#kailani international

[ex-hrh-the-royals]

The Royal House of Oasis Springs has released a new photo with The King & Queen and their heirs. Later they released photo with the entire family. Pictured above, from left to right t are: His Royal Highness, Prince Salim, His Majesty King Jamar, Her Majesty Queen Cleotha and Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Najwa. The Royal family thanked everyone for their support during the year and promised to continue to work hard on behalf of the country.

Prince Salim has recently entered high school and the family has stated that they will allow him this time be private and enjoy his school years. Prince Salim is rarely seen at public events and seems to enjoy a private life. It's expected that a firm decision for his role won't come until after he's finished college. That being said, it has been whispered that when Prince Salim will stop receiving public funding when he enters college. It's not expected that Prince Salim will take up royal duties, while he might be seen at some events he intends to lead a life as a non-working royal. This lightly echo's the foot-steps of his older sister.

Crown Princess Najwa has recently finished college at Sim International University, where she rubbed shoulders with other royals including, Crown Princess Kailani of Sulani, Crown Prince Velor of Forgotten Hallow, Crown Princess Minetta of Glimmerbrook, Crown Princess Joo-Eun of Mt. Komorebi and Crown Prince Orin of Willow Creek. She graduated with a double major in Communications and Language & Lititchure. During her schooling, Crown Princess Najwa schooling was privately paid for. She's currently working at a charity and will only receive funding once she takes up royal duties. It is said that the King and Queen are very proud of Najwa and are happy to let her focus on getting a real world experience while they and other members of the wider family take up royal duties.

[figureskatingcostumes]

Kailani Craine skating to I Like It Like That (by Pete Rodriguez) for her short program at the 2020 Four Continents, 2019 NHK Trophy and 2019 Autumn Classic International.

(Sources: sn_figure, Absolute Skating and in the loop)

[sywtwfs]

2021 Summer Competitions

Non-comprehensive list of 2021 summer club competitions. This post will be updated as more information becomes available. The list will focus on competitions with notable skaters. Note: Withdrawals are common for summer club competitions.

See also: Calendar of events

Last updated: Aug 29, 2021

Lake Cup

Time: May 3-4

Place: Otsu City, Japan

Results

Website

Notable entries: Sr - Mana Kawabe. Jr - Ayumi Shibayama. NvA - Mao Shimada

Note: This competition includes free skates only.

La Jolla Open

Time: May 16

Place: La Jolla, CA, USA

Results

Website

Notable entries: Sr - Starr Andrews. Jr - Kanon Smith

Colonial Open

Time: June 3-6

Place: Boxborough, MA, USA

Results

Website

Notable entries: Sr - Lindsay Thorngren, Shan Lin, Gabriella Izzo, Maxim Naumov. Jr - Isabeau Levito

Aqua Cup

Time: June 26-27

Place: Chiba, Japan

Results

Website

Notable entries: Sr - Wakaba Higuchi, Rinka Watanabe. Jr - Rion Sumiyoshi

Broadmoor Open

Time: June 29 - July 2

Place: Colorado Springs, CO, USA

Results

Website

Notable entries: Sr - Vincent Zhou, Camden Pulkinen, Tomoki Hiwatashi, Young You, Karen Chen, Pooja Kalyan, Paige Rydberg. Jr - Isabeau Levito, Mia Kalin, Clare Seo

Nagoya City Skating Competition: Minato Aquls Cup

Time: July 2-4

Place: Nagoya, Japan

Results

Website

Notable entries: Sr - Rino Matsuike, Yura Matsuda, Mana Kawabe, Rin Nitaya, Yuhana Yokoi, Nana Araki, Miyabi Oba, Chisato Uramatsu. Jr - Tatsuya Tsuboi, Hana Yoshida, Kinayu Yokoi

Skate Milwaukee

Time: July 7-11

Place: Milwaukee, WI, USA

Results

Website

Schedule

Streaming

Notable entries: Sr - Maxim Naumov, Ting Cui, Gabriella Izzo, Shan Lin. Jr - Ilia Malinin, Kanon Smith, Lindsay Thorngren, Isabeau Levito, Mia Kalin, Clare Seo

Los Angeles Open

Time: July 9-11

Place: Burbank, CA, USA

Results

Website

Schedule

Streaming

Notable entries: Sr - Starr Andrews, Hanna Harrell, Chelsea Liu/Danny O’Shea

Dallas Cannon Classic

Time: July 9-11

Place: Dallas, TX, USA

Results

Website

Schedule

Notable entries: Jr - Oona Brown/Gage Brown, Katarina Wolfkostin/Jeffrey Chen

Skate Wilmington

Time: July 13-18

Place: Wilmington, DE, USA

Results

Website

Notable entries: Sr - Gracie Gold, Rena Ikenishi, Emmanuel Savary

Peggy Fleming Trophy (Virtual)

Time: Videos available Jul 16

Results

Website

Videos

Notable entries: Starr Andrews, Karen Chen, Tomoki Hiwatashi, Isabeau Levito, Alysa Liu, Camden Pulkinen, Andrew Torgashev

Note: The competition emphasizes artistic expression and does not use the regular IJS scoring system. See website for more details on format.

Skate Canada NextGen Camp

Time: July 19-24

Place: Kingston, ON, Canada

Results/website

Schedule

Streaming

Notable entries: Jr - Natalie D’Alessandro/Bruce Waddell, Miku Makita/Tyler Gunara, Ilia Kovler, Corey Circelli, Aleksa Rakic, Kaiya Ruiter

Skate Detroit

Time: July 21-24

Place: Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA

Results

Website

Notable entries: Sr - Jimmy Ma, Gabriella Izzo, Audrey Lu/Misha Mitrofanov. Jr - Anastasiia Smirnova/Danil Siianytsia

Philadelphia Summer Championships

Time: July 27-31

Place: Aston, PA, USA

Results

Website

Schedule

Notable entries: Sr - Emmanuel Savary, Ting Cui, Lindsay Thorngren, Shan Lin, Gracie Gold

South Korean JGP Selection Competition

Time: July 29-30

Place: Seoul, South Korea

Results (download)

Website

Note: This competition will determine South Korea’s JGP competitors.

Glacier Falls Summer Classic

Time: July 29 - Aug 1

Place: Anaheim, CA, USA

Results

Website

Entries

Paid streaming

Notable entries: Sr - Yaroslav Paniot, Andrew Torgashev, Hanna Harrell, Audrey Shin, Kailani Craine, Tzu-Han Ting, Chelsea Liu/DannyO’Shea, Jessica Calalang/Brian Johnson. Jr - Kate Wang

Russian Junior Test Skates

Time: Aug 3-6, 10-11

Place: Novogorsk, Russia

Schedule

Streaming & videos (singles)

Streaming & videos (ice dance, pairs)

Chesapeake Open

Time: Aug 4-7

Place: Laurel, MD, USA

Results

Website

Streaming

Notable entries: Sr - Molly Cesanek/Yehor Yehorov, Lorraine McNamara/Anton Spiridonov, Eva Pate/Logan Bye, Ting Cui, Ilia Malinin. Jr - Katarina Wolfkostin/Jeffrey Chen, Oona Brown/Gage Brown, Angela Ling/Caleb Wein, Utana Yoshida/Seiji Urano, Elliana Peal/Ethan Peal

Quebec Summer Championships

Time: Aug 5-8

Place: Dorval, QC, Canada

Results

Website

Schedule

Entries

Streaming - Rink 3, Rink 4

Notable entries: Sr - Gabrielle Daleman, Véronik Mallet, Vanessa James/Eric Radford, Lori-Ann Matte/Thierry Ferland, Deanna Stellato/Maxime Deschamps, Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain Le Gac. Jr - Hannah Lim/Ye Quan

Kinoshita Trophy

Time: Aug 7-8

Place: Kyoto, Japan

Results

Website

Streaming (Japan only)

Notable entries: Sr - Sumitada Moriguchi, Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda, Hana Yoshida, Mana Kawabe. Jr - Azusa Tanaka.

