#I have a great day with a new friend at a beautiful location? cool but ur gonna be in such bad pain u can’t stand for at least 3 days after

[tyrianlynch]

I started watching Suits today and have been playing the sims nonstop and have been reading nothing but fanfiction about gay firefighters and articles about how the CIA started a domino effect that created al qaeda and the taliban so yes I’m doing super well mentally

[luashinazugawa]

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My Brazilian Girl

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─̸─̟Warnings: None, just a beautiful romance💗

─̸─̟┈┄ Wow!😱 I'm so glad I wrote this, I wasn't planning on doing anything considerably big, so there will be a part 2! probably roll SMUT in the next chapter. Enjoy and I'm reading all the ideas you sent me and planning your plots, this will probably end up becoming a series.💗

Sorry if I hear mistakes, I'm not fluent but I did my best! 🇧🇷

Explaining some things you can read: Paraná is a Brazilian state, located in the south.

Bora!, it's a slang used throughout Brazil, which basically means let's go!

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It had been 2 months since you got your British citizenship, you had been in London for 2 years and arrived in the city decided to have a life outside Brazil, after all you got an exchange program to finish college in London, and you already saw yourself in an internship at a small local team in the city that was financed and supported by a few companies. As soon as your college and internship ended, you found yourself looking for a permanent job, lucky for you the coach of the football team had a contact at Tottenham, who was one of the great supporters of the team. You found yourself so grateful for that kind man, and the team of young people with a bright future ahead, all of whom would stay in your heart.

You knew that it would be difficult to get that job at Tottenham as a physiotherapist, after all you only had experience with the team of young athletes supported by them, and they would probably have more qualified people in front of you, who probably already worked in other clubs. You felt like running away from your interview that day, but luckily for you everything worked out, as the coach of the team where you trained was a good friend of your new boss in physiotherapy, whose name was George.

After that day you went through a few more conversations with some of the club's staff, to sign all the legal paperwork, and terms of employment; What has been 3 days since your interview, but lucky for you you would only work the other week, and today was already that day. You were so excited and nervous, you had little knowledge of the Tottenham players but you knew Son, Harry Cane, Emerson and Richarlison.

As soon as you arrived at your work environment, you found yourself organizing your own room to get ready for the athletes you were going to attend, and after that you changed your clothes for the uniform left to you by Tottenham in your room. Your living room was cool so you wore a black tank top and team shorts, you didn't know if you wore the full outfit so you just got the shorts and your white lab coat instead of the jacket.

You found yourself looking in the mirror for a few seconds, and then you smiled when you saw the Tottenham crest on your shorts. "I really don't know if I should wear this lab coat… what if it's too formal?" - I was soon taken out of my little conversation by the door being opened, as soon as I turned around I was face to face with 2 athletes, these being Son and Richarlison, God help me not to panic! Son had one hand around Richarlison and his arm around her neck.

"We are so sorry Doctor..." - "y/n please, what happened?" - I said worried going to them and helping Son to sit Richarlison in my chair, as soon as I sat down he touched his thigh hissing in pain.

“We were at the gym talking after training and God, we were sitting on the floor and Ivan was going to put the gym weight in the right place, but he accidentally fell and landed on Rich thigh" - He said running a hand through his hair, he was worried about Your Friend.

"We haven't found anyone else from the physical therapy team, could you take a look at him?"

"Don't worry, I'll take a look." - I nodded and knelt beside Richarlison, before touching him I looked at him "I'm going to lift your shorts a little ok? And let me know if anything hurts" - He nodded and I gently pulled her shorts up As far as I could, the area was starting to swell and turn red.

With subtle touches I felt the area with both hands, and as soon as I touched it lightly he hissed in pain "Sorry...I'll finish now, Son, can you tell me how heavy the object was?" - I get up going to the drawers and taking out a refreshing spray that would relieve the local pain, and then going to the small fridge that had ice packs.

"I think it was a 4kg...it wouldn't break a bone like that right?" - The Korean said leaving close and giving me space to kneel again beside Richarlison, and so I passed the spray.

"It doesn't hurt a lot anymore when you fall, which leaves the place swollen and painful, it's like hitting your thigh accidentally... hold the ice pack now, okay? It will help to deflate.." - I held his front and he took a while to take more accepted putting on his leg.

"I'm relieved that it's nothing serious, I'll let our colleagues know, our training starts soon, but I'll pack up his everything and take him to his apartment" - he smiled at me and then touched his friend's shoulder who stared at him. "I'll be right back, okay?" - Son said slowly to Richarlison who nodded in agreement and soon left the room.

And so I took a sheet and started making a situation report. "Doctor I...play?" - Richarlison said and I looked again, I didn't understand what he said because I was distracted "Can you repeat that?" - then he did a kick with the other leg. "Play...sabe (You know?)" - He said staring at me, and I then realized, of course, Son said slowly because Richarlison wasn't so fluent in English yet.

I let out a small laugh at my mistake, and he stared at me blankly. "Oh desculpe Richarlison, não sabia que você não era tão fluente em inglês (Oh sorry Richarlison didn't know his English wasn't fully fluent)" .

He then stared at me surprised by the sudden Portuguese "Você fala português, que impressionante, você é Brasileira(You speak Portuguese, how impressive, are you Brazilian girl?)" - Richarlison let out a relieved smile.

"Sim sou Brasileira mais vivo em Londres a 2 anos, sou do Paraná, nascida em Curitiba (Yes I'm Brazilian girl but I've been in London for 2 years, I'm from Paraná, born in Curitiba)" "Que incrível... bem vinda ao Tottenham (How amazing..welcome to Tottenham Doctor)" - He extended his hand and I approached him squeezing, both with a smile on your face.

"Me chame de Lua por favor, como esta sua dor? (Call me y/n please, how is your pain? )" - I said softly touching her wrist to withdraw her hand and then ran my fingers gently over the area.

"Suportável agora.. (Bearable now..)" - He said and then we stared at each other for a few seconds "Isso é bom.. (That's good..)" - I quickly broke the look embarrassed, but kept my composure.

"Quero que venha aqui todo dia pois presciso avalia-lo ate o inchaço sumir e faremos exercícios para ajudar na recuperação, lamento dizer mais nada de treino por 3 dias e nesse período não faça muita força ou exercícios. (I want you to come here every day because I need to evaluate you until the swelling is gone and we will do exercises to help with the recovery, I'm sorry to say no more training for 3 days and in that period don't do too much strength or exercises)".

"Esta bem y/n (It's ok y/n)" - He said my name with so much good that I could swear his smile had ulterior motives.

"Bem.. prescisa de muletas por hoje certo, não quero nenhum peso sobre sua perna (Well..need crutches for today alright, don't want any weight on your leg today)" - I walked over to the corner cupboard where there were two pairs of crutches, I picked them up going to him.

"Vamos achar Son, esta de folga Richarlison (Let's find Son, he's off today Richarlison)" - He agreed and then got up with the support of his hand on the chair and then stood on one leg, when he got up he was so close to me that his chest his collided with my breasts. We both stared at each other again and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, God this room was cool but why is it so hot right now.

His gaze was so serious but at the same time so calm about me. "B-bem deixe-me..ajudar (W-well let me..help)" I said and pulled away a bit putting the crutches under each of his arms.

"Sim... e obrigada y/n (Yes..thank you y/n)" - he said softly "É..so meu trabalho (It's..just my job)" - Said silly and soon the door was opened, we both looked and saw that it was Son.

"I took his things Doctor, bora? (Let's go?)" Son said with a smile to his friend and I couldn't help but laugh hearing him say bora.

"Bora! Bye y/n vejo você amanhã (Let's go! Bye y/n see you tomorrow)" - Richarlison said with a smile to me and I waved to both boys saying goodbye.

As soon as they left I fell to my knees on the floor with my face in my hands.

"Oh God... what a hot man... "

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Leave a comment to know what you think!

[mymanreedus]

My Ten, Norman Reedus, New York Times

1. 'Wild God by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’s album “Carnage” was my go-to for the entire French filming portion of the first two seasons, and in Spain it’s this album. It just sings, full of life and stories and beautiful thundering bliss. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t love this band. Not one person.

2. ‘Nina Simone’s Gum’ by Warren Ellis

I met Warren in Paris and we immediately hit it off. When he told me of this book, I immediately got it. I find it interesting to learn of the things that inspire the people that inspire me. He had noticed Nina Simone take out her gum before a show and stick it under the piano. As soon as the show was over, he bolted toward the piano and ripped the gum out. He had a gold cast made of it. He was wearing it as a necklace.

3. Eggs Benedict at Coffee Parisien

My family and I are spending more time in Paris these days, and to have a good breakfast spot that serves up some taste of home is nice. And the staff are so cool. I think they know I stole a coffee cup, and they kind of looked the other way.

4. Julia Donaldson’s ‘Gruffalo’ Books

This has become the nightly story-time reading for me and my beautiful daughter, Nova. The whole series is great and it allows me to put on my Gruffalo voice, which I’m guessing is what he sounds like. I told her that I mentioned this book, and she asked why I didn’t mention “Creepy Crayon!,” which is another book that we love.

5. Yohji Yamamoto Pants

I walked in his Paris show and luckily didn’t fall. He walked up to me, put his hands in my hair, made it super messy and went, “You’re so sexy.” Then he pushed me out into the runway. I was terrified. I kind of got introduced to his pants at the show and I was like, “These are the most comfortable, flowy pants ever.” My suitcase has two types of pants: his and Dickies.

6. Prado Museum

I’m an executive producer on the show, so I have to do things with casting and locations and script revisions. My friend Ian Astbury, who sings in the Cult, was like, “Just stop working today and go to the Prado.” I put on my headphones and walked around in a glorious daze staring at the Goyas and my all-time favorite, Hieronymus Bosch. Just magic.

7. Cafe Gitane

It’s a spot I go to a lot. Luc Lévy, who owns the place, is a good friend and maybe the coolest person in New York. There’s all this history on that street. I’d ride my BMX bike through SoHo, back in the day, and I’d run over there and see people just sitting out front and catch up.

8. Erik Foss

Erik and I go way back and I have a lot of his art. I’ve seen it get better and better and cooler and cooler. It has this childlike quality but is also specific and so thought-out. I stare at what I have on the walls, and it puts me in the best mood.

9. Chateau Marmont

I used to live in L.A. when I was in my 20s, so I have a group of artist friends that live there, and I only see them at the Chateau Marmont. It always feels like home even if some rager is going on next door.

10. Hammam

I like to just sit in there for as long as I can take it. It’s like riding a motorcycle and putting on your helmet: You just kind of disappear. I like that.

Norman Reedus, The New York Times

[purplecritter]

Dragon Age: Vows and Vengeance (Ep. 5)

Official episode transcript here

My notes while I was listening under the cut… Spoilers ahead!

For anyone with emetophobia or gets grossed out by vomit, skip from 24:11 to 24:17 if you haven't already listened to the episode

“Holy maker in a bread pan” this is the real reason I listen to this podcast

kapok = type of tree, presumably tropical

“Taash says west, and if you know her as well as I, you'd know to take her word over a map” So what I’m hearing is, if Taash says jump from a bridge, I should jump 👍

Declan: “Her treasure hunting is an art, Lord Mondraine. And I assure you, her instincts are a thing of beauty” 🥰 Mondraine: “No, Declan, actually real art is beautiful and she and this place are not!” 😐😡I hate this guy

Taash 🤝 Bellara = threatening violence against the openly racist dudes

Bloodfire Stones = sacred rubies fabled to have been forged from the scales of a dragon, in the “Ancient Temple of the Lost Dragon”. “The shadows reveal the path to the Bloodfire” 

Nooo why is there no subtitles for the “foreign tongue” 😭 at least let me read the words :( (I want you to imagine now: me in the wiki page for qunlat, pausing and rewinding the episode to carefully piece together a translation word by word, only to then realize halfway through that there’s already a translation for the entire sentence because it’s a Qunari Prayer for the Dead said by Sten in DAO🤡) “Shok ebasit hissra. Meraad astaarit, meraad itwasit. Aban aqun. Maraas shokra. Anaan esaam Qun.” = “Struggle is an illusion*. The tide rises, the tide falls. But the sea is changeless. There is nothing to struggle against. Victory is in the Qun.” *illusion or deity. In this case, since it’s said near an altar to “summon” a Temple, it’s possible that it’s intended more as the second meaning?

