#dance to south pacific

[duranduratulsa]

On the turntable today...

Countdown America with John Leader (2/2/1985)

Just Like Us! by Paul Revere & The Raiders (1966)

Countdown America with John Leader (2/23/1985)

Dance To South Pacific by Les Brown and His Band of Renown (1958)

I Want Her by Keith Sweat (1988) (12" Single)

#countdownamericawithjohnleader #CountdownAmerica #johnleader #paulrevereandtheraiders #justlikeus #lesbrown #lesbrownandhisbandofrenown #dancetosouthpacific #KeithSweat #iwanther #50s #60s #80s #records #album #LP #12inch #12inchvinyl #radioprogram #RKO #vinyl #vinylrecords

[mthguy]

Gotta love a tap dancing sailor!

The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles puts its spin on two Rodgers and Hammerstein classics; 'I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair' and 'There Is Nothin' Like a Dame'. Recorded live at The Alex Theatre, June 2009.

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

The Castells - Some Enchanted Evening 1963

"Some Enchanted Evening" is a show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. The song is a three-verse solo for the leading male character, Emile, in which he describes first seeing a stranger, knowing that he will see her again, and dreaming of her laughter. In the original Broadway production, "Some Enchanted Evening" was sung by former Metropolitan Opera star Ezio Pinza. Pinza won the Tony Award for Best Actor in 1950 for this role, and the song made him a favorite with audiences and listeners who normally did not attend or listen to opera. In the 2001 London revival of the show, Philip Quast won an Olivier Award for Best Actor for his role as Emile, and seven years later, international opera singer Paulo Szot won a Tony for his portrayal in the 2008 New York revival.

The Castells were a male vocal quartet from Santa Rosa, California, best remembered for their hits "Sacred" (number 20 on the Billboard chart in 1961) and "So This Is Love" (number 21 in 1962). Their sound blended light rock with elements of collegiate vocal harmony and jazz.

Their version of "Some Enchanted Evening" was used twice in the first episode of the Fallout tv series; at Lucy's wedding dance and during the raider massacre in Vault 33. It is also included on the official Amazon Music playlist "Music from Fallout" promoting the series.

"Some Enchanted Evening"received a total of 62,4% yes votes!

[fishenjoyer1]

Fish of the Day

Today's fish of the day is the Three-spined stickleback!

The three-spined stickleback, also known by scientific name Gasterosteus aculeatus, is a common fish in the Northern Hemispheres Pacific and Atlantic oceans with a near global distribution. Ranging in the Pacific ocean from The coasts of Alaska to Baja California, and then from as far North as Japan and stretching South toward North Korea.

On the Atlantic coast this fish's range stretches from Chesapeake bay down to Baffin island and Hudson bay, stretching across the ocean and populating England and the coasts of Western Europe. Living in shallow and slow moving waters with mud, sand, or gravel bottoms and heavy vegetation and substrate. The three-spined stickleback is known as anadromous, meaning that they can move between salt and freshwater, although there are populations of fish within both regions, with fully freshwater fish growing larger on average, and the saltwater fish moving inward to freshwater for spawning. 

Three spined sticklebacks are small, with most only 3-5cm, and freshwater populations occasionally reaching as large as 8cm. As the name may suggest, they have 3 spines on the place of the dorsal fin, which are used in signaling, defense, and offense. They're olive to dark green on the back and sides, with white underbellies and colorless fins, with these colors changing for breeding and spawning season. The diet of the three spined is varied by the environment and population they live in, and then varied further by if the fish is a limnetic or benthic fish. Limnetic (meaning fish living in the uppermost and open water areas) three spined stickleback specialize on zooplankton, whereas benthic (meaning or relating to the bottom or bed of a body of water) tend to attack other benthic organisms.

The general diet listed for these fish when not specified by ecotype is crustaceans, worms, copepods, larvae, small fish, plankton, and algae's. They are regularly predated on by larger fish and water birds, but have a series of defensive measures against these. The spine on their back can be used defensively, as they are quite sharp, along with this, when threatened the three-spined will raise its spines and open its mouth pointing its head downward and make jerky motions. These methods seem relatively effective for warding predators. Other than this, they also have a defensive measure referred to as tit for tat.  The tit for tat method, (sometimes called TFT) is when the three spined stickleback tends to copy the behavior of predators it comes in contact with. Especially various trout, as on occasion these salmonoids will "cooperate" with the three-spined, backing off from their territory rather than further instigation. If the opposing fish does not cooperate with the three-spined then the stickleback will mirror every aggressive move until the fish is either intimidated, or fight until its won or died. The last of their defensive measures is to attempt travel with a partner when not in schools, thus each can watch each others back and if one of them get eaten, the other can survive by fleeing (this behavior is only shown by some populations).

In the breeding season, from early spring to late summer, these fish will drastically change in color. Males will get a red underside with blue sides, and their eye change to a striking green/blue color. In females however, they gain a silver underside and a darker green/brown back. During the breeding season male three-spined sticklebacks grow incredibly territory, claiming areas of slow moving freshwater streams with gravel at a temperature between 23-24 degrees Celsius. These fish will then create nests out of mucus threads, which they weigh down with pebbles.

Courting occurs when female fish with eggs enter into a males territory. He will then do a "dance" in front of her where he darts in a zig-zag motion in front of her, he will then entice her into his nest by repeatedly entering and exiting until she is seduced to lay a portion of her eggs within it, anywhere from 5-300 of them. She will then go on to lay the rest of her eggs throughout a multitude of nests, with many males.

These fertilized eggs will remain guarded and ventilated in the nest for around 6 to 8 days, during which the male will leave only to eats the fertilized eggs of other male stickleback fish in the nearby water. After this period, the uneaten eggs will hatch into fry, which are immediately abandoned by their father. Fry will then go on to join a school or shoal of the various fry in the area, and grow into juveniles in the stream fro around a month before venturing out into other streams or the ocean dependent on population. A majority of these fish will live only a year, dying shortly after having children, although a section of them will live around 2-3 years total.

Fossil data tells us that the three spined stickleback has existed almost identical to the form it is in now for 10 million years, and was split from the same ancestor as the blackspotted stickleback. Despite this, there are extreme cases of subspecies, ecotypes, and differences between populations. There is evidence to suggest that the oceanic anadromous fish and the freshwater one should be considered separate lineages. These seem to be kept separate because oceanic saltwater fish breed in the late spring, where freshwater exclusive fish seem to breed in the early to mid summer instead. Even without acknowledging the differences between oceanic and freshwater forms of stickleback (the largest and most obvious change being oceanic fish have some armored scales similar to that of a sturgeon of plecostomus, where freshwater lacks this), there are several differences between populations of sticklebacks such as diet, coloration, behavior, courting techniques, or nest building technique. Another difference between three-spined sticklebacks is their many subspecies.

There are several subspecies, with differing articles stating differing numbers, but as far as I have research there appears to only be three named currently. The first is  G. a. aculeatus which is the most widespread and well known, sometimes considered to be the "base" species so to say. This subspecies has many differing names locally across its populations in the Northern hemisphere, but one of the strangest names would be that in England the three-spined stickleback is called tiddlebat, or tiddler.

