#ITS ABOUT THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

[autisticaradiamegido]

day 291

so i dont have time to finish this one today but hey. lets consider living aradia with anatomical heart imagery shall we

[chainsawder]

is this not the creepiest thing ever, why are they holding hands like that. stop that!

[toaugment]

early days mh vs how he'll end up

the red shows the bits that are still organic ( although his spine is enforced and not fully original ).

as soon as he figures out a better way to get nutrients to his brain than what his original integral organs can do itll be all over for that remaining part of his torso. ( is what he says but maybe he just doesnt want to give up sweetmilk yet ). he doesnt have a fleshy heart any longer so the liquid that carries said nutrients is some artificial liquid solution. dont think about it too hard, okay.

[geneticcatalyst]

my phone says it feels like 118 out??

[rampant-testiculitis]

i am not inclined to put the blame on anyone but myself most of the time which is pretty much always a good thing (from what i can tell) but

[topyc97]

Edit requested by @guardianheartbeats

A darker and spicier story for you today 😏💘

Miyabi wanted to try and give a chance to something she hates: cardio exercises. She asked a contact from a friend of hers and decided to train at his place. Little she knew this person was not only a severe trainer but also a cardiophile. Here's what happened that day...

First he listened to her heartbeat, then he moved on the warm-up with some running. How much? Until her poor body couldn't keep up anymore, then he greedily listened to her, already, strained heart. The truth is he got turned on since the first stething; in that moment he decided her heart, that day, was having its hardest time ever. She was still recovering, her heart thumping in her chest, so much her pulse was visible from the outside, that he ordered her to do squats. "You're all warmed up now. Come on, do 100 squats". "Now..?" Said Miyabi, still breathing hard. "Yeah, now. Time of recovering it's out". Miyabi was already regretting her decision, but she didn't wanna give up. She was thinking: "Come on Miyabi, after that you won't do cardio ever again in your life". She began squatting, it was difficult and she was slow. "Come on lazy ass, faster!" He was shouting at her. After only 20 squats she was exhausted, but he wasn't happy with that. "You're so lazy, I have to make you squat other 100 times if you don't speed up!". She sped up as much as she could and, somehow, reached the 100th squat. This was a real torture and obviously he listened to her pulse after that. Her heart rate was way higher than her maximum heart rate, she was almost blinding because of the fatigue, her whole body was hurting, especially legs, every time she tried to breath, her gut pain was unbearable, she could feel every part of her body wildly pulsating as if all her circulatory system was about to explode. Her mouth lined up with his neck, so every hard breath she was exhaling felt as an hand teasing down here to him. At some point he was so turned on he began to press hard on her chest, putting the poor girl against the wall. "Now...it's time to do some rope jumping" he was smiling. Miyabi didn't answer. Her heart rate briefly increased...than nothing. No sound from her chest, all black for her. She fell on the ground unconscious.

Image provided by: @guardianheartbeats

[grison-in-space]

Listening to Artificial Condition again, it strikes me how much Murderbot uses empathy reflexively as a survival skill. Look at this bit.

Upon meeting it, ART allows it on board and then announces that it knows that Murderbot is rogue. Then ART threatens to destroy it if it hacks ART's own systems. Murderbot is immediately terrified and shuts down all inputs, gives serious thought to spending the entire three month journey unconscious, and then considers the potential avenues of damage from ART's drones. ART, not realizing why Murderbot had suddenly gone silent, tells it to quit sulking, which understandably pisses off the still-terrified Murderbot. It dumps a bunch of memories of coercive treatment into ART's feed, and ART goes silent.

Then this happens:

Then it said, I’m sorry I frightened you. Okay, well. If you think I trusted that apology, you don’t know Murderbot. Most likely it was playing a game with me. I said, “I don’t want anything from you. I just want to ride to your next destination.” I’d explained that earlier, before it opened the hatch for me, but it was worth repeating. I felt it withdraw back behind its wall. I waited, and let my circulatory system purge the fear-generated chemicals. More time crawled by, and I started to get bored. Sitting here like this was too much like waiting in a cubicle after I’d been activated, waiting for the new clients to take delivery, for the next boring contract. If it was going to destroy me, at least I could get some media in before that happened. I started the new show again, but I was still too upset to enjoy it, so I stopped it and started rewatching an old episode of Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon. After three episodes, I was calmer and reluctantly beginning to see the transport’s perspective. A SecUnit could cause it a lot of internal damage if it wasn’t careful, and rogue SecUnits were not exactly known for lying low and avoiding trouble. I hadn’t hurt the last transport I had taken a ride on, but it didn’t know that. I didn’t understand why it had let me aboard, if it really didn’t want to hurt me. I wouldn’t have trusted me, if I was a transport. Maybe it was like me, and it had taken an opportunity because it was there, not because it knew what it wanted.

The thing about Murderbot's survival is that it clearly involves quite a bit of negotiating with other constructs and bots. That's how it talks its way onto cargo hauler bots in the first place. It uses empathy--envisioning the emotional and cognitive context of the individuals it encounters--to work out what different kinds of people want, so that it can offer them fair trades. It also uses empathy to consider what humans might be looking for, so it can practice blending in and hide.

Murderbot would never have survived so long if it wasn't capable of assessing the individual desires of the people--human, bot, and construct--around it. It thinks about ART's probable fears and motivations so that it can consider whether ART is inherently an ongoing threat or a potential ally.

When your survival depends on evading detection, you get really good at assessing perceptual biases so that you can shape yourself to fit into them. People talk about murderbot being radically empathetic as a choice it makes, or as a feature of its personality that makes it a good person. But I think murderbot would be the the first person to tell you that this empathy is part of its threat assessment suite, a skill that was developed out of necessity in order to allow you to survive.

It is also a trait that makes murderbot a good person, of course: it chooses very carefully to try to survive by doing as little harm as possible and by offering things, like media, that buy it access to things it needs. But it started as a survival skill. It's part of hypervigilance.

I think one of the strengths of this series is that so many of the things we love about SecUnit are traits developed for survival in an inherently threatening world. The shape of its mind and heart have been changed by the trauma of its origin--but they don't make murderbot less good for being altered, even if that skill was developed in a traumatic context.

I like that.

[portraitofalinkonfyre]

Why Sky Wears Baggy Clothes: A Dissertation into Skyloftian Boner Culture and Outfitting Practices

So. Remember the infamous dick post? I have more thoughts, specifically concerning Sky's FAT COCK and how Skyloftian's specifically evolved greater vascular and hemoglobin systems in response to life in high altitudes. Prepare yourselves.

In my last piece, I calculated Skyloft's altitude of roughly 7,544.4 feet and covered how certain systems were affected to adapt to the climate, which eventually turned into a rant about Sky's dick, but now, I present to you: the reason Sky wears baggy clothes is to hide his altitude-induced, iron-man erections.

But first, let's explore the clothes themselves. Due to its high altitude, Skyloft is cold. Google AI has informed me that wind speed typically fluctuates, assuming the altitude is within the range of 6,000 to 8,000 feet, between 12 to 23 mph. On the Beaufort Scale, a chart used to estimate wind speed based on visual appearances, 23 mph is considered a "Fresh Breeze", and hardly a whisper to anyone from the Midwest. With this in mind, the standard temperature (excluding wind chill) of an area with a similar altitude to Skyloft is roughly 34°F or 1°C, which explains the multiple layers typically worn by many in-game Skyward Sword characters. Using both of these values and an internet wind chill calculator, we can conclude that the average temperature of Skyloft (assuming the wind speed is a comfortable 16 mph) is 24°F or -4°C, with a calculated range of 22°F or -5.6°C (23 mph, 34°F) to 25°F or -3.9°C (12 mph, 34°F).

