#Frostbite is Cold Invasion

[bonefall]

To be fair miasma theory is unlikely, since it seems to have developed in response to cities and villages. We dunk on it now with our modern understanding of disease but miasma theory makes perfect sense if you're trying to make sense of illness in Europe at the time

Things that smell make you sick; waste, rotting meat, livestock.

Densifying cities and towns were disease outbreak centers, and in a time before proper sewer systems, that meant that urban spaces reeked.

Bad smells were also associated with poverty. Being poor means constant stress and starvation which more illness.

Making things smell nice means cleaning. Which means you would see reductions in illness.

Wearing garbs like the classic plague doctor getup was effective at keeping out bad smell, but more importantly, fleas and most pathogens.

Basically, they were onto something, but juuuust not quite there yet. It's a theory that made a lot of sense at the time. Meanwhile I'm not sure the cats would develop that. They don't have dense urban centers full of waste the way that miasma-believers did, or the strict social castes, or the clothing.

All that to say that Humor Theory would probably be a closer bet; the idea that sickness comes from an imbalance or excess in different fluids of the body. You could get some cool stuff out of, "If you don't bleed in battle you get too much blood in your body and it makes you do weird things"

There's no way the cats actually know what a germ is right? Like, germ theory is still basically new in the timeline of human history, so these cats definitely would have zero idea germs exist right? like they can obviously tell about disease spreading and the like, but it's much more likely they've developed mythology about spirits or do miasma theory right? I think that would be interesting, medicine cats wrapping lavender around their noses to help prevent disease, putting nice smelling things in the nursery to help bade off disease to the kits, I just think there's a lot of world building that can be done here because theres no way in hell the average clan cat fully 100% knows that things can even be microscopic

[bonefall]

Is there a clanmew word for frostbite? Both in cats/animals and in plants.

In Clanmew, frostbite is a Mewprrich Chiki, often shortened to Mewprrichiki. A "Frost Infection." It's seen as the cold "invading" the body of the afflicted, much like any other sickness.

"Traditional" clan medicine believes that all sickness is a sort of battle, the result of the body being "invaded" by outside forces. Drowning is water-invasion. Illness is miasma-invasion. Urinary track infections, usually caused by using unclean dirtplaces, are considered a filth-invasion.

Even depression itself is a lethargy-infection.

So a lot of medicine revolves around the idea of "strengthening" the body part under attack, or 'reinforcing defenses.' Good diets, exercise, and being forced to rest are part of a Cleric's treatments just as much as fennel and mullein are. You can also see how many of their terms for illnesses seem sort of "violent," like Epilepsy being "Attacked by Daydreams."

And, just like a spear is effective against a boar but not an unkindness of ravens, there are different "treatments" that enable the cat to fight their infection.

As a note, there's a big difference in the health mindset between the Clans and Tribe, and it's the reason why Tribe medical science is a lot more "advanced," besides their nearly-invulnerable Stoneteller. The Tribe sees a cat like a small ecosystem, it must be managed just as much as the field and wood must be. The attributes of soil can determine what plants can grow on it, therefore, the attributes of an organ can determine what effects it has on the body.

So in a nutshell; the Tribe has discovered very basic chemistry and have a general idea of "hormone imbalances." Clan cats are working on a "Battle Theory" of sickness. This is why the Tribe is able to advise Clan cats on particularly vexing illnesses, such as diabetes and severe epilepsy.

In Clanmew, plants don't get "infections," they can receive a "blight." A Chawb. There are many types of chawb-- spots, galls, burls. If a cat receives a Chawb, it is something that "cannot be fought." It is either chronic, or terminal.

[suratan-zir]

This is a post of gratitude. Maybe tumblr isn't the most appropriate place for this, maybe it sounds silly and needlessly pretentious coming from a little nobody that I am. Regardless, I have long felt the need to write about it. News about the Leopard tanks from Poland might be a good enough occasion to finally say it.

Dzięki, ačiū, thank you, people of Poland, Lithuania, UK, US and every country that has consistently supported Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion.

Maybe we, Ukrainians, don't say it enough, but we know that we owe our lives not only to our defenders, but to all of you, citizens of countries that didn't abandoned us in these dark times.

Every day on the battlefield my country loses its best men. People who were teachers, doctors, architects and actors, parents, sons and daughters are sacrificing their lives in the name of our survival, our future. Hopefully, with the support of your countries, their sacrifices won't be in vain. Thank you for giving us a chance for the future. Thank you for not leaving us alone in this.

War puts everything into perspective like probably nothing else and it teaches you how to be truly grateful. Only earlier today I wanted to complain that due to the destruction of our infrastructure and emergency power outages, in my apartment it is so cold that I can't even hold the phone in my hands for long - my fingers are freezing. But then I quickly remembered that our fighters in Bakhmut and Soledar are losing their fingers due to the frostbite. I am alive and have a roof over my head thanks to these heroes.

What does this have to do with the topic of this post? Well, the same way I often want to complain about the injustice in this world, I want to write something angry about how russia is not punished enough for the crimes it commits. But then I stop myself, because had the world did not help us throughout these 10 months, had the world just let it slide like it did in 2014, I would likely be homeless, imprisoned or dead, along with millions other Ukrainians. Ukraine could no longer exist by now. Because this is a war of extinction, cultural as much as physical.

Which is why I want to say thank you. Not only for the weapons provided by your countries, but for giving us hope, especially in hard times like these, when the enemy on the eastern front is literally bombarding our troops with cannon fodder in unlimited quantities, turning cities into ruins and meat grinders.

Thank you for helping us to overcome this senseless evil. This post may be cringy and poorly written, but my gratitude is sincere.

[invaders-cookbook]

Invader's Cookbook #1: Your first Invasion Build

Invading is hard to get into due to the amount of preparation you need to succeed. You need quite a bit of practice to be really good, but you don't always have to be good to be successful at invasions. Your build determines your options. In the first part of Invader's Cookbook you will learn how to make your first build for invading.

Your attributes and Upgrade Level

For your first build, I will suggest a Lightning Dexterity Build for Rune Level 60. It has good all-around damage and survivability, and gives you plenty of options in most situations. The amount of available weapons also makes this build very fun to play!

Start as Vagabond and distribute your attributes like this:

Vigor -> 35

Mind -> 10

Endurance -> 24

Strength -> 15

Dexterity -> 30

Intelligence -> 9

Faith -> 9

Arcane -> 7

It is very important that during your playthrough you do not upgrade any weapon further than +12 or +5 Somber! Matchmaking is based on your level, as well as your weapon upgrade! If you upgrade even one weapon over the +12/+5 Somber threshold, you won't find any matches!

Your Talismans

Your Talismans are necessary additions to your build. There will be 3 talismans that are the most useful for this build and I highly recommend to wear them at all times. These are: Radagon's Soreseal, Great Jar's Talisman and Bullgoat's Talisman.

Your last talisman slot is free for you to choose. You can swap them mid-fight situationally, or wear something like Millicent's Prosthesis for a permanent buff. It's up to you to decide. Useful Situational talismans are: Green Turtle Talisman, Two Fingers Talisman, Shard of Alexander, Arrow's Sting Talisman and Blessed Dew Talisman.

