#Two Medicine Formation

[saritapaleo]

Archovember 2024 Day 3 - Gorgosaurus libratus

The apex predator of Western North America during the Late Cretaceous was Gorgosaurus libratus. Found so far in Alberta, Canada and Montana, USA, it lived several million years before Tyrannosaurus rex would appear. While it was a tyrannosaurid, it was more closely related to Albertosaurus, so much so that some scientists consider it to be another species of Albertosaurus. Gorgosaurus is the most numerous tyrannosaurid in the fossil record, known from dozens of specimens. This abundance of fossils has allowed paleontologists to investigate Gorgosaurus’ ontogeny, life history and many other aspects of its biology. For example, in 2023, a 5-7 year old juvenile Gorgosaurus was discovered with stomach contents consisting of two intact Citipes juveniles about a year old. This showed that younger Gorgosaurus’ were mostly eating prey much smaller than them, and were probably not hunting in packs, as the meal would not have been large enough to share. That being said, only the remains of the hindlimbs and caudal vertebrae of the juvenile Citipes were present, suggesting that this Gorgosaurus may have had a preference for the muscular hindlimbs. Many Gorgosaurus specimens also preserve evidence of facial scars, a result of intraspecies facebiting.

Gorgosaurus would have lived on the coastal plain along the western edge of the Western Interior Seaway, an inland sea which divided North America in half during the Late Cretaceous. The area was subtropical with periods of drought. Conifers would have dominated the forests, while the underbrush consisted of ferns, tree ferns and angiosperms. Gorgosaurus is best known from the Dinosaur Park Formation. Here, it would have lived alongside another apex predator: Daspletosaurus wilsoni. While these tyrannosaurids were roughly the same size, they may have preferred different types of prey, allowing them to coexist without too much competition. And there was a wide diversity of prey here, from many of the most famous ornithopods like Parasaurolophus walkeri, Corythosaurus casuarius, Gryposaurus notabilis, and Lambeosaurus lambei, to beloved ceratopsians like Styracosaurus albertensis, Centrosaurus apertus, Chasmosaurus belli, Spinops sternbergorum, and Vagaceratops irvinensis. There were also ankylosaurs like Anodontosaurus inceptus, Dyoplosaurus acutosquameus, Edmontonia rugosidens, Euoplocephalus tutus, Panoplosaurus mirus, Platypelta coombsi, and Scolosaurus. Pachycephalosaurids included Foraminacephale and Stegoceras validum. Gorgosaurus also shared space with other, smaller theropods, like the ornithomimids Ornithomimus and Rativates, caenagnathids like Caenagnathus, Chirostenotes, and Citipes, dromaeosaurids like Dromaeosaurus and Saurornitholestes, and troodontids like Latenivenatrix and Stenonychosaurus. Dinosaurs were not the only animals here, and Gorgosaurus would have also had to share space with the giant azhdarchid pterosaur Cryodrakon, as well as alligatoroids like Albertochampsa and Leidyosuchus, and choristoderes like Champsosaurus. Gorgosaurus is also known from the Two Medicine Formation and Judith River Formation.

This art may be used for educational purposes, with credit, but please contact me first for permission before using my art. I would like to know where and how it is being used. If you don’t have something to add that was not already addressed in this caption, please do not repost this art. Thank you!

[mineralsrocksandfossiltalks]

Fossil Friday!

This is caudal vert from a Maiasaura (most likely) in the Two Medicine Formation of Montana. It's unique shape was caused by tectonic shearing forces when the Rocky Mountain front was being uplifted and folded (this was found within a very big anticline).

[apas-95]

When people talk about 'building community', usually the peak they aspire to is some form of mutual aid group. There are two main problems with this.

Firstly, mutual aid is a defensive tool, not an offensive one. It can only soften the blows of capitalism - it is the naive, bourgeois view of communism that our goal is the redistribution of wealth, when it is in fact the reorganisation of production. A network of mutual aid will level out the harshness of deprivation between those more and less vulnerable within the network. But it cannot actually lessen deprivation, and it cannot actually produce any food or blankets or medicine outside of its members earning a wage and buying them on the market. Under a system of mutual aid, everyone's life will slowly sink further and further into immiseration at the whims of capital, but it will do so at a (somewhat) consistent rate between them.

Secondly, most 'mutual aid' is not, actually, mutual aid. It is charity. Ask yourself: is there an intended recipient and an intended provider of this aid? Is it carried out by one group in order to help another? This is charity, a system of donation between a designated needy and general better-off. It is not that other thing: mutual aid. Mutual aid is characterised by its mutual character - that is, it is a community effort in which all members engage with it as both providers and recipients. There is nobody involved for who the supplies 'are not for you', because there is no separation between them. Like the 'community gardens' whose owners suddenly become upset at the food being taken, people are wearing the names of (honestly very minimally) more radical formations than the ones they are actually carrying out. They think that when they have changed the name of things, they have changed the things themselves!

Again, mutual aid is a fundamentally flawed, fundamentally defensive tactic - but people aren't even actually doing mutual aid. An offensive tactic, one that can actually improve people's quality of life and weaken capitalism, inherently means taking command of production, not merely adjusting consumption.

[the-lives-i-am-not-living]

Returning the favor

Summary: Logan isn’t feeling well. He looked after you when you were sick a few months earlier, so you want to return the favor. But he doesn’t seem eager to accept your help.

Warnings: some swearing, but other than that it’s all fluff! Note: oh lord, this one really got away from me… But somehow I’m on fire this week after not having any inspiration whatsoever for a long time. Enjoy it while it lasts ;) (I might change the formatting here and there after posting - I'm not used to it yet)

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“Logan…? Jean said I would find you here…” Sticking your head through the doorway of Logan’s room, you find him lying in bed. The duvet covers him all the way up to his chin and his eyes are closed. It’s midday, but he hasn’t bothered closing the curtains. Upon recognizing your voice, he cracks one eye open.  “Are you okay?” you ask carefully. “You don’t look too good.” Logan blinks groggily. “I’ve felt better.”

You walk over to him and place your hand on his forehead. You only need a second to feel that he’s burning up. “God, you’re running a fever!”  “I’m fine. Just let me sleep it off,” he grunts and turns on his side, facing away from you. “Have you taken any medicine at all?” you ask.   “Nah.” “I’ll go get you some. And some water. Oh, and a cold washcloth!” “You don’t need to -” “Logan,” you say admonishingly. “You were so nice to me when I was sick. Let me return the favor.” He sighs loudly. “You don’t owe me anything.” You’re having a hard time staying serious while this man refuses to face you.  “What’s so bad about someone taking care of you every once in a while, hm?” You poke at his back. “Is the prospect of me getting you soup, or me keeping you company so horrible?”

Logan turns on his back again and raises an eyebrow at you. “Are you gonna keep badgering me until I cave?” You pretend to mull it over, and then say: “Yup.” “Fine,” he mutters.  You flash him a toothy grin. “I’ll be right back.” Logan’s looking out of his window when you return with your 'medical supplies' . “Okay, mister,” you say as you put down the glass of water on his nightstand. “Ibuprofen first.” He sits upright, obediently takes the pill from your hand and swallows it with a gulp of water.

Next, you hold up the wet washcloth. He initially seems wary, but the moment the cold fabric touches his forehead, his eyes fall shut and a content sigh escapes his mouth. You suck in your lips, suppressing a chuckle. It’s nice to see him relaxed. It’s nice to take care of someone. You stay like this for a few moments, not wanting to ruin the moment.  Then, you whisper: “I’ll come back in half an hour or so to cool it again.” When you turn to leave, you feel his hand brush your arm. “Would you… Do you wanna talk about something?” He looks embarrassed as you meet his eyes. “It might distract me from feeling like shit.” You feel the corners of your lips curl up. “Do you have a preference for a topic? I can talk about family drama, or a TV show that I’m really into, or…”  His embarrassment dissipates. “Y’know what, give me the family drama.” You let out the chuckle this time. “Gotcha.” Grabbing a chair from the other side of the room, you mirror the situation you were in with Logan a few months ago. It feels a bit surreal.  But he doesn’t fall asleep. 

Whilst regaling Logan with stories of your sister’s aggravating husband and his family, he comments on things, chuckles, and occasionally tsk’s. A few times, when you look away for a bit and return your gaze to Logan, you catch him looking at you. You’re not sure how to read his expression. Is he happy? Entertained? Delirious? You don’t want to let it show that your heart flutters every time it happens. At some point you notice your throat is getting dry, but you don’t feel like popping the bubble the two of you are in by getting up. Logan seems to notice you’re preoccupied with something. “I appreciate you sticking around,” he starts. “But you’ve been talking for a while now. Not that I didn’t like it,” he quickly adds, “but you probably have better things to do.” You try to read his expression, but come up short. “You’re not tired?” “Weirdly, no.” “If you want, we could…” You think for a second. “...Play a card game? I need to get something to drink anyway. I’ll grab some cards while I’m downstairs.” 

Logan raises his eyebrows in what you think is surprise. 

“Or not!” you say, trying to sound nonchalant. “I totally get it if you want to be alone, or take a nap.”

“Oh, no, no,” Logan shakes his head, smiling to himself. “I just wasn’t sure why…” He doesn’t finish his sentence. “A card game sounds good.” “Okay.” You immediately feel your body relax - which is weird because you were unaware you were tensing up. "D’you think UNO is too taxing right now?”

Logan gives you a look. “I’ve been through worse than this. One card game isn’t going to wipe me out.” You return the look in kind. “Suit yourself, but I’m pretty good at UNO.” “Bring it on.” Logan’s voice is deeper than normal, and combined with his playful gaze, goosebumps run rampant over your arms. You get up, trying to keep a straight face, and leave the room. Armed with water, snacks and UNO, you return to Logan’s room a few minutes later.  “Come sit on the bed,” he offers as you approach, cocking his head towards the footboard of his bed. You dumbly follow his gaze. “That’ll work better than sitting in that chair. More comfortable too, maybe.”  It’s a queen size bed, so it would fit… You’ve been physically closer than this before, so… “Sure!” you reply, in a higher pitch than you mean to.  Your heartbeat sounds too damn loud as you sit down sideways on the bed. Opening the UNO box in your hand, you take out the cards and start shuffling. You quickly dislike how awkwardly you’re angling your body, so you move to the center of the bed and sit cross-legged. When you glance up to check what Logan’s doing, he’s already waiting for you. The warmth in his eyes catches you off guard. 

