#long-range weather forecasting

[starsinmylatte]

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Living in Japan, you were used to people’s negative perceptions of your tattoos. An old man giving you a world-class stink-eye was more common than rain on a cloudy day, and those views were only compounded by the insular Jujutsu Sorcerer society you found yourself working in….. But what would the famous 7:3 Sorcerer think?

Pairing: Nanami Kento x afab!reader

Rating: Explicit (18+ minors DNI)

Word Count: 4k

Warnings: Brief canon-typical violence, brief hurt/comfort, smut, inappropriate use of a cursed technique, you know what you're here for

A/N: Major thanks to @pseudowho for being so wonderful and encouraging. You should all go read her brilliant fics if you haven't yet!!

Click here to join my re-vamped taglist!

You hadn’t officially met the 7:3 Sorcerer until you were assigned a very lengthy mission together. Still, as soon as you started to learn about him from others at Jujutsu High, you knew your tattoos had to stay hidden at all costs. 

Gojo, a man world-famous for understating things, had described Nanami as “a bit of a grump sometimes,” and you had even seen poor Ijichi nearly in tears at the thought of disappointing the severe blonde. So, in other words, you were right fucked. At the very least, you planned to hide the tattoos so you could make it through the next few weeks without aggravating your partner every time he laid eyes on you.  

You saw Nanami briefly on the day before your mission, and the suited man cut such a clean, no-nonsense figure that you were certain of two things. First, he would absolutely hate the ink on your skin. Second, you’d simply pass away from embarrassment if the achingly handsome man ever had a negative remark about the sentimental art. 

Under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t even bat an eye at someone’s poor opinion of you- actually, you’d probably respond with a cheeky grin and a crude gesture- but Nanami was different. He was respected and loved by so many other sorcerers despite his serious nature, and he was infuriatingly attractive. No man had ever been more your type; at some point, you considered going to a shrine to interrogate the gods about when they read your grade-school diary because Kento was the golden-haired prince of your dreams.  

Thankfully, it was the middle of winter, and all the forecasts called for was endless snow. 

“Even the weather is on my side,” you murmured cheerfully as you packed for the mission, dutifully shoving every long-sleeved shirt and pair of pants you owned into your small suitcase. Everything was in place, and you had accounted for every possibility… or so you thought. 

– (time skip) –

The driving, snow-laden wind stung your face as you sprinted toward the last curse, sword in hand. You could barely feel your lips or fingers, chilled to the bone and beyond exhausted, but this was the last one. The pitiful creature that skittered across the snow in front of you was the only curse left standing. It kept you from a warm bath and a strong drink back at the hotel, and if you let it get away now, you’d never catch up to it again after the storm. 

“C’mon… just a little bit more,” you bargained with your aching body, groaning inwardly as the curse seemed to gain more ground. 

The heavy snowfall muffled every sound and drastically reduced your visibility. Some small voice in your head screamed for caution, for you to go slower, but it was wholly overshadowed by your need to be warm again as fast as possible. Weirdly enough, that small voice sounded exactly like Nanami’s. 

Suddenly, the curse tripped with a yelp, and you pounced on it with feline grace, ready to finish it off. A sickening crack rang through the air the instant you sank your blade into its body. You looked in horror as the ice underneath the curse shattered, revealing a roiling abyss of water below. 

“Shit!” You screamed and dropped your sword, latching onto the ice's edge as the curse sank in a silent struggle.

It fell out of sight as your gloved hands slid on the ice, the loss of purchase sending your body further into the glacial water. You whimpered in pain, almost daring to believe that any second help would arrive- that Nanami would be next to you. Darkness swam in your vision, and your pain seemed to dull. You fought to keep awake, dimly aware that sleep meant never waking up again. 

“N-Nanami, p-please… Help...” You begged into the uncaring snow. 

Suddenly, a strong force grabbed your arm and hauled you out of the frosty water, picking you up almost effortlessly. You instinctively buried your face into your savior’s warmth and were rewarded with the deep, spiced notes of Nanami’s cologne. 

You tried to mumble something, but the blonde sorcerer quickly hushed you, “No, save your strength. You have to stay awake. Promise me that you’ll stay awake.” 

You couldn’t miss the panic in his voice as your eyes fluttered shut. 

– 

*Warm…. Content… Safe….* 

It felt like liquid sunshine had been poured into your veins, thawing every inch of your frozen body. You were curled against something large and warm… Something that smelled wonderful. 

Nanami’s hushed voice washed over you, thick and slow like warm honey, “How are you feeling?” 

You slowly opened your eyes, and your heart immediately jumped into your throat. Your body was pressed against Nanami’s, your head tucked into the soft crook of his neck as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His bare, muscular chest was pushed directly against your plush breasts, his skin radiating pure warmth as the scent of his cologne made your head fuzzy. 

With that image now firmly seared into your brain, it took another second for the rest of your thoughts to process. The first was good news: you were alive unless the afterlife was identical to your hotel room. But the second…. Well, maybe drowning wouldn’t have been too bad because you couldn’t feel that you had any clothes on.

“Nanami?” As you spoke, your voice sounded panicked and far away, almost distorted to your ears. “Where are my- what happened?” 

His head shifted slightly against yours. You couldn’t see his face, but Nanami sounded as uncomfortable as you felt. “I needed to get your body temperature back up… Shoko once told me that skin-to-skin contact was the best way to prevent hypothermia.”

You weren’t sure if you should slap the Doctor or send her a bottle of liquor as he continued, “I did my best to respect your privacy, but it was necessary. I apologize.” 

Nanami’s apology sounded so blunt and detached that it stung. Your face burned at the thought of him undressing you, immediately replaced with a feeling of growing horror. Surely, he couldn’t have missed all the tattoos as he removed your clothes? 

“Oh god… He must think I’m disgusting.” 

Your thoughts and insecurities began to pile up as you lay in his arms, silent and stewing in your mortification. The two of you had grown vaguely close in the past two weeks- close enough to have dropped most honorifics and pretenses with each other. Outside the mission, the two of you had spent time idly chatting about life, and you’d developed a comfortable routine around each other. You had even almost worked up the courage to ask him out for coffee when the mission was over.

Nanami spoke again, disrupting your thoughts, his voice tentative beneath a forced layer of calm. “I can close my eyes and let you dress if you feel up to it.” 

You could only nod worldlessly as your face burned red in embarrassment. His arms dropped away from your back to untangle the layers of blankets that sandwiched you two together, and you bit back a groan of protest. 

“Alright, you’re good to get up.” 

Nanami rolled over, facing the opposite wall. You winced at the sting of cold air as you slipped out of bed and away from him, quickly noticing that the only light in the room was from two large candles and the fireplace. Another groan fell from your lips, “Don’t tell me the power is out.” 

“Unfortunately,” came the curt reply. “The storm dropped enough snow to block the roads and cut off the power. 

“We better get some fucking hazard pay for this,” you swore quietly. 

Nanami was silent for another minute; under any other circumstance, your comment might’ve made him chuckle, “I set out some clothes for you. They’re thicker than the ones you brought.”

You opened your mouth to argue but instantly shut it. You knew he was right. The black pajama set you favored was cute and long-sleeved but made of thin material.

“If you’re sure.” You sighed in resignation as you dug through your own bag for socks and underwear. The only two things you had left were a cotton thong and a pair of thick winter socks with bears stitched on them. You committed to your fate, slipping on the sweatpants and blue thermal shirt Nanami had set to the side before turning back around. 

As soon as you did, another image permanently seared itself into your brain. Nanami lay on his side, hair mussed from its usual neat style, and you were treated to a mouthwatering view of his muscular back. His skin glistened, reflecting the flickering firelight, and your mouth went dry. It was all too easy to think about him looking like this after a more intimate activity.

“W-what will you wear?” You managed to force the sentence out. 

“I have the pair of pants I’m currently wearing, but you have my last shirt.” Nanami paused momentarily. The usually self-assured sorcerer was oddly hesitant as he spoke again, more quietly this time. “I hope it won’t bother you.” 

You stared at the back of his head incredulously. “You? Bothering me? Nanami, you just held my naked body for I don’t even know how long to keep me from freezing to death. You’ve seen what’s all over my skin. I probably disgust you now, and you’re worried about bothering me?”

Nanami froze mid-breath, turning to lie on his back and stare at the ceiling. You couldn’t see the expression on his face in the low light, but you could feel intensity rolling off him in waves. “You really think that I’m disgusted by you?” 

You clap a hand over your mouth, cursing yourself for letting that slip. “I-I don’t- I mean, I don’t want you to be…”

Your voice felt thick, your mouth dry like it had been stuffed with cotton as you covered your eyes and wished you could magically disappear into the ground. You were so distracted that you didn’t notice Nanami slide out of bed and cross the room.  

A gentle pressure suddenly appeared on your shoulder, and you looked up, jumping slightly as Nanami’s warm coffee-colored eyes gazed into yours, his hand firmly gripping your shoulder. 

“I’m not.” His voice was rough and strained. “I could never be…. Fuck, you have no idea, do you?”

You blinked slowly, the look on your face akin to a deer caught in the headlights. Nanami squeezed your shoulder to emphasize his next point, “I have spent the last few hours pointedly trying to ignore how beautiful I think you are.”

“But…”

Nanami held up a single finger, a motion for you to wait. He removed his hand from your shoulder and extended his arm for you to see the black ink nestled against his inner bicep. “Believe me more now?” 

Your gaze washed over the neat, tidy lettering. The tattoo was Roman numerals- a date? You raised your hand slowly, gently tracing your fingertips along the lines as if entranced. Nanami shuddered at your touch.

 “Careful, now.” He warned. “I can’t do much more of this.”

“Hm?” You stepped back to give him a bit more space, but your eyes were instantly drawn to the massive bulge in his sweatpants, the outline of his erection clear against the fabric. 

“I have been trying to be a good man. I have been trying to be a considerate mission partner.” Nanami sighed tersely, his muscles flexing in the dim light as he reached up to push his golden hair away from his face. “I told myself that having a- a crush on a mission partner was juvenile and unprofessional…”

A slight blush crossed the usually stern man’s face. “I wanted to ask you to dinner after we returned- to do this properly…. but when I started taking off your clothes and found…” 

His sentence trailed off as he gestured up and down your body, and your heart lurched. 

“You found?” You questioned softly, almost not daring to believe your ears. 

“You’re a work of art,” Nanami murmured. “I need to know if I’m making you uncomfortable… the last thing I want is for you to feel forced into anyth-” 

He didn’t get to finish before your soft lips collided with his. Your eyes fluttered shut at the taste of him, savoring it. Nanami’s hands instantly returned to your body to pull you in even closer. He held you closely as if you were the most important thing in the world, and you melted against him, sighing gently.  

“No, you’re not.” You whispered against his lips. “I feel the same way about you.” 

His large, battle-calloused hand cupped your face with heartwrenching tenderness. Nanami’s thumb caressed the swell of your lower lip before he tilted your head back so he could look into your eyes. The tender, intimate gesture pulled a quiet sigh from you, and Nanami chuckled, a low, rich sound you felt in your bones.

“What do you want from me right now, beautiful girl?” 

His gaze was intense and magnetic as it drew you in, causing desire to blossom in your lower body. Its electric tendrils wound throughout your veins at the sound of Nanami’s rich voice. You were usually so outspoken and confident, but this damned man made your head swim. 

He stroked your cheek again, “I need you to use your words. Can you do that for me?” 

Another sharp pang of arousal pierced your heart and fell straight through your core like a shooting star. “I want you, Nanami. I-I want to have sex with you. I want more than that, but right now…..please.” 

You trailed off, acutely aware of how your pussy subtly ached and fluttered at your own words. It begged for attention, the small scrap of cotton underwear you wore already damp with arousal. Nanami’s small smile turned into a rather roguish grin, voice rough and low. “Good girl. Let me take care of you.”

Nanami’s praise forced another whimper from your lips as he pulled you flush against him. One of your hands splayed against his chest, the other tangled into his fine hair. He captured your lips in a searing kiss; you felt the thick strain of his erection press against you so insistently, even through the layers of fabric you both still wore. 

With one swift motion, Nanami swept you up and off your feet. You wrapped your legs around his waist, keening as you rocked your aching pussy against his cock, forcing a hiss from the usually stoic man. 

“Too many clothes,” you whined, drawing another short laugh from your lover. 

“As much as I want to see more of your lovely body, we’ve gotta keep you warm, pretty girl.” Nanami cooed, nipping at your bottom lip. He pressed kisses down the column of your neck as he pulled your hips down, encouraging you to grind against him again. “Fuck, that’s it.” 

You swore you could cum just like this, humping his clothed cock like a desperate schoolgirl eager for her first fuck. The friction between your bodies moved the seam of your panties against your swollen clit, making you cry out. His lips returned to devour your cries of pleasure, your kiss becoming desperate, filled with tongue and teeth. 

“‘Nami, please…. not like this. Wanna cum on your fingers.” you beg, unable to stop yourself from chasing your rapidly approaching orgasm, despite your plea. 

Nanami growled, swiftly crossing the room to deposit you on the edge of the bed. “No, I’m going to taste you first. You’re going to cum on my tongue.” 

You sobbed, both from his sinful words and from the loss of his body against yours, as Nanami hooked a finger into the waistband of your sweats. He slid them down and threw them across the room unceremoniously, causing you to giggle. 

That same giggle quickly turned into a wanton moan as his thick finger reached down to ghost over the scrap of cotton that barely covered your pussy from his gaze. Your legs fell open, begging him for more, and Nanami tsk’d softly, his legendary impatience flaring to life. 

Through the heady haze of your lust, you felt Nanami’s fingers hook through your underwear in two different spots. His cursed energy flashed, and his fingers tore through the material like it wasn’t ever there. 

“Nanami Kent-!” You didn’t get the chance to finish chastising him before he knelt with predatory grace, cupped either side of your hips, and pulled your hips closer. He licked a fat stripe through your glistening folds, and your head fell back against the bedsheets; the last syllable of his name instantly turned to a cry of ecstasy. 