Ooooh Taash just casually has secret correspondence with the Orlesian nobles of the court? Woowieeeeee 

Come on Declan, all that “And what would you have me do? Mutiny against my friend?” for this? Not cool dude

Ah Drayden, never change

Pyramid? 🧐

I am once again loving the dynamic between Nadia and Drayden

THEY KNOW EACH OTHER? Did Nadia dabble with the LoF? Awww step aside Drayden, it’s Nadia’s turn to have a fun synergy with one of the Veilguard companions

“Remember our favorite dance, Nadia?” “The Dairsmuid two step? [...] As much as I'd love to, I'm in no condition to stage a jailbreak at this moment” they broke out of a prison in the capital of Rivain together?! (Psst psst Hollix in “Luck in the Gardens”, was in Dairsmuid)

Gamordan Stormrider was also in DAI in the Exalted Plains… And her location was unlocked after completing the war table mission “Gain Access to Ghilan'nain's Grove” 👀🫢

I’m assuming the qunlat that Nadia knows was taught by Taash? Awe

I JUST GOT SHIVERS. DID THEY CASUALLY PUT IN THE “IN HUSHED WHISPERS” SOUNDTRACK??? Timestamp is 21:42 in case anyone needs the info 

Drayden is afraid of spiders, can’t swim and gets seasick. They created the perfect nerd meowmeow I know people would go insane for them if they’re in the actual game

BONE SAND?

I actively avoided “kill dragons” missions in DAI but I like that Taash is not just skilled at hunting them but clearly knowledgeable about their habits/motivations etc. It feels more empathetic compared to The Iron Bull who just liked to kill them

“you're the one who brought daggers to a dragon fight” LMAO 

New Taash&Nadia lore drop: “we fought the undead in the tombs beneath Clagan's Hollow” (I wasn’t able to find any previous ref to this place, might be new!)

Taash not liking corpses. Destroying hearts of various interested Ingellvar Mourn Watch Rooks. Poor Manfred too lol

“I see your lightning, now feel my fire!” 😳 Taash don’t listen to those two you’re doing great

Yippee an episode finale that ended on a hopeful note!

I initially leaned more on Tal-Vashoth Taash, but as the episode went on I’m not so sure, they might be Vashot?

Btw no idea what to make of Taash saying the dragon is female because of her spine/coloration. Except that whoever wrote that part forgot that all winged dragons (not dragonlings or drakes) are female? That or the species underwent a major mutation these past 10 years lmao

[rimouskis]

In the interest of wanting to love life again: what was your favourite moment of the Penguins season this year? Any happy memories?

I had a really great season, man.

I saw games with seven different fandom friends and got to introduce three of them to the city for the first time. I got to see so many wins alongside them, including several friends' first pens wins. I got to watch the Pens win a Pride game, which was amazing and so fun.

I got to see Geno's 1000th game in Chicago (with my family, who'd never been to a hockey game before), and then flew back to Pittsburgh to see them celebrate it on home ice—with Geno winning it in a shootout that was probably the coolest experience I've ever had in a hockey arena.

I got to see Tanger's 1000th game and share that with a friend. Seeing the funky fun little warmups (which I missed for Geno's in Chicago because the arena workers were mean 😂) was super special and cool.

I got to go to the night of assists, which was a lifetime experience, special and made all the better by getting to share it with a fandom friend.

I got to go to a Geno fan signing with another friend, and say hi to him as he signed my jersey and thank him for signing with the pens. he said he was glad to sign, too:)

I got to live through contractgate, which was horrible-at-the-time but also a really unifying experience.

I felt a thousand, no, a million times worse when Geno pulled that dumbass "I'm gonna test free agency 💅" move this summer that made me just SOB in the arrivals lane at an airport on the very first business trip I've ever made in my career ahahaha.

and it's weird and silly, because I'm a person who really needs to reframe those upsetting moments into something good. it's how I live with them. I remember how hopeless I felt—my plane had been turned around, I was late to my first business trip ever, I was about to meet my high-powered boss in person for the first time, I was standing in the Detroit heat waiting for 45 minutes for a shuttle to take me to the grimiest hotel I've laid eyes on because my connecting flight had been delayed until the next day... and I was just crying into my mask as I tried to console my fandom friends and keep my wits about me because it kind of felt like the world was ending.

and it wasn't... about... the team. in a way it wasn't even fully down to being about geno. do not get me wrong: I was personally devastated by the idea of him not coming back. he's one of My Guys. I was in denial about what I would do if he didn't sign with the Pens. I was so torn up about it that I stayed up for hours even though I was exhausted.

but the fear that kept me up in that really weird, shitty hotel room was the thought that my fandom was going to circle the drain because of it. we saw what a ship split did to tk/np, didn't we? their situation was different from sidgeno's... they lacked the amount of history, the sheer years... but nonetheless, I'm really, really aware of how small and tight-knit our corner of hockey fandom is. I was terrified of the possibility of geno leaving and that fracturing this really beautiful chunk of the internet that I've called home for the majority of my adult life, at this point.

that didn't happen. not only did it not happen, but I was in a vacation dreamland, barely needing to work on a business trip in the most gorgeous fantasyland location I've ever seen, having impressed my boss and nailed my part of the trip. all my anxiety—over the trip, over my job, over my fandom, over geno, over sid, over my friends dealing with this—was real, but it didn't win. instead I practically experienced euphoria on the shoreline.

I remember getting the text from a friend at close to midnight or whenever it was. geno had signed. things were going to be okay. things were going to be great.

and they were. I had so much fun this season, man. I really did. I wrote 14ish new fics this season. I participated in three (four? maybe more?) fic fests. I went to so many games that I felt gluttonous about it. I talked to tons of people all over this fandom. my friendships grew stronger. I traveled to two different states to visit fandom friends. I'm flying across the ocean to see more in the coming months.

and like... that's what matters. that ACTUALLY impacts my life, more than a man leaving a team, more than a team losing games. as important as certain players or records are to me, that's all stuff I can come to accept (well... some things I can accept. I don't think I'd ever have gotten over geno had he left. I get nauseous thinking about it. let's not muse on it. it didn't happen and that's what matters).

what I wouldn't have been able to accept was this space—this fandom, this lovely little corner where we talk about and joke about and blog about and meme about and write about the pens—unraveling. I'm not naive enough to expect this place to be around forever, and it already looks radically different from what it was when I joined it, but I'm determined to help preserve it for as long as I can. I want this to be a fun space. A creative one. Someplace where we're having a good time but also talking about things that matter to us and learning about the sport.

I told you all in a post a long while ago after I went to seattle that I want to be more assertive and honest about how much online friendships mean to me. the fact that there's this online community is sick. we're all in this cool little boat together and that is impressive and interesting and unique and I love it. I love fandom, and I love THIS fandom, and I love Sid and Geno and what we do in the name of their friendship. this place has enriched my life in ways I can't even tell you about. it's so cool. it is SO cool.

so.... I don't know what else to leave you with but this picture of the coastline I sat at on a cool July night, with my career changing in amazing ways and my anxieties quelled and my body flooded with adrenaline over the news that Geno Was Back and my mind BURSTING with creativity over a new story idea that was billowing out of me like smoke.

I sat there, headphones in, a song by one of my favorite bands playing on repeat as the sun set and the world turned the most intense shade of blue I'd seen in my life. I kept mouthing along to the words—Die if I must, let my bones turn to dust, I'm the lord of the lake and I don't want to leave it.

I just couldn't get over how lucky I felt. what a life I had. what fortune had come into my life. how crazy it was that things, like they seemingly so often do, worked out.

if I REALLY wanted to be trite, I could say something right now like "well, it was about time my luck ran out." but I don't feel like it has. tonight wasn't fun, but this season isn't about tonight for me.

this season is about:

the look on my friend's face as we caught sight of Sid at the night of assists and had that christ-he's-real moment

starting a podcast with my friends and getting to create silly goofy stuff in fun new ways

my dad being kind of alarmed at me screaming down at the ice and getting to explain to my sister what a power play was

getting to boo and cheer with the fans (and my friends). during overtime and the shootout for Geno's 1001th game, and the ecstasy of him winning it all.

having players walk past me and my friends at our dinner tables randomly in the city and getting to laugh about how cool/funny an experience that is 😂

having geno help me win a game of blackjack, which will forever be one of the coolest things I've been able to experience

organizing trips for people who've never seen the city before and having them tell me how fun experiencing pgh is, which is so meaningful as someone who's done a lot of growing up here

meeting new friends, both online and in person, and getting to learn about them and write with them and create with them

writing. writing. writing. the thing I've loved to do since I was a child. the thing I want to dedicate myself even more fully to.

reading the works people in our fandom write and share, which is such an overwhelming act of community and passion that I need to remind myself of how extraordinary it is

sitting out on the edge of the water and marveling at what a life I had, literally none of it possible without fandom. nothing in my life has shaped my literal life path as much as this fandom and S+G.

this is overly sentimental and perhaps cloying, but god, do I mean it. I mean it so earnestly I can't even be embarrassed about it.

life is good. tonight was hard, and I saw things that are going to stick with me and probably upset me, but the positives outweigh the negatives as a rule in my life. I can't live otherwise. I won't tell anyone else how to deal with stress or fear, and I'm trying to get better at that, but in the meantime I'll leave you with that image of the big blue world all laid out in front of me and me feeling every feeling in the world there was to feel, because I was so overwhelmed with the previous 24 hours that it was all I could do to sit there and let it run its course.

I'm an optimist, for better or worse, because it's the way I make life bearable. and, because I'm also kind of corny, I'm going to go back to that blue dusk eating up the whole sky and melting into the water and remember how I felt.

that's why I'm here. I hope there are moments from this season that made you feel like that, too. I hope you, like me, feel that those moments greatly and meaningfully outweigh bad ones.

it was a good year. I can't wait for whatever comes next.

[chickenstrangers]

2023 gifs in review tag game

tagged by @khaotunq (here!) to post my favorite/most popular gifs throughout the year. thank you!!🩵🩵🩵

I only started making gifs partway through this year, so there was a big learning curve and i still think i'm pretty newbie but it has been a lot of fun and it's nice looking back on how much i think i've improved, though i have so much left to learn next year

i am going to ramble too much because this is my post, fair warning, forgive my self indulgence

april

this was the very beginning, back in the photopea days before i tried photoshop (i am still quite fond of photopea, 1. because it is free and 2, for stills i think it's just as good as photoshop, but i could never figure out how to make gifs look good with its dithering system. i have seen some remarkable gifmakers using photopea tho so that's a my limited skill problem, and i'm glad i used it to dip my toes into the process!)

i only posted 1 set for abaab this month which looks not good but is still a very fun scene, but this was not actually the first thing i made (see below).

may

most popular: msp finale, tinn knowing all the words to gun's song <3

favorite: moonlight chicken, my first ever gifset and the reason i got into gifmaking because i wanted to capture the way moonlight chicken visually returned to locations and shots to underline its theme of loneliness being replaced by community, which is the mlc repetitions series

june

most popular & favorite: kiss me again (2018) and the lovely way june say's goodby to his friends (i learned how to add text to gifs for this one, and not only that but timed text! i thought it would get like 5 notes. it's very messy and doesn't look great, but i'm proud that i learned something with it, and i think its very funny and that's all that matters to me)

july

it's photoshop time now!! photoshop beloved you make such beautiful gifs and also you are So Slow and my computer cannot handle you.

most popular: only friends original trailer set

favorite: jimwen looking at each other set (the start of my most belovedest of series, the followup to the first ever meta i wrote)

august

most popular: part 1 of the can't i look at you edits, cool tones edition

favorite: part 2 of the can't i look at you edits, warm toned edition (i love them both but this has two of my all time favorite wen faces)

hey its my profile picture and also i find it very funny that the Os line up with his eyes, and the second gif i love how impossibly happy they look

september

my busiest month in terms of gifs, in large part due to only friends

most popular: topmew and fire

favorite: alanwen poetry edit i spent soooo long learning keyframes for the heartbeat effect and then the ghosting effect was a happy accident thank you person in the background walking past at the right moment

(i also love my charn laws of attraction set because he was a surprise favorite character this year, i loved collecting the quotes for how he speaks of himself)

october

most popular: only friends sandray finale parallel set (it is. very very close to 1k which is. so many).

favorite: he's coming to me edit because it was so fun to make for @dudeyuri

november

most popular: not me sean and black getting along super duper well!

favorite: moonlight chicken haunted house edit, accompanying this meta/creative writing thing. i loved choosing liminal feeling shots for it and i liked how the simple typography turned out

december

most popular: a little jim and wen set i am very fond of

favorite: the moonlight chicken new years set i posted today. i love this little chicken diner

hey look i managed to mention moonlight chicken almost every month (i swear, i watched so many favorite shows this year but i loved making mlc gifs so much)

and that's that! thanks for reading if anyone read til the end.

no pressure tags for some amazingly talented creators who have made some of my favorite sets this year (if you feel like talking about some of your highlights, whether monthly or not, because you all make so much incredible work and i'd love to hear about it) : @hoppipolla @sollucets @icouldhyperfixatehim @celestial-sapphicss @chinzhilla @krystaljungs @moonkhao and anyone who wants to, consider yourself tagged <3

[vintage-retro-queen]

Chapter Four-Watch Us Work (Not Quite Famous)

It was just another ordinary day in Camp Wawanawkwa.