There is also G. a. williamsoni, also called the unarmored three-spine stickleback, which is found only in some freshwater streams of California, Oregon, British Columbia, and Mexico; found in the Columbia and Colorado river systems. 

Then, the last one is G. a. santaeannae or the Santa Ana stickleback, found only in some small streams around Southern California. Despite these many differences, this fish has an amazing ability to evolve and change. For example, in one area of Alaska it was documented that the local population of three-spined sticklebacks went from near 100% oceanic form to 11% oceanic form over the course of only 12 years when the algae, plankton, and small fish amounts increased in freshwater. What a wonderful animal.

That's the three-spined stickleback, everyone! Have a wonderful day, and remember our fishy friends in a river near you!

Sources:

University of California, D. of A. and N. R. (n.d.). California fish species. California Fish Website. https://calfish.ucdavis.edu/species/?uid=101&ds=241

Pacific, A. of the. (n.d.). Threespine Stickleback. Aquarium of the Pacific - A Non-profit Organization. https://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/threespine_stickleback

Wood, S. (n.d.). Gasterosteus aculeatus. Animal Diversity Web. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Gasterosteus_aculeatus/

Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) - species profile. (n.d.). https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=702

Gasterosteus Aculeatus Summary Page. FishBase. (n.d.). https://

[hrhprincesskate]

An emotional Arthur Edwards, iconic royal photographer of many decades, shared this anecdote of William and Catherine on their royal tour of the South Pacific in his reaction to today’s news:

“They danced the night away together with all the islanders. It was incredible. And she was just spraying perfume on him— and she sprayed perfume on me!—and I’ve never seen any couple looking so happy together. And they were literally wearing grass skirts, wearing flowers in their hair, and they were dancing the night away. Amazing. I just know that eventually, hopefully, they will be back in harness and carrying on being great ambassadors for our country.”

[rekkohane]

Punch-out (catastrophic) christmas night headcanons bc why not

Glass Joe 🇫🇷

• He tried to cook turkey for everyone, ended up burning the oven for the 17th time. The deal? The turkey was undercooked. (Sorry but I genuinely CAN'T see this guy as someone who is good at cooking)

• Gave everyone christmas sweaters that everyone didn't mind wearing, it was sweaters insulting them so hard in french.

• Was told to NOT go into the kitchen ever again after burning the oven, and trying to put it out with water and also ended up burning the water.

• Literally was put under supervision so he wouldn't go to the kitchen because he kept trying to go.

• Had to watch MORE MORE JUMP songs with Sandman to kill time

Von Kaiser 🇩🇪

• Had to do most of the cooking with Hondo until Hondo had to leave, leaving Kaiser with the cooking duties until one of Tiger's clones came to help

• Had a panic attack when SMM played his awful song at full volume

• Brought cookies along with him, but before he could arrive, he slipped and the cookies fell down a hole, cried for the next 3 hours

• Was more mad about the fact that the turkey was somehow STILL undercooked and the water was burnt than anything else, turns out Joe forgot to put the turkey in the oven

• While he was cooking soup, Buddy the squirrel managed to sneak random shit in the food while Kaiser wasn't looking

• The banned from the kitchen toll increased to 2 after he caught buddy trying to put the spiciest chili in the food

Disco Kid 🇺🇸

• Played the wildest VOCALOID songs one could imagine because GUMI was in them, he terrified Hondo, also played 25ji songs

• Was BEGGING SMM to not play his song, unfortunately SMM played his song

• Spoiled everybody, but he forgot whose gift belonged to who so for example, bear hugger got stuff meant for Aran and Soda got stuff meant for Great Tiger and vice versa

• Was wearing that awful sweater Joe gave him thinking it meant 'the king of disco' even thought it actually said that no one gaf abt his trophies he gained from dancing

• Made FORCED the others to watch horror movies (definitely not to laugh his ass off at the way some boxers screamed)

• Accidentally put Buddy the Squirrel in Hippo's bag of chips

• Was dancing like he was in a nightclub, he was the only one dancing thought

• Had to calm Kaiser down during his panic attack while SMM's song was blasting

King Hippo (insert south pacific country flag here idk)

• Was pretty chill at first (keywords : at first)

• That was until Aran took his bag of chips because he ate like most of the bag of chips that was also meant for others

• Next thing, everyone was subjected to a loud, awful, scary, intense tantrum that lasted half an hour

• Eventually calmed down when Little Mac gave him another bag of chips

• Witnessed Joe literally getting thrown on Sandman's shoulder to get him out of the kitchen after trying to enter despite being banned and also screaming every sort of promise to not burn anything on accident ever again

• Mostly ended up being chill and pointed out the turkey was undercooked because Joe didn't put it in the oven

• Watched the horror movies like they were kids movies

Piston Hondo 🇯🇵

• Was HORRIFIED at some of the songs Disco Kid put in the radio, was literally about to faint at Composing the future being played

• Did some of the cooking, most of his time at the kitchen was to clean the mess that Joe made and that didn't last long because he had to go shopping with the rest of the major circuit

• Was screaming like he was the victim in the horror movie at literally every jumpscare, held onto Bear Hugger like he was an emotional support teddy bear, he ended up running out of the room after a certain jumpscare while screaming bloody murder and tripped 3 times in the process

• Also screamed at whoever's up there to stop SMM's music from playing, god he HATED Macho Man's newest song, the songs were all being hated on but it seems that Macho can't get the memo no one likes them.

• Was clinging into Bear Hugger all night, even when going shopping with the rest of the major circuit (he still hasn't gone over the jumpscare, he thought the ghost was gonna haunt him)

• While on the escalator in the mall, he tripped and first idea was to grab Bear Hugger, which made Bear slip, so Hondo tried to grab Tiger but grabbed his leg, Tiger lost his balance and grabbed Don who was applying his eyeliner and they all fell and rolled the way down on the escalator infront of everyone, some were laughing, some were trying to process what had happened in the span of 30 seconds. (Based on a true story btw)

• So basically, Hondo fell on Bear, Tiger teleported after he fell, and Don's eyeliner was ruined and he is forever angry at Hondo

• Hondo didn't see a wet floor sign and slipped, ended up crashing into a bunch of soup containers

• Tripped on the snow on the way home for good measure

• In short: Hondo had the worst day ever

Bear Hugger 🇨🇦

• Also spoiled everyone with gifts, mostly plushies and necklaces

• Was given a lucky clover by Disco that was meant for Aran

• Didn't realize that buddy the squirrel was not inside his beanie

• Didn't mind the horror movies, and was trying so hard not to laugh when Hondo started holding onto him like an emotional support teddy bear

• Started laughing his ass off with the others when Hondo ran out of the room

• Went shopping with the rest of the major circuit, completely oblivious to Hondo STILL clinging onto him while Tiger was trying to tell Hondo that no, that ghost wasn't going to haunt him

