#best under 2.5 tips

[crystallinestars]

A month had passed since the Luofu incident, and Jiaoqiu’s injuries had healed. It had been a long time since you last got to be intimate, and now that the foxian is in better shape, he’s eager to get his hands on you.  This is basically just smut with an attempt at hurt/comfort. I’m not good at writing scenarios, so this may be subpar at best, but I tried. Image source. Word count: 4584

WARNING:

MAJOR spoilers for the 2.5 story quest

Content aimed at an 18+ audience

Possibly OOC Jiaoqiu

Lots of vanilla smut and affection

Jiaoqiu x Fem!Reader (reader has a vagina)

Jiaoqiu sat on the edge of the couch while you carefully wrapped a fresh roll of gauze around his chest, covering up the ugly, jagged scars running across his chest. According to Jiaoqiu, the wounds had healed and required no further medical attention, but you couldn’t feel at ease until you did everything you could to ensure he healed properly. The shock of how close he had come to death still gripped your heart with ice-cold fingers, as did the grief of how much he had changed as a result.

A month ago, you had looked forward to welcoming Jiaoqiu home from his trip to the Luofu ship. You knew he was handling an important mission to transport Hoolay—the terrifying borisin leader who was the enemy of all foxians —to the Yaoqing ship, and that complications might arise when dealing with such a dangerous monster. However, never did you imagine Jiaoqiu will return to you blind and injured. He said he ingested Tumbledust—a lethal poison—to trick Hoolay into consuming it along with his blood. You mourned his loss of sight, but Jiaoqiu only smiled and assured you that it was a small price to pay for Hoolay’s downfall and that he did not regret his actions.

“There, all done,” you said while tying a final knot to hold the gauze securely around Jiaoqiu’s torso.

“Thank you. This should be the last time this is needed,” Jiaoqiu said as he patted the couch in search of his shirt.

You fell quiet as you stood in front of him and watched him struggle to find the shirt which rested just a bit farther from where his hand was fumbling about. What Jiaoqiu could once do in seconds without much thought, now required more time and effort on his part. It pained you to see him this way.

Jiaoqiu’s ears twitched at the prolonged silence, and as if sensing your downtrodden mood, he abandoned his search for the shirt in favor of reaching his hands toward you. For a split second, he lightly traced his hands along your stomach until they reached your waist, and then he looped them around you and pulled. You fell forward with a small yelp and found yourself straddling his lap with your hands tightly grasping his shoulders.

“Jiaoqiu! What are you doing?” you asked with mild annoyance, a bit frazzled by this sudden gesture.

“Can’t a man hug his girlfriend? It’s been a while since I got to hold you like this,” the foxian innocently replied and tightened his hold on you as he hugged you close. His hands slipped under the hem of your shirt to rub small circles into the skin of your lower back, meanwhile his chin came to rest on your shoulder, his mouth beside your ear.

“I was just thinking about how much I missed your touch. You’ve been fussing over my condition ever since I returned, but I miss your intimate touches, dear,” he mused as he rubbed the tip of his nose along your neck. “Now that I’m fully recovered, I’m hungry for you, my love. Will you indulge me?”

Your breath hitched as Jiaoqiu’s hand slowly slid higher under your shirt, skimming along your ribs with his palms. You knew he wanted to have sex, and truth be told, you were craving it too. Ever since he came back injured, you abstained from sexual activity in favor of caring for your boyfriend. As a result, you were pent up and eager for some relief. Still, you worried about his physical condition.

Grasping the foxian’s wrist, you gently pulled it away from your body and held his hand in yours.

“I don’t know… it’s probably too soon,” you murmured, fixing your gaze upon his chest where several horrific scars lay hidden under the gauze.

Jiaoqiu sighed but didn’t push you. “If you don’t want to, that’s fine. We don’t have to do anything. But there is no need to hold back for my sake. My injuries have healed well, and I am perfectly healthy,” he admonished, his tone gentle yet firm.

You were still unconvinced. Even if his injuries were fine, there was still the issue of his blindness. Jiaoqiu could no longer do certain things with you such as cooking food for you or watching your favorite shows together. It stood to reason that sex with him would be different too, and you worried you would mess it up. What if you overwhelmed or made him uncomfortable by going too fast or rough? What if the moment felt awkward and ruined the allure of sexual intimacy for the two of you?

As if sensing your anxious thoughts, Jiaoqiu let out a soft hum and traced his hands up your arms and shoulders, following their path to your face. His palms tenderly cupped your cheeks, thumbs rubbing soothing circles on your skin.

“I’m a doctor, dear. I know how much I can handle and how far to push myself,” he whispered and leaned in to kiss you. However, his lips missed the mark, and he kissed the corner of your mouth instead.

“Oops. I’m still not used to this yet,” he chuckled as he pulled away, laughing off the little mishap, but you could still feel the lingering warmth of his lips on your skin, slightly off from where he wanted them to land, and your heart squeezed painfully in your chest.

Letting out a shaky exhale, you cradled his face and lightly trailed your thumbs along the corners of his eyes, getting him used to being touched there, before placing two kisses on the outer corners of his eyes.

Jiaoqiu’s tail flicked.

“Your eyes…” you started in a whisper as you pressed your forehead to his, feeling a little emotional. It still pained you to see how much Jiaoqiu lost from swallowing that poison.

“It’s not a big deal,” Jiaoqiu said, his voice even and gentle. Slowly, one hand came to rest upon your head in a comforting gesture and the words you’ve heard several times over were said to you again: “It’s a small price to pay for Hoolay’s demise. I have no grievances, dear. I am content.”

I am content.

Jiaoqiu often repeated those words to remind you that he was happy with how things turned out in the end. The result may not be perfect, but for Jiaoqiu, it’s the best outcome he could have hoped for. Hoolay was gone, Feixiao had hope for a cure, and countless innocent lives were saved. In the grand scheme of things, those were all very positive outcomes, so the loss of his sight was insignificant by comparison. He could live just fine without it.

“Besides, you pity me too much, love. I’m not a fragile kit. These eyes of mine may not be of much use anymore, but I am still me. And right now, what I am is a man craving for his girlfriend’s affection,” he mused and ran a hand up the length of your spine in a feather-light caress.

Your breath hitched and you arched your back when Jiaoqiu’s hand trailed up your spine in the exact way he knew you liked. His touch sent tingles of pleasure through your back, causing you to shiver in delight.

A pleased smile tugged on his lips when he heard your breath catch and felt your body shudder on his lap. The healer traced your spine again, eager to feel and hear you react to his touch.

“Feels good, doesn’t it? If you let me, I’ll make you feel even better,” he purred against your ear and gave it a gentle nibble.

Overcome with lust and an intense craving for your boyfriend’s touch, you succumbed to his seduction. Taking hold of his chin, you guided Jiaoqiu’s mouth to meet yours. The kiss started out tender and sweet, full of the love you harbored for one another, but as your hands explored each other, the kiss became imbued with lust. Teeth nipped at lips and tongues met in a heated dance until your breaths ran short and you were forced to part for air.

Jiaoqiu’s hands mapped out the curves and dips of your body, slowly tracing the contours as if studying learning them for the very first time. Now that he no longer had his eyesight, his sense of touch served to teach him the look of your body. Though he had seen your bare figure many times before, now he was taking his time to truly familiarize himself with it. His palms glided over your shoulders and arms, the swells of your breasts, and the dips in your back, memorizing how you felt and reacted to every touch.

As you broke the kiss, a string of saliva joining you to Jiaoqiu’s mouth pulled back with you in a lewd display of desire, until it finally broke. A soft whisper of his name fell from your lips, and the foxian’s ears rotated in response to the sound. Their movement caught your attention.

Reaching your right hand up, you placed it on his head before slowly making your way toward the base of his ear so as to let him know what you wanted to do. Catching on to your intentions, Jiaoqiu chuckled and lowered his head so you could pet his ear more easily.

Your thumb rubbed gentle circles into the fluffiest part of his ear where you knew Jiaoqiu liked being touched. Sure enough, a subtle purr rumbled in the back of his throat. Encouraged by his response, you placed your left hand on his other ear and mirrored the process, rubbing both of his ears simultaneously. The foxian let out a shaky breath and tightened his grip on your hips, feeling your touch stronger than usual since the loss of his sight heightened his other senses.

You shifted to sit more comfortably on Jiaoqiu’s lap while petting his ears and felt a distinct hardness poke at you between your thighs. Even without looking down, you knew Jiaoqiu was pitching a tent. He wasn’t the only one feeling horny, however, and while still playing with his ears, you pressed your hips firmly against the bulge. A low, guttural groan tore from Jiaoqiu’s throat, and he leaned forward to bury his face in the crook of your neck, giving the skin a playful nip. You ground your hips again in response and reveled in the sharp hiss that motion elicited from the healer.

Growing a bit impatient from the teasing, Jiaoqiu tugged at your shirt in a silent message for you to take it off. You complied and shed your clothing, tossing it to the side as you exposed your body to him, save for a pair of panties. Once you were back on his lap, Jiaoqiu’s hands eagerly explored your bare skin, unhindered by pesky clothing.

Your hands traveled across his broad shoulders and down to his chest still covered by the gauze. The feeling of his warm skin transitioning into the coarse material sent a pang through your heart, and you leaned down to kiss the skin above the gauze. In response, Jiaoqiu breathed a soft sigh in and traced his hands up to your breasts before cupping them in his palms and flicking your nipples with his thumbs. Biting back a moan, you ground your hips against his once more and continued to dry hump against his groin at a slow and steady pace.

With each slow yet firm swivel of your hips, your clothed pussy rubbed against his erection, sending sparks of pleasure through your body each time your clit grazed against his hardness.

The tip of Jiaoqiu’s tail thumped against the couch with impatience.

“You’re being quite the tease,” Jiaoqiu rasped, smile strained as he tried to control his desire to buck against your pussy. The amount of friction you provided felt good, but it was not enough.

“Am I? And here I was just trying to make you feel good,” you teased, but relented, wanting to be nice to Jiaoqiu. Reaching a hand between your bodies, you undid his pants and fished out his erection. His cock was stiff and hot, the mushroom tip leaking beads of precum. Jiaoqiu groaned and swished his tail when you gave his dick an experimental pump.

“Be gentle,” he reminded, already feeling overwhelmed by the sensation of your hand grasping his aching length. You hummed in acknowledgment and lubricated your palm with his precum and your saliva, before wrapping it around his cock. As your hand pumped the hard flesh at a slow and gentle pace, Jiaoqiu’s body tensed, and you heard his breath hitch.

“Does this feel good?” you asked, hoping this wasn’t too overwhelming for your boyfriend.

“Yes. Just keep going,” he groaned and leaned his forehead against your shoulder, his arms tightening around your waist in an almost desperate grip.

