#I need a mars globe......

[eusuchia]

really wish kim stanley robinson had slightly better politics but red mars is nonetheless one of the best sci fi novels I've ever read. ridiculously well plotted and crafted. melancholically understated in some respects while shockingly dramatic in others. geography dot txt. incredibly good POV character work executed with a level of restraint that genuinely amazes me. still took me an eternity to get through but at least half of that is because I was close reading all the descriptive sections to make sure I pictured the landscape correctly

[agustdiv1ne]

Hard thought - being so desperate for each other that you and Minho dry hump each other til you both cum in your pants

holy shit, anon (MDNI or you will be blocked, nsfw under the cut!)

one of minho's hands lays heavy against your hip as he holds himself above you, a forearm pressed into the couch cushion next to your head. lips meld against each other, want and need and lust mixing and creating a concoction that renders you both dizzy and craving more, more, more.

pressed flush against your clothed center, his boxer-clad cock grows harder and harder as hands tug at shirts and squeeze at bare skin. his fingers find your hips, sliding around to the globes of your ass and squeezing while he grinds you against him. you emit a breathy moan against his lips, a sigh of his name. the friction is addicting, the thin fabric of your panties rubbing against your clit. the fabric clings to your folds as you grow even wetter.

both of your movements grow increasingly desperate as the seconds tick by. he mouths and nips at your neck, his tongue not far behind to sooth the marred skin, groaning as you curl your fingers into his hair, tugging at the dark strands. his head removes itself from your neck so he is able to lock your gaze to his — and fuck, you're a sight to behold. furrowed brows, eyes snapped shut, swollen lips coated in spit, bitten oh so hard to muffle your cries. your oversized shirt is slipping from your shoulder, revealing the strap of your bra and the bare skin of your shoudler.

one hand remains on your ass, continuing to guide you against him, while the other reaches up to hold your chin. your eyes flutter open, only to avoid his gaze. with a deep, shuddering breath, he squeezes your chin.

"eyes on me," he orders, his voice deep and dark. visibly shivering above him, you obey. his umber eyes bear into yours, hypnotizing — and while you want to bury your head back into his chest and hide, you simply can't. he smirks at your slack-jawed expression. "such a good girl. shit, feels good?"

"y-yeah," you squeak out, panting now. you've drifted somewhere far away, lost in the pleasure he's so generously giving you. your vision goes fuzzy around the edges as his hand slides down to wrap around your throat, moaning at the sensation.

"yeah?" he asks, the lilt in his voice condescending. "you like my cock grinding into your pretty pussy, my hand around your throat? bet you're so wet already, hm? are you?"

with a rapid nod of your head and a whine, your eyes shut again, hips grinding down even faster. when they blink back open, you find his cocky demeanor has lessened, his head thrown back as he groans and curses under his breath.

"god. fuck, baby," he breathes, starting to thrust up into you to meet you halfway. you squeal at the sensation. "y'feel so good. gonna make me cum soon."

you scramble forward to kiss him, muffling your moans and his groans. your fingertips press into his shoulders as you feel your peak approaching. the rustle of clothes mix with the obscene sounds.

and then you're shoved straight over the edge.

you cry his name as your thighs quake, trying to close but being halted by his own. your lips leave his so your head can dive into his shirt, riding out the pleasure. minho ruts into you once, twice before his torso shudders beneath you. he hisses out a quiet "fuck" as his release stains his boxers.

slowly, the two of you come down, your face still buried into his chest. he can feel the heat radiating off of your cheeks when he cups them to bring you in for a gentle, slow kiss. the desperation that previously filled the air has all but dissipated, replaced by soft adoration — and slight embarrassment.

"that...was so fucking hot," he mumbles once he pulls away, a small smile curling at the corners of his mouth. "can't believe you made me cum in my pants."

you giggle despite your newfound fatigue. "i guess i just have that effect."

he pinches your waist. "brat."

that only make you laugh harder. shifting off of him, you stand on trembling legs. "shower?"

he laces his fingers with yours with a sly grin.

"i thought you'd never ask."

[papil0nglegs]

One small step at a time! 🛸

Tf2 x Juno!reader

A/n: This one’s for all my overwatch babes <33 ik this idea is rlly niche but this was so fun to write I’m so proud of this. Most of these can be interpreted as platonic but read however you’d like, enjoy ���

Warnings: Scottish people, Drinking, Passing out drunk

Vocab: (p/f) - Parental Figure

Engineer

He has such a father daughter relationship with you

When you first landed on earth he was extremely fascinated by the technology your (p/f) discovered to get to mars, especially your anti-gravity boots

“So these things are just makin’ you float around?”

“Yeah! I’m not really used to earths gravity so my (p/f) sent me off with overboots!.. how do you guys get anything done while stuck on the ground?”

“We just make do with what we can, sugar”

His fav activity with you? Lounging. Doesn’t look like much but his rancho relaxer + you using your jetpack to ‘sit’? Soo cute

You guys would just be chilling in his workshop after doing whatever task it was you were doing <3

“You want a beer, Buttercup?”

“No thank you! I’m not really fond of drinks with alcohol since all we could drink at mars was juice and water”

“shoot, glad I’m not you”

He’s definitely one of the mercs who warmed up to you the fastest, he’s just chill like that.

Medic

Pls don’t tell him your from mars, weird shit is gonna happen

He’s going to treat you like one of his test subjects, at first it starts tame with general check ups but it escalated pretty fast.

When doing his uber surgery on you he decided to explore more things

“..how long was I out, Dr. Ludwig?”

“Oh not long!! Just two.. days”

“What? You said it would only take about 20 minutes!!”

“Vell yes I did say that my Martian friend, however I must say curiosity got the best of me! I simply had to know more about your anatomy”

“Uhm,, ok”

Yeah you’re so scared of him now lol

But of course you two do need to work together to try healing your teammates

He loves it when you heal him, it’s always a pleasant surprise since he never expects to get healed, like ever

“Here! I can help you!!”

“Oo, so vats how it feels..”

Spy

Yeah he doesn’t think your good for the team

Sure it was interesting to meet someone who was born and raised in a completely different planet, however your inexperience with earth was enough for him to neglect you

Once you visited his smoke room to find abundance of books, you being new to earth were excited to see all the knowledge they carried

“Wow! Can I borrow this one? I’d like to learn more about earth and its continents!!”

“Go ahead, I never made use of that thing anyways”

It always catches him off guard how little knowledge you have about earth, especially since your were chosen to go on the mission to earth

Once you randomly found a globe somewhere in the break room and got so fascinated by it

“Earths colors are beautiful, I’d really like to go the that purple one!”

“Y/n, Russia is not purple. And you don’t want to visit there, it is full of trash people.”

“Oh..I see”

He doesn’t guide you to earth like the rest of the mercs, he wants to really straighten your back and push you to your limit

“Would a croissant go well with your meal good sir?”

“Excuse me?”

“You seem like you are from the Western Europeans my (p/f) brought back to mars!! Au revoir madam, please enjoy your tea”

Tbh that moment made his heart melt by just a little bit. Hey, he’s not a monster he can have heartfelt moments.. sometimes

Sniper

You are so fascinated by him, literally just him

For the most part it’s because of his job title ‘assassin’, you’ve never heard of such a job back home.

“Is it true you earn currency to kill specific people?”

“Why of course Sheila, who else would do it?”

“Well, on mars we kinda just let them live even if we don’t like them.. that’s a thing here right??”

You love going on roadtrips with him so he can show you around, just to see get a feel of that New Mexican dirt

You two have a relation where he misses his parents despite always arguing with them, and you miss your (p/f) because you two now live on completely different planets.

On those trips you tend to enjoy chilling in the back of his trailer. You can’t stand spending another second on an uncomfortable leather seat!! So you roam around a lot in what he basically considered his home.

“How was it back there? ‘eard sum ruckus out in the front.”

“Oh right! I am trying to get use to earths gravity so I tried cleaning up here a bit, I hope you don’t mind!!”

He almost cried, you reminded him of his ‘mum’

Whenever you’re curious about any animal you always go to him, we all know Australia a place with weird animals so

“Mr. Mundee, is this spider deadly?”

“I’m not sure, you should probably check in with doc tho. Your face lookin pretty swelled there mate..”

“Oh thank the stars! I was sure this was a lion..”

You passed out from the poison.

It’s good tho, sniper carried you to Medics room like the big brother he is 🧡

Demo-man

YOURE SO SCARED OF HIM

MORE THAN MEDIC

Not only is he obsessed with the drink that you’ve literally never heard of until you arrived in earth, but the way he acts makes it seem like crack

You have so many questions, they almost never get answered because he’s either too drunk or he’ll pass out with medic dragging him out the room

“Is it true that your stomach now declines any normal drinks?”