Where Lucy and Marinette are just doing the usual thing they usually do. Marinette was working on some new fashion designs while Lucy was reading another one of her Stephanie Queen books. While they were working and reading, Marinette had her cell phone playing some music for them. When one song finished, the host of the R+B (Romance and Bloom, love song themed) radio station EPIC-FM, DJ Smooth, started talking. "Alright! That was Start Again by Alayah. This next one was from 1995. A love song for the late lucky girl and New Rustvale's beloved sweetheart, Luci Grassette. This is Our Perfect Love by Perfection Division in 198.5 EPIC!" As the song starts, Lucy and Marinette start to listen to it, feeling intrigued.

This one's for you, Miss Grassette!

Our love for you is like the most perfect,

Your face reminds us of your gorgeous self,

Together, we are like Vicki and J.D.

Oh darling Luci,

Our beautiful,

Our glamorous,

Our perfect companion to our longing-yearning souls.

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

We love our perfect times,

But not as much as we love being with you!

Oh darling Luci,

Your eyes are like our favorite candy that will never fail, You're like the most beautiful princess to ever walk New Rustvale

Your loving pretty face,

Your breathtaking soul,

Your gorgeous eyes,

Your glamorous princess being...

How can we look at another when our perfect love is so strong?

We love you Miss Grassette!

"Alright! That was Perfection Division! Can you feel the love? Because I certainly can."

"Yeah, that was a great song," Marinette commented. "Yeah. That Luci girl must've been so lucky to be featured in a song like that." "You know, it's hard to believe that it's been twenty-something years since we lost all the five members of Perfection Division in a horrific hit and run." "How terrible," "May Luci and the Perfection Division rest in peace," Lucy said, crossing her heart for the late girl and late boy band.

Just then, after a moment of silence for the late girl and boy band, they hear Chris talking on the loudspeaker. "All right, campers, enough beauty sleep. Time to show us what you're made of." "Welp, time to get going, Nettie," Lucy said, getting up and closing her book with a 50s diner-themed bookmark in the pages she was in. Marinette nods and gets up from her spot as well.

After a bit, Lucy, Marinette, and the rest of the campers head over to the location they were told to go to for their next challenge. When they got there, they looked to see Trent and Gwen waving to them. "Marinette, saved you a seat." "Oh, thank you, Trent," Marinette said happily. Lucy sat down next to Gwen, and they started having a conversation about their favorite horror films. The four of them were not even aware of Cody trying to impress the girls but ended up falling on his seat, yet still trying to look cool.

Chris then got everyone's attention and talked to them: "Welcome to our brand-new, deluxe, state-of-the-art outdoor amphitheater. Okay, this week's challenge is a summer camp favorite: a talent contest." "Yes! Awesome," said Owen. Lucy's eyes widened in surprise.

CONFESSIONAL: MARY-LOURKRITIA CORLEONE

"Well, that was unexpected. I haven't performed in a while since the last tour incident when the MetaBetas and I were performing in a small town. We were finished with our performance and when my friends and I were ready to head into the bus, some people were talking while we were walking. They were talking about, well, honestly, I don't know what, but frankly, I don't even want to know. Anyway, asides from that, it sure has been a while."

"Each team has eight hours to pick their three most talented campers. These three will represent them in the show tonight. Sing, dance, juggle. Anything goes as long as it's legal." Chris explain, signing a 'Got my eyes on you' to Duncan, causing him to snap his fingers with a frown. Chris continued, "You will be judged by our resident talent scout, former D.J., V.J., and rap legend, grand...Master Chef who will show his approval via the Chef-o-Meter. The team that loses will send one camper home tonight. Good luck." with that, Chris headed off the stage.

After a little while, with the Screaming Gophers, Heather blows her whistle. "Okay, I'm the team captain, so here's how it's going to work," she said until Gwen cut her off. "Wait, who said you were team captain?" "She did. Just now," said Lindsay. "Lindsay, Beth, and I took a vote, and I won." "Threatening them to vote for you isn't exactly democratic." "I'm with the bambina on that," Lucy said, agreeing with Gwen. Trent then walks over to Marinette. "Hey, snagged you an extra muffin." "Oh, thank you," Marinette said. Just then, Beth headed over to them. "Hey, Lucy, Marinette. Chris was hoping to talk to you about something. He's saying that there's an urgent call from someone." "Oh, jeez. It better not be about Slick and Brutus trying to get all the action figures in stores to find another legendary collectible again. I swear those two just won't knock it off." Lucy said, unamused, as she and Marinette headed over to the location Beth gave them.

As Lucy and Marinette head over to the location, they head into a cabin, which seems to be empty, and they see that there are no cameras in sight. "Huh, odd that there's no cameras here," Lucy said, closing the door behind them. "Yeah, there wasn't even one following us while we were on our way here. What do you think Chris is up to? And what do you think he wanted to meet us here for?" Marinette asked. "Heck, I don't know. But still, if it's about those two trying to find a legendary collectible, I swear to all the gods above, I'm gonna volunteer out of this show and give those two a piece of my mind."

Just then, another light in the room turned on. There, the two see Chris sitting on a table as a comic book character would be. "You two are sooo busted," he said, making the two sweatdrop in fear and panic. "I'm sorry, what's that now?" Lucy sputtered out in both fear and confusion. "Y-yeah, what are you talking about?"

"Marinette, it's okay. He and Chef know." a ladybug-like creature appears right beside him. "Whoa! What in the" Lucy gasped. "What is that? A pixie fairy or something?" Lucy looked confused. "We're not." Lucy turned to see more animal and bug-like creatures floating around the three of them. "What are you then?" Lucy quietly asked, trying not to make a wrong move. "We, my queen, are called kwamis." "Uhh...Nettie, you got a lot of explaining to do, sorella." Lucy said, looking more confused than ever before. Even though Marinette was shocked about how Chris knew about this. However, since the kwamis seem to trust him and feel worried about a confused and panicky Lucy, she explains everything to Lucy about it, having her finally understand, yet looks shocked about it. Even Chris was a bit shocked himself. "Okay, I can understand that now, but how did you know about them?" Lucy asked Chris. "That isss because Chrisss here is one of the original Miraculous holdersss," Sass explained. "He was?" Marinette asked, looking at Chris surprised. Chris nodded. 

"Before Master Fu got the turtle miraculous back, he lent it to me as a temporary holder. I was known as TurtleTurbo." "Holy freak! The TurtleTurbo?!" Lucy gasped, her eyes lit up in shock and amazement. "Ah, you've heard of me?" "Are you kidding? You helped find and catch that former country idol! That's amazing!" Lucy turned to Marinette and said, "He helped the detectives find and arrest the former country idol after he and a female idol from another genre were missing in the past couple of days. Weeks even. I even have the newspaper article my nona saved to prove it too, look." Lucy explained, taking a newspaper article out of her hoodie pocket and showing it to Marinette. Marinette looked surprised as she looked at the picture on the paper and quickly read through the article. "Wow. I never knew that," she said. Chris shrugs. "Eh, that's just how it is. Some people may forget, but some and more will never forget what they remember and sometimes hear," he said, crossing his arms and smiling. "But wait, you know about me, but what do you know about Lucy?" Marinette asked. "Oh, I believe this will answer your question." Chris then placed down a brooch-shaped amulet and a talisman. Both have a dragon symbol in the middle. Lucy looked at the two things, confused. "What are those things?" Marinette asked, looking at the two, surprised yet confused. "These, my dear Marinette, are the Kombatant Amulet and a talisman. This talisman, by the way, was like a flip phone and was used back in the early years." Chris explained, showing Marinette flipping the talisman open as a flip phone. Marinette looked surprised as the talisman opened up holograms of multiple apps. "I didn't know we have those," she said. "We don't," said Chris. He then places down an old photograph of a teen girl and says, "But the former holder does." 

Marinette, Lucy, and the kwamis all look to see the photograph turns out to be a school yearbook photo teenage girl who looks a lot like Lucy, yet in a very different outfit. "Whoa! She looks just like you!" the ox kwami says, looking at the photograph and then at Lucy. Lucy looked surprised to see that the ox kwami was right. "That look-a-like is known as Anarchy." Lucy looked confused about the girl's name. "That's her name?" she asked. "Eh, no one can't really blame her. The place she used to be at had some names that weren't very common. Some maybe, but not all and she doesn't want to be left out." "Oh, I see." Lucy said, as she, Marinette, and the kwamis now understood. "Listen, as much as I would like to continue on with the explanations about Anarchy and how this version of the kombatant talisman, all of that is gonna have to wait, because..." Chris shows them the news in Paris, France. Marinette sees that it is Copycat. She wasn't surprised that it was Theo, once again for the seventy-ninth time in a row.

"That's typical Theo, for being so girl-crazy after he discovered girls after going through the first stage of puberty, facial hair and voice change." she says, looking unamused. Chris then hands Lucy the amulet. "Anarchy would've wanted you to become the new Anarchy," he said. "Uhm, okay." "Oh, and quick heads up, there's gonna be a lot of visions from out of the random, so I'd be prepared for one in case it happens today if I were you." Chris quickly explained to Lucy. She nods as she now understands about the random visions. "Knock 'em dead, girls. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna slip out." with that, Chris left.

As he did, Marinette put on a pair of earrings and put a ring on her ring finger, then saying the words, "Tikki, Plagg, Unify!" the ladybug kwami, Tikki, and the black cat kwami, Plagg, both get sucked into the earrings and ring, transforming Marinette into Bug Noir. Lucy looks at her, amazed. "It's your turn, Lucy!" the tiger kwami said. The rest of the kwamis cheer for Lucy. She then gives in and puts on the amulet. The amulet then shines a bright light with the dragon symbol moving and then roars. The dragon then flies out of the amulet, growing a big size and transforming Lucy into her heroine form. The dragon flies in circles around Lucy, transforming her casual clothes into her heroine clothes: a black crop tank top with the word 'REVENGE' and a pink teddy bear with white X's for eyes, a red plaid skirt with black lace, a thick jean-like belt-buckle, and a jean blue colour XOXO on it, maroon torn leggings-socks, black platform boots with red-visible-laced shoelaces, spikes on both left and right sides of the boots, and an anarchy symbol on the right boot. The dragon then flies back into her amulet, which then turns into a black belt choker-spike choker-silver chained-necklace combination. The necklace turns into an anarchy symbol. Earrings and other piercings then magically appear in her ears. On her right ear is her right stud earring, which is shaped like a black blotch with white X-shaped eyes and a smile on its face. On her left ear is her left dangle cross-designed earring, along with four three-stud piercings on her left ear lobe. Her wrists then glowed, summoning silver wrist guards on both of her wrists. After that, she noticed a note in her pocket, read, 'Close your eyes, and say these words.' when she closed her eyes, she said the words from the note, "Blood-Creation Breathing, Sixth Form, Hide and Conceal." dark crimson liquid started to come out from behind her ears and flow to her face, creating a face mask. After creating her face mask, it began to change its pattern to black and words in a white spray paint font that says 'REVENGE' on it. When her mask and transformation were complete, Lucy finished her transformation, striking one of her fighting poses along with a dragon's fiercest roar in the end.