With his encouragement, you continued to pump his cock, going faster and gripping tighter when he said you could. Occasionally, you would switch to rubbing his tip with your palm or circling your thumb over the slit in the cockhead, smiling when you felt Jiaoqiu shiver in response to the stimulation.

Soft gasps and strained groans spilled from his lips, and his ears and tail twitched each time you stimulated a particularly sensitive spot on his cock. To enhance his pleasure, you used your free hand to rub circles on the skin around the base of his tail and trailed kisses along his neck, sucking marks into the areas you knew he liked. Pretty soon, Jiaoqiu was panting and rocking his hips into your hand, chasing after his release.

“Hah… Ah! Don’t stop—I’m close,” he moaned, voice coming out strained as he tried to hold back his sounds of pleasure.

Wanting to push your beloved over the edge, you kissed him hard and deep while jerking his cock at a steady pace and massaging the base of his tail. Jiaoqiu moaned into your mouth, and after a few seconds, you felt his cock twitch as ropes of cum covered your hand. Breaking the kiss, you pulled back and gave his dick a few more slow pumps, milking as much pleasure from his orgasm as you could, before finally letting go and wiping your hand on your thigh.

Jiaoqiu looked like a disheveled mess, ears askew and cheeks flushed as he sat there, gasping for breath.

“That felt way better than I remember,” he rasped with a weak smile.

Chuckling, you pressed a light kiss to his cheek and pulled him in for a hug, letting Jiaoqiu recover from his orgasm.

“I’m glad it did. I had almost forgotten how good you look, all flushed like this,” you teased, earning a light pinch to your nipple from Jiaoqiu.

“I still haven’t forgotten how you look when you fall apart under my touch,” he said, turning the tables as he slid a hand between your legs. His fingers carefully traced over your crotch, feeling the outlines of your labia before cupping your clothed pussy.

“If there’s one thing I miss seeing, it’s that lovely face of yours when you orgasm,” he teased and laughed when you playfully slapped at his arm in retaliation.

Whatever barbed comments you wanted to send his way quickly died on your tongue as a surprised moan tore from your throat when Jiaoqiu found your clit and pressed his thumb against it. A molten knot of pleasure tightened in your abdomen when his thumb circled your clit over your drenched panties, eliciting another moan from you.

“What a lovely sound. I want to hear it again,” he purred. “Now it’s my turn to make you feel good. Let's get you nice and wet for me, shall we?”

 Jiaoqiu pushed aside your panties and slipped a single digit inside your soaking pussy, making you groan as your walls sucked it deeper inside.

“You’re so tight and wet,” he said in a husky whisper, slowly moving his finger in and out of your cunt, creating a lewd, wet noise with each pump. “I can’t wait to be inside you.”

Jiaoqiu adjusted the angle of his hand and slid a second finger into you. His thumb teased your clit in languid circles while his fingers slowly scissored you open, prepping you for his cock. You moaned and bucked your hips into his hand, wanting more stimulation.

Jiaoqiu chuckled but doubled down his efforts to please you. His thumb pressed harder against your nub, and he curled his fingers inside you, searching for that one spot on the upper wall of your vagina that made you see stars. When he found it, he pressed on it over and over again with each thrust of his fingers, smirking at how you keened and clutched his shoulders in response.

“Feels good, does it?” he mused, rubbing your clit in time with his thrusts.

“Yeah, but you talk too much,” you huffed and kissed Jiaoqiu to shut him up. The foxian only laughed into the kiss, but let his tongue play with yours while he sped up the thrusts of his fingers.

He broke the kiss and carefully leaned his head forward to touch his forehead against yours, your warm breaths mingling together as you rutted against his hand. The knot in your belly grew tighter and tighter, your climax steadily approaching as the healer worked to send you over the edge.

Once you were sufficiently relaxed, Jiaoqiu plunged a third finger into your core and switched to rubbing your clit with the heel of his palm. You groaned at the stretch and clung to his shoulders, instinctively bucking your hips against his hand, trying to take the digits deeper. Soft moans of his name slipped past your lips as you moved your hips in time with his hand, feeling the knot in your belly slowly tighten.

Jiaoqiu’s ears perked up at the sound of his name, and he gently kissed your neck and shoulders, whispering praises about how lovely you sounded to encourage you to let more of your voice out. His other hand trailed along your side, reaching up to squeeze your breast and tease your nipple, or reaching behind to run along your spine in that same teasing manner, smiling when he felt your pussy flutter around his fingers in response.

“Are you close?” Jiaoqiu asked, keeping that same steady rhythm as he fingered you, hitting your g-spot.

“Y-Yeah… I’m close,” you answered, your voice wavering as you felt yourself teetering on the edge of climax.

“Then let go. Let me feel you come all over my fingers,” he whispered into your ear and gave it a nip.

As if by command, your body convulsed and you were hurled into an orgasm, hips desperately bucking into Jiaoqiu’s hand while your walls squeezed his digits. You stifled your moans against his shoulder, and Jiaoqiu continued to thrust his fingers into you, helping you ride out your orgasm until you stopped trembling. The foxian gently pulled his fingers out of your pussy, drenched and slick with your essence, before licking them clean.

“I missed your taste…” Jiaoqiu murmured, savoring your flavor, making you blush at this erotic display. The foxian gently pulled you against his chest, and you slumped against him, breathing heavily as you regained your senses.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, lightly stroking your head.

“Good. Very good,” you replied with a breathless chuckle. “I haven’t felt this relaxed in a while.”

Jiaoqiu smiled, pleased that he had such an effect on you.

Though the healer didn’t say anything, you felt his erection poke at your abdomen and knew that his body wanted more than the one orgasm you gave him earlier.

“Do you want to keep going?” you asked him as you traced a finger along the slimy mushroom tip. Jiaoqiu flinched at the unexpected touch and hissed.

“I wouldn’t mind if we kept going, but only if you want to, love.”

Smiling, you leaned in and gave him a light peck on the lips. “I do want to,” you said. “I’ve gone way too long without feeling you inside me. Just let me know if you need to stop.”

You made Jiaoqiu agree to tell you if he felt discomfort at any point before adjusting yourself on his lap. Lifting your hips, you lined up the tip of his cock with your entrance, taking a moment to tease it over your opening and coat it with your slick. Jiaoqiu stifled a groan and tightened his grip on your hips, restraining the urge to thrust his hips up and bury his aching cock in your slick warmth.

Once the tip was pressed against your entrance, you slowly sank down, taking Jiaoqiu’s length inch by inch. You both moaned once he bottomed out and basked in the familiar feeling of being joined together.

“I missed this,” Jiaoqiu said, resting his forehead against your shoulder while he breathed deeply to try and acclimate to the snug squeeze of your pussy. The sensation felt more intense than he remembered. “You feel so good around me, dear.”

“I missed this too,” you murmured, hugging Jiaoqiu and stroking his head.

“I wish I could see your face right now. I bet you look really cute,” he added in a low voice and traced a hand up your body until he felt the familiar curve of your jaw. His index finger lightly traced your cheek, causing your heart to squeeze in your chest. Taking his hand, you leaned your cheek into his palm and kissed the inside of his wrist. Jiaoqiu tensed at the sensation at first but quickly relaxed and smiled.

When both of you had grown accustomed to the sensations, you started moving. Gripping Jiaoqiu’s shoulders, you ground against him by slowly rotating your hips. His cock pleasantly rubbed along your walls, stoking the fire in your belly. Jiaoqiu let out another low moan and hugged you close, pressing your bodies flush together.

After a few minutes of this slow, gentle grinding, Jiaoqiu adjusted his hold on your waist and bucked upwards, driving himself deeper inside you. You moaned in surprise and stopped.

“You can move faster, I’m not going to break,” he reminded you, a hint of pleading in his voice. He wasn’t satisfied with this gentle pace.

“Fine. You’re so impatient,” you playfully chided him, but complied. Getting into a more comfortable position, you lifted off his lap before lowering back down again, biting back a moan at how his cock dragged against your walls. Over and over, you gently bounced on his dick, slowly picking up speed and angling your hips so his tip hit that sweet spot deep inside, sending jolts of pleasure through you with each thrust.

Jiaoqiu groaned and nuzzled into the crook of your neck, sucking more marks into the skin while his tail swished side to side in excitement. One of his hands roamed along your back, nails lightly raking down your spine and causing you to moan and shiver with pleasure. Your pussy clenched around his member, eliciting another throaty noise of pleasure from the foxian.

The sharp sounds of skin slapping against skin mixed with your heady moans of pleasure echoed in the room as you rode Jiaoqiu’s length. The knot in your belly tightened even more as you felt your climax slowly approach, but the tired aching in your thighs made you slow down. Your slowed pace alerted Jiaoqiu to your tiredness, and he skimmed a hand between your bodies until his fingers found your clit. He pressed hard on it and rubbed tight circles with the pad of his thumb, causing you to jolt and moan in response.

“Just a little more, dear. Hang in there for a little longer,” he encouraged, voice hoarse with pleasure. The stimulation against your clit motivated you to keep moving, chasing after your release that was now within reach.

“Jiaoqiu, I’m gonna cum,” you slurred, pressing your torso firmly against his as you spend up your thrusts. The foxian looped an arm around your waist, holding you close while still working on your clit.

“Go on, dear, cum for me. I’m also close,” he said in a strained voice, desperately trying to hold out to come together with you.

After a few more eager thrusts and rubs against your clit, you came with a loud cry. Your hands dug into Jiaoqiu’s shoulders as you rode out the high, hips eagerly grinding against his as your pussy pulsed around his cock. Jiaoqiu followed after you and climaxed while groaning your name, bucking his hips up into yours, forcing himself deeper into your cunt as he spilled inside your warmth.

With a shudder, you came down from your orgasm and slumped against Jiaoqiu’s torso, feeling completely spent. You were out of breath and your legs ached, but you were satisfied in a way you hadn’t felt in a while. Not since Jiaoqiu left for the Luofu over a month ago.

The feeling of the foxian’s hands gently massaging your thighs brought you back to reality, and you tilted your head to look up at him. His lips were curled into a serene and sincere smile, an expression of true happiness adorning his face.

“How do you feel?” he asked that familiar question, one he always asked after each session of sex you had with him. As a doctor and your partner, he felt it was his duty to make sure you were alright afterward.

“Tired but thoroughly satisfied,” you said with a contented hum. Jiaoqiu’s smile widened.

“I’m glad. You did well,” he said and kissed your forehead.

After the two of you regained your strength, Jiaoqiu pulled out of you but kept you on his lap, hugging you close while still massaging the soreness out of your thighs. His head lay on your shoulder, tail lazily swaying from side to side while you absentmindedly rubbed one of his ears. He appeared to be at peace, a state you haven’t seen him in for weeks. After all, it’s hard to be at ease when you suddenly lose the functionality of your eyes and have to learn how to navigate the world without eyesight.