“Ayouhhh it’s just beerdelicois burp”

“..is he going to be alright?”

“Oh no worries my Martian friend, this happens all the time.. although I can never tell if he’ll live or not”

When on the battlefield he’s always screaming and creaming, sometimes it scares you so much to the point where you ask your fellow teammates to help you

“MR. CONAGHER, I THINK DEMO IS TRYING TO ATTACK ME!!”

“Darlin’, I thinks he’s just tryna get some healing..”

“But why is it yelling.. ☹️”

Now you’re scared of Scottish people, and convinced they probably eat their youth

Soldier

He def plays a father role like engineer, but way less charm and warmth to him

He’s like a dad at a soccer game, he’ll cheer you on but aggressively, to the point where it seems like he’s booing you

In the lobby he’d always do his soldier talk, and it never fails to make you do you best

“NOW, WILL YOU HAND THAT TEAMS ASS AND FEED IT TO HIM, OR AM I GOING TO HAVE TO DRAG YOURS BACK TO MARS TO YOUR MOMMA?”

“No sir!! I’ll feed it to them!”

“THATS RIGHT MAGGOT”

Soldier is always hard on you, sometimes he calls you a ‘space commie’ just for jokes, although his tone definitely sets you off

When you unleashed your orbital ray he started screaming about ‘the commies getting to us’, you had to reassure him several times that it was something you had full control of

Scout

This guy was ecstatic when he found out his new teammate was going to be from space, scout is really into comics (even tho he can’t read) so his imagination went wild when Ms Pauling announced that he’d be fighting alongside what he considered an alien

Once you arrived he was in awe, he thinks you’re the coolest person on the team solely because you’re from another planet.

But he did quickly recognize that you weren’t use to like, anything on earth.

He handed you a cold can of Bonk just for you to look at him confused

“What do I do with this?”

“You drink it?”

“..um I don’t think you’re supposed to drink ‘atomic punch’, that sounds like it hurts 0-0”

He had to teach you how to drink stuff that wasn’t in an aluminum bag, you didn’t take a liking to it but you got used to it

Scout offered you to sleep on the top bunk because he wanted to be nice and all, huge mistake.

The next morning you completely forgot you were on a different planet, so you rolled and fell 9 feet from the bed to the floor.

“Jesus y/n!! what the hell happened?”

“I think I.. fell? Falling feels weird..”

Gets so hype when you two are on the same team, he’s so ready to clock the enemy team with orbital ray

“Scout! My orbital ray is ready!! ^^”

“Whooo! Let’s go then E.T what are we waitin’ for??”

For the most part he’s the one who shows you everything you need to know about earth, baseball is his favorite thing to teach cuz obviously

When you joined him to watch a baseball match you were so excited yet so lost

“What happens if they win? Is this a war?”

“No? Toots it’s just a game”

“Hm, intresting.. then I must try this ‘game’ too!”

[rubyreduji]

can i request minghao x me where he is so in love with me he buys me the moon like minions gru

you're high. you're high and out of it and the only thing you can think about is how much you love your boyfriend.

"haaoooo~" you whine as you drape yourself over the lap of the man in question. "do you love me?"

minghao rolls his eyes and sighs but there's a humor in his eyes and a slight upturn of his lips that hints he finds you more amusing than anything else. "yes, angel, i do love you."

"how much?" you ask, looking up at him with big pleading eyes.

"very, very much," minghao answers, used to your high antics. "more than anything in the world."

"anything in the world? even more than jihoon loves burno mars?"

"yes, even more than jihoon loves bruno mars."

"so much that you'd...steal the moon for me?" you ask, batting your eyelashes dramatically at your boyfriend.

minghao giggles slightly and pushes your hair back out of your face. he will never not be obsessed with how ridiculous you are. "yes baby, i'll steal the moon for you."

you seem satifised by this, and you smile to yourself and snuggled down onto minghao's lap even further, your buzz finally getting the stage of making you sleepy.

a few days later you are curled up in bed when minghao walks into the room, his hands behind his back. you glance up at him from your phone and instantly smile at him, dropping your phone to give minghao your full attention and he grins down at you.

"i got you something."

you perk up even more at this, looking at minghao eagerly. "you got me something? aww baby, you didn't have to!"

"i mean, you asked me for this." minghao pulls his hands out from behind his back and what's revealed is a glowing light in the design of a moon.

"oh my god! you got me a moon!" you shout, quickly reaching out to hold the globe in your own palms.

"i wasn't able to steal the real moon, but you know, i still did my best," minghao tells you, smiling at your excited expression.

"oh my god...i love you so much! you love me so much!" you spring up off the bed and wrap your boyfriend in a hug, pressing kisses to his his adorable giggles filling your ears as you do so.

and it's true. minghao does love you so much.

he'd do anything to make you happy, including paying for express shipping to gift you an adorable moon lamp just to fufill a random wish you made while high. the wide grin and your bright eyes is all that minghao needs to make his heart soar.

"you're so sweet, hao. the most perfectest boyfriend." you cup his face and give him a peck on the lips. "i love you so much, thank you."

minghao smiles down at you. "of course baby. like i said, anything for you."

it's not secret you and minghao are madly in love with each other, but a few reminders every now and then don't hurt either.

[cemeteryspider]

Imagine Dating Mark Grayson With Dazzler's Powers Pt. 2

Invincible! Mark Grayson x Dazzler! Reader

Summary: Mark helps you through a panic attack.

Trigger Warnings: Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Word Count: 670

The narrow corridor backstage buzzed with activity, a symphony of hurried footsteps, clattering equipment, and muffled conversations. Fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting long shadows that danced across the scuffed floor. Equipment cases lined the walls and people rushed past you holding instruments, amplifiers, mics, and everything anyone might possibly need to get onstage. 

As the opening act's drumbeat reverberated backstage, your chest tightened with each thump, and your breaths came in short, rapid bursts. The air was thick with the mingled scents of sweat, adrenaline, and the faint aroma of stage makeup.

You would be going onstage in less than half an hour after a six month hiatus thanks to the Guardians of the Globe needing some extra help after an attack on a few members.

Despite your onstage personality being quite out there and extroverted, you often felt a twinge of fear before going on. Tonight this was amplified because of the rust that accumulated on your voice the past few months.

For the past week, you pushed yourself hard to memorize the songs on your setlist and relearn the electric guitar solos that you could play in your sleep not so long ago.

However, the months of superhero work drained your energy, and you remembered why you put yourself at the end of Cecil's call list.

Every day you were at the tower, you would flop into bed at the end of the day and not wake up until after noon the next day. You rarely were able to practice, and if you did you were often interrupted by some horrible accident that needed your attention.

Your breathing started to become quicker and more shallow. You slid down the wall backstage, put your head into your hands, and tried to focus on taking a breath. The music coming from the stage blurred into static as you continued to sink further into a panic. A knot formed in your stomach, tightening with each passing second. Despite your attempts to steady your breathing, panic threatened to overwhelm you, its icy grip tightening with every heartbeat.

Then two hands rested themselves on your knees, and someone started talking to you. You couldn't focus on every word they were saying.

His voice cut through the static of your racing thoughts, a steady anchor in the storm. 'Just breathe,' Mark's words were a lifeline, guiding you through the darkness with their quiet strength.

You removed your hands from your face and looked at Mark. His hands were rubbing circles into your knees, speaking softly (as softly as he could with you still hearing him over the loud music onstage), and a worried look strewn over his face.

"Keep breathing out, it'll pass sooner if you do that" He moved his hands to your own, and circled his thumbs over your knuckles.

"Mark... thanks," Once you managed those two words you launched yourself into Mark's arms.

"Hey, it's okay, you're okay. I'll always be here for you," Sparkly tears dripped onto his shoulder, and after a long moment, you pushed yourself away to look him in the eyes.

"Sorry I ruined your shirt," You laughed through the tears and Mark laughed with you.

