,” you laughed, tugging your hand back. “But seriously, how many poor souls fainted?”

Jinwoo was unimpressed. “You’re the worst.”

“That’s not a number,” you replied in a sing-song.

He exhaled through his nose, the closest thing he ever got to a laugh when you really pushed him. “You are worse than Jinah”

“High praise,” you grinned.

Jinwoo dropped onto his bed without ceremony, back hitting the mattress with a soft thud, one arm tucked behind his head. “That wasn’t a compliment”

Oh, but it was. You sank into his chair.

Jinwoo turned onto his side to face you.

The fear that had gripped him each time death pressed so near he could taste it always ended the same: with a final prayer. For himself. For the ones he’d leave behind. His mother and father would never see the boy who had raised himself into a man worthy of their pride. Only Jinah would remain to walk a path alone, chasing dreams they might never witness unless some cruel mercy woke their mother from her endless sleep, or brought their father from wherever he had disappeared to.

And you… whom he had loved longer than he had dared to breathe it aloud.

Back when, in the muck and dust of your childhood, your small fists had burrowed into the sand, not knowing the handfuls you threw found their way to him. He could only stand there taking it, his eyes wide but in awe, as if the hole you dug were a hundred-dollar bill placed into the hands of a struggling man. He had known it then, even. Perhaps not as love entirely, but as something precious to him.

The tide rose and washed into the holes he carved out since the disaster of the double dungeon, and further, into the fissures time had hidden and never healed. The fear of losing you had kept him at bay as he grew because it was better to remain your friend than to gamble and lose what little joy life had given.

Jinwoo exhaled, long and dreary, letting the dolefulness fall with the breath, he called your name so softly, so full of care and affection.

“I missed you”

You swallowed hard, blinking like it might steady the way the room tilted around your heart.

It wasn’t fair!

The way he said things like that and didn’t seem to realise they landed like an arrow between your ribs. Like he could just drop a quiet I missed you after pushing you away and not expect the ground to shift under your feet and unsettle you.

But that was Jinwoo, wasn’t it? Never loud about what mattered, but never careless either.

“I missed you, too” you whispered.

And he smiled.

He smiled. His eyes fluttering close, lashes falling against the tops of his cheeks, and for once, there was no tension in his brow, no shadows carved beneath his eyes. Just the slow, steady rhythm of his breathing as sleep found him.

All rights reserved | Copyright @readerforexiao | Do not copy, steal, or repost to any other platform💙

[bet-on-me-13]

The Ghost King's Son

So! Cloning is a difficult process.

It takes time, lots of time. Sure, it's possible to accelerate the Growth of a Clone to make them older in a shorter time frame, but that often leads to Destabilization within weeks of completion.

And Cadmus didn't want to take any chances when designing their Kryptonian/Human Hybrid. They started growing him much earlier than they originally did, and let him grow at a semi-normal rate for most of his life.

This comes back to bite them in the butt however, when an asset breaks out of containment and ruins their Internal Power Generators. This causes a blackout that takes hours to resolve, and by the time they fix it all and reestablish the Security Systems, they notice one of the Clones is missing.

The Kryptonian/Human Clone has escaped.

...

Kr-1 is confused. He had woken up in a tube a few hours ago to some alarms, and decided he didn't like it, so he broke out. Then he wandered around until he ended up outside, and just kept on Wandering.

It had been hours, and he didn't know where he was. It seemed to be some type of Forest, but he didn't know what kind.

He just kept on wandering. It started to get boring though, the trees all looked the same and there weren't even any animals around. Then, something interesting happened!

A green thing appeared in the air! It was glowing and swirly and had a kind of pull to it. So, he touched it. And it sucked him in. And now he wasn't in the Forest. And this place seemed much more interesting!

There were a bunch of floating rocks, and the sky was green, and everything else was purple.

And there was a man. Looking at him hurt his eyes, he seemed to be a kid and then an man and then an old man and then a kid again whenever he blinked. He was saying something, but Kr-1 didn't understand him. He didn't think he had been taught language yet? What was language?

The Kid/Man/Old-Man lead him to a big building made of bricks and mortar. It looked like a big spiky building with towers and walls and stuff. Inside it looked cool, with candles and carpets and even more stuff.

He was taken to a room with a guy who didn't hurt his eyes to look at. He had white hair and green eyes, but his skin wasn't blue like the old guy. He had a piece of ice on his head, it looked like a crown but it was glowing.

The Guy walked up to him and pointed to himself, and kept repeating something. "Danny".

Eventually Kr-1 realized that it was his name. He then pointed to Him and said "name?"

He tilted his head confused, and the guy, Danny, let his head fall with a sigh.

"This is gonna be harder than I thought."

He wondered what those words mean?

...

It had been a few years since the newly dubbed Conner had begun to live with Danny.

He had been hesitant to adopt the Living 9 yr old Child when Clockwork had brought him to his Castle, explaining that he had run into a Natural Portal, but he had accepted in the end.

It took a while to teach Conner how to understand Language. He seemed to know very little for a kid his age, but after Clockwork had dug around his personal timeline they figured out that he was a Clone. He probably hadn't reached the Information Planting Stage of development when he escaped.

After learning about this however, Danny began teaching him everything he should have learned in his early life, such as Elementary level education and some social interaction. He even brought around Ellie to see if she had any advice for helping him develop into a healthy young boy.

She did help a bit, but was mostly preoccupied with spoiling her new Nephew rotten.

Eventually, Conner had caught up to the level he should have been at his age, and started living in both the Realms and in Amity.

He was having a good life, had some great friends, and was even starting to learn to use his Kryptonian Powers now that they were coming in.

He loves his new Family, his Dad is goofy and fun, his Aunt Ellie likes to spoil him rotten, his Aunt Jazz is the responsible one but still loves him, and even his grandparents are great in their own Insane way.

But not all great things can last.

...

It was supposed to be a normal Field Trip. Conner was 15 and his school was taking a Trip to Washington DC, to see the sights or to learn about history or something.

But stuff happens. They just so happen to pass by a certain lab, that lab just so happens to be testing out a new Yellow Sun Energy Detector, and one of the Scientists who worked on Conner just so happens to see him in the bus as it passes by and the detector goes off.

In the end, they manage to recapture him and place him back into his Pod, beginning to prep him for Reeducation. (Let's say they mamage to repress his memories)

Cut to 1 year later and a team of Sidekicks break into the Lab and successfully steal away the Clone again.

The Clone who knows he had a dad who had black hair and blue eyes, who helped him use his powers, who looks a lot like Superman.

Conner, in his slightly Amnesiac state thinks he has already met Superman and that he had raised him. Which makes it so much more hurtful when Superman outright rejects him. He thinks his Dad just rejected him, the Dad who he thinks he remembers loving him very much.

(Danny had been frantically looking for his son for over a year now. Where is he? Is he Okay? What happened to him? He knows at least that he isn't dead yet, but he really wants to find his son)

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - February 22-28

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles! (This month’s doodles will be a little delayed since I wasn’t able to work on them throughout the month)

1. City trees absorb much more carbon than expected

“[A new measurement technique shows that trees in LA absorb] up to 60% of daytime CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel combustion in spring and summer[….] Beyond offering shade and aesthetic value, these trees act as silent workhorses in the city’s climate resilience strategy[….]”

2. #AltGov: the secret network of federal workers resisting Doge from the inside

“Government employees fight the Trump administration’s chaos by organizing and publishing information on Bluesky[…. A group of government employees are] banding together to “expose harmful policies, defend public institutions and equip citizens with tools to push back against authoritarianism[….]””