Situational swapping requires thought and some skills, but it's much stronger than not doing it at all.

Use Bullgoat's Talisman to hit at the very least 75 poise. The fashion is up to you!

Weapons

Your arsenal is your most important asset. As an invader, you must swap weapons to adapt to any situation. Don't just carry them in your additional slots, they take up your equip load which can be used to wear heavier armour for better defences and poise!

Dual-wielded Noble Slender Swords will be your main damage-dealing tool. I recommend Endure and Storm Stomp ashes of war on them. Endure helps you trade blows and escape dangerous situations, while Storm Stomp gives you a combo option to deal damage.

Cleanrot Knight Sword with Thunderbolt is a great tool to finish off enemies that are far away, as well as just a good overall weapon that is effective both in the main hand and the offhand.

Antspur Rapier with Bloodhound's Step serves two purposes: Scarlet Rot application and escaping from unpleasant situations. Scarlet Rot is incredibly effective against opponents with high latency. Use Keen affinity to be able to use Rot Grease on the weapon to increase status build-up.

Cold Nagakiba is a an amazing trick that allows you to deal massive damage and apply frostbite using Spinning Slash Ash of War.

Bolt of Gransax is an amazing spear that allows you to shoot a very powerful projectile on high distances. It's most effective when your opponents haven't noticed you yet or are fighting something else. The drawback is high FP cost, but it can also be strengthened by Shard of Alexander talisman

Godskin Stitcher is a great chase-down weapon for those who are running away, as well as a powerful head-to-head combat tool! Most ashes of war are very useful, though I heavily prefer using Piercing Fang or Lightning Strike, Hey, wanna improve at playing Heavy Thrusting Swords? Check out this video!

Grave Scythe is a head-to-head combat weapon that is also great at punishing shield users for installing Elden Ring on their gaming device! Use Sword Dance ash of war for big damage, or Quickstep for powerful combos and dodges!

Claymore is a very reliable weapon that is useful in most situations. Use Piercing Fang, Impaling Thrust or my personal favourite: Storm Stomp. The latter allows you to land a quick and powerful R2 attack on an opponent you land it on.

Stormhawk Axe is a nuclear option that deals significant damage over a big area. Use it sparingly, for it leaves you at great risk of getting hit if you miss. Use for ambushes and sudden turn-and-burns when your opponents least expect it!

Don't forget that this is not a full list of available weapons or ashes of war. You can experiment with any weapon you find interesting or useful! My personal inventory stretches multiple pages at this point. Dexterity Builds are incredibly versatile! Anything that can be infused with Lightning or has Dexterity scaling can be used effectively, even heavier weapons like the Zweihander!

Miscellaneous

Physick Flask

Lightning-Shrouding Cracked Tear is mandatory for this build. It will buff your damage significantly, making your build the most powerful for your level.

The remaining physick slot is up to you. My personal choice lies between Crimsonburst Cracked Tear, Crimson Bubbletear and Opaline Hardtear.

Consumables

Your best case scenario is the one where you have 14 fully upgraded healing flasks, 20 Cracked Pots, 10 Ritual Pots, 10 Perfume Bottles, and as many various boluses as you can gather. For crafting materials see my post on Crafting Materials, Consumables and Community Assistance

How to decrease the downtime between invasions!

Invading is famously time consuming and we simply do not have time to sit around and wait for a suitable world to be found. These two tips will dramatically improve your chances of invading:

Tip #1: Visit as many areas as possible. This will increase the pool of areas you can invade in. Visit every cave, catacomb or secluded area you can find. Note that you don't have to complete them, you just have to visit them once.

Tip #2: Acquire both the Bloody Finger and the Recusant Finger. Use them one after another in succession untill the invasion starts. The way invasions select players to invade is painfully slow without this method, as it scans the pool of available players once every 20 seconds. With this method you can cut it down to 5!

[imaginarianisms]

northern bred horses may usually be smaller than other breeds across westeros, but they are gentle & intelligent but hardy & resilient through harsh & difficult weather. the elders spoke of such horses being in harmony with the first men since time immemorial, a trusty breed that was almost completely wiped out by the andal invasion that took hold of the vast majority of southern westeros prior to the rhoynar & later the valyrians & the targaryen dynasty. they were often killed by andal farmers as they were wild & eating their crops & fields & later, were killed by the warrior's sons as they were considered demonic horses of demon worshippers, a practice that was later outlawed by aegon the conqueror once he united the seven kingdoms, which gained him much respect from the north & specifically house stark who was known for breeding them. the horses are smaller & built for the northern woodlands, noted for its adaptation to the extreme cold climate, including the ability to locate and graze on vegetation that is under deep snow cover & to survive without shelter in temperatures that reach -70°C/−94 °F at most during year long winters in the north. they have coats for different seasons; their winter coat is extremely dense & their metabolism adjusts & changes to their seasonal needs, in autumn they accumulate large fat reserves while it decreases in winter, avoiding frostbite by reducing the volume of circulating blood during times of extreme cold & they genetically have similar evolution to other animal inhabitants in the far north such as the mammoths. while they're mostly seen in the north, anyone of the free folk who has such a horse is considered a lucky & wealthy individual, for horses are highly prized beyond the wall. sweet & curious, they also serve as highly prized therapeutic animals to work with. recently, in the aftermath of the war of the five kings, the loyal soldiers of house bolton killed many of the horses living in & around the stables of winterfell & settlers of house frey living in the north mercilessly slaughtered every one of the horses they could find, something that greatly offends the northerners but especially house stark. now, under house stark rule once more, the species is rising again as it will forever.

[strelles-universe]

Codes of the Clans - The Escort's Code

Though Escorts are considered the lowest rank in WindClan - often whispered to be the least connected to the rest of clan politics given that they don’t usually stay within the confines of the camp - they are among the most important to ensure that WindClan retains control over their territory. Especially to the world outside of the clans, Escorts are the face of WindClan - the first to encounter trespassers and visitors, to calm them and speak. They are near constantly on the move, patrolling their clan’s territory or stationed at specific Border Posts around their entire territory.

The Border Posts are decently protected - though some of them are out in the open, several have dens that were dug out and expanded by the tunnelers with small entrances that look more like rabbit runs than a cat’s entrance around them. These internal dens allow for Escorts to be on watch for long hours at a time during the sweltering heat and frigid cold preventing both heat-stroke and frostbite. 

Sometimes, even retired Escorts don’t return to the camp for lecturing; finding even sleeping outside on the camp’s clearing to be more smothering than the various border posts. 