• When the entire circuit fell down the escalator, Bear got up like nothing happened while Hondo was mortified, Tiger was wondering wheter to stay or teleport home, and Don was outraged with everyone at first, now outraged only at Hondo

• Bear just got the things they needed at the store and a few extra stuff while Hondo gave the most sincere, genuine apology to the employees, and Tiger and Don were also getting some stuff for the other boxers

• After Hondo tripped in the snow, Bear had to hold him so he'll quit falling every 2 mins

Great Tiger 🇮🇳

• He's multitasking and using his clones, like one clone is cleaning a bit around, another clone is helping with the cooking, a clone is welcoming Carmen, while Great Tiger is with the major circuit

• Is technically the one who ruined Don's makeup, because he dragged him by the leg when they were all about to fall, but Tiger blamed everything on Hondo

• Tiger was getting the most random things in multiple stores, like he would have a birthday cake, then he would have a hairbrush, then a CD of weezer, just a bunch of stuff

• He went to the animal store and secretly opened the cages so actually a lot of animals escaped and were causing chaos, Bear saw it but continued his shopping like normal and Don and Hondo both jumped on different chairs and started screaming

• He managed to get away with it, and no one knows it's him

• One of his clone literally fucking washed Don's laptop and it hasn't been functioning ever since

Don Flamenco 🇪🇦

• He told Carmen that she should come visit and he overexaggerated things and said how it was gonna be the best christmas ever and how much she's gonna enjoy it, it turned out to be the opposite

• Had to supervise Joe so he wouldn't go to the kitchen and bother Kaiser until he was called by Hondo to do some christmas shopping, after Don left, Joe tried to go to the kitchen (again) and that was when Sandman threw him on his shoulder

• Don was ANGRY when after the escalator incident, his eyeliner was ruined and his face was stained with eyeliner, he screamed at everyone at first, then started screaming at Hondo saying how he was trying to look good for Carmen and he ruined everything (little did he know, Carmen didn't bother trying to look fancy, she just looked like her usual self, wearing the first thing she could find and still being messy asf)

• Screamed bloody murder when the animals went wild and was standing on a chair, and he broke the chair and started running

Aran Ryan 🇮🇪

• Is the reason why King Hippo threw a tantrum

• Was too busy drinking, and when he gets drunk, he tries to fight anything, this time he tried to fight the uncooked turkey and lost (they got a new turkey and it was cooked this time)

• Just slept around most of the time

• Drunkely told Sandman that Joe was trying to tresspass in the kitchen

• Tried to convince Carmen to leave and there was better places to be at than this mockery of a christmas night, but she just stayed for the chaos

• Ended up going outside and built a snowman

• Also saved the day by fighting the radio that played multiple Macho Man's songs, and winning this time and the radio was thankfully thrown out of the window

Soda Popinski 🇷🇺

• Was with Bald Bull and Bull was tired of Soda just drinking and being useless

• He screamed 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' at anyone unfortunate to pass by and wondered why everyone was scared of christmas

• Him and Little Mac ended up going to a nearby McDonald's where they spend most of their time to stay away from the chaos, except they didn't tell anyone and when Soda and Little Mac were gonna go home, they were greeted by police cars

• Bald Bull was mad at them and scolded them for like 2 hours

• Soda kept drinking and went to sleep early, they left some food for him

• Was filled in on everything that happened the next day

Bald Bull 🇹🇷

• He is getting closer to destroy somebody every passing second

• He is MAD at Super Macho Man who is blasting his songs

• He is taking all of his anger on twitter

• He scolded Little Mac and Soda for leaving and telling no one causing panic mode for everyone

• When SMM when outside, that's when Bald Bull jumped SMM

• Was told to put up the decorations, tripped and fucked everything up

Super Macho Man 🇺🇸

• Played so many of his songs and gave the boxers + Carmen a migraine

• Was praising his own music like it was the best thing ever

• Went on twitter and joked about Joe being 'grounded' after trying to sneak into the kitchen for the 23th time

• Literally almost all of the time, SMM was in his room making videos and flexing and getting trolled on the internet

• Took an interview online thinking he was gonna get casted in a commercial, it was actually just for some video to troll him

• Yapped about how everyone loves him (no one loves him)

• Ended up getting jumped by Bald Bull

• During dinner, he wouldn't stop talking, everyone was tired and told him to shut up in creative ways

• He got offended and tried to cancel everybody later on twitter, didn't go so well

Mr Sandman 🇺🇸

• Was mostly minding his business listening to Parasol Cider

• He was on a call with Mr. Dream when a very annoyed Kaiser told him to get Joe out of the kitchen

• Since Sandman believed the call was important, he just threw Joe on his shoulder while holding the phone and getting him out of the kitchen for good and talking to Mr. Dream at the same time

• Because Joe was dragged out by Sandman out of everyone, Joe didn't dare trying to sneak into the kitchen until dinner was done being cooked.

• He watched more MMJ content to kill time and to forget the chaos around him and Bull jumping SMM outside

• Overall stuff wasn't all that bad for him

Bonus:

• Doc Louis came to drop Little Mac since he wanted to go, Doc told everyone that the party was not gonna go well before leaving

• Little Mac just spent time on his phone and he had his airpods on so he was unaware of everything happening around him

• When the major circuit returned home, Don saw Carmen and immediately hugged her in tears saying how his night was ruined by Hondo and how chaotic it was, well to be fair, Don was jumped by some animals

• During the time for dinner, Gabby Jay broke into the house to give everyone cupcakes and left

• Joe was mad about not being allowed to cook

Probably the longest thing I've done, hope u guys like it and merry 24 days early christmas

[vestaignis]

Пятнистая австралийская медуза Phyllorhiza punctata.

Пятнистая австралийская медуза - один из видов пелагических медуз, распространенный в южном регионе Тихого океана, на Гавайях, в Австралии, на Карибах и в Мексиканском заливе. Средний диаметр ее колокола 45-50 см, но в водах Персидского залива, медузы вырастают до необычно больших размеров, свыше 60 см в диаметре. Ожоги вызываемые этими медузами слабые и не являются опасными для человека. Массовое размножение пятнистых австралийских медуз может представлять угрозу для популяций промысловых рыб, поскольку они поедают зоопланктон, икру и мальков. Каждая особь этого вида медуз может пропускать через щупальца около 13 000 литров морской воды в сутки, заглатывая при этом большое количество планктонных организмов, мальков рыб и некрупных пелагических животных.

Australian spotted jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata.

The Australian spotted jellyfish is a species of pelagic jellyfish found in the South Pacific, Hawaii, Australia, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. The average diameter of its bell is 45-50 cm, but in the waters of the Persian Gulf, jellyfish grow to unusually large sizes, over 60 cm in diameter. The burns caused by these jellyfish are weak and are not dangerous to humans.Mass reproduction of Australian spotted jellyfish can pose a threat to commercial fish populations as they eat zooplankton, eggs and fry. Each individual of this type of jellyfish can pass about 13,000 liters of sea water per day through its tentacles, while swallowing a large number of planktonic organisms, fish fry and small pelagic animals.

