#blue diamond spectrum

[colagenobluediamond]

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[darthkvznblogs]

Is it not having the Essence of Pink that causes those specific deficiencies in the Era 2 Gems, or would they have them the same no matter which of the four Essences was missing?

It depends on the proportion; every Gem is meant to be created with the essence of all 4 Diamonds, but the proportion of each essence differs depending on which one of them designed the Gem; the Lapis Lazuli type, for example, was designed almost exclusively by Blue Diamond and her essence makes up the vast majority of the infusion, so an Era 2 Lapis should be relatively unaffected by the relative lack of Pink essence, while Gem types like Jasper, a collaboration between Pink and Yellow, have practically gone out of production.

When certain Gem types are required to be produced and the lack of Pink essence is unacceptable, Homeworld culls significant numbers of "expendable" Gems like Rubies and harvests the essence within them to be reused in the production of essential Gems. This doesn't happen often - expendable or not, every Gem serves a purpose and harvesting hampers their objectives, on top of the obvious risk of rebellion that a culling like that involves - but it's sometimes considered necessary.

[gwyoi]

People who say they can tell between natural and mined diamonds and prefer mined are so fucking stupid and have probably never looked at diamonds as much as I have 😭 99% of the time you can tell what’s lab because lab diamonds are clearer and bluer with less inclusions. Do you know how expensive it is to get a colorless VVS mined??? let alone 1ct +??? Sorry .

[ndotmov]

My Rose Quartz / Pink Diamond defense Initially a sociology report

@pearlhoardingdragon - since you wanted to know what I wrote for my Uni sociology class based on my previous post, here ya go:

"From Abused to “Abuser”: An Analysis of Pink Diamond from a Sociological Perspective

DISCLAIMER: While the fact that the Diamonds received a redemption arc, despite being intergalactic dictators, is a major gripe with fans (including myself) of Steven Universe, storyboard artist Hilary Florido stated in a podcast that the depiction of the Diamond Authority was suppose to be more akin to a "conservative rule-following family…” (Steven Universe Podcast, Volume 3, Episode 2 [EXTRACT▶], source). For the sake of the paper, I will be discussing the Diamond family dynamic from a “conservative rule-following family” standpoint and not from a corrupt Institutional perspective.

No matter what social, economic, or political background a person comes from, if they experience Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), they will develop some form(s) of trauma. Sometimes, victims of abuse, no matter the intent, harm others because of unhealed trauma, low-self esteem, and unhealthy survival habits. The case can be made for Pink Diamond (Rose Quartz), the deuteragonist of Steven Universe by Rebecca Sugar (she/they). Steven Universe is the story of the titular character, Steven Universe’s adventures on Earth as he fights monsters alongside the Crystal Gems. Gems are a sexless but female-presenting, alien race known for colonizing planets in their solar system and are ruled under “The Great Diamond Authority”, which consists of White Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Blue Diamond, and formerly Pink Diamond. Steven is the son of Pink Diamond (known as Rose Quartz) and throughout the show, we see Pink Diamond/Rose Quartz’s character develop backwards; the more Steven learns about the true identity of his mother, the more he is determined to no longer be like her, but to be better than her, to which Pink Diamond herself wanted for Steven to be. Because of this backwards development, many viewers misunderstand the complexities of Pink Diamond’s character and how she is neither evil nor good. However, despite her desire for breaking the generational cycle of abuse, Pink unintentionally is a part of the unhealthy Relationship Spectrum and inflicts trauma onto others due to her unhealed ACEs. While she may appear as an “abuser” to some, Pink Diamond is an example of a character defined by self-surveillance to the point of traumatizing others because she had a poor relationship with herself.

While the Diamonds had cared for and loved Pink, they were more concerned about maintaining their society’s status quo than understanding Pink, which led to Pink’s ACEs. Pink Diamond is undeniably a victim of Family Violence and power over relationships. The first instance of abuse we see Pink endure is in Jungle Moon when Pink Diamond is with Yellow Diamond and demands for a colony of her own, much like a child demanding for a new toy. She tells Yellow Diamond, a mother figure, that she deserves to have a colony like the rest of the Diamonds because she is just as important as them, but to her dismay, Yellow grabs her arm and tells her to act as expected of her. Yellow’s condescension is felt again in Familiar when Steven tries challenging Yellow into self-reflection, to which the former waves off Steven’s concerns and claims how “[Pink] always…[had]...a knack for making [others] laugh” and how Pink is “almost worth the trouble”, displaying a history of disregard and belittling towards Pink. Fans of the show often like to suggest that Blue Diamond is the “nicest” of the Authority, and perhaps a saving grace in Pink’s abuse, because of her explicit mourning for Pink when she thought Pink had been shattered, but fans fail to recognize that Blue Diamond was just as abusive as her counterparts because she actively upheld their family’s conservatism. As seen in Together Alone and Change Your Mind, whenever Pink acted in a way that was considered “unruly” by her parents, or the Diamond Authority’s standards, she would be thrown into an almost-windowless tower for long periods of time to “reflect” on her behavior. Due to the need that gems have for light, doing this would be akin to depriving a child of food as a punishment. As well, isolating a child only instills distrust in others, and the ability to be vulnerable with others is slowly diminished as the child matures. Pink Diamond had no support system and through deep-rooted memory, we see that it was Blue Diamond who would enter the tower and gaslight Pink Diamond for her “immature” behavior. Another instance we see her criticize Pink is in Can’t Go Back, in which Steven witnesses Blue Diamond scorn Pink Diamond for coming up with “excuses” for why she did not want to complete the colonization of Earth after begging for one for so long. While it seems Yellow and Blue Diamond are emotionally dismissive towards Pink, their acts of emotional negligence are overshadowed by White Diamond’s attitude towards Pink. In regards to White Diamond, we get subtle hints as to how White Diamond treated Pink in Legs from Here to Homeworld and Change Your Mind, when White Diamond senses Steven is back on Homeworld (their gem society), she brings him to her. Steven attempts to converse with White, but is constantly interrupted and condescendingly questioned if he “got everything out of [his] system”. Furthermore, White’s disdain for Pink is revealed in Change Your Mind when she admits that Pink is the part of her “she always wants to repress”. In this scenario, White Diamond’s language is reminiscent of a mother who sees too many of the features she dislikes about herself in Pink, and as a result, this bitterness leads to generational trauma and a lack of support for Pink Diamond’s upbringing. By the examples we’ve seen, whenever Pink Diamond tried advocating for herself, she was immediately shut down. 

