#Geese Tower

[clydemystik301]

Well? 👁️👁️

[shalpilot]

workin on adding more just… fun traits to Yesui. she has an interest in technology that started in The First- since she wasn’t there for the CT raids she has a little more freedom than someone like Kiril who could absolutely put two and two together.

[futuramaaddict]

Decided to practice drawing chibi characters for the first time in 7 years and since I love LOTR, I decided to draw our four favourite hobbits in the fellowship.

(My personal favourite drawing is Merry and Pippin, Merry looks so adorable 😍)

I will try drawing the others (i.e. Gandalf the grey, Aragorn, Gimley, Legolas, etc) next!!!

[alfareria]

From walks in April & May

[targaryenrealnessdarling]

Simple Joys

An 'It's Who We Have' Oneshot

Summary: after a few months, Billy ventures outside of London to feel somewhat normal, and brings her along for the ride | Word Count: 2k~ | Warnings: just fluffy

A/N: my boyf took me to goose fair to cheer me up and I couldn't help but think of my favourite pair 😭

When she thought of her life in London, the first word that came to mind was busy. Always busy. Rubbing shoulders with people everywhere you go, fighting for your life running around tourists and least of all the incessant beeps of rowdy taxis and weaving out the way of electric bikes.

So the first thing she thought when Billy said he wanted to take her up to Nottingham one cold October evening, she thought it might be the same.

And yes, while there was a certain hustle and bustle about the place, it was like a breath of fresh air. Billy had been uncharacteristically quiet since they left London, a small, secretive smile on his lips as he glanced around the familiar city centre.

With their hands linked, fingers intertwined, she caught him looking at her, his eyes twinkling with amusement. His hair pushed slightly to his forehead from the hat he was wearing to cover his ears from the chill. Equally, she was grateful for the thick scarf around her neck. The midlands was bitterly cold.

“What you looking so happy about, eh?”

Billy shrugged, his arm moving to casually drape over her shoulders. “Just excited to show you a bit of my world. You’re always dragging me to your fancy London spots, figured it’s my turn now.”

He leaned in close, his lips brushing her ear. “You ever heard of the Goose Fair?”

She furrowed her brows at him, half amused, “assuming there are no geese involved?”

Billy chuckled, his breath warm against her ear. "Not a single one, surprisingly," he said with a smirk. "Over 700 years, and not a goose in sight. But I promise, it’s a hell of a lot more fun than it sounds. Rides, games, all the dodgy fair food you can handle."

She grinned, shaking her head. "You really know how to sell it, Billy."

He walked in front of her, the Council House coming into view behind him as he walked backwards. He seemed so aloof that she couldn't help that warm fluttery feeling in her stomach. “Proper day out with the locals.”

She found herself smiling, excited not just for the fair, but for the chance to see this side of Billy, the carefree, playful part of him that rarely had a chance to surface.

As they approached the Goose Fair, the air thickened with the scents of sugary doughnuts, frying onions, and the rich aroma of caramelised popcorn. The sound of distant screams from the towering rides mixed with the low hum of chatter from families, couples, and groups of friends wandering the packed fairgrounds. Bright lights blinked from every direction, illuminating the sprawling rides, food stalls, and game booths, all surrounded by the hustle and bustle of one of the oldest fairs in the country.

Billy’s hand found hers, squeezing it gently as he pulled her through the crowds, using his body as a sort of meat shield. 

“First things first,” he beamed, his tone playful, “you’ve got to try the mushy peas.”

“I’m fairly certain I’ve tried mushy peas, Billy,” she laughed, raising an eyebrow. But she didn’t protest as Billy led her toward a food stall, handing over a few coins in exchange for a steaming polystyrene cup, thankful then for her thick gloves.

"You’ve got to have mushy peas," Billy said, holding out a forkful with a grin. "It’s a Goose Fair tradition."

She eyed the peas suspiciously, then sighed and took the bite, trusting his enthusiasm. As the taste hit her, her eyes widened in surprise, and she froze mid-chew. “It’s minty?!” 