“One day, we’ll heal your eyes,” you whispered with determination. “I promise.”

Jiaoqiu let out a small hum, his tail pausing in its movements.

“I know you will. You and Feixiao will make it happen, one way or another,” he said with a hint of amusement. “But even if you don’t, I’ll be happy as long as I have you and everyone else by my side.”

He leaned in for a kiss, but his lips landed on your chin. Chuckling at his awkward targeting, the healer gently gripped your chin and tilted your head up for a proper kiss.

Jiaoqiu was still your beloved Jiaoqiu through and through. He was content to live a life where his loved ones were safe and happy, but you wanted to at least try to search for a solution to his blindness. Whether you had to scour through heaps of ancient records or travel to the other side of the universe, you wanted to help and heal Jiaoqiu the way he had helped and healed so many others.

But if by some misfortune there was no cure for his ailment, you will remain by his side no matter what. Jiaoqiu is devoted to you and you to him, and that will never change.

[bethanythebogwitch]

Wet Beast Wednesday: ocean sunfish

Everybody knows ocean sunfish, right? Those giant, slow, silly-looking, parasite-ridden morons that eat jellyfish and can't defend themselves from predators really are the worst fish right?

(GIF: Lex Luthor screaming "WRONG!" from the movie Superman Returns)

First of all there's no such thing as a "best" or "worst" animal and judging animals by human standards of what is cool or successful is silly because our standards are not even universal among humans, let along other species. Secondly, the closest thing we have to a way to judge a species is how successful it is in its niche and sunfish are doing pretty good, thank you very much. Today I'll be talking about sunfish and how they are not bad fish at all.

(Image: a Mola mola located near the surface of the ocean, with the tip of its dorsal fin and part of its head breaching the surface. It is a round fish with no tail, only a wrinkly region of its body. Its dorsal and anal fins are long and slender The eyes and mouth are proportionately small. It is a pale white with light grey spots. A SCUBA diver is visible in the background. End ID)

Ocean sunfish, or molas, are members of the family Molidae, which is divided into five known species across three genuses. Im mostly going to be talking about members of the genus Mola, but I'll mention the other two as well. Molas are known for their size and odd appearances, looking like someone chopped a fish in half and the front half went swimming off on its own. They are members of the order Tetraodontiformes, making them cousins to pufferfish, triggerfish, boxfish, and others. While many members of that order are known to be highly poisonous, molas are not. They also lack several other common traits. Despite being bony fish, most of the mola skeleton is made of cartilage and they do not have swim bladders, forcing them to actively swim to maintain their position in the water column. Instead of a tail and caudal fin, sunfish have a structure called the clavus. The clavus is formed mostly from connective tissue and is used as a rudder. Because the clavus is mostly made of connective tissue, damage to it is not particularly harmful to the fish. There have been molas found alive and well that have had portions of their clavus eaten by predators. Because of their shortened stature, molas have the fewest vertebrae of all fish. The dorsal and anal fins are elongated and are used to provide propulsion by flapping back and fourth similarly to how birds wings move, albeit slower. Minute alterations in the angle each fin moves through the water help with steering, while more sharp turns are aided with jets of water ejected through the mouth and gills. Like their other Tetraodintid relatives, mola teeth are fused together into a beak-like structure that prevents them from closing their mouths. They also have some more regular pharyngeal teeth in the backs of their mouths. Some reports say that the fish can make noises by grinding the pharyngeal teeth together. Mola skin is thick and rough, described as being similar to sandpaper in texture. Like most fish, the skin is covered in a layer of protective mucus.

(Image: a mola sunbathing. It is positioned with one side of its body facing the surface. Its body is just under the water's surface. End ID)

The three species in the genus Mola are Mola mola, the ocean sunfish and most well-known of the molas, Mola alexandrini, the giant, southern, or bumphead mola, and Mola tecta, the hoodwinker sunfish. Mola mola has an average weight of 247 to 1000 kg (545 to 2205 lbs), mouth to clavus length of 1.8 m (5.9 ft) and dorsal to anal fin length of 2.5 m (8.2 ft), though some individuals can get much large. The largest individual on record had a length of 3.3 m (10.8 ft), height of 3.2 m (10.5 ft) and weighed 2300 kg (5100 lbs). M. alexandrini is the largest of the species. The largest known southern sunfish measured in at 2744 kg (6049 lbs) and 3.25 m (10.66 ft) from mouth to clavus, making it the largest known bony fish in the world. They can be distinguished from M. mola by the presence of bumps on the forehead and chin, a more rounded clavus, and differently-shaped scales. M. tecta is known as the hoodwinker sunfish because it was long mistaken for one of the other two species and was only identified as a separate species in 2015 after the body of one washed up in Christchurch, Aotearoa/New Zealand and was examined by scientists. Because it has only recently been discovered, little is known about this species. They appear to have the same range of sizes and weights of the other two species and can be distinguished by a slimmer body shape and a smooth clavus. All three species are found in tropical and temperate waters worldwide, though M. alexandrini and M. tecta are more commonly found in the southern hemisphere.

(Image: a Mola alexandrini underwater. It is distinguishable from Mola mola by the two bumps above and below its facial region, making it look lumpy. It is surrounded by striped cleaner fish. A SCUBA diver is in the background. End ID)

(Image: a Mola tecta seen from the side. It is smoother than the other two species. More of its body is grey with white spots. End ID)

Molas are open-ocean dwellers that live life in the slow lane. For a long time, it was believed they were moved around by ocean currents they could not swim against, making them plankton. We now know they not only can swim against the current, they are capable of bursts of speed fast enough to breach the water's surface and briefly go airborne. Sunfish are named for their habit of basking at the surface of the water. It was formerly believed they spent most of their time at the surface, but thanks to tagging, we know they make frequent dives into the deep ocean. They likely bask at the surface to warm up between dives. You may not expect something as slow as a sunfish to be a predator, but they are. Much of their diet consists of gelatinous animals including jellyfish, siphonophores, ctenophores, and salps, though they will also eat small fish, fish larvae, squids, crustaceans, and even seagrass. Because they can't chew, sunfish move prey into and out of their mouth by rapidly switching between sucking water in and spitting it out in order to shred the prey into pieces small enough to swallow. Special mucus lining the digestive system may protect the molas from the stinging tentacles of their prey. Molas and other jellyfish-eaters like the leatherback sea turtle play an important role in the ecosystem by keeping jellyfish populations down. Jellyfish are not particularly nutritious, so the sunfish need to eat a lot of them to survive, something they seem to be pretty good at. Being slow and having a very low-energy lifestyle helps the fish survive on a less-nutritious diet, making them very energy efficient. One thing molas get a lot of flack for online is having lots of parasites (with up to 40 known species). This doesn't really make sense. Every species has parasites. An animal in the wild that doesn't have parasites is vanishingly rare. Having parasites doesn't make an animal suck, it makes them ordinary. Because of their parasite load, molas are frequent visitors to cleaner fish, who will eat their parasites. Molas will also let seabirds land on them and eat their parasites while they rest on the surface. The molas attract birds by splashing at the surface. Adult molas have few natural predators, but are hunted by sharks, sea lions, and orcas. Interestingly, sea lions have been known to kill molas apparently for sport, ripping off the fins and then leaving the mola to die.

(Image: a mola seen from the front. Multiple smaller fish are picking parasites off of its skin. End ID)

Molas are broadcast spawners who release their gametes into the water alongside each other. A female mola can release 300 million eggs at a time, more than any other vertebrate. Newly hatched sunfish are 2.5 millimeters long and are often cited as having the largest discrepancy in size between juvenile and adult of any vertebrate. An adult mola can be 60 millions times the weight of a larva. The larvae look very different than adult, lacking their dorsal and anal fins but having pufferfish-like spines. Juveniles school together for protection and become solitary as they age. The diet of the fish varies as they age, with younger fish feeding more on squid, worms, crustaceans, and fish but becoming more reliant on jellyfish and other gelatinous prey as they age. We don't know the growth rate of molas, but a juvenile in the Monterey Bay Aquarium grew from 26 to 339 kg (57 to 880 lbs) in 15 months, suggesting they grow rapidly. The maximum age of molas is unknown, though individuals in captivity have lives for up to 10 years.

(Image: a mola larva. It is a brown ball with large, black eyes and no visible fins. It is covered in transparent, conical spines. End ID)

The two non-Mola sunfish are Ranzania laevis, the slender sunfish and Masturus lanceolatus, the sharptail sunfish. Both are alone in the genuses, but other species are suspected. I also found references to other species in Masturus, but could find literally no information about them other than that Masturus oxyuropterus is listed in some records. The sharptail sunfish looks very similar to Mola mola and reaches similar sizes, but its clavus has an extension that looks like a short tail. They were initially believed to be deformed molas before being recognized as a separate species. Unlike molas, sharptail sunfish are rarely seen at the surface, preferring to stay in deeper water. The slender sunfish is the smallest of the family, reaching up to a meter long. While we don't know much about them, we know their diet includes a lot of fast-moving squid, indicating they can move faster than their much larger relatives.

(Image: a sharptail sunfish lying on a blue tarp. It looks similar to a Mola mola , but with black clavus and fins. At the back of the clavus is a triangular extension. End ID)

(Image: a person holding a slender sunfish. The fish is small enough to be held and has a longer and skinnier body than other sunfish. Its body is a shiny silver with blue lines. End ID)

Mola mola is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN while the other species are classed as either data deficient or least concern. Molas are vulnerable to strikes by boats and bycatch. Another danger to them is plastic bags, which can easily be ingested after being mistaken for a jellyfish. The bags can suffocate the fish or block their digestive tracts. Despite their size, molas are docile and not dangerous to humans. I found one example of a mola harming a human and it happened when the fish jumped out of the water and landed on a boat. Allegedly, some fish have learned to recognize and approach SCUBA divers. Molas are difficult to keep in captivity due to their size, the amount of space the need, and special feeding needs, so only a few aquariums have them. Molas are captured for food, with the biggest markets being in Taiwan and Japan, where they are often called mambos.