1. An Escort’s first duty is to secure the territory

1a. An Escort will be stationed to a minimum of two posts every day

1b. An Escort is expected to mark weakened borderlines if they’re noticed

1c. Even before guards, an escort is WindClan’s first defense against invasion

2. An Escort is expected to have the skills to survive without a patrol

2a. An Escort is expected to teach their apprentice the basics of survival, failure to do so is interpreted as apprentice neglect

2b. The Basics are identified as: solo-hunting, basic herb identification, conflict de-escalation, territory orientation and how to find water in the warm seasons

3. An Escort is to report any and all trespassers to the clan

3a. There is a specific way to report trespassers and all escorts are expected to know the format

3b. The format is species - estimated age - affiliation - intention - longevity

3c. An Escort is to bring regular Visitors to the clan’s camp and assist any pregnant, nursing or injured individuals

3d. An Escort is expected to accompany another clan’s diplomat to the camp and back to the border

3e. Escorts are expected to accompany located cats on the path to the Mother Maw

4. An escort is the clan’s ears - if unusual or concerning rumors reach them, they are to report immediately

[calciumcryptid]

Tell me how other superhero city residents view Gothamites

The other superhero city residents hate Gothamites, and not in the fun city rivalry way but a genuine hatred that stems from annoyance.

I cannot conceive of a universe where Gothamites are not despised by other city inhabitants, because I just know Gothamites entitlement to being the most traumatized residents at all times is intense.

You come online to complain about Captain Cold?

I hope you are ready for a thousand Gothamites in your replies making fun of you for not being able to deal with Mr. Freeze 2.0 and how you wouldn't be able to handle a real ice villain like they do.

Good luck mentioning the fact Captain Cold predates Mr. Freeze, and is not manipulating ice but cold as in the temperature, so your complaint goes beyond a little frostbite to shit air quality and lingering hypothermia.

You come online to complain about Lex Luthor?

I hope you are ready for a thousand Gothamites in your replies making fun of you for having to deal with the worst billionaire and how it is such a shame you Metropolitans can't see the glory that is Bruce Wayne over a sick sense of city pride.

Good luck mentioning the fact Luthor is constantly cloning and trying to kill your city's hero and how it is a genuine concern and that fact should not be fodder for Gothamites propping their local billionaire up for man of the year for the thousandth time.

I just know other citizens are just sick of Gothamites trying to constantly one up them when it comes to the bullshit they have to put up with.

Gothamites go 'You don't understand Gotham unless you are from here' and the other city residents are about to throw them in front of the alien invasion of the week and go 'Cope' because Gothamites aren't unique in that regard.

[dhampiravidi]

older!Jason Todd feelings

apparently I’m having thoughts about my guy today. Who can blame me? 🥰 here's a thing about him & my OC, Jayn, when they're a little bit older...

to start, his FC is Peter Gadiot. (yep, let that sink in.)

ANYWAY--

he's 50-something. when he really thinks about it, he's surprised that he's made it this far. Like all the other vigilantes & Gotham-centric people (including his own partner), he's got his own collection of scars (& foraged Batarangs), but that's to be expected. The usual suspects (Jayn, the old ladies in their* neighborhood, the Bats who were still kicking, and the nighttime escorts) always compliment him on his looks, even if he doesn't think he looks all that special. The Pit has slowed his aging; aside from some deepened smile crinkles at the corner of his eyes and slightly darker skin, he hasn't physically changed in decades. Ah well--there is the bone spur that future asshole!Tim had clued him into (long since removed), the scruff he occasionally lets grow in, and the blue that's slowly returning to his eyes in place of some of the Lazarus-tinted green. He still has the nightmares, and some things (prolonged laughter, horror movies, being surrounded by intense cold) still bother him, but Harley's really helped over the years.

he and Jayn said they'd never get married. They agreed when they were maybe 27 that having an actual wedding would just jinx things. If either of them died too early, the other would resurrect them, and yet...they both preferred to stay on top uninterrupted for a while. So, they had a date night (and day) spent mostly outside Gotham, one which ended with them getting tattoos inspired by Pride and Prejudice: “My heart is and always will be yours,” for her, and "You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you,” for him. Well, that, and then they put their gelato to-go in the fridge before they had a nice round of sleepy sex. Now they've got matching ring tattoos--those were from their 25th not-anniversary last year.

she eventually sets aside her duties as CFO of WayneTech to run the Martha Wayne Foundation. It keeps her busy in a good way. She and Jason publicly live in the Wayne Foundation penthouse, which is close to all the venues used for charity galas and not far from all the places where Jason teaches. Because he wants to help as many as he can, he rotates between being an adjunct at Gotham U, an adjunct at Hudson, a teacher at a big high school (it'd been poor before "the Waynes" donated to it), and an online tutor...all for English and Drama. Jayn limited him to 2 jobs per semester and forbade him from working at Gotham and Hudson simultaneously. Still, she loves listening to his stories about the kids he works with. And they love their teacher, who wears graphic tees and ankle boots with button-ups, and who sometimes brings his pet to class.

the Red Hood isn't seen as often as the other Gotham heroes. Some of them are younger, newer vigilantes who find it comparably easy to fit nightly patrols into their schedules. Sometimes he envies them, missing the feeling of wind combing through his hair as he zips through the sky, or the combination of adrenaline, satisfaction, and relief that comes with saving someone from a creep. Well, he still experiences that stuff, just not as much. First off, the Red Hood is a reserve guy--he only comes out when Frostbite does, which is if shit has officially hit the fan (ex. planetary invasion, No Man's Land Part 2, the regular teams are out of commission, etc.). Then out come the pistols and gear, none of which he's ever thrown away (assuming it still works). Otherwise, he has to stick to riding his motorcycle, sparring with those who know about his past, and going on the occasional international vacation.

they stopped suiting up for patrol a few months before the twins were born. The kids were the result of a few steamy, excited, condom-less nights (some of which also involved getting high). When Jayn got the positive, she and Jason debated all the reasons why they should or shouldn't be parents, including having weird upbringings, living in a dangerous world, and noticing a little gap in their lives that seemed to want kids. Freddie Arwen and Lydia Wayne-Todd looked nothing like each other apart from their light brown skin, but Jason thought his daughters were perfect the moment he saw them. They still are, even though Freddie keeps bleaching the life out of her pretty, dark brown hair and Lydia's cooking typically tastes like stale refried beans. Both left Gotham years ago, but they make sure to visit once a month.

yes, the clown is dead. Yes, Jason was there when they dissolved the body using lye and water. Yes, he was slightly salty, seeing as how it'd taken the Bats forever to kill the creep. In the end, it'd been Ghost-Maker, Bruce's weird (yet impressive, from a crimefighting POV) ex, who'd been in Gotham tracking some illegal shipment. Apparently, Khoa had been a good boy, following Bruce's rules until he completed his mission. About a half hour later, Joker was found dead. There was an informal, 2-day celebration all across the city, one where everyone was kind to each other, like a reverse Purge. It would become a holiday, much to Bruce's chagrin. Oh, well.

when Jason turned 30, Alfred finally admitted to the Bats that he'd been part of some experimental Brit super-soldier program, one that had slightly increased his intellect, reflexes, and lifespan. Not many of them were surprised.

[awkwardpariah]

--Timeline--

Fortress Florida Falls: After a year of blockades, limited air strikes, and supply drops to partisans and loyalist units behind the lines, Federal forces finally launch the combined air, land, and amphibious invasion of Florida. No state had a higher concentration of NDF troops or better equipment. Casualties on both sides were high, and the MAGA government was able to exfiltrate itself from Palm Beach before Federal troops reached the provisional capital of the pretender government.