With a wind-chilled air temperature of 24°F, Skyloft's layered, loose-fitting clothing standards make perfect sense, seeing as loose clothes are considered advantageous during cold weather because the small gaps between skin and fabric create pockets of space for body heat to gather, creating a pseudo-barrier against the elements.

Now, onto Sky's particular outfit. Based on this post by Jojo herself, Sky wears approximately four full upper-body layers (white, olive-khaki, chainmail, and mint tunic), one midsection layer (red sash), one lower-body layer (brown-green?? pants), and his embroidered sailcloth; he is prepared-prepared for chilly temperatures. As well as being a wonderfully adjacent nod to modern-day Tibetan culture, these clothes are perfect for conserving heat, and, concurrently, his life. 'But Fyre, we want the iron man dick-canons!' you may wail, but I'm not finished. There's quite a bit of debate in the skydiving community about whether tight or loose-fitting clothes are better, but many users state that loose-fitting clothes have the advantage of drag. But why is this good? In skydiving, and many of the Zelda games as a whole, control is essential; it's what allows us to feel safe, and thus allows for more logical, calm thinking due to adrenaline and cortisol (stress hormones) reduction. By increasing the user's surface area, loose-fitting clothes create drag, which, in physics, leads to better midair control during free-fall. Compared to Skyward Sword, where free-falling is as common a game mechanic as swinging a sword around, specialized aerodynamic control via clothing is a crucial mechanism that the Skylofians would absolutely take advantage of, considering that many of them regular jump from the sky and ride giant pelican-bird-creatures. In addition, due to his evolutionarily enhanced circulatory and vascular system, Sky himself is more than prepared to handle any and all endocrine stressors due to falling, and his specific outfit design only backs the theory that the residents of Skyloft are not only equipped to handle life in the sky on an evolutionary level, but from a cultural and biological level as well.

Okay. That was a lot, so I'm going to reintroduce some scholarly degeneracy at its finest: the concept of Sky's iron-man erections. Keeping with the vein of Skyloftian's specifically designing their clothes to be advantageous in every sense of the word, it isn't too far-fetched that they would make a point to account for any and all bodily changes that may occur during free-fall, or simply life on a floating rock, which absolutely includes altitude-induced erections. Confused? Let me explain.

In the dick-canon post, I largely referenced the concept of "airplane boners" as a defining factor for why Sky is HUNG, because it has been scientifically proven that abrupt changes in pressure affect vascular expansion and contraction, which absolutely extends to the pelvic region, and, thus, shifting erective status of the penis. With this in mind, it can be inferred that a race of people with the same evolutionary traits would have also evolved culturally to deal with this conundrum, which perfectly explains the bagginess of Sky's, and every other resident of Skyloft's, outfit choices. For example, the looseness of his pants is likely to be a cleverly-disguised ploy to hide what is by all definitions a biological predicament shared by all members of the Hylian species. It's in the same vein as modern-day menstrual cycles. Oh no, you got your period? Just slap a pad on it! Except the pad is baggy pants to hide an erection you can't control because flying is your way of life. Apply this to Sky and you've got a good idea of why his outfit is the way it is.

But that's not all! In addition to concealing any potential erections, Skyloftian clothing is also specifically designed to protect against the elements, which, you guessed it, extends to male and female reproduction organs. Whether through the use of thick, temperature-impenetrable cloth, specific (down-low) enchantments, or specialized padding, it is almost undeniable that a society as developed as the Skyloftians would have a fail-safe method to preserve both their lives and modesty through practical outfit stylizations.

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for: iron-man erections and what the fuck that refers to. I'm sure some of you are getting sick of the words 'vascular capacity' and 'erection of the penile region', but I promise you, this is where the magic happens. So. Sky is basically evolutionarily-predetermined to be hung. He has excellent hemoglobin and vascular system capacity, which would absolutely affect not only his body as a whole, but sexual functions as well, specifically in the fact that his erections are indestructible. Due to a combination of evolution, age, and gender, it's incredibly easy for him to become aroused, and, concurrently, incredibly difficult to 'take care' of his arousal in the same manner as the typical, non-evolutionized male would. That flagpole is raised and it is NOT coming down. This begs the question: how does he deal with this conundrum, specifically after some type of altitude-based activity, and what cultural practices are permitted in this context? Are all Skyloftian's serial masturbators or are they simply incredible at restraining themselves, which could act as a nod to Sky's typically unbothered attitude? In concurrence, if masturbation is socially acceptable, how does Sky find all that time to jack off? Does the rest of the chain know, or are they oblivious to his predicaments?!

In short, Skyloftian fashion and societal modesty culture is heavily influenced by the hilariously, yet closely related Skyloftian boner culture, in both outfit practicality and social norms, which is very likely to explain Sky's choice of clothes and, once again, why he is hung as FUCK. Thank you for witnessing my madness and Hylia bless.

Additional queries:

Does Priapism exist in Skyloftian society? Yes and no. The term 'priapism' refers the prolonged erection of the penis (4+ hours), often without any sexual stimulation, which cements it as a fairly common medical condition for humans. However, due to their unique vascular biology, it is unlikely that this condition would be viewed at the severity it is in modern-day humans, which begs the question: is it even an issue at all? Increased circulatory and vascular capabilities indicate a greater blood flow, whereas priapism is the persistent lack of appropriate blood flow, meaning that, due to their biology, priapism may very well be an indicator of old age in the same manner loss of vision or a general slowing down is for humans. On the other hand, if it were to possess the same significance as it does with modern-day humans, what

@skylover69 come feed bestie

[artic-ring0]

soo true!

The wild life snail task was so unrealistic, like snails can’t go fast because of their open circulatory system where the rate of blood flow is limited by gravity

.

[bindibites]

Its done!!! Bunch of rambles and stuff under the cut :) (its long, but I hope you guys enjoy!!!)

-> General Stuff Petra is built like a rectangle with enough muscle to make you experience regret swifter than you may have ever thought you could.

Rips in her clothes aren't super uncommon and she isn't usually super quick to mend them unless its basically ruining the garments. Carabiner. This woman is GAY. If you don't know the full meaning go look for it :) Easy attachment to weapons and tools, Miss Butter is probably akin to a prized possession everything considered; With as much as she's used having mending was a must, but truth be told she's probably about as kitted out as you'd expect end-game diamond gear to be. That sword is never going anywhere if Petra can help it. Especially after the stint with Stella basically stealing her. She has a lot of scars, from a lot of different sources between smaller bumps and scrapes, explosions, enemies... the Wither Storm. Petra's wither sickness in particular was almost deadly, and the damage it'd done to her body never fully went away. The veins in her arm remained discolored around the scar, and the arm is mildly weaker than it would've been pre-withered though through steady use is basically back to being good as new. Petra's lungs also never fully recovered, a mild chronic cough left in its wake, though gets worse whenever Petra is sick and her body is weak again. Speaking of... -> Wither (Sickness) Wither typically enters the body through a physical wound and spreads through the circulatory system. Affecting the blood, it attacks and weakens the inflicteds organs and continues to be spread further by the heart simply doing its job. Variant Two is caused by contact to the Wither Storm (See: What happened to Gabriel.) The wither storm is not the only way to get sick with wither, but is the worst and long lasting. From weakest to strongest: Wither roses - Wither Skeletons - The Wither - Wither Storm. Injuries from all but the Wither Storm will eventually run their course as it doesn't have a consistent source to keep pulling from; thanks to its use of the command block, this does not apply to the Wither Storm. Wither acts similarly to being poisoned, though it acts slower, its side effects and danger are far worse, and dying cannot be ruled out of possibilities even for the weakest source of it. Untreated wither will kill the inflicted if they become too weak before the body can get it out of its system. -> Relationships Generally Petra is very much a provider, she cares intensely for people she's close to and enjoys doing acts of service for them. Her relationships mean a lot to her, and it tends to lead to her putting all of herself into the people she cares about; sometimes for better or for worse. Lukas and Petra have been friends for awhile, well before either of them knew about Jesse and his friends. While not exactly childhood friends, they've known each other long enough to know each other and certainly act the part.

