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setaripendragon · 6 months ago

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So I'm still on this daemon AU kick, and I can't stop thinking.

What are the limits?

It's generally accepted that a daemon is an animal representation of the soul, right? So, you know, we've got birds and mammals and reptiles and insects.

But what about fish?

Obviously there's an issue here of, you know, environment, and if your soul literally can't survive in the air while you literally can't survive in the water, there's a problem.

But, hey, if it's small enough, you could have a little fishbowl for your daemon to live in. Hamster ball, but filled with water, rolling along at your heels. Fishtank on wheels that get tricked out like dudebros soup up their car. And maybe, if you're from a particularly sea-faring culture/lifestyle a water-bound mammal like a dolphin or an orca could make sense. And then there's things like sharks, which have so much symbolism attached to them that it seems a real shame to have to rule them out. (Someone who's particularly driven or ambitious having a daemon that would literally die if it stopped moving is a bit of symbolism I'm going a bit feral for, tbh.)

I think we have to rule out the deep sea creatures, unfortunately. Fishbowls and/or living on a boat wouldn't really solve the problem of pressure, and someone with a blobfish daemon would, uh... be in trouble.

And if we're talking about things that can't survive in the same atmosphere as humans, what about internal parasites? Like flatworms. I think it's safe to say that having your daemon parasitizing your intestine kind of defeats the purpose of having an external manifestation of your soul, but... There are species of flatworm that aren't parasites, so... do we just rule out all flatworms, or are the non-parasitic ones okay?

And speaking of flatworms, what about size? I've read some fun stories that deal with the issues that might come from having, say, an elephant daemon. It's not quite as dramatic as the issues of having an aquatic daemon, but actually, similar adjustments would have to be made to your living situation to cope. But, of course, it could be done and I don't think anyone's trying to rule out animals on account of how big they are, but I think it's safe to say that microscopic daemons are out for the same reason that internal parasites have to be.

There's a nice solid rule I can settle on; a daemon has to be a visible animal.

And, in point of fact, I think it's safe to say it has to be an animal. We can rule out trees and plants and even fungi.

So what about coral?

It's an animal, and if we are allowing for some aquatic daemons, then should coral be an option? Or are its vibes too plant-like to qualify? Do we rule out sessile animals like we ruled out microscopic ones? As much as I find the idea of a coral daemon absolutely hilarious, I am going to come down on the side of animals that are too much like plants are a no.

So a daemon has to be a visible, mobile animal.

But what about the ones that only move very slowly? I don't think we're ruling out sloths, but in the continuing vein of torturing myself considering various aquatic daemons, there's starfish and sea urchins and hell, even most bivalves can move at least a little, right? (Correct me if I'm wrong, I haven't done that research yet.) And there's a lot of fun symbolsim to be had, there, I think.

And what about extinct creatures?

I think it's safe to say that mythical creatures are a no-go, unless this is a 'verse where those animals are real, (oh, boy wouldn't that confuse people in a world like HP where most people think dragons and unicorns aren't real, but people still wander around with dragon and unicorn daemons) so we can ammend our rule to visible, mobile, real animals, but could we go so far as extant?

If yes, that would have interesting world-building implications. Where's the cut-off point? Can we rule out dinosaurs because we don't/didn't have enough information for a daemon to settle into a form that wouldn't be technically mythical? But then, what about animals that go extinct within human history? What about all the people who had mammoth daemons or dodo daemons as those animals were dying out.

Would conservationists study daemon statistics to see if an animal has really gone extinct? Would an animal's extinct status get over-turned when a kid's daemon settled into that form? Honestly, I like this enough that I've convinced myself that, at least barring some very unique circumstances, extinct animals are not allowed.

So, it has to be a visible, mobile, extant animal. That can exist in proximity to humans.

Oh, and should probably add; visible, mobile, extant, and non-sapient.

You can't have a human daemon, or an elf or a dwarf or a fairy daemon even if they exist in that world, and if this is a 'verse with dragons who're more than just exotic magical animals, you can't have a dragon daemon. (Obviously, if your fairies are more like magical bugs than tiny people, then fairies would be a valid daemon.)

...I'm still on the fence about whether a daemon should have to be air-breathing or not. That kind of rule would still leave marine mammals available for the fun world-building of how people adapt to that kind of handicap. (...Do you think people with aquatic daemons would be considered disabled? Oooh, what about people with really big daemons? I mean, presuming such a thing is comparatively rare, people probably wouldn't be building schools with a mind to allowing elephants or giraffes to wander the corridors.)

Disclaimer! This is for my own creative process, and not intended to limit anyone else's creative flair. And, honestly, I'd love to hear other people's takes on what does and doesn't qualify for a daemon.

#daemon AU #writerly ramblings #just thinking my thoughts out loud

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tinydefector · 3 months ago

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Marine Centre 5 - Merformers AU

Word count: 3.8k

Warnings: information over the Oceanides.

_________________

Information For readers over names for the Bots

Optimus - Big Blue

Megatron - The Meg

Bumblebee - Babybee/ beebee

Starscream - Screech

Sideswipe - Cherry

Sunstreaker- Shimmer

Shockwave - Reaper

Jazz - Slip

Ironhide - Buffy

Ratchet - Nemo

Soundwave - Echo

Windblade - Ladybird

Prowl- Scar

Beachcomber - Murri

Rodimus - Firefin

Smokescreen - Slim Dusty

Bluestreak - Angelfish

Mirage - Magic

Drift - Siren

Pharma - Snapper

Chromedome - Phantom

Rewind - Dinky

Whirl - Titanic

Swindle - Dio

Vortex - Spade

Onslaught - Korn

Brawl - Badma

Blast Off - Diamite

Kup - Sarge

Rung - Shrimp

The parings of who is the parents of who for some of the younger members

Rodimus - Optimus & Ratchet

Bluestreak - Prowl & Jazz

Sunstreaker & Sideswipe - Ironhide & Jazz

Smokescreen - Prowl & Optimus

Mirage - Beachcomber & Optimus

Bumblebee - Optimus & unknown

Cassettes - Soundwave & Shockwave & Blaster

Tarn - Megatron & Soundwave

Sunstorm - Starscream & Sunstreaker

Cassettes - Blaster & Tracks & Soundwave

Novastorm - Skywarp & Megatron

______________________________________________________________________

PHYSICAL EXAM / TREATMENT RECORD: The Meg

Species: Oceanides. Sex: Hermaphrodite/ Pod Bull

Age: 50+yrs

Recent illness/injury: lacerations to head and stomach/ bite wounds to arm. Injuries received from altercations with Big blue ( The Meg was the Aggressor), believed to be due to feeding. Wounds still have not headled due to scratching.