He chuckled again, lazily dragging his tongue along the same path before pressing a light kiss to your clit, “I’ll buy you more,” he murmured, “Needed to taste you.” 

You whined as Nanami grazed your clit, the pressure enough to tease but not enough for true satisfaction. He spread you open with his fingers and watched in desperate fascination as your pussy seemed to beg for him, soaked and clenching around nothing. Your back arched off the bed as Nanami took the small bud between his lips and sucked. 

He growled in approval, the sensual timbre of his voice traveling through your body and causing your cunt to clench again, “So perfect.”

Nanami held you firmly in place with his arms as he continued his blissfully torturous assault on your body. He alternated between sucking your clit and thrusting his tongue into your core, feasting on you with abandon like he needed your taste to live. Every so often, his nose tapped against your swollen clit, and you saw stars. 

You moaned his name as Nanami’s clever fingers traced your opening, and you nearly cried as one thick digit fully slipped inside. He moved the finger experimentally, completely entranced by the way your velvet walls fluttered around him, begging him to stay inside you.

“Need to cum…. please.” You sob, desperately trying not to wrap your legs around his head and hold him in place forever.

“You’re doing so well for me- so fucking beautiful.” Nanami praised roughly and slipped another finger into you, scissoring them and stretching your walls experimentally. Your back arched off the bed again as he leaned down to tongue your clit at the same time. His fingers caressed your g-spot insistently; stars danced in your vision, and the arousal in your body all coalesced into one aching, burning knot. 

“It- it’s too much… Nanami, nnnnguh ‘m gonna-” 

Your sentence broke off into a desperate, airy whine as Nanami sucked your swollen clit between his lips once more, sending you over the edge of a mind-shattering orgasm. His hands stroked the inked skin of your hips, and you sobbed his name as he greedily lapped up the cum from your soaked folds. You gazed between your legs and watched, enraptured, as Nanami slowly stood and licked your cum off of his fingers. 

“Absolutely delicious,” He groaned appreciatively at the taste, and you whimpered in response; the sight was easily one of the most arousing things you’d ever seen. You rubbed your thighs together, wholly lost to desire, the movement shifting the blue thermal you still wore even higher up your body. The fabric moved against your pert nipples, giving them enough friction to tease.

You tipped your head back as you rolled one of your nipples between your fingers with a practiced flourish, and Nanami’s impossibly hard cock twitched at the sight. If you were more lucid, you’d have seen that he was just as affected by the show you put on. The sight of you toying with your plush breasts, wearing only his shirt, half your tattoos clearly visible, and nipples strained against the fabric … If he were a weaker man, he’d have already cum while still in his pants. 

“You put on such a pretty show ‘f me,” Nanami murmured as he slipped a hand into the band of his sweatpants, his gaze heavy-lidded, content to watch you play for a moment. However, you had other ideas. You flashed a coy, lust-addled smile and reached your foot out, tucking it next to his hand to gently tug at the waistband, a clear signal for the pants to come off. 

“So impatient,” He chuckled roughly, instantly complying with your demand. Finally, you were treated to the view you’d been dreaming about. Nanami stood before you, completely nude and almost painfully aroused. A trail of neatly groomed, honey-blonde hair led down his toned abdomen, guiding your eyes to his deliciously hard cock. It was long, with a prominent vein that ran down the side to disappear before it met the thick, swollen tip. 

You spread your legs invitingly, and Nanami crawled between them, the bed dipping under his added weight. He stroked his cock experimentally, hissing as he traced the tip through your warm folds before kissing the tip to your clit. You whimpered at the lewd, wet sounds, your pussy fluttering desperately every time his swollen tip circled your entrance. 

“Please, Nanami….” You meweled, hips rocking involuntarily against him. He needed no further encouragement to slide into your warmth; Nanami hissed and groaned, slowly pushing into you, fighting the urge to just slam his cock inside your core. You took him in deeper, inch by agonizing inch, until his swollen cockhead kissed your cervix, and you sobbed in ecstasy. 

With another low growl, Nanami rocked his hips slowly, watching you fall apart at the unhurried drag of his cock against your velvet walls. “Like that, pretty girl?”

You babbled and whined complete nonsense, biting and kissing into his shoulder as Nanami began to thrust his hips at a faster pace, enraptured by the pearly ring of your combined fluids that coated the base of his cock. In mere moments, he was drilling into you with ruthless efficiency, the room filled with the pornographic sounds of your lovemaking. 

Every one of Nanami’s thrusts sent an electric shockwave of pleasure through your body, and you rocked your hips against him, desperately chasing another orgasm. You wrapped your legs up and around his waist, shifting your hips slightly, and his cock hit even deeper. 

“Good girl… Good fucking girl,” he growled as your hips ground against each other. “Taking me so well... Cum for me one more time- shit, I need to feel you cum on my cock.” 

Your nails dug into his back and arms desperately as the tight coil inside you built and built until it shattered completely. Sparks of blinding white flashed in your vision as your orgasm burned through like wildfire, and your pussy clenched around him desperately. Moments later, Nanami came with a look of sheer bliss on his face. Ropes of his warm cum coated your walls, stuffing you and giving you a feeling of delicious fullness.

A few minutes passed in blissful silence as you both caught your breath. Nanami made no real move to pull out, and you weren't complaining. Instead, he simply maneuvered into a lying position, pulling you close with his cock still buried deep inside you.

 “It’ll help you stay warm tonight,” he murmured lovingly, tucking all the blankets back into place around your intertwined bodies.

Tagging some friends: @saradika, @thefact0rygirl, @babygirl-leon-kennedy, @hereforthesunrise, @ashotofspotchka, @ironandglass, @amyroswell, @cassandrablacker, @lady-valtieri, @justanothersadperson93

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[catholictrauma]

this is the place to post about your knowledge and i’m thinking about my little royal sunangel (from the coquette hummingbird family) google deep-dive and i wanted to show you guys these rare little bastards!

this is a male (left) and female (right) sunangel, they’re sexually dichromatic (different colors indicate different sexes) and so, so teensy! they’re roughly 4.3-4.7 inches/10-12 cm long from their beak to their tail!

they’re as little in number as they are little in size, too. they are exclusively found in the bordering andes area ecuador and peru share, where there are subtropical elven forests (because everything about them deserves a pretty name). there are only 8 known sunangel habitats within this area. when documentation started, around the start of the 2010s, there were 12. the estimated population of this endangered bird is anywhere from 3-7 thousand. the royal sunangel population has been steadily — and scarily — declining since their discovery in 2009, and this is largely attributed to the deforestation due to frequent forest fires and the conversion of their habitats into agricultural fields.

it feels like the royal sunangel JUST got discovered, and the scientific community has only JUST started noting down how unique they are among their hummingbird family and birds at large, and now their delicate little frames and stubborn commitment to their habitat range might lead them to death’s door before i reach middle age and have the credentials or cause to observe them myself. ornithologists love these little guys because they feed in these little circuits so no two (super territorial) males may meet, and when they feed, they either stalk and eventually eat insects or take nectar from shrubs and flowers using the punctured feeding holes of some other animals’ labor. also, you know how hummingbirds famously hover while they feed? these hummingbirds are the only ones who don’t. they perch and relax (as is only sensible)!

If you find them as charming as I do, or if you have a heart, you’re probably asking yourself how we go about conserving these birds in the first place.

well, on the agricultural front (which is more heavily an ecuadorian obstacle for these habitats), the situation feels more complicated. ecuador’s market relies on agricultural exports and i don’t see how tumblr users could make the government prioritize sustainability over profits. There are already conservation groups trying to fight that good fight and buy properties on these fragile biodiverse lands before agricultural companies can (you can punch in neoprimate.org for a good one, my link function isn’t working on here) and if you can donate a little to these initiatives you’d be contributing to the protection of tons of endangered species in the local areas.

another way to prevent habitat loss is by funding efforts to prevent the forest fires that frequently wipe out habitats around this area, especially those in peru (the area with the majority of sunangel habitats). there are legal and activist groups putting energy towards that that’s linked above, but another subtle improvement is to provide local farmers and residents with fire weather forecast devices. this way, everyone will be on the same page, and know that if it’s an arid/risky day to light a fire, they should act conscientiously. these devices are being circulated and groups are educating about and encouraging them to the local communities and could use some help in these links. below, i have a screenshot from an organization that doesn’t have a clear donation link for me, but i heavily encourage supporting, because ultimately i think local, sustainable, community-based and indigenous-prioritizing efforts are the way to go.

thanks so much for listening to my little spiel about these cuties, and i hope this information brightens your day and motivates you to care about the beautiful things we can protect. 💙💜

[mizutenshii]

I GAVE A 2ND CHANCE TO CUPID.

— pairing ; kaneki ken x human!gn!reader

— summary ; your previous relationship was toxic and traumatizing, and you swore to never get involved with romance ever again. that is, until you meet a boy with a secret too big to carry on his own.

— cw ; slowburn, mention of toxic ex, dark thoughts, fluff, hurt to comfort, strangers to lovers, mention of blood and human consumption, angst, this is LONG ( ~ 6k )

summer was over.

that much was certain, and the sudden downpour was there to prove it. thick droplets of rain plummeted from the clouds, soaking everything in its wake – including you. it had been barely minutes ago that a weak autumn sun had been shining faintly, but now its rays were nowhere to be seen. you ran over the pavement, dodging the puddles that had already formed. you had ended up in a part of tokyo you didn’t visit regularly, and had no idea what was a good place to seek shelter. 

well, until you found a small cafe pressed snugly between taller buildings. anteiku. the name did not ring a bell – you were sure that you had never heard of it before, but that mattered not. you only cared about getting out of this merciless downpour, and hastily pushed open the door. 

a small bell rang to alert the staff of your entrance, and various people looked up. you paid them no mind, and shuffled to a seat in the far back of the cafe. you didn’t want to be rude, but you were way too awkward to return their friendly gazes. if any, you didn’t even intend to order anything, only visiting to seek shelter from the rain. you flopped down onto a vacant chair, grimacing at the trail of wet droplets you left behind, lining from the entrance until they reached the table you were now seated at. 

you whipped out your phone and mindlessly scrolled through social media, occasionally glancing through the window to see if the rain had already ceased. it wasn’t as if you harbored any hope for it to end soon; the forecast brought to you by your weather app wasn’t looking too good. hmph, it seemed that you had to stay here for a while. 

but then a pair of footsteps approached you, and you looked up to find a waiter standing at your table, notepad and pen ready. you were about to say that you didn’t want anything, but words refused to spill from your lips as soon as you looked at the waiter properly. because damn, he was cute. neatly styled black hair that looked incredibly soft, a quiet grey gaze that observed you awkwardly – well, he gazed at you with one eye, for the other was covered by a medical eyepatch. he smiled at you, but you could tell it was carefully fabricated. typical professional smile, but not any less adorable. it was even harder to stay true to your decision when he spoke up. 

     “h-hello, welcome to anteiku. what can i get you?” 

his tone was aversive and soft, and you could tell it belonged to a shy person. the tiny stutter basically confirmed it. why did he become a waiter, then? he didn’t seem to have the personality fit for working in such a social setting. well, you didn’t mind; he was cute and you didn’t mind having to look at him. maybe ordering something wasn’t a bad idea, after all. 

     “hi,” you greeted back, offering him a smile. “a black coffee will do.” 

the boy scribbled your order down onto his notepad, bowing slightly before scurrying away. you couldn’t help but look at his back as he almost fled back to the counter, and your smile didn’t fade. 

you were almost disappointed when another waitress came to bring your coffee, and you looked for the cute boy behind the counter. he wasn’t there and you wondered, maybe his shift had ended? you thanked the blue-haired waitress politely and began drinking from the hot beverage. 

as you sat there in silence, sipping your coffee, your thoughts started to roam freely. the rain outside reminded you of more depressed days, and you realized it had been months since they left you damaged and miserable. you thought you had found your one true love when you met your ex, but nothing was further from the truth. they turned out to be manipulative and abusive, dragging you down until there was barely anything left from your original personality. you were merely a shadow of who you used to be, and even now, months later, the scars that were left behind were still visible. sure, you were doing a lot better now that some time had passed, but you had grown aversive and silent, anxious and evading. it had taken the vast expanse of summer to recover, but now that the gloomy days of autumn had begun, you were slowly dragged back into the hole of misery. 

it was okay. you were okay. you just needed a little more time. that, and you had made the decision not to get involved with romance ever again. you were better off on your own. no one to hurt you, no one to drag you down. 

you placed your empty cup on the table as you caught yourself reminiscing about bad times. that wasn’t good. you had made a promise to yourself to not think of them ever again, but that had proven to be nearly impossible. you shook your head, gaze involuntarily flitting to the counter once more. you couldn’t deny that your heart skipped a beat when you found the cute boy with the eyepatch standing there, drying off some mugs. hm, that was not a good sign. maybe it was time to leave. 

fortunately, it was the blue-haired waitress who waited behind the counter when you went up to pay, and as soon as you were done you hurried out of the cafe. the rain had ceased, and tiny rays of sunshine peaked through the shrinking deck of clouds. you gazed up at the sky, then began walking towards your residence. 

the entire time, a certain boy was on your mind. 

and he didn’t leave. 

a week had passed, and you kept thinking back to the adorable waiter – all while convincing yourself that it meant nothing. just a cute guy who worked at a cafe you had visited once. what did it matter that you wanted to touch his hair to feel how soft it really was, that you wanted to see his smile again. you fought against those thoughts for days on end. finding someone cute didn’t mean you were after romance, you sternly told yourself. you just admired from a distance, which was okay. 

well, it was exactly the same train of thoughts that led you towards anteiku again. you struggled a bit to find it, seeing how you ran into it by accident the previous time, but you managed – and you caught yourself feeling relieved when you saw the familiar front of the building. when you stepped inside, you instantly sought for the cute boy, and your heart leaped in your ribcage when you found him behind the counter, seemingly preparing someone’s drink. 

mission accomplished. 

you could go home in peace now. you had seen the boy again, and he was still as cute as before. but he just so happened to look up and his gaze met yours. recognition flashed across his features and you knew you had no choice but to take a seat and order something now that he had spotted you. luckily, you came prepared. you waved at him, before nervously bee-lining towards a vacant window seat. you sat down, reached for your bag and took out a novel you had been reading. pretending to be immersed in the story while a part of you was paying attention to what happened behind the counter. from the corner of your eyes, you saw eyepatch-boy approaching you, clutching the notepad against his chest. again, he seemed so nervous, and you wondered once more why he took on this job. your eyes flew over the lines written in the book, and you pretended not to see him when he came to a halt next to your table. 

