#Primary Flight Display

[nocternalrandomness]

Cessna 182 Skylane panel

[reminiscingtonight]

Pretending (Pt. 2)

Aitana Bonmatí x Reader

Word Count: 986

Part One // Part Three

[WOSO Masterlist]

“Do you want to get married?”

You’re soaking in the sun, a welcome change from the cloudy skies of Manchester when Aitana pops the question.

You crack open an eye. “Are you talking to me?”

“Who else would I be talking to?”

She says it with the most serious face that you start questioning if you’re the crazy one here.

“Are you asking me what my thoughts are about marriage in general or marriage between us?”

Aitana doesn’t have to say anything, she only gives you a look. 

You sigh, propping yourself up on an arm so you can face Aitana when having this conversation. “We’re not even dating.”

Aitana shrugs. “If it matters that much to you we can give it a day.”

It’s such a ridiculous proposition that you can’t do anything but laugh. “So what? We can tell our children we dated for a day before we got married?”

This time she grins, finger drifting to hook around your own. “Time doesn’t matter. We both know whatever this is, whatever we are, it’s been going on far longer than a day.”

You’ve been back in Barcelona for close to a year now. The two of you picked up right where you left off, spending almost all of your waking moments with one another. Even when night comes round, it’s rare to find you sleeping apart. 

Ona calls you both codependent idiots, Ingrid calls it something sweet, all you know is that it works for the two of you and although you’re not dating, it’s a life you can find yourself getting used to.

When the break came around and Ona announced she was going somewhere tropical with Lucy, Aitana was quick to make some plans for just the two of you. 

You didn’t question it much, happy to just spend time with the girl you’ve been pining after for years. 

At first everything was normal. Sure, Aitana’s been a bit more sentimental than usual, opting to reminisce about your childhood adventures or bring up the unofficial first dates of yours from all those years ago. But you don’t think too much about it, choosing instead to focus on not ogling all of the skin on display as Aitana’s primary activity these past couple days have consisted of nothing but sunbathing.

It’s not like you haven’t caught Aitana eyeing you up and down a couple of times too, but it’s different between the two of you. You’re still patiently waiting for Aitana to drop the pretense that you’re anything more than just friends, hence the respect you’ve been giving (though if she continues wearing two-pieces and hanging off your arm all day every day you might have to catch an early flight home before you combust). Aitana on the other hand… well you’re not really sure what she’s doing.

Though you can probably conclude that she’s not pretending anything anymore if she’s asking for your hand in marriage.

“I love you.”

Though her words fill you with warmth, you can’t help but frown at her sudden change in demeanor. Just three days ago when you were still surrounded by your teammates in Barcelona, Aitana cracked a joke about loving you when hell froze over --- though you probably deserved that comment after you let Mapi convince you to dunk her socks in the ice bucket. Although she’s affectionate with you, she’s never this affectionate.

“Aita, what’s going on?” you sit up, taking care to scoop Aitana’s hand into yours.

The smile slips off her face as her eyes drop, fingers nervously tapping by her side.

It’s automatic, the way your free hand rises, rubbing at the furrow between her brows.

Aitana melts into your touch, face leaning forward until your hand has no choice but to cup her cheek.

“It’s just me. Nothing to be afraid of,” you murmur, trying to prompt Aitana to speak her mind.

Aitana looks lost in thought for a moment. She bites at her lip before letting out the longest sigh known to man. “Aren’t you ever going to get tired waiting for me?”

You’re not able to stop the laugh that bubbles past your lips. “If that’s what you’re afraid of, you have nothing to worry about. I’m in this for the long run, even if that means waiting for you until we’re gray and old. I’m happy with what we are right now as long as you’re happy too.”

“But what if I’m ready now?” 

You blink, not expecting the sureness behind her voice. There’s a slight fire in Aitana’s eyes, the midfielder looking like she’d move mountains just for you to understand how serious she is. 

“I know I’ve always put football first but you have always been the one thing I’ve wanted to commit to. You’ve been so patient with me, loving me when I never gave you a reason to. You bring me up when I’m sad, give me reasons to smile when I just want to cry, you’re what I love falling asleep to every night, and seeing your face when I wake up just fills me up with joy.”

Your eyes flutter shut when she leans forward to press her head against yours. You can feel her breath running hot against your lips and it takes everything in you to not bridge the gap. 

“I love the way you know me and I love the way you’re you.”

When your lips finally meet there’s no other way to describe the kiss than perfect. It’s short and sweet but it’s everything you’ve been waiting for. 

“I love you. So much.”

Aitana’s giving you a teary grin when you open your eyes, and you can’t do anything but smile right back at her. 

“So will you marry me?”

---

Ona’s eyes nearly fall out of her head when she sees the matching bands on your fingers when you stroll into the locker room a week later.

[bestanimal]

Round 3 - Reptilia - Struthioniformes

(Sources - 1, 2)

Our first of many orders of birds and our first paleognath, the Struthioniformes, commonly called “ostriches” are only composed of one living family, Struthionidae, one living genus, Struthio, with two living species: the Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus) (image 1) and the Somali Ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes) (image 2).

Ostriches are the heaviest and largest living birds, and thus the largest living dinosaurs, with adult Common Ostriches weighing anywhere between 63.5 and 156.8 kilograms (140-346 lbs), with the larger males standing 2.1 - 2.75 m (6 ft 11 in - 9 ft) tall. They are flightless, instead relying on their strong legs to swiftly flee from danger. They are didactyl, having just two toes on each foot (most birds have four), with the nail on the larger, inner toe resembling a hoof. The outer toe has no nail. This adaptation appears to aid in running. Their wings are mainly used for display, and also contain two vestigial claws. Ostriches have primitive feathers, lacking the hooks that lock flight feathers together, which serve as insulation and give them a soft and fluffy appearance. They are omnivores, with a diet consisting mainly of plant matter, though they will also eat invertebrates and small reptiles. They are diurnal, but may be active on moonlit nights.