Billy burst out laughing at her reaction, barely holding the fork steady. “You should see your face.”

She shook her head, still processing, blinking at him with amusement. “I was not prepared for that at all.”

"Hey," Billy said, feigning offence, "this is fine dining where I’m from. Just wait until I get you on one of the rides after all this. You'll be thanking me when you’re dizzy and full of carbs.”

She laughed it off at the time, but Billy was not joking. And as they stepped up to the dodgems, she realised she might’ve underestimated him.

The ride roared to life, and within seconds, Billy’s eyes gleamed with the mischievous focus of a man on a mission. He gripped the wheel, glancing at her with a wicked grin. "Hold on tight," he warned, just as they lurched forward.

She barely had time to register what was happening before Billy veered sharply, locking his sights on a pair of unsuspecting kids in a bright red car. He slammed their car from the side with a cackle, sending them spinning. “Got 'em!” he shouted triumphantly.

“Billy!” she gasped, wide-eyed and laughing at the same time. “You’re going after children!”

He only smirked in response, dodging another car and steering straight for a teenager who had been too cocky behind the wheel. “No mercy,” he muttered, tapping the accelerator.

She gripped the side of the car, laughing through her protests. “I thought you’d be... I don’t know, charmingly bad at this or something.”

It was so so nice to see Billy happy. Carefree. No furrowed brow or distant gaze, no shadow of the weight they'd been carrying for so long. Just him, fully in the moment, grinning like a kid between lovesick glances. For so long, they had been in survival mode. From that horrific day at Cranstead Fields to the fallout that followed, every step had been a fight to just stay afloat. But today… today, it felt like they were finally catching their breath.

It was strange to think it had only been that July it happened. It felt like a lifetime between then and now. She couldn’t help but smile as she watched him laugh, a thick swallow of emotion easing her shoulders, his whole body relaxed in a way that had been rare to see. He was healing. They were healing.

Her heart swelled at the sound of it, his laugh, unguarded and free.

It was here, she thought with amusement, that he had a competitive streak, something rarely seen in any of his interactions back in London. And she saw the twinkle in his eyes reignite as they stopped by a ring-toss game booth. “Right,” he said, rolling up his sleeves, “time to win you something.”

She shot him a sceptical look, arms crossed. “Billy, these games are rigged.”

He smirked, grabbing a ring with a confident twirl. “Maybe for the average bloke,” he said, winking at her.

His confidence was admirable, and the first few attempts were predictably off-target, much to her amusement. But Billy, determined not to be outdone, narrowed his eyes and focused, launching the final ring with precision. It sailed through the air and landed perfectly on the peg, causing the stall worker to give a resigned, tight-lipped smile.

“All right, mate,” the worker said, handing Billy a tiny plush toy shaped as a goose. “She’s yours.”

Billy turned to her, a wide grin spreading across his face as he held out the stuffed goose. “Told you I’d win something.”

As the night wound down, they found themselves standing in front of a massive ride, The Stargazer, a swinging chair ride that took riders high up into the sky, offering a breathtaking view of the fair and the city beyond.

“Up for one more ride before we call it a night?” he asked, already knowing her answer.

They strapped in a loveseat, and soon, the ride lifted them high into the cool evening sky. As they soared through the air, the fair spread out beneath them like a sea of twinkling lights, the city glowing softly in the distance. For a moment, it was just the two of them, floating above it all, the wind whipping through their hair.

Billy looked over at her as his hand slid around her waist, his heart swelling with something that felt both terrifying and exhilarating. The glow of the lights reflected in her eyes, and for a moment, everything else disappeared, the past, the chaos, the danger. It was just her, the night, and this feeling.

“I’m glad we came,” he said softly, his voice almost lost in the wind. “It’s nice, having something… normal.”

She smiled, leaning into him, her head resting on his shoulder. “Yeah, it is. We deserve this.”

He let the words settle between them, a quiet acknowledgment of everything they’d been through. Now, here they were, sharing something simple, something normal, like a ride under the stars. And somehow, that made it feel even more precious.