“Thanks for keeping me company,” he says, and then looks away. “Almost everyone in the house avoids me when I’m sick.” 

“That’s just because you’re generally an unpleasant person to be around,” you joke. “Or it’s because you don’t let anyone get close.” 

A few seconds pass. You regret your words. “I let you get close.”

You stare at the man across from you, who’s busy looking at his hands. 

A hundred thoughts race through your mind. He said it so matter-of-factly that you’re unsure of what he’s implying. But in this moment you can only think to reply honestly. “Yeah,” you breathe. You unconsciously mirror Logan again and find yourself looking down at the cards in your hands. “That makes me happy.”

You can hear the smile in Logan’s exhale. “I’m glad.”

The two of you look up simultaneously, grinning like teenagers. Unsure of what to do next, you hold up a card. “Ready?”

(Sometime later)

“I think… This is goodbye!” you say dramatically as you place a Draw Four card on the pile in front of you. “Oh, fuck this,” Logan mutters. He’s hardly holding on to the 10+ cards in his hands. You only have two left. You throw your head back and cackle.  Logan looks at you unimpressed, which emboldens you to lean forward and smirk. “I warned you.” He narrows his eyes. “It must feel so good, beating a sick man.” “Y’know, it kind of does. It’s fun seeing you lose.” Even though Logan tries to hide it, you see one corner of his mouth tilt upwards slightly.  A part of you badly wants to reach out and touch that little corner. “You just wait,” Logan says while he throws his cards on the pile. “I’ll beat you next time.” “Challenge accepted.”

[guesswhoitsn]

Netflix and Chill

Themes: Fluff Pairing: Paige X Azzi TW: Swearing, Suggestive Content Words: 518 Let's get back into writing shall we LMAO , this is my first time writing on tumblr so please tell me if anything is messed up grammar/formatting wise!

_ "Netflix and chill, huh?" The teasing coming from the curly haired brunette is what makes Paige side-eye her best friend after giving back the microphone to the interviewers with a 'thanks' as they walk away. The hallway seeming much emptier without the interviewers and extra media attention. "Don't even, you said the exact same thing as me, Az." The blonde can't help the grin that shows on her face, blue eyes locking with crinkling brown ones. "I said it because you said it." Azzi nonchalantly shrugs, shoulder rubbing against Paige's as the duo continues their walk side by side. Their conversation slightly hushed despite being the only ones around. "Uh huh, Miss, hard is more satisfying." Paige allows her grin to grow once the flush of her girlfriend's cheeks begins to brighten, tanned skin showing a fair amount of rose tint to it. "What was that all about?" Paige continues with a husk, teasing the younger girl more as she moves to intertwine their hands, bringing Azzi's up to ghost her lips across the back of her hand. "What? Hardcovers, are more satisfying to me." The emphasis that Paige hears from the other only solidifies her belief that, that was not at all what Azzi was referencing and with a small shake of her head and laugh, Paige tightens her grip on the others hand softly, smirking when she feels Azzi lean more into her as they walk. "Guess lucky you, you don't ever have to try and deal with something soft." The innuendo is clear as the older girl speaks, earning a slight shove her best friend which just sparks her laughter more. Paige barely stumbles before she's back in her prior position, standing tall as Azzi leans into the other. As the music begins to become louder, and the end of the hallway comes into view, Paige starts to let go of the other's hand, reluctantly beginning to maintain the role of best friends once again for the crowd around them. However she freezes once she feels a tug on her hand, Azzi keeping the two limbs intertwined as Paige turns around towards her, eyebrow raised before blinking when she feels the quick peck of lips against hers. With a taste of her own medicine, Paige's own cheeks light up a much brighter red against her pale skin, Azzi's own dimpled grin shows as the younger lets go of their intertwined hands, walking past the taller blonde. "W-What was that for?" Paige gets out as she starts to move again, staying by the other's side as they begin to enter the concert venue, heart speeding up not only due to the blaring music and atmosphere as she knew right now, that was the last thing on her mind. "I don't know what you're talking about." Azzi states simply, hands folding behind her back before the two reunite with her own mother and family, the brunette missing the way that her girlfriend's eyes had never left her back until Usher began preforming his second song. Don't let that girl fool you, Azzi fudd, was a menace.

[peppertaemint]

Jikook & "Are You Sure?!" : The Beauty of Mundane

The much-maligned reality-TV format deserves most of the criticism and ire it provokes. Schlocky production values and pre-tense often lead to melodramatic fakery that people want to believe because they're bored. We've all succumbed to it; I've seen more than my fair share of Big Brother seasons. But the thing that reality can do, if it doesn't try too hard, is give us a window to life that sits between documentary and that unscripted faux-world, and I think Are You Sure?! makes a wonderful example.

The situations are both planned and imposed on this show, from Connecticut to Jeju to Sappparo. Jungkook and Jimin planned the trip along with producers and agreed to film it as content, a loathsome word if there ever was one. What we see is not genuine real-life, despite what Jimin states in Sapporo; it's a mediated view into the pair's life on camera together -- a life they seem to want to share together and with fans.

What makes AYS work so well is their naturalness on camera and together. I'm struck by how comfortable both facets of their lives seem after just over ten years of vlogging together under agency Big Hit.

We see how much they enjoy existing together, grappling with the highs and lows of the mundanity of travel. I say mundanity specifically because so much of travel is just that -- your life simply transported to a pretty view. It's still full of stomach aches and flus, good and bad food and wide-ranging moods. Seeing Jungkook patiently take care of Jimin, ensuring he took his medicine, and then creating a doltap, the traditional practice of rock stacking to ward off bad luck and bring in good energy, was a healthy glimpse into the everyday of their shared life.

The most telling part of the show is, rather ironically, the worst part -- the three-episode interlude with their unexpected guest in Jeju, Taehyung. Our duo made no bones about the fact that the guest invited himself to their trip -- their special time -- and took every possible opportunity to remind him of his status as unwanted guest.

The entire vibe of the show changed because of Taehyung's presence, and not just because JiKook were put out by the whole thing. His presence changed their dynamic toward one another as well, seemingly disrupting their status as a duo. It was as though there was a need to cater to the guest, to an extent, and to put aside their interest in one another to a marked degree. That in itself is incredibly telling for their relationship.

Luckily, the show bookended itself with JiKook solo trips, and it ended in Sapporo where the duo seemed to be most comfortable and in their element, embracing the romance and magic of the snow resort in Japan. This was a welcome contrast to the funny, fish-out-of-water vibe of NY and Connecticut.

What will stay with me is the joy in the mundanity that the two showed throughout the show, but especially when left alone. The fun of grocery shopping when you're with your person. The enjoyment of playing cards, cooking, or simply going to bed when you're with your person. It's easy to forget there is a team of people watching over them for the majority of the show, filming or simply observing. And I wonder if sometimes Jungkook and Jimin forget, too.

[beemynumberone]

Pictures are from Pinterest.

A wild duck chase

(Have you ever seen a duck run?)

-> pairing: HS Ushijima Wakatoshi x Reader (reader is Goshiki’s older sister)

-> Soulmate AU (a duck chases you to your soulmate)

-> genre: fluff, fluff and more fluff

-> format: oneshot

-> cw: implied eating of duck at the end

~ Part 1 of A Haikyuu Soulmate Series (Akaashi)

my haikyuu masterlist

Legend has it that a duck appears when you turn 18. And that duck will lead you to your soulmate when they turn 18. 

It is at a volleyball practice when Ushijima catches sight of you. You’re Goshiki’s older sister, a third year in Shiratorizawa. Ushijima has seen you around but never really paid much attention to you. 

And when you interrupt the practice session to pass Goshiki’s lunch box to him, Ushijima still doesn’t pay much attention. He continues training his serves while a small commotion occurs. 

“Tsutomu-san is so pretty!” Tendou remarks to him, out of Goshiki’s earshot. Ushijima grunts in acknowledgment. That ball was too short. Further? That one was almost out. I have to keep practising. 

The commotion gets louder and Ushijima tries to block the noise out. Until… quack. Tendou screeches.

Ushijima lowers his serving arm. 

Quack quack 

A white duck waddles from the slightly ajar stadium door, straight towards him. 

Reon being the dedicated vice captain he is, tries his best to shoo the duck away. Tendou leaps over to try duck-whispering. 

It seemed that Tendou was successful, since the duck was now being happily escorted by the red-haired blocker to the bleachers. It sits in its place, contented. 

And after practice, the duck follows Ushijima out, back to the dorms. Ushijima simply accepts his new companion. Why shouldn’t he?

And so for the next few days, the duck just follows Ushijima around. Even on Ushijima’s weekly runs.

During which, he realises that the duck is kinda too slow for his liking, so he picks it up and treats it like a medicine ball. He trains the duck during the Saturday runs, showers it, builds a nest for it in the room he shares with Tendou. 

Until one morning, the duck decides to take off like an alarm clock on legs. It tugs at Ushijima’s pant legs, beckoning him to go somewhere. Caught off-guard, Ushijima decides to follow it. 

The duck runs across the block and goes to the female dormitories, but guys can’t enter the female dorms. Which is what Ushijima earnestly tells it. 

And the duck just sits (?) there (?). Until it starts running off again.

Surprisingly, Ushijima realises that it’s a soulmate duck when Coach Washijou tells him so. 

This adds to his curiosity when he catches up with the duck. I’ll follow the duck and we’ll find my soulmate. The school grounds are manageable, this should be easy. 

But who knew, it was a wild goose (duck) chase. 

They ran around the school compound, the duck seemingly following a trail where his soulmate had previously walked on. 

It was almost two hours and they still couldn’t locate his soulmate. Was it lost? Ushijima thinks, looking warily at the huffing and puffing duck running in circles.

At least he got his training in amirite?

And the next day, the duck is relentless. He follows the running duck (must be the training he thinks, its stamina improved over the past few weeks) all the way to the field.

Where he sees you again in the track and field uniform, warming up at the start line. Ushijima finally puts two and two together. 

Is Goshiki’s sister my soulmate? 

And at the whistle, you take off sprinting. Following close behind you is - a white duck. 

Ushijima is mesmerised at the way you soar over the hurdles, white duck strutting under the bars after you.

At his duck’s incessant quacks, he goes over to meet you at the finish line.

Panting, you walk to slow your breathing and turn back to see your new companion waddling after you.