Ostriches are sexually dimorphic, with males having mostly black feathers, with white primaries and a white or buff tail (images 1 and 2). Females and young males are grayish-brown and white (see gif below). Ostriches normally spend the winter months in pairs or alone, but during breeding season and sometimes during extreme droughts they will form nomadic groups of 5 to 100 birds (led by a dominant female) that often travel together with other grazing animals, such as zebras or antelopes. With their acute eyesight and hearing, ostriches assist these mixed herds by keeping watch for predators. Their mating process differs in different geographical regions, and between species. Territorial males typically boom (by inflating their neck) in defense of their territory and harem of two to seven females. Males perform an elaborate mating dance with their wings, synchronizing behavior with the female, until the two dance together. A successful male may then mate with several females in the area, but will only form a pair bond with a dominant female. A communal nest is scraped in the ground by the male. The dominant female lays her eggs first; when it is time to cover them for incubation, she discards many of the extra eggs from the other females, leaving about 20 in most cases. The eggs are incubated by the females by day and by the males by night. The drab female blends in with the sand, while the black male is nearly undetectable in the night. The incubation period is 35 to 45 days. New chicks are fawn in color, with dark brown spots. They will be cared for by both their mother and father, with the father protecting the hatchlings and teaching them to feed. After three months the hatchlings start to gain their juvenile plumage, which is steadily replaced by adult-like plumage during their second year. They become sexually mature when they are 2 to 4 years old.

Struthioniformes was once a more diverse group, arriving in the Eocene around 40 million years ago, and were widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Modern ostriches, of the genus Struthio, would not appear in Africa until the early Miocene, around 21 million years ago.

Propaganda under the cut:

With the ability to run at 70 km/h (43.5 mph), and up to about 97 km/h (60 mph) in short bursts, ostriches are the fastest birds on land, and the second fastest land animals.

Ostriches lay the largest eggs of any living land animal (though they are the smallest eggs relative to the size of the bird).

Ostriches are the most dangerous birds on the planet for humans, with an average of two to three deaths being recorded each year in South Africa alone. (For comparison, cassowaries have only killed a total of two people in all of recorded history.) When threatened, ostriches can deliver slashing kicks with their powerful feet and long claws, with which they can disembowel or kill a person with a single blow. Ostrich attacks mainly happen when the bird is cornered or defending its offspring.

The extinct ostrich Pachystruthio dmanisensis, which lived from the Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene of Eurasia, was one of the largest birds of all time. P. dmanisensis has been estimated standing 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) tall and weighing up to 450 kg (990��lb).

Male ostriches have a conical-shaped penis which is wider at the base and typically around 20 cm (7.9 in) long. Follow for more Penis Facts™.

Common Ostriches can live up to 30-40 years in the wild, and up to 70 in human care.

The misconception that ostriches bury their heads in the sand may have begun with Pliny the Elder (23–79 CE), who wrote that ostriches "imagine, when they have thrust their head and neck into a bush, that the whole of their body is concealed." The idea that ostriches bury their heads in the sand may have come from a combination of this writing and a misunderstanding of the behavior of ostriches pecking at sand and pebbles to help digest their fibrous food, using their beak to rotate their eggs in a nest-hole, or the defensive behavior of ostriches which involves them lying low with their neck flat against the ground so as to appear like a bush.

From as early as 60,000 BP, Ostriches have been hunted by humans for their lean meat, strong leather, feathers, and oil, and their eggs may be harvested for food and to use their shells as bowls or lamps. By the 18th century ostriches were almost hunted to extinction, until farming of ostriches began in the 19th century. Today, most ostrich products come from farms. Ostrich populations have rebounded and the Common Ostrich is considered Least Concern while the Somali Ostrich is considered Vulnerable.

[guardsbian]

wanted to try out (mostly) emulating FR's designs for this dragon design by @synthaphone! plus how I thought the primary/secondary/underbelly would sit on it

I probably would have tweaked a few design choices/interpretations of mine (the wings, the feet/hands) if I was better versed in this style, but overall I kind of just wanted to explore design by looking at two different art styles. I think a lot of people underestimate the flexibility and freedom contained within a "style," especially one like FR's— which faces a combination of universal guidelines for its breeds and can, occasionally, underutilize the diversity it's displayed in the past.

I ended up headcanon-ing this version as some sort of non-flight-aligned... gnome dragon? Biggest of the small breeds, secretly fixes your squeaky doors and sweeps up, and likes to kick their feet up on a toadstool after a night of hard work.

And I would love to put a little suit on these guys, both versions.

[conarcoin]

Expandedverse Worldbuilding Tidbits: SMPLive

About time I revisited this.

Decentralized government with no single leader

"Server cop" is being reworked into more of a self-appointed neighborhood watch type of position

Laws are decided through court, so everyone gets a say

Main laws worth noting:

Potions and enchanted golden apples are controlled substances that can only be used under extremely specific circumstances, usually with supervision of someone with medical training

Killing without a hit, barring for self-defense or a mutually-agreed fight, is illegal

Economy is mostly market exchange-driven

Some characters sell books, crops, food, rare building materials, weaponry, etc

Specialized skills are highly valued - Luemas and Travis's building firm is successful for this reason

Diamonds are still the primary form of currency, but secondarily to that a bartering system is often used as well

Food:

Common food tends to be the basics such as cooked steak and pork, fish, fruit, vegetables, mushroom stew

Sandwiches and wraps are a common meal made from vegetables and meat

Cake is beloved but mostly reserved for special occasions - other options like cookies and sweet berries are more common snacks for people with a sweet tooth

Nether delicacies are highly sought after - nether wart and warped fungus stew, meat from hoglins, strider bacon...

Miscellaneous:

All characters have a communicator device used to quickly nessage the entire area or particular individuals

Some characters have modified their communicator to fit their personal needs - James's has a "flight mode" that displays incoming messages as a HUD on his visor, and Cooper's is waterproofed

Primary form of travel is through the Nether highway system. They never get elytra in Expandedverse, sorry!

Most characters have a very loose understanding of first aid, very few have proper medical training

Dripleaf is a common material used to fashion bandages

While potions themselves aren't allowed in most cases, other applications of their ingredients are acceptable!

