#ace basin
Photo
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, ACE Basin, Colleton, South Carolina. Photo by David Thompson.
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pornstar!gaz because my brain cannot control itself. unedited because i'm a whore
Whoever turned the AC up in your dressing room was going to get an earful of it when you were finished with your makeup, because you were certain you were going to freeze to death. Really, it made sense why they turned it up so high. Studio lights got very hot very quick while filming, and with all the... physical activities that would be shot, stars were known to pass out if it got to hot. But not even the warmth from the bright vanity lights could defrost the ice forming on your skin, and you tried to keep your hands from trembling as you applied your foundation.
Or, at least you tried to tell yourself you were only shivering. You were filming with Kyle Garrick that day, after all.
You'd seen his videos. You always made it a habit to sleuth through the history of anyone you were going to be on set with just to see what you were dealing with, so it wasn't like he was anything special. Except he was. He was the sweetheart most viewers fell in love with, and the darling of the film studio. Half of the income the studio made last year was from the videos he was, which meant the video you were about to shoot that day was certainly going to be viewed at least a few million times.
It was easy to see why. He was attractive enough to draw in a female audience, and even you had to admit he was rather pretty. Even if he wasn't, his voice was alluring enough he could still draw in an audience just by dirty talk alone. Men enjoyed his skills and how he could seem to draw orgasm after orgasm out of his co-stars. Theoretically, anyway. Female porn stars were the best actresses in the world.
As you dipped the tip of your finger in the basin of your highlighter, a soft knock rapped at the door. You threw a cautious glance at the door as you rubbed the highlighter on the tip of your nose. It was unusual for someone to bother you while you were getting ready. It wasn't like makeup was all that important when it would get smudged on every surface imaginable half an hour after application.
"Come in," you hummed.
It was difficult to act distracted when Kyle Garrick, the bastard himself, walked into your dressing room. He was even more beautiful in person. Cameras could never quite catch the warmth of his skin or just how easy and intoxicating his smile was. What made it worse was that he wasn't at all bashful. No, he was completely confident as he strolled into the room and shut the door tight behind him.
"What's up?" You tried to act nonchalant, but if anything you were a little weirded out. Never in all your time in the industry had you ever had your partner enter your dressing room like you were school girls gossiping in the bathroom during passing period. Still, he kept his distance, which eased your nerves a little, yet did nothing to quell your confusion.
"Just figured we could have a chat before the cameras start rolling," he answered simply.
"A chat? You make it sound like I'm in trouble," you teased.
He chuckled at your comment, and you swore you could feel the way the waves of it shook your chest. "Not at all. I just always feel more comfortable getting to know my partner's do's and don'ts."
Comfortable? Like some sort of debrief? You couldn't say you ever had someone come to you about boundary setting before a shoot (not when you filmed with men, anyway) but you had to admit, the idea was rather refreshing. Giving him your full attention, you placed your makeup back in your back before gesturing to the seat next to you.
He took the seat without hesitation, and you tried not to be jealous at how poised he was in doing so. He treated you as if you had known one another for years rather than seconds, and he slouched back in the chair like he was right at home. An odd lump formed in your throat when you noticed how wide he had spread his thighs, and though you were sure he was used to it, you tried your best not to stare.
"Alright then," you prompted. "Shoot."
A warm smile bloomed on his lips as he leaned his arm against the counter. If you hadn't known any better, it felt like the two of you were just hanging out rather than getting ready to fuck one another in front of the cameras and a half full studio.
"Tell me what you like," he said with a nod.
You shrugged. "The usual stuff. I'm pretty vanilla, honestly."
"That so? Or are you just not wanting to get so deep so quick?" Kyle teased with a boyish smirk.
"Deep? I'll probably have your cock in my mouth in the next half hour, I think we're a little past acting shy," you retorted playfully.
That got him to laugh. Not chuckle, not some deep hum in his throat, but truly laugh. So much so that he leaned forward and had to readjust his position.
"Right, well part of the job isn't it?" he said with a tilt of his head. "Well then, what about hard no's, then?"
You hummed as if you had to think about it, but in reality you were well aware of your boundaries. Having them usually meant very little in that line of work, but if your partner asked about it so casually, you might as well be honest.
"Degradation. Not a big fan of it. Or slapping," you admitted simply.
Kyle nodded in understanding. "Right, so praise then?" You nodded. "And no slapping. What about spanking?"
"That's fine. Just nothing hitting my face."
"Right. So, no pain play?" he asked.
"Well, I'm not a total normie," you joked.
"I'll keep that in mind."
A small stretch of silence settled between you filled with nothing but the dull hum of the AC unit, which suddenly felt like wasn't working as well. His eyes studied you carefully, remaining surprisingly intent on your face rather than anywhere else. There was a delicious richness to their color that made you feel like you would get lost in them, and maybe that was his intent. You quickly broke eye contact with him before that could happen.
"What about you? We've been focusing mostly on my desires," you said in an attempt to steer the conversation elsewhere.
"But that's what I like. Focusing on you," he admitted.
Kyle caught sight of the slight quirk of your brow at his comment, and quickly amended his statement.
"My partners, that is. Whoever I'm on set with. I like doing the work. As long as you're having a good time, so am I," he concluded.
He didn't have to tell you that much, you were able to gather that from the videos he filmed. His grunts while eating his co-stars out, the way a smile always seemed to tear across his face whenever they came, fake or not; he truly did seem to be a pleasure dom. You were excited to see if that theory was correct.
"Any hard no's then?" you asked.
"None that you'll be able to push," he replied.
Your brows raised incredulously at his comment. "Underestimating me?"
"Not at all. I just plan to have you so fucked out you won't be capable of much," he admitted.
Those sickly teasing words of his left your mind completely blank, and you weren't sure why. Was it the prospect of it? The tone of his voice? Whatever it was, it stole the words off of your tongue, and the only response you were capable of mustering was a slick grin.
"Well, I'll let you get back to it," Kyle said as he pushed himself up from the seat. "If you think of anything else between now and then, let me know."
"Will do," you said, chest quaking with breathlessness.
Just as he was about to leave, Kyle paused for a moment with his hand loosely on the doorknob. His body turned to you, just enough so that he could glance at you from over his shoulder. Except his glance wasn't something quick and innocent; no, it was the first time you caught him giving you a full once over as if he inspected his meal before eating it.
"Excited to work with you, doll," he said with a slight lick of his lips.
When the door shut behind him, you let out a breath like you finally got your lungs to behave properly again. You felt like you needed a cold shower after that conversation with him, and had you not just put on your makeup, you probably would have. A thick layer of sweat formed on the palm of your hands, and you cursed to yourself as you wiped the moisture off on your shirt.
"Jesus christ," you muttered to yourself.
Perhaps you shouldn't have complained so much about the AC after all.
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Mirror Chamber Analysis: Altars, Offerings, and Diasomnia’s Mirror
I haven’t seen many people- or anybody actually but I could be mistaken- talk about the dorm mirrors in the Mirror Chamber. A huge thank you to @serenitystarrie for compiling all these images together!!
Seeing all the mirrors together instantly reminded me of ofrendas home altars with offerings for our passed loved ones. Although they typically involve food, photos, flowers, and candles, what drew the similarity in my mind were the specific items strewn around the mirror. Why? Because ofrendas also leave sentimental gifts/personal items related to what the person had in life. For example, if an ofrenda was for a child, their favorite toys and clothes may be on the altars. The four elements of fire, air, water, and earth (Avatar moment haha) can also be represented through these ofrendas as well, through the candles, papel picado, food, and glasses of water or a wash basin.
Twisted Wonderland is a Japanese game though, so maybe it’s based off the butsudan, a Buddhist home altar with a similar idea to an ofrenda. Although butsudan’s have become less common over time, they’re seen often in Japanese media. They often have candles, incense, and food, and are home to a Buddhist statue as well as honoring passed family members. The idea of an altar is present across several cultures and religions.
But do you all see the pattern I’m seeing?? Candles, offerings, steps that look like an altar, and the shape of the mirrors…it all looks like an altar for the dead. If this is intentional, it’s yet another insanely clever way TWST repeats the death imagery.
Heartslabyul has various types of mushrooms and interestingly enough, a BOOK in front of the mirror. The book looks to be made out of stone which makes sense, but a book is very interesting. Nearly all of these classic Disney stories are based off a fairytale/book, but only the Heartslabyul dorm has a book to represent Alice in Wonderland. Hm…also, all the visible cards framing the mirror are all Ace cards.
Savanaclaw has bones- perhaps representing the elephant graveyard in the Lion King? The claw marks around the wall are super interesting to me, because it seems to represent Scar’s spirit a lot more obviously. Haha, I can just imagine Crowley scratching up the walls to get this vibe. It’s also interesting that the “candles” are not on the walls like the others, but instead are right on the steps leading to the mirror. It looks a bit more sacrificial that way- perhaps representing the King of Beast’s “sacrifices” as king and the spirit of Persistence? It may also be a reference to how Scar was burned alive at the end of the movie haha
Octavinelle’s mirror was actually the one I saw that reminded me of ofrendas, and I connected the rest from there! I love the variety of items left here: corals, seashells, stones, starfish. The frame is also incredibly intricate, including Ursula’s tentacles, her shell necklace that took Ariel’s voice, and her two eels. The idea of someone purposefully gathering these seashells as an offering feels very sweet to me.