"You didn't ruin anything, I think you made it better," This made you chuckle and Mark moved to help you up.

~~~

He held your hand while your makeup artist touched up your teary eyes. The crowd murmured beyond the stage curtains, an excited chatter building. 

You got into place while your introduction began and the crowd boomed above you.

"You're going to do great! Break a leg, Shimmer," He placed a kiss on your lips and took a step back.

"See you soon, Invincible," With that you flew up through a hole in the stage, and far above the crowd to start your set. 

With a steadying breath, you stepped into the spotlight, the roar of the crowd washing over you like a tidal wave. Beside you, Mark's words echoed in your mind, a reminder of the strength that lay within.

[moocowmoocow]

For the prompt ask - Margo takes Sergei to a basketball game as a “non-date” date. It can be NBA, WNBA, Harlem Globetrotters or college. 🏀🏀🏀

They had been friendly, professional since Sergei had started working at NASA after his defection. She had needed time to wrap her head around the fact that he was here and he was safe and he worked for her. And he had graciously given her the space to work her way through their new reality while keeping humans alive on another planet.

She knocked on the door to his office one Saturday morning. He was bent over the schematics for the next generation of engines to make the trip to Mars easier and less time consuming. When he saw her, he smiled.

“Aleida called me in a panic. Graciana is sick and Victor is currently stranded in a snowstorm in Chicago and Javi has a basketball game this afternoon. She can’t find anyone to take him, so she called me.” She shrugged and looked down. “I can’t promise fourth grade basketball will be exciting, but would you like to come with me?”

She was just asking him because she needed someone to keep her company. His face lit up. “Of course.”

“Like I said, I can’t promise anything, other than ice cream after the game.”

“I like ice cream. Very much.”

“Good.” She nodded. “Meet me in my office around one.”

They picked Javi up for the game. He was excited. He was regularly the first or second off the bench and the coach praised his improving defense. “I’m so glad you’re going to watch, Tía Margo!”

She didn’t know what she ever did to make this kid like her. But she liked that he did.

“Who did you bring along with you? Is he going to watch too?”

“This is my friend, Sergei.”

“Are you dating?”

She felt herself turning red. “No.”

“Oh. It’s just that Juan’s tía is dating someone his entire family hates. I don’t want that to happen to you.”

Sergei chuckled. “I do not want that to happen either.”

“You have an accent. Where are you from?”

“The Soviet Union.”

Javi’s eyes grew big. “Wow.”

Thoughts about the globe flew out of Javi’s head as Margo pulled into the parking lot and he saw several of his teammates. They followed him into the middle school gymnasium and he disappeared into the locker room.

“Come on, let’s get something to eat,” she said. “It’ll probably be a bag of 50 cent popcorn and a can of coke that we’ll have to sneak into the gym.”

“I wondered why you had such a large purse.”

She smiled and allowed him to put his hand on the small of her back as they climbed the bleachers with their contraband. They both knew the basics of the game - you put the ball in the basket. It turned out they did not need to know much more for the game at the fourth grade level. They clapped and cheered for Javi whenever he made a basket. She never wanted Javi to have to question whether adults in his life loved him and if that meant making noise at a basketball game, then she would do it.

Javi’s team ended up losing the game by ten. He was upset until Margo announced that they were going to get ice cream. After they finished their cones, he insisted that they get some for Graciana and Aleida. When they dropped him back home, Margo wondered if she had really done Aleida a favor returning an excited child filled with ice cream.

As they pulled away from Aleida’s, Margo thanked Sergei for coming.

“It was fun.”

“Really?”

“It was a side of you I’d never seen. I quite enjoyed it.”

She was silent for awhile. “We should do it again. Sometime.”

“I’d like that.”

[homestuckreplay]

gardenGnostic alien theory [not clickbait]

(page 696-706)

9/25, 9/26, 9/27/2009 Wheel Spins: Parent Bad :(, Captchalogue Lore, Dramatic Irony Verdict: ❌ NO LONGER RELEVANT ❌

Gonna say something controversial but true: Can Town needs more cans. WV keeps introducing non-can elements, such as ‘roads’ and ‘trees’ and ‘splodgy chessboard’ and it’s just not very can-focused anymore. It is still the most adorably charming way to deliver a major lore dump that I have ever seen, and so deeply cryptic.

WV visually talks us through the cosmology of Sburb in a very similar way to Nannasprite a few hundred pages ago. Of course, WV was listening to Nannasprite’s exposition, so could be recreating what they’ve heard – but it seems like they have extra information, too. This Nannasprite lore is the part of the comic I most often go back to and reread so I guess grandmotherly wisdom is real.

NANNASPRITE: One [orb] goes down, to a kingdom entrenched in darkness. The other, up, to a kingdom basking in light! (p.424)

These kingdoms basking in light and darkness are definitely the ‘luminous planet’ (p.702) and ‘ominous planet’ (p.704) WV draws, although Nannasprite doesn’t mention any moons, and WV is certain of these. The ominous planet is ‘beyond an impenetrable veil of darkness’, which is what John sees when he gazes into the abyss below his house. Presumably the luminous planet is something he will reach on his way to Skaia if he begins to build up through the gates – since the forces of light are charged with Skaia’s protection.

NANNASPRITE: [The Medium] is where we are now! A realm that is a ring of pure void, dividing light and darkness. (p.421)

The four planets without satellites WV draws (p.703) are part of the Medium – more specifically, I think that small parts of these planets have been transported to the Medium. The lower left planet looks like Earth being hit by a giant meteor, so, could the other three be planets that have been destroyed by Skaian technology in different ways? The red planet (Mars?) has been enveloped by a large gray dust storm while the colorful planet and the black planet (Venus and Mercury?) both have strange clouds in orbit. If the Incipisphere is a realm that’s not part of Earth or its flow of time, it makes sense that other planets would be affected by it too, and that other planets with intelligent life might try to draw on Skaia’s power if they discovered it. Four planets, and four screens on WV’s monitor.

I think Rose and Dave are definitely from the same Earth as John but I could totally believe that GG is from a different planet. Rose’s ‘So, shall I expect a green package dropped to my house via airmail from whatever screwball cranny of the globe you're tucked into?’ becomes a great line if GG is not from this globe at all. So, maybe WV figuring out how to view other screens on the monitor is our lead-in to actually meeting GG and discovering what’s up with her.

NANNASPRITE: The Four Spires are situated above a throne, and these two thrones preside over the two respective Sovereign Powers! (p.424)

These Sovereign Powers must be the kings that WV detests so much. On this same page, the animation shows a chessboard – first a 3x3 with just the white and black kings, but as the orbs reach the spires of the light and dark kingdoms, the chessboard becomes a 12x12 (bigger than a standard chessboard) with a whole bunch of extra pieces, which roughly – but not perfectly – correspond to the pieces on an actual chessboard. This is the ‘stage’ that the forces of light and darkness duel on, and is clearly a place WV has either spent time in or spent time watching, because the chessboard is ‘the only logical pattern that occurs to [them]’ (p.697). So WV was in combat? Or possibly had someone close to them who was in combat, since they don’t seem designed for violence, and were forced to lose that person to this war?

NANNASPRITE: This is a war that the forces of light are always destined to lose, without exception! (p.424)

This line hits a little different after meeting WV. They would have won the war. Their side was fated to succeed, but something was important enough to them that they betrayed their king and their planet and voluntarily resigned themself to wandering in rags? I really think they have a more complicated history than we’re let in on right now. There’s a trope I’ve seen in books and movies where a child who has been through something traumatic doesn’t talk about it, but a teacher or carer figures it out through art the kid has drawn. I don’t know how based in reality this trope is, but I’m thinking about it in the way the ‘ominous planet’ is hidden behind pipes and coils of rope and massive messy smears of motor oil, compared to the lovingly crafted clouds of the rest of the scene.

Also, my can research paid off, because I am 99.9% sure that the mayonnaise (the only food from WV’s stash not found canned in real life) was put there so that they could make the ‘MAYOR’ sash. Planted because the (likely reader-submitted) commands ‘Clear out all the cans inside the purple machine’ (p.681) and ‘Become the mayor of Can Town’ (p.685) fit so well together. I kinda love the thought of three people’s brains in different places momentarily being on the exact same wavelength and creating this cute moment.

[esoteric-chaos]

Pine - The Mundane and Magical 101

Growing up on my edge of the west coast, Pine trees have always been abundant. Specifically the Western White Pine for example.

This plant spirit is one I work with generally in the winter as this is where I personally feel it’s energy is stronger. It's a wonderful plant to work with and has been used by indigenous cultures to this land for healing. To venerate and honour this land I work with Pine.

Scientific Name: Pinus

Family: Pinaceae

Parts used: For species of Pine it varies

Planet: Mars

Element: Air