As you turn, you catch sight of Ushijima’s well-built figure standing stoically by the side of the track. You ignore him, bee-lining for your towel to wipe dry.

Why is he here? Is he looking for Goshiki?

You spot the white ball of feathers by his feet.

Oh.

And you feel pecking at your ankles. You look down at the stubborn animal. What’s-

The ducks nudge both of you to stand face to face (or rather, your face to his broad chest, very embarrassing and awkward ngl). You could still feel the heat from the earlier run radiating off your body.

The ducks behind you two quack innocently. 

I think we’re soulmates :D Ushijima smiles down at you, happy that he’d finally figured out who his soulmate was.

You give your best grin, matching it with a shrug that definitely looked as forced as it felt. You felt conflicted. It wasn’t that having Ushijima as your soulmate was horrible, it was just that… you two never really got to know each other.

So after a good shower, you meet Ushijima at the school pond to talk “soulmates”.

You feel like you’re not ready for a relationship with him, since you don’t know Ushijima personally yet. 

And he doesn’t want to rush things either.

So in the meantime, all 4 of you (2 people and 2 ducks) go on weekly runs in the neighbourhood. 

This leaves Goshiki really confused and slightly afraid. Is his idol leaving him for his sister??

Side note for Washijou, after Tendou probes a little about his soulmate, he reveals that he had duck rice for dinner on his 18th birthday. 

Like a duck appearing on his birthday? Definitely a birthday delicacy on legs right? Nope

Ushijima waiting outside the female dorms with his duck:

[raspberry-cannibalz]

AHH FINALLY SOMEONE WHO WRITES PSYCHO CUTIES

can you pretty please write yandere doctor masacrik x reader where basically she takes mimi’s place 🙏

We love psycho cuties!!! Yes I can! This Is my first time running a account like this so please leave any tips on my writing and formatting if you'd like<33

Y/n= Your name

E/c= Eye color

Yandere Masacrik x Fem!reader

Word count: 1940

Story contains: Yandere themes, implied abuse, Y/N, NOT PROOF READ.

Masacrik was always a jealous man when it came to something he owned. That was the case with you. He barely brought you out of the house. You always remained there, unless you were being good. If you were really good he'd take you for a walk at night. But today was different. You weren't exceptionally being good but you weren't being bad. You caught a really bad stomach bug from something you ate the other day. You needed proper care. Masacrik noticed this the night before he had a very big day at work. Of course this was an inconvenience for him and he looked rather sore at you.

The morning of his big day at work he rushed around the house packing his bag as you sat on the sofa sick to your stomach.

He approaches you, slowly raising his hand. You thought he was still upset with you so you flinch and close your eyes with a bit of fear. Only for you to be met with a head pat. You open your eyes.

"I know this isn't your fault."

Masacrik says in a kind soothing manner.

"I have to take you to work with me though. Which is rather upsetting to me. I don't want anyone looking at you other then me. But I suppose I'll have to deal with that today."

He walks around the sofa to his shoes. You never really had any shoes to wear, even for the night walks. You kinda just let the rocks poke at you, Getting cuts and bruises on your feet. But today he pulls out a nice pair of cute black shoes. Masacrik motions you to go over to him and you did. You always listen to him. It was like your purpose for existing. He slides the shoes on you, almost a perfect fit. They were a bit tight on you, but that was better than walking on sharp rocks and god knows what else would be on the ground. He then grasps a small dark navy blue jacket. He carefully puts it on you and buttons it up, then pulls out his big red scarf and wraps it around your neck nicely. It covers your nose and chin.

"Now, y/n. You need to be on your best behavior today, got it?"

He looks at you in your e/c eyes with a serious expression.

You nod but that makes Masacrik shake his head.

"Use your words."

He says in a stern tone. You hesitate for a moment before letting out a soft "yes...yes sir.." bearly Audible.

Masacrik smiles at you and stops leaning over you.

"Good, Let's go now." He takes your hand in his and leads you outside. You never have been out in the daytime. Or you don't remember if you ever did. You start to walk the opposite direction then you do when you go for night walks.its a cold morning, you look up and you can see Masacriks breath in the air. He usually wears his scarf on his way to work.

"Y/n, you will be in the break room while I'm in a meeting today. I packed some fruit for you to eat while we are there and some medicine."

Masacrik spoke in a low soft voice while keeping his grasp on my had.

"If anyone talks to you, you have to tell me. People looking at you gets on my nerves enough."

He grips my hand slightly tighter, his tone getting a hint of jealousy in it. We reach the hospital he works at, Masacrik pulls me closer to his side and lays his hand on the side of my head, pressing it into his shoulder. Many of people are going in and out of the hospital. Doctors, nurses, released patients, happy family members, sad family members. And before you know it, you're already inside and walking towards the elevator. This place was so bright and clean, Some what familiar to you. As you two go up in the elevator, you cling onto Masacrik's jacket from the stimuli of this new yet familiar place.

Masacrik leads you out of the elevator and down the hall to a staff only room.

He sits you down at a table and puts an apple in front of you.

"Eat it when you get hungry." His voice is monotone and he looks like he needs to start heading to his meeting.

"Be a good girl y/n"

he says softly then heads for the door. You lay your head in your arms on the table for who knows how long. You hear someone enter the room but you are a bit too hesitant to look who it is, You dont want to disappoint Masacrik.but you hear a voice say something, you don't know if it was directed to you or if two people are in the room, the voice said.

"Who's that?" It was a females voice. You hear the woman walk over to you and tap your shoulder. You jolt at the touch, knowing you'll have to tell Masacrik about this small interaction.

"Hello? Are you alright?" The voice seems soft and curious. You decided to look up, you meet face to face with a girl with a pink long bob haircut. She has a cat ear hat that is white that looks just like yours. She looks to be a nurse. You sit there just looking at her a bit of fear and nervousness on your face.

"Are you lost? Oh! Are you waiting for one of the staff?" She seems kind and happy.

"Masacrik.." you manage to mutter out barley Audible

Her smile turns a bit into a frown.

"Oh are you his sister?"

She asks her tone turned a bit cold. You shake your head.

"Fr..Friend..?" You say softly, not knowing if that's the right word to describe your relationship with him. She sighed in a bit of disappointment, she seems slightly bothered.

"Well hes in a meeting so he won't be out for another 30 minutes." She walks over to a cabinet over the counters. You just sit there worried you made her mad until she turns around holding two choopa chub lollipops, Ones strawberry and the others chocolate.

"So I'll wait with you till he gets back." Her voice seemed to become more calm and tender. She walks back over to you and hands you the chocolate lollipop and opens her strawberry one, then pops it onto her mouth.

"My names strawberry" she sits down beside you. You open the chocolate lollipop and put it in your mouth.

"I'm y/n.." you are very hesitant to speak to her. You two just kind of sit there in silence until you both hear the door open and a males voice.

"God I hate this job!"

It was a nurse. He had short brown hair and a whiny voice. He looks at the two of you sitting at the table and he smiles.

"Oh god its him.." you hear strawberry mutter and see her pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Heyy, strawberry! You never told me you had a friend just as cute as you!" The nurse says with a slight flirtatious tone.

"Hmm wow really?" Strawberry says in a sarcastic voice.

"What's your name little lady?"

He approaches you with a freaky smile. You look visibly nervous and uncomfortable.

" °°° " you look at the ground.

"Not much of a talker huh? Eh that's fine I like that in a woman." He puts his hand on your shoulder

"Women are such yappers they go on and on an-"

he gets cut off from a yell.

"HEY! Do not touch her without her permission." Strawberry glares at him and grabs his wrist.

"I'm just being friendly toots" the nurse replied with a snarky tone

"Yeah ill make sure to tell that to the hospital manager. Let's go!" She gets up and starts to drag the nurse out of the room. You are left sitting there alone in that room.

After about 15 minutes, you hear the door open once again. You look to see if strawberry was back but you see Masacrik instead. Your mood instantly got better when you saw him. Though he doesn't seem too happy with you. He walks over to you and bends down so both of your faces are directly in front of each other. Masacrik grabs the tick of the lollipop and pulls it out if your mouth half eaten.

"We will talk about this at home

,y/n."

He says in a deep voice. Masacrik pulls out the medicine and puts a small bit of it in a small plastic sip cup and hands it to you. His face looks annoyed and jealous.

"My shift is only a couple of more hours."

He walks to the door and leaves the room. Hes still holding the lollipop and just as he left the room he puts it in his mouth with a grin.

You sit there anxiously. You take the medicine then lay your head down in your arms and on the table again. You hear people go in and out of the room for the next couple of hours but they didn't pay any mind to you, they just ignored you if they saw you or they were in too much of a rush to notice your existence.

You finally hear a familiar humming as the door opened. Its Masacrik! Hopefully in a better mood. You look up from your spot. You didn't realize someone had turned off the lights at some point. The room is dimly lit from the hallway light peering in from the glass window on the door. Though Masacriks humming seemed happy, his face said otherwise.

You knew it was time to leave so you get up from your seat and walk over to grab his hand. You took his but he didn't take yours, you were just grasping onto his finger.

Masacrik leads you out of the room and the hospital and down the street home. Silent all the way home. It was like a punishment to you. You hated when he was mad at you, it almost physically hurt.

You both reach home and get inside. You take off you shoes and go over to the sofa to sit down but you suddenly feel yourself being pinned into the sofa. You look up at Masacrik.

"Who was it.?"

He says trying not to yell. His face is in a rage. This startled you to the point you started to tear up.

"Who."

Masacrik demanded you respond.

"H..her name is strawberry.." you muttered. Masacrik's face turns to jealousy.

"But.. but she. Saved me.." you spat out.

Masacriks face went from anger and jealousy to confusion.

"From what." He says in a stern voice"

"Creepy nurse Man.. with brown hair.."

Masacriks face turns more calm.

"I guess that this can be an exception this time." His grip on your shoulders loosen and he falls onto you wrapping his arms around you.

"But you should know that you are mine. Not hers. Got it..?"

He Whispers into your ear softly with a small hint of jealousy. You nod as you both fall asleep like that.

You wake up with the sun shining into the window. You sit up and see Masacrik is at the table drinking coffee and reading the paper. The paper reads.

-young nurse found dead in his car at 11:49pm-

Masacrik seems to be smiling at the paper but you don't seem to understand what the paper exactly says.