This self-advocacy worsens when Pink Diamond assumes the form of Rose Quartz to momentarily experience life on Earth and soon recognizes that her initial colonization of the planet is taking life away, instead of creating something from nothing. As Pink Diamond, she tries turning towards Yellow and Blue Diamond for support, but the two turn their backs on Pink Diamond, causing her to resort to extreme measures for the sake of attention–starting a civil war. Pink Diamond’s sense of entitlement comes from a place of insecurity and neglect because in Familiar, prior to receiving a colony, Pink’s only role was to entertain (hence her jester-like outfit) and throw extravagant parties for the other diamond’s accomplishments. This example of self-surveillance established a deep level of resentment and insecurity towards her place in society because she had no accomplishments of her own, nor respect from her family, therefore is the reason why Pink Diamond begged for a colony of her own–she thought owning a colony would garner the respect and attention she’s been denied her whole life, and as such, did not consider the consequences of her actions. As Rose Quartz, however, Pink began to view life from a different perspective as she experienced new situations–like Garnet’s fusion in The Answer. 

In The Answer, we see Pink Diamond as Rose Quartz realize that the people around her experience sonder (e.g., Garnet who is composed of Ruby and Sapphire’s desire to live their lives together), causing her to shift her mission in protecting life on Earth to advocating for gems’ freedom to self-express, which is her genuine attempt at trying to break generational trauma by establishing something new. However, her method was extremely selfish because even though she lacked the proper support from the Diamonds, Pink Diamond still incited a civil war in order to protect her creation, causing numerous casualties, including those that she loved. This callous, unhealed nature displays an unspoken justification that some abuse victims that experience emotional dysregulation have: “I am hurt so everything else does not matter”. But below the surface of Pink’s selfishness lies self-hatred, to which is the true reason as to why she started a civil war; often ACEs create internalized narratives of being the abuser, causing self-blame to turn into self-hatred. Rose Quartz hated herself so much that she literally and metaphorically waged war on herself in order to be detached from her childhood trauma and subsequently, old identity. This harm towards herself extends towards others as she becomes a self-fulling prophecy of abuse, starting with her Pearls.

Before it was revealed that the Crystal Gem, Pearl was Pink Diamond’s Pearl, Pink Diamond had Pink Pearl. As briefly shown in Together Alone, Pink Pearl was Pink’s first servant. Pink Diamond did not view her Pearls as such and would often seek personal advice from them, which went against her status as a Diamond. However, while Pink Diamond was kind to her first Pearl, she would often have unchecked temper tantrums, to the point of one day physically lashing out at Pink Pearl because she was denied a colony (Volleyball, Steven Universe). The event was so traumatic to both Pink Diamond and Pink Pearl that we see a shift in attitude and appearance (respectively), with subtle hints as to how the Diamonds would weaponize Pink Diamond’s behavior against her—Blue Diamond threatening to “take away her new Pearl” in Change Your Mind, a classic example of authoritative abuse. Pink Diamond is afraid of treating her new Pearl like an individual for a while as she is fearful of repeating her past mistakes, but is given the opportunity to when she assumes the identity of Rose Quartz, an identity that was presented to her by Pearl (Now We’re Only Falling Apart). The two were intoxicated by this new form as it allowed Pink Diamond to escape her responsibilities. Her escapist behavior is most prominently seen in her relationship with Greg in We Need to Talk .

The episode We Need to Talk highlights Rose Quartz’s inability to view others as equals because of her identity issues. Rose first meets Greg in Story for Steven, and the two are enamored with each other and develop a superficial relationship. As stated by Pearl in We Need to Talk, Greg is one of many humans Rose has “played” with and like a phase, she’ll be over him eventually because he is ultimately not a gem and cannot “fuse” with her. While harsh, Pearl’s words are later confirmed to be true as Greg tries to deeply connect with Rose, but his attempt is laughed off with a “You’re a human…that’s not a problem, I love humans, you’re all so funny…”. From this line, we see that Greg is just another part of Rose’s escapist fantasy–at this point, she is free from the Diamonds and living out her life with her newly found family in Beach City. Rose truly loves Greg, but does not understand relationships with others beyond a surface level; when Greg challenges Rose to talk to him like a “real person”, Rose is stunned and admits she’s “not a real person”. For so long, Rose has relied on others for advice (the Diamonds; Pearl, and Garnet with her future vision and wisdom as mentioned in the episode and in Now We’re only Falling Apart) that she lacked confidence within herself, hence why she was taken aback by Greg’s confrontation. For the first time, someone made Rose look introspectively, which is healthy boundary setting, but unfortunately, when Rose begins to question herself and recognize her past wrongdoings, Greg admits in Steven’s Dream that he told her that what matters is who she is now, which is not unsound advice, but did not allow for Rose to continue taking personal accountability for the pain she’s inflicted.

 Given the fact that Rose Quartz is an escapist identity Pink Diamond assumed, a small portion of her still cared for the Diamonds, which ultimately caused the fallout between her and a trusted friend–Bismuth. Before Amethyst joined the Crystal Gems, Bismuth was a prominent member of Rose’s entourage. Bismuth, like many gems, was fed into this master narrative of the Diamond Authority without questioning Rose Quartz herself. Eager to end the war and tear down their oppressive establishment, Bismuth presented Rose the “Breaking Point”, which was a weapon meant to shatter the Diamonds; it was viewed as a “radical solution” and because Rose still felt an instinctual and complicated attachment to the Diamonds, as seen in victims of childhood trauma, she fought Bismuth and “bubbled” her, vowing to never speak of her again (until Bismuth was unbubbled by Steven in Bismuth). Silencing Bismuth was one of Rose’s/Pink’s worst moments and does qualify her under the abusive category because she deceived Bismuth, and the rest of the Crystal Gems, on who she really was. The argument for her abusive behavior is added onto when looking at the case of Spinel.

First debuting in the Steven Universe Movie, Spinel was made to be Pink Diamond’s coping mechanism, but as we know in Week 12: Interpersonal Violence, not all coping mechanisms are effective. Shortly after harming Pink Pearl and before receiving a colony, Pink Diamond fell into a depressive episode. Instead of assisting Pink in managing her emotions, the Diamonds gave her a Spinel, or an entertainer, as a gift. For a while, Pink enjoyed Spinel’s company, but had little regard for her, as eventually Pink received her own colony and new Pearl, causing her to only consider her own emotions and momentarily conform as a ruler as a means of survival and satisfying the desires of her parents (again, whenever she attempted to self-express, she was thrown into an almost-windowless tower or berated). Pink Diamond did not want to outright hurt Spinel, so she tricked the unknowing gem into “playing a game” for 6,000 years, or the entirety of Steven Universe post-Pink Diamond’s “shattering”. This abandonment was prior to Pink Diamond witnessing Garnet’s fusion in The Answer, so she truly believed gems other than Diamonds had no intellect or free will, aside from their basic programming. Despite Pink’s desire to spare Spinel from harm, and belief that Spinel could not be harmed, Spinel developed severe abandonment and attachment issues, vowing to harm the Earth and kill Steven. Eventually, Steven learns to understand Spinel’s backstory and talk out the situation (his main go-to method of healing and resolving conflict), which in itself magnifies the major issue fans have with Pink Diamond/Rose Quartz: they believe Rose Quartz created Steven as her scapegoat, which couldn’t be further from the truth..