Behaviour: Temperamental, calmer

PHYSICAL EXAM Examined by: [Redacted]

time:6:20am

Date: 2/07/XXXX

Wt 269.52 Kg. Temp 24.8°c

GA:

Dark grey, light grey with red markings, fins and gills are red . Larger than any of the Oceanides in the centre. Eyes: red

INTEG: covered in many scars from territory fighting, feeding, and mating.

External Parasites: none

RAVS Animal Condition Score: good

Reason for RAC Score assigned: the Meg has healed rather well from his wounds due to medication in his food.

Addtl Comments: The Meg is ready to be let back out to the pods, request that he be supervised as to not gain more injuries.

________________________________________________________________

PHYSICAL EXAM / TREATMENT RECORD: Cherry

Species: Oceanides. Sex: Hermaphrodite

Age: 30+yrs

Recent illness/injury: scale Rot on running up tail and fins

Behaviour: hyper, Social.

PHYSICAL EXAM Examined by: Xxxx

time:7:34am

Date: 2/07/XXXX

Wt 421.32 Kg. Temp 24.2°c

GA:

Red, black and Grey Oceanide. Eyes: blue

INTEG: scales have been showing success with the new treatment

RAVS Animal Condition Score: good

Reason for RAC Score assigned: to be released from Pool 2.

Addtl Comments from (Doctor Bayley Quin: Cherry seems to be doing much better now.

______________________________________________________________________

Requesting documentation on Oceanide pod habits behaviours and families. As of recently many of the Oceanides that frequent the Yawk-Yawk centre have taken a rather intriguing interest in one of the handlers here.

We want to study it more as we believe the Pods themselves have accepted [Redacted] into the pods as some sort of honorary member due to us having to intervene with a pup. His information will be added to email.

Babybee/ Beebee is the only surviving Oceanide pup from last season, Big blue is we believe the sire of the pup. But due to unknown reasons the pup had become rather ill and on the brink of death when we received him. Brought in by Big Blue, it's the first truth communication we have had with them. Beebee was placed into medical care under my supervision and handled by [Redacted] as a full time carer. But developments have surfaced amongst the rest of the Oceanides since the pup has been released back to the pods, many of them have taken quite an interest in [Redacted], singing to them and following them around.

Our most recent trip out to the reef for samples resulted in one of the Oceanides quite literally dragging [Redacted] out of the Ocean and dropping them back on the boat. It left many of us stunned, but to follow that up said Oceanide. I believe [Angelfish] came back afterwards with a small collection of seashells, coral and rocks. I'm mainly requesting the information for [Redacted] to read through and have some more understanding.

-Dr Bayley Quin Yawk-Yawk Marine

____________________________________________________________________

Dr Quin, Myself and many others at California Oceanide Research are rather fascinated with this news. We ask that you keep us updated on these pods that have made themselves at home at your centre. As we only have 2 pods that we have currently tagged and have been studying their migration patterns. Any information you can share with us would be greatly appreciated, but to follow up your request I'll attach all the known information we have over the Oceanides Habits, mating, pods and society.

Please keep us updated on this Pup and the caretaker as this is the first time we have ever heard of such a thing.

- Dr Christian Bale, California OR.

Attached documents

Oceanides: New Insights

Pups:

Reach full size at age: 3 years, though continue learning from elders and Parental for several years more

Nursed and cared for solely by mother for the first 2 years can change depending on the circumstances. [Added information. As you have stated Bee was put into [Redacted]’s care and most likely sees them as their mother that could be the reason the pod has taken to them, due to human intervention the pup survived and as such the pod treats them as a member of their family]

Oceanides form strong, lifelong bonds with pod members during early developmental period, even if they do split off from their pod they always know their siblings and parents

Pups observed closely mimicking behaviours of adult pod-mates from 2-4 years to develop skills, will follow very closely with their parents.

Grooming and touching behaviours help strengthen social bonds between pups and all pod members

Pups remain within natal pod's protected waters until they reach three years of age, learning skills/culture from elders. Strong social bonds and inter-pod cooperation aids collective survival.

Inter-Pod Relations:

Pods comprise variably sized familial units, often 6-15 individuals. Members can consist of a mix of pod members varying from parents and pups to strangers, Oceanides also very consistently move from pods. Such as an adolescent spawn of other members will leave their pod to join another.

Regular, peaceful interactions observed between adjacent pods some will even form into a mega pod [as you have described the pods at Yawk-Yawk.]

Pods often approach and observe one another’s activities from a distance with no aggression, and over time will become social with each other.

Exchanging soft vocalisations, nudges, and caresses help reinforce cooperative relations between each other.

Like humans some Oceanides just don't like each other, Don't Force interactions between them. Oceanides will hold grudges.

Younger pod members especially engaged in play behaviours to develop hunting/defence skills, socialise and bond with other members.

Gifting of small items, shells, pebbles, sea glass, food etc. appears a gesture of courting, friendship and trust between pods. It varies depending on the member as some will gift items for many reasons.

Benefits of allied pods include access to larger ranges, combined protections, and potential for interbreeding to support genetic diversity.