3. An Ecuadorian hotspot shows how forests can claw back from destruction

“A December 2024 study described the recovery of ground birds and mammals like ocelots, and found their diversity and biomass in secondary forests was similar to those in old-growth forests after just 20 years. [… Some taxa recover] “earlier, some are later, but they all show a tendency to recover.””

4. Over 80 House Democrats demand Trump rescind gender-affirming care ban: 'We want trans kids to live'

“[89 House Democrats signed a letter stating,] "Trans young people, their parents and their doctors should be the ones making their health care decisions. No one should need to ask the President’s permission to access life-saving, evidence-based health care." "As Members of Congress, we stand united with trans young people and their families.”“

5. Boosting seafood production while protecting biodiversity

“A new study suggests that farming seafood from the ocean – known as mariculture – could be expanded to feed more people while reducing harm to marine biodiversity at the same time. […] “[… I]t’s not a foregone conclusion that the expansion of an industry is always going to have a proportionally negative impact on the environment[….]””

6. U.S. will spend up to $1 billion to combat bird flu, USDA secretary says

“The USDA will spend up to $500 million to provide free biosecurity audits to farms and $400 million to increase payment rates to farmers who need to kill their chickens due to bird flu[….] The USDA is exploring vaccines for chickens but is not yet authorizing their use[….]”

7. An Innovative Program Supporting the Protection of Irreplaceable Saline Lakes

“[… T]he program aims to provide comprehensive data on water availability and lake health, develop strategies to monitor and assess critical ecosystems, and identify knowledge gaps to guide future research and resource management.”

8. EU to unveil ​‘Clean Industrial Deal’ to cut CO2, boost energy security

“The bold plan aims to revitalize and decarbonize heavy industry, reduce reliance on gas, and make energy cheaper, cleaner, and more secure. […] By July, the EU said it will ​“simplify state aid rules” to ​“accelerate the roll-out of clean energy, deploy industrial decarbonisation and ensure sufficient capacity of clean-tech manufacturing” on the continent.”

9. Oyster Restoration Investments Net Positive Returns for Economy and Environment

“Researchers expect the restored oyster reefs to produce $38 million in ecosystem benefits through 2048. “This network protects nearly 350 million oysters[….]” [NOAA provided] $14.9 million to expand the sanctuary network to 500 acres by 2026 […] through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”

10. Nations back $200 billion-a-year plan to reverse nature losses

“More than 140 countries adopted a strategy to mobilize hundreds of billions of dollars a year to help reverse dramatic losses in biodiversity[….] A finance strategy adopted to applause and tears from delegates, underpins "our collective capacity to sustain life on this planet," said Susana Muhamad[….]”

February 15-21 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[twisted-wonderland-shenanigans]

Kaiju AU Island Concept

Hello everyone!

I'm technically still on hiatus, but I wanted to share something I had been working on before I made my hiatus announcement.

So as you can tell by the title, I'd been working on sketching out a rough-ish map of sorts for the island that we find ourselves on in the Twisted Kaijuland AU. This was so I could have a better idea on the locations of each area so far, as well as concepts on where exactly important locations are located/could be located!

As you can see, compared to my initial story idea, it's grown from being one big island to several islands connected to the main one (aka the staff's island) to denote each dorm's territory.

Keep in mind that this is still a rough draft so I could get my thoughts down, but I want to at least start developing visuals to help with the storytelling as I get around to properly rewriting the Kaiju!AU.

Some location comments:

Elderclaw/Trein's den is near a waterfall, which was chosen to have a tranquil spot to relax in and enjoy the peace as well as have a source of water to help his aching old bones. It's still elevated enough that even during the rainy seasons, there's no risk of flooding and he stays warm.

Crewelfang/Crewel's den is located under a massive willow-like tree, which is where one may find a myriad of flora and other medicinal fungi or roots that he harvests, though he can and will trade some of what he has in exchange for Ragebloom/Riddle's ability to accelerate the growth rate of herbs, fruit, and fungi he needs.

Shadowdrifter/Sam's nests are a mystery to the researchers, as he's been notoriously difficult to pin down location wise. He's always popping up wherever at seemingly random, yet no one knows where he disappears to when it comes time to rest for the night. Or perhaps...he doesn't rest? That's still a working theory, though many can't help but feel his eyes watching them...even when the cameras are off.

There are research facilities located in various points of the island, and there were supposed to be more, but...I kinda ran out of space while trying to figure out where everything would go, and the sizing of the areas aren't exactly accurate!

Each island is connected to the main staff island through land bridges, some of which only appear at certain times of the day or month (hadn't decided which yet or how to incorporate the mirror transportation magic form the game yet). One way to tell which one you're close to is what's around each land bridge: a lush jungle for Heartslabyul, grasslands for Savanaclaw, topside coral reef like from the first Croods movie (hadn't marked that on there I just realized) for Octavinelle, a beach with gold-colored sand for Scarabia, a noxious woodland with toxic yet beautiful plants and other deadly things, a kaiju graveyard for Ignihyde, and the ship graveyard for Diasomnia. I'll likely add more features to some of these in the future, but for now this is still a rough draft!

There are other locations and features I want to add to the map itself (same with the others once I design them), but I wanted to at least share the progression as I continue working on things one step at a time. Hope you guys enjoy!

[rebeccathenaturalist]

I'll let the article speak for itself today, but the short version is that the Bureau of Land Management is being very sloppy in its protection of old growth forests, and logging is accelerating.

Once again I am frustrated by the existence of a mindset in which a person looks at ancient trees and only sees dollar signs.

[ouzel-time]

PSA: FUCK CALLERY PEARS!!!

The callery pear, sometimes known by the name of its infamous domestic cultivar, the Bradford pear, is a HIGHLY invasive species throughout the US! At this time of year (late winter to early spring), callery pears bloom and leaf out before any other native tree species, which can lead to overcrowding.

The history of the Bradford pear:

The Bradford cultivar of the callery pear was introduced into the United States in the 1960s as the ultimate ornamental tree: it flowers and leaves out early, it is naturally straight and tall, and grows super quick. Its leaves are deep red in fall and its toxic fruits are candy to birds. But these attributes would lead to it being a highly invasive species. Where I live, these trees are already greening up when most grass is still barely colored. The fact is that these trees fill in before any others, crowding out younger native plants.

(image courtesy of Leslie Mehrnoff)

Then there are the growing habits of the Bradford pear. The Bradford was originally praised for its rapid, even growth. However, these trees grow so fast that they can't build as much strength as slower-growing species, such as oaks. The forks in limbs and branches are the weak spots, and any amount of wind sends down showers of twigs. When I was younger, I lived in a house with three of these invasive shits out front, and it was a hassle to constantly pick up branches and twigs from the lawn.

(image courtesy of Rebekah Wallace)

As a result of their accelerated growth, Bradford pears are HIGHLY susceptible to storm damage, and this can hurt houses, automobiles and other people's property. On top of that, they're not very pretty to look at whenever they're not flowering or colored up for fall.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Pull/dig up any suckers or saplings that you find. Beware that wild-type callery pears have thorns on the ends of their branches, so proceed with caution.

Cut them the hell down. Depending on where you live, you may receive payment or even a free native tree for pear trees you cut down. Note, DO NOT cut down trees on others' property without permission from the owner of said property.

Inform others! The best way to stop the spread of these trees is to teach others about the problem! More people cutting down callery pears means less shitty invasive trees!

Thank you for your consideration!

[blurban-form]

Future Brisbane

So, at the end of “Surprise”, we get to see future-Brisbane, maybe 25-30 years in the future? A grown-up Bluey brings her child to visit her parents’ house, so her kid can blast Dad with tennis balls like she did.