Marinette and the rest of the kwamis looked amazed after Lucy transformed into her heroine self. "What do you think?" Lucy asked, surprising them with a deep Brit accent. "You look amazing!" Marinette said happily. "And that accent is amazing, Anarchy." "You know what. I say my name will be... Anarchia." Marinette nods. "Let us head over, shall we?" Lucy then summons up a portal. Marinette looked surprised but smiled. "Well, I say, I believe I am starting to get the hang of this." Anarchia says happily. After that, they head to the portal, off to find and stop Copycat.

When they went through the portal, it took them to their exact location. Paris, France. "Oy! Are you talking about us?" Lucy, or Anarchia, asked out loud, getting Copycat and everyone's attention. "And who are you?" "Your worst bloody nightmare." Anarchia then throws her chained kunai at the akumatized person. The chained kunai wraps around the Copycat's waist and holds them tightly. "GET OVER HERE!" Anarchia yelled, pulling Copycat over to her. When she did, and before Copycat could summon his Cataclysm and attack her, Anarchia's hands and wrist guards started to glow a light bluish colour, and when she aimed her hands at Copycat, it froze him into ice. All but the akumatized item, which turned out to be a piece of paper. When Anarchia grabs it, she turns to Ladybug. Ladybug nods, and Anarchia freezes the akumatized item, which causes it to break and tear the paper into small pieces, and the akuma flies off of it. After Ladybug catches it, de-evilizes it, she yells out her usual catchphrase, and the ladybugs turn everything back to normal, including a full-on thawing out Theo as he returns to normal. "Punch it in!" Ladybug and Anarchia both said as they fist-pound. They then noticed a lot of newscasters heading over to them, holding and flashing their cameras at them, holding their microphones out, and asking the two a lot of questions. And she and Anarchia answered them quickly.

"Ladybug! Who is this with you?" "All you mates, can call me Anarchia."

"How did you meet Anarchia?" "She was there for me when I was on patrol." "An armed picket-pocketer was spotted, and I quickly caught 'im 'round the same time she showed up." "She was very useful for a lot of other things asides from akuma attacks."

"Is it true that you stopped endorsing the Ladyblog?" "Sadly, yes. Only because of various reasons. One of them is one person claiming that she is my 'best friend', which is not true because I never have any time hanging out with civilians." "Some cottonheads never understand what the real world works and never fact-check like they are supposed to do. Not to mention some bloody cottonheads always lose their minds over what wanker tells them what they want to hear. That, and they never got to wake up and smell the real scent of tea to face reality. However, speaking of facing reality, I do recommend this brilliant site and app I have endorsed back in London. It is called Face Reality. Because I have heard they are having some of their best reporters start here in about the next week." Anarchia said, along with remembering what one of her friends from back home had said to her.

Everyone started to get very interested and continued questioning the two. Since the two still had time to spare. Bug Noir and Anarchia answered a lot of questions until sunset, and Bug Noir's ring and earrings started beeping. "Well, I say it is time for us to leave. Good day." Anarchia said, going to her pockets and grabbing a pair of keys, after pressing one button, it summons a motorcycle, automatically driving to her and stopping and staying by her side. Even though she and Bug Noir are surprised that Anarchy can have a motorcycle, they know that this will now be Anarchia's way to get anywhere. As Anarchia gets on, she drives off along with Bug Noir, uses her yo-yo, says a quick 'Bug out,' and leaves with Anarchia.

When they got to a quick empty spot, Anarchia summons a portal and they quickly go through there and are back to the same safe place in Muskoka. "Boy, I'm really getting the hang of this Anarchy-heroine thing," Lucy said happily.

After they de-transformed back to their normal attire, Lucy gets a sudden ringing in her head, causing her to feel a headache-migraine combination. "Ugh!" she groaned as her eyes started glowing white with small lightning bolts coming out. Marinette looked shocked and surprised to see that, while the kwamis looked at the scene surprised. Lucy then looks to see that it was a vision that Chris was talking about. The vision shows Heather holding a box with a little book in it. Lucy then realized that the book was not just a book. It was Marinette's diary. However, before Heather can get a hold of it, the box closes itself shut, trapping both the diary and Heather's hand. Causing her to scream. The next vision comes up, showing her Howard playing music, along with her, her friends, and Marinette singing one of the MetaBeta songs she and her two friends always sing, Watch Me Work.

After seeing the two visions, Lucy's eyes closed, and she got on her knees, panting. "Lucy, are you okay?" Marinette said, worriedly helping Lucy up, looking at her with worried eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just got two visions that Chris told me about." Lucy explained, rubbing her right temple. "What was it?" Tikki asked. "Oh, while we were in Paris, Heather was about to read your diary, but thanks to the box you made for it, it closed, trapping her hand along with it. So I guess you could say that your secrets are safe." Marinette sighs in relief hearing that. "Okay, that's good to know." "Tell me about it."

CONFESSIONAL: MARINETTE DUPAIN-CHENG

"Probably should've warned the girls that I have a box for my diary. But in this case, not warning Heather was actually a blessing in disguise. I'm glad I brought the box with me."

CONFESSIONAL: MARY-LOUKRITIA CORLEONE

"See, that's exactly why I don't bring a diary around me anymore. What Heather did, that's the reason."

"Oh, and the vision I got is saying that we're going to perform in the talent challenge," Lucy added. "Wait, us?" "Yeah, you, me, Harold, and two of the MBs." Marinette looked surprised to hear that. "You go meet up with the Killer Bass. I'm gonna call my friends, get Harold, and I'll meet you in a minute." Marinette nods and heads out to meet the rest of the Killer Bass. Even though she wasn't sure what the elder gods were thinking or what they had in mind about her performing at the talent challenge. "Well, if the vision say so, I guess it couldn't hurt to try," she mumbles to herself.

When she got there, she finally met up with the Killer Bass. "Hey, guys." "Marinette! Thank goodness you're here. You and Lucy got to help us!" Bridgette said. "Katie and Sadie are covered in barf." "That only leaves Tyler, Duncan, or Harold. And we already know Tyler stinks. What can Duncan do again?" "Carve a picture of his own skull into a tree? What are we going to do?" Courtney asked, panicking. Geoff then noticed. "Wait, where's Marinette?" Bridgette and Courtney now noticed that he was right that Marinette wasn't there anymore. "Where did she go?" Just then, they hear music playing. They looked to see Harold started playing some music with his keyboard. The spotlights then shine on four girls, which turn out to be Marinette, Lucy, and the two girls of the MetaBetas, Angie and Malviña. Who are also known as Miss Maleficent and Queen Red Hood. They started dancing and singing.

Lucy: Never gets old no matter how much I'm told I'm amazing

Angie: You're amazing

Lucy: It's hard to get tired when I'm always on fire I'm blazing

Angie: Ooh, you're blazing

Malviña: All my greatness. It doesn't come for free. All my talent. It doesn't grow on trees. Take a breather. They'll take it all away.

Marinette: If the top is where you wanna stay

All Four: You gotta work hard. To make it look easy. You gotta live fast. To keep making that money. If you want to be as famous as me. You gotta work, gotta work, gotta work. Watch me work.

They all looked surprised seeing Marinette and the MetaBetas perform onstage for the Killer Bass side. Their singing and dancing were all in sync. They were even surprised with their outfits. They were wearing hoodies in their colors. Angie in purple, Malviña in black, Lucy in navy blue, and Marinette in pink. On the back of their hoodies have their logos in silver, and their stage names in rhinestones. While Chris on the other hand, was actually enjoying the show, munching on some popcorn.

Angie: Haters want to be me or be with me yeah, they're fr-fr-fr-freaking

Lucy: Yeah, they're freaking

Angie: I just keep on working, lurking, smirking when they think that I'm peaking

Lucy: Never peaking, yeah

Malviña: All my greatness. It doesn't come for free. All my talent. It doesn't grow on trees. Take a breather. They'll take it all away.

Marinette: If the top is where you wanna stay

All four: You gotta work hard. To make it look easy. You gotta live fast. To keep making that money. If you want to be as famous as me. You gotta work, gotta work, gotta work. Watch me work.

After they ended their performance with a pose of their choice, there was a quick pause in the audience in front of them. Until they all started to cheer for their performance. Chris then walks up to them, clapping. "Wicked music playing, dude. And MetaBetas, a very outstanding performance." "Hey, it's what we do." Malviña said "And a perfect way to help endorse Total Drama." Angie added. "Especially with our newest member of the MetaBetas. Our very own Knitting Fairy." Lucy happily announced, wrapping an arm around Marinette. Marinette giggles as she waves to the others, causing them to cheer more about Marinette now being a new member of the idol group. "And we would like to thank Harold for taking part in aiding our performance." Harold smiled and nodded to the girls as thanks and a way of saying 'happy to help.' "Congratulations, Marinette, for now being in their group. And check it out. Grandmaster Chef has declared his winner. Even though they held the lead, the Screaming Gophers have been trampled by the Killer Bass."

"Harold, Lucy, Marinette, that was amazing." "You guys did it." As Courtney and Bridgette hugged the five who saved their lives, Chris continued, "And as for the Screaming Gophers, pick your favorite loser, and I'll see you at the bonfire."

CONFESSIONAL: HEATHER

Heather held her hurt wrist, glad that Marinette got her hand free out of the diary box. However, she was still shaken by Lucy's 'warning' after that. She sighs, "I'm just glad my hand is out of that lame-o box. And people thought that I was mean about what I was going to do to Marinette with her diary. Whatever. All I needed was four votes against Justin. Lindsay and Beth were easy. Izzy's just crazy. And Owen, piece of cake."

CONFESSIONAL: OWEN

Owen laughs while literally holding a piece of cake. "Piece of cake."

At the elimination ceremony, Chris started talking, "Kudos to you all for an incredible night of entertainment, music, drama, trapping, barfing. There's only one marshmallow left on this plate. Justin, you reminded us all that looks matter a lot. And, Heather, you're full of surprises. But almost about to read another girl's diary out loud to the whole world until a box trapped your hand as an actual trap would do to a bear? Man, that is whack. No kidding. That's really messed up what you were about to do, dude." he said. "Oh, please, just give me my marshmallow already." Heather scoffed. "Justin, I personally think this is very wrong, but tonight hotness just wasn't enough. The last marshmallow goes to Heather. Time to catch the Boat of Losers, Brah." "Later, Brah."

CONFESSIONAL: GWEN

"If that evil little cow thinks she's getting away with this scot free, she has another thing coming."

At night, while most of the campers were getting ready for bed, Gwen knocked on the guys' side of the Killer Bass door. Harold answers, and Gwen asks him, "Did you say you brought a red ant farm with you?" "Yes."

Later, while everyone was asleep, Heather ran out of the Screaming Gophers cabin, covered in red ants, screaming and trying to get them off of her. "Sweet dreams, everyone." Gwen said, laughing.

Meanwhile, Lucy's eyes squinted, trying to sleep while Heather was still screaming. "Man, I thought I was done with this when I was at that sleepover with Kit, Mills, Jade-Jade, and Sonya." she whisper-mumbled while putting her pillow over her head in order to drown the noise.

Desc Prologue Get to Know My OC Chpt 1 Reactions Pt 1 Chpt 2 Reactions Pt 2 Chpt 3 Reactions Pt 3 Reactions Pt 4 Chpt 5 Reactions Pt 5

[ofenvs3000semester]

Blog 1

I’ve had a close relationship with nature since I was very little. My mother always took us for walks and hikes, such as to the “Rattlesnake Point” conservation area in Milton, Ontario (where I have yet to actually see a rattlesnake). Since then I’ve been all across Ontario and beyond. I in particular have many positive memories of my summers at our rented cottage in Wasaga Beach, where I’d spend hours swimming over the rocky lakebottom hoping to find a cool rock or fish. I also spent a lot of time in a creek near the town of Lowville, fishing for crayfish with my siblings. 