Winter 2029-2030: Nothing is more deadly than logistics, and during the Winter of 2029-30 more people died from fuel and food shortages than any other cause. In the highly contested Midwest fuel supplies had dried up and overland transportation had evaporated, leaving people behind the lines without food and heat during the Polar Vortex of '29. Those that didn't flee stayed behind thinking they'd live comfortably on generators and canned goods left behind by their panicky neighbors. Power plants died within the first few weeks, and generators ran out of gas not long after. Food supplies in the contested zones lasted only until January, by which point temperatures in Ohio had dropped to as low as -90 degrees F with the windchill. People were burning garbage to stay warm, eating dogs, cats, and rodents to stave off starvation. Most people who died froze to death in the night, others froze trying to flee on foot, and the few that were left were too cold and too sick to last much beyond that. Both sides attempted to keep the region supplied between the Continental Air Lift by the Dems, and rail and truck supplies by the Reps, but after a month of losing troops to frostbite and small skirmishes, the Dems pulled back to the I-80 corridor. The Reps continued probing attacks and roadside bombs along I-80 for much of the winter, but by February most of their troops had withdrawn over the Ohio River into Kentucky. So when the snow melted in Spring 2030, and the 1st Army began its long awaited march into Southern Ohio, all they found miles and miles of abandoned suburbs full of rat gnawed corpses

The War Against Humanity: By spring 2030, US troops from Army Group West began pushing into West Texas, while the 1st Army continued its advance into the South. Everywhere they went, they found evidence of crimes against humanity by the MAGA regime. Slavery, not pre-war prison labor, but the brutal system of the antebellum South had returned. The first to be manacled were existing prisoners, however the hyper punitive laws of the MAGA regime quickly grew the ranks of the incarcerated to virtually anyone who spoke out against their regime. Ethnic minorities were particularly targeted by the NDF and thus made up the bulk of the slave population. An entire market had emerged for the trading of prison labor contracts between agricultural and manufacturing corporations, and while the elites took people as servants and sex slaves. Then there were the death camps. First discovered late in 2029, the extent of the program was now impossible to deny. Dozens of camps had been found, built out of existing prisons. Troops would usually uncover these places by the stench of human remains in uncovered mass graves, their guards having fled to avoid capture. The locals tended to deny outright that they knew about the camps, or in many cases were totally unrepentant about "doing the Lord's work.

Midterm Elections: By Election Day 2030, the war has been dragging on for a year and a half and another winter is approaching with food and fuel rationing, albeit less severe than last year. Needless to say, a lot of voters are well and truly sick of a war that has only brought suffering on a level unseen in American history. The National Union Party exploits this by running a slew of candidates that oppose the Democrats' wartime rationing policies, demanding AOC re-open the oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico and ANWR, and even negotiate with the MAGA regime to bring the war to a peaceful conclusion. Most voters don't buy into this, especially in newly liberated Ohio, Indiana, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Georgia, and military voters hearts have only hardened against the MAGA regime. But in otherwise well-to-do parts of the country that are unused to the hardships imposed by the war effort, the National Union party's message resonates. Ultimately, the Democrats still hold super majorities in both houses, with the House majority particularly impressive thanks to the repeal of the Permanent Apportionment Act earlier in the year.

Crisis in Canada: 16 million American DPs have turned Ontario into a madhouse. Every resource and essential service was stretched well past its breaking point, and Prime Minister Poilievre's ineffective response resulted in his removal in a vote of no-confidence. Melissa Lantsman fails to form a government, and the Governor General refuses to call for an election with the country in crisis. Despite their pleas for the US to intervene and get their citizens under control so Canada can focus on fighting their own white nationalist insurrection in Alberta, the US can't pull troops from its own front lines. Instead, the US calls on the European members of NATO to intervene, pulling what few US troops are left in Europe to join as a symbolic gesture of solidarity. The International Counteraction Force or ICFOR, more commonly known as Icy Force, deploys to Ontario providing additional security and giving Canada the means to start organizing the deportation of the American refugees to the Eastern Green Zone.

D-Day on the Mississippi: After 2 years of reorganization and rearmament, 2 years of fighting to retake the Midwest and much of the South, Army Group East is finally ready to begin the long awaited Drive Across the Plains. On August 1, 2031 a quarter million troops launch a combined amphibious and air mobile assault on Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas while ground forces in South Texas push north. Canadian troops and Army Group West begin their own advance from British Columbia and West Texas. After a month more than a million troops have landed on the western side of the Mississippi. Casualties are high on both sides, but the NDF's last best troops are simply outnumbered, outmatched, and undersupplied, especially after the Great Fire of 2030 devastated their food supplies. Repairs to bridges will take many more months, but Federal troops can finally begin moving across the Great Plains, eventually uniting the country from Sea to Shining Sea once more.

The End of All Things: As Federal troops move across the plains in armor and with air support the NDF is being chipped away with each passing day. After years of inaction and now repeated defeats, its simply too much for most NDF soldiers, leading to a string of mutinies. Meanwhile MAGA leaders, seeing that defeat is now immanent begin to try to flee or take their own lives in a campaign of uncoordinated mass suicide unseen since the fall of Nazi Germany. As the MAGA government in their new provisional capital of Rapid City tries to determine a course of action, Trump Jr. and the comatose Trump Sr., along with much of their extended family attempt to flee by plane over Canada to a non-extradition country. They're intercepted by NATO F-35s over Nova Scotia and remanded to Federal custody. The capture of Trump and the flight of Trump Jr. demoralizes most of the remaining die hard MAGA supporters, leading to a wave of surrenders. This leaves only the Secessionist factions of the rebel government in Rapid City, and they vote to dissolve the united front and fight their own secessionist campaigns.

<-Part II  \ Part III \ Part IV ->

[wawawawawawawawawawawawawa]

Hiiiii!

So Wa-sama, may I ask 15- rank the methods of death: freezing, burning, drowning and 20- favorite disney princess movie?

hiii!! :3

alright so for 15, i actually know quite a bit about various types of death and how they feel, so i'm gonna rank them on a scale of most favorable to least favorable

first up is freezing- there's a reason its used for humane euthanasia of small animals (i.e., mice, bees that beekepers have, those invasive moth things.) you just kinda,,, drift off at the end; any frostbite will be numb and at the end you kind of start to feel warm again (fun facts: if youre stranded somewheere cold and you feel absolutely freezing then out of nowhere start to heat up DONT TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF its one of god's little tricks and you will die)

next is drowning- it's scary. you're gonna be scared. it's gonna suck, especially the actual suffocating part. but look on the bright side, the brain can only last 1-3 minutes without oxygen! so it wont be as bad, hell- maybe you'll pass out before then. it's not the best outcome but its not the worst. its kinda one of those "i dislike you but i dont HATE you" kinda murders, plus you can speed away on your yacht after you push the fucker off if the sound of human suffering isnt your thing (you... DO have a yacht, right? otherwise your ass is not getting away with this)

finally is burning- burning has been consistently ranked as one of the worst ways to die, bar none. your eyes will melt out of your skull while you're still conscious. you'll feel yourself choking on the smoke and your entire nervous system screaming out in agony. it'll take its sweet time killing you, too. this is the kind of thing you do to someone thats like, wronged you in an unforgivable, irreversible way. the john wick of killings

tldnr:

freezing- for that insect thats definitely going to die but you feel bad for it and want to put it out of its misery quick

drowning- they suck but if someone interrupted your revenge plan you wouldnt be too torn up about it

burning: [muscle man voice] MY MOM

also my favorite disney princess movie is mulan!!! ^^

[infoblogify]

