#Desert Locust

[antiqueanimals]

Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia: vol. 2 - Insects. Written by Dr. Bernhard Grzimek. 1984.

Internet Archive

1.) Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria)

2.) Blue-winged grasshopper (Oedipoda caerulescens)

3.) Cylindracheta sp.

[wondrous-art]

Finished more Miinu designs, specifically Lampry's acquaintances. The first is a band he plays with at his bar, a band of Orthoptera, (and also maybe a polycule?)

And a much needed redesign of Arressa, the Emerald Cockroach Wasp who is a frequent singer at Lampry's bar with mothia ties.

[alienbath]

The Desert Locust one of the most destructive pests

(Source: Ingo Arndt)

[wolfephoto]

Desert Locusts of London by John Wolfe Via Flickr: London Zoo, UK 2024

[mudstoneabyss]

having Lauren not have been seen in db since tmua is kinda crazy. fuck has she been doing for five years

[farmerstrend]

Mass Breeding Of Desert Locusts Unlocks New Food Source

Mass breeding of desert locusts in a controlled environment could provide a sustainable source of protein for animals and humans as well as business opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa, researchers say. With nearly 282 million people in Africa undernourished and a growing population, there is an urgent need for more sustainable food sources and edible insects have attracted much attention as one…

[tenth-sentence]

Locusts are not an uncommon pest in this country: already during this season, several smaller swarms had come up from the south, where, as apparently in all other parts of the world, they are bred in the deserts.

"Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries Visited During the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle Round the World, 1832-36" - Charles Darwin

[memorycycle]

for 1 million years you will be forced to stand on my treasure chest and feel the heat of the desert sun and 1 hundred gajilion spiders and scorpions and lizards and locusts and will use thejr powerful poisons to hurt you really really eally really bad bad bad like so bad but you cant die until the 1 million years is over and you only get to eat bread and old milk and you have to dip the bread and hold it underneath the milk until the bubbles stop coming out. and then you eat the bread

[careyakane]

4:08 pm Memphis TN / 1:21 Am Texarkana TX

Mahogany tables beneath bourbon walls and a black ceiling as Carl, the saint he is, pours sweet tea and recommends the dry ribs. He holds himself as a gentle man, moving slowly with a little extra weight on his left as he steps towards the kitchen to fetch more of the drink. Damn the sweet tea—tables full of that honey nectar, the water of the South—brought swiftly over worn hardwood floors that have known the feet of many joyous, dancing folk. Folk with soft voices that end each phrase in kind words and affirmations, folk that meet and hold a gaze loyally, just like a deer is loyal to the headlights of its end.

For a moment, I dread the harsh hiss of my peers in the West; anxious fools we all seem in comparison to these tender souls of Memphis. The land of B.B. King, the land of the blues. “See you boys next time,” Carl seems to sing as we step back to the road and begin again. Soon the sun has expanded until she floods everything in sight with a color just like that of the sweet tea. Train yards, groves of locust, drowned fields of soybeans, a sandy full moon low to the horizon, and suitcase towns all burn up in her hand as we fly west.

With time, the snow slips back into the landscape, and just past 10 p.m., we arrive at a deserted navy hospital perched above Hot Springs Arkansas. A thousand windows lay dark, like the eyes of some terrible creature of the sea. The building feels alive, restless to sit drained of the life and death that once filled its halls. Towns like this make me rejoice for my destination, and I swear I saw envy in the eyes of those bound to stay as we stopped for coffee and waffles—“just passing through” written all over us.

Now, an hour past the reset of the day, we stop to sleep in a Texas hotel “under renovation,” or so a greasy fox of a man says, as I am sure he has said each night for years now. I’m not sure how one could fix anything with the sad sum we cough up, and so I turn my head away from the missing drywall and stained mattress and write of the day’s unfoldings. Austin tomorrow.

[lostintransist]

It Was Almost Love

CW: Dead Dove: Gran dies, reader dies, Simon dies. Death is the breath of this fic.

You would die today. Something in the air tickled at the sense of otherness that had always kept you safe on every other mission.

Your Memaw had been something of a witch and all her children and their children had a touch of what she called the ‘old world’ in them. You had always trusted that sense, but you trusted Memaw’s more.

You had been six when your mother died in a car accident. Memaw had taken your hand at the wake. None of your aunts or uncles would take you, Memaw would shame them for their cowardice in the years to come. She would often complain as she creaked from standing to sitting that she was ‘too damn old for this child rearin’ nonsense’. She loved you fiercely and it showed in every homemade school lunch and her attendance at every performance. You grew up treasured and bathed in love.

Memaw had to have been nearing her nineties when she finally sat you down and explained she would be leaving soon. You had been sixteen.

“Now chile, I not long for this world. Your pappy has been calling me something fierce these past few years. I can only tell that man off so many times before he is going to come to drag me home by my ankles.”

You were sitting at the table that had been old when your mother had been young. The cheery daisies below the plastic sheet offered no explanation as you stared at them.

“Why are you leaving me Memaw?” You couldn’t keep the shake from your voice.

She had been talking about going ‘home’ for as long as you could remember, but never like this. Never before had it been fact instead of a desire.

Her knobby hands reached out, the age spots drawing your attention from the table.

“I am old, and frankly I have earned my rest. Everything is settled in my will, it sits in the family bible. I have left something for each of you, but you most of all. You tell your uncle James that if he contests I have a provision that he gets nothing. Despite my best efforts, he turned out just like my father.” She shook her head, wedding ring digging into your hand. You didn’t dare let go.

“One last thing chile.” She looked at you now, the years hiding her beauty behind gravity, “You will die in the desert, with the forests above you. When your time comes I will come for you; your mother and I both will lead you home.”

You didn’t think about it much. She had been gone the next morning, passed in her sleep the doctor said. The family descended, locust to the famine her death had caused. Again no one wanted to take you, nearly an adult they said. We’ll keep the house till you graduate. They didn’t. You got Memaws and Pappy’s wedding bands; they sat next to your dog tags. All the years of love boiled down to two gold bands and a surname.