(Image: a SCUBA diver attempting to hand feed a small mola. End ID)

[onlyseokmins]

"teach 'em"

Titling, tagging, and adding to my masterlist bc I don't think it deserves to get lost in my thot tags only... But it's informal af hehe

was thinking about loser!chan (again) who's like a 2.5 on the virgin (1) to whore (10) scale.

your new boyfriend is a sweetheart. he has the prettiest eye smile and he's uber talented. you love to see the passion when he's dancing and the strong bond between his older friends that are like brothers to him. that very same energy carries over to how he takes care of you. he's always fussing over your well-being and checking in on you in a non-intrusive way. you adore him.

bonus points for the foreplay before sex being hot and heavy. he's a fabulous kisser and he even has a great dick that feels equally as great when he's inside of you.

so why is he still a loser?

because his stroke game is sloppy at best and unfulfilling at worst, the latter happening much too often than you even want to admit to yourself - let alone him. which is shocking considering the way you've seen him hip thrust on stage.

it's just that you feel so freaking good squeezing around him and - oh fuck, oh no! - he's cumming way too soon again. you know this by how often he tells you, letting out a heavenly sob of "thank you for having the best pussy pussy in the world," and "thank you for letting me stick my dumb dick inside."

honestly, you're awfully flattered he has trouble retaining any control over himself. there's something quite intimate about the ropes of his release warming up your womb, still full of his softening cock as he grunts and babbles grateful praises in your ear.

but that doesn't eliminate the fact that you've only memorably cum once after the multiple rounds of sex you two have shared. and the reason you even did in the first place was by wrapping your legs around his hyper-thrusting hips, trying to keep him aligned to continuously hit that one spot with the enlarged head of his cock that had your toes curling.

and just as you're about to hit that peak climax - chan cums first - of course. but it's alright, you're almost there. gummy inner walls spasming around his pulsating cock while he whines at the sensitivity. what finally tips you over that much-needed edge is the warm dampness pooling in your clavicle - your sweet channie so pussy-drunk he's drooling on and over you. only a fool wouldn't forgive him for any of his blunders. though it is your first achieved orgasm with him, you're elated that he possesses some capability of making you cum.

but that was a good month (or more) ago and it's high time that you have that deep conversation with your loving boyfriend. and he's as remorseful as expected. in fact, you think he's near tears at the fear of you breaking up with him over this.

you aren't - obviously. he's perfect in every way, he just needs to learn how to use his dick better to please someone. and it certainly piques your interest when he cusses a certain someone out under his breath while running a distressed hand through his hair.

"what did you just say?"

"um... that it's all cheol's fault."

oh. so your boyfriend's technique actually sucks only because he had a bad teacher. not because he's inherently bad at sex. it doesn't quite add up though, because seungcheol is allegedly the famed fuckboi of the century and self-rated an 11 on the virgin to whore scale...

"call him."

"what?"

"i need to conduct some research."

so chan does as he's told, dialing the bane of your existence because you've never truly gotten along with that competitive, cocky son of a bitch from your graduating class.

"hello?"

"what would you do to make me cum?"

your boyfriend looks so mortified you're pleasantly surprised he hasn't passed out or hung up already. and seungcheol is either too stunned to speak or silently gloating before he finally replies, "darling i think you called the wrong number... with the phone of the one you're supposed to be talking to about this. are you drunk? where's that little boyfriend of yours?"

"i'm not drunk," you roll your eyes hard enough so he can hear it in the tone you always use with him. "and he's not little."

"could've fooled me."

"i'm sure you would know how big he is since you supposedly were the one who taught him all he knows."

seungcheol snorts. "guessing he's not able to satisfy you with that so-called big dick of his."

"i dunno, i think it's 'cause he had a shit-ass teacher. tell me, have you ever made someone orgasm before? like for real?"

"not anyone with the kind of attitude you have." there's some shuffling in the background. "brats like you... well, they - you - don't deserve it."

"gosh, you're so irritating." you spit out before smiling kindly at chan, squeezing his hand reassuringly. "hey, cheol... i think you're avoiding my question so you should come and show us how good your methods really are. and maybe you can make me cum along the way with such stellar teachings."

and then you hang up.

"i-i - " chan stutters, "if he's gonna come down... i m-mean... i'll study harder for you, baby - "

"relax," you press a finger to his lips and then smirk when there are two sharp bangs resonating outside your shared apartment, "looks like our sulky upstairs resident decided to grow a pair."

your boyfriend sighs. "couldn't resist, could he?"

sure enough, when you open the door - there stands your nemesis - choi seungcheol.

he glares, daring to try and look at you with a hint of disdain as if he isn't the one who has a light sheen of sweat on his forehead after running down the steps rather than wait for the elevator. impatient as always, along with a growing bulge in his sweatpants.

"wow... you came so fast!" you fake-clap to mock him further. "i always knew you and channie wanted to share me... trying to ruin my precious boyfriend's dick game 'cause you were jealous he got inside my tight, wet cunt that you always wanted first."

chan's mouth nervously opens and closes behind you and he gulps when the eldest of his friends gives him that look. "i-it wasn't my fault!"

you cling to his arm with a pout, eating up the way you can play off this game with the other man who's nothing but a menace.

"don't be mean to the love of my life, cheollie."

if the look shared between them hadn't already dampened your panties, they soaken even further when seungcheol's dark gaze lands back on you.

feral. hungry. wanting.

got him.

you've always had him wrapped around your little finger anyways and he hated... loved... every moment of it.

"on the bed. naked. both of you. chan on top," he commands - no, demands - and you slide excited fingers down your boyfriend's forearm and take him by the hand, skipping to the bedroom.

while getting into said position, you both start giggling at the realization while whispering words of love to each other that has seungcheol rolling his eyes because it feels like he's already forgotten.

he flops dramatically on the ottoman by the bed and loudly says, "alright young 'un. go ahead and start su - "

"i want you to fuck me, channie. please put your huge dick in my needy pussy... i'm dripping..." and then you whisper in his ear, "all for you, promise."

"shit," your boyfriend - ever the good listener - rubs his tip along your entrance in awe before sliding in with a whine, "you're ruining the bedsheets already..."

"ah please, ruin me."

"fuck, baby you're gonna ruin me."

seungcheol's eyebrow twitches. so does his cock. "hold on a sec, you're going too fast - "

"faster! destroy my cunt with your large cock! i love your fat cock in me so much."

you cling to chan's shoulder blades as he gets lost once more in the rhythmic pulses of your walls perfectly massaging his leaking dick. the extra presence in the room no longer even a thought with his erratic, achingly desperate thrusts. though you're trying to coach and egg him on as usual, he doesn't even need to be hitting your g-spot at this moment because you stare over his shoulder at a different set of brown eyes that shoot heat undeniably right to the center of your core.

seungcheol's jaw is clenched, a hand over his own hard-on. either to hide the pre-cum starting to stain his sweats and/or reluctantly giving in that he's enjoying this more than anyone could even think.

unfortunately, you're moaning so loudly over and over again about the thick, wonderful, ginormous cock (so true) of your beloved boyfriend that he's getting irked again and hates how it's kind of killing his mood.

"that's just 'cause you haven't seen mine yet," he grumbles.

scratching at chan's back, you sneer at the bitter observer. "fine, by the bed. naked." you mimic his tone, if not some of his words, from before. "let me see that prized fuckboi cock you're so proud of."

and soon enough you have one impressively large cock in one hand and your boyfriend about ready to coat your pussy with his cum.

and even sooner, you have two men on their backs for you - one weeping (and his poor dick too) from the overstimulation and the other nearly tearing your ruined bedsheets because you are so insistent on (meanly) edging him with your cruel grip on his large cock.

"fuck you," seungcheol huffs.

"you wish," you bite back and seat yourself back on chan hearing his telltale whimper. making sure to catch the final weak spurts of his cum in your greedy cunt.

let's just say with seungcheol's lack of assistance but much needed presence, you work on effectively teaching not only your darling boyfriend how to please his partner but also the fake fuckboi that might just join your sexy sessions from now on.

if not to learn from the real pro, then definitely in the hopes that one day he might get to touch, taste, or fuck even the tip of his cock in your pussy he's been fantasizing about for years.

[kris-mage-fics]

Creamy Beet Pasta Sauce with Thyme

[image ID in ALT] This recipe just popped into my head a couple of years ago, and it turned out just as good as I imagined it would! You don't have to stick with the amounts listed, it's not a finicky recipe and is easy to adjust to your preferences. I've put a really detailed version under the cut to save your dash. But here's a link to it if you prefer (and a link to the simplified instructions, though I suggest you read the detailed ones at least once since I added a lot of tips). As always, both imperial and metric measurements are included. You do need a blender for this, but it doesn't have to be one of those super fancy, expensive ones. I know the photo isn't very good, but this is my first attempt at photographing food, and I was getting really hungry and just wanted to eat, lol! Though it shows just how vibrant the color of the pasta sauce is, which was the point.

Creamy Beet Pasta Sauce with Thyme The recipe yields about 3 cups/750 mL of pasta sauce.

2 cups/500 mL chopped cooked beets (about three medium beets) (directions below – you can cook them ahead of time or use precooked ones, in which case see the note below about reheating it)

1 cup/250 mL raw cashews, soaked and rinsed (directions below)

about 1 teaspoon/5 mL minced or crushed garlic – or 2 to 4 cloves of garlic depending on their size and how garlicy you want it (keep in mind that as the directions are written the garlic is raw)

about 1 tablespoon/15 mL fresh thyme (see note at the end)

2 teaspoons/10 mL apple cider vinegar (see note at the end)

1 to 1 ½ teaspoons/5 to 7.5 mL sea salt or Herbamare

½ to 1 ½ teaspoons/2.5 to 7.5 mL fresh ground black pepper

about 1 ¼ cups/210 mL water

pasta – I generally go with penne for this sauce but this is your meal so follow your heart!

A) Rinse the thyme stems in cool water and place them on a kitchen towel to dry. You can fold the towel over the stems and gently pat down to speed up the drying process, thyme is pretty sturdy so you won’t wilt it.

B) Prepare the cashews. There are two ways to soak them, it doesn’t matter which you choose. 1) Slow method: Place the cashews in a bowl or container with a lot of room, cover them with 2 cups/500 mL water. Let them soak for 10 to 12 hours. They’ve soaked long enough when you can easily break them with your fingers. Fast method: Place the cashews in a pot and cover with at least 2 cups/500 mL of water. Cook on a low boil for 20 minutes. (If you use this method, pick a pot big enough to cook your pasta in, then you only have one pot to wash!) 2) Drain and rinse the cashews a few times with fresh water.

C) Cook the beets. You can use whatever method you’d like, but I recommend roasting them because it’s easy and retains most of the nutrients. Plus, I haven’t found a faster way to peel them. Though this method seems to work best with fresh beets that still have the greens attached. 1) Preheat your oven to 400℉/200℃. 2) Cut the greens off the beets and rinse off any dirt. 3) Wrap each beet in aluminum foil and place on a baking tray or pan. 4) Bake for 45 to 90 minutes, until a fork can easily be stuck into them all the way to the center. 5) Let them cool long enough to handle, about 10 to 20 minutes, then cut off the ends. 6) Under running cold water push the beet skins off. They should come off really easily without much force or pressure. 7) Chop the beets into smallish cubes – about ¼ inch/0.5 cm – for easier blending.

D) As the beets are cooking (and the cashews if you choose the fast soaking method), destem the thyme until you have around 1 tablespoon/15 mL of thyme leaves.

