#SLM

[arcane-vagabond]

Stranger Like Me: Prologue

Stranger Like Me: Prologue

Pairing: Dr. Jack Abbot x Reader

Summary: From a young age, the animal kingdom had fascinated you, and maybe that's why you chose to pursue that passion. You quickly became a force within the field, becoming the leading expert on ape social structures, which is how you found yourself on an expedition into the African jungles searching for a troop of gorillas. What you weren't expecting, however, was to run into the local wild man on one of your excursions... (Tarzan!AU)

Content Warnings: Talk of loneliness, Inaccurate scientific descriptions and terminology, Flirty Frank, Allusions to loss of parents, Talk of reintegrating someone into society. I think that's it, but please let me know if I missed something!

Word Count: 1,389

Series Masterlist || Main Masterlist

You had a running theory that there were two types of people in this world: plant people and animal people. You? You were most definitely an animal person. Growing up, you visited the zoo frequently, the employees practically knowing you by name. You did your best to memorize as many facts as you could about the different animals in each exhibit, knowing from an early age that you wanted to work with animals for the rest of your life.

You’d spend hours at the primate exhibits, watching the way the different apes and monkeys interact with each other, and you wished you could fast forward to the moment where you got to study it day in and day out.

So, you worked hard, graduating high school with honors before moving on to study zoology in undergrad, and then skipping straight to your doctorate program after that. It had been a long, grueling road that left little time for much else, but it was your passion, and once you had been greeted with the title of “doctor,” you knew it had all been worth it.

That didn’t stop your bouts of loneliness though. While your friends all went out to party, you were usually found with your nose buried in a book. And it wasn’t like you wanted to go out partying, but it still hurt when your friends stopped asking.

And then there was Frank Langdon, your handsome best friend of several years who knew he looked good and never failed to own it. The two of you had met in the early days of undergrad, having been partnered up in a biology lab, and you had hit it off immediately. Jake wasn’t interested in primates, his focus turned towards botany of all things, but he loved to tease you about your love of great apes.

“A cute girl like you studying monkeys?” He had chuckled with a shake of his head, bright, blue eyes glimmering with mischief. “You must have had a wild fascination with Boots the monkey, huh?”

“First of all, peabrain,” you scowled at him, fighting back the smile that threatened to take over your face as his jaw dropped, “I study apes, not monkeys. Second of all, my fascination with Boots is none of your business.”

“Whatever you say, Boots.”

And the nickname had stuck. It followed you through undergrad and all the way through to your now budding career as one of the leading researchers in gorilla social structures. Which is also how you found yourself invited to the North Island Research Camp in the Republic of the Congo.

The camp wasn’t some grand research center, but it was well respected amongst the scientific community for gathering the most up-to-date research and hands-on experiences between researchers and local fauna. The camp was run by Dr. Michael Robinavitch and Dana Evans, both legends within the field and rarely opening up their camp to other researchers. You had been thrilled to receive the invitation, and even more thrilled when you found out that Frank had also received an invitation to the camp to continue his research on tropical plants.

The two of you had made plans to fly out of New York at the same time, even choosing to stay at his place the night before your flight.

“The early bird gets the worm, Boots!” He chirped, loading up the trunk of the Uber with your luggage. How he was so cheerful at three in the morning was beyond you.

“I don’t even think the worms are awake,” you had muttered, earning a snicker.

The flight to your destination was uneventful, choosing to catch up on some of your reading as well as sleep for the majority of the flight. The two of you were greeted by a timid, young man once you departed the plane, his demeanor relaxed but his face shy as he helped you with your bags.

“I’m Dennis,” he said, loading the back of his jeep with your belongings. “You can just call me Whitaker, though. Everyone else does. I’m helping out Robby and Dana with their research. The other researchers are already at the camp. They got here about a month ago.”

“Robby?” You asked him, hopping into the front seat of the car as Frank clambered into the back.

“Yeah,” Whitaker nodded, already making his way through the city and towards the jungle. “Dr. Robinavitch prefers it if you call him that, actually. Says it saves time, though I don’t know if you can really waste time out here.”

“Who’re the other researchers?” Frank asked, eyes scanning the crowds of people as the jeep zoomed towards the edge of the city.