You were shuffled from house to house until by a stroke of luck you stumbled into a recruiter's office to wait out a storm that passed overhead. You had just turned seventeen and could, with some sloppy handwriting, get in a little early. By the time anyone got around to verifying your age you were already through basic assigned to a team and only a few months away from eighteen. You had gotten a reprimand and a letter put in your file but it hadn’t stopped you from progressing. You tried twice as hard as anyone else, doubling your hours in training.

It took years of tenacity, but you finally landed somewhere you fit. The 141, a joint task force, had pulled your number somewhere after the third deployment you made it home without a scratch. You were still wary of Captain Price despite the years you had served under him. He looked too much like a man who had hurt you to ever fully relax.

There was Gaz and Soap, two men who tucked you beneath their arms and dragged you into every drinking game they started. You found what it could have been like to have siblings between their ribbing and childish puns.

You learned philosophy in the signs you shared with Roach. He couldn’t speak but the questions he posed set you down for weeks until you could nail the feeling and articulate it with your limited vocabulary in sign language. He told you often you could use your voice but you knew the gift of someone meeting you where you were at.

Ghost had been a whole other beast. Tall, tatted, and always wearing a mask. He spoke rarely, mostly to Soap. You slid under his radar. It took three years of serving with him before he said anything to you other than orders in the field.

“Y/N.” The sound of England never faded from his words. Maybe that is why he used his words so sparingly, to keep home close to his heart.

“Yes L.T.?” You stared at his tactical vest. You had already been reemed by Price for the ammeter mistake you had made today. You had nearly gotten Gaz killed.

“You good?”

This brought your gaze up sharply. You glanced over his face before turning your gaze back down.

“Nope, not at all.”

The tears began to well now. It was Memaw’s birthday and god if you didn’t miss her more than air sometimes.

You sniffed, a statue in front of you.

“Anything else Lieutenant?”

“No.”

You spun on your heel, stalking away from him.

He had been kinder after that. Well, kinder could be a bit of a stretch to call the change. He reminded you of a feral tom you had started to befriend when you were ten. You had found that old beast frozen to death behind the barn one winter. You stopped feeding the cats after that.

You had fallen for him, sand dropping grain by grain until you were in so deep only your nose stuck above the sand.

You never told him. One cannot expect a wild horse to love you more than the freedom of running. You tucked your feelings away, behind your vest and your metals. Always a soldier first.

“Y/N.” A hand on your shoulder pulled you back to the present.

You looked up at Ghost, everything but the whites of his eyes blacked out. You were going on a midnight mission in the desert.

“If I die today, just know it’s not your fault.”

The man who more often stood frozen than in motion reeled back from your words.

“The fuck you mean Y/N? No one is going to die tonight, it’s just a recon mission.”

“Okay.”

You look down at your weapons, counting them and checking strap tightness.

“What’s this I hear about you dying?” Price strolls up to you, the casualness of his pace is betrayed by his words.

You sigh and turn to him, goatee always trimmed and combed to perfection.

“You ever just have a feeling captain?”

He shook his head, his hat casting odd shadows from the lights scattered around the base.

“Not feelings like that.”

“Mmm. My grandmother did, said goodbye to me the night before she passed. Told me I would die in the desert with the forest above my eyes. She’s close Cap.”

You can feel his stare, evaluating. You can see when he decides to let it ride, too much could go wrong tonight to switch out a different team member.

“Just, don’t do anything stupid out there okay?” He sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose, the other hand straying for a cigar.

“Cap?”

“Yeah,” he replies around the end of his now-lit cigar.

“If I do die tonight, would you give Ghost my flag? No one in my family will care when I am gone.”

Price puffs a stream of smoke out of his nose, reminding you of a dragon.

“Yeah, I will. Just don’t die out there okay?”

You offer a faint smile in reply.

The time finally comes and you join Ghost in a Humvee, you are the passenger in the front seat. This stupid car would lock up if the front seat got moved back and the mechs team had yet to figure out a workaround for it.

You rode along, moonlight guiding your path until a screech of metal bending, fire, and a shock wave that stole your vision rocked your world.

You wake staring at the stars agony licking along every nerve ending. You can’t hear anything, ears still ringing. You blink and Ghost is there, down by your knees. He is messing with something. You gasp as a tourniquet tightens down just above your knee. You knew what that meant, and it wasn’t good.

Ghost moves up, checking the rest of you for injuries. When he gets to your head he taps your cheek lightly, you can’t hear him past the ringing in your ears that won’t stop.

You grab your mic, you set it to record tonight as well as transmit.

“There’s no saving me tonight Simon.”

His eyes widen, either at the second proclamation of your death or at the use of his name. You had seen it on a single un-redacted file several years ago, a treasure you hoarded.

Your eyes flick around wildly, catching sight of shadows in the flames of your Humvee.

“I just need you to know that Price is giving you my flag.”

Ghost turns your face back to him, he has wrenched his mask up, his mouth visible.

‘why me’ you can make out.

You shrug with one shoulder, “Why not you? I’ve been in love with you for years.”

His mouth gapes like a fish searching for breathable oxygen.

“My mama is here now, I’ve got to go.”

You start to close your eyes.

Ghost shakes you, his yell sliding over the ringing.

“Y/N! You can’t just say that and up and die!”

You smile at him weakly. Everything about you is weak. You’ve lost too much blood. You lift your arm, it shakes wildly as it touches his face.

You slip your fingers below the mask, the bristle of his stubble a shock to you.

“Memaw’s here too. I love you.”

You don’t know how you missed it, serving with him for so many years. But Ghost’s eyes were forest green.

Ghost stood vigil with your body. He tucked your leg into place on the stretcher, right where it was before everything went sideways. He followed you, your blood on his cheek until physically restrained from where they prepared to send you stateside.