Petra and Stella didn't always have a strained relationship, in fact when they'd first gotten to know each other things were great. Stella respected Petra's capabilities, found her affinity for exploration and her skill in combat to be amazing. Though over time, it became less admiration and more of manipulation, Petra was an easy source of loot Stella both couldn't and didn't want to get on her own... and who better to turn to than the explorer who loved her. Things did not end on good terms between the two, and ended very bitterly given even after Petra gave her another chance she was subjected to getting tricked into doing work all over again. (S2) Petra has a fond admiration towards Olivia, though believing at most that the girl could use a bit more guts and trust in her own abilities; after all she's done things most of the rest of the group couldn't even with all the time in the world! Really a brains and brawn type situation, and the two often bounce off of each other a bit. Olivia appreciates having the company, and someone who even if she doesn't fully understand whats going on is intent to help get the materials to make it possible if need-be, in return Petra has been able to pick up bits of knowledge, the way redstone works at least in its bare minimum and some of the internals of more machinery in Redstonia. ...While the she might never fully utilize that knowledge, it makes Olivia happy to have someone else in the group be attentive and care about what makes her happy. Petra and Jesse have also been very close, though it did take some time for her to warm up to the way Jesse was so... enthusiastic to even be recognized by her sometimes. Though, through everything the two know they can rely on one another to have each others back. Though neither of them could ever see each other romantically, it's still an undeniable how fundamentally close they'd become. It's definitely more than just a friendship, but neither of them could probably concisely tell you anything about their relationship on a level past "Well, we aren't dating..." Even in light of the others having different responsibilities to tend to, Jesse was still there; The adventures didn't have to end, and they didn't, and Petra wasn't alone because of Jesse's willingness to go with her on whatever excursion she needed to, or wanted to. - If you read all of this ur a real one... three thousand wither storms upon you as thanks 💜

[makeila04]

Let me see if I understand this: Russell Adler has German ancestry because "Adler" means "eagle" in German. He probably also has British or Scandinavian ancestry due to his height and large build—he’s 6’1” (1.85 m) and weighs 209 lbs (95 kg). Additionally, his thick, abundant hair, even at 54 years old, reinforces this idea, as that genetic trait comes from cold climates like Northern Europe. So, despite having EVERYTHING in his favor to be born, live, and adapt to cold environments—blonde, thick, and abundant hair, perfect blue eyes for cold climates and snow (places where that eye color would serve him well due to the lack of sun), and plenty of body hair to retain heat in low temperatures—he also likely has strong, heavy bones for greater endurance, common traits for cold, mountainous, and harsh climates like the ones I mentioned, given his weight relative to his height.

And yet, the guy ended up being born in San Diego, California, in the United States in 1937??????? A place KNOWN FOR ITS WARM CLIMATE, while he has the perfect genetics for cold and snow.

I realized all of this after seeing someone’s comment pointing out that Russell Adler is always seen wearing scarves, hats, glasses, boots, turtlenecks, or high-neck sweaters—ideal for insulating against the cold in those regions—gloves, handkerchiefs, etc. I had always noticed this but assumed it was 100% just "tactical gear." And if you asked Adler, he’d probably say the same. But it could actually be that, despite having all the biological advantages I mentioned, it’s funny to think that he wasn’t born or raised in cold places. So, at 54, he might still feel the cold more intensely, which is why he always dresses warmer than everyone else.

Also, he was born and raised in California and joined the military at 18. But in his late 20s and early 30s, he went to the Vietnam War in the 1960s. Again, the climate there is warm and humid, being a jungle, so it’s not too different from what he’s used to. By joining the military and spending years fighting in the Vietnam War, he was in another hot and humid environment. If you think about it, the Vietnamese jungle didn’t give him a chance to develop a tolerance for the cold—quite the opposite:

High temperatures → His body got used to the heat.

High humidity → Adaptation to sweating and endurance in humid environments.

Light clothing → He became accustomed to wearing breathable clothes. During his years in Vietnam (late 1960s), his body adapted even more to warm climates. By the time he reached his 40s, he had spent his entire life in environments where his genetics weren’t serving their original purpose.

However, in 1981, we see him bundled up in Berlin when Adler is 44 years old. This is especially noticeable when compared to other teammates like Woods, Park, or Lazar, who often wear short-sleeved shirts or lighter coats. Meanwhile, Adler is seen in turtleneck sweaters, leather jackets, gloves, etc., while others, like Hudson or Sims, wear less clothing. Hudson, for example, wears a shirt and tie with an additional coat.

It’s possible that he has a lower tolerance for the cold because his circulatory system and metabolism adapted to warm climates. Or maybe he just hates the feeling of cold because he didn’t grow up with it, while others, like Woods or Park, might be more accustomed to it.

The same happens in Black Ops 6, in 1991, when Adler is 54. He wears that high-neck coat, which I know is ideal for two things together: rain and cold. So again, we see thick clothing paired with his boots. And once more, it’s not just about "tactical use" but also how we can compare it to characters like Woods, Felix Neumann, or Sevati, who wear much lighter clothing than Adler. And this was in Bulgaria…

So, with this, we notice that Adler always seems to be the most bundled up of everyone. Of course, as I mentioned, it’s probably because he never really had to get used to the cold in his first… 18 to 30 years of life. So, he only experienced low temperatures around his 40s.

This makes me laugh because it’s such an irony. As I said, his genetics are adapted for the cold, yet he was born and raised in a warm place, so they weren’t as useful. This shows that even if your genetics predispose you to certain traits, human adaptability can be surprising and greater than one might expect.

Although, if you ask him why he dresses so warmly, he’ll probably say it’s for tactical gear and practicality rather than the cold. But it’s kind of endearing to see him freeze more than the others during missions in Germany or Russia, like in Call of Duty: Cold War. I imagine the "behind-the-scenes" moments we don’t see could involve Adler in the snow or very cold places, shivering a little or cursing himself for the cold. But of course, he’d never admit it. The same goes for Black Ops 6, again in those cold missions.

I say this mostly because I love the detail of his nose turning slightly pink from the cold. It’s endearing to think that someone so big and imposing isn’t immune to the cold. It’s a detail that humanizes him more.

In other words, he never fully adapts to what would biologically suit him best (i.e., a colder place) and always seems a bit out of his element, trying to stay as protected as possible.

Throughout his life, Adler has had to adapt to many situations—from the CIA to dangerous missions to his interpersonal relationships—all of which could be seen as constantly being "out of his comfort zone." The fact that he bundles up so much could be a metaphor for how he always seeks to protect himself, in some way, from his environment and his own vulnerabilities. It’s something that reinforces his resilient and stoic character.

Turtlenecks, scarves, gloves, and boots aren’t just tactical gear (though they are that too)—they seem to be his way of staying comfortable and protecting himself from the cold in places like Berlin or Russia. And as you rightly point out, this need to bundle up is especially noticeable when compared to other characters who, despite being in the same cold environments, don’t layer up as much. He wants to project strength at all times, so even if he’s freezing internally, he’d never let others notice.

This fits the image of an Adler who, even if he’s freezing during missions in Russia or Berlin, simply crosses his arms, stays stoic, and acts like nothing bothers him.

So yes, the idea that Russell Adler—a man with genetics perfectly adapted to cold climates—was born and raised in San Diego and now, at 54, feels more comfortable in warm clothing, not only makes practical sense but also reflects something much deeper about his character. Constant adaptation, hidden vulnerability, and the need for protection that Adler seems to carry in his life aren’t just survival tactics—they’re also emotional responses reflected in his lifestyle, his way of dressing, and how he interacts with the world.