“Yeah, uh,” Whitaker stuttered, narrowly veering out of the way of a cart. “There’s, uh, Victoria Javadi. Her research focuses on ants and their effect on nutrient cycling and seed dispersal. Then you have Trinity Santos who’s doing research on the impact of big game hunters on the ecosystem. Then we have Melissa King and her research into termite colonies.”

“Mel’s gonna be there?” Frank asked, leaning forward with a grin. You rolled your eyes at him. Mel and Frank almost went as far back as you two did, having first met in a chemistry course his junior year and her freshman of college. While you and Frank had gone to the same university for your doctorate programs, Mel had ventured elsewhere, making a name for herself within the world of entomology. The two together were almost insufferable.

“You two better behave,” you groused, settling into your seat with a glare in his direction.

“Boots,” he gasped, placing a hand over his heart in faux hurt, “I am absolutely shocked that you think we would be anything other than complete professionals.”

“Don’t give me that crap,” you snapped, turning to face Bob who glanced at you two wearily. “Those two are going to be a nightmare, I’m just warning you now.”

“I’m almost afraid to ask,” he chuckled.

The three of you settled into a comfortable conversation as Whitaker continued to drive towards the camp, the jungle becoming denser the longer he went. Soon, the sun was hidden behind the canopy, and you got the sense that you were truly in the wild.

“Are you sure about this, Dana,” Robby hummed, hands clasped firmly in front of him as he eyed his fellow researcher. Dana spared him a smile, running a hand through her hair as she sat on the bench opposite her companion.

“He’s been on his own for decades, Robby,” Dana grimaced, glancing into the trees. “He deserves to know companionship beyond just us.”

“He has Whitaker.”

“He deserves more than just three other people in his life,” she amended, rolling her eyes. “We’re lucky we found him when we did, otherwise I’m not sure he would have survived much longer on his own. Besides, he’s growing more and more curious, and I think it’ll be good for him to meet new people. Let him learn about the world.”

Robby hummed at that. Of course, Dana had a point. They couldn’t keep the man isolated for forever. He was already butting heads more and more with the troop leader and spending more nights in the observation tower as a result. It also wasn’t like Robby wanted to keep him isolated for selfish reasons. No, quite the opposite in fact. The man had spent most of his life right there in the jungle, never having contact with another human being until the two researchers had opened up the research camp once more twenty five years before.

And that’s what had Robby so apprehensive. The man had little to no experience with humans, and what he did have was from the time spent with the two researchers who weren’t exactly the greatest of company at the best of times. How would he react to a camp full of people younger than him? Would it be too much?

“Jack is smart, Robby,” Dana continued, knocking her knuckles against the table. “He’s already been asking questions about the people in the movies and photos he sees. He wants to know about the outside world. Let’s let him have that chance.”

Robby didn’t answer. Instead, he sighed, leaning back in his chair. This would be good for Jack. It had to be.

A/N: posted this today as a treat for @baezen my beloved lol Let’s see if it’s as popular this time as it was with the TGM fandom…

As always, reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated. I no longer do taglists, so if you would like to be notified on when I post, please follow my sideblog ( @arcanevagabond-library ) and turn on post notifications! You can find me and my works on AO3 under the username arcane_vagabond. Until next time!

[izloveshorses]

Will wonders never cease?

[yakamoz-cirkini46]

Bennn geldimmmmm🙂🙂

[rabidbatboy]

VOORHEAN: slasherval loving men / SLM

TIFFANIC: slasherval loving women / SLW

LENZIC: slasherval loving nonbinary / SLN

TAGGING: @radiomogai @juvelic-archive @orientation-archive

🧼 ——— COINED BY ME

[rikaklassen]

Excited about the new Streetlight Manifesto album.

Oh my god, SLM hasn't released an album since 2013. Holy shit. So excited.

[yourgzslupa]

Bişeyler sonuç verecek gibi bakalimmmmM😉✊

[june-gdprototyping]

The Commonly Used Metal 3D Printing Materials

Metal 3D printing uses a variety of metal powders, wires, and even liquid resins infused with metal. Almost any metal can be 3D printed, from stainless steel to nickel-based alloys, and in practice, about 8 are most commonly used. The most common question about metal 3D printing is: Will the final part have the same mechanical properties as a machined, moulded or forged metal part? The answer is yes, and sometimes even better mechanical quality, but it depends a lot on the metal 3D printing technology you use, the type of feedstock used, post-processing and the shape of the part. In addition, the comparison depends on the aspects you are concerned about: for example, tensile strength, static load strength, high cycle fatigue, and so on.