Billy pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. “We do.”

They were drunk on the night, on each other, intoxicated by the simple joy of being together, of having survived so much and still finding this lightness in the world.

“I can’t believe you took me to a fair,” she murmured, glancing up at him with a soft smile. “It feels like a dream. And you! Driving like a maniac on the dodgems?”

Billy chuckled, his grip around her tightening as he kissed the top of her head. “Hmm…impressed though?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Yes, baby, consider me thoroughly impressed.”

The path they walked together slowly became quieter, pulling them into a quieter, more suburban part of town, where they'd be staying with Billy's Aunty and Uncle for the weekend.

“You think your Auntie Jean will still be awake?” she asked, stifling a yawn as they approached the house.

Billy grinned. “Oh, she’ll be waiting up. Probably with tea and biscuits, knowing her.”

Sure enough, as they approached the front door, a soft light flickered in the window, and the smell of something sweet drifted out from the house. For a short moment he refrained from knocking on the front door, and simply held her beneath the dim glow of the porch light.

With a quiet exhale, Billy reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek, cold from the night but warming under his touch. Her breath hitched slightly as his thumb traced along her jawline, and she felt the warmth bloom in her chest, the kind that only he could stir.

It reminded her of the time he'd kissed her in Cranstead Fields that summery evening. Except this time, she doubted he tasted like WKD.

He gently tucked a strand of windblown hair behind her ear, his hand lingering as his thumb grazed her skin. Her cheeks tingled, not from the cold, but from the tenderness in his touch, the quiet love that had been growing between them for so long.

“You’re beautiful, you know that?” Billy’s voice was low, barely above a whisper, but the sincerity in his words hit her like a wave.

She felt her heart skip as she met his gaze, her hand sliding up to rest against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her fingertips. How alive he felt. “Only when you look at me like that.”

Billy’s smile widened, and without a word, he leaned in, pressing his forehead gently to hers, their noses brushing. His breath mingled with hers, and for a moment, they stood there, wrapped in their quiet intimacy.

“I’m so lucky,” he whispered, his lips brushing hers as he spoke, the words carrying a weight that made her heart swell.

And then, softly, tenderly, he kissed her. It wasn’t rushed or urgent, but slow and full of all the hardship they’d carried through every moment, every challenge. It was a kiss that promised something real, something lasting.

When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads still resting together, both of them breathing softly, she smiled, her eyes sparkling with quiet joy.

“Let’s go inside. Get warm,” she whispered, though neither of them seemed in any rush.

Billy grinned, his thumb tracing her cheek one last time before he reached for the door. "Yeah," he said softly, still holding her close. “After you, baby.”

The warmth hit their bones instantly, and even past the incessant questions from Auntie Jean between offers of cups of tea and something to nibble on, she and Billy would meet eyes across the room, and it would still manage to make her blush the way he looked at her.

There was no need for words. This kind of love, friendship, everything, had no need for declarations. Just the simple, undeniable truth that they were meant to be here, together.

...

General Taglist; @1lluminaticonfirmed @aemondsfavouritebastard @all-for-aemond @bellstwd @blackswxnn

@blairfox04 @buckybarnesb-tch @castellomargot @cl-0-vr @eddieslut69

@emmaisafictionwhore @eponaartemisa @hb8301 @jamespotterismydaddy @justbelljust

@minholy223 @mochi-rose @natty2017 @nenelysian @nixiefics

@primonizzutto @qyburnsghost @randomdragonfires @risefallrise @sheshellsseashells

[atiny-for-life]

Ateez's Full Storyline Explained - BONUS

Masterlist

WORK

Based on the GOLDEN HOUR Intro which was released prior to the first teasers and is all about Atiny and Ateez's journey thus far, plus the lack of storyline queues in the music video itself, I believe this is one of those instances where the MV simply falls outside the storyline, much like Turbulence and The Real

I believe this time, it's because they were invited to Coachella and simply didn't have as much time to prepare for the album and get access to the sets they'd need to tell the story visually the way they wanted to which is something I talked about more here

However, let's still dive in and dig up some easter eggs and other fun little moments strewn throughout the video so we can appreciate it better!