Gensan Summer Cup

Time: Aug 9-12

Place: Shiga, Japan

Results

Website

Paid streaming (Japan only)

Notable entries: Sr - Yuma Kagiyama, Yuto Kishina, Kazuki Tomono, Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda, Sena Miyake, Taichiro Yamakuma, Nana Araki, Chisato Uramatsu, Miyabi Oba, Rino Kasakake, Mana Kawabe, Kaori Sakamoto, Yuna Shiraiwa, Rin Nitaya, Wakaba Higuchi, Rino Matsuike, Yura Matsuda, Mai Mihara, Satoko Miyahara, Mako Yamashita, Yuhana Yokoi, Rinka Watanabe. Jr - Kao Miura, Ami Nakai, Ayumi Shibayama, Mao Shimada, Rion Sumiyoshi, Azusa Tanaka, Kinayu Yokoi

Cranberry Open

Time: Aug 10-14

Place: Norwood, MA, USA

Results

Website

Schedule

Entries

Streaming - Performance Center, West Rink 

Note: This is the club competition held in parallel with the ISU events, Cranberry Cup International and Lake Placid Ice Dance International.

Cranberry Cup International

Time: Aug 12-15

Place: Norwood, MA, USA

Results

Website

Schedule

Entries

Streaming - Performance Center, West Rink

Notable entries: Sr - Mariah Bell, Kailani Craine, Amber Glenn, Gracie Gold, Gabriella Izzo, Shan Lin, Alysa Liu, Paige Rydberg, Madeline Schizas, Audrey Shin, Young You, Alexei Bychenko, Donovan Carrillo, Tomoki Hiwatashi, Jimmy Ma, Maxim Naumov, Yaroslav Paniot, Camden Pulkinen, Daniel Samohin, Vincent Zhou, Jessica Calalang/Brian Johnson, Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier, Chelsea Liu/Danny O’Shea, Audrey Lu/Misha Mitrofanov, Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov. Jr - Elsa Cheng, Jessica Lin, Violeta Ushakova, Ava Ziegler, Joseph Klein, Jacob Sanchez

Note: This is an international ISU competition held in parallel with the Lake Placid Ice Dance International and club competition, Cranberry Open.

Lake Placid Ice Dance International

Time: Aug 12-15

Place: Norwood, MA, USA

Results

Website

Schedule

Entries

Streaming - Performance Center, West Rink

Notable entries: Sr - Molly Cesanek/Yehor Yehorov, Caroline Green/Michael Parsons, Lorraine McNamara/Anton Spiridonov, Yura Min/Daniel Eaton, Eva Pate/Logan Bye. Jr - Isabella Flores/Dimitry Tsarevski, Angela Ling/Caleb Wein, Elliana Peal/Ethan Peal

Note: This is an international ISU competition held in parallel with the Cranberry Cup International and club competition, Cranberry Open.

Tokyo Summer Figure Skating Competition

Time: Aug 21-22

Place: Tokyo, Japan

Results

Website

Notable entries: Sr - Rinka Watanabe, Yuna Aoki, Wakaba Higuchi, Akari Matsubara, Tomoe Kawabata, Ibuki Sato. Jr - Rion Sumiyoshi, Ami Nakai

Note: This competition includes short programs only for senior and junior categories.

Osaka Figure Skating Championships

Time: Aug 21-22

Place: Osaka, Japan

Results

Website

Notable entries: Sr - Kazuki Tomono, Sena Miyake, Riko Takino

Note: This competition includes free skates only.

Kanto Summer Trophy

Time: Aug 28-29

Place: Kofu, Japan

Results

Website

Streaming (Japan only)

Notable entries: Sr - Shun Sato, Kao Miura, Shiika Yoshioka

[cherrie-fizzypop]

New Friend

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Thread 6 ~ Start from the beginning Here

Roleplay with @curiouserwilderness - Please do not interact with this post comment wise/reblog quote wise within the thread, to avoid confusion. Feel free to like, share, & read though! Thank you ♡

Main Characters: Loki Laufeyson/ Jade Lokisottir/ Kailani Moore

Jade Belongs to @lokifantasies & you can follow Jade’s blog @jade-pandora

Rating: Mature/18+

Summary: The girls return to Jade’s house with the plan to spend another night together & make infused popsicles. (( idk what to put here lol))

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Word Count: 465

The redhead noted Jade’s expression as her eyes stared into hers. She opened her mouth to speak in an attempt to apologize, just in case she had said something wrong, but before she could the dark haired goddess had stood up, tears welling in her eyes. It made Kai’s eyes widen, “J-Jade? Are you? Did I—?” But before Kai could finish she left the room, leaving her alone. She blinked a few times as the conversation played through her head a few times trying to figure out what that was exactly. Her head fell into her hands as she thought to herself. Did I do something wrong? Did I miss something?

Eventually Kai shook her head rising to her feet, giving a rather large exhale out before heading towards the door. She was rather determined to chase Jade down and figure out what had happened. Did she panic again? Was the way I asked about school taken rudely? Or.. Was this actually not about school?! Did she want to tell me something else but get scared? Where all things Kai thought as she silently made her way towards the living room. Upon hearing Jade & her fathers voice she paused, frozen in her place, as her mind drifted back to the conversation he had with her earlier. Though she knew this wasn’t the time to dwell on that, Jade was upset, & Kai genuinely wanted to know why or at least know if she was ok. She waited for a pause between their conversation, trying to ignore what the topic was in a sense, trying not to eavesdrop. Though she did hear the word endgame & don’t deserve, come from Jade which made her panic internally.

She finally stepped forward from the hall making her way slowly into the living, fumbling her thumbs picking at the skin near her nails. She found it rather hard to make direct eye contact with either of them due to how nervous she was, so Kai just looked past the couch occasionally glancing between them & the wall.

“I’m sorry, if I did something to upset you. I just, I— just.” Kai paused trying to find the right words for the situation ultimately coming at a loss for the most part. “I just wanted to make sure you were ok.” Her hands clasped together tightly as she tried to refrain from picking at her skin further. The redhead's chest had a twinge of pain as she inhaled sharply before letting it out. “You don’t have to explain yourself or explain anything really if you don’t want to for now & I can leave if you want me to.” The redhead stated hoping it would help ease the situation slightly. She also hope Jade wouldn’t ask her to leave & felt stupid for even suggesting it.

[sofia-gothicquirks]

Are you on a Dracula spree by any chance? 🦇

Absolutely Kailani! 💛😂 did u subscribe to it too? Here in France, I am in a international school - this means i have english literature classes 5hours a week. For 2 years, we have been studying Dracula for the gothic writing exam im taking in exactly a month !!!

So yes, im delighted about this daily dracula thing IT JUST IS THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO REREAD AND REVISE FOR MY UPCOMING EXAMS! And its so funny and makes my heart so warm...so happy we can hopefully be sharing stuff about this with each other 💓💓💓

[seascrapes]

[ Carrying Emotion: Tal Brook ]

[ Rules: please repost, don’t reblog! Bold and italicize what applies accordingly ]

ANGER:  jaw clenching, hands balling into fists, teeth grinding, yelling, going nonverbal, stuttering speech, rushed speech, slow concise speech, rambling, quiet, arms crossing, shaking head, tearing up, animated, expressionless, projects, internalizes, vents, withdraws, passive aggressive, direct, physical outbursts, verbal outbursts, foot stompies

JOY:  easy smiles, fighting back grins, suppressed laughter, loud laughter, giggles, chuckling, smirks, whole body laughs, covers mouth when laughing/giggling, throws head back when laughing, slaps leg, touches people around them when laughing, looks down when laughing, looks for eye contact when laughing, sparkling eyes, bubbly happiness, quiet subtle happiness, obnoxious happiness, wants to spread joy, quietly savours joy

SADNESS:  crying, bottling it up, seeks distractions, wallows, meditates and processes, avoidance, seeks out comfort, withdraws, talks it out, internalizes it, sad smiles, depression naps, uses alcohol, uses drugs, seeks out sources of joy, fidgets with sentimental item, sits in silence, broods, gets moody, wants someone to share the misery, tries to hide negative emotions, nurtures others to make themselves feel better