Price didn’t deny the leave request. Ghost had never requested one before, and your words still echoed in Cap’s ears. ‘Give him my flag.’ Price noted the flag would be given to your teammate, a man who legally was dead while you lay in a box.

Ghost didn’t cry as he sat in the cemetery, little white crosses laid so neatly as a testament to the greed of man. He didn’t cry as your countrymen folded your flag in such a small neat triangle, or when seven repeated shots felt as if they all stabbed into him.

No, he cried in the scummy motel that was rented by the hour with the strongest piss alcohol he could find. You had been in love with him? How had he not known?

You stayed with him. Your picture lived between his shirt and his vest, holding him safe from the missions that got more and more dangerous.

It was almost love.

You were on his mind when he found the bouncing Betty with the toe of his boot.

He managed to clear everyone far enough away before he moved, not quite fast enough though.

He swore you sat at his head, sliding your hand along the same cheek you had caressed so many years before. You smiled at him then, you hardly smiled at him while alive. You disappeared between Soap and Gaz as they rushed in to help him.

The loss of his leg had sent him home. Honorable discharge and a command from Price to stay away from the drink and get well enough to stay a veteran.

He tried so damn hard. He thought about you every day. It was almost love.

He made it until your death anniversary until he painted the walls with his brain matter. He prayed to any god that might listen that on the way to hell to just let him have a pit stop to see your face.

Masterlist | It Had Been Love

[vintagewildlife]

Desert locust By: S. C. Bisserot From: The Desert 1977

[astra-ravana]

The Signs: Correspondences

Aries♈

Symbol: The ram

Affirmation: "I am."

Dates: March 21st - April 20th

Day: Tuesday

Element: Fire

Colors: Red, orange, black, white

Body: Head

Ruler: Mars

House: First

Modality: Cardinal

Polarity: Positive

Gender: Masculine

Number: 9

Metal: Iron

Birthstone: Diamond

Season: Spring

Tarot: The Emporer

Exultation: Sun

Fall: Saturn

Detriment: Venus

Plants: Hops, thistle, red clover, honeysuckle, holly, hawthorne, garlic, nettles, cayenne, locust, geranium, saffron, spruce

Crystals: Diamond, rutilated quartz, carnelian, pietersite, bloodstone, citrine, ruby, jasper, super seven, herkimer diamond, Libyan desert glass, danburite, topaz, garnet, hematite, obsidian, sardonyx

Animals: Rams/sheep, tigers, dragons, hawks, wolves, foxes

Archetypes: The Warrior, The Pioneer, The Daredevil, The Survivor, The Child, The Creative, The Adventurer

Keywords: Pioneering, fearless, energetic, impulsive, adventurous, courageous, assertive, brash, optimistic, honest, independent, restless, fiery, fool hardy, forceful, combative, competitive, daring, crude, confident, enterprising, demanding, direct, resilient, dominant, impatient, reckless, loud, rash, stubborn, arrogant, temperamental, humorous, creative, friendly, authentic

Taurus♉

Symbol: The bull

Affirmation: "I have."

Dates: April 21st - May 21st

Day: Friday

Element: Earth

Colors: Green, blue, pink, brown

Body: Neck

Ruler: Venus

House: Second

Modality: Fixed

Polarity: Negative

Gender: Feminine

Number: 6

Metal: Copper

Birthstone: Emerald

Season: Late spring

Tarot: The Hierophant

Exultation: Moon

Fall: Uranus

Detriment: Mars/Pluto

Plants: Wheat, mint, apple, sorrel, foxglove, thyme, rose, sage, daisy, crypress, ash, poppy, basil, violet, dandelion, fig, pear

Crystals: Emerald, rose quartz, malachite, rhodonite, kunzite, peridot, jade, chrysocolla, kyanite, amethyst, pyrite, selenite, turquoise, lapis lazuli, adventurine, tiger's eye, moss agate

Animals: Bulls/cows, elephants, flamingos, turtles, camels

Archetypes: The Earth Spirit, The Musician, The Silent One, The Sage, The Hedonist, The Stabilizer

Keywords: Steadfast, reliable, sensual, patient, practical, loyal, grounded, stable, nurturing, tenacious, stubborn, possessive, materialistic, enduring, committed, devoted, calm, dependable, inflexible, resistant, over-indulgent, caring, resilient, persistent, overly cautious, tranquil, resourceful, sensible, unyielding, pessimistic, jealous, insecure, focused

Gemini♊

Symbol: The twins

Affirmation: "I think."

Dates: May 22nd - June 20th

Day: Wednesday

Element: Air

Colors: Yellow, blue, teal, grey

Body: Arms/hands

Ruler: Mercury

House: Third

Modality: Mutable

Polarity: Positive

Gender: Masculine

Number: 5

Metal: Mercury

Birthstone: Agate

Season: Early summer

Tarot: The Lovers

Exultation: North node

Fall: South node

Detriment: Jupiter

Plants: Anise, lavender, marjoram, hazel, caraway, myrtle, fern, valerian, lily-of-the-valley, bittersweet, chestnut

Crystals: Agate, moonstone, aquamarine, pearl, sapphire, apatite, howlite, alexandrite, chrysophase, celestite, sodalite, lemon quartz, opal, labradorite, tourmaline, onyx

Animals: Horses, dolphins, deer, butterflies, chameleons, monkies

Archetypes: The Witness, The Teacher, The Storyteller, The Journalist, The Messenger, The Unholdable

Keywords: Adaptable, outgoing, curious, intellectual, impulsive, versatile, flakey, gossipy, enthusiastic, indecisive, loving, nosy, open, excitable, flighty, bubbly, fun-loving, verbal, smart, judgemental, nervous, distracted, giving, popular, gentle, emotionally aware, persuasive, intuitive, empathetic

Cancer♋

Symbol: The crab

Affirmation: "I feel."