Compare future Brisbane with current Brisbane

First of all, nice to see the house hasn’t fallen down, Dad and Mum have kept it in good repair (thanks Hammerbarn) and it now has solar panels, as do a number of other homes.

Many things have changed:

An incredible increase in land use density; multiple medium and tall towers (like in downtown) now are common in the suburban area. Assuming this means much more multifamily housing.

Roads much less dominant/conspicuous in the hills

Look how the trees have grown.

The communications towers on the hilltops are less conspicuous.

Three waste/recycling bins (addressing the green waste recycling issue)

Drone transport (for deliveries?)

Some things haven’t changed:

Sky is blue. That’s good.

The whole area hasn’t flooded from rising sea levels…

Adult Bluey drives, or at least is using a private vehicle, rather than something like an on-demand transit service. (Maybe the drone deliveries mean less congestion on the roads but traffic has never been a big issue in Bluey-Brisbane 😉)

Inside the house is not crazy-futuristic, some electronic gadgets, like a Roomba. (I was expecting more high-tech like a Mr. Fusion from “Back to the Future” but that’d probably be by the kitchen or by the garbage wheelie-bins.)

I know my parents still have the same stereo they had 30+ years ago, and much of the same furniture.

Note that 30 years of progress has not improved how Roombas dock with their charging stations.

Some other new tech in the front hall:

Electronic digital picture frames with weird floating connections to the wall.

Wifi router thing on ceiling

Spherical thing (maybe something like an Alexa?)

New comfy chair, replacing the red one.

Density Increase

The increase in land use density in the Brisbane suburbs where the Heelers live is one of those dreams of land use planners; more density in already developed areas is generally considered a plus, assuming the infrastructure can accommodate it. Higher density means more people in a given area making public transit more efficient and reducing costs to serve the homes with utilities.

Is that kind of growth possible in only a few decades? Yes, here’s a North American example… this is where I grew up, in the early 1980s it looked like this in Mississauga, ON around the Square One shopping centre…

…and now it looks like this in the 2020s.

So that’s growth over about 30-40 years, which is a little longer than how much time has apparently elapsed in “Bluey”, but not a lot. It’s possible, and this kind of thing can snowball / accelerate once initial projects get underway.

Public opposition (NIMBY) can prevent this kind of thing from occurring in many cities.

[zanypainterglitter]

Compilation of Acid-Forming Plants

All this happens on Cybertron, the Autobots and Decepticons are finally home after long adventures and fights on Earth, and it seems that it is going to end, but the soldiers, both Autobots and Decepticons, seem to start getting sick. They thought that the Cosmic Rust was sprouting again, until "flesh" began to protrude from their systems, gears and interior, but they were actually organic plants. They called this infection and apparently a new type of plant "Flesh Flower".

Although the flower and its vines, also called algae, are organic, they seem to also have metallic properties such as copper and iron, causing composition cells or electrolytic cells and thus one is infected by direct contact. The algae or vine is green and brown, the flower is yellow in the center with white, pink and light purple, all are capable of expelling spores or liquid like acid, they seem to have a yellow or blue color with a greenish tone. Infection can be avoided with decontamination and thorough washing, and if the algae are in their initial phase, they can be removed, although they may require surgery.

The flower will stick to the metal being like a worm and will try to enter its system, but if you are quick to notice this you can crush it but it must be washed and decontaminated because otherwise it will become infected anyway, or it can be through a wound through which a viscous substance comes out of the body, the first phase will begin to see symptoms of fatigue, joint problems that begin to take over the host's body until having any type of disability and in the process its lubricant will escape from its mouth that acquires a very sour taste, in the second phase algae will begin to grow from the victim's body but they can be confused with simple cables, heat and liquids can accelerate the oxidation and growth of the plant, the algae will begin to grow the cables and even the organs of the victim and from there begins the third phase where the parts made up of the vehicle will seem loose or hanging to the point of falling, being able to see them and show them this can reach the brain and coming out of the mouth along with an acid and viscous liquid that is mostly Infectious and also in my eyes of the host, it is infectious at this point, the fourth phase only look like a body that you can see the organs and the flowers are combining and absorbing it completely but they can be recognized although they are already completely controlled by the plant and the last phase is where the infected get trapped in the metal surface starting to grow roots from their body and sprouting but should not get close as it can still attack, in the end they become not only a tree but a perfect combination of organic and metallic, growing fruits in which they are not infected and are edible.

Shockwave is missing, while everyone is under curfew but some like the Decepticons prefer to fight the infection, Grimlock along with the Dinobots are considered patient 0 because many saw how his spark came out tentacles from the plants grabbing the other Dinobots forming Volcanicus and a beast without equal.

Optimus was sorry and sad because he told Grimlock not to do it but he failed to prevent the catastrophe, the medical autobots try to find a cure and take shelter in what remains of cities trying to rebuild them while the decepticons prefer to eliminate all those who are seen and are infected using bases to be able to eliminate all the flesh flowers, Starscream is suspicious that Shockwave must be doing something, but several decepticons and even autobots begin to have paranoia of everything that is organic to the point of hating it, which starts disputes because they suspect that others will infect them.

Discovering that the infected can communicate telepathically with each other, acting as a hive. It turns out that all this was a plan by Shockwave who was the real patient 0 and is practically almost like a queen wasp, he did this to have the population of Cyberton under control, since he got bored and fed up with the Decepticons finding the constant war and fighting unbearable that the only thing it did was waste resources so on Earth he managed to form the flesh flower with water and sea salts combined with chemicals creating a corrosive acid plant and with technical modifications he achieved the perfect infectious plant in his favor testing with it and then the Dinobots so that they could easily spread their corrosion.

Shockwave wanted to have the resources back on Cybertron, so he hoped that everyone would kill each other so that he would have food and a semi-rebuilt home and have a new generation under his logic and control but neither Megatron nor Optimus are going to allow it.

[i-drop-level-one-loot]

Chaotic Dumbassery (Soft Yandere!Friend x Thembo!Reader)

I know I haven't been working on people's submissions, prioritizing kinktober, but I'm having a really tough time and need some light humor in my life

GN!Reader, mild manipulation, mostly fluff ❤️

Hughie was labeled as a "genius" early on in his childhood. At the age of five his parents were already discussing with the local elementary school about starting him off in a higher grade. Despite all of the praises Hughie received from adults, their compliments felt hollow, and the more they pushed him to accelerate his growth realize his potential, the further he felt isolated from the people around him. Emotionally, it was like being trapped as an exhibit in a zoo. They all smiled down at him and cooed, but he could not feel them.

Then, Hughie met (Reader).

Wasting his summer before school began, his parents inside speaking to teachers about letting Hughie skip kindergarten, no one noticed when he slipped out, wandering the empty halls to the playground, where surprisingly a child was playing in the dirt with their parent sitting nearby.

Fat little fingers were poking into the dirt beneath a tree, filling the holes with seeds. Hughie often had no problem speaking to adults, but he didn't have many opportunities to interact with other kids his own age. Nervous to the point of nausea, he approached the kid, gripping his ugly grey polo aggressively enough to stretch out the shirt.

"What are you doing?"

The kid covered in dirt wearing a pizza sauce stained Batman shirt looked up at Hughie with excitement so powerful he could physically feel it burning his face like sun beams. "Planting bird seeds!"

"Oh. Why?"

"To grow birds. Duh." They went back to poking holes and planting the seeds.

The little boy with black curly hair was shocked. He didn't know everything about reproduction, but he knew that birds came from eggs. It was the first time he had ever heard something so preposterous, and it kind of stupefied him. Crouching down to get closer to the strange little kid, Hughie felt star struck. "I don't think that's how birds are made."