On another note, another detail that caught my attention (and others have noticed it too) is his BEAUTIFUL BLONDE MANE. You see, thick hair is determined by genetics, and it’s not the most common hair type. Most people have medium or fine hair. Why does Adler have thick hair? His thick hair is a genetic trait inherited from his parents. Generally, thick hair is associated with certain ethnicities and genetic backgrounds. In his case, given his German ancestry, it’s likely he inherited it from that side of the family. In many Central and Northern European populations, hair tends to be thicker, especially in people of Germanic or Scandinavian descent. Additionally, thick hair is often more resistant to hair loss and aging. That’s why, despite his age in Black Ops Cold War and Black Ops 6, he still has abundant, voluminous hair.

Why isn’t it a common trait? Hair thickness is determined by the size and shape of the hair follicle. Thick hair → larger, rounder follicles. Fine hair → smaller, oval follicles. Most people have medium hair thickness because it’s a genetically favored middle ground. Thick hair can be more resistant but also harder to manage or more prone to dryness and frizz.

It’s not much, but I find it endearing. In fact, it’s a great genetic advantage because it means his hair remains abundant and strong with age, as is the case with Russell, indicating he likely has a strong hair structure genetically. It’s a small but curious detail, isn’t it? This means the follicles produce wider strands, giving the hair more body and resilience. Of course, for someone with thick hair like me, Adler’s hair looks completely normal and natural. But for someone with finer hair, his volume, the way it falls, and its movement might seem too "perfect" or styled, which is why the question of whether it’s natural or not is understandable. In reality, his hair is completely possible naturally if it’s medium to thick with good density. The layered cut helps give it that movement—I’m referring to Black Ops 6—but if his hair is strong, with weight and texture, the result is exactly what we see.

I love noticing these details because Adler’s hair is truly impeccable. You can see a change in its texture, more layers, and a brighter blonde, suggesting he still pays attention to it over the years. And speaking of his routine… I’m 99% sure Adler isn’t the type to just use "any shampoo." Not with that level of care and perfection in his appearance. The CIA might have given him extreme training, but the shine and softness of his hair don’t come from war—they’re worked on. I don’t see him having an extensive routine, but he definitely uses a good shampoo with hydrating properties (possibly with keratin or proteins to maintain the hair’s structure). Maybe he uses conditioner, though he wouldn’t admit it easily. Most likely, he has an efficient 2-in-1 product or a leave-in conditioner spray to keep things simple.

It’s very interesting to analyze Russell Adler’s genetics, especially considering the details we know about his appearance and the few available facts about his life and ancestry. Let’s make some conjectures, based both on what we know of his profile and what can be inferred from his appearance: In summary, Russell Adler seems to have a physical constitution and genetics favored by the combination of his European ancestry, possibly Germanic or Scandinavian, which has given him traits like thick, abundant hair, notable height, and physical robustness at 54 years old. His lifestyle habits have also played an important role in maintaining his health, but his family genetics seem to be the foundation of many of these traits.

With that combination of genetics, Adler almost seems to have the best of both worlds: the physical strength and longevity of his ancestors’ genetics, plus a temperament and ability to maintain his physique that make him almost a "modern-day god" in terms of physical endurance and aesthetics. And, as if that weren’t enough, the fact that he has AB-negative blood—a rare type considered one of the most valuable genetically (due to its unique immunological characteristics)—only adds more mystique to his figure. ______________________________________________________________

A ver si entendí, Russell Adler tiene ascendencia alemana, porque Adler significa águila en alemán, probablemente tenga ascendencia, británica o escandinava por su altura gran complexión física, porque mide 1.85 y pesa 95 kilos, ADEMÁS de que su cabello grueso y abundante aún a sus 54 años nos refuerza esta idea ya que ese gen proviene de climas fríos como el norte de Europa, por lo que aún teniendo TODO a su favor para nacer y vivir y adaptarse al frío: cabello rubio, grueso y abundante, ojos azules perfectos para el clima frío y la nieve, lugares donde perfectamente podría servirle ese color por el poco sol, mucho vello corporal ideal para poder mantener más el calor del cuerpo en bajas temperaturas. Además de posiblemente huesos fuertes y pesados para una mayor resistencia, genes comunes para climas y zonas montañosas, frías e inhóspitas como los que mencioné y por su peso con respecto a su altura. 

¿El tipo terminó naciendo en San Diego, California, en los Estados Unidos en 1937??????? LUGAR CONOCIDO POR SU CLIMA CÁLIDO y el tipo tiene la genética perfecta para el frío y la nieve. Me di cuenta de todo esto por el comentario que vi de alguien justamente mencionando que a Russell Adler siempre lo vemos utilizando: bufandas, gorros, lentes, botas, sweaters con cuello de tortuga o cuellos altos ideales para aislar el frío de esas zonas, guantes, pañuelos, etc. 

Lo que siempre había notado, pero a su vez creía que era 100% únicamente como "equipamiento táctico" y cosa que si le preguntas a Adler probablemente te diga que si, es solo para eso. Pero realmente podría ser que al haber vivido en un clima cálido como en California, aún teniendo todas las ventajas biológicas que mencioné, es chistoso pensarlo porque él simplemente no nació o se crió en lugares fríos así que a sus 54 años aún puede ser que le duela el frío y por eso siempre se viste más abrigado que el resto.

Además, nació y creció en California, y a los 18 años entró en el ejército. Pero a finales de sus 20s y principios de sus 30s va a la guerra de Vietnam, en los 60s. Donde, otra vez, el clima es cálido y húmedo, por ser una selva, por lo que no es tan diferente a lo que está acostumbrado.

Al entrar en el ejército y pasar años combatiendo en la Guerra de Vietnam, es otro ambiente cálido y húmedo. Si lo pensamos, la selva vietnamita no le dio oportunidad de desarrollar tolerancia al frío, sino todo lo contrario:

Altas temperaturas → Su cuerpo se acostumbró al calor.

Alta humedad → Adaptación a la transpiración y la resistencia en entornos húmedos.

Vestimenta ligera → Se habituó a usar ropa que permitiera la transpiración.

Durante sus años en Vietnam (finales de los 60s), su organismo se acostumbró aún más a climas cálidos. Para cuando llegó a los 40 años, ya llevaba toda su vida en ambientes donde su genética no le sirvió para lo que estaba diseñada originalmente.

Sin embargo, en 1981 lo vemos muy abrigado cuando está en Berlín, mientras Adler tiene 44 años para esta fecha. Sobre todo cuando lo comparamos con otros compañeros como Woods, Park o Lazar. Quienes suelen usar camisetas de manga corta o abrigos más ligeros. Mientras Adler usa suéteres con cuello de tortuga, abrigos de cuero, muchos guantes, etc. Mientras que otros personajes van con menos ropa, como Hudson o Sims. Hudson por ejemplo utiliza su camisa y corbata con un abrigo adicional.

Puede ser que tenga una menor tolerancia al frío porque su sistema circulatorio y su metabolismo se acostumbraron a climas cálidos. O simplemente odia la sensación de frío porque no creció con ella, mientras que otros, como Woods o Park, pueden estar más acostumbrados.

Lo mismo ocurre en black ops 6, en 1991, cuando Adler tiene 54 años, utiliza ese abrigo con cuello alto, esos abrigos los conozco y son ideales para dos cosas juntas: la lluvia y el frío al mismo tiempo. Así que de vuelta vemos ropa gruesa junto con sus botas. Y otra vez, no sólo es algo de uso “más táctico” sino que lo podemos comparar con personajes como Woods, Felix Neumann o Sevati. Quienes usan prendas mucho más ligeras que Adler. Y eso que aquí era Bulgaria…

Así que con esto notamos que Adler siempre parece ser el más abrigado de todos, claro, porque como mencioné, puede ser más que nada porque realmente nunca se tuvo que acostumbrar al frío en sus primeros…18 o 30 años de vida. Por lo que las bajas temperaturas las conoció ya cerca de sus 40 años.