Dates: June 21st - July 21st

Day: Monday

Element: Water

Colors: White, silver, grey, blue, green

Body: Chest/stomach

Ruler: Moon

House: Fourth

Modality: Cardinal

Polarity: Negative

Gender: Feminine

Number: 2

Metal: Silver

Birthstone: Pearl (moonstone)

Season: Mid summer

Tarot: The Chariot

Exultation: Jupiter

Fall: Mars

Detriment: Saturn

Plants: White rose, verbena, tarragon, water lily, lotus, willow, alder, saxifrage, lettuce, acanthus, jasmine

Crystals: Moonstone, pearl, selenite, calcite, chalcedony, opal, amethyst, emerald, chrysophase, coral, larimar, howlite, peacock ore, blue kyanite, rose quartz, blue lace agate, angelite

Animals: Crustaceans, frogs, whales, rabbits, seals

Archetypes: The Mother, The Healer, The Invisible, The Hysteric, The Counselor, The Psychic, The Maiden

Keywords: Emotional, loving, sensitive cautious, sympathetic, moody, touchy, protective, unpredictable, charming, loyal, tender-hearted, creative, caring, over-emotional, resentful, drastic, nurturing, generous, ardent, consistent, aloof, codependent, coddling, dramatic, hysterical, shrewd, imaginative, possessive, changeable, defensive, clinging, vindictive, devoted, motherly, soft

Leo♌

Symbol: The lion

Affirmation: "I will."

Dates: July 22nd - August 22nd

Day: Sunday

Element: Fire

Colors: Gold, yellow, orange

Body: Heart/spine

Ruler: Sun

House: Fifth

Modality: Fixed

Polarity: Positive

Gender: Masculine

Number: 1

Metal: Gold

Birthstone: Ruby

Season: Late summer

Tarot: Strength

Exultation: Neptune

Fall: None

Detriment: Uranus

Plants: Sunflower, saffron, peppermint, walnut, rosemary, St. John's wort, borage, orange, lemon, bay, olive, marigold, dandelion

Crystals: Ruby, carnelian, citrine, sunstone, spinel hematite, rhodochrosite, rutilated quartz, peridot, pyrite, herkimer diamond, golden topaz, honey calcite, apache tear, tiger's eye, black onyx

Animals: Lions, cats, peacocks, horses, phoenix, eagles, tigers

Archetypes: The King/Queen, The Performer, The Clown, The Golden Child, The Victor, The Magician, The Guardian

Keywords: Confident, loyal, passionate, arrogant, dependable, strong, domineering, vivacious, honest, sociable, warm, self-focused, vain, determined, giving, charismatic, attention-seeking, ferocious, joyous, fun, jealous, inflexible, brave, born leader, kind, reckless, shallow, hospitable, flirtatious, outrageous, wild, cocky, confrontational, magnetic, chatty, luxurious, extravagant

Virgo♍

Symbol: The virgin

Affirmation: "I analyze."

Dates: August 23rd - September 23rd

Day: Wednesday

Element: Earth

Colors: Green, white, brown, navy blue

Body: Abdomen

Ruler: Mercury

House: Sixth

Modality: Mutable

Polarity: Negative

Gender: Feminine

Number: 5

Metal: Nickel

Birthstone: Peridot

Season: Early autumn

Tarot: The Hermit

Exultation: Mercury

Fall: Venus/Neptune

Detriment: Jupiter/Neptune

Plants: Valerian, elder, skullcap, flax, buttercup, lavender, dill, blackberry, morning glory, forget-me-not, hazel

Crystals: Peridot, jade, sapphire, fluorite, sodalite, lapis lazuli, mookaite, zicron, sardonyx, moss agate, nuummite

Animals: Owls, bees, doves, squirrels, mice, salmon

Archetypes: The Perfectionist, The Servant, The Martyr, The Analyst, The Alchemist, The Messenger

Keywords: Analytical, hardworking, meticulous, practical, fussy, judgemental, modest, patient, artistic, critical, attentive, picky, humble, industrious, polite, proper, shy, intelligent, distant, harsh, conservative, anxious, sensitive, dedicated, subtle, curious, classy, responsible, repressed, trustworthy, altruistic, gentle, ethereal, wise, independent

Libra♎

Symbol: The scales

Affirmation: "I balance."

Dates: September 23rd - October 22nd

Day: Friday

Element: Air

Colors: Light blue, pink, green

Body: Kidneys

Ruler: Venus

House: Seventh

Modality: Cardinal

Polarity: Positive

Gender: Masculine

Number: 6

Metal: Copper

Birthstone: Sapphire

Season: Mid-autumn

Tarot: Justice

Exultation: Saturn

Fall: Sun

Detriment: Mars

Plants: Mint, rose, dahlia, feverfew, thyme, ash, burdock, parsley, blue lotus, daisy, poplar, apple, grape, white sycamore

Crystals: Sapphire, jade, sardonyx, opal, turquoise, moonstone, lapis lazuli, rose quartz, larvakite, obsidian, auralite, prehnite, pink tourmaline, morganite

Animals: Ravens, swans, dragonflies, dogs, deer, pandas

Archetypes: The Lover, The Artist, The Peacemaker, The Socialite, The Flirt, The Designer, The Mediator

Keywords: Diplomatic, charming, easy going, fair, balanced, sensual, lazy, indecisive, idealistic, manipulative, dreamy, intellectual, harmonious, influential, friendly, entitled, engaging, likable, melodramatic, gossipy, vain, tactful, witty, funny, tempered, pragmatic, sincere, fickle, bossy, ambivalent, generous, insecure, lovable, creative, optimistic

Scorpio♏

Symbol: The scorpion

Affirmation: "I desire."