Multi-pod alliances appear to form for protection during migrations or when young are present

Territory & Resources:

Each pod maintains boundaries of its own hunting/feeding grounds through regular patrols. Some will converge if said pods decide to merge together

Boundaries appear flexible based on prey availability and pod size, Pods observed sharing access to migrating prey or allowing transient members to pass without conflict, when pups are within pods others will come to aid If one pod is in need of assistance.

Resources like tidal feeding pools, kelp forests and shipping lanes consciously avoided to minimise human contact

Communication:

Complex communication between the species varies from echolocation, visual/tactile cues similar to sign language. Whistles/clicks, hisses, snarls rumbles. The best description is that they communicate similarly to whales, Dolphins and also humans. It's a strange thought to see such intelligence in marine life but it makes sense why there are so many myths and legends over Merfolk when Oceanides fit that description.

Whistles/echolocation used for coordinating hunts, alerting of intruders, and social bonding

Distress calls signify need for aid; all pod members converge quickly on young or injured

Certain melodic patterns distinguish individuals, while locations and pod identifiers changing over time

Calls from affiliated pods elicited faster response than strangers, demonstrating recognition

Variations in Whistles:

Pitch and melody identify, age, social rank and individual pod-mates

Changes made over time suggest an evolving dialect within communities

Distress whistles cut across dialects, eliciting a universal response from all oceanides

Echolocation:

Clicks map surroundings, locate prey and pod-mates even in zero visibility

Call patterns and frequencies differentiate objects, threats and each other

Echolocating pups heard learning adult mapping techniques through mimicry

Tactile Communication:

Nudges, embraces and petting convey bonding, reassurance and request behaviours

Bites remain very rare even in play-fighting, finessed to avoid breaking skin. Biting is mainly used in mating.

Gentle herding of young with fins or nudges of nose guide without aggression

Visual Cues:

Postures, gestures and flank markings manipulated for clear messages

Fins, frills, gills and tail positioned express interest, dominance, submission or anger depending on position, mainly used when conveying a very clear message. [We work off these displays as they are much more visual for us to understand]

The sophistication of this system is breathtaking. You would think such skilled communicators would easily outmanoeuvre threats, yet humans have too often posed dangers all the same. But they are such beautiful and strange creatures.

Through long-term census data and pod identification methods, we are gaining a fuller picture of local oceanide communities along with equating them with Trackers as we do Sharks:

Numbers & Distribution:

An estimated merged pod can have up to 35-40 inhabit the coastline reserve boundaries

Average pod size is 7-15 individuals, though numbers fluctuate seasonally

Largest pods reside in more sheltered coastal areas with abundant food sources

Smallest numbers use outer reefs and current-heavy zones that limit prey accessibility

Kinship Networks:

Multi-generational lineages traced back over a century within dominant pods

Extended families compromise over 30% of some pods, with 3-4 generations present in pods our oldest known Oceanides marked are. Sarge and Shrimp.

Grandparents and older siblings play key roles in pup-rearing and teaching skills, it's the reason so many pods converge during mating season. It gives the young the opportunity to meet their other family members and learn.

Reproduction:

Birthing peaks in late spring/early summer when nutrients are highest within the ocean

Litter sizes average 2 pups but can vary, As of recently the number in offspring have began declining dramatically.

Pod alliances and extended groups help care for newest generations

Sexual maturity reached at 7-10 yrs. Mating occurs yearly during seasonal estrus. Due to the Oceanides being a Hermaphrodite species they can all carry but only a select few will. Oceanides give live birth to 1-2 pups, bearing full parenting responsibilities for the first 3 years as the pups grow and learn amongst their pods.

Oceanides are like humans when it comes to relationships, some are monogamous keeping with only one mate while others have multiple, we believe that they understand the need for breeding diversity.

Migration Patterns:

Winter months see some pods join seasonal Southern movements for warmer waters

Elders or bulls especially guide these migrations, ensuring safety of pups and injured members

It's been noticed that many oceanides take to the Waters of Australia due to how hot the climate tends to be yearly.

Problem-Solving:

Tool use observed, such as twisting kelp to trap prey or navigating obstacles

Innovative foraging methods invented, then adopted cross-generationally

Escape tactics and defensive manoeuvres against threats continually refined

Use of rocks and shells as tools, they have started watching the way humans fish on the reefs.

As I review the latest documentation on oceanide behaviours, something catches my eye regarding interactions between pods. It seems the exchanging of gifts, especially among younger members, may take on additional significance:

Courting & Bonding Displays:

Selecting and presenting small items to another appears to function as courtship behaviour

Pebbles, shells and coral exchanged suggest interest in forming a bonded pair

Close observations note gifts given more frequently by sexually mature oceanides to their preferred partners

Acceptance of such tokens usually elicits affectionate touching as bonding is assessed

One-on-one play also increases between potential mates as compatibility is tested

If the pairing proves well-matched, courtship gifts may lead to breeding that season

This level of organisation and care for their own speaks to a deeply attuned social intelligence, as you well know. They are highly intelligent .Overall, their sophisticated societies have clearly evolved for safety, community and preservation of oceanide ways. With ongoing study and habitat protection, I am hopeful we can help them prosper. Let me know if any other areas of research could further our understanding. While more research is needed, observations suggest oceanides thrive within complex societal structures reliant on familial bonds, respect between pods. Non-violent resolutions to disputes, cooperation in caring for the young, all contribute to flourishing populations. Continued protection and monitoring will aid in preserving these remarkable beings and relationships integral to their well-adapted survival. As always, your insights into their behaviours are invaluable, more so over their honorary pod-mate.

______________________________________________________________________

a snarl leaves Bluestreak as he is hauled before the gathering by a livid Prowl, the young mer thrashes against his captor's unyielding grip. "Let me go! I did nothing wrong, I was only-"

Prowl snarls, denta bared. "Offering courting gifts to an OUTSIDER? Have you lost all sense, pup!" Prowl was furious at his offspring, he knew Bluestreak was a dreamer who took after Jazz but this was beyond stupid for him.