[sunlighthroughthe-ashes]

I saw a very different take on SJ and IS and it's interesting to see how differently we view things, someone said they don't feel IS's love for SJ all the time jumping wasn't because she was in love with him and she only confessed because she found out he's been in love with her for so many years. I mean does the show constantly spotlight just how crazy in love SJ is with her every moment he's on the screen, sure. Do they do the same for IS? I don't they do, so I guess someone could see it as them not having the same level of affection for each other?

hi, anon!

so, before i say anything, i think i want to mention that the beauty of art and entertainment media is the subjectivity of its interpretation. one little show can mean so many different things to so many different people, and i think that's wonderful.

now, coming to your question — i don't think it's a case of one person's love being stronger than the others' — i think it's a difference in display/expression: i.e their respective love languages.

sunjae wears his heart on his sleeve — it's out there for everyone to see even when he tries to hide it. his is the love that longs to flare its wings — to be witnessed in fearless flight.

sol's is more understated — hers is a love that shelters, promises safe harbor. but it's clearly there if you're paying attention — the way she puts her hand over his chest to listen to his heartbeat because she can't shake the memory of his death, how her eyes soften and the radiance of her smile when he puts the two sodas against her cheek, the tenderness in her smile when she's watching him sleep in the library. the way she simply loses herself in his hugs — like his arms are the only fetters that can free her.

sol feels a massive sense of responsibility: her tiniest action can permanently alter the future — even before she discovers that sunjae's death is in part linked to her. her primary objective is to save his life — above all else. she can't let anything get in the way of that, not even her own feelings. it's actually a testament to her love for him that she's so ready to sacrifice her own, and their collective happiness. she even says it to herself: "the only thing worse than losing your heart would be to lose you itself."

there has never been a moment in which sol hasn't loved sunjae with every fiber of her being — it's simply that she fell IN love with him as she came to know more about him. at first, it was pure adoration and unconditional respect from a fan to her idol — (and that's as it should be, if she had a romantic interest in him from the very beginning it would have been inappropriate) but the minute sol begins to know sunjae as a boy, as a three-dimensional person — how sweet he is, how gentle, how free and generous with his care, how can she not help but fall for him?

and fall she does.

who wouldn't? :)

[unmotivatedwrit3r]

One in Eleven Million

damian wayne x reader x jon kent  - ch.1

(A/N): The plot of this is mostly based off of a trip I took a little over a year ago, though there are liberties taken further on. And my memory is kinda sucky so take any airport lingo with a grain of salt. Also, thanks to @glorified-red for helping me outline this while I was heading to the same place this year and also for being my beta reader. 

This is fully written and has been for two months so hopefully I'll post a chapter a week or so? I am also posting this from hawaii so here's hoping a) I get new fic material and b) i've converted the time zone correctly and this posts late EST. 

If you saw this posted yesterday, no you didn’t. Posting across time zones is hard

wc: ~2300

warnings: plane travel; anxiety

~

Your phone buzzed in your pocket as you stepped off the tram. Above your head, the sign read Terminal B in large letters. The people ahead as you stepped onto the escalator were a couple with matching, brightly colored, floral-patterned carry-ons. 

The notification was a text from the airline. You skimmed it as you walked towards your gate, weaving in and out of internal airport traffic. We're ready to board your flight to Gotham (GHM) at Gate B6 and look forward to seeing you soon! The text was right below the one telling you about yet another delay. A quick check of the time declared that making any detours would cut your arrival at the gate a little close. 

“Worth the risk,” you decided for yourself. “Let's go.” 

The escalator opened into the middle of your terminal, a dozen gates from your destination. Even though the airport you were in was spread out massively, you weren’t too worried. Your boarding group wouldn’t even get on the plane for probably another ten minutes, so you ducked into the nearest restroom before crossing to your gate. 

The time in red on your boarding pass caught your eye. 70 minutes late, it read. Any other day, a delay would have been an inconvenience. This time, the buffer actually ended up being beneficial. You needed it when trying to catch a connecting flight—the second of two on your way home—after one already delayed. Your eye caught on a pretzel stand further down the terminal. You could almost taste the pretzels; it had been a while since breakfast. The usual delicious smells were covered by the perpetual airport scent of stale air and commercial cleaner. If you wanted to get close, you’d have to cross the foot traffic. The voice over the loudspeaker curtailed that hope quickly by announcing your boarding group. You sighed. Next time. 

The boarding line was long and you silently thanked yourself for checking a larger suitcase as your primary luggage. Your only current accompaniment was your airline declared “personal item.” There was no way there would be spots for any hypothetical carry-on by the time you got on board. As if to agree with you, the airline employees over the speakers nudged passengers once again to check their carry-ons. 

Like always, it took longer than it rationally should have for people to display their boarding passes and continue into the enclosed boarding bridge. Your chest squeezed as your seat flashed on the screen. The only seat available and in your budget had been a “B”: a middle seat in the back of the plane. Middle seats were the worst, especially when traveling alone. Too often you’d found yourself next to men (and even women, sometimes) that made you extremely uncomfortable.

You scanned the numbers above the seats as the line in front of you blundered along. Someone’s carry-on bag almost smacked you in the face before the line cleared enough for you to be able to see your row. Your heart sank just a little bit when you spotted the two heads in the A and C seats. No hope for an empty seat on this flight, then. 

When you stepped closer, you could see two men—young adults and not older men, you realized, thank goodness—conversing with each other, both tilted into the middle seat. You hoped, privately, that they didn’t know each other well, if only so they wouldn’t be talking right through you the entire flight. 

“Excuse me,” you said, stopping in front of the row, “I have the middle seat.” 

The boys sat back. The one in the window seat had olive skin and dark wavy hair cropped close on the side, dripping down across his forehead and over his eyes. The other, with lighter skin and fluffy dark hair, stood to let you in. You had to take half a step back to let him out. He was tall. And pretty. Nope, Shut Up, brain. You pushed the thought into the back of your mind; he could be the most homophobic person you’ve ever met, how would you know? 

