#consider going outdoors and/or touching grass?

[d-adpool]

Meow meow

— @official-buckybarnes

// i used up the limit

how you people are using up the post limit is beyond me. my mun is on this website enough to cause permanent brainrot and is still nowhere near it

[cthulhusstepmom]

Evidence that Sergeant John "Soap" MacTavish is not what he seems-Lt. SR:

Soap smells like rain, it took a while to put it together because it's not Soap himself that emits the odor, it just follows him. It's less potent inside and when it's sunny outdoors but if you concentrate it's always there.

He has never been observed touching a gun or grenades without gloves. Almost every other explosive he handles with no regard for his own safety gloves.

HE EATS WEIRD SHIT. While he doesn't eat much of the food on offer from the cafe, he does eat consistently when outdoors, usually plants or flowers. Things he has eaten: dandelions(edible), garlic(edible), thistle(edible but he ate it with the thorns), foxglove(toxic, showed no adverse reaction), Several unidentified flowers and berries, grass(technically edible?) Etc.

Will sometimes refuse to enter a place before abruptly going in. The data is not consistent between different buildings or locations. Further research is required.

Sharp teeth.

Groups things in nonsensical ways. He will only fill a magazine with bullets that total a multiple of 7 or 3. The same for what weights he uses in the gym. When drawing or eating he sorts by 4s. He traded his room to get #13 (right next door, coincidence?).

Cameras will not focus on him, whether photo or video he is never in focus regardless of distance or conditions.

He has never once been in medical for more than half an hour, usually much less. Even though his hands have light burns on them almost constantly.

Dogs hate him. He seems ambivalent towards them and he's never been bit that Ive seen. Cats adore him as do birds.

John MacTavish does not blush. Not for lack of trying even when genuinely flustered or hot, his skin does not flush.

Ghost sets down the small notebook with a minute sound of frustration. The evidence is all there but looking at it, what does it really say? Other than that he's an obsessive creep. A series of quirks and coincidences compiled by a paranoid son of a bitch into a fucking stalker journal. But still, Simon can't help but feel like he's right and he'd be dead a million times over if he simply disregarded his intuition. Even if it is something batshit insane.

At this point however it seems that it'll drive him mad far before it yields any answers. After scouring what little resources were comprehensible on the internet he'd started growing out his hair, intent on tying it in knots to prevent charms. Leaving him with a problem he'd not encountered since he'd first donned the mask: unruly curls and balaclavas don't mix well at all. He'd also kept a piece of stale bread in his pocket for days as he'd read it was a repellent to- and he can't even believe he's considering it-fairies. It backfired, if anything Johnny had been more attached to him and even more touchy than usual. He'd left a small deli cup full of coffee creamer outside his door overnight and found it neatly placed upside down where he'd left it with not a drop left. Ghost chalked that up to some wise guy playing a joke or an exceptionally dextrous cat and firmly shut the door on any other possibilities in his mind. His next test had been a gift of clothing mixed with complements, he'd read that both were likely to drive away any Other. It hadn't been a very extravagant gift, a new pair of gloves and a gruff "well done Johnny" but at the time it had seemed to be the final nail in the coffin as Soap had gone white as a sheet(he can do that but he can't blush???) and scurried off. A quiet dread had filled his stomach the whole day until Soap turned up at dinner, a little quieter than usual but wearing his new gloves and eating more than usual(a scoop and a half of mashed potatoes with 4 packets of butter and 2 packets of sour cream as well as a cookie. The main course of spaghetti and meatballs went untouched though Gaz snapped it up before it could truly go to waste). Though when Ghost returned to his room late that night after trudging through hours of paperwork he found a pile of tiny, aromatic, pink flowers on the floor in front of his door and on top of them a shiny metal comb. Simon's tired brain hardly stopped to think of any of the dire warnings he'd found on forum posts and folklore sites alike, crouching and tenderly retrieving the piece from its bed of flora, careful not to crush any of the tiny blooms. Well... With all the knots in his hair-purposeful and otherwise-he's going to need a sturdy comb anyway.

[suigetsusunny]

Temporary whispers of the heart ⊹₊⟡⋆ | Sosuke Aizen X Reader

Chapter 4 | Midnight Pretenders

˖ ✦ ‧₊˚ ⋅

The gleaming moon of the midnight sky bestowed its luminescence upon you as you ventured the outdoors with your acquaintance late at night, the sole sound of crickets and the tufts of grass beneath your feet accompanying you two. 

You pondered why the captain had requested to hang out with you in such an…improper way, such an indecorous act could even be mistaken as a lovers’ rendezvous…

Not that the man had any sort of view of you in that way, you were sure.

“What calls for the… midnight rendezvous, Mr. Aizen?” You giggled at the epic name you gave to your night time meeting. Aizen returned a slight chuckle, scuffing his sepia tresses slightly, your eyes intently watching as they radiated in the moonlight. 

“I have something to show you, Miss Shihoin.”

The captain gently lead you to a concealed area, deserted from the other captains quarters and located within a cluster of trees. You two sifted through the countless leafy branches, Aizen often assisting you by taking your hand in his as you attempted to hop over several large sticks and obstacles. The touch of his hand ignited flames of desire on your skin, ones that could only be dissipated from…

“Ah, here it is.”

A final leafy branch was lifted up by Aizen’s arm, his toned biceps revealed through his haōri slipping down not being the only surprise, but the habitat of what seemed like two foxes, an especially gorgeous albino and a regular red fox resting together further away in the distance. You felt your heart implode at the sweet way in which the two were curled against each other and the sounds of their soft purrs, their cuteness making it extremely difficult for you to not gently scoop them up in your arms and carefully caress their soft fur.

“Goodness… How endearing..! I wish I could gently run my fingers through their fur…” 

Aizen quieted his chuckles, enjoying the way in which your eyes sparkled at the sight of the adorable creatures.

“So cute… And pretty…” You muttered once more under your breath, trying your best to keep as quiet as possible to not wake the two peaceful animals. Such a sweet pair of creatures…

Albeit their many differences, they still remained tucked close to each other, finding solace in each other's hearts.  

“Yes… Very.” 

You turned to look at Aizen, your eyes immediately locking with his hazel ones as you noticed they were already fixated on your crouched frame. He kneeled alongside you, as gentle as possible to not ruin your moment. You smiled at him joining you before returning to quietly observing the two animals.

“Love is such a magnificent thing, isn’t it.”

˖ ✦ ‧₊˚ ⋅

You slipped on some casual wear, calm colours adorning you as you opened the door to meet once more with Rangiku.

Your eyes bulged out of their sockets and you shook your head in disapproval after perceiving her outfit. A tight, pink, cropped tank top, low-rise flare jeans adorned with… sparkly rhinestones. Considering her grown age and prominent bust, a breast was threatening to pop out at any movement of hers…

“Rangiku, you look stunning but… We are simply going shopping are we not? Goodness…” You couldn’t help but sling a jacket around her shoulders, afraid of the dirty looks she may have received had she gone out like that. 

“Oh come on Y/N! Stop holding onto your old-timey values. This world has well developed a fashion taste past flowy, dull haōri’s.” She rebutted, pouting at the dull grey jacket you had strewn around her.

“I guess…” You sigh, unable to disagree with how gorgeous it looked on her. Perhaps you would dabble in a bit of human style had you the chance… 

You requested to drive this time, finally treating the new car with the care it deserved as you gently drove it around the streets of noon Karakura. A beautiful sight, clear skies accompanied with kites flowing throughout the air and the giggles of young children leisuring in the sun, your eyes occasionally drifting to the youth running down the streets.

Eventually, an enormous, multileveled shopping center with markets sprinkled around its edges greeted you two as you pulled into the parking lot. You two had decided to go shopping for something nice to wear for the gathering tonight, both of your closets seemingly devoid of anything presentable. 

Rangiku looped her arm within yours, humming satisfied at the various options the center had to offer. You two went through shop after shop, Rangiku’s frustration growing as you refused everything that she gave to you.

“This one?”

“…Too flashy.”

“Okay. This one?” 

“Yellow? What am I, the sun?” 

“… Surely this one.” 

“I’m going to look like a disco ball, Matsumoto.” 

Rangiku’s azure irises glinted in the store lights, eyes twitching at your stubbornness. “You are such a stubborn woman.” 

“I have standards, Ran.” You instigated, certifying that you were unwilling to wear the bold pieces that she kept recommending you with the dirty looks you gave. Matsumoto groaned as she hung her head low, pushing the various dresses she had selected back into the clothing rack. “I give up.” “Don't be so pessimistic, Ran…”

“How can I not?! You haven’t liked a single piece of cloth I have shown you?! Please.” 

You frowned, averting your gaze as guilt coursed through your body. 

“Okay. I promise to at least try on the next piece that you give me. But I really am not in the mood to try any more than that… ” You huff, watching the blondes' eyes sparkle as you said your promise.

“Really?!”

You nod, grinning as she looped her arm with yours once more and led you to another store nearby. “I’m sure I can find something for you here.”

“…I really hope it’s not too flashy.”

Matsumoto dismisses your comment with a wave of her hand before ravaging the store of its contents. You glanced around yourself, allowing the fabrics of the many dresses to slide through your fingers as you gently assessed each piece of cloth. You admired the quality of the many garments, the intricate work was commendable, yet incomparable to the insane amounts of work done to perfect Captain haōris… 

Rangiku’s shouts of your name caused you to abruptly lift your head from examining the clothes, your eyes taking in the dress that she held in her hand.

A silky, dark navy blue dress, along with a fluffy ivory shawl covering created the ideal elegant outfit. You gravitated towards Rangiku, impressed by her selection.

“My… This is actually really pretty… I’ll try it on right away.” You grinned from ear to ear at a smug and egotistical Matsumoto, your compliments only fueling her ego. 

“I am truly just the best aren't I?” She beams, and you scoff in response.

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

You could hear her loud and exaggerated grunt at your response as you opened the door to the changerooms, hooking the garments onto a hanger.

You squeezed yourself into the fitting silk dress, bewildered at the way it tugged at your body as you straightened it out. It was a fairly long dress, reaching to your ankle with a slit reaching your lower thigh. The cut allowed for easy movement while also retaining elegance, the strapless look showing off your collarbone. 

You called for Rangiku to aid you in zipping up the dress, pondering what jewellery would suit as you waited for her to arrive.

“Oh. My. Goodness! The woman that you are, Y/N…” She gleamed as she showered you with endless compliments, revelling in the fact that her choice was simply perfect . You bashfully giggled, smiling at her as she offered to place the short shawl around your shoulders, clasping it together in front of you. You twirled around, feeling energetic as a buzz of energy flowed throughout you.  

“Now for jewelery. Silver hoops and… a fine chain, short silver necklace… a charm of a small crystal opal heart and you’re set. May even chuck a small, cusped, designer silver bracelet and some simple rings too.” 

You stood astounded at her knowledge in fashion, wondering where she received all this information from. “You have to teach me one day, Ran.”

She grinned at your compliment, her ego fueled by your praise. “Of course, of course, anything for my lady.” Rangiku gave a slight curtsy as she bent her knees and pretended to extend a skirt, your waving hand bashfully dismissing her flattery. 

Now that your dress had been selected, you two were on a desperate hunt to find hers. The issue with her was that unfortunately, everything looked simply gorgeous on her… It was far too difficult to pick. 