Kicking things off is "maknae on top" Jongho buried in the dirt, playing the flute (which sounds like a clarinet) while the others stand around him, four out of seven holding spades and shovels

And it's not just that they felt justified in burying him with extra holes for his hands so he could play the flute, they also felt the need to do it right outside a motel in the middle of the desert

Giving the meaning of this album, this starting from a dirt-hole in the dessert setting could be a reference to Pirate King and Treasure which were both shot in the dessert way back when

If that's the case, it'd also make the red car more meaningful since Yunho also had one during Wave

From here, we move on to a roadside diner/shack situation where our boys are working the counter, preparing counterfeit money burgers

Inside, we can see a bunch of Ateez's awards (bragging rights), including a MAMA award, the Billboard #1 plaque and more, with TYUdeongi and Mito (the two little plushs) front and center

Next up, we've got Seonghwa rolling into town on an ostrich, carrying the flags of some of the countries they visited during last year's world tour while Yunho, San, and Yeosang are counting their money and drinking around a table outside the motel

The next clips show us Yunho reading a burning newspaper with the headline proclaiming something along the lines of "Anonymous Philanthropists Change [...]", likely referencing all the money they've been handing out at their diner

The scene is accompanied by the lyrics "Breaking News popping up no matter where I go" which is very reminiscent of 'Matz'

Wooyoung's vibing outside with a Mariachi band and Flamenco dancers (don't ask me why... I guess they're having a Latin American phase right now - let's see if they end up fluent in Spanish or Portuguese some time soon)

Up in the mountains, we've got them mining for gold far away from any visible mining shafts, and singing about geese laying golden eggs in Spanish (giving Aesop's Fable), followed by a line about building towers 24/7 in Korean (giving Billionaires' Row in Manhattan) before San eats the gold nugget he'd been holding (the effects of eating gold are not well studied, please do not attempt at home)

Next, we've got Yeosang cutting out counterfeit money with a large pair of scissors (we're already struggling with inflation, put those scissors down) while singing about being an introvert

He's in the same office Yunho was in earlier when he was reading the burning newspaper (I'm glad the place didn't burn down)

Moving on, we've got Mingi in the parking lot dressed very Willy Wonka-esque (Gene Wilder version)

He's sporting two pins on his coat - one which looks like a painter's palette and the other looking like a cross, somewhat reminiscent of the Maltese Cross (shoutout to Malta, I feel like no one ever talks about you) or the Iron Cross (popular in early 20th century Prussia)

Everyone's partying, it's raining counterfeit money, we've got car hydraulics in the back (it's been 70 years, I didn't think these were still popular) and our Flamenco dancers are back before we cut to Jongho in his hole, and back to Seonghwa on his ostrich which is now joined by some very talented, head bobbing, CGI chickens

Moving on, we find Hongjoong dancing in another parking lot, surrounded by his members and some strangers on golden bikes, all wearing sunglasses

In the lyrics, he's referencing The Real which strongly matches the vibe they're going for in this sequence, both in terms of costumes and with the general setting

Within the same rap verse, we also see Hongjoong in first parking lot where Wonka-Mingi was kicking off the party earlier

Here, he's dancing with two kids in costume (a chicken and a wrestler), while looking super delighted, just all around happy to be here, much like the guy on the bike we can see in the back (it's very wholesome)

We briefly cut away to a shot of a lone massive golden egg stranded on a deserted hill surrounded by some dry shrubs. Keep it in mind. We'll come back to it later.

Back in the office, Yeosang's happy with his robot chicken (Brian) which seems to be capable of laying golden eggs, going by the tall stack of them presented on his desk

While Yeosang's hogging the office, Yunho's off in some basement, taking the term "money laundering" far too literally as he pulls a stack of bills from a washing machine

Seonghwa, once again on his ostrich, now enters a gas station where Wooyoung fills up the bird by inputting a fuel pump in its side. We can now definitively confirm that this alternate universe is weird as hell.