Cold Compress Techniques for Alleviating Tennis Elbow in Freehold

Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis, is a common condition that causes pain and discomfort on the outer part of the elbow and forearm. While it often occurs in tennis players, it can affect anyone who repeatedly uses their forearm muscles. One effective and accessible method for managing tennis elbow pain is using cold compress techniques. In Freehold, New Jersey, individuals seeking relief have a trusted ally in HF Rehab NJ, where cold compress therapy is utilized to alleviate tennis elbow discomfort.

Understanding Tennis Elbow and Its Challenges

Tennis elbow occurs due to the overuse of forearm muscles and tendons, leading to small tears in the tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle, the bony bump on the outer part of the elbow. This condition results in pain, tenderness, and limited mobility in the affected arm. People engaged in activities involving repetitive gripping, such as tennis, painting, typing, and plumbing, are at a higher risk of developing tennis elbow.

The Role of Cold Compress Techniques

Cold compress therapy is a natural and non-invasive approach to reducing pain, inflammation, and swelling associated with tennis elbow. It involves applying a cold pack or ice wrapped in a cloth to the affected area. The cold temperature helps constrict blood vessels, slowing blood flow to the injured area and subsequently reducing inflammation. In Freehold, HF Rehab NJ has embraced this technique to provide relief to individuals dealing with tennis elbow discomfort.

Advantages of Cold Compress Therapy

Pain Relief: Cold compress therapy is known for its immediate pain-relieving effects. The cold temperature numbs the nerves in the affected area, providing a soothing sensation and reducing pain.

Inflammation Reduction: Inflammation is a common symptom of tennis elbow. Cold compress therapy reduces blood flow to the area, which in turn reduces swelling and inflammation.

Minimized Muscle Spasms: Muscle spasms often accompany tennis elbow. The cold temperature from the compress helps relax the muscles and ease spasms.

Promotion of Healing: By reducing inflammation, cold compress therapy creates an optimal environment for the body's natural healing processes to take place.

Safe and Non-Invasive: Cold compress therapy is a safe and drug-free method that can be easily administered at home or under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Cold Compress Techniques for Tennis Elbow

Prepare the Cold Pack: Take a cold pack or ice wrapped in a thin cloth. Avoid direct contact with the skin to prevent ice burns.

Apply the Compress: Gently place the cold pack on the outer part of the affected elbow. Hold it in place for about 15 to 20 minutes. Do not exceed 20 minutes to avoid skin damage.

Use Intervals: Apply the cold compress for 15 to 20 minutes, then remove it for at least 40 minutes before reapplying. This prevents frostbite and allows the skin temperature to return to normal.

Repeat as Needed: Depending on the severity of the pain, repeat the cold compress therapy several times a day. Consistency is key to achieving optimal results.

Why Choose HF Rehab NJ for Tennis Elbow Relief

HF Rehab NJ, based in Freehold, understands the challenges that individuals with tennis elbow face. Their experienced professionals recognize the benefits of tennis elbow cold compress therapy Freehold in managing pain and inflammation. HF Rehab NJ offers personalized guidance on how to effectively use cold compress techniques, ensuring that patients receive the maximum relief possible.

Tennis elbow can significantly impact daily activities and quality of life. Cold compress therapy offers a simple yet effective solution for managing the pain, inflammation, and discomfort associated with this condition. In Freehold, individuals can turn to HF Rehab NJ for expert guidance on implementing cold compress techniques. By harnessing the power of cold therapy, HF Rehab NJ aims to provide relief and support the journey toward recovery for those dealing with tennis elbow discomfort in the local community.

[natequarter]

CHASE: So, the meddling Doctor. You lead a charmed life. You arrive without a chauffeur, not even a touch of frostbite.

The Seeds of Doom

STYGGRON: I know the Doctor managed to escape, but you [Sarah] must indeed have a charmed life.

The Android Invasion

DOCTOR: It was a deliberate attempt at cold-blooded murder, Governor. And I demand an enquiry. GOVERNOR: You were trying to escape. You've only yourselves to blame for the consequences.

Frontier in Space

DEXETER: Without a scientific understanding of these creatures, we are doomed to fear them forever. DOCTOR: That's not scientific understanding, it's cold-blooded murder.

Full Circle

SCORBY: This power system provides energy for the whole camp. There are wires running from here to every building. So we don't need to dig a hole after all. We just obliterate them. A real fireworks display. SARAH: That's murder. Cold-blooded murder.

The Seeds of Doom

DOCTOR: Oh, all right then. I'll drive you up there in Bessie. LIZ: Bessie?

Doctor Who and the Silurians

HILDA: Really, Miss Smith, this is absurd. I think you must be the sort of girl that gives motor cars pet names.

Robot

DOCTOR: Careful, Sergeant. What a beautiful creature. BENTON: Oh yes, Doctor, beautiful.

The Green Death

SARAH: That was a cruel thing to do. HILDA: Cruel? It isn't human, you know. It has no feelings. SARAH: Oh, it's got a brain, hasn't it? It walks and talks like us. How can you be sure it doesn't have feelings too?

Robot

SARAH: Listen. The Doctor's not just concerned about saving his own skin. He's risked his life before for others. Unlike you, he has principles. SCORBY: Oh, yeah? Well, you listen to me. Now there's just the two of us, so you've got to rely on me. So don't push your luck, because if you do, I'll start again exactly where I left off. Understood? SARAH: You're as mad as Chase, Scorby. Other people don't matter. All these guards, all these guns, it's just a big game to you, isn't it? Gives you a sense of power. You're not complete unless you've got a gun in your hand.

nice little speech from you there, sarah. shall we get you your own sonic screwdriver and a few innocents to sacrifice next?

[janetfraiser]

☕️ outdoor cats who are allowed to freely roam

First and foremost: I understand this is a cultural shift that appears to be taking off in the USA and is not reflected across the world. I never want anyone to feel guilty for their choices, particularly ones in the past. If you've always had outdoor cats or your family, I'm not saying you're a bad person! I grew up loving my grandmother's cats who were indoor/outdoor, and front declawed! This is just food for thought.

Letting your cats outdoors has no benefits. Indoor/outdoor cats have the same risks as an outdoor only cat - a few hours outside is enough to run into all these issues.

Indoor cats have a life span in the double digits. Outdoor cats are lucky to live past 5 years old.