“Sorry about that, go ahead.” 

“Thanks.” You smiled at the boy before sliding clumsily into the row and landing heavily in the middle seat. You shoved your bag under the seat in front of you and sat up stiffly, shoulders pulled into yourself. The seatbelt dug uncomfortably into your thigh. Silently , you shifted, sliding on the smooth airplane seat, to free it. A few minutes passed in awkward silence as the rest of the passengers boarded. Your headphones were down in the bag you’d just squished under the seat. Was it really worth it to grab them now? Yes, you decided, leaning down to maneuver them out of your bag. The fluffy haired boy spoke across the seats. 

“Damian, I can’t get the app downloaded.” 

You sat back up slowly, chest constricting again. They did know each other. 

The boy in the window seat—Damian apparently—looked up from where his head had been bowed over a book. You couldn’t really make out the words scribbled in the margins, but both the text and the handwritten notes looked like something in the Arabic language family. He put his arm out and the other boy reached across you to place his phone into the outstretched hand. 

“You need to turn on your cellular data for the app store. There’s no internet here.” His voice was low in pitch and quiet. The kind people listened to. Window Seat Boy (it felt weird calling him Damian even if you knew his name) easily unlocked the phone—a red-cased, beat up iPhone—and started rifling through settings. 

The other boy turned his attention to you and you gave an awkward smile. 

“I kinda just realized that it’s probably really annoying to be in the middle of us so did you want to switch with me? Like so every time we talk to each other you’re not in the middle?” 

Your eyebrows raised in surprise. The offer was unexpected, but he looked genuine. You didn’t want to wait for him to potentially change his mind. 

“Yeah, um, that would be good—if you’re okay with that?” 

“Oh yeah I don’t care. I don’t fly like this often enough to have a seat preference. But sitting in the middle of two strangers would probably not be it.” 

Your response huff of involuntary laughter surprised you. He seemed sweet. Your guard dropped a little bit as he stood up in the now empty aisle to let you out. You pulled your bag out from under the seat in front of you and dropped both it and your jacket on the now vacated seat before sliding out and standing up yourself. 

“After you.” You gestured to the empty seat. He shot you a grin before maneuvering more awkwardly than you thought possible into the middle seat. 

“These are so cramped. How do people fly like this?” he muttered, then accepted his phone back from Window Seat Boy. You felt a smile tug at your lips, shoving your backpack under the seat as you sat back down.

“It’s the lack of legroom that gets me. There’s barely enough space for my bag, much less my feet.” 

Now, Middle Seat Boy turned to look at you. His eyes—shining from behind black rectangular frames—were a startling crystal blue. A smile spread across his face and you felt your chest squeeze for a different reason this time. You didn’t even have it in you to reprimand your brain; it really was a pretty smile. 

“Yeah I don’t get it. How is this supposed to be comfortable?” 

“It’s not supposed to be comfortable,” you said, “it’s supposed to make the airlines money.” 

There was a soft huff from Window Seat Boy and Middle Seat Boy’s grin widened. He extended his hand, elbow pressed awkwardly against his torso, before seemingly deciding against it and putting it back down. 

“I’m Jon. And this is Damian.” He gestured to the boy next to him, whose face was once again buried in his book. Damian—now using his name felt less like an intrusion and more like decent politeness—gave a brief nod as he was introduced. 

You stuck your hand out and Jon let out a small laugh as he took it. 

You appreciated that he repeated your name back to you when you gave it to him. Most people just barreled on with their misunderstood pronunciations. 

“Are you heading home?” Jon looked actually interested in your answer. 

You debated for a moment before deciding to be honest. There were over a million people living in Gotham.  

“Yeah, heading back. This is my connecting flight to get home. How about you guys?” 

Jon glanced back at Damian before answering. Damian stayed invested in his book. “He’s from Gotham and I’m going back with him so technically, yeah.” 

“Work trip? Or a personal one?” 

Jon opened his mouth then closed it without saying anything. “Kinda work yeah. We missed our,” he paused as if searching for a word, “original flight so now we’re here.” 

You nodded your head understandingly. 

“Oh that sucks. Hope you weren’t delayed too long.” 

Jon hesitated, wincing as he stretched out his left arm. 

“We weren’t, technically. Was hoping not to have to fly like this, though.” 

You shrugged. 

“This is my usual airline so I don’t have much to say about that.” 

Jon found that funnier than you expected, but you felt a smile crawl across your face as he laughed. The crackle of the intercom interrupted whatever he was about to say. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your pilot speaking. Thank you all for your patience this afternoon. As you know, weather delays kept the plane from arriving here on time and we are happy to finally have you on board. My apologies for the delay in takeoff. There’s been a slight mechanical issue, but we should get it all straightened out in the next twenty minutes so just sit tight. Thank you for your cooperation” 

You sighed heavily, eyes rolling.

“Of course there is.” 

Jon’s worried expression snapped to you. 

“What?” 

Your eyebrows scrunched down in confusion. 

“'What' what?” 

“You said 'of course there is'. Of course there’s what?”

You felt your shoulders relax. 

“Oh, another delay. Almost every plane I take on my own has some sort of delay. Like my last flight was an hour and fifteen minutes behind. And now this one. I just want to go home, you know? I’m exhausted.” 

Jon slumped in his chair. 

“Yeah, me too.” 

He looked exhausted, you realized, eyes decorated with underbags and body slouched into his seat. He was also wearing two sweaters, even though the plane was more warm than chilly. 

“Are you okay?” 

Jon shrugged, smiling. 

“I haven’t uh—I haven’t gotten enough sun recently but yeah.” 

You let out a small huh of understanding and looked out the window open across the aisle from you. It was dark out despite the fact that the sun hadn’t quite set. He wasn’t native to Gotham, you remembered. Cloudy days are the default there, but you knew a couple people who could never make it in Gotham just for that reason. 