In general, the material properties of metal parts made by metal bond jetting are equivalent to those of metal parts produced by metal injection moulding, and it is one of the most widely used manufacturing methods for the mass production of metal parts. These 8 metal alloys below are just the beginning of what is possible today as metal material producers continue to push the boundaries and customize metal alloys for specific needs using specific metal 3D printing technologies.

1.Stainless Steel Feature: All-round Stainless steel is not the material most commonly used in 3D printing, but many alloy varieties. The first two are 316L and 17-4 PH, but also 304L, 15-5 PH, 420, 254, PH1, GP1, 630, and 410 can be printed, as well as custom blends produced by material manufacturer. These steels are specifically designed to resist corrosion. They are a lightweight and affordable metal that is ideal for 3D printing. This is because it is faster and cheaper than traditional methods and can print small batches and complex parts. 3D printing is the preferred option for companies that need a single tool or several replacement parts. Stainless steel can be used in almost any type of 3D printing, from economical wire for extruded 3D printing on benchtop machines to powder for binder jetting and laser powder bed fusion, and even resin.

2.Tool Steel Feature: High hardness, good wear resistance Tool steels, like stainless steels, come in different varieties with different tensile strengths, ductility, hardness and other properties. Tool steels are a variety of alloy steels designed specifically for the manufacture of tools. They are known for their hardness, wear resistance and ability to hold a cutting edge at high temperatures. This 3D printing steel is commonly used in the manufacture of injection mould inserts, aerospace components, military applications, manufacturing tools, as well as construction and architecture. The main advantage of 3D printed tool steel is not only its strength, but also its unique ability to create parts with internal channels (e.g. cooling channels in moulding tools) and lattice fillings that cannot be manufactured by traditional methods.

3.Low-Alloy Steel All 3D printing steels are alloys, but this category includes steels with low or less than 5 per cent of other elements. These low alloy steels are designed to have higher mechanical properties and greater resistance to wear and corrosion than other steels which are commonly used in automotive, aerospace and structural applications.

4.Aluminum Feature: Lightweight and corrosion resistant For aerospace, automotive and industry, the design freedom and cost efficiency of 3D printing further enhances the lightweight and chemical resistance of aluminum components. The use of aluminum and aluminum alloys in 3D printing is surging because the metal is economical and easy to 3D print. Like most metals, aluminum can be used as wire or powder for a variety of 3D printing techniques. Aluminium has good chemical resistance, is very light and has one of the best strength-to-weight ratios of any metal. Combined with silicon and magnesium, it is the choice of many in the aerospace and automotive industries because of its ability to withstand harsh conditions.

5.Titanium Feature: Lightweight and biocompatible As strong as steel but half the weight, titanium is a complex metal that is practically made for 3D printing. Titanium has become one of the most commonly used metals in additive manufacturing, with a wide range of applications in aerospace, joint replacement and surgical tools, racing car and bicycle frames, electronics and other high-performance products. Titanium and titanium-based alloys offer high mechanical strength, high strength-to-weight ratios and better corrosion resistance than stainless steel. It makes rockets and aircraft lighter, thus saving fuel and increasing payload capacity. In the medical industry, 3D printed titanium implants have been successfully used in the spine, hips, knees and extremities due to the inherent biocompatibility and good mechanical properties of the metal, coupled with the ability to customize porous structures with 3D printing, allowing for osseointegration and mass customization for better patient outcomes.

6.Copper Feature: Electrical and thermal conductivity 3D printing using pure copper and space-age copper alloys is available with a range of metal 3D printers and services. You can create rapid copper prototypes using copper filament on an FDM 3D printer and large copper rocket boosters using copper alloys on a laser powder bed fusion 3D printer. There is also copper wire and copper resin for micro 3D printing. In fact, copper plays a huge role in the global sustainable development goals as a key component of electric motors, charging infrastructure, solar energy and batteries.