You cross your arms as you hold the pieces she fancied against your chest, drifting your eyes from watching Rangiku to the outside of the store as you zoned out. Your eyes unintentionally scanned the area, staring intensely at strangers passing by as you trapped yourself in a haze of thought.

“… Is there a problem?”

You snap back into reality as you realise you had been accidentally zoning out staring at…

Your heart sank in despair and humiliation as you discerned the individual standing in front of you. Blonde hair, a striped hat and a familiar samue in an awfully ugly shade of green pierced your eyes. 

Your throat closed up as you perceived the woman standing adjacent to him, the sight of her dark plum locks in the corner of your eye already causing your frame to freeze up.  

“Ah, hello…No, there is not any problem. Sorry.” You shifted uncomfortably on the spot, unable to bear the sight of your sister. I cannot handle being in her presence here, how will I stand it tonight…

“Would this not just be gorgeous on me?- Oh! Urahara! Yoruichi! How are you two on this fine day?” Matsumoto turned to bring a piece up to you, pausing as she realised who you were standing with. She smoothly cut through your conversation as she extended an arm to greet her comrades. 

“Just fine thank you~ I see you two are shopping for tonight?” Kisuke queried as he looked down at the several piles of clothes in both of your grips 

You both nodded, hardly mustering out a smile. 

“Oh wow, these are just beautiful. May I take a look, Y/N?”

Her voice stung your ears like a million bees at once. The way in which she casually said your name caused your stomach to churn, your breathing hardly keeping steady. 

You stared at the mannequin behind her as you briefly nodded, extending an arm out for her to take the dresses out of your grip.

Why didn't you fight for me?

An uncomfortable silence ensued, occasionally broken by the impressed hums of your sister.

Were you disgusted with me too? 

Her golden eyes sparkled at the sight of your dress, a brief wow escaping her lips as she grazed the soft fabric of the navy blue dress. 

You used to refuse to speak to me?

… 

Why are you speaking to me.

“This one’s simply stunning, it would look lovely on you. Not that the others wouldn’t-“

You took the dresses back as she placed them back in your grip, your movements passive aggressive as you stepped away from the two. You passed the clothes onto Rangiku, excusing yourself from the scene. 

“I have to make a call.”

You left without another word, afraid your enraged self would spurt out some nonsense just as you did all those years ago. 

There are so many questions I want to ask, yet…

I know you’ll never answer.

You fumbled around your pocket to grab your phone, realising that you actually had to pretend you were making a call outside the store. As you skimmed through your contacts, you realised that you really did not speak to many people.

Shunsui… Ran… Hisagi… Shit, why do I literally have no contacts? Gins still there, how sad… Shinji-

You felt a cold shudder run through your spine as you saw the contact. Hirako and you had been… Previously acquainted. A lot more than acquaintances. 

Skipping past your ex-boyfriend's contact, you reach…. 

Aizen.

…

You rang Hisagi.

You turned back to see the three chatting away, occasionally looking back to check on you. You gave a timid smile back as you waited for the phone to ring, cursing the fact that they were standing close enough to hear you talk, though probably not enough to make out what you were saying. 

The line cut to voicemail, several times, almost to the point you considered smashing the phone into the ground.

You knew better than to ring Shunsui and irritate him on his one day off, in fact, you wouldn’t have been surprised if he had blocked your number on the weekends…

You turned back once more to see Matsumoto mouth What��s wrong? to you, discerning the two perplexed as to why you hadn’t made your call yet. Hurry. Up!! She mouthed once more before returning to giggling away, her extroverted personality taking over again. 

No choice, I guess. 

,, …Hello?’’

His oddly hoarse voice seemed to indicate he had been resting, his smooth talk rumbling through your phone. You had forgotten what Shinji’s waking voice sounded like… 

“…Hi. Are… Shit!”

Your initial shock from hearing his voice again had caused you to loosen your grip on your phone, the device slipping through your hand and almost smashing on the floor. You fumbled to catch it, humiliated as you bring it to your ear once more. 

A slight chuckle emerged from the phone, his humoured response irking you. 

“What?! I’m just asking if you’re coming to Urahara's shithole tonight.” You grumbled, frustrated that you almost forgot why you two weren’t together anymore. 

,,Interesting use of language, so ladylike..! But anyways, yes, I am.” He stretched, his deliberate groans through the phone causing you to restrain yourself from smashing it. ,,Why? Did you miss me?”

His teasing only caused your rage to heighten, your mouth muttering swears under your breath. I should’ve just called Aizen. 

“No, eugh. How dare you assume that? Selfish as always… I was just asking because… o- o-  the- co- nnect- ion- i- s-”

,,Y/N. Stop faking your connection. You're absolutely shit at it. Just tell me.” 

You sighed, defeated. “Okay. I’m out shopping right now and Urahara and Yoruichi just came up to me and started talking to me and I didn’t want to speak with them due to obvious factors so I faked that I needed to call someone and then I realised - I have nobody to call, right, and I tried to call Hisagi but he didn’t pick up and God forbid I call Aizen so-“

,,I’m sorry, WHAT? Aizen? Did you just say Aizen? As in Aizen Sosuke? Why on earth is he in your contacts?!’’  

Feedback of Shinji shuffling in bed roared through the microphone as he sat up to pay further heed to what you were saying. 

“Oh, it’s just- Hold on, who are you to care about that? None of your business, actually!” You fired back, appalled that he thought he had a right to care.

“Don’t act like you’re in my life anymore, Hirako.” 

You clasped the phone shut before Shinji could spew any more nonsense at you, taking a deep breath before returning back to the store. You felt a wave of relief as you perceived Urahara and Yoruichi leaving the store just as you came back, returning their waves of goodbye timidly back while you headed towards Rangiku.

“Still not over it?”

Cerulean eyes pierced yours before your own looked away, sighing. “Trying, Ran… I know I have a duty to uphold.” You exhale, exasperated whilst she patted your back reassuringly before dissipating into the changerooms. The silky, navy dress spilled through your fingers as you caressed it with your fingers, the satin slightly shining in the store lights.

“Okay, enough sappy talk. Real talk, how does this dress look on me?” Rangiku bursts open from the cubicle, a baby pink, satin dress that fell off her shoulders adorning her. You felt like smashing your head open, how could someone even look this elegant in everything? 

You let out a breathless wow, giggling at her excitement. You take her hand in yours, twirling her around as you both chuckled.

“Jaw dropping. Heart stopping. I feel like a young maiden about to faint from her first lover’s dance.” You jokingly lifted a hand to your forehead, looking away and sighing with your eyes closed as you were blinded by her ethereal sight. Matsumoto laughed breathlessly, smacking your shoulder lightly as she hooked an arm within yours.

“Then we’re set!”

˖ ✦ ‧₊˚ ⋅

You finish clipping your silver hoop earring, perceiving a figure in your peripheral vision as you intently stared into the mirror of your bedroom.

“Gorgeous, gorgeous lady… I could even say that.. I would submerge myself into the heavens just for a chance to be reborn as a star to look over you forever…~”

You sharply turned your head back, watching her giggle as you realised she had been scurrying around your old drawers and had found a scuffed leather notebook, playing with its latch as she scanned its contents.

“Matsumoto. Put that down.”

“Oh my… In my next life and thereafter, shall we be born as the birds that sing above or two foxes nestled against one another, I would still promise to devote myself to you, every t-“

You strutted up to her in your silver heels, snatching the book out of her grip before she could continue any further. You cringed at her words, unable to hear them any longer as you slammed the book shut.

“It’s old. And scuffed. And embarrassing.” You groaned, shooting her a glare before finally dumping the book in an opened drawer on your dressing table.  

”Aw, I didn’t know you wrote poetry.. It’s beautiful.”

“Humiliating, I think you mean to say.”

She latched her arm with yours as she rolled her eyes, before you headed to unlock your door and reluctantly drive to Urahara's... Humble abode.

˖ ✦ ‧₊˚ ⋅

You two stood before Urahara Shōten, cringing at the nostalgic sight.

“This place looks like it reeks of cat piss.” You comment, noting the several cats scurrying in and out from the store, feeling many golden eyes staring at you through the darkness of the evening.

“I wouldn’t be surprised…” Rangiku adds, shuddering at the sight of the many unnerving felines accompanying the shop.

You chortle at her comment before knocking on the large wooden doors, humming as you wait for the tufts from inside the store to reach closer. Voices bustling and laughing greeted you alongside the vendor himself, dressed… shockingly appropriate for the event.

“Welcome, looking stunning tonight ladies~! Just head downstairs, ‘Kay?” Urahara jested, both of you beaming politely before your heels clacked against the wooden staircase leading to the basement. Your eyes widened at the elegant sight, many round tables adorned with candles and white cloth spilling over their edges, and even a DJ accompanying an empty space on the floor, presumably for dancing… 

“Wow… Kisuke went all out, huh…” Matsumoto commented under her breath, her eyes following the many lilies strewn around the room.

Hisagi was the first to turn and see you, grinning as he walked up towards you alongside Toshiro. The young boy greeted you both, piercing you with his icy eyes as you exchanged meaningless conversation to fill the space.

“Have you seen Hirako’s outfit? It's… something.” Hisagi whispered in your ear as you followed the two to take a seat at a table, waving to Ichigo, Orihime and Rukia atop a table nearby as you took a seat.

“No, please do show…” You grinned, watching Shuuhei’s pointer rise inconspicuously towards a figure at the end of the room, blonde hair spilling down his shoulders…

You stifled a snort, immediately covering your mouth with your palm as you snickered. A green, Lime green … Suit…

“What the… He really tried to embody the Urahara look, huh…” You laugh alongside Hisagi, seeing Matsumoto direct her eyes to the commotion. 

“It seems so. Though he’s… Miserably failed.” Matsumoto rubs her eyes, unable to believe the extremely hideous sight…

As you turned to look at him once more, his head suddenly turned towards yours, his bronze eyes locking with yours as he raised an eyebrow, perplexed. Your face heated from forcing yourself not to laugh or cry, giving a strained smile as you clutched the hem of your dress and turned away sharply. “We just made eye contact. Please shoot me now.”

You looked in desperation towards Hisagi and Matsumoto, Toshiro chuckling as he looked up to see an approaching figure. “Ugh, you’ve done it now. He’s coming towards our table.”

You clenched your teeth and your dress, almost unable to restrain yourself from peeling your face off as you felt a familiar Reiatsu envelop you. “What’s the issue?”

You groaned as you heard his painful voice behind you, struggling to keep a smile on your face.

“Nothing. Truly. Just zoned out.” You mutter between clenched teeth, unamused at his sudden appearance.

“Why? Did the beauty of my garments capture your eye that dearly?” Shinji smirked, chuckling as he teased and rested an elbow atop the back of your chair. 

“No, though I really do admire your boldness. It's a very… interesting colour, per say…” You struggled to not laugh, seeing the lime green coat in all its glory, each look of it breaking your composure further.

“Meaning?”

“You look radioactive, to say the least… It would be greatly appreciated if you remove yourself from my sight, as I feel I will contract radiation poisoning from being around you… My eyes already hurt from how bad it's blinding me.” You chortle at your own unruly comment, watching the others around you cover their humour under their breaths. 

