#Which is what Genus is in our world but I'm changing it around because the Mushrooms move and talk in this world and I just

[emile-hides]

Again, I don’t know what’s happening in my brain, but I’m sorting all the Koopas by Shell Type (both canon and headcanon for diversity sake) and I’ve decided these guys are all part of the same genus

[hotasfahrenheit]

a red devil dahlia by any other name

hi hello anyeong it's me your favourite neighbourhood florist who watches BL!

i'm catching up on Meet You At The Blossom right now on my lunch breaks at work (on days i'm not watching whatever Important Currently Airing Show Came Out That Day) and the flower they're using for the Red Devil Dahlia caught my eye!

so what we actually have here is not any kind of dahlia, but is in fact a real flower- that's a South African flower called the King Protea! it's even the national flower of South Africa.

they look pretty wild and come in a few different colours (we had light pink ones with pink centers we were putting in valentine's day arrangements at the shop i work at) and according to wikipedia it "grows in a harsh environment with dry, hot summers and wet, cold winters", so it has been able to be adapted to other locations and it's grown outside of South Africa now in various places around the world.

from this florist website, Maui Floral, king proteas "have the largest flower heads in the genus Protea, ranging from 5 to 12 inches in diameter. the flower heads are actually composite flowers, with multiple smaller flowers arranged in the center surrounded by large, colorful bracts on the outside. they have thick stems which extend deep underground; a survival mechanism for wildfires, since these stems can sprout subterranean buds that will then grow into new plants after a fire".

looking up flower meaning on the internet can be a little dicey since there's plenty of different traditions for meanings of flowers and flower language, plus people will just make stuff up and post it online, but most things i'm seeing agree that proteas represent change and transformation.

also, if you haven't seen a dahlia before, here's some actual red dahlias for comparison-

they are pretty decently sized flowers, but are typically much smaller than the protea, and far more delicate, with a short season of availability, so for the practicality of filming purposes, using something that dries well in a way that makes it easy to keep around and have on set as a prop like a king protea and that looks magical and wild makes a lot of sense.

but yeah! proteas are cool!

from the florist side of things, king protea can be mildly tricky to work with because the heads are very dense, which makes them top heavy, but they have thick, sturdy stems which is a good balance. dahlias, in comparison, are a much more delicate flower, with stems that can break easily, and once they are past their prime freshness, they shatter and all the petals start to fall off, sometimes all at once. proteas are considered a tropical flower, and we store them in our mildly cool tropical cooler at work with orchids and other tropical flowers instead of in our colder coolers for regular flowers.

tune in whenever i make another flowers in BL post i guess? who knows when that will be! maybe these will just be grouped by the generalness of flowers in BL since i did a post on that flower basket in the first episode of 4Minutes a few weeks ago and now this.

anyway cheers! 🌸🌼🌺🌷🌹

[sonicasura]

Alternate idea for TFA Optimus being stranded on Arachnus Seven instead of Elita-1. First off he doesn't turn into a spider. Nope, I'm going for another creature that lurks in caves but tend to eat critters like spiders: BATS.

Fun fact: Optimus Primal's original design had been a bat before it was replaced with the gorilla we know and love. As for the OP here... I'll going for multiple inspirations so he can truly be alien like. Mainly because the 'bat' Animated became was an equal level predator to the Arachna Seven Spiders.

This four winged species which I'll call 'Arachna Nebulas' went extinct due to outside interference as the bat genus in general are very sensitive to changes in their environment. We all know what happens when an ecosystem is heavily disturbed. Optimus was lucky enough to find intact enough remains to become Vetaleus Prime.

Vetaleus being a word play on Vetala, a mythological vampiric bat like entity that takes over cadavers. Fitting as in a way OP is dead whether it be to those he once knew or his old self. For Arachna Nebulas, it's from the Cosmic Bat Nebula that can be found in Orion's Constellation.

Now I have two types of inspiration for Vetaleus Prime. One from the real world while the other is media consumed over the years. For bot mode, I introduce you to Yu-Gi-Oh's King of the Feral Imps and Digimon's VenomMyotismon.

Considering he had remains for this reformat than an alive specimen, OP's techno-organic nature has glaring differences when it comes to his modes. His thick fur becomes large mane like clusters around the helm/wrists/ankles while thinning out half way down his torso as defensive measures shift to the bones of the secondary wings become spikes and horns.