"Yuh-huh! Whenever Granny throws seeds out, birds grow, and then in the morning they fly away "

"I think they eat the seeds.."

(Reader's) eyes went wide, dropping their fistful of bird food while whipping around to face Hughie. "Huh?"

"Birds come from eggs."

Standing up quickly, Hughie could see that the kid's knees were covered in bandaids, something he never really needed. They looked down at him like he just told them that Santa wasn't real. "What?!" Before he could reiterate his answer Hughie's arm was grabbed by the much stronger stranger, dragging him over towards the woman sitting on the bench. "Mom!"

"Yes?" The woman smiled with heavy, exhausted eyes.

"Do birds come from eggs?!"

"Yes? Why?"

(Reader) dropped Hughie's hand, their brain malfunctioning under the new information. Hughie started to worry that maybe he had upset them, that maybe he shouldn't have told them the truth, when they suddenly grabbed him by his shoulders, violently shaking him. "What is your name, smarty pants?!"

"Hu-Hughie!" The wild swaying of his head affecting his speech.

"I'm (Reader)! You wanna go catch crickets?"

"Sure-"

"Hughie!" His father's voice cut him off, the smartly dressed man finally finding his son and descending onto the playground. "Don't disappear like that."

"I'm sorry."

"Let's go back inside. The teachers have some questions for you." He said excitedly, motioning towards the school.

Hughie felt a sense of dread. He was smart, really smart, which meant that he knew if he passed the tests waiting for him, he wouldn't be able to be in a class with kids his own age. Which meant that he wouldn't be able to make friends.

"No."

Hughie latched onto (Reader), and decided to act his own age.

"I want to go catch crickets with (Reader)!"

"Yeah!" (Reader) replied, glaring up at the stranger as sassily as a five year old could.

Although that interaction ended with (Reader's) mother apologizing, holding back her child from kicking the man in his shins, and Hughie's father carrying him kicking and crying up to the classroom, it was ended in Hughie's favor. He purposely failed his tests, and when school started up, he was placed in the same kindergarten as (Reader).

The two became inseparable, much to his parents' dismay.

It only got worse as they got older, and even the teachers took notice of Hughie's "double life".

By the last year of middle school, Hughie already proved himself smart enough to get his GED and be enrolled in any university of his choice. But (Reader) didn't know that.

Hughie's mother sighed heavily, finding (Reader) on her doorstep. Hey disdain for the teenager wasn't concealed in the slightest, but it didn't phase (Reader).

"Mornin', Mrs. G! I'm here to pick up the H-bomb."

"I could drive you two." She grimaced. "It's dangerous for two children to walk to school."

"Oh, we won't be walking." (Reader) smiled.

Hughie rushed past his mom, smiling just as brightly as (Reader). "'Sup!"

"Please let me drive you-"

"Bye Mom!" Hughie cut her off, giving her a warning glance before bouncing back to his reflection of (Reader's) joyful attitude. "Let's go, (Reader)."

The two friends ran down to (Reader's) homemade "scooter", an extra wide plank of thin wood with wheels screwed on, painted with flames. It was made by (Reader) and their mom to have enough space for at least three teenagers to comfortably ride, four if they squish together tightly and held on for dear life. It was a hazard, and Hughie loved it.

He loved everything about (Reader), actually. Since he began purposefully fucking up his grades just enough to never get moved up, he had made a good friend group, a group a guys that were a lot of fun to get into trouble with, but his best friend was (Reader). Many people joked that the two were already an old married couple, which (Reader) leaned into, completely unaware of Hughie's feelings. It was strange. And he couldn't explain it to anyone.

(Reader) was his best friend; a sibling; a partner in crime; and someone Hughie recently found himself wanting to kiss silly.

They rode down the sidewalk at top speeds, bumping over rocks dangerously. Hughie wanted to wrap his arms around their waist but couldn't until they picked up their other buds. They stopped by Brody's house, watching him run away from his wooden spoon wielding Grandma, then at Everett's, which finally allowed Hughie the excuse of hugging (Reader). It didn't matter if Brody clung to him similarly; just as long as he was the only one holding (Reader).

The four idiots of Jackson Middle School traveled faster than any of the cooler students on skateboards, speeding recklessly with the force of four teenagers pushing the wooden beast.

Teachers and parents gave disapproving sneers as they barely stopped in time to prevent themselves from crashing into the arriving school buses. Mr. Stone especially.

(Reader) dragged the transportation over to the bicycle rack laughing with Hughie over the fear in the bus driver's eyes when they nearly collided into the side of the bus.

"I don't know why she was so mad, it's not like we were gonna damage the bus!" Brody loudly complained, arms behind his head.

No, it was because we could have gotten hurt. Hughie smiled, not voicing his thoughts out loud. (Reader) wouldn't have this kind of fun with him if they knew that this wasn't his real personality. Calm and studious, Hughie naturally didn't enjoy being outside. He was a nerd at heart, and would prefer reading in solitude to participating in sports. But he would do anything to spend more time with (Reader).

Mr. Stone appeared before the quartet, smiling tightly. "May I have a word, Mr. Gressler?"

(Reader) stuck a finger in their nose. "Huh? He's not on the clock yet."

Everett rolled back his shoulders too try to look bigger. "Yeah, we haven't had breakfast yet."

"I'll catch up with you guys." Hughie waved at them, shooing them away. They left for the cafeteria, still making snarky remarks towards their teacher.

As soon as they were out of sight Hughie's face changed, losing all of his good humor and patience. "What did you want to talk about, Mr. Stone." His teacher's name tasted bitter, so he spit it out.

"Let's go to the principal's office."

They quickly walked through the halls, irritating Hughie. He knew what this was about, and he wasn't interested in the slightest.

Once inside the office, Mr. Stone closed the door, trapping Hughie inside with the grinning older Principal Wells. "Please, have a seat, Hughie." She offered politely.

"No thanks. I need to go to breakfast, so I'd like to make this quick." His hands were in his pockets, and his body leaning on one leg, emphasizing his boredom.

Mr. Stone cleared his throat. "We've been talking about moving your classes around.."

"Why?" His cracking voice snapped.

"We've noticed that.. I believe that your friends aren't the best influence on you." Stone took a deep breath, looking to the principal for assistance.

"After speaking to your teachers I learned that you do exceptionally well when you aren't paired up with one of your friends. If it's a test, or a solo project, your work is incredible. No matter what the subject is, you exceed in every class.. but when you have a project you have to present to a class, in your classes you have with a student named (Reader), you disrupt the day by presenting very odd topics. And when you work with (Reader), you mess around the entire time or create chaos." The principal was referring to two specific instances; Hughie's presentation on how WW2 was responsible for the creation of hentai, and the science fair project he worked on with (Reader) trying to prove that Birds weren't real. Both times he chose the topics just to see (Reader's) face light up.

"Hugh, you're an incredibly bright young man. We want to see you excel." Mr. Stone pleaded.

"I'm not moving up. I'm staying in my classes. We haven't caused any major disruptions that could have interfered with other students learning, and may I remind you that we both got an A minus on that science fair project?" He turned to leave, done with dealing with adults he knew he was smarter than. "And if you move around my classes, I'll go to the superintendent, and the school board. You're discriminating against my fellow students because you believe them to be stupid."

"We never said-"

"I'm not an idiot. They're bad examples on me because we have fun? That isn't the argument you think it is."

"Mr. Gressler, come back here-"

"Unless I'm in trouble, then no. You aren't allowed to prevent me from having breakfast. And if you continue I'll call my mother." Hughie was cold, indifferent. He knew what they were saying, but it was the exact same shit he'd been hearing since he was three years old. He's special, so he's not allowed to act his age.