Cats kill billions of animals every year. Indoor/outdoor cats in particular will kill animals not for food but for fun/enrichment. They can't help themselves. You ever watch a cat start wiggle butt moving at a shadow? They are made for hunting. Here's another link to more sources. Or another outlining how cats are large contributors to small mammal or bird extinctions.

The number varies wildly but the statistics all point to millions of cats killed every year by cars. Some are as "low" as a few million, some sources say over 20 million.

Outdoor cats are exposed to many many diseases and bugs daily. Some are minor issues and some are deadly. Even something as minor as fleas can contribute to a cat's death. Vaccines are great but are never 100% effective. There is still always a risk.

A fence does not contain a cat. Even if it did, other animals can get in.

You might love your cat but other people don't. Cats can be trapped, poisoned, or killed by other people. If they're lucky, animal control might pick them up if they think they're lost. If you did your job, the cat has ID on it to find you. If you didn't, they might be put up for adoption or possibly put down.

Cats get into everything. Animal poisons, garden chemicals, etc can be deadly.

Temperatures vary all the time. Cats have adapted well to warm and cold environments, but as the globe's climate changes, the weather swings get more and more extreme. Frostbite and hypothermia are deadly.

Cats can live 100% fulfilled lives indoors. You have to work a little harder to make it happen, but you can fulfill their enrichment needs. Minor edit to include: supervised outside time with a harness is great!

Cats are an invasive species across most of the globe. Yes, their natural prey is birds and small mammals but it was never supposed to be like this.

If you let your cat outside and it's not spayed or neutered, you best bet your cat fathered kittens or will come back pregnant. If they have access to each other, they're going to make babies. If money is an issue and you live in the US, check this out. Kittens have the worst survival rate of living outdoors with a generous survival rate of 25% of kittens living past 6 months.

That's all I've got for now but there are more reasons, I'm sure. Please! Keep those babies inside!

send me ☕️ + [topic] and i’ll tell you my opinion on it!

[sgcairo]

The Death of a Prince

I had a terrible idea.

Now, for those of you who've been here too long... you know the drill. Nail me straight in the face with the table, especially my bestie who's out there threatening to fold me (@its-a-journal-of-ideals this one's for you 😔👍) because of my horrible ideas.

To preface this, if you thought Anstasiy getting stabbed straight in the chest and going through some serious familial drama was bad, think again.

Because Anastasiy becoming the cryo archon is going to run you over and utterly destroy you.

(THERE ARE SOME BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF BLOOD AND SEVERE INJURY [FROSTBITE] AHEAD. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.)

To set the scene, the Tsaritsa is dead. Blood across the throne room, ice rising from the floor and stained with the blood of those who gave their lives for success, their blades piercing the fallen figure on the throne.

The other Harbingers are occupied, holding off the invasion of the palace while trying to arrange the scattered agents to destroy the threat. Anastasiy flees, he knows he lacks the ability to find the hordes and win. But there's no way to safety, the lab is too far. His папа and father are in the courtyard, delusions blazing and surrounded by bodies. There's a wall of people between them, too many bloodstained halls to dodge. So he ducks into the throne room, it's not far.

The scream of terror rings off the walls at the blood that covers the floor, like a horrifying blanket, the bodies of the dead covered in ice and frozen in a myriad of terrified expressions.

"Your majesty!"

The Tsaritsa does not reply from where she lays upon her throne. Anastasiy hasn't run this fast since that day when he stopped Aurelio from killing a crowd with his delusion because of a mere accident, and he practically slips and trips over himself to get up the crooked stairs. When he finally reaches the top of the stairs, he finds her slumped over a blade, straight to the heart.

It's too much like his own injury. Perhaps he should've taken that as a warning.

But there's something glowing next to the blade, an awfully familiar shape. The gnosis. He has to take it, if the invaders were to find it, they would undoubtedly have the power to kill his family, and he can't allow that to happen. So he reaches for it, using the sword to reach the gnosis, prying it from the cold goddess before him. It's heavy in his hands, freezing like Aurelio's delusion. In fact, his fingers go numb the moment he touches it, shaking as frost spreads over them.

There's no time. He has to find someone, to leave while he still can. Or give it to his папа, he'll know what to do-

Stumbling down from the throne, he holds it tightly, tears gathering in fear at the thought of the possibility that his family is gone. Dead. The power of numbers is not to be underestimated, Anastasiy knows this well.

But has he walks, the gnosis pulses weakly in his hands, gradually gaining more power, glowing brighter and brighter. It's so cold that his arms begin to go numb as well, his breaths misty and harder to force out.

Then it burns.

He almost drops to his knees as ice spreads over his fingers, fusing them to the gnosis. This shouldn't be happening, he's seen the other Harbingers hold the gnoses without reactions before, so why now? Why him? He screams at the fiery, stabbing pain surging up his hands and arms, tears running down his face as he desperately tries to let go, to stop the pain.

But he can't. The ice continues to spread, the pain spreading to his chest, where it feels like someone's tearing into the scar over his heart, the wind in the room picking up with his pained screams and wails, his whole body shaking and eyes so wide with excruciating pain that he can't breathe.

The screams are so loud that they shake the palace and it's grounds. Cryo visions begin flashing and going out as the last of the Tsaritsa's power makes a home in his heart, which isn't even his. Pantalone has never heard such a terrifying, blood curdling scream in his life, but he knows that voice all to well.

"Make it stop! Please, please-"

By the time the Harbingers arrive, it's too late to stop it. A snowstorm fills the room, obscuring the body of the Tsaritsa, Anastasiy's fingers so frostbitten that there's no hope of saving them, the gnosis flashing violently. Dottore is the first to his side, supporting Anastasiy as he screams, wails, cries in pain. The ice of the throne splits under their feet, Anastasiy begs incomprehensible for them to kill him, it hurts so much-

But all they can do is gather and do their best to soothe his pain. Pantalone finds himself praying for the first time that Celestia is kind to his son, that they spare him this misery. Dottore merely holds him, unthinking, running his hands through icy hair, feeling frozen skin through his gloves, the frostbitten blackness of Anastasiy's fingers burned behind his eyelids.

The storm doesn't subside until Aurelio enters the room, covered in blood and limping, but staggering to Anastasiy's side in a blind panic regardless.

"Danya! Danya, oh Archons... Danya!"

The gnosis flashes once, twice, under Aurelio's hands. Then it fades, leaving Anastasiy gasping in shock from the pain, eyes still glazed over, his hair much lighter than before.

"Is it over?"

There's no telling, but Dottore has never run so fast in his life. Orders are issued: bring the other (now ex) archons forth, as quick as possible. This is a matter of the utmost urgency, and the quickest messengers are sent, to bring back the archons at any cost.

The gathering is a reunion, on horrid terms.

"His ascent to power was too much for his mortal vessel. Fear not, it seems he will survive. However... he will not wake for some time. He must regain his strength."

It's too similar to the last time. Pantalone nearly faints in relief, Capitano having to catch him before he can crumble to the floor. Anastasiy is left in the throne room, the bodies having been cleared, rested upon his throne. Over time, his clothes change, to the imperial gown of the cryo archon, a crown of icy spikes mounted upon his head.