A 33 ft bulky frame meant for sheer force whether it be large powerful claws n talons, sharp piercing teeth to drain a prey's life, powerful tail that can flatten, or even large ears which can hear an ant breathe. Vetaleus Prime's bat like face doesn't help in portraying his gentle yet nervous nature and his still Autobot colors remain under scrutiny. No stereotypical evil Fateswap OP's in this house.

Onto the Arachna Nebulas' mode, I have fictional inspiration alongside three real world ones. Meet the Golden Crowned Flying Fox, Vampire Bat, White Honduran Bat and Monster Hunter's Paolumu!

Optimus is very fluffy in alt mode as the Nebulas' thick fur prevents the spiders from injecting their venom into him. Akin to the Paolumu inspiration than just visage, there's a special air sac in the neck that allows the species to not only float but also spit large blasts of pressurized air if their hammerlike tail slaps don't do the job. Here's the boss fight from Monster Hunter World for further details.

Vetaleus Prime's alt mode is built with the 'bob and weave' concept. Dodging the opponent's strikes while landing your own attacks on them. His larger upper arm wings makes it easier to move and adjust his trajectory in float as the secondary protects the less fluffy parts of the body.

In alt mode Vetaleus has more animalistic mannerisms. Growling, purring, roaring, and whining to convey his mood. He grooms himself like any other animal much to confusion of those around him.

Those mannerisms are still present in bot mode but Optimus tries not to unless alone or around others he trusts. He can't escape from nesting though. One of the ways to our bat bot can make himself feel comfortable and safe.

Like with Arachnus Prime, Vetaleus Prime goes into self exile knowing that Cybertron will never accept him. He ends up on Earth because of poachers who visited Arachnus Seven to capture some spiders to sell on the black market. A conflict that leads to a crash landing before canon occurs.

Optimus here has a more harsher craving when it comes to organics as his primal nature no longer has those giant spiders to satisfy him. It isn't uncommon for the deer and bear population to decline but also poachers or illegal hunters to disappear. You can say Vetaleus Prime holds a feral grudge on this specific group. Unless he has a good supply of oil than Cybertronian are in sheer danger from a feral episode.

Vetaleus craves companionship but isolates him due to fear. He has hurt others before and doesn't want to harm innocent people or much worse a companion. A fear made more apparent from his feral outbursts if refueling needs aren't satiated.

Ways to sustain this primal nature becomes more difficult once Vetaleus is forced to make the sewers his den. Stealing from food delivery trucks WILL happen if he cannot find ample resources in time. A desperate action that solidify his cryptid status as the 'Detroit Devil', escaping with the quarry in hand before anyone fully sees him.

Vetaleus Prime does his best to remain being hidden and indulge soothing hobbies like reading or knitting than cause people potentially dangerous strife. A task that might become impossible when the past ends up in Detroit. Or the haunting realization of what can happen should Vetaleus fail to satisfy his other side.

Team Elita-1 best be careful. An innocent monster is just as dangerous as any other. Optimus rather not sink his fangs into someone he considers a dear old friend but evil will not miss an opportunity like this...

That's it for now! Until next time folks, I'll see you back at the crossroads between Detroit and Cybertron! Now Transform and Roll Out!

[1ore]

(slides under your door) do you have anything fun to share about mosquitos...... I'd love to hear about them 👀

took me a sec but WOOOO SKEETER FAX LETS GOOOOO

Apart from being important prey for birds and bats and fish and other insects, mosquitos are also pollinators! In fact, mosquito diversity spiked right around the same time that flowering plants appeared. Today they're ~nectarivores that happen to have an infamous dracula hobby, so this makes sense. "Nectarivores" gets a tilde because nectar isn't really the only thing that mosquitos eat (and neither is blood, for that matter.) They also eat fruit, honeydew (sugary aphid secretions), and plant tissue fluids, among other things.

Mosquitos are particularly important pollinators in the arctic North, where their mass spawning coincides with the short growing season. Someone needs to be responsible for all those fruits and berries 💪😤 it's hard work but honest.

One plant that has an especially close relationship with skeeters is the blunt-leaved orchid, Platanthera obtusata. Mosquitos have a keen sense of smell, which they use to discern between the scent of P. obtusata and other closely-related orchids in the same genus.

Of course, female mosquitos use the same sniffer to track you down, when they need the protein and iron necessary to lay eggs. This is the only time they really need to ingest blood, so mosquitos technically aren't true parasites because they don't continuously feed on the same organism throughout their lives (depending ofc on your definition of parasite.)