CAUTIONS: It is important to know not all species of Pine are edible. Also please note that if you have pets be cautious with Pine as it can cause irritation to the mouth and gastrointestinal issues. Which can lead to serious complications if ingested. Keep any pine needles and oils out of reach.

ALWAYS check with your local herbalist and doctor before consuming any medicinal medicine as they will be able to direct you on proper dosages. Some medications can also interact and so can some conditions with certain herbs.

Do NOT consume if pregnant and Pine may irritate the gut by creating heartburn.

IMPORTANT: Some Pine trees look very alike to other toxic plants so source responsibility and safely.

Uses in Herbalism and healing:

Internally, pine is a traditional remedy for coughs, colds, allergies, and urinary tract and sinus infections.

Topically, pine is used for infections and to lessen joint inflammation in arthritic conditions.

Uses in Magic:

Pine's correspondences are purification, protection, prosperity, healing, fertility and strength.

Pine needles scattered on the floor is said to drive away evil

When burned it can purify negativity

Needles can be burned for reversal spells or back to sender spells

Money magic

Can be used in oils, teas, incense, washes, etc. Get creative!

Makes a great purifying natural cleaner mixed with vinegar

Branches of pine above the bed is said to keep sickness away

In Japan Pine trees are venerated as sacred. Symbolizing longevity. Some place Pine above the front door to ensure lasting joy within, for the leaves are evergreen.

Recipes:

Herbal Salve for Inflammation - Makes 5 ounces

What you need

1 oz. beeswax (use carnauba wax for a vegan salve)

4 oz. Pine Pitch infused oil in Olive Oil - See my Infused Oils post to learn more

Directions

Wrap beeswax bar in an old towel. On a sturdy surface, use a hammer to break bar up into small chunks.

Place beeswax in a double boiler and gently warm over low heat until the beeswax melts.

Add herbal oils and stir over low heat until well-mixed.

Remove from heat

Quickly pour warm mixture into prepared heat safe tin(s) or cosmetic glass jar(s)

Store in a cool location for 1 to 3 years. 

Sources and extra reading material:

Please remember while I provide sources, some content is my own UPG from working for years intuitively with this herbal ally. What you do not see from my sources assume it is my UPG and take what information you will. Always cross reference and research yourself. All medical knowledge will be sourced.

Books:

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Expanded and Revised Edition) by Scott Cunningham

The Complete Herbal Tutor by Anne McIntyre

Links:

Want to check out my other posts? Here’s the Masterpost

[paladin-of-nerd-fandom65]

Alrighty, after taking some inspiration from the recent X Men 97 and now that the Krakoa Era is finally wrapping up, I would like taking this opportunity in explaining a sort of take on this idea of an entire nation of supernatural peoples and beings from all across the globe and giving it a….Titanic spin to it

Basically

What if The (formerly Teen) Titans have a Krakoa Arc to call their own?

Yes this idea will be based on my little Fanon universe that’s in my Pinned Post so anyways Brace Yourselves My Friends

Background: Taking place an in universe year or two after Dick and Kory’s epic honeymoon and after a more or less steady status quo for the DCU, things start escalating with a grand alliance of Planet Tamaran’s enemies from all across the Vega System reconvene once again to seize the planet for themselves. While the Tamaraneans under their Empress Komand’r are well prepared for such a threat, so have their enemies in advance with equipment and tech from Apokolips. Despite their best efforts, Komand’r and her people are deeply struggling against New God tech and it’s not too long before their enemies surround their capital demanding their unconditional surrender. Kom’s scientists though have come up with a final desperate plan which they believe can either help their people fight back against the overwhelming odds however at a great risk, a plan Kom is all too willing to go if it means saving her people from subjugation.

As such, she flies with all her great speed fully charged with her power right all the way to the Vega sun itself, the plan being to supercharge its solar output with her power inner reserves, allowing more energy to shine which should empower her people even those who didn’t tap into their starbolts like Kory and her can. While granting the entire race the ability to charge up Starbolts, the ability to legit breathe in space and other advanced powers and abilities, it all came at an extraordinary cost; the Star itself wounded up overloading and with barely time for their enemies to acknowledge it on time, it explodes into a massive supernova, taking not just them and not even just the planet itself but the whole of the Vega system.

The Tamaraneans themselves, all their civilians and even their then freed relatives managed to evacuate right on time so not one was lost in the supernova but now they have no home to come back to, leaving them a diaspora.

Meanwhile, as the Titans (nominally split into the premier Justice Titans and their B team allies though in the whole composed of Nightwing, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy, Cyborg, Terra, Troia and Red Arrow) have numerous adventures and meet new allies across not just the universe and other planes of existence which can include the Phantom Zone, the realm of the Lord of Chaos etc, but throughout the Multiverse itself, even coming into contact and allying with the titular Titans of the Multiverse in their own quests to fix worlds with their timelines screwed over; all of it has them gaining new never wig their team and other allies but more importantly a massive influx of entire peoples as refugees and immigrants settling in the Titans’ universe for a new home. Unluckily for the Titans by the point this influx of people’s in need of new home becomes of a priority, The Legion of Doom, Lex Luthor’s team of supervillains, have launched an all out assault on their T shaped bases in both in Earth’s exosphere and in Bludhaven bay. While the attack was ultimately repelled, both T Towers were destroyed, now requiring the Titans themselves in need of a base themselves

Eventually the Titans decide on a Take out Multiple Birds with One Stone approach: with some Kryptonian tech borrowed from the City of Kandor and a location on the opposite side of Mars’ orbit (due to Earth’s orbit being occupied by Earth itself and New Krypton but I Digress lol), a massive new planet is created to be a sort of new home for all those refugees across existence and of course the Tamaraneans, Empress Blackfire acting as their representative in a high governing council which her sister and the other Titans are the ultimate authority on

While the Titans themselves are mainly tendering to Earth’s matters and small scale operations and crime fighting, this Planet shall serve as their new base of operations and the mainly settlers on it being their allies for Cosmic scale threats and crises.

Thus we present to you,

Titans Planet

For this new status quo, before the destruction of the Towers, the Titans Book (the one featuring the aforementioned B team of Troia, Red Arrow, The Flash (Wally West), Omen, Bumblebee, Herald and Jericho) would have a definitive conclusion after around hopefully 100-120 issues (bi weekly schedule applying), the team within it being consolidated into Justice Titans

Therefore in Issue #125, that’ll be a triple sized jumping on issue in which has not just that grand attack by the Legion of Doom but also the Titans consulting with the Kryrptonians of Kandor for borrowing their tech to create Titans Planet. Midway through the issue, Dick would have a bite among their members on whether to proceed with this plan or not, bringing up some differing options and raised concerns among them. Eventually the votes lean in favor of a Yes, leading to creation of the new planet in the opposite side of Mars’ orbit.

Here, Dick, Kom, Donna and Kory lay down simple ground rules for their new found headquarters/planet:

1) The core team should be addressed of tensions between peoples over land rights and other disputes.

2) No citizen of this planet should harm not especially kill another. Should they travel to Earth, they must also not kill any humans or any earthlings

3) The earthlings in turn must respect and treat these citizens of this planet as much any other earthling

4) Titans Planet Must Be Respected. Any attacks on its citizens, not the Titans themselves, but its citizens by hostile powers across both the stars and across dimensions will be a declaration of war.

As for the books that would be affected or launched by this new status quo;

- Titans (formerly Justice Titans, starting in maybe Issue #126, this book will be renamed)

- Nightwing and Starfire: The Flying Graysons (Despite the both of them still officially living in Bludhaven, the Planet especially due to the presence of Kom would serve being a platform for stories for Kory in order to diversify it from the standard Bludhaven based ones)

- Titans Planet (launching after Justice Titans #125, The Main ‘Hub World’ series which explores the day to day operations of the planet’s many people groups and factions; the only title that operates in a one issue per month schedule, Though each single issue are double sized)

- Blackfire: Empress of Tamaran (Launches after Justice Titans #125, serving as the solo adventures of Empress Komand’r as she contends with not just remnants of that alliance that ultimate destroyed her home planet but also other cosmic foes and enemies including probably up to Darkseid himself)

- Mon El: Man of Valor (Similarly launches after Justice Titans #126; Among the people groups that have settled on Titans Planet was the Daxamites who due to events in Action Comics, their own planet too has been destroyed thus they are in the need of a new home. Mon himself being a top representative on their behalf on the planet while he deals with not just a rise of potential supervillains on this planet but also his own place in this world, on Earth and in the universe as a whole in light of these events. Mon himself at this point is something of an Honorary Titan due to his stronger connections with the Superman family)