E) Start cooking your pasta. Of course the timing of this depends on your pasta of choice and how long it takes. But if multitasking is too stressful, cook the pasta once you’re done with the sauce.

F) Throw everything (except maybe the thyme – see #2) in the blender and blend until creamy. 1) Use the smaller amounts of the garlic, thyme, salt, pepper, and water at first. That way you can adjust it to your taste as you go. 2) You might not want to blend the thyme in. If you want stronger thyme flavor, a fully creamy sauce, and a deeper, less vibrant magenta color than blend it in. But if you’d like a lighter thyme flavor, are fine with the texture of the leaves, and want a bright magenta sauce, add the thyme after you’re done blending it. (For reference, the photo shown has the thyme blended in.) 3) Blend until everything is nice and creamy and the seasonings and thickness are adjusted to your preference. You’ll have to stop the blender and scrape down the sides every now and then. 4) That’s it, your sauce is done! Now just plate it up with your pasta of choice! You can sprinkle some of the thyme on top to make it look extra pretty!

This keeps well in the fridge for several days, at least up to four. When you reheat it, make sure you don’t cook it. Just get it warmed up enough to keep it from making your pasta too cold. I find it warms up really well in the microwave, but I’m sure the stovetop works well too. I have no idea if this freezes well or not, because I always eat it up too fast to try, lol!

Note about Thyme: Normally I’m a dried herb person but this recipe just wouldn’t be the same with dried thyme. So do yourself a favor and buy the fresh this time (lol). If you don’t know what to do with the rest of it, just tie the stems up with a bit of string or thread and hang it somewhere out of direct sunlight and let it dry. It should be dry in a few days to a week. You can easily take it off the stem by running your fingers down it, against the direction the leaves grow. Now you can put it in a jar and you have no wasted thyme! Note about Apple Cider Vinegar: You might be tempted to skip this, but please don’t! When you are using plants to replicate the creaminess of dairy, you need to add a bit of acid since dairy is acidic. You can replace it with other acids but your results may vary. Lemon juice is a poor substitute here in my opinion, and you need to use more of it. You could use balsamic vinegar, but you probably need more of that too, since it’s not quite as tangy as apple cider vinegar. The point isn’t to taste the vinegar, but to add that bit of acidity it really needs to shine.

[myceliumbean]

Cars 2 Agents AU How did Rod survive 2.5 I Waking Siddeley Up

Featuring: The actual debut of Boris (with Boris completely losing his temper)

Summary: the agents were on a mission, and everything went wrong soon after they entered Russian airspace

The quotation marks are a bit different cuz I'm using app tp post this while finished writing it on PC, but still, ' ' stands for talking through radio/speaker, and " " stands for talking directly

Warm was the first thought when some really loud noise woke him up. Siddeley winced behind his visor. He couldn’t see anything, was it already this dark?

He then tried his NVD, but it still didn’t give him any visual input.

Something was wrong. Siddeley suppressed a creepy feeling of something icy cold, and tried to reached out to his fellow agents.

He couldn’t activate his built-in speakers.

Siddeley was almost sure that he’d got caught by some unknown enemies, but a voice deep in his mind, though weakly, was screaming about waking up and starting his engine and Siddeley had no idea about what was going on-

“-WAKE UP!”

The Gulfstream V gasped at the sudden loud voice, his eyes wild, and for a moment Siddeley thought he’d got full awareness of his surrounding. But the next thing he noticed was that loud voice beside him again, almost cracking his audio sensors. “Stay conscious, kid, you will not let yourself drift back into your dreams anymore to escape the cold! You hear me! I know you’re awake!”

But drifting back sounded so appealing, and what was that voice talking about co-

He couldn’t focus on the surroundings through his visor. He couldn’t even see through it.

Was that... ice?

As that realization hit him, a wave of memories of what the past six hours swallowed him. Siddeley fought to stay awake, but he was so tired. Maybe he can take a nap now, ‘cuz that loud voice stop shouting, a short nap...

‘You’d better not give up by now, old boy, after keeping us all alive for so long.’

The familiar tone and that particular nickname woke Siddeley up a little. ‘...Finn?’

‘Stay with me, Sid, the help was already here, we’ll get you to safety in no time.’ Even opening his eyes an inch more took all of his strength, Siddeley tried his best to cling to his friend’s voice. ‘You can do it, just try your best and get your engines start.’

My engines... Siddeley could feel the numbness of his tail and his wings, but his engines were, surprisingly, somehow de-iced and ready for takeoff. He tried, and was satisfied when the turbines started to spin under his will.

“Nice work kid.” That voice again, not so loud for this time, was beside Siddeley and gently pushing him to try harder. “Keep them spinning, now try to open your eyes. You need to look at the runway for takeoff.”

As his pushed his engines to gain more power, Siddeley could feel his entire frame warming up. Wings, tails, and even his landing gears- the backups, they had fixed his flat tires!

He tired to speak, to open his mouth, but at last he could only talk through the radio. ‘I really can’t gain the strength to open my eyes.’

‘Well then, do you trust me?’

Siddeley could feel a gentle touch on his wing tip, and a smoothening caress along his starboard wing. Some deep humming sounds were coming from that direction. That plane must be a big one. ‘I trust you.’

‘Don’t give away your trust so easy, kid, you’re lucky I’m on your side.’ There’s a pulse, and the voice was back, with more demanding in it. ‘counterclockwise ten degrees.’

That meant two and a half circles of his front tires.

‘Good. Now lower the flaps into normal takeoff angle. I’m gonna go first to make sure the sky is clear, could you wait?’

‘Yes.’

‘Tough kid.’ Siddeley thought that he might heard the plane chuckled if it weren’t through the radio. ‘Good luck, I’ll be waiting in the sky.’

The Gulfstream V could hear the sound of powerful engines, much more powerful than his, warming up next to him. The ground trembled slightly when the plane took off, and Siddeley could feel his own wings shaken by the wind caused by the sheer size of the plane and the roar of those turbine engines. It went quiet for a few minutes before the radio cracked to live. ‘All clear, prepare for takeoff.’

‘Roger.’ Siddeley took a deep breath, trying to ease his own sickening feeling of taking off nearly blind, and started to put power into his engines.

‘Keep going. You can do this.’

Turbines speeding up. Engines giving out high-pitched screams. Siddeley could feel the reassuring force that tried to push him forward.

More. Need More for takeoff.

Fuel burned through his lines, Siddeley finally punched through the maze of cold and got a clear look of what was in front of him.

He was in a forest- the one he had merely dodged at the last moment during his landing. But now the trees in his way were removed and the sky was clearer than it was back when he passed out.

Siddeley focused on the field in front of him.

To Safety. The voice through the radio was up in the sky, scouting and waiting. Siddeley couldn’t see the plane now, but if he could takeoff...

There’s the familiar push when he reached the requiring starting power, and Siddeley released his tires and ran through the forest. Trees bended and got chopped when hit by his left wing, Siddeley easily got to the speed he needed to takeoff. First the nose, then his entire frame, the Gulfstream V finally made it and flew straight into the sky.

He could now take a proper look at the plane who saved his life. An Ilyushin Il-76, one of the cargo planes of the Russian, with remarkable bright red sprips along his military-grey frame and three yellow lines decorating his black tail.

‘Glad you made it, kid.’ The Il-76 said, clearly sounding relieved. ‘Let’s get you all back before those fuel burned out.’

‘Sure do. Name’s Siddeley, thanks for saving me and my friends.’

‘Don’t say it too early, kid. Save the talk for your welcoming party.’

Thanks @longjiaojiao for beta and all the discussion that created the other stories of this series!

Boris is totally old enough to call Siddeley "kid", and he does it even before thinking about it- he won't allow himself to lose any life he had a chance to catch.

So the Il-76 just went completely overprotective when he saw Siddeley alone and unconscious in the storm.

[whentherewerebicycles]

wow ok i am profoundly grumpy this morning and I think it is for the following reasons:

it's cold and EXTREMELY gloomy/wet/gray out which puts me in a funk (and then puts me in a bigger funk if i dwell too long on the fact that it's just going to be Like This for months and months)

we had to table outside for 2.5 hours yesterday which i find socially taxing under the best of circumstances. and then today we have to table outside for another 2.5 hours and THEN host a 2.5 hour ice cream social so the entire day is going to be eaten up by performing Great Enthusiasm in 30-second interactions with strangers. i wish 2 hibernate not socialize thank you

my nausea has been coming and going over the past couple days and this makes me feel :-/// despite my best attempts to hold everything loosely right now. last time around i feel like the major sign that something was Not Right was that my symptoms were moderately intense for a bit and then waned pretty fast, and so i feel like my brain (always prone to a doom spiral) is like oh it's Happening Again. but i honestly think that the gloom outside is just tipping me into a negative headspace in general so i'm trying not to lean into these feelings too much

i have to invite all these people to be on my steering committee, most of whom i don't know that well, and i feel like it's like asking someone to homecoming or something lol like i send my nervous little email to them and wait for them to check Y/N on whether they like me or not based on the meeting we had earlier in the year. also it's just a new experience like i don't really know what to Do with a steering committee and so i am nervous that the projects i am proposing are dumb and everyone's going to be like "lol why would THAT be the thing we undertake"

i went off my adhd meds today as i am going to try to not take them for however long this lasts. i feel like the primary thing the meds do for me is stabilize the volatility of my moods... like i'm better able to focus and make decisions and organize information because i'm not adrift in the dark roiling sea of my own changeable feelings. the first week off will be the hardest and then i think it'll be manageable but idk it's just not fun you know and i am sure is contributing to my extreme grouchiness today

i have a ton of project work today but all of my time is being sucked up by these tabling events and it's fine but also like when do i get to do my work lol. when!!!!!

i'm scared things won't work out why is it so hard to hold onto joy

i want to crawl into my bed!!!!!!

but also my work bestie just arrived and we walked to get coffee & donuts and giggled a bunch so like. it'll be fine lol. also tomorrow is friday and i get to WFH and then it is the WEEKEND

[ashabsynthe]

Saturn Retrograde in Pisces: A Time for Reflection and Recalibration

On June 18, Saturn, the planet of structure, discipline, and limitation, will go retrograde in the sign of Pisces. This is a significant event, as it marks a time of reflection and recalibration for those born under Pisces or with Pisces placements in their natal charts.

Saturn is a slow-moving planet, and it takes about 29 years to orbit the sun. This means that it spends about 2.5 years in each sign. When Saturn is in Pisces, it is in its detriment, which means that its energy is weakened.

Pisces is a mutable water sign, and it is ruled by the planet Neptune. This means that the transit of Saturn through Pisces will be a time of introspection, spirituality, and compassion.