A bizarre detail about mosquitos that ingest human blood: certain plants contain the same chemical scents that mosquitos use to track down humans. This might point to how the 200-odd species of mosquitos that utilize human blood ended up on the evolutionary pathway that they did. (do we smell like flowers to them, or do flowers smell like us? 🤔)

On the flip side, there are mosquitos that go their whole lives without ever touching a drop of blood. Genus Toxorhynchites is one such example. Funny enough, their larvae actually predate on other mosquitos. Toxorhynchites splendens in particular is used to control the common disease vector, Aedes aegypti.

They're also..................... big mclargehuge.

Toxorhynchites Also contains some of the 'prettiest' skeeters.

Aedes aegypti is not native where I live (climate change is causing their range to expand north and south in much of the world, including where they've been introduced) but I think her tiger stripes are endearing. VVV

They make her easy to identify, once you know what to look for. There aren't many other introduced skeeters where I'm at, so it makes the more subdued native species more notable to me.

Culiseta inornata ^^^ one such native species, typically prefers other critters over humans for draculing.

I think mosquitos are neat! it bums me out that so many people only know about the ones that cause problems, and advocate for their eradication without realizing what a diverse group they are and what they do for the world around them. Not to say that 'pest' species of mosquitos don't have their reputations for a reason, but they do have a place in this world and have their own intrinsic worth. I like to think they teach us important lessons about our intimate, inescapable relationship with the natural world as funnie apes of the earth. and also how to stay humble.

Skeeters.............................

[jtrokujo]

𝕵𝖚𝖘𝖙 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕿𝖜𝖔 𝕺𝖋 𝖀𝖘

✩｡: * • .───── ❁ ❁ ─────. • * :｡ ✩

❝𝐓𝐒𝐔𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐌𝐀 𝐊𝐄𝐈❞

word count: 1.6k

3RD PERSON POV

Like every morning, the big line of glasses is waiting for his girlfriend, but the two youngsters have no plans to go to school because it's the weekend, no, they enjoy their togetherness for all times.

Even if the two have known each other for a long time, that doesn't mean they've been together that long.

For the two of them, it was unimaginable to be in a relationship with the other, but things always happen and change.

Anyone who has asked the respective person about this relationship has long since forgotten because they apparently did not / do not care.

Back to the present.

Tsukishima looked annoyed at the clock on his cell phone and sighed in annoyance, he can't be delayed, even if it's 3 minutes.

It is not rare or common for his girlfriend to be late.

He actually prefers to pick her up instead of waiting for her, not only so that she can hurry up, but also so that she can meet her boyfriend carefree without any bad ulterior motives or any nuisance.

Well that's one of the reasons he hates being late, but he didn't tell his girlfriend about that fact himself.

Because of this particular incident with his brother, he has a strong weakness to trust someone or to trust someone, there are moments when he trusts his girlfriend, sometimes not, it mainly just depends.

But as a good friend, she shows understanding for him, she is too fond of him.

She knows his problems, his fears and the insecurities that almost eat him up, but she still knows the good side that she doesn't see every day, but better than never.

Like, for example, his love for her, his interests in the dinosaurs or his good tutoring when the two do their homework together.

Trapped in thought, someone took him out of it, or rather, something.

The boy's cell phone rang loudly, his heart pounding and he answered the call "Tsuki, where are you?" his girlfriend asked in amazement and tried to ignore the anger.

"In front of our favorite bakery, the question is more where are you, (Y / N) I've been waiting for more than 10 minutes and the weather is not very pleasant at the moment."

"Tsuki, we had agreed that we would meet in front of the museum, that you were present for our last conversation, I knew, but if you went straight into your own world, you have been really so bad in the last few days."

"(Y / N)?" Tsukishima said in a normal tone, "Yes?" she said, however, surprised that he speaks so calmly.

"Didn't we agree that if we'd only go to the museum right after we ate a piece of cake and went for a walk, because it only opens at 2 p.m. and now it's only 10:27 a.m."

"I'll be there in 5 minutes." was the only thing his girlfriend could say hung up as quickly as possible.

Yes, this behavior of his girlfriend wasn't seen every day, but he gets along reasonably well with it.

Of course there are moments or even days when he can lose his last nerve and there have been moments when he insults his girlfriend even though it is not his intention.

Fortunately, however, she knows him too well that she sometimes understands him, but only sometimes.

The one time she showed no understanding was when he was training again with his team and since Hinata was again better than usual, it annoyed him so much that he took all his anger and frustration out on his girlfriend, which caused her ignored him for almost a week.

Back to the present, holding hands, the couple are on their way to coffee.