Lo que hace que todo esto me de risa como una ironía ya que como dije, su genética está adaptada para el frío, sin embargo nació y creció en un lugar cálido por lo que no le resultó tan útil. Esto demuestra que aunque tu genética tenga predisposición a ciertas cosas, la realidad es que la capacidad adaptativa del ser humano puede ser sorprendente y mayor a lo que uno esperaría.

Aunque siempre, si le preguntas sobre por qué se abriga tanto, te dirá que es por equipamiento táctico y practicidad, antes que por el frío.

Pero si me da ternura verlo congelarse más que el resto en misiones como en Alemania o Rusia, como lo vemos en Call of duty Cold war. Me imagino que el “detrás de escenas” que nosotros no veíamos podría ser a Adler en la nieve o lugares muy fríos y que si se quedaba quieto podría temblar un poco o maldecir a sí mismo por el frío. Pero claro, nunca lo admitiría. Lo mismo que en Black ops 6, otra vez en esas misiones en lugares tan fríos.

Y lo digo más que nada porque me gusta el detalle de cuando su nariz se pone ligeramente rosada, justamente por el frío. Me da ternura que siento tan grande e imponente, no sea inmune al frío. Un detalle que lo humaniza más.

En otras palabras, nunca se adapta completamente a lo que realmente le convendría a nivel biológico (es decir, un lugar más frío), y siempre se siente un poco fuera de lugar o buscando mantenerse lo más protegido posible.

A lo largo de su vida, Adler ha tenido que adaptarse a muchas situaciones, desde la CIA, pasando por misiones peligrosas, hasta sus relaciones interpersonales, todas las cuales podrían verse como una forma de estar "fuera de su zona de confort" constantemente. El hecho de que se abrigue tanto podría ser una metáfora de cómo siempre busca protegerse, de alguna manera, de su entorno, de sus propias vulnerabilidades. Es algo que refuerza su carácter resistente y estoico. 

Suéteres de cuello alto, bufandas, guantes, y botas no solo son equipamiento táctico (que también lo son), sino que parecen ser su manera de mantenerse cómodo y protegerse del frío en zonas como Berlín o Rusia. Y como bien señalas, esta necesidad de estar abrigado se nota especialmente cuando lo comparamos con otros personajes que, aunque están en los mismos ambientes fríos, no se visten con tanta capa extra.

Él quiere proyectar fortaleza en todo momento, por lo que aunque internamente pueda estar congelándose, jamás dejaría que los demás lo noten.

Esto encaja con la imagen de un Adler que, aunque está helado en misiones en Rusia o Berlín, simplemente se cruza de brazos, se mantiene estoico y actúa como si nada le importara.

Así que sí, la idea de que Russell Adler, un hombre con una genética completamente adaptada a climas fríos, nació y creció en San Diego y ahora, a los 54 años, se siente más cómodo con ropas abrigadas, no solo tiene sentido desde el punto de vista práctico, sino que también refleja algo mucho más profundo sobre su carácter. La adaptación constante, la vulnerabilidad oculta, y la necesidad de protección que Adler parece tener en su vida no solo son tácticas de supervivencia, sino también respuestas emocionales que se reflejan en su estilo de vida, su forma de vestirse y su manera de interactuar con el mundo. 

Por otro lado, otro dato que me llamó la atención porque otros lo notaron es su HERMOSA MELENA RUBIA

Verán, el cabello grueso es determinado por la genética, y no es el tipo de cabello más común. Ya que la mayoría de las personas tienen cabello de grosor medio o fino.

¿Por qué Adler tiene el cabello grueso?

Su cabello grueso es un rasgo genético heredado de sus padres. Generalmente, el cabello grueso se asocia con ciertas etnias y antecedentes genéticos. En su caso, dado que tiene ascendencia alemana, es probable que lo haya heredado de esa línea familiar. En muchas poblaciones de Europa Central y del Norte, el cabello tiende a ser más grueso, especialmente en personas de ascendencia germánica o escandinava.

Además, el cabello grueso suele ser más resistente a la caída y al envejecimiento. Por eso, a pesar de su edad en Black Ops Cold War y Black Ops 6, sigue teniendo un cabello abundante y con volumen.

¿Por qué no es un rasgo común?

El grosor del cabello está determinado por el tamaño y la forma del folículo piloso.

Cabello grueso → folículos más grandes y redondos.

Cabello fino → folículos más pequeños y ovalados.

La mayoría de las personas tienen un grosor de cabello medio porque es un punto intermedio genéticamente favorecido. El cabello grueso puede ser más resistente, pero también puede ser más difícil de manejar o más propenso a la sequedad y al frizz. No es mucho, pero me da ternura el hecho. De hecho, es una gran ventaja genética porque significa que se conserva el cabello abundante y fuerte con la edad, como es el caso de Russell, lo que indica que genéticamente probablemente también tenga una estructura capilar fuerte. Es un detalle pequeño, pero curioso, ¿no?

Lo que significa que los folículos producen hebras más anchas, lo que le da al cabello más cuerpo y resistencia. 

Claro, para alguien con cabello grueso como yo, el cabello de Adler se ve completamente normal y natural. Pero para alguien con cabello más fino, su volumen, la forma en que cae y el movimiento pueden parecer demasiado "perfectos" o trabajados, por eso la duda de si es natural o no me es comprensible.

En realidad, su cabello es completamente posible de forma natural si tiene un grosor medio a grueso y una buena densidad. El corte en capas ayuda a darle ese movimiento, me refiero a Black ops 6, pero si su cabello es fuerte, con peso y textura, el resultado es exactamente el que vemos.

Me encanta fijarme en estos detalles porque el cabello de Adler es realmente impecable. Se nota que hay un cambio en su textura, más capas y un rubio más luminoso, lo que sugiere que sigue prestándole atención con los años.

Y hablando sobre su rutina… estoy 99% segura de que Adler no es de los que solo usan "un champú cualquiera". No con ese nivel de cuidado y perfección en su imagen. La CIA puede haberle dado entrenamiento extremo, pero el brillo y la suavidad del cabello no se consiguen en la guerra, se trabajan.

No lo veo haciendo una rutina tan extensa pero definitivamente usa un buen champú con propiedades hidratantes (posiblemente con queratina o proteínas para mantener la estructura del cabello). Tal vez use acondicionador, aunque no lo admitiría fácilmente. Lo más probable es que tenga un producto 2 en 1 eficiente o un acondicionador en spray para no complicarse.

Es muy interesante analizar la genética de Russell Adler, especialmente si consideramos los detalles que sabemos de su apariencia y los pocos datos disponibles sobre su vida y ascendencia. Vamos a hacer algunas conjeturas, basadas tanto en lo que sabemos de su perfil como en lo que se puede inferir a partir de su apariencia:

En resumen, Russell Adler parece tener una constitución física y genética favorecida por la combinación de su ascendencia europea, posiblemente germánica o escandinava, que le ha dotado de características como el cabello grueso y abundante, la altura notable y la robustez física a los 54 años. Sus hábitos de vida también han jugado un papel importante en mantener su salud, pero la genética de su familia parece ser la base de muchos de estos rasgos.

Con esa combinación de genética, Adler casi parece tener lo mejor de ambos mundos: la fortaleza física y la longevidad de la genética de sus ancestros, más un temperamento y una habilidad para mantener su figura que lo hacen casi una especie de "dios moderno" en términos de resistencia física y estética. Y, por si fuera poco, el hecho de que tenga sangre AB negativa, que es rara y considerada como una de las más valiosas genéticamente (por sus características inmunológicas únicas), solo añade más misticismo a su figura.

[velnna]

The more I learn about your comic... The more I fall in love with it. Especially your bugs! Like can you explain more about them? I'm really curious about them (from the full bugs to the hybrids and anything else that comes to mind).