Moving on to a miniature city, we've got our two main rappers attacking a money-monster with some ray guns ( because, on this ship, we're anti-capitalism)

They're wearing fur coats to match the lyrics, which may also be a throwback to Say My Name

Returning to the diner, we've got Jongho building a money burger abomination with some added CDs because, clearly, that's his favorite breakfast

And over in the kitchen, we've got head chef Hongjoong cooking up some hellfire concoction which is literally on fire but he doesn't care - he's still just making a noot-noot face and giving us a straightforward reference to Bouncy by cutting in some more green chili peppers

Honorable mention to Mingi's GTA reference

From there, we get some shots of Ateez gathered around the camera (Don't Stop End Credits style), a short scene of Seonghwa in the hydraulic car, many people's favorite clip of half-topless San twisting a valve or something near some desert oil rigs, and more, before we finally move on to Jongho in front of a food truck

The truck seems to go hand-in-hand with Ateez's roadside dinner since it also offers their famed money burgers

Next, we've got Yunho and Yeosang carefully watching an extra large golden egg in their office

After a few more super quick scenes flash by, it begins to crack before we return to the lone massive golden egg in the desert we saw earlier which now busts open and out pops Seonghwa

There are some Korean folktales about men being born from eggs, all of them rulers which were used to keep the myth alive that kings were picked by a higher power, not born the conventional way - I assume that's what's being referenced here

[jattendschaton]

People not from Boston might not realize the MFA replacing the Louvre means we now get 8ft tall metal baby heads to watch Alya almost get sacrificed

Marinette and Adrien ate a croissant at Dunkin once. It wasn't magical like Hot Dog Dan's hot dog. Their opinion of Dunkin is since very bad, and they made sure to give Dunkin a very bad opinion review on Google 🥴

GO TO BED EMSY 😡

Marinette and Adrien are pro-Dunkin!!!!!!

[sprintingowl]

Pay What You Want TTRPG Bundle II

From June 12 2024 to July 10 2024 the PWYWII Bundle is running!

It's got titles from across the indie space, covering fantasy, scifi, horror, fencing, snails, mechs, tower defense, fishing, geese, and more!

And it's all available at any price you'd like (please currency only we cannot accept auguries, tamed spirits, or orbital laser timeshares.)

There's 78 TTRPGs total, including my tactical merchant action rpg Leadbellies. Grab them all at the link below.

[rist-ix]

This is a really stupid question considering everything that's going on in the story but... Did Valtor had any kind of care and attention when he was tidying up Bloom's space?

It's possible he just picked the highest room in the highest tower and cleaned the place up... but HE'S SO OBSESSED WITH HER. And in my head, he thought of every little thing: -Each sheet and pillow is handpicked; -The chairs and table were ordered just for her; -The armchairs are padded with magic geese feathers, idk.

One day while Valtor is walking in the Palace, he sees a beautiful vase and takes it to her room and puts flowers in it. He does that twice a week with different little decorations.

HIM ASSEMBLING THE MENU OF FOODS THAT APPEARS FOR BLOOM, it's so stupid and so funny. He hires a nutritionist to put together a diverse sequence of dishes with all the necessary nutrients.

I think it would be kind of a way of his to deal with her absence, as he believed he **would** find her at some point, he always remembered to take care of her rooms until Bloom could enjoy everything he got for her.

"... he doesn't need to sleep, Darcy! He needs to decide if she would prefer tiramisu or something savory for afternoon tea on the wednesday of the second week!! It's urgent, what if he finds her now and this is not ready?!! unacceptable!!!" - Valtor, year one without Bloom.

Girlie you are basically QUOTING the corresponding To Know, To Want chapter at this point, you have NAILED him lmao!!!