I really love how “rigid” the frame of Scarabia’s mirror is though! All the other mirrors keep a round shape except this one. It’s fascinating that Scarabia is based off the Sorcerer’s “mindfulness” and meticulous planning, but their mirror is the most boxed in and rigid. I love the sand and the domes- I thin it would’ve been really cute to have scarab beetles in the sand too! The candles/lamp for Scarabia is very intricate as well.
Pomefiore’s mirror obviously had to be gorgeous haha. The crystals, perhaps representing the Dwarf’s mine, are a really interesting choice. I would’ve thought of apples, but I think the crystals elevate the elegant vibe. The emphasis on the peacock for Pomefiore is yet another interesting thing to me. The Evil Queen had a Peacock Throne, but it was very subtle and just decor. But TWST seems to put a lot of emphasis on the peacock, even using the peacock in this frame representing the Evil Queen holding the poison apple. If you look closely, the peacock also wears a pendant similar to the Evil Queen’s jewels. I’m also just very delulu, but the peacock’s face looks like a mask to me haha…Crowley hours
Ironically enough, Ignihyde, the dorm with the most connection to death, does not have a mirror so far. Do they?? Please let me know if they do! We hardly ever get to see the Ignihyde dorm at all, asides from Idia’s room, so I can’t remember a moment where we’ve gone through the Ignihyde mirror. It doesn’t show up in the big portrait of the mirror chamber either.
However, Diasomnia does…and I WAS SHOOK AT WHAT I SAW
OKAY YES WE SEE DRAGON WINGS BUT??? ARE THISE TWO CROSSES NEXT TO THE MIRROR??? LIKE. CROSSES IN CHRISTIAN LORE THAT REPRESENT SUFFERING, SACRIFICE, AND RESURRECTION? SOMETIMES USED AS SYMBOLS FOR THE DEAD EVEN IN JAPANESE MEDIA? IN TWISTED WONDERLAND WHERE RELIGIOUS SYMBOLISM IS EVERYWHERE? THOSE TYPE OF CROSSES? UM. WHO DESIGNED THIS MIRROR I JUST WANT TO TALK. Because. Are those two crosses meant to represent somebody?
No but seriously what is that?? Swords? If they’re swords that’s…a very cruel piece of imagery lmao…
Crowley. If you had anything to do with these mirror chamber designs I will strangle you fr BECAUSE WHAT IS THAT
#I am the embodiment of that one audio ‘oh my god what is that!’ because FR WHAT IS THAT#twisted wonderland#twst#twst theory#twst analysis#twst heartslabyul#twst savanaclaw#twst octavinelle#twst scarabia#twst pomefiore#twst ignihyde#twst Diasomnia#twst meleanor draconia#kallistopost
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Nancy x Ace and the quandary of choice in 4x10
Guys, guys, guys. Nancy has taken terrible decision making to a whole new level.
We had 4x08 and those gorgeous beautiful moments between Nancy and Ace, both at the loading dock and the telephone call at the end of the episode. And we all went YES, MY BABIES, YOU ARE BACK ON TRACK.
And then. AND THEN. We had two episodes where Nancy and Ace basically don’t interact at all. Which seems so counterintuitive to everything we’ve had in the run up. Even when they stopped trying to break the curse they were still interacting, hell, they were practically breaking up every episode. So to go from that to nothing was SUSPICIOUS.
I trust the Nancy Drew writers completely. Even when it seems bizarre and off track, you end up watching each season back as a whole and everything slots so beautifully into place and you have the slow dawning realisation that even whilst you were screaming at the screen because WHAT ARE YOU DOING, it actually links in and every thread ties together and it ends up becoming this gorgeous whole which is so much fun to re-watch.
So when things seem weird, suspicious, and downright off key for this point in a season, I trust that it’s actually going to make sense and come together and I’m going to have an OH moment.
And things in Horseshoe Bay are SUSPICIOUS AS HELL right now.
Nancy was a mess in 4x08, not only over her feelings over Ace, but also the grief over her mum and the anniversary. And when grief is particularly strong we don’t necessarily make the best life choices. If you were heartbroken, if you just wanted to stop feeling the pain, and you knew there was a way to take that away, would you take it?
Others have already analysed Nancy’s outfit in the photo of her at the wash basin, and placed it the night of the anniversary. I personally think that she goes after the phone call, our last beautiful moment between these two. Think about what’s said. Ace says to her, “It’s hard to be your friend right now” then pauses before continuing “I’m a better person with you in my life.”
She thinks about this for a moment before replying “I’m not happy without you in mine.”
GIF Credit @nancy-drew
But it hurts, so so much, for both of them. And slowly it dawns on her after they’ve said their goodbyes, that there is a way to solve this. He wants her in his life, she’s not happy without him in hers, but he just said it, it is so hard to be around each other.
So she goes back, back to the Yacht Club, back down the stairs, not even aware of the tears that have dried on her face on the drive over. Because she doesn’t want to do this, doesn’t want to take it away.
GIF Credit @livelovecaliforniadreams
And this hurts even more thinking about that scene with Ace earlier in the evening when she tells him memories are all we have left because she’s about to remove even that. That photo of her taken after speaking her sin, she’s defiant, gutted, as though this has cost her everything to do but she’s not sorry. Because in her pain filled haze this is the only answer, this is the logical next step. Take away the memories, take away the pain, take away the feelings, and things will be ok.
But she’s miscalculated, the same as Ace when he said they could go back to before. There is no before, there is no going back, and Nancy and Ace’s relationship is nothing but feelings. They’ve never just been friends, it’s all so tangled up together that it’s like trying to remove the heart and expecting the body to keep living.
So she speaks her sin, and there’s a wealth of things she could choose from - choosing Ace instead of the town, killing her soulmate, lying to him about wanting to move on. How far back has she gone? What has she asked the sin eater to consume?
And then we have 4x09 and 4x10. And something is off, something is wrong. Ace is removed from the group, there’s barely any engagement, and Nancy isn’t pining, Nancy is fine. Nancy is more than fine, she’s moving on. And that just doesn’t track against soulmate, he’s my person, best kiss of my life Nancy from the first half of the season. It doesn’t make sense, and in a show like this, something not making sense is not poor writing, it’s us as the audience not yet having all the pieces of the puzzle yet.
Sure there’s a whole other branch of excitement where we think Ace has picked up a speaking to dead people curse, which is further added to by Bess not being able to hear this ghost, and please for the love of everything Bess will you stop thinking about all the other things and focus on the fact that Ace can suddenly hear a dead person after disposing of that curse?!
But that helps to highlight the wrong, the slight shift in gravity Horseshoe Bay has undergone. Suddenly the language Nancy is using is different, there’s no mention of a curse, no mention of an epic love. Just about things getting messy and complicated with her ex and wanting something simple. That doesn’t track. That’s not Nancy, that’s not what we’ve just watched. It’s such a complete tonal shift from everything that has come before. And none of the others are commenting on it. Previously we’ve had little comments and moments where the others have talked about her and Ace, where the curse has been discussed, and now suddenly there’s nothing.
And this is a powder keg waiting to blow. She was in pain, sure, but Nancy has violated everyone in the Drew Crew by speaking this sin and asking it to be taken away. But none more so than Ace. How has her sin altered their memories? It seems to have removed all knowledge of the curse, all of their feelings for each other. Ace is not going to react well to that, and rightly so. Nancy has reverted back to old patterns and behaviours - I will fix the thing on my own, I don’t need anyone else for this. She has come so far, she works so well as part of a team, but this thing, this painful heart breaking hole inside her that can’t be filled by anything but Ace’s smile and the touch of his fingers on her skin and the way he breathes out her name, this feels like it’s hers and hers alone.
She’s felt so alone, ever since Ace told her he couldn’t carry on trying, ever since he walked away. That was the ultimate abandonment, and so she has assumed this pain as her own. Stopped considering Ace in this, because he keeps telling her it’s fine, he’s fine, they’re fine, they can go back. Their inability to communicate properly has led to her feeling like he isn’t hurting too.
So she takes the curse, and the knowledge of it, and she destroys it. But nothing stays buried forever and Ace is going to be furious when he realises she’s taken his memories from him. Altered his feelings, removed his choice from this. The fallout from this is going to be catastrophic, because how can Nancy justify this, explain this away to Ace, make it make sense that she would do this to him, to them?
Because what they’re living now isn’t better. They’re both still miserable, they don’t have the other in their lives in any meaningful way. They’re just existing.
#nancy drew#cw nancy drew#nancy drew cw#naceedit#nancy drew meta#nancy drew analysis#nancy x ace#nace#ace [redacted]#nancy drew spoilers#nancy drew 4x10#nancy drew 4.10#the ballad of lives foregone
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Work Ethic
Park Ranger! Halsin x Park Ranger!Reader
Modern!Au because why the hell not?