Growing up, experiencing what nature has to offer continued to excite me. I always took great joy from things as simple as seeing a cool new bug, to visiting a new country on vacation to see what creatures and sights I’d find there. I in particular fondly remember visiting Mexico and seeing all the cool lizards, and Cuba and seeing the beautiful ocean. I had a lot of happy memories of “experiencing” nature, and I took that as a sign to pursue a career in working in the environment. And here I am!

When I was younger, I never really needed an excuse to go outside and poke cool animals, or see a beautiful sight- and as such I didn’t usually need an interpreter (although you could argue my mother was the one who introduced me to nature, taking me to all those wonderful locations). As I got older and became busier with additional responsibilities (such as my job, and post-secondary), I didn’t get an excuse to go outside as often. This really became apparent to me when I went to my co-op in Bamfield, British Columbia, where despite being surrounded by amazing nature (the mountains took my breath away!), I spent a lot of time working on my computer inside. However, I made a friend in BC named Hannah, who I could consider my interpreter. Not only was she more familiar with the outdoors than I, but she helped me make that first step to getting outside. Attached to this post is a photo I took on the west coast trail, a sight I never would have gotten to see had I not been encouraged to come outside by Hannah. Thanks to her encouragement, and with the help of her environmental knowledge, I was able to invest myself in this wonderful natural area and get a “sense of place” walking along the trail.

As I mentioned, I never had a hard time finding cool animals or admiring the scenery, but that initial first step of going outside on my own was what I had the most difficulty with. One of the reasons I took this course was to maybe, one day, break others out of that same rut too, and help some otherwise enthusiastic naturalists find their home outdoors once again. There’s so much to explore, and I don’t want to miss it!

[heart-of-copper-dog-training]

My Favorite Day of the Week: Prison Time

As you know, yesterday was our first meeting with the inmates since our kerfuffles needed unkerfuffling. So, let me get ya'll updated.

First, it was SO fun seeing the guys again. We all missed each other so much! I have a mix of good news and bad news, so I'll start with the bad first: we have two dogs who are terminally ill. The last coordinator didn't get them vetted in time to get them treated and now that our rescue coordinator who is amazing has gotten that done, it's been discovered it's too late. So her rescue organization will sponsor them until end of life and make the call when to euthanize, but for now they are staying with their handlers and if one of them makes it long enough, she will go into a hospice adoption with her handler later this year.

One of our purebreds was transferred to a purebred rescue to give him a better chance at adoption, so in his spot we got this new beautiful dog who, honestly, looks like a coyote wearing socks. She's so sweet and might be a service dog candidate with Tadsaw, that remains to be seen.

As for the dogs and handlers, like I said, we were all very excited. We got a new location due to some issues with the old one (prison things, warden went over it) and while it's smaller, it should be fine until the weather cools. We're hoping to get a second room and split into two groups to get more space.

Our two shyest dogs are more open and happy, bonded with their handlers. One of them even made a friend with our third lifer dog, Pie (due to having been in for three years, he's mostly unadoptable as he'd have too much separation anxiety. The rescue is sponsoring him as well but he's expected to live a long happy life with his handler). Which means Pie gets extra exercise (he's a fat boi who is working on it and gradually showing improvement).

Our crazy girl Mauve is doing so well on her leash skills! All the dogs are working leash skills this week and next week, as that is one of if not the most common reason to return a dog. We'll also be using my body language 101 handout as homework next week so we can go over that with the handlers.

We'll be adding back up handlers soon per dog, so that there's never a stranger with them. And as inmates go in and out we'll have more ready to go trained handlers for each batch of dogs.

Our new dog, Molly, is best friends with Mauve and we're not fully convinced they aren't related, due to their location they were found in, their ages, and their appearance. Regardless, they are so sweet and cute together which is great because Mauve needs a friend who can keep up with her energy.

Next week, we start figure 8s, sitting for greeting and a brush up on "down". I'll be with the rescue coordinator because our second trainer has a few things and can't make it but she'll be back when we meet again, hopefully with them having read the body language 101.

I can't stress enough how great it is to walk into a room full of smiling faces and happy dogs (many of whom were super shut down when they entered the program). Our handlers are amazing. I can't believe that in the small time we've known them, they've gone from a bit standoffish and not really friendly to each other to smiling, cracking jokes and teasing one another about this or that with their different dogs. They know they are doing a great thing and some of these dogs come from horrendous situations. I'm so proud of the work they've done, even with our sporadic (and hopefully more consistent now that we've met with the warden and gotten a new coordination with the prison) meetings. The real test will be our next batch of dogs, but this group (who has had far too long due to the issues previously) is going very well. I anticipate they'll all graduate (less our three lifer dogs) and the next group will have its small hiccups, but also thrive.

I'm so honored to be part of something that brings so much joy to everyone. The inmates are happy (even those not in the program are having fun watching the dogs and asking how to get in), the dogs are happy, us trainers are happy, the rescue organization is happy and our coordinator and warden are happy. It's a win win win for everyone.

It's my favorite part of the week and I can't wait to see where it goes.

As always, be kind to yourself, to your dogs, and to others. It's free to be kind.

Here's a picture of Orange Cat (legal name Lionblaze but we call him orange cat lol) looking smug and satisfied for ya'll who are here for the cute animals.

[fizzypopsoda-comics]

Introducing new members of the Other Webb Family, Roderick Webb and his Mistress’s other children;

Frayden Frost Webb is a coolheaded boy who’s a conceited smooth talker that acts in a high-class manner to those around him. He can create ice and snow from the palm of his hands, and even harness the cool breeze from his fingertips. He’s very sociable and receives adoration from people who are drawn to his captivating coolness, which he himself take great pleasure in, as he’s always contented to have “friends” who are willing to do as he pleases. When it comes to meeting those who has potential of improving the family business, Frayden wishes to see if they’re capable enough to exceed his father’s expectations of them by testing their loyalty and overall abilities, and he has no problem being cold-blooded to whoever dares go against him or anyone in the business.

Freya Flare Webb is a lukewarm girl whose very reserved and only speaks to others when it’s necessary. She can create fire and lava from her fingertips, as well as manipulate ashes of what was burned to a crisp. Unlike her twin brother, Freya keeps to herself and doesn’t care about receiving admiration from people around her she sees as “followers” blinded by her blazing appearance, as all she really focuses on is expanding her family business without any distractions. Her pet Pheonix Cyra assist her in locating people she sees as a threat to the business, only to then burn them to a crisp with a merciless glare in her eyes. While she’s very indifferent towards others who gotten themselves involved in anyway, she offers them a chance to just leave her family be without spouting a single word about the family business to be spared of any pain her family had in mind for them, and only meeting them with same fate as everyone else before if they so force her hand.

Liliana Webb, who prefers to just go by “Lily”, is the most faint-hearted of her siblings and is very self-conscious about her haggard appearance, in which she spends most of her days in the deepest darkest parts of the deep blue sea, where she believes all the most dangerous and feared creatures like herself belongs. Despite having little to no air, Lily somehow managed to live in the water for so long even with the water filled up in her lungs. As a spider that hardly eats due to her lack of catching her prey properly, a smell or taste of a single drop of blood is enough to trigger her hunger and devour anything insight until she has her fill. She despises anyone who only cares about their beauty and charming looks, as well as how much acceptance they receive than she does with their much more healthier appearances. And so. Lily tends to lure those types of people into the ocean where they’ll be swimming with the fishes in the darkest parts where no one.

I thought of making a reference of these three after doing a rp where they made their debut, I might make doodles of them in the future or so whenever I get the chance, hope you like it! ^^

[siremasterlawrence]

The End Of The Heroic Age: Superman’s Rebellion

It has been like whirlwind adventure for me in the take down of Superman the flying man of fools, I enter one portal and exit another one leading to his own downfall how wonderful.

Poor Clark he has no idea that in a varied world were countless men with the same name but very different out looks carry his mantle a multiverse of insanity ensure each one has bowed at my feet.

Unfortunately, my body comes curling down like a meteor in a hot fiery bath of hot blue flame across my the sky going into this new world Clark Kent’s attention rather quickly as he sits with Lois at a dinner.

I have no idea why I went back in time upon my landing but it is 1970 something I can tell by the clothing design and the ugly building structures and the faint vocal coos of the carpenters blowing in the wind.

I shatter through some portal creating many shards of invisible glass breaking without a single cut. I buckle my feet in pulling them to my torso and flip till I somersault landing with gymnastic level of perfection.

Clark is in the midst of revealing his identity to his girlfriend and co-worker worldwide renown Pulitzer Prize winning reporter for our very own Metropolis The Daily Planet home of Perry White.

A loud boom hits the ground shaking the city to its core hitting Clark’s senses right on contact he turns hus face instantly picking up everything. He stares outward with his x-ray his vision locating the scene his eyes pan the area.

The fume emitting from Lois ears at the words of what Clark was about to utter to excuse himself for the one hundredth and eighth time as he runs off to god knows what he does.

Cinematic beauty unfolds as Clark pays thecheck racing out of the dinner speeding to the otherwide block. He jolts in to the alley way down another block he passes a line of civilians to the phone booth closing it he spins out of his suit in to his costume.

Clark exits the phone booth in a whoosh of wind he floats off the ground breaking every known law of physics he then cracks the time barrier flying over countless cities using his x-Ray visions to find me.

Cool I wait for him to arrive with that air of confidence and that expression of I am the most powerful man. The arrogant good ole American attitude that precludes all men of his type or status if were Superman all day.

We are in the midst of stand off with me in a moment of excitement I have felt the rush of over and over again. He stops standing still his arms cross and he begins to scan the area as if he is on surveillance.

“I sense a disturbance here from hundreds of miles away, I am guessing you are the cause of that. I would advise you to leave but I am pretty sure you won’t take kindly to that.”

“Superman! In all your glory I see not very impressing sorry to say. I can’t help you with that though.”

“I want to end this as quickly as possible give up.”

“Or what Supper Pussy”

“If that is how you want to play it.”

“Oh! I definitely do.”

“You seem way to confident for someone so young. What evil scheme do you deign to try and unleash now?”

“Evil? Hardly! All I want so to have some fun with you just like all the rest.”

“What are you talking about you obsessive psychopath?”

“Be careful Clark! I can be your friend, your enemy or your end. You choose they all did.”

“No! This cannot be possible”

“They all felt the same way fist it could be fun to watch if it was not so pointless. Futile attempts to defeat me always end in the same way. I win.”

The great Superman is left confounded for the first time in his life as the area grows pitch back dark and I fade in to the back he chases after me.

He stops in the middle of nowhere watching the darkness lighten a bit a shooting star can be seen in the sky then like an early stock film camera it rolls on.

Images of every version of Clark Kent’s life I have conquered in his personal life and his

professional life as Clark. The rock landing from his home planet of krypton to show pen childhood.

Exiting the bus in Metropolis for the first time he off loads his stuff in a brand new apartment. Dawning the Superman costume with a whole new person eviscerating all go Clark’s identity.

His life is left in shambles as I return to the fray with one lays ditch effort the air flows under his feet. He propels towards me all ski power in his hand he throws one punch I easily catch.

“Bastard? How did you do this to me I mean to us.”

“Your own ego is your downfall Clark and you can’t even see it.”

“I have no ego, they call me Boy Scout.”

“Your ego is your own power, duality and existence.”

“Being Superman means being strong, being powerful and never needing help.”

“You are a one man band, rarely lose and everyone wants what you have.”

“You are like a great empire eventually they all have of fall. I am merely the one tips you off your shoulder. Feel lucky Clark the other version of you I fought, I manipulated, I broke mentally, but you are suffering the cinder of that. You will never win this game because reality has let you fall prey to me therefore you are what they all led too.”

“Uuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

“Go head l! Keep fighting it as it erases all of your will free will.”

“Keep challenging your proper ending.”

“Every punch kick is fighting your own self”

“The walls of self preservation are falling .”

“I am the winner”

“Try as you might”

“You know I am right “

“Nnnnnooooooo!”