The fingers are folded together, the wind blows stronger and stronger every second, but if you think that such weather could ruin their mood, you are one-sidedly wrong.

Once there, the two ordered a hot cocoa and a small cake, (Y / N) should already choose a place while Tsukishima delivers the delicacies with a tray.

They talked about their interests and what movie to watch tonight.

While walking around town, Tsukishima looked at his wristwatch that his girlfriend gave him and said, "The museum will open in about 20 minutes."

The friends who make (Y / N) s face shine cannot be overlooked.

Of course, she doesn't really like the museum because she's not really interested, but she knows too well that he likes the dinosaurs that she talked him into going on a date at the museum without any problems.

But he wanted the two to spend more time together, that is to say;

The coffee, the walk and the night at his house had been all his idea.

In the museum, the friend looked at a dinosaur, or rather a Gallimimus.

"What is it, Tsuki?" she asked him and shows it on the Gallimimus. "

From A to Z, her friend explained every information he knows about the Gallimimus.

"They were also a kind of group like wolves, but from the dinosaur genus of the Ornithomimosauria during the Theropoda. They lived for the most part in East Asia. Furthermore, as you can see, they were not small, they were 4 and 6 meters high and weighed up to to an example of 200 kg. "

"You seem to know your way around this, don't you?"

"Because I can." he said roughly, but grabbed his girlfriend's hand and said like a little boy, "Come on, you have to see the others first." and pulled her right after you with you.

TIME SKIP / 3RD PERSON POV

Back at home, the couple meets Tsukishima's brother.

He sighed annoyed and skilfully ignored him, but greeted him out of sheer politeness.

They have known each other for a long time, which is why they have an appropriate relationship.

In other words, a friendship.

You talk now and then.

However, their friendship does not belong in the level where you occasionally write to each other, make phone calls or go to town together.

But that's probably a good thing before Tsukishima gets the last nerve.

Tsukishima is not the kind of friend you ask if you can go out with this person or if he is having trouble going out with this person, knowing other people's passwords or reading through chats.

They know each other too well and also trust what is important in a relationship and therefore find this behavior strange from other couples, because, as I said, trust is part of a relationship.

When he got to his room, Tsukishima took his pajamas and said to his girlfriend "I'm going to get changed in the bathroom, okay?"

She nodded and answered him and also took her pajamas out of her pocket and changed a little faster than usual.

Finished dressed, she stuffed the clothes she was still wearing into her pocket and then put it down.

"Are you ready?" it came out the door.

"Yes I am, can come in."

The door opened and you not only saw Tsukishima in his pajamas, but he also held a small tray with (Y / N) 's favorite sweets.

But not only that, but also a small box.

The friend quickly got up to help her friend "Let me help you." and wanted to grab the tray right away, but Tsukishima pointed to his clothes, which is between his forearm and waist.

"Do you already know which film to watch and how." Tsukishima asked his girlfriend.

"No, I thought you would decide because I was 'allowed' to do it last time." she said and put his clothes where they belong.

"I would prefer if my dwarf would choose a movie." replied Tsukishima and set the tray down on his bed.

"Aww, since when was such a tsuki?" provoked (Y / N) Tsukishima and came a few steps towards him, while at the same time she looked at him gourmet.

Annoyed, he sobbed with his tongue - held a hand on her face and gently pushed her away from him.

He then gave his remote control to his girlfriend and finally said, "Come sit down and choose a movie."

And thus also knocked on the bed.

About half an hour has passed.

While (Y / N) stares obsessively at the screen and slowly eats the candy, Tsukishima secretly observed his girlfriend and the small box.

Breathing deeply, he said her name, while she turned and looked at him, "Is something?" she asked worriedly.

"No, it works. You remember when we were in town about a week ago, there was this shop. It had this chain that impressed you, so I made up my mind yesterday ..." without finishing his sentence he made it to his girlfriend.

She opened the box nervously.

The necklace that (Y / N) wanted, she got from her boyfriend as a present.

She just stared at it with no comments like, 'I want this.' 'Can you get it for me?' or something else, maybe he knows (Y / N) just too well.

He took the chain and asked "May I?"

"(Y / N) turned so he could tie the necklace together," What for, Tsuki? Have you ever seen the price? "She asked him and from now on ignored the film being played.

"When I saw the price, I wasn't too thrilled, but I just had to remember you being pretty amazed as a dwarf, so it wasn't too bad to spend my money."

The tray put away, the television switched off and the blanket over the couple's bodies, they slept cuddled up.

The two of them will not get rid of this event so quickly.