Summary: may or may not have been heavily inspired by the park rangers I grew up around at my local culture center. That little old place holds such a special place in my heart. I am a junior park ranger after all 😎
Sweat beaded at your brow, but your hand was quick to delicately pat it away. The summers were unforgiving, even under the gray skies of the early morning. Though you could see off to the distance, just peeking over the green tree tops and old buildings of the past, just the faintest hues of orange and reds just ready to burst from beyond their little horizon. With the rays came the few farmers that lived within the small town, bidding their wives and children goodbye, the faint yelping of a dog from behind their glass windows are their happy panting as they hopped up along side their masters in their pick up. They would only have to drive a few miles further up a ways to hit their farms where they have been settled for the past 100 years or so.
It was an odd place to have a little culture center in such a small town, but a small town emblazoned with their own culture and tradition. Old murals adorned the sides of old buildings, depicting musicians and food. Though many of the locals didn’t visit the culture center, maybe occasionally for their child’s school field trip, it definitely didn’t see the action of it’s sister centers in the bigger cities nearby, but around certain holidays it would see it’s fair share of tourist, but now it was just another simple day.
This was far away from what you thought a park ranger would ever be doing. You always pictured a Steve Irwin type herding people through muddy river basins or through rough and rocky terrain along forest trails. You’ve come to appreciate the cultural and historical aspect of it all, it was probably for the best.
“Oh this stupid damned thing!” Huffed out a voice as you pushed past the glass doors. A thud came after it as a woman scrunched her face to the old thermostat. “You would think they would allow us to control our own AC instead of having to call the head office!”
“Now Ms.Jaheira, patience is a virtue!” You teased, your hat now being placed upon your head, fingers pinning the badge to your freshly ironed shirt.
Jaheira was a veteran in the field, hopping from one national park to the next. Her knowledge was admirable, but sometimes you would always catch the look of longing in those wise eyes, but the laid back nature suited her, at least now it did. It was less of a burden on her weathered shoulders, less pressure upon herself. If you did have to categorize her, she would have been the Steve Irwin type you always imagined as a child. She was the one to hobble through muddy basins and conquer rough woodland trails.
“Well good thing the all maker has bestowed such a prized gift onto you!” She chimed up, finally the ancient AC humming to life. Already the cool air began cutting through the stiff air like a knife. “It’s field trip day, remember”
She was already following you to the break room, her steps always precise, always made with confidence. Though she still gave you a stern look as your head tilted back with a little groan as you tossed your purse onto the table.
“Yes I know, which is why I have double checked with everyone today. Musicians are gonna be the first for their music demonstration. Then our local butcher has kindly volunteered for a cooking demonstration and you would be pleased that he is exonerated in one of our local dishes” your hand went to grab the phone out of your pants pocket, now scrolling through emails to double check your memory of the day’s itinerary. “Then dear old Elminster will calm things down with his history of the area and whatnot, then lunch time which has been donated. I also contacted wildlife and fisheries to have someone teach the kids the laws and safe handling of the wild life of the area, but they said they are sending over a ranger from one of the wildlife parks….oh! And then the old woman who runs the quilting club in the spare room will give a weaving lesson”
“Wow, I’m impressed” Jaheira said with a raise of her brows, a hand sassily placed upon her hip. “And you will be pleased to know I have set up the rooms for the different demonstrations, the band is here, Elminster is currently critiquing our displays, and the food preparations are all in order” she confirmed with you. Always orderly, you can always trust her to keep everything in line as well. A nice pair the two of your made. “It’s just our fellow park ranger we are waiting on…” she huffed out as she looked to the watch upon her wrist.
There was no time to worry about that, as the quiet humming of engines were already heard within the small break room. The wholesome sounds of buses, the chirping of kids and their teachers already urging them to quiet down. That was Jaheira’s cue to walk back to the front, opening the doors, that prideful smile upon her face as she greeted the children, their small bodies already pouring into the room, her voice already rising above all others to give off the usual spiel.
“Alright children! Are you ready to learn about your culture and history!’ She shouted excitedly to the children, already leading the group to the displays that lined the halls and little rooms, skillfully giving her explanations to the group of kids.
It left you to round up the musicians into their places, checking in on the cooking demonstrator, but of course…that left Elminster.
“Stop a bit and speak to an old man” he huffed out behind that wise, old beard of his as he clutched a shaky hand onto your outstretch arm.
“Maybe later Mr.Elminster, there’s a lot to do as you know” you said with a smile as you began urging him to the room that the band was setting up. “The kids are going to listen to the music, then head to the cooking demonstration and then head back to you, so it will give you much to ponder of how you are gonna educate them” you spoke up as you lead him to the room, helping him sit upon one of the upholstered chair.
“You are certainly right my dear, even though getting older is suppose to make one wise, it is still hard to find that right words, especially on an empty stomach” he said with a wink, but you already knew what he was eluding to.
“Don’t worry, I’ll have Jaheira bring you a plate when they are done with the cooking demonstration for lunch” which he gave you a kind pat on your bent down shoulder, all the response you needed to straighten up from your hunched down position. Though you were met by a towering figure the moment you turned around.
“My apologies for being late, I kind of got lost out here…” the man was huge, strong stature. Scars on his face, tattoos peeking out from his collared shirt, trailing up upon his face. You were pretty certain even if you were standing further away from him, you could still pick up the scent of fresh dirt and leaves that permeated from him. Even the faintest scent of sweat, but not in a bad way, in an endearing way if that makes sense. Like the smell of a hard working father coming home to engulf his children in a hug.
“I’m sorry, you are….?” You trailed off as you bent your neck to look at him, eyes slightly squinting to the badge on his shirt.
“Park Ranger Halsin, wildlife and fisheries sent me out here for a demonstration, I use to work for them, but I ended up taking a position at the wildlife refuge at the coast” he explained, already following your steps as you began to lead him back to the entrance. He may have not known, but you were skillfully avoiding a tangent from the old Elminster. He may have been a wise man, but a wise man with many words that lead simply nowhere at times.
“Yes of course, let’s get you set up in our other demonstration room” you spoke out, now quickly following his lead to the glass doors. “And I don’t blame you, it may be a small city, but this place is tucked away, definitely not as grand as the other culture centers” you bashfully said as you followed him up to his truck, tailgate already being lifted down with those strong, calloused hands of his. You could even see the faintest traces of dirt on his hands.
“But still important none the less” he said with a soft smile as he reached into the back, already pulling forward boxes and strangely a pet carrier. You tried to slyly lean a bit to peak at what he could possibly have stored in there.
“Oh this is Philippe” he said, almost with a childlike excitement as he opened the pet carrier. Of all things you would have never expected a raccoon to lazy start reaching up for him. But he excepted the creature with open arms. “I uh…rescued him and he’s been with me ever since. Also a good way of showing off our native species.” those strong arms held the creature tenderly, like a father to his offspring.
“I can’t say I encounter raccoons that are companions.” You were astonished, fingers tenderly giving the animal’s head a little scratch. Though those hands of yours grabbed on of the boxes he pulled forward, Philippe already knowingly hopping upon the other one as Halsin grabbed it.
“They definitely shouldn’t be pets, I know that may sound hypocritical coming from me, but you know how raccoons like to wash their food before they eat it? Well I let him do it back home…and he got ahold of my cellphone too, so not a good mix. I also learned rice doesn’t really help with water logged phone either.” You knew the scornful look he gave the raccoon was all in playfulness, which made a little laugh bubble to your lips. You could already picture it in your head.
“Your dear Philippe sounds like a menace.” You giggled out as you pushed past the doors once more, he following after you through the gush of cold air that blew up to greet you from the comfort of the culture center. Your ears also perked up to the sounds of the lively music coming from one of the demonstration rooms, intertwined with laughter of the children.
“Well, he is still a wild animal at heart I suppose” he chimed, his heavy footsteps following you to the empty demonstration room, his box being set upon the table set up front, already laying out his items.
Different pressed leaves now displayed out, the branches of different native plants. All the works of what’s was very befitting of a park ranger who dealt with the more wild side of the job description. He even had animal traps out as well.
“Alright, I’ll give you a rundown. I’m gonna inform the kids of different plants in the area, which ones are safe and not safe, native and common animals, insects, birds. I will also go over safety, why I have the animal traps.” He explained as he motioned to all the stuff he had set out. “Even though they should always be supervised while out in forested areas, it is still better to be able to recognize traps that farmers could set up for coyotes and bobcats and know not to touch them.” He listed off as he squatted down to once again cradle the raccoon in his arms, the raccoon lazily accepting his fate in the comfortable embrace. Now that the fast paced introduction was over, you could finally admire the man before you.
Yes he was tall and strong, but attractive. His hair whisped about his shoulders. A braid or two peaking out and adorned with thin pieces of colorful thread and an occasional decorative bead. Even having such an intimidating stature, those eyes were kind and gentle. Almost as if you were starring into the eyes of a farmers most trusted companion, his loyal dog. Those scars upon his face couldn’t diminish that softness.
But his shirt….you could see those well earned muscles bulge beneath that gray uniform shirt. Who knew those frumpy uniforms could look so flattering. You didn’t let your fleeting eyes linger for too long as you connected your gaze with his again.
“Well I’ll leave you to finish setting up, but I’m sure the kids will enjoy dear old Philippe, I’ll send the group over after the cooking demonstration, I can try and push back Elminster after everyone has eaten, maybe it will help him be better with his words.” You couldn’t help but give a little huff of a small laugh at your own little joke, even if he did not understand quite yet himself, but he only nodded, that kind smile still upon those lips.