- Cyborg

- Raven

- Beast Boy

Future event comics and crossovers that involve these books can still occur though the status quo remains for a lengthy amount of time in real life. At the bare minimum, it should last between 2-5 years before another massive shake up can occur.

For any constructive criticism, compliments or additions, Please Reblog and/Reply if you can. It’ll be greatly appreciated

[kmp78]

In looking at future dates looks like Georgia is the closest he’s going to get to mother Russia and all the Russian girls that he loves.

I have to say I really am unfamiliar with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. Do they have a fan base there? you don’t hear much about those countries in the western world anyway on the news or read about it in foreign journals online.🤷🏼‍♀️ just trying to figure out the rest of this crazy tour. Any ideas?

The last time Mars was in Kaz was back in 2017 and the only thing I remember about that gig was the manic mad dash back to the US for the 4th of July cos like 2 days before that gig halfway across the globe Lord Leto had had a stroke of genius about his idiotic #Muricah docu that needed to happen on the 4th and then he got stuuuck in Kaz and had to hire like 4 different private jets to get back in time. 😂🤦🏼‍♀️

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Lee Myers

Published: Mar 16, 2013

1) Atheists Believe Everything Came From Nothing

Many theists believe there was once nothing, and then there was something—the universe—created by their god. And so they ask, “But if there is no god then how can something come from nothing?”

This question has been asked for thousands of years, but now Quantum physics has provided a basis for some atheists, such as Lawrence Krauss, to indeed believe the universe comes from “nothing.” But Krauss doesn’t speak for all atheists and he speaks of a very different kind of “nothing,” the kind where virtual particles are created from borrowed energy inside a vacuum. This is not even remotely close to what theists mean by the term “nothing.”

When asked about the universe, most atheists simply stop somewhere along the lines of “the evidence suggests the universe began expanding approximately 13.77 billion years ago.” Beyond that I’m fine with “I don’t know.” I don’t need to know. I do not believe the universe came from “nothing” in the way theists use the word or in the way Krauss uses the word. I don‘t think there’s enough evidence to reach a conclusion yet and I‘m fine with that. I’ve never met an atheist who believed everything comes from “nothing“ in the way theists use the word and in my experience, only a minority subscribe to the theory Krauss puts forward. Theists may believe the universe sprang from nothing, but they then have the burden of proving there was ever “nothing” and that “something” requires any gods at all.

2) Atheists Have No Morals

Humans are social beings, and as such we have morals. Some theists say atheists have no reason to be moral since we don’t believe in a god to instruct or punish us. This claim seems rather disingenuous when one considers that most theists who say this wouldn’t become immoral deviants overnight if they suddenly stopped believing in a god.

Studies have shown our morals are a product of multiple factors. The Milgram experiment shows authority plays a major role. The Stanford prison experiment showed the same, but also displayed the role of social hierarchy. The “good or evil” puppet test for babies suggests we are all born with a basic sense of fairness, justice, and unfortunately, bigotry. Human morality is too complex to be explained by religion or lack of it.

Millions of atheists across the globe live moral lives every day. Some don’t. Neither do some believers. There are atheist charities and atheist criminals. There are religious charities and religious hate groups. Religious people and atheists can both behave morally or immorally because of—or wholly independent of—their religious beliefs. One doesn’t necessarily lead to the other. Studies have shown the basis of human morality is present even before we’re exposed to religion.

3) Atheists Have No Meaning of Life

Even if humanity survives the next 5 billion years on this planet, the sun will balloon into a red giant, boil and possibly devour the earth before exploding and blasting out through the cosmos. The universe will continue to expand at an increasing rate, and eventually the force of gravity will be too weak for any new stars or planets to form. The universe will whither and die.

Some theists consider this and think without belief in an afterlife, nothing really matters in this life. Believing in an afterlife can influence one’s meaning of life, but a meaning of life doesn’t require belief in an afterlife. Some theists refer to Nietzsche’s nihilism as if Nietzsche were the be-all and end-all of existentialist philosophy. But humans generally define our meaning in the moments we enjoy and the goals we set. This was probably best articulated by Albert Camus in The Myth of Sisyphus.

I enjoy every moment I spend with my daughter, and one of my goals is to be a good father. I enjoy art, and one of my goals is to read, hear and see more of it. I like a large, hot cup of coffee while watching the dim glow of morning just before dawn. I love the serenity of canoeing on a sunny day and the soft crunch of fresh snow beneath my feet. I enjoy my friends and my family. Atheism does give life meaning because as an atheist, I understand this is the only life I’ve got.

4) There Are No Atheists in Foxholes

Yes there are. They even have a website. Nonetheless there persists among some this belief that atheism is generally disingenuous and that everyone cries out to “God” in times of need. This claim highlights a conflicting epistemology between the theist who is basing beliefs in part on fear and need, and the those of us who determine beliefs based on facts and evidence.

Their assumption also implies that when a theist cries out “Oh God,” they are literally trying to talk to “God.” I have several religious family and friends who say “Oh God” in all sorts of scenarios but are rarely actually trying to carry on a conversation with The Almighty. Even a theist saying “Oh God” in a foxhole is most likely not actually expecting divine intervention. The phrase is generally used in the same way as “Oh Shit,” which generally doesn’t involve any reference to actual shit. Even so, there are millions of people who’ve encountered life threatening situations and didn’t cry out about god, shit or anything else.

5) Atheists Just Hate God

About as much as we hate unicorns. Theists tend to make this claim when atheists assert moral opinions about supposed deeds of their deity. “How can you have opinions about something you don’t believe in?” The same way we form opinions about Darth Vader, Willy Wonka or the Wicked Witch of the West—according to their role within the story. It doesn’t matter if the story involves a Sith killing all the Jedi kids or a god killing a nation’s first born.

Just repeating the claim back usually gets the point across. Do Christians “hate” Allah? Do Muslims “hate” Jesus? Do Jews “hate” the FSM? Not believing in a particular religion is not dependent on a negative opinion of that religion’s deity or messiah figure. It’s simply the result of not being convinced because the burden of proof has not been met. I personally think Buddha and Lao Tzu both had great things to say, but I’m not a Buddhist or a Taoist.

6) Atheists Just Don’t Want to Submit to God

Well, one would first need to provide reason for believing there is anything to submit to. Lacking belief in deities doesn’t mean one doesn’t want to submit to what they don’t believe in. Like number 5, the point can be made rather easily by simply repeating this back to the theist. Does the Christian lack belief in Allah just because she doesn’t want to wear a hijab? Do non Catholics lack belief in Catholicism simply because they don’t want to submit to the Pope? Do Muslims lack belief Jesus was the embodiment of “God” simply because they want to continue justifying child marriages with the actions of their so-called prophet?

7) Atheists Are Angry

There once was a time when challenging religion was considered taboo. Some would like to hold on to that standard to save their religion from scrutiny. Those days are over, but that doesn‘t mean being skeptical of religion means skeptics are angry.

Being confrontational does not equate to anger. If someone told you Elvis was spotted buying T-shirts at K-Mart, their claims would be analyzed, scrutinized, debunked and in most cases, outright laughed at. I see no reason why it should be any different for religious claims.

8) Atheists Are Responsible for the Worst Atrocities in History

Stalin, Pol Pot and Mao were all atheists, so atheism must be responsible for the mass executions during said reigns—or so the accusation goes. This statement is usually a retort to blaming Christianity for the Crusades or Islam for terrorism. The fact of the matter is there have been Christians, atheists, Muslims and many others of different beliefs and non beliefs who have committed multiple atrocities throughout history. But there have also been some of the kindest deeds in history performed by people of all kinds of belief and non belief.

Stalin, Pol Pot and Mao did not execute people in the name of atheism, but rather for simply not submitting to them as if they were gods themselves. There is a long list of atheist politicians who never committed atrocities. Claiming atheism would lead to disastrous atrocities like those witnessed in the early Soviet Union is a hasty generalization fallacy which ignores all the good deeds of decent atheist politicians throughout time.

9) Atheists Are Guilty of “Scientism”

It must be difficult holding beliefs which cannot be justified with evidence. This leads some theists to conclude atheists all subscribe to “scientism.” This term is meant as an insult against skeptics for daring to ask for evidence when confronted with extraordinary claims.