Источник:https://t.me/+t0G9OYaBjn9kNTBi, //ru.pinterest.com,

//zoogalaktika.ru/photos/invertebrata/coelenterata/scyphozoa/rhizostomae/phyllorhiza-punctata,

//eol.org/pages/46554220/articles,

/www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/465743,

http://www.fromthelabbench.com/from-the-lab-bench-science-blog/photo-of-the-week-dancing-phyllorhiza-punctata,

[epicbuddieficrecs]

Fic rec for my BFF, pt. 1

My best friend is currently watching 9-1-1. I've been trying to get her onboard the Buddie ship and she is graciously tolerating me. She's asked for some fic recs and so this is what I came up with! I did have to work with a few parameters to fit her taste, the most important one being nothing post season 3 cause that's where she's up to and she didn't want spoilers.

Hope you enjoy these bestie!

Canon to Canon Divergent

Things We're All Too Young to Know by Daisies_and_Briar / @cal-daisies-and-briars 

Canon S1-S6, S7 Spec | 123/? | 379K | Mature

This is a love story. Even if it doesn’t always look like it. Even if it doesn’t always feel like it. A look back on Eddie and Buck's lives up to now, and what led them to each other, interpreted from the current 9-1-1 canon.

THE canon fics to end all canon fics. I know it's still a WIP and it spans up to post-S6, but if you want a canon fic, that's the one to go for.

Leading with the Left by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels/ @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels 

Canon Divergent, Different First Meeting, Stripper Buck | 84K | Explicit

When Buck said he was a "bartender" in "South America" what he actually meant was "stripper" in "Mexico." And when Eddie said, "What's your problem?" what he actually meant was, "Is this about the time you gave me a lap dance?" In other words, there's a few things the 118 doesn't know about Buck. Or Eddie. Or Buck and Eddie's relationship.

One of my most re-read fics. The smut is impeccable. The angst is so good. Absolutely love this fic!

Your Scars and Your Lonely Heart by Taste_is_Sweet

Sentinels AU, Canon Divergent - Tsunami | 82K | Teen

Clara Williams just wanted to visit Pacific Park during her layover in Los Angeles. She never expected to find a young, exceptional Sentinel dying for lack of a bond. Actually, what she really never expected was a tsunami, or the same Sentinel to save her life. But Clara's a Guide, so now she's on a mission to keep Evan "Buck" Buckley alive until she can get him to Eddie Diaz, the Guide who should have bonded with him, but didn't. Because Clara can't bond with Buck, no matter how much she wants to. There's just one problem: Buck's convinced Eddie doesn't want him, and he might not survive long enough to find out the truth.

Another one of my most re-read fics! I had never read a Sentinels AU before and I fell in love with the concept!

the distance to the stars by cloudydaisies 

Didn't Know They Were Dating, Post-S3 | 27K | General

“Didn’t know you were seeing someone.” Buck just laughs. Like, honest to god giggles. Eddie is stuck fighting off doubly massive waves of butterflies and confusion, all while Buck just gazes down at him. “That’s cute,” he hears Buck mumble, just before climbing into the truck, calling Eddie after him. - or, everyone knows eddie is dating buck except for eddie, literally.

Don't know if you knew this, Marie, but Buddie is the #1 most tagged ship in the "Didn't Know They Were Dating" tag cause they're such idiots <3 and this is one of my favorite ones!

the weekly bet (but the forever kind) by theleftboobgrabber/ @theleftboobgrabber 

Late S3, Getting Together | 49K | Explicit

“Thanks,” Eddie mumbles, hiding his face deep in his pillow, even if Buck can’t see him in the dark. “What for?” Leave it to Buck to be confused about something so obvious. “Being you, idiot.” “And again with the name calling,” he answers, content and sleepy. Nights like this, Eddie feels like asking for a miracle. But to the team, it wasn’t a matter of if Abby would take him back, but when. A matter of days. When the squad bets on how long it will take for Buck and Abby to get back together when she comes back to LA, Eddie is forced to reconsider keeping his feelings for Buck a secret.

Top tier pining + oblivious Eddie = 👌

Always, All Ways by ashavahishta/ @tevankinkley

A/B/O AU | 85K | Explicit

“Buck is very dear, Mr Diaz. Not only to me but to the pack. You’ll find that if you treat him with anything less than utmost respect you’ll have a lot of people to answer to.”   Eddie swallowed. It was clear that in the absence of a mate, this omega had found himself a very protective pack. “Understood, sir.” Or: Buck’s the only omega in the 118. He’s got secrets, and walls a mile high. Eddie’s the alpha determined to knock them down.

There's not a ton of A/B/O fics in this fandom, and I should really try to read more of them, but this is probably my favorite one so far!

I Hit the Accelerator (But the Car was in Reverse) by extasiswings/@extasiswings, letmetellyouaboutmyfeels/@letmetellyouaboutmyfeels

S3, Friends With Benefits, BDSM | 68K | Explicit

When Buck is forced to confront the truth about his breakup with Abby, having casual sex with his hot new coworker seems like the best rebound idea. Unfortunately, that hot new coworker turns into his best friend. But best friends can keep having sex with each other, right? There's no way this could possibly go wrong.

THE friends with benefits fic! (ok lbr there's a ton of great ones, but this one is S2 focused iirc)

AUs

My Blood on Your Skin (My Rose on Your Snow) by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels/ @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels

Mythological AU, BDSM | 80K | Explicit

When Eddie needs cash and fast to take care of Christopher, his LAFD Academy buddy suggests a job as a bouncer at Elysium - an exclusive sex club in downtown Los Angeles. Eddie doesn't care what goes on there, so long as he's paid, but he finds he cares a lot bout the club's enigmatic owner, Evan Buckley, and it's not long before the two of them are violating every boss-employee rule in the book. But there's something different about Buck and the club, something not quite... human. If Eddie wants to keep Buck, he's going to have to delve into the world of immortals, and all the risks that implies.

You can expect amazing smut by this author as always, but also really interesting worldbuilding and characters!

All My Shattered Oaths by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels/ @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels

Vampires AU | 107K | Explicit

Eddie wants to stay away from his family’s legacy and give his son a normal life. Buck’s desperate to find a way to get over the love he lost. Fate has other plans for both of them.

SO GOOD. The canon divergent reincarnation vampire AU you didn't know you needed!!!

a bleeding sun on a silver screen by rarakiplin (gmontys)/ @hoediaz 

Actors AU, Friends With Benefits | 130K | Mature

One day, Buck will tell an interviewer that he would be happy to make movies with Eddie Diaz until the day he dies. But first, years before that, he sees Eddie for the first time on the set of Chimney’s fifth movie.

An epic tale of movie making and enemies to friends to FWB to strangers to lovers!