Yes, throughout the events of Steven Universe, Steven unjustly had to deal with the repercussions of Pink Diamond’s actions, almost to the point of death on several occasions, but to say that fixing her mistakes was Steven’s purpose misconstrues who Rose Quartz became and why she had Steven in the first place. From what we know in Greg the Babysitter, Rose Quartz loved humans and envied their ability to change and grow up; she believed that was the greatest power of all. In both a selfish and selfless act, Rose gave up her physical form so that she could make something new and good out of her life on Earth. Given her lack of confidence in herself and self-hatred, Rose truly believed Steven could love her family in a way in which she never knew how because he was a “fresh start”. Rose would not have had steven if she knew the threat of Homeworld and the Diamonds was still imminent, hence her decision to settle down with Greg and record Steven a loving goodbye message in Lion 3: Straight to Video. We can also cite Rose’s consciousness as evidence that she did not have Steven so she could avoid her problems; in Storm in the Room, Steven challenges the contentious belief of Rose having him so he can deal with her problems. Because Rose gave up her physical form, but not consciousness, she was able to manifest to Steven in their room and rejected his insecurities by affirming that she did love him as everything in her tape to Steven was true. While I personally don’t agree with Steven accepting the fact that he does have to deal with her issues, it goes along with the show’s underlying theme of attempting to break the generational trauma cycle. Regardless of whether or not Steven was born, we see in The Return, The Cluster, and Reunited, the Diamonds were planning on destroying Earth from the inside out with a planted time bomb deep within the Earth’s mantle, and if that failed to work, personally deal with the remaining gems themselves. In this case, because Steven was unlike his mother and focused on confronting his issues head on, valued self-love and established healthy boundaries, he was able to save Earth and dismantle the Diamond Authority and their imperialist empire, something Pink Diamond was unable to do in her lifetime. 

To conclude, Pink Diamond was a deeply flawed individual that was an unintentional, self-fulfilling prophecy; she harmed the ones she cared for, but had done so in a way that evades responsibility and accountability–assuming a new identity. Her careless and inconsiderate nature formed because of the ACEs she had endured from the Diamond Authority, resulting in a deep level of self-hatred that fueled a civil war between her people and family. Not to mention, her unfinished business unjustly transferred onto Steven, but to her credit, Rose truly did not anticipate her past coming back to Steven–she did not anticipate much of the future without seeking advice from others. While her troubled upbringing is an explanation as to why Pink Diamond/Rose Quartz lied to and inflicted pain on others, including herself, it is not an excuse. Even though Pink Diamond was struggling to voice herself to the Diamonds, she could have taken accountability by being open about her past with the Crystal Gems before having Steven. However, despite her unhealthy behavior, Pink Diamond was not an active abuser as we must consider the entire context. Pink Diamond most closely resembles an unhealed victim of ACEs that struggled with identity issues, self-worth, and unhealthy views of the world around her, but tried handling the situations in her life the ways she knew how. 

Sources: 

(the rest of the sources were for my assignment and relating to my school)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zqn56rVWAoy-UjwDDSWrk-ydTmvNFJri2mitK2kQg9U/edit - Hilary Florido quote source."

[five-crows-in-a-trenchcoat]

Yknow, it took a very long time for me to realise what the title of pokemon x y (and z) meant bc up until then they were all pretty solid counterparts. Red, blue and yellow, the primary colours. Gold, silver and crystal, the luxurious. Ruby, sapphire and emerald, not only precious gems but the rgb colours (and just colour matching the legendaries too). Diamond (the classic ‘most valuable’ stone), pearl (the classic ‘most valuable’ biological ‘stone’), and platinum (the classic ‘most valuable’ metal). Black and white.

After x and y we of course had sun and moon, sword and shield and finally scarlet and violet (infrared and ultraviolet, the two ends of the colour spectrum. The only reason they wouldn’t have called it pokemon infrared and ultraviolet is bc pokemon red already exists and ppl would think it was a gen 1 remake, and ultra sun/moon also already exists).

But back when x and y came around, and I thought ‘it’s just letters, I know that the legendaries sort of look like them but if it’s opposites then shouldn’t it be a and z?’ (Cool how they brought that back with legends z-a)

And it took me way too fucking long to realise that x y and z are the three digital planes to symbolise Pokémon’s first mainline 3D game. Idk I just thought that was neat.

[mysticstarlightduck]

Character Introduction - Valen Cassidy (Scrapyard Boys)

⚡・・About/General Info ・・⚡

A street urchin despised by the government of New Omnium, Valen was once the son of a celebrated journalist - his mother was a woman who was on the verge of uncovering and exposing the true schemes going on under the surface of their city's elite, when she was suspiciously killed. Valen was then almost sent by the government to the mysterious Spectre Academies - a training ground for mutant youths, beloved by the public but which holds dark secrets within - but before they could, Valen managed to escape, utilizing his Electrokinesis powers to neutralize the agents and allow him to escape into the lower districts of the city, where he disappeared from the grid. Valen grew into a rebellious and defiantly angry young man, classified as one of the city's Top 10 Most Dangerous mutant outlaws, a target to be eliminated. With the help of his chaotic crew of other superpowered street urchins, Valen finds himself following his mother's footsteps - but this time through a vigilante route - to expose their city's dystopic regime and find out the truth behind the billionaire industries that built it. And slowly, they start to figure out that the origins of mutant powers in humanity was not quite what they were led to believe, and that the strange occurances happening all around the city were not mere coincidences.

⚡・・More Info ・・⚡

Pronouns - He/Him Current Role - Protagonist, Part of the Main Cast Appearance - Valen has very, very long, curly, and voluminous golden blond hair, messily styled and which he takes a lot of pride in. His eyes are a deep electric blue, like the color of lightning or electricity, which is fitting given one of his main powers is Electrokinesis. He is average height, though on the shorter end of the spectrum for someone in his late teens (when the main story starts), but he is very strong - freakishly so, for someone who is so lanky and whose powers have nothing to do with strength. He wears ripped-up denim vests with customized patches, an old, dark black shirt with the logo of his favorite rock band, also ripped-up jean pants and bright red long-neck sneakers, as well as tin rings and cheap necklaces. He has a menacing look that usually pushes others away, like a brewing lightning storm.

Personality Types:

✶ Enneagram: 8w7

✶ MBTI: ESTP

Occupation: Street Urchin, Vigilante, Rebel Powers: Eletrokinesis, Eletrical Conduction, Storm Manipulation, and the likes! Sexuality: Straight Alias: Thunderfall

⚡・・Extras・・⚡

✶ Character Playlist

Heathens - Twenty One Pilots

So Far Away - Staind

King For A Day - Pierce The Veil

overwhelmed - Royal & The Serpent

Break Stuff - Limp Bizkit

Here's To Never Growing Up - Avril Lavigne

Heat of The Moment - Asia

Buy The Stars - Marina & The Diamonds

And More!!!