EMBARRASSMENT/SHAME:  blushing, looking away, rubbing at back of head, covering face, laughing nervously, laughs it off, overthinks, lets it go, self deprecating humour, deflects, gets irritated, smiles, withdraws, crossing arms over stomach, crossing arms over chest, hands in pockets, shoulders sinking, shrugs, falling into silence until comfortable again, talking a lot to compensate

GUILT:  avoiding eye contact, shoulders sinking low, head hanging down, crying, chest aches, lashes out, internalizes, apologizes, deflects, communicates, withdraws, grand gestures for forgiveness, accepts fault easily, punishes themselves, martyrdom, victim complex, guilt complex, healthy conscience, internalizes even after forgiveness, seeking redemption, moves on easily, denial, lack of guilt/conscience, sorry they got caught more than caused harm, can’t handle knowing they hurt others

FEAR/ANXIETY:  trembling, crying, sarcasm/sass to cope, rambles, goes silent, gets angry, fidgeting, clenching jaw, picking at nails, chewing at lip, pulling at clothes, adjusting jewellery/clothing, swallowing thickly, eyes widening, over-reacts, under-reacts, calm, logical, panic, irrational, overthinks, carefully analyses, talks to themselves, breathing exercises, flight, fight, freeze, withdraw, fawn

Tagged by: @shydancingwanderer​

Tagging: @voidwife​ | @shroudandsands​ | @ljoturyalre​ | @kailani-ffxiv​ | @locke-rinannis​ | @noscean-scholar​ | @houserosaire​ | @traveleorzea​​ | @twofaced-xiv​​ | Anyone else who wishes <3

[csnews]

'I've never seen or heard of attacks': scientists baffled by orcas harassing boats

Susan Smillie - September 13, 2020

Reports of orcas striking sailing boats in the Straits of Gibraltar have left sailors and scientists confused. Just what is causing such unusually aggressive behaviour?  

When nine killer whales surrounded the 46ft boat that Victoria Morris was crewing in Spain on the afternoon of 29 July, she was elated. The biology graduate taught sailing in New Zealand and is used to friendly orca encounters. But the atmosphere quickly changed when they started ramming the hull, spinning the boat 180 degrees, disabling the autohelm and engine. The 23-year-old watched broken bits of the rudder float off, leaving the four-person crew without steering, drifting into the Gibraltar Straits shipping lane between Cape Trafalgar and the small town of Barbate.

The pod rammed the boat for more than an hour, during which time the crew were too busy getting the sails in, readying the life raft and radioing a mayday – “Orca attack!” – to feel fear. The moment fear kicked in, Morris says, was when she went below deck to prepare a grab bag – the stuff you take when abandoning ship. “The noise was really scary. They were ramming the keel, there was this horrible echo, I thought they could capsize the boat. And this deafening noise as they communicated, whistling to each other. It was so loud that we had to shout.” It felt, she says, “totally orchestrated”.

The crew waited a tense hour and a half for rescue – perhaps understandably, the coastguard took time to comprehend (“You are saying you are under attack from orca?”). To say this is unusual is to massively understate it. By the time help arrived, the orcas were gone. The boat was towed to Barbate, where it was lifted to reveal the rudder missing its bottom third and outer layer, and teeth marks along the underside.

Rocío Espada works with the marine biology laboratory at the University of Seville and has observed this migratory population of orca in the Gibraltar Straits for years. She was astonished. “For killer whales to take out a piece of a fibreglass rudder is crazy,” she says. “I’ve seen these orcas grow from babies, I know their life stories, I’ve never seen or heard of attacks.”

Highly intelligent, social mammals, orcas are the largest of the dolphin family, and behave in a similar way. It is normal, she says, that orcas will follow close to the propeller. Even holding the rudder is not unheard of: “Sometimes they will bite the rudder, get dragged behind as a game.” But never with enough force to break it. This ramming, Espada says, indicates stress. The Straits is full of nets and long lines; perhaps a calf got caught.

But Morris’s was only one of several encounters between late July and August. Six days earlier, Alfonso Gomez-Jordana Martin, a 31-year-old from Alicante, was crewing a delivery boat near Barbate for the same company, Reliance Yacht Management. They were proceeding under engine when a pod of four orcas brought their 40ft Beneteau to a halt. He filmed them – it looks more like excitement and curiosity than aggression – but even this bumping damaged the rudder. And the force increased, he says, over 50 minutes. “Once we were stopped, they came in faster: 10-15 knots, from a distance of about 25m,” he remembers. “The impact tipped the boat sideways.”

The skipper’s report to the port authority said the force “nearly dislocated the helmsman’s shoulder and spun the whole yacht through 120 degrees”.

At 11.30pm the previous night, 22 July, Beverly Harris, a retired nurse from Derbyshire, and her partner, Kevin Large, were motor-sailing their 50ft boat, Kailani, just off Barbate at eight knots, when they came to a sudden standstill. It was flat calm, pitch black. They thought they’d hit a net. “I scrambled for a torch and was like, ‘Bloody hell, they’re orcas,’” says Harris. The couple checked their position and found the boat pointing the opposite way. They tried to correct several times, but the orcas kept spinning them back. “I had this weird sensation,” Harris says, “like they were trying to lift the boat.” It lasted about 20 minutes, but felt longer. “We thought, ‘We’ve sailed across the Atlantic, surely we’re not going to sink now!’” Their rudder was damaged but got them to La Línea. It was a long night. “Kevin said I should get some sleep. I said, ‘Are you joking? I’m having a gin and tonic,’” recalls Harris.

While enjoying her drink, Harris could have spared a thought for Nick Giles, having a sleepless night alone after an almost identical encounter off Barbate just two and a half hours earlier. He was motor-sailing, and playing music when he heard a sudden bang “like a sledgehammer”. The wheel was “turning with incredible force” as the vessel spun 180 degrees, dislodging the autohelm and steering cables. “The boat lifted up half a foot and I was pushed by a second whale from behind,” he says. While resetting the cables, the orca hit again, “nearly chopping off my fingers in the mechanism”. He was pushed around without steering for about 15 minutes before they left him.

Catastrophic encounters between whales and boats are not unknown – the best-known events all took place in the Pacific. In 1972 the Robertson family from Staffordshire were shipwrecked off the Galapagos Islands after an orca strike (their book, Survive the Savage Sea became a classic). The following year, also on the way to those islands, Maurice and Maralyn Bailey’s 31ft boat was holed by a sperm whale. In 1989 William and Simone Butler lost their boat as a huge pod of pilot whales rammed them. In these and all other known cases, the mammals ignored the humans who took to life rafts; it was the boats that attracted their ire. More usually in encounters, the whale is left dead or injured. The International Whaling Commission records these strikes – more collisions are occurring with private boats as technological advances increase performance speeds.

The encounters described around Barbate were certainly frightening for the crew, who understandably felt targeted, but it’s unlikely they were meant as aggressive attacks. At least two other boats had harmless encounters. On 20 July Martin Chambers, a yacht master for Allabroad Sailing Academy, was unconcerned when they were joined by a pod near Barbate. One individual “had hold of the rudder and stopped us moving the boat”, he says. “That’s the first time I’ve seen them do that.” It seems the encounters increased in intensity, but it’s also worth considering that different boat constructions can suffer different outcomes – rudders on some modern boats can be quite fragile.

“These are very strange events,” says Ezequiel Andréu Cazalla, a cetacean researcher who talked to Morris. “But I don’t think they’re attacks.” Orca specialists around the world are equally surprised, agreeing the behaviour is “highly unusual”, but are cautious, given that the accounts are not from trained researchers. Most agree that something is stressing the orcas. And when it comes to sources of stress, there are plenty to choose from.

“The lack of tuna has led these orca to the very edge with only 30 adults left”

The Gibraltar orcas are endangered – there are fewer than 50 individuals left, with a continuing decline projected – adults and juveniles are sustaining injuries, suffering food scarcity and pollution. Their calves rarely survive. The Gibraltar Straits is, Cazalla points out, “the worst place for orcas to live”. This narrow stretch of water is a major shipping route. And the presence of orcas attracts more marine traffic – highly profitable whale-watching. Theoretically, it is regulated, but some operators flout rules about speed and distance to chase the animals. Constant harassment by boats affects the orcas’ ability to hunt. Which brings us to the biggest stress of all: fishing.