Specifically, after he has his little long-awaited torture/interrogation date with Sky, he stops spiraling so much and basically recenters himself on the inevitability of Bloom's capture. Now that he doesn’t spend every waking moments in a prolonged panic attack, he can busy himself preparing for Bloom's arrival! It’s meditative, really. He's doing so well. He is so stable, now. If you touch any those hand-selected color-coordinated pillow cases he will eviscerate you, Stormy.

Before and after lol

[inexplicifics]

Goose trick time! Ciri invents or finds out about porch geese. She acquires said porch geese (most likely gets any of the mischievous new Witcher kids involved) and places them all throughout Kaer Morhen. Imagine seeing one of those on the very tippy top of a tower…or Geralt, Eskel, and Jaskier wake up to a porch goose staring at them.

There would be Much Screaming.

Probably also Much Honking, because you know she'd enchant them to make noise.

[totally-neptune-official]

A Gimmick-Verse Story : Mars vs Grass and Family Confusion

Mars was a very well known red planet, not one of the large ones like her cousins.

Mars had sent out universe wide letters to anyone listening, talking about how she talks to herself and other gimmicks she happens to be. 

Although She stated it was a form of coping, Dromaeosaur, Sealand, JCJenson, Ursa, and Nova Scotia had advised that Mars goes outside and touch some lovely green grass. 

No Frills had drawn a picture of mars with an arrow pointing to a patch of grass. 

Asteroid Belt had also shown a picture of the word “Touch” spelled with grass as well

But no attempts had worked. 

Soon enough though, their cold distant cousin Neptune got involved.

“Mars, grass is friend” Neptune stated, smiling and showing mars a picture of a sign saying “Friend” with trees and grass in the background.

Mars decided to decline this offer from Neptune and instead gave her a gift she couldn’t ever reject “Maple Syrup”. 

“Take this maple syrup and shut up nepnep” Mars said, holding a handful of maple syrup in her arms.

This small action changed everything, within seconds Neptune was charging at Mars for the delicious thick liquid she grew to love. However, where Neptune goes, WM follows. (I didn’t mean to word “delicious thick liquid” like that my bad guys)

WM sprayed Neptune with three whole bottles of water telling her no.

“It’s a gift from family” Neptune said, huffing.

“Yea but you can’t have syrup” WM replied, poking tunes face before looking at Mars. “Please mars i’m trying to weed Tune off the maple syrup” 

Mars stood there watching the pair as Neptune had made gestures to a near trash can as to say WM’s statement “saying no to maple syrup is bullshit” 

“I will hit you with a shoe” WM says jokingly.

Neptune could be considered a syrup addict with how she responded saying “My maple syrup…give me, give me” (Side note : i got inspired by the hobbit and lord of the rings btw)

Mars had decided to sit back and watch it all unfold….that was until Goose came into the picture. Turns out goose had a pixelated one of WM’s many water bottles and also sprayed Neptune. 

“NO MAPLE SYRUP FOR ANYONE” Goose yelled out.

Mars didn’t seem to like seeing all this chaos forming so she sided with her cousin.

“Yeah, let my bro have the maple syrup!” Mars stated siding with her cousin.

“Yeah i accept the gift” Neptune said, taking the maple syrup and going back into her tower that was made by WM for safety purposes.

Goose gets ready to spray more and gets ready to yell more but is stopped by mars.

“Too much noise can’t hear ya mate, nice spray you got there though.” MArs spoke, holding more maple syrup.

Goose moved back and yelled “AHHHH GET IT AWAYYYYY” quickly throwing 10 Canadian geese at Mars.

“ATTACK!!!” Goose yelled once more pointing at Mars.

I wouldn’t say this could go wrong butttt….yeah it went wrong fast because almost immediately Mars stands tall grabbing an asteroid.

“Yeah I’m not scared of those anymore-” Mars baseball threw the asteroid and made the geese explode. 

Goose stood there shocked and devastated “MY CHILDREN!!!!!”

Neptune who watched from above in her tower was surprised to see this happen. “Oh shit man…Mars that was a little much man” Neptune spoke, drinking maple syrup with goose spraying at her tower saying no maple syrup.