----------------------------------

I REALLY HOPED YOU ENJOYED THIS. I STARTED THIS AS SOON AS I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND TAKING A COUPLE HOUR BREAKS IN BETWEEN WRITING LOL

[alonetimelover]

pairing: Harry Styles x popstar!reader

fc: Taylor Swift

summary: Harry and YN attending each others concerts throughout the last few years. And one fan would like to take you to YN's Buenos Aires concert.

a/n: inspired by Taylor changing lyrics to Karma

popstar!reader 1 2

masterlist taglist

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harryupdates

liked by ynupdates, hArrysbtch and 87 202 others

harryupdates HARRY at YN's concert tonight in Los Angeles!

view all 3 201 comments

ynupdates what was he dancing like that to?

⤷ hArrysbtch from the stream it seems like I Know Places

⤷ ynupdates oh he owns 1989

hArrysbtch i love his dance moves

harrysmoustache he doesn't know what to do

stylesbabie two types of fans ^

ynsmybestie whenever she's on another level I know that he's somewhere close

⤷ hArrysbtch it's the same withh harry! whenever she's in the audience he's just super at the concerts

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ynupdates

liked by harryupdates, hArrysbtch and 92 302 others

ynupdates YN at the stadium for HARRY's concert in New York!

view all 4 201 comments

hArrysbtch no way

ynsmybestie MOTHER IS HERE

ynsmybestie no way that she's at the same place as me

ynsmybestie do you think she'll be in the tent?

⤷ ynsmymama I think so! somewhere close probably

⤷ ynsmybestie im gonna move there

harrysmoustache oh the concert will be perfection

stylesbabie i can smell medicine in the air

harrysmylife and she looks SOOOOOO good

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ynsmybestie

liked by harryupdates, hArrysbtch and 101 303 others

ynsmybestie CAMERAS AT THE STADIUM INSTEAD OF SHOWING HARRY PERFORMING SHOWED YN DANCING TO CINEMA !!!!!

view all 5 202 comments

hArrysbtch everyone loves yn more than harry

hArrysbtch cameraman needs a rise

⤷ ynsmybestie when Harry saw it, he just laughed into the mic and said "good one, I, too, prefer looking at her instead of myself"

⤷ hArrysbtch that btch is IN LOVE

⤷ user42 they have a child together, I'd say they are in love

⤷ harrysmoustache those are still rumours

ynupdates to cinema??? girl

stylesbabie they have the same moves

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yourbestfriend

liked by yourinstagram, harrystyles and 302 494 others

yourbestfriend I'll take you to Harry's concert, she said. It'll be fine, she said. I won't disappear with him, she said. LIAAAAAAAAAAR

view all 14 302 comments

yourinstagram don't be dramatic, you went home with us

⤷ yourbestfriend just for my two best friends

⤷ yourinstagram same

harrystyles Technically, we didn't disappear.

⤷ yourbestfriend sometimes you need to know when to stop talking

⤷ harrystyles Right.

hArrysbtch im laughing so much

ynsmybestie hahahahahahahahahha YN, my queen

harrysmoustache so that sparkly woman on the screens at the concert was yn

⤷ ynsmybestie after the last time we should've known

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ynupdates

liked by harryupdates, ynsmybestie and 91 202 others

ynupdates YN at HARRY's last concert on LOT in Rome!

view all 5 302 comments

hArrysbtch that was during his speech at the end!

harrysmoustache someone doing the stream was close to yn and caught her crying during the lullaby

⤷ ynsmybestie yes!

⤷ hArrysbtch did you see that someone said that from the way her mouth was moving she said "it's babies lullaby now"

⤷ ynsmybestie sleeping on the highway, thank you

harrysmoustache she looks so proud

stylesbabie she just like me, crying when Harry whatever

——————————————————————————————

BUENOS AIRES SHOW

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a/n: oh, it was to made! i kinda love the twitter format...

[bacteriashowdown]

Gram-positive vs. Gram-negative bacteria

a.k.a. the inspiration for this blog's icon

When researching your favorite species of bacteria, the first characteristic you're guaranteed to find is whether or not your bacteria is gram-positive or gram-negative. This is in reference to the Gram stain, a method of staining bacteria with dye, such that certain bacteria retain it and become purple (gram-positive), while others do not -- and after an alcohol wash, can be tinted pink with a counterstain (gram-negative). This staining procedure is almost always the first step in figuring out what kind of bacteria you're working with, and is used constantly for both clinical and research purposes.

Okay, but why? And why does the color of a dyed bacterium even matter?

The answer to these questions... lies in the structure of the cell wall. Gram-positive bacteria retain dye because their cell walls are much thicker. The typical gram-positive bacteria has one cell membrane, covered by a thick layer of peptidoglycan, which is a polysaccharide that gives structural strength to the cell. In contrast, the typical gram-negative bacteria has two cell membranes, separated by a thin layer of peptidoglycan: this layered structure is thinner and more flexible. Gram-negative bacteria can be counterstained because this outer membrane is porous, and is degraded by the alcohol wash, losing its ability to retain the original dye.

This difference in cell structure may not seem earth-shattering, but it does have some serious implications. For example, in medicine, you want to know if you're dealing with a gram-negative bacteria, because they are less susceptible to antibiotics that target the cell wall (such as penicillin): in essence, the outer membrane protects the cell. Penicillin can easily fit between the gaps in the peptidoglycan layer surrounding gram-positive cells, but not through the outer membrane of gram-negative cells, which selectively blocks the passage of toxic substances. In general, gram-negative bacteria are less vulnerable to environmental toxins.

Gram-positive bacteria have their own strengths. In fact, they have an extremely powerful tool at their disposal: unlike (almost all) gram-negative bacteria, some gram-positive bacteria are capable of forming endospores. Endospore formation is an intense survival mechanism where a bacterium creates a dormant structure inside itself (called an endospore), which is extremely durable but cannot self-replicate. When conditions have improved, the endospore transforms into a bacterium, and begins to metabolize and reproduce. Endospores can lie dormant for thousands -- and some argue, millions -- of years, and remain viable.

To summarize: what at first may seem like a simple question of microbial dye-jobs is actually a way to peer into the structure of a bacteria, and hopefully start to unravel the unique strategies and adaptations that the species employs for survival.

Happy Gram staining everyone!

[anim-ttrpgs]

Mage Player Character Rules in Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy

Eureka has six playable "monster" types, and about ten total supernatural character options all together. Each supernatural trait is taken basically as if it is a normal trait like the ones you have been seeing us post. You cannot give a character more than one supernatural trait--and from what you are about to read, you probably wouldn't want to. Playing monsters is recommended for "advanced" players only, people who like a lot of "crunch" in their games, as require you to keep track of a lot more mechanics than playing a normal human.

Here is the Mage Trait. Mage aren't actually classified as Monsters, they're classified as "Misc. Supernatural," but even then their mechanics can be crunchy. This is going under a Read More because it's long as hell but we really hope that you will check it out and comment. This is, like, the whole entire ruleset for playing a mage in Eureka.

You may also have read about "mage powers" in the Changeling, Fairy, and Fairytale Witch rulesets. Well, this is where those come from.

Mage (Misc. Supernatural Trait) 

A “mage”[2] in Eureka is an otherwise normal person with one or more inexplicable powers.[1] Unlike the Fairytale Witch, a Mage’s powers are always innate. They may or may not know where this supernatural ability came from, and having it may or may not have indirectly influenced the direction their life has taken, but it is easy enough to hide without structuring any of their day-to-day life around actively hiding it.

[1 off to the side in the final formatting] Though it is usually only one.

[2 off to the side in the final formatting] Though they are more likely to call themselves “something-kinetic,” “mutant,” or “freak.”

A mage has one or more Mage Powers [change mage traits to mage abilities], with their body under more strain the more of them they were born with. This strain is represented by the Composure roll they make when putting a non-skill supernatural ability to use. They cannot have more than six. [make it clear in the witch section that witches can only have one Mage ability at once.]

One Mage Power: +3

Two Mage Powers: +1

Three Mage Powers: +0

Four Mage Powers: -1

Five Mage Powers: -2

Six Mage Powers: -3

[snoop: A Genevya snoopette hovering while machetes are floating around her. Ask blue for more details]

Mage Power List

Glamor (Mage Power)

This character can make themselves appear supernaturally attractive for the duration of one scene. Turning on this power counts as using a supernatural ability and takes one Movement. While this power is active, apply a +2 Base bonus to this character’s Charm and Seduce skills. This investigator can also spend 1 Eureka! Point to completely alter their outward appearance and voice to look like someone else, so long as their general body frame and height are not altered significantly. This investigator can spend 2 Eureka! Points to completely alter their appearance, including height, apparent weight, and sex. In order to match a specific person’s look, the investigator must either have a reference to study, such as the person themself or a high-quality photograph, to make their disguise match a specific person’s appearance. Either way, this counts as use of a non-skill supernatural ability and only lasts for the duration of one Scene. 

Healing Touch (Mage Power)

This character’s touch has the power to restore and revitalize living flesh. Add +2 to the number of HP restored by any Medicine roll, even a Failure. Does not heal undead.

Incredible Strength (Mage Power) 

This character’s physical prowess far exceeds their apparent musculature. This character is considered to have superhuman strength, as well as a +2 Base bonus to Athletics and +1 Base bonus Close Combat. 

[snoop: A snoop lifting a barbell meant for two hands with only one “hand”.]

Invisibility (Mage Power) 

The character in question can make themselves impossible to see with the naked eye. There are a number of ways to interpret this, and it is important to decide in no uncertain terms how it works beforehand. Does it include the character’s clothes, or do they have to strip naked to avoid looking like a floating outfit? Do they have to leave their own eyes visible to catch light, or do they not need to worry about that? Is this true invisibility, or are they merely changing the color of their skin to match the environment, and does it work while they are moving? Make sure to consider all of these things before the first session. Regardless, this character may turn invisible or turn visible again at any time, each of which count as use of a supernatural ability, and takes 1 Movement if in combat. While invisible, apply a +10 Base bonus to their Stealth skill.

[off to the side in the final formatting] Our recommended drawback for this ability is that the user must be naked in order to not be given away by their clothes floating in the air.