7.Nickel Alloy Feature: Extreme environments resistant Nickel-based alloys and "high-temperature alloys" are known for their excellent high-temperature strength, corrosion and oxidation resistance. These alloys retain their strength and mechanical properties at high temperatures. They are commonly used in demanding applications such as aerospace, gas turbines, chemical processing and marine environments. In recent years, these alloys have also become increasingly popular in 3D printing, especially in the aerospace and automotive industries. When referring to nickel alloys, you may hear the term inconel. Inconel is the trade name for a range of nickel-chromium-based high-temperature alloys, including IN625, IN718 and IN939. Nickel alloys are generally more expensive than other materials such as steel and aluminium and may not be suitable for low temperature applications.

8.Cobalt Chrome Feature: High temperature and corrosion resistance 3D printed cobalt chrome has a high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent corrosion resistance, making it a good material choice for aerospace components and industrial machinery. It is also biocompatible and is often used in orthopaedic implants, dental prosthetics and medical devices that require long-term contact with biological tissue. Cobalt-chromium alloys can be processed using additive manufacturing techniques such as selective laser melting (SLM) or electron beam melting (EBM). This allows complex geometries and customized parts to be produced with minimal material waste, making it attractive to industries adopting advanced manufacturing techniques.

To sum up, metal 3D printing uses a wide range of metal powders and wires, including stainless steel, tool steel, etc. to print complex parts with superior mechanical properties. Commonly used metals in 3D printing include aluminum, titanium, copper, nickel alloys, tool steel, cobalt-chromium alloys, stainless steel for aerospace, medical and jewellery applications and more.

[kainekron]

you know one thing i appreciate form all of the late cosmere stuff we are getting form Sanderson is that it could hopefully help us and more importantly him any problems that pop up because of it and learn to adjust them properly maybe hopefully

[arcane-vagabond]

Stranger Like Me Masterlist

Pairing: Dr. Jack Abbot x Reader

Summary: From a young age, the animal kingdom had fascinated you, and maybe that's why you chose to pursue that passion. You quickly became a force within the field, becoming the leading expert on ape social structures, which is how you found yourself on an expedition into the African jungles searching for a troop of gorillas. What you weren't expecting, however, was to run into the local wild man on one of your excursions... (Tarzan!AU)

Series CW: Language, Inaccurate science jargon, Inaccurate field jargon, Poaching, Animal Cruelty, Inaccurate Climate Depictions, Wild Man who doesn't know much, Wild Man in the big city, Exploitation, Corporate Greed, Smut, Fluff, Angst, Violence. Individual chapters will have their own warnings.

All posts related to this series will be tagged with "SLM," "Stranger Like Me," and/or "Tarzan!Jack”.

*Denotes Smut

Main Masterlist || Jack Abbot Masterlist || Blog Rules || Writing Rules

Series;

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two (Coming Soon)

Drabbles;

Nothing to see here yet…

[cripple-punk-dad]

any punk music recommendations?

Anything by Streetlight Manifesto is phenomenal!! They're a ska punk band so it's a little different than punk rock but I love their stuff. As for punk rock, my favorite band is gonna be Pure Hell, their album noise addiction is fantastic. I made another post about music recommendations, it should be under #punk music on my blog!

[mg549]

never posted these but have some doodles of slm tail redesigns

my handwriting is illegible but basically i wanted to incorporate the shape of the og finis mermaid monofin (bc iconic) with shark-like shapes but with fish-like details then have each use the same sort of base shapes but each with slight variations that match their Vibes (brenna’s tail is longer and sleeker, amy’s is more rounded, and kelsey’s is sharp and pointed (like ice get it)). i also wanted to incorporate three colors into each for more Detail so brenna’s is yellow with red fins and orange stripes (a callback to her og rainbow striped tail), amy’s is pink, light blue, and dark blue on the back (like countershading! and also a callback to all three of her tails throughout the series), kelsey’s is green with yellow fins and a blue lateral line (callback to her necklace being yellow and dark blue bc Ice). i was wanting to do a Piece to show them off but idk if thats gonna happen so fhdsbgfkdj Take These Thumbnails

[drakey-wakey]

streetlight patch idea ramblings under the cut bc this got long

i have an idea cooking in my brain for a somewhere in the between back patch that i think would be fucking wicked

unfortunately all my fav streetlight lyrics are SOOOOO LONG i worry it would make for an awkward patch like. most lyric patches i see have like 2 line lyrics and im out here like i cant cut any lines off these lyrics or it wouldn't HIT THE SAME !!!