・・・

✶ Tags:

#wip scrapyard boys #oc: valen cassidy #oc: thunderfall

Scrapyard Boys Taglist (-/+): @ray-writes-n-shit, @sarandipitywrites, @lassiesandiego, @smol-feralgremlin, @kaylinalexanderbooks,

@diabolical-blue @oh-no-another-idea

@cakeinthevoid, @clairelsonao3, @sleepy-night-child

@thepeculiarbird

@the-golden-comet, @urnumber1star, @ominous-feychild, @anyablackwood, @amaiguri, @lyutenw @finickyfelix

@thecomfywriter, @the-letterbox-archives @differentnighttale, @wyked-ao3

Let me know if you'd like to be added!

[clowncontroldev]

Field Report: Raptorian - Supplemental

Raptorians Overview

This is a supplemental document from Dr. Doppler's Field Report. Mature researchers only.

What can be said about Raptorians that hasn’t been said in works such as Mimicry and Me: So Your Voice Has Been Stolen?, Out of this World Fashion and the controversial One Flew Over The Raptorian’s Nest? Hailing from Raptoria, they entered the galactic fold a decade after the establishment of NOX and the end of the Military Age, citing “We weren’t sure about all the war, but if you’re going to relax now we’ll talk.”

While some might call the general disposition of raptorians “cocky” and “vain,” they prefer “proud” and “worth it.” Xenosapients that are easily overwhelmed by colors and loud sounds should stay clear of Raptorian territory. If that doesn’t describe you, however, it is highly recommended to visit during any of their festivals and celebrations for a rich sensory experience. As long as it isn’t Ovumtide. 

Homeworld - Raptoria

Called the gem of the Garuda system, Raptoria is a temperate planet that orbits an A-class star. Dominated by oceans, waterways, and marshes, its extreme habitats are limited to its polar ice caps and deep ocean trenches.

The planet’s rings are important to the raptorian people, not just as an awe-inspiring skymark that makes afternoon walks more pleasant, but religiously too. The predominant religion believes that the rings are remnants of the Egg Mother when she hatched from her own shell. We now know it to be the leftovers of what used to be Raptoria’s only moon. 

Colony - Raptova

Called the diamond in the rough of the Phoenix system, Raptova by contrast is an arid mono-continental planet that orbits a similar blue main sequence star as Raptoria. It’s shared with the Scorpian people who live in the inland deserts. The settlement was brokered by NOX, to allow separatist Raptorians a safe place to self-govern.

Biology

Raptorians are warm-blooded, feathered bipeds. On top of their heads are erectile feathers that act as a way to focus in on sound, like a satellite dish. Their limbs end with black scaly webbed claws, the webbing having receded as they evolved to inland life. In their thick necks is an incredibly developed syrinx that allows unparalleled mimicry. 

A selection of different raptorian phenotypes.

It’s believed that raptorians originated as coastal predators, before gradually moving inland. They retained the slight webbing between their claws and their waterproof feathers, which doubled as an important way to retain heat during the cold months, which were extreme. 

Ancient Raptoria’s weather wasn’t the only cycle that shaped raptorian evolution. An aspect that’s unique to Raptorians are their estrous cycles. While xenos that go into heat will have these cycles last a week or three, Raptorians let loose for only one night of the year. The short window to breed causes Raptorians to endure a massive influx of hormones. While not as bad as the Kovlins, who go into self-described “sex madness” when in heat, Raptorians are on the lower end of the spectrum of lucidity during their cycle. 

But why go about breeding like this? If we look at the daily life of an ancient raptorian, it becomes clearer. Half of the year an ancient raptorian had to stay clear of cyclones and lightning, and the other half blizzards and hail.  The hostile weather conditions of the past only allowed for a very narrow time of the year in which looking for mates wasn’t a death sentence. For the rest of the year they only had a limited amount of time during the day where they could safely hunt. 

But raptorians weren’t the only ones hunting. Other environmental factors such as ancient predators trying to off any competition in gathering scarce resources could have had an impact on when ancient Raptorians felt it was safe to breed. 

However, none of this explains why multiple partners are encouraged during ovumtide. Were they promiscuous? And why is their fertility rate so low? Were they shooting blanks? The answer to both of those may lie in a retrovirus that seemed to have plagued Raptorians at the time. Whatever mutations it introduced were combated by this new way of breeding and raptorian researchers believe genetic variety was the only thing that could ensure the safety of their species, and mating annually.  

And as one can expect from a species only able to have sex once a year, they party like their lives depend on it. Multiple partners are expected in what most of the galaxy calls “the largest communal orgy in the Milky Way.” The Raptorians named that night Ovumtide, and it remains their most important spiritual and social event. 

Other than the pomp and circumstance, Ovumtide has the usual mating ritual aspects, such as decorating your breeding grounds and flaunting your assets, but also includes something Raptorians hold dear even today; pageantry. 

A flume dressed for Ovumtide

Pigmentation and feather patterns can be drastically different after centuries of intercontinental movement and different habitats. Raptorians are able to change the color of their feathers either with topical dyes, or a diet focused on certain compounds, such as the carotenoids in their seafood heavy diets. Blue and pink shrimps are popular choices for their wide range of hues, and due to the effort of committing to a diet for an entire year, are considered the classier choice. For the raptorian that wants to impress a mate during Ovumtide, a concentrated effort must be put into eating a singular natural pigment, so that their coat can coordinate with their Ovumtide outfit.

And like last year's fashion, they molt their feathers once Ovumtide ends, to begin styling for next year’s festivities.

Gender

Raptorians have two genders, flume and auct, which roughly translates to egg layer and soul giver respectively. However, despite the etymology, sex has been decoupled from gender for most of Raptorian history. Sapients that hail from cultures with a male/female gender binary often make the mistake of assuming aucts are men and flumes are women, mostly due to universal translators giving them masculine and feminine pronouns. Rather, it relates to their relationship with community and society at large.

Put simply: aucts top, and flumes bottom.

A typical auct.

Raptorian society is heavily influenced by dyads. The shell and the yolk, the feather and the talon, and so on. Balance between flumes and aucts is a crucial aspect to a functioning raptorian community. 

Work is divided by “talon” and “nest” and is defined by what is being manipulated. If a physical object is manipulated then its “talon” work, like moving cargo, crafting incubators, or repairing power lines. If what’s being manipulated isn’t real, like keeping ledgers, coding programs, or reading the voltage outputs on factory machines, then it’s “nest” work. The balance of this work is meticulously maintained, and if there aren’t enough flumes, aucts will change to better help the group in nest work. Likewise, if there aren’t enough aucts, flumes will do more heavy lifting. These expectations aren’t just societal, but biological as well. 