He left the office and stomped towards the cafeteria. He knew they wouldn't stop embarrassing themselves, but he also refused to back down.

Inside the lunch hall, (Reader) was having a battle with the boys, construction French toast sticks into action figures with pretzel sticks. The sight of (Reader) focused on the fight made Hughie feel funny, releasing an eruption of butterflies. It was okay if he continued lying to his friends, because he could continue playing with them like this.

"Dude, I got you some!" (Reader) held out a plate. They had no idea how much Hughie loved them.

His smile fell, feeling suddenly very hot.

"Dude, you okay?" Everett asked out of concern. "Did you get in trouble or something?"

Hughie couldn't answer, taking the plate silently while avoiding eye contact. Quickly shoving in pretzel crackers like nails, he constructed his own breakfast warrior. "FEEL MY WRATH, LOSERS!"

The friends instantly forgot about their worrying, watching as Hughie's creation punched (Reader's) creation's head off.

It was okay if Hughie kept pretending to be a dumbass, because it was more fun that way. He would gladly sacrifice his entire future to fuck around with (Reader) for the rest of his life. He could see himself, in the future, sharing an apartment with his three amigos, working at some dead end job, playing video games every night after work. It would be better than if he went off to some college and became a lawyer.

If only he could ignore the erratic beating of his heart.

[nickyrothfan]

What if everyone got super powers?(part 14). Remake

But what do our heroes dream about?

The Roth House:

Nicky climbed into his house through the window.

He had completely fallen out of the routine his parents told him to keep.

What was he supposed to do? Ignore the creepy man on the roof across the street, staring at him like a stalker? Yeah, no.

At least he saved Finch—who even apologized to him.

He didn't know why, but the feeling he had in that moment was... indescribably powerful. Like he was a real superhero.

Too bad he wrecked another T-shirt... second one this month. Luckily, he had a bunch more of those.

Yeah, his parents tried to update his style, but he stubbornly wore the same kind of clothes. Why bother with new ones when the old ones are comfortable?

They barely convinced him to wear a tuxedo. And even then, he only wore it for special occasions.

Rummaging through his closet, he grabbed a new set of clothes identical to the ones he tore up that night.

Throwing on a T-shirt and shorts, he jumped onto his bed.

As much as he didn't want to admit it... life was actually getting better. His parents spent more time with him, his friends were loyal—hell, even Delroy and Finch started treating him more gently. Well... at least, in Allen's case, he thought so.

Of course, every time he used his powers, it either burned his skin, destroying his cells—which don't regenerate forever—or it force-started an accelerated regeneration, which could lead to tumor growth and cancer, or mutations (increased muscle mass, enlarged bones, organs... and the heart might simply not keep up. Plus, with that size, it needs more oxygen), or wear on his nervous system (the brain might get confused whether there's pain or not, reflexes might break, constant itching is possible, and even phantom pain).

...okay, maybe it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows.

With those semi-positive, semi-terrifying thoughts, Roth glanced at a family photo: him, Luanne, Jay, Jay's brother Saul, and Nicky's grandmother—Fein.

He drifted off to sleep...

...

Nicky barely opened his eyes from some strange discomfort inside, but the first thing he saw wasn't the ceiling of the school basement, no lab equipment, no outline of electronic cuffs.

He was lying in his own room. His usual one. Familiar. Homey.

Sunlight streamed through the curtains—soft, warm, peaceful.

He was breathing freely. No pain, no burns, no humming grav-suppressor. Just quiet and calm.

He sat up, slowly ran a hand down his face.

"Weird..." he thought, not feeling any burns. Guess the containment worked after all.

The walls were decorated with posters—Rick and Morty, UFOs, comic books. Everything looked familiar.

On the shelves sat Aaron's model cars.

The dresser was filled with T-shirts, including one teal-and-brown one—torn, but here it was again—intact and neatly folded.

He smelled old baseball leather and gingerbread—Dad's mug was on the shelf, next to some confetti from a childhood birthday.

He jumped off the bed.

His shorts were cozy, familiar. The room looked exactly as it did yesterday: same notice board, a few robots, textbooks.

He opened his notebook and, to his surprise, didn't find any pages about his powers or the drawings he'd made of them.

Stepping out of the room, Nicky entered the familiar hallway. Half the wall was filled with family photos.

Mom, Dad, little him, Fein in front of the Christmas tree. Jay holding a cake, Luanne laughing, ten-month-old Nicky bouncing with joy.

Then came the sound of pans and clinking dishes—Mom and Dad in the kitchen.

He stepped down carefully. In the kitchen—Jay holding a plate of pancakes, Mya sitting nearby, Lucy smearing syrup all over her face.

"...what?" Nicky's eyes widened. Lucy's alive? Mya's here? Both of them are here? What the hell?

He was still standing in the doorway. The room was warm, sunny, smelled like pancakes and honey. Lucy giggled, licking her fingers. Jay wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Luanne poured herself some coffee.

Everyone was alive. Everyone was here.

And everything was just... too perfect.

He stepped forward. The floorboard creaked. Everyone turned to look at him, like they'd been waiting just for that moment.

"You're finally up!" Mya ran up to him with such ease, like they'd just seen each other yesterday.

He was... stunned. Wanted to say something, but his throat was dry.

She stopped just a step away, looked into his eyes—those same eyes he remembered even through the nightmares.

"You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I... I don't know..."

He didn't finish.

Because she leaned in and, without waiting for permission, kissed him.

Not fast. Not fiery. Just—warm. Like it was normal. Like it was always meant to be.

And panic kicked in.

Not because the kiss was bad.

Because he couldn't remember when everything turned out like this.

When did Lucy come back?

Why was Mya acting like this had been their third year together?

Where was this feeling coming from... like he was a stranger in his own body?

He took a step back.

Mya didn't get upset. Just tilted her head slightly, like a cat.

"Something wrong?"

He was about to say something like, "Yes, everything is wrong! What's happening? Why is Lucy alive? Why isn't Mya missing?"

But instead:

"No. I... I just need to..."

He almost ran out of the kitchen. His heart was pounding.

He entered the bathroom, shut the door behind him, turned on the cold water and looked into the mirror.

Looked at his reflection.

At a perfectly clean face. No bruises, no scars, no burns.

No trace of pain.

He splashed water on his face, automatically. Cold drops ran down his chin, over his neck, soaking his T-shirt.

The mirror fogged up. He wiped it with the back of his hand and looked again.

Smooth skin. No bruises, no burns. No eye bags. No trace of sleepless nights.

Click.

The bathroom door creaked open.

"Oh, sorry." Mya peeked in. She had a toothbrush in one hand and a tiny bottle of mint paste.

She didn't look embarrassed. At all. Like this was completely normal.

"You don't mind, right? I'll be quick. Uncle Jay said don't hog the bathroom more than three minutes, or Uncle Saul'll start whining about 'waterboarding' again."

She walked past him and stood by the second mirror, brushing her teeth. Calm. Like at home.

Nicky froze. What was Uncle Saul doing in Raven Brooks? He lived in another city.

He felt something cold—not water—run down his forehead.

"You okay?" she asked through the foam, glancing at him sideways.

He nodded slowly, looking at her like he was seeing her for the first time. Like she was a museum exhibit in his memory, and he was trying to remember—when exactly did she disappear? Where was that line, past which she stopped existing, and now suddenly was here again?

"Yeah... I just... haven't woken up with this feeling in a while." he muttered, drying his face with a towel.

Mya smiled, still brushing her teeth.

"Mhm. Get used to it. Everything's normal here now." she said casually, almost confidently.

That phrase knocked the breath out of him.