“Thank you, I must say you look stunning tonight as well.” Shinji grinned from ear to ear, savouring your sarcastic compliment and returning one.

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

“I’ll take it as one. After all, you just admitted I was so beautiful that others are blinded by me~.”

You squint your eyes at him as your face cringed, eyebrows furrowed and teeth clenched awkwardly in a tight smile. “Whatever you say Hirako.”

“And... It seems someone else is blinded by you.” Shinji raises an eyebrow, amused yet concerned as you follow his stare to meet an unexpectedly elegant and… idyllic sight.

Slicked back, dark hair shone tenderly in the chandelier lights, the contrast of his chestnut tresses against his pale yet striking features allowing them to radiate, causing your eyes to transfix upon them. A concerningly sharp jawline and placid grin greeted you as you looked up at Aizen, his gaze already fixated on yours. He raised an eyebrow back, his fingers adorning a glass of red wine complementing the dark red undershirt he had on underneath his obsidian blazer. Even after having one eye covered, just the stare of his one other through the single sepia strand spilling onto his face sent chills down your spine.

You instinctively muttered a collegiate hello under your breath, raising your hand to give a reluctant wave. 

His hand rose in response, a small nod and pause ensuing before his bronze hunter eyes averted from your gaze to rise off the back wall and find a refill at the bar nearby. You found yourself dwelling upon the halcyon days of your past, somehow looking for something salient, something tangible within those brooding hazel irises of his.

And albeit their many differences, they still remained tucked close to each other, finding solace in each other's hearts.  

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

happy reading ! let me know your thoughts and criticisms <3

sumi <3

[mysticstronomy]

DO SHADOWS APPEAR ON THE MOON'S SURFACE??

Blog#325

Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023

Welcome back,

The moon is utterly familiar. We see it all the time, in the blue sky during the day, among the stars and planets at night. Every child knows the outlines of the moon’s lava seas: they trace the Man in the Moon or, sometimes, a Rabbit.

This familiarity goes beyond appearances. The moon is actually made of Earth. According to modern theories, the moon was born some 4.5 billion years ago when an oversized asteroid struck our planet. Material from Earth itself spun out into space and coalesced into our giant satellite.

Yet when Apollo astronauts stepped out onto this familiar piece of home, they discovered that it only seems familiar. From the electrically-charged dust at their feet to the inky-black skies above, the moon they explored was utterly alien.

On the next sunny day, step outdoors and look inside your shadow. It’s not very dark, is it? Grass, sidewalk, toes–whatever’s in there, you can see quite well.

Your shadow’s inner light comes from the sky. Molecules in Earth’s atmosphere scatter sunlight (blue more than red) in all directions, and some of that light lands in your shadow. Look at your shadowed footprints on fresh sunlit snow: they are blue!

Without the blue sky, your shadow would be eerily dark, like a piece of night following you around. Weird. Yet that’s exactly how it is on the Moon.

To visualize the experience of Apollo astronauts, imagine the sky turning completely and utterly black while the sun continues to glare.

Your silhouette darkens, telling you “you’re not on Earth anymore.”

Shadows were one of the first things Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong mentioned when he stepped onto the surface of the moon. “It’s quite dark here in the shadow [of the lunar module] and a little hard for me to see that I have good footing,” he radioed to Earth.

The Eagle had touched down on the Sea of Tranquility with its external equipment locker, a stowage compartment called “MESA,” in the shadow of the spacecraft.

Although the sun was blazing down around them, Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin had to work in the dark to deploy their TV camera and various geology tools.

“It is very easy to see in the shadows after you adapt for a while,” noted Armstrong. But, added Aldrin, “continually moving back and forth from sunlight to shadow should be avoided because it’s going to cost you some time in perception ability.”

Truly, moon shadows aren’t absolutely black. Sunlight reflected from the moon’s gently rounded terrain provides some feeble illumination, as does the Earth itself, which is a secondary source of light in lunar skies. Given plenty of time to adapt, an astronaut could see almost anywhere.

Almost. Consider the experience of Apollo 14 astronauts Al Shepard and Ed Mitchell:

They had just landed at Fra Mauro and were busily unloading the lunar module. Out came the ALSEP, a group of experiments bolted to a pallet. Items on the pallet were held down by “Boyd bolts,” each bolt recessed in a sleeve used to guide the Universal Handling Tool, a sort of astronaut’s wrench. Shepard would insert the tool and give it a twist to release the bolt–simple, except that the sleeves quickly filled with moondust. The tool wouldn’t go all the way in.

The sleeve made its own little shadow, so “Al was looking at it, trying to see inside. And he couldn’t get the tool in and couldn’t get it released–and he couldn’t see it,” recalls Mitchell.

“Remember,” adds Mitchell, “on the lunar surface there’s no air to refract light–so unless you’ve got direct sunlight, there’s no way in hell you can see anything. It was just pitch black. That’s an amazing phenomenon on an airleuss planet.”

(Eventually they solved the problem by turning the entire pallet upside down and shaking loose the moondust. Some of the Boyd bolts, loosened better than they thought, rained down as well.)

Originally published on universetoday.com

COMING UP!!

(Saturday, August 26th, 2023)

"WHAT IS THE GREAT SILENCE??"

[welldonebeca]

the devil in the marble (4)

WC: 1.4k words Warnings: Flirting, fluff, first kisses, canon compliance.

If you like my work, consider buying me a coffee or subscribing to my Patreon. It’s just $2 a month and I promise you won’t regret it.

masterlist

Chapter 3

You looked down as Enobaria passed by you with a look of recognition on her way out of the gymnasium, waiting for Cato out of the shower area.

Would he get in trouble because of you? You didn't want to risk his chances of getting into the Games.

"Elettra," someone greeted you by your last name, and you turned, ready to be properly greeted, but it was just a girl walking away.

Two of the guys walked out of the bathroom, looking at you and nodding stiffly.

"Elettra," they greeted, walking off.

You watched them go as felt a touch on your hand, pulling away and then searching back for it when you realised it was Cato.

"Sorry," you mumbled, taking his hand. "I didn't see you."

"It's fine," he assured you, tangling his fingers into yours.

Before he could pull you, though, you couldn't help yourself as you leaned in a bit to him.

He smelled good. Very fresh.

It made Cato chuckle.

"Do I pass the smell test?" he quipped, a playful tone colouring his words.

Your cheeks flushed with embarrassment at realising you had been caught in the act of sniffing him, and you moved away quickly.

"Sorry," you mumbled, barely able to be audible, looking away.

You began to walk away, ready to rush out of the gymnasium, but he gently clasped your hand and pressed a quiet kiss on its back. Your footsteps halted and he pulled you closer again.

"Do I, though?" he persisted, his voice gentle yet insistent. "Because I scrubbed myself very intensely to get the stink out."

You smiled. Yes, you could scent that.

Cato smelled like wood and mint, a refreshing blend reminiscent of earthy outdoors. It was like fresh rain on the grass in front of your house, which was horrible to the touch but carried a delightful scent after being cut, mingled with metallic and leathery undertones - maybe from the objects he had been handling throughout the day, clinging to his skin and clothes.

It felt so personal to him, like you'd never smelled something so specific before.

"Yeah," you told him. "You do."

Cato looked pretty satisfied as you two walked off, and even took your bag from you as you left the school.

"I think I'm Brutus' favourite," he told you. "He watches me a lot."

Brutus was one of the trainers of your school, with Enobaria, one of the many victors of your district.

"That's good, right?" you squeezed his hand a bit. "It means you have good chances."

"It's great," he confirmed. "I'm doing everything right."

You watched him from the corner of your eyes, the question in your mind echoing through it again.

It was sudden, wasn't it? Cato volunteered as your model while he was so close to getting to the Games, and now wanted to spend time with you when he was so close to his dream!

But you didn't ask him, not yet. You liked holding hands with him, it was really nice.

Cato waited for you to open the door and let you walk inside before following after you, and set your bags on the couch when you left him to go to the kitchen, dinner already smelling good.

"Mum?" you called.

She turned to look at you from the kitchen, looking all amused.

"Cato is here," you told her.

Your mother washed her hands and took off her apron, letting her hair down, and walked after you into the living room.

"Mrs Elettra," he greeted, standing by the couch. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

She stepped up to him to shake his hand, and you watched them.

"I'm Cato Hadley," he introduced him. "I'm from Y/N's year. I posed for her statue."

"I’m Loba. And so I heard," she smiled. "Y/N said you got first place in the whole school. Congratulations."

He grinned happily.

"Yes," he confirmed. "And thank you."

She stepped back and rubbed your shoulder affectionately.

"Sit down, watch something," she told you two. "Dinner will be ready soon."

You tugged Cato along to the couch, and when you two sat down, he put an arm over your shoulder without mouth over a worry.

"So, what do you like watching?" he asked, taking the remote from his side and putting it on your lap.

"Documentaries," you told him. You loved documentaries. "About the world before, about... art and the countries... they have documentaries about medicine too. You'd be surprised by how brutal things were."

He seemed amused as he watched you.

"Brutal?" he asked. "Like what?"

"They had no technology!" you told him. "They stitched injuries together like clothes, with thread! And their antibiotics were really bad."

Cato seemed impressed.

"Wow," he exclaimed. "Ancient!"

"Yeah, I know!" you confirmed, turning on the TV.

Before you could change the channel, though, you recognised the face on TV. Wade Rankine, the last victor. You remembered seeing him in the regional fight that always took place in your town before the games, and he was really strong.

"The Victor's Tour started already?" he seemed surprised. "When's he coming here?"

You shrugged. You had no idea. It didn't seem like it had even started yet, it was just... some show with him. 

"It's gonna be me next year," he watched the screen. "I'll see all of the districts... maybe they'll let me buy things there."

"Like what?" you asked.

What would he want to buy from another district that you didn’t have here already?

Cato shrugged.

"Anything. Everything," he told you. "Pearls from District Four. Fish... have you ever eaten fish?"

You shook your head. Fish wasn't even sold in your district.

"Me neither," he told you. "I heard it's good. I could bring fish and you could try it. We could eat together while you wear the pearls I bought."

You chuckled. It did sound nice.

He looked at you again, expectant.

"Will you wear them?" he asked you. "The pearls?"

Your gaze fixated on his face, your proximity letting you see all the faint freckles dotting his nose, like tiny little stars and constellations. You wanted to reach out and touch it when your eyes lingered over the slight wonky spot on his bone, a very discreet mark on his face.

Cato had broken it when he was twelve during his first real fight.

It had taken you countless hours of studying his bone structure to uncover the hidden detail, but you liked it very much for some reason.

"Pearls are special," you whispered. "You give them to someone special."

Cato's thin lips spread in a smile.

"I don't know," he rubbed his nose on yours. "I think you're special plenty."

You closed your eyes, feeling your face hot and his breath just above your lips.

Oh, you really, really wanted to kiss him right now.

"Y/N," you heard suddenly and gasped as Cato pulled back.

The two of you turned back to look behind the couch, finding Juno staring at you two with murder in her eyes.

"Mum is calling you to the kitchen," she declared, arms crossed in disapproval. "It's your turn to prepare the table."

You exchanged a quick glance with Cato, then stepped back, gently tucking strands of hair behind your ears as you slipped out of the couch, leaving him behind.