like fr all my cool streetlight patch ideas are so long im worried itll be awkward or not look right with all the words but like !!!!!!! i need them. the quotes

i wanna do the sitb chorus

"so you were born, and that was a good day,

someday you will die and that is a shame

but somewhere in the between,

you lived a life of which we all dream

and nothing and no-one will ever take that away"

im thinking that with like a baby deer corpse with mushrooms growing out of it would be neat or something like that bc i am a mushroom freak

the other one i rly wanna do is a the hands that thieve chorus quote

"I dont care if i lose, because my heros did too,

they shouted court should be adjourned because the jury are fools

and the judge can't decipher

his left from his right

or his right from his wrong"

like MAN what a baller quote that would be for a back patch

anyways lmk if anyone has suggestions or input on this hehe

[sudharsan545]

Her Day

Birthdays are special, not just because they mark another year of life, but because they show who truly values you. The way someone treats you on your birthday speaks volumes about their feelings. If they make an effort to celebrate, surprise you, or even send a heartfelt message, it shows they genuinely care.On the other hand, if someone ignores your birthday or barely acknowledges it, it might…

[arcane-vagabond]

Stranger Like Me: Chapter One

Stranger Like Me: Chapter One

Pairing: Dr. Jack Abbot x Reader

Summary: From a young age, the animal kingdom had fascinated you, and maybe that's why you chose to pursue that passion. You quickly became a force within the field, becoming the leading expert on ape social structures, which is how you found yourself on an expedition into the African jungles searching for a troop of gorillas. What you weren't expecting, however, was to run into the local wild man on one of your excursions... (Tarzan!AU)

Content Warnings: Talk of murder, Talk of infant abandonment, The Pitt crew being the Pitt crew. Think that covers it, but let me know if I missed anything!

Word Count: 3,073

Series Masterlist || Main Masterlist || Writing Info || Blog Rules

The camp was situated in the middle of the dense jungle, various large tents surrounding the edges of the clearing with a couple of makeshift huts standing on the far side. It wasn’t a grand research facility by any means, but you still found yourself excited as you climbed out of the jeep, Frank and Whitaker not far behind you. You took a few steps forward, marveling at the canopy above you, the shadows of some birds circling before careening off further into the jungle.

Whitaker handed off the last of the luggage to Frank, leading the two of you towards the camp. Each tent seemed to house different equipment, and you could see the various scientific instruments as you passed by.

“We like to keep the work separate from the play,” Whitaker explained as the equipment tents gave way to what looked like living quarters. One of the tent flaps pulled back, revealing a pretty woman with glasses. Her eyes lit up at the sight of your little group, and a smile tugged on her lips.

“Oh, I guess they just invited anybody to come and work here, huh?” She joked, stepping out and walking up to you. You let out a laugh as you rolled your eyes playfully, quickly wrapping the woman up in your arms.

“It’s good to see you too, Mel,” you laughed, pulling away so that she could wrap Frank in a matching hug.

“It’s good to see you, Mel. How long’s it been?” Frank asked, clasping her on the shoulder as the two broke apart.

“Been at least a year this August. Mike’s wedding, remember?”

“That’s right! Man, remember when his best man-”

“If you two are finished,” you drawled, crossing your arms and giving them a pointed look. “I’d like to continue with the tour and find out which tent is mine.”

They both gave you sheepish looks before Whitaker gestured for you to follow. He led you to a smaller grouping of tents that surrounded a fire pit, various pots with pleasant aromas sitting atop the grill as they steamed and bubbled. You spotted two people sitting at one of the tables, and their heads perked up when they noticed you. One was all warmth, her bright, blonde hair pulled back into a bun and blue eyes sparkling as she rose to greet you. The other was more stoic, his own eyes holding a sense of curiosity as they took your group in.

“We weren’t expecting you so soon,” the woman greeted, shaking your hand before moving to Frank. “Dinner isn’t quite ready.”

“No worries,” Frank shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Boots and I had a late lunch.”

“Boots?” The man questioned, turning a bemused smile towards you. You rolled your eyes and shot Frank a glare before giving him your name.

“I’m the primatologist,” you explained, earning a knowing nod from the man. “It’s so nice to meet you Dr. Evans and Dr. Robinavitch.”

“You can just call me Robby,” the man said with a half smile as the woman grinned.