[Snoop: One snoop looking around confused while an invisible snoop represented by nothing but a pair of eyes sneaks past. ]

Lightning Powers (Mage Power) 

This investigator can generate high-voltage shocks in their body. It takes a short amount of time, or one Turn, counting as an action, to build up a charge, and also counts as use of a supernatural ability. After building up a charge, they can power, or short out, an electronic device that they touch, within reason.[1] In order to power an electronic device, they must actually touch the wires or other components that would normally touch the power supply.[2] For each minute or Round of combat that the investigator powers a device, they must make the supernatural ability Composure roll.

[1 off to the side in the final formatting] They could not take the place of a nuclear power plant and power an entire city, for instance, but jumping a car, keeping the lights of a house on, etc. would be within their limits.

[2 off to the side in the final formatting] For instance, they could not power a flashlight just by holding it by the handle, they must actually touch the components that the battery would touch. The investigator is essentially acting as the battery, and if they stop touching the device, it will be as if the battery was removed.

This investigator ability can use this ability in combat as well. After charging up, the next person to touch this investigator either with their own body or any kind of highly conductive weapon will be dealt a powerful electric shock for 4 Superficial Damage if the incoming attack is a Full Success and 2 Superficial Damage if the incoming attack is a Partial Success. This can be used offensively by combining it with any unarmed melee attack, or with a weapon made of a highly conductive material.[1] When attacking like this, only one roll is made, counting for both damage sources.[2]

[1 off to the side in the final formatting] The investigator must be actually touching the same conductive material that is impacting the target for this to work. For instance, a knife with a metal blade but a rubber handle would not deliver a charge.

[2 off to the side in the final formatting] Full Success = Full regular attack damage + 4 Superficial Damage from electricity.

Partial Success = Half regular attack damage + 2 Superficial Damage from electricity.

Failure = No damage, as usual.

Once an electric charge has been discharged, it must be built up again.

For 1 Eureka! Point, this investigator can build up a massive charge.[1] This massive charge can be unleashed in a direction of the investigator’s choice where it will jump up to 15 feet towards the nearest conductive thing in that direction. This lightning will jump 1D6 times, alway jumping to the next nearest point of conduction starting from the investigator. It does not discriminate between friend and foe.

[1 off to the side in the final formatting] This takes the same amount of time to generate as a normal charge, and takes an action.

Manifest Weaponry (Mage Power) 

This character is able to produce 2 short semi-transparent hovering blades about the size of machetes at will, which they can control without touching them. This counts as one Movement. At the cost of one Eureka! Point, 4 blades can be summoned instead. For combat purposes, each pair of blades counts as a separate single dual-wielding combatant independent of the character who summoned them, with their own actions and place in the turn-order. A pair of blades can only make Basic Melee Attacks, but cannot be attacked themselves, and uses their owner’s Close Combat skill. They can also benefit from the Ambidextrous trait if their owner has this trait.

Their Speed will always be twice the Speed of their owner, however, they will vanish when out of the owner’s line of sight, and suffer an attack penalty of -1 for every 15 feet they travel away from their owner.

0-14 feet: -0

15-29 feet: -1

30-44 feet: -2

45-59 feet: -3

60-74 feet: -4

75-89 feet: -5

90-104 feet: -6

105-120 feet: -7

etc.

[snoop: A snoopette with four hovering machetes around her shoulders.]

Psychic Detective (Mage Power)

When this investigator is about to make an Investigative Roll with any skill they can, as a supernatural ability, instead replace the skill they were going to use to investigate with the Blacked Out skill, and it is otherwise treated like a regular Investigative Roll and gives the same information as the skill it is replacing. If one of these Investigative Rolls is made towards either a weapon the use of which is relevant to the investigation, or a wound that is relevant to the investigation, then regardless of the roll’s outcome this investigator will take Superficial Damage equivalent to half of the weapon’s regular damage, and must make a Composure Check as if they had been hit by this weapon. However, the Narrator does not tell the player exactly what the weapon is, just its damage and its category for the purpose of Composure Checks. The Narrator will also tell the player whether the damage dealt was Superficial or Penetrative, though the actual damage taken to this investigator will always be Superficial.

[off to the side in the final formatting] For example, if the investigator uses this ability to make an Investigative Roll towards a murder victim’s body to determine the cause of death, and the cause of death was a gunshot wound, the Narrator would tell his player that this investigator takes 2 Superficial Damage (Bullets normally deal 4 Penetrative Damage, but this Trait converts that to Superficial Damage and cuts it in half.) and must make a Gunfight Composure Check.

[off to the side in the final formatting] Wearing armor does not reduce this damage.

Pyrokinesis (Mage Power) 

This character can start small fires with their mind. In order to do this, the target must be reasonably flammable, such that it would ignite if a match was held to it, and also be visible to the character. If time is measured in Turns this counts as a Movement. “Visible” usually means that it is in the character’s immediate vicinity. The Narrator should be very careful if allowing this power to target things seen in video feeds or photographs. We generally do not recommend this interpretation. If attempted in combat or any other situation where time is being measured in rounds, this takes one action. Anything highly flammable, such as paper, flammable gas, or kindling will catch fire guaranteed. For anything marginally flammable, such as hair, most clothing, and thicker wood, roll 1D6. On a 1-3, the targeted object will not catch fire; on a 4-6, it will catch fire. Subtract -1 for each factor present that would make it harder for something to catch fire, such as if the object is wet or if there is high wind speed. If fire is set to someone’s hair or clothes in this way, they will have 1 round to extinguish it before it starts to cause damage. After the first round, it will deal 1 Superficial Damage on the burning character’s turn until extinguished.

In addition, rather than just starting a small fire, this investigator can spend a Eureka! Point to instantly set something ablaze in a burning inferno, so long as it is at all reasonably flammable. If this is done to a character, the burning character will take 2 Superficial Damage each time it is their own turn until extinguished. See: Splash Explosions for more rules regarding burning damage.

[off to the side in the final formatting] Unlike a true Splash Explosion, however, this ability can only target one character or object at a time.

[Snoop: One snoop shooting ‘mind beams’ at another snoop’s butt who is running around with their butt on fire.]

Telekinesis (Mage Power)

This character can affect, push, pull, lift, etc. objects without physically touching them. Anything a character could do with their hand, this character can do with telekinesis, unless the action somehow requires a hand specifically, such as using a thumbprint recognition scanner. For any usage of this ability that would require an Athletics check if it were to be done with the physical body, use an Athletics modifier of +2, regardless of the investigator’s actual Athletics stat. This investigator can use this ability to lift themselves and/or others into the air, though their speed while hovering cannot exceed a walking pace. This investigator can use their telekinesis to make a Grab attack against another character from a distance. All Grabbing and Holding rules apply, including Submission, except that the Grabber and the Target do not have to be touching. This investigator can spend 1 Eureka! Point to exert up to 500 pounds of pressure on an object for 1 round. This takes an action. This pressure could be used for a variety of purposes, such as lifting, crushing, etc. If used to crush a character, this deals 4 Penetrative Damage and ignores Armor. 

[off to the side in the final formatting] When Grabbing with the telekinesis, this does not use the investigator’s own Athletics, it will always be a total modifier of +1; +2 from the telekinesis, -1 from the Grab action.

[off to the side in the final formatting] If this is being done from outside the range of the target’s weapon, the target cannot make a Counter-Attack. Additionally, the target must know who is attempting to Grab them in order to make a Counter-Attack.

[Snoop: A snoopette hovering in a lazy/smug relaxed position looking at another snoop who is significantly more distressed about being lifted into the air.]

Teleportation (Mage Power) 

This character can teleport, instantly transporting themselves to their destination. They can teleport to any location they can clearly see within 100 yards. If done in combat, this takes an action. At the cost of 3 flat composure points per additional person, this investigator can teleport with other people so long as they are touching them.

At the cost of 1 Eureka! Point, this investigator can teleport to anywhere in the world that they have been before and can clearly picture in their mind. This costs 1 additional Eureka! Point per additional person they are bringing with, in addition to the Composure cost.

Superhuman Speed (Mage Power) 

When this ability is activated, this investigator’s body is capable of moving faster than regular physics dictate it should, but not faster than the human eye can track. This ability must be activated on a per-Scene basis, and doing so confers a +3 Composure check. This takes a Movement. While this ability is active, add a +3 Base to this investigator’s Reflexes skill, a +3 Base bonus to any melee attack roll, and a -3 penalty to any other character’s melee attack roll targeting this character, and a -1 to any other character’s firearm or projectile attack roll targeting this character if this character is ducking or running perpendicular to the shooter. While this ability is active this investigator also has an Acceleration of +8. 

Werewolf (Mage Power)

The character may transform into a large, tailless wolf. This takes 1 Action if done in combat. In this form, they can only attack with their jaws. To attack with jaws, make a Grab attack. So long as the target is Grabbed, all other aspects of Grabbing apply, but they also take 2 Penetrative damage each time it is the character’s turn with no roll needed. This damage can be reduced by armor or by any other damage reduction such as that of the Unkillable trait. They gain a +4 Contextual bonus to Senses rolls involving hearing and smell. They also gain a +1 Base bonus to Close Combat, and a +4 Base bonus to Stealth. +4 Acceleration.

While in wolf form, werewolves are capable of Scent Tracking. (See p.xx “Scent Tracking”.) 

[Snoop: An image of a tree with a wolf tail sticking out from one side and a snoop ‘skin’ hanging from a coat hanger right next to it.]

Note: ‘Werewolves’ as they appear in most historical folklore do not really fit into the Monster category. They don’t have any particular weaknesses besides the weaknesses that regular humans have, nor are they really even that dangerous compared to other Monster types. For this reason, this Trait is considered a Mage Power. For a more ‘hollywood’ take on werewolves, see Wolfman. 

[thebomb-thebird-andtheburntbitch]

w.count: 2.4k (whoops. it got away from me)

chengsheng picks favorties, and she's not secretive about it. she's also not secretive about the fact that when you're around, it isn't baizhu either.

living in liyue for as long as you have should've meant your body was used to traversing the constant air influxes of going up and down mountains and large rock formations by now. however, contrary to what you believe to be the case, your body simply did not listen. really, it didn't listen to anything you want it to do.

it was always something. lightheadedness, severe headaches, congestion that made your eyes ache, stiff and swollen joints and muscles, small scrapes and bruises from whatever tumble you may have taken. anything that could happen always seemed to be the case with you when you walked through the door to bubu pharmacy.

it took no time at all for herbalist gui to learn your face and name. even qiqi could remember your face with her poor memory. with your regular visits, gui first suspected you were faking your aliments. of course, you could easily see how he could come to such an accusation. even you thought once or twice that you were just overthinking things, that it wasn't bad... until it was, and your conditions worsen with no kind of treatment at all.

the first time you met baizhu, you were standing rather unamused- and slightly zoned out- from yet another lecture from gui on how you need to be more careful or else you'll make the pharmacy run out of stock. he should be glad that business is practically booming with you around. instead, he was laying it on thick today... not that you were paying much attention.