Bluestreak's fins flares defiantly. "IWwas trying to say sorry for disturbing their hun-,"

But Prowl cuts him off with a vicious Snarl as he frills up. "Enough! I'll not have any of my kin besmirch our ways with such deviance and fraternisation with Softskins!"

"Prowl, stand down!" Optimus rumbles, shooting Bluestreak a warning look. "We are all on edge as seasons turn and choices narrow...but violence will avail nothing." He rumbled moving closer to the puffed up white and black mer.

The other youngsters watch on, shooting each other's looks. Bluestreak sulks but meets his calm gaze stubbornly. "It was only a token of gratitude, nothing more," he insists with a low growl. His own fins flat against his frame

"The big fry-brain snatched me before I could thank them properly for disbanding the Firefish!" Bluestreak shoots Prowl a harsh glare before facing Optimus again. "You said to yourself we'd see if an outsider would bond with us. Was I not to start as any other would?"

Prowl scoffs derisively. "A Softskin? Don't be so foolish! Our ways are not theirs, nor their strange rituals and dalliances are our concern! Had it been any other i would let you make a fool of yourself But they are Bumblebees Carer Bluestreak, if anyone has claim over them it would be Optimus"

It makes the others stiffen hearing that Prowl wasn't against the idea but was against Bluestreak chasing after the one caring for Bumblebee. As one would be if it were one of the Pod caring for a pup.

“ Prow! Enough, do not bicker like hatchlings, I understand that everyone is on edge but No one has any claim on the Softones." It was the first time Optimus had really raised his voice over the subject. “finally growing a Dorsal Prime” Megatron's voice echoes as he moves to watch. Optimus ignores him but the silence could cut through the water.

“Megatron a word” he finally states shooting the large grey oceanide a look. Megatron grumbles but pushes himself up to swim beside the Prime.

Several bold youths cluster around their peer like darting tinfish, curiosity piqued by the tense exchange. " Blue are you crazy! Trying to get yourself in trouble!" prods Smokescreen, finned tail flickering. Mirage nudges in slyly. "I saw the trinket you left - a pretty parcel wrapped in seaweed. Someone's got their optics set on the fleshie!"

Nearby, Sunstreaker huffs dismissively. "Who cares about some fleshy?." But his field belies keen interest despite feigned disdain. “Sunny!” A voice calls out which has him spinning around in shock to see Sideswipe who he pulls into a hug. “Sides!” He calls while checking his twin with instant claws.

“Your back, did they hurt you?Are you alright?” He begins shooting questions at Sideswipe who just smiles. “ I'm great, glad they let you come see me while I was healing, but look!, no more rotting scales!” he exclaims while swimming around the others eagerly. “But what's this about Bluey And the softies?!”

Bluestreak squirms before the bombardment of questions, In truth Bluestreak liked how they were, brave and took out firefish, fearless of sharks, Was kind and sweet with Bumblebee and they played with him and when he called out to them despite the language barrier.

"Frags, I don't even know how to describe it," Bluestreak mutters, flustered by the barrage of questions. "They just seem...different from us, but not in a bad way."

He gestures vaguely. "They fearlessly hunt those venom fish on the reef and even play with the Sharks as we do. Their care for that little pup as one of us." He swishes his tail irritably. "I'm tired of being called deviant just because I see them as one of us. The elders are stuck viewing them as aliens, but I see a potential pod."

Intrigue glimmers in sly Skywarp's optic as the brazen plan forms. "If the elders want to cling to old ways, fine," he smirks. "But who says we have to follow their rules, huh?"

Smokescreen flashes a toothy grin. "It wouldn't take much to slip past their watch. We're not sparklings anymore - and I'll wager the softskins aren't so keen on being told who they can or can't bond with." As ever willful, Sunstreaker merely shrugs. "Do as you like. But I'll not be frolicking with soft meat." His gruff words.

"What if we break free and establish our own pod," Sideswipe hums thoughtfully, earning him a baffled look from Sunstreaker. Rodimus' perks up in glee. "At last, others see the logic in my proposal!." His exclaimes.

The beach is quiet this late at night, the rolling sound of the waves crashing, the scent of the salt in the air, it brings a sort of nostalgia of sitting on the beach eating fish and chips. The sand and water feels great on their feet as they walk. The twilight breezes soothe yet stir fresh turbulence within them. The days were strange, July was always an interesting season on the coast, some days were cold like it was meant to be for winter, other days it felt like it was a blaring December Summer.

Then from the dark sparkling deeps rings out a high pitched cry. familiar and tiny. Bee's chirps carry clearly, their head snapping towards the water, "Baby! What are you doing out here!" They gasp, running into the water as the pup swims quickly towards them.

They lean down and scooping the oceanide pup up Into their arms. "Where is your papa?" They ask worried, looking out across the water and waves for big blue. Bumblebee chirrups happily, tiny claws grasping tight to their damp clothes. He trills contentment at being held by them.

But at their query, the little one tilts his head curiously. "Pa...pa?" he tries to repeat, struggling with the syllables. Bee whirrs and whistles, tiny limbs gesturing eagerly out at the moon-dappled bay. Their eyes nearly bulge as they hear the little pup mimic their word. "Did you...holy shit, holy shit" they start, baffled and stunned. " Say Papa again baby" they whisper.

Bumblebee chirrs inquisitively at them wide little eyes looking up as he flashes them a toothy smile, "P...pah-pah?" stretching his vocalizer's limits as he attempts to mirror their words. It rolls clumsily from his vocabulators, yet resonates with curious joy.

Brightening as he earns another reaction, Bee burbles enthusiastically, "Papa! Papa papa!" Tiny claws grip even tighter, tiny frame wriggling with the delight of discovery of the words.