Dates: October 23rd - November 22nd

Day: Tuesday

Element: Water

Colors: Dark red, maroon, black

Body: Genitals

Ruler: Mars/Pluto

House: Eighth

Modality: Fixed

Polarity: Negative

Gender: Feminine

Number: 9

Metal: Steel (iron)

Birthstone: Opal

Season: Late autumn

Tarot: Death

Exultation: Uranus

Fall: Moon

Detriment: Venus

Plants: Hawthorne, witch hazel, aloe, catnip, birch, ginseng, onion/leek, heather, geranium, brambles, milk thistle, rhododendron

Crystals: Opal, topaz, malachite, garnet, ruby, labradorite, smokey quartz, beryl, Apache tear, moonstone, shungite, citrine, auralite, super seven, bloodstone, amethyst, abalone, que sera

Animals: Scorpions, spiders, eagles, serpents, panthers

Archetypes: The Detective, The Sorcerer, The Hypnotist, The Witch, The Temptress, The Mystic, The Protector

Keywords: Determined, forceful, intuitive, powerful, magnetic, secretive, ambitious, obsessive, hardworking, emotionally intelligent, creative, seductive, possessive, honest, blunt, passionate, intense, jealous, protective, resentful, tenacious, thrilling, sardonic, stubborn, dark, strategic, loyal, stoic, obstinate, fearless, disciplined, skeptical, self-reliant

Sagittarius♐

Symbol: The centaur/archer

Affirmation: "I see."

Dates: November 22nd - December 21st

Day: Thursday

Element: Fire

Colors: Purple, royal blue, red

Body: Hips, thighs, liver

Ruler: Jupiter

House: Ninth

Modality: Mutable

Polarity: Positive

Gender: Masculine

Number: 3

Metal: Tin

Birthstone: Topaz

Season: Early winter

Tarot: Temperance

Exultation: South Node

Fall: North Node

Detriment: Mercury

Plants: Sage, dandelion, mulberry, cinnamon, wood betony, star anise, mandrake, mallow, oak, thistle, carnations, ash, calamus, orchid

Crystals: Topaz, labradorite, amethyst, azurite, corundom, carnelian, spinel, sugilite, tanzanite, iolite, chalcedony, blue goldstone, yooperlite, lapis lazuli, garnet, blue apatite, quantum quatro

Animals: Horses, stags, falcons, foxes, crows, unicorns

Archetypes: The Gypsy, The Student, The Philosopher, The Psychiatrist, The Seeker, The Comedian, The Guide

Keywords: Adventurous, philosophical, free-spirited, intelligent, direct, impulsive, scatter-brained, forgiving, curious, jovial, good-humored, idealistic, unfiltered, blunt, impatient, preachy, accepting, authentic, energetic, non-committal, compassionate, friendly, unfocused, conflict-avoidant, spontaneous, enchanting, musical, stylish, detached, trusty, pioneering, sophisticated, open-minded

Capricorn♑

Symbol: The sea goat

Affirmation: "I use."

Dates: December 22nd - January 20th

Day: Saturday

Element: Earth

Colors: Dark green, grey, black, brown

Body: Knees

Ruler: Saturn

House: Tenth

Modality: Cardinal

Polarity: Negative

Gender: Feminine

Number: 8

Metal: Lead

Birthstone: Turquoise

Season: Winter

Tarot: The Devil

Exultation: Mars

Fall: Jupiter

Detriment: Moon

Plants: Hemlock, ivy, poppy, beetroot, comfrey, hemp, elm, willow, henbane, knapweed, pansy, yew, onion, hellebore, horsetail

Crystals: Turquoise, onyx, black tourmaline, corundom, smokey quartz, clear quartz, sodalite, jet, larvakite, hematite, pyrite, citrine, aragonite, azurite, malachite, black kyanite, kiwi jasper, tiger iron

Animals: Goats, bees, elk/deer, woodpeckers, penguins, sturgeon

Archetypes: The Hermit, The Father, The Prime Minister, The Miser, The Judge, The Administrator, The Mentor

Keywords: Tough, uncompromising, dedicated, capable, responsible, tenacious, stubborn, practical, wise, persistent, pragmatic, honest, arrogant, controlling, ambitious, steadfast, strong, successful, minimalist, stoic, careful, reserved, mature, dry, pessimistic, disciplined, driven, prudent, shy, greedy, miserly, moody, competitive, moralistic, cynical, harsh, logical

Aquarius♒

Symbol: The water bearer

Affirmation: "I know."

Dates: January 21st - February 18th

Day: Wednesday

Element: Air

Colors: Sky blue, teal, violet, indigo

Body: Shins/ankles, pineal gland

Ruler: Uranus/Saturn

House: Eleventh

Modality: Fixed

Polarity: Positive

Gender: Masculine

Number: 4

Metal: Aluminum

Birthstone: Aquamarine

Season: Late winter

Tarot: The Star

Exultation: None

Fall: Neptune

Detriment: Sun

Plants: Orchid, rowan, mandrake, passion flower, lotus, myyrh, hops, elder, pepper, amber, frankincense, golden rain, bergamot, chilli, saffron

Crystals: Aquamarine, amethyst, moonstone, angelite, sapphire, labradorite, arfedsonite, turquoise, charoite, super seven, Libyan desert glass, lepidolite, que sera, herkimer diamond, lapis lazuli, indigo gabbro, aqua aura,

Animals: Dolphins, snow leaopards, condors, salamanders, snakes

Archetypes: The Genius, The Revolutionary, The Truth Sayer, The Exile, The Scientist, The Rebel, The Outlaw

Keywords: Individualistic, clever, analytical, assertive, innovative, humanitarian, optimistic, eccentric, obstinate, aloof, open-minded, intelligent, unpredictable, impulsive, creative, impulsive, tolerant, social, calculating, chaotic, enigmatic, contradictory, independent, idealistic, unique, humorous, restless, inquisitive, unyielding, detached, lonely

Pisces♓

Symbol: The fishes

Affirmation: "I believe."