"ah, so this is who the mysterious person qiqi claims needs herbs so frequently is."

you don't think you'll ever be able to forget how amused he sounded from behind you. or the look on gui's face as his boss interrupts his rambling that definitely could look like berating to anyone who wasn't used to seeing him interact with your near-daily medicine runs. you should've had a kamera on hand for such an expression.

you'll never forget exactly how awed you were to see the owner of such a renowned pharmacy for the first time either. a part of you was almost skeptical of how young he was, but then again age never equated to intelligence anyway, so that thoughtless nonsense was easily tossed out of your mind.

"yes, i guess that would be me," you sheepishly told him. "my apologies for the... neediness? for lack of better words."

"not at all. what is medicine good for if not to treat someone? it's actually quite relieving to finally put a face with a name."

"qiqi sspeakss of them sso often i almosst asssumed they were another one of her missunderstandingss." the secondary voice that no doubt came from the white snake around the doctor's neck shocked you for a moment. blinking as if taking in the absurdity of it, you easily accepted that the snake could talk.

this was teyvat where people could be born hybrids, having psychical traits of of species of being. not to mention liyue, where you knew of at least two adeptus running around the harbor. this shouldn't come as much of a shock.

"sorry about that too," the silent- i think?- you refused to tack on to the end of your sentence was left unspoken but clearly seen in your eyes. was that something to apologize for? in truth, the whole situation felt quite awkward so all you could do was talk to fill the silence. the silence that wasn't very silent anyway.

you had since stepped off to the side so gui could talk to another patron coming to pick up their prescription with the babble of the city just outside. if you didn't feel it would be rude, you would've just left and called it a day- even if you hadn't actually gotten your needed medicine from the herbalist at the desk yet. he had been too busy nagging you to hand it over before baizhu's sudden appearance.

luckily for you, baizhu was also intelligent enough he could read a room.

"please wait here. i'll go and fetch whatever medicine you need today." you make a small noise of acknowledgment before offering a small okay as he walks behind the counter and takes a paper from gui that probably had recommended herbs and salves scribbled on it for your treatment.

feeling like you just fumbled the first interaction with the pharmacy's owner, you sighed and pushed a finger to your temples before going outside. leaning yourself on the railing just outside the building, you bore yourself into counting the steps leading up to it. always getting a different answer each time since there were so many. you were so invested in your stair counting that when baizhu reappears in your peripherals with a small drawstring pouch of presumed herbs, you feel yourself flinch.

"i didn't mean to startle you," he chuckles as you gently take the pouch from him, using your other hand to dig around for the mora you know you now owe.

"it's fine. i was too engrossed in counting."

"counting?"

"the stairs."

"did you come to a final count?" he entertains.

"not even close," you say as you place the correct amount of shiny mora into his palm while watching chengsheng readjust herself by slithering once around his shoulders.

after that day, baizhu was around more often when you would stop by. your semi-normal medical pick-ups soon extend into medical treatment personally offered by baizhu in the pharmacy's back room, along with prolonged conversations to fill the free time he could offer. it was during these conversations that chengsheng decided that among the humans living in liyue, you were her favorite.

she preferred you over others so much that when you would come by the pharmacy, she would immediately demand to coil around you instead of her normal seat upon baizhu's shoulders. she would only keep to baizhu when you were around if his chi levels were running wild and she was confined to her job of maintaining them.

today was no exception to her favoritism.

you had once again shown up to bubu pharmacy, but this time not for whatever ails you, but for your annual checkup. you never used to bother with them, but shockingly enough gui had lectured you one year about it- so, to save yourself the ear strain it would be best to just get it over with.

walking up the outrageously long stairs to the pharmacy entrance, you sigh and rub your neck with a rather lackluster greeting to the open space of the front desk.

"okay gui, i'm here." you almost sigh, like keeping track with your health was such an inconvenience. dropping your arm and raising your view, you see all three of the bubu population together- which was almost rare considering they all have their own agendas to deal with near daily. "wow," you start with a smile at seeing them all, "it's like a party in here."

gui shakes his head at your lame attempt at what he assumes is a joke while qiqi abandons her post to waltz up to your side and grab the fabric that hung around your waist; a habit she's developed since you've been around more often. you're not sure why she does it, maybe it makes her feel secure or something, you weren't sure. you don't mind it regardless. you always accept her small act of presumed affection with your palm resting on her talisman tagged hat and small greeting.

baizhu blithely crosses his arms over his chest at seeing how attached qiqi has become of you. he has the hunch that even outside of the pharmacy you were pretty well-known because you were someone easily likeable, but to capture the attention of his little qiqi? color him impressed. still, he was pleased you had formed a connection with her and gui. even baizhu himself found himself enjoying your company more than he did before. each time was better than the last.

"it's lovely to see you again," the owner speaks as he uncrosses his arms into a more relaxed manner of stance. "gui informed me that you can be rather stubborn when it comes to these kinds of matters. I was worried i'd have to go and find you myself."

"i don't think you would have to go that far. even if i didn't show up today, i would've been back eventually. then you could've tied me up and thrown me into a forced state of compliance."

"that wouldn't be very hospitable of a doctor, i'm afraid."

a small tug on your hip directs your attention downwards as qiqi looks up at you.

"doctor baizhu will be taking care of you today," she says slowly, almost lethargically. you blink a few times in confusion for a moment before nodding to her.

"really now? what an a honor." it wasn't often baizhu did things like this, such common checkups were handled mostly by gui. you wonder if chengsheng kicked up some sort of fuss about it? 'nevermind,' you shake your head and internalize your thoughts, 'it doesn't matter.'

"best not to waste much more time," baizhu says, rounding the counter and coming up to your side before replacing your hand with his own on qiqi's head. "run along now, qiqi." she's quick to obey and gui returns to whatever it is he does all day long. you're ushered out and soon back to the room you've been in thousands of times before.

just like normal, you sat yourself down in one of the two stools baizhu keeps at his desk. just like normal, baizhu offers you tea for your time and just like normal you accept. just like normal, he walks back and forth along the many shelves of herbs and equipment for what he needs for the day's work. and just like normal, chengsheng is slithering down baizhu's outstretched arm, onto the desk and then quickly up yours as you offer it to her.

"aw, i've missed you too chengsheng," you coo. she always hisses when you treat her like a common snake, but it wasn't like she was going to do anything about it. another perk of being the favorite.

"it'ss just nicce to not be coiled around a man who smellss like grasss all the time," she plays off as she coils comfortably around your shoulders and even curling up your head to pass through your hair. most definitely forming knots in her wake.

as baizhu comes back to your side, you watch as he places his required items down.

"it never gets easier," you say.

"and what exactly are you talking about?"

"how... empty you look without chengsheng."

baizhu chuckles.

"yes, well, it feels as empty as it looks." he looks at the pearl white snake around you, clearly nuzzling into you more than him, and he smiles warmly at it. "she looks much better wrapped around you, than me."

"uh-huh," you scoff, bringing your palm up to cup her head and lightly nudging her away from your ear. she was making your skin tingle with her scales against the small sensitive limb. "i totally believe you."

"i've never spoken a word of a lie to you."

you always applaud yourself for not absolutely losing your cool for the things that could come out of baizhu's mouth. the way he can easily say things that were well past embarrassing without so much as blinking was almost awe-inspiring. if you didn't know any better, you'd think sometimes he was flirting with you- but it was baizhu and he was always kind and polite to anyone. that was just who he was.

your checkup runs smoothly and even though nothing can fix your accident-prone lifestyle, you were still healthy and ready to take on more scraps and falls.

now, the hardest part of every pharmacy visit was about to commence. convincing chengsheng to return to her contractor without much fuss.

"chengsheng," you nervously say her name with a slight shake in your voice. she was always a sassy snake, but when she didn't get to indulge in what she wanted, which was simply snuggly laying around your shoulders for just a while longer... she could be a handful. "you know you can't leave with me."

she meets you nowhere with silence- not even attempting to meet you halfway somewhere. nope, she's leaving you high and dry. baizhu watches with half amused eyes, a hand on his hip and the other reached out to brush against her scales.

"what if i walked our dear y/n home? would you willingly part with them then?"

"what?" baizhu had never walked you home before, you always insisted he not since he was a busy man, and it wasn't like you couldn't take care of yourself. this opportunity easily hooked the snake's attention as she lifted her previously curled head and looked at her contractor- you know, the man she was supposed to be unwaveringly loyal to.

"do we have a deal?" he chided, knowing that eventually she was going to let you go one way or the other. whether it be now by him prying her off you physically or walking you home and having her come back willingly. her forked tongue flicked out before coiling one full rotation around your neck and up your head, so her reptilian 'chin' sat on your crown.

"if i must," which was chengsheng for 'yes, we do'.

so, with you and chengsheng waiting at the top of the stone stairs, baizhu popped inside to inform gui and qiqi he would be stepping out for a bit. qiqi had peaked around the open front and waved goodbye to you, which you returned happily before baizhu came to your side. his hand came to hover at your back, so close you could almost feel his palm but never actually touching, and offered you start taking steps ahead of him.

back from inside the pharmcy at the desk, qiqi walked back to gui's side as they both watched their boss walk off with you.

"qiqi likes when y/n is around," she speaks monotonously- but she meant it.

"yeah," gui agrees, watching both your heads disappear further down the stairs with chengsheng still clinging to you. "you aren't the only one," he chuckles.

chengsheng picks favorties, and she's not secretive about it. her contractor, however- even if he thinks he's being slick about it- cannot hide that he does too.

and wouldn't you believe it? all evidence always leads back to you.