It felt weird to put in your headphones and tune out the boy next to you now. Usually, you wouldn’t have thought twice, but you liked him and didn’t want to block him out. Instead, you tucked the headphones back in and pulled a craft project out of your bag, continuing the row of stitches you were on when you put it down at your first gate early in the morning. 

After a moment, you looked up to see Jon watching you. 

“Whatcha making?” He asked, eyes tracing the pattern of your project. You paused, hands stilling mid-stitch.

“Nothing specific really. Just something to pass the time. It’s a pattern I found online a little while back. I kinda enjoy the time on planes and the like that force me to not watch something. Even though technically there’s in-flight entertainment, there’s not too much I enjoy so I’d rather read or something, you know?” You completed the stitch, eyes flicking back to Jon as you tugged it tight. Jon’s head tilted to the side. You had to stop yourself from smiling at the movement. It was cute, a little bit like a puppy. 

“In-flight entertainment?” 

“Like movies and TV shows, whatever the airline puts on it. You didn’t know that?” Jon shook his head. “How often do you fly?” Jon’s eyes widened. For a moment you thought you’d offended him. “I’m not judging you or anything I just—”

“No! No, you didn’t. I don’t…take airplanes much.” 

“Ok well there’s a whole selection of movies on the app, if you have that. This plane has some TV channels,” you said, gesturing to his TV. It was streaming a basketball game, same as most of the others around you. You’d turned yours off before continuing on your project. A quick glance at Damian’s revealed that his was also turned off. “But there’s a better selection of stuff on the app and then you can connect your bluetooth or whatever headphones to your phone and watch with those.” You pulled your phone from your pocket, opening the app and navigating to the entertainment section. 

“See?” You hit the button for the ‘view all’ list and turned the phone to Jon. “You can’t do anything with it unless you’re on the plane but since we are, here it is.” 

Jon pulled out his phone and navigated to the same page you were on, then started scrolling down. 

“This one’s okay but I feel like I’ve seen it a thousand times.” He tilted the phone towards you, display open to a movie from a few months ago. 

“Oh, I meant to see that movie but never got to. Do you recommend it?” 

Jon returned to the main page and shrugged. 

“I think you can do better.” 

You smiled, stuffing your project back into your bag in favor of scrolling through the movie list yourself. 

“Let’s see what they’ve got.”

[battle-of-the-birds]

Remember to read about the contestants before voting!

American Woodcock

The Woodcock, also known as the timberdoodle, the hokumpoke, and the Labrador twister. They have a silly little dance that they do, moving back and forth in one position. This is theorized to be a way for the woodcock to attract worms to the surface, since worms are its primary diet. They’re more active at dawn and dusk. They have a spiraling flight pattern as a part of their mating display that makes a twittering sound as the air rushes past their wings. Learn More! Comedy

Kākāpō

Also known as the owl parrot, this large ground dwelling parrot is native to New Zealand. They are endangered, part of which comes down to their breeding requirements. They need to have a large amount of a certain type of berry in order to be ready for mating. When they do begin to breed, the males will puff themselves up like balloons and let out a large booming call to let females know where he is. Learn More! Comedy!

(Art by @tertain-the-original )

[usafphantom2]

On This Day In 1970 The Grumman F-14 Tomcat Made Its First Flight

December 21, 2019 Military Aviation

the first Full Scale Development (FSD) Grumman F-14A Tomcat (BuNo 157980) during its first flight in 1970. (Image credit: Grumman)

It’s the anniversary of Turkey’s first flight.

On Dec. 21, 1970, the first Full Scale Development (FSD) Grumman F-14A Tomcat (BuNo 157980) took off for its maiden flight from Grumman’s flight test centre at Calverton, on Long Island.

The poor weather conditions forced the two test pilots flying the first “Turkey” (as the aircraft would be later nicknamed), Grumman chief test pilot Robert K. Smyth and project test pilot William Miller, to cut the maiden flight, carried out a month ahead of the contracted data, short. However, in spite of the short duration of the flight (consisting in a few visual patterns with wing swept forward), the F-14 had taken to the air for the first time: the first of many flights in the U.S. until the last one conducted in 2006.

An F-14 with bomb markings earned during Operation Desert Fox in 1999, aboard USS Enterprise. The aircraft’s role evolved during the years and the F-14 also carried out the bomber mission in a variant also referred to as “Bombcat”. (Image credit: Author).

The F-14 BuNo 157980 took off for the second test flight on Dec. 30 with the two test pilots swapping their seats: Miller sat in the front cockpit and Smyth in the back. The second flight is quite famous in the story of the Tomcat, as the aircraft crashed due to hydraulic failure: a mishap that was caught on camera by a chase plane.

Ezoic

Here’s how we described that second sortie in a previous article we published here at The Aviationist:

It was during this flight that a chase plane noted that the Tomcat was leaving a trail of smoke: shortly thereafter the F-14 experienced a primary hydraulic system failure forcing Miller to head immediately back to base.

While they were preparing to land, the secondary hydraulic system also failed, due to the use of the emergency nitrogen bottle to lower the landing gear: once it failed, the crew tried to rely on the Combat Survival System which had to supply the power to the rudders and tailerons only.

However this last limited control system showed signs of failing as well, the pilot lost control all over the aircraft and the crew was forced to eject.

The breakdown was caused by a fatigue failure of both titanium main hydraulic lines due to a coincidence of pump resonance and a loose connector: ironically, the F-14’s hydraulic system was fixed by changing from titanium to stainless steel hydraulic lines only.

As you can see from footage (around 03:20 min), the crew ejected only few meters above the trees but, luckily, they suffered only minor injuries.

Sadly, Miller died on 30 June 1972 when its Tomcat crashed into Chesapeake Bay during preparation for an air display with the tenth FSD F-14 (BuNo 157989), while Smyth passed away this year.

Both Smyth and Miller contributed in bringing the last in a long tradition of Grumman Cats to life.

The F-14 is still flying in Iran.

About David Cenciotti

David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.