“Me and Philippe will be waiting happily” he said, motioning to the raccoon whose head simply lulled lazily about. Such a pampered and spoiled creature, you could tell he was lovingly cared and doted on.
Elminster was delighted by the news once you quietly reported back to him when the kids had all migrated to the cooking demonstration room. So your little hunch about him wanting to eat first was correct.
“So…I see our fellow park ranger is quite the sight…” Jaheira spoke out quietly to you from the back of the food demonstration room, arms crossed over her chest. “The scars may be a dead giveaway from at least having something to do with the great wild, but tattoos? That would have thrown me off…”
“Oh I know, I honestly didn’t have much time to ponder over that when he first got here…” which was true, wasn’t something you saw everyday, not even from the culture centers in the bigger cities. “But it gives that rough edge, should excite the kids more. They might be slightly disappointed when he actually begins to speak, he is quite soft spoken.”
“Interesting…” was all she managed to say before she stepped forward to chime into the demonstration. You and Jaheira switched off though, she fixed herself and wise Elminster a plate for their little lunch, tucking away back in the break room to enjoy their meal as you beckoned the kids to where Halsin waited.
Their excited eyes upon seeing the raccoon brought a dumb smile to your face as your looked to their excited faces as they all sat down, all sitting at their edge of their seat.
Honestly it was all quite interesting, watching Ranger Halsin expertly explain everything, to simple ways to tell the difference between leaves, to why a plant was named whatever it was named. Even to the animal traps, you couldn’t help but almost have the same wide eyed expression as he would set them off and warn them of their dangerous nature and explaining that it was important to always stay away from them an such.
And of course, can’t forget about Philippe who got all the loving he needed for at least a month. By the end of the day he would probably want his own space even from his master’s arms.
Sadly the kids were beckoned off for lunch, giving the last goodbye to Philippe, but their sadness was quickly forgotten by the food that was now being provided to fill those stomachs. That left you carrying a plate to the break room, where Halsin now sat, Philippe away eating his own meal at his feet. The Ranger gladly took the plate, you now sitting across from him.
“I forget how it is, you know, dealing with children, I miss their excitement and hunger for knowledge…” he spoke up, voice almost rumbling in the small break room.
“Must be a different pace from what you are use to” you chimed up, handing him a napkin, which he also accepted.
“Indeed, but I prefer this, adults can be cruel. Their egos get in the way of everything…” a soft frown pulled at his lips, but it was quickly washed away with a bite of food. “They always venture off, get lost, put themselves in danger, never eager to learn. Children on the other hand, they devour everything that is told to them.”
“Plus this place is also charming, believe it or not, I come from an even more rural place than this” he spoke, a sense of nostalgia dripping off his words “nothing but swamps and forest for miles…”
“Then it makes sense why you are in this profession” you said as you began eating.
“Well I started off in wildlife and fisheries, but it became too much. Hunting season is the worst to deal with. Neighbors get mad about who is hunting where. Poachers…god the poachers. But park ranger life is more befitting, I find it better to teach rather than deal with petty wildlife disputes.“ you knew about those disputes all too well, sometimes you would hear about those petty disputes in the local grocery store between old farmers or just the locals gossiping about someone they knew.
“Well it all is a bit different than what we deal with here. Our other ranger Jaheira has more experience with wildlife. I didn’t get much of a chance to, but I learned to find this outlet satisfying.” You admitted as you pushed your plate aside, hands now removing your hat. Halsin followed your move. It was like you could now finally see his face fully, but it was not a disappointment, not at all.
“We do forget that history is also very important, remember, you are the back bone in the preservation of history and that needs just the same amount of importance as wildlife, even if history may have not been so kind to it.” Halsin had such a way with words, voice speaking them so smoothly, he was seeming to hold a much greater wisdom than Elminster, who you could faintly hear drowning on and on about traditions and all stories. You can already picture those school children comforted by food just fighting the sleep that wanted to take over their senses.
“You are definitely right about that..” your head could only picture the old photos of the town you reside in, how those old photos showed a spread out community with so many fields in between. Now it was only pothole filled roads with shady patch jobs, small town lawyers offices, and an occasional fast food joint.
Humanity at its finest.
Something about the way he looked at you, it made you almost bashful. An intense stare, endearing, and comforting all at once. You could feel a wave of multiple sensations travel up your spine in a shiver. All you could do was fiddle with the napkin that sat in front of you, struggling to find the right words to piece together in your mind.
“Are you free? This weekend?” He finally spoke up “I mean tomorrow, I’m sorry if I come off as strong” he finally managed out, honeyed words now seeming to be nervous. “But, I would like to take you to the refuge I work at, I finally got my boat fixed up.” His fingers were now the ones fiddling. Though you can only smile as you nodded your head.
“Yes I would love to” and with that, a number exchange was made and a timid goodbye was bid as he loaded up the last of his things, tailgate making its way down that old town road.
“A date at a refuge huh?” Jaheira’s voice almost startled you from your trance of staring out the door, the culture center now quiet and still, now almsot seeming empty and lonely from the once lively state it was in.
“Oh hush….” You dumbly muttered out as you began to straighten everything up. There was no mistaking that soft hint of pink upon your cheeks.
The nervousness only set in until that morning when you could only stare at yourself in the standing mirror in your room, poking and prodding at the old clothes you decided on. There was no use in wearing something nice if you were going to spend time on a boat. You were cut short from your worrisome glances in the mirror as you heard an engine rumble again from outside your quaint little home, already rushing to the front door to close and lock it.
Halsin was gorgeous, those early morning rays of sun doing him justice as he stepped down from that old pickup truck that was covered in a layer of first, boat already hooked up to the hitch. Handsome in his own clothes, wrinkle, stain, and all. Hell you didn’t even mind the thin layer of mud that caked the heels of his boots. Though quick good mornings were said as he helped you into the passenger seat, soon leaving a trail of dust behind.
It was peaceful, the morning sun shining down through the windows and soft music playing through the radio, the wind from the rolled down windows whipping your hair about and his. The smell of dirt and forestry strong within the interior of the truck, but that was probably due to the fur leaves and crumbs of dirt that peskily made their stay on the floor, embedded into the mats of his truck. It was nice, even when the dirt scented air turned into the consolidating smell of muggy marsh as the refuge finally rolled into view you appreciated it.
Soon your hair was whipping with the winds that blew by once upon the boat, the hum of the motor steadily humming, the soft solaces of the waters rolling by refreshing on your face and exposed arms. You couldn’t help but reach out and run your fingers upon the wild rice that made their homestead on the steep banks that rolled by. The boat came to steady stop , Halsin leant back next to the motor, glancing down to the murky waters below.
“It’s been awhile since I’ve been here…” you spoke out softly as you also looked to the waters below, watching the adolescent fish ripple the surface in their young curiosity, but would quickly dive down deep into those waters if a shadow would move too quickly. “I use to come all the time when I was younger.” You finally looked up and over to Halsin, who was now looking to you with that soft smile.
“Same here, it’s what pushed me in this direction in life.” His own words were also soft, as if not to disturbed the surroundings around you. “Growing up I would wake at the crack of dawn to walk along the waters, to drag my little row boat out. The rangers would always call my parents to let them know where I was, they always took me in to respite myself in their little station, showing me the things they found. Their passion ignited a life changing revelation for me.”
“Agreed, but once again, it lead me down a completely different route, but now that I think about it, I may have been life telling me I was needed else where. A gentle nudge showing me that I’m probably not cut out with dealing with lost folks along riverbeds and trails.” You joked, Halsin’s laughter joining your own.
“Like I said, it’s definitely not fun.” He added with a grin, now moving from his spot next to the motor to be closer to you, hefty body shaking the boat gently, disturbing the waters that had finally calmed down from your arrival. His hand was rummaging in the beat up ice chest that now was situated next to him, handing you a chilled canteen of water “But, it was a better fit, being a wildlife officer made me forget about the simplicity of nature, the calmness of it.”
The calmness of nature, but you couldn’t decide if it was nature itself that was the calm one, or Halsin’s gentle touch to the land doing the calming for it.
The day was spent laughing and sharing stories of nostalgia, of work, of life. You found the muscles in your cheeks hurting from the permanent smile upon your face as the two of you listened to each other intently with care. It was almost a shame when he rolled you back up to your house, that morning glow now replaced with the setting sun, everyone basked in a dark orange hue, but you didn’t mind, that color gave you a since of fulfillment as you took his calloused hand in yours as he helped you down back to solid land.
“Thank you for joining me, I really enjoyed your company” he softly spoke out, that intense stare now locked onto your own, but this time it was bashful, but that shiver of emotions traveled up your spine nonetheless.
The same could be said for him as that calloused hand still gingerly held onto yours.
“I did as well…” you felt dumb as that’s all you could say, that stare almost halting your thoughts, sending your mind into blankness, that hand of his sending a burning sensation through your fingers.
“If you don’t mind maybe we could….do this again?” He spoke out hopefully, those eyebrows furrowed together to match that hopefulness that dropped from his words.
“I would love to, maybe you can even visit here…?”