“Ya think? I can’t be bothered carding for them anymore Neptune, neither should you. Anything associated with Earth is not worth it anymore” Mars said with a somewhat serious tone.

“My fiancee is from Earth, the only things i care about from Earth is them, Canada and Maple Syrup. What did Earth do to make you hate it so much?” Neptune asked, noticing the shift in tone.

“Ah, right… well i don’t hate the Earth, i just don’t want to care about it anymore. I’ve had enough, enough treading on needles, enough fights, enough faking everything just to keep “ the special planet” happy. Earth doesn’t need me, I don’t need her either. I used to be alone…I can do it again.” Mars stated.

Neptune noticed that it seemed like Mars was speaking to herself but also not at the same time? She couldn’t tell, Blue and Red, ironic colors.

Neptune nodded “That’s understandable my sibling of the solar system. Plus you have me man, red and blue you don’t need everyone.”

“Heh- our orbits are pretty fat apart mate, but thanks anyways” Mars said, more relaxed.

“Well then distant cousins and your welcome” Neptune replied, shaking mars hand after climbing down the tower.

Mars and Neptune had shook on it having a cousin bonding moment.

—---

The End

Shout outs : @the-red-planet-mars @bored-dromaeosaur @the-principality-of-sealand @truly-jcjenson @ursa-major-actually @the-province-of-nova-scotia-real @no-frills-fr @definitely-waste-management @the-official-goose-god

guys I’m sorry it’s so long i tried to break down as much as possible to make it simple.

I also only tagged the gimmicks who had a speaking role so I apologize for those I didn’t tag but who reblogged 😅

anyways hope you folks enjoyed im gone drink water and get some sleep peace out ✌️

[dansnaturepictures]

Trip to north west England to visit WWT Martin Mere for my birthday 7th-9th January 2025

The photos from this trip in this set are of; views at Southport beach near where we stayed with the Pier and distantly Blackpool tower visible in the first shot, one of the main birds we went to Martin Mere to see Whooper Swans with Greylag Geese, Mallards, Shelducks and Coots, Black-tailed Godwit, Pochard, Reed Bunting, white deadnettle, Lapwing and a captive Ferruginous Duck in the collection at Martin Mere and a stunning Snow Bunting we felt so lucky to see on Southport Beach.

Other standout species seen on an amazing trip away included Pink-footed Geese and Marsh Harrier at Southport Beach and Martin Mere and Treecreeper a star of my young year, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Fieldfare, Ruff, Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler heard and seen which is my 100th bird of the year, red campion and cuckoo-pint leaves at Martin Mere. It was such a brilliant trip exploring Martin Mere a famous location I'd always wanted to visit (the sixth of the ten WWT reserves I've now visited) seeing wonderful wildlife and exploring an area I rarely had for wildlife watching before which is a very nice and wild area.

I wanted to reflect a bit more deeply on the captivating experience of observing the Whooper Swans and other birds at Martin Mere, especially when they feed the wild birds. Splendid swans, large and elegant, the sight of hundreds of Whooper Swans swimming around at feeding time was one to behold. It was addictive to watch these yellow and black billed wonders that barring the odd rare one dropping in we don’t get at home in the south as they charged through the water and powerful tussles broke out between birds. The Shelducks came to feed in numbers too, a sea of them at the water’s edge creating an exquisite continuous colourful scene, the wealth of Pink-footed Geese doing similar further back. Wigeons and Pochards of exotic organey colour, distinctive and intricately marked Pintails and Mallards delightful ducks to observe close by, with many Greylag Geese. On the waterside bank I relished pure and precious chances to see three handsome wading birds up close; Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff and Lapwing. The embracing sights and sounds of nature surrounded us to warm us in the cold on a fulfilling quintessential winter day in nature. 

[extinctionstories]

When biotech companies talk about resurrecting the passenger pigeon, through cloning or other genetic wizardry, it’s hard for me to take them seriously. Partly because I have my doubts regarding technology that hasn’t succeeded in producing even a simple domestic chicken. But mostly because, I wonder where they think the newly-created birds would fit.