[demonpiratehuntress]

hiii! it’s the autistic anon,, i hope it’s okay if i try requesting smth a little easier to write? i was thinking maybe smth like Law and reader aren’t dating yet, maybe reader joined the crew not too long ago and so is still quiet and shy around everyone. but one day Law notices her reading a comic book he likes and strikes up a conversation about it and maybe that leads to him finding out they’re really similar in some ways? like both have a coin and comic book collection, both love tattoos, and reader even wanted to be a nurse but just didn’t have the resources for it. Law kind of develops a crush from there and u can decide how he handles it and whether or not he even realizes he has a crush at first. and i don’t mind what format either, it can be headcanons or a fic or anything! and i just want to say thank u for taking time out of your busy schedule to write for us, i love your writing and look forward to your posts everyday! i hope your day is great!! <3

hello again! of course, i'm open to a lot of other ideas :) this sounds so cute and sweet, i can definitely write this! thank you for requesting again :D i chose headcanons because they're more fun to write lol. I hope you like it!

taglist - @kabloswrld

two peas in a pod

Trafalgar Law x F!Reader

summary - the cute scenario described in the ask :)))

warnings - none

You'd always wanted to become a pirate, ever since you were little

So when Law and his crew showed up at your little island and stopped at your village to replenish their supplies - and apparently take down bandits that were terrorising you - you took the opportunity

At first Law was sceptical, wondering what you brought to his crew, but after your first venture with them he realised you could be useful, not only as a fighter but also another medic, one with more nurturing qualities and a softer touch

He would never admit it, but he was jealous of how the crew immediately went to you for help now

But after a while Law himself warmed up to you as well, and found himself seeking your company more and more often

He knew very well he could fix himself up, but chose to come to you instead just to have an excuse to talk to you and maybe learn more about you

Despite interacting with the crew for medicinal purposes, you were still shy and reserved, only speaking when you needed to

You were surprised when Law walked into your room one day, claiming that he needed your help determining what kind of sickness he was developing (he was not sick)

He caught you in your free time, so you were reading a favourite comic of yours, a secret you had managed to keep from everyone for so long - until now

"What's that?"

"Hmm? Oh, this? Nothing.."

You hid the comic behind your back, hoping Law would drop it and just focus on his non-existent sickness, but luck was not on your side today

His brows furrowed in concentration, before his eyes lit up in a way you'd never seen before

"I know that comic!"

"Wh-what? No you don't..."

"Surely you're not telling me I wouldn't recognise the cover of my favourite comic book, (Name)-ya..."

"O-of course not! I just didn't think..."

You trailed off as Law took a seat directly next to you, plucking the comic from your hands

He begins to flick through the pages with you sitting so stiff and awkwardly beside him

Eventually you relax and attempt to initiate a discussion about it with him

Which turns into a full debate over your favourite characters

You've never had this much fun talking about something before

And your captain seems so much more relaxed and at ease, and he's even SMILING as he talks

The conversation slowly goes from the comic to other shared interests between the two of you, such as his coin collection - he was visibly stunned to find out you had one too - and your desire to become a nurse, something medical-related

Law was surprised to hear that you wanted to be a nurse

Not because you didn't have the skills for it, you definitely did, but because you had chosen to become a pirate instead

When he asked what changed your mind, something weird happened in his chest when your answer was "i didn't have the opportunity or the resources in my small village...but also...you"

He didn't know what that feeling was, but he kind of liked it?

From then on, Law took every opportunity he could to talk to you about both your coin collections, your medical knowledge and your shared interest in that comic

He wanted to know why he was feeling this way, and hoped talking to you more would help him understand

But now he was just craving your presence, craving your voice and the way you passionately spoke about your interests

It wouldn't be a good day if Law hadn't gotten the chance to see or speak to you

And it was frustrating him that he couldn't figure out why he felt this way about you, and why he treated you differently to his other crewmates

Then Shachi and Penguin teased him about being in love with you

And suddenly it made sense

But for the first time ever, Law was terrified, because he didn't know what to do, this was not his forte

So obviously, he needed help, and since Shachi and Penguin were doing nothing but teasing him, he went to Bepo

You were completely oblivious to what he and Bepo were planning, thinking they were just planning the crew's next island stop

You were also oblivious to Law's feelings - mostly because he hid it well - but were completely aware of your own feelings for him

And you tried to hide it, you really did, but everyone could see the way your eyes softened when he walked into the room or spoke to you directly, the way your cheeks reddened when he complimented you or said something nice, the way you always seemed even more shy and flustered around him

Even Law noticed

But for a long time he debated whether or not to actually go through with his Bepo's plan to ask you out

He took so long that you almost gave up on him entirely

But when he did finally approach you, it was so worth it

He had planned a very romantic dinner in his room - candlelit and everything

He was so nervous the entire time, only slightly comforted by the fact that you looked nervous as well

"You look nice"

"Oh, um, thanks. So do you"

It is SO awkward for a few minutes, as you both just look at each other or the food

You decide to break the silence since it seems like Law never will

"If this is too uncomfortable, I can-"

"No!" He jumps to say, then clears his throat. "I mean, I'd like you to stay. I'm sorry, I'm not very good at this."

So you stay, and you're patient with him as he works up the nerve to tell you how he feels

In the end, you tell him you feel the same way, and like a movie, you close the date with a sweet, slow kiss - both yours and Law's pace

[soundlesswind]

Mononoke: Karakasa Review

Mononoke - Phantom in the Rain

Now that it's officially out globally, I can finally offer some thoughts and reflections on the long-awaited continuation of the cult-beloved Ayakashi/Mononoke series. My main tagline for this review can be summarized thusly:

I liked it...but it could have been better.

(~ not spoiler free, read at your own discretion ~)

Karakasa: Visually, it's a bang---structurally, it's a bomb. That about sums up how I feel about the movie overall. It's vibrant, beautiful, and full of intricate patterning and details, and is in a way: both a step up and a step down from the original.

...But what do I mean by that really? Well, I think we need to first highlight what makes Karakasa and Mononoke rather different.

Ayakashi/Mononoke has a much slower pacing, with slightly more muted, and washed-aesthetic tone despite its colourful designs. It shifts from being more colourful or more sombre depending on the type of scene it wants to depict. But even at its most saturated, it never gets quite as vibrant in contrast compared to Karakasa. ...However, you could say that may be in part due to the sheer difference in animation techniques developed over the course of nearly a decade between the two (2006/2007 vs 2024).

That isn't to say Karakasa doesn't have moments of dark imagery, but that even at its darkest, it remains distinctly vibrant and high-in-contrast. You could argue for it as a conscientious choice...but personally, at its root: Mononoke is a horror-ghost story; and the gritter, muddled palettes rather add to that charm.

(2007 Mononoke - Noppera-bou, and Nue)

(2024 Karakasa)

To match its mood, Mononoke also has a much slower cadence and story tempo, despite any singular arc being overall shorter than Karakasa. That cadence adds to another difference: which is spookiness. I find Mononoke to be far spookier and more effortlessly imposing than Karakasa. There's a bit of tension and suspense in the way it's presented: both visually and vocally* (a point I'll bring up later). Mononoke is sometimes boldly laid out in seemingly disjointed flashes, but still somehow ends up cohesive and immersive with its themes and motifs; feeding you just enough information to wet your appetite as to where and just how far it wants to take you. And this is of course, done in parts over the span of 2-3 episodes.

Karakasa on the other hand, has a pacing that feels like a marathon. It seems almost lightning fast, despite the first half of the movie being entirely sociopolitical intrigue without much in the way of anything overtly youkai-esque. In fact, our Medicine Seller doesn't even step foot into the Ooku (women's court) until around 40 minutes in...which is nearly half the movie! ...But naturally, since it's a movie, it will be movie-formatted. Everything is going to run as if it were one singular episode long. --- Still, what does that mean for the pacing?

If you don't know what "tea house tales" "is.....it's basically a format of short stories told over several sessions. It's one of the ways people in the historic East used to tell stories. They'd gather around somewhere, drink tea, eat snacks and share a bit of light entertainment. In the same way the episodic nature of Mononoke is somewhat reminiscent of that. Each part feeds you a bit of information, a bit of mystery, a bit of suspense, and a bit of action. It keeps you sufficiently entertained one way or another without stringing you on far too long before any sort of climactic reveal. In this way, Mononoke feels more balanced and evened out than Karakasa. But even the format aside, I found Karakasa a lot less clear and concise with what it's trying to portray. There were parts of the movie I had to re-watch a few times or sit down and think about afterwards just to fully understand what I think it was alluding to, which wasn't an issue with Mononoke whatsoever. The plot, both visually and thematically was always clear as day for the original series, where as Karakasa sort of muddles on and off between mystery and court drama over the course of an hour and a half.

Personally...I think one of the detriments to Karakasa is the sheer size of its cast. There were simply way too many characters (27+), and some of them even have overlapping roles. There were also quite a few without clear rhyme or reason. For example, we get introduced to Tenshi, Mizoragi and the moon twins, and an assortment of other characters who don't really have much of a presence in the movie (other than to to be positional seat warmers) and are shown for a collective total of a few minutes. Karakasa IS a trilogy however, so it's possible that their roles may be elaborated in future movies, but in regards to the current film, they feel like a distraction. I guess they're going grand and all out, but the benefits of a smaller cast is that you get more intimate with each character and their already very limited screentime. It just wasn't possible for me to feel any intimacy or investment into the large cast of Karakasa---Asa and Kame included.

Comparatively; I always felt truly, fully immersed in all the story arcs of the original Ayakashi/Mononoke. I cared about the characters, or was so invested in their sorrowful tale. But I didn't particularly feel that way about Karakasa because whatever message it was trying to convey kind of got lost in-between all the court drama...which, I'm not sure some viewers may even understand or empathize with unless they already have some knowledge of what women in the imperial harem go through or how it functions. (Speaking of which, Asa practically speed ran the exposition towards the end regarding Kitagawa and her own motives.) Just to name a few: there's the rank struggles of Asa and Kame versus the leaders of the Ooku; the political positions of Fuki, Botan and the other consorts, the political household ties of Saburomaru, the grip of Mizoragi's strange cult, and the (lack of) political power that Tenshi (the emperor) holds versus the Shogunate in the Capital (---I'm not entirely sure what timeline we're in right now, but the fact that there IS a Shogunate implies a lot.)

...Anyway, you can see why there are too many distractions in this movie for me to fully feel immersed in whatever it's trying to tell. It's supposed to be a movie of women's suffering (under the weight of men and the social sphere I suppose), but most of the time it felt more like I was just simply suffering watching women cat fight each other until they quickly got picked off by the Karakasa mononoke.