In a form of phenotypic plasticity, a lack of aucts or flumes will cause some from the majority to undergo hormonal changes. Muscle mass is gained when filling the role of an auct, while pattern recognition and eyesight improves for those that become flumes. What triggers these changes isn’t well known, but well documented. In one case study a group of aucts were sent to a research outpost in the polar ammonia lakes.  Due to unforeseen events, the all-auct team was forced to bunker down at the outpost for a year. Half of them lost 40% of muscle mass without a negative impact on their health, and gained improved hand eye coordination. During ovumtide they were accommodating. 

Another instance of this phenomenon occurred in a production town that specialized in leather and steel crafts. The assignment computer glitched out and filled the town with primarily flumes. In a short amount of time nearly half of them traded their stored fat for a high amount of muscle bulk in their arms and chest. Ovumtide wasn’t an issue for the town residents thanks to production tool crafting access. 

Because of this biological phenomenon, Raptoria’s governments and religions believe in what the body says rather than the mind piloting it. This became the cause for the mass exodus to Raptova—the belief that gender shouldn’t exist for the purposes of society, but rather the individual. 

The separatists believed that just because someone was physically an auct didn’t mean they wanted to do manual labor all day, or fill someone during ovumtide. Some were physically flumes, but spiritually aucts, and even without the added muscle mass could help their community like any ‘Talon Man’.

An ovumarch. They have went through the muscle loss of an auct turning into a flume.

On the separatist colony world of Raptova, a third unnamed gender arose. It was reserved for the Ovumarch, the leaders and guides of this new world. They act as both auct and flume as a way to say all forms of identity were welcome, as well as a way to see from the perspective of both sides. Physically, their bodies will still undergo the changes that will occur naturally. 

WARNING: AUTHORIZATION STATUS [18+]

If you have clearance with the above security check, you can learn more about Raptorians in Dr. Doppler’s Field Report.

[gender-jargon]

[Image ID: a redesigned Tragender flag by Gent (Gender-Jargon). The flag's stripes are oriented diagonally from the bottom-left corner to the top-right corner. In the top-left and bottom-right corners, there are four stripes of the same width and same previously mentioned orientation. The left corner stripes, from left to right, are blue, green, yellow and white. The right corner stripes from left to right, are dark grey, scarlet red, indigo and purple. The background of the flag is light tan in color. In the middle is an error-barred rhombus, a symbol designated to represent Tragender. ./. End ID]

Tragender: a gender identity that encompasses the entirety of the gender spectrum.

[PT: Tragender: a gender identity that encompasses the entire spectrum of gender. ./. End PT]

Etymology

[PT: Etymology ./. End PT]

Likely from Latin, "Trans" modified to "Tra" meaning "Through", "Across" or "Beyond" + "-gender", an Engish neologistic suffix indicating genderedness.

This is speculative, as an official etymology is unknown. Coined by tumblr user siirusblack in July 2014 via MOGAI-Archive (link) [PT: Coined by tumblr user siirusblack in July 2014 via MOGAI-archive (link) ./. End PT].

Originally, the definition was worded as, "a gender that stretches over the whole spectrum/orb-y thing of gender", which I reworded as it is written above.

Elaboration

[PT: Elaboration ./. End PT]

Tragender is an interesting identity in that it doesn't just occupy a given point or function represented on the gender spectrum, but rather the whole spectrum itself.

A Tragender individual is every gender, no gender, every combination or derivation of any and all genders, being all identities available to them as well as anything and everything beyond and between. The limitless nature of Tragender could be described as total, complete, comprehensive and/or absolute in nature, which could be collectively referred to as a Totingender, or a as a gender that is Totaline-in-nature (TOTIN). This gender occupies all available gender arities.

I decided to use an vertically error-barred rhombus to represent Tragender, as the gender spectrum is frequently represented using a diamond. The error bars extend from the diamond at the top and bottom to represent encompassing the entirety of the gender spectrum.

This is a repost from my previous blog (link) [PT: a repost from my previous blog (link) ./. End PT], Gender-Resource. This here repost includes a redesigned flag, additional information and updated sources.

Pride Flag

[PT: Pride Flag ./. End PT]

This is a redesign of the flag I previous created for Tragender on my old blog, Gender-Resource (terminated). My original flag was based off of the Tragender pride flag design by tumblr user Genderqueer-Dream in May 2019 (link) [PT: My original flag was based off of the Tragender pride flag design by tumblr user Genderqueer-Dreram in May 2019 (link) ./. End PT]. My first Tragender flag was near-identical to the one created by Genderqueer-Dream, with the only difference being that the second-to-last, sectioned multi-color stripe was removed for the simplicity of replication.

The redesigned flag (of a redesigned flag) in this post was created by Gent (Gender-Jargon) in June 2024. This flag's stripes are oriented diagonally from the bottom-left corner to the top-right corner. In the top-left and bottom-right corner, there are four stripes of the same width and same orientation. The left corner stripes, from left to right, are blue, green, yellow and white. The right corner stripes from left to right are dark grey, scarlet red, indigo and purple. The background of the flag is light tan in color. In the middle is the Tragender symbol, an vertically error-barred rhombus.

My previous Tragender pride flag lacked stated symbolism, as the flag it was based upon did not have a stated significance of design. This new, redesigned flag, however, has means assign to it's imagery. The components of the pride flag have the following meaning:

The light tan background of the flag represents the gender spectrum.

The colors blue, green, yellow, white dark grey, scarlet red, indigo and purple represent the diversity of one's accessible gender experience.

[PT: The light tan background of the flag represents the gender spectrum. The colors blue, green, yellow, white dark grey, scarlet red, indigo and purple represent the diversity of one's accessible gender experience. ./. End PT]

[truevedicastrology]

Your Month's Magical Gem ✨💎

Ever wondered about the special stone tied to your birth month? Dive into the sparkling world of birthstones and their mystical meanings!

🗓️ January - Garnet 💗

Deep red passion and vitality

Boosts self-confidence and success

Protective energy against negativity

Symbolizes eternal friendship and trust

🗓️ February - Amethyst 💜

Regal purple for peace and sobriety

Enhances intuition and spiritual awareness

Calms the mind and promotes clear thinking

Guards against drunkenness and overindulgence

🗓️ March - Aquamarine 💙

Serene blue of sea and sky

Soothes fears and sharpens intellect

Promotes clear communication

Brings courage and calm

🗓️ April - Diamond 💎

Brilliance and unbreakable strength

Amplifies energy of other stones

Symbolizes purity and eternal love

Brings clarity and abundance

🗓️ May - Emerald 💚

Lush green of spring renewal

Symbolic of rebirth and love

Enhances memory and increases mental clarity

Believed to grant foresight and good fortune

🗓️ June - Pearl & Alexandrite 🤍💠 Pearl:

Luminous orb of the sea

Symbolizes purity and integrity

Calms and centers the mind

Eases digestive discomfort

Alexandrite:

Color-changing marvel

Strengthens intuition

Encourages creativity

Brings good luck and fortune

🗓️ July - Ruby ❤️

Fiery red of passion and power

Stimulates heart chakra

Brings courage and strength

Symbol of love and royalty

🗓️ August - Peridot 💚

Vibrant lime-green vitality

Cleanses and stimulates

Protects from nightmares

Brings good health and restful sleep

🗓️ September - Sapphire 💙

Deep blue of wisdom and royalty

Attracts prosperity and success

Protects from envy and harm

Symbolizes loyalty and trust

🗓️ October - Opal & Tourmaline 🌈💗 Opal:

Multi-colored fire of emotions

Amplifies feelings and unleashes creativity

Enhances cosmic consciousness

Brings good fortune

Tourmaline:

Available in a rainbow of colors

Grounds energy and dispels fear

Promotes understanding and confidence

Deflects negative energy

🗓️ November - Topaz & Citrine 💛 Topaz:

Golden warmth of the sun

Brings joy and abundance

Releases tension and promotes harmony

Balances emotions and attracts love

Citrine:

Sunny yellow optimism

Energizes and invigorates

Attracts wealth and prosperity

Encourages generosity and sharing

🗓️ December - Turquoise, Zircon & Tanzanite 💙💎💜 Turquoise:

Sky blue of infinite possibilities

Master healer stone

Protects against negative energy

Brings good fortune and success

Zircon:

Variety of colors, often blue

Brings wisdom and confidence

Encourages compassion

Promotes restful sleep

Tanzanite:

Rare violet-blue beauty

Facilitates spiritual awakening

Enhances communication

Stimulates insight and perception

🔮 Birthstone Magic Tips 🔮

Wear your birthstone for amplified benefits

Meditate with your stone for deeper connection

Gift birthstones for personalized, meaningful presents

Collect all 12 for a full spectrum of energies!

[rose-tries-to-write]

A rant about SU and gem formation

In Steven Universe, the Homeworld can be biased against gems with oddities. They want all gems to be perfect cookie-cut soldiers to fit into their society.

However, I want to know how this affects Lapis Lazuli gems. See from my research (literally one google search) lapis lazuli can come with patches of yellow (pyrite) and white (calcite). These gems with small patches of white and/or yellow are considered some of the best quality (once again, according to google). But would Homeworld see it as the best quality or Off Color? We know they don't like fusion, and this sounds almost like fusion. Though maybe it could be considered more of a cross-contamination?

Does Homeworld make lapis lazuli without these patches maybe? Perhaps they found a way in the Kindergarten phase of a gem to remove the possibility of them gaining the patches??

I know that in SU Future, Lapis changed her form to incorporate some yellow as if to show that aspect of the natural formation of the gem, but we could chalk that up to her being a Pre-war gem. Maybe they didn't have the tech to make pure lapis lazuli back then? Still, no other Lapis Lazuli has this accent color (not counting any with a Yellow Diamond insignia). I am simply curious about others' thoughts on this.

Under the cut: A Jasper and Amethyst Rant

Another (slightly unrelated) rant about Jasper and Amethyst.

Jasper and Amethyst were made on Earth, and while Peridot proved Amethyst's Kindergarten to be fully planned and thought out, Jasper's was not.

See, I believe that with the rush job on her Kindergarten, Jasper was made Wrong. Similar to the Lapis Lazuli, jasper is a gem made from an assortment of other minerals that give it its striped-patterned look. A striped look that our Jasper shares, but most Homeworld Gems don't have (Even Holly Blue, who is an Agate and therefore should have some form of striping or rings). This makes me believe that striping or patterns of a gem's skin could be seen as an Off Color trait. If it is considered an Off Color trait, the Diamonds may have kept her around due to her strength and loyalty/service??

Additionally, I believe that Jasper wasn't lucky to come out as big as she did. I believe her form and Amethyst's are the results of "Survival of the Fittest" on opposite sides of the spectrum.

With Amethyst, she was at the bottom of her Kindergarten where there possibly weren't very many minerals to soak up for her formation, and any that were available went to those forming above her. This meant that only once the other Gems were formed and no longer soaking everything up could Amethyst get what she needed, but the time spent without the resources had already done its damage.

But with Jasper, she was placed dead center with practically no competition for resources so she could soak up everything for herself (a plausible reasoning for how Skinny formed the way she did, whose hole was right next to hers), making it to where she had an overabundance of all the resources that made quartz soldiers so strong.

[gemsbuild]

Kyanite: A Gemstone With Hidden Depths

Kyanite isn't your everyday diamond or sapphire, but it holds a charm all its own. This unique gemstone offers a captivating play of color and a touch of rarity, making it a valuable choice for those who appreciate something special.

The Blade That Shifts Color

Kyanite's most striking feature is pleochroism. This means the gem changes color depending on the angle you look at it! Imagine a sapphire blue stone that transforms into emerald green with a tilt of your head - that's the magic of kyanite. This characteristic makes it a favorite among collectors who cherish unique gems.

Beauty with a Side of Caution

While fairly durable (ranking 7 on the Mohs scale), kyanite has a blade-like crystal structure. This means it can chip or scratch if struck in a specific direction. Don't worry though, skilled jewelers can work around this by using protective settings or cabochon cuts (smooth, polished domes) to minimize risk.

A Spectrum of Value

Kyanite comes in a variety of colors, with deep blues and greens being the most sought-after. Rarer colors like orange or pink can be even more valuable. Here's what affects a kyanite's worth:

Color: Vivid blues and greens fetch a higher price.

Clarity: Flawless stones are rare, but inclusions (tiny flaws) are okay if they don't affect the beauty.

Cut: A well-cut kyanite with good brilliance and fire adds value (faceting kyanite can be tricky).

Size: Larger, high-quality kyanites are naturally rarer and more expensive.

Generally, prices range from $6 per carat for lower qualities to a whopping $600 per carat for exceptional specimens.

More Than Just a Pretty Face

Kyanite's value extends beyond aesthetics. Its high aluminum content makes it valuable in the production of high-quality porcelain and refractory materials. This adds another layer of value to the stone, especially for industrial purposes.

So, Is Kyanite Valuable?

Absolutely! It depends on what you're looking for. For jewelry, kyanite offers a captivating play of color and a conversation-starting rarity. It might not be the most durable gem, but its beauty and uniqueness make it a valuable choice for those who appreciate something special. In the industrial world, its properties make it a valuable material as well.

Kyanite's worth lies in its distinctive character, captivating colors, and the way light dances within its crystalline form. It's a true gem with hidden depths!

[colagenobluediamond]

Experience the Radiance of Blue Diamond Spectrum for Ultimate Skin Rejuvenation

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[tsunami-of-tears]

A Court of Shadows and Sunshine — Epilogue

Azriel x Aurora (OC)

Summary: A final celebration for Aurora and her family. 

A/N: Yep this is it! I can't believe we're at the end. I didn't think this would be finished so soon but I'm on a roll!! Skip the warnings if you don't want a spoiler.