“I am sorry Lois”

“Who cares about Lois?”

“Yes Master! Put me to your will”

The end

[stellathy]

About this property - Introduction to Vietnam and Quy Nhon City  Hello! Today, I will introduce you to Vietnam and its beautiful city, Quy Nhơn.  Vietnam (Việt Nam) is a country located in Southeast Asia, bordered by China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the South China Sea to the east. Vietnam is famous for its diverse culture and rich history, and is loved by many tourists for its beautiful natural scenery, delicious food, and friendly people.  Among them, Quy Nhon is a beautiful port city located on the central coast of Vietnam. It is the capital of Binh Dinh Province and boasts beautiful natural scenery with clear blue sea, white sandy beaches, and majestic mountains. Quy Nhon is also famous for its various seafood dishes. In particular, dishes featuring fresh seafood are very popular with visitors to the area.  Vietnam and Quy Nhon offer travelers unforgettable memories with their unique charm and rich culture. For those who love natural scenery and want to experience a new culture, Vietnam, especially Quy Nhon, is the best travel destination.  thank you!  ------------------------ The new home has 3 beds, 3 baths, 4 queen beds, 1 bar room, 1 living room and 1 full kitchen. It is an ideal place for a group holiday with friends and family. The house is designed in a modern, airy and spacious style. This is a great place to bring your pet on holiday.  Just a 4-minute walk to Xuan Dieu Beach_Quy Nhon, where you can enjoy a swim and plenty of seafood and street food restaurants. Accommodation This luxurious home near the beach is perfect for a holiday with friends or family. The new home is built in a contemporary style and has a luxurious and warm interior design that will provide you with a relaxing day. Each bedroom is designed to be simple and airy using natural latex mattresses, allowing you to get a good night's sleep after a fun day. In particular, each bedroom features a luxurious and spacious design, imported equipment and a separate bathroom with shower gel and shampoo.  Pets (maximum 2) are allowed. The kitchen is spacious and luxurious. It is fully equipped with kitchenware such as a refrigerator, stove, microwave, cups, dishes, plates, beer glasses, wine glasses... and a luxurious dining table set adds a refreshing touch to your meals. Family holiday.  You will enjoy a truly comfortable and enjoyable stay at The Shades House. Amenities available to guests You have full access to the entire home using existing equipment. The property has a camera system in public areas to protect the security of your holiday.  In particular, the bar room has been designed entirely in wood to provide your group with a fun, luxurious, private and warm space.  If you want to enjoy the cool afternoon breeze, the covered terrace has a sofa set for a comfortable feel. Other notes : Parking:  You can park in front of the house or on the street.  Please enjoy quiet time from 10 PM to 6 AM.  Check-in: 2pm. Check-out: 11:00.  If you would like to check in/out earlier or later than the specified times, please let us know in advance and The Shades team will do their best to assist you.  We hope The Shades House becomes your destination during your vacation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://www .airbnb.com.vn/rooms/1082400972265675038?viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76

[rosemaidenvixen]

Algea

Chapter 2

<Previous Next>

Ao3

Content warning: near drowning

“Cannonball!”

They all shrieked with laughter and swam back out of the way as Gus leapt from the small cliff top, tucking his arms and legs in as he landed in the lake with a splash.

After a few seconds he resurfaced with a gasp of breath “Did I do it right Luz?”

“You betcha!” she flashed him a thumbs up from where she swimming in the shallower water “A flawlessly executed human style cannonball,”

“Man human warfare is weird…” Jerbo mumbled.

“Amity Viney Luz over here!” Skara shouted “Let’s play cockatrice!”

Luz eagerly paddled over, Viney and Amity not far behind. It was such a beautiful day and she was having a blast. The sun was shining, turquoise waters of the lake sparkling as they all swam and splashed around inside the sheltered inlet.

A perfect beach day.

“Oooh what’s cockatrice?”

“We sit on someone’s shoulders and try to push each other off,” Skara replied, extending a hand to Viney. Viney grinned back and accepted it, using the leverage to hoist Skara onto her shoulders.

“Neat! We have that in the human realm to,” Luz turned towards Amity “Hey is it ok if I climb onto your shoulders?”

Her face flushed a deep pink “Oh, sure– of course! That sounds great,” she leaned down in the water and helped Luz get on top of her

“Cool!” Skara looked back over at them, from her perch on top of Viney “Traditionally it’s played over a pit of bile beetles, but being in a lake works to,”

“...yeah I should have seen that coming,” Luz finished climbing onto Amity's shoulders then glanced down “Alright sweet potato you ready to show these guys what we’re made of?”

Amity giggled, cheeks pink “Let’s do it!”

The two of them squared off against Skara and Viney. Amity and Viney slowly walking towards each other in the water until they were close enough for Luz and Skara to lean forward and grasp the other’s hands. Skara flashed Luz a feral grin, which Luz just as easily returned. Below them their partners tightened their grip on each of their legs to anchor them. Behind her Luz could hear the others laughing and splashing around in the lake water.

From below them Viney locked eyes with Amity and smirked “On your mark…get set…go!”

--

Twigs and leaves snapped under her shoes as Boscha stomped down the forest path, birds and bugs fleeing scattering as she approached but Boscha barely noticed. Glancing back down at her scroll, her mouth twisting in a deep scowl.

She’d asked Skara to hang out today, but Skara said she was busy with a family thing. Only Boscha’s mom had run into Skara’s dad at the tea house and according to him Skara had the whole day free.

Smelling a rat, Boscha had checked ‘Find your friends’ and spotted Skara’s location at the south shore of lake Lacuna and headed straight there to catch her in the act of double crossing her. That’s why she was walking the rest of the way after riding her staff to the lake. She wanted to catch Skara off guard so she couldn’t cover anything up.

And according to the blinking dot on her scroll, Boscha was almost on top of her.

Her fingers tightened into claws around the device, sizzling with the beginnings of magic.

No lying or weaseling her way out of this, it was bad enough Amity had stopped hanging out with them. No way Boscha was going to lose control of any of her other friends.

Skara was going to pay for ditching her. 

So was so focused on her scroll that it took her a few seconds to recognize a new sound echoing towards her through the trees. 

Laughter and splashing water.

Shoving her scroll in her pocket, Boscha rushed ahead and burst through the forest right on the edge of a cliff. Down below was a small inlet, a narrow strip of water butting up against a small beach and sheltered by cliffs on either side. Skara was down there, laughing and splashing around in the water close to the beach, but she wasn’t alone.

Skara was sitting on top of another witch’s shoulders, one of the multi track losers, propping her up so she could square off with the human. Each of them trying to push each other into the water. She squinted and took a step closer, trying to see who the human was sitting on–

Her jaw dropped open, hands falling to her sides, for a moment she was so stunned she forgot to be angry.

Amity. Amity was down there holding the human up on her own shoulders. All four of them shrieking with laughter as they tousled in the water. 

The sound of more splashing drew her attention, shutting her jaw with a click and glancing around the inlet.

That scrawny illusion witch and the oracle dog demon were conjuring images in a pool of shallow water while some other loser witch built a giant abomination out of algae with stupid half-a-witch Willow.

Boshca felt her face growing hot, hands balling into fists at her sides, palms beginning to sear with heat while she quivered with rage. 

It was bad enough that Skara lied to her, but seeing both her and Amity ditch her to hang out with losers like that human and worthless half-a-witch Willow–

A growl escaped her clenched teeth, smoke rising from her sizzling fists as she stomped down the trail that led to the cove.

Her friends thought they could ditch her, these losers thought they were good enough to hang out with real witches, stupid enough to think they were actually worth something– Well Boscha would show them, she’d teach them all a lesson they’d never forget…

--

Hunter allowed himself a small sigh of relief as he crossed the last location off the map. Belos had ordered him to scout the forest on the southern side of lake Lacuna for potential locations of the Looking Glass Graveyard. It had been grueling work, and he hadn’t found any trace of the graveyard, but after long hours of searching he had finally ruled out all the locations on his map. Now he could head back to the castle and debrief. 

Folding up the map and tucking it away, he headed towards the edge of the forest. Just needed to get clear of the trees and he could use his staff to fly back. But part way to the treeline a strange noise caught his attention. Hunter paused for a second, training an ear towards the sound. It sounded almost like screaming, but something in it was…off.

He shook his head. Whatever that sound was played no part in his mission and was therefore irrelevant. He should ignore it and head back to the castle. Despite knowing this he couldn’t make himself continue on, his curiosity piqued.

Against his better judgment Hunter pivoted course and followed the sound to a further side of the forest. Breaking through the trees he found himself at a narrow inlet of the lake, lined on either side by steep cliffs, the lake water having turned the stones at his feet to coarse sand, but that wasn’t what made him stop in his tracks.

A group of witches were swimming around in the water, the sound he’d thought was screams actually their laughter, but not just any witches. His heart gave a little leap as he recognized the other Emerald Entrails through the narrow band of vision allowed by his mask. The human was here to, letting out a shriek of laughter as she was pushed off of Blight’s shoulders into the water. Tumbling into the lake with a splash, emerging seconds later, the whole group giggling. Hunter was so stupefied at the sight that for a moment he couldn’t move.

Which unfortunately gave the human the opportunity to spot him.

“No way, Hunter!?”

He jerked sharply, tightening his grip on his staff, as all the witches in the lake turned towards him. Torn between the desire to flee and stand his ground as the human started swimming towards the shore straight towards him.

“What are you doing here?”

He straightened up, falling back into the stiff, professional bearing of the Golden Guard, clearing his throat to speak in his most authoritative tone “I’m on a mission for the Emperor,”

“A mission to spy on our beach day?” the youngest witch asked– Gus he remembered his name was.

One of his eyes twitched behind his mask “The objective of my mission is classified. But it’s not…that,”

For a few moments the only sound was the soft lapping of water on the shore as they all appraised each other. Then the human– Luz, broke the silence “Wanna swim with us?”

Hunter blinked “What?”

“What!?” Blight whirled on her, eyes wide. 

“I’ve got a spare pair of swim trunks?” a skinny brown haired witch added hesitantly.

Blight glowered, glancing back and forth between Hunter and the others “You guys can’t be serious, this is the Golden Guard! We can’t trust him,”

“Bark bark,”

“Barcus says his aura checks out,” Viney said with a shrug “If he’s cool with Barcus and Jerbo he’s cool with me,”

“So how bout it….” Luz spread her arms wide, beaming in Hunter’s direction “Want to join our beach day?”

“Come on,” Captain– Willow said, waving him over “It will be fun to have all the Emerald Entrails together again,”

“Yeah hop in,” Skara shouted “The water’s great!”

“I can’t believe you guys are considering this…” Blight grumbled.

Meanwhile Hunter was trying to figure out how to make his voice work again.

This was foolish, frivolous, insubordinate! He had responsibilities to uphold, the idea of him abandoning his duties to just…paddle around a lake with civilians was outrageous. Now that he’d finished his mission his first priority was heading back to the castle to give his report. He should just do that and leave these civilians be.

Then again…they did look like they were having fun. And he did finish his mission early. Scouting the lakeside was supposed to take the whole day, if he was out a few more hours no one would question it–

He took an involuntary half step back. No. He shouldn’t. Couldn’t. He was the Golden Guard. The titan ordained right hand to the Emperor himself. He had a standard to uphold. He couldn’t just goof off and….

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with using your spare time to do something that makes you happy

Something unfamiliar but not unpleasant fluttered up in his stomach. Part of him still thought this was wrong. He couldn’t let his uncle down, break the trust he’d put in him by abandoning his post.

Then again Headwitch Darius did say it was good to make connections outside the castle, and he was a knowledgeable capable coven head. So if he said it was fine to take a little time for himself…

A little voice in the back of his head was still screaming that this was wrong but deep down he knew his mind was made up.

He pulled back his hood and lifted his mask away “I’ll…take those trunks if you don’t mind,”

Just a quick swim, an hour, two tops and he could still be back at the castle in time to give his report well ahead of schedule. The empire wouldn’t come crashing down if he went for a quick swim.

The witches in the water cheered and whooped with delight. All except for Blight, mouth twisted in a scowl as she glowered at him.