Speaking of the titular "Karakasa", though... it certainly was an interesting choice of youkai. I wonder if it was because traditionally, karakasa aren't violent youkai, they're merely scary tricksters; and it wasn't as if Kitagawa was really out for revenge (though she did pick off a few people).....actually, now that I've written it out that way, Kitagawa's motives are a little unclear. Or maybe it didn't matter anymore as karakasa grew to the point it became uncontrollable. Either way, I think if they had refocused the movie on Kitagawa and actually visually show the parallels between her, her "friend" and Asa/Kame...instead of giving us a verbal speedrun exposition dump towards the end...I might have felt a little more sympathy (...or just simply anything worth feeling towards the story). But alas.

It certainly didn't help that I was a little unsatisfied with some of the voice cast. For the most part, I was okay with the side cast (particularly the males, since the females hardly had lines); but felt it was a waste that Tsuda Kenjiro (Mizoragi) also hardly had any lines (...though I have a feeling he'll play a bigger role in the next movie). He was actually even one of my 3 ideal choices for Kusuriuri's recast (next to Ishida Akira and Toriumi Kousuke). I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love Kamiya Hiroshi, he is one of my favourites...but I think his role as Kusuriuri was a bit lackluster since his vocal range is medium-high and therefore does not go deep or husky enough to carry the same spook factor that Sakurai Takahiro's voice has. Karakasa also lacks the unique staccato often used in the original Mononoke which gave it an overall interesting sound and pace. I loved the odd vocal nuances and pauses in the previous work and was very sad that it's more or less nonexistent in Karakasa.

My second complaint would be with Asa and Kame's cast, which I felt might've benefited more from actresses with more interesting inflections. Kurosawa Tomoyo is an okay actress. She gets the job done but generally does better on long-running series since she takes a long time to fully have a grip on her role. Honestly, she was on auto-pilot and was quite boring throughout Karakasa. Aoi Yuuki on the other hand has a lot of vocal range, but generally suffers from inconsistency and just sounding like nails on a chalkboard. (I won't even mince it; my housemate walked in on me watching Karakasa on the telly and literally flinched at her voice because it severely hurt her eardrums---my condolences).

Generally speaking, I do prefer older seiyuus, they just have qualities I enjoy more, but I do also think the movie would've benefitted more from either a liveaction casting or a Showa casting. Most of the characters (in both Mononoke and Karakasa) kind of...oddly use modern speech instead of feudal Japanese (minus Utayama), and given that the Ooku IS a court drama, doesn't use court language or any regional dialects whatsoever (granted I'm not even sure if this is Kyoto, Edo, or wherever). Awashima and Mugitani do use formal language, but only Utayama uses slightly older diction. With the exception of a few notable names, most of the cast for Karakasa are from a generation of newer/younger voice actors, whereas Mononoke consists of an older one. You probably won't care unless you're a seiyuu buff, but there is actually a clear vocal distinction between those of different acting generations. For example: Sakurai, Kamiya, Ishida, Tsuda, Ogata, Hayashibara, etc...all have particular qualities to their voice that give it a layer of interest (ie. whispiness, huskiness, nasalness, etc). I don't know if it's caused by the difference in learned language or some other factor, but newer generations of voice actors tend to have more clear-toned voices with more modern inflections. Kurosawa and Aoi both have notably modern inflections when they act. You could say it's a battle of old versus new if we're going by story theme...but in which case, the rest of the cast could've been of an older generation to portray that. (But well, I'm glad they chose an older actress for Utayama, at least). The few exceptions to this are a small handful of modern actresses that are so astoundingly skilled they break that barrier. I kind of wished they had casted Hanazawa for Kame instead but she's already Kitagawa...but in which case, toss Sawashiro Miyuki in that role, I think she would've been a bit spookier. Hanazawa as Kame might've made her more endearing to me, but maybe they were going for the double-double: irritable voice and character combo, since Kame wasn't particularly written to be likeable. --- Kame does somewhat feel like a second generation Kayo (MAO), but I think MAO was still more serviceable to my ears. Anyway. I don't think I should hold up this review post any longer with my derailed rant on voice acting. It is what it is, and at the very least: we found out some lore bombshell that there are possibly at most 64 medicine sellers, and that Sakurai (Ri) Kusuriuri and Kamiya (Kon) Kusuriuri are different characters altogether (---a lot of fans rejoiced about that), making the possibility of two or more existing at one time. Wouldn't that be exciting to see?

Moving on to the music. In contrast to the trailers, the soundtrack in the movie sometimes feel like background white noise. It almost seems like a trend with newer anime, but nowadays, I hardly hear the tracks compared to older shows. Well, in Karakasa in particular, the movie is moving at such a jilted pace: most of the sounds you will hear is either dialogue or the occasional clinks and clangs. They don't really blast OSTs like they used to (...unlike Hollywood movies where I hear too much BGM). --- But following the odd quirks of Ayakashi: some of the vocal themes for Karakasa still are that weird mash of modern and traditional sounds with the occasional rapping. Particularly during the fight scene, there were some hardcore bass rap on cue. I'm not sure if I like or dislike it, but it is different. My favourite track is the Okami-esque flute theme used during the Birth Celebration Ceremony towards the end. But whether it's Mononoke or Karakasa, what stands out in both is not the score, but the sound effects which have always been the distinctive noise of the series.

The teased title for the next installment is "Ashes of Rage". I wonder what that could mean? We're left on a bunch of cliffhangers, such as why did Kusuriuri smile while looking at the clouds, what's the deal with the seal in the well, and what was Mizoragi doing in the cellar pouring water over what looked like an enclosed basin? Moreover, why on earth did they lore drop so much on the background of the medicine sellers...not in the movie but during the side interviews! The fact that they have a home base, or that the Shingi (alters) are different people... So do you mean to tell me, I still can dream of an Ishida Akira Kusuriuri!? There are at most 8 trigram Taima swords, and 2 of which are Sakurai and Kamiya's. Does that mean there's still room for another 6 Kusuriuris? That's so fruity!

If you made it this far, thank you for reading. I also I hope you watched the movie before perusing this given that it's so spoiler heavy. While it does seem like I had a lot of complaints, make no mistake: the movie was gorgeous. It was made with painstaking visual efforts and intricate architecture. Every stroke and splash is a work of art, making it one of the most visually interesting movie in a long time.

While it doesn't replace the old Mononoke in my heart, the Karakasa trilogy is a nice addition; something different and its own thing. A lot more action and a lot more abstract if you dig that sort of presentation.

Given that the trilogy isn't over, I have no doubt the rest of it will continue on with Kamiya's (Kon) Kusuriuri...but I do hope the series continues to keep receiving love so I can eventually have a whole Sentai Kamen rider group of Kusuriuris.

Until next time...~!

[gofishygo]

WEEK TWO (PRIDE MONTH SERIES) : DEAR THEODESIA ; , RETIRED! GHOAP x RETIRED 141! READER - UNFINISHED

(ill finish these when i take my normal pills trust)

notes: description of injury, mw3 spoilers

ice does little to aid the aftermath of bullet wounds. it’s ludicrous, some fact that the youngest of children, with their stubby hands and round faces could comprehend- how could coldness and wet cloth undo starburst wounds? It has no place there; held against flesh turned inside-out, feeble in grasping the shrapnel that dug new burrows in bone. such primitive medicine could only ever aid bruises on the knees of young students, to cool drinks during days where sweat stuck shirt into skin.

and yet, johnny(soap)’s head was placed in your lap, an icepack closing the gap between the sirus wound against his head and the warmth of your hand, while simon(formerly ghost) slings an arm around your shoulder, sinking the rounded fluff of the couch you’d found on facebook marketplace together.

it’s still hard, readjusting to living the life that you had served years in the SAS to protect. Your head writhes against it’s constraints, golden hours in the wednesday morning leaving your heads to ache in their skulls and eyes reeling from the white-hot brightness that tinged your peripherals. birds sing their morning songs where moments of silence should have been- walking on wooden floor feels cold, skin connection uncomfortably intimate against the plank. for the first few months of retiring together, you and simon and johnny couldn’t stand it- you’d still wear the same footwear that accompanied you during missions, tainting clean floors with the grime and dirt from the fields. and it’s strange for all of you, and it’s so easy to tell . downing the cycle of load aim burn, and you can’t tell if the unbearable weightlessness of peace is a result of the vivid motions of your previous line of work, your body suffering under the lack of adrenaline, or some sort of survival response, fawning in suspicion. life should not feel this slow, has not felt this slow. your body slumps into the couch, eyes flicking to johnny. “head feeling any better?”

“yea. thanks, bonnie, felt l’ke i was dyin’,” he murmurs in response, body coiling closer to yours. “acting like it too,” simon murmurs, dry joke rolling from the back of the throat. Both you and johnny both let out some giggle at that, playful smirk growing on your face. “might be the only half-decent joke you’ve made in a while”, you snigger, and johnny almost tumbles to the floor when simon lunges at you. “oy-! get off me, you big oaf! you’re going to kill johnny!” and for the first time, you have carved yourself into this painted home, bellies rich with warmth, laughter abstractly resembling a pomegranate; sparkling, lively red, sweet-tart, alive. Geode formations, sparkling when light hit.

[dinodorks]

[ Life reconstruction of a small herd of Maiasaura by Shutterstock user Catmando. ]

"Possibly the best growth series of dinosaur bones in the world comes from the fossil beds of the Two Medicine Formation in the U.S. state of Montana. Fossils from this formation have yielded much information about the eggs, hatchlings and early lives of a dinosaur named Maiasaura (meaning "good mother reptile"). This herbivorous hadrosaur apparently tended her eggs and raised her offspring for more than a year after hatching. Young Maiasaura grew astonishingly fast, reaching 200–400 kilograms by their second year, and more than 3,000kg by their teens. In comparison, cold-blooded saltwater crocodiles today weigh only about 6kg at the age of two, and reach adulthood at between 10 and 16 years old, when females weigh about 34kg and males about 115kg. Such high growth rates in Maiasaura involved rapid lengthening and thickening of their long bones, and the process doubtlessly required much oxygen and nutrients from the blood. The shafts of long bones of the leg, such as the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone), are supplied with blood by the principal nutrient artery, which enters the bone through a hole (called a foramen) that is visible on the surface."

Read more: "Holes in baby dinosaur bones show how football-sized hatchlings grew to 3-ton teens" by Roger S. Seymour.