Dates: February 19th - March 20th

Day: Thursday

Element: Water

Colors: Sea green, mint, blue, cyan

Body: Feet

Ruler: Neptune/Jupiter

House: Twelfth

Modality: Mutable

Polarity: Negative

Gender: Feminine

Number: 7

Metal: Platinum

Birthstone: Moonstone

Season: Early spring

Tarot: The Moon

Exultation: Venus

Fall: Mercury

Detriment: Mercury

Plants: Water lily, chicory, fig, echinacea, angelica, moss, hazel, fern, eyebright, primrose, willow, iris, seaweed

Crystals: Moonstone, fluorite, aquamarine, larimar, jade, moss agate, amazonite, blue lace agate, blue adventurine, amethyst, dumortierite, tourmaline, apatite, mother of pearl, citrine, kunzite

Animals: Fish, chameleons, butterflies, deer, octopuses, mockingbirds

Archetypes: The Mystic, The Dreamer, The Poet, The Guide, The Medic, The Creator, The Dancer, The Guru

Keywords: Intuitive, creative, brilliant, loving, empathetic, intense, anxious, animated, romantic, soft, adventurous, needy, scatterbrained, mystical, addictive, unmotivated, sentimental, spiritual, compassionate, lighthearted, flexible, forgiving, supportive, kind, sweet, childish, stingy, charming, blunt, self-indulgent, apathetic, fun

[gothicspork]

Sporky’s BG3 Fanart Retrospective

My creative drive eloped with this game. It’s certainly enabled by the BG3 fans who like and reblog my stuff. Thank you so much! If you guys are up for more, my list of comic ideas is far from over because my OCs seem to be enjoying Fae’run way too much.

Here are the links to my top 9 personal faves among my comics:

Plague Durge I went into BG3 with the intention of making a twinky plague doctor. The Dark Urge origin was asking for it. I really have to thank @runeberry for coining the name in the tags:

Three Dads for Shadowheart It was very considerate of the Sharrans to design a lobby outside their test chambers.

Teddy Needed a New Heart Little Hyve exhibited curiosity towards the medical field at an early age. Credits to this Zefrank video for the idea.

Locust at Sharess’ Caress Locust is my oldest RPG character and he’s too at-home as a snub-nosed githyanki.

A Thorm at Their Side A trip to Moonrise bored Hyve out of their mind. They’ll make it another Thorm’s problem.

Durgetash moments Gortash makes the first move.

Wizard Bros I’ve foiled speak to the dead opportunities too many times by having these nerds in my party.

Am I Krumping? This was originally between Locust and Karlach but Locust wouldn’t have been embarrassed towards Lae’zel. Astarion, get your pasty-ass in there. Surely you’ve krumped among the dark streets of Baldur’s Gate.

Vantage Point Locust and Lae’zel’s very early dynamic. Locust is subservient to Lae’zel to hide the fact that he’s a gith deserter.

Explore the rest of my BG3 tag >>

[raileurta]

Tfp kids but with superpowers

This au is pretty self explanatory. So here's the kids' powers and the inspiration behind them. (And yes it's mha inspired)

Raf

Power: Distortion

Abilities: He can cause non living objects in a 40 feet radius around himself to become distorted like in a corrupted game or computer file. (Think spiderverse glitching but more techy)

Causes all technology in the area to become unusable as they will only be able to display static. 40% of the tech afterwards will also be fried.

Can hold the radius for only a few minutes at a time in 15 minutes intervals.

Drawbacks: Headaches and derealization.

Opinion of power: Feels it's annoying. He can't really use it a lot because he always has his computer on him and he doesn't want it to break.

Inspo: The obvious cop out was a tech helper based power or something intelligence related but I thought it would be more interesting if it's the opposite. I want their powers to be interesting, you know?

Jack

Power: Viewpoint teleportation

Abilities: Can teleport anywhere as long it's in his line of sight.

When touching objects or people he can also teleport them. Can only take two people at a time.

Currently can only teleport 20 times in a day.

20/20 vision

Drawbacks: Temporary blindness, physical and mental exhaustion.

Opinion of power: Thinks it's very useful. I mean who wouldn't love to teleport? It's annoying when he can't see but it's great for getting Miko and Raf to safety quickly.

Inspo: Jack is a pretty plain character so I wanted him to have a sort of classic superpower. Idk why but he just also gives off “I can teleport” vibes.

Miko

Power: Swarm

Abilities: She can turn into hungry seven inch sized 50 million copies of herself.

If a clone is critically damaged they will disappear and if more than 40% of the copies are destroyed then Miko will revert back to a singular person. The mini Mikos function similarly to a hive mind and are not replicas of the og Miko.

She has wings similar to that of a desert locust.

Increased bite strength. Being able to bite through metal with ease.

Super kick.

The ability to eat most organic and inorganic material.

Drawbacks: Insatiable hunger, cannibalistic tendencies, bots of autophobia, and losing her humanity.

Opinion of power: Thinks it's cool but dangerous. Miko can cause some very serious damage if she's not careful. Out of the human trio she uses her main ability the least, preferring to stick to her wings or kicks. This is the one thing she will actively not mess around with. When she's in swarm mode her main thought is food food food, and if something's edible she'll want to eat it. That includes the autobots and her human friends….. She won't hurt them. She won't.

Inspo: I just wanted her to be a straight up steroid infused scaplet if I'm being honest with myself. I want an arc of wheeljack being absolutely terrified of Miko after they see her consume hardshells and a legion of insecticons. Scraplets are very scary to autobots and now Miko is just a more deadly version.