     “hi,” he greeted you politely, before dropping his carefully practiced tone. “you came again?” 

you nodded. “yep, i guess you could say that i liked it here.” 

that was a lie. anteiku hadn’t necessarily left an impression, but one of its waiters did. said waiter stood there awkwardly, but his partially-hidden gaze seemed to light up when he found the novel in your hands. 

     “takatsuki sen,” he pointed out, his tone filled with masked delight. 

     “hm?” you brought out, not expecting the boy to strike a conversation. you thought he’d just awkwardly take your order, like the last time, but he suddenly seemed adamant on talking to you now that he saw the cover of the book you were holding. 

     “the novel you are reading,” the raven-haired waiter explained. “it’s from my favorite author.” 

     “oh,” you reacted dumbly. you weren’t prepared for this, and you needed a moment to adapt. but then you offered him a smile. “well, she’s an amazing writer. what can i say? you have taste…” 

     “kaneki,” the boy said, offering you a shy smile. “i’m kaneki. and thank you.” 

you weren’t sure why your vocal inflection had carried the innuendo of wanting to know his name, but here you were. kaneki, huh? you weren’t sure if finding out his name was a good thing, since it wasn’t your intention to get this much involved with the cute waiter. said boy seemed to have melted a little, now that his favorite author was brought up. he slipped into the seat opposite of you, and from there on you just… started talking. you had been right about him being shy, but he opened up now that he got to talk about novels. he completely forgot to take your order, and you found yourself not minding all that much. 

but your inner alarm system was blaring; danger, danger. it was a continuous warning that repeated itself in the back of your mind, trying to obtain your acknowledgement. it was to no avail, though, as talking to kaneki appeared to be quite easy now that this particular topic was brought up. you shared quite a bit when it came to interests regarding novels and authors, and the clock kept ticking until half an hour had suddenly passed. 

     “o-oh, i never took your order,” kaneki suddenly realized, his eyes widening. “i’m sorry, i got carried away. it happens when anything related to takatsuki sen is brought up.” 

     “it’s okay,” you reassured him. “i actually enjoyed talking to you. shouldn’t you get back to work, though?” a hint of concern laced your voice as you spoke, and you mentally scolded yourself. that wasn’t part of the plan! 

     “you’re right,” the raven-haired boy nodded. then he muttered, “i hope yoshimura isn’t mad.” 

assuming this yoshimura was his boss, you hoped the best for him. it had never been your intention to distract one of his waiters, let alone engage in a conversation with the cute boy. the little voice in your head was screaming; stop it! get away from him! don’t get involved! but a part of you knew it was too late already. it could be brought to a halt so easily. just forget about anteiku, about the boy with the eyepatch, don’t visit again and he’ll vanish from your mind eventually. but something about that didn’t sit right with you. there was something about kaneki that intrigued you. 

well, not everything had to lead to romance, maybe you could just befriend him?  

     “i won’t distract you any longer,” you told him, gathering your belongings and getting up from your seat. you hesitated for a moment, pondering. just friends, right? “maybe i can stop by sometime when your shift is over?” 

kaneki’s expression darkened upon your suggestion. a shadow literally ghosted over his features. it lasted for but a second before he returned to normal, and you wondered if you had imagined it. but no, you were quite certain you had seen it correctly. his innocent, shy demeanor had faltered for a moment. did he not like your request? did you cross a boundary by asking him to hang out?  

but then the boy offered you a smile. “sure, what about next thursday? my shift ends at five, and if my memory is correct, a new volume of takatsuki’s ongoing series will appear in the bookstores. we can–” 

it was as if a whole new person sat afore you, now that he got to talk about his favorite novels. it was cute, endearing, adorable, whatever you wanted to call it. shy guy suddenly got talkative. you never expected to have that effect on someone, since you always made sure that you didn’t look friendly or approachable. you weren’t trying to be mean, but you didn’t want to attract people, either. it was better that way, but it also led to loneliness and isolation. you guessed that’s why the cute waiter lingered on your mind perpetually since meeting him. you were lonely, in need of a companion. 

     “okay,” you nodded, reciprocating the smile. “i’ll be there.” 

from that day on, you became a regular at anteiku. it came to a point where other employees came to recognize you as well. some playfully nudged kaneki’s arm whenever you stepped inside, while others gave you a look that you could only interpret as disapproval. the latter left you a little insecure, but you paid it no mind. you came for kaneki, not for his colleagues. 

he opened up to you more, and you did the same. from only talking about novels, you went to talking about your personal lives – although it was mostly you who did the talking, kaneki remained pretty much silent when it came to more personal topics. but that was okay, you guessed it was part of his shy personality. you didn’t mind doing most of the talking, surprising even yourself. soon, kaneki knew about your hobbies, your job and education, and even your toxic past relationship was mentioned. it wasn’t long before you had magically opened up to kaneki, and you genuinely found the friend you had been missing for a while. fuck, maybe you were even about to acknowledge the feelings that had started to bloom in your chest, despite the promise you had made to yourself. 

until everything changed. 

until kaneki changed. 

the moment you stepped inside anteiku, you noticed something was different. something was off. you could feel it in the entire atmosphere. the cafe was mostly empty, and the customers that had dared to set foot inside sat tense and uncomfortable. you frowned, instinctively seeking for your friend among the waiters behind the counter. it took you a moment to find him, because he underwent a whole transformation. 

messy hair as pale as the moon sat atop his head, and his previously waiter attire had made way for pitch black clothes. his expression was empty, even when he gazed up and found you standing there. usually his quiet facade would light up as soon as he saw you, but nothing happened. he was placid, as if he didn’t care that his friend arrived to spend time with him. 

you didn’t know what to do, and a feeling of uneasiness washed over your entire being like an avalanche. this was exactly like the dark shadow that had crossed his features weeks ago, unless it was here to stay this time. you had to force yourself to move closer to the counter, every step strained with aversion. 

     “hey, kaneki,” you greeted your friend, forcing a smile that hopefully seemed genuine enough. “did you bleach your hair? it looks amazing on you.” 

     “something like that,” the waiter replied dismissively. he didn’t make any motions to come from behind the counter to join you, nor did he even look at you, his gaze cast downward towards the floor. 

everyone was looking at you with some sort of sympathy, as if they knew something you didn’t. you were confused, and getting frustrated slowly. what was going on? why was no one saying anything? you hated being left in the dark, especially now that your friend was behaving so strangely. 

     “y/n, i don’t think you should come here any longer,” kaneki muttered after a long silence. he still refused to look at you, and thus he completely missed the way your heart visibly shattered. the more he spoke, the more it wrenched in your chest. “you should just forget about me. act as if i have never been part of your life, it’s for the better.” 

the dark blue-haired waitress patted his shoulder, and kaneki was about to retreat to the back of the cafe. but your call stopped him, and he turned around one last time. you couldn’t bring out any words, for your breath was caught in your throat. you could only give him a pleading look, and you felt utterly pathetic. kaneki pursed his lips and you saw a whirlstorm flicker behind his eye. but then he turned around resolutely, disappearing through the door. 

he left you, and you were defeated. heart shattered to pieces before things even started. you should’ve listened to the warnings inside your mind, because you had opened up only to receive… nothing. he left you. and so you left, too. your world had brightened despite the absence of the sun, and now it was tearing at the seams. 

you didn’t look back when you left anteiku, as you weren’t sure whether or not you could handle the sight. it was the biggest cliche ever, when the deck of clouds couldn’t hold it any longer and broke down. rain started to drizzle from the darkening sky, substituting for the tears that refused to spill. but you cared not, hardly even bothering to shove the hood of your coat over your head to shield you from the raindrops. what did it matter, anyway? 

it appeared that you were destined to be broken by those you trusted. this was the final drop. you had been dumped without so much of an explanation, and you had to hold up the cruel, dreadful days to come on your own. you were rational enough to assume kaneki must’ve had his reasons for acting like this all of a sudden, but you forced those thoughts aside. you didn’t want to sympathize with someone who abandoned you like that. he at least owed you an explanation, but even that was too much to ask for, apparently. 

again, it was just you. and curses, the cute waiter remained to linger on your mind. 

the weeks following were lonely and painful. you had shut out everyone and everything. nothing seemed to bring you any joy. your life had grown monochrome once more, void of colors. who would’ve thought that it would have such a large impact on you? surely, if you would’ve known beforehand, you would’ve never gotten involved with kaneki. 

romance was out of the question for you, yet you had fallen for the cute waiter at anteiku. you weren’t dense, you knew what you were going through; heartbreak. laced with confusion and anger that had formed over time, you were left with the pain of a broken heart. without knowing, you had given a second chance to cupid, yet the arrow he shot had missed terribly, guiding you towards another drama. you found a way to trust, and it resulted in being broken down once more. 

you sat on the couch in your living room – pretty much like you always did these days – when the doorbell rang. you forced yourself up and dragged yourself towards the front door without too much enthusiasm. it was most likely the delivery service, bringing you the take-out you had ordered. right on time, as you were starving. 

except it wasn’t the delivery service. 

afore you stood a guy you had never expected to see again. hair as pale as the moon, messy bangs that covered his one eye while the other was hidden by a medical eyepatch, black clothes that wrapped around his thin frame. 

kaneki. 

you froze, heart setting a drum beat rhythm in your chest – as if it was, despite all, happy to see him. but you were all but happy, and this sudden reunion was like a slap in your face. so many questions flooded your mind at once, but all that poured out was anger. 

     “what do you think you’re doing here?” you sneered, closing the door a little. “get away, shoo.” 

     “y/n– please, can we talk?” kaneki brought out, no longer bearing this cold demeanor. “i can explain–” 

     “get. out.” you weren’t having it. first, he broke you, and then he had the guts to come back to you like a kicked puppy, as if he was the victim here? you were trying to heal, trying to forget him and get over him, but now he showed up and all your progress was reset. screw him. you seethed. 

     “look, i’m sorry,” the boy said firmly, his shy voice gaining strength. “but–” 

     “there’s no room for buts,” you cut him off. “you hurt me, kaneki. after i told you about what i was healing from, you had the nerve to break me again. and how do you even know where i live? are you a stalker now?” 

     “your scent,” kaneki muttered. “i followed your scent.” 

     “i–” you began, but you were speechless. you had nothing to say to him, so you did the only thing that came to mind. you slammed the door in his face, spinning around and letting yourself fall back. with your body pressed against the door, you slid down to the floor. it wasn’t long before the first sob racked your figure. seeing kaneki again tore open barely healed wounds. wounds that would, once more, take weeks to heal up the slightest bit. 

you never expected to be overcome by guilt, of all things. 

guilt for slamming the door in kaneki’s face, guilt for being mean to him like that. it wasn’t like you, it was anger that had taken over and made you act like that. surely, your anger towards him was valid, and you kept telling yourself so. but it didn’t do much, and the feeling of gut-wrenching guilt lived on. 

and then there was your curiosity that grew. why did the guy show up on your doorstep all of a sudden? what was it that he had wanted to talk about? how come his demeanor had softened so much despite shutting you out so harshly earlier? you were full of questions, and after pondering for a long time, you knew there was only one way to settle this once and for all. 

you had to hear him out. 

armed with a fair dose of anxiety and restlessness, you were headed towards anteiku for what you told yourself was the last time. you needed closure, and in order to achieve that, you needed answers. yes, it would hurt. yes, old wounds would resurface even more. but it was the only right thing to do. you were terrified, and frankly, you weren’t entirely prepared, either. you were just winging it, because you decided on a whim to do this. 

the familiar bell rang as you pushed open the door, stepping inside and waiting for it to shut behind you. immediately, all employees’ eyes were solely on you. you figured it wasn’t hard to guess what you came here for, and you approached the counter awkwardly. the same blue-haired waitress as before gazed at you quietly, and you exhaled deeply. 

     “where can i find kaneki?” you asked, voice trembling slightly. 

     “through the door,” came the soft reply. “come in.” 

the waitress gestured for you to come around the counter, which you awkwardly did. someone else opened the door for you, and you hesitated for a moment before stepping through. you gazed around and found yourself inside a hallway that led to a flight of stairs and a couple of doors. 

     “he’s upstairs,” a voice sounded from behind you, and you nodded.

now was not the time to chicken out. you came here with a mission, a goal you had to achieve. you had to do this in order to move on, it was the only right way. your body moved stiffly as you went up the stairs, wood creaking with every step you took. you were beyond terrified, but what else did you expect? you were about to face kaneki, the boy who turned your world upside down twice.

little did you know that he would do it again in a couple of minutes. 

     “y/n?” kaneki’s voice came from a room to your left, and you froze. 

were you really going to do this? well, yes. you had gotten so far already. you forced yourself to take another step, and another one, until you reached the boy with pale white hair. you came to a halt in the doorway, leaning against the frame nervously. 

     “hi,” you greeted quietly. “i, uh, i came to hear you out.” 

kaneki gazed at you quietly for a moment, a complicated mixture of emotions playing on his features. there was relief, there was fear, there was surprise and a hint of joy. then he got up, motioning for you to come inside the room. you obliged, feigning confidence as you approached the male. you weren’t going to let him know your true feelings. he didn’t have to know how hurt you were, how anxious you were. it was none of his business, not anymore. 