"Here."

Nicky swallowed.

"Mya... Lucy... when did she come back?" he asked cautiously. Very cautiously.

She spit, turned to him, and shrugged—like the question was strange.

"Did she... go somewhere?"

Nicky froze.

She wasn't joking.

"And... Aaron? Where is he?"

"In the attic. Drawing. As usual. You forgot again? You two made such a mess at the corner store yesterday..." she giggled.

"Like that time you thought you had lightning powers."

His palms went cold.

"And Uncle Saul?"

"Backyard. Digging around with Dad in the old radio transmitter. Says they're trying to catch signals from Mars. Or maybe from the supermarket. Can't remember."

Nicky exhaled, clenched his fists.

"Mya... what about Bubbe Fein?" he asked, softer, almost whispering.

She paused, as if the question caught her off guard.

"On the porch," she finally answered.

"Packing pastries for your trip. And if you ask her what trip, she'll probably say something philosophical and break your brain. Like always."

Mya winked and walked out of the bathroom like everything was perfectly fine.

Nicky stood there. Alone.

Fingers trembling.

Mind empty.

What was happening?

He turned. Left the bathroom.

And headed for the porch.

...

Nicky stood on the porch.

It smelled like dust, grass... and cinnamon.

Like childhood. Like a storybook.

Like that one perfect moment that never actually happened, but you always wish you could remember.

The old rocking chair creaked in the wind.

Embroidered napkins were drying on the railing.

On the steps — a box of pastries and a note from his grandmother:

"Don't be like Jay. Eat on time. — Bubbe."

He read the note about ten times.

To distract himself.

To stop thinking.

To stop wondering why everything was so perfect it was starting to feel terrifying.

"Hey." — her voice came from behind.

He turned around.

Mya was standing barefoot, wearing a T-shirt — clearly his — because it nearly reached her knees.

Her hand nervously fiddled with the hem.

Her eyes squinted from the morning sun.

"You seem kind of... elsewhere today." — she said, walking closer.

"Did something happen?"

Nicky looked at her.

Slowly. Too long.

Like he was trying to figure out who she really was.

"This is the third time you've asked that..." he muttered.

"Yeah? Well, I worry about my boyfriend." — she replied.

"You... you called me your boyfriend?" — he stammered.

Mya paused for a moment.

Then... snorted.

Her laugh — light, feathery, almost musical.

"Well, yeah. Who else would you be?" — she stepped closer.

"What's up with you? We've been dating for a year now. I kissed you this morning in the kitchen. Did you forget already?"

Nicky felt his legs go weak.

He took a step back, leaning against the railing.

"No... I..." he exhaled.

"This isn't... real. We're not together. You disappeared. Lucy... she... died. And you..." — he stopped. His eyes wide.

Mya looked at him closely. And for the first time — her attention wasn't naive or affectionate.

It was like she was... testing something. Checking something.

"Nicky," — she said slowly, like she was choosing her words carefully,

"are you mixing up dreams with reality again?"

He didn't answer.

"You know how you get," — she added gently.

"Stress. Then all those... fantasies. Where everything's awful. Where you're alone. Where I'm missing. Where Lucy is gone. Where you have mint-colored tentacles and superpowers..."

Still, he said nothing.

"You're totally stuck in Think Mode again," — she mumbled, hopping up onto the railing and pulling her knees up.

"Guess I'll have to snap you out of it."

He remained silent.

Mya bit her lip. Then gave a sly little grin.

"Okay, Nick..." — she began, looking up at him, eyes bright.

"If you're not gonna admit everything's normal... then I'll have to prove it. With... close-range flirting attacks."

Nicky blinked, startled out of his fog of anxiety.

"What?"

"I mean..." — she jumped down from the railing, stood right in front of him.

"You're my boyfriend. But you're acting like you just got rescued from a mountain cave with amnesia. So, Doctor Mya prescribes some... therapy."

She gave him a gentle shove in the shoulder, then sat on her knees right in front of him, staring into his face.

"If you don't remember you're my boyfriend, I'm gonna start listing everything you did this past year. Want me to?"

"No." — he said automatically.

"Too bad. I'm doing it anyway." — she smirked, and before he could stop her, she continued:

"First of all — you told me you loved me while we were trying to fix the microwave. You said it out loud. I nearly dropped a wrench."

Nicky's mouth opened slightly, as if to say something... but nothing came.

He had no memory of that.

Though... he could imagine saying it like that.

"Second — you wrote me a dumb ukulele song for my birthday. It was awful. But I still have it."

She leaned forward, closer. He flinched — just a bit.

"And third..." — she got really close. So close he could feel her breath.

"You always blush when I say the word my."

Roth's cheeks lit up instantly.

"There it is!" — Mya laughed, straightening up and placing her hands on his shoulders.

"Red Mode activated. System error cleared."

He stared at her. Inside, the panic was still there — like he'd been yanked out of one reality and dumped into another.

But she... was here. Real. Physical. Too warm, too alive to be an illusion.

Nicky sat there, still lost in thought.

And then Mya, with the same ease — like she'd done it a hundred times — climbed into his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.

He froze.

All his anxiety mixed with something new.

Hot. Embarrassing. Awkward.

He didn't even realize he couldn't breathe properly — like the air in his lungs had suddenly become too heavy.

Mya whispered something about how he smelled like pancake syrup — but he barely heard it.

He was trying not to think. Because his body... reacted.

Without permission.

And in that moment, he felt real fear.

Not for the world. Not for others.

For himself.

Because he didn't know what to do.

How not to screw this up.

"Um... Mya, maybe... you could... move?" — he mumbled.

She looked at him.

"Oh... sorry. Forgot how sensitive you are." — she smiled, understanding his state just from the look on his face.

She slid off him — not offended, not awkward. Just gently. With a little laugh.

But Mya didn't take her eyes off him.

Her gaze — deep, warm, almost unreal — wasn't just at him. It was into him.

"Nicky..." — she whispered.

He didn't have time to respond.

Because she leaned forward... and kissed him.

This time — not quickly. And not hesitantly.

The kiss was tender, steady. Like she'd done it a hundred times. Like she knew every reaction of his already — and still wanted to do it again.

Nicky didn't resist.

He froze for a second, then his whole body relaxed — like it had been waiting for this exact moment.

She stayed close, arms around his neck, swaying slightly on his lap, like the weight of the world had suddenly vanished.

Inside him, everything trembled.

Not from fear.

From a strange... warmth.

Not power. Not panic.

Just — something deeply human.

When they finally pulled apart, both were quiet.

Only their hearts beat.

Steady.

Not from terror.

But from being alive.

Nicky looked at her, biting his lip to hide how real it all felt.

"Want to do it again?" — she asked, softly, almost laughing.

He didn't reply.

He leaned forward again.

And the third (fourth, counting the kitchen) kiss — was completely theirs.

He didn't care anymore if this was a dream.

He wanted to continue this...

He wanted to repeat it...

And he would — even in real life, when he finally found her again.

[silverynight]

Underworld

<---Previous

Part XXIII

Izuku invites Aizawa over to his house again and the god can't refuse because lately he can't say 'No' to anything the green haired demigod tells him.

"I'll stay a couple of minutes. Although I do have to talk to your mother about your training."

Inko likes Aizawa, mostly because she knows everything that god has done for her son, so she's very kind to him whenever he pays them a visit.

As soon as she sees him, she starts making tea for the three of them. Aizawa sits at the table and waits for Izuku to finish telling his mother that he wants to train.

"Train?" Inko gets slightly worried; she usually associates that word with a future conflict, otherwise why would he require training? "Is it something wrong, Izuku?"