@theaviationist via X

[again-and-then]

Random Pride, Envy, Wrath Headcanons

just gonna do the main girls for this one, a few quick thoughts I've had on their personality as I've been working

Lute:

All Exorcists are given a purpose when they are created, which is usually just ‘to be an Exorcist’ but Lute and Vaggie were given unique purposes which is why they tend to be more impressive specimen. Lute's purpose was to be ‘The Perfect Soldier', a concept which defined much of her personality and skills.

Lute is by far the most physically capable of all known Exorcists with physical strength and durability to rival a lesser Overlord, though she is considered rather slow in terms of dexterity and flight speed

As part of being the perfect soldier, Lute is very quick to pick up new forms of combat and can become a master of any weapon or fighting style with minimal training time

In contrast, Lute is incredibly slow to pick up non-combat skills but her stubborn nature means she will dedicate years or even decades to master specific skills. Most of the skills she has cultivated were to suit Adam's interests as such she is a good singer, can play several varieties of string instruments and is unbeatable at the Royal Game of Ur (though she mostly lets Adam win)

Cooking is Lute's ultimate bane, in 256 years of life she has only mastered a single recipe 

Lute is not afraid of fire but grows increasingly uncomfortable around open flames for reasons she doesn't understand 

A good soldier should be especially perceptive in order to recognize threats, Lute has hawk like vision and is very good at picking up even the smallest details in the rush of combat. 

Despite her repeated insistence that she is not French, Lute does enjoy French cuisine. Her favorite type of cheese is Brie and though she's not particularly big on sweets she will fight someone over a Creme Brulee.

Her favorite kind of meat is venison, just not in the gross roadkill way Alastor eats it.

Charlie:

It's been touched on in the fic but Charlie actually has a pretty volatile temper that she struggles to control, which is why it's pretty common to see her true form poking through whenever she's upset.

Because of this temper, it's not unheard of for Charlie to get into fights if she gets really, really angry but she prefers to remain a pacifist as much as she can due to the fact that Charlie is deathly afraid of actually hurting or possibly killing someone if she loses control of her powers.

Charlie's primary form is what she believes to be the perfect blend of ‘almost human but not quite’ she wants Sinners to be comfortable around her and believes showing too much of her demonic traits would put them off. She is capable of looking fully human, but thinks it would remind Sinners too much of their past mortal lives.

Charlie adores human fantasy books and collects them. She finds the weird and unique ways that humans interpret magic and myth to be utterly fascinating and especially loves anything with a hopeful and uplifting tone, contrary wise she thinks Grimdark books are boring and dumb (she already live in Hell). She really wants to start a book club in the hotel.

Charlie was definitely a lot more of a spoiled princess in her late teen years, spending most of her time in the lower rings, enjoying the luxury of her family's wealth and position, partying with Demon nobility, and occasionally getting into trouble… definitely didn't have anything to do with her parents often being too busy with politics or personal projects and Charlie acting out to get attention or anything. These days Charlie dislikes this period of her past and regrets not becoming involved with trying to help the Sinners earlier.

Seviathan definitely encouraged this former side of Charlie and often brought out the worst in her.

Incredibly physically affectionate, Charlie loves giving and receiving public displays of affection and tends to try to spoil Vaggie with gifts whenever Vaggie let's her.

Vaggie 

At her creation, she was given the purpose ‘to be a Tactician’ because while Lute was an absolute machine in combat, even Adam had to admit her ability to organize the Exorcist Army was dogshit.

Vaggie is naturally inclined towards organization, can process information quickly and has excellent memory retention.

Vaggie is definitely the smart one

The duty of a tactician isn't to take the lead but rather to inform and advise. She rarely takes the initiative on projects and tends to gravitate towards the position of second in command.

Grade A nerd, but she hides it fairly well. Vaggie discovered Anime when it first came to be and has been an avid fan of the art form ever since. She used to watch it with Lute (who mostly just liked to watch the fights) and has since managed to convince Charlie to join her.

Used to really enjoyed Real Time Strategy games but now playing them makes her feel guilty about her role in the Exorcists, so she has managed to fill the void with City builders and business sim games

After her encounter with Carmilla, she learned that her natural dexterity translates really well into dance and visits the Overlord once a week for lessons.

In terms of strength, Vaggie is solidly average by Exorcist standards, making her only a bit stronger than a normal human but she makes up for this by being one of the fastest and most dexterous. Especially in terms of flight, Vaggie held records for her speed and maneuverability. This is why it was such a tragedy that Vaggie lost her wings, though with her new wings she is rapidly regaining her speed and actually thinks she might be able to surpass her top speed given some time and practice.

Very easily embarrassed by public affection, won’t say no but she blushes so hard you could use her like a flashlight

[epic-dragon-hell-99]

Fake (Ancient) dragon breed I made up based vaguely on this post; it didn't end up as simplistic as the original would imply (especially by Spore standards), and the suggestion of a dragon that's "all spikes and eyes" was difficult to resist. Nonetheless, I like how it turned out!

Decided to call them Lancet Dragons, after the prominent spine that more or less replaces a tail. The primary covers most of the body- although the belly's in a bit of an odd place, wrapping around the "lobes"; the secondary occurs around the neck and down the back, as well as on the frill and the lower proboscis.

More info + extra pics below the cut!

My drawing pad's drivers are screwy right now; that's part of why it doesn't quite look like most things I draw nowadays. To be fair, though, I'm rediscovering that thicker lines can be fun!

Design was influenced by various different organisms, most of which could be summarized by "some kind of worm or worm-like thing." However, I did give them a slightly anteater-like snout, if a stubby one; furthermore, while the first pair of eyes are more of a "general subterranean" look, the second were based more specifically off of the wrinkly-lidded lump eyes you see on, like, baby birds and occasionally lizards, and the third were kind of mudskipper-esque, kind of like a midpoint between a slug or snail and a frog. I imagine both of these larger pairs can be tucked into the head underground. Similarly, I imagine the proboscis as eversible, able to be "slurped" back into the mouth up to the mandibles, and the head likely tucks into the neck folds to some degree as well. The frill, of course, can be raised and lowered, much like the lizards' it's based off of.