The orcas return to this noisy, polluted stretch of water for one reason – to feed. They specialise in hunting bluefin tuna, also highly prized by humans. The near collapse of bluefin tuna between 2005 and 2010 “has led this orca population to the very edge, with about 30 adults left”, says Pauline Gauffier, who has studied them.

The Straits is an important migratory route for the tuna. It has been economically crucial to this region for thousands of years – the Romans produced coins in Cadiz depicting the once bountiful fish. Local fisheries still use an ancient technique – almadraba, a complex system of trap nets. Each spring, the bluefin arrive to spawn in the Med; many find their way into the nets instead. In July and August, as the tuna leave for the Atlantic, the fishermen switch to drop lines – baited with fish and lowered with rocks. These artisanal techniques are far less harmful than trawling, purse seining or driftnets – and than the reckless sport-fishing boats speeding at 10 knots, trailing long lines.

“They target the orca, because they think there must be tuna under the pods,” says Jörn Selling, a marine biologist for Firmm whale watching and research foundation with 17 years’ experience in the Straits. “They go right through the pods, their hooks cutting the dorsal fins”.

In the past, the orca chased the bluefin to exhaustion, but with fewer and smaller fish available, and the pressures from human activity, some have adapted. As a result, there now exists what biologists call “depradation” – a complex balance between the orca, tuna, and humans – and what the fishermen call “stealing”.

Since 1999, two of the Straits’ five pods have learned to take tuna from the drop lines, leaving the fishermen pulling up the tuna head alone. It’s infuriating for the fishermen, but for the orca, this is high risk. Several have sustained serious injuries. “We see marks caused by fishing lines,” says Selling. “We hear about young orca getting hooked.” There are two females with severed flippers – “Lucia”, Selling says “lost her baby together with her flipper, due to the interaction with tuna fishermen”. Gauffier points out that “there is little the fishermen can do to avoid line or hook injuries” when orca interact; and it’s not known what caused the injuries. But many conservationists suspect some fishermen retaliate violently.

“The fishermen hate the killer whales,” says Selling. The orca are protected, but “unobserved, the fishermen do what they want. They see them as competitors.”

Stories persist of fishermen stunning orca with electric prods, throwing lit petrol cans, cutting dorsal fins. Cazalla has seen two orca with recent injuries (Morris thinks there was an injured individual at her boat). “One has a significant scar – you can see white tissue so it’s deep.” This, he thinks, is unlikely to be from a propeller, which would cause multiple scars.

Selling points out that the orca interact with the almadraba as well as drop-line fishing, and talks of a male which worked out how to navigate the labyrinth of submarine nets to take tuna in Barbate years ago. This orca was later observed with serious injury to its dorsal fin. It hasn’t been seen since.

But the orca have endured harassment for decades. What explains the new behaviour? Was there reduced noise during the Covid lockdown? Selling says yes. “No big game fishing, no whale watching or sailing boats, no fast ferries, fewer merchant ships.” He’s intrigued by the idea that the orca had two months with reduced noise – “Something most of them probably never experienced before” – and considers the possibility they felt angry as the noise restarted (Gauffier thinks this unlikely, but notes that the Barbate pod still actively chases tuna, “for which they need a quieter environment”).

There is one very unscientific phrase I hear repeatedly from several researchers: “Pissed off”. Some speculate that the multitude of stresses these highly sentient cetaceans have endured – years of grieving lost calves, injuries, competition for fish, coupled with a pause and reintroduction of human activity, could have affected their behaviour. There is a great deal we don’t yet know about orca, which, like us, have evolved complex cultures and different languages around the world. A couple of years ago Ken Balcomb from the Center for Whale Research talked about endangered orca being dependent on scarce chinook salmon in the Pacific Northwest. “I’ve seen them look at boats hauling fish. I think they know that humans are somehow related to the scarcity of food. And I think they know that the scarcity of food is causing them physical distress, and also causing them to lose babies.”

Sounds like anthropomorphising? Lori Marino, neuroscientist and president of the Whale Sanctuary Project found in orca brains an astounding capacity for intelligence. “If we are talking about whether killer whales have the wherewithal and the cognitive capacity to intentionally strike out at someone, or to be angry, or to really know what they are doing, I would have to say the answer is yes. They are likely defending a territory or resources.”

Meanwhile, Nick Irving from Reliance is wondering if he should send clients’ boats out after the last three sustained damage: “Is it reckless?” Neither of us say it, but we’re both thinking he doesn’t want to be the mayor in Jaws – the obvious, if lazy stereotype that comes to mind. Word is starting to get out, frustrating Espada. Friends call, asking about the “attacks”, if it’s safe to swim. “Are you mad?” she asks. “Of course it’s safe!” As shark conservationists know all too well, it’s difficult to protect endangered animals with a bad image.

This tiny population’s presence is of huge importance, and if human activity is affecting their behaviour, human activity must be regulated. Gauffier has presented the Spanish Environment Agency with a conservation plan proposing that in the Barbate area, “activities producing underwater noise should be reduced to a minimum”. This is the very least that should happen. Each sailor I spoke to was concerned that their activities had stressed the orca. Victoria Morris, who has been searching for a specialist subject when she returns to study marine biology in autumn has found her topic. The Gibraltar orca has one more ally – which is good because these majestic, beleaguered mammals need all the help they can get.

[figureskatingfanblog]

2021 Nebelhorn Trophy Preview - Singles

Please note that I am not mentioning skaters who are competing, but not competing for Olympics spots. There are skaters factoring into the competition but not the remaining Olympic spots!

As a reminder, there are 7 spots in Men and 6 in Womens.

Men

The most certain qualifiers in Men’s are the US (Vincent Zhou, seeking redemption for being the reason the US has to be here in the first place), Canada (Roman Sadovsky), and Russia (Mark Kondratiuk, in only his third senior international competition ever, and first in two years). All three are confirming spots earned at last season’s Worlds.

Very likely qualifiers are France (three-time National Silver Medalist Adam Siao Him Fa) and Azerbaijan (Vladimir Litvinsev).

That leaves two more spots for... several countries. Countries to watch out for are Germany (Paul Fentz - there’s entries, but Paul is the one who is competing for Olympic qualification), Great Britain (Peter James Hallam), Australia (Brendan Kerry), Austria (Maurizio Zandron), Armenia (Slavik Hayrapetyan), South Korea (Siheyong Lee, also confirming a spot earned at last season’s Worlds).

Outliers who might also factor in are Monoco (David Lewton Brain), Turkey (Basar Oktar - both Turkish skaters are competing, but he’s the one competing for the qualification), and the Philippines (Edrien Pual Celestino). It may personal best performances, but it is not out of the question.

Ladies

The most certain qualifiers here are the US (Alysa Liu, confirming third spot earned at Worlds), Poland (Ekaterina Kurakova), and Switzerland (Alexia Paganini). That leaves three spots for several countries. 

Those likely countries are Austria (Sohpia Schaller, confirming second spot earned at Worlds), Italy (Lara Naki Gutmann), France (Lea Serna), and Cyprus (Emilia Zingas), and Belarus (Viktoriia Safanova). 

Countries that could factor in (but have skaters competing that are less consistent or haven’t been seen in a while), but shouldn’t be completely counted out are: Australia (Kailani Craine), Slovakia (Nicole Rajicova, who hasn’t competed since the 2019 Worlds), Hungary (Julia Lang, who was injured this summer).

Countries that are outliers, but shouldn’t be completely counted out are: Romania (Julia Sauter) and Slovenia (Dasa Grm).

Pairs, Ice Dance, and Team discussion coming!

[nutellamilkshake]

A SPORTS BLOG: Women's Figure Skating Short Program | PyeongChang 2018

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEtYYtwX1sM

Introduction

Figure Skating is a sport in which single athletes or teams of athletes conduct artistic performances on ice. Both men and women participate in their own singles events with pair skating events and ice dancing events open to both genders (usually one male and one female).

Athletes produce a wide variety of moves in order to impress a panel of judges, who score the athletes based on their grace, flair and control. Moves include jumps and spirals in the air, spins on the ice and a number of different step sequences.