You passed by Juno, who was still frowning very much at you two, but she didn't follow you into the kitchen, remaining in her spot.

Mum was already in the dining room when you got there, and you joined her quickly.

Tonight, you'd be using the dining room - the kitchen table could only accommodate four seats, which was the usual number of people in your house on most days - but the dining room table boasted eight. Mum, though, usually only put six chairs in, so it wouldn't look so empty.

It wasn't like you really knew enough people to fill a table with eight seats.

"You know," your mother hummed, setting the knife and fork down. "I think your dad might like him."

You perked up with the suggestion.

"Really?"

"Yeah," she put the napkins down. "Don't tell him, though. I will ease the idea into him in my next letter before he comes back, he'll have time to work his feelings out there in the district before coming home, and then your boy over there can come and ask him for permission to date you."

You frowned. Permission? Just earlier this afternoon, she had been talking about you being an adult who needed to learn how to be independent!

"Sure," you leaned onto the table anyway.

It was best to not fight them.

"Tell everyone dinner is going to be served," she told you. "Oh, and don't tell him to wash his hands. I want to see if he will do it without being prompted."

"Yes, ma'am," you walked out.

Chapter 5

. . .

"the devil in the marble" was posted on my Patreon in June 2023! To read the available chapters and read the last arc of the story as it gets published, subscribe to my page! It's just $2 a month and I promise you won't regret it.

. . .

Forever Tags: @emoryhemsworth @amythyststorm33​​ @shaelyn102 @yknott81​​ ​​@maximofftrash​​ @kgbrenner​​ @thefridgeismybestie @magpiegirl80​ @mogaruke​ @shadowhunter7​​ @musicalcoffeebean​​ @megasimpleplan4ever​​ @deemoriarty​​ @05spn18 @malindacath @kdcollinsauthor​​ @random-fandom-fangirl2112​​ @widowsfics @frozenhuntress67​​ @averyrogers83​​ @notyourtypicalrose​ @nerdypinupcrystal @giruvega the devil in the marble: @randomgurl2326

[lichen-punk]

1, 3, 9, 20, 25, 27, 28, 39, 45, 47 SORRY THIS IS SO MANY LOLL

o my goodness ok im putting a cut here for everyone's sanity cause all these questions got me excited

Do you have a favorite place near you to “touch grass”?

theres a little woodsy park near my house just within easy walking distance which is easy to get into regardless of time of day or night and has an incredible hill where you can sit under an oak tree in the tall grass and watch the sun or the moon come up or set depending on time of day and year and i love love love it one of the only good things about my town i go up there for my Rituals And Things gkjhsf

3. If you could see any extinct species in the wild, what would it be?

im a sucker for megafauna id love to see an irish elk or an aurochs or a woolly mammoth that would be so so cool

9. Do you have a favorite nature photo you’ve ever taken?

here's some of the best photos ive ever taken in my life, and then some pictures from the hike back to the cabin when we realized the sun was setting sooner than we thought it would and it was about to get WAY too cold for how we were dressed

20. What’s your favorite poem or song lyric about nature?

definitely a gerard manley hopkins!!! he's my fave poet ever and half his work is about nature. i'm torn between two, tho: i think my favorite of all time, really my favorite poem entirely, is the windhover (ive been trying to copy and paste it here without ruining the formatting but it is not working alas so you must google it sorry), but the last stanza of another of my favorites of his poems, inversnaid, is also just. fucking killer

What would the world be, once bereft Of wet and of wildness? Let them be left, O let them be left, wildness and wet; Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet.

25. What’s your favorite plant to grow yourself?

i unfortunately live in a terrible spot to grow stuff, the yard of my family's little house is like. straight dry clay and entirely shady, so my thumb has never gotten even the barest hint of green to it. one day id like to grow wheat or corn or some such tho

27. What’s your favorite outdoor activity?

honestly????? i love to just Sit And Observe. i used to love love love swimming in creeks and lakes and things, but obv i havent swum in anything for a very long time. hopefully i will again one dayy im also a big big fan of a fire for singing around. and to be honest shakespeare doesnt feel right unless its performed somewhere outdoors and beautiful now

28. What’s your favorite local animal you see all the time but still love?

ALL OF THEMMMMMM we get raccoons and possums and squirrels and mule deer and black tailed deer and crows and ravens and pigeons and rats and mice and apparently frogs i learned recently and newts and theyre all my best friends and i get so excited when i see them

39. What ecosystem do you consider your “home” ecosystem?

absolutely all american pacific northwest shit i love a temperate rainforest with redwoods and doug firs and such and then the deciduous layer underneath all ferns and moss and little creeks and then the harsh cliffs down to the beach all cold and foggy and windy. that's where i Belong easy peasy. i do also associate the more aggressively californian Beige Grassy Hills With Lonely Scrappy Little Coast Live Oaks or Valley Oaks On Top type biome with home and growing up, but its always been a little too harsh and dry and sunny for me here.

45. What is your favorite wildflower?

o god thats hard i love wildflowers. im a sucker for daisies, obv, and i love forget-me-nots and california poppies and indian paintbrush and columbine and and and

47. What is your favorite species of tree?

o no thats hard too!!!!! ummm probably oak trees, especially white oaks like the valley oak or the oregon white oak, especially the really big old wise looking ones, but i also adore sequoioideae and other conifers, unsurprisingly, and rowans and apple trees among others hold personal spiritual significance, and theres this specific kind of maple or sweetgum idk what it is but they grew outside the theatre i grew up in so they always make me nostalgic. OH and i LOVE the smell of california bay laurel thats the Good Summertime Smell for me

[gtenvs3000w24]

09: My final blog!

As I’m getting ready to graduate soon, ready to hopefully go into the world of science and nature interpretation, I can't help but feel both excitement and a bit of nervousness. Reflecting on my journey through university, I realize that my personal ethic has been quietly evolving, shaped by my deep love for nature and my desire to share its beauty with others!

Since I was a kid, I've been really drawn to the outdoors and nature, especially animals. Whether it was chasing butterflies through meadows, building forts in the woods, or simply lying in the grass and watching clouds drift by, nature has always been one of my happy places. As I grew older, my passion for nature grew more into a passion for conservation and environmental advocacy. I think I started to see nature not just as a playground, but as a precious and fragile ecosystem that needed protection. From the smallest hummingbird to the mightiest lion, every creature and every corner of the natural world has become special to me. 

As I prepare to step into the role of a nature interpreter in the future, I find myself thinking about a whole new set of questions and responsibilities. What beliefs do I bring to this work? What kind of interpreter do I want to be? At the heart of my personal ethic, I have a passion for the beauty and complexity of nature. I think that every leaf, every rock, every drop of rain is a masterpiece in its own right, deserving of awe and admiration. But my passion also goes beyond just appreciation, it extends to a determination to protect and preserve the natural world for future generations. In my eyes, being a nature interpreter isn't just about pointing out cool animals and pretty flowers (although those are definitely fun parts of the job). It's about creating a sense of wonder and curiosity, giving people a deep connection to the natural world and inspiring others to become passionate stewards of the earth as well (Beck et al., 2018, p. 42). 

To achieve these goals, I'm personally a firm believer in the power of hands-on learning. There's just something magical about getting your hands dirty and your feet wet, about feeling the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. Whether it's leading nature walks, conducting field research, or getting to hold and touch cool animals, I'm all about getting out there and getting involved. I think that hands-on experiences are great at creating a sense of connection (GGI Insights, n.d.). They engage multiple senses, promote direct interaction with the environment, and create memorable, immersive experiences that resonate deeply with people (Bloemendaal, 2023). But hands-on learning isn't just about having fun (although, again, it's definitely a perk). It's also about deepening our understanding of the natural world, bettering our observation skills, and creating a sense of empathy for the creatures we share this planet with (GGI Insights, n.d.). After all, it's hard to care about something you've never seen or experienced firsthand. 

In addition to hands-on learning, I'm a big fan of interdisciplinary approaches to nature interpretation. The natural world is truly a complicated place, so understanding it requires more than just a basic knowledge of biology or ecology. It requires us to consider the cultural, historical, and social factors that shape our relationship with nature, as well as the ethical implications of our actions (Spokes, 2020). That's why I think it would be important to always be on the lookout for new ways to weave together different disciplines and perspectives in nature interpretation work. Whether it's incorporating indigenous knowledge into nature walks, exploring the intersection of art and science in outreach programs, or delving into the psychology of conservation behaviour in research, it’s important that we build connections between disciplines (Spokes, 2020). Especially as someone who has a passion for science, discussing science in nature interpretation is crucial because it provides a foundation of understanding, creates informed appreciation, and empowers people to make informed decisions about conservation and environmental stewardship.

Of course, no discussion of nature interpretation would be finished without addressing the elephant in the room: ethical wildlife viewing. As someone who's spent more hours than I can count marvelling at the beauty of wild animals and trying to do wildlife photography, I know how tempting it can be to get up close and personal for that perfect shot. But I also know that our desire for a good photo shouldn't come at the expense of the animals we love. That's why I'm committed to practicing responsible wildlife viewing techniques, like keeping a safe distance, minimizing habitat disturbance, and never feeding or approaching wild animals (Burns, 2017). 

Finally, I believe that as a nature interpreter, I have a responsibility to address pressing environmental issues like climate change and habitat loss. These are not just abstract concepts or distant threats, but real problems that are already having a huge impact on the world around us. That's why I'm committed to using my platform as a nature interpreter to raise awareness about these issues, to share stories of resilience and adaptation in the face of environmental change, and to inspire other people to take action in their own lives and communities. Because at the end of the day, it's not enough to simply appreciate the beauty of nature, we have to fight for its protection. 

Overall, my personal ethic as a nature interpreter is grounded in a deep passion for the natural world, a commitment to hands-on learning and interdisciplinary approaches, a dedication to ethical wildlife viewing, and a passion for environmental advocacy. As I Start this journey, I know that the road ahead will be long and challenging, but I'm ready to face whatever comes my way with determination, curiosity, and a whole lot of love for nature!

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World (pp. 42). Sagamore Publishing. 

Bloemendaal, M. (2023, March 5). Unlocking the Power of Hands-On Learning: Benefits, Activities, and Examples. Studio Why. https://studiowhy.com/unlocking-the-power-of-hands-on-learning-benefits-activities-and-examples/

Burns, G. L. (2017). Ethics and Responsibility in Wildlife Tourism: Lessons from Compassionate Conservation in the Anthropocene. Wildlife Tourism, Environmental Learning and Ethical Encounters, 213-220. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55574-4_13

Conservation Education: Young People for Environmental Stewardship. (2024, March 8). Gray Group International. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.graygroupintl.com/blog/conservation-education#:~:text=Hands%2Don%20learning%20and%20outdoor%20experiences%20provide%20learners%20with%20opportunities,sense%20of%20responsibility%20and%20stewardship

Spokes, M. (2020, October 23). The interdisciplinary path to a more diverse conservation movement. Conservation Optimism. https://conservationoptimism.org/the-interdisciplinary-path-to-a-more-diverse-conservation-movement/

[the-bad-batch-baroness]

Helloooo, for Drip and Brett please!

🍃: Do they enjoy being in nature? What is their favorite outdoor activity?

🙉: What is the worst thing your oc could hear from someone?