[ad-caelestia]

common toxic plants

[long post; updated 12.8.24]

this is not a complete list by any means, but these commonly noted plants, herbs, and flowers should be handled with care or avoided altogether. 

aconite (wolfsbane, monkshood) - all parts: dermatoxic, hepatotoxic, and neurotoxic

adam and eve (jack-in-the-pulpit, wild arum) - root: dermatoxic and gastrotoxic if ingested

african sumac - leaves: dermatoxic; possibly fatal

agave - juice: dermatoxic  

angel’s trumpet - all parts: cardiotoxic; often fatal

apple - seeds: cytotoxic in large doses

apricot - leaves and seeds: cytotoxic in large doses

arnica - gastrotoxic 

asparagus - berries: dermatoxic and gastrotoxic if ingested

azalea - all parts: cytotoxic and neurotoxic; rarely fatal

betel nut palm (pinyang) - all parts: gastrotoxic if ingested

bittersweet nightshade - all parts: neurotoxic and gastrotoxic; rarely fatal

black hellebore - all parts: cardiotoxic and gastrotoxic; possibly fatal

black locust (false acacia) - root bark and flowers: gastrotoxic

black nightshade - all parts except ripe fruit: neurotoxic and gastrotoxic; possibly fatal

bleeding heart - leaves and roots: neurotoxic

bloodroot - rhizomes: cytotoxic

blue passion flower (common passion flower) - leaves: cytotoxic

bracken - all parts: carcinogenic

buttercup - all parts: gastrotoxic and dermatoxic 

calabar bean (ordeal beans) - seeds: neurotoxic and gastrotoxic if ingested in large doses

cassava - leaves and roots: cytotoxic in large doses

castor bean (castor oil plant) - seeds: cytotoxic if ingested or inhaled

celandine - nephrotoxic 

cherry - leaves and seeds: cytotoxic in large doses

christmas rose - all parts: gastrotoxic

cocklebur - seedlings and seeds: gastrotoxic and neurotoxic

columbine - seeds and roots: cardiotoxic; easily fatal

corn lily (false hellebore) - all parts: cardiotoxic; often fatal

cowbane (water hemlock, snakeweed) - root: neurotoxic if ingested

daffodil - bulbs and stems: gastrotoxic; possibly fatal

datura/moonflower - all parts: gastrotoxic and cardiotoxic

deadly nightshade (belladonna) - all parts: cardiotoxic and neurotoxic; often fatal

desert rose (sabi star, kudu) - sap: cardiotoxic with skin contact

dumbcane - all parts: dermatoxic; possibly fatal

elder (elderberry) - root: gastrotoxic

elephant ear (angel wings) - all parts: dermatoxic and gastrotoxic

ergot - neurotoxic 

foxglove - leaves, seeds, and flowers: cardiotoxic; often fatal

garlic - all parts: gastrotoxic in animals

giant hogweed - all parts: dermatoxic

golden chain - all parts, especially seeds: neurotoxic and gastrotoxic; possibly fatal

goldenseal - all parts: gastrotoxic and neurotoxic in large doses

grapes/raisins - all parts: gastrotoxic in dogs

greater celandine - all parts: gastrotoxic in large doses

hemlock (spotted cowbane, poison snakeweed) - all parts: neurotoxic; possibly fatal

hemlock water dropwort - roots: neurotoxic if ingested; possibly fatal

henbane - all parts: neurotoxic and cardiotoxic

holly - berries: gastrotoxic

honeybush - all parts: gastrotoxic

honeysuckle - berries: gastrotoxic in mild cases and cardiotoxic in severe cases

horse chestnut - all parts: neurotoxic

hyacinth - bulbs: gastrotoxic and neurotoxic; possibly fatal

iris - rhizomes: gastrotoxic and dermatoxic 

kava kava - nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic 

kidney bean - raw: gastrotoxic

larkspur - young plants and seeds: neurotoxic; often fatal

lemon - oil: dermatoxic and gastrotoxic to animals  

lily - all parts: nephrotoxic

lily of the nile (calla lily) - all parts: dermatoxic and gastrotoxic if ingested; possibly fatal

lily of the valley - all parts: cardiotoxic; possibly fatal

lima beans - raw: gastrotoxic

lime - oil: dermatoxic and gastrotoxic in animals

lobelia - all parts: gastrotoxic 

mandrake - roots and leaves: gastrotoxic and neurotoxic

mango - peel and sap: dermatoxic

mangrove - bark and sap: dermatoxic and eye irritation

mayapple - all green parts and unripe fruit: gastrotoxic

meadow saffron (autumn crocus) - bulbs: gastrotoxic; possibly fatal

mistletoe - leaves and berries: gastrotoxic, cardiotoxic, and neurotoxic; rarely lethal in adults

moonseed - fruits and seeds: gastrotoxic; often fatal

mountain laurel - all green parts: gastrotoxic

nutmeg - raw: psychoactive in large doses

oak - leaves and acorns: gastrotoxic; rarely fatal

odollam tree (suicide tree) - seeds: cardiotoxic; often fatal

oleander - all parts: dermatoxic, cardiotoxic, and gastrotoxic; possibly fatal

onions - all parts: gastrotoxic in animals

orange - oil: dermatoxic and gastrotoxic in animals

peach - seeds and leaves: cytotoxic in large doses

periwinkle (vinca) - all parts: neurotoxic and potentially fatal

pokeweed - leaves, berries, and roots: gastrotoxic; often fatal

poison ivy/oak/sumac - all parts, especially leaves: dermatoxic; possibly fatal

poison ryegrass (darnel) - seeds: neurotoxic

potato - raw: cytotoxic

privet - berries and leaves: neurotoxic and gastrotoxic; possibly fatal

ragwort - all parts: hepatotoxic

redoul - all parts: gastrotoxic, neurotoxic, and causes respiratory issues; can be fatal in children

rhubarb - leaves: nephrotoxic

rosary pea - seeds: neurotoxic and gastrotoxic; often fatal

skullcap - hepatotoxic

spindle (spindle tree) - fruit: hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic; possibly fatal  

stinging tree (gympie gympie) - bark and sap: dermatoxic; sometimes fatal

strychnine tree - seeds: neurotoxic; often fatal

sweet pea - seeds: neurotoxic and damaging to connective tissues

tomato - leaves and stems: cytotoxic in large doses

uva ursi - neurotoxic, dermatoxic 

white baneberry (doll’s eyes) - all parts, especially berries: cardiotoxic; possibly fatal

white snakeroot - all parts: gastrotoxic; often fatal

winter cherry (jerusalem cherry) - all parts, especially berries: gastrotoxic; occasionally fatal, especially to children

wisteria - gastrotoxic

yew (english yew, common yew) - leaves and seeds: gastrotoxic if ingested and respiratory issues if inhaled

glossary: 

carcinogenic - a substance that can cause cancer

cardiotoxic - toxic to the heart

cytotoxic - toxic to living cells

dermatoxic - toxic to the skin

gastrotoxic - toxic to the gastrointestinal system (stomach, intestines, etc.)