Anyway your art is wonderful and I adore seeing it on my dash. And you can info-dump too. If you want ofc.

Thank you!

The worldbuilding is a work in progress (as it always is, but the first chunk of the comic itself is pretty self-contained so we've been slowly tinkering at the rest of the world and creatures as we go without affecting it much), so we mostly have loose rules and ideas for the bugs as a species. Or anything in between for that matter.

For all intended purposes, bug people are all the same species and can usually cross-breed within mechanical constraints, as well as mix with the elves we threw into the mix. Genetics? Don't know her. We operate on Sims logic here.

A full bug has roughly a human lifespan, with some variation depending on the type of bug it's closer to and some type-specific quirks. The one we've explorer the most, as it pertains to Ashton and the latest batch out of the oven, is the ability that some types might have to undergo metamorphosis, usually at the expense of lifespan. This is Ashton btw

And this is Ashton pre-metamorphosis:

Something like this isn't super common tho! So despite me drawing a bunch of butterfly or moth people they generally don't get to that point and stay looking more like funky lizards with many arms

Bugs can have many arms or legs or eyes, funky colours, exoskeletal bits, antennae, or look pretty close to your average human/elf with hidden bug features. Dahlia for instance is a vaguely spidery bug but can easily hide a bunch of her eyes and secretes venom thru hidden glandes so you could mistake her for an elf

Meanwhile it'd be very hard to mistake someone like this guy for anything other than a horned bug

If u catch my drift.

Some bugs are small! Some are huge. Some are out there committing atrocities

Some dont look like bugs at all

They're generally not as physically strong as the average elf but more resilient in a cockroach kinda way. They can have a chaotic range of circulatory systems and internal organs that sometimes just make them really hard to kill and its also pretty hard to keep track of every variation of the species and their quirks.

That being said in a lot of places they're super common and coexist with elves just fine, mix up and it's also not super uncommon to have half breeds like our man Staeve (the ThUG edition). The closer you get to elf the longer you live and less "non human" traits you have. There's also a bunch of different types of regular ass elf and it all falls under the elf category unless we decide to name them something else down the line.

Then you've got a smaller category of super elves that have been isolated for so long they never blended with anything else, are more attuned to magic and in general have a sort of mythical status amongst everyone else. They also have the longest lifespan at around 250 ish years.

That's sort of the TL;DR for now! Ollie and I have started to put all the info we've got into a single repository and do want to start sharing it (probably as patreon posts for now) because comics are slow and the scope might not encompass that much of what we want to explore of this world. And the chaotic idea machine never stops

Here's a metamorphosis meme for ya

[nerdykorgi]

GRIMWALKER BIOLOGY & ANATOMY STUDIES [pt 1 / ?? ]

(aka, my ideas and thoughts on how these bad but sad boys work!)

with pictures :D !

ok for starters! I tried my best to make real life connections with actual biological stuff and yeah but there are some things ima have to bullshit lol

i hope yall like rambling

[ ^ Basic ideas ]

Lets talk about anatomy!

From what i can tell from the grim walker ingredient book they have some pretty ... interesting ingredients...

GALDORSTONE:

Heart and Power apparently. What i can make of this is that the Galderstone not only powers and animates the non-organic materials but acts as a circulatory system, flowing blood and nutrients to keep the body stable by creating magical pulses of pressure that makes the blood flow. Blood is kind of ideal for homeostasis and living and om pretty sure we've seen hunter bleed at least once... Perhaps the Galderston can create an artificial vascular system to carry oxygen, magic, and nutrients throughout the growing body instead of just making veins from scratch. I want to say the Galderstone can generate energy for the grimwalker but that would mean they wouldn't need to eat, and I don't think that's true. I think its main purpose is just activate the magic materials and is like the generator to a car, keeping it running. If the Galderstone were to break or fail, the grimwalker probably come unglued and fall apart to its components (which would be pretty horrifying)

ORTET BONE:

Very key component! The ortet bone kind of helps form the blueprint for the species of the grimwalker, as well as supplying blood, a skeletal system, and components of DNA. The most basic definition of the word ORTET is as follows: the original plant from which the members of a clone have descended. Fun fact: since were using cloning terms, Hunter is to Caleb as Ramet is to Ortet (Ramet is an individual clone) I did research for cloning and as it turns out you kinda need a complete genome for cloning but for bullshitting reasons (which will be explained) we can clone with incomplete DNA and make synthetic dna from scratch! I hypothesis that the reason grims can look different from the ortet instead of just straight carbon copies is due to the bone that is used and how much of i there is. Like example a grimwalker made using just a toe phalange is going to look A LOT less like the ortet compared to a grimwalker made from something like the cranium and bigger bones and such. Basically smaller bones dont carry as much dna info and leads for room to fill in the blanks. Sadly this means alot of Grimwalkers had A LOT of health problems (this can range anywhere from immune system problems to liver failure which is quiet typical in clones, that and it is often that clones appear different from the ortet due to enviromental factors and influences)

[ As the image above shows, subject #103 has a very close resemblance to the ortet due to the bones that are used ] There are pros and cons to using bones! Pros being that they can hold DNA for much longer than tissue, but the thing is bones can degrade really easy if not preserved, and i don't think belos had a bottle of hydrogen peroxide laying around that he could dunk Caleb in, so let's just assume he made sure his brother's corpse was well cleaned and kept. Biggest con is the human body only has so many bones (about 206) I believe that the reason Grimwalker can generate organs is by using the ortet and making the stem cells created from bone marrow. Stem cells are very important because they can turn into different types of cells like blood and tissue cells as well as repair tissue. I believe the process of growing grimwalkers is kind of like "Self-renewal" the process in which stem cells divide and make more of the body

STONESLEEPER LUNGS:

Im just gonna assume stone sleeper had very small lungs because aint no way those t rex lungs fit in a teenage boy. I originally thought The reason that Grimwalkers can stay underground for so long is because the lungs, similar to how a stonesleeper hibernates for centuries (kind of like how wood frogs can basically cryo-hibernate) by petrifying but a grimwalker IS growing and therefore needs resources to grow, like how a baby does in the womb. So it has to be actively getting said resources so it cant be petrified. I now think the reason that grimwalkers have these lungs is because theyre easily compatible to the galderstone, which needs oxygen for the blood and that they can be easily harvested and stored in stone form. But that does give room for cool adaptations like self-petrification! (which i will get into next time :D )

PALISTROM WOOD:

Ok its says that the wood is used for keratin, which is a fiberous protein which can make all kinds of things like scales, hair, nails, feathers, horns, claws, hooves, and skin! And since its also a plant means it can grow 4 times as fast as normal keratin can! This explains why hunters hair grew so ridiculously fast in season 3, was because his hair can produce its own carbohydrates and nutrients on its own... This means his skin and surface wounds can heal quite fast! (down side is it might give him something similar to PSS (Peeling Skin Syndrome ) ...) I think Palisman is very important becasue of several reason! 1 Like palisman, it can "animate" if you will, more or less help pull off the illusion that he is alive. 2 Like mentioned before, Grimwalkers need nutrients to grow and I believe the palistrom wood aids in that! Using a process called cellular diffusion, the grimwalker can take in nutrients from the ground around them (which i theorize to be highly fertilized) through THEIR SKIN! and into the veins and flesh of the grims 3 I believe that in the process of forming, the galderstone "activates" the palistrom wood, forming into skin or hair but this process of rapid growth leaves the skin all undone and fragile because a proper cutaneous barrier was not formed yet (which is useful for being malleable. This is why Hunter's ears are so 1 .god blessed big because they are fake and molded to look like that. Its also why The grimwalker Belos possessed fell apart so easily, like he said "It wasnt ready")

SELKIEDOMUS SCALES:

This one kind of confused me because... well why do we need the seal flesh when the ortet can just regenerate it?? I think its kind of like the stuffing if you will, it also speeds up the process of producing flesh by a lot! Especially if you want to make grown grimwalkers! Im thinking that Grimwalkers don't have a set "age" theyre just as big as however many materials they are given to work with. Even though the book says they can start as babies, if you look closely there is a check mark towards the more adolescent figure, so im thinking that they are not ready to be unearthed until they reach a certain growth ima guess around the age of over 10-ish?? We don't know how young Hunter was pulled out of the floor but it seems like he was fairly young, or atleast younger. This means while Hunter appears to be 16, he might have only been living for around 5 years or so.