Imagine millions of pigeons landing on power lines; toppling poles; taking out cable and plunging cities into darkness. Nesting in the false branches of cell and radio towers. Sending light posts crashing down onto cars in parking lots and streets. Swimming against the stream of interstate traffic. Colliding with skyscrapers, dazzled by their own reflected hordes.

Fluttering silhouettes, black against the blue, would block out days of summer leisure, blanketing festivals and concerts and sports fields with their white sleet. They’d interfere with fireworks and drone displays, and even the take off and landing of airplanes. Think of the trouble just a couple of geese can cause. (The last free-flying pigeon died without ever having had to share the skies with wings of wood or fiberglass or steel.)

Birds swooping down, to drink and to drown, from public reservoirs and lakeside harbors and backyard swimming pools. Decimating the manicured trees of city parks. Frightening pets and children and livestock. Antagonizing home owners associations up and down the east coast.

If we brought them back, this wing-flapping force of nature, what would be their place? This compound organism whose way of life depended upon existing en masse. A gust of wind can’t be held in a bottle.

For tens of thousands of years, passenger pigeons thundered over the land, marking and maintaining it, the rare species whose environmental impact could rival our own. It took scarcely a century to craft a world with which they were fundamentally incompatible. A landscape that can exist only without them.

And then I wonder, how much of that sterilized world came about because of their absence. What other ways might we have found to live, if we’d been forced to share the landscape with the wildness of the feathered gale?

How much better might things be, if the pigeons had never been gone?

[canon-divergence]

The geese are going to invade the tower. Hide.

w u t?

[manicplank]

How about everyone’s biggest fears or just general phobias or both?(Btw, You are pumping these hcs out, and they’ve all been awesome and very unique! I just hope you’re not feeling too pressured!)

Ty!! I answer asks at my own pace. I enjoy writing headcanons, and I'm happy people enjoy reading them!!!

Phobias!

Peppino: He's very high anxiety in the first place, so he's got quite a few fears. Phobia wise, he's probably terrified of clowns and birds. Biggest fear wise, he's horrified of losing the restaurant.

Gustavo: Not many fears. He's a little afraid of open water like lakes and oceans. He's short and can't swim too well. He was TERRIFIED of the fourth floor, especially the Toppin Monsters. Biggest fear is drowning.

Mr. Stick: Afraid of spiders. He will burn his house down rather than kill or relocate the spider. He's a little afraid of tornadoes. Biggest fear would be losing all of his savings.

Pepperman: Afraid that his art career is all for nothing and that he's wasted his time. His paintings don't sell well, and that scares him. His biggest fear is rotting away (cause he's a plant, ya know).

The Vigilante: I've stated it before, but he's afraid of bugs. Flies, bees, spiders, and especially cockroaches. Irrationally terrified of any and all bugs. He'll gunfight with criminals, but bugs are where he draws the line. His biggest fear is losing the farm.

The Noise: He's not really afraid of many things. He might be creeped out by something. A little bit of a germaphobe. He's probably afraid of abandonment as well as losing his fame and career. His biggest fear? Losing Noisette.

Noisette: Afraid of spiders and mice! She will squeal and scream whenever she sees one. She's afraid of getting sick. Like Noise, she's a HUGE germaphobe. She probably emetophobic, too. Her biggest fear would be losing The Noise or her café.

Fake Peppino: He isn't really afraid of anything. His biggest fear is by far abandonment. He might be a bit timind around big birds like eagles and geese. Thinks geese are meanies. His biggest fear is probably being killed.

Pizzahead: Afraid of bees to a degree where he will run and scream away from a single one. He will try and shoot it (only to fail). He's afraid of losing Granny Pizza. His biggest fear is losing the tower.

Pillar John: He's not afraid of most things. Even being in the tower, he doesn't have many fears. His biggest fear is losing Gerome.

Gerome: Much like John, he has little to no fear. He could see a nuke being dropped and go, "huh, what do you know about that". His biggest fear is losing John.