     “are you sure you want to hear this?” kaneki asked hesitantly. “i mean, are you prepared?” 

there wasn’t much left of his cold demeanor, and all that was left was an insecure and shy boy – like the one you met all those weeks ago. despite his total transformation, he looked more like the cute waiter you got to know than he did when he shut you out. it confused you; what was the point of kicking you to the curb like that first, and then coming back like this? 

     “try me,” you deadpanned. “how bad can it be?” 

     “pretty bad,” the boy opposite of you said. “trusting you might result in my death. but i want to. i want to trust you. my gut tells me that it’s going to be okay, and i hope my gut is right about that.” 

     “your death?” you echoed. “kaneki, why?” 

     “because i’m your enemy,” the boy with hair as pale as the moon said, his fingers looping through the strings of his eyepatch and ripping it off. 

it was as if your soul left your being the very moment you met his eyes. it was quite the unusual pair, one being a quiet grey while the other was a black void with a glaring red iris. you felt breathless, all while your heart was beating rapidly in your chest. your first instinct was to run away, but you were frozen on spot. you wanted to scream, burst out in tears, cry for help, vanish, anything that would lead to you being taken away from him. and kaneki just stood there, observing your reaction. 

     “k-kaneki,” you squeaked out. 

     “i’m half ghoul, half human, y/n,” he said flatly. “i used to live a normal human life, until i got into an accident. i had to undergo an organ transplantation, but unbeknownst to the surgeon, i received organs that once belonged to a ghoul. so here i am, a hybrid, a nobody, lonely and torn between two worlds.” 

     “you’re… a ghoul?” you repeated, mouth awfully dry. 

     “partially,” kaneki confirmed. “it’s up to you now. report me to the ccg, accept me as i am. it’s your choice.” 

he was putting up a calm act, but you could see the fear meandering in his eyes. he was terrified, as if he was certain that you were going to report him. well, you were in complete shock, you were freaking scared for your life, but that thought just didn’t sit well with you. 

you sank to the ground, hand clasping over your mouth as your gaze strayed away – anywhere, as long as you didn’t have to look at his eyes any longer. you realized you put yourself in a vulnerable position, but somehow it didn’t feel like you had to run for your life anytime soon. 

you were dead silent, staring ahead of you for what felt like hours. you struggled to process this all, as it was something you never expected to experience. sure, you knew ghouls existed, but the 20th ward of tokyo was quiet and relatively peaceful and on top of that, you were always careful. you never thought you’d run into a ghoul, let alone like this. your friend, the guy you developed feelings for, a ghoul. one of the hated humanoids, the enemy of mankind. 

     “why are you telling me this?” you asked as soon as you deemed your voice reliable again. 

     “it was too much for me to carry on my own,” kaneki confessed silently. “as i said, i’m lonely and it’s tearing me apart. part of me trusts you, part of me doesn’t care if you report me. i hate living like this.” 

     “i’m not going to report you,” you blurted out, and despite it being said in a spur of the moment, you knew you meant it. you were not going to report kaneki to the ccg. you couldn’t, even if you wanted to. 

     “you… aren’t?” the half-ghoul asked, as if he couldn’t believe what you just said. 

     “no,” you resolutely spoke. “you didn’t give me a reason to report you, so why would i?” 

     “because i’m a ghoul?” the pale-haired boy replied. “the biggest enemy of mankind. that seems like a pretty valid reason to me.” 

     “maybe it works like that for most people,” you said quietly. “but you didn’t hurt me. why should i report you for that?” 

     “isn’t it the goal of humanity to make us go extinct? to get rid of us completely?” 

     “maybe,” you nodded. “and i guess i would report you, were you anyone else. but it’s you, kaneki. and i guess i still see you as a person instead of a ghoul. i don’t think you should be ruthlessly murdered when all you do is trying to stay alive.” 

you had no idea why you were suddenly so adamant on defending ghouls – or this one in particular. but there was something about the boy in front of you that made you say all these things. the longer you looked at him, the more you started to feel compassion towards him again. the ghoul looked so frail, with tired eyes and pale skin, messy hair, shivering even in his black winter coat, and way too thin for a boy of his age. 

kaneki didn’t fit the image of a ghoul that was brought to you by the government. sure, he probably murdered people to eat, but he by no means seemed like a merciless killer that went around the streets creating bloodbath and beyond. he was just a boy, but if she were to report him, he would be treated as inhumane as the ghouls that really went out to slaughter ruthlessly. 

     “it’s humanity suffering from megalomania,” you added. “to kill everyone that’s a threat to us. lions eat antelopes to stay alive, but is anyone complaining about that? no, no one does, nor would you find those antelopes setting up an entire organization to get rid of all the lions. because it’s nature, and humans are the only ones trying to stand above that.” 

the boy opposite of you remained silent, merely looking at you with wide eyes that held a whole range of emotions again. shock and confusion were the most evident among them, but you couldn’t really blame him for that. how often did it happen that a human goes off about ghoul rights? honestly, you were just as shocked, and you guessed it was mostly your feelings for kaneki talking right now. you were justifying the atrocities he likely committed, you were sympathizing with a monster, and you were betraying humanity by deciding to choose his side instead of reporting him. 

ultimately, kaneki let out a laugh that portrayed sheer disbelief. he bowed his head, shaking it lightly. his messy white hair cascaded along with the movement. 

     “you really are something else, y/n,” he said. “you’re taking this so… well.” 

you huffed stubbornly, folding your arms in front of your chest. you were torn, really. you had no idea how to handle this situation, and the only certain matter was that kaneki shouldn’t be reported. frankly, you too wondered why you weren’t freaking out more. kaneki was a ghoul. a ghoul. your fondness was obviously bigger than you expected, so much that you were willing to see this through your fingers. kaneki was a man-eating monster and any normal person would, indeed, make sure he ended up where he belonged – dead. but it didn’t work like that for you, apparently, for not a single cell of your being considered reporting him. he trusted you – not just that, he trusted you with his life. and he didn’t place his trust with the wrong person. his secret was really safe with you. 

     “is this why you shut me out so harshly?” you asked, remembering that rainy day. 

     “yeah, things happened and i had to protect you,” kaneki admitted. “i didn’t want to, i really didn’t.” 

     “i guess i understand now,” you sighed. a big part of you still wanted to get out of there as soon as possible, but you fought against the urge to run. you needed time to process this all, but you weren’t sure what would remain of your relationship with kaneki if you abandoned him now. 

cupid was a funny little guy. you thought his bow had broken, or maybe he was a bit tipsy, shooting arrows where they didn’t belong. but maybe his arrow had struck right, all along. maybe you weren’t meant to be with a human, but was that special place in your heart saved for a ghoul. you had given cupid a second chance, and there was still a possibility for a good outcome. not all hope was left, yet. 

but were you ready to commit to a ghoul? 

     “kaneki,” you called out, and you forced yourself to gaze into the glaring red. if you wanted to find whether or not cupid hit bullseye, you had to learn to live with it. “come here, please?” 

hesitantly, the half-ghoul stepped towards you, but his pace gradually sped up when you opened your arms. he embraced you, melting against you as you wrapped your arms around him. somehow, it felt right, as if this was how it was supposed to be. 

     “you’re not lonely anymore,” you whispered, his messy hair tickling your skin. “you have me.”

mizutenshii — O3.1O.2O23 — masterlist

[usafphantom2]

SR-71 pilot tells how he was able to RTB after he got lost at Mach 3 because both attitude indicator and heading indicator were unserviceable

SR-71 Mach 3 strategic reconnaissance aircraft

The SR-71, unofficially known as the “Blackbird,” is a long-range, advanced, strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A aircraft. The first flight of an SR-71 took place on Dec. 22, 1964, and the first SR-71 to enter service was delivered to the 4200th (later 9th) Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., in January 1966. The US Air Force (USAF) retired its fleet of SR-71s on Jan. 26, 1990.

T-shirts Habubrats 2

CLICK HERE to see The Aviation Geek Club contributor Linda Sheffield’s T-shirt designs! Linda has a personal relationship with the SR-71 because her father Butch Sheffield flew the Blackbird from test flight in 1965 until 1973. Butch’s Granddaughter’s Lisa Burroughs and Susan Miller are graphic designers. They designed most of the merchandise that is for sale on Threadless. A percentage of the profits go to Flight Test Museum at Edwards Air Force Base. This nonprofit charity is personal to the Sheffield family because they are raising money to house SR-71, #955. This was the first Blackbird that Butch Sheffield flew on Oct. 4, 1965.

Throughout its nearly 24-year career, the SR-71 remained the world’s fastest and highest-flying operational aircraft. From 80,000 feet, it could survey 100,000 square miles of Earth’s surface per hour.

SR-71 Lost at Mach 3

The following never told story was written by Col Darrell Cobb and given to me by his son Chris, whom I became reacquainted with at the Wheatland Union High School reunion.

‘Decelling, after an extremely valuable take leg over Hanoi, I encountered an emergency and landed in Thailand. Next day my Recovery Team Crew Chief cornered me – – – They were most anxious to get this TAKE to the processing center and no transport is available from Thailand. They told me: “Your malfunction is fixed, but you are legally required to have a NAV SET, and I can provide that for launch in about an hour. HOWEVER, I guarantee the NAV SET will fail about half an hour after level-off speed. Can you get this back to Kadena for them?”

‘I checked the forecast landing weather – CLEAR! I can do this! NAV SET failure degrades Primary Instrument Panels but even if primary FAIL, I’ve got the BACKUP system (called the FRS) – no sweat!!

‘We went and sure enough, 20 minutes after leveling off at speed (locked on the heading home) NAV SET failed. But Primary Flight Instruments also failed. Shortly thereafter all flight instruments OFF FLAGS POPPED UP. Guess what!?!?! I’m on a partial panel at Mach 3 – – LOST!

‘We checked OCEAN STATION DELTA and were about 60 nm left of course. I dropped the right wing 5 degrees for a count of 10 and reentered the needle. Start decel backset distance was 230 nm. Kadena TACAN locked on at 235 nm within 1 degree of inbound track. HOME FREE!

‘So, when you hear that old cliche, you ain’t been lost till you’re lost at Mach 3.’

Partial panel

But what does the term “partial panel” refer to?

Former SR-71 Blackbird pilot Stormy Boudreaux answers the question;

‘The term partial panel refers to instrument flying while the attitude indicator and heading indicator are unserviceable. Without the heading indicator you have to rely on the “whiskey compass” – so named, because it floats in a container of alcohol – for your heading and looking out the window for your attitude. However, the whiskey compass will tell you the heading only when the wings are level or very nearly level.

SR-71 pilot tells how he was able to RTB after he got lost at Mach 3 because both attitude indicator and heading indicator were unserviceable

This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. SR-71A Blackbird 61-7972 “Skunkworks”

“The pilot has to time his turn because establishing a turn of more than a few degrees of bank causes the floating magnetic card to hang up and freeze inside of the instrument case during the turn until the turn is complete – only after you roll out of your bank and the compass card settles down can you find out your new heading.

‘So you start your turn and maintain the turn for a predetermined number of minutes or seconds, then roll out to wings level based on time – you let the card stabilize (15-30 seconds) while it sloshes around figuring out where north is again and finally you read your new heading.’

Turning to the new heading as accurately and quickly as possible

Boudreaux concludes;

‘You prefer to turn to the new heading as accurately and quickly as possible- without rolling out and checking too many times because you are moving at 30 miles per minute. A large deviation from the desired heading means you are going in the wrong direction in a hell of a hurry! In this instance, weather was not a factor for visually determining his attitude and bank angle. If this happens in the weather it is an extremely serious emergency.’

Be sure to check out Linda Sheffield Miller (Col Richard (Butch) Sheffield’s daughter, Col. Sheffield was an SR-71 Reconnaissance Systems Officer) Twitter X Page Habubrats SR-71, Instagram Page SR71Habubrats and Facebook Page Born into the Wilde Blue Yonder Habubrats for awesome Blackbird’s photos and stories.

Photo credit: Lockheed Martin, U.S. Air Force and NASA

Linda Sheffield Miller

Grew up at Beale Air Force Base, California. I am a Habubrat. Graduated from North Dakota State University. Former Public School Substitute Teacher, (all subjects all grades). Member of the DAR (Daughters of the Revolutionary War). I am interested in History, especially the history of SR-71. Married, Mother of three wonderful daughters and four extremely handsome grandsons. I live near Washington, DC.

@Habubrats71 via X

[flowerishness]

Chaenomeles japonica (Japanese quince)

It wouldn’t be spring without the Japanese quince in our back garden putting on a show. Seven days ago, the weather department predicted a week of heavy rain but it’s actually been quite sunny. I’d love to work in the weather department. It would seem that you can get the long-range forecast wrong fifty percent of the time and still never have to worry about losing your job.

[star-writr]

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Just a drabble bc I love the 10th Doctor. You can find this on my Ao3 as well. Warning: English is not my first language. Reader is gn. Enjoy!!

It had been a rough day. Month. Year. Like all of the ones that constellated your life, actually. It was nothing new, not really. Looking back, you had made a lot of mistakes. Still not out of the ordinary. However, there had been something you really couldn't have foreseen.

Exploring the whole of space and time (or, at least for now, parts of it, one at a time) had not been on your New Year's Bingo. Otherwise, you could've crossed that square out by the time spring had greeted your town with open arms and warm, windy days. The days had been full of rainstorms, at first, and it had bugged you out; turns out, though, the pouring rain had been crucial for your life to take a very unexpected turn, one you had learned to appreciate with the passing of time.

You had been waiting the bus home for a while now. Even under your umbrella the rain had soaked your clothes enough to make you sigh at the watch on your wrist, which was ticking too slowly for your taste. Looking up, the gray clouds seemed to be smirking teasingly at your frustrated expression. A few raindrops landed on the tip of your nose, making you look down again.

It was then that a stranger silently joined you on the sidewalk, the both of you looking at the road, apparently waiting for the same thing. You hadn't thought much of it had the time.