During this time, you may be feeling called to reflect on your life and to make changes that will help you to grow and evolve. You may also be feeling more compassionate and understanding of others. This is a great time to connect with your spiritual side and to explore your creativity.

Saturn retrograde in Pisces can also be a time of challenges. You may be facing obstacles that are testing your strength and resilience. This can be a difficult time, but it is also an opportunity for growth.

If you are open to it, Saturn can help you to release the past and step into a new chapter of your life. You may find yourself taking on new responsibilities or making major changes in your career or personal life. This can be a time of great upheaval, but it can also be a time of great growth.

If you are struggling with the energy of Saturn retrograde in Pisces, there are a few things you can do to help yourself through this time. First, it is important to be patient with yourself. Change takes time, and it is important to give yourself the space to grow and evolve. Second, it is helpful to find a support system of friends or family who can offer you encouragement and support. Finally, it is important to remember that this is a time of transformation and that it is an opportunity for you to become the best version of yourself.

Saturn retrograde in Pisces is a powerful time for transformation. If you are open to it, this can be a time of great growth and change. Embrace the challenges that come your way, and use this time to step into your power.

Here are some tips for working with the energy of Saturn retrograde in Pisces:

Spend time in nature. Pisces is associated with the element of water, so spending time in nature can help you connect with your inner water sign and to feel more grounded.

Meditate or pray. Pisces is also associated with the 12th house of spirituality, so meditating or praying can help you connect with your spiritual side and to find peace and tranquility.

Be creative. Pisces is a sign of expression, so get creative and express yourself in whatever way feels right for you. This could involve painting, writing, dancing, or anything else that allows you to express your unique self.

Be compassionate. Pisces is a sign of compassion, so be compassionate to yourself and to others. This could involve forgiving yourself or others, or simply being kind and understanding.

Saturn retrograde in Pisces is a time for growth, transformation, and compassion. Use this time to connect with your inner water sign and to step into your power.

[north-american-duck-poll]

Round 2 match 3A

The Green-winged Teal is one of North America's smallest duck species and is the smallest of the North American "dabbling ducks" (ducks that feed by tipping their heads under the water while their tails remain in the air). The average length of a Green-winged Teal from bill to tail is 37 centimetres or 14.5 inches.

The Northern Shoveler is best known for its long, spatula shaped bill. Their bill is typically about 6.5 centimetres or 2.5 inches in length, which makes up about 13-14% of the bird's total length. They have comb-like projections on the sides of their bill that they use to filter food out of the water, kind of like a baleen whale.

[ocoree]

A midge over a day almost exactly a week ago I was perusing the local pet store getting cat litter, and as part of my usual ritualistic circuit browsing from the bird section around back past cat, through dog, and ending at small critter, I detoured by the betta wall in the middle. Had been thinking about them for a while, as my office wants to see a tank set up again, and I happened to have a spare 20 gallon long tank floating around gathering dust. Last pass through I saw a gorgeous black and white betta, and wondered if there were other gems this round. Sure, some pretty ones, nothing that really stood out to me though (was kinda leaning to a platinum or opal betta to make a darkwater tank, bonus if they were a sturdy king plakat with no frilly fins to worry about being chewed on by tank mates). My eyes drifted over to spot a section of 'Glow Bettas', and felt my lip curl in disgust after seeing the ones that came through the doors at my prior pet-store job in a rival store - and now noticing there were yet new colors forced upon them. Leaning down to inspect them better, I happened to notice a sad little slip of silver in a dirty cup next to them. I didn't know what alien bettas were - and seeing the few active ones on another section I couldn't parse out what made them distinct from the rest with their muddy green shine. This one felt different for me, and when I held him up to the light I saw a blue and purple sheen over him, and he was a little disgruntled that I disturbed him from his curled up position. "Huh, that's different." I thought, and toyed with the idea of a silver betta instead of a white one in my communal tank. His condition wasn't the best, but neither was his water situation with it being fouled and yellowed by too much food - an easy fix, and his responsiveness despite it indicated he'd bounce back with some fresh water and proper feeding. Next day I was still thinking about him, and my co-workers urged me to scoop him up if I felt confident taking him in. So I scrambled out on my lunch break and found him still in the same spot quite ignored over the showier and healthier individuals. Lad wasn't too happy about it, but soon after I got him situated in his travel tank with some spring water he started turning the most vibrant blue and moving around considerably. He was still falling to the bottom of the tank though, and laying curled on his side when he tired out, which tipped me off to him having possible swim bladder issues (think like a tummy ache from too much food for non-fishkeepers that affects their ability to stay afloat - it either makes them sink like a stone, or float like a cork which is bad for a betta that needs air if left untreated) and a game plan to help him pull through it. First night home, I dug out a little 2.5 gal tank I had intended to use for craft displays for whenever I got around to doing craft shows, and got him more properly situated with a sandy bottom and modified silk plants (plus a little anubia and a couple moss balls to start off with for my first live aquarium plants). Little dude was happy exploring between periods of resting, and looked a lot livelier even with the tank half-full -

I happened to fall sick right at the same time from a coworker coming in and sharing her bug with everyone, so the weekend gave me time to spend around his tank and keep him under observation. Watching him exploring and getting improving in his environment was a treat -

And then finally, after a tentative meal of thawed pea to make sure his system was thoroughly cleaned out, it was time to give him a proper meal of thawed bloodworms - just two, as he's a little fellow. Boy, I think I opened his eyes to what a betta should be eating. Dude couldn't get enough and started doing a very energetic Begging Dance and zoomies afterwards -

After that day any time he saw me move near his tank, or even turn my head to look his direction, he'd go into an excited fit of zooming around the front of the tank, look up to the surface, and zoom some more! I even tried to see if I could carefully walk up to the tank out of what I thought was his view, but when I peeked around the railing of the shelf he was on - little dude was staring right back at me from that corner of the tank! Today was the first day I did a water change in his tank - wasn't sure how he'd take it, but he was mostly baffled by the strange thing intruding his space, and curious about the stream of water coming into his tank. Later I found him contemplating the new water level in his home from when he started out (the blur line is where the old water level was, I just need to get in there and scrub it off) -

Sure he may always have his issue with staying afloat in the water, and may have to live out his life in this little tank because of it, but darned if I'm not gonna try to make sure he's well cared for. My eventual goal is to make his little tank fully planted like a mini world, maybe put a little cherry shrimp or two in there with him, and keep serving him food on a toothpick like the spoiled boy he is. I would have loved to try to put him in the 20 gal communal tank when it goes up, but I worry that may cause more issues for him if he can't maintain his buoyancy in any water deeper than this tank. It's clearly not dampening his style though! I'm not entirely sure what spurred me to take him in - likely a mixture of, "I can help this animal that would have otherwise been overlooked time and time again until he fell too ill to recover", disdain from having seen how this store handles their betta stock compared to the one I worked with, and.. maybe a little bit of spite... A point of principle so to speak.. A way to show that even if they're not the flashiest or most active in their little container, a little bit of careful love and awareness can make a difference for one little fish. Currently waiting on some lava rock to arrive that I ordered to start hardscaping the bigger tanks, so I'll try to post updates as his tank evolves! Any advice for setting up a planted tank would be great! I've not done much in the way of exploring that aspect of fishkeeping, so if I can hit the ground running with as much knowledge as possible the better I can make a successful setup! At the moment my plant plans are - Java Moss, duckweed, Anubia +/or hornwort + some kind of carpet plant for the bottom - not sure what though.

[kappararu]

17.09.24 13:00 Gwangju FC - Yokohama FM Both teams to score: Yes 1.51 17.09.24 13:00 Shandong Taishan - Central Coast Mariners 2T Handicap(+1) 1.33 17.09.24 15:00 Buriram - Kobe Total Over(2) 1.34 17.09.24 15:00 Shanghai Shenhua SVA - Pohang Steelers Not to lose and Total Under(4.5) - Shanghai Shenhua SVA : Yes 1.5 17.09.24 17:00 Pakhtakor - Al-Wasl Dubai 1T Handicap(+1) 1.39 17.09.24 19:00 Al-Rayyan - Al-Hilal Riyadh 1T Handicap(+2.5) 1.37 17.09.24 20:00 Mallorca - Real Sociedad X2 1.42 17.09.24 21:00 Anderlecht - Genk Both teams to score: Yes 1.59 17.09.24 21:30 Stoke City - Fleetwood Town 1 1.5 17.09.24 21:45 Brentford - Leyton Orient Not to lose and Total Under(4.5) - Brentford : Yes 1.33 17.09.24 21:45 Blackpool - Sheffield Wednesday Result at 75:00 min. Ind. Total Over1(0.5) 1.44 17.09.24 21:45 Preston - Fulham Not to lose and Total Over(1.5) - Fulham : Yes 1.49 17.09.24 21:45 Everton - Southampton 1X 1.33 17.09.24 21:45 QPR - Crystal Palace 1T Handicap(+1.5) 1.59 17.09.24 22:00 Manchester United - Barnsley Not to lose and Total Under(4.5) - Manchester United : Yes 1.42 17.09.24 19:45 Young Boys - Aston Villa Total Over(2.5) 1.54 17.09.24 19:45 Juventus - PSV Eindhoven 2T Handicap(+1.5) 1.34 17.09.24 20:00 Zenit - Rubin Kazan Zenit 1T Individual Total Over(1.5) 1.41 17.09.24 21:00 FC Twente - SC Heerenveen Correct score at 60:00 min Total Over(1.5) 1.51 17.09.24 22:00 Real Madrid - VfB Stuttgart 2T Handicap(+2.5) 1.4 17.09.24 22:00 Sporting Lisbon - Lille Not to lose and Total Over(1.5) - Sporting Lisbon : Yes 1.45 17.09.24 22:00 Bayern Munich - Dinamo Zagreb Not to lose and Total Under(4.5) - Bayern Munich : Yes 1.57 17.09.24 22:00 AC Milan - Liverpool 1T Handicap(+1.5) 1.34 STATistik of tips : https://t.me/KapparaLive/1720 Telegram : https://t.me/kapparavip  (здесь прогнозы по ходу дня) Best bookmakers : http://hubu.ru/sportwager Watsapp : +380684476012 All so on http://kappara.online  (english tips) Portal: http://kappara.ru

[bestwin121]

Football Betting: An Ultimate Guide to Winning Big

Football betting is a huge industry that has captured millions of fans around the world. Bettors can turn their passion for sports into significant winnings with the right strategies and insights. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of football betting. It includes strategies, tips, and important considerations that can enhance your betting experience.

Understanding Football Betting

Predicting the results of matches is part of football betting. You can then place bets on these predictions. Betting options range from simple win/loss wagers to complex accumulators, over/under markets, and a variety of other bets. Understanding the different types and their workings is crucial for success.

Football Betting Types            

Match Results (1X2): This is the most simple bet. It predicts whether the home team wins (1) if the match ends in a tie (X), or if the away team wins (2).