Scientism is a philosophy which holds that science is the ultimate truth, and that science is the only way to truth. But preferring science to superstition doesn’t mean science is always correct. Scientists are humans and can make mistakes like anyone else. However, the methodology of science does work. That doesn’t mean science is the only way to truth. It just means it’s an effective method of attaining natural truths.

Many atheists are equally skeptical of science and religion. My first assignment in my college statistics class was to find three examples of misused data in the media. This same task had been given to each class for over a decade and no two people ever turned in the same three examples. I have also studied philosophy, including philosophy of science, and so I understand science can be wrong. I have yet to meet an atheist who believes scientists are infallible.

10) Atheists Are All Rational and Logical

This is one I hear mostly from other atheists. Some atheists like to consider themselves more rational than theists and ask why we should call ourselves atheists at all, as opposed to calling ourselves rationalists or some other such term.

But all atheists are not rational. Atheism is simply the lack of belief in deities. There are atheists who believe in homeopathy, ancient aliens, 911 conspiracy theories and a host of other completely irrational ideas unsupported by any stretch of logic. Just because someone arrived at the rational non belief in deities does not mean they are rational about everything else.

[gravegrime]

I promised on twitter that I'd rip the bandaid off dirty so here we go!

A little Christmas gift to all of you! This is the secret project I've been quietly brewing on the side for ages and ages now. I figure now is a good as time as any to at least TELL people it exists!

This is ✨Among the Stars✨ a story about a half alien boy being raised by a gaggle of full alien parents.

There's Sun! The weird human/alien hybrid the rest of the group have been tasked with taking care of. He's got a cheery disposition and is more than willing to put in a little elbow grease to help get things done.

He's been sort of neglected so he's also kinda a weirdo...

Pluto! The manic self doubting entertainer who wants nothing more than to keep people happy and make herself useful. Usually by killing things, but we'll ignore that for now!

Europa, the icy pefectionist who believes the most in Sun despite it all. Her grace and poise are as boundless and her need for absolute domination of the self.

She's the most prominent "caregiver" for Sun and her no nonsense attitude stresses him out immensely.

Mercury, the globe trotting, charismatic, gambler always looking to make a buck. She's easily the star with the most human contact and is the most friendly to them as well.

She's not around much, but when she is she gently pushes Sun towards his human side.

And finally Mars, the gruff and crude forge master. Spending most of his days wandering the emerald plains of Astra looking for danger or deep within his dark forge crafting an untold amount of weapons and armour for some unknown purpose.

He intimidates the hell out of Sun.

Of course there's lots more to talk about, AND ALL IN GOOD TIME, but that's the main main cast of the series. There are plenty of other star's to go over, as well as people, but I'll leave it at that for now.

In the new year keep an eye out for more lore!!!

[clove-pinks]

Perry's Victory on Lake Erie

The best version by Lee Murdock (on The Lost Lake Sailors album) of "Perry's Victory On Lake Erie" is also on YouTube, if you don't have Spotify.

I've searched in vain for the lyrics and finally ended up transcribing them myself! Feat. USAmericans consistently called "Columbians" and some potent nationalism.

--

You tars of Columbia give ears to my story

Who fought with brave Perry, whose cannon did roar:

Your valor has gained you an immortal glory, and fame that will last until time is no more.

On the tenth of September let us all remember, as long as the globe on its axis reels round,

Our tars and marines on Lake Erie were seen

To make the red flag of proud Britain come down.

Columbian tars are the true sons of Mars, who rake fore and aft when they fight on the deep.

On the bed of Lake Erie, commanded by Perry, they caused many Britons to take their last sleep.

The van of our fleet was brought up complete,

Commanded by Perry the Lawrence bore down.

Our guns they did roar such terrific power, that savages trembled at that dreadful sound.

The Lawrence sustained the most dreadful of fire, she fought three to one for two glasses or more,

whilst Perry undaunted did firmly stand by her, and on the proud foe heavy broadsides did pour.

Her masts being shattered, her rigging all tattered, her sails all in ribbons her wheel shot away—

With few left on deck to manage the wreck, our heroes on board her no longer would stay.

There was one gallant act of our noble commander, whilst writing my song I shall notice with pride:

When launching the smack that carried his standard, the ball whistled through her quite close by his side.

Said Perry, "Those villains intend sure to drownded us, but push on my brave boys you need never fear."

And then with his coat he plugged up the boat, and through sulfur and fire away he did steer.

The famed Niagara, now proud of her Perry, displayed all her banners in gallant array,

While twenty-five guns on board she did carry, which soon put an end to this sad bloody fray. 

The fire of the Britons grew shorter and shorter, the signal was given to break through their line.

While starboard to larboard and from every quarter, 

The guns of Columbia gloriously shine.

In the heat of the battle, whose cannon did rattle, on the Lawrence, a wreck, with her men near all slain, 

Brave Elliott did steer as they brought up the rear, and by this grand manoeuvre the victory was gained.

Oh had you been there, I vow and declare, that such a grand sight you had ne'er saw before! 

When six bloody flags that no longer would wave, were laid at the feet of our brave Commodore. 

The whole British fleet was captured complete, not one single vessel from us got away.

And prisoners, some hundreds, Columbians wondered, to see them all anchored and moored on the bay.

Great Britain may boast of her conquering heroes, 

her Rodneys her Nelsons and all the old crew,

But Rome in her glory ne'er told such a story

Nor boasted such feats as Columbians can do.

So Columbians sing, and make the woods ring,

And toast those brave heroes, by sea and by land.

Whilst Britons drink sherry, let us drink to Perry,

And toss it about with a full glass in hand.

Columbians sing and make the woods ring, and toast those brave heroes by sea and by land,

Whilst Britons drink sherry, let us drink to Perry!

And toss it about with a full glass in hand.

[professionalnooneatall]

Everyone Keeps Saying Make Something New, but When I make Something Aggressively New, I Get "not like that,"

I was talking with an Imam once and I asked him how a Muslim would go about doing the Hajj if they lived on Mars. With zero hesitation he said "Get on a rocket and go back to Earth, there's only one Mecca." The quote stayed with me and for over a decade I've been developing a television show around that sentence:

It's the far future. Humanity and our allies live throughout the Milky Way and there are Muslims on every planet where there are humans, which is to say all of them. Let me introduce you to the characters.

Master Fleet Adm. Achmed Abdul Qadir

Regal, bird like, rather tall with a well-trimmed mustache, salt and pepper hair, Qadir is a devout Muslim with a calm “been there done that” attitude from being Nearly 100 years old. Shrewd but compassionate, Qadir applies Islamic jurisprudence as often as possible, resulting in a high degree of compassion. Because of this Qadir was among the first wave of volunteers to fight under the banner of the Alliance first on Mars under NATO/METO and later as Alliance Forces Earth, and finally just the Alliance. Qadir is unflappable in nearly every respect. If he ever uses foul language, it’s not a good sign.

Command Sergeant Major Maya Abdel-Fattah

Lean, lethal and shorter than most people. Always wearing hijab in public. Cybernetic right arm starting at the shoulder. Maya is the strong, silent type. A full Alliance Marine, qualified planet and space she wears the Galaxy Globe and Anchor. Maya was widowed and lost her whole family in a space transport accident and so she transferred to the recently codified Alliance Marine Corps from Alliance Forces Earth Quartermaster Corps. Maya served with the Black Sword Brigade, a particularly tough unit specializing in deep strikes and decapitation attacks. She serves as the senior enlisted on the ship and if there's fighting to be done she can get it done from 1,000 meters to 1 centimeter.

Command Sergeant Major (ret) Robert W. Leary

Hearty, tough, Irish and Black American. Very American military, Qadir’s best friend, so much so Qadir’s actual wife, Jamila, referred to Leary as “My husband’s work wife” when they worked together under NATO and METO military operations before the Alliance conflict. Father died in Corpo Wars, mother retired from the 1st New York Brigade after the North American Protectorate was codified. Leary met probably his closest friend Achmed Qadir while on R&R leave in Iraq, specifically when he attended the completion ceremony for Al-Rahman Mosque is Baghdad. Leary is deeply atheist but very respectful and knowledgeable of many religions; he’s both street-smart and socially intelligent. Leary is also the Alliance Cultural Preservation, Restoration, and Development (CPRD) Officer, ensuring cultural needs and practices are cataloged and practiced, respected, and continued for and by Alliance personnel.

Lt. Cmdr. Dikembe Emenike