🌍: Will they give up the world for someone they love? Is the decision easy for them?

🍼: What are their thoughts on children?

For two of my precious boys??? Thank you so much for the ask 🥺

🍃: Do they enjoy being in nature? What is their favorite outdoor activity?

Brett: Honestly, there's not much that Brett does enjoy... He'll be a stick in the mud indoors and outdoors. If he does go outside, he wants to be in the shade, because he doesn't like being hot. Ultimately, he prefers rainy days where he doesn't have to go outside. However, if someone *cough cough Tungst* makes a big enough issue out of it, he can be dragged into nature and forced to like it. The only outdoor activity I think he would enjoy is a tactical water gun fight. He will win. Drip: Someone please take this man on picnic in the middle of a meadow and make him a flower crown. Seriously. He loves being outside. The smell of the earth, the sound of the wind blowing through the trees, and the touch of grass all ground him. He will sit outside when the weather is nice and read a book under a tree, while sipping on something cold. He also enjoys playing lawn games with his brothers like frisbee, badminton, cornhole, and other low-key sports.

🙉: What is the worst thing your oc could hear from someone?

Brett: "You hurt me." Despite his resting-b*tch-face demeanor and gruff personality, Brett doesn't enjoy hurting people, especially his partner. All of his relationships are built on trust, open-communication, and loyalty. He specifically puts things in place so that his partner feels safe at all times, and that he never goes too far and hurts them, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally. He would be devastated if he ever hurt his partner to a point where they either left him or shied away from his touch. He would probably vomit out of grief. Drip: "I never loved you." I don't want to say Drip is delicate, but he is a bit fragile, and lacks some levels of confidence in the relationship department. He doesn't cope very well and he constantly second guesses himself due to his raging fears and anxieties. His love language is words of affirmation, and he needs to hear that he's being everything his partner needs him to be. If his partner told him they never loved him, after saying they did, he would lose every shred of confidence he ever had, and he may never try to love again.

🌍: Will they give up the world for someone they love? Is the decision easy for them?

Brett: He would burn it down. All of it. Brett is extremely loyal, whether it's to his brothers, his close friends, or his partner. This man would go to the ends of the earth for someone he loves and kill anyone in his way. This is why Brett is picky with the people in his close circle. He needs to vet them and make sure they are worth his loyalty. Drip: He would struggle, because of his fear that he would give up the world for them, and then they would leave him in the dust. When Drip loves, he loves with his entire being. It's not something he can turn on or off, it's just who he is. It's either all or nothing. For his brothers, he would give up everything in a heartbeat. For his partner, it might take a little convincing.

🍼: What are their thoughts on children?

Brett: Oddly enough, Brett is actually afraid of children and he has no idea why. Deep down inside, he definitely wants one, but he can never wrap his head around the logistics of it, especially considering the type of relationship he's in. It's hard to be a brat-tamer when he has a kid hanging off his leg. I think he's afraid of losing part of his identity and the dynamics of the relationship. He can't just get up at a restaurant to teach his brat a lesson, and leave the kid in the booth alone... I think he would have a mid-life crisis if his partner said they were pregnant. He would be attentive to them, but also afraid to touch them. Drip: He would absolutely love to have kids, but again, his fears and anxieties tell him he wouldn't be a good father. In reality, Drip would be a great dad. He would read his kids bedtime stories, make them pancakes, play with them outside, and do all kinds of other "dad things". If his partner approached him about having a kid, he'd need a little reassurance that he could do it, but he would warm up to it pretty quickly. He'd also be the most doting partner for his pregnant partner. We're talking foot-rubs, massages, body pillows, every book he can find about pregnancy and parenting, taking them to all their check-up appointments, doing all the chores, and fixing up the place in preparation for the baby.

OC Emoji Asks

[antielevator]

@fadcn ( starter call ) // for tim.

For the last few weeks, Sebastian has been visiting places he's been to before-- perhaps not in reality, but in the hellscape that STEM had been. Krimson City buildings that had been crumbling and rotting in that shared consciousness now stand tall, devoid of traps and monsters. Rivers are clear instead of reeking of rot. Towns and villages, no matter how ancient-looking, have their own living populations, even if it isn't much of a life at all. And while the abandoned church really does have its bizarre catacombs, all the living experiments there died ages ago.

After all his backtracking, Sebastian ought to know now that STEM had been a dream: one that was based on elements of reality, certainly, but a dream all the same.

It's what has him convinced the only reason he's driving to the Victoriano Estate now is obsession.

The papers all said the mansion burned down years ago. He drives knowing he'll find nothing but rubble; he drives fully aware that the beautiful, haunting home he'd roamed in a dream will be nothing but ash and stone. As he drives off the asphalt and his vehicle trembles on the dirt road, he tells himself over and over that there aren't any benefits to this excursion whatsoever.

...still, Sebastian doesn't take the U-turn back the other way.

Once he pulls up to the estate, all that's left are the pathetic remnants of a place he could never afford in his lifetime. He can see the big outdoor walls, of course, and he can see what was once a beautiful garden turned into an overgrown disaster, but the imposing building of his memories is more or less gone. Sebastian walks through it, drying grass crunching beneath his shoes, and though his breaths quicken along the way, in the end it's all instinctive-- there's nothing dangerous here at all.

If he were in the dream, the picture of safety despite his rising adrenaline would have rung alarm bells in his head. He wouldn't have kept walking, nor would he have hummed as he considered the two steps left of the foyer staircase. But it's strange to see a place that haunted him so intensely end up so harmless, and in the end Sebastian's hand touches the railing. His feet go up one step, then two, and there's a

sudden

shift

onto a third.

The world tilts, and his step takes him a ninety degree angle on a forward trajectory. Sebastian's stomach lurches, caught by the change in gravity, and though his foot lands on some type of surface he stumbles forward anyway, landing on his hands and knees.

"What--?"

It's a dream, he tells himself, except it can't be-- not when he's been in reality all this time, not when he's been documenting it. And yet the oppressive feeling in his head, on his shoulders, and on the back of his neck are too familiar to ignore, reminding him of the nightmare he lived and has been reliving for almost two years now.

"No way," he breathes, looking around him: at the darkened sky, at the buildings that have seemed to rise out of nowhere, at how the whole world has shifted from the Victoriano Estate into somewhere else. "Not again. Not fucking--"

Sebastian gags, and it takes everything in him not to throw up. Focused as he is on trying to calm his stomach and steady his breathing, Sebastian fails to notice someone else in this bizarre world around him. He's no doubt caught their attention, but a man struggling not to puke is a pretty disgusting sight anyway.

[erenozturk]

setting: during the trust falls activity

featuring: eren öztürk & amrita singh @dvsconocvdo

A dribble of sweat rolled from the base of his neck, down past the collar of the bomber jacket he wore, and Eren tried unsuccessfully to brush it away with a gloved hand. It was hot — but of course it was. It was nearly mid-July, the middle of a sunny day, and the entire town was huddled into an outdoor space to go through trust fall exercises. No thank you, it had almost left him so fast he must have sounded ruder than normal. Please, no thank you. He limited his touch to very specific instances — predominantly the times he was required to do so for work, grateful for when the ability to touch objects to witness what he needed to could take the place of another’s hand. But outside of those rare moments? Eren didn’t touch anyone. Not even his dog. The idea of touching someone made his skin crawl, brought back trauma he had carried with him throughout the majority of his life, and stunted him. He couldn’t function much under the fear, the heart palpitations, the quickened breath, the anxiety gripping him. So he passed, as politely as he could, tucking himself away on the sidelines to watch time and time again as people fell back and either were caught, or plummeted to the ground.

He didn’t understand how this was supposed to build trust. To him, whether or not someone would catch him didn’t tell him whether or not they were trustworthy — if someone touched him, he’d consider it an instant red flag. Then again, he wasn’t sure he’d done a trust fall exercise before. Maybe not since he was a lot younger. Before that night, before the hole, and everything that awoke in him. Decades ago, lost in a life that he would never have back. He dismissed the memory, the thoughts, once more swiping at sweat on his brow with a gloved hand. Content to be alone there, except the sun was a bitch and a spot of shade would be nice if he would be forced to watch this display all afternoon. So he moved to a shady patch of grass beneath a tree, sinking against said tree with a deep and contented sigh. It was only after he settled that he realized Amrita was also leaning against the tree. He acknowledged her with a soft nod of his head. “Not participating, either?” He knew he wasn’t alone. Cece barely participated, and Eren thought he heard her brother’s hushed concerns of illness as the culprit, and he didn’t think Kui was doing it either. He supposed it was nice, to know he wasn’t alone in his dysfunction. “I thought you were too pleasant to actually be trustworthy,” he tried his hand at a joke, the lilt in his tone portraying it was all just in amusement.

[donnerpartyofone]

I have been thinking a lot about the concept of Experience lately. I've been working on this big piece of analysis of a movie (possibly my Favorite Movie actually) that's kind of a magic-realist fantasy about a guy who lives in what is almost like a little terrarium where every day is the same and not even something as radical as death can alter the cycle. Problems come up when he develops desires outside the bounds of his routine, but because he has no point of reference for the dynamism of real life, he just projects his usual narcissistic fantasies onto everything and everyone, and it's a big disaster. I have an almost frame-by-frame knowledge of the movie, but talking about it intelligently requires a sharp eye for all kinds of esoteric cultural references and influences, it's really meaningfully connected with art history and philosophy and films that went before it--so if you're a guy who lives the same kind of dogmatically cloistered life as the hero, you're really not going to get it. And maybe it's telling that a lot of people Do Not Get this movie.

And it made me start worrying about the mass fandom cult again, like I worry about people who are actively defensive about their right to only consume children's media and avoid any critical reflection of any kind, and I think this must tie into how intensely anti-sex a lot of people have become too. Like being celibate or asexual is a real legitimate thing of course, but I strongly suspect there are a lot of people who just want to be infantilized, almost literally, they want trigger warnings for stuff they just don't like in addition to the reasonable ones for traumatic content, they want media that's stripped of allegorical meaning or whose only meaning is dictated by the rest of the franchise, or by the fandom urge to remove practically all narrative and symbolic considerations besides who's gonna kiss. And I'm not saying that everybody needs to devote their lives to intellectual challenges or big adventures or whatever, but I think that you should at-least-sometimes read something that refers to something more than just the last thing in the same series, I think that even if you legitimately cannot go outside and expand your world, you should at-least-sometimes watch or read or observe something that presents concepts and ideas outside of your pre-established list of favorite things. "Touch grass" (a phrase I find a little annoying but oh well) isn't just meant to differentiate indoor and outdoor activities, it means like, go do something you haven't tried before, or pursue a new line of thought. Just like, find out what kind of person you can really be. If you don't, it's going to make you increasingly brittle and vulnerable as life goes on around you and you're eventually forced to face certain things.