For some bonus material, here's the artwork without the Smirch, as well as a .png copy of the base itself (since I accidentally drew it at 350x350px, instead of giving myself space for details):

In terms of lifestyle, I think these guys would be carnivores, but able to facultatively switch to a more plant-based diet by infesting dense roots (and mycelium, technically). Perhaps they could even inhabit the trunks of large trees? They'd mainly tunnel around in Plague's Pet Flesh Pit™, gnawing through rot and leeching nutrient-rich fluid from various pustules and venous structures. However, I imagine they could be mobilized as a devastating weapon against the ecology of any flight terrain with sufficient living biomass... Nature first and foremost.

I think their lore would revolve around having entered a sort of tardigrade-like vegetative state, somewhere between a deep hibernation and outright ceasing activity, only passively exchanging nutrients with their surroundings at most. This wouldn't be an unusual condition for them, though, but more a feature of the breed; an ability that lets them lay dormant for centuries at a time, like ancient bacteria trapped in permafrost. Normally, they would probably awaken when either a) conditions improved enough to support a higher metabolism, or b) they were forcefully excavated or otherwise injured. However, the whole breed probably could've burrowed deep into Plague territory and entered this state for the duration of the Plague-Nature truce, awakening when signaled to by the unrest at the surface. (I'm not sure if the timeline would line up, though...)

I imagine they don't usually fight, but their tail spines are used in self-defense when necessary, writhing about to wave them this way and that. (They probably have a decently nasty bite, too...) When it's not being used as a defensive feature (or perhaps an intimidating display), I imagine the tail spines are used to precision-inject their eggs into nutrient-dense locales, ovipositor-style. Maybe instead of traditional nests, they can form galls?

They aren't very big, probably around the size of a chunky Spiral. Furthermore, they'd probably have terrible vision, despite the tripled eye-count from standard breeds; it helps them see from more angles and gives them better depth perception (when aligned), but none of the eyes have particularly strong vision. This- plus the fact they have difficulty moving above ground, and tend to be ill-socialized in order to better share resources- means they have difficulty adapting to life with Modern clans. Not to mention they'd probably be agoraphobic to some degree, since they're so squishy.

They tend to like the dark, and often climb onto larger dragons in order to be carried around (and perhaps better simulate their natural habitat). However, they need to be taught not to opportunistically leech off of such dragons that accept this behavior, or at least to learn self-control; it's partially instinctive to parasitize their surroundings, but most dragons don't take kindly to getting nipped (much less to the very serious diseases they can carry).

That's about it for Lancet Dragons! This marks the second time I've made a full breed psd + gene mockup for a breed concept. Nowadays I'd probably consider the Ancient symbol a stylized Sandsurge, although I don't think it was designed as such. I still think Quakesteps were a cool concept, though! (Funny enough, both of these guys have alternate Secondary placements as opposed to wings. I feel like there's a lot of possibilities there that the FR team hasn't really delved into yet!)

[nocternalrandomness]

Glass cockpit - Dassault Falcon 7X

[hihopelessromantics]

Fantasy Tails

Messing around with magical biology with some rough sketches and lore :) Tagging some who might be interested :3

@librathefangirl @zorria @7-ratsinatrenchcoat @theprinceofliones @stvrlightthearts

Demon

Another take on the traditional (?) demon tail! The heart on the end protects the demon's retractable, venomous (or just very pointy) barb.

Tails, venomous and nonvenomous, are used for balance, especially while the demon is maneuvering in mid-air. whether they are jumping or flying. flight. They're deceptively strong even though their mechanisms seem delicate and the fluff covering them doesn't appear as tough as the rest of the demon's skin. A younger demon’s tail reaches full size before they reach their adult height. Coloration depends on the demon’s primary colors, including features like hair, eyes, teeth, skin, and tongue.

Tail venom develops during late adolescence- an evolutionary process that serves two purposes. One, that the baby and toddler cannot injure its parents, itself, or its other potential packmates with a potent and uncontrolled poison. Second, that the toxin may adapt to whatever might suit the demon best as it grows. Environmental conditions are thought to play a direct role. High-level demon venom has no ‘antidote’ because it, structurally, is one-of-a-kind; antivenom would require an (albeit slightly) different formula even between identical twins. There are three official categories this venom can fall into: defensive, offensive, and constructive. Some demons will inject their venom into themselves or other demons on a circumstantial basis to help, not harm! A few toxins specifically adapt to treat a temporary condition their demon frequently suffers from- for instance, to treat extreme insomnia or muscle cramps, to dissolve abscesses from the inside, or to reset one of the body’s natural cycles. Level of toxicity can fluctuate throughout the demon’s lifetime.

Goddess

Goddesses’ legs are built for flight - not just for landing - they are very strong! 

Feathers all along the tail can fan out and adjust individually, though, of course, the tail end has the most maneuverability. For potion recipies requiring the physical essence of a goddess feather, it is not usually specified whether it need be a tail or wing feather. Instead, the recipe will reference a specific altitude or bloodline. The wings and tails of goddesses contain special adaptations per their homeland and family line. A feather separated from the body of some goddess species becomes serrated and sharp like a blade, for instance, and these contain a potent defensive energy. Coloration also depends on place of origin and closely resembles that of the wings. 

While aiming for the wings is considered a legitimate battle tactic, aiming for the tail is considered an extreme insult and foul play, a sentiment largely reciprocated and respected by the Demon Clan. 

Fairy

The creatures known as fairies / fae / faerie display immense biological and magical diversity and that's fascinating to work with, so I added them to the list for funsies.

A fairy’s tail begins as a simple prehensile limb and grows into a symbol of the fairy’s power as they mature. In their base form, tails are most often used in dancing and in daily nonverbal communication. Fully awakened fairies’ tails transform in the likeness of their wings, sprouting insect-like appendages which greatly increase the speed and maneuverability of the fairy’s flight. For those of the highest ability, it becomes near-impossible to disorient them or to knock them from the air.

Some examples I thought up!