Figure Skating has been a part of the Winter Olympics since the games first began in 1924, and also made appearances at 1908 and 1920 Summer Olympics before that.

The United States are the current world leaders in Olympic Figure Skating, holding a total of 49 medals overall. Russia and Austria are the closest rivals with 26 and 20 medals, respectively. The Soviet Union also picked up 24 medals during their time in the competition.

Court Dimension

Figure Skating Winter Olympics 2018 was held at the Gangneung Ice Arena in Gangneung, South Korea. Figure Skating Rinks have a total area of 18,707 ft2 (1738 m2), with an average length of 196.85’ (60 m) and a width of 98.43’ (30 m). Hence, its corners have a circumference of 27.89���. (8.5 m).

Equipment

Costume - The figure skating costume should be made of light and elastic materials, as a rule, these are stretch fabrics. The costume of the figure skater reflects the style of the program and the music.

Figure Skates - Professional skates for figure skating are made of thick durable leather, have a long lacing and a large tongue. For professional skaters, skates are made individually. The blades are made of carbon steel and consist of two parts. The curved rocker for a good glide on ice. The toe part has teeth, for the execution of jumps and some elements of the program.

Basic Skills

Turns - Figure skating turns are an  important part of the sport. Some turns are part of the basics and others are  advanced and difficult to perform. Figure skating turns are important  because they are part of the advanced figure skating moves. For example the  entrance to certain jumps includes a three turn or a mohawk.

Steps - Figure skating steps a  skills that when put together form what is called a footwork sequence. Some  figure skating steps are variations on or combinations of turns. Power three  turns, twizzles, and running threes are example

Spins - Spins in figure skating are  often the most fun for the skater and most appealing to the figure skating  audience. Crowds love to watch an elegant or super fast spin. There is so  much important information related of figure skating spins that we have an  entire section devoted to these figure skating skills. This section includes  descriptions, pictures, and video demonstrations of figure skating spins.

Jumps - Jumps are spins in the air.  Actually a jump is a back spin in the air. These figure skating skills have  become one of the most important aspects of the sport since the creation of  the international judging system. Triple and quad jumps receive so many  points that they overshadow most of the other skills when competing. Some of  the most elegant skaters have lost in competitions because another skater  executes a series of point grabbing jumps

Spirals - Spirals are glides with  one leg way up in the air. There are many variations of these figure skating  skills. The first figure skating spiral learned is usually the arabesque.  Skaters will then learn a catch foot variation. Important aspects for figure skating  spirals are good extension, get the free leg extended high in the air, and  moving steadily across the ice. A change of edge during a spiral will receive  extra points

Moves in the field -  Really moves on the ice not in a field! They are in some ways a replacement  for "figures". The moves tests are intended teach the skater the  skills they need to excel in the sport.

Technical and Tactical Skills of each team

Most individuals showed their different choreographed figure skating performance. Each figure skaters from different countries were such fascinating to watch and most of their performances are masterpiece. Let’s start with Russia (Alina Zagitova), she gracefully executed her performance through combinations just like double axel-triple toe and triple lutz-triple toe. She really had a flexible body which benefits her in her technical and tactical skills which helped her get the victory of the event. Next is from Russia (Evgenia Medvedeva), She performed with different varieties of movements which made her performance stunning, she had jumps and spins that results as an extraordinary performance. Next is from Canada (Kaetlyn Osmond), she has done such combos like triple-triple combos. She performed with a fast pacing combined with turns and jumps which made her performance eager to watch. Next is from Japan (Satoko  Miyahara), watching her performance, she had leaps and jump variations that leads to triple toe loop. She showcased also spiral movements that makes the audience enjoy her performance. Next is from Japan (Kaori Sakamoto), her performance was really jaw dropping because of her splendid production. She has done such unique movements which made her almost got a high score to the judges. Next is from Italy (Carolina Kostner), She did a magnificent move in the field, spirals and jumps which made her performance opulent to the eyes, I can really say that she went through a lot failures in her practices because she showcased such a hard performance which I can really say that all her practices were really worth it. Next is from Canada (Gabrielle Daleman), I can notice in her tactics in presenting her performance is through mostly jumps and such spirals, resulting her performance with such superb presentation. Next is from South Korea (Choi Da-bin), she started her performance with a move in the field, she had jumps and turns in her way of her tactics. Next is from United States (Mirai Nagasu), she is such a skillful figure skater because of her performance with such impressive spins and jumps. She had points from the judges with her layback spin because it was really a hard thing to do which shocked most of the people and also me. Next is from United States (Karen Chen), she had tactics like toe jumps and lutz. She presented great progression of moves in the field and spirals which made her performance imposing. Next is from United States (Bradie Tennel), she showed tremendous jumps and spirals which is her tactics in the event. Next is from Russia (Maria Sotskova), Most of her tactics are spiral jump and moves around the field and gliding throughout her performance. Next is from Slovakia (Nicole Rajicova), her tactics were done through leaps, turns, spirals and jump. She showed an organized performance which I can really say that she really mastered her movement all throughout her performance because of her body language being showed in the performance. Next is from Germany (Nicole Schott), Her performance was spectacular to watch because she really moves gracefully and her movement has timing towards the music. Next is from Kazakhstan (Elizabet Tursynbayeva), extraordinary spirals, jumps, spins, steps turns were all present in her performance which is her tactics in the event. Next is from Australia (Kailani Craine), she was really energetic in her performance which helped her execute such stunning jumps, spirals and spins. She really enjoyed her performance. Next is from Brazil (Isadora Williams), her performance was having the tactics of different combos of spins and jumps combining with the music to result a spectacular performance. Next is from Finland (Emmi Peltonen), she had showcased jumps and spins that can really prove that she really mastered it well and has a unique ability that is not present to other players. Next is from Switzerland (Alexia Paganini), her tactics was done through spins and jumps from what I observe in her performance, she really mastered these two in order to add opulent view in the eyes of the audience. Next is from Belgium (Loena Hendrickx), her tactics in the event was through her strength in spinning and the combined with jumps to make her performance stunning. Next is from Hungary (Ivett Toth), she showed tactics of being classic, she wore a costume with a very simple design emphasizing her passion or theme of being punk and being classic. Next is from Latvia (Diana Nikitina), her way of presenting his performance was through spins, she mostly showcased this skill with a unique kind of way of executing it and that’s her tactics in the event. Next is from Sweden (Anita Ostlund), she has done a tremendous performance with her tactics of upright spin, this spin is really hard because you really need to have lower strength in order to perform this which results toa plus points to then judge scorecard. Next is from Kazakhstan (Aiza Mambekova), her tactics was through her hands, to add more joy in her performance. Lastly, is from Ukraine (Anna Khnychenkova), her tactics was through skating with one leg only. She had also executed such upright spin reaching her toes which made her performance outstanding.

Rules of the Game

Players & Equipment

Figure skating is a sport in which both men and women compete, and the only equipment needed is a pair of specially designed skates known as “Figure Skates.”

Figure Skates

Figure Skates are specially designed skating shoes with thick steel blades at the base and jagged grooves at the front known as “toe picks” – which assist athletes with their footwork on the ice, as well as landing and spinning. The specific style of toe picks can vary.

The key blades are usually about 4 millimeters wide, although this varies depending on the athlete’s foot style. They also have a small bend on one side to help with ice turns.

Figure skaters will often want to skate on the outer tips of their wheels. In order to accommodate step-work rather than skipping, ice dancers normally have slightly narrower blades on the base of their shoes, with a slightly different shape.

Costumes

In order to perform on a professional level, all men and women must wear special costumes. Men are expected to wear pants, while women must wear skirts and tights, trousers, or neon spandex.

Scoring

Figure skaters are judged by a jury of judges who use the ISU Judging System to rate them (usually nine judges including a technical inspector, and also a referee). This system works by giving varying numbers of points to competitors with different kinds of movements, as well as how quickly and successfully they are performed. A Grade of Execution (GoE) is measured, followed by a Scale of Success  (SOP). A Grade of Execution (GoE) is measured, and this grade is then converted into an overall mark using a Scale of Value Table.

Ability, footwork, performance, perception, overall execution, choreography, and timing are the key factors scored     during a normal Figure Skating performance. The more complicated maneuvers     are often awarded the highest scores if they are done correctly. For     example, the more rotations in a leap, the higher the score.