They stand there with Bee stunned as he babbles and Coos at them. "Omg, omg Baby, you're talking, look at you baby" they gush only to realise. This pup had just spoken a human word instead of the little melodies the oceanides did. "Where's your papa?" They ask softly. As if on cue A deep worried call comes from the ocean as Big Blue calls to him.

A reverberant call rings out across the waves then, sending rippling fathoms-deep - and Bee clicks knowingly at the sound calling out in his little melody. "Papa!" he chirrups, twisting in the human's hold to gesture eagerly out at the bay.

An answering thrill sounds, approaching swiftly through the surf. Big blue emerges, massive frame slowly surfaces near them. Bumblebee chatters rapidly.

Optimus' coos softly and settles when he sees them holding his pup. “hey there big blue” they call softly while trying to hand off bee back to his Sire. When He reaches to accept the pup however, Bee cries out in distress, eliciting a frown of confusion from his sire who rumbles softly at him.

They coos reassurance at the little pup, “come on baby you need to go to your papa” they hum while gently rocking him.

Optimus emits a low, questioning rumble. This defied all tradition - yet how could he ignore tradition and destroy his pup's joy? He adored them and after everything this Soft skin was like a carrier to Bee.

His eyes meet them, watching how they smile and coo at Bumblebee. but for his pup's happiness he would do anything, bumblebee deserved it after everything, and he wouldn't take that away from him.

A gasp leaves them as Optimus' webbed hand moves to touch their skin, a soft rumbling and thrilling leaves him as he as his claw traces their cheek. "You're so strange, yet my Bee seems bound to you." His voice is so soft as he looks at them.

"Never have I known a spark to form so fast between my kind and others. Yet when I called, he chirped for you, not me." Optimus shakes his helm slowly. "By our way, this should not be. But how can I rend him from joy, when you soothes his tiny soul?"

That's how the three end up sitting together in the shallows watching the waves and the stars. Optimus particularly curled around the human who has Bumblebee held in their arms as the pup babbles and Coos at them attempting more of their strange language trying to mimic more of their words.

Optimus rumbles softly as they recline, watching the water dance under the moon and stars. His large frame curls protectively around the human and Bee held lovingly within.

The pup burbles and chatters endlessly in his attempts to mirror their syllables. "P..a...p….a? B…uh-bu….h?" he coos up at the human, tiny facep scrunching with effort.

Optimus tilts his helm, regarding the scene with curiosity and quiet warmth. "Determined little spark, trying so hard." A sigh leaves him as he relaxes enjoying the peacefulness of laying there. "Carrier” Bumblebee coos softly to Optimus. As his little eyes meet the larger mer.

_______________________

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bestanimal · 2 months ago

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Round 2 - Arthropoda - Pycnogonida

(Sources - 1, 2, 3, 4)

Pycnogonida is a class containing one order: Pantopoda, which means “all feet.” A fitting name for creatures that seem to be made entirely of legs. Commonly called “Sea Spiders”, they are not spiders, nor are they arachnids, but are actually a sister group to all other living arthropods.

Pycnogonids live in most oceans. Most are tiny, living in relatively shallow water, though some can grow to be quite large in antarctic and deep waters. Some pycnogonids are so small that each of their muscles consists of a single cell. They have a proboscis which they use to suck nutrients from soft bodied invertebrates such as cnidarians, sponges, polychaetes, and bryozoans. They can also insert their proboscis into anemones, though this rarely kills the anemone. The pycnogonid digestive tract extends into their legs. They are segmented, with the first body segment (the cephalon) consisting of the proboscis, the ocular tubercle with up to 4 simple eyes, a pair of chelifores, a pair of palps, a pair of ovigers, and the first pair of walking legs. Ovigers are used for cleaning themselves, courtship, and caring for eggs and young. Nymphonidae is the only family where both the chelifores and palps (sensory organs) remain functional. In others, these limbs are reduced or absent, instead relying on a well-developed and flexible proboscis equipped with sensory bristles. Pycnogonids are usually comprised of eight walking legs, but the family Pycnogonidae includes species with ten, and the families Colossendeidae and Nymphonidae include species with up to twelve legs! While most species have up to 4 eyes, some deep-sea species lack them entirely. Pycnogonids do not have a traditional respiratory system, instead absorbing oxygen through their legs and diffusing it throughout their body via hemolymph. Their small, long, thin hearts beat vigorously at 90 to 180 beats per minute, creating substantial blood pressure. Their nervous system consists of a brain which is connected to two ventral nerve cords, which in turn connect to specific nerves. Like other arthropods, they molt their exoskeleton as they grow.

Pycnogonid reproduction involves external fertilization after a brief courtship involving the male stroking the larger female with his ovigers and receiving the eggs if she is responsive. The couple must adjust their position until the genital pores on their legs are perfectly aligned. Only males will care for eggs and young, and in some species only the males will have ovigers while the females do not, as these limbs are used mainly for carrying and cleaning the eggs. Larvae consist only of a head with chelifores, palps and ovigers. Extra segments and legs emerge as it grows into an adult. There are at least four different types of larvae. The typical protonymphon larva is most common, is free living and gradually turns into an adult. The encysted larva spends its larval days as a parasite, finding a host in a colony of polyps, burrowing into one, turning into a cyst, and not leaving the host until it has become a juvenile. The atypical protonymphon larva lives on or within a temporary host such as a clam or polychaete worm, does not encyst or otherwise harm their host, and leaves them as an adult. Lastly, the attaching larva hatches as an embryo and immediately clings to the legs of its father, only leaving once it has two or three pairs of its own walking legs.

The pycnogonid’s cerebral appendages are unique, not found anywhere else among arthropods, except in fossils like Anomalocaris. This could mean that pycnogonids are the last surviving (highly modified) members of an ancient stem group of arthropods that lived in Cambrian oceans.

Propaganda under the cut:

They are good dads. All of them. Perfect fathers made of legs.