Now typically normal seals have a lot of blubber which is a thick layer of fat, also called adipose tissue, directly under the skin of a marine mammals. Its used for insulation. The thing is tho, it says Selkiedomus Scales, not flesh... Dont worry there are mammals that have scales like Pangolins but i dont know if these scales are like thick plated or small and stretchy. Magic bullshitting time, Im goin to assume Selkiedomus scales refers to a layer of scale-like flesh that protect the creature from boiling but is also highly malleable and easy to work with. Maybe the reason they can withstand such heat is due to unsaturated bonds of butadiene molecules mixed into the blubber that are highly heat resistant Selkie domus flesh is molded and into the relative shape of desired body and using the DNA of the ortet the flesh is reshaped and reused into the desired muscles shapes. The vascular system created by the galderstone spreads throughout the flesh and binds with it. healing together and becoming flesh, kind of like a speed up version of skin graft maturation! This is useful for growing them quickly because they don't have to grow an entire adult body from scratch so this speed up the process by eeeerrm 20 years or so lol

Thats only the basics for now, sooner or later i shall get into the more fun stuff, like adaptaions of Grim walker, the growing process, ad more!

Hope you guys enjoyed my ideas, if i got anything incorrect let me know, my research isnt exremly searched through.

last question ill leave you all with, it kind of stumped me while i was working...

i have a theory but i wanna know your thoughts...

(i worked hard on all this btw, i really hope people read it lol /lh.)

[heylittleriotact]

Why do I find myself suddenly and vividly aware that I am dying even when I'm not?  

I'm aware that we're dying always, of course: perpetually dying at a cellular level, and becoming reborn until eventually something goes wrong and that cycle abruptly ends.  

Because that’s life, isn't it?  

The constant, consistent awareness that it ends: knowledge that we acclimatize to over time in the same way we become accustomed to the numbing burn of an over-hot bath, finding some sort of comfort in the gentle agony of it until it becomes normal.  

So why do I perceive the innocent shiver of my cells becoming abnormal while I peel carrots for dinner? Why do I see myself bloated and naked in the shower, stinking, slimy flesh wicking away from bone at the slightest touch from the poor souls who attempt to salvage my waterlogged ruin from its resting place?

My head splits open when a halla leaps into the road when I'm taking the long way home on the outskirts of the city during those lilac-shaded moments of dusk that everyone knows are dangerous. The windshield caves in where its antlers hit hardest, and the sheer blunt force of the poor creature nearly decapitates me.

The liminal silence around my slightly smoking car in the ditch after so much chaos is only punctuated by my last gasping attempts at breath through shredded tissue and skin. I piss myself. I shit myself too, only a few moments later.

I am battered constantly by thoughts about the horrific circumstances of my demise.

Even in the most wonderful, indulgent, unlikely daydream, where I die at a ripe old age, surrounded on my deathbed by my loving family: a spouse, children, grandchildren... perhaps even great-grandchildren, if time has been good to me - I am burdened by guilt and shame that they must see me like this: dying is hard work, and the pneumonia that is taking me makes every breath a monumental struggle: I am in pain, and they can see it - and it hurts them. I see the helplessness and torment on their faces.

That is my failing: I have made them suffer, despite a lifetime of committing myself to the opposite.

Every twinge in my abdomen is the harbinger of my demise. Every spasm or cramp in my leg is an embolism doing its royal tour through my circulatory system until the Big Red Day when it finally makes a stop in my lungs or my brain.

Is my breathing forced? My chest feels tight. Fade take me - my airways are closing. I haven't any idea why they would be - but they are.

This is a catastrophe.

I am in danger, here in the line at the grocery store.

Everyone around me is going about one of the most predictable aspects of their lives until I start dying: skimming the covers of the gossip rags and deciding idly that they hadn't given a shit about Empress Celene's 'scandalous' extramarital affair with an elf in years; plucking a pack of gum off the shelf above said rags, and finally resorting to entertaining themselves with their phones until it's their turn to look at the bolded total at the bottom of the checkout screen and pretend the number there isn't like taking a solid kick between the legs.

Must be nice.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking about the roof of the building falling in and burying us all under tons of concrete and steel and asbestos within a matter of tragic, unforeseeable seconds. It'll take them days to fish all of our crushed, decomposing corpses out of the rubble while various solemn-faced officials inform our families.

A compassionate and appropriately soft-spoken funeral director bearing the same dignified cadence I've mastered over the years will be the one to tell our loved ones that 'due to the circumstances of our passing, we sadly aren't in a viewable condition' - I know this firsthand, you see: my parents died in a similarly tragic fashion when I was a boy, and I was told much the same at the time. I think despite everything, it might have served me better if I could have seen them...

I won't tell anyone about the man in front of me who playfully elbows his wife or girlfriend and casually pockets a chocolate bar: They are still going about their day, and I'm busy trying to force a breath into my panicking lungs, counting to five and then back again, noting various things that I can smell and hear, pinching the web of skin between my thumb and index finger as a physical cue because that usually jolts me back to reality.

I'm not in danger: I'm not dying.

I'm not dying, I'm not dying, I'm not dying, I'm not dying, I'm not dying, I'm not dying, I'm not dying, I'm not dying...

[adaginy]

The Big Guide to Humans: Skin

First: Yes, it is true that humans have whole-body stripes that not all species can see. Yes, it is also true that they themselves cannot usually see them. They are an artifact of pre-natal development and are present from birth. They usually have no significance, though some skin abnormalities may follow their usually-invisible path (or may make them visible).

See body art for questions about deliberate skin markings.

--- Human skin is a soft yet durable covering made of stretchy proteins. It provides protection from water loss, pathogens and UV radiation, insulates their body against external temperatures, synthesizes a chemical they use to make their skeleton, and is home to humans' abilities to feel touch and to cool themselves.

The skin is made up of layers, further divided into more layers, and the different functions are distributed within them. The details of these layers are not necessary to know for working alongside humans; suffice it to say that the topmost layer may noticeably flake off in very dry environs and this is mostly harmless but irritating to the human, oozing a clear but yellow-tinted liquid (see immune system) represents a minor but disproportionately painful injury of having scraped off the uppermost layers, and bleeding (oozing or gushing a red opaque liquid, see circulatory system) means the injury is deeper still.

Skin that has been damaged can usually repair itself over time, although it may take assistance (externally binding the wound shut, for example). Deeper wounds are likely to scar, that is, to be repaired with a tougher skin of different appearance. This is not the same thing as a callus, seen on the base of human feet and sometimes on the fingers, in which the skin grows thicker and tougher to resist pressure injuries.

It is normal for tiny hairs to be present in the skin over most of the human's body, regardless of sex or gender. Both sexes may have prominent hair on their faces or torso after puberty (see lifespan and development), but it is much more common with men.

If the human is warm (likely if ambient temperature is above melting point of gallium) or has been exerting themselves, they may "sweat." Salt water will leak in small amounts from all over their skin, concentrated on the forehead/under their hair, in the soft socket under where their arms meet the body, and around the external genitalia, to make use of evaporative cooling. They may begin to smell strongly; they usually find this smell unpleasant. If the human is cold, or in some scary situations, the tiny hairs may stand up instead of laying flat. This is an evolutionary artifact from ancestors with thicker fur and no longer helps to keep them warm or frightens predators.