Wordcount: 1.2K

Warnings: fluff; a teensy bit of smut (I can’t help myself) - very vanilla, PIV; SPOILER: pregnancy announcement

Part Eleven

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･

Aurora

You and your family had arrived at Helion’s palace a few days prior for the Summer Solstice - the longest day of the year, and your birthday. 

The preparations for the holiday were some of your favourite parts. You reminisce fondly on your childhood; helping put up colourful decorations, making many delicious treats and dancing happily with both friends and strangers alike. 

Helion insisted that you were a guest and wouldn’t have to raise a finger, but you just couldn’t help yourself. You dragged Azriel around with you, finding things to occupy yourself with. Some servants would raise their brows at you, the new heir to the Day Court, but would sigh and welcome the extra sets of hands. 

You came alive in Day, radiating pure sunshine. The white dress billowing around you in the summer breeze only accentuated this. When you emerged from your bathroom earlier, Azriel compared you to an angel - his angel. 

You were a striking couple, with you in all-white and Azriel in his Night Court black. He’d offered to match with you, but you didn’t want to change him. 

You walk arm in arm into the sunny courtyard, where you’re met by a world of colour. 

The tall palms around the perimeter are decorated with twinkling fae lights. Between them, strings of rainbow lanterns are strung. There are many people already gathered, their flowing Day Court attire creating a swirling sea of colour as they dance and revel.

You look around and see your family partaking in the festivities, their Night Court clothing a stark contrast but not out of place - you can’t have light without darkness. 

Helion walks forward to greet you, appearing to float in his white robes. A golden crown sits atop his head. It glints in the sunlight, reflecting a spectrum of colour. 

“Happy birthday, Rory. You look divine, this court suits you.” Your uncle pulls you in for a warm hug. “Is there anything I can do to convince you to stay longer?” 

“You already know my answer,” you smile, looking up at your mate. 

Azriel bows his head. “Thank you very much for your hospitality, Helion. Aurora has been talking about the celebrations for months,” He smiles down at you fondly. “Please excuse me, I should go greet my High Lord and Lady.” Azriel kisses the back of your hand before walking across the courtyard to where your family are dancing merrily. 

Helion links arms with you as you walk to the refreshments table. “How are you faring, Rory? He has been good to you, yes?” 

“Uncle, I could not have asked for a better husband and mate.” You smile broadly, remembering your wedding day.

��——— 

You were officially wed and mated in the Spring. You had an intimate ceremony with all your family in attendance. You wore a gown of cobalt blue with fine gold embroidery that glittered with every movement.

You both had the biggest smiles on your faces as you slipped the wedding bands on the other’s fingers. Your ring was a band of gold with a sapphire centrepiece and a halo of tiny diamonds. Azriel chose to wear your father's ring - a simple silver band with a swirling, braided pattern carved into the metal, not completely unlike the tattoos that adorned his sculpted chest. 

Once the priestess declared you married, and you fed that first slice of cake to Azriel, he wasted no time in scooping you into his arms. You giggle, at both his eagerness and your own anticipation of what’s to come. 

Azriel turns with you in his arms, and addresses your guests, “Thank you all for coming, but now I have a mate to claim.” Everyone claps and cheers, Cassian making the most noise as you disappear into a flurry of shadows.

The shadows fade around you and bright sunlight warms your face. You find yourself in a meadow of wildflowers on top of a mountain. There is a rustic cabin in the distance. 

Azriel carries you to a spot that overlooks the valley below, where a blanket had been laid out. 

He sets you down gently on top of the blanket and reclines next to you, propped up by his elbows.

He looks over your entire form, undressing you with his eyes. “You are so beautiful, what did I do to deserve you?”

“We deserve each other, Az.” You turn your back towards him and lift up your hair, a request to unzip your dress.

Azriel obliges, kissing along your bare shoulders as the straps fall from your frame 

You stand and step out of the dress leaving you in your undergarments, the strips of white lace accentuating your curves.

You kneel beside your new husband, leaning forward to kiss him for the first time as official mates, while you work to remove his clothing. Your hands are steady and unhurried, wanting this moment to last as long as possible. 

Your fingers lightly trace his whorls of tattoos before you grip his shoulders and straddle him. You push on his chest, urging him to lie down, his broad wings splaying on the blanket beneath you. 

A cool breeze blows past, ruffling his onyx hair. The sun beats down on you, your wedding rings glinting in the light. 

You lean forward and delicately drag your fingers along a prominent ridge of Azriel’s wings. His head rolls back, eyes fluttering shut for a brief second. 

The bond thrums between you, every inch of you alert with need.

You grind your hips against Azriel’s before lifting them. Azriel groans as he realises your panties are crotchless, you flash him a wicked grin and lower yourself again. “Mother above,” he moans as you sheath him inside you. 

Azriel’s grasp on your hips is gentle but firm, your thighs tighten around his waist as you ride him. 

You lose yourselves in the motions of your souls joining together, becoming one. The bond took all the shattered pieces of you both and put them back together with gold, turning your pasts into something new and beautiful. 

Your moans echo across the valley as you become undone, together.  

———— 

“Make a wish, Rory,” Helion says.

You are surrounded by all your loved ones as you stand before a cake covered in candles. You shake your head as you lean forward and blow - the gust of air winking out all the flickering flames. 

“I already have everything I’ve ever wished for.” 

You smile and take your husband’s hand in yours. Silver lines your eyes as you drop the glamour you’ve been keeping up for a few weeks. 

All your focus is on Azriel as he observes the change in your scent. His hazel eyes widen, “Are you really?”

You nod, unable to control the tears now spilling over your lashes. “Yes, about a month now.” 

Azriel caresses your cheek gently, concern now lacing his voice as he asks, “What about the wings?”

“Madja has already checked, she doesn’t have any.”

Elated shock contorts Azriel’s face. “It’s a she?”  

“We don’t know that, but I’m hoping.”

“Oh my gods.” Azriel wraps his arms around you, embracing you tightly before his hand moves to caress your stomach. Happy tears flow freely from you both.

“I’m going to be a dad!” Azriel exclaims. His announcement is met with claps and cheers from your family. You turn towards them, taking in their faces and the love in their eyes. 

All the moments leading up to now flash before you. Everything you’ve endured has led you to exactly where you needed to be, and you wouldn’t change a thing.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧

Tags ♡ @mis-lil-red @nickishadow139 @lilah-asteria

[welcome-to-ratterrock]

i wonder what music artists they would listen to!

i know DAMN well that Sorcha would listen to Lana del ray, Saorise would listen to chapell roan and i think that Rilla would listen to Laufey

GOODNESS, this took a while. Both Baji and I are ardent music lovers and aficionados, so music is veryimportant to us and to this story and these characters. So I wanted to make sure I got everything in order before answering these asks! 