Their leg arrangement allows them to move forward, backward, and sideways without turning their body.

The genus Colossendeis (image 2) includes the largest pycnogonids, which live in the ocean depths. Some of them are even bioluminescent! The largest is Colossendeis colossea which can reach a leg span of 70 cm (28 in). However, their body length, including proboscis and abdomen, only reaches 7 cm (2.8 in).

About 20% of the known species of pycnogonids live in Antarctica. The cold never bothered them anyway.

One known species, Ascorhynchus corderoi, is hermaphroditic, having both ovaries and testes.

#round 2 #animal polls #arthropoda

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satoruxx · 2 months ago

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who do you think would be more devoted, satoru, suguru or shoko?

oh em gee hi nonnie :333 it's been a milennia since i got a sashisu ask so i'm VERY sorry for the novel !!

well.... i think they all have their moments but most devoted would probably be suguru. AND I WILL EXPLAIN WHY !!!!

i just think suguru tends to be very selfish when it comes to love. not like.. in a bad way... but to him love means that he has already given himself to you completely. he expects it to be understood that his love runs so deep he physically cannot fathom letting you go. suguru has always been extremely loyal to what's his—whether that be his morals or his friends. i think he puts a lot of value into making connections. so for him, when it comes to love, i think he would be very steadfast in it—often finding it difficult to disentangle himself from those emotions. and i feel like that depth is what makes him the most likely to become obsessive over devotion. (like... cult leader suguru would become so fixated on the idea of devoting himself to you that it can start becoming almost parasitic) basically, suguru could absolutely devote himself completely to you, and in a normal relationship that translates into extreme and fierce loyalty. but any kind of toxic or twisted dynamic and that's turning obsessive and probably too emotionally dependent.

satoru is definitely devoted but in a very generous way. he can love you so deeply but be alright with letting you go. to him, that's the biggest act of love he can commit. he sees a lot of drawbacks in letting you be with him, so he would much rather devote himself from afar and let you live a life he probably cannot give you. in other words, his emotional investment in you may not always come across as fully attentive because his perception of dedication can be too focused on what he deems is best. satoru's devotion plays on a fine line between his loyalty to you and his loyalty to his own ideas. he has such a strong connection to his own ideals that once he perceives something, he will always do what he feels is best in that situation. the problem is that might not be the most pleasant thing for you—but if he thinks you're better off with someone else he will let you go. (see i don't think suguru would be able to do that. suguru will never be able to give you up.)

shoko's devotion is the most subtle, but i think it would be the most stable. it might take her a while to get to that stage (i don't think it's as easy for her to fall into obsession compared to the other two) but she will be dedicated to you. shoko may not be the most expressive, but she is the most emotionally grounded. she has always shown consistent loyalty to things she values, so i think her devotion to you would be dependable and pretty nurturing. i also think she has a very mature perspective on her relationship with you, and she'd be more concerned with creating and maintaining that bond. so basically... i think she'd be the most consistently devoted if that makes sense.

so yeah, suguru is the most intensely devoted, but his devotion is easy to become entangled with other emotions. satoru is devoted, but it's more external. he tends to do things for you that he feels is right. and shoko is the devoted in the most stable way.

#[𐐪— asks. 𐑂]#good grief....#i'm so sorry nonnie #that was quite literally a dissertation #but yeah that checks out i COULD write a dissertation on sashisu #anyways yeah that's my take!!!#i realize there are lots of different ways to think about them #but if i'm goin in line with how i look at them in canon #yeah... suguru has the most devotion in him #satoru's kinda selfless but in a twisted kinda way bc he's doing what HE wants to do yk???#and shoko's... less crazy than both of them lol #sashisu #gojo satoru x reader #geto suguru x reader #shoko x reader #gojo x reader #geto x reader #sashisu x reader #jjk x reader

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hazard-c-horror · 7 months ago

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Hey uh for your AU where your OC Hazard takes over Bloodmoon’s body, is Bloodmoon still some what alive? and if so is he awake, can see and hear everything but can’t control his body? Is it a they are both in control type of situation? Fighting for control? Or can’t see or hear anything but Hazard can speak to them in the mind?

Either way I wish to pat them on the head

Septicemia Moon Au

When it comes to robots Hazard is more of an External force then an internal one. for organics, Hazard can just infect/fuse into the muscles and flesh. But with a robot they cant really do that.

But since they can turn into a flesh like parasite they can just lay on top of the endoskeleton, planting, and wires, and just control the body from there (I was going to make it so they can merge with the metal, but that seemed really confusing so I decided against it.)

!Cw! Fleshly/robotic insides

So yes Bloodmoon is still alive. And can very much feel Hazard. He can still hear, see, and feel what’s happening when Hazard is in control. Though Hazard can deny this access and force him into the mindscape, or just turn off one of the senses. For Bloodmoon it’s an out of body experience.

Control however is something Bloodmoon has no power in. Haz I much stronger, and as an External parasite they can take over much easier

They appreciate the pats

read right to left

Well… one of them does

#Septicemia Moon Au #Oc Hazard #oc art #my art #Oc Hazard lore #bloodmoon sams #bloodmoon tsams #tsams bloodmoon #sams bloodmoon #sun and moon show au #tsams au #answering stuff #ask hch #answering asks

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sanctus-ingenium · 1 year ago

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What role/niche do dragons fulfill in their environment? Or, if that is [secret]/redacted/Unknown [by universe parameters], are there other, smaller beasts - creatures not within our world, but common in theirs?