Humans' sense of touch is very sensitive, especially on their hands, but outside of their hands it is sometimes not precise. You could lay one of their hairs on a surface and ask them to find it by feel, and they would be able to do so with their hands even if the surface was not smooth. If you dropped a single hair on the bare arm of a human, they would feel it, but they would not be able to pinpoint its exact location without seeing it.

!! Due to tiny dangerous creatures on their home planet, humans will usually immediately attempt to remove the source of an unexpected small light touch, often by swiping at it with a hand or by jerking their body. If you are fragile or tiny, and this would damage or dislodge you, get their attention before physical contact. !!

While humans can only see a narrow portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, they can sense somewhat beyond that band with their skin. Infrared can be sensed as heat, especially at short distances. Ultraviolet can be sensed over time, as specialized molecules in the skin cause cells to sacrifice themselves to prevent it from penetrating farther into the skin. However, by the time the human has noticed the feeling of this cell-sacrifice, the skin is likely to be damaged enough that it will darken and/or become red and sensitive soon (within the timespan of a human sleep cycle). Humans with naturally darker skin can generally withstand ultraviolet radiation for longer periods of time before becoming damaged. When the darkening or reddening has passed, small brown marks called "freckles" will often remain, usually for the rest of the human's life. If the skin has reached the red stage, as the color returns to normal the damaged skin may come off in thin sheets as though the human is molting. Do not offer assistance with removal unless they ask.

Human skin is covered in bacteria, viruses, and fungi that are mostly harmless to them. This is covered in more detail under microbiome with some pertinent points under mating.

[starbluekindo]

work song

warning: victoria neuman x afab!reader, angst with a happy ending, blood, victoria using her powers unconsciously, reader is vicky's wife <3

a/n: i miss her so from now on this is real.

THE DAYS since victoria’s death had been a blur. you followed the basic steps of your routine because there was no other choice. zoe needed you, and the world around you didn’t stop to mourn a dead vice president, let alone someone who had lost more than a title.

mornings were the hardest. the silence at home seemed louder now, filling every corner as a constant reminder of her absence. zoe, despite being a resilient child, felt it too. her bright eyes were dimmer, and she asked questions you didn’t know how to answer.

“is she in heaven?” zoe asked one night, her voice low as you tucked her into bed.

you hesitated. the truth was, you didn’t know how to console zoe because you couldn’t console yourself.

“she’s in a place where there’s no pain,” was all you managed to say, even though your voice sounded broken.

after zoe fell asleep, you went downstairs. the house felt different now. without victoria, it was as if the space had lost its identity. you looked at the desk where she used to work late into the night, the papers still piled up as if she would return at any moment to finish them.

but she wouldn’t return.

the weight of that seemed crushing. you sank onto the couch, holding a cup of tea that had gone cold. your eyes wandered to the watch you had given victoria, still resting in the small tray where she always left it when she came home. the metal seemed cold and distant now, a reminder of something you could no longer touch.

the days passed, but you couldn’t shake the feeling of incompleteness. people came to offer condolences, but their words felt empty, like echoes in an endless tunnel. they talked about how extraordinary victoria had been as a leader, a force to be reckoned with. but no one spoke about how she was at home — the way she gave that small side smile when she tried to hide her worries, how she always checked if zoe had done her homework, or how she held your hand at the dinner table when she thought no one was looking.

no one knew who she really was.

in the quietest nights, after zoe had gone to bed and you were left alone with your thoughts, you allowed the pain to overflow. you sat on the living room floor, staring at the shadows on the wall, wondering how the world could keep moving when yours had stopped.

and yet, something inside you resisted. it was what victoria would have done. she had always been stronger than you — more practical, more determined. you knew that if she could speak to you now, she would tell you to take care of zoe, to get up and move forward.

but in the moments when the pain felt unbearable, you whispered into the void, as if she could hear you:

“i’d give anything to have you back.”

and then you stayed there, waiting for the pain to lessen, even though you knew it would never completely go away.

THE DARKNESS felt infinite, but victoria was aware of every second. not in a human way, with clear thoughts or organized emotions, but in a primal, instinctive manner, as if her blood was screaming for something. something beyond death.

then came the pain.

it was a deep, visceral pull, as if the universe itself was dragging her back. the blood, which she had always controlled with almost surgical precision, seemed to have taken on a will of its own. she knew her powers, what she could do — explode heads, hear the subtle hum of people’s circulatory systems, even manipulate small flows within herself. but this? this defied everything she knew to be possible, defied the very order of nature.

it was grotesque. the blood, transformed into a thick, vibrant sludge, moved like tendrils within her body, wrapping around dead organs, dragging them back into place. collapsed lungs reinflated, her heart, once silent, began to beat again, the blood rearranging itself to form new connections where old ones had broken. the process seemed endless — ribs realigning with echoing cracks through the compacted earth.

victoria tried to scream, but there was no air yet. the sensation was suffocating, an unending cycle of pain and creation. for a moment, she thought it would be better if everything stopped, but then the image of zoe flashed through her mind like a spark. and then, you.

the blood responded to that, as if it shared her desire. the process accelerated, stitching muscles and connecting bones. finally, air entered her lungs with a rough, desperate sound. she gasped, coughing up dirt and clotted blood, her eyes opening with a dull glow.

everything was dark. she still felt the pressure of the earth around her, heavy and suffocating, but her body, now whole, responded.

with trembling fingers, she began clawing at the soil, each movement a monumental effort. the pain didn’t disappear; it just shifted, now a memory imprinted in her renewed flesh.

when she finally emerged, the faint moonlight felt blindingly bright. she blinked, trying to adjust her eyes, the smell of the night flooding her senses. and then she vomited, pulling chunks of her old organs from her throat with her own hands. the putrid smell made her dizzy.

victoria collapsed to her knees, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind. her mind was a whirlwind of confusion and fear, but one thing was clear. she closed her eyes, focusing on the sounds around her: the rustle of leaves, the distant hum of a streetlamp. and then, the sound she needed: your blood. you were nearby, faint but traceable. she could feel the rhythmic pulse flowing, like a familiar melody pulling her to the surface.

she needed to go home.

victoria started walking, her steps unsteady but determined. the hunger inside her roared, but something stronger guided her, something beyond physical need. she needed you. she needed her family.

when she reached the front door, it was as if the pain, confusion, and despair were replaced by relief.

you were on the couch, holding a now-cold cup of tea, staring out the window without really seeing the outside. the weight of victoria’s absence was unbearable. zoe was asleep upstairs, but you knew you wouldn’t find the same peace. there was no peace without her.

then, a faint knock at the door broke the silence.

your heart stopped for a moment before racing. you let the cup fall, forgetting the sound of breaking glass as you rushed to the entrance.

when you opened the door, victoria was there.

she looked like a specter. her skin was pale, her hair tangled and dirty with soil, her clothes torn. but it was her eyes that paralyzed you: confused, scared, but alive.

“victoria…” you whispered, unable to process what you were seeing.

she tried to speak, but her vocal cords failed, frustrating her. you noticed her distress, and her effort resulted in a raspy whisper:

“i... i came back.”

you pulled her inside before she could collapse, your hands holding her face, dirty and cold. her heartbeat thudded weakly under your fingers but was there.

“how?” you asked, tears already streaming down your face.

she shook her head, her eyes filling with tears too. “i don’t know... i just knew... i had to come back. for you. for zoe.”

her words were enough to shatter any doubts you might have had.

“you’re here,” you whispered.

victoria rested her forehead against yours, her shoulders trembling under your hands as everything finally began to make sense. she didn’t know how she had returned, but she knew why. it was for you and zoe. no force in the world, not even death, could keep her away from you.