“Yes, I would love that….”
#halsin#halsin x reader#halsin x you#halsin x tav#modern#modern au#modern age#baldurs gate tav#baldur’s gate 3#Baldur’s gate#druid halsin#Druid Halsin x reader
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During an intense heat wave, humans have a number of tools to stay cool, such as air conditioning, swimming pools, and ice cream. Wild animals, meanwhile, have beavers.
Yes, beavers. These web-footed, fat-tailed amphibious rodents help countless other critters survive a heat wave. They not only drench certain landscapes in cold water but also help cool the air. They even make forests and grasslands less likely to burn. ...
In one recent study, scientists relocated 69 beavers to a river basin in northwestern Washington state, and found that, on average, their dams cooled the streams by more than 4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 Celsius) during certain times of the year. Another study, published in 2017, saw similarly large drops in temperature after beavers built dams. ...
As all that water in a beaver habitat starts to evaporate, the air cools down. That’s because turning water into vapor requires energy, and some of that energy comes from the heat in the air, Fairfax said. (This is how swamp coolers, or evaporative coolers, work; it’s also the same reason sweating cools the body down.) ...
A study published in 2020 showed that areas full of beaver dams are “relatively unaffected by wildfire,” compared to similar but dam-less habitats. ...
Instead of just relying on human-made technologies and infrastructure, we can also restore species like beavers to the landscape. “They’re out there and we can definitely take advantage of that,” Fairfax said. It just requires “working with nature,” she said, “instead of constantly against it.”
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Home Nursing Advice Column #6: Home Nursing Kit
You have probably heard of a first aid kit, and you may already have one. First aid kits are pretty much for minor injuries and illnesses, and to get you through the first few minutes of more severe injuries.
This post is not about those. This post is about a home nursing kit. Things you need or would at least want to have while taking care of someone at home long term.
Note that you probably wouldn't need all of this for a home nursing kit if you have one particular patient in mind. But it's good to own some of these things just because you're probably going to take care of someone at some point- be it a child, chronically ill person, or elderly person.
Assessment/Data Gathering Tools:
Stethoscope (and ideally know how to differentiate normal and abnormal lung sounds)
Blood pressure cuff (manual and know how to use it, or automatic- upper arm cuffs are more reliable than wrist ones, but the wrist ones are cheaper)
Fingertip pulse oximeter
Nitrite dip sticks for UTI detection
Thermometer (ear or oral- the glass kind never need batteries jsyk)
Glucometer and test strips
Personal Care Tools:
Nitrile gloves
Urinal (female or male depending on your patient)
Bath basins
A lot of washcloths
Electric kettle for warming up water (mix boiling water with tap water to desired temp in bath basin)
Rinse-free soaps
Leave-in conditioner or de-tangling spray
Bed pads or diapers for incontinence (they both come in both disposable and reusable- even for adults)
Bed pads or draw sheets for positioning
Evaporative cooling towel
Hot water bottle
Ice packs
Pillows for pressure reduction
Nail care kit
Medications:
Person's prescription medications
Acetaminophen
Some kind of NSAID
Aspirin
Some kind of antihistamine
Pill organizer
Pill cutter
Petroleum Jelly
OTC antifungal (like the cream kind for vaginal yeast infections, especially if the person has a vagina or skin folds and takes antibiotics)
Laxatives and stool softeners
Wound Care Tools:
Adhesive bandages
ACE wraps of different sizes
Irrigation syringe or the ability to improvise one
Cloth or paper tape
Gauze pads. Like way more of these than you could possibly think that you could use if you're dealing with literally any wound. Alternatively strips of soft cotton cloth that are boiled in between uses.
Food Items:
Instant chicken stock
Electrolyte powder
Drink mix powders to make water more palatable
Some good milkshake recipes
Some good soup recipes
Overbed tray
#whump reference#writing reference#reference#adulting#home nursing#nursing kit#first aid kit#resource
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hmmm....
Ace/Sanji "Need a hand?"
or
Buggy/Alvida "Stop clowning around!"
ACESAN NATION LET'S GOOOOOO
this turned out very flirty but very tame LMAO.... thank you quin, this was very fun to throw at the text box. no editing no betaing i'm just GOIN
give me a character/ship and a word/line of dialogue!!!
He wasn't intending to stay around for long, but Ace could never ditch the promise of free food and drink, nor could he pass up the opportunity to do his due diligence as an older brother to check out Luffy's crew. Of course, bullheaded and selfish as the kid is, he's surrounded himself with loyal and wonderful people; Ace doesn't need to be worried, and he wasn't--not really, anyway. Luffy's instincts are sharper than any other part of his mind. He's an honest and instant judge of character, and if he didn't trust these people with his life, they wouldn't last a day under his leadership.
Luffy's always looked for companionship and made families out of everyone around him. Seeing these people give him hell and have his back in equal turn has let Ace know that this loyalty is true. It's how his own new family act with one another, after all.
But that doesn't mean he isn't still curious about them. So it's for curiosity's sake that he's still here, still analyzing the crew. Luffy laughs the most with Chopper and Usopp, and listens the most to Nami and Zoro. The entire crew seems extremely protective of Vivi, but he can't really blame them, can he? He's seen what Alabasta is dealing with.
But that leaves this Sanji character. He picks fights with Zoro every time he opens his mouth near him, he worships the girls--there's nothing quiet about the way he presents himself. He's easy to read, or at least... it's easy to see what he wants Ace (and everyone around them) to read.
After their meal, Ace is left alone with the blond in the galley, sitting at the table with what remains of the mess, and he fills several seconds with a steady gaze and wandering thoughts at Sanji's back as he bustles around to clean up. Sanji is clearly one of their strongest, but the way his body is built is different from Zoro and Luffy. He's strong, sure, but it's leaner muscle, meant for speed and dexterity. Between that, the baby blues, the clothes, and the hair, well...
Ace wonders, a little, if this is similar to how Sabo would have looked. The thought brings a thin smile to his lips, and he rests his chin in his hand, eyes zeroing in on the back of Sanji's head.
"Need a hand?"
Ace is no stranger to doing dishes. He's also no stranger, these days, to being polite. After all, the etiquette he focused on learning has been forefront in the way he interacts with people he wants to like him.
But... Sanji reacts in a way he isn't quite expecting. He freezes up, is actually startled by the offer, it seems.
"Oh--no, no, you're a guest with us. You don't need to help out." And that smile is in a color that Ace recognizes. It's genuine, a crack in the persona, and gods is it sweet. A lance straight through the heart for Ace, and he knows immediately that this guy's not used to people extending that brand of kindness.
He certainly doesn't think Luffy's ever offered to wash a dish.
So that smile widens a bit, and Ace gets up to his feet, wandering up behind Sanji and putting a hand on his shoulder.
"No point in eating all your food if I'm not gonna pay back the favor, right?"
But Sanji just shakes his head, even though he gives in and hands him a stack of plates.
"Feeding the hungry isn't a favor, it's just what you're supposed to do."
Ace remembers how it was as a kid with Dadan. You hunt or you don't eat. Sure, it built character, and Ace never really did go hungry, but it was never something that he didn't have to earn.
The dishes land in the side of the sink already half-filled, and Ace starts up the water to fill the opposite basin, rolling his shoulders a bit before he starts in on the washing.
"If feeding the hungry is your purpose, it's no wonder you're with Luffy. He's a bottomless pit." He shouldn't sound so proud of that, like it's something he nurture on purpose, but Sanji sees the glow in Ace's demeanor, apparently, because it gets a quiet laugh out of him as he joins him to start the drying.
"You don't seem to have any room to talk. Runs in the family, huh?"
"You have no idea," Ace laughs, the grin fixing itself into place as he remembers how much the three of them would devour. A whole camp of bandits, and half the food went to three snot-nosed brats. "But with your food," he adds with a pointed look, "it's no wonder he's always asking for more."
Now, Sanji doesn't necessarily seem like the modest type, but Ace catches the hint of blush on his cheeks as he scoffs, trying to brush off the compliment like he's never received praise in his life.
"Of course he is. He's going to be King of the Pirates, so I'll make sure he eats everything he needs to get there." Sanji's tone is full of honest conviction, but Ace doesn't miss the deflection.
"You know I'm complimenting you now, right?" Ace teases, elbowing Sanji slightly and watching his ears go red. It's funny; he never seemed interested in any attention but the girls', but Ace had a feeling this wouldn't go over badly. So much so that he lets his hand brush Sanji's as he passes him a utensil, and tilts his head to catch his gaze--all nervousness and flustered charm from the cook, but met with calm and collected ease from Ace.
"You're an incredible cook and a strong fighter, Sanji. My brother's lucky to have you. So..." He leans in a little closer, and swears he can see the moisture evaporate out of Sanji's mouth and throat. And hell, Ace is known for his heat, so he might as well lean into it. He glances from his eyes down to his mouth, and back up, eyelids falling just a bit.
"... don't let him take you for granted."
Sanji doesn't seem to know what to do with himself. He's frozen, with as much in the mix of fear as there is confusion, attraction, embarrassment; Ace has just done something incredibly complicated for him, and he can see that. And it's that twinge of fear that has him reaching up and patting his shoulder before he pulls away from the situation, wandering toward the door. If Sanji has hangups, he's not gonna push them.