“Well, I’m not technically a doctor,” the woman laughed. “But I’m Dana Evans. You can just call me Dana.”

“Not technically a doctor?” Frank asked, an eyebrow raised as he regarded her.

“I think a lot of people just assume I’ve earned one since I follow Robby over here around everywhere,” Dana smiled, nodding her head over at Dr. Robby. “But I never completed a doctorate or anything. That’s all him.”

“We keep her around to fix the generators and various other gadgets,” Dr. Robby chuckled, moving to stand. His grip was firm as he shook your hand, and you got the sense that he was the more stern and grumpy of the two. “We won’t keep you though. Whitaker, why don’t you show Boots here to her tent and Mel can help Frank get situated. You two must be tired after all that traveling.”

“That would be great, actually,” you smiled, already following after Whitaker towards the opposite side of the clearing. Another large tent stood a little ways away from everything, but not too far to where it would be a problem if anything were to happen, which you certainly hoped it wouldn’t.

“It’s a little ways away from everyone else, but we can move it closer if you want. This one was serving as a makeshift storage area until we found out you were coming,” Whitaker explained when you gave him a questioning look, drawing back one of the tent flaps to step inside. You followed suit, gazing around at the open space. A simple twin bed was pushed against the far wall, just sturdy enough to be considered permanent, or at least serve as a long-term accommodation. A desk was pushed on the opposite side of the tent, a simple shelf standing next to it, and you could see the wires running out of the tent to connect with the generator that sat closer towards the rest of the camp.

“I know it’s not much,” Whitaker said, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked over at you, “but we tried to make it a little nicer for you.”

“It’s wonderful, Whitaker, really,” you smiled, moving further into the tent to put your luggage down. “It’s more than enough for me. I’m touched you all thought to go this far.”

“It was Dana’s idea, actually,” he admitted. You nodded, making a mental note to thank the older researcher.

“I’ll leave you to it, then,” he hummed, giving you a small wave as he exited the tent, securing the flap open behind him. You made quick work of rolling up the blinds to the makeshift windows of your tent, allowing for the natural lighting to filter in through the mesh screens. You found several tubs for you to place your things in, quickly unpacking and placing them under your bed.

A strange feeling overcame you, like eyes on the back of your neck, and you looked around to see if one of the others had crept up behind you while you weren’t paying attention. You frowned when you saw no one, stepping closer towards the exit as you peered into the jungle. You didn’t see anything, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t anything there. You quickly pulled the flap shut. Whatever was out there would at least have to try and get at you now.

The sun had set, the fire casting a warm glow of orange around the camp as the generators powered the various lamps surrounding the outskirts of the camp. Dana was dishing out what looked to be some kind of curry mixture onto different plates, handing you one as you joined everyone near the fire pit.

“It’s not much,” she started, “but I wouldn’t say I’m the worst cook.”

“Don’t let her fool you,” Trinity Santos smirked through her bite of food. “She’s a woman of many talents.”

“She really is,” Victoria Javadi nodded, the younger woman eagerly accepting a bowl from Dana. You watched as the other two women practically inhaled their bowls, and you took a tentative bite, an explosion of flavor bursting on your tongue as you chewed.

“This is really good, Dana!” You exclaimed, shoveling another spoonful into your mouth.

“And that’s the other reason we keep her around,” Robby joked from his spot at the table. You chuckled as Frank plopped down next to you, bumping your shoulder with his.

“How’s your tent?” He asked, a smirk on his face as he took a bite of his food, humming pleasantly at the taste.

“It’s fine,” you shrugged, taking a sip of the water Bob handed you before taking his own seat across the fire. “It’s cozy. What about yours?”

“I’m bunking with Robby and Whitaker,” he replied, casting you a sly grin. “But if you’re lookin’ for a roommate-”

“Absolutely not,” you snorted. Frank sighed, a look of fake hurt on his face as you rolled your eyes.

“You would really make all three of us sleep in the same tent while you get one all to yourself?” He asked you, mirth shining in his blue eyes.

You tapped your chin, pretending to think about your answer.

“Yes,” you nodded. “Yes, I would. Besides, you’d probably just stink up the place.”

Frank let out an indignant squawk as Whitaker, and Victoria laughed at him. Whitaker cast a look over at Dana who was placing the lid back on the pot.