Eminke is the executive officer of the Grand Falcon. All four limbs are cybernetic, an aerospace engineer, a race car driver, and Chief Engineer in the construction of the Grand Falcon, the ship that takes Muslims back to Earth for Hajj. Emenike is an accomplished pilot and like most veteran pilots of the war has an absurd amount of flight hours. He was onboard a ship that had to use its jump drive system without calculation and it jumped into a planet’s atmosphere, subsequently crashed and plunged into that planet's ocean. Emenike was among the survivors and due to his actions - using the ship's propulsion to beach the craft on the nearest landmass - the casualties were low.

Master Chief (ret) Paulina Stevens “Boston” Abdur Razzaq

Boston is an Iranian American, punk rocker, with lots of tattoos,  lower jaw is cybernetic, it’s a subtle piece, though, and mostly matches her skin tone. She has close-cropped curly hair and a nose ring. Experienced medic and explosives technician, Boston formed her own contracting company - Iron Pineapple - after the war for “post-war and peacetime operations,” which has an extremely broad definition meaning her team didn't want for work. Boston has been divorced twice, from a man and a woman. She doesn’t do anything by half measures and this extends to her personal relationships. She connects intensely with people and intimate partners are no exception so her command style with her team is often very blunt but compassionate.

Maj. (Dr.) Mohammed Al-Aziz Billah

Dr. Billah, or "just Dr. B," as he would introduce himself, is stocky, bearded, intense, and driven but is kind and has an impeccable bedside manner. Billah is often in a doctor’s coat over his Alliance uniform. He is Qadir’s nephew on Jamila’s side. A devout Ahmadiyya Muslim, Billah saw becoming a doctor as a holy mission. He is a certified physician for both people and earth animals, having studied both sciences concurrently at Penn State. Billah served in Iraqi military as a combat doctor and in between tours he worked with members of the Jain Dharma as a veterinarian. His incredibly wide skill set made him ideal for treating non-human beings and many foundations for combat medical procedures were established by him and other members of The First Medical Fleet which would become Alliance Medical Command. His refrain, "Death Is my Only Enemy," became the official motto of First Medical Fleet, "Death Our Only Enemy"

Special Warrant 2 (ret) Shen She Zhan

Shen underwent sixteen very painful surgical procedures to increase her height and skin grafts to make her skin look like that of the Hiraska aliens whose empire threatened the whole galaxy with facial reconstruction including reshaping her jaws and her eyes were fully replaced. Her cover was blown but she was able to escape however he pod was intercepted by Alliance Forces Earth personnel who didn’t believe she was actually human. Qadir’s ship received the signal and he intervened but not soon enough. Qadir, Leary and Billah were there for her recovery so they are on the very short list of people she trusts, those three serve as kind of her “sounding board” for certain topics and issues. Qadir was furious with the task forces’ treatment of Shen and he disbanded the task force and several senior leaders were relieved of duty. After the war she joined Iron Pineapple and Boston became the fourth person in the galaxy she trusts. This history informs much of Shen's responses and actions. Among strangers, she is very controlled but given the presence of one of the four, she will speak her mind clearly.

Major (ret) Maria Shahid Rodriguez-ChavezMajor (ret) Maria Shahid Rodriguez-Chavez

Latino and Arab Christian. A real technical wiz Chavez can fix anything; hardware or software even if she's unfamiliar with it because she has an intuition about technology overall. Chavez is a trans-woman but presents as masculine in the war flashbacks. She is gradually becoming more and more comfortable with herself but will often retreat into her technological expertise and focus on solving tech problems rather than personal development. She often seeks guidance from Boston, Leary, and Billah. She is estranged from her father but is in touch with her mother and kid brother, who live the Leo City, the domed human settlement on Mars. Her plan settle with them somewhere and open a small business, probably an automotive repair shop and salon.

Senior Command Chief Jamila Qadir

Jamila is a highly experienced nurse with time in ERs, plague zones, and combat zones, and her compassion for humans is matched only by the sheer “lack of fucks,” she gives. Her compassion for people is matched by her husband Achmed, but she will not suffer fools gladly, will not make time for bullshit, and definitely won't stand for your nonsense. She has tried to play matchmaker for Leary on several occasions. It didn’t go well each time. She is often the smartest person in the room as she knows how to apply her knowledge of people learned through being a medical professional in any given situation.

Petty Officer 2nd Class (ret) Akira Shima 

Akira was a quantum navigation systems programmer and he is exceptional at that, having served on many task forces and has a mind for science and tactics but he is largely untested due to getting relegated to "IT bullshit" when he was in uniform. He is motivated to prove himself at every opportunity and is often unorthodox in his thoughts and actions but he is effective and when he combines his abilities with Chavez they are unstoppable. He is very intuitive and empathetic. He understands software interacting with organics as he often had to fix cybernetic limbs in the war when no formal technician was present. Shima is “always on,” and will often wake up in the middle of the night having dreamed of a solution to a problem he may have only heard about in passing.

Valerria Vall

Assigned a special advisor to the Grand Falcon, Vall is a member of the Omega, a race of beings who once fought a Terminator-style war between organics and machines. After about seventy years they realized it was pretty stupid and over time they became a “joint race,” the Hiraska saw them as the greatest threat to their empire and released a plague that destroyed all organic life in their home system. They barely survived and are now fully artificial. They founded the Alliance as an anti-colonial and defensive force against the Hiraska to prevent what happened to them from happening to any other beings. As they connect with new extraterrestrial species they send a representative to study and learn from their cultures, altering their whole physical and mental self to mirror that race to create a deep cultural understanding.

Kimi Running Rabbit

Running Rabbit is part of the new generation of humans that grew up off-world and is the youngest member of the crew. She is part of the Alliance Tribal Nations, a recognized part of the Alliance government’s judicial, social and educational systems. Running Rabbit began as an alliance cadet but the war ended and she spent two more years just training with little engagement against real threats. When she saw the Hajj ship needing volunteers she signed on with an individual contract. Like many other personnel who were born off-world, she’s only heard stories about how vicious earthbound humans were to each other but especially horrible to the indigenous peoples and she hates Earth and doesn't want to ever go there. This mission is the first time she has been around a significant population of earth-born humans. Kimi is well educated in languages, histories, and cultures through the Alliance Primary Education system but she has limits as they are "textbook,"

Lt. Cmdr. Jordan Nusholtz 

Nusholtz is the youngest pilot of the main ensemble and uses direct interphase to pilot vessels. While Qadir uses zero augmentation and Enemike uses maximum augmentation to pilot starfighters, Nusholtz is the middle ground between those two schools of thought/action and will come up with unique solutions within that content. In fact, he has skills and experience on par with Qadir and Enemike despite being at least a decade younger.. He initially joined under a task force assembled by the Israeli Defense Force but they withdrew from the Alliance after Mars was secured and Nusholtz joined the alliance as a pilot - and accepted a three-step demotion due to the nature of the alliance rank structure at the time - to bring the war to a conclusion and in solidarity with his adopted brother Anthony who is Palestinian.

Master Sergeant (Ret) Anthony Sydnor 

A former infantryman turned technical repairman, Sydnor is the Rosencrantz to Cmdr. Jordan Nusholtz’s Guildenstern, with a more absurdist sense of humor and a more practical view of the world. Sydnor is a widower but has three sons who are all in the Majiid initiative. He has a rather dim view of being in space, however, like many humans, he seeks the leave Earth behind and settle on one of the Alliance's home planets or even one of the terraformed planets which could include Venus would be preferable. He is Palestinian American and that informs his cynicism. He runs general supply on the Grand Falcon and if something needs to be acquired, he’s the one to acquire it.

Col. Rashad Ibn-Arai Al-Wali

Col. Al-Wali is the “by the book” type of person who doesn’t care much for individuality. He is an alliance sentience code enforcement officer, meaning he ensures the rights, history and dignity statutes for all living beings are, in fact, assured. Rather like a police officer but personal property isn't the goal. This also makes him the de-facto first contact officer. His personal feelings actually run counter to the sentience codes so in a way the codes are his “check,” to do the right things. The codes were NOT written exclusively by humans so in a way, he seeks guidance from them in much the same way Qadir does with Islam. However, Qadir seeks to justify compassion, kindness and justice whilst Al-Wali tries to justify his personal feelings and gets consistently thwarted.

[disneymbti]

Hi! Can you do the MBTI/Enneagram etc for Samantha Carpenter, Tara Carpenter, Mindy Meeks Martin and Chad Meeks Martin?

Hi there, sweetie! I really hope you like this a lot!

Samantha "Sam" Carpenter's MBTI Type, Big Three and Enneagram Type

MBTI Type: ESTP [The Entrepreneur]