When he wakes, he is alone. Months have passed, and offerings are laid before the throne, some familiar, others unrecognizable.

"...Hello? Baba, папа..."

No answer. Is everyone dead? Gone?

"Danya?"

He turns to see his father, pale and sick, leaning heavily on a cane, his eyes wide with shock.

"Danya!"

Pantalone is too weak. Too skeletal in Anastasiy's arms. He can hear voices in the hall, but all he can think about is how horrible his baba looks, from not eating enough.

"Baba... what happened to you?"

"He refused to take care of himself until you recovered."

Dottore stands in the doorway, seemingly having been abandoned by Pantalone. "It's good to see you again, Danya."

Anastasiy doesn't doubt it for a second.

The god of love has risen, where the goddess failed. But he does not seek to destroy the heavens, he has yet to learn of their treachery.

But he lives. No one can hurt him ever again, for the ice around his heart is too strong.

While his hair may have lost its color, his eyes remain the blood red of his rose, an eternal reminder of his true heart.

Her Majesty would've been proud.

End scene.

But that's just a hypothetical. There's no way I would write that in real life... totally no way... I'm totally not hiding my new WIP...

Anyways, I'm going to go now before I get smited-

[goliath-de-senfina-sango]

Elements

Dannymay 12,022 Human Era, ao3

Danny was unbelievably thankful for Wulf’s lessons on portal making, getting to the borders of the Far Frozen was so much easier now.  Flying past the guards and waving at them, Danny sped along the crisp air currents to the city within the beautiful tundra.  After a bit of looking around, Danny found Frostbite and dove down to tackle him in a hug.  Frostbite spun around to catch him at the last second and they laughed as he fell into the snow.  “One of these days I’m gonna catch you off guard.”

“I’m certain you will, Great One,” he said, standing up and dusting away some snow from his fur and robes.  “To what do I owe the visit?  It’s always a treat to see you here, Great One.”

Danny grinned and shook the snow out of his hair as well, crossing his legs in the air to be at eye level with Frostbite.  “It’s good to see you too!  If you’re not busy I actually had a question that came up when I was talking with Sam and Tucker.”

Frostbite nodded and started walking, while Danny followed at his side.  “Of course, Great One, it’s always a pleasure to see what kind of questions youthful minds will conjure.  What’s on your mind?”

“Well, I had been duplicating myself as much as I could to see how many times over I can copy myself – I’m at like 6 dups now, by the way! – and I got real proud of myself for the progress on it cause I was struggling real hard with that power at first.  And Sam brought up that I got a handle on my cold powers a lot faster than that, and Tucker said it was weird I even have ice powers cause I hate the winter holidays a lot.”  Danny took a deep breath, even though he didn’t need to.  It was a good way to stop and get back on track, even if Frostbite looked amused by his rambling.  “I was wondering what determines what kind of elemental power a ghost develops, cause it had nothing to do with how I became a ghost and I’ve never been all that fondly attached to the winter.  Don’t get me wrong, I love this place, I was just, ya know, wondering.”

Frostbite chuckled and rubbed his chin in thought.  “Well, there are likely several factors to that, Young One, but in truth, it could simply be the fact that as a young ghost your powers are highly fluctuating, and in order to adapt properly to your needs for survival you’re developing several powers that will atrophy or flourish depending on the attention you give to them.  Are there any other elemental powers you remember using?”

Danny’s legs morphed into a tail and he spun on his side while he thought.  “I uh think during Walker’s invasion of Amity Park I grabbed onto this one fish dude’s cable thing he was using to shock Wulf and I shocked him back through it?  That would probably relate back to the accident.  I also made a couple of fireballs when I was in the woods camping with my class.”

Danny stopped and held out a hand, gathering ectoplasm to his palm.  He thought about what it had felt like to make the fire in that moment, and what fire even was as far as he knew.  “Just see the molecules,” he muttered, “and make them shake.”  Blue-green flames erupted into being just over his hand, flickering in the frosty wind, and Danny laughed.  “Frostbite, look!”

“Yes, very good Young One!  Though perhaps this is not the realm to practice the use of fire in,” he said with a laugh as the wind blew out Danny’s flame.

“Is there a realm of fire dragons out there that can teach me how to use fire powers?”  Frostbite nodded and Danny’s eyes went wide and bright.  “Wait really?”

“Of course, Great One!  There are several elemental realms out there, though I cannot say we have the greatest relations with one another as diametrically opposed necromes mean we tend to avoid each other.  I can, however, direct you to a realm where fire or electrical manipulation is common and someone can teach you how to utilize those powers as well.”

Danny hugged Frostbite tight and let out a stream of rapid-fire, “thank you thank you thank you” at the yeti, muffled as it was.  Frostbite returned the hug, and Danny was nearly buzzing with excitement.

[bellatrixobsessed1]

On The Breath Of Winter

This is my fic for the Sokkla Secret Santa event! Happy holidays @balsa-margarita  & I hope that your new year is happy and healthy! I was really excited to post this one because you comment on so many of my fics. I tried to do something that worked with a bunch of the genres you said you liked.

Summary/Excerpt: She comes to him like a breath of winter, a frigid frosty kiss that sends a trill of frostbite up and down his spine. She dances under lights of teal and green, her fire licks the snow around her like the curtains billowing above her. He doesn’t think that she is real. 

CW: For major character death

She comes to him like a breath of winter, a frigid frosty kiss that sends a trill of frostbite up and down his spine. She dances under lights of teal and green, her fire licks the snow around her like the curtains billowing above her. He doesn’t think that she is real. 

He knows that she isn’t.

She can’t possibly be. 

Though he knows that she had been real at one point. At one point when days were warm and bright. When the sun shone so bright that winter was no longer a concept in his mind. 

.oOo.

He wishes that he could say that he met her on good terms. That they’d been a prefect match from the start, that he had only ever had love for her. But that would be just a pretty, saccharine lie. Azula was never fond of those–preferring blunt truths. And Sokka would rather face things objectively, as they are. And the truth, in its most objective form, is that they hated each other. Hated each other bitterly, from the start. From that fist flash of sleep-disrupting lightning. 

He hated her before then–hated her before he’d gotten up close and personal, hated her for the grief she caused Aang in Omashu. And he hated her after that–hated that she made a stir with that drill, hated breeched Ba Sing Se and used Suki to do it, hated that she thwarted his invasion plans…

And then he loved her, more than anything. Loved that sly, sneaky grin. The one that she’d flash every time she was about to do something devious. Loved that dainty, charming laugh. Loved her horrible sense of humor and worse flirting skills. 

He loved that crease of her brow whenever she was deeply concentrating and the drumming of her long fingernails when she grew bored with debates. 

Sometimes he has trouble remembering the time in between hate and love. That strange plain of awkwardness that they were stumbling through for quite some time. He remembers where it had begun and how. He remembers seeing her being hauled away, limp and with tears streaming down her cheeks. 