"Cold, eh?" said the stranger, making you turn your head to look at him. You gave the man a timid smile. "Cold and rainy. No snow, though, so December can be scrapped" he added, almost as if talking to himself. His weird comment made you chuckle. Then, the both of you returned to your quiet lookout.

"So what is it, then?" he spoke after a while.

You were confused. "What?"

"What month is it? Can't be December, can it?"

Your eyebrow was raised. "It's March," you stated, "March the thirty-first."

"Ah." He didn't look amused. "With this rain? Really?"

"Really," you confirmed. "It's going against all weather forecasts. This storm has been going on for a week. It's a bit of a legend now, actually."

The (mad)man looked up at the sky. "How much ground does it cover?"

"They say it's the whole region."

He tilted his head. "Must be a hell of a spaceship" he muttered to himself. You'd heard him loud and clear, though, so your expression had morphed into a confused one.

Your phone had rang an instant later. Unknown number. Before you even bothered to press the green button, however, the man beside you told you not to answer. He seemed deadly serious. Your mouth opened to ask for an explanation, but remained quietly agape while the stranger extracted a very odd shiny pen which made a long vibrating sound and used it to scan (?) your phone. A bright green light suddenly coming from the screen startled you, causing your hand to drop the object. "Let's get away from here, it's dangerous" the man had shouted, taking your hand and dragging you away. Your heart was racing too fast in your chest to allow your throat to make any noise to even complain, so you hadn't.

A few hours and too many alien encounters later, your town had supposedly been saved. The clouds (which had apperently been hiding an alien spaceship from sight, previously) had dissipated, the rain had stopped and a smile curved your lips and the Doctor's (the stranger from the bus stop) upwards while sharing a look stained with fondness for each other. The rest was history. Like you'd learned he was accostumed to do with all his other companions, he had taken you aboard the TARDIS to see everything the universe had to offer. A year had passed since that day: a year in the TARDIS, away from home. You had returned a couple times, sure, but only for a few days at a time, and that same spring had not yet passed. You had grown a year older without anyone noticing. Well, anyone besides the Doctor. On your journal, you marked the three-hundred-and-sixty-fifth day of knowing the Doctor.

You had obviously grown closer to him. He had taken you everywhere you had requested; you had met Mozart, Leonardo, Amy Winehouse, Alexander the Great, Virgilius and countless other geniuses from every time period imaginable. The Doctor had also spoiled you with trips on other planets, so very far from your own that your brain couldn't even process it. You had experienced so many things: foods, music, cultures, rituals, dances, gadgets, landscapes, shores, people, animals, beasts, technology from galaxies not even scientists had discovered yet, and maybe didn't have any way of discovering any time soon. The Doctor had obviously bewitched you; how could the thought of a man with the entire universe at the reach of his fingertips not make your head spin? The thought of someone caring about you, someone that could make the best of every situation, making you shiver with worry at one moment and smile, relieved, in another? The rollercoster of emotions that came with travelling with the Time Lord wasn't a burden; if anything it had been a liberation from the mundane life you had lived before meeting the Doctor. Looking back at the dullness of it, you couldn't help but feel a shiver making its way down your spine. If you had known the real vastness of the universe sooner, you would've lost your mind with no way to reach it. And now? Now you were afraid of losing your mind once back inside that empty loop, safe from everything but yourself. After all, it had been a year already. Even if no-one else but you and the Doctor saw it, even if for your friends you had been gone for just a few hours, you could see it clearly. Your hair had grown and your nails kept needing trimming; time kept passing, no matter where the Doctor took you, no matter how much time you spent in the TARDIS or back home or on another planet or in another century. That worried you, along with the possibility of never making it back home safe. The Doctor had warned you about it multiple times, and of course you had told him that you didn't care as long as you got to see the universe, which was the truth, but there was always that voice in the back of your head wondering about what everyone would have thought in case you couldn't have made it back home.

Inside your room, in the TARDIS, you could hear the engine of the ship hum its neverending song. It usually helped you rest after a long day with the Doctor, but with every thought you had in mind it had been impossible to expect getting even just a wink of sleep. To try and distract yourself, you got out of bed and made your way over to the control room, sitting on the cold metallic floor.

The Doctor joined you shortly after with a frown. "What's wrong?" he asked, guessing your mood. "I thought you were tired."

"I am," you replied while he sat next to you. "But I can't sleep."

"Is there something keeping you up?"

You gave him a tiny smile. "Yes, but nothing you should worry about." You didn't want to bug him with your doubts.

He nodded slightly, then lowered his chin, his lips pressed together, and looked up at you with his eyebrows raised, as if to ask, "are you sure?"

Your smile widened, and your hand reached for his in response. His gorgeus, gorgeous eyes admired your fingers while he entertwined them with his own. He looked back at you with a smirk, his other arm going from resting on his thigh to stretching out, asking whether you wanted a hug. You gladly accepted the silent offer, moving closer to the Doctor, pressing your ear on his chest and hearing his two hearts beating in unison while he held you tight. Enveloped in his embrace, you realized.

He was home to you.

[blainesebastian]

mistakes were made

words: 2,290 ship: austin butler x reader summary: (anon request) “fic about the reader getting really bad food poisoning and Austin taking care of her” warnings: none notes: i really enjoyed writing this request, thank you! hope you enjoy it :) masterlist is here tag list: @killerqueenfan, @karamelcoveredolicity, @elizabethrosecresswell, @gigisworldsstuff, @stylespresleyhearted

You kinda have a love-hate relationship with the chicken place down the street. Sometimes the spice level is completely different any time you order it, which makes no sense that you can’t depend on it being the same every time, the fries are sometimes Cajun flavored…sometimes not? (no matter how you order them), and delivery and pick-up can range from ten minutes to two hours with no rhyme or reason.

And yet, you give this place your money pretty much every week.

“There’s something charming about it.” You tell Austin, your best friend, over the phone as you walk out of your apartment (the goal is to get coffee, do a nice mental health walk and grab said chicken for dinner).

You can hear Austin crinkling his nose as he replies, “There is nothin’ charming about chicken that sticks to the wrapper when you order it.”

You can’t help but snicker, walking down the steps and outside on another beautiful day in New York. No rain this time in the weather forecast…you made sure to check. The last little walk you went on, you hadn’t checked the projections and got stuck in a downpour. Austin found it hilarious—you? Not so much.

“Uhm, that’s definitely part of the charm, excuse you,” Rolling your eyes, you cross the street, making your way to the coffee shop that you favor. “Maybe you need a reminder. I can order you somethin’.”

“No,” Austin laughs, “Despite the fact that I’m in New York for the next few weeks,” A pleasant and warm thrum kisses your body at that, it’s been way too long since you’ve seen him, “I will not be eating at that place. C’mon, ditch the chicken, let me take you to a proper dinner.”

You smirk, “’A proper dinner?’ What’re you from an Oscar Wilde novel?” You laugh, “Or is this you askin’ me out on a date?”

Austin’s quiet for a few moments, the sound of traffic behind him, a soft hum leaving his lips, “It very well could be, you know, a date.”

Your heart hammers in your chest because…you both have been at this very same precipice so many times. You’re just not sure how it’d work out. You’re…you’re so normal compared to him, legit have a job teaching second grade English and art. This man is an upcoming actor, getting bigger and more prestigious with each role he accepts. How would that work?

“I’ll say yes if it’s the chicken place.”

Austin laughs, something warm that dips into your stomach, “You’re insufferable.” He mumbles.

You can’t help but grin, “I know, part of my charm. You love it.”

“I do,” Austin confirms and lets that sit for a few moments, “I gotta go, but see you tonight? Even if you refuse to part ways from that chicken place.”

“Yes,” You promise and then throw in to drive him crazy— “It’s a date.”

--

You’re not quite a nap person—you know you get weird looks for saying that but it’s just something you haven’t managed to perfect like some people. So you know the moment you pass out on the couch after eating your favorite order from the chicken place is a bad idea. You feel sick the moment you wake up, groggy, a bit disoriented—like you’re not sure if you slept ten minutes or ten hours.

You blink at your phone as you pick it up, missed texts from Austin—

Austin: be over in an hour

The was fifty minutes ago.

Austin: you in a chicken coma?

You let out a soft huff and text back,

Y/N: 🐔🐔🐔

You stand from your couch, swaying a moment, dizzy and kind of get your bearings for a moment before shaking your head. How is it that naps always mess you up like this? Wandering to set your phone down on the kitchen counter, you move to fill a glass of water and take a few sips, your apartment intercom system beeping. A soft smile tugs the corners of your mouth and you move to press the button,

“Yeah?”

“Yeah?” Austin asks, “That’s all I get? What about a ‘hello’?”

“I reserve that for the food delivery people.”

Austin chuckles lightly but you hit the button to buzz him in, not wanting to reserve him to all the banter outside…it’s been a while since you’ve seen one another and you have missed him. Letting out a slow breath, you open the door and hover for a few moments, your stomach churning and you kinda shake your head at yourself because apparently now you sometimes have to take an anti-acid with your favorite chicken place. Maybe you’re just getting old.

Glancing up as you hear the elevator ding, you can’t help but smile as you see Austin getting off, making his way down the hall to you. Just as attractive as you’ve always remembered and yet somehow more devastatingly handsome than you’re able to recall. You smile at his pair of black jeans, white t-shirt, blue jean jacket; simple, comfortable, looks too good on his tall frame.

He reaches for you, his hand plucking the oversized t-shirt you’re wearing and using it as leverage to tug you forward into his embrace. You can’t help but grin, pushing yourself up on your toes and wrapping your arms around his shoulders. You squeeze him tightly, closing your eyes to his familiar scent that feels far too much like home. You feel him press his face into your shoulder and hair, planting a kiss there before letting you go.

“We gonna spend tonight out or in?” He asks, giving you a teasing look at your oversized t-shirt. “Pretty sure you could pull that look off with some boots.”

There’s a myriad of replies that you’ve got right at the tip of your tongue but something shifts in how you’re feeling, far too soon, stomach lurching along with a sickly-sour sensation in the back of your mouth. Oh no, oh no. Your eyes widen and you don’t even have a chance to explain to Austin what is happening, just kind of putting your hand up and rushing to the bathroom and kneeling down in front of the toilet before losing the contents of your stomach.

It's quick and kind of violent and god, you’re not sure if you’ll be able to remove that taste from your mouth even if you brush your teeth a handful of times. Groaning, you flush the toilet, sitting to the side for a few moments because—what even was that? Your mind whirs through possibilities but…deep down you know there’s pretty much only one thing you can land on, and it’s not pregnancy, so.

You glance up to see Austin moving to stand in the doorway, leaning against the doorjamb. While part of you wants to tell him to just…leave you alone to suffer, he’s also seen you a lot worse than this.

“Don’t even say it.” You mumble, running a hand over your face. It’s really not a good sign that you’re sweating, slightly dizzy and your stomach hurts. You feel worse.

“I wasn’t gonna say anythin’.” Austin comments, crossing his arms over his chest, “Other than you look terrible.”

A soft laugh rumbles in your chest and that is…decidedly the wrong move because your stomach protests with another lurch. You quickly turn towards the toilet, coughing afterwards, a soft whimper leaving your lips as you feel Austin hover behind you and help hold your hair back. His hand gently works up and down your back until you’re done, slouching back against his body. He reaches up and flushes again, reaching for a washcloth on your tub.

“Just leave me here to die,” You mumble, tears stinging your eyes because you’re…embarrassed? Which seems so silly, it’s just Austin. But also just…you feel terrible. Not just physically, but the fact that Austin doesn’t visit often and now he’s stuck here taking care of you.

He smirks lightly, even though you’re not looking at his face, you can hear it as he talks, “Still think that chicken place is charming, hmm?”

Austin turns on the tub and wets the washcloth in his hand, dragging it over your forehead and along the back of your neck. You groan lightly, your hand rubbing over your stomach, “Please don’t talk about food.”

“Fair enough,” He brushes some hair over your shoulder, “Think you’re done?”

“God I hope so.” You whine and a soft rumble of amusement happens in Austin’s chest. He carefully hooks his arms underneath your armpits and swiftly lifts you from the floor. Your knees are wobbly and you take a step back, leaning against his chest a moment.

He keeps you steady, one hand on your waist and then helps guide you out of the bathroom to your bed. You sit slowly on it, attempting to assess yourself. You’re still…very nauseous but you don’t think you’ll be vomiting more any time soon. You really hope not. Closing your eyes a moment, you run a hand through your hair, sitting still so that the room doesn’t spin.

“You know,” Austin sits down next to you, toeing his shoes off, “Think this wouldn’t have happened if you would’ve just let me take you out on a date.”

A startled laugh leaves your lips as you turn your head to look at him, “Oh my god,” You playfully tap his face, “Shut up.”

He smiles, taking your hand off his face but holding onto it, running his thumb over your knuckles. “Think you need a firm break-up with the chicken place.”

You crinkle your nose—you need to brush your teeth but walking back towards the bathroom sounds like a fate worse than death, “Never knew you’d be so jealous over a chicken restaurant, this is cute and unexpected.”

Austin huffs out a sound but it’s amusing to you that he doesn’t quite deny it either. You take a few moments to look at your hands joined, his thumb traveling along your knuckles and the bones of your fingers. There’s a slight fluttering sensation in your chest that almost offsets the nausea. Almost.

“I’m sorry I ruined the night,” You mention when you turn a bit to look at him. He doesn’t get much time to himself unless he’s between projects and you’re sure this is the last thing he wants to be doing when he could be having a night out in New York.

Austin shakes his head, brushing your hair aside so its not in your face, “You didn’t ruin anythin’.”

“I feel terrible,” You reply with a soft laugh and then close your eyes, groaning, “Literally, I feel terrible.”