Winning

The athlete or team with the highest total score wins a Figure Skating competition.

Figure Skating Rules

Figure skaters must make their results interesting. According to the Zayak Rule, no participant can try triple or quadruple jumps more than twice.

If participants may not follow the rules and regulations for music and costumes, judges can penalize them or disqualify them entirely. Certain forms of music are forbidden, and costumes must be free of “excessive decoration” or be too revealing.

Time penalties will also result in athletes being disqualified.

How to officiate the sport

Officiating officials are the backbone of Figure Skating, ensuring fair competition for all skaters by enforcing the rules and regulations that govern the sport of figure skating.

Accountants

Accountants are also responsible for providing the judges, referees and technical panel officials with documents for recording their decisions. The accountants are also responsible for ensuring that the scoring software is set up properly, the scores are entered accurately and the results are calculated correctly.

Announcers

Announcers are responsible for announcing competitors before they perform at a competition. Announcers might also be asked to announce scores, names of officials and other general competition information as necessary. As the voice of an event, announcers need to be able to work as part of a team and have the ability to communicate effectively with competition hosts, referees and other officials. 

 Ice Technicians

Ice technicians are utilized at certain qualifying and international competitions to ensure the safety and quality of the ice surface. Primarily utilized at large competitions, the ice technician is the go-between for the event referee and arena personnel, and ensures each event runs safely and smoothly.

Judges

There are 2 types of Judges: Test Judges & Competition Judges

Test Judges: who can judge test sessions and     nonqualifying competitions

Competition Judges: who can judge     nonqualifying and qualifying competitions

 Music Technicians

Music officials are responsible for the setup, tear down and operation of the equipment used to play music at competitions.

Referees

Referees are the designated leaders and spokespeople for an event. They also manage the panel of judges and, depending on the size of the competition, may serve as one of the event's judges as well.

Summarization

Everyone did well in the event, however Alina Zagitova from Russia got the victory with the score of 82.92. Second place is Evgenia Medvedeva also from Russia with a score of 81.61 and third place is from Canada named Kaetlyn Osmond with a score of 78.87. Watching the figure skating event was really fun and at the same time jaw-dropping because of the extraordinary performance of the players. I can really say that figure skating is not an easy sport, it requires determination to improve and will go though different failures in order to grow as a figure skater. I really respect those players since they really tried their best to win.

References:

Figure Skating. (n.d.). Retrieved from Sportwiki:  https://sport-wiki.org/sports/figure-skating/#Equipment_for_figure_skating

The Basics. (n.d.).  Retrieved from Go Figure Skating:  http://gofigureskating.com/skills/index.html

Officiate. (n.d.).  Retrieved from US Figure Skating:  https://www.usfigureskating.org/support/officiate

Figure Skating Rules. (n.d.).  Retrieved from Rules of Sport:  https://www.rulesofsport.com/sports/figure-skating.html

[sukiandthemarauders]

FIRELIGHT (Zuko x OC) C1

word count: 2,989

warning: just mature language :)

a/n: This is chapter one of Firelight, excluding the prologue, and it MERELY shows a glimpse of Zuko and Kai’s future relationship :D I’m just going to pretend that I’m not already planning a Sokka fic because I’m just starting this one so... ENJOY!

<- Prologue | Chapter 2 ->

Masterlist

____________

Chapter 1

_________

“So when are the losers going to get here anyways?”

Kailani playfully rolled her eyes at Toph’s comment, knowing fully well that the earthbender missed the rest of their friends as much as she did. And as she stood in the edge of Air Temple Island with Toph, awaiting the arrival of her friends, she could feel the ball of excitement forming in the pit of her stomach at the thought of having a full reunion with her friends once again.

Although there had been plenty of other situations that required the Gaang to team up, everybody seemed to be busy with their own particular occupations. Suki returned to Kyoshi island and had stayed in the Earth Kingdom for the most part to train more warriors, and Katara mostly stayed in the South Pole with her tribe as she taught in a healing school for waterbenders. Sokka and Aang were probably the ones who traveled the most—being involved in the world of politics—but the two boys particularly enjoyed the South Pole, for it was Sokka’s home, and where Aang’s girlfriend mostly stayed. Zuko was the loneliest, all alone in the Fire Nation that he ruled, but he made it clear that he’d never oppose a trip (or what he liked to call an extended detour) with Sokka and Aang, claiming that international affairs would best be taken care of if the Firelord was personally delegating.

Toph had stayed in the Earth Kingdom, too (finding company with Suki), and had her metalbending students to teach. However, the Beifong girl decided that she would oversee the training of the metalbenders in the police force of the rising Republic City, which was why she found herself standing next to the airbender in the capital of the new nation Aang and Zuko were building.

While the rest of the Gaang continuously fought new threats and simultaneously trying to unite the world in a peaceful manner, Kailani had dedicated her efforts to the rebuilding of all four Air Temples. She had led the constructing of the damages, and adjusted all of the Air Acolytes that Aang sent her into their new homes. Along with the Acolytes were the flying bison and the ring-tailed flying lemurs that the Avatar had found, and she tried to make the temples as homely as she could for the native animals.

The goal seemed daunting at first, but Kailani was proud to say that she was successful in her focused task—even though the work kept her away from most of her friends for years. She had encountered Aang, Sokka, and Katara when they had visited her in the Southern Air Temple, and she might have kidnapped Suki and Toph on her way to the Eastern Air Temple for just a few days. But it wasn’t until her work was done at all four Air Temples that Aang had asked her to finish building Air Temple Island in Republic City, so he could visit Katara in the South Pole with Sokka (who had invited Suki along).

And so Kailani stood with Toph at her side, awaiting the arrival of her closest confidantes eagerly, so that she could enjoy and make up for the time that she had lost with them.

“You’re not going to be calling them losers when they get here.” Kailani teased in a sing-song voice, causing Toph to scoff.

“If you think I’m going to get all touchy-feely because we’re seeing our friends again, you thought wrong.” Toph spoke with a shrug. “Sure, I’m happy. But I’m not going to be crying bitch baby tears like you.”

Kailani dramatically gasped, feigning offense. “Watch it or I’m going to have to kick your—.”

Kailani was interrupted, for she found herself catapulted into the air by a stone with the slightest movement of Toph’s foot.

“Your sighted ass could never!” Toph shouted from below causing Kailani to let out a bark of laughter mid-air. As she manipulated the wind to make her fall graceful, the airbender caught sight of a familiar flying bison hovering over a large ship that headed in their direction. Allowing her lips to break out into a wide grin, Kailani grabbed Toph’s wrist, and pulled her to the edge of the shore.

“They’re here!”

Soon enough, the large ship stopped before the two girls, and Appa landed heavily beside it. Kailani didn’t wait a moment more before she jumped on Appa’s forehead, and began to caress his brown arrow.

“Appa!” She squealed excitedly.

“And Katara and Aang.”

Kailani whipped her head around to find the couple jumping off of the flying bison with their fingers interlocked. The girl immediately launched herself at Aang, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, and knocking him off balance with the force of her body weight.

“Aang!” Kailani murmured with a grin on her face. Regardless of the fact that he had grown much taller—taller than herself, in fact— she still looked at the Avatar as if he were her little brother, which was why she pulled away from the embrace, and forced his head down so she could rub her knuckles against his bald head. “Noogie!”

“Ow! Stop it Kai, I’m not twelve anymo—“

“You haven’t changed a bit, Kailani.” Katara spoke with a slight chuckle causing Kailani to release her grip on the humiliated Aang, and wrap her arms around the beautiful waterbender.

“Katara, it’s so great to see you!” The grey eyed girl enthused, always having a soft spot for the girl who had grown to be as close as a sister to her since they were younger. Being the only two girls for a while on their adventures allowed them to bond, and Kailani’s first hand witnessing of Katara’s compassion and kindness made her realize that there was no one better to be Aang’s girlfriend.

“I missed you, Kai.” Katara said with her signature motherly smile as she pulled away from the hug. “How have you been? I haven’t seen you since the Southern Air Temple two years ago.”