Over/Under goals: Bet whether the total goals scored during a match are over or below a certain number. For example, 2.5 goals.

Asian Handicap: This bet gives a handicap to a team, effectively leveling out the playing field. This bet is designed to make betting and matches more exciting.

Both teams to score (BTTS): Bet on whether both sides will score during the match.

Correct Score: Predicting the exact score of the match. Due to the difficulty of this bet, it offers higher odds.

First Scorer: Bet which player will score first in the match. This bet usually offers high odds.

Accumulators: Combining multiple bets in one. This increases the payout potential but also the risk. The accumulator must include all winning selections for it to be paid out.

How to Develop a Winning Strategie

A well-planned strategy and a disciplined approach are essential for successful football betting. Here are some tips that will help you improve your betting strategy.

Research and Analysis

Team form: Analyze the recent performance, including wins and losses. Teams that are in good shape will perform better.

Head-to-Head Statistics: Compare past matches between the teams. The past performance of teams can give insight into possible outcomes.

Injury and Suspension: Look for players who may be absent due to injury or suspension. This can have a significant impact on a team's performance.

Home-and-Away Performance Some teams perform better in their home environment or when they are away. You can gain an advantage by analyzing these patterns.

Bankroll Management         

Create a Budget: Decide how much you are willing to lose, and stick to it. Never wager more than you can afford.

Betting units: Manage your bets using a unit system. A unit is a percentage. If your bankroll is $1,000 and your unit is 1% then you should wager $10 per unit.

Do not chase losses. If you are experiencing a losing streak resist the temptation to increase your bets to recover. Keep to your betting strategy.

Find the Best Odds

Different betting sites have different odds for the same event. Comparing odds on multiple platforms will maximize your potential return. Compare odds using websites or other tools.

Leveraging Technology

Mobile Betting

Mobile betting is becoming more popular with the advent of smartphones. The majority of betting sites have mobile apps or mobile-optimized websites that allow you to bet anytime and anywhere. Choose a site that has a mobile-friendly interface سایت شرط بندی فوتبال.

Live Betting

In-play betting or live betting allows you to bet during a game. This dynamic betting form can be thrilling and profitable if you can make quick decisions based on real-time events.

Betting Exchanges

Betting exchanges, unlike traditional bookmakers, allow you to place bets against other punters instead of the house. It can give you better odds and allow for more flexibility with your betting strategy.

Responsible Betting

Football betting is exciting and lucrative, but it must be done responsibly.

Set Limits: Establish limits to the time and money you spend on gambling to avoid addiction.

Get Help If you think that your gambling is getting out of control, ask for help from professionals or groups dedicated to gambling addiction.

Educate yourself: Continually educate yourself on betting strategies and responsible gambling.

Conclusion

Football betting is a fun way to get involved with the sport while earning money. Understanding the different types of bets and developing a strategy to manage your bankroll and leverage technology will improve your experience of betting and increase your chances of winning. Betting should be enjoyable and responsible. Have fun and good luck with your bets.

[miratiwari-7]

Best Nose Plastic Surgery Hospital in Mumbai

The human face is one of the most noticeable features, where every detail, from a smile to a nose twitch, contributes to how we perceive someone's personality. Unfortunately, not everyone is born without imperfections, and structural or functional abnormalities in parts like the nose or mouth can disrupt normal bodily functions.

Thanks to advancements in plastic surgery, achieving the desired appearance has become more accessible through procedures like Rhinoplasty, cleft lip surgeries, septoplasty, chin implants, orthognathic surgery, and lip fillers. Dr. Debraj Shome, director of The Esthetic Clinics in Mumbai, has introduced innovative techniques such as QR678 injections, significantly enhancing the natural look and outcomes of plastic surgeries.

When it comes to surgeries like Rhinoplasty, particularly complex cases, it is essential to consult only the top Rhinoplasty surgeons. In India, expert surgeons like Dr. Debraj Shome, ranked among the top ten plastic surgeons in the country, perform Rhinoplasty at leading hospitals and clinics in Mumbai.

Rhinoplasty in India offers various options, and experienced surgeons conduct comprehensive evaluations to determine the procedure's suitability for each patient. Optimal results are achieved when both functional and structural aesthetics are restored while preserving a natural appearance. Surgeons provide thorough briefings on expected outcomes, ensuring patients are well-informed. Rhinoplasty surgeons specialize in addressing all nose-related issues and are the best advisors for correcting defects. Common Rhinoplasty procedures include:

Septoplasty: This surgery corrects a deviated septum, which can restrict airflow and cause breathing difficulties. Performed by top facial plastic surgeons, septoplasty involves making an incision in the side of the nose, removing excess bone and cartilage, and straightening the septum.

Septo-Rhinoplasty: This combination of septoplasty and Rhinoplasty addresses both a deviated septum and aesthetic concerns like a crooked nose. Conducted as an outpatient procedure in top hospitals and clinics, septo-rhinoplasty takes about 2.5 hours under general anesthesia.

Complex Rhinoplasty: Also known as revision Rhinoplasty, this procedure corrects issues from previous Rhinoplasty surgeries or addresses cosmetic concerns. Complex Rhinoplasty requires the expertise of top surgeons in Mumbai, as it demands precision and is performed in state-of-the-art hospitals.

Cleft Lip Rhinoplasty: Considered one of the most challenging Rhinoplasty procedures, cleft lip Rhinoplasty involves correcting both the lip and nose deformities. It requires the skill of the best doctors in Mumbai, as it is a three-dimensional procedure that manipulates skin, cartilage, and the skeletal structure.

Tip Rhinoplasty: The nasal tip plays a crucial role in facial definition, and any irregularities can impact the overall appearance. Tip Rhinoplasty, performed in Mumbai, involves minor changes that enhance the face's appearance. Depending on the case, this procedure may involve simple incisions or the use of implants and grafts.

Implants in Rhinoplasty: Detailed work on the nose sometimes requires implants to improve shape and function. Different types of implants, including synthetic, cadaver, and those harvested from the patient’s own tissue, are used in augmentation Rhinoplasty. Expert advice from top doctors ensures the best choice of implants for each patient.

Rhinoplasty in India is often combined with other procedures like lip fillers, chin implants, and orthognathic surgeries. At The Esthetic Clinics in Mumbai, doctors assess the patient’s entire facial structure to restore symmetry and balance where needed.

Lip Filler and Rhinoplasty: Lip fillers, used to enhance the lips, can be administered before or after Rhinoplasty. However, it is recommended to wait until after Rhinoplasty results are visible for optimal outcomes and better proportional adjustments by experts.

Chin Implants: Chin implants complement Rhinoplasty by balancing the lower face, especially in cases where a small chin makes the nose appear larger. Combining chin implants with Rhinoplasty creates harmony between the front and side profiles, a technique often used by top facial plastic surgeons.

Orthognathic Surgery: This surgery corrects jaw deformities and realigns the jaw, which can alter facial proportions. Orthognathic surgeries, particularly Le Fort I surgeries, are performed at least six months before Rhinoplasty to ensure the best facial proportions.

At The Esthetic Clinics in Mumbai, Dr. Debraj Shome discusses additional options for enhancing facial balance. In-person evaluations are conducted by board-certified facial plastic surgeons specializing in procedures involving the face, neck, chin, jaw, and forehead. Before-and-after photos and patient reviews are available at the clinic, where patients receive top-quality care and expert surgical advice.

[complianceedgeknives]

Top Features to Look for in a Survival Pocket Knife

A survival pocket knife is more than just a tool; it's a lifesaver, a companion in the wild, and an essential piece of gear for anyone who ventures into the outdoors. Whether you're an avid camper, a wilderness explorer, or someone who wants to be prepared for emergencies, a survival pocket knife is a must-have. But with so many options on the market, how do you choose the right one? This blog will explore the top features to look for in a survival pocket knife, ensuring you make an informed decision and select a knife that meets all your needs.

Blade Material and Quality

The blade is the heart of any knife, and for a survival pocket knife, the material and quality of the blade are paramount. High-quality blades are typically made from stainless steel, carbon steel, or a blend of both. 

- Stainless Steel: Known for its resistance to rust and corrosion, stainless steel is durable and easy to maintain. It holds a sharp edge longer but can be more challenging to sharpen when it becomes dull.

- Carbon Steel: This material is easier to sharpen and can achieve a razor-sharp edge. However, it is more prone to rust and requires regular maintenance to prevent corrosion.

- Blended Steels: Many high-end survival knives use a blend of stainless and carbon steels, combining the best properties of both.

When choosing a survival pocket knife, look for high-quality steel that can withstand the rigors of outdoor use and maintain a sharp edge under tough conditions.

Blade Design and Shape

The design and shape of the blade significantly affect the knife’s performance and versatility. Common blade shapes for survival knives include:

- Drop Point: This blade has a convex curve on the spine and a sharp point, making it ideal for general-purpose use, including slicing, skinning, and piercing tasks.

- Clip Point: Characterized by a concave curve or "clip" on the spine near the tip, this blade is excellent for precision tasks and offers a sharper, more controllable point.

- Tanto: With a straight edge and a sharply angled tip, the tanto blade is designed for piercing tough materials. It’s less versatile but offers superior strength at the tip.

- Serrated Edge: Some survival knives feature partially serrated blades, which are useful for cutting through tough materials like rope or fabric.

Consider your primary use cases and choose a blade design that matches your needs, whether it’s for slicing, piercing, or general-purpose cutting.

Blade Length

The length of the blade is another crucial factor to consider. Survival pocket knives typically have blades ranging from 2.5 to 5 inches.

- Shorter Blades (2.5-3.5 inches): These knives are more compact and easier to carry, making them ideal for everyday carry (EDC) and lighter tasks.

- Longer Blades (3.5-5 inches): These provide more cutting power and are better suited for more demanding tasks like batoning wood or self-defense.

Strike a balance between portability and functionality when choosing the blade length of your survival pocket knife.

Locking Mechanism

A reliable locking mechanism is essential for safety and functionality. It ensures that the blade stays securely in place during use and prevents accidental closure. Common locking mechanisms include:

- Liner Lock: A spring-loaded bar inside the handle engages with the blade tang to lock it open. This mechanism is simple and effective.

- Frame Lock: Similar to the liner lock, but the handle itself (usually metal) acts as the locking mechanism, providing added strength.

- Back Lock: A notch in the spine of the handle engages with a notch in the blade to lock it open. This mechanism is robust and secure.

- Axis Lock: A bar slides back and forth, engaging with the blade tang to lock it in place. This mechanism is ambidextrous and highly reliable.

Choose a knife with a locking mechanism that you find easy to operate and trustworthy in keeping the blade secure.