And I mean I'm speaking as a person who had a pretty hard time growing the fuck up even though I was considered "smart". Everyone gave me all this shit about how people like me (hopeless dweebs) really blossom in college, and then it took me [redacted] years to get through it and I still think they passed me just to get rid of me finally. And even though I was interested in sex and relationships, I was so phobic and unsure of myself that I almost only had bad experiences up to the time that I lost my virginity (another annoying phrase but oh well) at [a ripe old age] [and mostly bad experiences after that too let's be honest, but it eventually got better], because I just didn't understand who I was or what was out there. And even if it was essentially right for me to take my time with different things, it was also bad for me to actively avoid life for such a long time--if I hadn't, I would have seen certain people coming miles away and a lot sooner. I have no desire to discuss all the details with the general public but the awful, manipulative, and as it turned out universally abusive person that I "lost my virginity to" (ugh) impressed me because he had this extreme academic intelligence and of course I bought into how Dark and Tormented he was. The thing that eventually made me stand up for myself was when I started noticing that actually, secretly, he was really dumb. That's what a lot of Drama is; sometimes it's deep and dark and rooted in Circumstances, but oftentimes it's just adults who should know better willfully doing stupid, boring, dreary shit, and assigning it WAY too much importance. The specific stupid shit in this story began with a girl who was at the center of a love quadrangle involving my Dark and Tormented person. What inevitably happened didn't even hurt my feelings in the end because I just could not be jealous; the situation was moronic and the girl was not cute, and not stylish, and not smart or clever, and not talented. I met her once outside of a screening of TEXAS CHAINSAW, which she had never seen before even though she was trying out this pathetic horror chick flex, and it did not occur to me for a minute that she might be a threat because she was just so lame. The awful guy asked her if she liked the movie, and she giggled, "Oh yes, um, it was so...MASTERFUL...because everything was so........WELL-HANDLED." I was standing there thinking oh my god, did you just use a word and then define the word in the same sentence? Ever since that day "masterful" has been my least favorite word, it's so embarrassing. My best friend and I use it as a kind of slur for pretentious bullshit, we're like "Oh yeah, was that movie MASTERFUL? Because it was so WELL-HANDLED?"

It turned out her deal was that she was basically just auditioning various men to see if one of them would sign a lease on a new place for her so she could move out on her boyfriend who she was cheating on with all these potential new roommates. I mean it was like, really deeply unsexy. But certain kinds of Dark and Tormented men are extremely attracted to just ugly, crass messiness, they mistake garden variety idiots for like Laura Palmer or something. And if you add in the excitement of competition, like which one of these guys is going to win the privilege of paying her rent while she cheats on him with all his frenemies, that's like heaven for some people. And there is no better way to find out who is smart and who is fucking stupid, than by observing a situation like this in action. Anyway that motherfucker is dead now and I got to enjoy many years of him trying to get my attention back in really stupid ways before he suddenly croaked, but I'm here to say this today: Challenge yourself to get some life experience in whenever you can. You don't have to do every crazy thing you can think of, but it just does not pay to be ignorant and naive, especially if you don't even know how ignorant and naive you are until it's too late.

[pearliewayne]

Generate A Perfect Lawn Along With These Landscaping Pointers

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Is actually marketing your home in your plans? Lawn service upper arlington ohio can easily help to pull in prospective buyers and the return on investment can be as much as 200%! Your front lawn must be your primary focus if you want your home to have curb appeal. Your garden must be your focus for a creatively designed living location outdoors.

Before starting your landscaping, delineate how you picture it. A drawing is going to allow you envision the space and know which materials are needed to complete the job. You may also change the sketch even more simply than you can easily the yard after you have helped make the modifications.

Regularly hope to incorporate native plants in your landscape concept. Your garden needs to include greenery that is actually indigenous to the location for finest results. These plants do well in the soil you presently have, do not require extra water or even fertilizer and may deal with the temperature swings your location experiences, all while thriving beautifully.

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[fireintheflames]

Long post incoming!

As a little mental health exercise for myself, I have decided to do some actual blogging about my real, irl life! Everything will be tagged with #personal stuff if you want to tune it out.

This is the first of those posts, we’ll see how long I can keep this up! These are probably going to be pretty long and rambling (I have a tendency to word vomit), so I’ll put a cut in if you want to continue scrolling.

Today’s topic: Touching Grass

For a bit of backstory/reminiscence, I grew up on a pretty sizable chunk of land (~15 acres, 10 of which we let go back to fields) in the Upper Midwest, one of those places that was parceled out of a farm in the 80s. My parents were very clear that my sister and I learn how to do at least a passable job at property maintenance, so I spent a sizable chunk of my youth mowing lawns, pulling weeds, planting gardens, all that jazz. Because the sweeper on the lawn mower broke one year (and dad was too cheap to get a new one and not handy enough to fix it), we raked around 2 acres of dried grass every summer after the first big cut by hand, and threw it all of it in the back field in “the pile” to compost and grow volunteer pumpkins and tomatoes. We had probably 5-6 active gardens at a time, scattered throughout the property.  I even had my own garden over the septic tank that I filled with annuals every year, and I laid the brick borders by hand (as for the positioning, septic tanks need to be pumped every couple of years. The flowers were so we didn’t bend the tank handles with the lawn mower and knew where to dig. I usually did marigolds, petunias, and snapdragons). So tldr, despite being an introverted nerd I did spent a lot of time outside doing manual labor.

Living in dorms and apartments for the past 6 years, I had forgotten how much I enjoy outdoor chores. The closest I could get was some small, unsuccessful window plants. And moving into the house with my fella in the fall meant all the lawn and garden work was already pretty much done. So I haven’t really done what I would consider “touching grass” in almost 7 years. I tried going to parks and nature trails, and while those are better than staying cooped up they didn’t scratch that itch to get my hands dirty. And in those 7 years my mental health has quite frankly circled the drain.

But this week has really been a big turnaround in that. Decided to start doing some outside work because with spring coming on, a lot of the tasks that were neglected before we moved in have come to light. Whenever I’ve been feeling stressed, I’ve been pulling the English Ivy the previous owner decided to plant in the front bushes.  My guy and I have been working to convert the back half of our lot to a native pollinator garden, and as the plants we ordered are starting to come in I’ve been planting them myself. Today I trimmed hedges with snippers for about 2 hours. And to my surprise, I feel great!! Both physically and mentally. I feel like I actually want to do things again!! I signed up for art classes, I have made plans to go traveling, just feeling like a whole new person.

So was it the touching grass? Probably not entirely. I think it probably had more to do with shaking off the winter, exercising, and just generally feeling useful. But now that I know that I really like doing outdoor chores again, I can incorporate those into my routines easier! We even have a little composting bin I can throw the grass clippings in (fun fact: if you dry them first, they count as “browns” instead of greens, so they can be used to offset other garden waste!).

[taisiakat]

April 2023 Energy Reading

Cards: Wisdom of the Hidden Realms

Music: Attract Positivity + Luck + AbundanceㅣAngelic Assistance

NOTE: This post is for Northern Hemisphere which this is shifting from Winter to Spring Energy.

I will come behind and do the Southern Hemisphere post tomorrow since the energies are shifting from Summer to Fall energies.

The Altar Priestess (39) Body / Physical / Earth

Preparation, Prayer, Sacred ritual

It is Spring. It is time to focus on new growth, new opportunities and new directions.

Get outside this month more. Spend time with your feet touching the grass, hands in the dirt, letting the rain touch your face. Feel the energy of Spring and new growth. Find a place in your physical outdoors to create a sacred space to sit and meditate, commune with and be part of that energy.

In addition- start a cleansing of some kind - be it increasing more water, eating more organic or reducing process sugar to help your body.

With each day in April spend a few moments in meditation - planting new seeds of ideas, in a sacred way to help attract those new opportunities.

The Ice Queen (28) Emotions / Feelings / Water

Ideas preserved, nonaction, entitlement

Instead of spending a lot of time this month processing emotions, and doing shadow work for healing, focus more on experiencing the more subtle emotions/feelings that Spring brings from the ice coldness of winter.

Touch the gentleness of new growth that is just starting to wake up outside. Listen to the birds start to chirp, breathe in the amazing crisp air that is giving way to the fragrance of flowers starting to bloom.

Non-action isn't just about not doing, it's about just being in the moment, so once can feel deeply the awakening of Spring as it opens itself up and shares it's energy.

See where you can gain wisdom from Spring this month. What can Spring teach you, show you, be with you.

The Eyes of Beauty (25) Mind / Mental / Fire

Positive Expectations, Clarity

How many winters have you experienced? How many Springs have you welcomed into your life? What are your beliefs, ideas, philosophies, perceptions? Have you taken into account how life has changed you? Have you taken into account how you have grown?

You are being asked to re-consider what you think about Winter, and Spring, and the process that life goes through during these two very drastic shifts in energy. See how the beauty of quietness of the Winter allowed the energy to gather and collect to create the beauty of Spring as it unfolds all around you.

Look at your own winters (the ebbs and flows of complications, challenges and change) that open up to opportunities, creativity, and growth with your Springs.

Move more into understanding that even in challenges there is beauty to be found. You will find more prosperity and success when you see beauty in those moments.

The Spirit Whisperer (3) Spirit / Spirituality / Air (Higher Purpose / Noble Cause)

Divine guidance, Higher knowing

In all 4 cards this reading - OWL is present, the wise and all knowing guidance that surrounds us. Spring brings about the inspiration of new life, ideas, roads, opportunities to enhance and enrich our lives. You are being asked now to spend more time honing your skills of being a Spirit Whisperer, bringing more of the Divine into your daily existence.

Spend time in physically, emotionally, mentally listening, hearing, intuition to help guide you of what to change to improve your energy connection with the Divine.

This might mean doing so Spring cleaning in your house, your body, mind, purging old no longer useful items and letting them go so you can open up for new energy to come in and spark you more.

Trust more of the guidance, and let go of the need to get validation of the guidance.

=================

I offer individual Full, New, Monthly, weekly readings if you are interested. Contact me for more information.

Please feel free to ask any questions, share your thoughts, let me know how I can assist you.

@}}>`~~~ Experience, observe, be curious and enjoy!

The Last Chance Crone - helping you with your shit when other methods fail.

[essayofthoughts]

Just some details from someone who grew up riding in the UK

In the UK that "cinch" is usually called a "girth". I can attest to the way that horses will puff up to try to get some extra looseness on it! The usual test at the riding schools I went to was to wait a minute or two and then slide two or three fingers under the girth and see how much give there was - if you could pull the girth away from the horse's side with those fingers then you needed to tighten the girth, if you could only just fit those fingers you were usually fine. (Also, if you mess up with the girth it really WILL just cause the saddle to rotate off the side of the horse, I have seen it happen and while it was funny when safe in the school at a trot pace around a corner, it is not funny when out in the woods!) Similar small terminology things - in the UK it's usually a "riding school" or "riding stables", because we don't have the space for ranches! Additionally going on a ride out of the school (usually indoor in the UK because of rain, but some places do have an outdoor school!) is usually called a "Hack" or "going hacking".

Personally I find a Western saddle too rigid! This is probably because OP and I grew up with different styles but for me, a Western saddle almost gives too much support. I'm used to a relaxed European saddle where I'm expected to support myself, and a Western saddle can even kind of chafe! From what I understand, Western saddles were more meant for long days of riding and working, and thus were meant to provide that extra stability - and that horn, for tying lead ropes and reins off to - by default, while European style saddles go back to when we didn't even have stirrups and it was on us to stay in the saddle Or Else. Consider what saddle would suit your needs or that of your fictional character!