Hunter just smirked back, folding his cloak and setting it aside.

--

A quick change into borrowed trunks later Hunter was wading into the lake to join the others, suppressing a shudder as he waded further and further into the lake. Cool water soaking into the trunks and climbing up his legs. The temperature was nothing compared to what he’d dealt with during scout training, but it was still a noticeable difference from the open air.

Reaching others in the waist deep water, Hunter cleared his throat to dispel some of the nervous tightness “Since this inlet is sheltered from the winds, we should take advantage of the calm waters and do laps to build our endurance, then we can take turns with breathing ex–”

He was cut off by a wave of cold water smacking into him from the side, the sudden shock making him jerk and shiver. Whipping around, he spotted Luz standing behind him, smirking and meeting his gaze unapologetically. 

“Human! What is the meaning of–”

She slapped a hand against the water and splashed him again, giggling as Hunter sputtered.

“Stop it with your childish–”

Another wave of water cut him off as she splashed him yet again.

A growl built up in the back of his throat, smacking his own hand against the water to hit Luz with a wave of his own. She was splashing, he was splashing, she was laughing– 

From out of nowhere a tangle of vines shot out of the water, snagging Luz around the waist with a yelp and suspending in midair her above the lake.

“Sorry Luz,” Willow swam up to Hunter’s side, one hand spinning a green spell circle “But the Emerald Entrails have to stick together,”

Luz shrugged while still tangled in the vines “Well I can’t argue with the power of friendship,”

Willow flicked her wrist, the spell circle dissipating and the vines lowering Luz back down into the water.

Hunter pushed the now damp strands of hair out of his face “Th– thank you captain, now to start with laps–”

“Dude you don’t have a beach day to swim laps,” Viney swam up to join them “You just do it to chill,”

“The temperature of the water is properly invigorating,”

“What she means it to relax,” Gus cut in “Take a break and unwind,”

“What could be more relaxing than training to better prepare yourself for the future?”

The four of them shared a look, knowing glances flashing between each other in a way that indicated they were aware of something that he wasn’t. Hunter felt his face growing hot, wishing he had his mask to hide the bright red no doubt filling his cheeks.

“If you’re set on laps…” the skinny witch– Jerbo, spoke up, gesturing behind himself with a thumb “I can race you to the side of those cliffs and back,”

Hunter gave a curt nod “That seems like an adequate substi–”

“Readysetgo!”

A large splash hit him as Jerbo whipped around and dove into the water, rapidly paddling towards the cliffs.

“Hey!” Hunter sunk lower into the water up to his chest and took off stroking through the water “Get back here!” 

A few minutes later a pouting Jerbo swam back to the group, where Hunter had already rejoined them.

“I demand a rematch!”

“You couldn’t beat me when you had headstart,” Hunter folded his arms with a smirk “What makes you think you can beat me in a fair race?”

“I’ll race you Jerbo!” Luz piped up, diving into the water with a splash that smacked Hunter in the side, her and Jerbo racing off back towards the cliffs.

Hunter glowered, pushing wet hair out of his face again.

“Think fast!”

From the corner of his eye he saw something flying towards him, reflexively whipping around in the water and catching it in midair, finding it softer and much lighter than he expected.

“Hey Hunter!”

He looked up, spotting Gus waving both arms in the air.

“Toss it to me, I’m wide open!”

Hunter glanced away from Gus and back to the object in his hands–.

Oh. It was a ball. This was a game.

Hesitating only a moment, he gently tossed the ball at Gus, who caught it with a whoop.

They spent some time spiking and tossing the ball around, as far as Hunter could understand there were no rules or structure beyond moving the ball around but didn’t speak up about the seemingly nonsensical nature of the activity. The members of their group shifted as people joined in and peeled off to take turns racing to the cliffs and back in pairs.

Eventually they’d all rotated through, half of them panting with exhaustion.

“Man…” Skara said between gasps “There’s just no competing with your freakishly long arms,”

Jerbo smirked, giving his wet hair a toss “Excuse me I think you mean championship winning freakishly long arms,”

Skara flopped back in the water with a groan.

“Well as fun as all that racing was,” Gus spoke up “I’m ready for snacks,”

“I’ll join you,” Luz swam up to his side “Eda packed some really good stuff,”

“I’ll catch up with you guys in a bit,” Willow waved them off “I want to try some deep diving,”

Viney lit up at that “Oh yeah count me in!”

“Bark bark,” Barcus paddled up to them.

“What about you Hunter?” 

He jerked at hearing the human call his name.

Glancing around, he saw the group's eyes on him again.

“You ready for snacks or wanna do some deep diving?” she continued.

“I’ll– I’ll participate in the deep diving, that sounds like an enjoyable endurance activity,”

“I’ll join in to,” Blight swam over towards the four of them “It’s always good to build lung capacity and good breathing practices,”

“Ok,” Jerbo waved as he and the others started heading towards shore “See you back at the beach,”

The others left for the beach and soon it was just Hunter, Viney, Barcus, Blight, and Willow paddling further out towards the lake proper. The cliffs widened around them and soon enough the lake bottom fell away, the five of them kicking in deep water.

“So uh…” Hunter spoke up slowly as they swam out further“How should we begin?”

Without slowing down Viney drew a spell circle and materialized a cluster of uniform, brightly colored sticks into her hand “Easy, we toss each of these in at different depths of the lake. And for each one we all dive at once and see who can grab it first. Then we move on to the next stick,”

“Bark!”

“Oh yeah, and we attach light glyphs to them so we can see to the bottom,”

“That sounds…sufficiently challenging,”

“So glad our lake day activity earns your seal of approval,” Blight said in a clipped tone.

Hunter narrowed his eyes at her, Blight meeting his gaze unflinching. He couldn’t quite tell if her comment was meant to be sarcastic or not.

Abruptly Viney halted in the water, the four of them stopping behind her as she tapped the paper fastened to the end of the stick, wound up her arm, and tossed a it further out in the lake. She kept throwing glowing sticks in at various points of the lake while Willow passed out nose clips. Hunter just finished fixing his in place as Viney dropped the last one directly below them“Ready guys?”

All four of them chorused with “Ready!”

Hunter sucked in the deepest breath he could manage, filling his chest with as much air as possible, the others around him all doing the same, and then they dove.

The water wasn’t too deep here, only about seven or eight feet, and fairly clear. The ball of golden light tethered to the orange stick directly below them illuminating the muddy lake bottom. But beyond their little bubble of light the lake was pitch black. The only thing piercing the gloom more small lights from more sticks trailing off into the distance.

Hunter tore his eyes away from the sight and angled his body down, pushing himself through the water to head towards the bottom. His distraction had cost him, he’d fallen behind and Willow, Viney, and Barcus were nearly at the bottom. Using his full strength to push forward he started to close the distance between them but not fast enough to beat Barcus to the stick. He grasped it in his jaws before pivoting and paddling upwards, the rest of them following suit.

One by one they broke the surface, gasping and panting.

“Great job Barcus,” Willow said between breaths.

Barcus made a muffled ‘murp’ sound from behind the stick.

“He says thanks,” Viney translated.

For reasons he didn’t quite understand Hunter found himself smiling “Your performance was excellent Barcus, but I bet I’ll get the next one,”

“Hah!” Viney nudged him with her shoulder “I’ll take that bet,”

Hunter did get the next one, Willow the one after that, Viney the next one. After which Barcus promptly told them he was heading back to the beach for snacks.

“I’ll catch up with you and Jerbo soon!” Viney called after him as he paddled away “I just need to smoke these guys at least one more time!”

Hunter let out a sharp laugh “Oh we’ll see who smokes who,”

“Are you doing alright Amity?” Willow spoke up gently “You haven’t been getting close to the bottom, is this too much for you?”

“Oh– No, it’s fine, I’m having fun just trying,”

“Ok then. Two more, let’s go guys!”

They all dove.

Each of their diving sticks had been in progressively deeper water. For this one the glowing glyph was visible from just below the surface, but the stick didn’t become clear until Hunter got closer. His lungs were actually starting to burn as they approached the bottom. Blight was about five feet above the rest of them; Hunter, Viney, and Willow staying even with each other as they moved towards the bottom. Viney managed to surge ahead and grab the stick, immediately pivoting and kicking towards the surface once she did. The others right alongside her.

By the time Hunter broke the surface Viney was already there, sucking in deep, shaky breaths as she tread water.

“Oh man guys, I think that’s it for me. I’m gonna head back,”

“Ok then,” Willow said with a wave “Save me a not-dog,”

Viney flashed a quick wave back before she turned and started heading towards shore.

Now it was just Hunter, Willow, and Blight floating in the water.

“You guys up for trying the last one?” Willow glanced between the two of them “It’s in pretty deep but I’m up for the challenge if you are,”

Hunter snorted “I’m the Golden Guard, I think I can handle a dive,”

“Me to,” Blight bobbed her head “Let’s do it,”

The three took a deep breath and dove. The sounds of gentle breeze and lapping water vanishing in the silence of the lake water.

The last stick was nearly at the edge of the inlet, part of the lake proper, only visible as a faint glimmer. So far down that for the first time Hunter wasn’t sure he’d actually be able to reach it. Still he wouldn’t allow himself to give up. Kicking and paddling further and further down until the stick and the lake bottom were finally visible. 

He and Willow kept pace with each other as they got closer and closer to the bottom, Blight having fallen behind early on. At the last second Willow outpaced him by an arm’s length, reaching down and grasping the stick with the tips of her fingers.

She turned towards Hunter, the two locking eyes, a triumphant grin on her face , dark hair floating around her face in a halo. For a few seconds Hunter lost himself in the peace of the moment, the two of them sheltered in their small bubble of light at the bottom of the dark lake,  sheltered by the peaceful silence of the water. 

Then Willow gasped, a large bubble of air escaping her, and the spell was broken, a sharp spike of panic taking its place. 

Hunter grabbed her upper arm and immediately started kicking towards the surface with all his might.

The water lightened as they rose up, he could see Blight kicking on the surface above them. But it was far, too far. Hunter had to fight against the rising panic and keep his motions strong and steady while making sure his grip on Willow stayed firm. His lungs burned to let out the breath he was holding, but if he did then it was over for both of them. He was fast and holding that pace well; but based on their speed, the distance left to cross, and the pressure in his chest he wasn't sure he’d make it to the surface in time, and Willow had even less time than he did–

Hunter clamped down on the thought hard.

Don’t think about how far the surface was, how much water was on top of them. Put all of his focus into moving them up, put all his strength behind each kick and push to move them ahead–

Abruptly something pressed into him from behind, pushing the both of them and rapidly accelerating their ascension, the surface getting closer, closer…

He broke the surface, light and sound returning to the world with a pop. Fumbling with his nose clip, gasping and sucking in deep lungfuls of cool air. And to his immense relief Captain was coughing in breaths of her own right alongside him, strands of wet hair pasted to her skin.

“Are you guys ok?” Blight dispelled her spell circle, the abomination arm that hauled them to the surface dissolving “It looked like you were struggling for air,”

“We went too deep,” his voice was raspier than he would have liked but that wasn’t important right now. He shifted around to grasp Willow’s other arm as well, keeping a firm grip to make sure her upper body stayed above water “Captain, are you alright?”

“I’m–” she let out another series of coughs and cleared her throat, flashing him a weak smile “I’m ok, guess we went a little too deep there,”

“Oh– umm…yeah, we should probably train more before attempting to dive at this depth again,”

Willow giggled at that, Hunter found himself smiling as well, until he looked down and noticed something that made the smile drop off his face. Abruptly dropping Willow from his grip and swimming back, cheeks filling with heat.

“Captain! Ah– uh– your bathing suit! The strap is…”

Willow blinked and glanced down, seeing that the tie of her swimming suit had indeed come undone.

Face red, she quickly reached into the water and grabbed the straps, refastening them behind her neck “Thanks,”

“N– not a problem. And I– I– didn’t see anything!”

“I know you didn’t,”

A protest and an apology rose up in the back of his throat at the same time, tangling together and coming out as a strangled squeak.