The Truth of Love (Amas Veritas) by allyasavedtheday/ @littlespoonevan

Practical Magic AU | 20K | Teen

Bobby opens his mouth like he wants to argue but decides against it. “Walk me through the logic here then. How will this make sure you never fall in love?” “Because I’m making someone who doesn’t exist,” Buck explains, glancing from the half-full bowl to Bobby. He can’t work out what the look on Bobby’s face means so he pointedly elects to ignore it. “They’ll have brown hair,” he starts, clipping another petal from the rose bush. “And brown eyes-“ “Lotta people out there with brown hair and brown eyes, kid,” Bobby says lightly and Buck rolls his eyes. “But not many that can ride a horse backwards,” Buck counters. “And whose favourite shape is a star and who’s got…two scars,” he decides, plucking a basil leaf and dropping it in the bowl. “One on each shoulder.”

Because Practical Magic AUs always make me think of you <3

I'll Scrawl it on Every Wall I See by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels/ @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels

Canon Divergent, You've Got Mail Fusion | 29K | Teen

When Eddie joins the 118, he and Buck don't exactly hit it off on the right foot. Or continue to walk on the right foot. In fact they kind of can't stand each other. Good thing they each have a beloved anonymous pen pal to share their daily woes with, someone completely unlike their insufferable coworker.

I do love some good romcom vibes!

[forest-falcon]

Not written anything in ages. Just scribbled this down while making dinner. Gonna continue to scribble this evening and hope for the best!

Scott whump plus tinies being tinies.

💙🧡💚💛❤️

The Butterfly Effect

Chptr 1

It was nothing.

Scott's head throbbed in retaliation at the thought, and the pilot suddenly regretted the English breakfast he'd savoured just a few short hours ago.

Tentative fingers explored the swelling at the back of his head. 

He inhaled a hiss as the injury bit back, and the eldest Tracy found himself nose-breathing to abate his rising nausea.

Ok, so it was something...but it had to be nothing.

Nothing until he was home, dry and safe - then he could rest...sleep it off - ice it, if needs be. 

Nope.

Scott lost the bile battle and found himself filling a in-flight bag he usually reserved for passengers.

Goddamn it.

He closed his eyes, tilting his head back, willing the universe to equip him with a functional brain - one that could last out the two-hour flight back to Tracy Island. He just needed to plot a course, then One could bring him home.

Then, and only then, could it be something. 

One hovered patiently, her hum soothing and familiar in the absence of family.

"Thunderbird One?"

Fuck. He had to get going now before younger brothers grounded his clumsy ass. Scott summoned his best game face and ignored the sensation that his hair was gelled wrong.

"John? To what do I owe the pleasure?"

He'd confess his stupidity once home. Suffer the wrath of the Virgil-brows, and worse - Grandma, if he could just skip out on a hospital stay. 

"Thunderbird One, you've not moved from your current location for some time. Is everything okay?"

"Sorry John, just had some stuff on my mind. Will fill you in later. I'm setting off now."

Scott allowed his fingers to dance over the controls, trusting muscle-memory over conscious thought. Thinking seemed to be a prelude to filling further bags - a desire he had no wish to to kindle.

"You sure you're okay?"

"Yes. FAB. M'good." 

One's boosters fired and Scott swiped the hologram of his brother away.

Thunderbird One began her journey back across the South Pacific Ocean.

* * *

Scott's line went quiet.

"M'good."

John chewed on a pen-cap as he turned the phrase over in his head. 

"Is everything okay, John?"

EOS hovered just at the edge of his peripheral vision.

"I think so."

"Penny for your thoughts."

John chuckled. Pennies hadn't been used for decades.

"Did Scott seem... different at all to you?"

"Not noticeably."

"Can I have a reading on Scott's vitals please? I'm sure everything's fine..."

"Blood pressure is slightly low, and heart rate raised, but all within normal parameters given recent exertion on mission."

"Good."

 "My records show that Scott has been working longer hours than usual. He perhaps sounded a little tired, especially given his choice of words."

"I thought so too. I'll get Virgil to check in on him when he's home. If something's bothering Scott, I'm sure Virg can work his magic with a tête-à-tête."

"Failing that, a stay on Thunderbird Five should help to take the weight off, once I've removed the artificial gravity."

John threw his pencap at the AI.

"Thunderbird Four?"

"Present and correct!"

Gordon's voice sounded like a double espresso in comparison to Scott's. 

"Mission status, if you please."

"All crew have been safely extracted."

"And the vessel?"

"Four's never better."

John rolled his eyes and looked to EOS for strength.

"The ship, Gordon."

"You're gonna have to be a little more specific than that, Thunderbird Five. The sea is full of ships," Alan's voice chirped in.

John glared at the comms line. He could hear their smug, stupid smiles. He was being set up. May as well get it over with.

"What is the status of Shippy. Shippy. Bang. Bang."

"Ooooh, that ship. I mean, she's not really a ship, more of an S.S.O, strictly speaking," Gordon sniggered. 

S.S.O, was nearly as bad as Brain's R.A.D, in John's book. Gordon had coined the phrase Ship Shaped Object, to define any ocean vessel not fit for purpose.

"Yeah she's toast. S.S.O Rust-Bucket's embarking on her final voyage to the ocean floor." Alan supplied.

Our amateur angler friends are back on dry land, so we'll be heading back. Clean up will have to wait until the storm has passed."

"FAB."

[org4n-failur3]

I was live4-failur3 , hea4t-failur3

I’m Vivi

I’m a girl (obv)

I LOVE juicy couture!!

I make info posts on my second blog

My bf<33

I Like true crime cases and Reichblr

I’m blonde and annoying

I shitblog ⚠️ I USE BRAINROT TERMS IRONICALLY!

☆ PLAYING: ☆

“Go To Town With A Pump Gun Up Your (Cvnt)

Ak-47 92 Beretta

Don't Give A Good God Damn What You Think Of Me Or What I Do”

My fav CASES are: Dylann Roof,Green River case Thurston school, Dahmer, heavens gate, waco

My fav reichblr topics: the Ardennes, ussr

INTERESTS: COF, fears to fathom, South Park, Family Guy, Elvira, Horror, chemistry, forensics, psychology, Law, Religion/politics, pop culture, sports (football/hockey), ACNH, bad movies

MOVIES/SHOWS: American psycho, South Park, The dirt, Zero day, documentaries, Legally blonde<3, Elvira mistress of the dark, Elvira haunted hills, Orphan, The spice girls movie, The exorcist, Mars Attacks, killer klowns from outer space, killer bong, scream, Texas chainsaw, 1000s corpses, 3 from hell, Thirteen Ghosts, Natural Born Killers,The Love Witch

LANGUAGES: English, German, CAN French, Czech, learning Latin

MY MUSIC: Ayesha, KMFDM, Rammstein, Korn, motley, afourteen, lil darkie, Taylor Swift, Brittany spears, darkthrone, LDR, mortician, Mayday parade, falling in reverse, get scared, Amber pacific, MCR, Kanye, Tyler the creator, usher, avenged sevenfold, old P!ATD, fall out boy, paramore, metallica, PTV, Def leppard, iron maiden, rob zombie, slayer, ozzy, immortal, pathology, Siouxxie and the banshees, Bauhaus, this cold night, depeche mode, sisters of mercy, party cannon, Carpathian Forest, Taking back Sunday, The millionaires, KESHA!!, dance Gavin dance, Molchat Doma, Christian D3ath, Forever the sickest kids, NOFX, alexisonfire, Bad Religion, Tiger army, ASKING ALEXANDRIA!!, the used

FUTURE ATTORNEY<3!!