Austin laughs gently and wraps an arm around your shoulders, drawing you into his chest. Leaning against him, you huff dramatically, allowing your eyes to close for a few moments as you relish in the feeling of his touch, hands through your hair, along your back. Eventually, he stands from the bed and motions to the headboard,

“We’ll watch one of those awful sci-fi films you like. I’ll make you some tea, get you some water too—need to keep hydrated.”

You stand slowly from the bed on wobbly knees, intent on brushing your teeth first. “Alien is not horrible.”

Austin crinkles his nose, “Sure.”

You don’t argue with him—mostly because you don’t have the energy to, and he’s being nice in offering to make you tea, so, you’ll let him slide this one time. Brushing your teeth as quickly as you can, you wander back to bed and grab the remote, stacking some pillows against the headboard for you and Austin to lean against. Running a hand over your face, you slowly sit down and tug the blankets over your legs. Bluh—still far too nauseas. You pick up the remote for your TV and start the movie Alien, a small twinge of a smile on your lips as you think about Austin’s ‘review’. Clearly he does not appreciate a good classic.

You close your eyes and tip your head back, letting out a soft sigh as you attempt to self-evaluate. Last thing you want to do is drink something when you’re not ready but…Austin’s right, you need to keep yourself hydrated. You hear him walk back in, setting glasses on the nightstand,

“Water first.”

Humming lightly, you run a hand over your stomach before picking up the glass of water. You take a few slow, careful sips, waiting for your body to absolutely pitch a fit. When it doesn’t, you lean more comfortably against some pillows, Austin joining by crawling into bed beside you.

“Think I’m gonna make it.” You tell him, your body coming to lean along his.

Austin smiles, wrapping an arm around your shoulders so that you’re more against his chest. “Glad to hear it,” He reaches for the tea on the nightstand, handing it over to you as you put the glass of water down, “Doesn’t this movie have the alien bursting out of some dude’s chest? You’d think you’d want to avoid visuals like that.”

Snickering, you take a slow sip of tea, pausing, before leaning back against Austin again. Your head rests on his shoulder, “I’m immune to aliens.”

“Just not to chicken.”

You grimace, turning a bit so that your nose brushes against the soft skin of his neck. “Too soon.”

Austin smiles, tilting his head down a little so he can plant a kiss on your forehead. “Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to consider that date, hmm?”

You take another sip of tea, allowing your eyes to close for a few moments, your stomach fluttering now in a good way. “Alright—just…anything but chicken.”

Austin smirks, squeezing you closer. “Noted.”

[tomorrowusa]

Total Solar Eclipse Weather ☀

Most of us have heard this aphorism in some form: Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get.

Based on climatological records, long range predictions for conditions along the path of totality for the April 8th total solar eclipse had suggested that the Texas portion of the path would be relatively favorable while the New England portion would be unfavorable. But as it turns out, almost the opposite is true.

But as of Sunday, things don't look bright for most of the Texas portion of the path with the possible exception of the extreme northern end near Oklahoma. On the other hand, the portion of the path that goes through northern New England looks quite good for Monday afternoon.

Tomer Burg is a PhD candidate in meteorology at the University of Oklahoma. His 2021 hurricane season forecasts were superb. For example: he was way ahead of just about everybody in forecasting the effects of the remnants of Hurricane Ida on the Northeast.

So Tomer has added a section on eclipse visibility to his academic site. The page of most interest is the City Dashboard.

Go to the link below and click City Dashboard on the left.

2024 Eclipse Forecasts

At the dashboard you'll find a small map on the upper left showing the path of totality with circles indicating various locations of interest. Clicking a circle will cause maps to appear to the right which show both overall cloud cover and cloud layers broken down by cloud height.

Right now the Dallas forecast for eclipse time shows a predicted 59% overall cloud cover broken down as 24% low/28% mid/55% high cloud cover. On the other hand, Colebrook, New Hampshire's cloud forecast is: 0% overall, 0% low/0% mid/0% high cloud cover.

Cloud height is key. High clouds tend to be thin and wispy. They are less likely to interfere with eclipse viewing. Lower clouds tend to be more problematic – with the exception of the very small puffy "fair weather" clouds which tend to move quickly.

So don't be too put off by moderate percentages for high clouds as long as the percentages for lower clouds aren't very big.

Here's a non-interactive map created by Tomer. Consult the City Dashboard for more specific info.

This is predicted cloud cover. The darker the gray, the cloudier; the deeper the blue, the more cloudless.

^^^ In general: west-central and northeastern Arkansas could be the best places in the South to observe the eclipse. If you're looking for a spot in a blue state west of the Appalachians, Mount Vernon, Illinois is easy to get to with both I-57 and I-64 going through town. Cleveland and the area to its west look good. Indianapolis is also promising.

But the cloudless place to be in the US on Monday is northern New England; the Clinton County shore on the New York side of Lake Champlain may be the best place for NYC residents wanting to stay in state.

For up to date weather conditions, go to the official National Weather Service site. It's no nonsense – they aren't going to sensationalize anything nor try to sell you stuff. Just enter the location or ZIP in the upper left field.

National Weather Service

[tabloidweather]

6 November 2024

Long-range forecast TOTAL TURNAROUND IN THE WEATHER!!

[adomainname]

Satellites: Their Orbits, Tracking Systems, and Essential Uses

Satellites: Their Positions, Tracking, and Importance

Satellites have become an essential part of modern life, orbiting Earth and providing us with services ranging from communication and navigation to weather forecasting and space exploration. As of 2024, thousands of active satellites are circling our planet, each performing a specific role to enhance the quality of life on Earth. This article delves into the positioning of satellites, how they are tracked, what they track, and the significance of their roles.

Types of Satellite Orbits and Their Positions

Satellites are positioned in various orbits depending on their intended functions. These orbits determine how close the satellite is to Earth, how fast it moves, and what areas it covers.

Low Earth Orbit (LEO): Altitude: 180 km to 2,000 km Satellites in LEO include most Earth observation satellites, the International Space Station (ISS), and some communication satellites. These satellites are closer to the Earth, enabling them to capture high-resolution images. Functions: Used for imaging, remote sensing, and some communication purposes. Examples: ISS, Earth observation satellites like Landsat.

Medium Earth Orbit (MEO): Altitude: 2,000 km to 35,786 km Satellites in MEO are mainly used for navigation. This orbit offers a good balance between coverage and latency. Functions: GPS satellites and other global navigation systems. Examples: GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo satellites.

Geostationary Orbit (GEO): Altitude: 35,786 km above the equator Satellites in GEO move at the same rotational speed as Earth, meaning they stay fixed over one location on Earth. These are mostly communication and weather satellites. Functions: Used for television broadcasts, weather monitoring, and some types of communication. Examples: Weather satellites (GOES series), telecommunication satellites.

Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO): Orbit shape: An elongated orbit with one point closer to Earth (perigee) and another point much farther away (apogee). Functions: Ideal for regions at high latitudes, providing prolonged coverage over areas like Russia and parts of Canada. Examples: Molniya satellites for communication in Russia.

How Satellites Are Tracked

The sheer number of satellites in space, combined with space debris, means tracking them is essential to avoid collisions and ensure their functionality. Ground stations and dedicated space agencies continuously monitor satellites. Several methods are used to track satellites:

Radar and Ground-Based Systems: Ground stations use radar to track satellites in LEO. These systems bounce radio waves off the satellite and measure the time it takes for the signal to return. By doing this repeatedly, they can track a satellite's location and speed.

Global Positioning System (GPS): Satellites in higher orbits like MEO or GEO are tracked using onboard GPS receivers. GPS helps calculate the satellite’s position and relay that data back to Earth.

Optical Tracking: Telescopes and cameras are used to visually observe satellites in higher orbits. This method is particularly useful for tracking objects that do not emit radio signals or need to be monitored for their physical characteristics.

Space Surveillance Networks: Agencies such as the U.S. Space Surveillance Network (SSN) and similar organizations in other countries continuously monitor satellites and space debris. They catalog objects and issue alerts for potential collisions.

What Satellites Track

Satellites are equipped with various sensors, cameras, and instruments to track a wide array of data on Earth, in space, and beyond:

Weather and Climate Data: Satellites such as NOAA’s GOES series monitor weather patterns, hurricanes, and long-term climate changes. They provide crucial data for meteorological services.

Earth Observation: Satellites like Landsat capture high-resolution images of Earth's surface. These images are used for mapping, agricultural planning, disaster response, and environmental monitoring.

Navigation Signals: GPS and other GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) satellites send signals that are used for navigation by smartphones, vehicles, ships, and airplanes worldwide.

Communication: Satellites facilitate global communication by relaying TV, radio, and internet signals across vast distances.

Space Exploration: Space telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope track distant galaxies, nebulae, and black holes, helping scientists study the universe.

Military Surveillance: Many satellites are designed for defense purposes, tracking missile launches, military movements, or spying on potential threats.

Number of Satellites in Space

As of 2024, there are approximately 8,000 operational satellites orbiting Earth. The exact number fluctuates as new satellites are launched and old ones are decommissioned. Additionally, space agencies and private companies like SpaceX continue to launch large satellite constellations, such as Starlink, which alone has over 5,000 satellites in orbit for global internet coverage.

The Usefulness of Satellites

Satellites have become indispensable in modern life, serving a wide variety of purposes that impact everyday activities and critical global functions:

Key Functions of Satellites:

Communication: Satellites enable long-distance communication by transmitting data, television, and internet services. Without them, global broadcasting and real-time communication in remote areas would be impossible.

Navigation: Systems like GPS help millions of people navigate in real-time. They are also vital for the functioning of aviation, maritime travel, and even agricultural practices.

Earth Observation: Satellites provide high-resolution imagery of Earth, helping with disaster management, urban planning, agriculture, and environmental monitoring. For instance, they can track deforestation or observe glaciers' melting rates.

Weather Forecasting: Weather satellites provide the data needed for accurate predictions, storm tracking, and climate monitoring. This information is critical for preparing for natural disasters like hurricanes or floods.

Scientific Research and Exploration: Space telescopes and interplanetary satellites gather data on space phenomena, expanding our understanding of the universe. Satellites also conduct scientific experiments in the microgravity of space.

Defense and Security: Satellites are used for military surveillance, early-warning systems, and missile detection, playing a crucial role in national security.

Satellite Highlights in Brief:

Types of orbits: LEO, MEO, GEO, HEO, each serving different purposes.

Tracking methods: Radar, GPS, optical tracking, and space surveillance networks.

Data tracked by satellites: Weather, Earth observation, navigation signals, space exploration, and military surveillance.

Number of active satellites: Approximately 8,000.

Key roles: Communication, navigation, weather forecasting, Earth observation, scientific research, and defense.

In conclusion, satellites are essential tools for global communication, navigation, monitoring Earth's environment, and scientific discovery. As technology advances and the number of satellites continues to grow, their impact on our daily lives will only increase. Whether improving how we predict the weather, navigate through traffic, or explore the universe, satellites will continue to be a critical resource for humanity.

Go To How Satellites Work and What They Track

[brightlotusmoon]

From the Facebook page 'Gen X':

-

I AM GEN X!

I don’t have a “walked up hill, both ways, barefoot, in the snow” story to tell. No one really believed those stories, but it hit me, no kid would believe mine either?

The Nintendo and the the VCR only worked on channel 3.

If you didn’t rewind the movie before returning it, that would probably cost you 25 cents.

Your brain is an egg, your brain on drugs is also an egg, but it’s fried now, ignore that it looks more delicious.

At 10 pm, every night, the TV asked your parents if they knew where you were.

Pizza Hut had table cloths on the tables, a waitress and it seriously was kind of a big deal.

Wendy’s had a salad bar, but not just a salad bar. You could make your own pasta or your own taco, or you could just make a plate of Pepperoni and ranch. That bar was Super!

There was a number you could dial and it would tell you the time, that’s it. That’s all it would do, but it would do that over and over and over.

Once call-waiting was invented you made a plan with your girlfriend or boyfriend at school that day and set a time that one of you would call that number at then the other would call that person at the specified time so they could “click over” where neither of your parents knew you were on the phone because it never rang.

Champion clothes were super cheap and sold at K-Mart. You got made fun of for wearing those clothes.

There was a channel that only played the audio of bad music and it showed, in text form, the weather forecast, it was super helpful in the mornings because it also showed the time.

Pepsi once tried to look cool by becoming transparent, not as a company being transparent. They made Pepsi clear and called it Crystal Pepsi. (Didn’t last long)

Coke thought it needed to be cool by tasting like Pepsi. They come up with a cool name too, New Coke! (Didn’t last long either)

Eggs were good for you, then they were bad for you, then I think they were good for you again, not sure where we landed on that. But there was a song in support of Eggs. It was incredible…edible.

Real news was at 10. Fake news was about cults, hookers, people who saw Bigfoot, ufos and such and they happened early afternoon. Those shows really weren’t considered news until a decade or so later.

Comic books were sold at pharmacies, baseball cards were sold at gas stations.

Professional athletes would be shown on TV using tobacco in damn near every sport. Dipping and/or smoking, literally during the game.

For some reason we all dug claymation Raisins wearing sunglasses while they were singing songs.

If you were ever sick and had to miss school you had to watch “Price is Right” with your grandmother and take a nap or at least go away when her “stories” come on.

Hardware stores and Auto Parts stores would sell rifles and shotguns. Even to a kid.

Most gas stations would sell fireworks, to anyone. Not just the sparklers either, the ones that could destroy a mailbox or a GI JOE, launch a trash can, or completely remove a thumb from a hand.

Also when your were sick, grandparents didn’t have the ear thermometers, they weren’t invented yet, grandmas also didn’t trust you not to bite and break the ones that went under your tongue, so you had lay on a couch with one of the glass ones sticking out of your butt for a few minutes. (I really wish I made that part up)

McDonald’s come out with a sandwich called the McRib, but it wasn’t going to be there long and it would never return. It had onions so we didn’t care if we ever saw it again.

We were also pretty much invisible everyday, until 10 pm.

At 10 pm that commercial came on and reminded our parents that they had kids.