She giggled at him “The suit is tight enough that it stayed in place without the strap,”

“Oh, that’s…good,”

The soft clearing of a throat pulled both their attentions, turning and seeing Blight treading water a few feet away.

“Let’s…head back to the beach. That was too close, we should rest and get some snacks. You guys start and I’ll follow behind,”

Hunter gave her a nod “Understood,”

He took off paddling towards the beach, Willow following short behind and Blight trailing them both.

--

Boscha smirked to herself as she walked back into the forest, the noise and brightness of the lakeshore fading into the shadowed quiet of the trees.

She’d planned on tossing a few fireballs, maybe even summoning a swarm of gore leeches to get payback. But instead she got something much much juicier.

She had no idea who the blonde witch with the scars was, probably someone from Glandus or Saint Epiderm, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was she’d managed to snap a picture of him holding up Willow, the two looking at each other with dopey expressions, right at the moment the straps of her bathing suit slipped beneath the water.

Between that and the lake being up to their chests, anyone looking at the photo had no reason to think either of them were wearing bathing suits at all.

Boscha felt her smirk growing into a vicious grin as she typed out a caption.

Half-a-witch Willow spotted skinny dipping with unknown witch, does this look like a Flyer Derby captain to you?

Vindictive glee bubble and popped inside her as she tapped the button and posted the photo to Penstagram.

[colleen-gilly]

Cameron Park

this was for a creative writing class I took, but enjoy :)

My shoes hit the ground as sweat drips down my face. I narrowly maneuver around the large rocks and hanging tree limbs that could so easily knock me off my feet. My chest pounds, legs ache, lungs gasp, but I can only think one thing: “I’m home”. 

I grew up running the trails of Cameron Park, the second largest inner-city park in the United States, located in the heart of Texas – Waco. Twenty years ago, the towering pine trees provided cover for local gangs to sell drugs and various other contraband. Now, the park acts as the heart of the city, drawing trail runners, mountain bikers, and swimmers from across the state – proving that given enough time and effort, change is possible.

Unfortunately, the city of Waco has been tainted by the gruesome memory of the 1993 siege — a 51-day standoff between a religious cult and law enforcement that resulted in an 82 death massacre. For years, Waco was known as a home to convicts, culprits, and criminals, all of whom ran the town, including my beloved Cameron Park.

As a child, I was naïve to the dangers that the park presented. I would happily ride in my stroller crunching on a bag of Honey Nut Cheerios as my mother pushed from behind. Occasionally, I would see men in dark clothes deep in the woods, seemingly exchanging what I innocently mistook as cookies. Despite the southern charm that my mom worked so hard to instill in me, we would avoid all contact with the men in the mysterious hoods. Instead, we would stick to the river trail, occasionally ducking behind the trees for a quick potty break or down to the river to cool off. 

Eventually, I graduated from the stroller and began to run alongside my mom. In the early mornings we found peace in the isolation of the woods. Running gave us more freedom than the stroller had ever allowed. Our explorations took us deep into Cameron Park and closer to the possibility of encountering the hooded men. Having my mom as my companion, the dangers that plagued the park never concerned me — I was safe, or at least I felt safe.

It wasn’t until I was much older when I overheard conversations my mom had with friends or family that I realized we had been in the face of danger all those years. Many days we would arrive at the park and be greeted by a swarm of police cars that would politely ask us to come again another day — a detail I casually overlooked as a six-year-old. My mom would simply tell the nice police officer, “No worries. We’ll be back tomorrow.” And she would drive us home.

Whether we were applauded for our bravery or condescended for our stupidity, my mom was willing to risk the dangers of venturing into the park to observe its unexplored beauty with me by her side. We would run the unworn trails for hours, engulfed in the forest around us. If we weren’t looking out for hooded men in the distance, we were acutely aware of the vultures soaring overhead or the possibility of getting bitten by copperhead snakes that roamed the grounds. Running in Cameron Park required our complete attention, allowing the rest of the world to momentarily fall away. It became the foundation of my relationship with my mother, establishing her as my central protector.

When I was eight, my father got a new job that required us to move away from the place my mom and I laid these roots. For years, our only visits to Cameron Park were brief stops on our way through Waco. With each stop we made, we noticed more and more people discovering the land we once loved. Trails once avoided out of precaution were cleared for mountain bikers and hikers alike. State troopers would remain on watch, patrolling the grounds on horseback. The park was no longer a hidden gem.

When you love something and let it go, it will find its way back to you if it’s meant to be. Like any great love, we found our way back to Cameron Park. Nine years after leaving the place my mom and I laid the roots of our relationship, we found ourselves moving back to Waco. But it was different this time. Cameron Park was not the same place we had left it. Instead, it was filled with people. The dangers that once troubled the park were no longer present, and it was as if the town had rewritten its story. Previously known for a deadly siege and high crime rates, Waco had become a town of prosperity and restoration.

Much like the changes that overcame the town, my relationship with my mom completely transformed. When I was young, I viewed my mom as my protector. In my eyes, she had the power to stop any bad thing from happening to me. During the years away from Waco, we had gradually grown apart, no longer running together like we once had. I was no longer naïve to the harsh realities of life and had learned to become my own protector. When we found ourselves back in Cameron Park all those years later, we became united again, but in a much different way. We no longer ran together in the mornings but would take a daily afternoon hike through the park in which we would discuss the perils of our day. Previously my bodyguard, my mom had grown to be my closest confidant and best friend. 

Despite the drastic societal changes that took place in Waco and the change in my relationship with my mother, Cameron Park has remained a natural beauty that I can always rely on. The steep white cliffs that hold a beautiful array of botanical life on top, tower over the blue water that rushes through the Brazos River below, creating a divide between the past that the town is trying to flush away and the new life it is growing above.

[folansstuff]

Song of the year?

Favorite musical artist / group you started listening to this year?

Game of the year?

Best month for you this year?

Something you want to do again next year?

What’s something new about your place of residence (room, home, or general location) now vs the start of the year?

Favorite place you visited this year?

If you could send a message to yourself back on the first day of the year, what would it be?

Did you keep any New Year’s Resolutions?

Did you create any characters (in games, art, or writing) this year? Describe one

Thanks for the ask! Answers below!

Song of the Year

God that's hard. It's like, probably Strong Enough by boygenius, that's definitely the song I had on the most frequently, that whole album is so good though. There was a ton of good albums this year, so it's hard to choose.

Favorite musical artist / group you started listening to this year?

This is the year I finally understood 100gecs. A band has never made me feel more old, but after listening to 1000gecs like 10 times in a row I finally understand.

Game of the year?

Unfortunately due to computer troubles and the price of games being kinda nuts I didn't get to play a lot of the really big hits from this year. In an alternate universe where I played it the GOTY was probably BG3, but in reality it was Hi-Fi Rush. That game is the first time I've really clicked with a rhythm game, and all it took was looking great, sounding great and being a Hack n' Slash.

Best month for you this year?

June I guess? That's when I moved, and when I met a bunch of really cool people. Otherwise this year has been pretty mediocre all up.

Something you want to do again next year?

I know it isn't every year but I do want to go to PAX again. That was such a good time, even with all the stress of planning to get up there included. Melbourne is such a nice city too, almost, almost makes me miss Brisbane.

What’s something new about your place of residence (room, home, or general location) now vs the start of the year?

I'm in an entirely new place! I moved in with a friend of mine in their place in Victoria, and honestly it's been so nice. The town I'm in is very nice and community focused, and it's just so quiet.

Favourite place you visited this year?

Again, loved Melbourne, but really the answer was the Twelve Apostles. The ocean always kind does weird stuff to my brain, and mixing that with the really beautiful landscapes and the rock formations is actually mindblowing.

If you could send a message to yourself back on the first day of the year, what would it be?

Probably just tell myself to move earlier to be honest. And to save literally as much money as you can for when you get there because everything you own will suddenly break horribly.

Did you keep any New Year’s Resolutions?

"Lol." He said. "Lmao."

Did you create any characters (in games, art, or writing) this year? Describe one

May I direct you to the #atticus moore tag? Seriously though, Atticus is easily the most effort a I've put into a singular character in literally years. There's something about how interesting the X-Men universe is, I guess? But that still doesn't explain the documents and documents I have on his timelines and relationships with every character.

[wanderlandgracie]

LONDON

Hello friends! So beginning my trip to Europe, we landed in London at 12:30ish on May 23, 2023. After the unfathomably long plane ride, which I thankfully slept through, we were all exhausted, yet hopeful for the weeks ahead of us. The rest of that day was spent resting and mingling in the hotel.

The next day, we went to Hyde Park, a beautiful expanse of green space much like Central Park in New York City, although much older and history-rich. With its sprawling green and luscious plant life, the park was originally used as a hunting reserve by King Henry VIII, yes that one. Interestingly enough though, James I opened it to the public in the early 17th century, and since then it has been a sight of great popularity in London. One location of particular interest in the park is Speakers Corner, a set apart bit of the park specifically designated, by parliament, for free speech. Since its designation in 1872 due to a forceful takeover of the park by a men's suffrage group, the corner has been used by many free speakers in an attempt to rally change amongst the masses. In the early 1900's suffragettes used the corner as their place of protest. Since its designation many orators, such as Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, and George Orwell have used the corner to speak their thoughts. This sight has such specific value because it continues to hold captive peoples attention and birth reform where it is most needed. Also an interesting place to visit in the park is the Rose Garden, a beautiful, as the name would suggest, rose garden. The garden has a wide variety of flowers and plant life, and it is absolutely stunning to look at.

Westminster Abbey is another place I had the privilege to explore when in London. With its sprawling architecture and truly astounding number of graves, Westminster Abbey is set apart as one of the most beautiful and most disturbing buildings in London. Impressively, the Abbey is the final resting place to over 3000 native britons, but despite this, the Abbey has been the location of many coronations in the country's long history. "Since William the Conqueror in 1066, every British Sovereign has been crowned in the Abbey except for Edward V and Edward VIII, who were never crowned." (Britannica) For literally just under a millenium, british kings and queens have begun their official reign here. Also cool to note, royal weddings have been held in the abbey, the most recent of which was the marriage of William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011. On an entirely different note, the Abbey is the final resting place of over 3,000 native britons, including William Shakespeare, C. S. Lewis, and Jane Austen. This fact seems super cool until you realise that the majority of the graves are part of the floor, requiring you to walk over them to get around the massive Abbey. Apart from the staggering number of graves in the Abbey, it is also home to beautiful stained-glass windows, most of which picture apostles, saints, or the Savior Himself. Westminster Abbey and its beautifully detailed architecture has been integral to the culture, society, and rulers of the United Kingdom for almost a thousand years, and it continues to have such significance in culture as well as religion. Christian worship has been held here for as long as the building has stood, and even today as people are touring the Abbey, occasionally a priest will come on the intercom and ask people to be still and silent while they pray. It is a holy place of solemn worship, even today.

The final culturally significant location I visited was Big Ben and the House of Parliament. Just from an outside look, which is all the looks we got to have, the gothic-style spires and towers of the House of Parliament are one of the more eye-catching buildings in London, as it has been since its construction in the 11th century for Edward the Confessor. It was then expanded by William the Conqueror shortly thereafter. The building had been previously used as a palace until a fire in 1834, after which the palace was rebuilt in its current gothic style. Inside, the House of Lords and the House of Commons meet and make decisions for the country, which is why when we visited these buildings, there were small yet loud groups of protestors standing outside of it. Accompanying the House of Parliament is the famous, iconic, beautiful, Elizabeth's tower. Now you might be thinking, "wait, isn't it called 'Big Ben?'" No, dear reader, you silly goose, you. Big Ben refers to the bell inside of the tower, which is well known for its accuracy and loud toll on the hour, as most bells are. Elizabeth's Tower, and subsequently Big Ben, have been iconic structures seen in British centric pop-culture for ages, such as Peter Pan, V for Vendetta, and Enola Holmes. Overall, these two iconic buildings have been amongst the most recognizable buildings in all of history, but not only that, they have been the center of political circuits for generations.

Overall, London was a beautiful whirlwind of history and awe, combined with the pure wonder of being able to walk or take public transit wherever you wanted to go. All these factors combined makes this city one of my top favorites of the trip.