⚠️ I AM NOT A NAZ! OR A DAMN THR3AT TO SCHOOLS

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Untitled By Ramin Hossaini

* * * *

Big Sur Diptych I: Summer Solstice The Red Bull/The Psalm-Singers The Big Sur Diptychs were written in the early 1980s when for more than eighteen months solitude meant a backpacking tent perched on a cliff almost half a mile above the Pacific Ocean. Although the human context below was fraught, the time on the mountain stands out in my memory for its simple happiness, spaces of freedom from anxiety, moments of terror—a density of glory that burns there like a jewel of the night. * * * Big Sur is one of the wildest, most spectacular coasts in the world. It runs some eighty miles down the edge of California from Carmel to San Luis Obispo. There are no power lines for much of its length, and telephones are unreliable. In some places the road is two-lane only by name: sections of it are forever falling into the sea, or buried by landslides from the mountains that rise straight from the ocean floor and overhang it. Some slides take years to clear. These slides cut off the sparse population from north-south communication, and the single east-west paved road over the coastal range can cause vertigo in the most intrepid. For nearly two years as health and circumstance allowed, I lived in a tent pitched on a south-facing slope twenty-three hundred feet above the sea, through all seasons of Big Sur’s Mediterranean climate. There were hurricane force winds that rolled monstrous waves unimpeded from Japan and smashed them against the cliffs with such force that the earth trembled; there were torrential rains, sleet and frost, and months-long stretches of calm sunshine. These were months refulgent with stillness and the leisure to be and to observe. I watched lizards catch moths, the seasonal flights of birds, weather forming over the broad bay, the changing angle of the sun in the slow evening as the molten sphere flamed its way down the vault of heaven to slip into a sapphire sea. At night I would be visited by ‘coons and foxes, and sometimes a mountain lion’s scream from nearby brush would shatter the dark. The faint roar of surf wafted upward through the silence; the slow, wheeling dance of constellations turned overhead. It sounds idyllic, and it was. But violating this chastity of wildness were flights of experimental aircraft and things that might not be so easily identified as aircraft flying low in the dark, so low I could see the heads of the crews bathed in the red glow of flight decks. One of these craft, I know now, was a prototype of the B-1 bomber, but I will never forget that night when the strange whoosh of its engines jerked me from sleep, and I gazed in horrified fascination at the bizarre shape skimming the mountain at treetop level. In daylight hours B-52s patrolled high overhead, and sometimes the shriek of fighter-bombers—planes with tail configurations even a commercial airline captain could not identify—would ricochet off the sea and reverberate against the cliffs. Looking across the Pacific toward the rim of the world, I would see one or sometimes a small group of specks coming toward me flat out, two feet above the waves. In the moment you thought they would surely slam straight into the rock they would pull up, terrain-following. Only a few hundred feet horizontally from me they would howl past, bristling with missiles, gradually, then sharply, climbing to clear the peak that rose another twenty-five hundred feet, half a mile beyond my perch. I got to know the regulars among the pilots. We developed a strange, waving acquaintance, an eerie well-wishing between people dedicated to opposite ends and means. They knew I was a nun from my tunic and my location; I knew they carried nuclear weapons.

[by Maggie Ross]

[Thanks to “Alive On All Channels”]

[rachelroams]

Welcome to Tahiti… 🌴

A paradise that spans 118 islands across the South Pacific, promising sun, surf, and serenity.

🛩️ When I visited nearly a year and a half ago, I didn’t post any photos. I wrote an entire article for about my journey for @afarmedia, but aside from that, I ended up filing away the experiences on hard drives and in memory.

So, I’d love to share that journey with you in the days to come. ☺️

To tell *you* how to spend a week sailing crystalline seas⛵️; swimming with rays, whales, and lovely little reef sharks 🦈 ; watching the sun rise and set each day from a private catamaran; diving into local mythology, music, and dance; indulging in vanilla, and seafood, and produce straight from the islands; and watching master makers distill rum, harvest pearls, and command fire. 🔥

Stay tuned for more island sweetness, heading your way over the next couple of weeks — including tips on how to have this adventure yourself.

💛 What’s one place you’ve always dreamed of visiting?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ＲＡＣＨＥＬ ＲＵＤＷＡＬＬ (@rachelroams)

[theglitterdome]

Life Magazine - September 25, 1944

"Life asked Ginger Rogers to give a dream party for a G.I. Ginger asked seven other girls to come out to her Beverly Hills home and help out. Private John Farnsworth who served 3 years in the South Pacific, and is home recovering from malaria, was also glad to come. The girls fed Private Farnsworth, listened to his war stories, admired him, danced with him, and played games with him. It was a very enjoyable party, but don't count on it happening to you!"

Pvt. John Farnsworth covered in kisses by actresses. L to R: Lynne Baggett, Dolores Moran, Barbara Hale, Ginger Rogers, Gloria DeHaven, Chilli Williams, and Jinx Falkenburg

[kemakoshume]

Down by the River — Nanami Kento x Tiana (Disney)

Summary: In the early 1930s, Nanami embarks on a business trip to the South, where the Crescent City awaits. His journey begins with new connections and the enticing allure of Southern cuisine. America might not be so bad after all.

Tags: Crack Relationships, Crack Crossover, Crack Treated Seriously, Why Did I Write This?, Fluff, Business Trip, Alternate Universe - 1930s, Drinking & Talking, Comfort No Hurt

a/n: The fan edits got me. My Elsa x Jack Frost shipper is jumping out for this. I have to say... this is easily the most random thing I've ever written, but it helped break my writer's block, so woohoo! Write weird shit more often, y'all. Also posted on AO3.

America was Nanami’s least favorite place to travel.

Work had taken him all over. He’d seen all of Japan, every nook and cranny—old and new. He’d been to China more times than he could count; his Cantonese was better now than before, and he could make his way around without an attendant. Asia was his domain; he’d grown used to recognizing the surnames and affiliations that mattered, what gestures were niceties in one place, and a way to get mowed down in a fit of rage in another.

America was a different beast altogether. It was a wild and enigmatic land that kept Nanami perpetually on edge and consistently uneasy in his own skin. The places were chaotic—New York and San Francisco. Wall Street and Pacific Heights, most often. Two opposing coasts, filled to the brim with people capitalizing most on those with the least.

White-collar crime and cocaine—that was what Nanami knew of the States. It made him wish he hadn’t learned English; he wouldn’t have to live with as much as he knew if he hadn’t.

Despite not liking it, he’d grown used to it though—the coasts and the insanity that happened on each of them.

The South, in contrast, was wholly unfamiliar territory. He’d never been and wasn’t quite sure what to expect as the steamboat continued down the river, churning water and whistling every few minutes as it continued down the path. He'd heard of the common things: the chambermaids and the sharecropping, the stark divide.