He hesitates for a second. He considers telling his mother about Endeavor, but she has nothing to do with that and telling her would only worry her for nothing.

Besides, Izuku is almost sure Todoroki's father won't do anything like that again.

"I want to be able to protect myself."

Inko looks back at him; she knows him really well and is sure that there's something more to it, but she also finds the response reasonable enough.

"Alright, just don't get yourself in trouble," she says, right before pulling her son into her arms. Then she glances at Aizawa for a moment. "I know you have done a lot for him already, but please take care of him."

Aizawa nods, with a soft smile on his lips.

"About that, Mrs Midoriya... the first couple of weeks of his training will be here, but later I'll have to take him to the Olympus at least for a few days. Are you okay with that?"

Inko nods.

"Of course. I trust you. I know you really care about my son."

Aizawa stays there for a while and then he goes out with Izuku to explain to him some things about his training.

Actually, Izuku is very excited about it and nervous too; just a few hours ago he had no idea he could do more than making flowers bloom or taking care of trees and crops.

"I'll come back here every day for your training. I also have to talk to All Might about this, although I think he'll like the idea. He mentioned something about training you too."

Izuku gets flustered; he's so happy now. Turns out All Might have been thinking about him too! Maybe he's not that useless as a demigod as he thought he was.

"Although he's definitely not going to like what happened with Endeavor."

Narrowing his eyes with concern, Izuku takes a step closer to Aizawa.

"Do you have to tell him?"

"He has to know what happened," the god says, getting slightly angry as he remembers everything. "Besides, Endeavor needs to understand that there are consequences... he doesn't have the right to do whatever he pleases just because he's a god, especially when he's threatening another one."

Izuku nods, accepting Aizawa's decision. He then smiles and hugs him again before he leaves.

Aizawa rolls his eyes, but he hugs him back.

***

The first few days are difficult; Izuku has no idea how to focus enough to make the thorns appear again.

"That's because you were scared," Aizawa explains. "You unconsciously channeled your power in order to protect yourself. That's good in extreme circumstances, but at the same time, it's dangerous. When you let an emotion dictate what you do or how you react, you lose control over yourself."

Izuku nods, remembering being scared of himself too; not knowing how to pull back the vines.

"When you do something with a clear mind, you have control over your own actions."

Then Aizawa decides to stop focusing on the vines and asks Izuku to help trees grow for a while and explain out loud how he does it.

It's strange at first; he's so used to it he mostly ignores the steps in order to achieve what he wants.

"I can feel this tree's energy," he explains, surprised by his own response. "I just give it more to accelerate the process of its growth. I visualize it in my mind."

Aizawa nods and just observes what Izuku usually does on a normal day in his own field.

The next day, he asks Izuku to make a couple of vines grow from the ground. This time, Izuku is a little bit more prepared for it.

It's like any other plant; nature is Izuku's friend, it has always helped him when he needs it the most.

He just needs to be kind and ask gently.

The demigod takes a deep breath, and focuses on what he can see in front of him. Slowly, a vine grows from the ground and stops when it gets as tall as Izuku. But it's only one and it doesn't have thorns on it.

"Good. That's progress," Aizawa smiles at Izuku, looking proud. "Now, you have to do that at least ten times more. It's okay if it doesn't have thorns, at least for now."

Izuku ends up exhausted, but he's happy about the results; not all of the vines are as tall as him, but he manages to get one to curl around a tree. Although, he thinks it was mostly luck, but he gets excited about it nonetheless.

It's not going to be easy, but it's satisfying when he manages to get something right.

***

After a week Katsuki comes to pay him a visit while he's in the middle of a training session; the vines he's managing to make grow are not taller than him, but they have a couple of thorns now. Izuku can even make the vines move a bit.

"Oi, Izuku!"

"Kacchan!" Suddenly, the vines start growing flowers and the flowers bloom the closer the god of the dead gets.

Aizawa's brows quirk up with curiosity as he looks at Izuku and the green haired demigod immediately blushes to the tip of his ears.

Izuku wonders if Aizawa knows what's going on; he's probably the smartest deity in the Olympus. He must know something's going on.

"Alright, I think it's enough for today," Aizawa mumbles, looking from Izuku to Katsuki.

"Aizawa is training you now?" The blond god asks, a little bit surprised. "Why? Are you alright, Izuku? What's going on?"

Izuku hasn't talked to anyone about Endeavor; the other day Iida told him All Might had an argument with the other god. And said he hadn't seen All Might so angry before; he didn't know what they were arguing about, but he managed to hear All Might telling Endeavor not to get closer to Izuku again.

Izuku doesn't want Katsuki to get angry on his behalf; he doesn't want to cause any more trouble.

"I want to be able to protect myself." He says exactly what he told his mother.

"Alright, but... I just want you to know I'm here for you too, if you... need help," Katsuki is usually proud and confident, but that day he looks particularly flustered.

Izuku finds it endearing; a couple of flowers bloom around them and Katsuki notices, looking at them with curiosity.

"I'll leave you alone for now, but I'll come back tomorrow," Aizawa says then.

Izuku nods, making the vines go back to the ground as his cheeks turn slightly pink again.

Katsuki takes one of his hands and stares into his eyes with a soft smile; his cheeks are pink too.

"I missed you, Izuku."

Izuku can't help but jump into his arms; he pulls him close to give him a hug and realizes that his crush on him is getting worse. And yet he doesn't let go of him.

***

Next--->

Patreon

[beemers-hell]

EB HAD 2 MORE KIDS?? any lore on em? 👁

someone wasn't around in April when i re-revealed Marigold and Angel!

I JEST! Anyway here's some posts to check out about it lol:

Initial Post

Joke Concept Art

Marigold and Angel Concept Art

Family "Tree" + Polycule Madness

Spayed Eb lol

Anyway, as for lore,

Marigold:

He was born when the triplets were 8 years old!

Half grunt/Half G0ELM baby, he was a big boy right out the gate! Due to the dissonance running through Eb's body, his mouth didn't develop fully so he has openings in his cheeks. He also has EDS, as a result of his accelerated growth in utero.

Marigold will become very interested in mechanics, and once he grows up, will be trained to become one for S.Q!

He's a pretty rambunctious kid! He loves playing and rough housing with his older siblings!

Angel:

They were born when the triplets were 12 years old!

Half grunt/Half dissonant like Casslyn, however since Eb has a lot of dissonance running through her body (unlike Bank) Angel was afflicted with some birth defects. They're missing an arm and have a strange black splotch over the right side of their face, just like Eb does.

Pathos is very attached to Angel and so is Asher, after they were born the two kind of helicopter family'd the poor thing.

Angel is particularly sensitive, and cries over the littlest things. They also need special care, so thank god they have like 7 parents and a couple of uncles at the ready 24/7 lol

[swan2swan]

Dominion haters will fume like "If they were treating this dinosaur situation realistically with regards to environmental impact, they would be treating them like a proper invasive species, because the populations would have flourished from ten to ten thousand in four years! See, by every animal asexually reproducing with ten offspring every year, and the fact that nothing would kill them, we would reach numbers that would DEVASTATE the environment! Especially because the biggest creatures would reach full size within months of their birth!"

And I'm here just...

Guys. Elephants grow to full size over fifteen years.

Even if the accelerated growth gene Wu programmed into his animals resulted in fast-growing populations, they'd still probably take a year or two to reach adulthood and/or breeding age. Bumpy took a month or two to reach her peak, and she still turned out a runt, and she was a freak who was running at about 500% speed. And "rapid growth rate" is a whole different can of worms to study.

