#Bad news Bears

[markscherz]

Bad Newts: Amphibians are in Serious Trouble

My colleagues and I have just had a paper published in Nature, based on our efforts to assess almost all amphibian species for the IUCN Red Lists. The major takeaway messages:

It is a bad time to be an amphibian

Two fifths of all amphibians are threatened with extinction.

Salamanders are the most threatened group; three fifths of all salamanders are threatened with extinction!

Climate change is a major driver of amphibian declines globally

Habitat loss, especially due to agriculture, is a problem for the vast majority of amphibians

Chytrid pandemics have caused and continue to cause catastrophic declines of both salamanders and frogs

Protected areas and careful management are working as strategies! They are actively improving the outlook of some species

As many as 222 amphibian species may have gone extinct in recent times; of those, 185 are suspected extinct but not yet confirmed.

Our paper is Open Access, you can read it here!

Photo of Atelopus hoogmoedi by Jaime Culebras, used with permission

[crithaus]

i am struggling very hard with this here guy but i've not given up yet and thats about all i can say, BUT, i was thinking about how absolutely soft their first wedding was.....

This is a WIP btw

[indigoire]

Took a rewatch to figure it out, but I'm pretty sure episode 8 of TLoVM Percy gives Vex the siege arrow. Remember from the campaign:

Percy: In theory, this is a siege arrow. Shattering stone, shattering doors, breaking things...

Vex, flirting: ...breaking hearts, left and right?

Percy, hesitantly: If that is what you're after.

If we have to cut "this is a night of unbridled guilt" then at LEAST we get Vex literally BREAKING A HEART with the siege arrowhead that Percy gave her to make up for her death.

[pulpsandcomics2]

Bad News Bears

[s3znl-gr3znl]

Bear receives terrible news, lays down and dies.

[dudja]

Classic Billy Bob Thornton #BadNewsBears #Comedy #Funny #Classic #baseball #names #memes #coaching

[coolthingsguyslike]

[star--joy]

Repairs

In which Percy gets a date, is late to work, and fixes a broken espresso machine, not in that order.

-

Six Shot Americano Man leans over the counter, glancing at the scattered tools surrounding Vex as she kneels on the floor for easier access to the innards of her broken espresso machine “Hm. I could take a look, if you don’t mind."

-

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Warnings: None

Words: 1395

Originally posted: 8/2/23

Ao3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/49056469

“Is everything alright?”

Vex startles at the sudden voice, screwdriver slipping from her hand and clattering to the floor as her head jerks up, thumping against the counter-top with a painful thud. “Shit!”

“Ah, apologies. I didn’t mean to startle you.” 

At the counter of the small cafe, Six Shot Americano Man is staring at her. He always comes in ten minutes after open and orders his monstrosity of unsweetened caffeine. Normally, Vex has it on the counter waiting for him, but with her machine busted, there’s little she can do.

She presses a hand to the spot where she’d smacked her head, wincing at the immediate shot of pain. “No, don’t worry about it. I’ll have that Americano out for you in about…” she glances at the exposed innards of her broken espresso machine. “Well, probably not for a long time.”

Six Shot Americano Man leans over the counter, glancing at the scattered tools surrounding Vex as she kneels on the floor for easier access to the machinery. If it were anyone else, she might be annoyed, but Six Shot Americano Man is her favorite customer, partly because he’s polite, but mostly because he tips insanely well. “Have you called someone to fix it?”

“They won’t be here until tomorrow, and I figure I can’t make things much worse, can I? If I could just find out what’s wrong with the thing…”

“Hm. I could take a look, if you don’t mind. I’m rather good with these things,” he offers, stroking the stubble that’s just beginning to peek through on his jaw.

Vex peers at him with narrow eyes. Normally, it would be a quick and easy ‘no’ to a request like that, but, hell, she’s willing to try just about anything. After all, Scanlan had called out for his shift today, and although this hole-in-the-wall coffee shop is rarely busy, Vex doesn’t want to deal with a broken espresso machine by herself. Besides, Six Shot Americano Man hasn’t yet given her a reason to be overtly cautious. Fuck it. “Alright, but I can’t pay you.”

He shrugs off his formal jacket, walking around the corner so he’s behind the bar. “That’s not an issue. May I?”

She easily steps away to make room for him. “Be my guest.”

His face is quickly pulled into a look of consideration as he pushes the wires around to get a better look inside the machine. Vex leans against the back wall, keeping a curious eye on him as he fiddles with some mechanism or another, quietly muttering to himself. What little words she can catch are some kind of technical jargon.

“Have you worked on these before?” she can’t help but ask, watching his fingers move with practiced precision.

“Not this particular model, but I’ve always had a knack for machinery,” he hums, green eyes never leaving the task. Vex should probably be watching his fingers as they delve into the wires, in case this issue should ever arise again and she needs to fix it, but she finds herself studying the man, instead.

Objectively, Six Shot Americano Man is rather attractive, though that’s not a new revelation. It’s hard for anyone to not notice that the first time they lay eyes on him. Hell, when he first started coming in all those months ago, Scanlan had fallen over himself trying to land a date, though found himself unsuccessful. So, yes, Vex knew he was attractive.

Somehow, though, that had never really resonated with her until now. He’d always just been Six Shot Americano Man who tips well and doesn’t talk much, and Vex had been content with that.

So why is she feeling the sudden urge to have a name for him?

It probably has something to do with the small emoting of his expression, lips pursing and nose scrunching and eyes narrowing when he fiddles with what must be a difficult component. Or perhaps it’s the practiced, confident movements of his hands deep within the machine.