"Thanks for the food. And for letting me give you a hand. Let me know if you want another, yeah?"
He's pretty sure he hears Sanji choke when he steps out of the room.
#acesan#ask game#charlie attempts to write#i went for the acesan bc i have never once thought about writing for alvida#which is my own failing as a human being i'm gomen queen#@quinloki
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Redback Gorger
Image by Johnny Duddle, © Simon and Schuster
[Sponsored by @glarnboudin. An Awfully Beastly Business is a series of chapter books for young readers, set at a nature reserve for monsters. I read the first of them, and it was okay I guess. I'm definitely not in the target audience for them, but likewise if I was eight to ten when they came out, I could see myself having fixated on them. The redback is the cover monster of the second book, Sea Monsters and Other Delicacies, in which the villains hope to use it as the centerpiece of a seafood feast of exotic monsters. In order to avoid giving the redback just an adjective name, I resorted to the "adjective verber" formula beloved of Magic the Gathering and 4e D&D.]
Redback Gorger
CR 17 N Magical Beast
This creature resembles an octopus with the face of a frogfish. It has a craggy exoskeleton covering its body, studded with red plates along its back. It has eight tentacles, each of which is as thick as a tree trunk and lined with suckers that ooze a black resin. Growing from its head is a very long, flexible appendage ending in an eyeless blue snake’s head.
Redback gorgers are among the rarest of sea monsters—rarely is there more than one adult per ocean basin on any given planet. They are long-lived ambush predators—they spend most of their time resting or slowly swimming along the abyssal plains, then move higher into the water column to hunt. Although their jaws and tentacles are strong, they prefer to incapacitate their prey by injecting it with a super-cooled venom, carried in the fangs of their false head. The false head can smell, hear and sense heat, and can strike around cover. The redback gorger feeds primarily on large fish and small whales, which it paralyzes with its venom and then swallows without a struggle.
Despite their massive territorial requirements and rarity, redback gorgers can communicate through infrasound vocalization, similarly to whales and elephants, and use this to demarcate territorial boundaries and determine fertility status. Redbacks mate only once or twice in their long lives, but produce around a million tiny planktonic eggs during each mating event. The vast majority of larval redbacks are eaten while still tiny and planktonic. On the rare occasions a redback gorger appears on the surface, it may probe its surroundings with this false head, giving the impression that a sea serpent or plesiosaur lurks below the surface instead of a much more dangerous predator. They can survive on land for brief periods, but only emerge onto land as an act of desperation.
Redback Gorger CR 17
XP 102,400
N Gargantuan magical beast (aquatic)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +18, tremorsense 60 ft.
Defense
AC 32, touch 9, flat-footed 29 (-4 size, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +23 natural)
hp 283 (21d10+168)
Fort +20, Ref +14, Will +14
DR 10/magic; Resist cold 20,electricity 20, fire 20; SR 28
Defensive Abilities deep dweller, fortification (50%)
Offense
Speed 30 ft., swim 50 ft.
Melee bite +27 (2d8+10 plus grab), sting +27 (2d6+10/19-20 plus poison), 8 tentacles +25 (1d8+5)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 15 ft. (30 ft. with sting)
Special Attacks critical envenomation, swallow whole (AC 23, 28 hp, 4d6+16 bludgeoning)
Statistics
Str 30, Dex 15, Con 27, Int 2, Wis 20, Cha 16
Base Atk +21; CMB +39 (+43 grapple); CMD 62
Feats Blind Fight, Combat Reflexes, Critical Focus,Dodge, Improved Critical (sting), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Mobility, Multiattack, Power Attack, Spring Attack
Skills Climb +15, Perception +18, Stealth +0 (+12 underwater), Swim +23; Racial Modifiers +12 Stealth underwater
SQ water dependency
Ecology
Environment any ocean
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure none
Special Abilities
Critical Envenomation (Ex) If a redback gorger succeeds on a critical hit with its sting attack, it injects two doses of its poison simultaneously.
Deep Dweller (Ex) A redback gorger is immune to cold and pressure damage due to water depth, and can move vertically through the water column without penalty.
False Head (Ex) A redback gorger’s sting attack can move around obstacles, allowing it to ignore any cover except for full cover.
Poison (Ex) Sting—injury; save Fort DC 28; duration 4 rounds; effect 4d6 cold damage and 1d6 Dex drain; cure 2 saves. Tentacles (Ex) A redback gorger’s tentacles are treated as a single secondary attack.
#redback gorger#redback#an awfully beastly business#children's literature#sponsored post#sea monster#magical beast
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Poll time!
Southern Italian, Mediterranean dwellers and general public!
Acetosella gialla (Oxalis pes-caprae)
N.b. when I say eat/suck I mean that you pick the flower as you walk around and suck the juice from the stalk/stem
Historical references under the cut!
Among the many species of weeds along the Mediterranean basin, Oxalis pes-caprae, better known also by the term yellow sorrel, it is one of the most widespread, above all along central-southern Italy, Sicily and Sardinia. It is a weedy botanical species, of South African and Namibian origin (therefore of southern Africa), belonging to the Asteraceae family.In fact we need to remember that, although today it is widespread throughout the Mediterranean, is not a plant native to our regions.
According to some historical sources, its introduction to the Mediterranean took place at the beginning of 1800, on the island of Malta, as an ornamental plant, by a botanical admirer of Anglo-Saxon origins, coming from the South African colonies of the Cape, where today's City of Cape Town is located. This first plant reached Father Giacinto, a local botanist friar, who in fact mentions it in one of his indexes of botanical collections. After being planted in several places on the island of Malta, the plant spread massively within a few years, starting from the Maltese territory and Gozo.
Shortly thereafter, Oxalis pes-caprae began to invade Sicily and Sardinia as well, as an invasive weed species, to the detriment of the local species, which were quickly supplanted by this plant, originally from southern Africa. The characteristics of the species. This plant is very particular, as it has a bulb which is the only part of the plant that remains alive all year round. Its reproduction occurs vegetatively. Each root originates from a central bulb. From this arise numerous small bulbs which, when detached, generate a new plant.
Lacking cross-pollination, all the yellow sorrels around Italy are clones of those few plants that arrived at Padre Giacinto more than two centuries ago.
The bulbils remain dormant throughout the summer and germinate in late autumn, after the arrival of the rains. Flowering takes place in winter, between the end of December and February, continuing until spring when the aerial part disappears, closing the reproductive cycle. Medicinal properties and soil protection.
In the past it was believed that the plant had important medicinal virtues, through the use of its roots and leaves. Even today, in herbal medicine, the leaves and roots of this plant are used in decoctions for their refreshing, diuretic, astringent and anti-scurvy power. The juice of the centrifuged leaves is useful for heartburn and ulcers.
Oxalis pes-caprae still acts as a protection for the soil (even if in the long run it continues to deplete it of nutrients), limiting the erosive damage produced by winter storms on plowed land and reducing erosion or excessive exposure to sunlight and wind, which would further damage the soil.Furthermore, flowering en masse in late winter, it ensures precious nectar for pollinators, in a period in which there are not many blooms.
Translation from:
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Roseate spoonbills in the ACE Basin. Donnelly Wildlife Management Area. Photo by Kelley Luikey.
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The Confessional Chronicles - Prologue
୨୧ a Cherry Song Series ୨୧ An extended series version of my fic ‘Younger’, which is part of my As Loved by The Aces series.
The Confessional Chronicles Series Navigation
How could you fall in love with somebody you’ve known your entire life? Rather, you thought, how could you not fall in love with somebody you’ve known your entire life?
Pairing: Jeongin x Fem!Reader (this specific chapter includes Jisung x Reader)
Genre: Angst, (childhood) friends to lovers, fluff,
Warnings: Reader has a lot of confusing emotions, heartbreak, breakups
Series playlist: Spotify
Chapter One - “That's why I won't get vulnerable, don't you dare get comfortable, heartbreak is impossible.” - “Blame Brett” by The Beaches
You didn’t consider yourself particularly possessive of Jeongin, nor did he consider himself possessive over you. As you grew into teenagers, the two of you got closer to other people, never letting it come between you two, but exploring different relationships. Jeongin became friends with a boy named Choi Beomgyu, and you got closer to Han Jisung, one of Jeongin’s friends. Jisung was giggly, funny and flirted with all of his friends (he had a penchant for trying to kiss Jeongin and Felix), but as of recently, he developed a soft spot for you. He would follow you around (‘like a lost puppy’ according to Chris), and you adored his attention. He was very sweet. He was also very cute.
When Jisung asked you out when you were fifteen, nobody was surprised. He never kept his feelings to himself, and his crush had been more than obvious. You accepted, even though there was a feeling in your stomach that something didn’t quite feel right. You weren’t sure why. Jeongin was your best friend, after all. You could love him, but in a platonic way, and love Jisung romantically. It made sense. Yet it didn’t.
A few days after you got together, you felt so much love for him. He was adorable and so, so thoughtful. When the two of you went to a party together, you made out in the hallway, both a little drunk, giggling and joking, teasing him for being so sappy. Jeongin had approached you to ask you something, but paused and stared at the two of you for a second before walking away. You’d tensed up immediately in Ji’s arms, and excused yourself to the bathroom, avoiding him for the rest of the party.