But...yes, it's boring, but that's not how invasive species work. I'm begging people to study the timelines of these things. I just looked into the python infestation in Florida, and they were basically introduced in the 1930s. The nineteen thirties. Almost a century ago. Then they were confirmed to be breeding in the wild in the nineties. Sixty years later. They weren't banned until 2012. They're an invasive species that's devastated the Everglades, but it took them decades to reach that point.

Pablo Escobar's hippos? Forty years.

But then you look at the Spotted Lanternfly and the Emerald Ash Borer. Insects. The Ash Borer came over in 2002, and it took a decade or so to mess up my neighborhood's ash tree population. The Lanternfly arrived in the 2010s. By the 2020s, it's Public Enemy Number One. Insect epidemics take a decade to latch on and do their thing. That's fast.

That's why the locust plot worked in Dominion. Because bringing back a prehistoric insect that can't be hunted by falcons or mantises or spiders or carnivorous non-avian dinosaurs is going to have FAR more rapid consequences than a dozen elephant-sized herbivores who wandered off a farm. Even a bunch of ostriches three times the size of ostriches.

If you take things seriously...you have to take it seriously in every aspect.

[mydisenchantedeulogy]

Chemical Reaction [Part One] Allure [Shang Tsung]

A/n: Again, I apologize for posting these one-shots in separate pieces. It's easier for me because so many scene jumps in my writing annoy me. I have a problem, I know. Please enjoy.

Warning(s): Female reader insert, worry, Shang being Shang, reader can manipulate flora, lewd thoughts, coy behavior, manipulative comfort.

No Minors Allowed!!

Echinacea…Lavender…Calend–

You press your lips into a thin line. Where are the Calendula seeds? Peering into the wax paper envelope where you had stored them, you regrettably confirm that there are none left. When did you last use them, you wonder in puzzlement. You suppose it does not matter in the end. What matters is that you are fresh out and in need of more. 

The few Calendulas that you have are not yet ready, though, with your magic, you can accelerate their growth instantaneously. What takes time is drying out the flowers and giving the seeds time to brown before harvesting them, then replanting. Rinse, repeat. Normally you have all the time in the world to work, but the Queen of Edenia, Sindel, wants you to prepare balms and salves for the approaching tournament. 

You could go without Calendula balm, you reckon. It is used as a pain and inflammation reducer, but without it, you would be unprepared. What are you to do, though? In order for your magic to work, you need a source; nature, seeds. Edenia is rich with exotic flowers, but the day would be wasted locating them. You suppose you could buy seeds from the market in Sun Do, but…

Shang. 

Now you remember. You had given him seeds and taught him how to grow them after an experimental incident left his hands blistered and in need of care. 

His laboratory is not far, you note; the walk you have made several times before. While the sorcerer is often snarky, he is a man to be admired based on his skill and magic. Not to mention, he is extremely desirable. You like him well enough, so without much hesitancy, you leave your house and walk to the dilapidated tower where he conducts whatever experiments he does to benefit the royal family. 

The low creek of the water wheels outside permeate the warm air as you approach the front door. You knock to be polite, but seeing as Shang Tsung is typically lost in his work when you stop by to visit, you saunter on in, searching around the bottom level for him. He does not seem to be at his desk, nor is he roaming around where you can see him, though this does not mean that he is not home; there are two other levels he could be on. You have never been on the upper floors before; you have no business exploring them. 

“Shang! Are you here!?” You shout. 

He answers soon after. 

“I will be but a moment!”

You leave him to wrap up whatever it is that he is doing and saunter over to his mahogany desk near the stairs. As you wait, you tinker with a bonsai tree resting on a stack of old books that you can not make out the names of. You do not remember seeing it the last time you had come to visit, but that had been a fortnight ago. Regardless, it is budding. You raise your hand, using your magic to accelerate its growth. In awe, you watch as the buds instantaneously bloom into beautiful pink flowers, filling the stale air with a soft floral scent. 

It certainly gives the room more color now.

“I see you have made yourself at home,” Shang Tsung states.

You turn and watch him descend the stairs.

“I apologize. I should have asked you first.” Noticing the look of annoyance on his face, you frown. “Did I…come at a bad time?”

“Not at all. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” Shang Tsung asks. His expression softens as he approaches the desk, but there is still a furrow in his brow.

You do not want to exacerbate his mood, so you cut to the chase. 

“I ran out of Calendula seeds and I haven't the time to dry out the few flowers that I do have. I was hoping that you might have some.” 

“Perhaps,” Shang Tsung drawls. 

You pout. Is he seriously toying with you? 

I swear he's a sadist. 

“Please, Shang. I would forever be in your debt.” 

He smirks, a sure sign that you have humored him.

“Wait here.” 

Leaving your sight, he returns a short time later with a wax paper envelope and hands it to you. The squid-shaped seeds of the Calendula plant are brown and stored well, making you sigh in relief. 

“I'm so grateful.”

“I presume so,” Shang Tsung utters. 

He tilts his head in curiosity and looks you over, then meets your eyes again. 

“Are you troubled with something? You can confide in me, you know.” 

Of course. Every time you feel burdened, the sorcerer can tell. And every time he offers for you to voice your concerns to him. With an uneasy breath, you lean against the edge of the desk. Aside from being unprepared, there is something deeper eating at you. 

“I suppose it is the tournament I am worried about. I'm never so unprepared, but also it feels rather pointless. Outworld so often loses to Earthrealm.”

Shang Tsung grins, then places his hand on your shoulder as if to comfort you, an act that makes your heart race. 

“Do you doubt Empress Sindel?” 

Your eyes widen in shock.

“No. That is not what I'm saying.”

You are simply trying to express how pointless it is to stress so much over the matter. The reason for the tournament you understand. It is to maintain peace. If Lord Liu Kang, who preaches peace, wanted to conquer Outworld with his champions, you imagine it sadly would not be hard since no one in the realm has yet to best him. You doubt this will happen, but life is sometimes cruel. 

I just hope the Empress knows what she is doing.

Shang Tsung grins. 

“Your concerns show just cause.” He wets his lips, then leans in closer. The warm and sweet scent of jasmine invades your senses. “Would you like for me to help you ease your stress, my dear?”

An embarrassed heat spreads to your face. Is he low-key asking if you want for him to fuck you? All of a sudden you feel lightheaded, as though you stood up too fast. The sudden thought of him thrusting his cock to the base inside of you sends a tickle of arousal through your body. 

“A-are you sure?”

What if he says yes? The question then remains, do you want him to? A part of you is unsure, but the other funnily enough welcomes the idea.

His soft chuckle snaps you from your thoughts.

“Of course, my dear. There are an abundance of elixirs that I can make to soothe your worries.” 

You are discomfited. 

“Oh…right.”

Shang Tsung raises a curious brow, then as though it dawns on him, he smirks. 

“Your thoughts are rather…wicked. Are they always such?”

“No,” you answer quickly. Honestly, you do not understand why your thoughts immediately went to something sexual with him. It's like they are in tune with your body. “Your tone was misleading.” 

“My tone.” Shang Tsung snorts. “I always speak in this tone.”

Does he? You try to remember a time in which he had spoken to another in the same coy tone, but there is not a memory that you can compare it to. 

“I will manage,” you reassure him. “Thank you.”

You avert your eyes to the seeds in your hand, then clear your throat. It is strangely dry and tight. 

“I should return home. There is a lot to do.”

His hand tightens around your shoulder, then he releases you and takes a step back. 

“If you need me, I am always here.”

You nod to show that you have taken his words into consideration, then with trembling legs, you walk to the door. As you exit the tower, the scent of nature fills your nostrils; earthy and rich. After a few deep breaths, you feel much better. Clear headed.

How strange. Could it have been the jasmine?

Or something else?