Sorcha loves jazz and music that’s heavily influenced by soul and movement, so she loves hip-hop, pop soul, R&B, club music - stuff that’s sexy and feminine and full of confidence, like Janelle Monae, Rihanna, Beyoncé, HER, Doja Cat, Billie Eilish. 

She’s absolutely a Lana Del Rey fan, also loves Amy Winehouse, Paloma Faith, Clairy Browne, April Smith and the Great Picture Show, Laura Mvula. For more old school stuff she goes for Irma Thomas, Nina Simone, Peggy Lee, Julie London. 

Rilla loves fun energetic pop that she can dance to but also makes her feel free to - Kesha (the Rainbow album was DEEPLY important to her), Doja Cat, Dimie Cat, Sabrina Carpenter, Chapelle Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, Brittany Spears. She loves Laufey for a softer, romantic vibe, and even though she doesn’t listen to a ton of alternative she LOVES Molotov Jukebox. 

Also, girl ADORES Dolly Parton. She’s dressed up as her for Halloween, loves her endlessly. She got into Kacey Musgraves too, but Dolly has her heart. She likes some of Taylor Swift’s stuff, but she’s definitely not a die hard Swiftie. 

Lorcan unironically adores Kesha, very happy to jam with Rilla whenever their girlie’s music is on. In general he loves music that would be perfect for a barroom brawl - Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, IDLES. Loves rock in general, especially Def Leppard and AC/DC, the Clash and the Black Keys. Likes Gaelic Storm and the Beatles for softer moods. 

Brig listens to a lot of metal and punk and rock music - she and Lorcan would definitely jam to AC/DC and the Black Keys. Also loves blues music, definitely a fan of Johnny Cash. Also likes Gin Wigmore a lot. 

Luella loves soft indie core songs and groups - the Wailin’ Jennys, the Oh Hellos, the Crane Wives, the Jane Austen Argument, the Hush Sound, Brandi Carlisle, Cat Power, Paris Paloma. She and Rilla both love Laufey. She listens to Florence + the Machine and P!nk when she wants to feel empowered. 

Locke is also into soft indie, lots of underground bands no one has ever heard of but have very intense poetic lyrics - Hozier, the National, Cigarettes After Sex, Florence + the Machine, Nicole Dollanganger, the Oh Hellos. There’s a lot of overlap between him and Lu, actually! He also loves viola music, he plays it and it’s a very healing, therapeutic passion of his. 

Regal…whoo boy, his taste in music covers such a wide and diverse spectrum. He loves operas and classic musicals, very much a devotee to classical music by artists like Debussy and Puccini and Bizet. One of his absolute favorite songs is “Danse Macabre”…

He’s a virtuoso with the piano and has described himself as his own favorite musician. 

But he does like some more modern music, he’s just VERY snobby about what he wants to listen to. Marina and the Diamonds (“Bubblegum Bitch” is a favorite), Queen (he is very fond of Freddy), Voltaire, Fish in a Birdcage, the Real Tuesday Weld are some examples.  

Bogdan is even more a snob than Regal, and stays away from most modern music. He’d much rather focus on composing his own music than polluting his ears with the dreck that passes for songs nowadays. Sorcha has her work cut out with him, but she’s more than up to the task…

Casimir, sadly, probably doesn’t listen to a lot of music because of his injury - it’s too much stimulation and he suffers from horrible headaches to begin with. Not all music does it, but too much stress and sounds would very likely trigger an episode. It’s incredibly tragic because music is such an important and treasured facet of his and Bogdan’s culture…

[thebrackishtank]

Heya! Any creature reccomendations for 1.015-1.017 salinity levels? Have got a mega paludarium at that salinity level over the last couple years- the denizens being some sailfin mollies, endlers, picta guppies, bbg’s, Marbled limpets, a stray ghost shrimp, a handful of tiny local PNW shore crabs, a batch of fiddlers, and a big fat dragon goby named Grumbo.

All have been living (and,,,quite prolifically breeding) in great health since early ‘23, but I’m left to wonder- any other creatures suitable for this community that won’t chow down on the smaller fellas?

I keep my stocking levels <8 individuals of any of the schooling fish at any given time, so as to keep margin open for potential newbies.

(Also, you are the main inspiration behind this megadarium project, so I wanna say thank you as well!!!)

Hey I'm glad you have found brackish fish keeping so rewarding! There are definitely times I wish I had kept my 125 saltwater tank as a brackish one - partially for interest and partially for cost :) but you seem to have an interesting set up.

I do have a few ideas - look into these and see if any float your boat:

If you have a particularly large tank (upwards of 100 gallons) then Scats are some of my favorite centerpiece fish. They are hardy and peaceful given their large size. But in good conditions they can live up to 20 years so, yknow, buyer beware.

Stripies (Microcanthus strigatus) are rare fish in the trade, I've only seen one, but they are very cool fish that are Scat-like in behavior with bolder colors and smaller size.

There are only a scant few damselfish that tolerate brackish water indefinitely - the Sergeant Majors are easy to find but they are bruisers sometimes. I myself have three Freshwater Demoiselle (Neopomacentrus taeniurus) and can't recommend them enough. You typically only find them in batches of "assorted damsels"

There are a few Blue-Eyes species in the family Pseudomugilidae if you are looking for another schooling species. They are small and beautiful - but pricey for a large group.

On the other end of the price spectrum are the North American Fundulidae Killifish. A few of the coastal species can tolerate higher salinities and are fantastic fish for home keeping - Mummichogs, Gulf Killifish, Marsh Killifish, and Diamond Killifish. But finding them for sale is very difficult. The Diamonds are rarely sold and the Mummichog is a laboratory fish that almost never is sold in the aquarium trade - but all are pretty free for the catching if you live in a coastal state and have the desire to catch your own!

Honorable mentions goes to some of the smaller sole species, which may only get up to 3 inches, but I'm uncertain if they would prey on smaller Pictas and Endlers. It's a touch high for them, but in the 1.013 to 1.015 range you might do okay with Orange Chromides, which in nature inhabit higher salinity areas on occasion, along with the related Green Chromides.

Hope that gave you a few ideas!

[revenant-coining]

Aaemu & Aaemuspec

[pt: Aaemu & Aaemuspec /end pt]

[id: a rectangular flag with 4 equally-sized horizontal lines. colors in this order from top to bottom: dark green, grey-green, light blue, darkish blue. /end id]

[ids: 2 rectangular flags with 5 equally-sized horizontal lines. colors in this order from top to bottom: dark blue, grey-blue, pale blue, grey-green, dark green. in the center of the first flag is a dark blue-to-dark green 4-pointed diamond. /end id]

Aaemu: a term for experiencing no or limited aemuloime (link) attraction.

Aaemuspec/Aaemu Spectrum: a term for those on the aaemu spectrum.

Etymology: a, aemu(loime); a, aemu(loime), spec

@radiomogai , @thecoffeecrew404

[id: a dark blue line divider. /end id]