On which note - the measurement I was taught is that when your feet are out of your stirrups the stirrup base should clonk your ankles. This is so you can keep the stirrup on the ball of your foot and tilt your heel down. I know that seems like it'll slip off at the drop of a hat, it took me actual years of regular riding to get fully used to it, but once you find that sweet spot it will become automatic. Consider if your character would be used to it or would still be awkward about it and be dealing with stirrup slippage.

Some people learn to ride without stirrups. For example the Horse Guard (aka Household Cavalry) in the UK are expected to train without stirrups. While it's definitely more comfortable when you do have a saddle, if you're doing this in a European saddle you will still feel like you're gonna slip off, especially when rounding corners. However, like most riding, this will significantly improve your core strength, your ability to stay on your horse with or without stirrups, and your general ability to move in tandem with the horse. Trying to do rising or sit trot without stirrups can be the bounciest gait known to man, though. Also yes you can do a rising trot without stirrups because, fun fact, you are rising from your knees. Not your feet. This is why the stirrup is on the ball of your foot and your heel is down. Your knees are the last point of connection between you and your horse, your heel should only touch their side - or move - if you're nudging the horse forward or indicating direction.

Tack needs to be cleaned! Bits especially are prone to getting covered in grassy gunk, because all of the horses I learned to ride on loved trying to steal a snacky mouthful anytime we rode out. Leather also needs to be cleaned and oiled, and while in my experiences horses don't smell bad (even horse sweat smells kind of like grass to me?) the tack can build up gunk and smell, and needs cleaning just like clothes do. Additionally, as well as a saddle and bridle, some horses may have something called a Martingale, which attaches between the bridle and the saddle. This is usually used on more "forward-going" horses (speedy, eager to Zoom horses) to help keep their heads down and pace slower.

If you're going on hard roads, your horses should be shod. A horse shoe is called that for a reason! You do not want to be walking on hard paved or gravel roads with bare feet - it hurts! And for horses, their hooves are basically their tippy-toes, so they're already at a disadvantage. Additionally, hooves are also basically keratin - nails - and they do wear. If you have a horse going unshod on paved roads it can and will damage their hooves. A horseshoe is to help limit this. Some places only shoe fore-hooves, whereas others shoe all four. The person who shoes a horse is a specific kind of blacksmith called a farrier.

Horses should not go faster than a trot on a hard road. As aforementioned they are on tippytoes due to the structure of their legs! This means running on hard surfaces can be really, really jarring on their legs and it is generally advised you should not go faster than a trot on paved or hard (dry-dirt, for example) roads. While you can, this should never be done for any length of time. Some horses are better equipped for hard surfaces than others (Icelandic ponies, for example, go running around on volcanic rock, moss and lichen) but just because a horse can doesn't mean you should.

On the note of Icelandic ponies Some horses have an additional pace known as the Tölt. Don't ask me to explain the specifics of how it works, but it's at a similar speed to a trot just...different sets of legs moving in sync. On a smooth-gaited horse it can be like sitting on a rocking horse - and you do sit, you don't rise, like with a trot! On a bouncy-gaited horse it can be like a slightly smoother sit-trot. I know Icelandic horses have this gait, and I believe a few other breeds can do it or something very similar as well. It is a fantastic ground-eating pace; the horses can keep this going for ages.

Some people like to say that "The horse does all the work." I would like to emphasise here what OP said above: While good riders look like they're barely moving at all, that's only because they're good riders. They know how to move so seamlessly with the horse, feeling their movements like their own, that they can compensate with their legs and waists to not bounce out of the saddle altogether or slide off to one side. I guarantee if you ride a horse longer than 30 minutes for the first time, your legs alone will barely work and feel like rubber. If you do horse riding on a regular basis, you will have good core strength as a matter of pure necessity. You know that post that talks about the tiny micro-adjustments you have to do to stay upright/still/comfy on a train or in a car? Think about what it takes to do that on a living, breathing, fidgeting, independently minded animal. You also - at least in European style riding, in my experience - tend to gain good posture, again as a matter of necessity. Your heels must be pointed down, there should be a straight line between your shoulders and your hips and while your legs bend, the ankles should (at least as I was taught) be the next stop on that imaginary line. Your arms have to be kept bent so there's no slack on the reins - this is called "contact" because the horse needs to feel that you're there, present, and paying attention. Any movement in your shoulders will be conveyed down the reins to the horse, and it can give the horse mixed messages, tell them to turn to look at what you're looking at when you want them to go the other way, etc.. The general advice I was given was look where you want the horse to go because usually your shoulders go that way too. You will eventually learn to turn your head without turning your shoulders, but never take it for granted when riding.

Relatedly the best riding advice I was ever given was by an instructor when I went riding in America. She said to us all "shoulders like a princess, hips like a whore" and she was right. Your hips should be moving with the horse and your shoulders should move not an inch. (Yes, if you want your horse riding character to be great at Teh Secks because of their horse-riding-granted core strength, that would be plausible.) Horses can take verbal direction, carriage horses may even prefer it at times, but to avoid mixed messages, you should have good posture.

You can ride with one hand on the reins and one on your leg, you can even drop your reins, but the horse will probably take advantage of the inattention. Like OP said above, horses have minds of their own and if you're not paying attention they will go do what they want. If you build a rapport with the horse, or it's a chill, relaxed horse, you can get away with one hand on the reins, one gesticulating as you talk to someone you're riding with. Likewise if you're a skilled rider, it'll be easier. Inexperienced riders should not do this, because at least with the cheeky riding school horses I learned on they will decide "Ooh I want to go over there". Oh Jigsaw. You can also drop reins if you're very confident in your ability to steer with your legs, but you should never just do that, it does take training and practice to direct a horse with only your legs, and a biddable horse which knows you well really, really helps. Consider that characters who ride with one hand on their reins or who drop their reins would likely have real trust in their horse and their riding skills.

Similarly, learning on a difficult, tricksy, stubborn horse, will teach you SO MUCH. While some people do very much prefer a more easy-going horse (and horses with an easy-going nature are often more popular at riding schools for that reason), you learn to pay attention and how to handle more tricky things if you have to deal with them more often. Personally I liked it when I was put on the horses that no longer gave a fuck because I had to put more work in, but if you're just there to relax (or if it was early morning and I was not awake yet) a more relaxed horse may be better. Historically nobles could afford more relaxed, even-tempered and biddable horses, which would make learning to ride easier and safer... but it can also mean that the noble in question might not be prepared for a more stubborn-minded horse.

Similarly some horses get spooked at the damndest things. Sometimes it's a plastic bag. Sometimes it's a wierdly shaped branch. I knew one horse that flat refused to go over a bridge until I got off, the instructor got on, and after MUCH effort, Brumby finally crossed the bridge. The instructor did not know what the issue was and Brumby was fine with the bridge going the other way! All the other horses which went before Brumby didn't even care! It's the prey-animal instincts. At the end of the day, a rider needs to be confident and calm so the horses can stay confident and calm. If the rider panics, the horses will think something is wrong. If the rider stays calm, the horses which know and like said rider will go "Oh. Human is chill. Follow human's lead, it will be fine."

You can keep on riding even as you get older. I know a septuagenarian who goes riding every other week. She's insane and brilliant and I love her, and any time someone asks why she still rides at her age her response is "it keeps me limber!" Just as doing yoga or going for a jog can help you keep fit as you get older, so too can horse riding. Yes, your elderly character may be a stunningly confident equestrian.

Hopefully the additional assorted info helps someone?

Horses: Since There Seems To Be A Knowledge Gap

I'm going to go ahead and preface this with: I comment pretty regularly on clips and photos featuring horses and horseback riding, often answering questions or providing explanations for how or why certain things are done. I was a stable hand and barrel racer growing up, and during my 11 year tenure on tumblr, Professional Horse Commentary is a very niche, yet very necessary, subject that needs filling. Here are some of the literary and creative gaps I've noticed in well meaning (and very good!) creators trying to portray horses and riding realistically that... well, most of you don't seem to even be aware of, because you wouldn't know unless you worked with horses directly!

Some Of The Most Common Horse + Riding Mistakes I See:

-Anybody can ride any horse if you hold on tight enough/have ridden once before.

Nope. No, no, no, no, aaaaaaaand, no. Horseback riding has, historically, been treated as a life skill taught from surprisingly young ages. It wasn't unusual in the pre-vehicular eras to start teaching children as young as 4 to begin to ride, because horses don't come with airbags, and every horse is different. For most adults, it can take months or years of regular lessons to learn to ride well in the saddle, and that's just riding; not working or practicing a sport.

Furthermore, horses often reject riders they don't know. Unless a horse has been trained like a teaching horse, which is taught to tolerate riders of all skill and experience levels, it will take extreme issue with having some random person try to climb on their back. Royalty, nobility, and the knighted classes are commonly associated with the "having a favorite special horse" trope, because it's true! Just like you can have a particularly special bond with a pet or service animal that verges on parental, the same can apply with horses. Happy horses love their owners/riders, and will straight-up do their best to murder anyone that tries to ride them without permission.

-Horses are stupid/have no personality.

There isn't a more dangerous assumption to make than assuming a horse is stupid. Every horse has a unique personality, with traits that can be consistent between breeds (again, like cat and dog breeds often have distinct behavior traits associated with them), but those traits manifest differently from animal to animal.

My mother had an Arabian horse, Zipper, that hated being kicked as a signal to gallop. One day, her mom and stepdad had a particularly unpleasant visitor; an older gentleman that insisted on riding Zipper, but refused to listen to my mother's warnings never to kick him. "Kicking" constitutes hitting the horse's side(s) with your heels, whether you have spurs on or not. Most horses only need a gentle squeeze to know what you want them to do.

Anyway, Zipper made eye-contact with my mom, asking for permission. He understood what she meant when she nodded at him. He proceeded to give this asshole of a rider road rash on the side of the paddock fence and sent him to the emergency room. He wouldn't have done it if he didn't have the permission from the rider he respected, and was intelligent enough to ask, "mind if I teach this guy a lesson?" with his eyes, and understand, "Go for it, buddy," from my mom in return.

-Riding bareback is possible to do if you hold onto the horse's mane really tight.

Riding a horse bareback (with no saddle, stirrups, or traditional harness around the horse's head) is unbelievably difficult to learn, particularly have testicles and value keeping them. Even professional riders and equestrians find ourselves relying on tack (the stuff you put on a horse to ride it) to stay stable on our horses, even if we've been riding that particular horse for years and have a very positive, trusting relationship.

Horses sweat like people do. The more they run, the more their hair saturates with sweat and makes staying seated on them slippery. Hell, an overworked horse can sweat so heavily that the saddle slips off its back. It's also essential to brush and bathe a horse before it's ridden in order to keep it healthier, so their hair is often quite slick from either being very clean or very damp. In order to ride like that, you have to develop the ability to synchronize your entire body's rhythm's with the rhythm of the horse's body beneath you, and quite literally move as one. Without stirrups, most people can't do it, and some people can never master bareback riding no matter how many years they spend trying to learn.

-You can be distracted and make casual conversation while a horse is standing untethered in the middle of a barn or field.

At every barn I've ever worked at, it's been standard practice with every single horse, regardless of age or temperament, to secure their heads while they're being tacked up or tacked down. The secures for doing this are simple ropes with clips that are designed to attach to the horse's halter (the headwear for a horse that isn't being ridden; they have no bit that goes in the horse's mouth, and no reins for a rider to hold) on metal O rings on either side of the horse's head. This is not distressing to the horse, because we give them plenty of slack to turn their heads and look around comfortably.