-

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Hc9NeNqxizx3cPA9/?mibextid=oFDknk

[catiecat1320]

New chapter!

It took way too long but it's here!!

Read Below🔽

“Boss?” 

Robotnik grumbled in annoyance. He thoroughly regretted ever giving his robots a voice. Or sentience, at that. Did they have to be so irritating? “I thought I told you not to bother me.” 

The bot stared up at him blankly. “There is someone at the door, boss.”

“In this weather?” There had to be a foot of snow outside, and the weather forecast predicted more later in the day. Who in their right mind would be outside, much less at his door? Had they forgotten he was an evil genius?

Curiosity won him over, and he got up from his chair with a grunt. The robot assistant trailed behind him, gears creaking with every turn of its wheel. It’d need a tune up later. Or he could replace it entirely, and attempt to make a new bot that didn’t nag him so much. He’ll decide later.

Frost had covered his camera lens, making it impossible to tell who the blob of color was. Couldn’t hurt to ask. “Who is it?”

The figure shifted, inching closer to the voice. Having spotted the iced over camera, they struggled to wipe it clean. Through the mic, Robotnik could hear heavy breathing.

“Oh, for Chaos sake, just tell me what you’re here for. I don’t bite,” he grumbled impatiently.

“Yes you do.” A child’s voice rang out. A second later, they backed up from the camera, now clear enough to see, revealing a little fox.

Robotnik gasped. “You!” He’d seen the kit running around with his newly christened nemesis, but he still had no idea where he came from. He had tried and failed to use the fox as leverage, though. Scanning the surroundings outside, he noticed a strange absence. “Where’s the blue rodent?”

The question made the kit seize. “I… he… he’s sick and I don’t know what to do.”

“I’m not that kind of doctor, you know. Why don’t you take it to someone else?”

“You’re the only adult I know… the only adult that’s close enough.” The fox mumbled, barely loud enough for the mic to pick up. 

Robotnik raised an eyebrow, and upon realizing that the boy couldn’t see through walls, opened the door to look at him. “No adults at home?”

He got a head shake in return, the kit folding his double tails around himself apprehensively. “Well. Ok then. What is it that you want me to do about this?”

No response.

“Ugh. Where is he? I’ll send one of my bots to get him.” Robotnik sighed. Why was he helping again? 

…Same reason he opened the door, he supposed. Sympathy, tch. They were children, he reasoned, scientifically they were proven to evoke compassion. They were lucky he had enough heart to bother.

“I think that's a bad idea,” the boy breathed, shaking his head vigorously. “Uh, no offense, but he’ll probably destroy it.”

The doctor rubbed his temples. Admittedly, the fox was right. “I really didn’t want to go outside today,” he hisses between gritted teeth, kicking his robot assistant to attention. “Get me the Eggmobile.”

Within a minute, the rotund aircraft came hovering down the hall. Grumbling incoherently, Robotnik hops in, turning to the kit expectantly. He hadn’t moved a muscle. “Well?”

Baby blue eyes scanned him in confusion. “What…?”

“Are you coming or not, boy?”

“My name is Miles Prower,” he insisted, “and I can fly, y’know.”

Robotnik rolled his eyes. “Well, Miles. Lead the way then.”

......................................................

He… expected different.

The red plane he saw the two children flying peeked out from under a snow laden tarp, sloppily creating a tent. Miles lifted a flap and scurried in hastily.

Robotnik wasn’t built for this. Gosh, did they actually expect him to crawl under there? He wasn’t getting out of his Eggmobile. Nuh uh.

The kit wins the battle when he pops his head out, worry pooling in his wide eyes, likely wondering why the doctor hadn’t made a move. Fine.

They owed him one for this. 

It was far from cozy in the tent. The chill penetrated the plastic tarp easily, likely the cause of illness. The second he entered, emerald eyes fixed on him, a stuttering growl coming from their owner. Quills raised, and would be rather threatening if they had any strength to them. 

“Sonic, it’s okay,” Miles muttered, nudging the sick hedgehog in a manner definitely not advised. “I brought him here to help.”

He was skeptical, Robotnik could tell. But he seemed to trust his companion’s judgment and begrudgingly relaxed.

It took some work to get him out. The Eggmobile wasn’t built to carry two in the cockpit, and Robotnik refused to be that close to the sick boy regardless. So they had to improvise.

After reassuring Miles many times that they would return for his biplane, they hoisted ‘Sonic’ onto the makeshift carrier crafted from the tarp and flew off, the kit carefully balancing the thing to make sure their patient wouldn’t fall off. It wasn’t the best solution, but Robotnik wasn’t exactly pressed about that.

By the time they returned to the base, Sonic had fallen asleep. A hand to his forehead quickly alerted a high fever, likely brought on by prolonged exposure to the harsh conditions outside. He probably got a cold, Robotnik reasoned. Cold weather weakening his immune system and causing him to succumb to a virus of some sort.

But again, he wasn’t a medical doctor. So he’ll leave it to his bots.

He kicked his assistant to attention. “Get me the Aidbot,” he ordered. “And make it snappy.” Looking back at Miles, the kit was attempting to find a place to put Sonic, yet he emitted a nervous energy as he scanned his imminent surroundings.

Robotnik sighed. Did he have to look so pitiful? “You. Come with me. And bring him along.”

It wasn’t a guest room by any means, but it’s not like the doctor had expected guests in his lair. Just a space that was meant to be storage for more personal things. Like his secret plushie collection (they were irresistible, okay?). 

Miles set Sonic down on a folded blanket, eyeing everything with barely concealed amusement. “Say one word and I kick you both out, understood?” the doctor growled, though it was a rather empty threat. The assistant and Aidbot came rolling in a second later, and Robotnik sent the latter to work on Sonic.

It confirmed what he'd suspected. Nothing too serious, just a cold. The assistant fetched some warm tea for the children, and Aidbot woke the hedgehog up to give him medication. Then both bots left, leaving just the three of them.

Sonic’s head lulled as he sipped from his mug, clearly fighting for consciousness, trying his best to focus on the doctor sitting a little ways away. “What is it, hedgehog?”

His face twitched, gaze shifting to Miles before waving his hand. 

“He doesn’t trust you,” the kit translated hesitantly, as if it were offensive… Well, it was kind of offensive. But distrust was logical. After all, this was his nemesis.

“If I wanted to hurt you or your little partner here, I would’ve done it already.” Robotnik stated plainly. “I’m not that evil, hedgehog. You’re sick. Unable to give a fair fight. We can butt heads after you’re better.”

Sonic blinked, hugging his tea a little closer, then tapped his chin in a swift gesture. “He says thank you,” Miles piped.

“Hmph.” The doctor waved it off. “Something wrong with your voice, boy? Why don’t you talk?”

“He’s always been like this,” Miles supplied in his stead. “I think he’s mute.” Sonic nodded, taking the last sip from his mug before yawning.

“Mutism… interesting,” Robotnik muttered. Standing up, he brushed himself off before walking over to the door. “Well, you two can stay until the snow blows over. Poor little Sonic clearly isn’t equipped to handle the cold.” Said hedgehog perked in mock offense, the lack of speech doing nothing to dampen his ability of expression. “You know it’s true, pincushion. Now get some rest. Both of you.”

Sonic smirked, saluting a silent ‘Aye, aye’ as the doctor turned away. Robotnik made his way across the base to clear a space for Miles’ plane in the hangar, glasses hiding a roll of his eyes.

Kids.

[scotianostra]

Hello....I will be in Edinburgh on Monday, 3/18. Staying one night before heading to Burntisland where I've rented a cottage through 3/31. This is my 5th trip and chose not to rent a car. Planes, trains and feet are my mode of 2024 transportation. I'm meeting my daughter in London on 3/16, spending 2 days then boarding the train to Edinburgh.

I love you blog, so insightful and interesting. I would love to meet you...treat you to a coffee or such.

If you're interested, please DM me....

Best....

Auburncurlslass

Hi there, that's very kind of you, I am dog sitting for friends for a week, but the long range weather forecast looks okay for now, so a coffee in Princes Street Gardens might be best, I have a mind like a sieve at times, so can you contact me on Sunday or Monday?

[tokiro07]

Thinking about Epithet Erased and One Piece, so here's Inscribed Straw Hats

Luffy, Seaside Race, Rubberhose - heard the word "Rubber" as a child and felt a strong enough connection to it that he mistook it for his Epiphany, which was only further cemented by his sudden ability to stretch his limbs. It was only during his fight with Kaido, who said he "[looked] like a rubberhose cartoon," that he had his real Epiphany and realized he was using his Epithet wrong the whole time. However, he had mastered the "rubber" aspect of cartoon physics so well by that point that he had already long since become Class 2 and could come up with creative "cartoon" powers on the fly

Zoro, Ocean/Seaside Race, Mundie - gained incredible Proficiency with swords so that no magic sword users could ever hope to match him

Nami, Taiga Race, Forecast - Nami's Proficiency and understanding of meteorology grants her extremely powerful weather-based abilities, though her low Stamina requires that she finish fights quickly lest her own attacks knock her out

Usopp, Deepwood Race, Utility - with his deep capacity for Creativity, Usopp's pouch acts as a utility belt that provides him with the perfect tools for a job, so long as they actually exist; if Usopp needs a tool that doesn't exist, he can construct it from objects that do (ex: his "5-ton hammer" is constructed from a balloon, a stick and frying pans)

Sanji, Taiga/Seaside Race, Wolfram - originally believed himself to be a Mundie and increased his Proficiency for cooking, which he believed to be the source of his apparently fireproof body. He had heard the word "tungsten" working with Zeff, and while he liked the word, he correctly guessed that he had not had his Epiphany, but for the wrong reasons: he thought he was too normal to have an Epithet, unlike his siblings, and dismissed the possibility. It was only when fighting Queen, who was pretentious enough to use the word "wolfram" instead of "tungsten," that Sanji had his Epiphany and learned that he was not only capable of being fireproof, but of turning his body into metal

Chopper, Taiga Race, Abominable - called an "abomination" at a young age for his blue nose, Chopper had his Epiphany almost as soon as he could hear; living in the northernmost region of Taiga Country, he quickly came to learn about the Abominable Snowman and ended up associating the concept with the local caribou, giving him the ability to shapeshift in a range between a large hulking man, his usual small frame, and a reindeer, or any combination therein

Robin, Deepwood Race, Polymelia - being so well-read, Robin discovered the word in a medical journal in the Library of Ohara, granting her the ability to grow extra body parts (typically arms) wherever she pleased. As the only Inscribed in her Deepwood hometown, Robin was ostracized and eventually joined a branch of Bliss Ocean before meeting Luffy and co.

Franky, Taiga Race, Mundie - originally of weak constitution, Franky raised his Proficiency in engineering and created an invincible body that didn't need to worry about Stamina consumption so long as he had cola to power it

Brook, Deepwood Race, Soul - as a Deepwood musician, Brook mostly associates the word "soul" with "soul music," using his musical abilities to "touch people's souls" rather than manifesting spirits or communicating with the dead. However, he does occasionally use it to astrally project his own soul and manifest ice- and cold- attacks, as he associates ghosts with "bone-chilling horror"

Jinbe, Desert/Ocean Race, Whaleshark - as a partial Desert Race, Jinbe is well-versed in martial arts. Using his Epithet, Jinbe is able to incorporate water manipulation into his techniques

Vivi, Desert Race, Mundie - to compensate for her lack of an Epithet, Vivi gained Proficiency in various methods of combat, such as duckback riding, hypnotic dancing, and wire-based weaponry, though her focus on variety prevented her from mastering any of them in particular

[brokenmusicboxwolfe]

Nooooo! I have to go shopping again!!

I hadn’t seen the long range forecast, and starting this weekend it’s gonna get properly cold. Last week I put stuff in Ryoga’s and the dog houses to protect them BUT the weather was warm and they dragged a lot of it out. They are still good for just above freezing, but not below.

So, today, tomorrow, or Friday I have to go to the town ten miles away, take MORE money out of the bank, and fill up the car more stuff. I had planned on doing this when took the car into the shop, not a separate trip.

I did NOT want to spend ANY more money this month, or burn gas!!!

**sigh**

If it were something for me I’d just do without, but it isn’t. I can deal with being cold, but the beasties are counting on me.

I hate being broke.

[astra-ella]

𝐙𝐎𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄 - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

fandom: haikyuu ship: nishinoya yuu x oc/reader status: complete ao3 link

"I think you're really pretty. Will you go out with me?" That was the first thing he's ever said to her. And needless to say, Amari Chiyo was not impressed. So as promised, Nishinoya Yuu will get to know her better and confess again. And again. And again. And again. It'll take 6 years and 9 confessions, but he'll get there. Eventually.

⌦ content: fluff, light angst, love at first sight, friends to lover, slice of life

⌦ note: you are free to insert yourself into Chiyo, just keep in mind she has her own character/backstory. i know some people don't like that, so just a heads-up.

story masterlist | previous chapter | next chapter

The third time he confessed was not long after – on an unassuming day at the beginning of their third year.

After the divorce, Chiyo’s mother got an offer for a relatively well-paying job in the heart of Tokyo while her father barely managed to land a typical white-collar job a little over an hour away. He made just enough to support himself and his children. But Japanese work culture was brutal, with long grueling hours and the pretty much obligatory after-work drinking party, it didn’t leave him much time to be with his kids. 

That’s why Chiyo came back. She couldn’t move to Tokyo with her mother, knowing that she’d leave her younger sister, who was only seven at the time, to pick up the slack.

It was a lot at first, trying to juggle her school and home responsibilities. She did all of the cooking and cleaning, alongside taking care of her younger siblings. After school, she would run around like a madman, trying to make it in time to pick up her brother from kindergarten before meeting her sister at the local elementary school. But things became a lot easier during her third year, once her brother moved into first grade at the same elementary school.

So that day, just like she did for the past month or so, Chiyo headed to the elementary school to pick them up. But when she got to their usual meeting spot, her little sister was nowhere to be seen.