Asia had its things, too, though, so he tried not to judge. He was headed to New Orleans for one simple thing: to meet with the sugar baron and solidify a trade deal. His sugar for their textiles.

Simple, tedious. Safer than sorcery.

The ride into the city was surprisingly comfortable. He lounged in a reclined chair on the deck, his eyes hidden behind shades that concealed his exhaustion from the arduous journey across borders—across seas. The sky painted itself in alluring hues of lavender and rose, casting a serene glow over the waters of the Mississippi, like spilled oil paint.

The air hung heavy with the scent of magnolia blossoms, their perfume an intoxicating blend of sweetness and decay. Spanish moss, soft as bundles of silk, swayed languidly from the cypress trees that lined the riverbank, caressed by the gentle breeze.

The Crescent City, that’s what his boss had called it. The birthplace of jazz.

Nanami couldn’t say he wasn’t intrigued by the prospect of it.

"Please collect your belongings, everyone," a petite deckhand announced, dressed in long corduroy trousers and a cute puffed hat. "We'll be docking in port in five minutes."

Nanami adjusted his glasses, straightening out the legs of his slacks as he made his way to the port side of the boat and watched the city come into view along with the sound. The bustling swing of music was expected, but Nanami hadn't anticipated enjoying it so much. The masterful wail of saxophones, the sultry croon of trumpets, and the deep, resonant throb of bass greeted him as he filed off the boat.

Other men exited the boat before him. Some wore business suits, while others wore Navy uniforms, and a few were in Army attire. Most bobbed their heads along to the music, while some outright danced. People lined the port, leaning on the ropes to catch a glimpse of the arrivals they'd come down to the harbor to greet and welcome home.

The city had a vibe reminiscent of New York, perhaps, but it felt more homey. It felt good in his soul.

"Hello, gentlemen. Good to see you all safe and sound!"

Among the welcoming crowd, a young woman stepped forward with a beaming smile, scanning the group until she spotted Nanami, skipping over to him. Her big blue eyes shone as she looked up at him, tilting her body to get a good look at his face. “You must be Kento, right?” Nanami nodded. She must be the daughter. "Wonderful! My name's Charlotte," she introduced herself, coupled with a sweet giggle. "You can call me Lottie, though. Everybody does."

Nanami tipped his head in a subdued bow, a gesture that the American women found charming.

“Pleased to meet you, Lottie.”

She smiled like a young girl, all cherry pink cheeks and tight lips. It was cute, demure in a way that spelled immaturity rather than modesty.

Not Nanami’s type.

“My daddy told me to come ‘round here to collect you. Is this all you brought with you?” She pointed to his briefcase and the small musette bag on his shoulder. He nodded again. “That’s light. Are you hungry? Have you eaten? That Trans-Pacific is a long way’s journey to get here. I bet you’re starving.”

Nanami hummed, acknowledging her observation. "I could eat. It's been a long day."

"A long few months, I reckon." Lottie placed a comforting hand on his back, gently steering him further into the bustling city. "My good friend works at this little ol’ restaurant down on Lafayette Street. It's just a hop, skip this way, and we can get you some good eatin'. Have you had Cajun before?"

Lottie's words tumbled out rapidly, but Nanami managed to keep up. He shook his head, allowing her to guide him through the lively streets.

"Oh, you're in for a treat then. This here is the best food you'll ever have. Just wait until you try a beignet." She playfully wiggled her brows, her enthusiasm infectious.

Though Nanami didn't understand the term "beignet," he took her excitement as a promising sign. "Whatever tastes good, I'll try."

"That's the spirit!" Lottie gave his suit jacket a friendly pat as they weaved through the crowd, exchanging greetings with any familiar faces she spotted.

“Here we are, mister. Hope you brought a loose pair of britches 'cause you’ll need ‘em.”

Nanami looked up at the building, taking off his shades to read the chalk writing fixed onto the side.

Duke’s. Charming.

The ambiance inside was a perfect mirror of the outdoors. People packed in from wall to wall, and the music from just outside the rear of the restaurant wafted inside, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.

“Let’s go sit you down at the bar, get a nice cold one and some grub in that belly. Tiana!”

He sat, slipping off his jacket to drape it across his seat, while his glasses found a home on the bartop. His bag hit the floor with a thud as he dropped it to rest between his feet.

“Hey, Lottie,” a sweet voice floated from the kitchen, followed by the source of it. The woman—slim-figured with rich brown skin—gave Nanami pause. She was beautiful, not unlike many of the women he’d met with her complexion over the years, but she was more, in a way.

Perhaps it was the curls. Nanami had developed a liking for women with thick, coily curls. They framed her face exquisitely.

“Hey, Tia. This is Kento.” Lottie placed a hand on Nanami’s chest as she introduced him. "He's a business friend of Daddy's. Take good care of him for me, will you? I have some business to attend to myself while Daddy’s out at the shooting range."

Lottie winked, and Tiana—Tia, as she called her—responded with a gentle smile.

“Can do,” she assured Lottie before turning her gaze to Nanami. “Give me one second, sugar, and I’ll be right with you.”

Nanami nodded, settling into his seat. A group of soldiers occupied the other end of the bar, rowdy as they sang unfamiliar songs. There was a little curse lazing on the bartop, slumbering against one of the soldier’s arms—surprisingly harmless.

He left it alone.

“Have a nice meal, Mr. Kento. I’ll be ’round to come get you a little later tonight,” Lottie purred with a natural pout, her lips reminiscent of a porcelain doll's. “Don’t have too much fun without me, y’all.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Tiana replied with a warm smile, disappearing into the kitchen to retrieve a full round of plates.

She moved through the bustling restaurant with a graceful rhythm, her deft hands skillfully balancing trays filled with tantalizing cuisine—Creole, Nanami assumed from the building sign. He couldn’t quite understand the difference between that and Cajun, but all the food that passed his nose smelled heavenly all the same.

The spice that clung to the food was present in the air, pleasantly familiar, like the hawker centers in Singapore or the night markets in Taiwan. He still harbored dreams of visiting Malaysia, indulging in street food, experiencing Mamak stalls, exploring mosques, and paying his respects to the land.

His boss informed him he was slated to go to Germany next, for what he didn’t yet know. He could dream about Malaysia in the meantime.

He took out his pocket notebook to jot the thought down.

“Order up!”

Nanami followed Tiana's graceful movements with his eyes, catching glimpses of each dish she served, the way she bantered with the other patrons and had every man in the place hanging off of each word. Her presence was striking and commanding—a woman in charge.

That’s what it was—what made her so beautiful. She was a woman. The kind Nanami did like.

The meticulous care she took in plating the food made it as visually inviting as the enticing aroma was to his senses. Her apron bore the telltale signs of ware of a kitchen in perpetual motion, a fragrant cloud carrying the essence of spices and sweetness floating around her.

As she passed by him their eyes met, and a knowing smile graced her lips.