“Are you going to leave any out for Jack?”

“Who’s Jack?” You asked, looking between the two. Dana sat down across from Robby, letting out a sigh as she relaxed into the chair.

“Jack,” Trinity grinned, waggling her eyebrows at you, “is the wild man who lives in the jungle.”

“Be serious,” you scoffed, scowling at her.

“It’s true!” She exclaimed, looking at Whitaker for assistance. “He comes by the camp sometimes! Think I’ve seen him maybe five times since being here?”

“He’s around a lot more than you think,” Robby smirked, eyes cast towards the foliage of the jungle. “Those are just the times he’s let you see him.”

“Is he dangerous?” You asked, shifting a little closer towards Frank, but everyone shook their heads.

“Nah,” Trinity sniffed. “He’s just a loner. Comes by when he wants food or needs stitched up.”

“Why doesn’t he just stay here?” Frank asked. Dana and Robby shared an uneasy look as a moment of silence passed over the camp.

“Because he doesn’t exactly feel comfortable around humans,” Robby offered, and you frowned.

“I don’t understand,” you said. “I thought he was a man?”

“He is,” Mel answered. “He just didn’t grow up around people.”

Robby sighed, running a hand through his hair. “About forty-eight years ago, Julie and George Abbot-”

“The famous primatologists?” You asked, your eyes lighting up in recognition at the names. The two had been trailblazers in the field, their focus being on gorilla social structures. Their deaths had hit the community hard, and their work had been largely abandoned until you picked up where they left off a couple of years ago. It was one of the reasons you had been invited to the camp.

“Yes,” Dana nodded, giving you a sad smile. “This was their camp originally. They lived and worked here for years, studying the local troops of gorillas. But, as I’m sure you know, poachers came after one of the troops, and the two died in the struggle.”

You had heard about the tragic story of their passing, the tale serving as a reminder of the danger of working in the field.

“What very few people knew, though,” Robby frowned, “was that they had a son. He was only a few months old when they died, and everyone thought that he had died with them.”

“That’s terrible,” you gasped, your hands covering your mouth in shock.

“It was,” Dana nodded. “But, he didn’t die with his parents like everyone thought.”

“What do you mean?” Frank questioned. “How does a baby survive out here on its own?”

“It doesn’t without help,” Robby stated, waiting for the two of you to catch on.

“Jack was taken in by the troop of gorillas,” Dana provided when the two of you cast confused looks at them. “They raised him as one of their own. We had no idea he was out here until we reopened the camp twenty years ago. We caught him going through one of the tents one day.”

“How do you know that it’s him?” Frank asked. “How do you know it’s Jack?”

“Because he’s the spitting image of his father,” Dana answered, earning a hum from Robby.

“I don’t know,” he drawled, scratching his chin. “Julie’s in there too somewhere.”

“So why didn’t he stay?” You questioned. “Why doesn’t he stay with you?”

“He never seemed all that interested,” Dana shrugged. “He’s curious about us, yes, but he doesn’t seem to want to leave the troop behind. He comes and goes as he pleases, and we let him.”

“We teach him what we can, of course,” Robby offered. “He’s a fairly quick learner, and he seems eager to learn when he is here. He shouldn’t give you any problems if he shows up.”

You turned to Dana. “You said that he’s around more often than we think?”

“I did,” he nodded. “Why do you ask?”

“Well, because,” you hesitated, “I thought I felt someone or something watching me earlier. I didn’t see anything, but the feeling was still there.”

“It was probably him,” Dana nodded, giving you a gentle smile. “The two of you are new, and he’s just gotten used to the others being around. It’s no wonder he might have been watching.”

“I suppose that’s fair,” you smiled.

“I’m sure he won’t take too long to make an appearance,” Dana continued. “I give it a week before he comes slinking out from behind one of those trees.”

A week had passed and still no sign of the wild man. All of you had developed a comfortable rhythm in the camp. Robby would disappear into one of the tents, Whitaker trailing after him as they started pouring over the notes on the group of baboons that took up residence nearby. Dana would go around camp fiddling with the different gadgets sitting around camp. Mel would set off first thing in the morning towards the colony of termites deep within the jungle, Trinity and Victoria not too far behind her, and Frank would hike out with them, bringing back plant samples by around midday. You, on the other hand, were stuck at the camp.