“Sis!” Standing under the big traffic mirror, a little boy waved at her.

“Kaito,” Chiyo smiled. “How was school today?” 

“Good. We played volleyball in gym class today, and I was the best in the class!” He said proudly.

“That’s great,” she gave him a little pat on the head before glancing around. “And Hotaru? Where is she?”

“I dunno,” Kaito shrugged, and Chiyo’s brows furrowed.

“What do you mean? Wasn’t she here when you got here?”

He shook his head. “Nope. She probably just went back in to grab something,” he pouted, twiddling with his fingers. “She’s stupid.”

Chiyo pinched his nose. “Don’t call your sister stupid, Kaito,” she chided before breathing a sigh. “Alright, let’s wait a bit, I guess.”

So they waited. Five minutes passed — ten, then fifteen. Chiyo exchanged a few nods with some parents she recognized, and Kaito waved goodbye to a few of his friends — but there was no sign of Hotaru.

Chiyo glanced up, noticing the dark clouds that began to gather above. She suddenly remembered that the weather forecast predicted a storm would be rolling in late that afternoon. Not wanting to get caught up in the rain, Chiyo figured it’d be best to head in and look for her sister.

Taking Kaito along, Chiyo found Hotaru’s homeroom teacher still in the classroom, packing up her things.

“Amari-san?” The teacher hummed thoughtfully. “She ran out right when the bell rang. Could she have gone home?”

“No, we usually meet right outside the school gates.” Chiyo frowned. She pressed her lips together, trying her best to remember if Hotaru mentioned going anywhere when someone knocked on the classroom door. 

A little girl dressed in a gray jacket walked in. “Hayashi-sensei, I forgot my pencil case in my desk.”

“Oh, Ito-san! Perfect timing,” the old woman readjusted her glasses. “Did you know where Amari-san ran off to? Her siblings are looking for her.”

“Hotaru?” Upon a closer look, Chiyo recognized her as one of her sister’s friends. “She said she was going to see her mom today. She was so excited, it’s all she’s been talking about.”

“What?!” Chiyo’s eyes grew wide “I’ve never heard anything about this!”

“But Hotaru said you guys were saving on money for the trip,” the little girl looked a little confused. “She said it’s why she couldn’t buy lunch.”

Chiyo felt like she had been doused in a bucket of cold water. Now that she thought about it, Hotaru had been exceptionally hungry every time she came home from school for the past few weeks. She had chalked it up to her sister nearing a growth spurt, but based on her friend’s words, it’s very possible Hotaru has been saving her lunch money towards travel funds in order to visit their mother. 

Chiyo’s stomach dropped.

“Oh my god,” she muttered under her breath. Her hands ran through her hair, unwittingly pulling at it. “She’s trying to get to Tokyo.” She then snapped her attention to the little girl, holding her by the shoulders. “Did she mention how she was gonna get there?”

“Not really,” the girl in the gray jacket shook her head frantically, looking slightly terrified. “She just said she had to go catch the bus.”

“She probably took the number 12 bus,” the old woman chimed in. “That takes you to Sendai Station, which should get you on the JR train to Tokyo. Oh but,” she looked up at Chiyo. “I think all the bus services will be shut down soon.”

“Really?” Chiyo’s voice was barely a whisper.

“Yeah, because of that storm coming in later today. It’s too dangerous to drive in that kind of weather.”

Her eyes lit up. There was still hope.

“Come on, Kaito. Let’s go!” She immediately grabbed her younger brother, who was far too busy exploring the magic of a fourth-grade classroom to notice the chaos unfolding around him. 

“Wait, where are we going?” The boy protested to no avail. “We haven’t even found Hotaru yet!” 

But Chiyo didn’t bother to respond. Instead, she murmured a quick ‘thank you’ to the teacher and little girl before hurrying out of the classroom.

Nishinoya was on his way home with his friends, munching on a popsicle when he saw her. He thought it was his lucky day. Coach ended practice early to ensure everyone could get home before that nasty storm could hit. So he said a quick goodbye to his teammates and hurried over to her.

She was standing by a bus stop, her index finger hovering down the list of the stations the bus was scheduled to stop at. Beside her was a little boy, whom he assumed to be her little brother. 

“Chiyo, I’m tired.” He heard the boy whine.

He figured she must've gotten lost trying to navigate the area. He thought that this could be his chance to swoop in and help her like a knight in shining armor would. But as he got closer, he noticed something was off.

“Hey, Amari!” Nishinoya greeted her as casually as possible. “What’s up?”

Chiyo met his gaze, and Nishinoya realized he was right. She had an expression like the world was ending.

“Nishinoya,” her voice cracked.

Beside her, the little boy tugged at her sleeve. “Sis, who is that?”

“He’s… my classmate.”

“Yo!” With a big grin, Nishinoya then crouched down in front of him. “The name’s Nishinoya Yuu. Nice to meetcha, buddy!” He extended his fist, to which the boy gladly returned with a fist bump.

“I’m Kaito,” he replied before cocking his head to the side. “Nishinoya, are you the same age as my sister?”

“Yeah, why?”

Kaito glanced back and forth between Nishinoya and Chiyo. “Then why are you shorter than her?”

Nishinoya swore he heard something snap. “Excuse me?! What did you just say?!”

“Kaito, you shouldn’t say that to people,” Chiyo hurried to scold her little brother. “It’s rude.”

As much as Nishinoya didn’t want to admit it, the kid had a point. Chiyo was now about an inch and a half taller than him, courtesy of girls hitting their growth spurt earlier. But Nishinoya knew one day, he would be taller than her.

One day. 

Setting aside his disgruntlement for later, he cleared his throat. “So, what are you guys doing out here? I thought you lived in the other direction?”

Chiyo pressed her lips together.

“We’re looking for my sister,” Kaito told him. 

“Your sister?”

“Our other sister,” Chiyo elaborated. “It’s a long story, but I think she ran away from home.”

“What?!” Nishinoya nearly dropped his popsicle. “Wait, how old is this kid? Where the hell is she going?”

“She’s nine,” Chiyo said. “And I think she’s trying to run off to Tokyo, but the buses are out of service right now.”

“Ah, ‘cause of the storm,” Nishinoya hummed, studying the dark clouds that were rolling in at a steady pace.

“I checked every bus stop in the nearby area. If something happens to her, I… I-!”

From the corner of his eye, Nishinoya saw Chiyo’s hands clench onto the hem of her skirt. She looked like she was about to burst into tears.

“Alright then!” He shouted, quickly finishing his popsicle in two large chomps before looking her directly in the eye. “I’ll help you look for her. In the meantime, you and Kaito should head home.”

“What?” Chiyo looked surprised. “Wait, you don’t need to-”

“You guys haven’t been home since school let out, right?” He pointed to their bags and school uniforms. He then thumped his chest, gesturing to the much more comfortable t-shirt he changed into after practice. “Just leave it to me.”

“But there’s a storm coming soon!” Chiyo reasoned. “You’ll get caught in it!”

“Oh, that’s true,” he thought about it for a moment, then fished his cell phone out of his bag. “Here, gimme your number.”

“What?” 

“Text me your address and take my stuff with you. I don’t want my volleyball shoes and stuff to get wet.” He opened his phone, creating a new contact entry for Chiyo to put her number in before handing his phone to her. “Trust me. I’ll bring your sister home safe and sound.”

Her weary eyes darted between his phone and him. “I don’t want you to go through so much trouble for me.”

“What’s wrong with doing something for the girl I like?” He retorted with a cheeky grin. 

At his confession, Chiyo’s cheeks suddenly tinted a bright red. “Nishinoya-!”

“I like you, Amari. So let me try and act cool in front of you, yeah?” 

Chiyo looked like she didn’t know how to respond. Her lips parted, probably about to make another attempt to resist his help, when Kaito pulled on her sleeve again.

“I wanna go home,” he said quietly. 

In the face of her brother’s request, Chiyo seemed to have lost all will to fight. She quickly entered her number into Nishinoya’s phone and gave it back to him in exchange for his school bag. 

“Please be careful,” she whispered just loud enough for him to hear, and Nishinoya felt like his heart was about to burst.

“Don’t worry. She’ll be back before you know it.” Leaving her with one last reassuring look, he then ran off.

“Chiyo, is that guy your boyfriend?” He faintly heard Kaito ask.

“N-No! He’s not!”

Nishinoya smiled.

One day.

Nishinoya scoured the area, double-checking all nearby bus stations and even dropping by the elementary school for a more thorough search. No sign of any girl matching the picture Chiyo sent over by text. 

The sky was already tar-black by that point, and the rain came in a downpour. Water soaked through the soles of his sneakers, making those squelching wet smacks as he continued running through the empty streets. He mentally cursed himself for not bringing a jacket, but in hindsight, any jacket would’ve given up on keeping him dry long ago. He made sure to keep moving, as that was the only thing still keeping him warm. 

He wondered where the girl could be. Sure, when he was little and his sisters’ teasing became too much, he used to have those ‘runaway’ phases too. But these moments were nothing more than locking himself in the bathroom and pouting until one of them apologized or coaxed him out with food.

He was just about to run past a local park when he suddenly noticed a red backpack on the ground. It stuck out like a sore thumb underneath the blue playground set. Figuring it couldn’t hurt to check, he approached the playground and took a peek under the slides.

There, sitting on a little plastic table with her knees to her chest, was a girl that matched the photo exactly. 

“Hey, you’re Hotaru, right?”

The little girl met his gaze with the same deep blue eyes as her sister.

“Who are you?” Her voice was hoarse, like she had been crying. 

“My name’s Nishinoya Yuu, a friend of your sister,” Nishinoya said, taking a seat beside her on the plastic stool. He knew Chiyo introduced him as just a classmate earlier, but that could be changed with time. “She’s really worried about you, you know?”

Hotaru looked away.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“Mommy and daddy said I shouldn’t talk to strangers.”

“Wha-? I just said I know your sister!” He took out his phone and pulled up his very brief text history with Chiyo. “See? We’re friends!”

“Oh,” Hotaru hummed in disinterest. “Don’t tell her you found me. I don’t wanna go home.”

Nishinoya raised an eyebrow. “Amari said you were trying to run away to Tokyo. What’s up with that?” He asked as he leaned back in his seat. “I mean if you wanted to go see the Skytree or something, I don’t blame you. I just don’t think running away from home is the best way to do it.”

At the mention of Tokyo, Hotaru’s lips began quivering. She pulled her legs closer, if that were even possible. “I wanted to see mommy,” she murmured.

“You mom?” Nishinoya repeated and Hotaru nodded. 

Now that he thought about it, there was a rumor going around class that Chiyo’s parents got a divorce. He remembered there was about a month or so during their first year when she was exceptionally quiet, but he didn’t know her well enough at the time to make a judgment.

Guess that rumor was true.

“When mommy and daddy split up, mommy only took Chiyo,” she continued. “But then Chiyo came back and mommy went to Tokyo, and I haven’t seen her since.” She buried her face in her knees as her body began shaking violently. “Why didn’t mommy take me too?”

Watching as the little girl beside him broke down into a series of sobs and hiccups, Nishinoya patted her on the back.

He didn’t really know what to say. He himself sort of experienced a similar situation, with his parents leaving both him and his sisters with his grandpa in the countryside while they went to work in the city. But Nishinoya didn’t really think much of it; perhaps it was because he never actually grew up with them. Sure, he’d miss them, especially on the days following their departure post-holidays. But his grandpa always made things fun, to the point where it wouldn’t really bother him.

His gaze wandered to the side, taking in the sights of the late spring flowers drooping under the weight of the raindrops. Then, he took a deep breath and turned his attention back to her.

“I’m sure your mom will come back for you,” he said in the most reasonable tone he could muster. “Right now, she probably just needs time to get used to Tokyo. But once she settles down, she’ll come back for all three of you.”

Hotaru peered up at his question, staring at him with glossy eyes.

Nishinoya smiled a little. “But no matter what, I don’t think running away is the right thing to do. Just like how you miss your mom, your sister misses you too. She’s super worried about you,” he said, gently ruffling her drenched hair. “So let’s get you home, and we can all wait for your mom together, okay?” His right hand reached out towards Hotaru while his left remained on his lap, clenched tight.

The silence that followed felt like it lasted a decade. Nishinoya was never really good at comforting people. He was always more of a “take the bull by the horns” type of person, after all. But in this situation, there wasn’t really anything to take, so he could only say whatever was on his mind and pray that his words struck a chord.

His prayers were soon answered, however, when Hotaru unwinded from her defensive ball curl and grasped his hand. She sniffled, but quickly wiped away the snot with her sleeves.

“Together?” She looked at him expectantly. “You’ll wait with us?”

“Yeah!” Pulling her off the table and onto her feet, Nishinoya nodded with a wide grin. “I’ll wait with you guys til your mom comes back.”

Hotaru’s eyes flickered down to her feet, and she pressed her lips together.

“Okay,” she nodded. “Let’s go home.”

Mentally patting himself on the back, Nishinoya reached down to grab her red backpack. He then took out his phone to pull up their home address when Hotaru’s stomach let out a loud rumble.

“I’m hungry,” she murmured, and Nishinoya laughed heartily.

“Let’s hope your sister has snacks ready when you get home then!”

Sure enough, by the time they got to the Amari residence, Chiyo had piping hot food ready for both Hotaru and Nishinoya. That was the first time Nishinoya’s ever tried her home cooking, so it was definitely worth all the trouble. 

But before anyone could eat, they spent a good ten minutes or so in the foyer where the Amari sisters spent crying their eyes out. Chiyo hugged Hotaru, scolded her, then hugged her some more. She then wrapped Nishinoya in the tightest embrace he’s gotten in a good while and proceeded to mutter incoherent words of, what he assumed to be, gratitude. 

Maybe it was because she was literally crushing his bones, but his heart hurt.

That was the first time Nishinoya had ever seen her cry.

And as long as he could help it, he never wanted to see it again.

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