Either way, Vex figures it’s been a damn long time since she treated herself to a proper date with a handsome somebody. Might as well give it a go, now.

“You know, I see you nearly every day, but I don’t think you’ve ever told me your name,” she hums, trailing over to his side.

“My name is Percy,” he answers, only glancing at her for a second before turning his attention back to his work. “And you’re Vex’ahlia, if the nametag is correct.”

The way he says her name is strangely appealing, the syllables slotting together so perfectly when wearing his posh accent. “You can just call me Vex, darling. Everyone else does.”

She doesn’t think anything of the moniker, but it causes Percy’s hands to fumble for half a second. “Well. It’s nice to meet you, Vex.”

“And you, Percy.” If he were looking at her, she’d throw in a wink, but alas. “So, I have to ask, what keeps bringing you back here? You know there’s a Starbucks down the street, right?”

He laughs. “Is it standard practice to recommend the competition?”

“I would argue that this is more of a customer satisfaction survey. Something must be keeping you loyal to us, it’s only helpful to know what it is,” Vex says, finding herself leaning over him slightly. 

Percy glances up at her, then looks away a tad bit too quickly. His cheeks are beginning to turn a dusty pink. “I like the quiet. Everywhere else is too busy.”

“So you like that we get bad business? That’s not very helpful for my survey.”

There’s a short pause before he says, “Well, the baristas also provide excellent company.”

Vex’s smile grows. “Hm, good to know. I need as much detail as possible for this survey, could you be more specific?”

“The one named Scanlan is particularly enjoyable.”

His voice is so deadpan that it takes Vex a long second to recognise it as a joke, but the smirk on his lips gives him away. She snickers. “Don’t let him hear you say that, he’ll start trying to flirt with you again.”

Percy grins as he pulls his hands out of the espresso machine’s innards. “I’ve dealt with worse. And… there we are,” he says, pressing the power button and watching with satisfaction as the machine begins to start.

Vex���s eyes widen as the screen comes to life. “No shit, you actually did it?”

“Did you not think I could?”

“Of course not! I just figured you couldn’t make it worse,” she admits, clicking the single shot button and watching with awe as espresso starts to pour. “That’s amazing!”

His preening is subtle, but Vex is good at reading people, and she can see the way his chin lifts and his smile grows a centimeter. It’s endearing. “It’s nothing, really.”

“Oh, shut up,” she scoffs, easily grabbing a cup and beginning to prep his Americano. “You just saved my ass. I’m never letting you pay for a drink again, they’re all on the house.”

Percy considers something for a second. “The business is already struggling enough, I don’t think that’s the best idea. Though, if you truly want to repay me, you could let me take you out to dinner. It’s not in any way expected, of course, but I would enjoy getting to know you.”

Her heart thunders with excitement, but she keeps her cool. “I suppose I can manage that,” Vex teases as she hands him his Americano. “You free tomorrow?”

“I can be,” he quickly agrees, just eager enough to be endlessly charming. “Here, my phone number. Just text me a restaurant and time, I’ll be there.” He quickly jots his number down on a napkin. “Unfortunately, I must get to work. I’m already late. I look forward to tomorrow.”

Vex blinks. “You were late to work to fix my machine?”

“I’d say the outcome was well worth it,” Percy hums, grinning wide. “I’ll see you soon, Vex’ahlia.”

She shakes her head, exasperation and fondness mingling together in her chest. “Yes, yes, I’m excited, too, now get to work! I’m not going to be the reason you get fired!”

He’s still grinning as he races out of the coffee shop, though Vex is pretty sure she doesn’t have much room to judge, given she’s doing the same. God, tomorrow can’t come quickly enough.

[rrrick]

[celebclippinz]

Magazine clippings

[ohbo-ohno]

here's the deal. i actually hate writing and should never ever be expected to write again. wdym i can't just lay all comfy and cozy in my bed? you want me to write??????? my silly little horny thoughts and ideas??????????????? hmmmmmmmmmmmm No i don't think that sounds very fun. im gonna doomscroll on twitter instead kthxbye

[floridaboiler]

Kelly Leak's stat line for 1976: 

 Batting average: .900 

Home runs: 50 

Fucks given: 0

https://twitter.com/Super70sSports

[rightpastnowhere]

Perc’ahlia Week Countdown - Day Three

If you can’t count on me to catch up like I keep promising, then you can at least count on me to be consistent <3

Day Three — Mask / Trinket

(yes the prompts are in a diff order on the collage but i wanted the heart to be visible)

And as usual, some brainstorming!!

Mask

Percy’s mask, “Darling, take the mask off” (c1 e33 / tlovm s1 e12)

Masquerade balls, disguises

Modern AU spa day/facial masks, modern AU Halloween, COVID AU if you really want

Vex’s false confidence/bravado masks, Percy’s mask of nobility, masking for neurodivergent/queer headcanons

Trinket

Trinket, obviously - his relationship with Percy (they were buddies as early as the home campaign!), Percy spoiling him

Trinket and the de Rolo babies, and also Charlie!!

Percy making things for Vex, Vex perhaps making things for Percy, Percy making little trinkets and toys for the kids

Seeing trinkets that remind them of each other, collecting things, shopping for things together, fidget trinkets

Day Three of Perc’ahlia Week will be Tuesday, September 26th!! I don’t know about all of you, but I’m getting really excited!! Head on over to @percahliaweek for more information, and don’t forget to tag your posts - WIPs and anything else related!! - with #percahliaweek !!

[vintage-tigre]

[dudja]

Batting practice with dad b like: #comedy #badnewsbears #billybobthornton #funny #dad #memes #sports

[adamedits]

Bad News Bears