“So, you’re from out of town, huh?” she said, tawny brown eyes looking up at him through wispy lashes. She cleaned a mug, stuck in a constant stream of motion that made it hard for Nanami to look away.

Nanami nodded, and she placed the cup under the beer dispenser, pouring him a tall glass.

“Thank you,” he acknowledged, accepting the beer when she set it in front of him, accompanied by a shaker of flavored salt.

“How far out of town?”

Nanami hummed thoughtfully, trailing his fingers through the condensation dampening the sides of his mug.

“Asia. Here on business.”

“You’re from Asia?” Tiana's eyes sparkled with intrigue as though she were solving a puzzle. “Which part? Can I guess?”

Nanami jerked one shoulder. “Go ahead.”

“Maybe the Philippines?” she ventured, passing around more beers. “Lots of business types love the Philippines. The soldiers never shut up about it.”

Nanami quirked a brow, aware of why soldiers held such fondness for the Philippines. “No,” he replied, hiding a smile behind his cup. “Try again.”

“China?”

“Nope,” Nanami stated before taking another sip. “Been there a lot, mainly Hong Kong. I’m not from there, though.”

“Japan?” she guessed, her eyes squinting, her brow raised.

Nanami thumped his finger against the glass with a soft clink, clink, clink. “Japan.”

Her triumphant smile was indeed beautiful, with pretty teeth providing a striking contrast against the fullness of her lips and the warm tone of her skin.

“Got a wife hidden over there or something?” she teased, a sweet smirk gracing her lips. “How many kids?”

“No kids, no wife,” Nanami responded softly, feeling the tension in his body from the long journey. “My maternal grandfather was half Dutch, half something else. My grandmother was Japanese, and my mom married a European man in Japan. They stayed there my whole life, so… Japanese.”

“Fascinatin’. What business brings you here? If you can tell me. First time?”

“I can,” Nanami said, taking a few more gulps. The beer tasted different than what he’d had before in the States, less malty and a hint sweeter. “It’s my first time in Louisiana, but not America in general. I’m here meeting another businessman—sugar cane.”

“Ah, that explains Charlotte. I thought she’d just taken a liking to you; she’s always good at finding the handsome ones.”

Nanami perked up at that, a hint of a smile gracing his lips, fueled by the warmth of the beer. Tiana, with practiced ease, poured him another glass.

“I’m handsome, then?”

Tiana rolled her eyes. “You know you are, with your dapper suit and those eyes. Women must throw themselves at you.”

Nanami tilted his head, a little maybe present in the motion. He didn’t indulge nearly as often as he could.

“Have you met Big Daddy yet?” Tiana questioned, and Nanami almost spit out his beer.

He knew enough of what American women liked to call men that they fancied. He’d never heard the term out in the wild, though.

“Oh, excuse me. Eli La Bouff,” Tiana clarified with a teasing laugh, her lips even prettier when she smiled. “Lottie’s father. She calls him Big Daddy, usually. You’ll see why when you do meet him.”

Nanami nodded, a soft chuckle passing through his teeth. People in the South were different, then. Lighter, more hospitable.

Tiana leaned in closer to the bar, narrowing the space between them as she addressed Nanami. “You look hungry. What can I get started for you, sugar?”

Nanami met her gaze, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Surprise me," he replied, his voice low and smooth. “I prefer savory, but I’m craving something a little sweet.”

Tiana hummed, tapping her chin. “How about blackened salmon with a sweet bourbon glaze, red beans and rice, and piping hot Andouille sausage and chicken gumbo to get you started? We’ll pair it with zucchini, corn maque choux, slow-cooked collard greens, mac and cheese, with some fresh beignets to top you off for dessert,” she said, leaning over to glance at Nanami's stomach, subtly assessing the fit of his dress shirt against his well-defined physique, “if you have any room, that is. How’s that sound?”

“That sounds divine,” Nanami said, solely because of the silky tone Tiana said every word with, not because he knew what any of the dishes were. “You make everything sound good.”

“I made the recipes, so it will be.” She smiled; Nanami returned it. “Wait here, get comfy. You have a long journey ahead of you.”

Nanami leaned back slightly in his seat, his eyes following as she went to put his order in with the kitchen. It was then that he noticed a little curse on her back, small—the size of a quarter. It was the curse of abundance. Blessed for riches through hardship.

A lucky curse, Geto would have called it.

Nanami left it alone, too, sipping his beer as he waited for his food.

He couldn't help but smirk to himself; Tiana’s words took root in his mind. So did she, it seemed.

Do not perceive me for this 🙈 Come say hi on Twitter!

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Inside Climate News:

On a misty December morning, a few dozen sandhill cranes stood in shallow water in the middle of a flooded rice field in the Sacramento Valley, about 90 miles north of San Francisco. The cranes, statuesque wading birds with a long, elegant neck and broad wings, appeared remarkably still for a gregarious species known for their dramatic dance moves. 

Sandhill cranes jump several feet in the air as they kick their lanky legs helter-skelter, bow their heads and flap wings that span six to seven feet in a spectacular display associated with courtship and bonding between mated pairs. But the birds in the middle of the field did not even move. They were decoys, made of plastic. Still, they fooled one ecologist, from a distance at least. 

More importantly, the decoys, aided by recordings of the crane’s otherworldly squawks—described by legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold as the “trumpet in the orchestra of evolution”—attracted a few flesh-and-blood birds to their side. It was a good sign for ecologists working to create new roost sites for species that need every inch of habitat they can get. 

Sandhill cranes return to the same spots every year, so seeing some birds roosting with the decoys is “very exciting,” said Greg Golet, an avian ecologist with The Nature Conservancy who helps run a program to expand wetland habitat for migratory species called Bird Returns. 

The Central Valley is one of the most important regions of the Pacific Flyway for cranes and other waterbirds to overwinter or rest and refuel on their way further south. It supports hundreds of resident and migratory species that come here from breeding grounds as far north as the Arctic tundra. 

Migratory birds evolved over millennia to depend on the food-rich habitat provided by the vast expanse of both permanent and seasonal wetlands that once stretched hundreds of miles from the Sacramento Valley in the north to the Tulare Basin in the south. It took little more than a century after California became a state in 1850 for urban and agricultural development, supported by a massive irrigation and flood control network, to drain more than 90 percent of the valley’s wetlands.

Protecting wild birds and the vanishing native ecosystems they depend on has left ecologists scrambling to create as much habitat as possible, where and when migrating birds need it most.

Toward that end, Bird Returns, part of the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership between The Nature Conservancy, Audubon California and Point Blue Conservation Science, offers farmers incentives to adopt practices that support the birds’ foraging and roosting needs on agricultural fields that replaced wetlands.

Bird Returns uses funds provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to pay farmers to flood their fields during critical migration periods, said Andrea Jones, Audubon California conservation director. “In spring and fall, we put out a bid to farmers and duck club owners to flood fields when shorebirds are coming to the Central Valley and are looking everywhere for water,” Jones said. “We’ve flooded tens of thousands of acres over the last two years that way.”