I've been meaning to draw a lot of these for a while now and this was a nice prompt thank you :)

Dragons support a large and surprisingly diverse community of animals. The primary producers are the unique photosynthetic cyanobacteria which are found lining the transparent flotation sacs of cloud fleas. 'Cloud fleas' can refer to any type of airborne zooplankton - that is, animals which do not actively fly but rather drift. Pictured is a daphnia type but there are a few others. The bacteria produce lighter than air gases as a byproduct of photosynthesis as well as nutrients for their hosts. The daphnia type pictured retain their large claws and use them to cling onto other individuals, sometimes producing really large structures which can form fantastic shapes at times. This is how they reproduce also (unlike in the water, they can't just externally fertilise eggs because gravity exists)

When they aggregate in large numbers (swarms reaching billions and billions of individuals), they become easy prey for dragons. The dragons capture the fleas using a dense array of rictal bristles. Living in and among the bristles are the monkey birds, a unique species of flightless bird which act as kleptoparasites, stealing the clumps of fleas bound up in dragon mucous before they can be transported to the dragon's mouth. The bristles are so dense that in order to get in there where the fleas are most concentrated, you wouldn't be able to fly. They spend their lives clinging among the bristles with their feet and wing claws, and they make their nests out of woven strands of mucous. New individuals join the birds' colonies when dragons are mating and their bristles come into contact with one another. Bird populations are controlled by hive serpents, who pick them off for a nice snack.

Barnacles and other filter-feeders are common on the windward-facing side of the dragon (what you'd call the front of the dragon). These do not harm the dragons and offer not much useful food for serpents while being very annoying to eat so they're usually left to their own devices.

The vampire chiton exoparasites can be found basically all over a dragon. They find a piece of cuticle that is thin enough to pierce and drill their siphons down into it to suck the watery connective tissue beneath. They are about a foot long and the main food source for hive serpents.

The serpents themselves are mammals. Nearly every dragon hosts a hive. Despite spending most of their lives on their hosts, they are quite strong fliers; they need to be, in order for the young queens to set out to make their own hives. The 'hive' consists of a reproductive pair and 20-50 of their offspring, with the queen being 1.5x larger than the others and by far the most aggressive. They have one tooth, a single elongated tusk which is used like a crowbar to lever the chitons off the dragon's cuticle. When working on the underside of a dragon, it takes a certain amount of skill to catch the chiton before it falls away. The serpent's neck and legs are very strong to produce enough force to dislodge a chiton, which are often so deeply attached that a human with a pickaxe would struggle to knock one off. The chiton is swallowed whole, and the shell digested.

Serpents viciously defend their dragons, controlling parasite populations and fighting off and attacking humans or large metal creatures they perceive as a threat. The name 'serpent' is given to them in the Mezian theocracy because they are associated with sin; hive serpents can be among the most dangerous combatants a holy beast might face. When the dragon has been killed, its serpents will flee and, more often than not, restart their hive on the ground if they aren't killed first. Outside of the theocracy, humans do raise serpents and use them for various tasks - a baby queen is taken from the wild (by killing every other hive member) and raised to imprint on humans. If their diets are not heavily supplemented with calcium carbonate, they fail to thrive.

#setting: mez #speculative biology #normal birds live up there too but they're not super interesting. they're like swifts or swallows

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literaryvein-reblogs · 1 month ago

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Some Renaissance Loan Words in Middle English

Loan Word - vocabulary borrowings

Borrow - to introduce a word (or some other linguistic feature) from one language or dialect into another

From Latin and Greek absurdity, adapt, agile, alienate, allusion, anachronism, anonymous, appropriate, assassinate, atmosphere, autograph, benefit, capsule, catastrophe, chaos, climax, conspicuous, contradictory, crisis, criterion, critic, delirium, denunciation, disability, disrespect, emancipate, emphasis, encyclopedia, enthusiasm, epilepsy, eradicate, exact, exaggerate, excavate, excursion, exist, expectation, expensive, explain, external, extinguish, fact, glottis, habitual, halo, harass, idiosyncrasy, immaturity, impersonal, inclemency, jocular, larynx, lexicon, lunar, malignant, monopoly, monosyllable, necessitate, obstruction, pancreas, parasite, parenthesis, pathetic, pneumonia, relaxation, relevant, scheme, skeleton, soda, species, system, tactics, temperature, tendon, thermometer, tibia, tonic, transcribe, ulna, utopian, vacuum, virus

From or via French alloy, anatomy, battery, bayonet, bigot, bizarre, chocolate, colonel, comrade, detail, docility, duel, entrance, equip, explore, grotesque, invite, moustache, muscle, naturalize, passport, pioneer, probability, progress, shock, surpass, ticket, tomato, vase, vogue, volunteer

From or via Italian argosy, balcony, ballot, cameo, carnival, concerto, cupola, design, fuse, giraffe, grotto, lottery, macaroni, opera, piazza, portico, rocket, solo, sonata, sonnet, soprano, stanza, stucco, trill, violin, volcano

From or via Spanish and Portuguese alligator, anchovy, apricot, armada, banana, barricade, bravado, cannibal, canoe, cockroach, cocoa, corral, desperado, embargo, guitar, hammock, hurricane, maize, mosquito, mulatto, negro, potato, port (wine), rusk, sombrero, tank, tobacco, yam

From other languages bamboo (Malay), bazaar (Persian), caravan (Persian), coffee (Turkish), cruise (Dutch), curry (Tamil), easel (Dutch), flannel (Welsh), guru (Hindi), harem (Arabic), horde (Turkish), keelhaul (Dutch), ketchup (Malay), kiosk (Turkish), knapsack (Dutch), landscape (Dutch), pariah (Tamil), raccoon (Algonquian), rouble (Russian), sago (Malay), sheikh (Arabic), shekel (Hebrew), shogun (Japanese), troll (Norwegian), trousers (Irish Gaelic), turban (Persian), wampum (Algonquian), yacht (Dutch), yoghurt (Turkish)

Source ⚜ More References: Middle English ⚜ Renaissance

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merakiui · 1 year ago

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TWST APOCALYPSE AU.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀʙʟᴏᴛ ᴠɪʀᴜꜱ — a horrifying infection that has existed for centuries. it doesn't appear to be contagious (yet), but it has devastating effects on those who fall ill with it. it appears to manifest from within a mage, but researchers at S.T.Y.X. note there are external and internal factors that contribute to the speed at which it spreads. it may be possible to treat an infected individual, but it is difficult if not caught by the second stage and requires immense patience, effort, and resources. the virus appears to deteriorate both the body and mind, rendering the infected a mindless monster after a certain period of time.

it is recommended that you avoid those who are beyond saving, for they are highly dangerous!

ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴏɴ ꜱʏᴍᴘᴛᴏᴍꜱ — officially identified by the lead research team at S.T.Y.X., these are indicators that one has been infected. [please note that case-specific symptoms, while rare but not undocumented, seem to manifest in especially skillful mages.]

☒ patient coughs up a black, tar-like substance (this is known as and has been identified as blot).

☒ patient experiences heightened emotional fragility (especially for negative feelings).

☒ patient develops unsettling, pitch-black coloration on their fingertips.

☒ patient suffers from fatigue, persistent headaches, and irregular body temperatures.

☒ patient's tears and saliva are dark and thick; near-syrupy. gums and teeth are affected as well.

☒ patient claims to hear and see things that are not there (e.g., the wrong reflection in a mirror, a strangely-shaped shadow, voices).

☒ patient's magestone blackens with blot.

ꜱᴛᴀɢᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ɪɴꜰᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ — officially identified by the lead research team at S.T.Y.X. after studying countless subjects.

STAGE 1.

little to no immediate changes or symptoms. patient appears mostly fine. they may not even realize they are infected at first and will only complain of feeling itchy or irritable. magestone has just begun to tarnish.

STAGE 2.

common symptoms begin to emerge and will only worsen with time. magestone slowly accumulates blot. fingertips will have begun to blacken. minor headaches stretch on into longer periods of time and grow to be more painful. patient may appear uncharacteristically volatile. blot eats away at the patient's magic reserves. it will spread quicker depending on how much magic is overused and if the patient shows extreme emotional distress. patient develops a cough.

STAGE 3.

patient will begin to see and hear things. S.T.Y.X. named these shadow apparitions phantoms. patient may cast a shadow (phantom) that is not their own. staining on the patient's fingertips will have spread further through the fingers by this point. magestone is very cloudy. patient is prone to coughing fits. patient is unable to recognize bodily cues for hunger or exhaustion. feelings of emptiness persist. patient may experience a stabbing sensation in their chest or stomach areas. patient may not seem very emotionally or mentally present. spotty memory; they struggle to recall what or why they are doing certain things. patient appears almost lost. patient's body undergoes various external and internal changes: loss of appetite, stained fingertips, rotting gums, weakened teeth and bone structures, tears and saliva take on the consistency and color of blot, inability to fall asleep, etc. the blot eats away at the patient from the inside after magic reserves have been depleted. patient is dying.

STAGE 4.

magestone is consumed by blot and is no longer safe to use. patient's internal structures are compromised and failing. blot sustains the patient; they become a host for the blot, which acts almost like a parasite. patient is no longer conscious or living. peculiar structures like extra limbs or unusual growths sprout from and deform the body. it is consumed by blot. the air around the infected patient is thick with a high concentration of blot. patient only speaks in guttural growls and struggles with certain syllables. some are capable of coherent, intelligent speech, but in many cases communication and language are usually lost, as is the memory of who they once were. S.T.Y.X. has yet to identify the lifespan of an overblot (the term coined for those who have succumbed to the infection), as some overblots can exist for a very long time. at this stage, an overblot patient is highly dangerous and hostile. avoid contact at all costs. [additional research on this stage and others is currently being conducted.]

ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪɴᴅᴇx — below are the dormitory strongholds with notable members and their current status.

RAMSHACKLE.

☒ yuuken enma - not infected. immune.

☒ yuuka hirasaka - not infected. immune.

☒ yuuta mito - not infected. immune.

☒ grim - suspected to be infected. stage: unknown. currently missing. last seen: ???

HEARTSLABYUL.

☒ riddle rosehearts - infected. stage 1.

☒ trey clover - not infected.

☒ cater diamond - not infected. currently at risk.

☒ ace trappola - not infected.

☒ deuce spade - not infected.

SAVANACLAW.

☒ leona kingscholar - infected. stage 2.

☒ ruggie bucchi - not infected.

☒ jack howl - not infected.

OCTAVINELLE.

☒ azul ashengrotto - infected. stage 2, tipping over into stage 3.

☒ jade leech - not infected.

☒ floyd leech - not infected. currently at risk.

SCARABIA.

☒ kalim al-asim - not infected.

☒ jamil viper - infected. stage 1, tipping over into stage 2.

POMEFIORE.

☒ vil schoenheit - infected. stage 2.

☒ rook hunt - not infected.

☒ epel felmier - not infected.

IGNIHYDE.

☒ idia shroud - infected. stage 3.

☒ ortho shroud - not infected. currently at risk.

DIASOMNIA.

☒ malleus draconia - infected. stage 2, tipping over into stage 3.

☒ lilia vanrouge - not infected. currently at risk.

☒ silver - not infected.

☒ sebek zigvolt - not infected.

ROYAL SWORD.

☒ neige leblanche - not infected. currently at risk.

☒ dominic - not infected.

☒ grum - not infected.

☒ shelpie - not infected.

☒ hop - not infected.

☒ timmy - not infected.

☒ snick - not infected.

☒ toby - not infected.

☒ che'nya - not infected.

NOBLE BELL.

☒ rollo flamme - not infected.

#twst apocalypse au #<- i think that was the tag… ^^;;;#now that i think about it idia and ortho technically get their wish of restarting the world in this au T_T #i was going to write body horror for the infected yans but that will be for another apocalypse post #for now i wanted to establish the virus itself :D #also also!!! the yuus are part of this au <3 hopefully they can save (name) from whichever compound they are trapped in >_<

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