From that night on, you found yourself cancelling on Jisung, avoiding responding to his texts and calls, and acting stiff and awkward when he showered you in skinship. You could tell he was hurt by the way he responded; he stopped trying to hug and kiss you, didn’t text as often, wouldn’t look you in the eye. His hand didn’t reach for yours when you walked beside each other anymore.
You knew you were being a bitch, even more so by not breaking up with him. You did love him. You loved Jisung so much, yet why wasn’t it enough?
You found yourself at a party with him one night. Neither of you had been acting like a couple for the past few weeks, and neither of you were willing to admit anything. You spotted him laughing with his friends, slipped over and grabbed his hand, taking him down the hallway and into the bathroom.
Jisung was confused, rightfully so. But he didn’t say anything, just letting you lead the way.
You sat on the seat of the toilet, ran a hand through your hair. He leaned against the basin, his hand cradling yours, rubbing reassuring circles. He was being so sweet after everything you’d done to him. He was too kind.
“Jisung, I love you so much,” you blurted, looking into his eyes. He was taken aback, eyes widening, probably wondering what the fuck you were on making such a confession to him after practically icing him out for the past month.
“Are you sure, Y/N? Because I don’t want to force you into anything, and if I’m being honest, it doesn’t feel like you really love me at all,” he replied, still holding your hand tight in his.
“I do love you. I know I do, because my heart fills up whenever I talk to you or think of you. But it doesn’t fill up enough. I don’t love you enough, and I wish I did, because you’re the sweetest person I know, and I want to love you.”
Jisung smiled sadly. “Sometimes you can want to love someone, but it’s not what your heart really wants, yeah?” he paused and breathed out, body visibly relaxing, and leaned towards you, wrapping his arms around you in the most comforting hug, planting a very soft kiss on your cheek. “It’s not your fault. I’m happy you figured out how you’re feeling. I’ll still always be here, you know, as a friend.”
“You’re too kind,” you sobbed into his shoulder, dampening his shirt. “You should be calling me a bitch for being so confusing and horrible to you for this long. I’m so sorry, Ji, I didn’t mean to hurt you like this.”
Jisung rubbed your back. “It hurt more knowing it wasn’t what you really wanted, yet you were pushing through it for me. I don’t want you to force your feelings, Y/N.”
“I do love you, Ji, I can still say that, right? Without meaning it like…like that?” you mumbled.
“I love you too,” he replied. “Of course you can say that. Love’s not just romantic, you know. You love Jeongin worlds, but he’s just your best friend.”
Your stomach flipped as Jisung said those words. Ji felt your body tense against him, and pulled away sharply, looking at you intently.
“You love him, as in, love him, don’t you?” Jisung asked, but it wasn’t really a question.
“I wish I’d known it before now,” you whispered, and Jisung’s eyes watered a little. He pulled you in again, and you cried into each other’s shoulders, hearts so full yet so empty.
After you and Jisung broke up, you were still close. You still didn't understand how Jisung was so kind to you, even after you’d hurt him so much. He was playful and funny, the way he’d been with you before you dated, but took caution not to flirt, not to leave straying touches, not to go too far.
You spent more time with Jeongin, going over to his house more often. You talked to him about Jisung, what had happened. You told him you had loved him so much, yet not enough. Jeongin said he didn’t understand the feeling, but he was very empathetic.
“I’ve never forced my feelings. When I love someone, I love them through and through. It feels like it could be too much sometimes,” he replied, his eyes not shifting from yours.
Your stomach flipped, and you felt your cheeks flush. The breeze blew through his bedroom window, blowing his fringe in his eyes. They didn’t move.
Nothing felt like it was moving, really.
You took a deep breath, leaned in.
Your world tilted sideways, and you felt like you were falling.
#cherrybeartoast#cherrybearwrites#cherry writes#stray kids#stray kids imagines#skz#skz imagines#stray kids fic#skz fic#stray kids x reader#stray kids scenarios#stray kids kpop#stray kids oneshot#straykids#seungmin x reader#hyunjin x reader#minho x reader#changbin x reader#felix x reader#jeongin x reader#bangchan x reader#lee know#minho#changbin#seo changbin#hyunjin#hwang hyunjin#felix#yongbok#bangchan
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Sakha's ancestors
Before I start this post, I want to recomend you this video. Perhaps you can watch it as you read this, as I think it could make it easier for you to understand Sakha's history:
youtube
Ok, now lets begin!
Even though Sakha/Yakutia has been considered as an outsider by the other Siberian tribes for a long time, she actually does have her roots around the Lena River.
Sakha herself was born after the Yakuts, as we know them today, started living in the Lena Basin, but they originated in the Baikal and that's why she was called an "outsider". The name "Yakutia" is, in fact, the name that Evenki gave to her, which means "outsider" in her language.
That's why Sakha hates being called "Yakutia".
But that is not all. Actually, her first ancestors were already living around the Lena Basin, even before the arrival of Evenki herself!
Sakha has many ancestors, including:
Syalakh (4500 BC) : Coexisted with Yukaghir, the oldest among the Paleo-siberians
Ymyyakhtakh (1700 BC): This culture wasn't around for that much time, compared to others.
Ust-Mil (1300 BC): This was a culture that was spread across the Lena and other areas of Siberia. I must say Yukaghirs were also around, so perhaps Yukaghir influenced Sakha's ancestors as well.
Kurykan (600 AC approx.): This would be Sakha's "dad", her closest ancestor. This was a tribal society that was living in the Baikal. During this time, the First Turkic Khaganate was on its peak.
Kulun-Atakh: This was a culture that coexisted with the Sakha in the Lena Basin, but eventually was absorbed by them.
Once the Mongol Empire started to expand, some tribes, including the Kurykans, were pushed towards what we call today Siberia. The Sakha started to originate and migrate towards the Lena, where they would finally "settle", and Sakha, my OC, was born.
#siberia#hetalia siberia#sakha#sakha history#yakut history#hetalia sakha#hetalia yakutia#cultural hetalia#historical hetalia#aph sakha#aph yakutia#hws yakutia#hws sakha#indigenous russia#my ocs#hetalia oc#Youtube
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Come Away With Me
Neteyam x Reader
Warnings: Anxiety and panic attacks, mentions of death and injury, Loak Kiri and Neteyam are aged up to 19 and 20 in their respective age gaps :) Possible spice, I haven't decided yet ;)
A/n: I hope y'all like this :) lmk if your thoughts and suggestions!!
Summary:
Deep in Pandoras forests lay the Tawkami clan, tucked away in a river basin, a group of peace seeking river Na’vi stayed successfully hidden from the sky people for the entirety of the war. Lending help by way of supplies and weapons rather than directly exposing their village to the true carnage that the sky people brought. Every month the leader of the Omaticaya people, his sons, and eldest daughter would come to retrieve these supplies and distribute them to other clans fighting alongside them. These supply pickups had been happening for as long as you could remember, you always looked forward to seeing the Sully family at the end of each month. And you enjoyed doing your part to help rid your lands of the sky people… the fact that you got to see the eldest Sully boy more often just sweetened the deal. Although your first interactions were brief he made you curious. Presently you were sure that this was just a simple crush and with time it would fade, but when it was quiet, and no one was near, you let your mind wander to him. You let your hands wander as well. The end of the month was rapidly approaching, usually this would be a stressless time as Toruk Makto’s visits happened like clockwork. What made this month different was that the Sullys would be staying an extra night in your village to join in your celebrations of life, twin babies had been delivered two weeks prior Eywa herself decided their souls should stay together even in rebirth. The RDA knew that Jake Sully had an ace in the hole, the Na’vi couldn't be recovering from the losses they were taking without one. 28 days ago the RDA sent out a reconnaissance squad to follow the Sullys in stealth, an observational mission. Once they found the Tawkami village and saw the Sully’s loading full heavy baskets onto Pa’li they knew right where to hit where it would hurt the most.
Masterlist
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3 ... Sneak Peek
Chapter 4 ... TBD
#atwow#avatar the way of water#neteyam#neteyam avatar#neteyam x reader#neteyam sully#neteyam Fanfiction#loak sully#avatar loak#Kiri Sully#atwow kiri#atokirina#Neytiri#Jake Sully#avatar jake#tuktirey#avatar spider
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𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝔹𝕠𝕪 13 (The End)
Good Boy Masterlist
---
Swirling, writhing, colors, stomach turning.
The sky was an unnatural shade of blue and the birds’ song borderline a scream.
Makino and Shanks wouldn’t notice their existence no matter the tone or volume at which they spoke.
They walked toward a familiar blond, his arms wide open, they ran and fell right through him.
Y/n’s eyes shot open, pain filling their entire back from jolting awake.
“Shhh, don’t move around so much, you’ll open the stitches.” Sanji’s hushed voice retrieved their reeling mind back into reality.
They were in their bedroom, sprawled across Sanji, safe and sound. Everything was fine.
“Are you alright? You seemed stressed in your sleep, so I woke you up.” He said, searching their eyes for something.
“Yeah, just a nightmare.” Y/n sighed resting their head back onto his stomach. “When did we get here?”