Kailani let out a sigh as she thought back to the last couple of years. “I’ve been good, albeit very busy. And it didn’t help that this one—“ she pointed her thumb at Aang. “—dumped the rest of his work on me.”

Aang let out a chuckle before gently resting his arm around Katara’s waist. “Sorry Kai. When Sokka told me he was going to the South Pole with Suki, I couldn’t miss the opportunity.”

“So that’ll be my fault.” Katara finished with a bashful grin, but Kailani only waved it off casually.

“Speaking of Sokka and Suki, where are they?” The airbender girl asked.

“KAILANI!”

As soon as the girl turned around, she was engulfed by a figure significantly taller than her. Her face slammed into his chest, and she groaned at the impact, but couldn’t help smiling at her best friend. He seemed to have come from his greeting with Toph, for the girl was walking their way from the location that Sokka ran from. While Katara and Aang gave a begrudging Toph a welcome hug (before Toph bended rock to come between them), Sokka pulled Kailani to face him at arms length with a wide grin plastered across his face.

“I can’t believe you’re finally with the Gaang again! While we’re fighting crime and saving the world, you always stayed at the Air Temples! But now we can have fun with you—“

“Where’s Suki?” Kailani interrupted causing Sokka’s jaw to drop, and snickers erupting from Toph, Katara, and Aang to sound beside them.

“You’re best friend is here, and the first person you ask for is my girlfriend?” Sokka accused in a characteristically dramatic tone.

Kailani slightly smirked. “Our girlfriend.”

“My girlfriend.” Sokka corrected swiftly while pointing his index finger to his own chest. “And you are a terrible best friend for that.”

Sokka and Kailani had been best friends from the moment he slipped and fell on top of her when he was helping her out of the iceberg. Perhaps it was because Sokka hadn’t been in the presence of someone the same age as him for years, or because they both felt the same responsibility when it came to their younger siblings (even if Kailani and Aang weren’t actually related). Either way they clicked immediately, and maybe even more than they had thought.

The two harbored a secret crush for one another for the first several months of their journey, but they soon realized that they were best as friends, and their ability to maintain their friendship after realizing their feelings only made them closer. Sokka later became involved with Suki (who Kailani cherished), and the airbender had... well, her Air Temple project.

“You’ve been a terrible best friend in many, many occasions, Sokka.” Kailani said with her eyebrows raised and her arms crossed.

“Oh yea?” Sokka challenged. “Name one time.”

“When you got us dragged into the spirit world by Hei Bai, when you forced me to drink that cactus juice, made Hawky poop on my head, not telling me about Yanchen’s festival, the New Ozai Society, or Gilak until after it was over, not visiting me for over a year and—“

“Okay, okay, okay I get it!” Sokka grumbled with a frown. “Suki’s still on the ship talking to Zuko about training his guards chi blocking with the Kyoshi Warriors.”

Kailani allowed her eyebrows to furrow. “Zuko’s here, too?”

“Oh so you care more about Zuko than your best friend—“

“Sokka.” Katara said irritated before facing Kailani once again. “Zuko wanted to visit Republic City in person, seeing as he’s been quite generous with the funds, and is its cofounder.”

“And he didn’t mind a little vacation from his Firelord duties.” Aang finished with a cheeky grin.

“I still can’t believe that guy runs a whole country.” Sokka said while crossing his arms and leaning against Toph.

“I can’t believe that Sparky hasn’t died of boredom with all that paperwork.” Toph responded. “All of that makes me glad I’m blind.”

Kailani let out a weak chuckle. “Was there a reason you guys didn’t tell me?”

Everybody—save for Toph—shared an curious look with each other before Katara spoke. “Is there a reason that he shouldn’t have come?”

“W-Well no, I suppose not—“

“Are those nerves I hear in your voice?” Toph questioned with a sly eyebrow raised.

Aang tilted his head in confusion. “Why would Kailani be nervous that Zuko’s coming?”

Katara wore a slight smirk on her face as she bored her eyes into Kailani’s grey orbs. “Do you like Zuko?”

Kailani, Sokka, and Aang’s eyes all widened, the latter two immediately turning to look at the airbender girl.

“It’s the scar isn’t it? That’s what got to you!” Sokka assumed while Aang seemed to be in a state a confusion.

“How long have you felt this way?” Aang asked.

“Oh I know, it’s because he’s hot!” Sokka turned towards Toph and Katara after he spoke and nudged them with his elbow. “Get it? Because he’s a firebender.”

“No, I don’t like him! How could I? I haven’t seen him in years!” Kailani finally announced, ceasing Sokka and Aang’s remarks, and she wasn’t necessarily lying.

Although Zuko had previously been their enemy, she remembered bonding with him after he joined them against his own father. She was quick to accept him after Toph declared that he was genuine with his offer to teach Aang firebending— which made the Prince grateful to her. But it wasn’t until she saw Zuko jump in the path of Azula’s lightning that was aiming for her that she began to feel something more for the boy.

However, after the war, Kailani was made aware that Zuko had reunited with his ex-girlfriend Mai, and thus she pushed aside any feelings she had for him, glad to at least have him as a friend. But soon after the war, she had begun her task of restoring the Air Temples, leading her to not see the new Firelord for almost six years now, and that was why she was nervous.

“And he’s not hot.” Kailani finished with a roll of her eyes. But as soon as she spoke, her eyes caught on two figures that headed there way from the ship, deep in conversation and unaware of the eyes glued to them.

Suki seemed to switch from Kyoshi Warrior to easygoing friend mode in a split second, for her furrowed eyebrows were quickly replaced with a cheery expression as soon as she spotted Kailani. Next to the Earth Kingdom girl stood Zuko in all his Firelord glory, wearing his nation’s formal attire, and his hair tied half up in a bun.

Kailani could’ve ate her words right there.

“You know, your mouth says something but your eyes say something else.” Katara whispered to the girl while Aang and Sokka walked away from them and towards Zuko.

“And your heartbeat says otherwise, too.” Toph teased. “Since I can’t really see your eyes.”

“Kailani!” Suki exclaimed as she catapulted into the airbender’s arms. Kailani let out a hearty laugh as she embraced the warrior, having found missing her bubbly personality, and her ability to make you feel like you could tell her anything.

“Suki, I missed you!” Kailani gushed with a grin. “I needed someone with the same alcohol tolerance as me! I almost died drinking with Toph.”

“Hey! It’s not my fault you’re a lightweight!”

“Kailani,” Katara said suddenly before linking her arms with the airbender. “let’s go see Zuko now.”

She knew that if she protested for any reason, her nerves would be confirmed to the two—now three— girls (even if Suki had no clue what was going on), and so she sucked in her words of denial and let Katara drag her towards the Firelord. She looked at Katara to see a cunning glint shining within her blue orbs, and then towards Toph who wore an extremely conspicuous smirk across her lips.

At least Katara was subtle.

“It’s rude to just pull me away from Suki.” Kailani said as she kept her eyes trained on a determined Katara. “We were in the middle of a conversation, you know.”

“It’s okay, I don’t mind.” Suki spoke from the other side of Toph causing Kailani to snap her gaze towards to warrior. Why was she going along with it? She didn’t even know of the nerves wracking her whole body! But as soon as the airbender’s grey orbs met Suki’s, the latter girl winked.

Never mind, she definitely knew.

“I-It’s still not well mannered—“

“Kailani?”

Hearing her name come from the mouth of the guy she was so conflicted with seeing startled her, and Katara could feel—from only touching one of her limbs— that Kailani froze. Her breath caught in her throat at the sound of Zuko’s deep dulcet voice that was familiar, but she was unaccustomed to from not hearing it after half a dozen years.

The first thing she could make out was the vibrant amber of his eyes; eyes that were staring right back at her. The right eye was surrounded by his milky pale skin, and his left eye was still slightly smaller and in the center of his dull red scar that had stayed exactly the same from all those years ago. His lips were slightly parted in surprise, but it quickly became a small smile that danced across his face, gracing his features with a look of soft delight instead of his previously confused expression.

Kailani immediately straightened her back, and hastily pulled her arm away from Katara before bringing her fist and flat palm together, and bowing.

“Firelord Zuko.”