“It’s probably best you don’t go out searching for the gorillas by yourself,” Dana had said. “They’re a hard group to find, and Jack is very protective of them. He probably wouldn’t let you anywhere near them right now.”

So you were stuck at the camp, trying to find odd chores and jobs to keep you occupied so you felt at least somewhat useful. You had started with trying to help Dana with his tinkering, but that had quickly become a no as you had little to no understanding of mechanics. You weren’t much help to Robby and Whitaker, barely able to keep up with their conversations despite your extensive knowledge of primates. You despised the way the termites crawled all over you when Mel went out to observe them, same with Victoria and her ants. Trinity moved at a pace that despite your best efforts, was far too much for you, and Frank…well, Frank was Frank.

So you busied yourself with cooking meals and doing laundry, slowly acclimating to the heat and humidity of the jungle. You quickly exchanged your pants and shirts for shorts and tank tops, the combination giving you a slight reprieve from the oppressive combination that kept you constantly covered in a layer of sweat.

The feeling of being watched came and went, slowly becoming a near constant as the days went on.

It was the second day that you realized some of your belongings had been moved. You had set your laundry on your bed, folded into neat piles as you stepped out to go and check on the food for dinner. When you came back, the clothes were scattered on your bed, thrown haphazardly across the sheets.

The seventh day, you walked in to find your shampoo opened, a small puddle of the floral smelling liquid on your desk. You had pursed your lips, but cleaned it up wordlessly, making sure to tuck it securely back under your bed. Your cheeks had warmed the next morning, despite the heat, when you found a bundle of flowers placed neatly outside your tent. You had smiled, gingerly picking up the flowers and carrying them towards the camp where the others were already gathered.

“What are these?” Frank asked, coming up to inspect the flowers. You tugged them back when he reached out to grab one, a scowl on your face as you swatted at him.

“Hands off,” you snapped, skirting around him and towards the table.

“Where’d you get them?” He asked unperturbed, plopping down next to you on the bench.

“They were outside my tent this morning,” you replied, barely catching the look Robby and Dana gave one another. “Aren’t they pretty?”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “They’re fire lilies.”

“You just found them outside your tent?” Dana asked, eyeing the flowers in your hand.

“Uh huh,” you chirped. “I think I’m going to keep them on my desk.”

“Jack seems to have taken a liking to you,” Robby said carefully. “He brought Mel a rhinoceros beetle when she first got here.”

“I didn’t know it was there until I crawled into bed and it bit me,” Mel frowned, shaking her head at the memory. You bit back a laugh, hiding your face in the palm of your hand.

“I’m still finding ants in our tent,” Trinity muttered, as she cast a wayward grimace over at Victoria.

“Wouldn’t it make more sense for me to get the flowers?” Frank asked with a frown. “I mean, I’m the one here who’s studying plants.”

“Are you jealous?” You teased, earning a scowl from the blond. “He probably brought them for me because of my shampoo.”

“What do you mean?” Whitaker asked.

“I came back to my tent yesterday to find my shampoo sitting on my desk. It looked like someone had squeezed some of it out,” you explained with a shrug. “It smells like flowers, so maybe he thought I would like the flowers.”

“Interesting,” Dana hummed, studying you. You shifted under her gaze, deciding to busy yourself with fixing a plate of food. Once you had settled back onto the bench, Frank turned to you.

“Do you wanna come with me to the waterfall tomorrow? I was going to go collect some samples of the algae growing there.”

You thought over his proposal. On one hand, you were bored to tears just sitting around the camp, waiting for any chance you could get to go try and catch a glimpse of the gorilla troop. On the other hand, you’d be stuck with Frank, and the man could be a tad controlling when in his element.

“Yeah, okay,” you nodded, deciding that dealing with a hyper-focused Frank was better than nothing. He grinned, tossing a piece of banana into his mouth.

“Great! We’ll leave bright and early!”

A/N: I gave in to peer pressure, so this is being posted today lol I’m working on other updates now too, so let me know what y’all want to read!

As always, reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated. I no longer do taglists, so if you would like to be notified on when I post, please follow my sideblog ( @arcanevagabond-library ) and turn on post notifications! You can find me and my works on AO3 under the username arcane_vagabond. Until next time!

[optimisticcreatorlove]

Merhaba