[strangeduckpaper]

E136: Kryptonian Headcanons, pt. 2. Notes on Culture

Putting it below a break, because it gets long.

Additional Fashion

Major cultural aesthetics include ornate headdresses styled after animalistic features for women, headbands for men, and for the Houses, their Symbols.

The Symbols

The symbols/glyphs come in a variety of shapes that display different intention, sort of like punctuation marks. Squares, for example, are a relatively simple identifier, declaring affiliation to the house by non-members (employees, sworn servants), and an indication of lineage by House members who've dedicated themselves to a Guild, essentially putting their job before their family without disowning themselves. Other shapes include ovals (Secular), roundels (used by the guilds), rectangles (ceremonial) and triangles (religious)

And then their is the quintessential shield, which is essentially an exclamation point, the loud and proud declaration of who you are and where your loyalties lie. Other shapes are oftentimes depicted within the shield, but full shield symbols are reserved for members of the Noble Houses and their bodysuits.

The Bodysuits

Bodysuits are possibly the quintessential Kryptonian invention, chainmail, tabard and hazard suit all rolled into one. They are the most obvious showcase of their biotech, with Kryptonian DNA built into the fabric, which, incidentally, makes them as durable as Kryptonians themselves under a yellow sun and gives them limited self healing. Noble houses go a step above by having and individual member's bodysuit made with their DNA specifically. Most come with bio magnetic hardpoints to attach accessories (Capes, Skirts, Togas, Coats), armour, and technology.

Technology and The Phantom Zone

Speaking of Kryptonian tech, it can be very...consumptive, including an odd form of biotech grey goo that can repurpose pretty much anything into Kryptonian crystal tech, such the failed research ship that would become the Fortress of Solitude.

And then there is Phantom Zone tech.

A result of research into alternate dimensions, they found a spectrum of alternate space. The Phantom Zone itself is connected to the Speed Force and the Spiritual Realm in a very complicated way that I'm too tired to explain in this post.

To put it simply, the Phantom Zone is comparable to the Warp from Warhammer 40k. Layers of it can be used to drastically shorten the travel time between two points in space, while the deeper layers seem to be stripped of the concept of entropy itself, (except for that of the minds contained within).

First it was thought to be a possible "life preserver" but aforementioned torturous mental effects had it quickly repurposed into a prison dimension, while it's use as an FTL engine was shelved indefinitely following the first manned craft being Dutchmanned upon its initial flight to a nearby star system (Earth) for a research trip.

The reason to turn the Phantom Zone into a prison can partially be laid at the feet of Krypton's primary religion, Raoism.

[aut2imagineart]

This installation of my Pangea Ultima project features some mammals that would live in the mountains. To recap, the mammals of Pangea Ultima are from a group of rodents called the Ashbreathers which evolved during a period of major volcanic/geological activity which resulted in them developing multi-slit nostrils for filtering out the air. Anyway, here are the mammal species showcased.

Mountain Ashbreather: the most common mammal species in the mountains and one of the primary herbivores in their environment, the Mountain Ashbreathers are guinea-like rodents with long legs ending in hooves for transferring steep cliffs and rocky terrain. The males are larger than the females, boasting thick, brightly colored manes for display and intimidation as well as enlarged dewclaws for defense.

Gargoyle Ashbreather: Resembling a wingless bat, the Gargoyle Ashbreather is a predator that specializes in hunting spiders like Leopard Tarantulas. Their long forearms and claws allow them to attack prey without getting to close and risking venomous bites. In case prey does get close, Gargoyle Ashbreathers evolved tough skin similar to honey badgers for defense. Though incapable of flight, they do have flaps of skin between their limbs to slow their decent if jumping from a high location.

Shield-Nose Ashbreather: These mole-like rodents are omnivores that feed on roots as well as small invertebrates they come across. Mostly blind, they are heavily dependent on their sense of smell and the thick structure formed around their faces are used to push out any predators that try to enter their burrows.

As always, comments and critiques are welcome.

[pleistocene-pride]

Gallus gallus better known as the red jungle fowl, the bankiva, the wild chicken, or the bankiva fowl, is a species of tropical bird in the family Phasianidae which is native throughout much of south east asia from India, Nepal and Bangladesh in the west, and eastwards across southern China, to Indochina; south/southeast into Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Red junglefowl are also the primary wild ancestor of the various breeds of domestic chickens, with humans first keeping and domesticating these birds some 8,0000 years ago. As such like its domestic descendants, was brought with and introduced to various regions across the world most notably Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia, and Polynesia. Here they inhabit all range of forests and woodlands as well as plantations, orchards, and agricultural areas. They live in flocks consisting of a few roosters and several hens and there offspring, often lead by a dominant male who maintains a small territory often centered around ideal roosting spots. They feed upon fruit, seeds, insects and other invertebrates, grains, leaves, stems, bamboo, grasses, roots, tubers, and the occasional small rodent or lizard. Jungle fowl are in turn eaten by a plethora or predators including various cats, civets, canines, primates, hyenas, lizards, snakes, crocodilians, coconut crabs, bears, marsupials, and predatory birds. Female red jungle fowl typically reach around 2.25lbs (1kg) in weight and 17 inches (43.2 cms) in length, while males can get to about 3.25 (1.5kg) in weight and 30 inches (76.2cms) in length. The males coloration is a vibrant mix of orange, brown, red, gold, grey, white, olive and even metallic green feathers. In contrast females are typically much more muted in plumage. Males also sport a long tall and larger combs and wattles than females. Flight in these birds is almost purely confined to reaching their roosting areas at sunset in trees or any other high and relatively safe places free from ground predators, and for escape from immediate danger through the day. Breeding occurs in the dry season, during which time males impress females by performing a display called "tidbitting" in which they dance, call, bobble, and brings the female food. After mating the female will lay an egg a day, for up to 12 days, and incubate them for 21 days until hatching. The young fledge at around 5 weeks of age, and at 12 weeks they are forced out of there mothers flock and must set off to join another or form there own. Under ideal conditions a red jungle fowl will reach sexual maturity at around 5 months of age and may live up to 30 years.