The problem with trying to tack up an unrestrained horse while chatting with fellow stable hands or riders is that horses know when you're distracted! And they often try to get away with stuff when they know you're not looking! In a barn, a horse often knows where the food is stored, and will often try to tiptoe off to sneak into the feed room.

Horses that get into the feed room are often at a high risk of dying. While extremely intelligent, they don't have the ability to throw up, and they don't have the ability to tell that their stomach is full and should stop eating. Allowing a horse into a feed/grain room WILL allow it to eat itself to death.

Other common woes stable hands and riders deal with when trying to handle a horse with an unrestrained head is getting bitten! Horses express affection between members of their own herd, and those they consider friends and family, through nibbling and surprisingly rough biting. It's not called "horseplay" for nothing, because during my years working with horses out in the pasture, it wasn't uncommon at all for me to find individuals with bloody bite marks on their withers (that high part on the middle of the back of their shoulders most people instinctively reach for when they try to get up), and on their backsides. I've been love-bitten by horses before, and while flattering, they hurt like hell on fleshy human skin.

So, for the safety of the horse, and everybody else, always make a show of somehow controlling the animal's head when hands-on and on the ground with them.

-Big Horse = War Horse

Startlingly, the opposite is usually the case! Draft and carriage horses, like Percherons and Friesians, were never meant to be used in warfare. Draft horses are usually bred to be extremely even-tempered, hard to spook, and trustworthy around small children and animals. Historically, they're the tractors of the farm if you could afford to upgrade from oxen, and were never built to be fast or agile in a battlefield situation.

More importantly, just because a horse is imposing and huge doesn't make it a good candidate for carrying heavy weights. A real thing that I had to be part of enforcing when I worked at a teaching ranch was a weight limit. Yeah, it felt shitty to tell people they couldn't ride because we didn't have any horses strong enough to carry them due to their weight, but it's a matter of the animal's safety. A big/tall/chonky horse is more likely to be built to pull heavy loads, but not carry them flat on their spines. Horses' muscular power is predominantly in their ability to run and pull things, and too heavy a rider can literally break a horse's spine and force us to euthanize it.

Some of the best war horses out there are from the "hot blood" family. Hot blooded horses are often from dry, hot, arid climates, are very small and slight (such as Arabian horses), and are notoriously fickle and flighty. They're also a lot more likely to paw/bite/kick when spooked, and have even sometimes been historically trained to fight alongside their rider if their rider is dismounted in combat; kicking and rearing to keep other soldiers at a distance.

-Any horse can be ridden if it likes you enough.

Just like it can take a lifetime to learn to ride easily, it can take a lifetime of training for a horse to comfortably take to being ridden or taking part in a job, like pulling a carriage. Much like service animals, horses are typically trained from extremely young ages to be reared into the job that's given to them, and an adult horse with no experience carrying a rider is going to be just as scared as a rider who's never actually ridden a horse.

Just as well, the process of tacking up a horse isn't always the most comfortable experience for the horse. To keep the saddle centered on the horse's back when moving at rough or fast paces, it's essential to tighten the belly strap (cinch) of the saddle as tightly as possible around the horse's belly. For the horse, it's like wearing a tight corset, chafes, and even leaves indents in their skin afterward that they love having rinsed with water and scratched. Some horses will learn to inflate their bellies while you're tightening the cinch so you can't get it as tight as it needs to be, and then exhale when they think you're done tightening it.

When you're working with a horse wearing a bridle, especially one with a bit, it can be a shocking sensory experience to a horse that's never used a bit before. While they lack a set of teeth naturally, so the bit doesn't actually hurt them, imagine having a metal rod shoved in your mouth horizontally! Unless you understand why it's important for the person you care about not dying, you'd be pretty pissed about having to keep it in there!

-Horseback riding isn't exercise.

If you're not using every muscle in your body to ride with, you're not doing it right.

Riding requires every ounce of muscle control you have in your entire body - although this doesn't mean it wasn't realistic for people with fat bodies to stay their weight while also being avid riders; it doesn't mean the muscles aren't there. To stay on the horse, you need to learn how it feels when it moves at different gaits (walk, trot, canter, gallop), how to instruct it to switch leads (dominant legs; essential for precise turning and ease of communication between you and the horse), and not falling off. While good riders look like they're barely moving at all, that's only because they're good riders. They know how to move so seamlessly with the horse, feeling their movements like their own, that they can compensate with their legs and waists to not bounce out of the saddle altogether or slide off to one side. I guarantee if you ride a horse longer than 30 minutes for the first time, your legs alone will barely work and feel like rubber.

-Horses aren't affectionate.

Horses are extraordinarily affectionate toward the right people. As prey animals, they're usually wary of people they don't know, or have only recently met. They also - again, like service animals - have a "work mode" and a "casual mode" depending upon what they're doing at the time. Horses will give kisses like puppies, wiggle their upper lips on your hair/arms to groom you, lean into neck-hugs, and even cuddle in their pasture or stall if it's time to nap and you join them by leaning against their sides. If they see you coming up from afar and are excited to see you, they'll whinny and squeal while galloping to meet you at the gate. They'll deliberately swat you with their tails to tease you, and will often follow you around the pasture if they're allowed to regardless of what you're up to.

-Riding crops are cruel.

Only cruel people use riding crops to hurt their horses. Spurs? I personally object to, because any horse that knows you well doesn't need something sharp jabbing them in the side for emphasis when you're trying to tell them where you want them to go. Crops? Are genuinely harmless tools used for signalling a horse.

I mean, think about it. Why would crops be inherently cruel instruments if you need to trust a horse not to be afraid of you and throw you off when you're riding it?

Crops are best used just to lightly tap on the left or right flank of the horse, and aren't universally used with all forms of riding. You'll mainly see crops used with English riding, and they're just tools for communicating with the horse without needing to speak.

-There's only one way to ride a horse.

Not. At. All. At most teaching ranches, you'll get two options: Western, or English, because they tend to be the most popular for shows and also the most common to find equipment for. English riding uses a thinner, smaller saddle, narrower stirrups, and much thinner bridles. I, personally, didn't like English style riding because I never felt very stable in such a thin saddle with such small stirrups, and didn't start learning until my mid teens. English style riding tends to focus more on your posture and deportment in the saddle, and your ability to show off your stability and apparent immovability on the horse. It was generally just a bit too stiff and formal for me.

Western style riding utilizes heavier bridles, bigger saddles (with the iconic horn on the front), and broader stirrups. Like its name may suggest, Western riding is more about figuring out how to be steady in the saddle while going fast and being mobile with your upper body. Western style riding is generally the style preferred for working-type shows, such as horseback archery, gunning, barrel racing, and even rodeo riding.

-Wealthy horse owners have no relationship with their horses.

This is loosely untrue, but I've seen cases where it is. Basically, horses need to feel like they're working for someone that matters to them in order to behave well with a rider and not get impatient or bored. While it's common for people to board horses at off-property ranches (boarding ranches) for cost and space purposes, it's been historically the truth that having help is usually necessary with horses at some point. What matters is who spends the most time with the animal treating it like a living being, rather than a mode of transport or a tool. There's no harm in stable hands handling the daily upkeep; hay bales and water buckets are heavy, and we're there to profit off the labor you don't want or have the time to do. You get up early to go to work; we get up early to look after your horses. Good owners/boarders visit often and spend as much of their spare time as they can with spending quality work and playtime with their horses. Otherwise, the horses look to the stable hands for emotional support and care.

So, maybe you're writing a knight that doesn't really care much for looking after his horse, but his squire is really dedicated to keeping up with it? There's a better chance of the horse having a more affectionate relationship with the squire thanks to the time the squire spends on looking after it, while the horse is more likely to tolerate the knight that owns it as being a source of discipline if it misbehaves. That doesn't mean the knight is its favorite person. When it comes to horses, their love must be earned, and you can only earn it by spending time with them hands-on.

-Horses can graze anywhere without concern.

This is a mistake that results in a lot of premature deaths! A big part of the cost of owning a horse - even before you buy one - is having the property that will be its pasture assessed for poisonous plants, and having those plants removed from being within the animal's reach. This is an essential part of farm upkeep every year, because horses really can't tell what's toxic and what isn't. One of the reasons it's essential to secure a horse when you aren't riding it is to ensure it only has a very limited range to graze on, and it's your responsibility as the owner/rider to know how to identify dangerous plants and keep your horses away from them.

There's probably more. AMA in my askbox if you have any questions, but that's all for now. Happy writing.

[luxurycondostempe]

Top 5 Things to Consider While Scouting Luxury Homes with Pool for Sale in Tempe AZ

Luxury condos are among the best living options that offer comfort and style with the added benefits of a convenient way of living. They are chosen as the living option for those who want to experience quality living. Then, what are the things to consider while buying condos and luxury homes with pool for sale in Tempe, AZ?

Luxury condos provide residents with all-inclusive amenities, better building designs, prime locations, and community lifestyle preferences. Here are five major things to consider when purchasing luxury condos in Tempe AZ and why Bridgeview Condominiums stands out from the crowd.

1. Location and Accessibility of Luxury Homes with Pool for Sale in Tempe AZ

The location must have access to destinations like shopping centers and entertainment destinations. A central location is a great advantage as it will be convenient and increase property value. The place should be accessible by public transportation. Efficient transport links are an important commodity as they provide seamless communication options.

2. Amenities and Facilities of Luxury Condos

Features like gyms, spas, and swimming pools can be found among these condominiums which enhance lifestyle and well-being. Luxury condos are expected to provide wellness options that encourage an active and balanced lifestyle. They should also include club rooms and theatre rooms that signify a sense of community.

3. Interior Design and Artistic Finishes of Buildings

Luxury condos crafted with high-grade materials with an artistic touch represent luxury and durability. Choose a property that fits your taste and aesthetic sensibility according to your preference for either a sleek modern design or a traditional approach.

4. Scenery and Outdoor Areas of Luxury Condos for Sale

One of the key factors in buying a luxury condo is its scenic view. Waterfront, cityscape, or mountain views often are important elements in serenity and would surely enhance the living experience in houses. Some condos are available with grass areas or nearby parks, allowing the residents to connect with nature.

5. Investment Value of Luxury Condominiums

Determine which areas are going to have optimistic trends for real estate markets since this will impact the future property value. Luxury condos in desirable markets are always in high demand, which is a significant advantage for future appreciation.

Buy Luxury Homes with Pool for Sale in Tempe AZ at Bridgeview Condominiums

The Bridgeview Condominiums in Tempe Town Lake is an excellent choice for luxury living. For those who value comfort and style, Bridgeview offers world-class amenities, scenic views, and a vibrant lifestyle to make it the perfect home.

Located by the beautiful Tempe Town Lake, residents have access to beautiful waterfront scenes.

State-of-the-art amenities include a huge lap pool, a fully equipped fitness center, and beautiful community spaces designed for social events.

The buildings display top-notch architectural designs. Every corner has been constructed to create an amiable living experience.

You will enjoy views of Tempe Town Lake and surrounding mountains, which present you with a serene and beautiful backdrop. You will be able to enjoy your little personal oasis in the city.