hepatotoxic - toxic to the liver

nephrotoxic - toxic to the kidneys and urological system (ureters, bladder)

neurotoxic - toxic to the neurological system (brain, nerves, brainstem, spinal cord, etc.)

psychoactive - pertaining to substances that change brain function and result in alterations in perception, mood, or consciousness

© 2024 ad-caelestia

[beechersnope]

is this anything

***

They’d left the water in the freezer too long. It comes out as something in-between; Oscar catches herself staring at the bottle in Carlos’s hands as he flips it back and forth, shaking the icy slush inside with a quick jerk of his fingers.

It had taken some getting used to—using his name. For a while after he’d come into their territory, everyone in the pack had just called him The Wolf. It’s not natural, some had said. It’s not right. Wolves should keep to their own kind.

Three full moons had passed since then, and not once had Oscar seen Carlos shed his skin.

In that time, spring has come and gone. Summer is nearly upon them, and with it, the first blue moon in nearly three years. The last time Oscar had sat out here on the deck of her family’s back porch like this, the entire pack gathered in anticipation, she’d been eight months shy of nineteen, young enough still to feel a pang of jealousy as she watched the others lope out into the darkness, wishing it was her turn.

Things have changed in the years since. Oscar doesn’t find the idea of being chased down by some uppity pup nearly as romantic as she did when she was a teenager. Not that there’s much hope of being anyone’s first pick—not anymore. She reaches a hand up towards the back of her neck before becoming aware of the motion. Stiffly, she jerks her hand back down to her lap and focuses instead on the mesmerizing swish of the ice in Carlos’s water bottle.

It takes him so long to take a swig of the damn thing that Oscar’s hands start to cramp where they’ve formed fists against her thighs without permission. She uncurls them slowly as she watches him swallow, beads of condensation slicking up under his fingers as beads of sweat make shimmering tracks down his throat.

“You know you can’t call dibs.” Lando is smirking when Oscar tears her gaze away from Carlos to face her friend.

“I’m not interested,” Oscar replies dully.

She flexes her fingers a few more times, nostrils flared as she takes in the scents around her. The whole pack is here, even the city yotes who think they’re too good to come home during equinox and solstice. She catches something salty and rich when the wind turns; it makes her jaw ache. She doesn’t turn to face it.

In some ways, May in the desert is even harsher than July. It hasn’t rained since February and won’t again for months yet. The wind is relentless. It howls in a shrill mimicry of Oscar’s birthright through the vents in the ranch house, pulling the dust and the flies and the locusts in with it. It makes her restless. She used to run during the spring storms sometimes, despite the wind, despite the dust. But that was before.

“Everyone’s interested,” Lando shoots back.

“Not like that,” Oscar points out.

Lando doesn’t respond. Oscar’s right.

Oscar still isn’t even sure why her mother is letting Carlos run at all. The whole wolf thing aside—and it is very much a Thing—Carlos is a good ten years older than the other late bloomers even, the ones who had opted to wait until the odds were in their favor. You only get one chance at the Chase.

Carlos had apparently assured Oscar’s mother that he’d never participated in one with his old pack back in Texas, but Oscar isn’t convinced. He’s almost thirty-four. Oscar had done the math in her head nearly a month ago. Carlos’s first blue moon was almost fifteen years ago, on the eve of his nineteenth birthday. Most pack leaders tended to force the issue by the third. Abstention is never a viable option.

Oscar has wisely opted to run this time around despite her general disinterest in a positive outcome. For her, this is as good as the odds would get; there are far more unmatched females than males, and Oscar is fast. When they were kids, the others had always made fun of her in her shifted form, barely bigger than a jackrabbit. They won’t be laughing when she outpaces them all tonight.

“Nervous?” Logan asks, his shadow briefly obscuring the sun as he wanders over from the water coolers to hover in front of where Oscar and Lando are sitting with their legs crossed on the floor. He has a half-empty water bottle crumpled in one fist. Two others are clutched by the caps between his knuckles, both full up. He extends them to Oscar and Lando in turn, and they both accept wordlessly. Technically, Logan isn’t supposed to be on their side, but Oscar’s mother isn’t as much of a stickler for rules as other alphas. He’ll get away with it as long as he doesn’t sit down.

Oscar shakes her head just as Lando lets out a derisive snort.

Logan grins. “Yeah, me too,” he says with a wink before wandering back onto the boys’ side. He parks himself noticeably closer to Carlos than any of the others, probably trying to show off. He’s one of the late bloomers, a year older than Oscar, maybe intent on Chasing her tonight despite everything—and if things had been any different, if Oscar had still been eighteen—she would probably have let him catch her.

“I wish this part didn’t take so long,” Oscar mutters under her breath. The preparations always go on for ages. She knows the waiting is part of it, that she should be sizing up her counterparts, memorizing their scents, planning a potential route to evade any unwanted suitors. But that’s just the thing. They’re all unwanted. All of this, the bonfire, the blessing, the ceremony, the Chase itself—it’s all a pointless ritual that Oscar has no interest in participating in.

Thirteen moons from now, Oscar plans to be unmatched and unmated, free to seek out a potential bond on her own terms, whenever it feels right. Even if it never feels right, she thinks with a hot surge of righteous anger.

Without warning or cause, Carlos glances up, nostrils flaring, his eyes connecting with Oscar’s from across the back deck with a deep, intense stare. The expected, submissive thing to do would be to look away, so Oscar holds his gaze as if intending to meet a rival alpha’s challenge, daring Carlos to break eye contact first.

But neither have a chance to settle the score. Finally, the sun begins to set over the dark ridge of the Funeral Mountains. And the howling begins.