Firelord Zuko, really?— she thought— Everyone just called him Zuko, so now I look like an idiot.

Her train of thought was interrupted when Zuko clutched her hands with his own and lifted her from her bow. Her face burned in embarrassment, but Zuko only shook his head with a bemused expression.

“Please Kailani, we fought my sister and almost died together countless of times. It’s just Zuko to you.” He said with a ghost of a smile that seemed minuscule compared to the shit eating grin that appeared on Kailani’s face.

She placed her hands lazily on her hips and lifted her chin up. “You’re right. I’ve saved your ass too many times to count, and I’m a century older than you. I’m the respectable one of us two.”

Zuko’s smile instantaneously dropped. “You’ve lost your mind if you think I’m going to bow to you.”

Kailani’s arms were suddenly thrown around his shoulders as she let out a string of giggles, reminiscing about the playful banter they exchanged when they were teenagers. Zuko’s serious façade melted away into a smile, and he was quick to snake his arms around her waist, missing the comfort that her embrace brought him after being robbed of it for six years.

“Kailani.” Aang spoke, thus, breaking apart the hug that seemed to last long enough for Katara and Suki to smirk, Sokka to raise an eyebrow, and Toph to snort violently. Aang—however wise and old (though not physically)— remained painfully oblivious, for his eyes were looking over and passed Kailani’s shoulder. “What’s that?”

Kailani turned around to trace Aang’s line of vision, only to meet Aang’s eyes once again—except these were made of metal; metal that matched the rest of the statue of Avatar Aang that was constructed by Toph (courtesy of Kailani’s idea) on a lone island of Yue Bay. It was a pale blue green color, and Aang stood with a staff beside his elevated bent knee.

The airbender girl pulled her arm away from Zuko’s warm—and admittedly intoxicating— touch, and leaned her head on Aang’s shoulder as they stood looking at his statue.

“That’s Aang Memorial Island.” Kailani said with soft grin, and laced her fingers through Aang’s. “Happy eighteenth birthday, little brother.”

Chapter 2 ->

[notxjustxstories]

round three of rangers and this time i just said fuck it i don’t want any more guys. descriptions below the cut--

Crystal Chen, Ranger Purple: Unlike her siblings Gem and Gemma, Crystal wasn’t chosen to wield a morpher and instead took one, one that was rarely used due to its volatility: purple. No one knows what happened to cause the purple morpher to behave the way it did, but everyone who’s tried to use it has succumbed to the same fate. For some reason, it doesn’t kill Crystal, and instead she embraces its power.

Scylla Landsdown, Ranger Pink: Like her sister Summer, Scylla grew up amid a charmed life, but when the apocalypse hit, it was all over. She followed Summer away from Corinth to save Scott, earning her the mantle of Ranger Pink.

Harmony Wilde, Amethyst Samurai Ranger: Personal guard to the keeper of the sealing symbol, no one knows why Harmony seems to hold such a grudge against Jayden or where she disappears to every now and then. She’s a dedicated ranger and pushes everyone else to be their best, sometimes beyond what they’re able to give.

Caroline Strickland, White Samurai Ranger: Caroline is thrown into ranger life without any guide, having grown up an orphan and only tracked down by Jii when Xandred started attacking. She feels a strong kinship with Emily, another ranger who wasn’t supposed to be.

Jessica Rossi, Orange Megaforce and Super Megaforce Ranger: Jessica has heard stories of power rangers, knew they existed across time and space, but she never thought she’d be involved with them. But now that she is, she knows something is coming. And she’ll be damned if she doesn’t stop it.

Carter Aquino, Purple Beast Morpher Ranger: Carter is an intern at the Grid Battleforce Headquarters and witnessed Evox’s corruption of the system firsthand. She, alongside Devon, attempted to warn Shaw and Silva, but they were ignored and were forced to watch as their world turned to mayhem.

Kailani Palakiko, Pink Beat Morpher Ranger: Kai hasn’t ever really fit in, despite her best efforts. She doesn’t quite know what’s wrong with her, but when she hears about something called a morphing grid at her parents’ workplace, she decides to find out just what it is they do for a living.

[ex-hrh-the-royals]

The royal family of Sulani has released a new photo of the family members. In the picture below, to the right you can see Queen, Vailea and behind her Princess Ulani. Seated to the left is King Uhilla and Crown Princess Kailani. It has been a calm year for the kingdom of Sulani, with many citing the King Uhilla's steady guidance as a source of comfort and inspiration. The royal family remains well-liked and loved by all ages, mainly due to their hard-work and how often they connect with members of the public.

Crown Kailani has recently finished college at Sim International University, where she rubbed shoulders with other royals including, Crown Princess Najwa Oasis Springs a kingdom that Sulani is close with. It was also a chance for the Crown Princess to spend time with her cousins Crown Prince Velor of Forgotten Hallow, Crown Princess Minetta of Glimmerbrook. She also went to school with Crown Princess Joo-Eun of Mt. Komorebi and Crown Prince Orin of Willow Creek. She graduated with a double major in Economics and History. As soon as she finished school, Kailani got an internship at the conservation center in Sulani. That being said, she had worked out a deal that will allow her to take up royal duties. As the Princess has stated that serving her kingdom comes first.

Princess Ulani is also showing herself to be a bright member of the family, having attended some duties during while she is in high school.

[figureskatingcostumes]

Kailani Craine's free program dress at the 2019 Autumn Classic International.

(Sources: 1 and 2)

[pocket-monsters-precure]

Akela/Cure Daybreak and Halia/Cure Nightfall are the members of Alola Ultra Precure, based in Alola! The pair are college interns at the Aether Foundation, making them the oldest canon Cures so far.

Kailani’s homeland is in good hands!

[cherrie-fizzypop]

New Love

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Thread 8 ~ Start from the beginning Here

Roleplay with @curiouserwilderness - Please do not interact with this post comment wise/reblog quote wise within the thread, to avoid confusion. Feel free to like, share, & read though! Thank you ♡

Main Characters: Loki Laufeyson/ Jade Lokisottir/ Kailani Moore

Jade Belongs to @lokifantasies & you can follow Jade’s blog @jade-pandora

Rating: Mature/18+

Summary: Deep talks & adoptions 🦊

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Word Count: 347

“Immortal?” Kai said, a bit shocked. She knew Jade was a goddess of sorts & her father a god but she never really thought of them being immortal. Maybe that was just due to her being a bit naive. “Duh you’re a goddess I just didn’t put it all together so ignore that comment.” Kai joked, swatting her hand in the air with a laugh. The redhead cleared her throat afterwards, listening to Jade as she bit into the s’more. Nodding occasionally.

Until Jade’s kinky comment made its way into the conversation. Kai coughed a bit surprised by the mention of it but she wasn’t repulsed by it at all. The redhead noted her panic & immediately assured her it wasn’t that strange.

“That’s not weird, or at least not to me! But I don’t think I can fulfill that in ways you may wish?” Kai scratched her trying to think of ways she could possibly satisfy the goddess with that particularly kink but came up blank in the end whilst finishing her s’more.

“This kind of question doesn’t have a simple answer babybear, it’s ok. Like I said before, honesty even if it’s one of those things you think we don’t want to hear from each other.” The redhead said when she hit her bong trying to aide in relaxing her. Kai smiled contently though at the mention of a possible shared pet with the confirmation of wanting kids her brain soar out words before she could process what they were.

“We could get a fox!? They’re like forever toddlers except way more adorable! If we can handle one of those we could totally handle a kid.” Immediately after everything had come out she covered her mouth in embarrassment internally scolding herself for suggesting such a thing. Though the idea in & of itself wasn’t too bad. It was the type of animal you’d have to commit to just like an actual baby so maybe Jade wouldn’t find it too out there. Her gaze met the goddess giving a nervous smile & shrug awaiting to gete her thoughts about it.

[hickorysims]

There are so many different personalities in this kooky group of young adults, that it may as well be a sitcom! Mitchell, J Huntington III, Gavin and Zoe must navigate the terrors of adulthood one electrical bill at a time, and find out who they want to be in between.

Sims

Mitchell Kailani, dishwasher

J Huntington III, womanizer

Zoe Patel, social media intern

Gavin Richards, writer