“You don’t remember? So you weren’t fully there when you insisted we nap together and I quote ”like two snuggly bugs in a dirty old rug“? Whatever that means.” He tiredly laughed.
“Pfft haha, ow, haha.” Of course they had said something like that.
- - -
Water dripped from the bathroom sink’s facet as they leaned against it’s basin. The back of their shirt pinned up, a pained grunt escaped them as he slowly removed the bandages.
“Sorry, I’m being as gentle as I can.” Sanji whispered, pausing to give them a moment.
“I know, It’s alright. You can keep going.” Y/n said in a hushed breathless tone.
“Alright.” And so he continued.
The cool water cleansing their marred back felt both unpleasantly intense and somehow soothing.
He stared at scrapes, bruises, and stitches as he cleaned. If only he’d been able to do something. If he hadn’t just stood there and watched helplessly, they wouldn’t be suffering like this.
He grabbed their softest towel and dabbed them dry.
“This part is going to hurt the most. Let me know if you need a break. Are you ready?” Sanji said comfortingly as though he wasn’t filled with dread as he picked up the cream.
They took a breathe before answering “Ready.”
He’d just finished cleaning up the supplies and noticed Y/n had been quietly watching him the whole time.
“Are you alright?” He asked gently placing a hand on their uninjured shoulder.
“I think so… Yeah.” Y/n answered tiredly.
As he began to pull his hand away theirs reached up and held it there.
“Don’t go anywhere ok? I’d miss you.” They mumbled looking away from him.
It took him a minute to process what they meant, but he understood.
“Never.” He smiled.
- - -
The sound of pencils scrawling across paper and the teacher droning on and on filled his ears.
School was more boring than he remembered it being. Was it always like this before he met them?
The desk beside him was vacant. No one to pass him silly notes. No one to tell him a weird story as to why they were late. No one to lend him their jacket if it got too cold in the room.
It would be about a week before they sat next to him in class again. At least Sabo and Ace were still there.
- - -
Red, orange, and gold leaves from the nearby tree had drifted onto the roof and crunched under their shoes as they walked over to their special lunch spot.
Ace had detention and Sabo skipped school, so Y/n and Sanji had the whole roof and all the noodles to themselves that day.
“Slow down, you’re going to choke if you keep eating that fast.” Sanji chided softly.
“No, I won’t.” They mumbled, mouth stuffed with noodles.
“Yes, you will and you’ve gotten sauce all over your face from eating like that.” He exaggerated upon noticing a small smudge on their cheek.
He grabbed a napkin from his bag and turned to them. “Swallow that and look at me.” he said with an expectant look.
They slowed down, chewed a bit, and swallowed the way a petulant child would and looked at him.
He gently held their face and wiped the sauce away. “There.” He said satiated now that the mess was handled.
His focus returned to them, their flushed face still held in his hands and eyes wandering anywhere except him.
This is normally the moment when he’d pull away and apologize for getting too intimate with them, but instead he got lost in thought.
When did they start letting me do things like this? I barely sleep at my own house anymore. When we get this close? This is our last year in school, who knows what will happen after. I don’t want it to change, but I can’t avoid it forever.
“Y/n.” Sanji whispered upon breaking out his thoughts.
“Yeah?” they answered confused as to why he was still holding their face, not that they wanted him stop.
“I love you.” He confessed resting his forehead against theirs.
Y/n’s eyes widened as tears welled up and trailed down onto his hands.
“I love you too.” They cried closing their eyes and holding their hands over his.
---
The sound of creaking floorboards underfoot echoed the dusty room. An old photo of a man with a golden mustache and chef hat standing next to a smiling blond boy lay upon a box.
Sanji picked up the photo and placed it aside before opening the box. He shuffled through the contents inside only to find clothes and cooking utensils.
“Not much in this one.” Sanji called out. “Any luck over there?”
“Well -Achoo!- um other than dust, I found a plushie, keys, and a cook book.” Y/n said rubbing their nose with back of their hand.
“Bless you, a plushie?” He said walking over to them.
“Yeah, this lil duck.” They held up a slightly worn, but still quite soft, cream yellowish colored duck plush.
“You found Honey!” He excitedly plucked Honey from them and proceeded to stroke it’s soft fluff with a smile.
Y/n sat there on the dusty old floor of the dimly lit attic admiring the precious smile on their lover’s face. It was the not so glamorous moments they got to spend with him that they loved the most.
“Do you have one?” Sanji asked breaking their trance.
“A plushie? Yeah, Shanks won me a pink bunny at a carnival when I was six. It’s in a small box under my bed.” They answered as they pulled out and began flipping through the old cook book.
“Does this bunny have a name?” Sanji asked as he sat down beside them resting his head on their shoulder to see what recipes they were looking at.
“Taffy.” Y/n said stopping at an orange tart recipe.
“Taffy is a lovely name. Would you mind letting me see this wonderful Taffy when we return, my love?” Sanji said tilting his head on their shoulder to place a kiss on their cheek.
“You just want to put Honey and Taffy together don’t you?” They smirked ignoring his adorable attempt to sweeten up to them in hopes of getting a yes.
“They would look so cute together!” He dramatically whined pulling them closer.
“I’m not so suuure about that~” They teased still not looking him as he nuzzled into them.
“Pleeeease, I’ll make that orange tart you keep staring at.” He pleaded tugging on their sleeve.
“I want to make it with you. Deal?” Y/n said finally looking at him.
“Deal!” Sanji happily buried his face into their neck and placed several kisses.
---
In a dimly lit room toward the back of the Revolution Gang’s base two men fought.
A swing, a kick, a swing, and a dodge, back and forth they went.
“You’re getting pretty damn good at this, Sanji. You might even beat me soon.” Ace huffed between dodging Sanji’s kicks.
“Don’t flatter me quite yet, I still need to work on it.” Sanji said barely avoiding a punch.
“Why did you want to learn to fight so badly?” Ace laughed throwing another punch.
“So Y/n won’t have to fight alone again.” Sanji said catching himself after swiftly leaning left.
“Ah, so it’s about that hallway scuffle, huh?” Ace frowned grabbing Sanji’s leg, preventing him from landing a kick.
“That too.” He kicked off Ace’s grip. “They need someone who has their back.” His foot rushed past Ace’s head. “Both in fighting and in heart.” another kick faster then before grazed Ace’s side. “So I have to step it up!” A final swift powerful kick landing dead center into Ace’s lower stomach.
Ace knelt down in pain and promptly laid back on the floor. “That’s a good reason.” He wheezed.
---Later that day---
Ace stared intensely at the cards in his hand, before placing one down. His breath held as he watched Sanji choose a card from his own hand.
Sanji had made his choice, laying his card on top of Ace’s. “I win.” He said as he dropped his cards and leaned back in his chair with a smirk.
“No! You can’t just keep winning!” Ace groaned tossing his cards on the table.
“I can and I will.” Sanji said before he placed a cigarette in his mouth and pulled out the lighter Y/n gifted him for his birthday.
The door slammed open and Y/n rushed in.
“We’re under attack! Sabo and Marco have the front entrance covered.” Y/n yelled coming to an abrupt halt at their table.
“Alright, I got the armory. You two cover the back entrance.” Ace said experienced in with situation.
“Will do!” Y/n grabbed Sanji’s hand and off to the back they went.
When they’d arrived two rival gang members had just entered only to get a fist and a foot to the face.
Soon more poured in and the fight began.
Sanji’s low swift kick tripped one over to be met with an uppercut from Y/n.
“Wonderful timing, dear!” He cheered shortly before he kicked a guy between the legs.
“Never late for you, San-chan!” Y/n laughed after they landed a gut punch and then turned to punch another in the nose.
Through out the fight the lovers had drawn physically closer to cover each other’s weak spots.
From the corner of his eye Sanji saw one approach Y/n from the side while they were busy with another. He made a quick turn raising his leg as high as it could go right over their shoulder to kick the fiend in the head.
“Damn Sanji, I didn’t know you were so flexible~” They teased as they grabbed an annoyance by the face with one hand to keep them distracted while they gently lifted his leg from their shoulder where it was stuck with the other.
“One has to be flexible when it comes to you, love~” He said as he prepared himself for the next who dared approach them.
One by one the enemy went down and eventually retreated with their injured.
---3 hours later---
Everyone including Sanji, Y/n, Ace, and Sabo had gotten patched up. Since it had gotten late, the Revolution Gang’s night time members had arrived to swap out. Y/n and Sanji had taken that as the perfect opportunity to head back to what had become their apartment.
Exhausted the two collapsed on the bed and just laid there for a bit. After a few minutes Y/n rolled over on top of him with a giggle. He lightly grasped the folds of their shirt near their waist.
“That was quite the fight earlier, didn’t think the good boy had it in ‘em~” They cooed as they played with the collar of his shirt.
“Well of course I do, I’m not just any good boy. I’m yours~” Sanji smiled looking up at them with a half-lidded infatuated gaze.
“Yeah, you are~” Y/n breathed as they leaned down and caught his lips with theirs.
---End---
Tags: @vemuabhi
@vission-kid
#sanji x reader#one piece#black leg sanji#sanji#one piece sanji#black leg sanji x reader#one piece sanji x reader
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