Handle Material and Ergonomics

The handle of a survival pocket knife should offer a comfortable and secure grip, even in wet or slippery conditions. Common handle materials include:

- G10: A composite material made from fiberglass and resin, G10 is lightweight, durable, and provides excellent grip.

- Micarta: Made from layers of linen or paper and resin, Micarta offers a comfortable grip and is highly durable.

- Rubber: Provides a non-slip grip and is comfortable to hold for extended periods.

- Metal: Stainless steel or aluminum handles are durable but can be slippery without additional texturing or rubber inserts.

Ergonomics are equally important. Look for a handle design that fits comfortably in your hand, with contours and texturing that provide a secure grip. A well-designed handle will reduce hand fatigue and improve control during use.

Additional Features

A good survival pocket knife often includes additional features that enhance its versatility and functionality:

- Multi-Tool Functions: Some knives come with built-in tools like screwdrivers, bottle openers, and saw blades, adding to their utility.

- Glass Breaker: A hardened tip on the handle for breaking glass in emergency situations.

- Lanyard Hole: Allows you to attach a lanyard for easy carrying or to secure the knife to your gear.

- Fire Starter: Some survival knives include a ferrocerium rod for starting fires in the wild.

These additional features can be invaluable in survival situations, adding to the overall utility of the knife.

Ease of Maintenance

A survival pocket knife should be easy to maintain in the field. This includes:

- Ease of Sharpening: Choose a knife that can be easily sharpened with a simple sharpening stone or rod.

- Corrosion Resistance: Look for blades with coatings or treatments that resist rust and corrosion.

- Disassembly: Some knives are designed to be easily disassembled for cleaning and maintenance.

Proper maintenance ensures your knife remains in peak condition and ready for any challenge.

Price and Value

While it’s tempting to go for the most expensive knife, price doesn’t always equate to quality. Assess the value a knife offers by considering its features, materials, and craftsmanship. A good survival pocket knife is an investment, so it’s worth spending a bit more for a reliable and durable tool that will serve you well in the long run.

Conclusion Choosing the right survival pocket knife involves considering a variety of features, from the blade material and design to the handle ergonomics and additional tools. By focusing on these key aspects, you can select a knife that is not only functional and reliable but also tailored to your specific needs. Whether you’re preparing for a wilderness adventure, an emergency, or simply adding to your EDC kit, a well-chosen survival pocket knife can make all the difference. Take the time to research, test, and select a knife that you can depend on when it matters most.

[estatedekho04]

Apartments/Flats for Sale in Kompally Hyderabad

Discover Your Dream Home: Apartments/Flats for Sale in Kompally, Hyderabad

So, you're on the lookout for a new home in Hyderabad, and Kompally has caught your eye? Excellent choice! Kompally is the hidden gem of Hyderabad, offering a perfect blend of urban convenience and suburban tranquility. In this article, we'll dive deep into what makes Kompally an ideal place to settle down, explore the best apartments and flats for sale, and maybe even share a laugh or two along the way. Ready? Let's get started!

Apartments/Flats for sale in Kompally Hyderabad

Why Kompally?

1. The Sweet Spot of Urban and Suburban

Kompally is like that friend who’s always just right not too loud, not too quiet. Located in the northern part of Hyderabad, Kompally strikes a balance between the bustling city life and peaceful suburban living. It's close enough to the city to enjoy all its amenities, yet far enough to escape the chaos.

2. Green and Clean

Who doesn't love a bit of greenery? Kompally is known for its lush landscapes and clean environment. It's like Mother Nature decided to take a break here, making it perfect for those morning jogs or evening strolls.

3. Connectivity Galore

Whether you’re commuting to work or heading out for a weekend getaway, Kompally got you covered. With excellent road connectivity and proximity to key areas like Secunderabad and Hi-Tech City, you’re never too far from where you need to be.

Top Apartments/Flats for Sale in Kompally

Alright, let's get to the juicy part of finding that perfect apartment/flat in Kompally. Here are some top picks that cater to various needs and budgets.

1. Luxury Living: ABC Residences

If luxury is what you seek, look no further than ABC Residences. These premium apartments offer top-notch amenities like a swimming pool, gym, and a clubhouse. Plus, the interiors are so stylish you’ll feel like you’re living in a magazine spread.

Features:

Price Range: ₹1.5 Crores - ₹2.5 Crores

Size: 3 BHK - 4 BHK

Amenities: Swimming pool, gym, clubhouse, landscaped gardens

Proximity: 10 minutes from NH 44, 20 minutes from Secunderabad

2. Affordable Comfort: XYZ Homes

Not looking to break the bank? XYZ Homes offers affordable yet comfortable living options. These flats are perfect for young families or professionals looking to own their first home.

Features:

Price Range: ₹50 Lakhs - ₹1 Crore

Size: 2 BHK - 3 BHK

Amenities: Kids’ play area, community hall, 24/7 security

Proximity: 15 minutes from Kompally main road, close to schools and hospitals

3. Family-Friendly: PQR Gardens

For those with kids (or planning to have them), PQR Gardens is a fantastic choice. With plenty of open spaces, playgrounds, and a community vibe, it’s perfect for raising a family.

Features:

Price Range: ₹75 Lakhs - ₹1.25 Crores

Size: 2 BHK - 3 BHK

Amenities: Playground, jogging track, community center

Proximity: 10 minutes from Cineplanet, 25 minutes from Hi-Tech City

Living the Kompally Life

1. Schools and Education

Parents, rejoice! Kompally is home to some excellent schools and educational institutions. From top-notch preschools to renowned high schools, your kids' education is in good hands.

2. Shopping and Dining

Got a craving for some biryani or need a quick shopping fix? Kompally has plenty of options. From local eateries serving delicious Hyderabadi cuisine to modern malls offering everything under one roof, you’ll never be bored (or hungry).

3. Health and Wellness

Health is wealth, and Kompally takes this seriously. With numerous hospitals, clinics, and fitness centers, staying healthy and fit is a breeze. Plus, the green spaces and parks are perfect for outdoor activities.

Tips for Buying an Apartment/Flat in Kompally

1. Do Your Homework

Research is key. Check out the builder’s reputation, read reviews, and maybe even talk to current residents. It’s like dating, don't commit until you’re sure!

2. Visit the Property

Photos can be deceiving. Make sure to visit the property in person to get a real feel of the place. And yes, that includes checking the water pressure and the view from your balcony.

3. Check the Legal Stuff

Ensure all the legal paperwork is in order. Verify property titles, necessary approvals, and any pending dues. It’s a bit boring, but trust me, it’s worth it.

4. Plan Your Finances

Budgeting isn’t just for weddings and vacations. Plan your finances well, considering not just the property cost but also additional expenses like registration fees, maintenance, and furnishing.

5. Think Long-Term

Investing in property is a long-term commitment. Consider future developments in the area, potential resale value, and how the property fits into your long-term plans.

Conclusion

Kompally, Hyderabad, is a fantastic place to find your dream home. With its perfect mix of urban convenience and suburban charm, excellent connectivity, and a range of apartments and flats to suit every need and budget, it’s no wonder more and more people are flocking to this area.

Whether you’re looking for luxury, affordability, or a family-friendly environment, Kompally has something for everyone. So go ahead, start your journey, and who knows? You might just find your perfect home and maybe even a new favorite biryani spot. Happy house hunting!

Visit estatedekho.com for more information about Apartments/Flats for Sale in Kompally Hyderabad Telangana. Estatedekho is an online platform that offers sellers, potential clients, buyers verified plots, and professional agents at service

[rohankumar1276]

Understanding the NICU: Support for Parents at BR Healthcare, Rohini Sector 17

Bringing a new life into the world is a time filled with joy and anticipation. However, when a newborn requires special medical care, they may need to spend time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This experience can be daunting for parents. At BR Healthcare in Rohini Sector 17, we are dedicated to providing exceptional care for your baby while supporting you through this challenging journey.

What is the NICU?

The NICU, or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, is a specialized department in hospitals designed to care for ill or premature newborns. Equipped with advanced technology and staffed by highly trained healthcare professionals, NICUs provide round-the-clock care for babies who need extra medical attention. At BR Healthcare, our NICU in Rohini is equipped to deliver the highest standard of care, ensuring the best outcomes for your little one.

Reasons for NICU Admission

Babies may need NICU care for a variety of reasons, including:

Premature birth (before 37 weeks)

Low birth weight (under 2.5 kg)

Respiratory difficulties

Infections

Birth defects or congenital conditions

Complications during labor and delivery

Our team at BR Healthcare in Rohini Sector 17 is experienced in handling these conditions with skill and compassion.

Meet the NICU Team

The NICU team at BR Healthcare consists of neonatologists, specialized nurses, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare professionals. This multidisciplinary team works together to provide comprehensive care, including:

Continuous monitoring of vital signs and development

Administering necessary medications and treatments

Providing respiratory support as needed

Offering nutritional support through breastfeeding assistance or tube feeding

What to Expect in the NICU

Entering the NICU for the first time can be overwhelming. Knowing what to expect can help alleviate some of your fears. Here’s a glimpse into the NICU experience at BR Healthcare:

Advanced Equipment: The NICU is outfitted with incubators, ventilators, and other specialized equipment designed to support your baby’s health and growth.

Family Involvement: We encourage parents to be actively involved in their baby’s care. This can include participating in feedings, kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact), and being present during medical rounds.

Emotional Support: Beyond medical care, our team provides emotional support. We understand the stress parents endure and offer counseling and support groups to help you cope.

Tips for Parents

Caring for a baby in the NICU can be challenging, but these tips can help you navigate this time more effectively:

Stay Informed: Keep up with your baby’s condition and progress. Our staff at BR Healthcare is always available to provide updates and answer your questions.

Practice Self-Care: It’s crucial to take care of yourself. Make sure you’re eating well, getting rest, and seeking support from loved ones.

Connect with Others: Engaging with other NICU parents can provide comfort and a sense of community. Sharing your experiences can be very helpful.

Why Choose BR Healthcare's NICU in Rohini Sector 17?

Choosing the right NICU for your baby is a critical decision. Here’s why BR Healthcare in Rohini stands out:

Expert Care: Our team of neonatologists and nurses is highly trained and experienced in neonatal care.

Advanced Facilities: Our NICU is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to ensure the best possible care for your newborn.

Compassionate Approach: We focus on family-centered care, ensuring that both you and your baby receive personalized and compassionate attention.

Conclusion

The NICU journey can be a challenging and emotional time for parents, but at BR Healthcare in Rohini Sector 17, we are here to provide the highest level of care and support. Our expert team, advanced facilities, and compassionate approach ensure that your baby is in the best hands possible. Remember, you are not alone – we are here to support you every step of the way.

If you have any questions or need more information about our NICU services, please don’t hesitate to reach out to BR Healthcare. Together, we can ensure the best possible outcome for your precious newborn.