He remembers regular visits where she would mostly ignore him until he started telling her stories about his own misadventures and offering her pai sho matches. She had said that it was “the most stimulating activity that she has had in months.” He remembers that hint of a sly smile. The ghost of something that she had lost for a very long time. 

He remembers when that sly smirk returned in full. The moment he had walked her out of that institution, dressed in her princess regalia with a crown on her head. That was the day he learned that she had a pretty smile…a soft one. One that was actually kind of sweet. 

He remembers wondering why no one had ever tried to show her kindness before. She had always responded well to praise and touch. To small gestures like hugs and home cooked meals, even though his were, apparently, offensive to the taste but. She’d always eaten them anyways. 

She was always so warm.

Until she went cold. 

There are things in his mind that aren’t so clear anymore. Things that never really were. These are the things that he doesn’t want to remember. And to think, it was such a gorgeous night. She was so happy. He doesn’t think that he had ever seen her smile that much before. She certainly never smiled afterwards. 

It was her birthday of all things. Her birthday and her first time visiting his home. Her first time seeing snow. It had been like watching a child. Her eyes had been filled with such wonder and delight. That inquisitive curiosity had been splashed with a precious sense of wonderment. 

She’d cast a look over her shoulder before stepping off of the boat and onto the snow for the first time. He remembers the flakes clinging to the fur of her coat and the tips of her lashes. She’d held out a mittened hand to catch them. 

She said that this was a fantastic birthday gift.

A memorable one. 

A final one. 

The next night he decided that he was going to take her to see the lights over the open tundra. He regrets it to this day. And he will regret it until he joins her. 

The night was clear. Clear and sharp, bitingly cold. And she said that she was fine, insisted that she was in fact. Perhaps it was a bad idea to trust a firebender, one that had never been to the poles before, to know her own limits. In retrospect he should have started out small. He is well aware that Azula was a fan of pushing her limits. A fan of pushing herself and a staunch loather of showing weakness. 

She said that she was fine. 

His mind is stuck on that. 

She said that she was fine but her hands were growing pink even under the mittens. Her cheeks, come to think of it, had become a bright red. But she didn’t complain once. He thinks that maybe the splendor of the lights was enough to drive the cold from her mind. He doesn’t feel quite so cold when he is gazing upon them as they swirl about. 

He should have been more pushy when asking her if she was getting too cold. But he was just as mesmerized with the lights reflecting in those golden eyes as she was with the lights themselves. He’d wrapped his arms around her waist and propped his head upon her shoulders. She was shivering. Only lightly. 

She said that she was fine. 

She said it over and over again until she realized that she wasn’t fine at all. That she was actually quite cold. “I thought that it was normal for your hands to sting.” She had mentioned. 

“It is normal.” He replied. “A normal reaction anyways. It means go back inside and warm up!” He hadn’t meant to shout at her. Hadn’t meant to make her feel stupid. But she had certainly taken it that way.

And she was such a stubborn person. 

Stubborn enough to drift away from his body heat in favor of the warmth of her anger. 

She only drifted back to him when the fear finally started settling in. When she realized that they still had miles to go and she could no longer feel her fingers and toes. When her shivering started to become violent and then cease all together. 

He could see it in her eyes then, that she was terrified. He was getting cold himself but, spirits, at least he had some insulation. The cold went straight through the coats, straight through her petite frame. She hadn’t really had a chance when he looks back on it. He hadn’t thought to make sure that she was wearing her parka correctly. She’d put it on like armor; secure but loose enough to provide flexibility. She should have worn it as tight and restrictively as possible. He should have put a halt on their walking when he realized that her gait was still graceful. How had he missed that? Every firebender he ever met had pretty much waddled through the snow on their first go around. 

She said that she was fine. 

She said that she was fine and yet the cold seeped its way into her very core, clutched its frigid fingers around her fire chakra until it snuffed out. Curled its icy wisps around her heart until it stopped too. 

He held her so tightly. Her knees had buckled and he had to carry her.

He got so far…

He could still feel her stir every now and then, still feel her chest rising and falling. 

And then he didn’t.

She was so still, her cheeks had felt both stiff and waxy all at once. 

She said she was fine.

She died in his arms.

But she said she was fine. 

.oOo.

Every now and then he ventures back out into the tundra. He relives that night time and time again, thinks of all of the ways in which things could have been different. He knows that she would still be alive had he made sure she knew exactly how to handle the snow, had he insisted that they went home earlier. 

He sits cross legged in the snow and stares up at the lights. Teal and green fold in and out of each other in lazy flicks. 

And he waits. 

He doesn’t have to wait for too long. She is there, she always is. And she smiles when she sees him. He isn’t sure why after all, he had let her freeze to death. And yet she cups her hand over his cheek. Her chilly, spectral hand. Wisps of green and teal halo her fingers, the lick and kiss his cheek. 

They are in her hair too. Her hair as it dances on a breeze of its own. And upon her skin; they coil around her arms and legs, swirl upon her belly and chest. Dance over her shoulders and down her back. 

She is beautiful. 

She always had been.

He holds his hand over hers and for just a moment he feels it as though it is solid. 

“I miss you.” He says, voice hitched. He is scared to ask what has been on his mind every day since she’d died. “Do you ever get lonely out here?” 

Azula sits down next to him and shakes her head. “There are plenty of people up there with me.”

“Up there?”

She points to the lights, “do you think that I’m the only person who died out here?” She tilts her head. “We’re all here, it isn’t so bad.” 

He swallows the lump in his throat. It sounds pretty awful to him. “Not so bad?”

“They’re prettier up close.”

“And what happens when they’re gone? Are you just in the dark?”

She shakes her head, “I got back to the Spirit World.” Her lips part as though she is contemplating elaborating. “Do you know someone named Yue?”

Sokka’s heart seizes, “you met her.”

Azula nods, “she’s good to me.” She looks skyward. “I was a little…confused when I first died.”

He can’t even imagine. 

“She showed me how everything works.”

“Why doesn’t she come and visit me?”

“She died peacefully.” Azula shrugs. “She has no attachments to the physical world.” The wisps on her body shift. “Will you let me go?”

Sokka grits his teeth. “To the Spirit World? Forever?”

The lights shift again, shift and still. She nods. 

He meets her eyes. Gold has turned silver and in the silver he can see stars. He presses a kiss to her delicate lips. He wonders if she can feel it. He can’t, other than memories of a sensation. She pulls back. “Let me go, Sokka.” She pauses. “I can feel myself fading. I don’t want to fade.” She flexes her fingers in front of her face. 

He thinks that her form has become more transparent. More and more with each visit. 

“If I fade away I’ll just be gone.”

“What am I supposed to do?”

She shrugs. “Make up with Suki, find someone new. You can have me or Yue when you come to join us.” 

He inhales, gives her phantom hand a squeeze. It is like holding his own hand. “I don’t want you to fade.” But he doesn’t want to lose her. The lights won’t be the same without looking up and seeing her dancing in or under them. “You can go.”

She smiles. 

“Aren’t you scared?” He asks. “To go into the Spirit World forever?”

“No.” The smile reaches her eyes. “I’ll be fine, Sokka.” She pauses. “For sure, this time.”