ESTP types like being around large groups of people, whether they know them or not. They prefer being out in action to being at home by themselves.

They are very observant and detail-oriented people. They are practical and realistic, focusing on the here-and-now.

Explorers make decisions based in logic. They care more about following the truth than making other people happy.

They avoid schedules, preferring to make plans as they go. They are less aware of time and enjoy being adaptable.

Big Three: Scorpio Sun, Virgo Moon and Capricorn Rising

Scorpio Sun: Ruled by Mars and Pluto, the Scorpio Sun is known to be intense, mysterious, and ever-evolving. 

Virgo Moon: Virgo Moons use their calm nature to gain deep clarity on matters, filtering questions through their kind, but reasonable, lens.

Capricorn Rising: Capricorn ascendants are known for their efforts and diligence when it comes to attaining success and prosperity.

Enneagram Type: 8w9 [The Diplomat]

Basic Fear: Eights with a nine wing fear being hurt by others. They avoid situations in which they have less control, generally preferring to be in positions of leadership.

Basic Desire: Their basic desire is to guard themselves against threats and control their own destiny. They may express this by asserting independence at a young age.

Diplomats defend themselves by building emotional walls and denying vulnerability. They seek to appear strong, subconsciously believing that being too emotional will make them seem weak.

Tara Carpenter's MBTI Type, Big Three and Enneagram Type

MBTI Type: ISFP [The Adventurer]

ISFP types need plenty of personal space. Though they enjoy building connections with people, they need alone time to think and recharge.

They are very observant, especially focusing on the details more than the overall view. They live in the present and tend to base decisions on what they can see right now.

Adventurers also prioritize emotion when making decisions. They prefer to follow what feels right.

They don’t like schedules, but instead prefer to keep their options open. They are adaptable, spontaneous, and like to challenge the need for strict rules.

Big Three: Sagittarius Sun, Taurus Moon and Libra Rising

Sagittarius Sun: Sagittarius is governed by the expansive planet Jupiter, and is known for a free-spirited, globe-trotting, philosophical mindset — and wild streak.

Taurus Moon: The Moon loves to be in the zodiac sign Taurus. Those with Moon in Taurus delight in the earthly pleasures and seek out emotional security.

Libra Rising: Finding balance in life is essential for Libra risings, who prefer things to be even-keeled and civil.

Enneagram Type: 9w1 [The Negotiator]

Basic Fear: Nines with a one wing are afraid of being separated from the rest of the world and losing what matters to them.

Basic Desire: They desire peace, both internally and externally. Their type one wing encourages them to make their idealized, peaceful world a reality.

Negotiators defend themselves by participating heavily in routine to distract themselves and avoid negative emotions.

Mindy Meeks-Martin's MBTI Type, Big Three and Enneagram Type

MBTI Type: INTP [The Logician]

INTPs prefer spending time alone so they can explore their rich inner world, and prolonged exposure to big groups of people can make them feel drained.

Their focus lies more on understanding the big picture than on noticing the tiny details. They want to know how things connect together, which gives them great intuition for solving complex problems.

As the most thinking-oriented of the types, they rely on logic rather than emotion as their main influence in decision making.

An INTP normally likes to keep their options open rather than locking themselves into a commitment. They’re flexible and spontaneous, which allows them to capitalize on opportunities that come available at the 11th hour.

Big Three: Virgo Sun, Capricorn Moon and Aquarius Rising

Virgo Sun: Governed by communication planet Mercury, Virgos are the thinkers of the zodiac. Virgos process information with diligence and use facts to solve problems. 

Capricorn Moon: The Capricorn Moon is reflective and contemplative, working to build a better foundation with those they care about.

Aquarius Rising: This rising sign can speak lucidly on a number of topics, using their lofty knowledge to charm crowds and solve problems alike.

Enneagram Type: 5w6 [The Troubleshooter]

Basic Fear: Five wing sixes fear being useless or incapable. They seek to improve the world around them in order to feel worthy.

Basic Desire: Their basic desire is to be competent and useful. They usually show this by picking up new skills and pieces of knowledge that can be of benefit.

Troubleshooters may withdraw from others to cope with stressful situations, which can tend to make them feel lonely.

Chad Meeks-Martin's MBTI Type, Big Three and Enneagram Type

MBTI Type: ENFP [The Campaigner]

ENFP types are generally very outgoing and lively, preferring to go out rather than stay in. They love conversing with other people and generally process their thoughts externally.

They are great problem solvers and enjoy figuring out how everything is connected. They tend to focus more on the future than the present.

Campaigners like to keep the peace and avoid conflict. They care more about subjective principles than logic and fact. 

They are flexible and spontaneous, preferring to keep their options open. They dislike routines, schedules, and strict rules.

Big Three: Virgo Sun, Libra Moon and Sagittarius Rising

Virgo Sun: Governed by communication planet Mercury, Virgos are the thinkers of the zodiac. Virgos process information with diligence and use facts to solve problems. 

Libra Moon: Moon in Libra is makes for a relationship-oriented individual. They may base their decisions upon how they are viewed by others.

Sagittarius Rising: Sagittarius risings are jovial, optimistic, and full of energy. They sparkle with confidence, and you can't help but sparkle back when you're around them.

Enneagram Type: 7w8 [The Opportunist]

Basic Fear: Seven with an eight wing fear being deprived. They want to pursue new opportunities and avoid being controlled by schedules.

Basic Desire: Their basic desire is to content and satisfied. They love experiencing the world by traveling and going to parties.

Opportunists defend themselves by justifying others’ negative actions and rationalizing away bad feelings.

[measuringbliss]

Spider-Man Read-Through 036: Thanos - The Final Threat (AV Ann 7, MTIO Ann 2)

MASTERPOST

As promised last time, Thanos is here, ready to smash some heroes!

And the Avengers are ready to smash him back!

This batch thoroughly impressed me, I must say.

Adam Warlock is here, and he's determined to fight Thanos, the Mad Titan. He asks the Avengers to help.

He explains that Thanos fell in love with Death and killed a lot of people, including his own mother, which is how you know he's the real deal.

Suddenly, Spider-Man!

There you go.

Back to our regular scheduling!

Thanos has been vanquished before, but he's back, and pissed off since Death abandoned him. So he got all 6 cosmic stones and fused them into a giant one.

Oh wow, we're really speedrunning Infinity War, huh!

Thanos plans to get Death back by destroying every star in the universe, which is completely batshit but also, I kind of love it. Love truly knows no bounds.

While Warlock is catching up everybody on who did what, Pip the Troll (don't ask me who that is) arrives on Sanctuary II and is surprised by Thanos.

Our heroes depart, and each one of them has a moment to collect their thoughts and fears, and it's remarkably well-written.

I didn't expect to actually be invested, but it reminds of the last issue of the Dark Phoenix saga in how grandiose it feels.

Suddenly...!

It's really impressive, actually.

Thor and Iron Man are deployed, and IM surmises that he can take care of the smaller ships, given how powerful Thor is...

And he would be right. How cool!

This is also really cool!

And this immediately what follows. The action sequence is really good, each Avenger has time to shine and it's overall well paced.

Unfortunately for Warlock, it turns out Thanos left his cherished Pip dead just for him to find on the vessel.

Warlock and Mar-Vell go to Thanos's ship first, they're quickly beaten, but then...

Damn, it's really a good issue.

Iron Man shatters the big gem. Thanos is quite enraged and disappears.

I was asking myself the same question, but you know what, the middle panel is incredibly raw and I don't need justification for that.

What I figure is that it's some sort of reincarnation thing à la Dax from DS9.

The dead hero awakens in the Soul Gem, with Gamora and Pip! Aww.

This is such a nice ending, I really love it! I'm sorry for all the pics, but it really was a stellar issue.

In the following issue, Peter is called in his dreams by Avenger Moon-Dragon, who makes him watch Infinity War and Endgame in 4K Ultra HD before DVDs even existed.

Except the happy end isn't quite there yet.

I gladly objectify the waking man. Well, he's already an object, but I'm looking respectfully.

In space, some stars discuss how it's totally fate that Peter and Ben Grimm aka The Thing fight together to save the universe. Huh-huh.

Spidey decides that he's going to need help, and naturally comes to the Fantastic Four. There, he finds Ben who just so happens to have a space shuttle ready for take off. And off they go!

I like how depressed Peter is. We rarely see him so quiet. It helps to convey the gravity of the situation.

The two heroes aren't doing too bad, but they eventually get knocked out.

Ooooooooh! Oh :( Wasn't it enough to give him peace?

Good for you, Spidey.

However, he changes his minds and successfully frees the Avengers, which I like because it's more of a Spidey thing. I couldn't see him quite fighting Thanos head-on.

Ah, I see again some of the brilliance of the previous issue.

Spidey successfully frees Adam Warlock from the globe that contained him, and the latter hero quickly annihilates Thanos. His crew surrenders immediately.

Aww.

Damn was that a great double issue. I largely preferred the first one, but the second one was fun too, wow.